The Huntington Beach City Council passed three controversial items Feb. 7 involving raising campaign limits, banning anonymous complaints of local businesses, and regulating flags at city facilities.
The items each passed on 4–3 votes, with Mayor Tony Strickland and Mayor Pro Tem Gracey Van Der Mark, and Councilors Pat Burns and Casey McKeon voting in favor. Councilors Dan Kalmick, Natalie Moser, and Rhonda Bolton dissented.
The most contentious item was regarding which flags are allowed at city buildings.
The council directed staff to draft an ordinance to be presented at the next meeting Feb. 21 that will allow the city facility to only display flags representing the city, county, state, and prisoners of war or those missing in military action.
Flags representing the six branches of the armed forces would be allowed on occasion, when requested by government officials.
Moser, Bolton, and Kalmick said during the meeting such is in response to the council’s prior decisions to fly the LGBT flag on occasion over the last couple of years and supported keeping it that way.
Kalmick also mentioned that several years ago, prior to the formation of the U.S. Space Force, such an ordinance would have prevented the flag for that military branch to fly, which would have needed to go through a month-long process for approval.
Burns, who introduced the issue, said it is not about getting rid of the Pride flag, but promoting unity.
“We are so much bigger than that,” he said during the meeting. “Our flags that represent us are what is important—to unify us and get over this divisive titling. … It’s recognizing we are one.”
McKeon said during the meeting the flags in the motion “represent every resident equally,” while some others do not.
The city council also raised campaign contribution limits for city candidates from $500 to align them with the state’s limit of $5,500.
Additionally, the city council banned anonymous complaints by anyone who notifies the city’s code enforcement of a business’s alleged violations.
Individuals reporting a violation must now provide their driver’s license or similar identification.
But, if an individual is reporting a violation of a state law—such as a criminal offense—their complaint could be submitted anonymously, Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates said during the meeting.
