{ "site": "HB Watch", "reviewedAt": "2026-10-20", "mode": "Reviewed public-records snapshot; not live data", "disclaimer": "Agency records, estimates and editorial assessments may contain errors or revisions. Current legal statuses and causal effects are not established unless explicitly documented.", "metrics": [ { "id": "safety", "title": "Public safety", "icon": "shield", "value": "350", "unit": "Reported violent offenses", "status": "Improving", "tone": "green", "change": "↓ 28.9% since 2022", "period": "2025 · California DOJ annual data", "slug": "crime-and-council-credit", "description": "Violent and property offense counts both declined. Council-specific causation is not established.", "sources": [ "crime", "crimemethod" ], "series": [ 492, 416, 394, 350 ], "seriesLabels": [ "2022", "2023", "2024", "2025" ] }, { "id": "homelessness", "title": "Homelessness", "icon": "people", "value": "143", "unit": "People counted unsheltered", "status": "Improving outdoors", "tone": "green", "change": "↓ 17.3% since 2024", "period": "January 2026 point-in-time count", "slug": "homelessness-counts-tell-two-stories", "description": "The total count also fell to 297. The 2024 shelter classification affects comparisons.", "sources": [ "pit2026" ], "series": [ 188, 173, 143 ], "seriesLabels": [ "2022", "2024", "2026" ] }, { "id": "budget", "title": "City finances", "icon": "money", "value": "$16.08m", "unit": "Adopted General Fund balance use", "status": "Under pressure", "tone": "red", "change": "Plus $2.7m authorized in September", "period": "FY 2026–27", "slug": "balanced-budget-unbalanced-future", "description": "The budget uses accumulated resources. This is not an audited spending total or a pure structural deficit.", "sources": [ "budget" ], "series": [] }, { "id": "housing", "title": "Housing & affordability", "icon": "home", "value": "$2,510", "unit": "Median monthly gross rent", "status": "Under pressure", "tone": "amber", "change": "A snapshot, not a current asking rent", "period": "2020–2024 Census estimates", "slug": "a-city-is-more-than-its-budget", "description": "Housing costs are substantial. Zoning, permits and completed homes are separate measures.", "sources": [ "census" ], "series": [] }, { "id": "infrastructure", "title": "Streets & infrastructure", "icon": "road", "value": "80.3", "suffix": "/ 100", "unit": "Citywide pavement condition", "status": "Good, with obligations", "tone": "amber", "change": "$55.1m deferred maintenance backlog", "period": "May 2026 pavement report", "slug": "streets-maintenance-and-the-funding-gap", "description": "The network is in good condition. Sustaining it requires additional investment.", "sources": [ "pavement" ], "series": [] }, { "id": "environment", "title": "Beaches & environment", "icon": "wave", "value": "4", "unit": "Local Honor Roll beach sites", "status": "Positive result", "tone": "green", "change": "A+ across all measured conditions", "period": "2025–2026 Beach Report Card", "slug": "beach-water-quality", "description": "Independent monitoring recognizes four locations. Results are site-specific and retrospective.", "sources": [ "beaches" ], "series": [] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "census", "title": "Huntington Beach QuickFacts", "publisher": "U.S. Census Bureau", "type": "Federal data", "period": "2020–2024 ACS; July 2025 population", "url": "https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/huntingtonbeachcitycalifornia/HSG860223", "note": "Five-year housing estimates are pooled observations, not October 2026 asking rents. The 2025 population estimate is 191,451." }, { "id": "beaches", "title": "2025–2026 Beach Report Card", "publisher": "Heal the Bay", "type": "Independent monitoring", "period": "2025–2026 report", "url": "https://healthebay.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Beach-Report-2025-2026_6_screen_optimized.pdf", "note": "Honor Roll sites appear on report page 7. Bacterial grades do not measure every pollutant or provide a live swimming advisory." }, { "id": "ocsan", "title": "OC Beaches Make Waves Across CA", "publisher": "Orange County Sanitation District", "type": "Regional agency", "period": "June 1, 2026", "url": "https://ocsan.gov/news/oc-beaches-make-waves-across-ca/", "note": "Explains the A+ Honor Roll criterion and the regional role in water quality. This agency has an institutional interest in the results." }, { "id": "pavement", "title": "Updated Citywide Pavement Management Plan", "publisher": "City of Huntington Beach", "type": "City technical report", "period": "2026 update", "url": "https://huntingtonbeach.legistar.com/View.ashx?GUID=015DF388-E85B-4D18-B9C4-7DF0564A04C6&ID=15509992&M=F", "note": "Attachment 4 to agenda item 26-462. Network averages mask individual street conditions; model forecasts are not completed repairs." }, { "id": "m2", "title": "Measure M2 eligibility, pavement and seven-year capital plan", "publisher": "City of Huntington Beach", "type": "Staff report", "period": "June 2, 2026 · file 26-462", "url": "https://huntingtonbeach.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?FullText=1&GUID=0291945E-6120-4991-A194-A8FA2001DABA&ID=8041744&Options=&Search=", "note": "Staff describe approximately $4.86m in annual fair-share funding and note funds are in escrow. A plan is not evidence of construction completion." }, { "id": "water", "title": "2026 Water Quality Report", "publisher": "Huntington Beach Utilities Division", "type": "Regulatory disclosure", "period": "2025 testing; published 2026", "url": "https://ear.waterboards.ca.gov/Home/ViewCCR?PwsID=CA3010053&Year=2025", "note": "PDF page 2 states delivered water met federal and state standards during 2025. Official State Water Board archive replaces the broken city PDF link. This is an attributed regulatory disclosure, not a finding of zero risk or current conditions." }, { "id": "pfas", "title": "Response to Grand Jury report on PFAS and public awareness", "publisher": "City of Huntington Beach", "type": "Staff report", "period": "August 18, 2026 · file 26-645", "url": "https://huntingtonbeach.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?FullText=1&GUID=87E6EA8C-18B2-41F0-BCBE-9EF60DFE205C&ID=8171041&Options=&Search=", "note": "Agenda staff report and proposed response, not independently verified evidence that all recommendations have been implemented." }, { "id": "roster", "title": "City Council membership and terms", "publisher": "City of Huntington Beach", "type": "Official roster", "period": "2026 council", "url": "https://huntingtonbeach.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?GUID=BEFA9BEC-D352-4133-B594-8F0E324DF248&ID=36680", "note": "Lists all seven councilmembers and their terms. Mayor is selected annually; the city manager oversees daily operations." }, { "id": "bolsa", "title": "2025 Arterial Rehabilitation Project construction award", "publisher": "City of Huntington Beach", "type": "Staff report", "period": "July 2026 · file 26-561", "url": "https://huntingtonbeach.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?From=RSS&FullText=1&G=E44B7601-4B58-4055-97F2-CA6D6CA860B6&GUID=967B1CBC-2892-41C8-B455-199E435E648C&ID=8125354", "note": "Existing Bolsa Avenue PCI 47; recommended combined construction award of $6,783,480. A staff recommendation is not completion evidence." }, { "id": "publicworksmap", "title": "Huntington Beach Public Works Map", "publisher": "City of Huntington Beach / ArcGIS", "type": "City geographic data", "period": "Updated June 19, 2026", "url": "https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=253711ee0d0d42b49d4a215e088c3d57", "note": "Includes pavement condition layers for 2024, 2025 and 2026. Consult individual layer metadata before comparing years." }, { "id": "beachadvisories", "title": "Orange County beach advisories", "publisher": "OC Health Care Agency", "type": "Resident resource", "period": "Current conditions · external service", "url": "https://ocbeachinfo.com/", "note": "Use the county service for current closures and advisories. HB Watch’s annual dashboard is not a live water-quality feed." }, { "id": "crime", "title": "Crimes and Clearances, 1985–2025 · annual data", "publisher": "California Department of Justice", "type": "State administrative data", "period": "Calendar years 2022–2025 · July 2026 vintage", "url": "https://data-openjustice.doj.ca.gov/sites/default/files/dataset/2026-07/Crimes_and_Clearances_with_Arson-1985-2025.csv", "note": "Filtered to Orange County / Huntington Beach. Violent: 492, 416, 394, 350. Property excluding arson: 4,364, 3,909, 3,781, 2,783. Counts, not population-adjusted rates." }, { "id": "crimemonthly", "title": "Crimes and Clearances · monthly data", "publisher": "California Department of Justice", "type": "State administrative data", "period": "2022–2025 coverage checked", "url": "https://data-openjustice.doj.ca.gov/sites/default/files/dataset/2026-07/Crimes_and_Clearances_with_Arson-1985-2025_by%20month.csv", "note": "All 12 months were present for each selected year; annual violent and property totals reconcile. This does not independently audit each reported incident." }, { "id": "crimemethod", "title": "Crimes and Clearances data context", "publisher": "California Department of Justice", "type": "Data methodology", "period": "Revised June 2026", "url": "https://data-openjustice.doj.ca.gov/sites/default/files/dataset/2026-07/Crimes-Clear-Arson%20Context_06222026.pdf", "note": "Definitions, hierarchy rules, summary/incident-based conversion and rape-reporting caveats. Arson is a separate category." }, { "id": "crimeaction", "title": "Increase public-safety reporting and crime-reduction proposals", "publisher": "City of Huntington Beach", "type": "Council action", "period": "December 20, 2022 · file 22-1095", "url": "https://huntingtonbeach.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?GUID=DD584872-16B4-4198-9272-86C07B058BCE&ID=5968416&Options=&Search=", "note": "Records council approval of direction for reporting and proposals. Does not establish all subsequent reports were delivered or that the action caused the crime decline." }, { "id": "pit2026", "title": "2026 Point in Time Count Report", "publisher": "County of Orange", "type": "County homelessness count", "period": "January 2026 · released May 18, 2026", "url": "https://ceo.oc.gov/sites/ceo/files/2026-05/2026%20Point%20In%20Time%20Count%20Report.pdf", "note": "Printed page 16 (PDF page 18) city totals; printed page 21 (PDF page 23) compares 2022, 2024 and 2026. HB: 143 unsheltered + 154 sheltered = 297. PIT is a snapshot, not an annual homelessness census." }, { "id": "pit2024", "title": "2024 Point in Time Summary", "publisher": "County of Orange", "type": "County homelessness count", "period": "January 2024 · revised May 16, 2024", "url": "https://ceo.ocgov.com/sites/ceo/files/2024-05/2024%20PIT%20Summary%20-%20FINAL%205.16.24.pdf", "note": "Page 23: HB 173 unsheltered + 260 sheltered = 433; notes a Homekey site temporarily operating as emergency shelter before a planned permanent-housing transition." }, { "id": "pit2022", "title": "2022 Point in Time Summary", "publisher": "County of Orange / Health Care Agency", "type": "County homelessness count", "period": "February 2022", "url": "https://www.ochealthinfo.com/sites/hca/files/2022-05/2022%20PIT%20Data%20Infographic%20-%205.10.2022%20Final.pdf", "note": "City table page 9: HB 188 unsheltered + 142 sheltered = 330. The count was postponed to February because of COVID-19; 2024 and 2026 were in January." }, { "id": "pitmethods", "title": "County announces 2026 Point in Time results", "publisher": "County of Orange", "type": "County results announcement", "period": "May 18, 2026", "url": "https://ocgov.com/press/county-orange-announces-2026-point-time-count-results", "note": "2026 sheltered count January 26; street count January 27–29. Countywide total 6,321; no claim that the local net change is a count of successful housing exits." }, { "id": "navigation", "title": "Navigation Center site chronology", "publisher": "City of Huntington Beach", "type": "City presentation", "period": "Chronology: August 2020–July 2023", "url": "https://huntingtonbeach.legistar.com/View.ashx?GUID=D0BF15C9-C8B2-481E-AAB3-56EDF632F9E3&ID=12991961&M=F", "note": "Documents opening in December 2020 and later planning. Original infrastructure predates the council majority elected in 2022." }, { "id": "budget", "title": "Resolution 2026-24 and adopted budget exhibits", "publisher": "City of Huntington Beach", "type": "Adopted budget package", "period": "FY 2026–27 · adopted June 16, 2026", "url": "https://huntingtonbeach.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=15573434&GUID=1A0DFE5D-7D78-486A-B614-638DE4C30030", "note": "Exhibits B/C: all funds $592,366,017; General Fund $328,281,031, including $16,084,379 fund balance. Attachment retains draft date/text artifacts; actual adoption is established by June 16 minutes." }, { "id": "budgetpresentation", "title": "June 16 final budget memorandum and presentation", "publisher": "City of Huntington Beach", "type": "Staff reconciliation", "period": "June 16, 2026", "url": "https://huntingtonbeach.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=15586176&GUID=AAA67123-87EE-444B-99F6-986A21069CDF", "note": "PDF pages 4–6 corroborate final budget totals and changes from the proposal. These are authorizations, not audited expenditures." }, { "id": "juneminutes", "title": "June 16, 2026 Council/PFA minutes", "publisher": "City Clerk, Huntington Beach", "type": "Published clerk minutes", "period": "June 16, 2026", "url": "https://huntingtonbeach.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=1343927&GUID=352165D1-7166-41A4-A8C2-57A067F2A774", "note": "Page 6 final budget vote; page 9 final housing adoption vote. Some portal metadata remains Agenda Ready or Draft; recorded motions in the published PDF are used, not staff recommendations." }, { "id": "septemberminutes", "title": "September 1, 2026 Council/PFA minutes", "publisher": "City Clerk, Huntington Beach", "type": "Published clerk minutes", "period": "September 1, 2026", "url": "https://huntingtonbeach.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=1343933&GUID=88840C39-527C-41E2-AD94-54C6EFA1B44D", "note": "Page 13: 4–3 approval of POA agreement and $2.7m General Fund reserve appropriation. A budget authorization is not proof of money already spent." }, { "id": "financeupdate", "title": "Finance Commission / POA fiscal discussion presentation", "publisher": "City of Huntington Beach Finance", "type": "Financial presentation", "period": "September 1, 2026 discussion", "url": "https://huntingtonbeach.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=15810945&GUID=E481B9EB-40CD-45C4-ABD5-0A064AED625B", "note": "Page 11 reports $99.2m available General Fund reserves, 3.64 months of expenditures. Scenario forecasts vary; no single deficit selected as definitive. Not an October bank balance." }, { "id": "poa", "title": "Police Officers’ Association agreement, 2026–2029", "publisher": "City of Huntington Beach", "type": "Labor agreement staff report", "period": "September 1, 2026 · file 26-756", "url": "https://huntingtonbeach.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=8192997&GUID=A0A042D1-7A56-46B5-9980-BFABC46D4BA3&FullText=1", "note": "Lists 8%, 4%, 5% salary adjustments. The stated total cost and fiscal-year amounts do not reconcile; do not treat either as an audited total." }, { "id": "housing", "title": "Sixth-cycle Housing Element adoption staff report", "publisher": "City of Huntington Beach", "type": "Staff report", "period": "June 16, 2026 · file 26-543", "url": "https://huntingtonbeach.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=8066374&GUID=66F431E1-ECCB-431E-A0F6-EF2AF4088A55&FullText=1", "note": "RHNA 13,368; housing adoption and rezoning are separate steps. Its 1,616 permit total was superseded by the August revision. City substantial-compliance assessment is not HCD certification." }, { "id": "housingrevised", "title": "Adopted Housing Element, August technical edits", "publisher": "City of Huntington Beach", "type": "Revised adopted plan", "period": "August 2026 · permits through December 31, 2025", "url": "https://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/departments/Community%20Development/Adopted%20Housing%20Element_technical%20edits_081026.pdf?t=202608112000290", "note": "PDF page 265, Table B-2: 214 very-low + 226 low + 361 moderate + 662 above-moderate = 1,463 permits. Permits do not establish completed homes; technical edits supersede June counts." }, { "id": "hcdstatus", "title": "Housing Element Review and Compliance Report", "publisher": "California HCD", "type": "Official status tool", "period": "Current status tool · row not independently extracted", "url": "https://www.hcd.ca.gov/housing-open-data-tools/housing-element-review-compliance-report", "note": "The embedded status row could not be independently verified in this edition. No claim of 2026 certification or non-certification is made." }, { "id": "housingorder", "title": "May 14 housing penalty minute order", "publisher": "San Diego Superior Court · hosted by California DOJ", "type": "Court order", "period": "May 14, 2026 · historical conditional order", "url": "https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/30-2023-01312235-CU-WM-CJC_Minute%20Order%20SD%20%28JO%20Signature%29%5B1%5D.pdf", "note": "Historical penalty schedule. Later adoption and reported litigation developments mean it cannot establish uninterrupted accrual through October. No live fine counter." }, { "id": "housinglater", "title": "State seeks to reinstate housing fines", "publisher": "Orange County Register / ArcaMax syndication", "type": "Secondary litigation reporting", "period": "September 12, 2026", "url": "https://www.arcamax.com/currentnews/newsheadlines/s-4296875", "note": "Reports a prior hold pending HCD review and a September reinstatement request. A request is not a granted order; October disposition remains unverified." }, { "id": "libraryminutes", "title": "June 3, 2025 Council/PFA minutes", "publisher": "City Clerk, Huntington Beach", "type": "Published clerk minutes", "period": "June 3, 2025", "url": "https://huntingtonbeach.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=1250991&GUID=9E65B2BF-89F9-4257-92E4-179BBD809529", "note": "Page 19: 7–0 library affirmation resolution. This was not the voter-initiated Measures A/B election or a finding about earlier restrictions." }, { "id": "libraryballot", "title": "Measure B official ballot text", "publisher": "Orange County Registrar of Voters", "type": "Official election document", "period": "June 10, 2025 special election", "url": "https://ocvote.gov/sites/default/files/elections/2025HB/B%20-%202025%20HBEA%20-%20LAYOUT.pdf", "note": "Read the full language and its exceptions; do not describe it as banning every possible private library service." }, { "id": "libraryorder", "title": "Order granting library writ petition", "publisher": "Orange County Superior Court · hosted by plaintiffs’ counsel", "type": "Court order", "period": "September 5, 2025", "url": "https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-09-05-Minute-Order-Overruling-Demurrer-Granting-Writ-Petition.pdf", "note": "Primary order hosted by an interested party. Distinct from later fee proceedings, actual payment and appeal status." }, { "id": "libraryfees", "title": "Reported library litigation fee award", "publisher": "LAist", "type": "Secondary reporting", "period": "April 28, 2026", "url": "https://laist.com/brief/news/politics/huntington-beach-legal-fees-censoring-library-books", "note": "Reports approximately $1m court-awarded legal fees. Signed fee order, payment and appeal status not verified; amount is not treated as total city defense cost." }, { "id": "airshowminutes", "title": "September 2, 2025 Council/PFA minutes", "publisher": "City Clerk, Huntington Beach", "type": "Published clerk minutes", "period": "September 2, 2025", "url": "https://huntingtonbeach.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=1250997&GUID=BC45F172-1B2F-4E6D-B9A1-420E0CFD237D", "note": "Pages 13–14: final airshow/EIR agreement motion 6–1, Williams no; includes $250,000 additional environmental-services appropriation. Final motion refers to Resolution 2025-54." }, { "id": "airshowagreement", "title": "Pacific Airshow 2025 event agreement", "publisher": "City of Huntington Beach", "type": "Agreement in council packet", "period": "September 2025–December 2035 initial term", "url": "https://huntingtonbeach.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14736078&GUID=E7EF2C72-A83D-4BCE-9510-258505F7B1A8", "note": "Includes three five-year renewal options, fee/cost waivers, and parking terms. Economic impact is not the same as net city revenue." }, { "id": "airshowaudit", "title": "Forthcoming audit reports · audit 2024-103", "publisher": "California State Auditor", "type": "Official audit status", "period": "Status checked October 20, 2026", "url": "https://www.auditor.ca.gov/reports-coming-soon/lists/", "note": "City of Huntington Beach—Pacific Airshow Settlement Agreement: on hold pending litigation. This is not a completed audit finding." }, { "id": "statecrime", "title": "California criminal justice statistical reports for 2025", "publisher": "California Department of Justice", "type": "State statistical release", "period": "July 1, 2026 · statewide 2024–2025 rates", "url": "https://oag.ca.gov/node/625792", "note": "Reports violent rate down 10.2% and property rate down 14.3%. Warns some agencies lacked full-year submissions. Statewide rates are context, not directly interchangeable with HB counts." }, { "id": "gis-crashes", "title": "California Crash Reporting System · 2024 city extract", "publisher": "California Highway Patrol / California Open Data", "type": "Official crash microdata", "period": "2024 annual records · retrieved October 20, 2026", "url": "https://data.ca.gov/dataset/ccrs", "note": "Exact city filter Huntington Beach, County Code 30. 1,725 source rows, 1,368 mapped and 357 without usable coordinates. Includes no-injury, injury and fatal crashes; not a live feed or every collision. Original query and exclusions are in the layer metadata." }, { "id": "gis-city", "title": "City GIS public services and map inventory", "publisher": "City of Huntington Beach / HB GIS", "type": "Official GIS directory", "period": "Snapshot retrieved October 20, 2026 · feature dates vary", "url": "https://gis.huntingtonbeachca.gov/arcgis/rest/services", "note": "Public geometry for planning, services and infrastructure. Layers are not real-time operational reports. Map data guide provides individual endpoints, record counts and downloads." }, { "id": "gis-housing", "title": "Affordable housing GIS inventory", "publisher": "City of Huntington Beach / HB GIS", "type": "Official GIS inventory", "period": "Service last edited March 2026", "url": "https://services2.arcgis.com/KaS5yngHhCOBHXdC/arcgis/rest/services/AffordableHousing/FeatureServer/0", "note": "154 mapped property records. These are inventory locations, not 154 new units, vacancies or homes completed during this council’s term." }, { "id": "gis-pci", "title": "HB PMP 2026 pavement segment data", "publisher": "City of Huntington Beach / HB GIS", "type": "Official GIS inventory", "period": "2026 edition · inspection dates vary", "url": "https://services2.arcgis.com/KaS5yngHhCOBHXdC/arcgis/rest/services/HB_PMP_2026/FeatureServer/0", "note": "4,423 segment records with source PCI26 values. Earlier inspection dates and modeled/carried-forward values must not be described as all surveyed in 2026." }, { "id": "gis-flood", "title": "FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer · Flood Hazard Zones", "publisher": "FEMA", "type": "Federal hazard GIS", "period": "Retrieved October 20, 2026 · mixed panel effective dates", "url": "https://hazards.fema.gov/arcgis/rest/services/public/NFHL/MapServer/28", "note": "147 selected polygons clipped to a city-vicinity box, including neighboring jurisdictions. Special flood hazard and 0.2% annual-chance areas shown; absence of shading is not zero risk. Not live flooding." }, { "id": "gis-tsunami", "title": "California Tsunami Hazard Area GIS", "publisher": "California Geological Survey", "type": "State hazard GIS", "period": "Original local county maps released 2021", "url": "https://gis.conservation.ca.gov/server/rest/services/CGS/IW_Tsunami_Hazard_Area/FeatureServer/0", "note": "Modified from California Geological Survey, Official GIS data of the Tsunami Hazard Area. Simplified vicinity clip is not an official legal map or current evacuation order." }, { "id": "gis-events", "title": "Official city calendar", "publisher": "City of Huntington Beach", "type": "Official public calendar", "period": "Five selected October 22–29, 2026 events", "url": "https://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/calendar.php", "note": "Curated events joined to official venue footprints. Not a complete calendar; confirm details. Expired markers are hidden automatically. Recurring meetings are not automatically inferred from base dates." }, { "id": "electionextended2026", "title": "2026 General Election extended calendar", "publisher": "Orange County Registrar of Voters", "type": "Election administration", "period": "November 2026 election · receipt deadline", "url": "https://ocvote.gov/sites/default/files/2026-07/Extended%20Calendar%20for%202026%20General.pdf", "note": "Printed page 17: mail ballots signed, dated and postmarked by November 3 must be received by November 10, 2026 at 5 p.m. Confirm current administrator instructions." }, { "id": "election2026", "title": "2026 General Election calendar", "publisher": "Orange County Registrar of Voters", "type": "Election administration", "period": "November 3, 2026 election", "url": "https://ocvote.gov/sites/default/files/2026-07/Condensed%20Calendar%2011.3.2026_0.pdf", "note": "Registration, conditional registration, vote-center opening dates and certification deadline. Reviewed October 20; check official tools for changes." }, { "id": "candidates2026", "title": "Qualified Huntington Beach council candidates and statements", "publisher": "Orange County Registrar of Voters", "type": "Official filing log", "period": "2026 General Election · contest 5092", "url": "https://ocvote.gov/bin/voting/candidate_filing_log_submit.php?contest=5092&elecabbr=GEN2026&lang=", "note": "Eleven qualified candidates; Vote For: 4. Ballot designations and candidate-authored statements are self-descriptions, not HB Watch findings." }, { "id": "measures2026", "title": "Assigned measure letters, November 3, 2026", "publisher": "Orange County Registrar of Voters", "type": "Official ballot documents", "period": "November 2026", "url": "https://ocvote.gov/elections/assigned-measure-letters-november-3-2026", "note": "No Huntington Beach municipal measure listed in the reviewed county index. School district and statewide measures depend on the voter’s ballot." }, { "id": "voteoptions2026", "title": "Early voting and voter lookup tools", "publisher": "Orange County Registrar of Voters", "type": "Election administration", "period": "October 2026 newsletter", "url": "https://ocvote.gov/feeds/getNewsletter.php/?id=491", "note": "Official ballot-return options, November 3 postmark and 8 p.m. drop-off deadline, vote-center opening dates and voter-specific lookup tools." } ], "decisions": [ { "date": "September 1, 2026", "file": "26-756 · Resolution 2026-37", "title": "Police agreement and $2.7m reserve appropriation", "result": "Passed 4–3", "tone": "amber", "summary": "Approved the 2026–2029 police labor agreement and authorized an additional $2.7 million from General Fund reserves. Compensation can support retention, but a reserve appropriation is a one-time funding source; sustained staffing and fiscal effects require follow-up.", "votes": { "Casey McKeon": "No", "Butch Twining": "Yes", "Pat Burns": "No", "Andrew Gruel": "Yes", "Don Kennedy": "No", "Gracey Van Der Mark": "Yes", "Chad Williams": "Yes" }, "sourceId": "septemberminutes" }, { "date": "June 16, 2026", "file": "26-537 · Resolution 2026-24", "title": "FY 2026–27 budget adopted using $16.08m in General Fund balance", "result": "Passed 6–0 · 1 abstention", "tone": "red", "summary": "Adopted $592.37 million across all funds and $328.28 million in the General Fund, including $16.08 million in accumulated fund balance. These are budget authorizations, not audited actual spending. The reserve policy and voluntary pension prefunding policy also changed.", "votes": { "Casey McKeon": "Yes", "Butch Twining": "Yes", "Pat Burns": "Yes", "Andrew Gruel": "Yes", "Don Kennedy": "Yes", "Gracey Van Der Mark": "Abstain", "Chad Williams": "Yes" }, "sourceId": "juneminutes" }, { "date": "June 16, 2026", "file": "26-543 · Resolution 2026-25", "title": "Sixth-cycle Housing Element adopted after years of litigation", "result": "Passed 5–2", "tone": "amber", "summary": "Final adoption of the 2021–2029 Housing Element. This is the final successful motion, rather than an earlier failed substitute. HCD certification and zoning implementation are separate; this edition has not verified the latest certification or penalty order.", "votes": { "Casey McKeon": "Yes", "Butch Twining": "Yes", "Pat Burns": "Yes", "Andrew Gruel": "No", "Don Kennedy": "Yes", "Gracey Van Der Mark": "Yes", "Chad Williams": "No" }, "sourceId": "juneminutes" }, { "date": "September 2, 2025", "file": "25-623 · final motion", "title": "Pacific Airshow agreement and environmental review approved", "result": "Passed 6–1", "tone": "amber", "summary": "Approved the event agreement, EIR and related findings, with an additional $250,000 environmental-services appropriation. Initial event term runs through 2035 with renewal options. The state settlement audit is on hold pending litigation; no completed audit verdict is available.", "votes": { "Casey McKeon": "Yes", "Butch Twining": "Yes", "Pat Burns": "Yes", "Andrew Gruel": "Yes", "Don Kennedy": "Yes", "Gracey Van Der Mark": "Yes", "Chad Williams": "No" }, "sourceId": "airshowminutes" }, { "date": "June 3, 2025", "file": "25-454 · Resolution 2025-45", "title": "Council affirms public library will not be sold and books will not be banned", "result": "Passed 7–0", "tone": "gray", "summary": "The affirmation was unanimous. It is a separate record from the subsequent voter initiatives, court proceedings and actual operating rules. It should not be presented as a council vote for Measures A or B.", "votes": { "Casey McKeon": "Yes", "Butch Twining": "Yes", "Pat Burns": "Yes", "Andrew Gruel": "Yes", "Don Kennedy": "Yes", "Gracey Van Der Mark": "Yes", "Chad Williams": "Yes" }, "sourceId": "libraryminutes" } ] }