Residents urge council to let library petitions go to voters; dispute over city survey and signatures

A succession of Huntington Beach residents used the public-comment period to press the City Council to let two citizen petitions regarding the public library proceed to the ballot and to criticize city staff for sending a survey that asked residents whether they were “duped” into signing.

“Those are the people that mattered,” said Regina Blankenhorn, a resident, referring to the petition signers and their verified signatures. “It was an insult to the intelligence of the voters who signed those petitions that you're asking these questions,” she told the council.

Other speakers echoed that theme and raised related concerns: - Barbara Richardson said the city’s survey included a leading question and warned that a politically appointed review committee could impose community standards that would restrict children’s book purchases. “Politically appointed review committee will have the ultimate authority to reject ordering children's books requested by the librarians that don't meet their version of community standards,” she said. - David Ryerson, a 27-year resident, described the city email as “a fishing expedition” and pointed the council to the financial materials on the evening’s agenda, arguing the city should focus on budget and infrastructure priorities. - Paula Schaffer and other petition circulators disputed council statements that signers were misled, saying circulators made the petition text available and encouraged people to read it before signing. - Chris Rainey questioned the city’s choice of Surf City Weekly subscribers as a survey sample and criticized comments about petition circulators disguising themselves during signature gathering.

Speakers framed their remarks as appeals for direct democracy: several urged councilmembers to allow voters to decide library management and privatization questions through the ballot initiative process. Others voiced broader concerns about civic discourse and use of city resources to vet petition signatures.

City rules were cited during the public-comment introduction: the Brown Act limits council discussion of items not on the posted agenda, and city staff warned that disruptive behavior could violate California Penal Code section 403.

There was no formal council action recorded on the petitions during the session; councilmembers later indicated they were reviewing legal and procedural steps. Speakers asked how the city would use any signature-verification responses and whether the registrar of voters’ process remained the proper mechanism for signature validation.

The exchange underscores a contentious local debate over library policy, privatization versus in-house management, and how municipal officials should verify and respond to citizen-initiated petitions.