Hundreds of residents debate library rules, council OKs complaints over possible PAC donations

Huntington Beach, Calif. — Hundreds of residents packed the Central Library auditorium on May 6 to urge the City Council to either support or oppose two June ballot measures that would change how the city’s public libraries are governed.

The debate focused on Measure A, which would give parents the right to limit what materials their children can check out, and Measure B, which would require voter approval before the city could outsource library management. Public comments ran more than three hours and included parents, librarians, teachers and former elected officials who alternately described the books in question as dangerous or age-appropriate.

The measures drew sharply divergent testimony. Supporters described the initiatives as restoring parental control and protecting children. Opponents called the campaign language misleading and said the library’s professional staff already use age-based policies and safeguards. Several speakers urged the council not to politicize the library and warned about the cost of a special election.

City Council members did not vote on the measures themselves — they are on the June ballot — but they took action on a second matter related to campaign finance and charitable-law concerns. Councilman Chad Williams moved and the council approved a request that the mayor and city attorney file complaints with the California Fair Political Practices Commission and the Internal Revenue Service related to apparent transfers between a library-support nonprofit and political action committees. Williams told the council he wanted the mayor to coordinate with the city attorney “to file complaints on behalf of the city council with the California Fair Political Practice Commission and the Internal Revenue Service regarding suspected campaign finance and charitable law violations.” The motion passed on a 6-0 vote.

The council’s action followed public reporting and council discussion about donations and transfers that Williams said involved Friends of the Huntington Beach Public Library, Citizens for Good Governance and a newer committee called Our Library Matters. Williams cited filings that show donations from a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to local committees and PACs and then transfers from those committees to a PAC supporting the library ballot measures; he said the filings merited review by state and federal regulators.

Mayor Pat Burns and other members emphasized that the review is intended to determine whether any reporting or tax rules were violated. Council members also said they wanted clarity for the public and for the nonprofit if the transfers were lawful. At least one council member said they had asked the nonprofit’s representatives about political donations during a private meeting and had been told no such gifts were made; the council’s vote directs staff to seek formal review.

The meeting’s public comment period included parents and teenagers, library staff and community volunteers. Librarians and some parents said current policies already allow an all-access card for teens with parental consent and that many of the books singled out by critics are in teen or adult sections or available through interlibrary apps. Others described encountering graphic content and urged the council to move some titles out of the children’s area.

The council did not order any immediate change to library holdings or staff policy at the meeting. The council’s direction to pursue FPPC and IRS review concerns possible violations of campaign finance disclosure law and tax law; those agencies determine whether violations have occurred and what remedies may follow.

The public comment period ended with continuing appeals for civility. The council reminded speakers that the Brown Act limits council discussion of items not on the agenda and said follow-up can be pursued through scheduled meetings or direct contact with staff.

What’s next: The two ballot measures will appear on the June 10 special election ballot. The council’s request to the mayor and city attorney asks state and federal regulators to review the filings before or during the election process. The city did not announce a timeline for any administrative or enforcement results from those referrals.