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Study session: Huntington Beach weighs co‑locating Surf Museum inside Main Street Library
Summary
Council received a staff feasibility report and substantial public comment about co‑locating the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum at the Main Street Library. Staff said relocation and improvement costs would be privately funded (Visit HB) and proposed an MOU; opponents raised concerns about space, noise, insurance and the library master plan.
The Huntington Beach City Council held a study session and took public comment on a proposal to co‑locate the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum at the Main Street Library.
Ashley Wysocki, the city’s Community and Library Services Director, presented a feasibility study outlining a proposed footprint of just under 1,200 square feet of dedicated museum space on the library’s first floor plus roughly 3,600 square feet of shared space for a gift shop, reception and bookstore. Staff said the second floor would remain storage because it is not ADA‑accessible without upgrades. Wysocki told council that Visit HB had offered funding for relocation and improvements and that city staff expected the museum and library to fund their own operations; staff emphasized that “there would be no use of city funds related to relocating and improvement costs.”
Public comment was extensive and split. Opponents — including Diane Bentley and other residents — said the Main Street Library is dedicated to quiet study and research and that displaying surfboards in research stacks would disrupt patrons, raise security and insurance questions, and reduce library program space. Bentley asked whether the museum or private collectors would donate the collection, who would insure or pay rent and whether the move preempts the library facilities master plan.
Museum supporters including Peter “PT” Townend (executive director of the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum) and the Surf Museum board argued the museum’s current 2,033‑sq.‑ft. building off Olive Street has limited wall space, ADA/access constraints and deferred maintenance; they said the Main Street location would increase visibility, foot traffic and opportunities for joint education programming. Townend and board members said the museum could deliver a non‑circulating PT collection research library and collaborate on grants.
Councilmembers acknowledged both sets of concerns and asked staff about hours, security, warranty/insurance and the library master plan alignment. Staff said possible next steps include drafting an MOU, further study, design and coordination with the library facilities master plan. The council did not vote on an entitlement at the meeting; staff will return with proposed agreements and additional analysis if council directs.
