REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Travis Hopkins, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Jennifer Carey, Deputy City Manager
Subject:
title
Select a Candidate for Appointment to Vacated City Council Seat
body
Statement of Issue:
On March 11, 2025, Councilman Tony Strickland resigned his City Council seat to accept the position of Senator for California District 36. Pursuant to Section 312 of the Huntington Beach Charter, unscheduled vacancies on the City Council are to be filled by an appointment of the City Council within 60 days.
Financial Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with appointing a candidate to fill the vacant City Council seat.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Select a candidate for appointment to the vacated City Council seat.
end
Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve, and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
On March 11, 2025, Councilman Tony Strickland was sworn in as a California Senator for District 36. As a result, Strickland resigned from his Huntington Beach City Council seat, leaving an unscheduled City Council vacancy. Per Section 312 of the Huntington Beach Charter, unscheduled vacancies on the City Council are to be filled by an appointment of the City Council within 60 days. Further, the Charter stipulates that if the City Council fails to fill the vacancy within the specified timeframe, a special election must be held to fill the vacated role.
City Manager Travis Hopkins met with remaining City Council Members individually to gather their recommendations on potential replacements. While additional individuals may be recommended by City Council, the following Huntington Beach residents were suggested:
• Valentina Bankhead
• Ken Babineau
• Andrew Gruel
Environmental Status:
This action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Non Applicable - Administrative Item