The Huntington Beach City Council voted Tuesday to authorize a bidding process for privatization of the public library, as well as the creation of a panel to review literary content. The motion passed along ideological lines, 4 to 3. The dissenting votes came from Dan Kalmick, Natalie Moser, and Rhonda Bolton.
Tuesday’s meeting was tense, with jeers from members of the audience. At one point, Councilmember Tony Strickland threatened to have a person removed. Strickland could be heard saying he wasn’t “going to put up with that shit.”
Privatization of the public library was first suggested by former Mayor Mike Posey. He now works for Library Systems and Services, which would be at the top of the list for contract considerations.
Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark stressed that the city has not made a decision on whether or not to privatize yet.
"We haven't made any decision. It may or may not be a good fit for the city. We don't know that, and we won't know that until we go through with the RFP process."