Residents call for censure, accuse mayor of repeated profanity and disrespect at council meeting

During a sustained public‑comment period, multiple Huntington Beach residents urged the City Council to censure Mayor Pat Burns for repeated profanity and disrespect toward speakers and fellow officials, while other commenters urged civility and mutual respect from both the dais and the audience.

Several speakers said the mayor had used profanity at a prior meeting and called a public speaker a “cow.” One commenter said, “I came to urge this council to formally censor Mayor Burns for his ongoing pattern of inappropriate conduct,” and several others asked for an apology. The council did not take action on these requests at the meeting.

Other speakers urged the council to model civility and acknowledged that disruptive audience behavior undermines public meetings, with one speaker calling for both sides to “restore civility.” Speakers also referenced a cease‑and‑desist letter the council received from the ACLU (noted during remarks) and the June 17 meeting where the mayor’s comments were alleged to have occurred.

Council members did not take formal action on censure at this meeting; several council members have previously written op‑eds or made statements calling for decorum and said they would consider next steps outside this item. Public comment was limited by the presiding officer’s rules and no votes or formal investigations were initiated during the session.

The record of public comment on this item is preserved in the meeting minutes and the ACLU correspondence referenced by speakers.