Huntington Beach Ordered to Comply with State Audit of Pacific Airshow Settlement

An Orange County Superior Court judge ruled that Huntington Beach, a California charter city, must cooperate with State Auditor Grant Parks in investigating the city's 2023 settlement with Pacific Airshow LLC. The court order requires the city to provide all requested records and allow auditors to examine and reproduce documents, as well as compel former treasurer Alicia Backstrom to testify.

The settlement, valued at roughly $5 million, was intended to resolve a lawsuit after the 2021 air show was cut short by an oil spill. City officials had argued that charter status exempted them from the audit, but the judge rejected that claim, emphasizing transparency and accountability. Councilmembers, including Chad Williams, have called for cooperation with the auditor's office.