[0:06] [clears throat]

[0:09] [snorts]

[0:15] This is the issue we were having

[0:43] Okay. Sorry about the delay,

[0:45] technical issues.

[0:48] Okay. Um, good evening and welcome to

[0:50] the January 12th, 2026 city council

[0:53] meeting. I will now call the meeting to

[0:55] order. Um, Mayor Prom Wong, will you

[0:57] lead us in the pledge of allegiance,

[0:59] please?

[0:59] >> Yes. Thank you.

[1:06] I pledge algiance to the flag of the

[1:09] United States of America and to the

[1:11] republic for which it stands. One nation

[1:14] under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[1:17] justice for all.

[1:20] >> Thank you.

[1:22] » Thank you.

[1:22] [clears throat] City clerk, will you

[1:23] please take role? Council member Calm.

[1:27] Council member Calm.

[1:30] Council member Cyn

[1:31] >> here,

[1:31] » here,

[1:32] >> Council Member Steel

[1:33] » Council Member Steel

[1:33] >> here,

[1:33] » here,

[1:33] >> Mayor Pro Tim Wong

[1:34] » Mayor Pro Tim Wong

[1:34] >> here,

[1:34] » here,

[1:34] >> and Mayor Landau

[1:35] » and Mayor Landau

[1:35] >> here.

[1:36] » here.

[1:36] >> All present.

[1:37] » All present.

[1:37] >> Thank you.

[1:40] » Thank you.

[1:40] Okay, now we will move on to uh

[1:42] presentations.

[1:45] Uh this is going to be a proclamation in

[1:48] recognition of the Harbor family, Harbor

[1:50] Surfboards, and Harbor Chronicles.

[1:54] Almost seven decades ago, in 1959,

[1:57] Rich Harbor started one of the most

[1:59] recognized California surfboard

[2:01] companies from his parents Seal Beach

[2:03] Garage before opening his own shop.

[2:06] [snorts]

[2:06] Harbor Surfboards on Main Street in Seal

[2:09] Beach in 1962.

[2:12] It [snorts] wasn't long before many of

[2:13] the town locals were asking Rich to make

[2:16] them surfboards.

[2:18] >> [snorts]

[2:18] » [snorts]

[2:18] [clears throat]

[2:18] >> Soon, Harbor's boards were gracing the

[2:21] » Soon, Harbor's boards were gracing the

[2:21] pages of Surfer Magazine underneath the

[2:23] feet of the era's most respected and

[2:26] recognized surfers.

[2:28] The legacy of Rich Harbor and the

[2:30] business operations at Harbor Surfboards

[2:33] are still going strong and being carried

[2:35] forward with Rich's family and daughter

[2:37] Melissa as head of the Harbor Surfboards

[2:40] brand, the surfboard production, and its

[2:42] worldwide distribution. Now therefore,

[2:45] be it proclaimed, the city council of

[2:48] the city of Seal Beach does hereby

[2:50] recognize the Harbor family, Harbor

[2:53] Surfboards, and Harbor Chronicles,

[2:56] shaping a legacy for their

[2:58] accomplishments and honoring Harbor's

[3:00] long-standing legacy in the city of Seal

[3:02] Beach.

[3:08] Uh this is for the Harbor Surfboards

[3:11] proclamation. So, um, Harbor Surfboards,

[3:14] if you would like to come to the podium,

[3:19] [applause]

[3:31] Harbor Surfboards, located at 329 Main

[3:34] Street in Seal Beach since 1962, stands

[3:38] as one of the longest operating surf

[3:40] shops in its original ation and

[3:42] cornerstone of the community's surfing

[3:44] history. Robert House, an owner of the

[3:47] retail operations, has played a vital

[3:49] role in preserving and evolving Harbor

[3:51] Surfboards, transitioning it into a

[3:54] thriving destination while honoring

[3:57] while honoring its foundational legacy

[3:59] established by Rich Harbor. Under Robert

[4:01] House's stewardship, the shop continues

[4:04] to serve surfers worldwide, maintaining

[4:06] the tradition of quality craftsmanship

[4:08] and community spirit that has defined

[4:10] Harbor Surfboards for over six decades.

[4:14] Now, therefore, be it proclaimed, the

[4:16] city of Seal Beach does hereby recognize

[4:19] Robert House, owner of the Retail Harbor

[4:22] Surfboard Shop at 329 Main Street, for

[4:25] his achievements in carrying forward

[4:26] this cherished legacy.

[4:30] Thank you very much. Is

[4:32] >> Would you like to say a couple words?

[4:34] » Would you like to say a couple words?

[4:34] [applause]

[4:37] » Thank you. Um it has been a tremendous

[4:40] honor to represent Harbor Surfboards and

[4:43] the Harbor family for all these years.

[4:46] Um, I am very very grateful to the town

[4:49] of Seal Beach who who has provided me

[4:53] and my wife Chris an opportunity to

[4:55] carry on this legacy and we look forward

[4:57] to doing it for many many years to come.

[5:00] Thank you.

[5:00] >> Thank you. [applause]

[5:09] » Not yet.

[5:12] >> Not yet.

[5:32] » [applause]

[5:39] » I'd like to invite up Chris Sardellis

[5:43] and his wife Enza Enz. Zia

[5:53] Chris Sardellis and Enzia Ferrell have

[5:55] dedicated years to creating the

[5:57] documentary uh film Harbor Chronicles

[5:59] Shaping a Legacy, capturing the life and

[6:02] influence of iconic surfboard shaper

[6:04] Rich Harbor. Harbor Chronicles Shaping a

[6:07] Legacy has earned a claim, including

[6:10] best action sports feature audience

[6:12] award at the Newport Beach Film

[6:14] Festival. I was there.

[6:17] >> Yes, you

[6:17] » Yes, you

[6:17] >> uh best cinematography for a documentary

[6:19] » uh best cinematography for a documentary

[6:19] feature film at the Culver City Film

[6:22] Festival, both in 2025. Through their

[6:25] passion and artistry, Chris Sardellis

[6:27] and Enzia Ferrell have preserved and

[6:29] shared the rich history of Seal Beach's

[6:32] surfing heritage with audiences

[6:34] worldwide. Now therefore it be it

[6:36] proclaimed the city the city council of

[6:39] the city of Seal Beach does hereby

[6:41] recognize Chris Sardellis and Enzia

[6:43] Ferrell for their achievements in

[6:45] creating Harbor Chronicles shaping a

[6:47] legacy for celebrating Seal Beach's

[6:50] enduring surf culture. Thank you so much

[6:53] and please say a couple of words.

[6:55] >> Thank you. Thank you.

[6:57] » Thank you. Thank you.

[6:57] >> Thank you. This is a huge honor.

[6:59] » Thank you. This is a huge honor.

[6:59] [applause]

[7:02] Well, well, first of all, I want to

[7:03] thank you, mayor, for showing up to the

[7:05] Newport Film Festival. I know you went

[7:06] to the terri the enemy's territory to

[7:08] see the movie, but you saw it and it was

[7:10] great and it actually probably helped us

[7:12] there, and I appreciate that. I

[7:14] appreciate the Harbor family. Thank you

[7:16] guys for letting me in their life and

[7:18] and letting me go through all their

[7:20] photos and everything, using all their

[7:21] footage and stuff to make the the

[7:23] incredible movie of their father, Rich

[7:25] Harbor, and their family. Uh Harbor was

[7:27] a special man to me. He gave me a break

[7:29] in my life and u I was able to move

[7:31] forward in life and and kind of get get

[7:34] my life together. I'm kind of choked up.

[7:36] So yeah, when my grandmother brought me

[7:38] here when I was 1969, I love Sil Beach.

[7:40] I've lived here and I I adore the city.

[7:42] I thank you guys for everything. Thank

[7:44] you.

[7:45] >> Thank you very much. Thank [applause]

[7:46] » Thank you very much. Thank [applause]

[7:46] you. Thank you, Mayor Landal.

[7:50] It's a huge honor.

[7:51] >> Okay, here. Did you want to say a couple

[7:53] » Okay, here. Did you want to say a couple

[7:53] words?

[8:09] » [applause]

[8:14] [applause]

[8:16] » I'd like to now call up the Harbor

[8:18] family. Can you please come to the

[8:19] podium?

[8:22] [applause]

[8:38] Okay, I'm gonna have you you guys each

[8:40] say your name and who you are.

[8:42] >> Do you want me to say everybody?

[8:45] » Do you want me to say everybody?

[8:45] >> Okay, this is Ava. This is um my dad's

[8:49] » Okay, this is Ava. This is um my dad's

[8:49] grand first granddaughter. My mom,

[8:52] Helen, Rich's wife. My daughter Elena.

[8:56] My daughter, my son, Harrison, my son,

[8:59] Miles, I'm Carrie Harour. I'm the other

[9:02] daughter. And this is my he my husband

[9:05] Kieran.

[9:07] Thank you all for coming. Um it was such

[9:10] an amazing treat to to see Harbor

[9:12] Chronicles. If you haven't seen it yet,

[9:14] you've got to go. Um I've been in Seal

[9:17] Beach 15 years. I know that's new in

[9:18] Seal Beach Time, but uh I learned so

[9:21] much. I mean, Larry Krueger was in the

[9:23] movie. So, um it it was it was amazing.

[9:26] Chris, you did, you know, um a great

[9:29] justice to this wonderful family. And uh

[9:31] we'd like to um um

[9:35] >> Oh, Bay Theater. Is it January 24th or

[9:40] » Oh, Bay Theater. Is it January 24th or

[9:40] >> 23rd? F 7:30 p.m. at

[9:44] » 23rd? F 7:30 p.m. at

[9:44] >> $10 discounts at Bay Theater. Thank you.

[9:47] » $10 discounts at Bay Theater. Thank you.

[9:47] >> Uh Deb, can you present them with the

[9:49] » Uh Deb, can you present them with the

[9:49] proclamation, please?

[9:52] >> Did any of you want to speak?

[9:54] » Did any of you want to speak?

[9:54] >> No.

[9:54] » No.

[9:54] >> Helen, would you like to speak?

[9:56] » Helen, would you like to speak?

[9:56] [laughter]

[9:57] >> We're a very shy group.

[10:00] » We're a very shy group.

[10:00] >> We have lots and

[10:05] » actually do you want to come down?

[10:06] >> Yeah.

[10:13] » [applause]

[10:17] [applause]

[10:26] » I'll go

[10:31] need to get the wide angle here. Okay,

[10:34] everyone.

[10:37] Very nice. Now, stay there. [applause]

[10:41] Everyone else, come on.

[10:51] Okay.

[11:03] » Okay, everybody looking good.

[11:07] Perfect.

[11:08] [applause]

[11:33] I also want to mention that um uh

[11:36] Supervisor Janet Wyn also provided uh

[11:40] proclamations to uh the family as well,

[11:43] Harbor Surfboards and to Chris.

[11:51] [clears throat]

[11:52] The Harbor Chronicles has shown shown a

[11:55] spotlight on what a huge impact Rich

[11:58] Harbor and Harbor Surfboards has had on

[12:00] the surf culture and industry, not only

[12:03] nationwide, but worldwide. Like many

[12:06] other beach communities who honor their

[12:08] surfing legends, plans are in the works

[12:11] to erect a statue in Eisernh Howard Park

[12:14] in honor of Seal Beach's very own Rich

[12:17] Harbor. Stay tuned for the details.

[12:20] [applause]

[12:27] » Thank you all for coming and thank you

[12:29] Harbor family for giving us Rich Harbor.

[12:36] Okay, we are now going from Rich Harbor

[12:40] to the sand dunes restoration

[12:42] presentation.

[12:45] Um, I would like to call upon Surf Rider

[12:46] Foundation Southern California Regional

[12:48] Manager Miguela Coats.

[12:55] Try and move this up here a little bit.

[12:58] Can you guys hear me? All right. Without

[13:00] having to bend down too much. Amazing.

[13:02] Um, thank you guys so much for providing

[13:04] us with the time and opportunity to come

[13:06] and speak with you all about um, our

[13:08] vision for protecting and restoring the

[13:10] coastal dunes here in Seal Beach. Um,

[13:12] like was said, my name is Michaela Coats

[13:13] and I'm the Southern California regional

[13:15] manager here representing the North

[13:17] Orange County chapter of the Surf Rider

[13:19] Foundation. And um, next slide, please.

[13:23] So just a quick overview of what we'll

[13:25] cover today is who we are and why we're

[13:27] here, why coastal dune habitats matter,

[13:30] the current project site and conditions,

[13:33] the project overview, and then I would

[13:34] be happy to answer any questions that

[13:36] you all might have at the end. Um, next

[13:38] slide, please. So the Surf Rider

[13:41] Foundation is a nonprofit organization

[13:42] that is dedicated to the protection and

[13:45] enjoyment of the world's ocean waves and

[13:47] beaches for all people through a

[13:48] powerful activist network. We work

[13:50] through grassroots chapters that are

[13:52] 100% community-led all across the

[13:54] country. And our mission centers around

[13:57] five core initiatives. One of which that

[13:59] is bringing us here today is the coast

[14:01] and climate initiative which aims to

[14:03] tackle the issues that threaten our

[14:05] beaches and our natural shorelines. Next

[14:07] slide, please. Um, the climate action

[14:10] program is the community-directed

[14:12] program that lives within the coast and

[14:14] climate initiatives and the goal is to

[14:16] use nature-based solutions to enhance

[14:18] coastal resilience. This looks very

[14:21] differently across our network but all

[14:23] um encompasses various restoration

[14:25] projects. So whether that is restoring

[14:27] mangroves in Puerto Rico or um dune

[14:29] grass in San Francisco, we have

[14:31] volunteers and community members

[14:33] engaging in this kind of stewardship

[14:35] work all across the network and we're

[14:37] hoping to bring that here to Seal Beach

[14:39] as well. Next slide, please. Oh, you

[14:40] guys are so quick. Um so like I

[14:42] mentioned, I'm here representing in the

[14:43] North Orange County chapter. We extend

[14:45] from Seal Beach here in the north down

[14:48] to Newport Beach in the south as well as

[14:50] inland in order to represent those

[14:52] inland upstream communities that all um

[14:55] deserve right the access to clean

[14:57] beaches. Next slide please. Um the North

[15:00] Orange County chapter was formed from

[15:02] the recent merger of the Newport Beach

[15:04] and Seal Beach/Honeyington Beach

[15:06] chapters. So we've had a long-standing

[15:09] presence here in the Seal Beach

[15:10] community um through beach cleanups at

[15:12] the San Gabriel River Jetty in 2025. We

[15:15] removed almost 4,000 lbs of trash from

[15:18] the beaches and waterways. We also host

[15:20] native um plant restoration events at

[15:23] Rivers End Park and have installed

[15:25] hundreds of native plants um and engaged

[15:27] community members through those events

[15:28] too. Next slide. Um so here you can see

[15:32] um the site at first um that we envision

[15:35] this project occurring. So we want to

[15:37] protect and restore the approximately

[15:39] 2.3 acres of coastal dunes that exist

[15:42] between First and Third Street. We aim

[15:44] to engage the local community through

[15:47] hands-on volunteer days to instill and

[15:49] foster stewardship. Um, all with the

[15:52] vision of strengthening Seal Beach's

[15:54] natural coastal resilience and native

[15:56] biodiversity.

[15:57] So, why protect and restore coastal

[15:59] dunes? Well, healthy dunes can act as a

[16:02] natural barrier against storm surge and

[16:04] erosion that protects not just the

[16:06] coast, but the infrastructure that we

[16:08] have built around it. Healthy dunes play

[16:10] a critical role in providing native

[16:12] habitat for wildlife um including plants

[16:15] and birds such as the endangered

[16:17] California lease turn and the threatened

[16:19] western snowy clovers that both utilize

[16:21] dunes as nesting habitat. Restoring

[16:24] coastal dunes can also provide a more

[16:26] cost-effective method of coastal

[16:28] defense. I'm aware that the city um

[16:30] constructs a burm in order to protect

[16:32] the restaurant in the parking lot from

[16:34] storm surges that can occur. And so

[16:36] restoring dunes can be a natural

[16:38] cost-effective mechanism of getting that

[16:40] same goal. Um and lastly, by doing these

[16:42] projects in the community, we can engage

[16:44] local residents and foster stewardship

[16:47] of the environment so that we can all

[16:49] work to protect it together.

[16:52] So, the current conditions, uh, this

[16:54] project was brought to the chapter from

[16:56] concerns from local residents and

[16:58] community members over the trampling

[17:00] that has been occurring at the dunes,

[17:02] whether that's from unmanaged foot

[17:03] traffic or even ebikes as well as RV

[17:07] cars, um, that can destroy the

[17:09] vegetation and destroy the dune

[17:11] structure. The dunes are also currently

[17:13] covered in invasive species, mostly ice

[17:16] plant, which out competes natives, and

[17:18] reduces the overall biodiversity and

[17:20] health of the site. And overall, the

[17:22] lack of protection of the dunes

[17:24] continues to leave this habitat

[17:25] vulnerable to these continued human um

[17:28] as well as natural impacts. These are

[17:31] just some photos that were sent to us

[17:33] from local residents that um show

[17:35] examples of the current conditions that

[17:37] I was describing. Whether that is the

[17:39] foot traffic, the RV and ebike cars um

[17:42] or also these signs that were approved

[17:44] by the coastal commission that are

[17:45] regularly vandalized. Um but those do

[17:48] serve to try and educate people about

[17:50] the reasons why um these dunes should be

[17:53] protected.

[17:55] So, we aim to take all of these

[17:56] challenges and transform them into

[17:58] solutions through dune protection, which

[18:01] is the installing of symbolic fencing.

[18:03] Um, we can create designated walking

[18:05] areas that maintain pedestrian access

[18:08] while protecting the habitat at the

[18:10] site. Through June restoration, we can

[18:12] remove those invasive species, giving

[18:15] more space for the native species to

[18:16] thrive while also um manually installing

[18:20] native plants or native seeds in the

[18:22] site to help give those native species a

[18:24] little bit of a boost. Um and through

[18:26] regular maintenance of the site through

[18:28] workshop and restoration days, we will

[18:30] continue to engage the community in

[18:32] ongoing stewardship of this area.

[18:35] So, as I mentioned, this project was

[18:37] brought to us by residents and this is a

[18:40] fully community-led initiative. The

[18:42] chapter is 100% volunteer-led.

[18:45] And so, the North Orange County chapter

[18:46] is prepared to fund, plan, implement,

[18:49] and maintain this restoration project.

[18:51] We have be begun to find funding for

[18:54] this project to cover the materials,

[18:56] tools, and technical support, which

[18:58] would in include a restoration

[19:00] consulting company to help develop a

[19:02] restoration plan. We're going to find

[19:04] funding through a combination of grants

[19:06] as well as local donations. There are

[19:08] are already many residents who are eager

[19:10] to help support this project and bring

[19:11] it to life. Um, and the city will remain

[19:14] fully informed throughout the process.

[19:16] We've received such amazing support so

[19:18] far and we're so grateful and the city

[19:21] will continue to approve any elements

[19:23] that they want to review such as project

[19:26] plans and event dates that may occur in

[19:28] the future.

[19:30] So on this picture here you can see our

[19:32] tentative sort of map for the first

[19:35] stage of the project which is protecting

[19:37] the dunes. The green quadrants there are

[19:40] the areas of the dunes that will be

[19:42] protected by symbolic fencing. The

[19:44] spaces in between are the areas that we

[19:47] will leave open for pedestrian access

[19:50] and the black lines are the areas that

[19:52] will be wide enough for vehicle access

[19:55] specifically for lifeguards to continue

[19:57] their regular patrols. We are currently,

[19:59] oh, sorry, we are currently in the

[20:01] process of securing permits and funding

[20:03] for this first stage.

[20:06] After we protect the dunes, we aim to

[20:08] implement the restoration plan. So, like

[20:10] I mentioned, we'll be working with a

[20:12] restoration consulting company to have

[20:14] that developed for us. And again, that

[20:16] will be dependent on permits as well as

[20:19] continued funding for this project.

[20:22] And lastly, we will continue to engage

[20:24] the community um not just in the actual

[20:26] restoration itself, but in the ongoing

[20:28] maintenance for as long as needed, but

[20:30] the ultimate goal is to make this

[20:32] habitat um healthy and stable enough to

[20:34] thrive all on its own. And so, where we

[20:37] are today, we have walked the site with

[20:39] city staff and community members um in

[20:41] order to map the vehicle and public

[20:43] access routes. We have identified the

[20:46] fencing layout that will help reduce

[20:47] disturbance while preserving key access

[20:49] for the public as well as public safety

[20:52] like lifeguards. We've done a

[20:54] preliminary assessment of present

[20:55] vegetation and photographed site

[20:57] conditions. Um, and like I've said,

[20:59] we've built a lot of community interest

[21:00] around this project and we have many

[21:02] engaged volunteers ready to bring it to

[21:04] life whenever we are. Um, and so like I

[21:06] mentioned, we're currently going through

[21:07] the permit application, fundraising, um,

[21:10] and grant writing process in order to do

[21:12] that.

[21:13] Um, and so again, uh, Surf Writers work,

[21:16] we really are community first. And so by

[21:19] bringing folks out to the site, engaging

[21:21] them in this project, we can not only

[21:23] help the native biodiversity, but we can

[21:25] help to continue to foster environmental

[21:27] stewardship and anybody that wants to

[21:29] come and contribute to a more healthy

[21:32] and resilient coastline here in Seal

[21:34] Beach. And thank you all so much for

[21:36] your time. I'm happy to answer any

[21:38] questions that you might have.

[21:40] [applause]

[21:46] U Michaela, do you find that uh ebikes

[21:49] uh pose a threat to this vegetation?

[21:51] >> Ebikes were one of the Yeah. threats

[21:53] » Ebikes were one of the Yeah. threats

[21:54] that um sort of had been a concern of

[21:56] the local residents. Um, I mean, not

[21:58] only from a safety issue. I I have my

[22:00] own personal opinions about how ebikes

[22:02] can be unsafe, but also just blatantly

[22:05] going over the dune habitat, um, and the

[22:07] plants, which overall degrades the

[22:09] dunes.

[22:10] >> And Chief, uh, if somebody is caught

[22:13] » And Chief, uh, if somebody is caught

[22:13] riding ebikes in the dunes, what, uh,

[22:16] should they do it? Should PE residents

[22:18] call in?

[22:19] >> Yes. Uh, I would ask that they, uh, call

[22:22] » Yes. Uh, I would ask that they, uh, call

[22:22] our non-emergency number directly. Um

[22:25] that's uh 562-5947232.

[22:30] » Perfect. Thank you so much.

[22:31] >> Yeah, thank you. Very helpful

[22:33] » Yeah, thank you. Very helpful

[22:33] information. Uh anybody else have

[22:34] questions for Miguela?

[22:37] >> Oh, thank you very much.

[22:38] » Oh, thank you very much.

[22:38] >> Thank you all so much. [applause]

[22:47] » Okay. At this time, uh, members of the

[22:49] public may address the council regarding

[22:50] any items within the subject matter

[22:52] jurisdiction of the city council.

[22:55] Pursuant to the Brown Act, the council

[22:57] cannot discuss or take action on any

[22:59] items not on the agenda unless

[23:01] authorized by law. Matters not on the

[23:03] agenda may at the council's discretion

[23:05] be referred to the city manager and

[23:07] placed on a future agenda. All speakers

[23:09] will be limited to a period of 5

[23:11] minutes. Speakers must address their

[23:13] comments only to the mayor and the

[23:15] entire city council and not to any

[23:17] individual member of the staff or

[23:19] audience. Any documents for review

[23:21] should be presented to the city clerk

[23:23] for distribution. Speaker cards are

[23:25] available at the clerk's desk for those

[23:27] wishing to sign up to to address the

[23:28] council. Although the submission of a

[23:30] speaker card is not required in order to

[23:32] address the council. Um I've got a

[23:35] couple speaker cards, so I will start

[23:36] with them first. and Lion Kevin Young.

[23:59] Okay. Good evening, Mayor, City Council.

[24:02] Uh, [snorts] I'll be speaking about the

[24:03] Rose Lions Rose Float and the Rose

[24:05] Parade. If you want to go ahead and

[24:06] start the

[24:08] International. They win the trophy for

[24:10] the tournament volunteers

[24:12] out [music]

[24:14] of the great league among close 35 ft

[24:18] and under length. They're calling it an

[24:20] army.

[24:22] This is a really pretty one, isn't it?

[24:24] Harmony, of course, just another word

[24:26] for the magic in depicted here by four

[24:29] [music] flax seed covered lions. They're

[24:31] growing a canoe made of buffalo tree

[24:33] bark. Life will remind you that we

[24:36] really can't achieve more together than

[24:38] one.

[24:39] And some detail for you on those big

[24:41] cats. They [music] have veins of paw

[24:43] grass and pink flowered noses. We're all

[24:48] pedling across a water of greenery,

[24:50] lavender, and white roses with waves of

[24:54] white.

[24:56] Behind them is a rustic log cabin.

[25:00] That's the

[25:01] » [music]

[25:01] >> flag you see there, all of it tribute to

[25:03] » flag you see there, all of it tribute to

[25:03] the resilience of communities rebuilding

[25:06] [music] alliance around the world

[25:07] rallying to help.

[25:14] » Well, here they are returning to the

[25:16] Rose Parade from Alabama.

[25:20] Okay. [applause]

[25:27] So, Lions Club International has been

[25:30] involved in the Rose Float for

[25:32] approximately 25 years. Um,

[25:36] the average cost for a float is around

[25:40] $275,000.

[25:41] That's on the low end. So, the Lion's

[25:44] float is done for a fraction of that,

[25:46] less than 100,000. Most of it is p most

[25:49] of it is paid for through donations. You

[25:52] know, several of the people you saw on

[25:54] the float, they buy a a ticket called

[25:57] Ride for Your Life. They get to ride on

[25:59] the parade. You get a raffle ticket and

[26:01] if you win, you you know, you ride then

[26:02] you got another ticket you could walk

[26:04] alongside the parade. But we do things

[26:06] like that to try try to raise money for

[26:09] the float.

[26:11] The one thing about the lion's float in

[26:14] the parade is for us as Lions, it's one

[26:17] of our biggest marketing tools because

[26:19] it's seen by approximately 400 million

[26:22] people worldwide who watch that parade.

[26:26] So, it raises a lot of visibility for

[26:29] the Lions as a whole.

[26:31] Um, one of the things what I wanted to

[26:34] talk about is where Seal Beach got

[26:35] involved in it. Seal Beach for well Seal

[26:39] Beach has been involved ever since the

[26:40] beginning too as for 25 years and we

[26:43] usually have anywhere from 30 to 40 Seal

[26:46] Beach Lions that work

[26:49] several days during the period

[26:51] decorating the float. They put together

[26:53] an average of 600 volunteer hours during

[26:57] that period of time. Altogether there's

[26:59] roughly what a thousand volunteers to

[27:01] put together probably 10,000 hours of

[27:03] labor putting the dry material on the

[27:06] outside and then the flowers and

[27:07] everything. Um, but

[27:11] in an effort to try to, you know, raise

[27:13] a little bit of visibility for the city,

[27:16] um, for the last seven years, we've been

[27:18] letting the the Lions group use our van

[27:21] that's got Seal Beach Lions all over the

[27:23] side of it, and they've been driving the

[27:25] dignitaries around to to the airport, to

[27:28] the float, the float barn, wherever they

[27:29] need to be. Well, this year my wife and

[27:32] I drove the van. And what was really

[27:34] cool about it is by driving the van, I

[27:38] got to speak with AP Singh, the

[27:39] international director. I got to speak

[27:41] with PE or the international president.

[27:43] I got to speak with the international

[27:45] director from Canada. I got to speak to

[27:47] people from Indiana, from you know,

[27:49] Illinois. And I and the one thing that I

[27:52] told all of them is just how wonderful

[27:54] our community is, how wonderful our city

[27:58] council is, how wonderful our chamber

[28:00] is, and how we all work together so

[28:02] well. Because, you know, I'm the

[28:04] president this year, and I know our our

[28:06] club's success would not happen without

[28:08] the cooperation of the chamber, the the

[28:11] council, and us. It's a great

[28:14] collaboration that we all work together

[28:15] so well. So, basically, I just want to

[28:18] thank you for your time. Thank you for

[28:20] letting me come and talk about it. And

[28:22] you know, the parade this year was great

[28:24] because we actually won an award. We won

[28:25] an award for the the uh floral

[28:28] representation for a float under 35 ft.

[28:31] And it was it was absolutely amazing.

[28:32] So, pretty good for volunteers.

[28:36] [applause]

[28:43] Do you have any Leos with you?

[28:48] Leos, other Leos who worked on the

[28:51] float. I see two right there. Uh, the

[28:53] Leos are the the youth component of the

[28:55] the Leos. The Leos are the youth

[28:58] component of the Lions Club and it's a

[29:00] great organization. So, if you have a

[29:02] child under 18, um, I highly suggest

[29:04] getting them involved with the the Leo

[29:06] Club. Thank you very much, Kevin.

[29:08] >> Thank you.

[29:10] » Thank you.

[29:10] [applause]

[29:14] » Next, I have Robert

[29:17] Frackleton.

[29:18] >> That's it.

[29:20] » That's it.

[29:20] >> Well done. Good evening, mayor, mayor

[29:22] » Well done. Good evening, mayor, mayor

[29:22] prom, and city council. I am Robert

[29:24] Frackleton. I am the mayor prom from the

[29:26] city of Villa Park. Typically, when I

[29:28] take the 22 over here and get off at

[29:30] Seal Beach, my stomach starts thinking

[29:32] caramelized salmon. It doesn't know what

[29:34] to think now because it hasn't had it

[29:36] yet. But u uh my brain knows why I'm

[29:38] here and that's to beg of you to implore

[29:41] you to to please please keep Joe Calmic

[29:45] on the Orange County Fire Authority

[29:46] Board. Uh I serve on the OCFA board

[29:49] representing Villa Park and Joe is

[29:51] currently our vice chair and in a couple

[29:53] of weeks, God willing, he'll be

[29:56] nominated as our chair. Uh our fire

[29:58] chief resigned earlier this month. So,

[30:01] we have a big vacuum and we need the

[30:03] continuity of leadership now more than

[30:05] ever. We need Joe in that center seat

[30:06] guiding us in 2026.

[30:09] And it will be a tremendous advantage to

[30:11] Seal Beach because you're going to have

[30:12] somebody there that's going to have a

[30:14] lot of influence on who is hired to be

[30:16] our next fire chief. If you send

[30:18] somebody new, quite honestly, the way it

[30:21] works, like a lot of committees you've

[30:22] been on, you're going to be the newbie.

[30:24] You're not going to get a plum

[30:25] assignment. You're probably not going to

[30:26] be on any of the committees that are

[30:27] going to be making those big decisions.

[30:29] So Joe will be right there in the middle

[30:31] of it if you send him back. As a cash

[30:34] contract city, you need to be concerned

[30:36] about some major budget issues coming up

[30:38] in 2026. Uh the hiring of our highest

[30:42] paid chief being one of them. And we're

[30:44] ending our unfunded liability after 20

[30:47] some odd years. And uh four of our labor

[30:50] groups are getting pretty excited about

[30:52] that. And at least one if not two want

[30:54] to open negotiations in 2026. Joe knows

[30:57] these issues and again he will be

[31:00] intimately involved so as to minimize

[31:02] the effect on our cost cash cash

[31:04] contract cities like Seal Beach. Again,

[31:07] if you send a newbie, they're not going

[31:09] to be a part of that committee most

[31:11] likely. Uh they're going to be on the

[31:13] road cone committee um and and won't be

[31:16] uh having much voice. It takes about a

[31:19] year, if not two, to even understand how

[31:21] this huge uh half a billion plus uh

[31:25] dollar organization operates. But Joe

[31:27] gets it. He's been there. He's probably

[31:30] the most qualified elected official in

[31:33] all of Orange County to serve on the

[31:34] OCFA board because of all the decades of

[31:37] service he had as a firefighter and as a

[31:39] captain here in Seal Beach. But you

[31:42] probably already know that. He probably

[31:43] doesn't shut up about it is my guess.

[31:45] Um, and we need a person with Joe's

[31:48] experience leading OCFA and to be there

[31:51] when the where the big decisions are

[31:52] going to be made. Uh, OCFA is pretty

[31:55] unique in that it's not unlike a lot of

[31:57] other committees a mayoral decision, but

[31:59] it's a resolution by the entire council.

[32:01] So I sincerely ask you council to please

[32:04] send Joe back to OCFA and let him

[32:07] complete his service in the fire service

[32:09] and set you up for a great several years

[32:12] to come as a cash contract city and with

[32:15] a fire chief that you helped pick. I'll

[32:18] await your answer at Waltworf.

[32:22] [applause]

[32:27] » Thank you, Robert. Uh, is there anyone

[32:29] else that would like to address the

[32:30] council at this time?

[32:33] John.

[32:37] [applause]

[32:43] Um, I just want to say that I finished

[32:46] my Godgiven

[32:50] Drug Administration,

[32:52] Drug Enforcement Administration

[32:55] exemption pursuant to the Religious

[32:58] Freedom Restoration Act. Um, I'm going

[33:01] to show it next week. I didn't know I

[33:03] had to bring the PDF like on Friday to

[33:06] present it here, but there is a little

[33:10] uh paper over there if you don't believe

[33:14] me. Um

[33:18] yeah, I just wanted to say uh for Joe

[33:21] again, uh thank you for the work on the

[33:24] San Gabriel River and I saw I think

[33:28] we're going to talk about it later. Um,

[33:30] and the harbor surfboards. Um, it's been

[33:34] there my whole life. It's amazing that

[33:36] like such a local feeling. I love that.

[33:40] Um,

[33:41] and then the dunes we were talking

[33:44] about. Um,

[33:46] I have concern that's only on one side

[33:49] of the beach. Uh, what are we doing on

[33:52] the other side would be a question. Um,

[33:55] one of my ideas was

[33:58] for the Prop 4 grant to put out some

[34:04] 3D printed concrete uh things in the

[34:08] ocean in order to

[34:11] uh stop the beach erosion as much. And

[34:14] then maybe as a side effect, we could

[34:18] put them in this like real nice way that

[34:21] gets the waves when they hit it. I don't

[34:23] know. I don't know if it's possible, but

[34:25] I'm just putting it out there. Um,

[34:28] [snorts]

[34:30] yeah, I'll have more next week or two

[34:33] weeks. I love you all. [applause]

[34:42] » Thank you, John. Is there anyone else

[34:43] that would like to address the council?

[34:47] Ken.

[34:50] Thank you, mayor, and uh happy new year

[34:53] everyone and steam council staff and our

[34:56] first responders. I'm back again to talk

[34:59] about uh the Hannes pipelines project.

[35:03] I'm Ken Cy from College Park West. Um

[35:06] I'm sure most of you or many of you,

[35:08] maybe all of you have saw Tom Moore's

[35:11] letter to the editor in the sun from uh

[35:14] Thursday, December 11th, just before the

[35:16] holidays there. Uh, I actually wasn't

[35:20] going to read from it, but the more I

[35:21] look at it, it makes a lot of sense. So,

[35:23] I'm just going to mention that he

[35:25] pointed out that that bridge is our only

[35:28] daily access point as well as our only

[35:31] robust emergency access. You've heard

[35:34] these things before. In Tom, Tom's

[35:37] words, any risk to the bridge is a risk

[35:38] to our neighborhood safety and

[35:40] emergency. For those of you who know Tom

[35:42] Moore or have known him, he was a

[35:44] councilman for eight years. He served

[35:46] the term as mayor. Uh personally I think

[35:48] he's a very deliberative guy and very

[35:51] datadriven and information driven. um

[35:56] you know he he looked at a lot he's

[35:58] looked at a lot of information over time

[36:00] and made up his own mind and uh actually

[36:03] you know like a like any proponent I

[36:05] guess I've been trying to you know when

[36:08] you think you're right you try to say

[36:09] don't you see that this this and uh but

[36:13] you know Tom in his usual way has wanted

[36:16] to weigh everything and after the

[36:17] meeting at the pickle ball center which

[36:19] a lot of you attended for which I'm

[36:20] still grateful we're still grateful uh

[36:23] He mentioned that the uh federal

[36:25] national bridge inventory officially

[36:28] determined that that bridge is

[36:29] structurally deficient, poor

[36:31] substructure rating of four, federal rec

[36:34] re recog recommendation for actual

[36:36] bridge replacement due to substandard

[36:38] load capacity and outdated geometry. I

[36:42] actually thought that they that they

[36:43] thought a retrofit, a robust retrofit

[36:47] would be okay, but Tom pointed out to me

[36:49] that they actually recommend

[36:50] replacement. Uh he also mentioned the

[36:53] January 2025 CALR inspection which was

[36:57] the latest one which confirms decades of

[36:59] worsening deterioration of the peers

[37:02] including spallings and exposed rebar.

[37:06] Um despite that this this pipeline's

[37:09] proposal is to add two additional

[37:12] pipelines permanent loads onto the

[37:14] bridge that federal data says needs

[37:16] replacement. This raises a clear safety

[37:18] concern for Seal Beach residents and for

[37:20] Long Beach liability. As far as uh the

[37:24] importance of that bridge, I I think our

[37:26] uh first responders know about uh the

[37:30] importance of that bridge in an

[37:32] emergency. I've I've talked with our

[37:34] chief and also um um our sergeant Gray

[37:39] about that uh with the they've known

[37:42] about this in in redoing the natural uh

[37:44] I'm sorry that the the hazard mitigation

[37:47] plan every 5 years. So uh this is not a

[37:51] new thing but the pipelines may propo

[37:54] may pose a significant risk. Uh and um

[38:00] uh Tom said no new pipelines on a

[38:02] structurally deficient bridge until it

[38:04] is rehabbed or retrofitted or pipelines

[38:06] are routed by an alternative path. This

[38:09] is not opposition. This is ensuring

[38:11] public safety and regional reliability

[38:14] before adding new infrastructure. I

[38:16] think most most people in Seal Beach are

[38:19] vast majority are not against this

[38:20] pipeline project. It's just we really

[38:23] believe and from the evidence we've

[38:25] developed and the discussion that it

[38:27] doesn't need to come before through our

[38:30] area or over that bridge. Sounds like

[38:32] the bridge needs attention anyway. Uh

[38:35] probably pretty soon, but uh the we

[38:38] believe it can be routed in other

[38:40] directions and uh we don't have to go

[38:42] through the bridge uh or even through

[38:46] College Park West and the uh grove

[38:49] there. Um

[38:52] so it it it is it is a regional uh uh

[38:55] benefit to all of us to have clean water

[38:57] and to improve the functioning of the

[38:59] power plant, the DWP plant. But really

[39:02] this project offers no specific benefits

[39:04] to Seal Beach. At the pickle ball

[39:07] meeting, there was one slide and the one

[39:08] benefit they talked about is potential

[39:11] use of reclaimed water. So I think that

[39:15] ship is sailed. I think I hope to talk

[39:17] to you more about that at another time.

[39:19] The expense involving with that

[39:22] >> would be uh would be difficult. You'd

[39:25] » would be uh would be difficult. You'd

[39:25] need to have collecting systems. You'd

[39:27] have to be able to uh use use the

[39:29] reclaimed water as well as your uh your

[39:32] water that you're collecting to go to be

[39:34] reclaimed, your storm water, your

[39:36] runoff. So uh there's really no other

[39:38] improve other specific elements that

[39:41] they mentioned would be u a benefit to

[39:43] the city other than putting back they

[39:46] say better than before the work that

[39:48] they do. So I hope to continue to engage

[39:51] you in in discussion on this as we go

[39:53] forward. Uh last last time I gave the

[39:56] big booklet the big orange booklet.

[39:59] >> Hopefully uh hopefully uh you'll be have

[40:02] » Hopefully uh hopefully uh you'll be have

[40:02] had a look at that and then we can

[40:04] continue the discussion. Thank you very

[40:05] much.

[40:06] Thank you, Ken.

[40:09] [applause]

[40:18] » Good evening, uh, Mayor Lendow and the

[40:21] city council. I'm here to speak about,

[40:24] uh, new business item E, the trash

[40:26] interceptor project. Um,

[40:30] I'm a longtime surf rider volunteer and

[40:33] I can tell you I've been in this San

[40:35] Gabriel River cleaning it up for I think

[40:38] about five years now and dozens of

[40:41] cleanup events. Just this last Saturday,

[40:44] we removed 1500 lbs of trash from

[40:47] River's End Park in only two about three

[40:50] hours with 100 volunteers.

[40:53] I can tell you. Thank you. [applause]

[40:58] I can tell you, you've all heard the

[41:00] definition of insanity. We could be

[41:02] there every day doing the same thing and

[41:05] if you expect a different result, you're

[41:07] crazy. Okay, so I want to just say that

[41:11] this project is hugely important for not

[41:13] only the city of Seal Beach, but also

[41:15] all of North Orange County as it will

[41:17] prevent tons and tons or hundreds of

[41:19] thousands of tons of trash from entering

[41:21] our oceans and ending up on our beaches

[41:24] every year. Um, I've also been on the

[41:26] working group that uh, Mr. Comic, I

[41:29] believe, has chaired uh, since its

[41:31] inception. And just to see this project

[41:35] evolve and move forward the way it has

[41:37] is a is a huge um, uh, commitment to

[41:41] what you guys have have done for the

[41:45] environment here and it shows your

[41:48] commitment for the environment going

[41:49] forward. So, I personally support the

[41:52] project. I hope the city continues to

[41:53] support the project. It's hugely

[41:55] important and I look forward to seeing

[41:56] it become real. Thank you very much.

[41:59] [applause]

[42:14] » Uh good evening. Uh Theres Miller from

[42:17] Oldtown. Um uh first I just had one

[42:20] comment on the uh strategic plan that

[42:22] was done in December. I hope that uh

[42:25] there would be a recap at some point. I

[42:27] think um it was on a Saturday. A lot of

[42:29] people couldn't go. Uh I don't know how

[42:32] many people watched it on YouTube.

[42:34] Probably not that many. And I think

[42:36] there were some important decisions that

[42:38] were discussed and that need to be um

[42:40] potentially uh put in a I don't know

[42:43] some kind of a document and sent out. Um

[42:46] Charles did do a great job with in the

[42:48] sun to post some things you know with

[42:51] online and in the paper. Uh but that's

[42:54] not enough because there has been some

[42:56] more discussion online about committees

[42:58] and upcoming things and I think that um

[43:00] I don't think that the whole city uh is

[43:02] aware of it. Uh the other thing I want

[43:04] to just talk about briefly I don't know

[43:05] if you guys have seen the uh article

[43:08] recently in the Orange County Register

[43:09] about the city of Orange and what they

[43:12] did uh last year. they were they they

[43:14] running they are running a similar

[43:15] parallel path that we are in terms of

[43:18] you know deficits and stuff. So last

[43:20] year in early December or in early

[43:22] January 2025 they underwent a

[43:25] multi-million they were coming up to a

[43:28] multi-million dollar deficit and to

[43:30] avoid bankruptcy what they did is they

[43:32] contacted Grant Thornton um to do an

[43:36] audit and put them in a better fiscal

[43:39] responsibility. really they did it

[43:40] because uh they are approaching they

[43:43] were approaching a long long-term

[43:45] structural deficit similar to what we're

[43:47] facing. Uh they had some uh you know

[43:50] need for transparency and public trust

[43:53] another uh issue that Seal Beach is

[43:56] facing. Uh risk of bankruptcy looming

[43:59] just like us and deferred maintenance

[44:01] and other liabilities. And what they

[44:03] were able to do is to uh you know make

[44:06] some huge cuts along the way. Uh

[44:10] identify where there were spending um

[44:13] gaps, what could be done to fix it. Um I

[44:16] think this is a good time. It's the

[44:18] beginning of the year. It's a good time

[44:20] for our city to kind of look closely

[44:22] before we go into the budgeting process

[44:24] uh for the following fiscal year. look

[44:26] at what we spent, where we're where the

[44:28] outcomes, uh, you know, were good or

[44:30] bad, uh, and what we what we can do to,

[44:33] uh, you know, stop a potential

[44:35] bankruptcy from happening. So, um, thank

[44:37] you and, um, hopefully we'll hear more

[44:39] about the budget and everything in in

[44:41] meetings to come. Thank you.

[44:44] [applause]

[44:48] » Thank you, Teresa. Is there anyone else

[44:50] that would like to address the council?

[45:06] My name is Rio McCcoll. I'm a Seal Beach

[45:09] resident and I want to thank Surf Rider

[45:12] Foundation for taking on the Sand Dune

[45:15] project. That really does a lot for us.

[45:18] It's just amazing what changing that

[45:21] habitat to what what the animals expect,

[45:26] what difference that makes for the shore

[45:28] birds, uh other coastal birds, the

[45:31] pollinators, uh all the habitat. So,

[45:36] it's really going to be nice once it's

[45:38] done. And uh like you might have seen in

[45:41] that picture that in case you're not

[45:43] aware that there are many shorebirds

[45:46] that lay their eggs on open ground. So

[45:49] they need the right open space in order

[45:53] to see there aren't any predators coming

[45:56] toward them. But they need enough sand

[45:59] with the right type of plants that will

[46:01] allow them the sand opening to

[46:03] camouflage their eggs in the sand where

[46:06] the ice plant takes over. so thick that

[46:10] they can't get to the sand underneath

[46:12] it. So, and many of them don't even feed

[46:15] their babies. As soon as they're born,

[46:17] within two to three hours, shoreirds

[46:20] like the western snowy clover and the

[46:23] killed deer, as soon as their feathers

[46:26] dry, 2 to three hours, the fathers walk

[46:28] them to the water and teach them to feed

[46:31] themselves. So, they have a very narrow

[46:33] area where they can live.

[46:37] So, and also the trash interceptor

[46:39] project is really exciting to hear. I

[46:42] volunteer with Riverzen Park and I've

[46:44] had people asking me what can we do

[46:47] about this? You know, there's something

[46:49] they've done in the Santa Ana River and

[46:52] I said yes, Surf Rider is on it. So,

[46:55] that's really exciting. Thank you.

[46:59] [applause]

[47:03] Thank you, Rio.

[47:14] Good evening, Mayor Landau council

[47:15] members. Uh, my name is Stephanie Wade.

[47:17] I'm a District 5 Leisure World resident

[47:20] and I'm also a Surf Rider Foundation

[47:22] member. I've been a member of the Surf

[47:25] Rider Foundation and involved in Surf

[47:27] Rider uh for 23 years. And in that time,

[47:31] I've been uh with four different local

[47:34] chapters and four different beach

[47:35] communities. And nowhere do I see the

[47:39] need for dune restoration more than here

[47:41] in Seal Beach. So, I'm really proud of

[47:43] the council for embracing this project.

[47:45] I'm glad it's going forward. I'm very

[47:47] proud of Rich and the rest of the

[47:48] chapter for working so hard on this. I I

[47:51] owe you some volunteer hours on it. Um

[47:54] and I also want to say the trash

[47:56] interceptor project is terrific. I think

[47:58] it's great, but we also have to do work

[48:00] about getting rid of and reducing our

[48:03] use of plastics. Even once we get that

[48:05] off our beaches and out of the trash

[48:08] interceptor, there's no throwing it

[48:10] away. There is no way. Those plastic

[48:12] molecules break down and we're all now

[48:14] familiar with the health effects and

[48:16] that we all carry it. So, I hope we'll

[48:18] be looking at maybe a polystyrene band

[48:20] going forward. Thank you.

[48:24] [applause]

[48:28] Thank you, Stephanie. Anyone else?

[48:34] Okay, going once. Oh, okay.

[48:44] » Uh, good evening everybody. Uh, thank

[48:45] you city council and mayor for this

[48:47] time. Uh thank you sir Ryder for uh the

[48:49] important presentation on the uh dunes

[48:52] and um thank you for adopt hopefully

[48:54] adopting it and going forward. Um and

[48:57] thank you for the trash interceptor

[48:58] project as well. Uh the main reason I am

[49:01] here today is to uh make sure that uh

[49:04] when moving that project forward to

[49:05] consider that there are uh sea turtles

[49:07] in the San Gabriel River. uh there have

[49:09] been documented over a hundred uh plus

[49:12] and so uh when if and when moving

[49:15] forward with that project to include uh

[49:17] the aquarium of the Pacific and other

[49:19] partners within the area. Uh thank you.

[49:22] >> Thank you. [applause]

[49:28] » Anyone else like to speak?

[49:31] Any of the many young people in the

[49:32] audience want to speak? Oh, here we go.

[49:37] [applause]

[49:44] Hello, my name is Grayson Oslick. I go

[49:46] to Fountain Valley High School, which is

[49:48] a way far away from here. But many of us

[49:50] are here because we have a government

[49:52] project. And I think that it's very

[49:54] important um that we get out here and

[49:56] we, you know, we don't live in Seal

[49:58] Beach. None of us do. At least I don't

[49:59] think so. But I think that it's very

[50:01] important that we're able to listen and

[50:03] see these different perspectives on the

[50:04] different issues. And so chairs, I just

[50:06] want to thank you for your time and

[50:07] thank you for the opportunity for having

[50:09] us out here. And I think that it's

[50:10] important that uh us as students like

[50:13] going out of high school into college

[50:15] and into our adult lives. I think that

[50:17] it's very important that we learn the

[50:19] skills on how and what to do when

[50:21] attending these kind of meetings because

[50:23] eventually, if you think about it, we're

[50:25] all going to be living in different

[50:27] cities with different people and we're

[50:29] going to have different perspectives.

[50:30] And so being able to see those different

[50:32] perspectives and different people and

[50:34] being able to be confident, be speak up

[50:36] here just off the fly, I think it's very

[50:38] important that we learn those skills.

[50:39] And so I just want to thank you guys for

[50:40] this meeting and thank you for having us

[50:42] all out here uh on behalf of all of

[50:44] Fountain Valley High School. Thank you.

[50:47] [applause and cheering]

[50:53] Uh may I make a quick comment to the

[50:55] last speaker to Grayson from Fountain

[50:57] Valley High School. Um, I love it. And

[50:59] you are talking to an alumni from

[51:01] Fountain Valley High School, class of

[51:03] 97. [applause]

[51:05] So, I love the fact that you guys are

[51:07] here from your government class, um,

[51:09] here to speak and just here to observe.

[51:11] And this is awesome.

[51:13] [applause]

[51:16] » Thank you very much, Grayson. That was

[51:18] great. Anyone else like to speak?

[51:26] » Come on up.

[51:28] Well, so if you're in model UN, you must

[51:30] be a great public speaker,

[51:32] >> right? Yeah,

[51:34] » right? Yeah,

[51:34] >> that's that. Well, that's terrific.

[51:35] » that's that. Well, that's terrific.

[51:35] Thank you guys very much.

[51:36] >> Thank you guys.

[51:38] » Thank you guys.

[51:38] [applause]

[51:42] » Okay, anyone else?

[51:46] Okay, I am going to

[51:49] >> um can we respond to one comment that

[51:51] » um can we respond to one comment that

[51:51] was made from the audience?

[51:53] >> Sure.

[51:53] » Sure.

[51:53] >> Um the Yeah. Um, so a comment was made

[51:57] » Um the Yeah. Um, so a comment was made

[51:57] by Terresa Miller about the strategic

[52:00] plan, about a recap in documents. I

[52:02] thought I recall from that meeting we

[52:04] were going to produce an outline or some

[52:06] minutes and so forth. So can you um

[52:09] director, you want to or city manager

[52:11] Gyogus, you want to just provide a brief

[52:13] update?

[52:13] >> Yeah. No, thank you uh Teresa for

[52:15] » Yeah. No, thank you uh Teresa for

[52:16] bringing it up and council member Sen.

[52:17] Uh we will be bringing that item back

[52:19] with a strategic planning report on the

[52:22] 26th of January. So, you'll get to see

[52:24] the full report. We'll get that that out

[52:25] to the public and uh we'll be able to

[52:27] discuss that item. Thank you.

[52:31] >> Thank you. Okay. Anyone else? Okay,

[52:34] » Thank you. Okay. Anyone else? Okay,

[52:34] we're moving it on. Um by motion of the

[52:36] city council, this is the time to notify

[52:38] the public of any changes to the agenda

[52:41] and or rearrange the order of the

[52:42] agenda. Does anyone want to pull a

[52:45] consent calendar item?

[52:47] >> Yes, mayor. I do. I'd like to pull item

[52:50] » Yes, mayor. I do. I'd like to pull item

[52:50] uh what is it? C. Item C.

[52:53] Okay. Noted. Anyone else?

[52:56] City clerk, do we have any supplemental

[52:58] communications?

[53:00] >> Yes, mayor. We have um four supplemental

[53:02] » Yes, mayor. We have um four supplemental

[53:02] communications that were received after

[53:04] posting the agenda. They've been made

[53:05] available to the council and also to the

[53:08] public. I don't know if I should do the

[53:10] correction here or wait until we take

[53:12] the item item C. Now, on item C, there

[53:16] was a correction to the resolution 7722.

[53:20] Um for there was a reference to

[53:22] dissolving um the city tree advisory

[53:25] board in the heading of the resolution

[53:27] that should not have been included in

[53:29] that resolution and has since been

[53:31] removed. You have a copy of the current

[53:33] resolution now and there's copies here

[53:35] available for the public as well.

[53:38] >> Thank you very much, city clerk. Okay,

[53:40] » Thank you very much, city clerk. Okay,

[53:40] I'd like to call for a motion and a

[53:42] second to approve tonight's agenda.

[53:45] >> Motion.

[53:45] » Motion.

[53:45] >> Second. Roll call, please. It has been

[53:49] » Second. Roll call, please. It has been

[53:49] moved by Mayor Pro Tim Wong and second

[53:52] by council member Synagle. Council

[53:55] member Calm, how do you vote?

[53:56] >> Yes.

[53:57] » Yes.

[53:57] >> Mayor Pro Tim Wong, how do you vote?

[53:58] » Mayor Pro Tim Wong, how do you vote?

[53:58] >> Yes.

[53:59] » Yes.

[53:59] >> Council member Cynical, how do you vote?

[54:00] » Council member Cynical, how do you vote?

[54:00] >> Yes.

[54:01] » Yes.

[54:01] >> Council member Still, how do you vote?

[54:03] » Council member Still, how do you vote?

[54:03] >> Yes.

[54:03] » Yes.

[54:03] >> Mayor Landau, how do you vote?

[54:04] » Mayor Landau, how do you vote?

[54:04] >> Yes.

[54:05] » Yes.

[54:05] >> Motion carries. Five votes. Yes.

[54:07] » Motion carries. Five votes. Yes.

[54:07] >> Thank you very much. Now on to uh

[54:09] » Thank you very much. Now on to uh

[54:09] reports of city attorney Gelli. Do you

[54:12] have anything to report?

[54:12] >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. The city

[54:14] » Thank you, Madame Mayor. The city

[54:14] council met in close session this

[54:16] afternoon to discuss the two items on

[54:18] the posted agenda. All five council

[54:20] members were present and no reportable

[54:22] action was taken. And before I pass this

[54:26] on, I did just want to give uh the

[54:28] council a happy new year and a happy new

[54:30] year from the state legislature because

[54:33] they have seen fit to adopt a very

[54:35] comprehensive update to the Brown Act.

[54:37] And the Brown Act for those in the

[54:39] audience is the law that governs uh

[54:41] public meeting transparency. And so

[54:44] there's a litany of new changes um some

[54:46] minor changes that took effect on

[54:48] January 1st. the bulk of the changes um

[54:51] that are going to affect how the council

[54:53] meetings are run take effect July 1st of

[54:56] this year and the biggest change just to

[54:58] give you a quick update is that um going

[55:02] forward council meetings are going to

[55:03] have to be hybrid meetings meaning that

[55:05] there's going to have to be a telephonic

[55:08] or zoom option for

[55:11] uh the public to be able to participate

[55:14] in the meetings remotely. So, there will

[55:16] now have to be a either Zoom or phone

[55:20] system to allow public comment via um

[55:23] one of those systems. And I have not had

[55:26] an opportunity to talk to staff about

[55:28] what [clears throat] our IT capabilities

[55:30] are. Obviously, we were able to do quite

[55:32] a bit during COVID, but we're going to

[55:34] have to uh rethink about how that to

[55:37] implement this new law uh on July 1st.

[55:39] Some of the other changes include um a

[55:42] [clears throat] requirement to adopt a

[55:44] disruption policy. The meeting actually

[55:46] can't proceed uh if there is a uh

[55:50] technical dis uh interruption with the

[55:53] internet service or phone service. Um so

[55:57] we have to adopt a policy on how we're

[55:59] going to address those uh potential

[56:01] technical difficulties. And our meeting

[56:04] agendas are actually going to have to be

[56:05] translated into certain languages. And

[56:08] so we're looking at all that to make

[56:09] sure that the city council is in

[56:11] compliance with the Brown Act.

[56:14] What's that?

[56:17] And and just to be clear, the the te the

[56:20] public comment period via the hybrid

[56:23] meeting format only applies to the city

[56:24] council. It's not going to apply to

[56:26] every uh single city commission. So with

[56:29] that, um that's my report for tonight.

[56:32] >> City manager clarification. Was there a

[56:33] » City manager clarification. Was there a

[56:34] threshold in the size of the city in

[56:36] terms of the hybrid approach?

[56:39] >> Uh, I believe

[56:39] » Uh, I believe

[56:39] >> is it a population count?

[56:40] » is it a population count?

[56:40] >> 25,000.

[56:41] » 25,000.

[56:41] >> Yeah. And we're we're right on it.

[56:44] » Yeah. And we're we're right on it.

[56:44] >> I think we we made it right.

[56:45] » I think we we made it right.

[56:45] >> Just [laughter] below

[56:47] » Just [laughter] below

[56:47] >> 24,95.

[56:57] So we're below the 25,000 thresholds.

[56:59] >> Well, we're going to have to look at

[57:00] » Well, we're going to have to look at

[57:00] that and make sure. It may not apply to

[57:02] us.

[57:02] >> Yeah. Yeah,

[57:03] » Yeah. Yeah,

[57:03] >> it's as easy as a link anyway.

[57:05] » it's as easy as a link anyway.

[57:05] >> But we're in a county that has more than

[57:06] » But we're in a county that has more than

[57:06] 600,000.

[57:07] >> Oh, that's right. I'm sorry.

[57:09] » Oh, that's right. I'm sorry.

[57:09] [clears throat]

[57:10] >> Thank you, city clerk.

[57:11] » Thank you, city clerk.

[57:11] >> You You threw me for a wrench cuz I was

[57:13] » You You threw me for a wrench cuz I was

[57:13] like I knew it applied here. It's 25

[57:15] cities of 25,000 or any city in a county

[57:18] with 600,000 people.

[57:20] >> So, it does apply to Seal Beach.

[57:22] » So, it does apply to Seal Beach.

[57:22] >> Okay. Thank you, city attorney. Uh city

[57:25] » Okay. Thank you, city attorney. Uh city

[57:25] manager Gyos, do you have anything to

[57:26] report?

[57:27] >> Uh yes, I do. Mayor, uh good evening. Uh

[57:29] » Uh yes, I do. Mayor, uh good evening. Uh

[57:29] happy new year, everyone. Uh I hope

[57:30] everybody had an enjoyable holiday. Um I

[57:33] want to briefly acknowledge one event

[57:34] that took place since our last city

[57:35] council meeting. Uh on December 17th,

[57:38] the Sil Beach Police Department held a

[57:40] swearing in ceremony to welcome new

[57:41] members and recognize promotions within

[57:44] the department. Uh it was a meaningful

[57:46] event and I want to thank Chief

[57:47] Henderson uh and the entire police

[57:49] department for their continued

[57:50] commitment to public safety uh to

[57:52] service our community. Uh and finally,

[57:55] as we begin the new year, I want to

[57:56] extend my appreciation to our city staff

[57:58] for their dedication and

[57:59] professionalism, and I look forward to

[58:01] another productive year ahead in service

[58:03] to the Sil Beach community. With that,

[58:04] mayor, that concludes my report.

[58:06] >> Thank you very much. Okay. Now, general

[58:09] » Thank you very much. Okay. Now, general

[58:09] council member comments and reporting

[58:11] pursuant to AB1234.

[58:13] Uh Councilman Kelmick, would you like to

[58:16] start? Uh this evening I just have that

[58:18] I attended the uh swearing in ceremony

[58:20] for our new police officers and it looks

[58:23] like we have a very good group and the

[58:25] promotions as well. Thank you.

[58:28] >> Thank you,

[58:29] » Thank you,

[58:29] >> Councilwoman Senle.

[58:30] » Councilwoman Senle.

[58:30] >> Yes, thank you. I just wanted to make a

[58:32] » Yes, thank you. I just wanted to make a

[58:32] note that the uh Christmas parade was

[58:34] fabulous. There was a lot of volunteers

[58:37] and uh it was a great event. Really

[58:38] enjoyed it. Um, I do want to comment

[58:41] that during the rain uh season, I want

[58:43] to compliment our public works

[58:45] department and say thank you. We've

[58:47] talked about being proactive getting our

[58:49] sign stage uh, you know, flooded.

[58:51] Please, you know, use a different street

[58:54] and because uh, what happens when in

[58:57] College Park East when our streets flood

[58:58] and then people drive through it, it

[59:00] creates the wave that goes right up to

[59:02] the houses into the garage. So, um, we

[59:05] were proactive with signs out. We had

[59:07] the um what's the machine? Um the pump

[59:11] machine, [laughter]

[59:12] the pumping machine um pre-staged and

[59:16] the rains came during when our staff a

[59:19] lot were taking vacations and holidays

[59:21] and staffing was thin. And so really

[59:23] appreciate our staff that had to um be

[59:26] coordinated, jump in to make because you

[59:28] can't turn on those machines unless we

[59:30] have a staff person there.

[59:31] >> And so and I drove my neighborhood and I

[59:33] » And so and I drove my neighborhood and I

[59:33] saw our staff working. it was raining

[59:35] and it was late and it was cold. And so

[59:37] I just want to um share appreciation

[59:40] that we were proactive and um also in

[59:43] terms of being proactive for the

[59:45] flooding, the storm water runoff

[59:46] flooding uh neighbor for neighbor um

[59:48] Sergeant Gray is not here, but um our

[59:51] neighbor for neighbor program put out

[59:52] notices um in those of us that have

[59:55] signed up for it. And so the notices let

[59:58] you know storm is coming, here's where

[59:59] your sandbags are at. We're also now

[1:00:01] have the inflatables that people can buy

[1:00:04] in terms of blocking garages, you know,

[1:00:06] and so forth. So, our neighbor for

[1:00:08] neighbor put out a lot of really timely,

[1:00:10] excellent information and the storm

[1:00:13] tracking and then also appreciation to

[1:00:15] the staff who it seemed like every 30

[1:00:17] seconds we had a storm update. It was

[1:00:19] like every day, but um it was a lot of

[1:00:22] effort to keep us informed and again uh

[1:00:24] keeping us safe. So, I want to

[1:00:25] acknowledge public works for um really

[1:00:28] um going that extra mile and especially

[1:00:30] during a holiday period when we were

[1:00:32] downsized with staffing. So, um please

[1:00:34] pass that on. Thank you.

[1:00:37] >> Thank you very much, Councilman Steel.

[1:00:39] » Thank you very much, Councilman Steel.

[1:00:40] >> Yes.

[1:00:41] » Yes.

[1:00:42] >> Uh thank you very much, Mayor. Uh since

[1:00:43] » Uh thank you very much, Mayor. Uh since

[1:00:43] our last meeting, I attended the

[1:00:45] swearing in ceremony. I think uh we were

[1:00:48] all there. Nice to see the PD. Nice to

[1:00:50] see the badges and the advancements in

[1:00:53] the uh our police department. I attended

[1:00:55] the board of directors meeting of the

[1:00:57] ACCOC which is the association of city

[1:01:00] councils for Orange County. It was their

[1:01:02] board meeting where they elected a new

[1:01:03] president president and uh and so on. I

[1:01:07] also attended the Cal City's Orange

[1:01:09] County Division their final lunchon of

[1:01:11] last year. Um, I attended the OCMBBD,

[1:01:16] which is Orange County Mosquito Vector

[1:01:18] District, which is uh one of those board

[1:01:20] assignments that uh is important for a

[1:01:23] city like Seal Beach. Uh, nothing much

[1:01:25] going on on the mosquito front these

[1:01:27] days, but we're gearing up for next year

[1:01:30] and um, plans are in motion for that.

[1:01:33] Um, and I also attended the OCO act uh,

[1:01:37] which is the Orange County uh,

[1:01:41] Orange County

[1:01:44] Older adults. Thank you very much.

[1:01:46] Orange County Older Adults Advisory

[1:01:48] Commission. OCO act. Older adults

[1:01:51] advisory commission.

[1:01:52] >> Did [clears throat] you ever see your

[1:01:53] » Did [clears throat] you ever see your

[1:01:53] moment?

[1:01:53] >> I'm losing something with age here.

[1:01:54] » I'm losing something with age here.

[1:01:54] That's right.

[1:01:55] >> You're looking at me

[1:01:56] » You're looking at me

[1:01:56] >> from my memory. [laughter]

[1:01:57] » from my memory. [laughter]

[1:01:57] So anyway, uh just that blank space. I

[1:02:01] also would like to, if I may, Dave, I'm

[1:02:03] going to uh point a finger at you. We

[1:02:05] have a brand new executive director in

[1:02:07] Leisure World and he is Dave. Stand up

[1:02:09] for us, Dave. Please say hello.

[1:02:12] >> [applause and cheering]

[1:02:14] » And I'm honored honored to see you here

[1:02:16] tonight. Tell me your last name again,

[1:02:18] please.

[1:02:18] >> Norbell.

[1:02:19] » Norbell.

[1:02:19] >> Norbell. That's right. Dave Norbell. And

[1:02:21] » Norbell. That's right. Dave Norbell. And

[1:02:21] so we are uh grateful for his presence

[1:02:23] in Leisure World. He's taking over. He's

[1:02:25] figured out You figured out where the

[1:02:27] men's room is. Correct.

[1:02:28] >> Not yet.

[1:02:28] » Not yet.

[1:02:28] >> Not yet. Working on it. Uh anyway,

[1:02:31] » Not yet. Working on it. Uh anyway,

[1:02:31] welcome. Thank you for being here. And

[1:02:33] that's my comments.

[1:02:34] >> Thank you very much, Mayor Pro Tam Wong.

[1:02:36] » Thank you very much, Mayor Pro Tam Wong.

[1:02:36] >> Uh thank you, mayor. Um since our last

[1:02:38] » Uh thank you, mayor. Um since our last

[1:02:38] council meeting in December, um on

[1:02:42] December 12th, Friday, I attended the uh

[1:02:44] mayor's wheels, meals on wheels over at

[1:02:47] the North Seal Beach Library. So there

[1:02:49] city staff was there to uh basically

[1:02:51] help welcome the seniors and help make

[1:02:53] the holidays a little bit nicer. There

[1:02:55] was volunteer musicians and then we got

[1:02:57] a chance to talk to a lot of the

[1:02:58] residents within Seal Beach around the

[1:03:00] Rossmore Shopping Center and uh

[1:03:02] basically help hopefully made their day

[1:03:04] a little bit nicer. On uh Friday, excuse

[1:03:08] me, December 14th, uh Sunday, um I

[1:03:11] attended the Precious Life Shelter in

[1:03:12] Los Alamos. Uh a tour of their campus

[1:03:15] and their grounds. If you don't know

[1:03:16] what Precious Life Shelter is, it they

[1:03:18] provide emergency transitional single

[1:03:21] parent residents for pregnant women with

[1:03:23] uh no place to live. So essentially,

[1:03:25] these are women facing immediate

[1:03:26] financial, physical, or even emotional

[1:03:28] abuse that are escaping their

[1:03:30] situations. And so what they do over at

[1:03:33] Precious Life Shelter is very much um

[1:03:35] appreciated. On December 17th, I also

[1:03:38] attended the COB PD's promotion and

[1:03:41] swearing in. So that was great to see

[1:03:43] that the turnout there and the positive

[1:03:44] energy towards our police. Um on

[1:03:48] December 20th, Saturday, I myself joined

[1:03:51] with College Park West residences and

[1:03:53] the group from the CPW preserve and

[1:03:55] there we did um what I take as very

[1:03:58] personal is graffiti cleanup. So for

[1:04:01] many of those that crossed the bridge

[1:04:02] into College Park West into from Long

[1:04:04] Beach, we went I was down in San Gabriel

[1:04:07] River when it was a low tide and then

[1:04:09] all that graffiti you might have seen at

[1:04:11] the base of the bridge has now all been

[1:04:12] covered with concrete gray and and from

[1:04:15] out of view once when you venture out

[1:04:17] some more, you'll see a lot more tagging

[1:04:19] and a lot more graffiti. And I'll just

[1:04:21] say it's all been covered. So that took

[1:04:23] about five hours on Saturday. So I'm

[1:04:25] very much uh very proud of the work that

[1:04:28] College Park West residents [applause]

[1:04:29] did.

[1:04:33] and we very much said those to

[1:04:35] ourselves, even if it does come back,

[1:04:36] we'll be back. Right. Then on um also

[1:04:41] quick shout out to SP uh police

[1:04:43] department as well. Um this week in

[1:04:44] College Park West, we received emergency

[1:04:47] flyers, FEMA um emergency exits. Again,

[1:04:50] this is great as far as uh signs going

[1:04:52] up earlier last year is if there's an

[1:04:54] emergency um that strikes College Park

[1:04:57] West and the bridge were to be removed

[1:04:59] where there's some two emergency exits

[1:05:00] for residents. And then the flyers that

[1:05:02] went out was passed out by Seal Beach

[1:05:04] Police volunteers. And so that was very

[1:05:06] much appreciated. And then uh lastly,

[1:05:09] this past week was uh January 6th. It

[1:05:12] was a Tuesday and this is what I am

[1:05:14] trying to coin as the first Tuesday in

[1:05:17] Leisure World. And then there was the

[1:05:19] kickoff for my monthly uh first Tuesday

[1:05:22] uh coffee and donuts. And so there I was

[1:05:24] at uh Leisure World. Uh I I put the c

[1:05:27] the start time is between 7:30 a.m.

[1:05:29] until 8:30, but I was there about 7:10,

[1:05:32] a little bit there earlier. And um got

[1:05:34] coffee from Bogart's Coffee over on 905

[1:05:37] Ocean Avenue. And we also got donuts

[1:05:39] from Donut City over on 1210 PCH. And

[1:05:43] then there uh we had a massive turnout.

[1:05:45] We had a total of nine people. Right. I

[1:05:47] know, but it's a start and we're going

[1:05:49] to be there every Tuesday, every first

[1:05:51] Tuesday of the month going forward. And

[1:05:53] so hopefully uh just the presidents

[1:05:55] alone will hopefully indicate to the

[1:05:57] residents of Leisure World that hey,

[1:05:59] I'll be there available. I'll take any

[1:06:01] complaints. I'll take any questions or

[1:06:03] even any comments, but I'll be there,

[1:06:05] right? And then so it was great to meet

[1:06:07] some of the residences that that I

[1:06:08] haven't already met before. So that was

[1:06:09] a great little kickoff. Thank you very

[1:06:11] much.

[1:06:13] [applause]

[1:06:16] Thank you very much. [clears throat] Um

[1:06:19] I cannot uh articulate any better than

[1:06:22] city manager Gyos and Mayor Prom Wong um

[1:06:25] at how amazing um both those events the

[1:06:27] the promotion and police swearing in

[1:06:29] ceremony and the meals on wheels um for

[1:06:32] our seniors and leisure world at the

[1:06:34] North Seal Beach Center. Uh both were

[1:06:36] incredible events and very proud to be

[1:06:38] part of this community. Um, I just have

[1:06:41] a quick update on OC sanitation. Um, I

[1:06:45] have nothing to report for Fountain

[1:06:46] Valley. I'm sorry. Um, Seal Beach

[1:06:49] though, uh, construction continues on

[1:06:50] the Seal Beach pump station replacement

[1:06:52] project, uh, with wet well excavation

[1:06:55] and waterproofing, uh, to protect the

[1:06:57] concrete. Uh, this project is at Sil

[1:06:59] Beach Boulevard in Westminster. Uh, one

[1:07:01] of the things that we did do is get uh

[1:07:03] the cones removed, uh, most of the cones

[1:07:06] removed uh, on Sil Beach Boulevard

[1:07:07] leading to Westminster Boulevard, uh, to

[1:07:10] relieve traffic there at that

[1:07:11] intersection and then to allow quicker

[1:07:13] right turn onto Westminster Boulevard.

[1:07:16] So, that was helpful. Um, and also, um,

[1:07:20] happy new year to everybody and, um,

[1:07:22] let's have a great 2026.

[1:07:24] Um, [applause]

[1:07:31] Okay, that completes council comments.

[1:07:34] Um, now we move on to the consent

[1:07:36] calendar. Items on the consent calendar

[1:07:38] are considered to be routine and are

[1:07:40] enacted by a single motion with the

[1:07:42] exceptions of items removed by council

[1:07:44] members. I would like to now call for a

[1:07:46] motion and a second to approve the

[1:07:48] consent calendar with the exception of

[1:07:51] item C.

[1:07:52] >> I'll move.

[1:07:53] » I'll move.

[1:07:53] >> I'll second.

[1:07:55] » I'll second.

[1:07:55] >> Please take a role.

[1:07:57] » Please take a role.

[1:07:57] It has been moved by council member

[1:07:59] Calming and second by Mayor Pro Tim

[1:08:01] Wong. Council member Calm, how do you

[1:08:04] vote?

[1:08:04] >> Yes. Mayor Pro Tim Wong, how do you

[1:08:06] » Yes. Mayor Pro Tim Wong, how do you

[1:08:06] vote?

[1:08:06] >> Yes.

[1:08:06] » Yes.

[1:08:06] >> Council member Synico, how do you vote?

[1:08:08] » Council member Synico, how do you vote?

[1:08:08] >> Yes.

[1:08:08] » Yes.

[1:08:08] >> Council member Steel, how do you vote?

[1:08:10] » Council member Steel, how do you vote?

[1:08:10] >> Yes.

[1:08:10] » Yes.

[1:08:10] >> Mayor Landau, how do you vote?

[1:08:12] » Mayor Landau, how do you vote?

[1:08:12] >> Yes.

[1:08:12] » Yes.

[1:08:12] >> Motion carries five votes. Yes.

[1:08:14] » Motion carries five votes. Yes.

[1:08:14] >> Thank you very much. Uh, now on to items

[1:08:17] » Thank you very much. Uh, now on to items

[1:08:17] removed from the consent calendar. Uh,

[1:08:19] city manager, is there a staff report?

[1:08:24] There is not mayor, but I believe

[1:08:26] council member still uh would like to

[1:08:28] discuss or answer questions.

[1:08:30] >> Okay. I'm going to make a statement

[1:08:31] » Okay. I'm going to make a statement

[1:08:31] first if that's okay. Uh before we move

[1:08:33] on to discussion, uh as you know, it's

[1:08:35] the mayor's responsibility to assign

[1:08:37] council members to the various inter

[1:08:38] agency committees. I took everyone's

[1:08:41] suggestions into consideration when

[1:08:43] making these assignments. My goal was to

[1:08:46] do what's best for Seal Beach. The

[1:08:48] purpose of serving on these committees

[1:08:49] is to bring information back to the full

[1:08:51] council so that every council member

[1:08:54] understands what's happening at the

[1:08:55] county and state levels and how it

[1:08:57] affects Seal Beach. That's why these

[1:08:59] assignments are meant to rotate over

[1:09:02] time. I will now o open it up for

[1:09:04] discussion.

[1:09:08] » Okay. Um [clears throat]

[1:09:12] these uh there are three committees in

[1:09:14] uh Orange County that are kind of the

[1:09:16] countywide

[1:09:18] uh board positions that are available to

[1:09:20] each city in the county or at least in

[1:09:23] the jurisdiction. One of them is

[1:09:25] mosquito vector which gladly comes to

[1:09:27] district 5 and I enjoy that board. Uh

[1:09:30] that's a board where you see uh we we

[1:09:33] make decisions about budgets, we make

[1:09:35] decisions about executive assignments,

[1:09:36] we make decisions about the strategic

[1:09:38] direction, we have uh actual input into

[1:09:42] the uh the agency itself. We approve

[1:09:45] budgets and things like that. Uh the

[1:09:47] other two uh countywide boards are um

[1:09:52] Orange County Sanitation District. uh

[1:09:55] you have a seat for everybody who is

[1:09:57] part of the jurisdiction of Orange

[1:09:58] County sanitation which I believe is

[1:10:00] every city in Orange County has a seat

[1:10:03] on that board. So the mayors appoint the

[1:10:05] people who sit on that board. Now uh and

[1:10:09] then the third board is the Orange

[1:10:11] County uh fire authority OCFA. OCFA is

[1:10:17] unique in many different ways. Number

[1:10:19] one, their business uh is complicated.

[1:10:22] Their organization is vast. Uh they have

[1:10:27] uh I don't know how many employees, 1500

[1:10:29] or something like that, but they've got

[1:10:31] a a a lot more than that. Okay. Uh but

[1:10:33] nonetheless, it's a half a billion

[1:10:35] dollar budget. Uh it's a complicated

[1:10:37] sort of situation with capital

[1:10:39] equipment, with firehouses, with uh

[1:10:41] personnel issues, union issues. All of

[1:10:44] these things uh take time for anybody on

[1:10:47] that committee to uh absorb and be able

[1:10:50] to discuss intelligently. The the

[1:10:54] other aspect of this is we are a term

[1:10:57] limited city. Most cities in Orange

[1:10:59] County are term limited, which means

[1:11:01] that uh if we get a spot on a board and

[1:11:04] we swap out every couple of years our

[1:11:07] particular representative, uh we have

[1:11:10] very little chance of rising up the

[1:11:12] ranks of influence inside of those

[1:11:14] organizations. Uh Joe has been Joe

[1:11:17] Cowick has been on the OCFA board since

[1:11:20] 2021 and I think he served on it uh a

[1:11:23] couple of years before that as well. He

[1:11:25] has been on that board continuously. his

[1:11:28] influence on the board has continued to

[1:11:30] rise. He serves on, I believe, three

[1:11:32] different committees besides the uh

[1:11:35] board itself. Uh he knows u the board,

[1:11:40] he knows the people on the board, he

[1:11:41] knows the executive committee. The

[1:11:43] people on the executive floor at OCFA

[1:11:45] know Joe very well. Joe spent, I

[1:11:48] believe, 20 years at least as a

[1:11:50] volunteer firefighter. So, he's very

[1:11:52] keen on what the issues are for

[1:11:55] firefighters. I've spoken to the union

[1:11:58] uh and they like Joe. I'm not sure if

[1:12:00] they can actually endorse or anything

[1:12:02] like that, but they're very concerned

[1:12:03] about uh losing that position on the

[1:12:06] board uh uh just for the sake of

[1:12:09] turnover. Uh Joe is about to become the

[1:12:11] chair of the OCFA. This is 25 cities on

[1:12:15] the board. I believe it's 25. And uh

[1:12:18] this is no small shakes. For a small

[1:12:20] city like Seal Beach to have that much

[1:12:23] influence in a board of that size and

[1:12:25] that much uh across the county is really

[1:12:28] a very very rare and unique thing. So he

[1:12:32] has the respect of the uh the board of

[1:12:34] directors. Um

[1:12:37] I've got a letter here I'd like to read

[1:12:39] uh from the beginning as chair. This is

[1:12:41] from Phil Bera who is the chair of the

[1:12:44] OCFA board of directors and it says, "As

[1:12:47] chair of the Orange County Fire

[1:12:48] Authority Board of Directors, I am

[1:12:50] writing to request your assistance in

[1:12:52] the coming months when OCFA's member

[1:12:54] agencies make annual appointments of

[1:12:57] representatives to the authorities

[1:12:59] board. Presently, each director serves

[1:13:02] on the OCFA board until the selection of

[1:13:04] a successor by the appointing body. As

[1:13:08] part of our ongoing efforts to foster

[1:13:10] effective governance of the OCFA, we

[1:13:13] would like to retain continuity of vice

[1:13:16] chair director Calm serving on the board

[1:13:20] and minimize turnover

[1:13:22] to the extent possible with an operating

[1:13:25] budget over a half a billion dollars,

[1:13:28] over 1,500 employees, four labor

[1:13:31] associations, and the operation of 78

[1:13:34] fire station. The issues we face at OCFA

[1:13:37] are myriad and complex. The learning

[1:13:40] curve is steep to become familiar with

[1:13:43] the organizational structure, its

[1:13:45] operations, finances, and the types of

[1:13:47] policies and issues that come before the

[1:13:50] board. We recognize that regional board

[1:13:53] appointments are considered holistically

[1:13:55] and serve to support overall needs of

[1:13:58] the organization. However, as chair, I

[1:14:01] am seeking support from our member

[1:14:03] agencies to minimize voluntary changes

[1:14:06] made to our board appointees, such

[1:14:08] [clears throat] as those that can occur

[1:14:10] in January when most other cities and

[1:14:13] the county reorganize the leadership of

[1:14:15] their governing bodies and make it a

[1:14:17] variety of uh committee appointments.

[1:14:19] The key factor here is uh

[1:14:24] this is from the chair of the board and

[1:14:27] they're asking for Joe Calmic. Joe is

[1:14:30] about to become the chair of the OCFA

[1:14:33] later this month probably likely. I have

[1:14:36] personally spoken to four different

[1:14:38] members of the board of directors and

[1:14:40] they're concerned about any change uh at

[1:14:43] this time. Uh the other thing is that

[1:14:46] there are some big issues that are

[1:14:48] coming at OCFA right now. Uh among them

[1:14:51] the emergency response team, the rapid

[1:14:53] response team and the helicopters and

[1:14:55] the kind of uh the capitulation on what

[1:14:58] their participation is in that which is

[1:15:00] a critical issue. The resignation of

[1:15:03] their former executive director who's

[1:15:05] gone on to bigger and better things and

[1:15:07] the appointment of the next executive

[1:15:09] director. This is a big deal. The

[1:15:12] unions, I believe, are going to be

[1:15:13] coming up this coming year. And so, we

[1:15:15] need somebody with an orientation to

[1:15:17] what the unions are doing. So, I'm

[1:15:19] asking, not you folks, I'm asking this

[1:15:22] panel right here to do the right thing

[1:15:24] and send Joe Calm back to the OCFA.

[1:15:28] So, I'm going to make a motion. And I'm

[1:15:31] how uh how would I word this? So, we

[1:15:33] would uh put Joe as the

[1:15:37] uh

[1:15:39] currently the resolution before the

[1:15:41] council includes Mayor Landau as the

[1:15:45] nominated me uh council member to be on

[1:15:47] the OCFA board. If you'd like to change

[1:15:50] that, we need a motion to adopt the

[1:15:53] resolution with whomever you choose to

[1:15:56] be uh on appointed to the OCFA board.

[1:15:59] >> Okay. So, that would be my motion. My

[1:16:01] » Okay. So, that would be my motion. My

[1:16:01] motion is to uh put Joe Calmic onto the

[1:16:05] OCFA board.

[1:16:08] >> Do we have to wait for a vote on that to

[1:16:10] » Do we have to wait for a vote on that to

[1:16:10] further discussion? Give others

[1:16:12] opportunities to

[1:16:13] >> Well, you can have the the motion

[1:16:15] » Well, you can have the the motion

[1:16:15] pending and then debate that motion at

[1:16:18] this point. We don't have a second

[1:16:19] though.

[1:16:19] >> Second.

[1:16:19] » Second.

[1:16:19] >> I'll second.

[1:16:21] » I'll second.

[1:16:21] >> I'll second.

[1:16:22] » I'll second.

[1:16:22] >> So that motion can now be debated

[1:16:26] » So that motion can now be debated

[1:16:26] or modifi or you know a substitute can

[1:16:28] be offered.

[1:16:31] Um the only thing that I would add to

[1:16:34] the kind comments that have been made by

[1:16:37] other speakers is u

[1:16:40] you know I attend every board meeting.

[1:16:43] I've not missed a board meeting. It's

[1:16:45] very important for us to be represented

[1:16:47] there. Um

[1:16:51] in addition I serve on three committees,

[1:16:53] one of which I'm chair of the operations

[1:16:55] committee.

[1:16:57] In addition, I attend because it's

[1:16:59] important for the city and it's

[1:17:01] important for the progress of the fire

[1:17:03] authority. I attend all the graduations

[1:17:06] for the firemies

[1:17:08] and I've because of availability I've

[1:17:11] been asked to speak at uh the last three

[1:17:15] u academy graduations having a

[1:17:18] relationship with both the operations

[1:17:21] side of the department uh the chiefs and

[1:17:24] so forth as well as folks that are in

[1:17:28] the HR department uh the auto shop uh

[1:17:31] and other aspects of of the function ing

[1:17:34] of the fire department has proven

[1:17:36] somewhat beneficial. It I I hate to

[1:17:39] admit it, but it's taken me a few years,

[1:17:42] but I finally managed partly because of

[1:17:45] of being in the position I'm in

[1:17:48] currently able to acquire a utility

[1:17:51] vehicle for fire station 44 across the

[1:17:53] street. And this was specifically

[1:17:56] requested uh due to the fact that we

[1:17:59] have had three fires on our pier. And

[1:18:03] after each of those fires were reviewed,

[1:18:07] it was recommended that we had if we had

[1:18:10] a utility vehicle that we could ferry

[1:18:13] firefighters andor equipment and hose

[1:18:16] lines out on the pier since the pier is

[1:18:19] not uh the fire engine is not supposed

[1:18:23] to go out onto the pier. The support is

[1:18:25] somewhat limited for that. So again, the

[1:18:29] continuity of having those kinds of

[1:18:30] relationships

[1:18:32] um it took a while, but in that one

[1:18:34] regard uh has paid off. Uh

[1:18:40] and and I do agree that um that for a

[1:18:44] city like Seal Beach who has never had

[1:18:47] uh anyone uh in the chair's seat to have

[1:18:51] that seat that you do have additional

[1:18:53] influence. There's no question about it.

[1:18:56] Um, and I think that uh it's important

[1:19:00] to take advantage of that opportunity.

[1:19:04] Thank you.

[1:19:08] Okay. Um, any other comments or

[1:19:12] Okay. Um, I would like to thank Joe Calm

[1:19:14] for the five plus years that he's served

[1:19:16] on OCFA committee. Uh, Joe has built

[1:19:19] strong relationships on behalf of Seal

[1:19:21] Beach and that work is appreciated. So,

[1:19:24] thank you Joe. OCFA is incredibly

[1:19:26] important to our city and all of Orange

[1:19:28] County. Uh that said, Joe is term

[1:19:31] limited at the end of this year. He uh

[1:19:33] has served his eight years and uh will

[1:19:35] not be returning to council uh the

[1:19:37] following year. And it's important that

[1:19:39] we prepare for when he's no longer in

[1:19:41] that role. Right now, no other council

[1:19:44] member has direct experience with OCFA.

[1:19:48] We know nothing about OCFA. That creates

[1:19:50] a gap we need to address.

[1:19:53] Um, as a letter that, uh, Councilman

[1:19:55] Steele um, referenced, uh, that I also

[1:19:59] received, um, with an operating budget

[1:20:02] of over half a billion dollars, over

[1:20:04] 1500 employees, four labor associations,

[1:20:06] and the operation of 78 fire stations,

[1:20:09] the issues we face are myriad and

[1:20:12] complex. The learning curve is steep to

[1:20:14] become familiar with the organizational

[1:20:16] structure, its operations and finances,

[1:20:19] and the types of policies and issues

[1:20:21] that come before the board, quote

[1:20:23] unquote. This is a perfect example of

[1:20:26] why we need new representation so we can

[1:20:29] all learn these ropes, all of us. Uh,

[1:20:32] and that means rotating so we all are in

[1:20:34] the loop. Uh since Joe is termed out

[1:20:37] with a new council member in place this

[1:20:39] year, at least we have Joe for the next

[1:20:42] 10 11 months to help mentor us and bring

[1:20:44] us up to speed with OCFA. That is what

[1:20:48] is best for Seal Beach. I would like to

[1:20:51] make a substitute motion to keep item C

[1:20:53] as it is written.

[1:20:58] I'll second.

[1:21:02] Are we still have comments or questions?

[1:21:04] Um, if I may, um, let me first ask, um,

[1:21:08] uh, Councilman Steel. So, uh, you

[1:21:10] mentioned that you've talked to

[1:21:11] different groups in support of Joe.

[1:21:14] Would you mind sharing which groups are

[1:21:15] in support of Joe?

[1:21:16] >> I spoke to Dave Shaver, who has, uh,

[1:21:18] » I spoke to Dave Shaver, who has, uh,

[1:21:18] been on the OCFA board since 1992. He's

[1:21:22] from Stanton, and they're not term

[1:21:24] limited like cities like Seal Beach. And

[1:21:26] so, he's been on the OCFA board since it

[1:21:29] was formed in 1992. I spoke to Bob Ris

[1:21:32] who is also on the board of directors

[1:21:34] and a friend of mine from uh the

[1:21:36] mosquito vector board. He contacted me

[1:21:38] when he found out this was going on and

[1:21:40] they are all concerned about losing uh

[1:21:43] Joe on the on the uh on the board. Uh

[1:21:46] there are several other people I also

[1:21:48] spoke to a union representative who is

[1:21:51] concerned about it. I don't think the

[1:21:53] union can speak up about this per se,

[1:21:55] but uh uh it's it's one thing to take

[1:22:01] the uh put the new blood into the office

[1:22:03] next year as opposed to this year. Just

[1:22:06] as we are coming into the point where we

[1:22:08] get the maximum currency on the board of

[1:22:10] directors for the benefit of Seal Beach

[1:22:13] and for the benefit of OCFA, that's

[1:22:16] happening this year right now with Joe.

[1:22:19] We can go to new blood next year. Joe

[1:22:22] has done an excellent job on OCFA. It's

[1:22:25] an absolutely uh uh he's been key on

[1:22:28] them and he's on those other committees,

[1:22:30] too. So, I mean, swap out new blood

[1:22:33] right now just as we're ascending to the

[1:22:35] uh the most influential position on the

[1:22:38] board. Doesn't make sense to me. You can

[1:22:41] wait for that for next year and put

[1:22:43] yourself on the board next year and we

[1:22:45] can start swapping back and forth. But

[1:22:47] to to spend all of the currency that Joe

[1:22:50] has built with the board, with the

[1:22:53] executive staff, with the operations

[1:22:55] people, with the houses is is a waste of

[1:22:59] currency. It's a waste of of political

[1:23:01] capital. And if I may, so for the groups

[1:23:04] for the the leaders that you have spoken

[1:23:06] with, I know I understand we have uh

[1:23:09] Robert Fleton from the mayor promp here

[1:23:12] endorsing Joe and then we also have you

[1:23:15] said a letter from Phil Bera. For the

[1:23:16] others that you have mentioned that you

[1:23:18] spoke with, do they have letters in

[1:23:20] support

[1:23:25] » or did you just speak them?

[1:23:27] >> Do you don't want to take my word for

[1:23:28] » Do you don't want to take my word for

[1:23:28] it, Ben?

[1:23:29] >> No, no, no. I'm asking you a yes or no.

[1:23:31] » No, no, no. I'm asking you a yes or no.

[1:23:31] >> Take my word for it. They I've spoken to

[1:23:32] » Take my word for it. They I've spoken to

[1:23:32] those people and they all support Joe.

[1:23:34] >> I think you misunderstood my question.

[1:23:36] » I think you misunderstood my question.

[1:23:36] My question was yes, you spoke with

[1:23:39] them. Have they come out and publicly

[1:23:41] endorsed him?

[1:23:45] » They publicly endorsed the letter from

[1:23:46] the chair of the board.

[1:23:48] >> You're not answering my question. Where

[1:23:50] » You're not answering my question. Where

[1:23:50] is their letters of support?

[1:23:52] >> Ben, make up your own mind one way or

[1:23:54] » Ben, make up your own mind one way or

[1:23:54] the other. If you're having trouble

[1:23:55] making a decision on currency or no

[1:23:57] currency, that's your problem, not mine.

[1:23:59] But I tell you this, we are spending if

[1:24:02] you would like to hear some political

[1:24:04] capital.

[1:24:05] >> If you would like to hear a discussion,

[1:24:06] » If you would like to hear a discussion,

[1:24:06] >> you want to speak over me?

[1:24:08] » you want to speak over me?

[1:24:08] >> If you would like to hear a discussion

[1:24:10] » If you would like to hear a discussion

[1:24:10] and another point of view, I would

[1:24:12] suggest you listen and you might you

[1:24:14] might hear another point of view.

[1:24:17] >> I've heard another point of view.

[1:24:18] » I've heard another point of view.

[1:24:18] >> Okay, then. Well, I would like to share

[1:24:20] » Okay, then. Well, I would like to share

[1:24:20] a lot more, but if we would like this to

[1:24:23] go to a vote, I don't mind.

[1:24:27] City clerk.

[1:24:29] >> It has been moved by Mayor. No,

[1:24:31] » It has been moved by Mayor. No,

[1:24:31] >> go ahead.

[1:24:31] » go ahead.

[1:24:31] >> It has been moved by Mayor Landal and

[1:24:33] » It has been moved by Mayor Landal and

[1:24:33] second by council member Synico. Mayor

[1:24:36] Landal, how do you vote?

[1:24:38] >> What do we

[1:24:39] » What do we

[1:24:39] >> This is the substitute motion which is

[1:24:41] » This is the substitute motion which is

[1:24:41] as

[1:24:41] >> the substitute motion is to adopt

[1:24:44] » the substitute motion is to adopt

[1:24:44] resolution number 7722

[1:24:46] as proposed to staff. Under Robert's

[1:24:49] rules, you take the substitute motion

[1:24:51] first. If the substitute motion passes,

[1:24:53] it replaces the main motion. And that's

[1:24:56] the conclusion of the item.

[1:24:59] >> So what we're voting on right now is Joe

[1:25:01] » So what we're voting on right now is Joe

[1:25:01] on the

[1:25:02] >> Joe not on. Joe not on. Okay.

[1:25:05] » Joe not on. Joe not on. Okay.

[1:25:05] >> Please continue with the role.

[1:25:06] » Please continue with the role.

[1:25:06] >> Okay. Mayor Landau, how do you vote?

[1:25:09] » Okay. Mayor Landau, how do you vote?

[1:25:09] >> Yes.

[1:25:09] » Yes.

[1:25:09] >> Council member Cynical, how do you vote?

[1:25:11] » Council member Cynical, how do you vote?

[1:25:11] >> Yes.

[1:25:12] » Yes.

[1:25:12] >> Council member Calm, how do you vote?

[1:25:14] » Council member Calm, how do you vote?

[1:25:14] >> No.

[1:25:14] » No.

[1:25:14] >> Mayor Pro Tim Wong, how do you vote?

[1:25:16] » Mayor Pro Tim Wong, how do you vote?

[1:25:16] >> Yes.

[1:25:18] » Yes.

[1:25:18] >> Council member Still, how do you vote?

[1:25:20] » Council member Still, how do you vote?

[1:25:20] >> No.

[1:25:21] » No.

[1:25:21] >> Motion carries three to two.

[1:25:27] Thank you very much, city clerk. Um,

[1:25:30] there is no public hearing, no

[1:25:32] unfinished and continued business. We

[1:25:35] will now move on to new business, uh,

[1:25:37] consideration of a memorandum of

[1:25:38] understanding with the county of Los

[1:25:40] Angeles and the ocean cleanup for the

[1:25:42] San Gabriel Gabriel River Trash

[1:25:44] Mitigation Initiative. I'd like to call

[1:25:47] on Silsby Strategic Advisor, CEO, Shane

[1:25:50] Silsby. [clears throat]

[1:26:00] Good evening, mayor and council member,

[1:26:02] council members. Uh, thank you, mayor,

[1:26:03] for the introduction. Shane Silsby, CEO

[1:26:05] of Ssby Strategic Advisors and also your

[1:26:07] external consultant and project manager

[1:26:09] for the initiative working uh with your

[1:26:12] team at public works. Uh, you mentioned

[1:26:15] what the item is about, but I'll just

[1:26:17] give some quick background on this and

[1:26:18] then if you have questions, we we can

[1:26:20] take it from there. First of all, there

[1:26:21] are two distinct efforts going on with

[1:26:23] this issue and this initiative which is

[1:26:25] called the San Gabriel River Trash

[1:26:26] Mitigation Initiative originally um

[1:26:29] initiated by council member Kelmick and

[1:26:31] then uh had a number of agencies join

[1:26:33] the San Gabriel River working group

[1:26:34] including uh the Surf Rider folks you

[1:26:36] heard from earlier. So there are two

[1:26:38] distinct uh issues initiatives uh one is

[1:26:42] a feasibility study which we've

[1:26:44] completed and now posted live to uh a

[1:26:47] website today. It's sgrcleanup.com if

[1:26:50] anybody wants to see that document which

[1:26:52] talks about feasibility of future

[1:26:54] projects. And then we have theou

[1:26:56] discussion which is before you today to

[1:26:59] work with other uh agencies on a

[1:27:02] specific future project yet to be

[1:27:04] determined. Okay. feasibility study

[1:27:06] gives them information, but um the funer

[1:27:09] of that in cooperation the ocean cleanup

[1:27:11] wanted to make sure that agencies were

[1:27:13] on board with helping with certain items

[1:27:15] before they moved forward multi-million

[1:27:17] dollar efforts to do the actual project,

[1:27:20] whatever that project will be at the

[1:27:21] location. So, why does this initiative

[1:27:24] matter? The the overall trash cleanup,

[1:27:25] you all know because you live here, 500

[1:27:27] tons of trash each year collected off

[1:27:29] the beaches. That's not what goes into

[1:27:31] the ocean. That's just off of the

[1:27:32] beaches. Obviously important there. This

[1:27:34] is a regional collaboration as I

[1:27:36] mentioned state assembly districts 69

[1:27:38] and 72. The San Gabriel River working

[1:27:41] group was ch co-chared by council member

[1:27:43] calm and assembly member Dixon. Also

[1:27:46] interest from uh state senate district

[1:27:48] 36 cities of seal beach and long beach

[1:27:50] counties of Los Angeles and Orange

[1:27:52] County Surf Rider Foundation and various

[1:27:54] other interested uh entities including

[1:27:56] environmental groups and special guests.

[1:27:59] So what is being done now? As I said,

[1:28:01] the feasibility study has been posted.

[1:28:03] Now that phase is effectively complete

[1:28:06] and uh that study talks about 15 to 17

[1:28:10] locations depending how you count the A

[1:28:11] and B's of different technologies, but

[1:28:13] effectively it says these are the the

[1:28:15] things that you could do from a

[1:28:17] feasibility standpoint within the San

[1:28:18] Gabriel River and it ranks those. It

[1:28:21] gives you a priority of prioritization

[1:28:23] of those based on feasibility. It's a

[1:28:25] feasibility study. Also, it talks about

[1:28:28] environmental considerations. Um, sea

[1:28:30] turtles were discussed exclusively

[1:28:32] there. There's a comment about that

[1:28:33] earlier. We met with the aquarium of the

[1:28:34] Pacific. I think Mayor Pro Tim Wong and

[1:28:36] I were both at one of the events where

[1:28:38] we were releasing a a green sea turtle

[1:28:39] that was caught up in trash. So, we're

[1:28:41] trying to balance how do we protect the

[1:28:43] wildlife from the trash before they get

[1:28:45] capped, you know, caught up in that and

[1:28:46] then have to be released later. Also,

[1:28:48] there was stakeholder collaboration as

[1:28:50] part of that feasibility study as well.

[1:28:52] So, that is effectively complete that

[1:28:55] phase. Now, the second phase is looking

[1:28:57] at projects. uh that comes into the part

[1:28:59] partnership with the ocean cleanup. And

[1:29:01] so theou is asking a few things. one,

[1:29:04] it's identifying the agencies involved

[1:29:07] or the organizations involved and it's

[1:29:09] the city of Seal Beach, Los Angeles

[1:29:11] County, uh because they have

[1:29:13] jurisdiction in the flood control

[1:29:14] district and it's the ocean cleanup

[1:29:17] which is the the funding element of this

[1:29:21] and a technical expert uh worldwide on

[1:29:24] solutions um like those being evaluated.

[1:29:28] The Los Angeles County Board of

[1:29:30] Supervisors is targeting a February date

[1:29:32] to do a similar action to what you all

[1:29:34] are considering this evening to take

[1:29:36] this upon uh their board for

[1:29:38] authorization for their CEO to execute

[1:29:41] the sameou.

[1:29:43] What is the city being asked to do as

[1:29:45] part of thisou? I know you have the

[1:29:47] documents in front of you, but just to

[1:29:48] be clear about that, the city's being

[1:29:50] asked to help with future permitting

[1:29:52] elements to the extent they relate to

[1:29:55] the city of Seal Beach's jurisdiction,

[1:29:56] potentially a bridge or something like

[1:29:58] that. They're being asked to provide the

[1:30:00] feasibility study at its conclusion.

[1:30:02] Well, as I said, that's been completed

[1:30:04] and we will provide that if the board if

[1:30:06] the uh city council approves theou. So,

[1:30:08] that's effectively complete. The third

[1:30:11] thing is to share any data related to

[1:30:12] the San Gabriel River. We talked about

[1:30:14] the trash data earlier and any other

[1:30:17] hydraulic data which is easy and we've

[1:30:19] been sharing that already. So

[1:30:20] effectively the city has completed most

[1:30:23] of its tasks um already to comply with

[1:30:26] it with its portion of the MOU. That's

[1:30:28] great news. Um the other great news is

[1:30:31] that if LA County uh signs theou which

[1:30:35] we don't have a reason to believe they

[1:30:37] won't. They've agreed to this point they

[1:30:39] agree to take on the operations and

[1:30:40] maintenance for a future project. And

[1:30:42] that is not a small dollar amount

[1:30:43] either. And then of course the ocean

[1:30:45] cleanup agrees to implement a project

[1:30:47] after it's studied and has the proper

[1:30:49] community outreach and analysis and all

[1:30:51] those elements. So the Seal Beach uh the

[1:30:53] city of Seal Beach effectively gets a

[1:30:55] project delivered to them uh at no um

[1:31:01] material cost if you will to the city.

[1:31:04] It has a material benefit certainly and

[1:31:06] staff time will be engaged in all of

[1:31:08] that but but the cost of those things

[1:31:10] are largely borne by other agencies. So

[1:31:12] that's why I think it's a great um

[1:31:14] position for the city to be in with

[1:31:15] thisou

[1:31:17] quick on the expected benefits of the

[1:31:19] community obviously cleaner beaches

[1:31:20] improving public health protection of

[1:31:22] the marine wildlife that we talked about

[1:31:24] before and sensitive habitats reduce the

[1:31:26] city maintenance costs over time. If you

[1:31:28] reduce that 500 tons of trash annually

[1:31:30] that has to be collected off the beach,

[1:31:32] that improves your maintenance, better

[1:31:34] water quality along the coastline,

[1:31:36] obviously, and then a more engaged

[1:31:37] informed community.

[1:31:39] So, uh, I mentioned that and then how

[1:31:41] people can stay involved. As I mentioned

[1:31:42] earlier, the the website is up and

[1:31:44] running now. It's, uh, www.sgrcleup.com.

[1:31:48] The feasibility study is posted there,

[1:31:51] but I just wanted to lay out the whole

[1:31:53] story for you here and how the

[1:31:54] feasibility study differs from a

[1:31:56] potential future project, which is what

[1:31:57] this memorandum of understanding is

[1:31:59] linked to. And with that, I'd be happy

[1:32:01] to take any questions. I appreciate

[1:32:02] working with uh the council and the city

[1:32:04] staff on this initiative.

[1:32:06] >> Thank you very much. Any comments?

[1:32:09] » Thank you very much. Any comments?

[1:32:09] Questions?

[1:32:10] >> Um just a quick comment. Um, one thing I

[1:32:13] » Um just a quick comment. Um, one thing I

[1:32:13] learned, um, recently that when this

[1:32:15] trash is coming down, that it, uh, it's

[1:32:19] not a one-time beach, go out and clean

[1:32:21] it up. That trash goes out and we, it

[1:32:23] cycles to us for like three weeks

[1:32:26] because the tide is taking it out and if

[1:32:28] we didn't catch it on a cleanup, then

[1:32:29] it's out. It comes back. So, it's like

[1:32:31] this three week cycle of continual trash

[1:32:35] coming in on the beaches. And of course

[1:32:37] the um we're lucky we have volunteers,

[1:32:40] you know, and we're very much

[1:32:41] appreciative of all the volunteer hours,

[1:32:44] but also our public works, you know, and

[1:32:46] we're cleaning those beaches. We have a

[1:32:47] lot of equipment out there. And so um I

[1:32:50] just want to recognize the um the

[1:32:52] volunteers, but also our public works in

[1:32:54] terms of the cost, you know, the um M&R

[1:32:57] costs uh um to our budget. And so um

[1:33:00] really want to appreciate that. But and

[1:33:02] also um during those three weeks of

[1:33:05] trash in, trash out, trash in, you know,

[1:33:07] it you know, families don't want to use

[1:33:09] the beach, right? You're worried about

[1:33:12] the stuff that you find in the sand and

[1:33:14] you don't want your kids playing in it

[1:33:15] and then you don't want your your kids

[1:33:17] surfing in it because you don't know,

[1:33:19] you know, what's out there and how much.

[1:33:20] So, um I think this is a really

[1:33:22] important um thing for us to do and

[1:33:25] thank Joe for the leadership getting us

[1:33:27] started on that path and um I'm going to

[1:33:30] support this when we go to vote. But um

[1:33:32] I think it's this is a great thing for

[1:33:34] us to be doing.

[1:33:38] >> Any comments?

[1:33:39] » Any comments?

[1:33:39] >> No.

[1:33:40] » No.

[1:33:40] I was just wondering um is there any

[1:33:43] participation um responsibility for the

[1:33:46] 60 plus LA County cities upstream to

[1:33:51] mitigate the trash that's coming from

[1:33:53] their cities going into the river to get

[1:33:55] to us?

[1:33:57] >> That's a great question. Uh mayor, thank

[1:33:59] » That's a great question. Uh mayor, thank

[1:33:59] you for that. Um

[1:34:02] I will answer this in two ways. First,

[1:34:04] there's not a solution to um ask those

[1:34:07] cities to pay for a fair share partly

[1:34:09] because we don't know what that fair

[1:34:10] share would be at this point. Uh the

[1:34:12] feasibility study does talk about

[1:34:14] hydraulics, how the water moves in the

[1:34:16] rivers, and it talks about the

[1:34:19] percentage of the watershed capture at

[1:34:21] each of the evaluation points. But we

[1:34:24] are not yet able to determine where uh

[1:34:27] specifically those are coming from. We

[1:34:29] are just saying at these points, how can

[1:34:30] we address that trash? So that's the

[1:34:33] first answer, more technical one. The

[1:34:35] second one is that uh we've been working

[1:34:37] with the ocean cleanup to help them

[1:34:38] install cameras that have advanced

[1:34:41] technologies at key locations uh using

[1:34:44] AI and other um technologies which are

[1:34:47] proprietary to them to look at the trash

[1:34:49] and try to evaluate actual volumes and

[1:34:52] materials of that trash. Meaning is it

[1:34:55] debris? Is it plastic? What what is

[1:34:57] that? to try to see if we can more

[1:35:00] accurately uh predict where that is

[1:35:03] coming from. So, it's unlikely that

[1:35:05] we'll get down to uh an individual city

[1:35:08] of 60, but we're at least trying to to

[1:35:10] see if we can divide it by areas

[1:35:13] in case there's a need for future

[1:35:15] assignment of financial responsibility

[1:35:17] for that.

[1:35:18] >> Perfect. Thank you.

[1:35:19] » Perfect. Thank you.

[1:35:19] >> Yes,

[1:35:20] » Yes,

[1:35:20] >> I have a question. Um I know that we

[1:35:24] » I have a question. Um I know that we

[1:35:24] installed them a couple of years ago in

[1:35:26] Leisure World. Uh, and it's a a state

[1:35:29] law or requirement that all of the uh,

[1:35:33] what do you call those? The catch that

[1:35:34] we put in what? Can you describe that

[1:35:37] for me? Uh, Iris,

[1:35:38] >> they're the uh, catch pace and trash

[1:35:40] » they're the uh, catch pace and trash

[1:35:40] inserts.

[1:35:41] >> Yeah. All of our water uh, inputs where

[1:35:45] » Yeah. All of our water uh, inputs where

[1:35:45] the water goes into the storm drains. I

[1:35:48] don't know what you call that particular

[1:35:49] part part there, but that's the storm

[1:35:51] drains all in leisure world have a catch

[1:35:54] on them and they get cleaned out on a

[1:35:55] frequent basis. And I understood that to

[1:35:57] be uh kind of like the law of the land

[1:35:59] that everybody in California has got to

[1:36:01] install those by a certain date. Don't

[1:36:03] don't our upriver neighbors have to have

[1:36:06] those installed as well?

[1:36:08] >> It's a good question, Council Member

[1:36:09] » It's a good question, Council Member

[1:36:09] Ste. I'll do my best to answer what

[1:36:11] you're talking about is the tier one

[1:36:12] compliance for the storm water program.

[1:36:15] County, I used to work for the county.

[1:36:16] Some of you may know I used to run some

[1:36:18] of that program. Every city we've talked

[1:36:19] to have said they're in full compliance

[1:36:21] with that tier one mandate. So what that

[1:36:24] leads us to then is the trash is being

[1:36:27] uh provided or implemented or put into

[1:36:32] the system after those catch basins

[1:36:35] >> from bridges overcrossing or direct

[1:36:37] » from bridges overcrossing or direct

[1:36:37] introduction through illegal dumping

[1:36:39] >> or if you have you know maybe a person's

[1:36:41] » or if you have you know maybe a person's

[1:36:41] experiencing homelessness.

[1:36:42] >> Yeah, I know it's not meant to catch it

[1:36:44] » Yeah, I know it's not meant to catch it

[1:36:44] all and I I'm sure there are many other

[1:36:46] entry points too but uh I would hope

[1:36:49] that would help anyway. it cost us

[1:36:51] 400,000 or something like that. So

[1:36:54] >> that does work in combination also with

[1:36:56] » that does work in combination also with

[1:36:56] street sweeping. That's another part of

[1:36:57] the clean water program,

[1:36:58] >> right?

[1:36:59] » right?

[1:36:59] >> Um another reason why this I think is

[1:37:01] » Um another reason why this I think is

[1:37:01] good for Orange County cities is that LA

[1:37:03] County has a measure W, which is a storm

[1:37:05] water and quality effort to generate

[1:37:07] revenue. Orange County does not have

[1:37:08] that. So there's very minimal ways to to

[1:37:11] do projects like this locally.

[1:37:13] Appreciate your comments.

[1:37:14] >> Thank you. Any more questions?

[1:37:17] » Thank you. Any more questions?

[1:37:17] We'll make a motion to move the item.

[1:37:20] >> Is there a second?

[1:37:21] » Is there a second?

[1:37:21] >> Second.

[1:37:24] » Second.

[1:37:24] >> It has been moved by council member

[1:37:25] » It has been moved by council member

[1:37:25] Synagle and it has been second by Mayor

[1:37:27] Pro Tim Wong. Mayor Proim Wong, how do

[1:37:30] you vote?

[1:37:31] >> Yes.

[1:37:31] » Yes.

[1:37:31] >> Council member Synagle, how do you vote?

[1:37:33] » Council member Synagle, how do you vote?

[1:37:33] >> Yes.

[1:37:33] » Yes.

[1:37:33] >> Council member Calm, how do you vote?

[1:37:35] » Council member Calm, how do you vote?

[1:37:35] >> Yes.

[1:37:35] » Yes.

[1:37:35] >> Council member Still, how do you vote?

[1:37:37] » Council member Still, how do you vote?

[1:37:37] >> Yes.

[1:37:37] » Yes.

[1:37:37] >> Mayor Landau, how do you vote?

[1:37:39] » Mayor Landau, how do you vote?

[1:37:39] >> Yes.

[1:37:39] » Yes.

[1:37:39] >> Motion carries. Five votes yes.

[1:37:41] » Motion carries. Five votes yes.

[1:37:41] >> Thank you very much.

[1:37:42] » Thank you very much.

[1:37:42] >> Thank you very much, Shane.

[1:37:46] » Thank you very much, Shane.

[1:37:46] Okay. It is a with a very heavy heart

[1:37:50] that tonight's meeting will be adjourned

[1:37:52] in memory of Marcus Mchasanova,

[1:37:56] a local 19-year-old boy who passed away

[1:37:58] in a tragic hiking accident on Mount

[1:38:00] Baldi on December 29th, 2025.

[1:38:04] He was a Seal Beach native since 2011.

[1:38:06] And he loved everything about this town.

[1:38:09] He attended Mcgallo Elementary School,

[1:38:12] Oak Middle School, and Los Alamos High

[1:38:14] School. He was a freshman at Santa Clara

[1:38:16] University's Ley School of Business.

[1:38:19] Marcus loved the outdoors with a kind of

[1:38:22] wholehearted joy that was impossible to

[1:38:24] miss. Hiking the local mountains,

[1:38:26] sailing off of Seal Beach's coast,

[1:38:28] rowing, fishing, and surfing in and

[1:38:31] around Seal Beach, skiing, free diving.

[1:38:33] If it put him outside, he was all in.

[1:38:36] The outdoors weren't just recreation for

[1:38:38] Marcus. It was where he felt most alive,

[1:38:41] most himself. He also loved sharing that

[1:38:44] joy. Marcus was a sailing instructor at

[1:38:46] Leeway Sailing Center in Long Beach. He

[1:38:49] had a natural way with kids. Patient,

[1:38:52] encouraging, and generous with his time.

[1:38:54] Helping young people discover

[1:38:55] confidence, freedom, and wonder through

[1:38:58] outdoor experiences mattered deeply to

[1:39:00] him. The family has set up an outdoor

[1:39:03] scholarship fund in his name, the

[1:39:05] Marquitos Adventure Club. All proceeds

[1:39:08] are donated to organizations that help

[1:39:10] underserved kids experience the joy of

[1:39:12] outdoors. Uh there is a GoFundMe. It's

[1:39:15] gofundme.comfarquito

[1:39:19] adventure club. As a community, we are

[1:39:22] saddened by this tragic loss and offer

[1:39:24] our support and prayers for his family

[1:39:27] during this unimaginably difficult time.

[1:39:30] I will now adjourn tonight's city

[1:39:32] council meeting in memory of Marcus

[1:39:36] Mchasanova to Monday, January 26, 2026

[1:39:40] at 5:30 p.m. to meet in close session if

[1:39:43] deemed necessary.

[1:39:45] Thank you and have a good night.

[1:39:48] [applause]

City Council Meeting - January 12, 2026

Transcript