The Seal Beach City Council on Monday, May 14, extended an interim ordinance that regulates vacation rental properties in Old Town. The council voted 4-0 to extend the temporary ordinance for 10 months and 15 days.
The ordinance limits vacation rentals to the Old Town area of the city, requires an on-site manager for multi-unit properties and requires owners to apply for a conditional use permit.
Owners would have until July 6 to submit their applications. They would not have to actually go through the hearing process by that date, according to City Attorney Quinn Barrow.
Vacation rental owners would also be required to have a business license and pay the city’s bed tax, also known as the transient occupancy tax.
Supporters of the ordinance complained about noise, parties and over-crowding at vacation rental properties. Opponents objected to regulation of their businesses.
Carla Watson asked if the CUPs would remain with the properties after the owners sold them.
Barrow said CUPs always run with the property.
Resident Barbara Barton said vacation rental properties were over-crowded with people and dogs. “I would ask the City Council to outlaw vacation rentals permanently—both daily and weekly,” Barton said.
She complained about a vacation rental property on one side of her home, but said she had no problems with the five-unit apartment building on the other side. The difference: the owner lives there.
Seth Eaker, who said he was speaking as a business advocate but not for the Chamber of Commerce, said that the ordinance seemed reasonable.
He said there was a sense of fairness and equality when standards were evenly applied.
Pam Edster said she was the owner and operator of a vacation rental who had lived in Seal Beach 18 years.
She said renting to vacationers allowed her family to live part time in their home. Otherwise, they would be "evicted."
She said the interim ordinance would harm business. She said it was a waste of the council’s time to regulate the estimated 23 vacation rental businesses in Old Town. Instead, she proposed improving the city’s noise ordinance.
She also objected to the conditional use permit requirement.
The CUP application requires hearing notices to be sent to any business or home within 500 feet of the rental property in question.
“This is not an easy process,” she said.
Later, District 1 Councilwoman Ellery Deaton said the CUP application process could be challenging for the business owner who was going through it for the first time.
However, she said it was a one-time process and then it was over. The extended interim ordinance limits short term rentals to Deaton’s district.
Robert Beck said he and his wife owned two vacation rental properties in Seal Beach.
“My wife is very selective about who she rents to,” Beck said.
He said they had never received complaints about their tenants.
Beck said he favored some provisions of the ordinance, but objected to the CUP process when he and his wife had complied with the requirements to have a business license and to pay the bed tax.
Deaton said vacation rentals were not legal in Seal Beach until 2011. However, she said there was a tradition of family friendly vacation rentals in the city.
Commendation for heroic Seal Beach teen
Mayor Michael Levitt presented a Certificate of Commendation to Seal Beach resident Celeste Infante for rescuing another teenager from possibly drowning on Sunday, May 7.
Bailey said the lifeguard assigned to the tower near the Seal Beach Pier saw Infante pull another girl on to her surfboard.
Bailey said the other girl had suffered a seizure.
Infante saw that the girl was unconscious. Infante went to the girl and pulled the other girl onto her surfboard.
“Her action in that time period had the immediate effect of allowing the victim to breathe freely and not aspirate any additional water as well as the long term effect of greatly reducing the victim’s likelihood of secondary drowning,” Bailey said in a Friday, May 11 report to the city manager.
Bailey said Infante was part of the Junior Lifeguards program had was a member of the Captains corps. Bailey said she did a great job on Sunday, May 7.
The Seal Beach City Council on Monday, May 14, extended an interim ordinance that regulates vacation rental properties in Old Town. The council voted 4-0 to extend the temporary ordinance for 10 months and 15 days.
The ordinance limits vacation rentals to the Old Town area of the city, requires an on-site manager for multi-unit properties and requires owners to apply for a conditional use permit.
Owners would have until July 6 to submit their applications. They would not have to actually go through the hearing process by that date, according to City Attorney Quinn Barrow.
Vacation rental owners would also be required to have a business license and pay the city’s bed tax, also known as the transient occupancy tax.
Supporters of the ordinance complained about noise, parties and over-crowding at vacation rental properties. Opponents objected to regulation of their businesses.
Carla Watson asked if the CUPs would remain with the properties after the owners sold them.
Barrow said CUPs always run with the property.
Resident Barbara Barton said vacation rental properties were over-crowded with people and dogs. “I would ask the City Council to outlaw vacation rentals permanently—both daily and weekly,” Barton said.
She complained about a vacation rental property on one side of her home, but said she had no problems with the five-unit apartment building on the other side. The difference: the owner lives there.
Seth Eaker, who said he was speaking as a business advocate but not for the Chamber of Commerce, said that the ordinance seemed reasonable.
He said there was a sense of fairness and equality when standards were evenly applied.
Pam Edster said she was the owner and operator of a vacation rental who had lived in Seal Beach 18 years.
She said renting to vacationers allowed her family to live part time in their home. Otherwise, they would be "evicted."
She said the interim ordinance would harm business. She said it was a waste of the council’s time to regulate the estimated 23 vacation rental businesses in Old Town. Instead, she proposed improving the city’s noise ordinance.
She also objected to the conditional use permit requirement.
The CUP application requires hearing notices to be sent to any business or home within 500 feet of the rental property in question.
“This is not an easy process,” she said.
Later, District 1 Councilwoman Ellery Deaton said the CUP application process could be challenging for the business owner who was going through it for the first time.
However, she said it was a one-time process and then it was over. The extended interim ordinance limits short term rentals to Deaton’s district.
Robert Beck said he and his wife owned two vacation rental properties in Seal Beach.
“My wife is very selective about who she rents to,” Beck said.
He said they had never received complaints about their tenants.
Beck said he favored some provisions of the ordinance, but objected to the CUP process when he and his wife had complied with the requirements to have a business license and to pay the bed tax.
Deaton said vacation rentals were not legal in Seal Beach until 2011. However, she said there was a tradition of family friendly vacation rentals in the city.
Commendation for heroic Seal Beach teen
Mayor Michael Levitt presented a Certificate of Commendation to Seal Beach resident Celeste Infante for rescuing another teenager from possibly drowning on Sunday, May 7.
Bailey said the lifeguard assigned to the tower near the Seal Beach Pier saw Infante pull another girl on to her surfboard.
Bailey said the other girl had suffered a seizure.
Infante saw that the girl was unconscious. Infante went to the girl and pulled the other girl onto her surfboard.
“Her action in that time period had the immediate effect of allowing the victim to breathe freely and not aspirate any additional water as well as the long term effect of greatly reducing the victim’s likelihood of secondary drowning,” Bailey said in a Friday, May 11 report to the city manager.
Bailey said Infante was part of the Junior Lifeguards program had was a member of the Captains corps. Bailey said she did a great job on Sunday, May 7.
The Seal Beach City Council on Monday, May 14, extended an interim ordinance that regulates vacation rental properties in Old Town. The council voted 4-0 to extend the temporary ordinance for 10 months and 15 days.
The ordinance limits vacation rentals to the Old Town area of the city, requires an on-site manager for multi-unit properties and requires owners to apply for a conditional use permit.
Owners would have until July 6 to submit their applications. They would not have to actually go through the hearing process by that date, according to City Attorney Quinn Barrow.
Vacation rental owners would also be required to have a business license and pay the city’s bed tax, also known as the transient occupancy tax.
Supporters of the ordinance complained about noise, parties and over-crowding at vacation rental properties. Opponents objected to regulation of their businesses.
Carla Watson asked if the CUPs would remain with the properties after the owners sold them.
Barrow said CUPs always run with the property.
Resident Barbara Barton said vacation rental properties were over-crowded with people and dogs. “I would ask the City Council to outlaw vacation rentals permanently—both daily and weekly,” Barton said.
She complained about a vacation rental property on one side of her home, but said she had no problems with the five-unit apartment building on the other side. The difference: the owner lives there.
Seth Eaker, who said he was speaking as a business advocate but not for the Chamber of Commerce, said that the ordinance seemed reasonable.
He said there was a sense of fairness and equality when standards were evenly applied.
Pam Edster said she was the owner and operator of a vacation rental who had lived in Seal Beach 18 years.
She said renting to vacationers allowed her family to live part time in their home. Otherwise, they would be "evicted."
She said the interim ordinance would harm business. She said it was a waste of the council’s time to regulate the estimated 23 vacation rental businesses in Old Town. Instead, she proposed improving the city’s noise ordinance.
She also objected to the conditional use permit requirement.
The CUP application requires hearing notices to be sent to any business or home within 500 feet of the rental property in question.
“This is not an easy process,” she said.
Later, District 1 Councilwoman Ellery Deaton said the CUP application process could be challenging for the business owner who was going through it for the first time.
However, she said it was a one-time process and then it was over. The extended interim ordinance limits short term rentals to Deaton’s district.
Robert Beck said he and his wife owned two vacation rental properties in Seal Beach.
“My wife is very selective about who she rents to,” Beck said.
He said they had never received complaints about their tenants.
Beck said he favored some provisions of the ordinance, but objected to the CUP process when he and his wife had complied with the requirements to have a business license and to pay the bed tax.
Deaton said vacation rentals were not legal in Seal Beach until 2011. However, she said there was a tradition of family friendly vacation rentals in the city.
Commendation for heroic Seal Beach teen
Mayor Michael Levitt presented a Certificate of Commendation to Seal Beach resident Celeste Infante for rescuing another teenager from possibly drowning on Sunday, May 7.
Bailey said the lifeguard assigned to the tower near the Seal Beach Pier saw Infante pull another girl on to her surfboard.
Bailey said the other girl had suffered a seizure.
Infante saw that the girl was unconscious. Infante went to the girl and pulled the other girl onto her surfboard.
“Her action in that time period had the immediate effect of allowing the victim to breathe freely and not aspirate any additional water as well as the long term effect of greatly reducing the victim’s likelihood of secondary drowning,” Bailey said in a Friday, May 11 report to the city manager.
Bailey said Infante was part of the Junior Lifeguards program had was a member of the Captains corps. Bailey said she did a great job on Sunday, May 7.
Councilwoman Ellery Deaton
Tennis Courts Open
As one example of our City and School District working together on our behalf, the tennis courts at McGaugh School have been resurfaced and are now open for play. And, they look great.
Bay City Partners Project
(Editor’s note: Councilwoman Deaton, in her original copy, refers to the Bay City Partners Project as the “DWP Project.” For consistency in the Sun’s reports, it was changed.)
Meetings on Bay City Partners project on the former site of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Plant:
The schedule of Seal Beach public hearings for the project has been modified. The Planning Commission received a new plan from the applicant and it needs environmental review. Therefore, the Planning Commission hearing has been continued until Wednesday, June 6, at 7:30 p.m. The City Council is scheduled for a first hearing on Monday, June 25, at 7 p.m. and for a second hearing on Monday, July 9, at 7 p.m. All hearings will be held in the Council Chambers. These dates are subject to change, if necessary.
Main Street Beautification
Main Street Beautification Phase one of Main Street Beautification is almost complete. Under-performing trees have been removed and new trees planted, new pavers and planters have been installed and flowers are currently being planted. Main Street is looking great for residents and visitors to enjoy this summer.
Parks and Recreation—New Classes
Shoreline Activity Guide: The Summer 2012 Shoreline Activity Guide is currently available on the Community Services page of the city website.
Hard copies of the brochure have been mailed to residents and they are currently available in Seal Beach facilities and community centers. The Summer Shoreline Activity Guide features all summer camps that the city is offering and many new and returning classes for youths, adults and seniors.
Some new classes that the city is offering are sand castle building, fort building, robot camp, science camps, film making camps and sports camps. The activity guide also offers a schedule of upcoming events and contact information for many community groups.
Zoeter Softball Field: On Tuesday, May 8, the Community Services Department performed maintenance on Zoeter Softball Field in preparation for the upcoming adult league softball. The field was tilled and leveled to create a safer playing surface for participants in the adult softball leagues and other residents who use the field.
Edison Garden Community Cleanup Day: On May 5 the Community Services Department hosted a community cleanup of the Edison Park Gardens. More than 50 gardeners attended and helped to clean-up the public gardens and community area inside the gardens. The cleanup day also featured a short presentation for the Master Gardener of Orange County. The presentation was geared towards giving new gardeners tips on starting a community garden.
N4N (Neighbor 4 Neighbor) Neighborhood Program
Neighbor 4 Neighbor is a Neighborhood Watch-type program to help neighbors band together to increase awareness and preserve the safety of our neighborhoods as well as providing opportunities to pool talents and resources to better our chances of withstanding and recovering from disasters, whether they be large-scale natural events or smaller personal setbacks.
If you are willing to participate, please call Todd Devoe at 562-799-4100 or call me. I would be happy to work with you to help with getting your neighbors together to keep our homes safe and enrich our small town living.
We are well on the way to a wonderful summer. May you and your family enjoy a summer of sun and fun.
Ellery Deaton is the Seal Beach City Councilwoman for District 1, including Old Town and Surfside. She may be reached at (562) 743-4355.
