The City Council will discuss its priorities at the Monday, Jan. 11, meeting when Seal Beach’s elected officials look at construction and maintenance projects for this year. Just as you need to plan your household budget, so does the City Council. Seal Beach has a lot to do and doesn’t have enough money for everything.
Some residents listed the pier and crime as primary concerns in response to an unscientific online survey about the challenges and opportunities facing Seal Beach in the year ahead. Others mentioned concerns about infrastructure and government transparency. The Sun asked what the community sees as the challenges and opportunities for Seal Beach in the year ahead. The question received 38 comments.
“Fix our pier! It’s an embarrassment,” according to Karol Dahlquist.
According to Gail Liesendahl Feazell Courtney, “The pier must find a business that is sustainable without the city demanding the business fix the entire pier.”
According to John Luther, “The city is losing out on valuable income by letting the pier restaurant situation drag on. But it seems they sure have enough time and resources to warn you if your trash cans are left in your driveway for a day. City Hall needs to get it’s priorities in order.”
Council members David Sloan, Mike Varipapa and Ellery Deaton also cited the pier as a priority.
Deaton said what the city does about the pier would depend on financing.
Jeff Kidd, Atilio Murga and Leo Varshavsky raised the same issue. “Crime, crime, crime. So many stolen vehicles this year,” according to Varshavsky.
Potential flooding from winter storms was another local concern.
“I agree with pier and crime, but feel that the impending El Niño storms should be a concern. Will the berm hold and if so, how long? I would hate to see businesses and homes flooded from a big storm,” according to Kevin Gaffney.
Sloan also said the city needs to be concerned about El Niño.
Some residents called for the reopening of the Bay Theatre, which is privately owned. Carla Watson called for the Bay Theatre Foundation (a nonprofit that advocates the purchase of the Bay Theatre) to become active again.
Watson was one of two residents who expressed concern about what they perceive as a lack of transparency in city government.
“City Commissions need to once again be empowered to advise on all matters (due process)” according to Watson. She also advocated “transparency in our government—no secret meetings or junkets with lobbyists.”
Carol Cameron shared her concerns. “Seal Beach is a great example of back room deals profiteering and irresponsible greed,” according to Cameron. “Those who benefited financially did not consider the trajectory of their actions. Back in the early ’60s we had reverence for the space. In the ’80s we began to see an influx of greed and poor planning.”
Linda Griffen suggested building walkways above Pacific Coast Highway.
Watson suggested closing Main Street on Thursdays or another day on a trial basis.
“Lucky John” Domingue said the proposed entertainment permit process being considered “is a recipe for failure.”
