Staff is working on beach lease and
getting the pier open to the very end
By Ellery Deaton
The Sidewalk Talk in last week’s Sun asked the question: “Do you think the State Lands Commission should take over Seal Beach’s beach and beach recreational facilities such as the pier and River’s End?”
The answer to that question is, of course, NO! So why the question?
The State of California owns the California coastline in public trust for its citizens.
The State, through the State Lands Commission, allows public municipalities to manage the beaches and coastline through different agreements. One of those is a land lease.
The City of Seal Beach has had a land lease. But, that lease is up and the State Lands Commission is working with us to renew it.
The State of California owns the actual beach. We own the pier and River’s End Café.
So the lease will govern the beach itself from jetty to jetty.
Of course, our pier and River’s End Café reside on the State Land and so the State has an interest in what is put on the trust land.
The State wants the management of these public beaches to include visitor amenities along with commercial and retail uses?public beaches for all.
Seal Beach has always done a good job of offering mixed uses at our beach and pier and the State seems pleased with the way we have managed, guarded and maintained the resources for the public trust.
I am confident that the State does not want to incur the cost of caring for Seal Beach.
I am equally confident we don’t want to return the beach to them.
So the city staff and the State Lands Commission Staff are working in good faith to try and reconcile our needs with theirs.
On other news, thank you to the Animal Care Center for another successful Wag and Walk.
The Care Center does an excellent job of keeping our pets safe and out of harm’s way as well as providing an adoption center. You might want to go take a look at the Center and perhaps even volunteer to walk a dog or care for the cats. It is a volunteer center and help is always appreciated.
The pier will be back under construction as soon as the structural plans are complete and we are all working diligently to get your pier open to the very end for the enjoyment of all.
As always, I want to know your thoughts on the subject. Decisions are best made when all ideas and consequences have been thoroughly and thoughtfully analyzed.
So your ideas are important because they help me represent you better.
Ellery Deaton is the Seal Beach councilwoman for District One, which includes Old Town and Surfside. You may visit her website at www.ellerydeaton.com.
