Seal Beach firm hiring 278 in Vegas

A local company  is planning to build a multi-million dollar solar power plant in the Las Vegas area.

Amonix , based in Seal Beach, says the operation will employ about 278 workers. Amonix CEO Brian Robertson says workers will make concentrated photovoltaic solar equipment—the same type of solar cells used to power satellites.

The panels convert sunlight into electricity.plan was announced Saturday during a dedication ceremony in Henderson for a 308-kilowatt solar installation that the company sold to Southern Nevada Water Authority.

Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said at the ceremony that these types of projects are important for diversifying Nevada’s economy.

WHY COULDN’T WE HAVE DONE THIS IN SEAL BEACH?

For complete story go to  http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_15098346

City Council Unanimously Approves Settlement Agreement with BP/ARCO

Sewer project controversy resolved – Projected costs of 1 million reduced to $55,000 !

Seal Beach, May 11, 2010- Establishing financial responsibility for contaminated soil cleanup at the intersection of Seal Beach Blvd. and Lampson Avenue has enabled the City of Seal Beach to reach an agreement with BP/ARCO.  The main points of the agreement hinged on a willingness of the City and BP/ARCO to quickly and amicably delineate which aspects of the project were the city’s duty, and which were BP/ARCO’s.

Said Seal Beach City Manager David Carmany “when we first discussed the problem with representatives of BP/ARCO, about the only thing we knew for sure was that the city’s public works project had an open bore hole with the odor of gasoline”.  The city was tunneling underneath Seal Beach Blvd to install a new sewer line.  BP/ARCO worked closely with the City to review historic construction records, and to develop a proper cleanup plan.  The contaminated soil was segregated and trucked to a class I landfill in Adelanto.
 
“When we first started this process, we identified several objectives of our efforts to protect public health and the environment. With this agreement and some key construction strategies that resulted from the city’s efforts, we have accomplished our objectives,” said Seal Beach Mayor David Sloan, speaking for the City Council. “We can now redirect our resources, time and money to other capital projects and other initiatives to improve the quality of life for our residents. We remain committed to protecting the environment and have been pleased with the cooperation of BP/ARCO. We have laid the groundwork for future actions to collectively promote the interests of Seal Beach residents.”
 
To put the agreement’s financial implications into perspective, the City of Seal Beach operates on an annual General Fund budget of $26 million dollars.  The additional expenditures for environmental cleanup of nearly one million dollars were quite significant for the city.  The public works project was immediately stopped until a cleanup plan could be devised.  

“I am extremely proud the way our public works staff handled this.  Their normal project management attention was suddenly diverted to an arena rich in regulatory overview, and they stepped up.  Especially, I’d like to compliment our City Engineering staff and especially Associate Civil Engineer David Spitz.  With these projects, the devil’s in the details.  They did their jobs well. Because of their can-do attitudes and meticulous record-keeping, the city was able to quite clearly make its case to BP/ARCO”.  Under the terms of the settlement, the taxpayers of Seal Beach will be reimbursed $945,000 for additional necessary project costs.
 
“The Chamber of Commerce is proud of the efforts of the city and a major corporation to quickly and amicably resolve a major problem. The efforts of the City have heightened awareness about the value residents place upon the environment as a resource,” said Seth Eaker, President of the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce. “The Chamber believes the settlement agreement enhances the community’s environmental enforcement and cleanup capacities.”
 
Beyond proper soil cleanup, the City also needed to comply with a number of safety measures on the job including fresh air import, worker safety, and confined space rescue contingency plans.  The settlement addresses the primary concerns that began with discussion between the City Manager and BP/ARCO representatives and led to the city providing additional safety protections beyond those included in the original project contract and scope.  It also demonstrates the parties’ ability to resolve the issue at the local level without further involvement by outside regulatory agencies or the judicial system.
 
“This bodes well for the ability of Seal Beach and BP/ARCO to resolve other major community issues in the future,” said City Manager David Carmany. “Through the settlement agreement we have defined these efforts and demonstrated we will continue to be aggressive in protecting public health.”  “We are pleased to be able to reach this agreement,” said Seal Beach Mayor David Sloan. “I am proud of the steps that have been taken by our city to protect the environment and we will continue to work to protect the integrity of the community.”
 
 For further information:
   Mayor David Sloan – (562) 431-2527, ext. 1303
   City Manager David Carmany – (562) 431-2527, ext. 1300 or by email: dcarmany@ci.seal-beach.ca.us

Seal may be 95…but not these gals!

Members of the Woman’s Club of Seal Beach got on NBC TV last week to promote the upcoming  Seal Beach Founders Day Celebration in New York on the Today Show. They were second in line at 5:30 a.m.on May 6 and we have personal knowledge that getting up that early is not the favorite thing for any of them.
 
Nancey Kredell, Nancy Shook, Libby Appelgate and Sharman Snow shook hands with Matt Lauer, Meredith Viera and Al Roker…..and they were thrilled that our gals were there.  Lots of love to go around and Linney was standing next to the Seal Beach contingent and gave them an interesting history of the many years he has been on the Today Show.
 
Click here: Seal Beach Founders Day <http://sbfoundersday.wordpress.com/> 

CITY ASKS YOU “PLEASE DON’T FEED COYOTES”

DID YOU KNOW THAT FEEDING WILDLIFE, INCLUDING COYOTES, CAN 

• ALTER NORMAL MIGRATORY HABITS 

• CONTRIBUTE TO OVERPOPULATION 

• RESULT IN MALNOURSHMENT 

• ENCOURAGE COYOTES TO ENGAGE IN CONTACT WITH HUMANS 

• INCREASE THE PRESENCE OF MICE AND RATS 

• IT’S AGAINST THE LAW- 

 California Code of Regulations, Title 14 Section 251.1 – 

 Harassment of Animals 

PLEASE REPORT COYOTE SIGHTINGS IMMEDIATELY TO: 

ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AT (562) 570-7387 

The City of Seal Beach 

Get Ready For “Detours” … Coming up this summer

There will be several detours affecting Seal Beach drivers in the coming months.  SOME FOR AS LONG AS 6 MONTHS!  

However, there are some pretty clear maps telling you when and exactly where your driving will be affected.

For a full description go to: http://www.octa.net/pdf/newsletterwcc.pdf

Once there scroll down until you come to “Project Specific Closures” on the 2nd page.  You will see the words   7th street Detour Map and to get there go to http://www.octa.net/pdf/wcc_detours.pdf

You will also see “Other Proposed Detours” and to get there go to : http://www.octa.net/pdf/wcc_other.pdf 

Who’s going for who’s throat? Developer and City FAce Off

Monday Night Council Meeting will discuss pending litigation between the city and the group that wants to develop the old power plant property on First street.  So what’s all the fuss about?  ( Ed. Note “What’s Up” inadvertently said it was happening 2 weeks ago.)

In a nutshell the land has long been approved for a small hotel or residential at a 75% / 25% split between what is left as open space and what is used for development.  That’s percentage was arrived at several years ago and was the subject of considerable discussion at past council meetings. Perhaps before Bay City Partners even owned the land.

Naturally any developer wants to get the maximum number of homes it can when doing a development. Especially when the land is literally on the water. Conversely the city wants to protect the very unique “smallness” of Seal Beach and at the same time protect
the citizen’s rights to have view and access to the water in this world of larger and larger developments.  Bay City Partners would like to have more of the land developed and less kept as open space.

The city balked, rightfully in this reporter’s opinion, at increasing the developable area.  Not long after that Bay City Partners put a large green cover  on the wire fence that surrounds the property.  Not sure why they did that but it certainly did affect any “open space viewing” that the neighbors might have enjoyed.  Then it was said that a small part of the road going down to the River’s End area actually was owned by Bay City Partners      ( about 10,5000 feet) and they might be taking it over…it also would have affected some underground sewage lines that had been there for decades.

The city received a large grant from a conservancy to be spent on the area for acquisition and improvements and started eminent domain proceedings to buy the land and keep it open access to River’s End, Windsurfer Park and the parking lot and beach. Bay Cities said their offer wasn’t high enough…BUT….they’d accept the offer… IF… the city agreed to let them build the additional houses.

It almost sounds like a family squabble that just got out of hand….but when we’re talking about protecting the atmosphere Seal Beach and Old Town…..it takes on a whole new meaning.

Anyhow, Monday night you should attend the council meeting and state your preference.  Tell the council how you feel….and what you want them to do.

For the entire story go to: http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-245606-land-bay.html

Celebrity Sightings On The Rise Long Beach and Seal Beach

Phil Trani’s restaurant (Long Beach) continues to have the sports stars slipping in the back door.Since we know they don’t come to see each other it must be the food?

Last week Mark Sanchez drops in and guess who’s in tow?  Nope your wrong..not some New York showgirl but his dad and his brother.  Mark has reached the point of fame that he has to wear an ugly winter hat with ear flaps to avoid the crowds…even at Trani’s.

The week before it was Troy Polamalu and his family.  Wife, kids, father-in-law (sweet guy and a “stud” football player for Michigan) and brother-in-law.  Troy and the entire family couldn’t have been nicer.  When you start throwing down on Big Ben…just remember there are some first class people playing for the Steelers.

Of course earlier in the month we saw the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Mike Mullin, in full uniform, shaking hands with the owner/chef, Phil Trani.  Not a sports star you say.  Don’t tell that to Trani.

Mullin played for Notre Dame High and Trani played for Mary Star of the Sea…at the same time.

Who won the game?  (Neither could remember…they said)

Seal Beach Run Draws 5,000 Entries

The only thing tht could have drawn a bigger crowd to the annual Seal Beach 5/10k run would have been if Sandra Bullock had been leading the pack!

Naturally the fastest of the group were in the front when they came by Bogart’s coffee shop (picture below)

 

Nevertheless…the real “rush” of the wind for those standing on the curb (to be as close to the racers as possible) came when the crowd of over 5,000 racers came by.

(No kidding there  was breeze you could feel from the running crowd.)

The Seal Beach run has become one of Southern California’s spring highlights.  It doesn’t draw big crowds of on lookers….like the car show will next weekend (April 24) but you have to consider those runners.  Thousands of them with their spouses, children and  pets – all running side-by-side – – some with smiles a mile wide. 

And then, of course, we can’t forget our service guys and gals.  Making it look so easy. Shouting cadence as they covered the 10k as if it were a cakewalk.  

The guy carrying the flag should get a special award from the Run sponsors.

NO BUTTS ON STATE BEACHES?

Today the State Senate approved on a bipartisan vote a proposed statewide effort to protect California´s coastal landscape and help prevent forest fires. (We’re not sure how a forest fire can start on a beach but it still sounds like a good idea.  You can find butts on Seal Beach’s sand any day you want.)

Of course getting rid of cigarettes won’t solve Seal Beach’s smoke problem. To see a really gross sight go to: https://www.whatsupinsealbeach.com/local_news/what-the-oil-boats-cost-seal-beach/

If Gov. Schwarzenegger signs into law, Senate Bill 4 would impose a $100 fine starting next year on anyone cited of smoking at state beaches and parks.  Gov. Schwarzenegger has not taken a position on the bill, which would be the first of its kind in the nation but unnamed sources say he is expected to sign it.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Jenny Oropeza, of Long Beach and she’s worked on it for four years.

The bill is supported by the cities of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Manhattan Beach and Torrance, as well as state firefighters, the Sierra Club and other environmental groups. For the complete story go to: http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/view/151380

Did Rohrabacher go over the top at Chamber Meeting in Seal Beach?

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher spoke at last week’s Chamber of Commerce meeting in O’Malley’s before over 100 members and guests.

Included in the group that heard the Congressman was Mayor Sloan and Councilmembers Levit and Antos. Congressman Rohrbacher agreed to try to include a Seal Beach Chamber meeting on his list of annual stops.

The Congressman’s speech was a little confusing to some.  He took the usual expected shots at President Obama … and then going over the top, as some said,  and called him a “Marxist” instead of just the usual  socialist babble.  To read the entire story click here.

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