Today’s the Day – California Pizza Kitchen Donates to Los Al High Tennis

Hello family and friends of Los Alamitos High School Tennis . Go to California Pizza Kitchen for the BEST Pizza you’ve ever tasted and CPK donates to us!

Today ONLY (no specific time, just any time today) is the day to head out to California Pizza Kitchen in Rossmoor at 12171 Seal Beach Blvd – Rossmoor Center Drive  – present the attached flyer(shown below)  and 20% of the proceeds from your meal with be donated back to the Los Alamitos High School Girls Tennis team.  Unfortunately, the sports programs at the high school have had cuts due to the California budget crisis, so we  have to raise funds to offset the things needed to run the program and keep the girls playing in their sport.  We hope to see you there and the girls would be so very appreciative of your support.

(Pleaase Copy invitation below – 8×11 if possible and take it with you)

Philanthropizza

Please join us at California Pizza Kitchen for a

flavorsome fundraising event.  All you need to do is bring

in this flyer on our scheduled date and present it to your

server when ordering. 20% of your check will benefit our

organization.  So come out and enjoy something

delicious from the CPK menu.

Your taste buds will thank you, and so will we

Los Alamitos HS Girls Tennis

California Pizza Kitchen

Seal Beach

12171 Seal Beach Blvd.

562.430.2695

Monday June 27, 2011

Thanks for the support. We can’t wait to see you.

Donation amount excludes proceeds from tax & gratuity.

Manager, please attach this flyer to the guest check.

Valid for dine-in and take-out only.

Event proceeds void if flyers are distributed in or near the restaurant.

Local Audabon Warns of EIR Omissions on DWP Project

6-16-11

El Dorado Audubon                                                                                                California Chapter of The National Audubon  Society Long Beach, Seal Beach and surrounding  communities

June 13, 2011- City of Seal Beach-211 8th Street
Seal Beach, CA 90740

Att: Mark Persico, AICP, Director of Development  Services (562)431-2527
RE: Dept. of Water and Power Specific Plan  Amendment, Initial Study, June 2011

(Ed Note- This article is longer than we usually run…but Mary Parcell lists many potential environmental problems.)

Project Location: The project site is generally bounded by Marina Drive to the  north, 1st Street to the east, the Rivers End Cafe/beach  parking lot to the south, and the San Gabriel River to the  west.

We (local Audubon) are concerned  with open space (7O% in current plan), impact on wetlands per California  Coastal Act and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, impact on migratory  wildlife corridors, and impacts on species Department of Fish and Game and US Fish and Wildlife Service (see  below).

Open Space
“The proposed project includes approximately 6.4  acres of open space/parkland, in addition to the residential uses discussed above. The DWP Specific Plan Amendment would revise  (Read ‘reduce’) the open space area from 70 percent to 60 percent within the  Specific Plan. Proposed park uses would include, but not be limited to: natural areas with trails, passive turf areas, and neighborhood-serving play areas (e.g., “tot-lots).”

Due to the value and sensitivity of our coastal  Resources:  We do not support the change from 70% to 60% of open space  (requires Specific Plan Amendment).  Also, questions have been raised that this is really a change from 70% to  50%!

California Coastal Commission: Coastal  Development Permit required

We support open space (30% and visitor serving use, hotel, (70%) as specified in existing plan.  Preference given to .100% open space due to location next to the San Gabriel River  and the ocean. “Coordination with other agencies and adjacent jurisdictions  referenced in this document may also be required, including, but not limited to: City of Long  Beach; Los Angeles County  Flood Control District; and California Department of  Transportation.”

There is no documentation from California Dept. of Fish and Game, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US  Army Corps of Engineers and other agencies with jurisdiction over  biological resources.

Potentially Significant Impacts have not been studied as follows:

-Create a new source of substantial light or glare which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area?- Potentially Significant Impact. There are two primary sources of  light: light emanating from building interiors  that pass through windows and light from exterior  sources (i.e., street lighting, parking lot lighting, building illumination, security lighting, and  landscape lighting). Light introduction can be a nuisance to adjacent uses, diminish the view of the clear night  sky and, if uncontrolled, can disturb wildlife in natural habitat areas. Lighting associated with  non-residential uses may cause spillover impacts to nearby sensitive receptors. No light sources currently exist at the project site (other than the residential unit located at the northwestern corner of the  project site).

Short-term light and glare impacts associated with construction  activities would likely be limited to nighttime lighting (for security purposes) in the evening hours.  In accordance with Title 7 of the Municipal Code, Public Peace, Morals and Welfare, the  project’s  construction activities would be limited to the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and between  8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Construction activities are also prohibited on Sundays. Further  review is necessary to confirm whether potential construction-related lighting would create a new  source of substantial light or glare in the project area.

The project would result in the future development of residential uses and park/open space uses. The future uses would include street lighting, security lighting, and lighting associated with the interior of structures. These new light sources would create nighttime  lighting and glare in the project area. Thus, further review is necessary.

4.4 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES

a) Have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through  habitat modifications, on any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status  species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the California Department of  Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?

Potentially Significant Impact. The project site consists primarily of vacant land. The potential exists for candidate, sensitive, or special status species to be  located within the boundaries of the project site. Further review is necessary to confirm the project’s potential  impacts to candidate, sensitive, and special status species.

b) Have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or  other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations or  by the California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?

Potentially Significant Impact. While no known riparian habitat is present on-site, based on the property’s proximity to the San Gabriel River and coastline,  there is a  potential for sensitive natural communities to occur on-site. Further review is necessary to confirm  the project’s potential impacts in this regard.

c) Have a substantial adverse effect on federally protected wetlands as defined by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (including, but not limited to, marsh,  vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or other  means?

Potentially Significant Impact. Currently, the site is undeveloped  (with the exception of one residential structure), and may have the potential to contain wetlands, as defined by the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) and California Coastal Commission (CCC).  Further review is necessary to confirm the project’s potential impacts to Federally protected  wetlands.

d) Interfere substantially with the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory  wildlife corridors, or impede the use of native wildlife nursery sites?

Potentially Significant Impact. The potential for the project to  interfere with movement of species or to affect migratory wildlife corridors requires further  review.

Sincerely,

Mary Parsell – 1st VP & Conservation Chair, El Dorado Audubon SocietyCelebration 43 years of Conservation, Education and Citizen  Science

(Readers are encouraged to go to Monday’s Council Meeting June 20 at 7 p.m.

Council Gets an Ear-full from Angry Citizens

Well, they had a full house to hear the Advocates for the planned Ocean Park for the first time be allowed to question our City Council on why they approved the Bay City development without allowing public input.

First to speak, however, was City Planner Marc Persico who after a lengthy monologue that really said not very much finished with the benefits to the city.  It boiled down to what a wonderful deal it was for the city – “The city now has access to the city sewer system” (Honest – – that was pretty much it.) Does anyone really think Bay City Partners (BCP) wanted the sewer job….or that they could have denied the city access to the municipal sewer?  One thing it did prove is that when the City Council told BCP that “they would insure the  staff would do everything they could to get this development through” …the staff was doing what they were told to do.

First speaker was Geraldine West, a 44 year resident of Seal Beach.  She cited the law (Brwon Act) as she saw it against closed session decisions by City Councils and promoted legislative remedies against such decisions.

Next, Jim Caviola asked: Why the 1982 70/30 split in the city’s favor had been abandoned.   Why there was a new map that showed the city giving what amounted to $7 million  in additional lots to Bay City. Why the city is giving BCP $900,000 back of the $4 million they paid for the property?   Why won’t we require Bay City to pay the normal development fees?  Why are  ALL the city staff being required to testify FOR the BCP development?  – – does that include testifying in front of the Coastal Commission? Why is the city going to pay to remove a fence…that most believe was put up by BCP just to punish nearby residents who originally complained about the proposed development.

Next Robert Goldberg introduced a map that contradicted acceptance and also contradicted 2009 plot map..which showed 14 lots…and ½ of each of those lots was on land destined as open space parkland. Council was looking at that map as if they’d never seen it before and WUSB believes most of them hadn’t.

Goldberg also quoted from emails between BCP personel and former City Mgr Whittenberg when BCP wanted to move the original line of demarcation between what had been established for development vs open space….and Wittenberg responded favorably after only 27 minutes? Not much time for in-depth analysis.

Next Mike Bulbe asked to see the original plans of the DWP plant in order to see if it had been “cleaned” up to standards acceptable today …or even to standards of the time it was closed down.  He said “we don’t want another ARCO station debacle like we had with British Petroleum?”

Former councilman Paul Yost wanted to know why we hadn’t gotten permanent access to the beach via first street.  (WUSB would like to know why we had to pay for it – – seems doubtful the Coastal Commission would have allowed such access to be restricted?)

Looks like the Council is going to drag this out as long as they can.  At the next Council Meeting, Monday, June 20, we’ll be able to discuss the EIR report.  Was it done correctly?  Has a full EIR even been done for the DWP land? (Remember how the resurfacing of the pier was delayed almost 2 years because no EIR was done?)

The Advocates who are fighting this worthy battle for what is really a “Legacy Property” need you to be present to let this City Council that has turned into such a disappointment for us must review what they’ve done and allow the city to vote on this issue.

This Legacy Property, the portion was to be an open space park for ALL, is perhaps the most valuable ocean front left in Southern California.  IT SHOULD BE SAVED FOR EVERYONE!

SHOW UP MONDAY NIGHT AND BE HEARD!

Mike Bulbe invites EVERYONE…to the Monday Night Council Meeting

by Mike Bulbe

Dear Seal Beach Residents

If you are as confused and mystified about the DWP property (the 10 acres on First Street in Old Town) and how the city came to pay the developers $1,000,000 (yep, that’s a million dollars) for land that the developers cannot use, then come to the Seal Beach City Council meeting this Monday, June 13.  The city staff will explain this…. perhaps.

As it stands, the one million dollars the city spent bought approximately seven acres of land that has a history of contamination, the part where the power plant used to be. How this contamination has been handled is questionable, and it is not clear to me what level of cleanup has been achieved.  If the DWP property is anything like contaminated sites around the country and in other parts of Seal Beach, there is no telling how much liability the city is taking on, nor how much it will cost to resolve.

The developers originally planned 39 lots for houses on the DWP property, mostly on the part of the property that is away from the contamination.  Then the original 39 lots inflated to 48 lots on a bigger footprint of land.  The city actually GAVE the developers some additional land to account for some of the increase in the number of lots!

The City Council decided not to press the developers for money to create park or open space on the city’s purchased property. (This could have been done using existing state laws that allow cities to assess developers routinely.)

I could go on, but I think you understand what I’m driving at.  The developers bought ten acres of waterfront property for less than 5 million dollars, sold a portion of this to the city for a million dollars, and now plan 48 lots on the part that is left over.  It looks to me like the citizens of Seal Beach could be left holding the bag, a noxious bag, and so could the city council members.

Bring your questions to the Seal Beach City Council meeting.  That is this Monday, June 13, at 7 PM, at City Hall on Eighth Street in Old Town.

If you cannot attend, the meeting will be broadcast to Time Warner subscribers on channel 3.

DWP Overlay Boundaries Map 6-11[2]

This is an opportunity to create a legacy worthy of the future of Seal Beach.

World War II Submariners Remembered

To say that  the 34^th “Tolling the Boats” was an emotional experience – – – doesn’t do justice to the Service  held at the World War II National Submarine Memorial – West , at the Naval Weapons Station in Seal Beach.

World War II Veterans of the sub-service were there as were the widows of some who were lost during the war and those that had passed on since.

This was the 34^th Memorial Service at the base and considering that the first boat lost was a few days after Pearl Harbor, (the Sea Lion on December 10^th, 1941)….there was a surprisingly large group present.  Almost 400 people by our estimate.

The Memorial has been upgraded recently by donations from many groups and one of the upgrades has made it much more friendly to wheelchair visitors.  In addition there is a reflecting pool and a surprisingly peaceful ambience considering it is next to a busy highway. (This reporter has visited it many times over the years…and I’ve always been the only visitor there.)

Following a wonderful talk about the Submarine Service by the Commander Brien Dickson of the Fast Attack Sub….the Jefferson City, (SSN-769) ex-submariners, widows, family members and those with ties to the men on the 52 ‘boats’ lost in WW II went to stand at each memorial for each boat.  In all over 3,500 US Navy men lost their lives.

As Joe Koch read off the name of each submarine lost..the date and the number of men lost or survived,  Kay Staggs ‘tolled the bell’  and a volunteer who knew someone on the boat walked slowly and placed a flower next to the Memorial for that sub.  There was someone there for each of the 52 subs lost!

There were not many dry eyes in the crowd and that included many future submariners  in Sea Cadets and Boy Scouts.

The first U.S. submarine was bought by the U.S. Navy and commissioned in 1900 and on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese failed to attack the sub-pens at Pearl Harbor, they left a tiny fleet of subs that reeked havoc on them in the Pacific. Today the U.S. has a fleet that is without equal.  The new nuclear submarines played a major role in winning the Cold War and continue to protect U.S. interests worldwide.

In a future issue What’s Up In Seal Beach intends to do a more in depth article on the submarine fleet and the Naval Weapon’s Station.

Today, however, we honor “..Those still on patrol”

Seal Beach Run nominated for Governor’s Award

( A note from Marc and Elisabeth Loopesko)

Dear Neighbors,

The April 2nd RUN SEAL BEACH event has been nominated for the CA Governors Award (we are honored Tim !) (see attached).  Will you take a few moments and post a comment of support on the race and the fund raising aspect which supports city & school fitness and recreation programs, teams (just under $700,000.00 in past 10 years and another large amount to be given out this coming June 13th !)

Thank you,

Marc & Elizabeth Loopesko

—

Dear Tim,

Thank you for submitting a Spotlight Award nomination for Run Seal Beach in our Event of the Year category.

You can now view your nomination on our website by clicking on this link: http://calgovcouncil.org/spotlight/events/4273/?nomination=1.We encourage you to share the link above with family, friends, associates and colleagues so that they may write comments of encouragement for your nomination.

Note: The deadline for nominations and comments is June 30th at midnight.
Good Luck!
Kimberly Selman
Program Associate
Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
www.CalGovCouncil.org <http://www.calgovcouncil.org/

Run Seal Beach is an annual 5K, 10K and Kids Fun Run 1K that serves over 5,000 runners annually. The event is coordinated by a very committed volunteer committee that is dedicated to producing a high quality event that has become a source of pride for the city and its residents.

The event consists of a 5K and 10K run that features divisions ranging from 10 and under to 80 and older. For youth participants the committee offers a 1K Fun Run and Kid’s Fun Zone. The fun zone offers crafts and games for kids to participate in while the other races take place. Each child that enters the fun zone is issued a wrist band and they can only be released from the fun zone when a parent with a matching wrist band arrives to release them. This allows parents and guardians to participate in the other running events without having to worry about the safety of their children. All events are held along Seal Beach’s beautiful coastline and provide runners a unique opportunity to enjoy ocean views while participating in a first class event.

In addition to creating a great event for all participants the Run Seal Beach Committee gives all proceed back to the local community to support recreation, physical fitness and wellness purposes. This year’s event raised over 110,000 dollars for the Seal Beach Community.

---

Comments:Feel Free to add your own comment to those below

Seth Eaker: It is an incredible event which engages a tremendous number of participants, volunteers and sponsors. Perhaps the best event which takes place in Seal Beach because of the amount it gives back. All volunteer produced! A true highlight is the kid’s fun run, fun zone and special t-shirts to encourage youth engagement and whole family participation.

---

Carla Watson: Not only is this a great active sports event that attracts participation from folks of all ages with different running/walking ability, it is the # 1 philanthropic event
where at least $100,000, is given back to the community every year.

---

Philip Gonshak: Easily the most sincere and genuine form of volunteering in Seal Beach history! Volunteers, children, families, and competitors come out in the thousands to support, run, and get involved. As a citizen and employee of the city, hands down this event deserves this award.

Aerial Photos of Sunset Beach Fire

What’s Up In Seal Beach has exclusive aerial photo’s of Friday’s Sunset Beach fire that consumed one home entirely and heavily damaged two others.

Fire Ravaged Homes (photos by Jerry Rootlieb)

Fire Chief Kris Concepion said that first estimates are that the fire was caused by an overturned charcoal Bar-B-Que.

The occupants had just finished preparing the food and took it inside to cut it up before serving.  Apparently the wind blew over the charcoal burner and the conflagration erupted quickly and burned for almost 24 hours.  Fire workers stayed overnight putting out hot spots and it was still burning Saturday afternoon.

Estimates are that  repairs for the three damaged homes could exceed $10 million dollars.

Mark Atkinson, a renter the home that was totally destroyed said that he lost everything.  He stoically said, “Everything except what I’m wearing.”

District 1 News from Deaton

Budget:
The City Council and the staff have worked together for the last couple months to cut expenses and balance the budget while including citizen requests for expenditures and suggestions on savings. Jill Ingram, the Acting City Manager and her staff are to be commended for their hard work, long hours, and thoughtful approach to budgeting so that we have been able to keep our services at the same high levels to maintain our quality of life as the budget was reduced over last year’s by $2.2 million.  The budget is scheduled to be put before the City Council for approval at the City Council meeting of June 13th. (Editor’s Note:  Jill Ingram was made City Manager at last Monday’s meeting.)

Now it will be up to the Department Heads to live within the established budget and up to the Council not to authorize non-emergency budget amendments.  We will be reviewing the budget again in February to be sure we are living within our means and to make adjustments as needed.


DWP Proposed Project:
In other news, the DWP Property is now beginning the public process of review on the proposed open space/residential project.  Two dates you may want to put on your calendar:  June 13th and June 20th.  At the June 13th Council meeting, the Planning Director, Mark Persico, will be discussing the Settlement Agreement.  It will be televised.  June 20th will be a scoping meeting with the consultants doing the EIR (Environmental Impact Report.)  At this meeting all who are interested in this project will be given the opportunity to speak to what they believe should be included in the study of the proposed project.  The EIR will evaluate traffic, noise, soil quality, etc. from the project.  Please attend June 20th if you would like to participate in the beginning of the EIR process on the DWP Property.


Freeway Construction Traffic:
As you know the traffic on Seal Beach Blvd., Studebaker and the surrounding areas is heavily impacted by the freeway construction projects.  Sean Crumby, our Public Works Director is working diligently on getting the signals timed for good traffic flow.  Unfortunately, it seems to be a moving target as the traffic is erratic due to so much freeway traffic being routed onto our streets.  But, Public Works will continue to monitor the situation and are doing the best they can in a difficult situation.


New Red Curbs/Reduced Parking:
In order to facilitate emergency services by Fire Engines to the east side of Old Town, red curbs have been painted at the corners of the north east side of Old Town.  Soon red curbs will be painted at the corners of Dolphin and Marine on the south east side also.  In addition to those red curbs, the new storm drains require red curbing as well.  This has created a loss of parking in areas already hurting from parking shortages.  The city will be holding a public hearing(s) about ways to help ease the parking problems created by the removal of so many parking spaces in these neighborhoods.  I’m aware of the problem and will let you know as soon as I know the date for the public meetings.  In the meantime, if you would talk among your neighbors and be ready to attend the meeting(s) with some ideas to remedy the situation, that would help us work together toward a solution.

New Pier Restrooms:
The Eisenhower Restrooms renovation is now complete.  There is a new ventilation system, new lighting, plumbing fixtures and doors.  And they were given a thorough cleaning.  What an improvement! (Editor’s Note- Whoopee!)

Marina Park Improvements:
Have you been down to Marina Park lately?  The improvements to the Basketball Courts have been completed.  There are now new backboards, improved lighting and resurfaced courts.

City Manager:
The City Council has spent many hours interviewing and working on hiring a new city manager.  We hope to have a city manager in place very soon.  As soon as one is appointed, I’ll send out a special newsletter (and a Tweet.)

This newsletter was authored by Councilmember Ellery Deaton at sealbeachdistrict1@gmail.com.

NEW Navy Radio System May Disrupt your Garage Door Openers?

Seal Beach, Calif. A new radio system operating at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach may interfere with nearby garage door openers in the surrounding community.

Called Enterprise Land Mobile Radio (ELMR), the system is being fielded at most U.S. military installations.  ELMR uses radio frequencies between 380-399.9 megahertz that have long been reserved for use by the Department of Defense, but had been underutilized until now.

Some radio-controlled garage door openers operate, on an unlicensed basis, on these same frequencies.  Such devices operate legally under Part 15 of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules, at very low power, with the requirement that they do not interfere with government communication systems.

Because garage door openers are unlicensed devices, they are not offered any protection from interference by licensed users in the same frequency band, and in fact are required by federal law to accept interference from licensed users.

The Department of Defense was required to move into these underutilized frequency bands to meet its own 21st century communications needs, at the same time that the explosive growth of wireless communications networks has dramatically decreased available free bandwidth.

Base commanding officers do not have the authority to modify their ELMR systems because of local complaints, or to offer compensation to unlicensed users affected by the new system, however, many garage door opener manufacturers offer replacement transmitters and receivers that operate on frequency bands not used by the ELMR system.  Affected homeowners should contact their garage door manufacturer or installer for more information.

The Bay City Settlement is a Major Problem for the City of Seal Beach!

(Ed. Note: An earlier draft on April 29 attributed some comments to Marc Loopesko. Those were made by Bruce Stark.)

The “Settlement” agreement that was distributed last week by some concerned Seal Beach citizens was, to most who viewed it, a frightening document to review.

As understood by most who got copies….it was accepted as a ‘fait acompli’.  It appeared as if our city council had literally signed an agreement behind closed doors that benefitted a private entity with a windfall profit on the DWP property that could enrich the Partners in excess of $30 million dollars while indebting the city dramatically!

At Monday night’s City Council meeting enraged citizens were  there in substantial numbers.  When the council meeting was opened to comments – limited to 5 minutes per speaker – they spoke with a passion that would  have made Patrick Henry proud… and the Council sat silently without comment.  The silence seemed like disdain at first and then the City Attorney said that the Brown Act restricted the Council Members  from commenting on something that was not on the printed Agenda for the evening.

It probably is not fair to say that the council seemed ambivalent to the comments, nevertheless for those speaking from their hearts,  to be the object of complete silence to their complaints…. one of which was that this “Deal” had been done behind closed doors … it must have seemed like they were in the City of Bell.

Hopefully that is not the case.  Mayor Levitt did speak briefly to answer one of the speakers and said…’There has been no agreement.  Nothing has been agreed to.  Nothing has been signed off.“  The clear indication seemed to be that it has yet to be addressed in public.  We certainly hope so but we are  still left with a copy the last page that says

” IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the City and Bay City cause theagreement to be executed.

Dated: 3-16-2011. . .  signed  Michael Levitt, Mayor of City of Seal Beach.”

The Limited Liability Corporation, Bay City Partners includes three Seal Beach locals: Brian Kyle, owner of O’Malley’s Restaurant on Main Street, Bob Griffith who used to own the Rexall Drugstore before he became one of the largest landlords in Seal Beach and now lives in a majestic “castle-like” home on the Gold Coast. Griffith also owns of Griffith Enterprises on Main Street, where you can peek in the  window and see a couple of cars….but Griffith doesn’t sell anything there and doesn’t encourage visitors.  The last of the Seal Beach partners is Rocky Gentner, who sells boats on the north end of the property that could be turned into more home-sites.  Gentner and Griffith are two of the largest owners of the LLC with  25% each.  Kyle is a close third with 15%.   It’s doubtful that those opposed to the project can affectively diminish the influence of Gentner or Griffith. Griffith usually provides a big red Cadillac to drive Santa around in the Christmas parade and everybody loves Santa.

Carla Watson was the first speaker of the night.  A 47 year resident of Seal Beach , Carla was one of group who lobbied the Coastal Commission to place the DWP property on the priority list because 1) It was one of the last remaining scenic bluffs along the ocean, 2) A bicycle path feeds into this property, and 3) the land was in the public domain.  Since that time a consensus was reached on restrictions on the property and she said that when Bay City purchased the property they knew the plan and constraints on the property.  In a most eloquent speech she defended the original position of the previous City Councils and the consensus.

Bruce Stark , another of the opponents also spoke and described the plastic cover that’s been around the fence for over a year –  that was put up by the LLC –  as “ a punishment inflicted on the neighborhood.”  He said there was no other reason for it to be there.  It served no purpose. The neighbors used to enjoy looking across at harbor and the jetty…as did the rest of the city and the tourists but Bay City Partners decided to obstruct the view.  (Perhaps – with pending litigation they didn’t want the voters to see what a prize jewel it was for the planned city park?)

Bruce later announced that the DWP is on the Council Agenda for Monday, June 13.  We encourage all to show up at that meeting.

Robert Goldberg in an email sent to opponents of the plan warned that they should keep in mind that the ‘agreement’ clearly draws “the line” at a location inconsistent with the DWP Specific Plan.  That plan states that all development shall be north of  the north-side of an imaginary westerly projection of Central Way.  Therefore, the Plan would have allowed Central Way to be continued straight onto the property to provide both an access road and a southern boundary of the developed area. Instead, the signed agreement allows 13 homes to be built on top of the imaginary westerly projection  of Central Way. (Ed.Note – This could be a crucial mistake!)

Goldberg and Loopesko both also attacked the split that was always supposed to be  70%/30% with 30% being for homes and 70% for open space and for park area.  Now it is closer to 50%/50%.

Jim Caviola, a resident and a lawyer, said “This is a rip off. These guys are going to get $900,000 for a lease to service our sewer system and to continue to give access to the beach parking lot!  They may make as much as $40 million dollars and we’re giving still going to pay them $2 million?”

Chi Kredell, a leading SB  citizen for more than 50 years speaking to the entire Council said, “This is a stab in the heart to us. How could you do this to us?”

Former Mayor Charles Antos said he sat in on the negotiations before he retired earlier this year and that it was a ‘terrible deal’ for the city to make. Antos emphasized that he had nothing to do with the agreement.

One of the current council members told me  “Appearances can be deceiving. This agreement came about for many reasons, the main one was to save the city money.  The city has had exorbitant legal expenses brought about by Bay City Partners. We where in danger of losing the two million dollar grant from San Gabriel Conservancy to upgrade the first street Parking area; we were virtually squeezed by Bay City Partners.  If we had lost the eminent domaine suite on the roadway we could have been put in a huge financial loss. The city council was never happy with this agreement but it was the best deal we could get out of very greedy landowners who were willing to use legal costs to put the city in a bind.” ( Ed Note: Unfortunately, we were told,  the Brown Act would not let them discuss this with the citizens because the LLC and the City were in Litigation.)

Council Member Ellery Deaton, who got on the Council just before the agreement in question was decided (?) said yes… they did agree to $900,000 for a sewer easement.  But more importantly that
stopped litigation so the project could get out of closed session under the cloak of secrecy and be vetted by the public.  No zoning change was given and everything in the settlement agreement except for the sewer easement purchase is now open for public debate.  Deaton went on to say that was her main reason for voting to stop the litigation–to get the discussion out in the open.  There is always room for different opinions, but the opinions need to be aired publicly.

Needless to say there are conflicting comments by the Council members and that may have been caused by the ‘heat of the moment.’

What’s Up in Seal Beach remembers Pres.Reagan’s comment “Trust ….but verify!”  For Seal Beach that will be on June 13th!

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