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.