[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6314679,"mediaKeyId","2382956-17e95d8c48c0beb299a253fe3ef96d72","parentId",2382956,"title","Residents urge Seal Beach to seek alternatives, safety studies for DWP pipeline route across College Park West bridge","audioSeconds",1816,"startMs",2893000,"endMs",4709000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2382956-17e95d8c48c0beb299a253fe3ef96d72&start=2893&end=4709","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2382956-17e95d8c48c0beb299a253fe3ef96d72/thumbnail_2893000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6314679/Seal-Beach/Orange-County/California/Residents-urge-Seal-Beach-to-seek-alternatives-safety-studies-for-DWP-pipeline-route-across-College-Park-West-bridge","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6314679-83be682484582a223f074da63c60e856/orig.mp4?Expires=1775741785&Signature=gzxdqP2kforo4LYEuTolfrkycTgFYa3vyWzbA4CCUnp0GP9bWRqbThaRRfPnvdojLopQ7~lhMGRF~tU99bwhqn3TrVrSXYAdsuxUuXgGjAVEZ2ICQ2HG4GQ7trdorHoDR8tGDG9GZhJd0nlpQvW~Nfi9NvRYMvsXK4oG~ExL2XpQvL7N5ACkm2c~V9NK7kYka9PLcHPsqMhbJ7GwbaJm15hhOwIq4tQ1JpZM7A-bgGv2deMg-oq1sgpfh7XfofmBggluXP7YtI5QEIsV7rMHQuGjw7822jvDjLYo1ZL6B3ZWwg~tyS-3zoc75YgH7DSvRp4MFhU7b-Au9dSma4DH1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Seal Beach Council, California","date","2025-02-25T02:32:30Z","article","Residents of College Park West told the Seal Beach City Council on Feb. 24 they fear safety and access consequences if the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) proceeds with a pipeline route that would use the neighborhood’s single bridge for pipe placement.

Jim Lingle, a longtime resident, told the council a petition representing most of the neighborhood’s 306 homes carried “probably over 300 signatures” and asked the city to require due diligence and independent studies on bridge safety and traffic-control impacts before any decision on the route. He described the potential safety consequences in case of a collapse or an emergency that blocks the community’s only vehicular access.

Other residents echoed those concerns. Jackie Wurfane and Ludo Wurfane urged the council to press DWP for structural and public-safety analyses and to present alternative alignments. Ludo Wurfane suggested routing the pipes along Studebaker Road or building a dedicated pipe bridge, noting Studebaker’s planned overhaul and asking why the pipes could not be placed away from the neighborhood’s bridge.

Why it matters

Residents said College Park West has limited egress during emergencies and argued that construction trenches or strapped pipes over the bridge could reduce lanes and delay emergency response for older residents, some of whom have lived in the neighborhood for decades.

City attorney’s clarification of process

City Attorney Gorelli told the council that a franchise agreement would be required before a pipeline could be constructed in Seal Beach right-of-way and that the council would have to consider and negotiate any franchise and likely adopt an ordinance to authorize it. She said, “a franchise agreement approved by the city council would need to be, considered by the city council before that pipeline could be constructed using the current path that relies on city of Seal Beach right-of-way.”

What residents asked the council to do

Speakers asked the council to require: independent structural analysis of the bridge; explicit plans for lane and emergency access during construction; consideration of alternate routes that avoid the College Park West bridge; and formal city-led studies rather than reliance on DWP-provided materials.

Ending

Residents said they want Seal Beach to act on safety and alternatives before any franchise or construction is approved. The transcript records public comment and the city attorney’s reminder about the franchise-and-ordinance process; it does not record a council vote or decision on the pipeline at this meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - February 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Residents of College Park West told the Seal Beach City Council on Feb. 24 they fear safety and access consequences if the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power proceeds with a pipeline route that would use the neighborhood’s single bridge.","taxTitle","Seal Beach, Orange County, California","taxId",72161,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6314689,"Seal Beach council hears plan to refresh city parking LPR technology; vendor chosen previously, no vote recorded",917,355000,1272000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2382956-17e95d8c48c0beb299a253fe3ef96d72&start=355&end=1272","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2382956-17e95d8c48c0beb299a253fe3ef96d72/thumbnail_355000.jpg","/articles/6314689/Seal-Beach/Orange-County/California/Seal-Beach-council-hears-plan-to-refresh-city-parking-LPR-technology-vendor-chosen-previously-no-vote-recorded","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6314689-00f4e1ef127292c41bf5ebe81c8c5d81/orig.mp4?Expires=1775741785&Signature=MZ-d3ja7zFT92rMB2o-fNowBiDAj2J9~0BfLPmcr7jAzybxtZ89USOf9E8sI6C~NqEFBKozJaTXrNmmVx0Dyky8lWgGyHODYP9pmlDHBEElQfOmAjS5ZrU1tYwvp6UdPUM2~zI~IX12nvuv68lb5RKtbcfj4rZGkVUpRw-RQpz2Ksjzd5ymFjrS-HflBonBGzJzWcPz7sDQPVE-2bAqlQlIQ2~PlMhtFU8cdYYPbjeGwVTu99M4DMzjDymePEF92YaS1aNFGlQ4coRZL1ACnUhLUXZHEdrw3okjneGTXmoqErjC1fnTtwtiaKNY-YbOMZcSVEPKn4HgdsbAV-IuuSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kevin Edwards, the city’s information technology manager, told the Seal Beach City Council on Feb. 24 that staff plans to refresh the city’s aging parking license-plate-recognition (LPR) hardware and software that support parking enforcement and related services.

Edwards said the system ties together multiple vendor products — mobile data terminals, handheld devices, vehicle-mounted LPR cameras, pay stations and in-house servers — and that “this is one of the more complex deployments in our city.” He said some equipment is at end of life and maintenance is harder because components come from different manufacturers.

The refresh targets equipment in six vehicles. Edwards said the council previously approved an allocation of about $242,000 for the project. Lieutenant Hendricks, who helped with the city’s RFP, told the council the selected distributor, ComSonics, submitted a proposal “just under $215,000,” which staff said would leave roughly $30,000 of the original allocation unspent.

Why it matters

City staff said failures of older LPR equipment have reduced efficiency, risked parking revenue and interrupted services that rely on the system, including animal control functions that use the same cameras. Edwards and Hendricks described the refresh as both a maintenance and a public-safety issue because modern LPR can inform stolen-vehicle and missing-person checks when properly integrated.

System scope and security

Edwards described multiple data flows and said criminal-justice information is protected. He told the council the police LPR system and the city’s parking LPR system are separate: “The LPRs associated with policing are completely different than the ones associated with parking” and the policing system has higher retention and access controls, Edwards said. He added that parking enforcement data are encrypted and that some police-related standards — he referenced CJIS procedures — govern how certain data are handled.

On operational questions, Edwards said the time from a permit being entered at a pay station to enforcement recognition should be “in worst case scenario no more than 10 to 15 seconds.” He said the city is negotiating with a vendor to allow earlier detection of parking violations so that staff could be flagged before an enforcement officer drives to a lot.

Vendor history

Lieutenant Hendricks reviewed earlier vendor experience: Seal Beach previously used systems from Motorola and Genetec; Motorola did not meet the city’s needs and Genetec-based systems were selected earlier. Hendricks said the city solicited bids from three Genetec distributors and selected ComSonics as the most cost-effective choice that offered coverage and support and that ComSonics reported it negotiated with Genetec to lower equipment costs.

Budget and next steps

Staff said the approved fiscal allocation is approximately $242,000 and ComSonics’ proposal came in below that number; staff said recurring maintenance could be added to the police department budget and that some future maintenance could be funded from annual parking revenue. No formal council vote on vendor award or contract terms is recorded in the meeting transcript; councilmembers asked technical and policy questions during the presentation.

Council questions and public-safety notes

Council members asked whether the parking LPR could detect stolen vehicles or trigger Amber Alerts. Edwards said he has integrated the parking system into the stolen-vehicle and missing-person databases so a hit can be flagged for dispatch to verify, and he emphasized verification steps before law-enforcement action: “We have a number of steps in process, both visually and through the system, to verify that information before we turn on our lights and potentially engage.”

What remains open

Staff did not present a contract or motion for council approval during the item; the presentation detailed the technical rationale, budget numbers and vendor-selection rationale and staff said it would bring procurement documents forward as required. The transcript includes no formal motion or recorded vote approving a contract at this meeting.

Ending

Staff recommended the refresh to maintain enforcement efficiency and public-safety integrations; council members asked technical and privacy questions and heard that the proposal is under the current budget allocation. Staff said they would return with procurement documents and contract language if the project proceeds to award.","Kevin Edwards, the city’s information technology manager, told the Seal Beach City Council on Feb. 24 that staff plans to refresh the city’s aging parking license-plate-recognition (LPR) hardware and software that support parking enforcement and related services.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6314677,"Residents press for equity, outreach as council schedules water-and-sewer rate study session",783,4074000,4857000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2382956-17e95d8c48c0beb299a253fe3ef96d72&start=4074&end=4857","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2382956-17e95d8c48c0beb299a253fe3ef96d72/thumbnail_4074000.jpg","/articles/6314677/Seal-Beach/Orange-County/California/Residents-press-for-equity-outreach-as-council-schedules-water-and-sewer-rate-study-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6314677-cf2dbfc45da8aa9bfb1a14c4ea97ca4c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775741785&Signature=OLU5ry4ET5CrzHmgzwdIUaaMEVmRewOdhb~C7kzzzE9K5pV9Z7RKyKZM2asWzyti3s44otwvod~jYDK8Eu9Qp2x1Zkle0pmrREfp4oNatOXvePxIcjMOQ~51NH-f~95ndo8uOd9TL2-o-ewHiN~U-1zcvYzvjPqTzHg6regpcSElSLHvHVT8Pa8bJkoivVg0za-kCiRVldnyjOKLmZC3gT7eM-WOYDXAxMG5oYkub-ldNOLcqjX-0ehiDTpLhHKq2j0RCjGZv1CIg~fJCiUzf4qfSmHvTBksAT5KwiBGHiTir0ChpvWagqddfLZtZyGLQEHoWt2rU-PM8vR6jDndtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents and community representatives told the Seal Beach City Council on Feb. 24 they want broad outreach and equity analysis for the city’s upcoming water-and-sewer rate study.

Theresa Miller of Old Town told the council she had been told the consultant RefTellus’ contract was being pulled for consideration and urged the council to hold a study session that “truly embraces fresh thinking and a commitment to equity.” She said the 2021 rate plan was developed during pandemic-era conditions and that residents are concerned a reworked plan with similar elements could be pushed forward without sufficient outreach.

Interim City Manager Charles Gallegos told the council staff will host a water-and-sewer financial study session at 5 p.m. on March 10 in council chambers and that the city will publicize the meeting on social media, the Sun News and other channels.

Why it matters

Speakers said fair and equitable rates are important to all water and wastewater ratepayers and called for accessible public engagement prior to any rate changes. Miller and other commenters said they expect robust outreach and analysis of equity impacts rather than a short public-notice window.

What the council and staff said

Gallegos and others confirmed the March 10 study session date and said staff will use multiple outreach platforms to notify ratepayers. No rate decisions were made at the Feb. 24 meeting; the transcript shows public comment and scheduling of the study session, but no council vote on rates or consultant contracts at this meeting.

Ending

The city set a public study session for March 10 to discuss water and sewer finances and the rate study; residents asked the council and staff to ensure wide outreach and to emphasize equity in any updated plan.","Community members urged the council to hold an equity-focused, well-publicized water-and-sewer rate study and asked that the consultant RefTellus provide fresh analysis; city staff scheduled a March 10 study session to review water and wastewater finances.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6314684,"Audit firm issues unmodified opinion on Seal Beach 2023–24 financial statements; council hears fiscal overview",834,1290000,2124000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2382956-17e95d8c48c0beb299a253fe3ef96d72&start=1290&end=2124","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2382956-17e95d8c48c0beb299a253fe3ef96d72/thumbnail_1290000.jpg","/articles/6314684/Seal-Beach/Orange-County/California/Audit-firm-issues-unmodified-opinion-on-Seal-Beach-202324-financial-statements-council-hears-fiscal-overview","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6314684-4108fd0391c662c4834f49835acc2946/orig.mp4?Expires=1775741785&Signature=X3MtPZy-TyZYlePZ5k1Dcz2ysMjr6xlbWuY20HQhcCoyvBn-k~I7lePJgnbXN4cHtlseSbl1-ru3tg-5ibnTCDYLCA7GjCMRErFTddwMp9JGFlr414EzWT2K~LGPMDSiOf5GRWdUavWtuOK2WN1JFndapbqotRJ6ImebDzJmUDaaieg4B4w9Gr7~VjMHn6FcEpIcUxSunohboU~sp4jFZnCRMip~sKukLs9Okt8jebI8L5fFwsEKjegT46Y1az3aT1aWa4QoyACfyS43zXKxuO4~E1-sRa0tpjxZqwrswtDPXwqVkv71gD6PF9zN75wTTUjpDxyUvi-N8g0a~up7nQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Seal Beach officials and an independent audit team reviewed the city’s annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, during the Feb. 24 City Council meeting. The auditor reported an unmodified — or clean — opinion on the city’s financial statements.

Finance Director Arnaldo told the council the ACFR presents the city’s financial statements and disclosures and that staff submitted the report to the Government Finance Officers Association for a certificate of achievement in reporting. He introduced Francis Kuo (auditor), the managing partner from the audit firm that conducted the engagement.

Auditor’s summary

Francis Kuo said the audit was performed under generally accepted auditing standards and that the firm evaluated internal controls, accounting policies and significant estimates. Kuo noted the city implemented GASB Statement No. 100 during the year and that there were no uncorrected misstatements or reportable internal-control deficiencies identified in the audit.

Key fiscal figures discussed

Kuo summarized several figures from the ACFR: the governmentwide net position at year-end, general fund activity and business-type (utility) activity. The auditor said the city’s governmentwide net position was approximately $144 million at fiscal year-end, an increase from the prior year. The general fund reported roughly $50 million in revenue and $44 million in expenditures for the year; the general fund’s fund balance increased from about $37 million to about $39 million.

Pensions and OPEB

Kuo said the city’s net pension liability reflects CalPERS reporting timing: pension amounts in the ACFR use the CalPERS valuation that lags by one year. Council members and staff discussed how CalPERS investment returns affect reported liabilities. Kuo reported the city’s net pension liability reported in the ACFR (based on the valuation available to staff) and showed a funding ratio near the high 60s percent range; Kuo described those figures as consistent with prior reporting.

Business-type activities and subsidies

Kuo explained the city’s water and sewer enterprise recorded higher expenses than program revenue for the year and that the business-type funds experienced a deficit covered in part by transfers and fund balance. Council members asked whether the general fund currently subsidizes the utilities and were told the utility funds are using available water/wastewater fund balances for the short term while a rate study and rate decisions proceed.

Why it matters

The ACFR and auditor comments provide a formal, audited snapshot of the city’s fiscal position as of June 30, 2024. The auditor’s unmodified opinion signals the financial statements are fairly presented in all material respects; council discussion highlighted near-term policy choices required for utility fund sustainability and the multi-year nature of pension accounting.

Ending

The audit presentation concluded with council discussion of pension reporting lags, investment returns and the need for continued attention to utility rates. The council scheduled a water-and-sewer study session for March 10 to continue conversations about rate structure and long-term fiscal health.","Auditor presented the fiscal year 2023–24 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, said it received an unmodified (clean) opinion, and summarized the city’s net position, fund balances, pension and OPEB numbers; councilmembers discussed pension reporting lags and utility fund deficits.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge Seal Beach to seek alternatives, safety studies for DWP pipeline route across College Park West bridge

Seal Beach council hears plan to refresh city parking LPR technology; vendor chosen previously, no vote recorded

Residents press for equity, outreach as council schedules water-and-sewer rate study session

Audit firm issues unmodified opinion on Seal Beach 2023–24 financial statements; council hears fiscal overview