[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6509781,"mediaKeyId","5419690-8d2c217d8315f4ec00bfc4686143ff6e","parentId",5419690,"title","Votes at a glance: Seaside council approves grants, contracts and water allocation; first reading on firearms ordinance","audioSeconds",2690,"startMs",8764000,"endMs",11454000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5419690-8d2c217d8315f4ec00bfc4686143ff6e&start=8764&end=11454","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5419690-8d2c217d8315f4ec00bfc4686143ff6e/thumbnail_8764000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6509781/Seaside/Monterey-County/California/Votes-at-a-glance-Seaside-council-approves-grants-contracts-and-water-allocation-first-reading-on-firearms-ordinance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6509781-08d0d319a1b48618481553cdc159c584/orig.mp4?Expires=1770683235&Signature=LdTh325g0QeYNn7clGvdjUeeb-uHedmK2a1d7pG-w6lQkIl0qdMR8~ON~68SjfeeJpiJKleyIbrGQEMlBLdLUuVF38GFEFPPznDA8~faMr4vU87M8zabluOcBUSI5tlYBZylVSLcorC2JCfHzr-Wm3O4xEO4DasSeAMqIyYj92kwcX4dC0DGpg1fICb7hxD1aY3YrMMdMmQRFUeOXx8kLSd~0oHU8mLnggcZSKImYiDT~pqfdlA2ns18jrEi27RhKW-qg4ROgUn9qFaivwhTFYWV6Zu7TLGqRK~vSfUgLOCC0o-lGypijnoF62mpoSyA9G5uyzhvtgwcmK6qRUyerg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Seaside","date","2025-07-18T04:17:31.193Z","article","Seaside City Council actions and votes at the July meeting included approvals of consent items, awards of construction and service contracts, a water‑allocation adjustment for a Meals on Wheels distribution site, and several community program authorizations. The council also introduced — on first reading and as amended — an ordinance that would regulate the sale and storage of firearms in Seaside (see separate article).

Key votes and outcomes

- Consent agenda: The council approved routine consent items unanimously, including designating July 2025 as Parks and Recreation Month, approving and filing city and success agency checks, adopting a proclamation and adopting several resolutions authorizing professional service and on‑call civil engineering agreements (see agenda packet for full list). (Vote: unanimous.)

- Item 7d — Seaside Raiders youth fund contribution: The council approved a $3,000 city contribution to the Seaside Raiders cheer program after public comment and discussion about potential conflicts of interest. Council members disclosed family ties where required and then approved the item by recorded vote. (Outcome: approved; vote recorded as unanimous.)

- Item 9a — Seaside Stars fourth class: The council approved the ad hoc committee's recommendations for four Seaside Stars recipients and authorized the city manager to execute contracts with FMG Custom Concrete to fabricate and install four plaques (cost per plaque $6,716; four plaques total $26,864). The council approved the funding allocation from the previously budgeted amount and scheduled an unveiling ceremony for October. (Outcome: approved unanimously.)

- Item 9b — Water allocation for Meals on Wheels (1020 Auto Center Parkway): The council adopted a resolution to reallocate 1.292 acre‑feet per year back to the city's unallocated reserve and to allocate up to 0.725 acre‑feet per year from that reserve to support Meals on Wheels for use at 1020 Auto Center Parkway (for distribution operations and legalization of an unpermitted second floor). Staff explained 0.351 AFY was attributable to changing kitchen use classification and 0.374 AFY to legalizing the second floor. (Outcome: approved unanimously.)

- Item 9c — Fee waiver for Central Coast Bombers: The council approved a partially revised fee waiver request for use of Soper, Rubio (Metz) and Catino fields from Aug. 4 to Oct. 31, 2025, with the organization paying for field lighting; total city fees waived were $6,409. Staff noted the organization is a local 501(c)(3) and has used city fields with similar waivers since 2019. (Outcome: approved unanimously.)

- Item 9d — Fort Ord Military Reservation demo project, Phase 1b (rebid): The council awarded a construction contract to American Integrated Resources for demolition and related work on the Phase 1b area, authorizing the city manager to execute the contract in an amount not to exceed $2,585,707.95 and to approve a 15% construction contingency. Staff noted potential additional costs if post‑demolition soil hazardous materials are identified; the contract schedule allows roughly 120 calendar days for completion after notice to proceed. (Outcome: approved unanimously.)

Process notes and context

- Several items required disclosures by council members because of family involvement in local programs (for example, the Seaside Raiders request). City attorney advice on disclosure and recusal was provided before votes.

- On the Meals on Wheels water allocation, staff described an existing 1.292 AFY allotment previously reserved for a restaurant project that never proceeded; council reallocated that amount into the unallocated reserve and then assigned the smaller amount needed to the Meals on Wheels site.

- On the Fort Ord demolition contract, staff reminded the council that hazardous‑material abatement discovered after demolition would be outside the current contract scope and could add cost and time to the project.

Ending

All formal items brought to a vote at this meeting passed without recorded opposition. The council also took the significant procedural step of introducing the firearms ordinance on first reading and amending the buffer distance; the ordinance will return for final adoption at a later meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Seaside City Council Meeting 7/17/25","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved consent items including a youth fund contribution, adopted multiple resolutions on public‑works contracts, programs and water allocations, and approved fee waivers and other items. Separately they introduced a firearms ordinance on first reading (amended).","taxTitle","Seaside, Monterey County, California","taxId",3729,"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},6509785,"Seaside council advances ordinance regulating sale, storage of firearms; expands buffer to 1,000 feet",2860,3816000,6676000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5419690-8d2c217d8315f4ec00bfc4686143ff6e&start=3816&end=6676","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5419690-8d2c217d8315f4ec00bfc4686143ff6e/thumbnail_3816000.jpg","/articles/6509785/Seaside/Monterey-County/California/Seaside-council-advances-ordinance-regulating-sale-storage-of-firearms-expands-buffer-to-1000-feet","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6509785-6d39f8df2a4f60ebb5505611addb3929/orig.mp4?Expires=1770683235&Signature=IP5IS7uQf95j6UBxMcd6TRAjSmWBg2DU5cXh5BOns415A~C-sG6i6wITm9mbFb9l1RMjng9Oi-nEVX5~AgmdY3y-PWR~dNDyziu7qRQFO7ohUjP4Hstn-Thd8QbbMWH5jKjV2UN0ObmfZFWhq~YxX8yHw-d9RBDa6-ogQXtswMQK8xho~gR-296T3QVcTNiEFT50gBcpQ847byXT-CQkZbI0kCgJ06768JSypp66rp8kauyjscBndA95uZ-AP-mCoyX3S9criBinObgq2jC0uTfY4jm71Jxyn-4mDB-9D7Q0X0Dw5qtehzyvvJpaGoiI2Wk0SE-qbDv6N~y9faU7pQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Seaside City Council on the first reading introduced an ordinance that would amend Seaside Municipal Code Titles 5 and 17 to add security, operating and zoning requirements for the storage and retail sale of firearms and ammunition in the city. Council members voted to increase the minimum buffer around schools, parks and licensed child-care centers from the staff-recommended 300 feet to 1,000 feet; the measure will return for final action at a subsequent meeting.

City staff said the ordinance does not ban firearm purchases or ownership in Seaside; instead it would create a new use category that requires a use permit, an annual firearms dealer license issued by the police chief, and detailed security and storage standards for any business selling or storing firearms. \"This ordinance is not designed to prevent the sale of firearms or to keep people from acquiring them,\" Andrew Myrick, the city's economic development and community planning manager, told the council. \"It is intended to ensure that if a firearms store opens within Seaside it would be a secure facility.\"

The measure would restrict where such businesses could locate, authorizing them only in commercial zoning districts south of San Pablo Avenue and west of Noche Buena Drive (primarily the Fremont Street corridor). It would require a use permit (with public notice to property owners within the notification radius), annual inspections and allow the police chief discretion to require structural and security modifications — for example, safes, alarms, video monitoring that can notify the police department, window and door barriers or exterior bollards.

Supporters and opponents filled the hearing. Residents who opposed allowing gun stores in the city urged the council to strengthen the limits; several asked that the buffer be set at 1,000 feet rather than the staff-recommended 300 feet. \"Increasing the minimum distance to at least a thousand feet is in line with what many other cities across California and the U.S. are doing to protect their communities,\" said Catherine Crockett during public comment. Residents who opposed the change argued that retail dealers increase the number of firearms in circulation and can be targeted for theft.

Other members of the public and speakers argued for individual rights and the Second Amendment. Peter Kaiser, who identified himself as a longtime Seaside resident, said the right to bear arms has historical roots and urged caution about restricting legal sales. \"The gun is a tool, and the gun is not the problem in the hands of those who use it properly,\" Kaiser said.

Council members debated tradeoffs between safety, enforcement capacity and legal risk. Council member Franco Pacheco pressed staff on enforcement and whether the city could realistically guarantee that a store could not be broken into; staff and the police chief answered that no guarantee is possible but that stricter security requirements, safes and faster police response would make stores less attractive targets. \"The purpose of the ordinance is to make it very unattractive as a target,\" the police chief said. \"Even though officers are reactive, the standards try to take a proactive approach by making the targets unattractive.\"

Council members discussed multiple buffer options (200, 300, 500 and 1,000 feet) and the practical effect on available parcels along Fremont Street and in the commercial districts. The council ultimately voted during a roll-call first reading to proceed with the ordinance as amended to require a 1,000‑foot buffer from parks, schools and licensed child-care centers, and to keep the police‑chief licensing and annual inspection framework.

The introduction as amended preserves the use‑permit process: any applicant would still need a planning review with public notice, and the planning commission would decide on applications (with the option to appeal to council). Staff told the council there were no pending applications for firearm retailers at the time of the hearing.

What happens next: the ordinance will be returned to the council for final adoption at the next meeting after legal review and drafting edits to reflect the amended buffer distance and any technical changes the council requested. The council did not adopt the ordinance on final reading at this meeting; it approved the first reading as described.

Ending: Council members and staff emphasized the narrow scope of the current action: it regulates where and how a firearms retailer could operate in the city and adds specific security standards, rather than banning firearm ownership or private purchases. The council directed staff to bring the ordinance back for final action with the 1,000‑foot buffer and the other amendments the council considered.

","After hours of public comment and council debate, the Seaside City Council introduced an ordinance to establish security, operating and zoning rules for firearm and ammunition retailers and amended staff's recommended 300‑foot sensitive‑use buffer to 1,000 feet for the first reading.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Seaside council approves grants, contracts and water allocation; first reading on firearms ordinance

Seaside council advances ordinance regulating sale, storage of firearms; expands buffer to 1,000 feet