[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6138624,"mediaKeyId","5582111-2437e1f4b9c799582eb94337832501a2","parentId",5582111,"title","Council approves contract increase for EPL land-use software support; staff to seek longer-term solution","audioSeconds",313,"startMs",2510000,"endMs",2823000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5582111-2437e1f4b9c799582eb94337832501a2&start=2510&end=2823","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5582111-2437e1f4b9c799582eb94337832501a2/thumbnail_2510000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6138624/Seal-Beach/Orange-County/California/Council-approves-contract-increase-for-EPL-land-use-software-support-staff-to-seek-longer-term-solution","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138624-3cf153f68c4d9562e4b0adb371b86478/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643731&Signature=VVAHnfVovPq4gDoUd17YTYUhQTbff2GzQizfoVBWsZSoN6P3L-PCUM2QLTbfXIirL-StXcLs6p1pAQunwfdNNdtKYKi7fiO9YOoYrOghJbnFRsNMUy-kH70attO6e5-nWTFmKlRq7K8EIJXoDlsxomRKIFkgzb42BdUIVgZFYESZIXBGmhErpGD3PEF4jTS3RL4f3h9wLN~2EX-6Q9oUKYujQkR-iX4fAXgesjRImsQ-a5BG~-mmTmfbNrTXBTo3KdfsVP2PXWZR9kgyB0xycy7CQX1j3WRi01rxfischhweRMuFqo2~qvPAzFrALAlU3AozsHCNWkGfqDmApslIVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Seal Beach Council, California","date","2025-08-12T17:50:53Z","article","Seal Beach 'The City Council on Aug. 11 approved a contract amendment to continue outside technical support for the city's EPL land-management platform, which staff said continues to require frequent vendor and consultant assistance.

Director Schmittel (staff) told the council EPL is the city's online land management system used by planning, building, code enforcement and engineering, and described recurring operational issues since implementation nearly a year ago. Staff said the vendor's lower-tier support is limited in responsiveness and that the city's single in-house IT staff lacks bandwidth to manage backend fixes. \"EPL is our land management plan that we use for development services,\" the presenter said; \"...it suffers the ability to move things expeditiously. We need a lot of technological support to manage this program.\"

Why it matters: EPL is the public-facing permitting and land-use platform residents and applicants use to apply for permits, view project documents and process special-event permits. Staff said continuing contractor support is necessary to keep the service running while a permanent internal or vendor-based solution is developed.

Council action: After public discussion and questions from council, the council approved the contract increase for continued technical assistance (Holistic consultant and Tyler vendor support) by a unanimous vote (5-0). Mayor Eilisa Landau made the motion to approve the pulled consent item; Council member Kalmick seconded. Council members stressed the need for a long-term, cost-effective plan and directed staff to return with options for a sustainable support model.

Clarifying detail: Staff said they are exploring alternatives; complete migration to a different land-use management platform was said to be expensive and likely costlier than stabilizing the current system and training staff.

Ending: The council authorized continued outside support so staff can stabilize the software and design a long-term approach that may include additional training or a restructured support agreement with the vendor.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - August 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved an increase to an existing contract for outside IT support for the city's EPL land management system and authorized continued work while staff develops a longer-term technical solution.","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},6138629,"Seal Beach receives housing element update; HCD sign-off contingent on rezoning steps and possible override of airport land-use commission",321,1387000,1708000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5582111-2437e1f4b9c799582eb94337832501a2&start=1387&end=1708","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5582111-2437e1f4b9c799582eb94337832501a2/thumbnail_1387000.jpg","/articles/6138629/Seal-Beach/Orange-County/California/Seal-Beach-receives-housing-element-update-HCD-sign-off-contingent-on-rezoning-steps-and-possible-override-of-airport-land-use-commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138629-82805bb6b96a579ffae35ce4ae46327b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643731&Signature=n2KZtjVo8vqVTR3~2tXU15M5pF~wfwYrmJB60HbyCjxdyuxEKjN60aobeekhRm~MIFbrnsqlIpPktTprqVXERzH5S1d4jIuXZudp8lDgKBTCqjGQBAnvvG82Sv1KN8yl4m7TsbwBOhrE6XBv-K-F4io0cNC1s2XEEZhi3v3F11oJ20~-t09ZcFiTZ87B2DrK3p~mPpQowC-s3bEfDdlTwVZxoyyhFKQvEQWV4L2ySlbbFcwgEfUpGDn9VoQTxcC-gkIZok-Ji7dJx13MiolB9udMHcZiL40p8GDa5n7aJd6HEdY2dJybZE8S7zj7KHzWkoNU11RvFZ7rYkmzsydpqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Seal Beach 'The City Council received and filed an update Aug. 11 on the city's housing element process, a required component of the General Plan that must be reviewed by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).

Director of Community Development Alexa Smittle walked the council through the multi-year process: the housing element work began in 2021, staff submitted multiple drafts to HCD, the city paused an environmental impact report while the project description stabilized, and the draft EIR was released in 2025. Smittle told the council, \"Our exact number is 1,243 units,\" referring to the city's Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) obligation and summarized the sites the state expects the city to plan to accommodate.

Why it matters: HCD must find the element acceptable for the city to be certified; certification limits state penalties and enables local control. HCD found earlier drafts inadequate and required rezoning to demonstrate capacity; staff said HCD later found the package acceptable pending completion of rezoning. The Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) recently found the city's rezoning/amendments inconsistent with its airport land use plan, which triggers a separate process: the council would need to take the first of two required steps in September to overrule ALUC to enable HCD certification.

Key details: Smittle described the primary candidate sites concentrated in the north end of the city, notably Old Ranch and the shops at Rossmore (to be rezoned to mixed-use), a vacant former oil production site at 99 Marina, and some sites that abut ALUC notification/noise areas (Old Ranch Country Club and small portions of the Old Ranch Town Center). The housing element update includes rezoning tasks and a work plan of related items such as fair housing outreach and local coastal program adoption; Smittle said consultant costs tied to the housing element, zoning code update and EIR total about $725,000, with another roughly $100,000 for related tasks.

Council action and next steps: Council voted 5-0 to receive and file the update. Smittle told the council the next steps include: (1) council action in September to initiate a possible overrule of the Airport Land Use Commission (a required procedural step if the council intends to proceed), (2) Environmental Quality Control Board review and recommendation on the final EIR, (3) Planning Commission review in early October, and (4) final council consideration later in October. Smittle also said the safety element and environmental justice element drafts will follow in coming months and also go to ALUC for review.

Ending: With the receive-and-file vote, the council directed staff to continue the rezoning and EIR processes and prepare the materials necessary for the September and October hearings; the item remains subject to HCD review and to the outcome of the ALUC overrule process.","City staff briefed the council on the multi-year housing element update, including state review history, the 1,243-unit RHNA allocation, contested sites under the airport land use commission review and a timeline that would bring final council action in October; council voted to receive and file the update 5-0.",{"_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},6138634,"Seal Beach council adopts proposed water and sewer rate package after contentious public hearing",8470,3009000,11479000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5582111-2437e1f4b9c799582eb94337832501a2&start=3009&end=11479","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5582111-2437e1f4b9c799582eb94337832501a2/thumbnail_3009000.jpg","/articles/6138634/Seal-Beach/Orange-County/California/Seal-Beach-council-adopts-proposed-water-and-sewer-rate-package-after-contentious-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138634-fccba13c512dff11de830d9cc503f0dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643731&Signature=FewQD~m8228bnBThuBmOaYFsQVdhaQFdvhLQKqrjOJ0hZhy3lKtXnUpppgAMjnLj-i~bu3p4KhsgZ~kwjrb~pDNb9OMNCZGkj6c4Lk7N-AQJSe9n8OT~E5Xro9tiXJsEqlXqngFqADPOhQtia5iforxTeGjhulsjCHMSAeiu~nzEW4N5chXuZwqcc0~SPTnk2kxJN-rbPHDzsaNgB2~oMwTrjvU2UxSM2fAwYnVk-DGRW1aHbNmFgjbo3eCOTzc27Z3hIkXC5yyUNh5HnTPL6mv9cFw2cZgo7bNE2tLB3IpnxxTzV2QkAUH84l714EAtyMdqZvuWGNwitXZEiZ3gBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Seal Beach 'The City Council on Aug. 11 adopted a set of water and sewer rate adjustments staff said are needed to stabilize the utility enterprise and fund a multi-year capital program.

The 3-2 vote approves the staff-recommended package (Option 1) and the associated resolutions that staff presented for council consideration; the rates are scheduled to take effect Sept. 1, 2025, if legal-administrative steps are met. Mayor Pro Tem Steel, Council member Wong and Council member Kalmick voted to approve the package; Council member Senecal and Mayor Eilisa Landau voted no.

The meeting reopened a public hearing that began July 14 and drew sustained public comment Aug. 11. Director of Public Works Lee and staff described a utility enterprise that has run operating deficits, exhausted reserves and faces aging pipelines and facilities. \"The enterprise fund only pays for that portion of the support related to the water and sewer related enterprise functions,\" Lee said during staff remarks, explaining staff time allocations and shared-services charges to the utility.

Why it matters: Staff and the city's consultants told the council the proposed rates are intended to (1) stabilize the water and sewer enterprise, (2) fund immediate and near-term capital projects and (3) put the utilities in a position to borrow for construction when needed. Opponents argued the plan leans too heavily on single-family homeowners, would create generational debt and lacks sufficient cost-allocation detail; many urged a phased, smaller program or more study.

Key details: The city clerk reported that written protests against the proposed water rates came from 431 parcels out of 5,614 parcels subject to the water rate (not a majority). Written protests against the sewer rate represented 426 parcels out of 5,070 parcels subject to the sewer rate (not a majority). Director Lee asked the council, if a majority protest did not exist, to adopt the following resolutions: a procedural resolution responding to timely-filed written objections, and resolutions establishing water and sewer rates effective Sept. 1, 2025; staff also asked council to receive and file the Raftelis financial plan and rate study dated June 17, 2025.

Public comment: More than a dozen speakers urged alternatives, questioned staff time allocations charged to the utility, warned of long-term debt and pressed for a smaller, prioritized project list. Patty Campbell (College Park East) said neither staff option was \"best for our city\" and urged a third, phased option. Teresa Miller (Old Town) said the adopted plan would lock residents into \"decades of crushing costs\" and called it \"reckless.\" Supporters including former city officials and some residents said delaying work would raise long-term costs and risk failures in the system.

Council action and next steps: After deliberation and two competing motions, the council voted to adopt the staff-recommended Option 1 (3-2). Staff said adoption would allow the city to move forward with the package necessary to qualify for and place construction financing; staff will return with implementing resolutions, and construction timelines and council retained the ability to approve or defer individual projects before borrowing occurs. Staff also described plans to improve public reporting (project website and periodic updates) and to solicit more detailed cost-of-service and master-plan studies as follow-ups.

Votes at a glance: Motion to adopt Option 1 (staff-recommended water and sewer financial plan and rates effective Sept. 1, 2025): mover Mayor Pro Tem Steel; second Council member Wong. Vote: Yes — Mayor Pro Tem Steel, Council member Wong, Council member Kalmick; No — Council member Senecal, Mayor Eilisa Landau. Outcome: approved 3-2.

Context: The hearing followed months of outreach and a prior continued hearing. Speakers repeatedly cited Proposition 218 / local-tax rules and asked the council for more detailed, parcel-level cost allocation studies before approving full rate adjustments. Staff and consultants said such studies are planned but that immediate capital needs and exhausted reserves require near-term rate actions.

Ending: The council approved the staff-led package while directing additional reporting and further cost-of-service work; staff will present implementing language and schedules to the council and post project-tracking materials online.","After a multi-hour public hearing with dozens of speakers and hundreds of written protests, the Seal Beach City Council adopted the city's staff-recommended water and sewer rates (Option 1) with a 3-2 vote; written protests did not reach a majority of affected parcels.","actionData","errors"]

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Council approves contract increase for EPL land-use software support; staff to seek longer-term solution

Seal Beach receives housing element update; HCD sign-off contingent on rezoning steps and possible override of airport land-use commission

Seal Beach council adopts proposed water and sewer rate package after contentious public hearing