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Seal Beach holds budget study session; staff outlines nine priorities for FY 2025–26
Summary
City staff presented nine draft goals — including public safety, fiscal transparency, workforce, infrastructure, economic vitality, technology, community engagement, programs and coastal protection — and scheduled public budget workshops and a June adoption; no formal votes were taken in the study session.
Seal Beach city staff on Thursday held a budget study session to solicit council guidance on draft goals and objectives that will shape the fiscal year 2025–26 budget. Interim City Manager Gallegos told attendees, “This is a study session, which is an informal gathering. This means that the council will not be taking any formal action or votes.”
The session, led by Finance Director Barbara Arenado, presented nine focused goals that staff said will guide departmental budget proposals and implementation over the coming year. Arenado said the goals grew from internal staff work that pared an initial 11 broad goals down to nine priorities after department and council input. Public budget workshops are scheduled for May 6 and May 8, with final budget adoption planned for June, staff said.
Why it matters: the study session frames how city resources may be allocated and where staff will direct project development, grant-seeking and possible budget trade-offs ahead of formal adoption.
Key items presented
- Public safety: Staff described funding set aside in the mid-year revitalization fund to update the automated license-plate reader program for parking enforcement; additional items include body-armor upgrades, defensive-tactics training, emergency-management improvements, data-driven policing initiatives, strengthened interagency partnerships, expanded neighborhood crime-prevention work (including reviving a Neighbor for Neighbor program) and increased water-safety efforts such as swim lessons for third-graders.
- Fiscal transparency and efficiency: Staff noted that Measure G has generated revenue used to restore services cut in prior years and that the council already approved CPI adjustments on the fee schedule. Finance staff recommended periodic comprehensive fee studies and highlighted new transparency tools including a budget video and additional public workshops.
- Workforce and compensation: Staff proposed a classification and compensation study, mentorship and “train the trainer” programs, wellness initiatives and strategic training partnerships (Arenado cited CJPIA as a training partner) to address recruitment and retention challenges in the public sector.
- Infrastructure and master plans: The presentation asked the council to prioritize pavement and fleet condition assessments, updates to master plans and pursuit of outside funding for capital projects.
- Economic vitality: Staff outlined work on a lifeguard headquarters concept and a preliminary vision for the Pier/Main Street area, and flagged coordination opportunities related to the 2028 Olympics with neighboring Long Beach and Huntington Beach. Council members emphasized supporting local business partnerships, service clubs and the chamber to help reduce Main Street vacancies.
- Technology and communications: Staff said they are advancing an IT master plan (RFP underway), progressing a Tyler ERP credit and an anticipated June soft reboot of financial systems, exploring Starlink for emergency communications, and planning website and MySealBeach app improvements to better integrate interagency incident updates and public notifications.
- Community connection and services: Staff highlighted outreach tools including an e-newsletter (about 7,000 subscribers), department social channels and “pop-up city hall” at events. Councilmembers and staff discussed balancing digital access with in-person services for residents who are less tech-savvy.
- Program delivery and reservations: Staff reviewed recreational participation metrics (lifeguard rescues, rising pickleball memberships) and noted operational issues such as the pickleball center reservation system, which council members asked to prioritize for repair.
- Coastal stewardship and habitat work: Staff reported ongoing community outreach for Los Cerritos Wetlands restoration with potential construction as early as September and continued coordination on sand nourishment for Surfside; staff noted rising costs and a lengthening timeline for Army Corps projects, with mobilization timelines discussed in the 2028 timeframe by staff and partners.
Next steps and process notes
Arenado said departments will align budget proposals to the nine citywide priorities and return with action plans and measurable outcomes. Public workshops on May 6 and May 8 will allow department presentations and public comment; staff plans a final budget adoption hearing in June. Throughout the meeting staff repeatedly emphasized that the session is for discussion and that formal council action will occur at noticed hearings.
Council and staff comments during the session included requests to explore nontraditional revenue (billboard or lifeguard signage), better contract tracking and public access to contract information via the city’s digital records system, enhancements to the MySealBeach app and website, and the need to balance technology investments with access for older residents. No motions or votes were taken during the study session.
