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