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Seal Beach council approves higher pay for part‑time marine safety staff, citing recruitment and safety needs
Summary
Council adopted a resolution revising the part-time pay schedule for marine-safety (lifeguard) classifications effective Oct. 26, 2025, to improve recruitment and retention for beach and pool lifeguards.
The Seal Beach City Council on Oct. 13 approved a pay schedule increase for part‑time marine safety employees, including beach and pool lifeguards, citing staffing pressures, training intensity and public-safety responsibilities. The council adopted Resolution 7702, which updates pay rates effective Oct. 26, 2025, removes swim instructor and assistant pool manager classifications from the part‑time schedule and includes a budget adjustment for the change.
Marine Safety Chief Bailey told the council the department relies on roughly 70 to 80 part‑time employees across beach and pool operations and that the work requires extensive training, including a 112‑hour lifeguard academy and emergency‑medical response certification. "Lifeguards perform rescues, provide medical aids, and enforce city ordinances year round, rain or shine, every day of the year," Bailey said, adding that many candidates train for years in the water before applying.
Bailey noted part‑time lifeguards had received a single pay increase since 2018 — a 91‑cent raise in 2023 for entry-level lifeguard 1 — and that competitive pay is essential both to recruit new guards and to retain experienced staff who perform high‑risk public‑safety duties. The council discussed the lifeguards’ role as a defining element of Seal Beach’s coastal identity and the significance of maintaining a staffed, trained marine-safety force.
Councilmember Senecal moved the resolution and the council passed the measure on a unanimous vote; the council’s action rescinded Resolution 5856 and authorized staff to implement the revised part‑time marine safety pay schedule and related budget adjustment.
Why it matters: Lifeguards and marine-safety staff are the city’s frontline responders on the beach and at city pools; the raise aims to ensure sufficient trained personnel are available during high-demand summer months and for year‑round duties.
What’s next: Staff will implement the revised pay schedule on Oct. 26 and complete the budget adjustment. The council signaled interest in an ongoing review of other park and recreation part‑time pay classifications.
