Government - Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, etc. RSS Feed

City Council Moves Forward on New Downtown for Los Alamitos

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 06:00:00 Pacific Time

If you are not exactly sure where downtown Los Alamitos is located, don�t worry, you�re probably not alone. The lack of an identifiable downtown, or town center, is at the heart of a bold new plan considered by the Los Alamitos City Council this week.

Seal Beach and Los Alamitos Skip the �Rule of Law City� Bandwagon

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 06:00:00 Pacific Time

The cities of Seal Beach and Los Alamitos will not likely be the next Orange County cities to jump on the �rule of law city� bandwagon. Costa Mesa and the City of Orange recently passed similar motions and Seal Beach Councilmember Charles Antos requested a measured be considered at the council meeting on Monday of this week.

Seal Beach City Council Member Calls for New City Manager

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 06:00:00 Pacific Time

After months of conflict simmering just below the surface, at last night�s Seal Beach City Council meeting, Councilmember Gary Miller openly and unequivocally called for the termination of City Manager David Carmany�s employment. In bringing to an end an emotional monologue of about 10-15 minutes, Miller said �I am calling for a new direction and a new city manager.�

Los Alamitos Selects Second Highest Priced Trash Hauling Contract

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Thu, 20 May 2010 06:00:00 Pacific Time

Until now, the City of Los Alamitos has never sent its trash hauling contract out to bid, so when it did this year, it hired a consulting firm to help with the process. As required by ordinance, the city sent out a request for proposals, RFP, to potential trash haulers. After reviewing the responses to the RFP, the City Council selected the second highest bidder to get the 10 year, $25 million contract.

43 New Homes Coming to Seal Beach Old Town? Maybe

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:00:00 Pacific Time

There are not many opportunities for new homes in Old Town Seal Beach�and even fewer for a development of up to 43 detached single family homes. In fact, the much debated former power plant site, locally known as the DWP property, is about the only beach front choice. But, development on this nearly 11 acres has been held up because the property owners and the city could not agree on how to proceed. That might be changing.

Seal Beach City Council Votes to Save McGaugh Pools�By Summer

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 06:00:00 Pacific Time

Last night, the Seal Beach City Council Chambers were packed with a crowd anxious about the fate of the McGaugh pools. Since it was just one meeting ago that the city council seriously considered demolishing the much loved pools, and determining what to do about the old and badly leaking pools was again on the City Council�s agenda, the swimmers came out in force. They were not disappointed by their city government.

Los Alamitos Cuts Budget, Rejects Staff Revenue Forecasts�Use of Reserves Hangs in the Balance

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 06:00:00 Pacific Time

With revenues coming in below budget and the end of this fiscal year less than three months away, the Los Alamitos City Council last night rejected the city staff�s revenue forecast, but approved spending reductions. In rejecting the forecast, council avoided the politically unpleasant task of authorizing use of reserves to cover what the staff believes will be an even larger revenue shortfall.

Los Alamitos Cancels Fourth of July Fireworks�Gives Community 30 Days to Donate $15,000

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 06:00:00 Pacific Time

Amid current year budget cutbacks, a spending deficit, and expected �draconian� cuts in services next year, the Los Alamitos City Council voted last night to cancel the Fourth of July fireworks show unless the community donates the $15,000 needed to cover the costs of the event. Even though the net costs represent only about $0.75 for each of the approximately 20,000 people who attend the show, there is no way for the city to recover those costs from the attendees because the show is on the Joint Forces Training Base, JTFB.

Seal Beach Water and Sewer Rates Going Down

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:00:00 Pacific Time

In an exclusive interview on Tuesday, Seal Beach City Manager David Carmany told www.OC180NEWS.com �In a number of these operating enterprise funds, I�m going to be proposing reductions.� He said the water rates are the first on his list, followed by the sewer rates. He expects to present lower water rates at the March 22, 2010 City Council meeting.

Battle for Last Undeveloped Part of Seal Beach Continues�Advisory Committee Meeting Tomorrow

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 07:00:00 Pacific Time

The battle to develop, or not, depending on your point of view, the last large beachfront property in Seal Beach is moving into a new phase tomorrow. The City of Seal Beach will hold the initial meeting of the �DWP Specific Plan Advisory Committee� on Wednesday, February 17, 2010, 6:00 pm, in the Council Chambers. The city is labeling this an �organizational kick-off meeting�. At stake is the future of approximately 10 acres of prime beachfront land on the West end of Seal Beach.

Residents Take Seal Beach to Task Over Flooding�City Says Everything Worked

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 07:00:00 Pacific Time

At Monday�s Seal Beach City Council meeting a parade of speakers testified about last week�s flooding--known as Lake Bridgeport�and the adequacy of the city�s pumping/flood control system. Resident Joan Lyon Was �devastated� at the loss of her prized Corvette, which was totaled by the flooding. City engineer Michael Ho confirmed to www.OC180NEWS.com the storm water system was not built to the specifications in the city�s general plan.

Open Warfare at the Seal Beach City Council Meeting�City Manager Accused of Misrepresentation and Conflict of Interest

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 07:00:00 Pacific Time

A long standing, but not entirely public, feud between a popular Seal Beach City Councilman and the City Manager burst into the public view at last night�s council meeting. Councilman Gary A. Miller, for the record, accused City Manager David N. Carmany of a conflict of interest, misrepresentation, and concealing important information regarding the city�s decision to tear down and replace a fire station. Although there were several accusations which were presented at the meeting, the most specific revelation was about the identity of an architectural consultant who was paid $585,000 by the city.

War Breaks Out Between two Orange County Supervisors

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:00:00 Pacific Time

At what would normally be an uneventful annual passing of the chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, open warfare erupted between Supervisor John Moorlach and Supervisor Janet Nguyen. The first volley came during the vote for the slate of incoming chair and vice chair. Without specifically naming Nguyen, who was the nominee for chair, Moorlach expressed concerns about the management style of the incoming chair and voted against her election. With no further discussion or dissention, The slate was elected 4/1. Moorlach�s little salvo could have been the end of it, but Nguyen fired back a broadside at the end of the meeting.

Los Alamitos Ends Turbulent Year�Elects New Mayor

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 07:00:00 Pacific Time

Last night the City of Los Alamitos held its annual city council organizational meeting, bringing to a close a turbulent council year which brought the glare of the national news spotlight to this small Orange County city. In council action entirely devoid of the controversies which dominated council meetings earlier in 2009, veteran council member Marilynn Poe, previously the Mayor Pro Tem, was elected the new mayor.

Los Alamitos City Sales Taxes Off 17%--More Declines Expected

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:00:00 Pacific Time

At last night�s city council meeting, the City of Los Alamitos presented its financial results for the fiscal year ending 6/30/09 and for the first quarter of the current year. Although revenues continue to fall, the general fund had a surplus last year and is expected to be balanced for the year ending 6/30/10. But, reflecting the recession, sales taxes are 17.3% less than the previous year and the drop off is expected to continue.

Los Alamitos City Council Approves First Step in Major Hospital Expansion

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:00:00 Pacific Time

At their meeting Monday night, the Los Alamitos City Council approved the first step in the expansion plans of Los Alamitos Medical Center. In a 4/1 vote, over the objections of councilwoman Jerry Mejia and a couple of public speakers, the city council approved plans for an environmental impact report, EIR, and a reimbursement mechanism by which the hospital will pay for the study.

Want to Join Seal Beach--Island Village Residents Hope Third Time is a Charm

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 06:00:00 Pacific Time

Earlier this year, by some informal and clearly unofficial measures, the people of unincorporated Sunset Beach wanted to join the City of Seal Beach. The folks of Sunset Beach were pushed toward Seal Beach because of a looming threat they would be forced against their will to join Huntington Beach. Seal Beach said resoundingly, no thanks. Now, some of the residents of the Island Village portion of the City of Long Beach are contemplating switching their allegiance a bit easterly and joining up with Seal Beach. In the not too distant past, the 12,000 residents of unincorporated Rossmoor also wanted to join Seal beach. Again the answer was no thanks from Seal Beach.

Owner Offers to Donate Property to Seal Beach--City Opts for eminent domain Instead--Could Cost City $Millions

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:00:00 Pacific Time

Corrected 9/16/09, 12:21 pm, see end note.

In what appeared to be a rather incongruous move, during Monday's meeting, the Seal Beach City Council voted to authorize eminent domain proceedings against a small piece of beachfront property. AT the meeting, the property owners' attorney, John Murphy, offered to donate the property to the city at no cost to Seal Beach. After Murphy testified, and with no discussion or questions, the council voted unanimously to move forward with the eminent domain proceedings.

Seal Beach Ends Consideration of Sunset Beach Annexation--Residents' Right of Self-Government Could be Trumped by County Bureaucracy

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:00:00 Pacific Time

At their meeting last night, the Seal Beach City Council voted 5/0 to shelve any further consideration of the annexation of the unincorporated beachfront community of Sunset Beach. Even though the Sunset Beach residents have not formally voted their preferences, it has been widely reported that nearly all of the residents would choose to remain unincorporated, but it is not likely they will have that option. The lack of a formal vote notwithstanding, it is assumed that about 90% of the residents favor annexation by Seal Beach, rather than by Huntington Beach. The levers of power rest with the Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission, otherwise known as LAFCO, which has unilateral decision-making authority.

Los Alamitos Increases Parking Fines Up to $350, Restricts Parking on Katella

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 06:00:00 Pacific Time

At their meeting on Monday, the Los Alamitos City Council approved new fines for parking violations in the city and authorized a new two hour restricted parking zone on Katella near Los Alamitos Medical Center.