What Seal Beach is about to decide

The council meets Monday for a 5:30 PM closed session in the City Hall conference room and a 7:00 PM regular meeting in the Council Chambers, both at 211 Eighth Street. These are pending decisions from the posted agenda — not outcomes. Every item links to the official record.

Source: regular meeting agenda (PDF) · closed session agenda (PDF) · Meeting portal: sealbeach.primegov.com · Next meeting: September 28, 2026, 5:30 PM (closed session, if deemed necessary)

The headline: the council is asked to approve a $3,175,000 State Water Resources Control Board financing agreement for trenchless watermain lining — with authority to raise the borrowing to $3,765,411 if the state approves — and to sign three-year labor agreements running July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029 with the city’s supervisors, mid-management and marine safety management units. Also on the consent calendar: $234,455.81 for four replacement city vehicles, a $320,000 annual sand berm contract, and acceptance of a completed $1,460,553.97 sewer pump station upgrade. Before the public meeting the council evaluates the City Manager behind closed doors and confers with counsel on a threatened lawsuit over a proposed development at 4665 Lampson Avenue.

🔒 Closed session, 5:30 PM — before the public meeting

City Manager performance evaluation under Government Code §54957(b). The agenda lists the title only. Closed Session A
Threatened litigation over a Los Alamitos development: a conference with legal counsel on “significant exposure to litigation” under Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) — “One potential (1) case involving a threat of litigation regarding a proposed development at 4665 Lampson Avenue, Los Alamitos, CA.” The agenda states that a record of the threats of litigation is available for inspection in the City Clerk’s office. Closed Session B
BKK Landfill tolling agreement: a conference with legal counsel on a “Notice of Potential Liability and Request for Fourth Tolling Agreement from BKK Working Group, BKK Landfill, West Covina, California.” The agenda gives no further detail. Closed Session C
The closed session agenda notes that Council Member Ben Wong is expected to attend by teleconference under Government Code Section 54953.8.3, with the “just cause” basis stated as travel for official City business. Notice

💧 Water: a state loan for trenchless watermain lining

Up to $3,765,411 in state financing. Under new business, the council considers Resolution 7819 approving State Water Resources Control Board Construction Installation Sale Agreement No. D2502060 “in the amount of $3,175,000” for the LCWA Watermain Lining – Trenchless Technology Improvements, CIP WT2103; approving “an increase to the loan amount up to $3,765,411, if approved by the State Water Board”; and authorizing the City Manager to execute the agreement and submit a final budget approval requesting the higher total. Item O
$4,600,000 returned to member agencies. Resolution 7815 would amend the FY 2026-27 West Orange County Water Board budget by $4,600,000, “returning unexpended funds from the Cathodic Protection Program to member agencies, of which the City’s proportionate agency reimbursement is $657,800.” Item K

🤝 Labor agreements

Three bargaining units, three-year terms. Resolution 7817 would approve Memoranda of Understanding with the Seal Beach Supervisors and Professionals Association, the Mid-Management and Confidential Employees Association, and the Seal Beach Marine Safety Management Association for the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029, with Budget Amendment BA #27-03-01 of $23,591 for FY 2026-27 and authority for the City Manager to execute and implement them. The agenda does not print the salary terms. Item M

🚗 Vehicles, equipment & contracts

$234,455.81 not-to-exceed for four replacement vehicles from National Auto Fleet Group through the Sourcewell cooperative contract #081325-NAF, broken out on the agenda as two Police Interceptor Utility vehicles at $62,286.31 each, a police surveillance unit at $57,512.89, and a marine safety unit at $52,370.30; plus $103,558.51 for Public Works heavy equipment Unit #101 from Stotz Equipment (Sourcewell #112624-DAC) and $59,362.54 not-to-exceed to Hi-Standard Automotive, LLC for upfitting the four vehicles, including $7,500.00 contingency. Existing vehicles would be surplused after delivery. Item H · Resolution 7812
$320,000 public works agreement to Elka Construction, Inc. for the Annual Sand Berm Construction and Removal Project, waiving minor bid irregularities and rejecting all other bids, with authority to approve up to $64,000 (“approximately 20%”) in additional work and an option to extend for up to four additional one-year terms. Item I · Resolution 7813
Two projects finished. Resolution 7814 would accept the Sewer Pump Station 35 Upgrades (CIP SS1903) by R.I.C. Construction Co., Inc. at $1,460,553.97; Resolution 7816 would accept the Seal Beach Tennis and Pickleball Center court resurfacing and LED lighting upgrades (CIP PR2501) by KYA Services, LLC at $419,914.81. Both direct the City Clerk to file Notices of Completion and release retention 35 days after recordation. Items J & L
General Plan consultant extended. Resolution 7811 would approve Amendment 3 to the agreement with Michael Baker International Inc. for the Safety and Environmental Justice elements and Amendment 1 for the Open Space, Recreation and Conservation element, both extending the term to December 31, 2027. The agenda does not state a dollar amount. Item G

🏛 State law & grants

A council vote on state housing power. Under Council Items, the council is asked to “provide direction to the City’s voting delegate” on the 2026 Cal Cities General Assembly resolution — a resolution “Calling for a Working Group to Consider a State Constitutional Amendment or Other Form of Initiative to Ensure Final Local Authority Over Housing and Land Use Decisions.” Item A
Public hearing on a senior mobility grant. The council will take public input and consider Resolution 7818 authorizing a grant application to the Orange County Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities (EMSD) program, and determine the action exempt from CEQA. The agenda does not state a grant amount. Item N · public hearing

🪑 Also on the agenda

Resolution 7810 would amend the city’s biennial Conflict-of-Interest Code and acknowledge no changes to the code for the Public Financing Authority. Item F
Routine consent: minutes of the August 10 and August 19 meetings, ratification of the Fiscal Year 2027 demand on city treasury, the July 31, 2026 monthly investment report, and the report of City Manager and department-head authorized contracts. Items B–E
Presentations: a Hunger Action Month proclamation for September 2026, an update from the Citizen-Council Business First Advisory Ad Hoc Committee, and an El Niño preparation presentation. Presentations
Council roster as printed on the agenda: Mayor Lisa Landau (Third District); Mayor Pro Tem Ben Wong (Second District); Council Members Joe Kalmick (First District), Patty Senecal (Fourth District) and Nathan Steele (Fifth District). City Manager Patrick Gallegos; City Attorney Nicholas Ghirelli. Roll call

Council Brief summaries are produced from official public records by our automated newsroom and reviewed before publication. Items are described as posted; the council may amend, continue, or remove items at the meeting. Spot an error? hello@councilbrief.com — we publish corrections.