The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) is excited to welcome the public to its highly anticipated 2025 OCFA Open House, set to take place at its headquarters in Irvine. This annual event, which draws between 5,000 and 10,000 visitors, provides a unique opportunity for our communities to meet local firefighters, explore a variety of fire apparatus, and witness live demonstrations of lifesaving techniques.

Attendees will have the chance to get up close with a wide array of emergency response vehicles, including fire engines, trucks, airport firefighting engines, bulldozers, handcrew vehicles, and even a helicopter. These critical tools of the fire service will be on full display, allowing guests to gain a deeper understanding of the vital role they play in keeping Orange County safe.

In addition to exploring the fire apparatus, visitors will experience thrilling live demonstrations, including firefighting techniques, rescue operations, and the agility of trained fire service canines. These action-packed displays will showcase the skill and dedication of OCFA’s firefighters and first responders.

The 2025 OCFA Open House is a free, family-friendly event that welcomes all ages to participate. With interactive displays, educational booths, and hands-on activities, attendees will leave with a greater appreciation for fire safety and the hard work of Orange County’s fire personnel.

Mark your calendars and join the OCFA for a day of education, excitement, and community engagement!

For more information, visit OCFA’s website or follow them on social media.

Orange County Regional Assessment of Fair Housing Public Meetings

Join us for public meetings on the 2025-2029 Orange County Regional Assessment of Fair Housing. Have your say on housing issues affecting our community!

In-person meetings:

• March 5 (10:30 AM & 6:30 PM) - Santa Ana
• March 6 (10:30 AM) - La Habra
• March 6 (6:30 PM) - Costa Mesa

Virtual meetings:

• March 7 (6 PM)
• March 13 (1 PM)

We Need Your Feedback

Take our Community Survey to help us plan for future disasters https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SealBeachLHMP

Register for Wastewater 101 Citizens Academy

Dreaming of owning a home in Orange County? 🏡 The County of Orange Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) is here to help! Up to $80,000 in down payment assistance is available! Call 949-859-9255 or visit www.affordable-housing.org to get started. 

Spring 2025 Shoreline Brochure

The Spring 2025 Shoreline Brochure was published online Friday, January 31st, and registration for Spring classes begins on Monday, February 3rd. Information for recreation classes, surf lessons, and aquatic programs that occur between March 2025 and August 2025 are all included in the Spring Shoreline. Summer camp previews and registration will also be available with the Spring Shoreline Brochure. The brochure can be found on our City website at: https://www.sealbeachca.gov/Departments/Community-Services-Recreation/Recreation-Guide-Class-Info. Viewers can click directly on the classes listed in the brochure and be taken to our online registration website. Registration can also take place in person at City Hall or by mail with check payable to the City of Seal Beach.

Adult Sports

Our Men’s Tag-up Tuesdays Tuesday night softball league opened league play on Tuesday the 18^th. We have another great showing with 7 teams competing for the title.

Investing Our Future

The City of Seal Beach is dedicated to providing high-quality, uninterrupted, and sustainable water and sewer services that are vital for public health, the environment, economic vitality, and daily life. Providing reliable water and sewer services is a big responsibility that City employees take seriously and with great pride.

An equally important responsibility is ensuring our ability to continue to provide you and your family with water and sewer services now and into the future. Water and sewer services are self-funded, primarily by customer rates, not tax dollars. Revenues are reinvested into system maintenance, treatment, upgrades, and other related costs.

The City regularly evaluates the cost of providing service, to confirm that expenses are balanced with revenue so that we can adequately address system operations, maintenance and updates, meet government regulations, and maintain financial stability.

The City’s water and sewer utilities’ finances have been negatively impacted by years of higher than average inflation, lower water use, increase in wholesale water costs, and aging infrastructure. Utility systems must keep up with rising costs and be able to implement critical capital projects that are mandated or necessary.

To address these challenges, the City is considering a five-year schedule of changes to water and sewer rates and charges that could affect your monthly or bi-monthly bill. As part of the ongoing financial analysis and rate study process, the Seal Beach City Council will participate in a Study Session at 5 p.m. Monday, March 10, 2025, in the City Council Chambers, 211 8th Street, to discuss potential water and sewer rate adjustments.  All members of the public are invited to participate in the study session and upcoming series of public meetings and community informational sessions.

Transparency and Public Participation

The City of Seal Beach is committed to transparency and public involvement. The City Council meetings and community information sessions ensure residents have several opportunities to learn about the proposed rate changes and voice their opinion before the Council considers any formal action. Ways to participate include:

• Attend the City Council Study Session and future meetings: Public opinion can be voiced directly to the City Council during the public comment period.
• Submit Written Comments: For those who cannot attend, written comments may be sent via email to utilityrates@sealbeachca.gov.
• Attend a community information session with staff and subject matter experts.

For questions, the public may also call the Public Works Department at (562) 342-7389.

Background and Rate Study Process

The City of Seal Beach owns and operates water and sewer systems that serve a population of about 25,000 people. About 85 percent of our water use is drawn from local groundwater supplies, while the rest is imported from Northern California and the Colorado River. The City’s water system consists of four wells, two reservoirs, two booster stations, nearly 75 miles of water mains, and approximately 5,350 service connections. The City’s wastewater collection system consists of 34 miles of sewer lines, six pump stations, and 800 manholes. The City does not own or operate wastewater treatment facilities but transports the wastewater to Orange County Sanitation District to be treated. 

Per state law, revenues generated from water and sewer service rates and charges may only be used to fund the actual costs to operate and maintain the utility including infrastructure projects and the cost of debt to finance capital improvement projects. These revenues may not be used to augment the City’s General Fund. Through the Water and Wastewater Utility Enterprise Funds – separate from the City’s General Fund – customer rates fund the complex water and wastewater systems.

Also, per state law (Proposition 218), property owners have the right to protest prosed increases for a “property-related service,” such as water and sewer rates and charges. While the Study Session on March 10 will focus on gathering public input, it's important to understand the protest process for potential future actions.

Memorial Bench and Tree Program Update:

The City understands the importance of honoring loved ones through the Memorial Bench and Tree Program. As interest in the program continues to grow, the City is committed to keeping the community informed. Updates will be made to the Memorial Bench and Tree Program webpage in the upcoming weeks to provide the latest information on waitlists, newly available bench locations, and locations that are no longer available. We appreciate the community’s participation in this meaningful program and encourage residents to check the webpage sporadically for updates. https://www.sealbeachca.gov/Departments/Public-Works/Administration-Engineering#memorial-bench-and-tree

Routine Maintenance in Central Park

The City of Seal Beach Public Works team has been

hard at work ensuring our community remains

well-maintained. As part of our routine maintenance schedule, crews recently completed refreshing existing red curbs and fire hydrants in College Park West (CPW). This essential upkeep helps maintain clear visibility for drivers to know where they are allowed to park.

Repainting existing red curbs plays a critical role in keeping fire lanes unobstructed, allowing emergency vehicles to respond quickly when needed. Similarly, repainting fire hydrants ensures they remain highly visible to both firefighters and the public.

Our Public Works team follows a regular maintenance schedule to inspect and refresh critical infrastructure throughout the city. Keeping up with these routine tasks enhances the overall appearance of our neighborhoods.

The Briefing Room

• Hosted the monthly Support Services Bureau meeting, where all Senior Community Services Officers (SCSOs) and Police Aides (PAs) attended to review booking procedures, discuss operational improvements, and provide updates on ongoing animal control initiatives.

• Collaborating with the City Attorney, Finance Department, and Parking Consultant to evaluate best practices for managing beach parking lots, focusing on efficiency, revenue optimization, and compliance with municipal regulations.

• Engaged in discussions with the California Coastal Commission regarding parking initiatives, emphasizing accessibility, environmental considerations, and sustainable solutions for coastal parking management.

• Seal Beach Officers are preparing for the following events:
• DUI / Drivers License Check Point – March 7^th
• St Patrick’s Day – March 17^th

• Both events highlight Seal Beach PD dedication to keeping the roadways safe for everyone. In conjunction with the State of California and the Office of Traffic and Safety (OTS), who aid in funding staff for these events.