Seal Beach, California
January 12, 2026
The City Council met in Regular Session at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.
Mayor Pro Tern Wong led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Landau
Council Members: Kalmick, Wong, Senecal, Steele
Absent: None
City Staff: Nicholas R. Ghirelli, City Attorney
Patrick Gallegos, City Manager
Michael Henderson, Police Chief
Barbara Arenado, Director of Finance
Craig Covey, Orange County Fire Authority Division 1 Chief Iris Lee, Director of Public Works
Shaun Temple, Interim Director of Community Development Gloria D. Harper, City Clerk
Nick Nicholas, Police Captain
Tim Kelsey, Recreation Manager
Michael Peterman, Human Resource Manager
Deb Machen, Executive Assistant to the City Manager
PRESENTATIONS / RECOGNITIONS
• Proclamations in Recognition of the Harbour Family, Harbour Surfboards, and Harbour Chronicles
• Sand Dunes Restoration Presentation
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Landau opened oral communications. Speakers: Kevin Young, Robert Frackelton, Ken Seiff, Anonymous Speaker, Rheo McColl, Stephanie Wade, Theresa Miller, Anonymous Speaker, Grayson Auslick, and JO8N, addressed the City Council. Mayor Landau closed oral communications.
Four (4) supplemental communications were received after the posting of the agenda; they were distributed to the City Council and made available to the public.
Additionally, City Clerk Harper noted a correction to Item C, Attachment A — Resolution 7722, to remove the language contained in the subject line referencing the dissolution of the City Tree Advisory Board.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA & WAIVER OF FULL READING OF RESOLUTIONS AND
ORDINANCES
Council Member Steele pulled item C for separate consideration.
Mayor Pro Tern Wong moved, second by Council Member Senecal, to approve the agenda.
AYES: Kalmick, Wong, Landau, Senecal, Steele
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Motion carried
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
City Attorney Ghirelli reported that the City Council met in Closed Session regarding the two (2) items on the posted agenda. All five (5) Council Members were present, and no reportable action was taken.
City Attorney Ghirelli wished the City Council a Happy New Year! Additionally, City Attorney Ghirelli informed the Council about changes associated with the recent passage of SB 707 related to the Brown Act, which became effective January 1, 2026, including the requirement to move to hybrid Council meetings and the printing of agendas in other languages, effective July 1 , 2026.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Gallegos wished everyone a Happy New Year.
He reported his attendance at the Police Department Swearing in Ceremony.
Additionally, he thanked City staff for their dedication and professionalism. He noted that he is looking forward to the year ahead.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Council Member Kalmick reported his attendance at the Police Department Swearing In Ceremony.
Council Member Senecal deemed the Christmas Parade a huge success! Additionally, Council Member Senecal thanked the Public Works Department for their work during the rainy season. She noted the Neighbor 4 Neighbor program worked extremely well during the rainy season and encouraged more residents to sign up.
Council Member Steele reported his attendance at the Police Department Swearing In Ceremony, the Association of City Councils—Orange County Board of Directors meeting, the League of California Cities - Orange County Division luncheon, the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control Board meeting, and the Orange County Older Adult Advisory Commission (OC-OAAC) meeting.
Additionally, Council Member Steele introduced the new Golden Rain Foundation Director, David Norvell.
Mayor Pro Tern Wong reported his attendance at the Meals on Wheels Lunch, the Police Swearing In Ceremony, the College Park West Graffiti Cleanup Day, and his inaugural Leisure World First Tuesday Event.
Additionally, Mayor Pro Tern Wong reported that he was given a tour of the Precious Life Shelter.
Lastly, he thanked the Seal Beach Police Department for sending flyers to College Park West regarding emergency escape routes in the case of an emergency.
Mayor Landau provided an update from Orange County Sanitation District regarding the construction of the pump station at Seal Beach Boulevard and Westminster Boulevard.
She noted that most of the cones on Seal Beach Boulevard leading to Westminster Boulevard have been removed to reduce traffic congestion.
Additionally, Mayor Landau wished her fellow Council Members and the community a Happy New Year.
COUNCIL ITEMS
There were no Council Items.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member Kalmick moved, second by Mayor Pro Tem Wong to approve the recommended actions on the consent calendar with the exception of Item C.
A. Approval of the City Council Minutes -That the City Council approve the minutes of the Closed Session and Regular City Council meetings held on Monday, December 8, 2025.
B. Demand of City Treasury (Fiscal Year 2026) - Ratification.
for-2026; and, 2. Directing the City Clerk to revise nd st on the ebsite th_ 2026 D. City of Seal Beach Participation in the Community Development Block Grant Program for Years 2026-2029 Grant Application - That the City Council adopt Resolution 7723: 1. Approving the on-going participation in the County of Orange Housing and Community Development Program (Program) for Fiscal Years 2026- 2027, 2027-2028, and 2028-2029 to fund the Leisure World Bathroom Accessibility Program; and, 2. Authorizing the City Manager, or their designee, to execute all agreements and submit all applications and documents necessary to secure and accept funding from the Program.
The vote below is for the Consent Calendar Items with the exception of Item C.
AYES: Kalmick, Wong, Senecal, Steele, Landau
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Motion carried
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR
C. 2026 City Council Appointments as Representatives to Intergovernmental Agencies - That the City Council adopt Resolution 7722: 1. Confirming City Council appointments as representatives and alternates to the Intergovernmental Agencies for 2026; and, 2. Directing the City Clerk to revise and post on the website the 2026 Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Form 806.
City Manager Gallegos called upon Council Member Steele.
Mayor Landau read a statement supporting the Mayoral Appointments into the record.
Council Member Steele read the Orange County Fire Authority Continuity Request letter into the record.
A discussion ensued between Council Member Steele, Mayor Pro Tern Wong, Mayor Landau, and Council Member Kalmick regarding the appointment to the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Board.
Council Member Steele moved, second by Council Member Kalmick to appoint Council Member Kalmick to the OCFA Board.
Mayor Landau made a substitute motion, second by Council Member Senecal to approve to adopt Resolution 7722: 1. Confirming City Council appointments as representatives and alternates to the Intergovernmental Agencies for 2026; and, 2. Directing the City Clerk to revise and post on the website the 2026 Fair Political Practices Commission
(FPPC) Form 806.
AYES: Senecal, Wong, Landau
NOES: Kalmick, Steele
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Motion carried
PUBLIC HEARING
There were no Public Hearing items.
UNFINISHED/CONTINUED BUSINESS
There was no unfinished/continued business.
NEW BUSINESS
E. Consideration of a Memorandum of Understanding with the County of Los Angeles and The Ocean Cleanup for the San Gabriel River Trash Mitigation Initiative - That the City Council adopt Resolution 7724: 1. Approving a Memorandum of Understanding with the County of Los Angeles and The Ocean Cleanup to provide trash mitigation efforts within the San Gabriel River; and, 2.
Authorizing and directing the Mayor to execute the Memorandum of Agreement; and, 3. Authorizing the City Manager to transmit the City-approved San Gabriel River Trash Mitigation Initiative — Feasibility Study to The Ocean Cleanup.
Mayor Landau called upon Silsby Strategic Advisors CEO Silsby to provide an overview of the staff report.
A discussion ensued between Council Member Senecal, Mayor Landau, Council Member Steele, Director of Public Works Lee, and Silsby Strategic Advisors CEO Silsby.
Council Member Senecal moved, second by Mayor Pro Tem Wong to adopt Resolution 7724: 1. Approving a Memorandum of Understanding with the County of Los Angeles and The Ocean Cleanup to provide trash mitigation efforts within the San Gabriel River; and,
2. Authorizing and directing the Mayor to execute the Memorandum of Agreement; and,
3. Authorizing the City Manager to transmit the City-approved San Gabriel River Trash Mitigation Initiative — Feasibility Study to The Ocean Cleanup.
AYES: Kalmick, Senecal, Steele, Wong, Landau
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Motion carried
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Landau adjourned the City Council at 8:45 p.m. to Monday, January 26, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. to meet in closed session, if deemed necessary.
G oria D. Harp r City Clerk
City of Seal Beach
Approved:
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Attested: lxv- . `
Gloria D. Harp , City Clerk ;Zc;
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