A G E N D A
CITY OF SEASIDE SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL 1441 CANYON DEL REY BLVD.
Friday, July 17, 2026
2:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL – ESTABLISHMENT OF QUORUM
Ian N. Oglesby
David R. Pacheco
Alexis Garcia-Arrazola
Rita Burks
Alex Miller
Mayor
Mayor Pro Tem
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
Members of the public wishing to address the City Council on matters within the jurisdiction of the City of Seaside, but not on this agenda, may do so during the Public Comment period for up to three (3) minutes. Public Comments for "Presentations" on this agenda are also taken at this time; comments on specific agenda items are heard under that item. For the public record, please state your name.
5. STUDY SESSION
A. RECEIVE A PRESENTATION OF THE CITY'S STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND
KEY PROJECTS (CITY MANAGER GREG MCDANEL)
B. RECEIVE LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND REMARKS FROM CONGRESSIONAL
REPRESENTATIVE JIMMY PANETTA
C. RECEIVE LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND REMARKS FROM STATE
LEGISLATIVE OFFICES
D. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITY OF
SEASIDE
6. ADJOURNMENT
Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting:
August 6, 2026
5:00 p.m.
The City of Seaside is committed to providing accessible facilities and accommodating people with disabilities in all of its services programs and activities. If special considerations are needed by any person to fully participate in this meeting, contact the City Clerk at 899-6707 no fewer than two business days prior to the meeting to allow reasonable arrangements. Agendas are posted at:
http://www.ci.seaside.ca.us/129/City-Council-Committee-Agendas Agenda-related writings or documents provided during public meetings are available for public inspection during the meeting or from the office of the City Clerk. This agenda is posted in compliance with California Governor Newsom's Executive Orders N-29-20 and N-33-20.
CITY OF SEASIDE
Projects, Priorities, and Partnership Opportunities
PREPARED FOR HOSTED BY DATE & TIME LOCATION
Welcome & Purpose
Welcome to Seaside. We are honored to share the City’s legislative priorities and the projects that reflect our commitment to thoughtful growth, resilient infrastructure, public safety, environmental stewardship, and community vitality. This packet is designed to provide a concise overview of the City’s highest-impact funding and policy opportunities, each aligned with Seaside’s long-term vision and regional partnerships.
We appreciate your time, attention, and partnership as we work to advance investments that will serve Seaside residents, strengthen the Monterey Peninsula, and prepare our community for the future.
Briefing Flow
I Welcome & Context
About the City of Seaside
Vision for strategic growth
Housing, infrastructure, mobility,
environment, and equity
II Legislative Priorities Overview
At-a-glance funding table
Summary of requests by category
III
Project overview
Legislative ask
Community and regional impact
Legislative Session Briefing
Guide
City Council
Legislative Session
City of Seaside July 17, 2026
2:00 p.m.
Embassy Suites by Hilton
Monterey Bay Seaside
1441 Canyon Del Rey Blvd
(Laguna Grande Room)
City of Seaside Legislative Packet | July 17, 2026
Featured Projects & Requests
At-a-Glance Project Priorities
Featured Projects & Legislative Requests
# Project Legislative Ask Impact Area
1 Municipal Potable Water Well
Project
$10,000,000 Drinking water security
2 Seaside Trash Capture Project $1,500,000 Water quality protection for Monterey Bay National Marine
Sanctuary
3 Fort Ord National Monument
Access Improvements
$1,500,000 Recreation access, tourism,
public safety
4 Fire Station #2 $24M-$34M Emergency response and
wildfire resilience
5 Regional Fire Training &
Resilience Tower
$3M-$4.5M Regional disaster preparedness
6 Kimball Avenue Storm Drain
Project
$1,500,000 Flood mitigation and roadway
safety
7 Fort Ord History & Cultural
Center
Federal property conveyance Historic preservation, cultural tourism
City Manager’s Office
440 Harcourt Ave, Seaside, CA 93955 | www.ci.seaside.ca.us | [email protected] | 831-899-6703 CITY OF SEASIDE | LEGISLATIVE SESSION
BRIEFING GUIDE
City of Seaside Legislative Packet | July 17, 2026
FACT SHEET
Seaside Municipal Water System
Potable Water Well Project
Ensuring reliable, compliant, and resilient drinking water service for Seaside’s municipal water customers.
SUMMARY
The City of Seaside is advancing the Potable
Water Well Project to restore regulatory
compliance and ensure a reliable secondary
drinking water source for customers served
by the Seaside Municipal Water System
(SMWS), reducing the risk of service
disruptions and protecting public health.
BACKGROUND
SMWS serves approximately 2,947 residents
through 799 service connections,
representing about nine percent of the City
of Seaside’s population. The system currently
relies on one active potable water source,
Water Well No. 4.
In 2015, Water Well No. 3 was retired,
leaving SMWS without the secondary
drinking water source required by the
California Code of Regulations, Title 22,
Section 64554(c). Since that time, SMWS has
relied on an emergency intertie with
California American Water (CalAm) as a
contingency measure.
In May 2023, CalAm notified the City that it
cannot guarantee emergency water
deliveries to SMWS in the event of a system
failure due to capacity limitations and its
obligation to serve its own customers. As a
result, SMWS remains vulnerable to service
interruptions and out of compliance with
state regulatory requirements.
The City has retained a consulting firm to
evaluate potential well locations and develop
project design. A preferred site has been
identified, and a test well will be required to
confirm hydrogeologic conditions prior to full
well construction.
NEED FOR FUNDING
The City of Seaside is seeking financial
assistance to design and construct a new
potable water well for the Seaside Municipal
Water System. Preliminary planning indicates
an estimated project cost of approximately
$10 million, with final costs to be refined
through design and test well results.
SMWS water rates are insufficient to support
the capital cost of a new well without
imposing an undue burden on ratepayers.
Seaside already experiences high water and
utility costs, and the service area includes a
significant low- and moderate-income
population. As a result, further rate increases
to fund this project are not feasible.
Additionally, while the City has pursued grant
funding opportunities, the SMWS service
area no longer qualifies as a disadvantaged
community under federal thresholds, limiting
eligibility for traditional assistance programs.
State and federal funding is therefore critical
to restoring regulatory compliance and
ensuring long-term system reliability.
SUPPORT
Support is requested for state and federal
funding to advance the Potable Water Well
Project as a critical public health, regulatory
compliance, and water resiliency investment.
The project reflects coordination among local
and regional partners, including regulatory
agencies and water management entities, to
ensure safe and reliable drinking water
service.
STAFF CONTACT
Andreas Baer
Assistant Public Works Director
831-899-6886
[email protected]
FACT SHEET
Seaside–Fort Ord National Monument Access
Enhancement Project
Expanding access and connectivity between Seaside and the Fort Ord National Monument to promote recreation, tourism, and conservation.
SUMMARY
The Fort Ord National Monument, designated
in 2012, offers more than 86 miles of multi-use
trails and is a significant regional recreation
and conservation asset.
While primary access is currently provided via
Highway 68 in Monterey County, the City of
Seaside lacks a direct, formal entry point.
Improvements to Eucalyptus Road at General
Jim Moore Boulevard, including roadway
upgrades and construction of a small visitor
parking area with restroom facilities, would
establish a safe and convenient local access
point. This project would provide Seaside
residents and visitors with direct access to the
monument while relieving pressure on existing
access points.
BACKGROUND
On April 20, 2012, President Obama designated
the Fort Ord National Monument by
presidential proclamation, noting that its
protection would preserve the site’s historical
and cultural importance, attract recreation and
tourism, and safeguard its unique natural
resources.
Currently, visitors rely on unimproved access
points and must park far from trail entrances.
In Seaside, Eucalyptus Road at General Jim
Moore Boulevard is designated as a “Pathway
to the Fort Ord National Monument”; however,
roadway improvements end approximately
1,900 feet short of Parker Flats Cut-Off Road,
leaving this critical segment unimproved and
limiting safe access.
Targeted improvements to this segment of
Eucalyptus Road, combined with development
of a modest visitor parking area and restroom
facilities, would create a direct and safe
connection from the City of Seaside into the
Fort Ord National Monument. The project
would improve connectivity to existing
trailheads, remove current access constraints,
and support increased visitation while
protecting surrounding resources.
As part of the Fort Ord Reuse Plan, an
Environmental Assessment/Initial Study
completed in March 2005 evaluated
improvements to Eucalyptus Road and
concluded the project would not result in
significant environmental impacts, resulting in
a Finding of No Significant Impact/Mitigated
Negative Declaration.
NEED FOR FUNDING
The City of Seaside is seeking funding to
improve Eucalyptus Road and construct a
visitor parking area to safely access trails
leading into the Fort Ord National Monument.
Improving an additional 1,900 feet southeast
of the intersection of Eucalyptus Road and
Parker Flats Cut-Off Road would provide a
direct connection from the City of Seaside to
the monument. In partnership with Monterey
County and Monterey Peninsula College, the
City is requesting approximately $1.5 million to
complete roadway improvements, establish a
designated parking area, and secure necessary
easements to ensure long-term public access
and community benefit.
SUPPORT
City of Seaside, Parks and Recreation
Monterey Off-Road Cycling Association (MORCA)
Monterey County Supervisor, District 4
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Monterey Peninsula College (MPC)
STAFF CONTACT
Dan Meewis
Assistant City Manager
(831)899-6821
[email protected]
FACT SHEET
Seaside Trash Capture Project Project
Protecting the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary by reducing stormwater pollution and meeting California’s statewide trash capture requirements
SUMMARY
The City of Seaside is seeking funding to
install trash capture infrastructure within its
municipal storm drain system to prevent
debris and pollution from entering Monterey
Bay and the Monterey Bay National Marine
Sanctuary. Under the State Water Resources
Control Board’s Trash Amendments to the
Water Quality Control Plan, California
municipalities must achieve 100% trash
capture from stormwater systems by 2030.
Seaside’s primary storm drain outfall—
which drains nearly two-thirds of the city’s
developed area—currently lacks adequate
trash capture infrastructure.
Funding will allow the City to install
centralized trash capture equipment to
intercept and remove debris before
stormwater discharges into Monterey Bay,
protecting water quality and supporting
statewide ocean protection goals.
BACKGROUND
Stormwater runoff in the City of Seaside is
conveyed through underground pipes and
street gutters to one of eight outfalls that
discharge to Monterey Bay. The City of Sand
City also contributes stormwater to Seaside’s
drainage system.
The largest outfall, a 90-inch pipe serving
approximately two-thirds of Seaside’s
developed area, discharges directly to the
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
While Seaside maintains an active street
sweeping program and requires new
development to treat stormwater onsite,
much of the existing drainage system lacks
inlet protection or trash capture
infrastructure.
The Monterey Bay National Marine
Sanctuary, designated in 1992 under the
National Marine Sanctuaries Act, is the
largest marine sanctuary in the United States
and protects one of the most biologically
diverse marine ecosystems in the world.
State regulations now require municipalities
to install trash capture systems to prevent
debris from entering waterways and coastal
resources.
NEED FOR FUNDING
The City of Seaside is seeking $1,500,000 in
state or federal funding to design and
construct trash capture infrastructure within
the municipal storm drain system.
This investment will allow the City to install
centralized trash capture equipment at key
outfalls, significantly reducing pollution
entering Monterey Bay while ensuring
compliance with California’s statewide trash
capture mandate.
SUPPORT
Support is requested for funding to install
trash capture infrastructure as a critical water
quality and environmental protection project.
This investment will reduce pollution
entering the Monterey Bay National Marine
Sanctuary, support compliance with
California stormwater regulations, and
protect one of the nation’s most important
coastal ecosystems. staff contact
STAFF CONTACT
Thomas Korman
Public Works Director
831-899-6884
[email protected]
FACT SHEET
Seaside Fire Station #2
Expanding Seaside’s fire protection network to meet national standards and support community growth.
SUMMARY
The City of Seaside is advancing plans to construct
Fire Station No. 2 to expand emergency response
coverage and meet national fire protection
standards while improving response times. The new
station will serve the northern portion of the city and function as a critical operational hub for mutual-aid
responses across the Monterey Peninsula.
The station will strengthen preparedness for wildfire,
seismic events, and large-scale emergency
incidents. Expanded coverage will also help protect
the City’s ISO (Insurance Services Office) Public
Protection Classification rating, which directly
influences residential and commercial insurance
costs.
BACKGROUND
The City of Seaside is the largest city on the
Monterey Peninsula, with a population of
approximately 32,000 residents. The Seaside Fire
Department provides emergency services across
roughly 10 square miles, including the City of Del
Rey Oaks through a service contract, and regularly
participates in regional mutual-aid responses serving
agencies that collectively protect more than 100,000
Peninsula residents.
A 2019–2024 Standards of Cover Community Risk
Assessment identified the need for a second fire
station in the northern portion of Seaside to maintain
acceptable response times and service levels. This
finding was reinforced by a 2021 Fire Station
Location Study conducted by Citygate, identifying
the intersection of 1st Avenue and Gigling Road as
the most suitable site for Fire Station No. 2.
Currently, Seaside operates a single fire station
located at 1635 Broadway Avenue, constructed in
1979 and staffed with one chief officer and seven
firefighters on duty per day. With major mixed-use,
hospitality, and housing developments underway—
including the Seaside Grand Hyatt Hotel and Resort,
Main Gate Mixed-Use Development, and Seaside
Campus Town—the demand for fire and emergency
services is increasing significantly. Fire Station No. 2 would allow Seaside to staff an additional three to
six firefighters per day, moving closer to National
Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards and
improving service reliability citywide.
NEED FOR FUNDING
The City of Seaside is seeking financial assistance to
construct Fire Station No. 2, with estimated project
costs ranging from $24 million to $34 million. The
City Council has certified the required environmental
documentation for the project.
The lower-cost estimate reflects a value-engineered
design that reduces square footage and omits
features such as a community training room. The
higher-cost estimate includes the full planned
design, expanded operational space, and enhanced
training capacity to support long-term regional
emergency preparedness needs.
Initial plan submittal for Fire Station No. 2 was
submitted on December 31, 2025, and the project is
progressing through design with the goal of
achieving 100 percent completion to ensure shovelready status.
SUPPORT
Support is requested for state funding to advance
construction of Fire Station No. 2 as a critical
component of Seaside’s emergency response
system. Fire Station No. 2 represents a strategic
investment in public safety infrastructure that
strengthens emergency preparedness, improves
response times, and enhances regional resilience
across the Monterey Peninsula.
STAFF CONTACT
Paul Blaha
Fire Chief
831-899-6786
[email protected]
FACT SHEET
Monterey Peninsula
Regional Fire Training and Resilience Tower
Advancing regional firefighter readiness and emergency response through a modern, multi-agency training facility.
SUMMARY
The City of Seaside proposes development of a
Regional Fire Training and Resilience Tower on Cityowned property adjacent to the future Seaside Fire Station No. 2. The facility is envisioned as a regional training resource serving the Seaside Fire
Department and fire and emergency response
agencies throughout Monterey County and the
Central Coast.
This project strengthens regional mutual-aid
readiness and supports agencies serving more than
100,000 residents across the Monterey Peninsula.
The facility will enhance compliance with evolving
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) training
standards and improve overall emergency response
coordination across jurisdictions.
Enhanced training capacity will also support
improvement and protection of the City’s ISO
(Insurance Services Office) Public Protection
Classification rating, which directly influences
property insurance costs for residents and
businesses.
The facility will enhance preparedness for wildlandurban interface fires, seismic events, flooding, and complex rescue operations common to the Central
Coast region.
BACKGROUND
Seaside Fire Station No. 2 serves as a critical hub for emergency response and regularly participates in
mutual-aid responses across the Monterey
Peninsula. While the department maintains modern
response capabilities, the City lacks sufficient on-site vertical training infrastructure to meet current and
evolving firefighter training standards. This
limitation results in off-site training, that increases costs and reduces efficiency.
The development of a purpose-built training tower
presents a timely opportunity to address municipal
training needs while supporting broader regional
workforce and emergency preparedness objectives.
Fire, rescue, and disaster incidents are inherently
regional. Wildland-urban interface fires, seismic
events, flooding, and complex rescue operations
frequently cross jurisdictional lines and require
coordinated response. A regional training tower
would allow firefighters and regional agencies to
train in a standardized environment, improving
readiness and strengthening mutual-aid
effectiveness.
NEED FOR FUNDING
The City of Seaside seeks state legislative support to
advance the planning, design, and construction of a
Regional Fire Training and Resilience Tower
reflecting the expanded scope and regional public
safety benefits of the project. The proposed facility
would include a multi-story training tower
supporting high-rise and multi-level firefighting
scenarios, along with instructional and classroom
space for municipal and regional fire training
programs.
Preliminary planning indicates the project is
expected to fall within a $3,000,000 - $4,500,000
range, with final costs refined through design and
engineering. State investment is critical to delivering a regional facility that enhances emergency
preparedness, workforce development, and public
safety resilience.
SUPPORT
Support is requested for state funding to advance a
regional public safety infrastructure investment that
strengthens regional fire training capacity and
emergency response readiness. The Monterey
Peninsula Regional Fire Training and Resilience
Tower represents a coordinated investment that will
benefit firefighters and communities throughout
Monterey County and the Central Coast for decades
to come.
STAFF CONTACT
Paul Blaha
Fire Chief
831-899-6786
[email protected]
FACT SHEET
Kimball Avenue Storm Drain Installation Project
Addressing chronic flooding and roadway safety hazards
through critical stormwater infrastructure improvements.
SUMMARY
The City of Seaside is seeking funding to
construct approximately 1,200 lineal feet of
storm drain infrastructure beneath Kimball
Avenue between Noche Buena Street and
Modoc Street. This segment of storm
drainage was removed during earlier
roadway construction due to funding
constraints, leaving the corridor without
adequate underground drainage.
During storm events, water surfaces at the
intersection of Kimball Avenue and Noche
Buena Street, flows across the roadway,
overwhelms gutter capacity, and contributes
to flooding of nearby homes. Completing this
storm drain connection will restore proper
drainage, improve roadway safety, and
reduce flooding risks for surrounding
neighborhoods.
BACKGROUND
The City of Seaside has historically faced
limited resources to construct essential public
infrastructure. As a result, several major
streets were originally built without complete
underground stormwater systems. Portions of
the storm drainage system beneath Kimball
Avenue were installed; however, segments
were removed during construction due to
funding limitations, leaving branch
connections in place for future completion.
Today, stormwater from upstream drainage
pipes surfaces at the intersection of Kimball
Avenue and Noche Buena Street, creating
hazardous driving conditions and
contributing to recurring flooding of homes
along the downhill side of the street. Soil
erosion around existing storm drain outlets
has also caused localized roadway instability
and damage to adjacent sidewalks and ADAaccessible ramps.
Residents frequently install sandbags along
driveways to protect their homes during
storm events, limiting access to properties
and affecting the ADA path of travel.
NEED FOR FUNDING
The City of Seaside is seeking $1,500,000 in
state or federal funding to construct the
missing storm drain segment along Kimball
Avenue.
Completion of this project will allow the City
to connect existing storm drain infrastructure,
restore proper drainage capacity along this
collector street, and reduce flooding and
roadway hazards during storm events.
Investment in this infrastructure
improvement will improve neighborhood
safety, protect nearby homes from flood
damage, and strengthen the reliability of
Seaside’s stormwater system.
SUPPORT
Support is requested for funding to construct
the missing storm drain segment along
Kimball Avenue as a critical public safety
and neighborhood infrastructure project.
Completion of this improvement will reduce
roadway hazards, protect nearby homes from
recurring flooding, and restore the intended
stormwater drainage system along this
important collector street. The project aligns
with state priorities for stormwater
management, climate resilience, and
community infrastructure investment while
improving safety and reliability for Seaside
residents.
STAFF CONTACT
Thomas Korman
Public Works Director
831-899-6884
[email protected]
FACT SHEET
Fort Ord History and Cultural Center
Transforming the Fort Ord Main Chapel into a living monument to military service and community history through preservation, arts, and education.
SUMMARY
The City of Seaside is seeking to acquire
and preserve the former Fort Ord Main
Chapel as the Fort Ord History and
Cultural Center, a community cultural
facility focused on military history, arts,
and education.
The project presents a unique
opportunity to highlight Fort Ord’s
military legacy, the Fort Ord National
Monument, and the City’s extensive art
and archival collections while preserving
a historically significant structure.
Leasing the Chapel with the intent of
future no-cost conveyance to the City
offers a strategic means to protect its
architectural integrity, including its
distinctive stained-glass windows, while
establishing a permanent cultural and
educational resource for the community.
BACKGROUND
Constructed in 1958, the Fort Ord Main
Chapel was once the largest chapel in the
U.S. Army and continued to serve the
local community following the closure of
the Fort Ord Army Base in 1994 under
the Base Realignment and Closure
(BRAC) process. Although the Army later
explored repurposing the facility for
public safety uses, those plans were
never implemented, leaving the building
vacant for many years.
In early 2023, the City of Seaside
identified the Chapel’s potential as a
cultural and historical asset and formally
requested to lease the facility. Since that
time, the building has remained unused
and was recently vandalized,
underscoring the urgency of its
preservation.
The City’s vision is to revitalize the Chapel
as the Fort Ord History and Cultural
Center, honoring military service and
preserving the shared history of Fort Ord
and the surrounding communities. The
facility would serve as a secure repository
for the City’s historical archives and as a
venue for art exhibitions, performances,
and educational programming, while
protecting the building’s architectural
heritage and reactivating a long-vacant
landmark.
NEED FOR FUNDING
The City of Seaside is seeking funding and
authorization to lease the Chapel
property, with the intent of future no-cost
conveyance, to enable stabilization,
preservation, and adaptive reuse of the
facility. A lease in furtherance would allow
the City to secure, preserve, and enhance
the premises while honoring the service
and sacrifice of U.S. military personnel
associated with Fort Ord. Funding would
support building stabilization, security,
and adaptive improvements necessary to
accommodate museum functions, archival
storage, exhibitions, performances, and
educational programming.
SUPPORT
Seaside Art and History Commission
Stephen P. Bickel, Deputy to the
Garrison Commander U.S, Army Presidio
of Monterey
STAFF CONTACT
Dan Meewis
Assistant City Manager
831-899-6821
[email protected]