LW councilmember explains vote to hike water rates

COUNCIL COMMENTS

by Ben Wong

Seal Beach City Council

The Seal Beach City Council voted 3-2 on Aug. 11 to move forward with an increased adjustment to the water and sewer rates, effective Sept. 1.

What does this change mean for each Leisure World unit? In 2025-2026, there will be an estimated $10 per month increase; 2026-2027, $16 per month estimated increase; 2027-2028, $18 per month estimated increase; 2028-2029, $20 per month estimated increase; and 20292030, a $22 per month estimated increase.

For Leisure World, here is a general summary answering many of the questions I have received since my vote.

I do not see my role as trusting city staff recommendations without active oversight by the council. In fact, it is the opposite. Neither I nor my fellow councilmembers intend to give city staff carte blanche without oversight from this council.

The issues related to water and sewer are far from over. There are projects with designs complete and shovel-ready where we can move forward and complete with ongoing council oversight.

Moreover, I have every intention of looking for ways to tighten spending as we continue so that projects are finished within budget and to reexamine their priority, for example, Sunset Aquatics Center, Navy reservoir, etc.

Council members are to receive quarterly in-depth progress reports on each construction project.

There is a website dedicated to providing residents with upto- date information, as well as a push for a livestream camera so that residents can monitor ongoing work.

I did not feel rushed to vote for Option 1 over a residentproposed “Option 3. Timing was not a factor. The defeated motion for a potential option 3 before the council would have moved the evening vote from Aug. 11 to September.

My decision was based not on the risk that one additional month might have on the city’s aging infrastructure, but on the risk involved with delaying the start and completion of the LCWA Water Main Lining Project in relation to the planned Los Cerritos Wetlands restoration, a $32-million project beginning in September.

I thought this was especially important in being able to retain the flexibility to eliminate projects and tighten spending as we moved forward without limiting the city’s ability to collect on the increased fees to fund the reserve, effectively service our debt and to be better prepared to pay for emergency pipe breaks.

None of us want to have to pay more. Yet, with rising construction costs, and the city’s well-documented aging infrastructure, this was a problem that I did not want to further risk by “kicking the can down the road.”

Last week’s vote gives city staff the best opportunity to finally deal with our water and sewer infrastructure dilemma and avoid having to burden future generations with the same costly and ongoing issues that have followed us to this day.

Thank you for your time in considering a few of my thoughts.