SEAL BEACH : Council Candidates Discuss City’s Woes

The eight candidates vying for seats on the City Council discussed the city’s financial situation, crime and the future of Main Street at a forum this week sponsored by the League of Women Voters.

Voters in three of the city’s five council districts will go to the polls March 29 to elect representatives.

In District 1, which covers the Old Town area, Councilwoman Marilyn Bruce Hastings faces businessman James Klisanin and community activist Charles Antos. In District 3, which covers the Marina Hill area, Mayor Gwen Forsythe is running against Main Street merchant John Baker and resident Kathy Parker. In District 5, which covers Leisure World, Councilman William J. Doane faces engineer Richard Davies.

The city’s financial troubles were the subject of much discussion at the forum at City Hall. Several candidates criticized incumbents for doubling the utility-users tax last year as a way of balancing the city’s budget.

“In Leisure World, we have an awful lot of people on fixed incomes. This tax takes money out of people’s pockets,” said Davies, adding that the tax should be repealed.

Forsythe and the other incumbents defended the tax, saying it was the only way to offset a $2-million budget shortfall without making large cuts in police and other city services. They said the tax will be reviewed each year and could be phased out as the city’s financial health improves.

Doane said the city could increase revenue by putting parking meters on Main Street and using the city’s jail to house prisoners from surrounding cities. Antos added that the city should bill state and federal officials for the costs of city programs they mandate but don’t pay for.

Candidates also suggested a number of ideas for improving the Main Street business district. Baker said the city should use a parking lot near the Seal Beach Pier for customer parking. He also suggested that the city do more to repair buckled sidewalks along Main Street.

Klisanin said the city could work with merchants to improve the look of the street by adding new lighting, benches and other amenities.

On the issue of crime, Parker said the city should establish police foot patrols in certain areas and use volunteers to write parking tickets. Hastings said she favors opening a police substation on the pier, which would add a constant police presence to the Old Town area.