Sunset Beach may soon apply to incorporate as a city but leave its beach in the care of Orange County, a recommendation made by a financial consultant at a recent town hall meeting.
At the May 20 meeting, which about 100 residents attended, representatives from Willdan Financial Services laid out three possible scenarios for the seaside community becoming the newest — and smallest — city in the county. In the preferred scenario, which Sunset Beach Community Assn. President Greg Griffin also said he favored, Sunset would take control of the "green belt," a long, grassy strip by the beach, but let the shore remain under county oversight.
If Sunset achieved cityhood, it would establish a five-member City Council, contract with neighboring Seal Beach for police services and with the county for public works. Huntington Beach would provide water for the 1,300-member community, as it currently does.