Six Questions with
Director Joe Kalmick
The OCCOG Governing Board includes 18 Orange County elected officials and nine ex-officio non-voting members who work together to represent Orange County’s interests in regional planning policy. Let’s meet Director Joe Kalmick:
Q1: What area of Orange County do you represent for OCCOG?
A1: I represent SCAG Regional Council District #20. District 20 includes the cities of Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Stanton and Westminster.
Q2: What is your favorite thing about living in Orange County?
A2: I was raised in Los Angeles County (West LA), but have lived in Seal Beach for almost 50 years. What I appreciate the most about living in Orange County is the historic diversity of each of our cities. Each city's current downtown or central area reflects the heritage from when it was first established, whether it was agricultural, ranching, fishing, or recreation, you can find their beginnings in the city's core.
Q3: What issue got you interested in becoming a city councilmember?
A3: As a long-time Seal Beach resident and Old Town Main Street business owner, I began to see a lack of motivation by the council at the time to maintain and improve our historic downtown infrastructure. I decided to do something about it and ran for the District 1 council seat. And, being retired with a 30-year history of serving as a volunteer firefighter, I felt it was a natural next step for me in public service. My term expires in 2022, and I intend to pursue a second term.
Q4: What is Seal Beach doing to support beach access for all?
A4: The City of Seal Beach partnered with Orange County Supervisor, Katrina Foley, to facilitate the installation of eco-friendly, portable and non-slip ADA beach accessibly mats. The newly installed mats are available at two locations. They significantly improve accessibility to the beach by providing a comfortable and safe avenue for visitors with disabilities or limited mobility and families with strollers and different needs to enjoy a day at the beach.
Q5: What is Seal Beach’s best kept secret?
A5: While we have a bustling Main Street business and restaurant district and a beautiful beach and Pier, I am constantly amazed when I run into folks who know the Seal Beach B1 exit on the 405, but have never visited our city. Our Main Street corridor features several cafes and restaurants, as well as interesting shops. Our pier, one of the longest wooden piers on the West Coast at over 1800 ft., offers a spectacular view from the Port of Long Beach to the Huntington Beach pier. And, our well-groomed beach is great for strolling and watching incredible sunsets. Our surf is great for all skill levels. So, I would say that Seal Beach is its own best kept secret!
Q6: Thanksgiving is right around the corner. What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish?
A6: Each Thanksgiving I look forward to making my favorite turkey stuffing. It’s not elegant, but it has a robust flavor from the additional ingredients I add to the basic boxed stuffing recipe. They include turkey broth and apple juice instead of water, chopped pecans, a finely diced dried apricot, a couple of diced dried plums, a little grated orange peel, sauteed onion and celery, and the usual savory spices such as sage. The only question I have for myself is why do I only make it for Thanksgiving?