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Latest News from the City of Yorba Linda

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A Message from the City Manager

Dear Community Member,

Summer is officially coming to an end, but the California heat is still going strong. The heat coupled with the predicted fall Santa Ana winds welcome fire hazard conditions. This month, we are celebrating National Emergency Preparedness Month and providing tips all month long on the City's social media to help you prepare yourself and your family for an emergency.

We have had some recent inquiries regarding the US Army Corps project that has been under construction on the east side of town. For the last several years, the US Army Corps has been under construction restoring the embankments within the Santa Ana River. The work began in the channel vicinity near Mercado Del Rio and continued easterly. The first phase of work between Mercado Del Rio and a point west of Old Village Road has been completed; however, the current phase of work which extends from a point west of Old Village Road to Camino De Bryant has been suspended due to contractor performance issues. The US Army Corps is currently reviewing options to bring on a new contractor to complete the remaining work in the current phase. At this time, the existing k-rail barriers will remain in place to provide protection for the temporary bikeway/pedestrian trail on La Palma Avenue until the new bikeway/pedestrian trail is rebuilt with the slope reconstruction.

You also may see activity at the West Bastanchury site. Contractors are working on remediation efforts, disposing of the excavated soil from the southern-most, 13 acres of the "Base Site." This 13 acre site is zoned for residential use and is currently for sale. Offers for this site are to be submitted to the City's exclusive broker by September 16, 2019.

Lastly, in the Town Center, most of the remaining tenants plan to open in September/October. These include Quarter’s Korean BBQ, Blind Pig, SeaSurf, and Clean Juice. Regal Cinemas anticipate their grand opening to take place in mid-October.

Thank you for reading.

Sincerely,

Mark Pulone

City Manager

City Council Meeting Recap

The City Council Meeting Recap for the August 20, 2019 City Council Meeting is available online . Following each City Council Meeting, a recap is posted to the Latest News section of the City website. These recaps are intended to summarize action taken by City Council, and are not intended to function as a replacement for official meeting minutes. City Council Meeting agendas and minutes, as well as recaps from previous meetings are always available on the Agendas and Minutes page of the City website.

Library and Arts Center Project Reaches Exciting Milestones

You will see significant construction taking place at the new Library and Cultural Arts Center site. Last month, the structural steel framing for the Library and Arts Center reached completion. This milestone was commemorated with a “Topping Out” ceremony, which is typically acknowledged in the construction industry when steel framing is complete and other trades can begin their work. Metal decking has been installed on the second floor of the new Library and the concrete floor will be placed during the month of September. The perimeter block wall for the site is substantially complete and progress on various other aspects of the construction continues. New aerial video footage of the site is available on the project website . Keep checking back for monthly updates.

Lemon Drive Closure Continues

Due to the Gas Company's schedule of work and timing of the street paving, the eastbound portion of Lemon Drive (between Valencia Avenue and Lakeview Avenue) will continue to remain closed through the week of September 23. Southern CA Gas Company is scheduled to begin relocation efforts on their main line the week of September 16, with the final ground preparation of the road base section expected by end of that same week. The initial asphalt paving is scheduled to occur the week of September 23 and it is anticipated the roadway will re-open later that same week. Please note, Southern Califonia Edison (SCE) also has work scheduled on Lemon Drive (related to the undergrounding project that is occurring on Lakeview Avenue between Lemon Drive and Yorba Linda Boulevard). Since SCE has some minor work on Lemon Drive to facilitate the Lakeview Avenue undergrounding, the final asphalt layer will be deferred to a later date after SCE completes their work on the westbound lane of Lemon Drive between the main driveway at Villa Pacifica and Lakeview Avenue. Thank you for your patience as we work through the excessive road work involving gas lines and replacement of the roadway.

Update on the Santa Ana River Interceptor Project

Residents may have heard about the Santa Ana River Interceptor (SARI) pipeline rock removal project. A segment of the Orange County Sanitation District’s (OCSD) Santa Ana River Interceptor (SARI) pipeline was previously located within the Santa Ana River Channel. Over the years, riverbed erosion threatened the pipeline’s integrity and necessitated layers of rock placed adjacent to the pipeline to protect the pipe from future erosion. The layers of rock were placed under special permits that required them to be removed once the pipeline was relocated out of the channel. A segment of the SARI pipeline has since been relocated to the south of the Santa Ana River and OCSD is now scheduled to begin rock removal to fulfill the special permit conditions.

Construction is expected to begin during the month of September starting between Weir Canyon and Gypsum Canyon. Residents will see rocks trucked and hauled off-site. No rock crushing is expected on-site except for extreme cases when rocks need to be sized for safe hauling. For further project information, please send the Orange County Sanitation District an email or call their construction hotline at 714- 378-2965.

City to Initiate Proposition 218 Process

On July 16, 2019, at the public hearing adopting the Fiscal Year 2019/2020 Engineer’s Report for the Yorba Linda Street Lighting and Landscaping Maintenance District (LMAD) , it was identified Local Landscape Zones L1A, L1B, L2E, L2G, L2K, L4A, and L5A are currently or soon to be underfunded. This means the current assessment (as seen on the property tax bill) does not provide enough funds to cover all existing maintenance and utility costs associated with the maintenance of Local Landscape Zones serviced by the LMAD.

At the September 17, 2019 City Council meeting, the City will be initiating the Proposition 218 process to increase assessments for Local Landscape Zones L1A and L2G. In addition, staff is working with the residents of L1B who will be voting on an assessment increase as well. A number of community outreach meetings will be scheduled beginning October 7, 2019 and will provide the opportunity for property owners of those Local Landscape Zones to ask questions regarding the Proposition 218 process. Meeting information will be sent to the property owners within those zones.

Residents of Local Landscape Zones L2E, L4A, L2K, and L5A will be receiving a letter next week with additional information regarding the fiscal options for their respective zones. To identify your LMAD local zone, please visit Map Yorba Linda and enter your address. For general information on the LMAD, please refer to the City website or contact Jesse Gutierrez, Landscape Assessment District Manager at 714-961- 7170.

New Tree Beautification Program Coming to Yorba Linda

As part of the ongoing beautification efforts by the City of Yorba Linda, the City is offering a new Street Tree Beautification Program. At the request of a property owner, the City will select and plant one (1) 15-gallon tree within their public parkway. The selected tree will be complementary to the neighborhood and shall be maintained by the property owner. The City will make up to fifty (50) 15-gallon trees available per fiscal year on a first come, first served basis. If you wish to have a tree planted in your public parkway, please contact the Public Works Department at 714-961-7170.

OCTA to Extend Bus Stops in Yorba Linda

Due to customer demand, OC Bus Route 26 will be extended along Yorba Linda Blvd to Imperial Hwy/Lakeview and will now serve the Yorba Linda Town Center. This change will be effective October 13, 2019. Route 26 operates every 15-20 minutes during morning and afternoon peak hours and every 30 minutes mid-day during the week and every 40 minutes on weekends. For more information, visit OCTA's website .

The State Department of Housing and Community Development Announces Need for Additional Housing

On August 22, 2019, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) determined that Southern California is responsible to plan for an additional 1.34 million housing units to be built between 2021-2029 through a state-mandated housing program called the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). Each city in the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) region will be assigned a share of that responsibility, and will need to zone sufficient land within its jurisdiction to accommodate the RHNA. The SCAG region encompasses six counties, including Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura. As the regional planning agency responsible for Southern California, SCAG has filed an objection to HCD’s determination, citing concerns that HCD did not properly follow State law when calculating the total housing need. HCD has 45 days to review the objection before making a final determination.

In the meantime, SCAG is working on preparing a draft methodology to be used to distribute the total housing need to all 197 jurisdictions in the SCAG region, including Yorba Linda. Over the past month, SCAG has been collecting public comments on three methodology options. The City Council recently discussed each of the methodologies and submitted its comments to SCAG. SCAG will be providing a preview of its proposed methodology on September 23 at 10:00 a.m. through videoconferencing. Several public meetings will be held by SCAG through October and November to finalize the recommended methodology, which will be submitted to HCD for final review and approval. The City will be closely monitoring these meetings and will provide additional updates as they become available.

Yorba Linda Recognizes September as National Emergency Preparedness Month

Each September, the City of Yorba Linda joins cities across the nation in celebrating the month of September as National Emergency Preparedness Month. With Yorba Linda susceptible to damaging earthquakes and unpredictable wildfires, there is nothing more important than preparing yourself, your family, pets, and coworkers for an emergency. The City of Yorba Linda, along with Orange County Fire Authority and Yorba Linda Police Services , encourage residents and business owners to take the following steps to prepare:

Assemble a kit with enough provisions to last three to five days. Supplies should include food, water, and medicine for each member of your family;
Plan a pre-arranged meeting location in the event the family home is unavailable or not accessible;
Develop a communications plan that might include the use of email or social media in the event landlines and cell phones are not working. If possible, establish an out-of-state contact that each family member can check in with; and
Keep an emergency backpack in your car. Contents should include comfortable walking shoes, a light jacket, snacks, water, and a flashlight.

Finally, residents and business owners are encouraged to register for the City's mass notification system, AlertOC . Register for AlertOC, or manage your existing profile and notification settings by visiting AlertOC.org .

For additional emergency preparedness information, visit the City website .

CERT Training Returns for Fall Session

During a large-scale disaster, the response of any community's emergency services may be delayed or overwhelmed for a variety of reasons. This leaves the community to provide for their own well-being and safety until first responders arrive. This reality is the cornerstone of the Yorba Linda Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program.

You can help yourself prepare for a disaster by enrolling in the upcoming session of the Yorba Linda CERT program to prepare yourself to assist your family, neighbors, and coworkers in the event of an emergency. Scheduled to begin Tuesday, September 24, 2019, the session will cover a variety of topics including:

Fire Safety;
CERT Team Organization;
Light Search and Rescue;
Terrorism Awareness;
Disaster Psychology; and
Disaster Medical Operations.

Classes will be held in the evenings in the City of Brea. For the full schedule of classes and registration information, view the City website .

Lennar Homes Offering Affordable Housing Program

Lennar Homes, in conjunction with the City of Yorba Linda's affordable housing program, is offering qualified buyers to purchase a home at a reduced sales price. Lennar Homes is offering six moderate-income restricted homes for sale in their newly developed residential project, Primrose in Loma Vista, located off Bastanchury Road and Lakeview Avenue. You can register online at Lennar's website to get up-to-date information regarding this program, including program eligibility and minimum qualifications.

Yorba Linda Public Library Receives "Best Storytime in OC" Recognition

The Yorba Linda Public Library was recently voted “Best Storytime” by the readers of Parenting OC Magazine. The readers of this magazine cast almost 27,200 votes in selecting “Family Favorites” throughout Orange County including the “Best Storytime” category. For the full feature, view the September issue of Parenting OC Magazine . The community is invited to take part in the Library's award winning storytime, as well as their other programs. Visit the Library website for a full schedule of Library events .

Yorba Linda Police Services to Host Coffee with the Cop

Yorba Linda Police Services invites the community to come and meet their deputies over a cup of coffee at their "Coffee with a Cop" event scheduled for Wednesday, October 2, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The informal event, which will be held at Monarch 9 Cafe, 22755 Savi Ranch Parkway, will allow residents the chance to ask questions and get to know Yorba Linda Police Services staff. For more information, view the event flyer .

OCFA to Host Annual Open House

Join Orange County Fire Authority for their annual Open House on Saturday, October 5, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at OCFA Headquarters, 1 Fire Authority Road, Irvine, CA 92602. Events will include live fire demonstrations, fire engine rides, search and rescue dog demonstrations, display of fire trucks and helicopters, and activities for children. Free lunch will be provided. For more information, please view the event flyer or visit www.ocfa.org .

Parks and Recreation Department Invites Adults 50 and Older to "Be The Hero Of Your Health"

Adults ages 50 and older are invited to Be The Hero Of Your Health at this year's Wellness Expo, held at the Yorba Linda Community Center on Saturday, October 19, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The event is proudly sponsored by UCI Health and will feature 60+ exhibitor booths, free flu shots provided by St. Jude Medical Center, medical screenings, medication take-back, informational seminars, live demonstrations, healthy snacks, and more. For additional event information, visit the City’s website or contact the Community Center at 714-961-7181.

Mayor Tara Campbell to Deliver 2019 State of the City Address

The City of Yorba Linda in partnership with the Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce , is excited to host the 2019 Mayor’s State of the City Address. Scheduled for Wednesday, November 6, 2019 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., the event will be held in the beautiful East Room of the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. This annual event will provide an opportunity for Mayor Tara Campbell, the youngest female Mayor in the United States, to share her insight to the City’s projects and initiatives and future planning efforts.

Tickets are $55 per person and must be purchased in advance. For ticketing and sponsorship information, visit the event website .

Locking Your Vehicle is the First Line of Defense in Preventing Theft

According to Orange County Sheriff's Department, "The most common crimes our deputies respond to are crimes of opportunity - thefts from unlocked vehicles and residences." Therefore, Yorba Linda Police Services and the City of Yorba Linda would like to remind residents to take action to prevent theft by following these tips:

Always lock car doors, roll up windows, and take your keys with you;
Keep in mind that newer cars with keyless fobs can be unlocked when cars are within close proximity (even from indoors);
Remove valuables and all visible items when you leave your vehicle. If you must leave items in your vehicle, lock them in your trunk before arriving at your destination;
When out, park in open, well-lit, populated areas. At home, park in your secured garage;
Never leave your vehicle running while unattended; and
Be alert of your surroundings and report any suspicious persons and activity to Police Services at 714-647-7000.

Pet Care Tips to Protect the Environment

Animal lovers know that pets are a part of the family. But did you ever consider your pet's impact to the environment? The City of Yorba Linda encourages pet owners to adopt a few simple, sustainable pet care practices to protect the environment:

Never let any pet care products or washwater run off your yard and into the street, gutter or storm drain;
If possible, bathe your pets indoors using less-toxic shampoos or have your pet professionally groomed. If you bathe your pet outside, wash it on your lawn or another absorbent/permeable surface to keep the washwater from running into the street, gutter or storm drain;
Spay or neuter your pet to reduce overpopulation;
Adopt your next pet from a shelter, such as Orange County Animal Care; and
When taking your dog for a walk, always bring a bag to pick up pet waste. Dispose of the pet waste in the trash or toilet at home.