See What's New in the City of Yorba Linda

Latest News from the City of Yorba Linda

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A Message from the City Manager

Dear Community Member,

Summer is just around the corner, which means the return of many of the in-person summer recreation experiences and programs that the community has grown to love. City staff will continue to safely operate these programs following all relevant State guidance in effect, and more information about our recreation offerings is included in an article below. The City's recreation programs and facilities are a point of pride for the community, and that will be even more true once our Adventure Playground project is completed. The project is out for bidding right now, and residents can view the new Adventure Playground Masterplan on the City's website. Additionally, it is my great pleasure to announce this year's return of our Fourth of July Spectacular at Veterans Park. While some aspects may be limited by State guidance, residents can expect food, family activities, a live band, and of course, a spectacular fireworks show.

I am also pleased to announce that City Hall is once again open to serve walk-in customers. However, the City will continue to offer the convenient electronic services created in response to the pandemic, such as online plan checks submittals and Building Division appointments. While the pandemic is not fully behind us, I am deeply proud of the service modifications that City staff have made over the last year in order to continue serving residents. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is how to approach our customer service model with a sense of flexibility, nimbleness, and innovation. We look forward to continuing to provide this community with exceptional services.

Best Regards,

Mark Pulone

City Manager

City Council Meeting Recap

The City Council Meeting Recap for the May 4, 2021 City Council Meeting is now available online. These recaps are intended to summarize the City Council's actions 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.

City Hall Opens For Walk-in Customers

For much of the pandemic, Yorba Linda City Hall has been open on an appointment-only basis to continue serving the community while protecting the health and safety of employees and visitors. As COVID-19 case rates improve rapidly across Orange County, City Hall has opened its doors to serve walk-in customers during our normal business hours.

The City will continue to offer electronic services, such as online building plan check submittals, business license payments, recreation program registration, and online service requests. Additionally, the Building Division will continue to make appointments for building plan submittals and plan checks. These popular options are an integral part of the City's operations going forward, and visitors are encouraged to take advantage of these services for the best experience possible.

For more information on current City services, visit our website.

Get Ready for Summer Recreation!

A summer full of great recreation opportunities is waiting just around the corner. To help connect the community with the City's unique offering of recreation classes, activities, and special events, we have published an online edition of The Summer 2021 Guide. Registration for these programs will open on May 12 at 10 a.m. for residents and May 26 for non-residents. Registering online for recreation opportunities is easy. Visit YLRecOnline.com and create an account if you are new to the system. For more information on the registration process, check out Page 5 of The Guide. To learn more about the City's Parks and Recreation Department, visit the City's website.

Yorba Linda's Regal Theater Now Open

Local movie enthusiasts will be delighted to learn that Regal Theaters has reopened its Yorba Linda theater on Friday, May 7, after the chain had closed all of its North American theaters last year due to the pandemic. While movie theater reopenings have been permitted in Orange County for several weeks under the current State guidance, Regal has been patiently reopening a select group of theater locations across the country every Friday as entertainment studios clear more films for theatrical release. For more information and showtimes, visit the Regal Yorba Linda webpage.

Restaurant Revitalization Fund Created to Help Restaurants Keep Their Doors Open

Calling all owners of restaurants, food trucks, bakeries, bars, and related businesses! The American Rescue Plan Act established the Restaurant Revitalization Fund to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open. This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business (no more than $5 million per physical location). Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible expenses no later than March 11, 2023. The online application will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted. Applications are being accepted now, so register and apply as soon as possible at the program website. To view an application checklist and guide, funding details, the allowable use of funds, frequently asked questions, and more, visit sba.gov/restaurants.

Love Yorba Linda, an exciting day of community-wide service, returns on Saturday, May 22. Volunteers will make a difference by contributing to various beautification projects around town and other community-building activities. The City invites everyone to show their Yorba Linda pride by making this the biggest year yet. To learn more about the projects that volunteers can sign up to participate in, visit loveyorbalinda.org and register today.

Yorba Linda Enlists Goats to Make Yorba Linda Fire-Safe

Alongside the City's annual weed abatement program that informs certain homeowners of their responsibility to make sure their property is clear of combustible weeds and debris by June 15, the City of Yorba Linda performs the weed abatement of approximately 80 acres of undeveloped property in order to maintain a fire-safe environment. This year, the City is piloting a new program to explore alternative weed abatement methods at the City-owned West Bastanchury site, including goat grazing to provide an effective, efficient, and eco-friendly method of fire fuel weed control.

Later this month, from approximately May 19 to 30, goats from Sage Environmental Group will be grazing on the property. Staff from Sage will be onsite every day to support the herd, manage temporary fencing, and secure the area. Guard dogs will patrol the goat herd at night to deter coyotes.

For the public's enjoyment, Sage Environmental Group will bring baby goats from the herd to a special community Meet and Greet coinciding with Love Yorba Linda Day.

Baby Goat Meet and Greet

Saturday, May 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Vista Del Verde Park (17600 Lakeview Avenue)

More information and updates about the goats will be available

on the City's website and social media channels.

For additional information about the annual weed abatement program for property owners, please contact the Community Preservation Division at 714-961-7138. To view a sample of the City's 2021 Weed Abatement Notice, please visit the City's website.

In-N-Out Burger Project Update

After extensive site preparation, vertical construction at In-N-Out Burger's upcoming Yorba Linda restaurant will begin shortly now that the contractor was issued a Building Permit last week. While many patrons have experienced In-N-Out Burger's iconic and ubiquitous locations, the company is bringing a fresh restaurant design to Yorba Linda that includes a large covered outdoor dining patio and a spacious drive-thru lane. In-N-Out anticipates opening the restaurant later this fall.

Final Phases of Median Transition Project Begin Planting

The fourth and fifth phases of the City's Median Transition Project, which renovates street medians with drought-tolerant landscaping, have commenced planting along Lakeview, Bastanchury, Arroyo Cajon, and Fairmont. Phases 4 and 5, the last phases of the project designed to comply with statewide measures to remove all turf from street medians, are scheduled for completion in June. For more information about this project, visit the City's landscape projects website.

New Restaurant Brix on Main Coming to Yorba Linda

At its April 28 meeting, the Planning Commission approved a request to establish and operate a new full-service restaurant located at 4901 Main Street, formerly the Yorba Linda Hardware Store on the corner of Main Street and Imperial Hwy. The restaurant, named Brix on Main, will be a two-story American fare restaurant and bar and will include a large patio dining area, rooftop seating, an open indoor/outdoor concept, and aesthetic features that highlight the prominent location while maintaining the historical integrity of the building's façade.

In addition to an entire building and site re-model, the Brix on Main was approved for an alcoholic beverage license, live entertainment, and participation in the City’s Parking In-Lieu Fee Program. The site will be the second property within the Historic Town Center District to redevelop since the adoption of the Town Center Specific Plan in 2011. The restauranteur envisions opening Brix on Main in early 2022.

Annual Pavement Preservation Program Kicks Off With Slurry Seal Project

The slurry seal phase of this year’s Annual Pavement Preservation Program (APPP) kicked off on April 19. The slurry seal treatment process includes crack sealing and removal and replacement of distressed pavement. The slurry seal itself provides a layer of very fine aggregate and asphalt that extends the life of the pavement. The City’s proactive efforts to invest and maintain its arterial and residential roadways have been beneficial as the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) rating for Yorba Linda ranks well among Orange County cities.

This year's APPP project covers the area located on the westerly side of the City generally bounded by Kellogg Drive to the East, Yorba Linda Boulevard to the North, and the City Boundary towards the West and South. As part of this year’s APPP, the contractor performed slurry sealing of Yorba Linda Blvd. between Prospect Avenue and Imperial Highway. For more information about the Annual Pavement Preservation Program, visit the City's website.

Schedule a Wildfire Home Assessment with the Orange County Fire Authority

May is National Wildfire Awareness Month, and while experts can’t tell you when the next wildfire will happen, they do know that wildfires can happen at any time in Southern California. Many residents have not taken the most basic steps to protect their families, homes, and neighborhoods from Orange County’s highest fire risk. To help, the Orange County Fire Authority offers a FREE Wildfire Home Assessment with an OCFA representative, who will come to your home and provide tips on how to better protect your home from a wildfire.

During your Wildfire Home Assessment, the outside of your home and property, along with other risk factors, will be evaluated. Then, you’ll be given specific steps you can take to reduce your home’s vulnerability to wildfire. Homes survive wildfires because of good preparation, not by fate or luck. No matter where you live, or how much money you can spend, there are things that you can do right now to help protect your home.

For more information, please visit the OCFA website or call 714-573-6774 to schedule a wildfire home assessment. Additionally, many proven tips to help your home survive a wildfire are available at ocfa.org.

City Facilities Closed on Memorial Day

In observance of Memorial Day, all City facilities will be closed on Monday, May 31, 2021. Please note that refuse and recycling collection will not take place on Memorial Day, and collection will be delayed by one day for the rest of the week.

Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony Returns

The Yorba Linda Veterans Memorial Association invites residents to their traditional Memorial Day remembrance ceremony on May 31 at 2 p.m. at the Veteran's Memorial site (4766 Valley View Avenue, Yorba Linda). Due to COVID-19 restrictions expected to still be in place, seating will be limited on the patio area. Still, people are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and to practice social distancing in the grassy areas around the Memorial. Masks will be required for those in attendance. Please visit the Yorba Linda Veterans Memorial website for more information.

Prevent Drownings by Learning the ABCs of Water Safety

Did you know that drowning is silent and can occur in as little as two inches of water and as quickly as 20 seconds? Although 100% preventable, drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages five and under and the second leading cause among children under fourteen. The most common reason children drown is a lapse in active adult supervision. Parents and caretakers are urged to remain vigilant when children are near water and encouraged to review and share the ABCs of Water Safety :

A is for Active Adult Supervision:

Assign an adult to be a Water Watcher, actively keeping their eyes on the water without ANY distractions;
Keep infants and toddlers within an arm's reach; and
If a child or adult goes missing, every second counts! Check the water first!

B is for Barriers:

Install and maintain proper fencing around pools and spas to isolate swimming areas;
Use self-closing, self-latching gates that open outward and away from the pool; and
Remove items such as chairs or tables that a child could use to climb over a fence.

C is for Classes:

Learn to swim by taking lessons;
Learn first aid and CPR. Always keep a phone nearby to call 9-1-1; and
teach children that running, jumping, and pushing others on pool decks is dangerous and can cause injuries.

To learn more, view the Orange County Fire Authority's Drowning Prevention video or download a printable copy of the ABCs of Water Safety. For additional safety tips, please visit the OCFA website.

Environmentally-Friendly Tips for Car Maintenance

When it comes to DIY car maintenance, it is important to be mindful of environmental impacts. The City encourages mechanics of all skill levels to follow these tips for a green garage:

Whenever possible, take your car to a commercial car wash. Car washes are required to reclaim and reuse rinse water, so they are the more environmentally friendly alternative to home car washes;
If you do choose to wash your car at home, choose soaps, cleaners, or detergents labeled “non-toxic,” “phosphate-free,” and/or “biodegradable.” When finished washing your car, dump wash-water onto an absorbent surface like your lawn rather than down a drain;
Use cat litter or another absorbent substance to remove any materials deposited by vehicles;
Do not use acid-based wheel cleaners and “hose off” engine degreasers at home. They can be used at a commercial facility, which can properly process the wash-water;
Perform automobile repair and maintenance under a covered area and use drip pans or plastic sheeting to keep spills and waste material from reaching storm drains; and
Never pour oil or antifreeze in the street, gutter or storm drains. Recycle these substances at a service station, Hazardous Household Waste Collection Center, or used oil recycling center.

OCFA Launches New Fire Cadet Program in Yorba Linda

The Orange County Fire Authority is launching a new community-based Fire Cadet Program in Yorba Linda that gives youth practical insight into the fire protection profession by engaging in activities centered on emergency services. Fire Cadets are given learning opportunities meant to enhance their life skills, citizenship, character development, and leadership, encouraging them to develop into productive adults.

The Fire Cadet Program is open to females and males age 14 to 21, and involves many hands-on and team-oriented learning activities. Those who are physically fit, possess a positive attitude and a good work ethic will enjoy and excel in this program. Prospective cadets will attend a ten-week Fire Cadet Training Academy, hosted one night a week at Station 32 in Yorba Linda. After completing training and passing a basic test, Cadets will be able to ride along on fire engines and trucks. Complete the interest form on OCFA's Fire Cadet Program website to learn more.