City Council Recap

New Mayor of La Habra Heights and the Swearing-In of Two Councilmembers

At its regular City Council meeting on December 9, 2024, the City conducted the annual rotation of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem following the swearing-in of two Councilmembers who are beginning their four-year terms.

Newly elected Councilmember Greg Stefflre was sworn in, having just recently serving on the City of La Habra Heights Planning Commission.

Incumbent Carol Engelhardt was re-elected and selected by the Council to serve as Mayor Pro Tem.

The City Council selected John Pespisa as the new Mayor of La Habra Heights. As we welcome and congratulate John as Mayor, we look forward to his vision for our city and his commitment to serving our community.

Recognizing Outgoing Councilmember Dennis Laherty

Outgoing Councilmember Dennis Laherty was recognized for his exceptional service to the community over the past 4 years. Elected to the City Council in 2019, Councilmember Laherty has shown strong leadership and a great impact. Laherty has dedicated much of his time to the city. He played a significant role in assisting with the Heli-hydrant project, served as chairman of the Roads Advisory Committee for three years, and has been a member of the Investment Advisory Committee. The City of La Habra Heights acknowledges his professionalism and dedication to the city and its residents. We wish Councilmember Laherty the best in his future endeavors and express our gratitude for his service.

Recognizing Outgoing Fire Marshal

Fire Marshal Al Alcalde is retiring from the City of La Habra Heights Fire Department on December 18th. Chief Alcalde first joined LHHFD in 2017 as a Battalion Chief responsible for Recruiting and Training. He left in 2020 to pursue another opportunity but returned to LHHFD as the Fire Marshal in 2022. Chief Alcalde has done an outstanding job in implementing and enforcing the City’s brush clearance compliance. He has gone above and beyond to keep our city safe. "Chief Alcalde is one of the most patient and gentlemanly people I have ever dealt with and I wish him the best in the future " Councilmember Engelhardt said. He is well-respected throughout the community and will be greatly missed. A heartfelt thank you to Chief Al Alcalde for his years of dedicated service, leadership, and commitment to our community. Please join us in wishing him a happy and fulfilling retirement!

City Hall Holiday Closure

City Hall will close at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 24 and will reopen at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, January 6th, 2025. During the holiday closure, limited services will be available. The Fire Department and Paramedics will remain fully operational. 

Trash Pick Up Event

We’re excited to announce that La Habra Heights will be hosting another trash pick-up event to continue our efforts in keeping our streets clean and our environment beautiful. After the success of our October event, we’re ready to tackle more of our community’s waste together!

When: Saturday, January 18, 2025, 6:45 am – 9:00 am

Where: Meet at La Habra Heights City Hall

Why Participate? This is a great opportunity to give back to our community, reduce pollution, and help restore the natural beauty of La Habra Heights. Whether you’re a long-time resident or a newcomer, we welcome everyone to join in and make a difference.

How to Register: To volunteer, please contact City Hall at (562) 694-6302 or email beautifylhh@gmail.com.

Paramedic Membership Program 2025

The 2025 Paramedic Membership Program is now accepting applications!

Did you know that a first responder emergency call can cost up to $225 per incident? Additionally, many insurance companies do not cover the fee for emergency services provided by first responders. By enrolling in the program, you can save money and help offset the high costs of training and maintaining advanced lifesaving personnel and equipment for your La Habra Heights Fire Department.

The membership covers

• 24/7 emergency paramedic service.
• Protects members from out-of-pocket expenses related to First Responder/Emergency medical treatment provided by the La Habra Heights Fire Department.
• Does NOT cover ambulance transportation cost. The ambulance company bills for this cost separately from the City.

Apply or learn more about this program

Ware Disposal

As a reminder, Ware Disposal will not collect garbage, Recyclables and yard waste on December 25th and January 1st due to the holiday.

Service will be delayed by one day after the holiday!

Questions? Call Ware Disposal at

1 (562) 245-9005

Recycle Your Holiday Tree

Ware Disposal will have curbside pick up for your holiday trees beginning December 26 through January 17, 2025. To ensure collection, please place trees curbside on your day of service and follow the guidelines below:

• Remove all stands, ornaments, lights, and tinsel.
• Trees that exceed six (6) feet in length must be cut in half.
• Trees with flocking or fire retardants will not be collected.
• You may also cut up your tree and place it in your yard waste container(s). 

Additionally, a bin will be available at the park for you to drop off your tree.

Household Hazardous Waste Event

Holiday Guide

How To Get Information & Get Involved

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