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Preliminary City Council Election Results

The General Election was held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Two Yorba Linda City Council seats were up for for election with the top two vote-getters slated to win those seats. Preliminary results of the Yorba Linda City Council election project the following outcome:

Peggy Huang
Carlos Rodriguez

The Orange County Registrar of Voters will continue to tabulate ballots and will provide the City with certified election results in the coming weeks. Certified results will be posted to the Latest News section of the City website.

Newly elected City Council members will be sworn in for a four-year term at the Tuesday, December 4 City Council Meeting. The Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem will also be appointed at this meeting. For additional information, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 714-961-7150.

City Council Meeting Recap

The City Council Meeting Recap for the November 6, 2018 City Council Meeting is now 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. View the November 6, 2018 City Council Meeting Recap on the City website .

Mayor Gene Hernandez Delivers 2018 State of the City Address

On Wednesday, October 24, 2018, Mayor Gene Hernandez delivered the 2018 State of the City Address in front of an audience that filled the East Room at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. With a theme of “Creating Tomorrow Today,” the State of the City Address was delivered to attendees in a video which included updates on the City’s accomplishments, current projects, and plans for the future. Topics discussed included the increased use of technology to streamline City business, the progress being made on the City's Town Center Development and the Library and Cultural Arts Center, traffic flow and safety initiatives, the continuation of the Landscape Transition Project for medians throughout the City, the City's status as one of the safest in the nation, and the strong financial position of the City. Gaddi H. Vasquez, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for Edison International and Southern California Edison, served as Emcee and shared anecdotes about his time working in law enforcement with Mayor Hernandez. The 2018 Citizen of the Year, Bridget Blehm, and 2018 Business of the Year, The Cookie Element, were also recognized. View the State of the City Address video, photo gallery, and listing of sponsors on the City website .

Bridget Blehm Named Citizen of the Year

Since moving to Yorba Linda thirty years ago, Bridget Blehm has been an active volunteer within the community, as well as an advocate for our nation’s military. In 2006, Bridget, along with her husband of forty-five years, Ed, founded For Families of Active Military a non-profit organization devoted to raising awareness about the hardships experienced by our military families. Bridget’s contributions have led to much local recognition, as well as recognition on the national level, as she was sworn in as Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA) in November 2017 at a ceremony at the Pentagon. In her capacity as the CASA, she serves as a liaison between civilian and military communities throughout Southern California. Bridget’s selfless acts of service to the military continue to make an impact on the families that make so many sacrifices for our freedoms and have brought significant recognition to Yorba Linda. Bridget's many contributions to the community were recognized at the 2018 State of the City event. View past recipients of the Citizen of the Year recognition on the City website .

Honor Our Local Veterans on November 11

Join the Yorba Linda Veterans Memorial Association for their annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Sunday, November 11, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Veterans Park (4756 Valley View Avenue). The event will feature remarks by keynote speaker Vietnam Era Army Veteran, 1st Lt. Clark Gasper, a presentation of colors by the Esperanza High School Air Force ROTC, a performance by the Los Angeles Police Emerald Society Pipes & Drums, and a twenty-one gun salute and Taps provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Department Honor Guard. For more information please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 714-961-7160.

Join Yorba Linda Police Services at the "Tip-A-Cop" Fundraiser

Join Yorba Linda Police Services as their deputies give a new meaning to the phrase "to serve and protect" at the Tip-A-Cop Fundraiser on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Chili's Restaurant in Yorba Linda (18380 Yorba Linda Boulevard). Deputies will be paired up with a server for the evening and will donate their tips to Special Olympics Orange County. Bring the whole family to support a great cause while enjoying a great meal! For more information, view the event flyer .

Teens Invited to Give Back to the Community

Calling all teens in grades 6-12! You are invited to join the Yorba Linda Parks and Recreation Department and the Library as they host the City's largest day of service for teens, Youth Empowerment Service Day, on Saturday, November 17, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Thomas Lasorda Jr. Field House (4701 Casa Loma Avenue) . This event is projected to attract up to 300 teens who will give back to their community and gain volunteer service hours by creating hundreds of care packages, cards, and paracord bracelets for our active military. Participating is easy:

All materials and lunch will be provided;
No pre-registration is necessary; walk-ins are encouraged;
Participants must currently be in grades 6-12; and
PYLUSD Community Service forms will be provided on site.

The event will also include an inspirational and empowering message from guest speaker Todd Frazier, founder of Do Things and DT Apparel . For more information visit the event website or contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 714-961-7192.

Town Center Public Parking Structure Nears Completion

Diners and shoppers who frequent the Yorba Linda Historic District, and those looking forward to visiting the highly anticipated Town Center , will be excited to hear that the Yorba Linda Town Center Public Parking Structure will soon be open. The 4-level parking structure has 446 stalls, including ADA stalls, and electric vehicle charging stations. The design incorporates a sensor-based guidance system which displays the number of spots available on each floor, and extensive facade enhancements allow the structure to blend with the architecture of the surrounding areas.

Members of the community are invited to get a first look at the new structure by attending an opening ceremony on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. Parking will be available in the structure (18423 Arroyo Street), which can be accessed by entering from Lemon Drive and School Street. For additional information, please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 714-961-7160.

City Receives Highest Credit Rating

The City Council recently approved the issuance of $15.6 million of lease revenue bonds to finance a portion of the project costs for the City’s new Public Library. The majority of the project costs are being funded with cash on hand accumulated by the Library over a number of years through operating surpluses, with the balance to be funded with the issuance of the bonds. As the City has not had any debt outstanding since 2013 other than for its former Redevelopment Agency, the City has not had an active issuer credit rating. With the issuance of the bonds for the Library, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) is once again rating the City. The City received a AAA issuer credit rating, which is the highest credit rating that a local government can receive. Highlights of the Standard and Poor’s report include their assessment of the City’s:

Very strong economic conditions, both in the City and the region;
Very strong financial management, including significant financial policies;
Strong budgetary performance and consistent budget surpluses; and
Strong liquidity, low debt levels, and budgetary flexibility.

The bonds issued for the Library will be fully repaid from existing property tax revenues that are restricted for Library purposes. No General Fund money or new or increased taxes will be required to construct the Public Library facility. The building of the adjacent Cultural Arts Center is being funded entirely with cash on hand generated from prior General Fund budget surpluses and the sale of surplus City property. No debt will be issued for the Arts Center facility.

Library Awarded Two Grants to Enhance Music Programs

The Yorba Linda Public Library has received two grants to provide enhancements to the already robust Library programs and services. This fall, the Library will be launching Unplugged: Amped Up, as part of the recently awarded $17,000 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grant. This grant will help to enhance the Library's lending collection by incorporating additional instruments for public use, including banjos, keyboards, and tambourines, as well as support a new digital sheet music collection and various music-themed events throughout the year. In addition, a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federally funded program, will focus on music related programming and services . Professional musicians and trained educators from a wide variety of musical genres, will provide music-focused events at the Library. Topics will include music appreciation and education, as well as live musical performances. This grant will also help to supplement the Library's digital sheet music collection, which is available free to the public. Visit the Library website for a schedule of programs.

Residents Reminded to Exercise Caution with Solicitors

Yorba Linda Police Services reminds residents to take precautions when dealing with unplanned visitors at their home. Residents are advised to never open the door or allow someone to enter their home if they do not feel safe in doing so. The City requires all solicitors selling goods and services to register with the City and obtain a photo identification card to keep with them at all times. Residents are encouraged to ask to see any solicitor's City-issued identification card. Registration with the City's Do Not Knock Registry allows residents to register to prohibit solicitors from visiting their home. If you have any information about suspicious solicitor activity in your neighborhood, please call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 714-647-7000. For emergencies, please dial 911.

Zoning Code Amendment Underway

In May 2017, the Planning Commission initiated a Zoning Code Amendment to address various issues which have arisen from unique circumstances that were not contemplated when the code was adopted. These include similar use determinations, Community Development Director Zoning Code interpretations, recent changes to federal and state law, and other issues staff has identified when applying or interpreting the existing Zoning Code.

Over the past year and a half, at the direction of the Planning Commission, City staff has reviewed each chapter of the Zoning Code to identify items needing to be updated. Each of these items has been brought forward to the Planning Commission in a public workshop format. The Planning Commission has conducted six public workshops and has directed staff to bring the comprehensive update back to the Planning Commission for the formal public hearing process and subsequent recommendation to the City Council. Staff anticipates that this public hearing will take place prior to the end of the calendar year and will be brought forward to the City Council in early 2019.

Housing Kickoff Meeting Held for Southern California

California State Housing law requires that local jurisdictions provide for new housing to be constructed in an attempt to resolve the Statewide housing crisis. The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has been tasked by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to determine an appropriate methodology for determining how much total housing must be provided in the Southern California region and how to distribute that number fairly among 191 cities and 6 counties. This process is called the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) and the current cycle covers allocations from 2021 to 2029.

The SCAG RHNA Subcommittee kickoff meeting was held on October 29, 2018. The meeting agenda consisted of an overview of the objectives, methodology, and process for the RHNA. Future meetings are scheduled for the first Monday of each month starting in December. City staff is dedicated to actively participating in these meetings and monitoring the RHNA process to ensure the City receives no more than its fair share of the housing requirement. Members of the public are invited to attend these meetings either in person or remotely through webcast; please note RSVPs are required for those who wish to participate remotely. Individuals may register to receive agenda notifications from SCAG on their website . Residents may also contact the Community Development Department at 714-961-7130 for additional information.

Protect Your Home from Kitchen Fires this Holiday Season

Although Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) will be on the job on Thanksgiving Day, they are reminding residents to use caution when preparing their holiday feasts, as nearly half of house fires nationwide start in the kitchen. This risk becomes even more prominent during the holidays.

Take these steps to keep your home safe while you are preparing your family's Thanksgiving meal:

Start your holiday cooking with a clean stove and oven; make sure any old grease or food spills are cleaned up to lessen the chance of a flare-up;
Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you have to leave the kitchen, even for a second, turn off the stove;
Check food often while cooking. Use a timer to remind you that the stove or oven is on;
Keep anything that can catch fire (pot holders, oven mitts, paper towels, paper or plastic bags, curtains, and loose clothing) away from the stove, oven, or other kitchen appliances that heat-up when used;
Turn any pot or pan handles toward the back of the stove;
Have a "kid-free zone" of at least three feet around the stove;
Always check the oven to make sure it is empty before turning it on; and
Keep a fire extinguisher nearby when cooking. For detailed instructions on using a fire extinguisher at home, view this video.

For additional fire safety tips, visit the OCFA website .

Mark Your Calendar for November Facility Closures

The City of Yorba Linda will observe Veterans Day and Thanksgiving as City holidays. Yorba Linda City Hall, the Library, all Parks & Recreation facilities, and the Yorba Linda Police Services Substation will be closed on:

Monday, November 12, 2018 and
Thursday & Friday, November 22 & 23, 2018.

Please note, there will be no refuse or recycling service on Thursday, November 22, 2018. Collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.

In addition, the front counters at City Hall will be closed on Thursday, November 15 from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. as staff will be participating in a City Employee Training.

Preventing Erosion on Your Property Prevents Stormwater Pollution

After months of dry weather, heavy rain can cause erosion on your property. Erosion can not only cause an unsightly mess, but eroded soil can also block stormwater systems and release pollutants into the ocean. To do your part to help prevent soil from leaving your property, examine your yard carefully. Be aware of the slope, drainage patterns, and soil types. If your property is prone to erosion, consider the following:

Plant grass seed or other vegetation before the fall rains begin;
Apply netting and straw mulch on steep slopes;
Incorporate existing native vegetation into your landscape area;
Direct water runoff away from areas subject to erosion; and
Minimize impervious surfaces such as concrete and asphalt and maximize the absorption capacity of your land through vegetation.