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A Message from the City Manager

Dear Community Member,

As we begin to celebrate the holiday season, I want to thank you for making this a wonderful year for the City of Yorba Linda. Whether you are a new resident, a long-time resident, a business owner, or a community partner; together, you are all part of what makes Yorba Linda special. With the year coming to an end, we reflect on some of the exciting developments within the City and look forward to what 2020 will bring.

We started off the year by breaking ground on the Public Library and Cultural Arts Center, which will open in Fall of 2020. Residents can follow along with the project and view drone footage of the construction on the project website .

Exciting developments were made within the heart of Yorba Linda, with the historic Main Street area receiving exciting enhancements, including decorative lighting and street lights. The various eateries and businesses in the neighboring Town Center opened throughout the year, including the two anchor tenants, Bristol Farms and the state-of-the art Regal Cinema, which opened this fall.

Throughout the year, the City has been working collaboratively with other North Orange County cities on a regional approach to addressing homelessness in the area. In 2020, two North Orange County navigation centers are expected to open in Placentia and Buena Park to address the needs of those experiencing homelessness in North Orange County.

Again, I thank all of you for making this such a remarkable year for the City of Yorba Linda. From our family to yours, the City of Yorba Linda wishes you a joyous and safe holiday season.

Thank you for reading.

Sincerely,

Mark Pulone

City Manager

Yorba Linda City Council Appoints New Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem

At the December 3, 2019 City Council Meeting, the City Council appointed the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem to serve a one-year term. The City of Yorba Linda is pleased to announce the reorganization of the Yorba Linda City Council as follows:

Dr. Beth Haney, Mayor
Gene Hernandez, Mayor Pro Tem
Tara Campbell, Council Member
Peggy Huang, Council Member
Carlos Rodriguez, Council Member

View the City of Yorba Linda's Notice of City Council Reorganization .

City Council Meeting Recap

The City Council Meeting Recap for the December 3, 2019 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 December 3, 2019 City Council Meeting Recap on the City website .

Library & Cultural Arts Center Construction Update

Progress continues to be made on the new Library and Cultural Arts Center. During the month of November, the interior mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and framing continued. The mechanical units were hoisted into place on the roof and work on the exterior framing and door frames progressed. Work on the sheathing, windows, soffit panels, exterior doors, and roofing will commence this month. View drone footage of the site from the past month on the project website .

Yorba Linda Public Library's Food for Fines Program Returns

This holiday season, take care of those Library overdue fines while benefiting the Community Action Partnership of Orange County Food Bank. Through December 21, 2019, the Yorba Linda Public Library's Food for Fines program allows you to donated canned food in exchange for having overdue fines waived. There are two easy ways to donate; canned food can be dropped off at the Library or a donation to the food bank can be made online. For more information, or to make a donation, visit the Library website .

Yorba Linda Water District Launches New Online Bill Pay System

Yorba Linda Water District will be launching a new online bill pay system this winter featuring more options for payment, including:

Web Payments;
Paperless Option;
Automatic Payments;
Mobile Payments;
Pay By Text;
Interactive Voice Response Payments; and
Bill Payment Reminders

Please note, on December 16, 2019, re-enrollment will be required for all existing online e-bill and auto-pay customers. To register, please visit the Yorba Linda Water District website .

Black Gold Golf Club to Host "Tee's the Season" 9-Hole Tournament

Golfers, get into the holiday spirit with the "Tee's the Season" 9-Hole Tournament at Black Gold Golf Club on Friday, December 20, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Registration is $49 per person and includes a $10 shop credit for that evening's Balloon Pop Sale, which will include gear at up to 50% off. For more information, please visit the Black Gold Golf Club website .

Future Residential Rate Increase for Green Material

In September 2014, Governor Brown signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1594 mandating (as of January 1, 2020) the use of green material as alternative daily cover will no longer constitute diversion through recycling and will instead be considered waste disposal. What does this mean to residential customers? Green waste is largely composed of residential landscape vegetation and the State of California will no longer allow Orange County to use it for alternative daily cover at its landfills. Alternative daily cover means cover material other than earthen material placed on the surface of the active face of a municipal solid waste landfill at the end of each operating day to control vectors, fires, odors, blowing litter, and scavenging. As a result of the recent state legislation, the City and its franchise waste and recycling hauler, Republic Services, are required to find other green waste solutions such as composting.

Composting is a more beneficial reuse of green waste material than alternative daily cover. Compost helps improve soil structure, increases nutrient content, and enhances water retention. Because of this, composting is the preferred method of handling green waste under the new law. The City will also remain in compliance by receiving diversion credit for green waste that goes to a composting facility. However, composting is also more expensive than reusing green waste as alternative daily cover, so it will have a direct impact on residential rates. Republic Services is currently working with the City to develop the most cost effective means of composting that meets the requirements of the law. The residential rate increase will start in January 2020.

Mark Your Calendar for Holiday Facility Closures

In observance of the winter holidays, City of Yorba Linda offices will observe a modified schedule. The holiday hours for Yorba Linda City Hall will be:

Monday-Friday, December 23-27, 2019: Closed
Tuesday, December 31, 2019: 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 1, 2020: Closed

Holiday hours for other City facilities will vary; visit the City website to view each facility's holiday schedule or download a printable holiday schedule .

Please note there will be no refuse or recycling collection service on Wednesday, December 25, 2019 and Wednesday, January 1, 2020. Collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.

Holiday Tree Safety Tips

It is the time of year to enjoy favorite holiday traditions, celebrating around the table, making new memories with friends and family, and in many families, enjoying a holiday tree. To ensure that the holidays are both happy and safe, Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) and the City of Yorba Linda encourage residents to follow these holiday tree safety tips:

When selecting your holiday tree, ensure it is fresh. Check for freshness by bouncing the tree on the ground. A fresh tree should only shed a few needles. In addition, needles should not break when bent between your fingers;
When you bring your tree home, cut off approximately two inches from the bottom of the trunk. Mount the tree in a sturdy water-holding stand, which should be refilled 1-2 times per day;
Select a location for your tree that is away from fireplaces, radiators, heating vents, air ducts, or other sources of heat;
Ensure ornaments and any other tree decorations are non-combustible or flame resistant; and
Remove your tree promptly from your home following the holidays. A dried-out tree is extremely dangerous; an ignited tree can be completely consumed by fire in 3-5 seconds.

For additional fire prevention tips, visit the OCFA website .

Prevent Package Theft this Holiday Season with Safe Shopping Tips

With the holiday shopping season in full swing and online shopping on the rise, many residents may expect to receive package deliveries at their home in the coming month. Although the opportunity exists all year for packages to go missing from your doorstep, the instance of package theft increases during the holiday season. Before you ship, Yorba Linda Police Services and the City of Yorba Linda encourage you follow these tips to ensure your package ends up under the tree and not in the hands of a thief:

Consider requiring a signature for valuable packages;
Check to see if your shipping company offers digital alerts. The alerts will keep you updated on impending deliveries and, in some cases, allow you to reschedule or reroute packages;
If you are not going to be home or cannot schedule package delivery, consider having the package delivered to a trusted neighbor’s house or delivered to your workplace;
Choose the “in-store pick-up” option whenever possible;
Beware of shipping scams. Some postal customers are receiving fraudulent e-mails about a package delivery or online postage charges that ask the user for personal information; and
Do not rely on front door cameras to prevent theft. Although great for surveillance purposes, they are not a substitute for promptly bringing in packages.

Tree-Cycle After the Holidays

Holiday trees are only used for a few weeks out of the year and recycling them can be a great way to limit holiday waste. Real holiday trees will be accepted at the curb by Republic Services from Monday, December 30, 2019 through Friday, January 10, 2020. Be sure to take off all of the lights, ornaments, tinsel, and garlands, as well as the metal or plastic stand. Set the bare tree at the curb. If your tree is more than 6 feet tall, please cut it in half for safe and easy collection. If you don’t take your tree down until after January 10, 2020, please cut it into pieces that will fit into your yard waste container with the lid closed. You can also recycle holiday wreaths and greenery in your yard waste container. The wreaths and greenery must also be bare, so please remove all wire, hooks, bows, and other decorations. Collected trees and greenery are turned into mulch, compost, and ground cover. If your family enjoys an artificial tree, pack it up for next year. If you are discarding an artificial tree or wreath, please place it into the waste container as artificial trees and wreaths are not recyclable. For more information, contact Republic Services .

Residents Can Safely Dispose of Old and Tattered Flags

If while hanging your holiday decorations you noticed your American flag is worn or tattered, now is the time to properly retire it. According to the United States Flag Code, "The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning." The City of Yorba Linda serves as a drop-off site for retired American flags; old, unserviceable flags can be dropped off in a specially marked box at the Thomas Lasorda Jr. Field House or at City Hall. Flags will be destroyed in a proper flag retirement ceremony. For more information, please call 714-961-7192.

Join the Parks & Recreation Department for Senior Services Wellness Week

The City of Yorba Linda and UCI Health are partnering to offer Senior Wellness Week, which will help you start your 2020 in a healthy way by bringing total body wellness directly to you. Scheduled for Monday-Friday, January 6-10, 2020 at the Yorba Linda Community Center , Senior Wellness Week will feature:

Health assessments;
Screenings for metabolism, heart health, and more;
Informational seminars from expert doctors;
Walk with a Doc activity and lecture;
Class demonstrations;
Healthy cooking demonstration;
Information on services offered by UCI Health;
Opportunity drawings;
Free giveaways; and
Snacks and refreshments.

A full schedule of activities will be posted to the City website as Senior Wellness Week gets closer. For more information, please contact the Yorba Linda Community Center at 714-961-7181.

When Working with Paint, Be Mindful of the Environment

With the new year just around the corner, many people will be tackling projects around the house, including projects involving paint. Because paint has the potential to cause significant damage to the environment, whether you plan to hire a contractor or complete a DIY project, the City of Yorba Linda encourages residents to be mindful of the environment by following these tips when using, cleaning, storing, and disposing of paint:

Never clean brushes or rinse paint containers in the street, gutter, or storm drain. For oil-based products, use as much of the paint on the brushes as possible and clean brushes with thinner. For water-based products, use as much of the paint on the brushes as possible, then rinse in the sink;
Paint should be stored in a dry location away from the elements. Firmly secure the lid and store the paint cans upside down to prevent air from entering. This will keep the paint usable longer; and
When disposing of paint, never put wet paint in the trash. For water-based paint, if possible, brush leftover paint on cardboard or newspaper. Otherwise, allow the paint to dry in the can with the lid off in a well-ventilated area protected from the elements, children and pets. Large quantities of extra paint should be taken to a local Hazardous Household Waste Collection Center (HWCC). Oil-based and aerosol paint should be disposed of in any quantity at a HHWCC.