Check out the latest news from the City of Yorba Linda

Latest News from the City of Yorba Linda

CITY HALL

COMMUNITY

SERVICES

A Message from the City Manager

Dear Community Member,

Welcome to June! With the school year ending next week and many families anticipating a summer break full of fun activities and events, such as our annual 4th of July Spectacular, excitement is in the air! If you and your family are looking for fun activities, the City offers Movies in the Park, Concerts in the Park, and many other family fun events. You can learn more about these community events on our website.

The end of the school year also means that our senior class of 2022 is also graduating next week. As I reflect on the challenges they've overcome over the last few years, I know we are all so proud of these young women and men, and we look forward to seeing how they will make a positive impact in their neighborhood and around the world. Make your hometown proud!

One upcoming change that I want to highlight is the launch of our organic recycling program. As you are likely aware, the State of California is requiring every city across the state to implement these programs to divert organic waste away from landfills and into processing centers where it can be turned into helpful products like fertilizers. Starting July 1, residents will need to begin placing all food waste and food-soiled paper (like pizza boxes) into their brown (yard waste) waste cart. While the details of our program are covered in an article below, I encourage everyone to learn more about this significant change by visiting our website.

Thanks for being a part of our valuable member of our community.

Best Regards,

Mark Pulone

City Manager

City Council Meeting Recap

Want to learn more about the decisions and actions of the Yorba Linda City Council? The latest City Council meeting recap is now available online. These recaps briefly summarize the City Council's activities until the official minutes are adopted (generally at the next meeting). In addition, City Council Meeting agendas and minutes from previous meetings are available on the Agendas and Minutes page on the City's website.

City's Organics Recycling Program Starts July 1

The City of Yorba Linda, along with every city in California, is required by State law to implement an organic waste recycling program. California Senate Bill 1383 requires reductions of organic waste in landfills as part of a plan to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants. To comply with State requirements, Yorba Linda is launching our organic recycling program on July 1 with the help of Republic Services, the City's contracted waste hauler.

What changes can you expect?

Beginning July 1, all City of Yorba Linda residents should place their organic waste into the existing yard waste (brown) container. Organics include food wastes such as vegetables, fruits, cooked meat scraps, dairy, bread, pasta, rice, grains, eggshells, coffee grounds, tea bags, plate scraps, food-soiled paper (i.e., used pizza boxes), and yard waste such as tree trimmings, grass clippings, and leaves. Organics placed in the brown container must be disposed of loosely or contained within a paper bag only. No plastic, compostable or biodegradable collection bags are allowed in the organics container. To learn more about these important changes and for practical tips on organic recycling, please visit the City's website.

This change in services will necessitate an increase in residential and commercial rates. Effective July 1, the standard 3-cart residential service rate will increase to $29.76. Commercial costs will also increase depending on your selected services. For more details about the new rates, please visit our website.

Yorba Linda's Goat Herd Gets to Work

Over the next month, residents might catch a glimpse of the City's weed abatement goats as they graze on hillsides around Bryant Ranch. This vital activity helps make Yorba Linda fire-safe by clearing open spaces of dead vegetation and weeds, which, left unchecked, become fuel for dangerous wildfires.

To kick off this year's goat-led weed abatement program, the City hosted a community "meet and greet" event at Bryant Ranch Park. This well-attended event provided a unique opportunity for scores of children and adults to interact with about 60 goats from Environmental Land Management, the City’s contractor. This special herd included goats of all ages and personalities, from grizzled veterans who could eat weeds in their sleep, to a few playful kids only a couple of weeks old.

To commemorate the event, Environmental Land Management offered to let us name one of the baby goats, so our staff held a special contest at the event and took submissions from the community. A lot of really creative names were offered up, including Goaty McGoat-face, Vincent Van Goat, Brownie, and Top Goat. After hours of passionate debate, the ad hoc Goat Naming Committee (known internally as “GO-NAC”) settled on “Gracie," an anonymous submission that pays homage to the Land of Gracious Living. Thank you to everyone who submitted a name!

Adventure Playground Construction Continues

Adventure Playground renovation progress continues! Most visibly, the water slide has been erected and our crew is busy installing pump room equipment and connecting the slide's plumbing. All of the shelters have been constructed and are waiting for additional beams and roofs to be installed. The concrete flooring was poured for all the equipment rooms, wood storage shelter, woodshop shelter, and the large shade shelter. Additionally, big boulders are being delivered to the site and set in place to form the rock wall slope and the streambed. These recent improvements can be seen by checking out the drone footage on our website. We still anticipate Adventure Playground to open later this fall.

Altrudy Senior Apartments Now Leasing

Check out the new Altrudy Senior Apartments on Lakeview Avenue, just north of the Public Library and Cultural Arts Center! Yorba Linda’s newest community just had a grand opening last Thursday, and these new homes look great! The 48-unit property, developed by C&C Development and Orange Housing Development Corporation in partnership with the City of Yorba Linda, offers needed affordable housing for seniors and reserves ten units for veterans. The community features spacious living units, a fitness and community room, a barbeque area, and a dog area too. If you have questions about leasing, please call 714-881-5709.

City Seeks Comments for Housing Plan

To comply with State-mandated housing laws, the City of Yorba Linda has released a Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (Draft PEIR) for the Housing Element Implementation Project. As part of this ongoing process, the public is invited to review and comment on the draft report for a 45-day period from June 1 to July 15, 2022. To further engage the community, the City mailed an Official Public Notice (PDF) on May 31 to every home within a 2,000-foot radius of any of the 27 housing opportunity sites.

The City requests your comments by July 15 on the Draft PEIR for consideration by the Planning Commission at future public hearings. Ultimately, the public will have the opportunity to vote on the proposed housing plan on the November 8, 2022 election ballot before any rezoning of these sites can occur, in accordance with the Yorba Linda Right-to-Vote Amendment (commonly referred to as Measure B). To stay informed and learn more about this important project, please visit the City’s Housing Element website at www.ylhousingelementupdate.com. Also, please check back frequently for additional information and updates.

Learn more about the Housing Element

What is the Housing Element? What is RHNA? What is Measure B? What has the City done to keep residents informed? Why has the State of California mandated this process? Learn more at www.ylhousingelementupdate.com.

The Library's Summer Reading Fun Fest is Back!

The Library's annual Summer Reading Program returns this year for children, teens, and adults. Participants may sign-up for the program online beginning Monday, June 13. Join us to kick off this year's program at the Summer Reading Fun Fest on Saturday, June 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We'll enjoy games, crafts, live performances, and more!

Get to Know Your Friendly Neighborhood Deputies at Coffee with a Cop

Join local deputies for Coffee with a Cop on Tuesday, June 14 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Peet's Coffee (18353 Imperial Highway). All are welcome! There's no agenda or speeches, just a great opportunity to ask questions and get to know the deputies who serve in your neighborhood!

Black Gold Hosts Annual Father's Day BBQ Brunch Buffet

What does Dad want for Father's Day? A tasty BBQ buffet at Black Gold Golf Club might be the perfect way to start the day! Black Gold's annual Father's Day BBQ Brunch Buffet is back and better than ever on Sunday, June 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The buffet is stacked with a great lineup of great food and is very popular, so please call 657-242-4591 to make a reservation. For more information, visit Black Gold's website.

Black Gold Golf Club is also a great place to host events of all sizes. Whether you're planning a beautiful wedding or a small get-together, Black Gold can help make your event exceptional. To learn more, visit Black Gold's website.

Get Ready for Concerts in the Park!

Your favorite local music artists are back in town and bringing the jams! From July to August, enjoy our Concerts in the Park series on Sunday evenings at Hurless Barton park while dancing the night away to great hits. Registration is not required to attend these free events, but remember to bring a blanket or lawn chair for seating. The first three performers of the season are:

Sunday, July 17 - The King of Queen (Queen Tribute);
Sunday, July 24 - Hot August Night (Neil Diamond Tribute); and
Sunday, July 31 - Mark Easterday (Modern Country)

The concerts start at 5:30 p.m. For more information about family fun activities and special events, please visit the City's website.

Exciting New Businesses Coming to Yorba Linda

Yorba Linda is constantly attracting new businesses to open their doors in our community. We're currently tracking the development of several restaurants and other businesses planning to open up shop in Yorba Linda, including:

Acai Republic - coming to Country Club Village by Trader Joe's;
Crumbl – opening in late June in Town Center;
Clydes Hot Chicken – new construction on Arroyo & School Street;
Jalapeños – coming to the State Bros. Center (Lakeview Avenue & Yorba Linda Boulevard)
Lone Wolf Brewing – opening this summer (Packing House Square);
OneZo Boba – NOW OPEN in the Packing House Square;
Denny’s – opening a second location (Richfield Road & Yorba Linda Boulevard) next year; and
Target – opening in former OSH building at Valley View Center in early 2023.

The City presents these exciting updates and announcements about new businesses as information firmly develops. For more information about opening a business in Yorba Linda, contact our Economic Development Manager at 714-961-7105.

Celebrate the 4th of July in Yorba Linda

Get excited for Yorba Linda's annual 4th of July Spectacular! Attendees will enjoy food vendors, family activities, live music, and of course: spectacular fireworks! The fun starts on Monday, July 4 at 5 p.m. with live music featuring United Party Heros and fireworks blasting off at 9 p.m. The event can be enjoyed from Veterans Park or Yorba Linda Middle School. For important updates about this event, including road closures and more, be sure to follow our social media accounts and visit our website.

Army Corps' Santa Ana Riverbed Project Nearing The Finish Line

The riverbank restoration project in the Santa Ana River is nearing completion, with the entire construction project likely to be wrapped up in early August. Recently, the primary construction entrance at Old Village Road was closed as the contractor shifted their site entrance to the intersection of Camino De Bryant and La Palma Avenue. Residents may notice more construction equipment and activity moving about in this vicinity as the project wraps up over the next two months.

The City will continue to provide updates to the community until the Army Corps has completed its project, and we continue to advocate on your behalf to ensure this project is successful and finished quickly.

City Facilities Closed on Independence Day

In observance of Independence Day, all City facilities will be closed on Monday, July 4, 2022. Please note that refuse and recycling collection will also not take place on July 4, and collection will be delayed by one day for the rest of the week.

Now Accepting Nominations for Citizen of the Year

The City of Yorba Linda is currently accepting nominations for the 2022 Citizen of the Year recognition. Please help us honor local heroes whose inspirational contributions have elevated the Yorba Linda community. Nomination forms and detailed information are available on the City's website. Please submit completed nomination forms by Monday, September 6, 2022.

Remember to Use Water Wisely!

With worsening drought conditions in California dominating the news, we encourage everyone to use water wisely. Our community is located in an arid, semi-desert climate. Efficient water usage is essential for maintaining our Southern California lifestyle. Practice these tips to help conserve water:

Nearly half of all home water use goes for lawn and garden irrigation. Reducing outdoor irrigation use is the best opportunity savings water;
Adjust sprinklers to avoid “watering” sidewalks, driveways, and the street. Lower pressure to avoid creating a wasteful mist;
Yards need little or no watering during the cool late fall, winter, and early spring months. Program automatic controllers to fit the season;
Don’t let the hose run while washing your car;
Use a broom instead of a hose to clean sidewalks, driveways, patios, tennis courts, and other paved areas;
A pool or spa cover prevents wasteful evaporation;
Fix leaky pipes and faucets. A steady drip can waste up to 600 gallons of water each month;
Automatic dish and clothes washers are very efficient when used for full loads. More water-efficient clothes washers are now available;
Older toilets use up to seven gallons of water per flush. They should be replaced with new ultra-low-flush models that use only 1.28 gallons;
Low-flow showerheads save water and money every time you take a shower; and
A half-filled bathtub requires less water than all but the shortest shower.

Be a Good Neighbor: Leave Fireworks to the Professionals

Yorba Linda Police Services and the City of Yorba Linda remind residents that the possession or discharge of fireworks within Yorba Linda City limits is prohibited. In Orange County, fireworks pose a severe fire risk, as well as a health and safety risk to kids and adults. An estimated 59% of fires started by fireworks escalate into brush, grass, or forest fires. Additionally, about 10,000 people are treated for injuries in emergency rooms every year due to the mishandling of live and misfired consumer fireworks. Sadly, children had the highest rate of fireworks injury, with more than a third of all victims under the age of 15.

Another reason to not light fireworks at home: unexpected firework explosions can trigger a startle response in people who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This psychiatric disorder can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event and most often affects veterans.

For your safety and the safety of others in the community, please do not light fireworks in Yorba Linda. To report illegal fireworks, please don't call 9-1-1. Instead, call the Yorba Linda Police Services' dispatch at 714-647-7000. A great alternative to personal fireworks is the City's 4th of July Spectacular, announced earlier in this newsletter. Additional information about local firework regulations and safety can be found in the Orange County Fire Authority's fireworks fact sheet.

Learn the ABCs of Drowning Prevention Now!

Losing even one person to drowning is too many. Last year, there were 44 fatal drownings in Orange County. However, drowning is preventable if safeguards are taken. For this reason, Orange County Fire Authority has launched a drowning prevention campaign focused on avoiding distractions while watching children near water and encouraging individuals never to swim alone.

Orange County Fire Authority teaches the ABCs of water safety to help educate and prevent drownings:

A stands for Active Adult Supervision: We encourage you to assign a water watcher who can keep their eyes on the water while avoiding distractions like a cell phone or a book. The water watcher should be a responsible and sober adult who can swim;
B is for Barriers: We recommend multiple layers of protection from pool and spa areas, including but not limited to self-latching gates, 4-sided isolation fences, pool and spa covers, alarms, and indoor barriers to protect access from any room inside the house that has water access; and
C is for Classes: Take swimming lessons, learn CPR and make sure you know how to use an AED. Learn and practice rescue techniques, so you know how to help if drowning occurs.

For more drowning prevention and home safety tips, visit OCFA’s website.

Keep Our Local Beaches Clean by Stopping Urban Runoff

Summer is almost here, and that means the return of warm-weather activities like trips to the beach. However, pollution in local creeks and channels can decrease opportunities to enjoy the surf and sand by making beaches unsafe for swimming. By simply changing one or two home practices, you can help reduce urban runoff, improve the health of waterways, and keep local beaches open all summer long:

Keep trash off the ground and pick up pet waste;
Sweep sidewalks and patios, instead of hosing them down. Not only does this prevent wasted water, but it also reduces runoff which picks up pollutants on the ground carrying them to nearby storm drains, which drain to the ocean;
Clean up outdoor spills with mops or absorbents instead of washing spills into a gutter or storm drain; and
Do not overwater your lawn.

For more information about preventing urban runoff to the oceans, visit the OC stormwater website.