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,

July is here which means summer is officially in full swing! Of course, everyone looks forward to July for one big reason: Independence Day. As we all prepare to celebrate America's birthday, I invite you to join the community for an exceptional firework show at the City's 33rd annual 4th of July Spectacular! The gates open at 5 p.m. at Veterans Park and Yorba Linda Middle School for an evening of food, live music, family entertainment, and more. The fireworks blast off at 9 p.m., but be sure to arrive early so you can get a spot and find parking nearby. Learn more about the event and related road closures on our website.

Today also marks the beginning of the state-mandated organic recycling program which affects how we must dispose of food waste. Starting today, all organic waste should be separated from your regular trash waste and placed into your brown yard waste bin. Once collected, organic waste and yard waste will be diverted away from landfills and will instead be transported to facilities that recycle these materials into useful products like fertilizers. This significant change in our habits will help California meet its goals of reducing greenhouse emissions, and I encourage the community to learn more about these changes by visiting our organic recycling webpage. More details are also provided in the article below.

Wishing you a great summer full of fun! Thanks for being a part of our valuable member of our community.

Best Regards,

Mark Pulone

City Manager

What Goes In Your Brown Bin? California's Organic Recycling Program Comes to Yorba Linda

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 this State mandate, Yorba Linda has officially launched an organic recycling program with the help of Republic Services, the City's contracted waste hauler.

Starting today, all Yorba Linda residents should place their organic waste into their existing yard waste (brown) cart. 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 cart 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.

Multi-family complexes are also required to subscribe to recycling and organics recycling bin service for their residents by September 30. If your complex is not already providing these bins, please ask your property manager to contact Republic Services' recycling coordinator, Kate Schlentz at 714-238-3342 or by email.

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

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.

Celebrate the 4th of July in Yorba Linda

Get excited, Yorba Linda! The City's annual 4th of July Spectacular is Monday night! 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 one of the best fireworks shows in Southern California 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.

City Facilities Closed on Independence Day

In observance of Independence Day, all City facilities will be closed on Monday, July 4, 2022, and reopen on Tuesday, July 5. 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.

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 and 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 with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This psychiatric disorder can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event and 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. The City's 4th of July Spectacular is a great alternative to personal fireworks.

Republic Services and City to Offer Fun Community Clean Up Event

The City of Yorba Linda is partnering with Republic Services to host a fun community cleanup and touch-a-truck event on Saturday, July 16. This festive event will be held at Eastside Community Park (5400 Eastside Circle) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is FREE of charge! Residents can bring bulky items and electronic waste to the event for recycling. Items will be accepted until 1 p.m. or whenever all the bins are full, whichever comes first. Hazardous waste such as motor oil and paint will NOT be accepted. There will also be a Touch-A-Truck experience for kids to sit in a real Recycling Truck, and an informational booth provided by Republic Services.

City Offers Concerts and Movies 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. Each concert starts at 5:30 p.m. Mark your calendars for:

Sunday, July 17 - The King of Queen (Queen Tribute);
Sunday, July 24 - Hot August Night (Neil Diamond Tribute);
Sunday, July 31 - Mark Easterday (Modern Country);
Sunday, August 7 - After Party (Popular Hits 90's- Present);
Sunday, August 14 - Family Style (Blues, Soul, & Rock N Roll); and
Sunday, August 21 - Stone Soul (Soul & Motown).

Additionally, the City also offers Movies in the Park on select Saturday nights with our next event on July 16. We'll be showing Luca on our outdoor movie screen at Hurless Barton Park at dusk. Bring a blanket or low lawn chair so you can enjoy this film under the stars.

For more information about family fun activities and special events, please visit the City's website.

Summer Reading and Learning is Fun With the Yorba Linda Public Library

The Library's annual Summer Reading Program is back this year for children, teens, and adults. Participants may sign-up for the program online and collect prizes through Saturday, August 6. Also, visit the Library's event calendar to learn more about special activities all summer long including storytimes, live performances, and more!

Do you want to provide your kids with engaging learning experiences over summer break? The Library now offers free access to the children's digital learning service, ABC Mouse. Please visit the Library's website to learn how to get a library card and access the service today!

Housing Element Plan Update

On June 29, 2022, the Yorba Linda Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on several General Plan Amendments and Zoning Code Amendments associated with the implementation of the state-mandated Housing Element update. At the conclusion of a well-attended public comment period, the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council adopt the proposed amendments subject to some minor revisions. These revisions included recommending the removal of several smaller sites, including two sites at the southern end of Ohio Street, one site at Grandview Avenue/Kellogg Avenue, and one site at Camino de Bryant & Meadow Land Drive.

Additionally, the draft Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) is still available for public review and comment through July 15, 2022. The Planning Commission will review the PEIR at their next meeting on July 27, 2022, and will make recommendations to the City Council. The City Council will consider the Planning Commission’s recommendations at the City Council meeting on August 2, 2022. For more information about these public meetings, please visit our website.

Learn more about the Housing Element

What is the Housing Element plan? 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.

Exciting New Businesses Coming to Yorba Linda

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

Acai Republic - NOW OPEN in Country Club Village by Trader Joe's;
Crumbl – Opening July 8 (Town Center);
Clydes Hot Chicken – Opening this summer (Arroyo & School Street);
Jalapeños – Opening this summer (State Bros. Center);
Lone Wolf Brewing – Opening this summer (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.

Adventure Playground Construction Reaching Exciting Milestones

The construction of Adventure Playground continues to progress with various amenities and design features taking shape. The large shade shelter’s roofing is being installed along with rock veneer on the support columns. The northern portion of the natural-looking streambed, where two hand water pumps will be located, was poured with concrete and small rocks were set in place. The remaining portion of the streambed is being formed with rocks and will be poured in the coming weeks. The splash pad area is being prepared and the placement of waterlines and large rock play features are being set. Construction is anticipated to conclude later this fall. To learn more about this project or to view drone videos of the construction progress, visit our website.

Meet Yorba Linda's Newest Hometown Hero

Meet our newest Hometown Hero, Gloria Banks, affectionately known as Ms. Gloria. She has served as Supervisor at the Friendship Baptist Church Food Pantry in Yorba Linda for over 20 years! Under her leadership, teams of volunteers distribute nutritious food with the hope of reducing hunger and food insecurity in Orange County. Every week, the pantry distributes groceries to over a thousand families. Ms. Gloria works in cooperation with the Second Harvest Food Bank and local grocery stores to arrange donations and deliveries and does it all with a friendly smile.

Ms. Gloria is a passionate member of our community and dedicates her time to serving others, and we think that makes her a great hometown hero! Thank you, Ms. Gloria, for all that you do!

Do you know someone who works hard to make Yorba Linda a better place? Help us give them a hometown hero shoutout too! Send us an email.

Yorba Linda City Council Nomination Period Opening Soon

The next regular General Municipal Election in Yorba Linda will be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Two of the five City Council Member seats will be included on the ballot to be elected to serve a four-year term. If you are interested in running for an available seat, nominations papers will be available on July 18, 2022. The deadline to submit nomination papers is Friday, August 12 at 5 p.m., unless an eligible incumbent Council Member does not file. If this occurs, then the deadline will be extended to Wednesday, August 17 at 5:30 p.m.

Those who are eligible and interested in running for office as a City Council Member can obtain nomination papers from the Office of the City Clerk, and are encouraged to file early to correct any possible errors or insufficiencies in the forms. To learn more about the process or to make an appointment to obtain nomination forms, please contact Marcia Brown, City Clerk, or Carolina Torres, Deputy City Clerk at 714-961-7150 or by email at mbrown@yorbalindaca.gov or ctorres@yorbalindaca.gov.

National Night Out Returns to Yorba Linda

Mark your calendars for National Night Out with Yorba Linda Police Services! This exciting event will happen on Wednesday, August 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Yorba Linda Community Center. Join us for fun family activities, safety tips, and more! Follow us on social media for more details.

Explore All That Restaurant Week Has to Offer!

Get your taste buds ready because Yorba Linda's Restaurant Week is back starting Sunday, August 7! During Restaurant Week, you can visit your favorite local participating restaurants to sample special menu items and exciting promotions. You can also win big by visiting multiple restaurants. Diners who submit at least three purchase receipts from participating restaurants will be entered into the Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce’s raffle contest. Support Yorba Linda by shopping and dining locally during this amazing event. For more information or to enter the raffle, visit the restaurant week website. If you are a local restaurant owner and would like to participate, please contact the Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce at 714-993-9537.

Army Corps' Santa Ana Riverbed Project Almost Complete

The riverbank restoration project in the Santa Ana River is nearing completion, with the entire construction project likely wrapping up in early August. While the bike trail was anticipated to be completed by the end of June, the Army Corps' contractor encountered some construction issues that needed to be addressed. The bike trail will remain closed through the end of July. The contractor has updated the closure signage and notified local biking groups of the delay.

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 soon.

State Water Restrictions: What You Need to Know

The last year has been recorded as California's driest in nearly a century! In response, the State Water Resources Control Board recently adopted an emergency regulation restricting the irrigation of all non-functional turf areas for all commercial, industrial, and institutional properties as of June 10. The Control Board provided exceptions for functional turf areas such as parks, trees planted in turf, and areas irrigated with non-drinkable water.

In addition to the adopted emergency regulation for turf areas, local water providers have enacted Stage 2 of their water conservation contingency plan. Two water providers serve the City of Yorba Linda: the Yorba Linda Water District and Golden State Water Company. Each provider has its own way of implementing its water conservation contingency plan for customers. Visit the City's website or the links below to learn more about the actions being taken by Yorba Linda's water providers and requirements for customers:

Visit Yorba Linda Water District's website

Visit Golden State Water's website

We must all do our part to protect our most precious resource. The City will comply with YLWD and GSWC's requirements. Our primary objective is to reduce water use while minimizing the impact on landscaped areas. Fortunately, the City has focused heavily on the modernization and implementation of water savings upgrades and projects and is working hard to continue delivering the quality landscaping that residents of Yorba Linda expect.

Stay Vigilant to Prevent Drownings

Pool parties and swimming are summer activities enjoyed by many families trying to beat the heat, but the fun can quickly turn deadly. Drowning is silent and can occur in as little as two inches of water and within 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 14. The most common reason children drown is a lapse in active adult supervision. Therefore, parents and caretakers are urged to remain vigilant when children are near water and should 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;
Never swim alone, even adults;
Never rely on water rings, rafts, or other swimming aids in place of U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal floatation devices (life jackets);
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 multiple layers of protection, such as fences, gate/door alarms, and safety covers to keep children away from pools and spas;
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 further protect your family from drowning, the City of Yorba Linda and the Orange County Fire Authority encourages residents to visit OCFA's Drowning Prevention website.

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 quality of Yorba Linda's community. Nomination forms and detailed information are available on the City's website. Please submit completed nomination forms by Monday, September 6, 2022.

Keep Your Pets Safe at Home

Fireworks are loud, especially to animals with sensitive hearing. Explosions from fireworks can frighten pets, causing them great levels of distress. In preparation for the evening of the 4th of July, pet owners should:

Get in a workout earlier in the day to tire out your pet;
Make sure your pet has current identification and a microchip in case your pet panics and escapes during the festivities;
Leave your pet at home, inside if possible, before heading to a large event or party;
Leave on the TV or radio at home to drown out the sound of fireworks;
Secure your yard to prevent escapes; and
Do not leave your pet in the car while enjoying fireworks.

The 4th of July is one of the highest intake days for animal shelters across the country. If your pet goes missing, visit OC Animal Care's Lost Pets webpage to search their database of found pets. For more 4th of July pet safety tips, visit OC Animal Care's website.

Practice Safe Grilling to Protect Your Family and Home

Grilling up delicious food is a popular summer pasttime. However, grilling accidents can quickly ruin your day and leave you seriously injured. Enjoy grilling while keeping your family and home safe by following these tips from the Orange County Fire Authority:

Grilling Safety Tips

Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors;
Grills should be placed a safe distance from the home, deck railings, tables, overhanging branches, and areas where people gather;
Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area;
Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grates and in the trays below the grill; and
Never leave a heated grill, lighter, or matches unattended.

Charcoal Grills

If you use a starter fluid, only use charcoal starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquids to the fire while cooking; and
When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool (for about 48 hours) before disposing in a metal container.

Propane Grills

Check the gas tank hose for leaks before grilling;
If your grill has a gas leak, get the grill serviced by a professional before using it again. If a leak occurs while grilling, call the fire department; and
If the flame goes out, turn the grill and gas off and wait at least 5 minutes before re-lighting it.

For more information, view OCFA's printable BBQ Safety tips. To learn more about fire safety, please visit OCFA's website.

Tip, Toss, and Take Action to Stop Mosquitoes

The Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD) and the City of Yorba Linda remind residents to take an active role in mosquito control by regularly inspecting their property for any stagnant water where mosquitoes can lay eggs. Mosquitoes can complete their life cycle from egg to adult in about a week and only need a body of water the size of a bottle cap to develop. OCMVD would like to remind you to tip, toss, and take action by doing the following:

TIP: Eliminate breeding sources around your property;
TOSS: Throw away any unused containers to prevent eggs from hatching; and
TAKE ACTION: use these tips to help you combat mosquitoes.

Common sources for mosquito breeding include plant saucers, buckets, tires, pet water bowls, trash cans, water-holding plants such as bromeliads, and landscaping with low-lying areas. Any collected water should be emptied or drained, containers should be tightly sealed to prevent mosquito entry, unnecessary containers should be removed from yards, and green unmaintained pools should be cleaned or treated.

For more information about OC Mosquito and Vector Control, visit ocvector.org.

Prevent Stormwater Runoff and Protect Water Quality

Rainwater that falls on streets, parking lots, grass, rooftops, developed land, and other areas that ultimately flow into the ocean through storm drains is called stormwater runoff. Unfortunately, runoff water picks up lots of pollutants and debris as it drains. Although rain is not common during the summer, the City of Yorba Linda encourages residents to be mindful of runoff water and use the following tips to prevent the spread of pollutants during the next rain:

Sweep up all cut grass, trimmings, and leaves and dispose of them as green waste;
Maintain your car to prevent leaks;
Follow directions when applying fertilizers and/or pesticides; do not over-apply or irrigate immediately after application;
Wash your car at a facility that recycles water and uses biodegradable soaps;
If your pet spends time in the yard, promptly pick up pet waste; and
Consider volunteering for a beach clean-up event by visiting the California Coastal Commission's website.

Thank you for being an environmental steward and committing to protecting local water quality by preventing pollution. For more tips and information about stormwater runoff, visit the City's website.