July 4 event a community tradition
Each year’s most-watched city event is the July 4 fireworks show. The patriotic display draws celebrants to Veterans Park for food, music and 15 minutes of colorful, night-time pyrotechnics, which also are viewed from myriad yards, parkways, streets and rooftops.
But the modest funding needed to pay for this year’s spectacle—the 21st in city history—squeaked by on a 3-2 City Council vote. Supporting the latest contract were Nancy Rikel, Mark Schwing and Jim Winder, with John Anderson and Jan Horton opposed.
The first city-funded fireworks show was held in 1989, a couple of years after council members banned the previously allowable private “safe and sane” displays. Residents had endorsed restrictions in a 1986 advisory vote, 8,651 to 4,207.
Since several local sports leagues, Scout groups and church organizations raised cash by selling fireworks each year, afternoon and evening activities at the Valley View Avenue park were added, in part, to allow food and game booths as fundraisers.
The overall city expense in 2009 was about $60,000, with the fireworks display costing $23,000 and salaries and other expenditures totaling some $37,000. The motion for this year’s event called for a 20 percent cut in the latter figure.
Council had set aside $14,500 from leasing the city-owned “poppy field” at Yorba Linda Boulevard and Imperial Highway for pumpkin and Christmas tree sales to the July 4 fete.
The 2011 festivities merit a 5-0 vote as spending for the next fiscal year is developed.
Meanwhile, the city continues to subsidize operations at the Black Gold Golf Course. A June 30 report by city Finance Director David Christian notes that for the past few years, “expenses have exceeded revenues,” with city funds used to bridge the gap.
For the 2010-11 fiscal year, course revenues are expected to be a bit above $5.67 million, higher than last year’s $5.38 million, but below the $6.19 million earned in 2007-08. The $7.13 million in expenditures estimated for 2010-11 include $1 million for depreciation.
So, city taxpayers will subsidize the 52,000 rounds it is hoped golfers will play 2010-11 at close to $1.46 million, up from last year’s $1.34 million and the $1.13 million handed over in 2007-08.
The city has loaned Black Gold $4.7 million since 2000, with interest waived since 2007-08. Lost interest for that year and the next was $226,943, with the forgiven 2009-10 total still to be calculated.
Work has begun on turf renovation, involving a five-year transition from rye to Kikuyu grass for $1.2 million and Bermuda grass at tee boxes for $140,000, with an anticipated $300,000 in water and other savings.
Of course, cash for this expense comes from city taxpayers, at $224,145 for the first year and $155,325 to $184,280 the next four years. This vote was 3-2, with Horton, Schwing and Winder in favor, Anderson and Rikel opposed.
But the modest funding needed to pay for this year’s spectacle—the 21st in city history—squeaked by on a 3-2 City Council vote. Supporting the latest contract were Nancy Rikel, Mark Schwing and Jim Winder, with John Anderson and Jan Horton opposed.
The first city-funded fireworks show was held in 1989, a couple of years after council members banned the previously allowable private “safe and sane” displays. Residents had endorsed restrictions in a 1986 advisory vote, 8,651 to 4,207.
Since several local sports leagues, Scout groups and church organizations raised cash by selling fireworks each year, afternoon and evening activities at the Valley View Avenue park were added, in part, to allow food and game booths as fundraisers.
The overall city expense in 2009 was about $60,000, with the fireworks display costing $23,000 and salaries and other expenditures totaling some $37,000. The motion for this year’s event called for a 20 percent cut in the latter figure.
Council had set aside $14,500 from leasing the city-owned “poppy field” at Yorba Linda Boulevard and Imperial Highway for pumpkin and Christmas tree sales to the July 4 fete.
The 2011 festivities merit a 5-0 vote as spending for the next fiscal year is developed.
Meanwhile, the city continues to subsidize operations at the Black Gold Golf Course. A June 30 report by city Finance Director David Christian notes that for the past few years, “expenses have exceeded revenues,” with city funds used to bridge the gap.
For the 2010-11 fiscal year, course revenues are expected to be a bit above $5.67 million, higher than last year’s $5.38 million, but below the $6.19 million earned in 2007-08. The $7.13 million in expenditures estimated for 2010-11 include $1 million for depreciation.
So, city taxpayers will subsidize the 52,000 rounds it is hoped golfers will play 2010-11 at close to $1.46 million, up from last year’s $1.34 million and the $1.13 million handed over in 2007-08.
The city has loaned Black Gold $4.7 million since 2000, with interest waived since 2007-08. Lost interest for that year and the next was $226,943, with the forgiven 2009-10 total still to be calculated.
Work has begun on turf renovation, involving a five-year transition from rye to Kikuyu grass for $1.2 million and Bermuda grass at tee boxes for $140,000, with an anticipated $300,000 in water and other savings.
Of course, cash for this expense comes from city taxpayers, at $224,145 for the first year and $155,325 to $184,280 the next four years. This vote was 3-2, with Horton, Schwing and Winder in favor, Anderson and Rikel opposed.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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