New developments in Town Center project

Through the years, much energy has been expended regarding Yorba Linda’s historic Old Town area, ranging from plans for modest Main Street spruce-ups in the 1970s and 1980s to more elaborate area-wide redevelopment proposals in the 1990s and 2000s.

Talk turned serious with the city’s finding of physical and economic blight in 1990 in the old downtown area and along stretches of Imperial Highway and Yorba Linda Boulevard that totaled 344 acres, which were then added to an existing east side redevelopment area.

The original project area involves 2,640 acres, generally east of Hidden Hills Road and Yorba Linda Boulevard, including Savi Ranch, La Palma Industrial Corridor and about 2,100 homes, and was created in 1983 under provisions of a 1945 state law.

Although Old Town redevelopment plans and their City Council supporters have come and gone since the 1990s, this year might mark a true turning point, based on decisions made by the council earlier this month, all on a rare string of 5-0 votes.

One of the decisions is to include beginning downtown development “with boldness at the fastest logical and fiscally responsible pace” as one of 22 council objectives for this and next year adopted at a Feb. 15 meeting.

Of course, similar sentiments have come from past councils, but with a Town Center Specific Plan on hand, and the hiring of a firm to prepare a Downtown Development Strategy Study at an approximate $41,000 cost, some change might actually occur.

One interesting document, a “draft preliminary opinion of probable cost of infrastructure improvements,” was viewed by council at a Feb. 1 meeting. In 11 pages of tiny type, the study identifies $29.1 million in infrastructure costs possible for the Town Center area.

The document’s “worst case” cost analysis includes street improvements, streetscapes, lighting, water quality treatment, rough grading and utilities, along with full funding for the much-debated Imperial Highway pedestrian bridge and a two-level parking structure.

The bridge cost is pegged at $6 million, offset by $3.1 million in federal funding, which Congressman Gary Miller has described as an “earmark” and less charitable residents as “pork.” Another $1 million in federal cash can be used for the bridge or other projects.

Two Main Street business owners supported the bridge, while others spoke against the idea at the Feb. 15 session. The self-styled “fiscally conservative” council indicated an “open mind” and requested a bridge be added to a regional transportation improvement program, but the council vote doesn’t obligate the city to finance or build a bridge.

The “draft preliminary opinion” of possible downtown infrastructure costs also estimated a two-level, 300-stall parking structure at $4.4 million and demolition of the library and a single-family dwelling at $269,380.

Another of council’s 22 objectives for 2010-11 is to “explore the feasibility of either a relocated new library facility in the Town Center or a renovation and expansion of the current library to address the library’s space challenges and lack of adequate parking.”

A parking demand analysis indicated a parking structure would be needed only for a performing arts center larger than 900 seats, stated a staff report to council members.

City Council candidates tell campaign expenses

The top four contenders for two City Council seats in the November election spent a bit more than $120,000 to win the ballots of the 28,522 voting Yorba Lindans, according to state-required financial statements filed by a Jan. 31 deadline.

That’s about average for the past three election cycles, but below amounts spent in the 1990s and early 2000s, when deep-pocket developers filled the campaign treasuries of a few favored candidates who easily beat rivals in both fund-raising prowess and votes.

The 2010 dollars came from four sources: $61,598 in donations of $100 or more by 216contributors; $9,887 in contributions from individuals donating under $100 each; $6,755 worth of goods and services; and $43,659 in loans candidates made to their campaigns.

The biggest-spending candidate was fourth-place finisher Brenda McCune at $40,289. She loaned her campaign $28,000, raised $9,235 in donations of $100 or more from 30 contributors and took in $1,494 in less than $100 amounts.

McCune had a $2,438 cash balance and $3,998 in unpaid bills on Dec. 31, as well as the $28,000 balance on her self-made loan. Her expenses would have been more in line with other candidates if she hadn’t paid $10,052 to political consultant Dennis DeSnoo, who previously promoted developer Michael Dieden’s discarded 2005-06 Town Center plan.

Second in spending was first-place winner John Anderson at $31,456. He began 2010 with $6,633 cash and an outstanding $7,000 loan he made to his campaign. He raised $20,521 in donations of $100 or more from 78 contributors, $2,543 in less than $100 amounts and $2,600 in non-cash donations.

Anderson’s year-end balance was $976. He repaid himself $2,500 on his loan, leaving a $4,500 balance.

Third in spending was second-place winner Tom Lindsey at $25,282 only $1 less than the total he raised from $23,200 in donations of $100 or more from 73 contributors, $1,318 in less than $100 amounts and $765 in non-cash donations

Fourth in spending was third-place finisher Jan Horton at $23,867. She began 2010 with $1,534 cash and an outstanding $5,950 self-made loan. She loaned herself $5,200more, raised $8,642 in donations of $100 or more from 35 contributors and $4,532 in less than $100 amounts and $3,300 in non-cash donations.

Horton’s year-end balance was $77 and her outstanding $11,150 loan.

Fifth-place finisher Richard Wolfinger closed his account after modest expenditures for signs and advertising, and Tim McCune, who placed sixth, didn’t file a report, since his spending was under $1,000.

A cost-per-vote calculation reveals that McCune spent $6.75 for each of 5,969 votes; Jan Horton $2.76 for each of 8,659 votes; John Anderson $2.71 for each of 11,631 votes; and Tom Lindsey $2.46 for each of 10,266 votes.

However, if $22,770 the Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Representation political action committee spent promoting Anderson and Lindsey and disparaging Horton is split between Anderson and Lindsey, their per-vote totals rise to $3.68 and $3.57, respectively.

Also, anonymous individuals under the name Yorba Linda Association Promoting Truth and High Ethical Standards didn’t file a report, but based on reasonable yet conservative estimates, spent about $1,500 on pro-Horton activities, raising her cost-per-vote to $2.93.

Notes: Duvall, transparency, officers, Lindsey

--Former mayor and three-year state Assemblyman Mike Duvall met a Jan. 31 deadline for his latest campaign finance statement with a filing showing he has $2,870 left in his election treasury, after another $12,500 in civic donations made in December.

Duvall’s contributions include $3,000 each to the Richard Nixon Foundation; Amigos De Los Ninos, a non-profit that raises funds for challenged children; the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association; and $3,500 to American Hellenic Council, groups promoting Greek-American interests.

When Duvall quit the Assembly in September 2009 due to what he said was an incident of “inappropriate story-telling,” he had about $75,000 in his campaign account. As I’ve reported in past columns, he’s already given a commendable $33,600 to charities and a less laudable $21,500 to state and local politicians.

--City Council has agreed to consider a requirement that all changes “in council member salaries, compensation or reimbursement formulas be noticed, discussed and voted on as non-consent agenda items....”

The proposal is a wise move toward more transparency, if adopted at an upcoming meeting. The need comes from the council’s 5-0 vote increasing the five members’ “cafeteria plan” fringe benefit package a surprising 13.4 percent six months ago.

One problem with the unanimous vote: the $112 monthly increase was tucked into a 10-item “consent calendar” normally reserved for non-controversial items, such as warrant register and meeting minutes approvals, second readings and other routine matters.

Council members removed four items for separate discussions and votes, but the benefit boost was among six items approved without comment Aug. 17. As previously reported, council voted 5-0 Nov. 2 to separate council benefits from approvals for other city staff.

--Election of officers for three local governing boards presented no surprises for 2011, with only a slight hiccup for the Yorba Linda Water District, after Mike Beverage was chosen president and Phil Hawkins vice president of the district’s five elected directors.

Beverage’s recommendation that General Manager Ken Vecchiarelli be replaced as the board’s secretary was defeated 4-1. The district’s general manager has served as board secretary each year since the water district became a public agency 50 years ago.

Trustees of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District elected Yorba Linda residents Eric Padget for a first term as president and Karin Freeman vice president, and named Placentia resident Carol Downey clerk.

For the North Orange County Community College District, Cypress resident Barbara Dunsheath replaced Yorba Lindan Mike Matsuda as president, and Fullerton’s Molly McClanahan was elected vice president and Buena Park’s Donna Miller secretary.

--Surprise: an individual has won a Yorba Linda City Council seat without a dime of debt left from the campaign. Tom Lindsey’s year-end financial filing shows he raised $25,283 for the 2010 election and spent $1 less.

Usually, candidates loan their campaigns a few thousand dollars and hope they can pay themselves back from future donations, a futile wish for most also-rans. My full report on campaign spending, including a cost-per-vote analysis, is coming next week.

Council compensation increases for 2011

A controversial 13.4 percent increase in the City Council’s “cafeteria plan” fringe benefit package went into effect Jan. 1, but--so far, at least--only two council members are taking the extra $112 per month, according to figures provided by city Finance Director David Christian.

About once each year, I ask the finance director for a rundown on salaries, benefits and allowances paid to the city’s five elected council members, and the totals for 2011 are a bit more than was paid in 2010, mostly due to the benefit boost approved last year.

Annual compensation costs for the five governing body members totals $95,193, with individual totals ranging from $18,748 for Mark Schwing to $20,002 for Nancy Rikel.

Add amounts council members earn from serving as council representatives on four county boards, and the total reaches $101,583 or more, depending on the number of meetings attended.

If council members serving on boards were compensated for the number of paid meetings legally allowed--up to 192 a year total for the four boards--they would earn $22,350 more each year. But with rare exceptions, the boards meet monthly.

The “cafeteria plan” benefit, which was increased from $833 to $945 per month on a 5-0 Aug. 17 “consent calendar” vote that included five other genuinely routine items, allows the council several options: cash payment, funding a health plan or retirement account or any combination of the three.

The increase became a 2010 election issue, and, on election night, a motion to rescind the hike failed 3-2, with Rikel, Schwing and John Anderson opposed and Jan Horton and Jim Winder favoring repeal.

The only two members collecting the $945 are Rikel and Winder, according to Christian. Anderson, Schwing and newcomer Tom Lindsey take $833. They all put their totals in a 401k-like account, except Rikel, who uses $516 for a health plan and $429 for retirement.

Council members take a $500 monthly salary, $36 phone allowance and $30 per session pay for Redevelopment Agency meetings, usually held concurrently with twice-monthly council meetings.

The city pays $109.87 monthly into the individual PERS retirement accounts for four council members, based on a usual $560 monthly gross. Winder, PERS retired for his Brea police service, doesn’t receive the benefit.

Christian stated, “The city is self-insured for dental and vision benefits and each council member is eligible for those benefits as needed. The city does pay an administrative fee of $9.20 per month for each council member, however.”

The city also pays monthly amounts based on marital status and number of dependents: $21.45 for Anderson and Lindsey, $14.30 for Schwing and Winder and $6.77 for Rikel.

Council members don’t receive life or disability insurance benefits, Christian noted.

Per meeting pay for county board members: $212.50 for Anderson at the Sanitation District; $100 for Rikel at the Fire Authority; $120 for Schwing on the 241, 261 and 133 toll roads board and two committees; and $100 for Winder at Vector Control.

Although the boards usually meet monthly, the toll roads and sanitation boards each allow up to 72 paid meetings and the Fire Authority up to 36 paid meetings annually. Vector Control pays for a maximum of 12 meetings yearly.