New school district boss faces budget squeeze

Smart stewardship--always an essential element of the overall success enjoyed by the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District--will become even more significant in future months as financial clouds continue to darken for the state’s public schools.

But wisely, school district trustees placed an experienced business hand at the helm of the 26,000-student district, with the retirement of 12-year superintendent Dennis Smith.

Doug Domene, a 26-year district employee who served as assistant superintendent for business services the past three years, knows well every line in a budget long beset by deficit financing, with expenses expected to exceed income for at least two more years.

The district has financed operations for 35 campus sites by dipping into a reserve fund built up during better times. But that approximate $20 million account will drop close to $10 million this year and another nearly $5 million next year, according to estimates.

At the same meeting Domene was named superintendent to start July 1, he offered, as head of business services, a “second interim financial reporting and certification of district financial solvency,” prepared by Director of Fiscal Services Joan Velasco.

In prior years, the report and certification was a routine item placed on the agenda each March to meet a state requirement. But this year, the report noted, the district is issuing “a qualified certification” for the second interim period, as are many other districts.

The “qualified certification” means that the district “is uncertain it can meet its financial obligations for the two subsequent years,” should a tax initiative on the November ballot fail and the state imposes a $370-per-student reduction, the report stated.

The five elected trustees were told: “Assuming no 2012-13 mid-year trigger cut is made, $11.6 million in ongoing budget reductions are needed to maintain fiscal solvency, along with an additional $7.3 million reduction in 2013-14.”

“If a trigger cut is imposed, additional reductions of $9.2 million would be needed in the 2012-13 fiscal year,” the report added.

Total district revenues this year are expected to approach $190 million, with a projection of about $185 million next year. Expenditures this year will be about $201 million, with some $202 million projected next year. The 2013-14 estimates: $189 million in and $209 million out.

And what about all of that state lottery money? The district receives $140.50 per average daily attendance each year, contrasted to a “funded base revenue limit” per average daily attendance of $5,198 this year and an estimated $5,240 next year.

A Final Note: When Yorba Linda’s Veterans Memorial was dedicated in 2009, one of the bricks installed on the Walk of Honor marked the World War II service of my aunt, Mary Emeral Drummond, as one of 1,074 Women Airforce Service Pilots.

Emmy rode in numerous Veterans’ Day parades, joined in WASP alumni events for the past 60 years and was among the flyers awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2010. She died March 21, a few days before her 92nd birthday.

Ballot choices could boost voter turnout

This year, two factors are likely to appreciably improve Yorba Linda voters’ usual tepid response to June primary elections, with past turnouts ranging from 23.3 to 56.4 percent of registered voters.

One dynamic certain to boost voter turnout will be the two measures asking for a “yes” or “no” vote on increasing densities to 10, 20 and 30 units per acre on 11 properties to allow low-cost, multi-family residential housing that would meet state-mandated requirements.

The measures include one for two eastside properties in Savi Ranch that total six acres and would allow 180 units and another for nine westside properties that total nearly 40 acres and would allow 770 units, although potential developers could choose to build fewer units.

(Three other westside sites identified by the City Council for potential low-cost housing, totaling nearly eight acres and allowing 77 units, are not on the ballot, since their zoning and potential densities don’t require a public vote under the provisions of Measure B, an initiative passed in 2006.)

The second dynamic is a possible competitive race to capture the state’s delegates to the GOP convention. This city’s 24,508 registered Republicans might be more motivated to cast ballots if Rick Santorum and/or Newt Gingrich continue to challenge Mitt Romney.

Other aspects of the June 5 ballot might not excite voters. The two county contests to represent Yorba Linda include a supervisor race to replace termed-out Bill Campbell that pits veteran office-holder Todd Spitzer against Villa Park Councilwoman Deborah Pauly.

And a county board of education race for the area that includes Yorba Linda drew two candidates, 16-year incumbent Ken Williams and community volunteer Mary Galuska.

Interestingly, due to the new “open primary” rules that advance the top two vote-getters to the November ballot, irrespective of party affiliation, the legislative contests involving Yorba Linda will repeat in November, since just two candidates are running in each race.

Vying to represent Yorba Lindans in Congress are 10-term incumbent Ed Royce and Orange resident D’Marie Mulattieri. Royce represented a west-end sliver of this city before redistricting in 2000. Gary Miller ducked a primary showdown with Royce by choosing to seek his eighth term in different district.

Two candidates for the new state Senate district representing Yorba Linda are incumbent Bob Huff and Brea resident Greg Diamond. Running in a redrawn state Assembly district that now covers the entire city are incumbent Curt Hagman and Gregg Fritchle. Sitting westside Assemblyman Chris Norby moved his re-election campaign to another district.

One little-noticed contest—for six seats on the Orange County Republican Central Committee representing the new 55th Assembly District that includes Yorba Linda—drew an all-time high of six Yorba Linda residents out of a total 10 candidates.


Running from Yorba Linda are Brett Barbre, Jim Domen, Karla Downing, Peggy Huang, Brenda McCune and Dennis White. Since many are life-time or long-time residents, I’ll devote future space to this contest, along with some of their interesting backgrounds.

Polce emphasize drunk driving enforcement

Many Yorba Lindans--especially those whose lives have been tragically altered by the criminal choices made by drunk and drugged drivers--regard enforcing “driving under the influence” laws a top priority for local police agencies.

Fortunately, officers in the Brea Police Department, who patrol Yorba Linda’s 213 miles of streets, share the same concerns, based on information outlined in the agency’s annual report presented to the City Council at a Feb. 21 meeting.

The 13-page report was authored by Capt. Gregg Hayden, a 21-year Brea veteran who was named commander of police services for this city in January. Hayden has several years experience on local roadways, first as a patrol officer, later as a patrol sergeant.

“The department continues to make DUI enforcement a priority for the nighttime patrol officers,” Hayden stated in his report. Police made 197 DUI arrests in 2010, a 9 percent increase from 2009, and 281 arrests in 2011, a 43 percent boost from the prior year.

One department goal--to reduce the percent of traffic collisions caused by drunk drivers to single digits--was realized for the past two years, with an 8.6 percent rate in 2011 (28 DUI collisions out of 325 total collisions) and an 8.9 percent rate in 2011 (29 out of 324).

“To help realize this goal, the department employs several…strategies, including conducting DUI enforcement checkpoints and saturation patrols,” Hayden noted. The two checkpoints in 2011 cost $15,149, funded by a state Office of Traffic Safety grant.

Other noteworthy items from Hayden’s report:

--The average response time for emergency calls in 2011 was 4 minutes, 22 seconds, and total calls for service declined 1 percent to 17,980 for 2011 from 18,150 in 2010.

“A call for service is counted when a call is received by the police department and some level of response by department personnel is appropriate,” Hayden noted, adding that the calls don’t include such officer-initiated contacts as pedestrian checks and vehicle stops.

--Part 1 crimes edged up 1 percent to 871 in 2011 from 864 in 2010, including homicide (up to 3 from 0), rape (up to 4 from 3), robbery (steady at 9), felony assault (down to 33 from 46), burglary (up to 152 from 150), theft (up to 640 from 621), stolen vehicles (down to 27 from 33) and arson (up to 3 from 2).

These categories are down significantly from 2007, 2008 and 2009 totals of 1,084, 1,021 and 1,025. Hayden stated, based on historical trends, “the department recognizes that an increase or correction in crime rates for 2012 or coming years may be likely.”

--Total arrests were up 12 percent, with adult arrests rising 15 percent and juvenile arrests declining 8 percent. Clearance rates for Part 1 crimes were 18 percent, which Hayden reported “were higher than the national average,” except for robbery, theft and larceny.

--Eight “very active” Community Watch groups--revised versions of Neighborhood Watch--are “fully functioning,” including an East Lake Village group that serves 12 neighborhoods, Hayden stated.

The program seeks more groups and will expand with a Business Watch this year, according to Hayden.

Will ballot split city voters east versus west?

Will two controversial measures on the upcoming June primary ballot divide voter sentiment in this community on a geographical, east versus west basis?

Probably, according to comments by Mayor Mark Schwing at a City Council meeting, when members voted 4-1 to put the two measures dealing with increased densities for low-cost housing to voters in a special city election combined with the June 5 primary.

A Schwing political opinion merits close attention, since he’s the city record-holder for most times on the ballot, with six runs for council (won four, lost two), one for water board director (lost) and seven for county GOP Central Committee (won six, lost one).

The two measures include one in which voters will decide whether or not to allow higher densities and increased building heights for nine properties on the city’s westside and a second in which voters will make a decision regarding two eastside Savi Ranch parcels.

Approval for increased densities--20 units per acre for some properties and 30 units per acre for others--would allow, but not require, the construction of low-cost, multi-family residential units to meet state-mandated affordable housing requirements.

“We’ll probably again have an east versus west issue,” stated Schwing, who sought a separate vote for each parcel, at the Jan. 17 session, referring to a measure that lost in November 2010, which he said was “clearly an east versus west issue.”

The 2010 measure would have allowed up to 30 units per acre and heights up to 45 feet on a 3.2-acre Savi Ranch site, once home to a car dealership, but Measure Z lost by 197 votes, 13,344 to 13,147, narrowest margin for the 14 measures ever put on a city ballot.

The defeat came from eastside voters, defined by the boundary between the 60th and 72nd Assembly districts, who voted “no” 6,931 to 5,776, a 1,155-vote deficit, which overcame a pro-Z margin of 958 votes, 7,371 to 6,413, from westside voters.

The only money involved in the campaign came from National Community Renaissance, which paid out $22,738 seeking “yes” votes, plus $8,500 to put the measure on the ballot.

Interestingly, John Seymour, the firm’s acquisitions vice president, told the council at the Jan. 17 meeting that his group, a non-profit affordable housing developer, is submitting a plan with two options for the Savi Ranch site on the ballot again in June.

He said one proposal is for 69 units should new zoning be approved and the other for 43 units allowable under current standards. His firm, which uses the name National CORE, rebuilt 143 affordable units at Arbor Villas and Villa Plumosa, north of the library.

Cost for the special June election will be between $85,000 and $104,000, based on figures from the Registrar of Voters, and the cash might come from the former Redevelopment Agency funds, if allowed by a newly named, seven-member oversight panel.

The city also plans to spend $45,000 for voter/community public relations that Schwing said could fund four to five mailers. The outreach could tell voters of consequences of a majority “no” vote, including possible lawsuits and loss of local planning control.

Key dates for Yorba Linda's future

March is an important month for deadlines related to choices that will impact Yorba Lindans for many years into the future. Here’s a look at several upcoming key dates:

One is the March 15 due date for bid proposals on a police services agreement held by Brea since 1970, when a City Council vote axed the county Sheriff’s Department. The Brea termination notice and new bid proposals were approved last year on a 3-2 vote.

City Manager Steve Rudometkin and selected staff will evaluate the proposals before presenting them to the council, perhaps with a recommended action. Public input has been promised when the proposals and any recommendations come to the council.

Evaluations will involve more elements than pricing, although cost certainly is a major factor. But approval of a professional services agreement can be a qualifications-based process, not the “lowest qualified bidder” approach required for construction projects.

For example, the council’s unanimous January award of a contract for work on a General Plan update and Master Plan of Parks and Recreation went to the second-lowest qualified bidder, not the lowest bidder, after two interviews with city staff and commissioners.

Winning “base” bid was RBF Consulting’s $549,402 over Rincon Consultants’ $445,856.

According to a report by Community Development Director Steve Harris, “The interview panel had positive comments on the thoroughness of [RBF’s] public outreach component, experience of the project managers, in-house team members and sub-consultants.”

Another set of dates involves a June 5 primary vote on increasing the density for 11 land parcels to 20 or 30 units per acre to allow potential low-cost, multi-family dwelling units.

The “pro” and “con” arguments to be mailed to voters with sample ballots are due to City Clerk Marcia Brown by 5 p.m. March 6, with a March 16 deadline for rebuttal arguments

If more than one set of arguments is submitted on either side, selection will be based on the priority outlined in the state Elections Code: the council as a body or as individuals; voters and/or associations of citizens who are sponsors or proponents of the measure; associations of citizens; and individuals eligible to vote on the measure.

Rebuttal arguments are accepted only by the author or majority of authors of the original arguments or by persons authorized by the authors. Pro and con arguments are limited to 300 words each and rebuttals to 250 words.

A Final Note: In one of my very rare social items, I must note the large gathering of--forgive the ageism--“old-timers,” sprinkled with some middle-aged youngsters, who celebrated Hank Wedaa’s 88th birthday recently at the home of former Councilwoman Jan Horton and her husband Jim.

Wedaa, a WWII bombardier who flew missions over Germany, holds the city’s record of most years on the council (a bit more than 30) and most terms as mayor (five). Attendees took home a “save the date” card announcing “Hank’s 90th Birthday Party” on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014, at a place “to be determined