Thursday, March 01, 2012

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