City meets state's low-cost housing requirements

At last, there's good news to report about this city's compliance with a new state mandate to meet future demands for low-cost housing: the city already has identified enough properties to satisfy the assigned affordable housing numbers for the next eight years, through 2021.

In fact, in total numbers for housing availability at all economic levels, the city has properly zoned land that exceeds the state's 669 new-unit requirement for 2014-2021 by 409 units, with a notable overage in the state-defined lower and moderate income ranges.

That means city officials won't need to go through the wrenching process of designating more sites for lower-cost, multi-family housing that caused so much consternation among residents during the 2008-2013 “housing element” planning period.

A “housing element” is a key component of a city's General Plan, which guides development decisions throughout the municipality. This city's plan currently is undergoing a revision, the first since a 1993 update of the original, voter-approved 1971 document.

Interestingly, all the designated sites that will meet the state's requirements for the 2014-2021 period were originally identified to satisfy state mandates for 2008-2013 because numbers for the upcoming timeframe are considerably less than the previous period.

New numbers assigned to Yorba Linda include the total 669 units, with 80 for the extremely low-income category, 80 for very low-income, 113 for low-income, 126 for moderate income and 270 for above-moderate income, based on the area's median income level.

Already identified sites, with the necessary 10-, 20- and 30-unit-per-acre zoning rules in place, include property allotted for 621 units for the three low-income categories, 391 for moderate incomes and 66 for above moderate incomes, totaling 1,078 units.

The 2008-2013 numbers tallied 2,039 units: 230 for extremely low-income, 230 for very low-income, 371 for low-income, 412 for moderate income and 796 for above-moderate income.

The numbers for six counties and 187 cities are assigned by the Southern California Association of Governments under a process known as the “regional housing needs assessment” or RHNA, with an overall 412,137 housing units needed to meet demand.

The numbers assigned the city are “a planning target for new residential growth and not a building quota [and] so long as a jurisdiction provides sufficient sites and does not impose constraints to development, it is not penalized for falling short of its RHNA target,” noted a draft of the new housing element scheduled to be viewed by the City Council July 16.

Measure B, a local ordinance requiring a public vote on major changes to zoning and density regulations, was considered a “constraint,” so the council placed measures on the June 2012 ballot which won density increases on 11 parcels.

The sites, along with others already rezoned, allow the city to meet mandates through 2021.

Clean-up, affordable housing win approval

City Council actions on two high-profile sites – the fenced-in former gas station property along Imperial Highway next to the library and an affordable housing project planned on 3.2 acres of vacant land at Savi Ranch – won unanimous approvals recently.

The expensive remediation of contaminated land at the Imperial Highway and Lemon Drive intersection west of the library was added to the list of projects to be funded by the county's Measure M sales tax.

That means nearly $1.8 million in cleanup costs will be borne by sales tax payers throughout the county and not solely by those who pay the taxes and fees funding Yorba Linda's budget.

With the addition of the former Ultramar station site to a Measure M project list, the city “can immediately begin invoicing” the Orange County Transportation Authority, which administers Measure M funds, “for the mitigation and monitoring expenditures.”

Costs expected to be billed before the end of the current fiscal year June 30 total $177,500, with $922,500 in billings for 2013-14. Invoices in each of the next three years through 2016-17 will be $225,000.

A city-hired consultant now operates vapor extraction equipment and monitoring wells on the site acquired in 2004 for Imperial Highway widening. The original plume of below-ground contamination traveled by groundwater under Imperial Highway toward Polly's restaurant.

Final approval of higher density for a major affordable apartment project on 3.2 acres at East Park Drive in Savi Ranch was granted to non-profit developer National Community Renaissance, usually called National CORE.

Earlier, council adopted 43-unit and 69-unit options for the property, but the positive Measure H vote last June allowed the developer to choose the 69-unit plan with council's concurrence.

Voter approval of Measures H and I on the June 2012 ballot increased zoning densities and allowed new development standards on the nine westside properties and two in Savi Ranch.

The public vote on the two measures was required by 2006's Measure B, which calls for an election to approve major zoning changes, and a positive vote was needed to obtain official certification for a state-mandated “housing element” document.

Densities on the Savi Ranch sites were increased from 10 to 30 units per acre, and with entitlements in place for one of the sites, the new apartments likely will be the first project completed after a successful Measure B vote and the first built after the state's affordable housing numbers were assigned to Yorba Linda.

The development, named Oak Crest Terrace, is expected to come in at 21.5 units per acre and include two three-story apartment structures, a one-story community center and tot lot.

The units will include 15 one-bedrooms, 33 two-bedrooms and 21 three-bedrooms, with eight units reserved for extremely low-income households, 46 for very low-income and 14 for lower-income, as determined by area-wide median income levels.

Storm drain liner might prevent lawsuits

Contracts awarded private companies to perform such routine city services as tree trimming and janitorial work are included on many City Council meeting agendas, usually bundled in a “consent calendar” that allows council members to cast a single vote on several varied items.

One recently approved contract, however, deserves special note: a $153,000 award to install a plastic liner to form an internal seal on a storm drain in the city's eastside Hidden Hills area.

According to a report by Assistant Engineer Freddy Castillo, the PVC liner “will eliminate any possible leaks that could occur at pipe joints” in a Hidden Hills Road storm drain from Green Mount Place to High Tree Circle.

Residents might recall the city paid multi-million dollar claims to homeowners who sued after a 1998 landslide destroyed their backyards. The judge hearing the Superior Court case ruled rainwater overflowing a poorly installed and maintained storm drain triggered the landslide.

The judge also agreed the storm drain's closeness to the Whittier earthquake fault line was a contributing factor. Homeowners argued that the city had ignored findings related to the fault.

Due to the successful suit, the city's legal firm at the time, Best, Best & Krieger, recommended the city “take action to address the issue,” noted the assistant engineer's report.

But the document stated: “The city contends that there is no evidence that the city's storm drains have leaked or caused damage to private property but is taking this action to further immunize itself from any allegations concerning the issue.”

Four companies submitted bids, ranging from $153,025 to $173,250. The winning bid from Insituform Technologies will rise to $183,625 when contingencies and administrative costs are added. A total $189,000 previously was budgeted for the project.

Interestingly, 30 years ago, the vacant land on which some Hidden Hills homes were built was included in the city's redevelopment area, so the increase in property taxes collected for years after the homes were sold went to the recently disbanded Redevelopment Agency, rather than the city's general fund, which pays for police and other day-to-day city services.

Since the agency was dissolved by state legislation, more of the increased property taxes collected from the city's 2,968-acre project area will accrue directly to the general fund, an amount expected to increase the fund's bottom line by $680,000 this fiscal year.

The revenue boost was estimated by City Treasurer Dave Christian in a mid-cycle budget update presented to council members earlier this year.

Another anticipated income hike outlined by Christian included savings of approximately $560,000 due to early implementation of a contract with the county Sheriff's Department.

Originally, the county was to begin policing duties on May 3, but because Brea lost officers to the Sheriff's Department and other agencies, the start date was advanced to Jan. 5, resulting in four months of extra savings.

Sequestration affects local school district

That symbol of government gridlock known as the federal budget sequestration will have a decided impact on more than 25,000 students in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District this year and possibly for several years into the future.

The latest word from Superintendent Doug Domene is that the district expects a $620,771 revenue loss for the upcoming 2013-14 fiscal year starting July 1. The lost federal income was estimated at $581,000 just two months ago.

The expected loss of operating cash is a bit more than 5 percent of $10 million-plus in federal revenues that contribute to an annual budget in the neighborhood of $190 million for 2013-14.

“These federal dollars are used in meeting the needs of English learners, special education students and … at-risk students in need of academic or social-emotional intervention,” the superintendent stated.

“These funds are also used for on-going staff development for our teachers and support staff,” Domene added. The district has about 2,600 full-time employees working at 34 campus sites.

The exact dollar loss won't be known until federal entitlements are allocated in a December and January timeframe, according to Domene, who stated that the cuts “could be ongoing.”

Nationwide, sequester cuts total $85.4 billion for 2013, with similar reductions 2014 to 2021.

Domene also stated, “It has been and will continue to be our goal to reduce services or programs versus eliminating them,” including impacts on allocations for five Title 1 sites.

The specter of sequester cuts compounds an already tight financial situation, based on a report prepared by Jayne Christakos, assistant superintendent for business services, and presented to the district's five elected trustees at a recent meeting.

According to Christakos, the district will need to implement $12.8 million in ongoing budget reductions in 2013-14 and an added $2 million in 2014-15 “to maintain fiscal solvency after making staff adjustments for declining enrollment.”

Due to the amount of reductions needed and still incomplete negotiations with employees about salaries, benefits and working conditions, the district has issued a second “qualified certification” regarding the ability to meet financial obligations for the next two years.

State law requires districts to submit two interim reports to the county Superintendent of Schools each year indicating whether or not districts can meet their financial obligations. Since the district has now issued two “qualified” certifications, a third report is due in June.

Despite financial clouds, Domene commented: “We are proud of our staff and community for the continued support in these challenging times. We are committed to meeting the needs of the whole child and remaining focused on preparing them for the future.”

He added, “Together we have made it through these difficult years, and I am confident we will work together to address the on-going reductions with a continued focus on student learning.”

Next year's budget will be presented at the June 18 trustee meeting.

City, water agency discuss mutual problems

Few of the governmental committees and advisory groups created in city history have had as promising a start as a joint City Council-Yorba Linda Water District body formed to brainstorm difficult problems facing both public agencies.

A first meeting involving two council members and two water board directors focused on the financially troubled Landscape Maintenance Assessment District and two proposed housing developments on 550 acres of county territory north of the city limits.

The new advisory committee includes two long-serving veterans at each agency – 21-year water director Mike Beverage and 7-year council member John Anderson – and two of the newest members – water director Bob Kiley and council member Gene Hernandez.

Other participants were City Manager Steve Rudometkin, water district Acting General Manager Steve Conklin, Community Development Director Steve Harris, Public Works Director Mark Stowell and two of the five spectators in a slim audience.

The group first tackled the city's landscape district, with water and maintenance funded by fees added to annual property tax bills. Fees don't cover all costs, so some $800,000 each year is appropriated from the city's general fund to meet expenses.

Among sensible partial solutions discussed: using “gray” or non-drinkable water in new areas, since retro-fits could be cost-prohibitive; testing areas with artificial turf, in partnership with the water district; and seeking grant money from regional agencies to fund conservation efforts.

Also, the water district will have a liaison attend sessions of council's new citizens' committee that will investigate landscape matters to answer water-related questions. The city buys more water from the district than any other customer.

Two controversial 452-home residential developments, Cielo Vista and Esperanza Hills, which one city official branded as “insensitive to the hillsides” in grading, traffic flow and fire hazards, also were scrutinized, along with other possible development of the larger “Murdock property.”

Water directors said they have “no leeway” in approvals if suitable infrastructure is in place, but they promised cooperation in supporting water requirements to meet fire-fighting issues.

Interestingly, officials noted the two developers don't appear to be cooperating on all matters requiring county approval. The city is upset developers are using a more lax county process, rather than following city standards.

The same issue is largely responsible for this city's incorporation in 1967, after several years of complaining to the county regarding housing and commercial development standards. The new city quickly appointed a planning commission to handle such matters.

Sale of the old water district headquarters on Plumosa Avenue also was discussed, and owners of the adjacent city-financed affordable apartment units have expressed interest.

The previous council nixed the joint committee 3-2, but a new lineup after the 2012 election adopted it 3-2, reversing past years of contentious relations that once included talk of a city takeover of the water district.