No holiday pause for Yorba Linda politics

Usually, in the holiday period between Thanksgiving and New Year's, political activity in Yorba Linda is barely perceptible, a refreshing breather from the contentious atmosphere that so often envelops the community after locally elected leaders make controversial decisions.

But there's no lull this month, as a couple of grass-roots citizen organizations battle changes they say will adversely impact the safety and pocketbooks of the city's 65,000-plus residents.

The well-established Protect Our Homes and Hills group is continuing efforts to stop two large residential developments just outside this city's northeast boundary, and the months-old Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association is proceeding with action to turn back a water charge increase.

Protect Our Homes and Hills leaders are training residents to collect signatures on petitions aimed at overturning the City Council's anticipated approval of a pre-annexation agreement with developers of the 340-home Esperanza Hills project, perhaps at a Jan. 5 meeting.

Expected council action to allow an entry road on city-owned “open space” as part of the pact concerns opponents, who also raise fire safety, traffic, water and other issues.

The group would need to collect 1,939 signatures from the city's 40,801 registered voters in 30 days to force council members to rescind the action or set a special election on the issue.

They plan to gather 5,000, since some might be ruled invalid. “There are various legal components and numerous tips and tricks of the trade that residents must learn prior to circulating the petition,” opponents noted.

The next training is scheduled Jan. 3. “A fantastic turnout” was reported for a Dec. 5 session: “There was a lot of enthusiasm and encouragement in the room” for the training, according to a group statement.

Meanwhile, the agenda for each council meeting this month listed a closed-door discussion of the lawsuit filed in Superior Court by the group contesting the adequacy of the project's state-mandated Environmental Impact Report.

The Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association is in full fundraising mode to pay for a lawsuit against the Yorba Linda Water District for disregarding petitions with a county Registrar of Voters estimate of 4,902 valid signatures seeking to overturn a $25 monthly increase in the district's “basic service charge.”

Cash raised also could be used to pay for a recall targeting some of the district's elected directors. A taxpayers group statement noted that if 10 percent of the district's customers contribute $50, “we will have amassed a formidable legal fund of $130,000.”

Also seeking funds to cover legal costs is Protect Our Hills and Homes, which accepts donations and earns a percentage of meal costs at local eateries, such as a recent six-day event at Wise Guys Pizzeria on Yorba Ranch Road.

Check the groups' Facebook pages for future fundraising and other information.