Water conservation, landscape costs, 'black box' theater, contentious petition draw Y.L. attention

Water conservation, landscaping costs, a “black box” theater facility and a contentious petition drive merit attention from Yorba Linda residents this week.

--The city's Landscape Maintenance Assessment District and landscape areas maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department have met the 36 percent conservation goals for the six months since a sustained effort began in late July 2015, according to a recent city staff report.

And, noted Public Works Director Mike Wolfe, the city is testing water-saving granules at two 3,000-square-foot locations, near the intersection of Camino de Bryant and Kodiak Mountain Drive and off Via Del Coyote. They'll be watered twice weekly to evaluate granule benefits.

The bid process has started on a $207,100 project for upgrades to 66 irrigation controllers in 19 of the city's landscape maintenance zones that have reserves to fund the “smart” devices.

--Property owner votes in the last of three rounds of balloting on increasing annual fees to maintain deficit-ridden Landscape Maintenance Assessment zones will be announced at a May 17 City Council meeting. Proposed increases range from $161 to $754 (61percent to 846 percent).

This time, three zones, with 361 single-family homes, are in the city's central area, and one zone, with 745 homes, is in the northwest. The hikes would include a yearly consumer price index increase and be added to 2016-17 property tax bills.

Three zones with 1,930 residences approved increases in January, and five zones with 1,847 residences rejected hikes earlier this month. Of the city's 21,142 single-family and 1,083 multi-family residences, 12,149 and 624, some 58 percent, are in a total 32 local landscape zones.

--One of the facilities proposed for a 15,000-square-foot arts and community center under consideration to be built alongside a 50,000-square-foot library on the vacant “strawberry field” site near Lakeview Avenue and Lemon Drive is a 125- to 225-seat “black box” theater.

Black-box theaters are often painted black because the absence of color can give audiences “a sense of being anywhere,” according to a city staff report. Lighting is critical in creating atmosphere, since props and background scenery are limited.

Primary uses would be for theater, dance and musical performances. Other uses: classes; rehearsals; film festivals; training sessions; and corporate, fund-raising and special events.

--Dueling political action committees, “robo” phone calls and roadway signs are dominating a drive to gather 9,520 signatures on each of two petitions to qualify recalls for water board directors Bob Kiley and Gary Melton for a future ballot.

Citizens to Protect Our Water, organized last month by Ric Collett, a director since 2004, opposes the effort, and Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association, active since June 2015 and chaired by Jeff Decker, a recall and regular election council candidate in 2014, is in favor.