Yorba Linda eyes fee hikes; water district assesses effectiveness; school district provides incentive; college district raises non-resident tuition

Here's a look at noteworthy actions from Yorba Linda's city, water and school leaders:

A first report from a consultant hired under a six-year contract to review fees charged for various city services is expected in six months. Recommendations for sizable boosts in some fees are anticipated, since many were set more than 12 years ago.

State law allows cities to recoup costs of services by charging fees, including cost-of-living increases. If higher fees are adopted, they can be phased in over a period of time. The report will include comparisons with nearby cities.

A memo to the 20 city commissioners notes that under a recently adopted policy, appointed officials who identify their city positions on social media sites must include the words “Content on this site does not represent any official position of the City of Yorba Linda, only that of (name) in (his/her) personal capacity.”

At the Yorba Linda Water District, assessment of the governing board's effectiveness has been completed by the board's five elected directors and seven management employees.

Directors and managers both labeled “community rapport” as “very effective” and “clear sense of purpose” as “very ineffective,” with several differences of opinion on seven other categories.

The directors ranked “conflict management process” as “very effective”; “teamwork” and “a supportive framework” as “somewhat effective”; “productivity,” “chairperson leadership” and “roles” as “somewhat ineffective”; and “staff relationships” as “very ineffective.”

The managers ranked “a supportive framework” as “very effective”; “conflict management process” and “staff relationships” as “somewhat effective”; “teamwork” and “productivity” as “somewhat ineffective”; and “roles” and “chairperson leadership” as “very ineffective.”

At the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, trustees adopted an incentive for an early retirement or resignation notice for certificated employees, noting the advance notice “can help in early recruitment and retention of highly qualified teachers.”

Employees who provided notice through Jan. 12, will receive $2,000, while those who provide notice through March 2 will receive $1,000. As of Feb. 13, 31 employees qualify for the bonus.

Trustees appointed Nicholas Fiore from Esperanza High School as the student representative on the board of education for the second semester, replacing Kiara Espericueta of La Entrada High School, the first semester rep.

Fiore will report on school activities and offer student viewpoints to board discussions of educational issues. The student board position rotates among the district's high schools.

At the North Orange County Community College District, trustees raised non-resident tuition to $258 per unit plus a $19 per-unit capital outlay fee upon a motion from Jeff Brown of Yorba Linda. The $19 fee can be waived for economic hardship or for victims of foreign persecution.