Yorba Linda City Council updates budget at midpoint of two-year cycle with new figures

Yorba Linda – like many other forward-looking municipalities – operates on a two-year budget cycle, with City Council members reviewing periodic updates dealing with revenue projections and the need for additional expenditures.

The most recent review came a few days before the start of the second year of the current budget cycle that began July 1. The update, from Finance Director Scott Catlett, presented the council with a generally pleasant economic melody dotted with just a couple sour notes.

Overall, the city expects revenue to increase 1.8 percent during the 2018-19 fiscal year over what was anticipated when the budget was adopted last year, resulting in $37.5 million “total available resources.”

Most income is from property taxes, with the city now forecasting a 3.1 percent jump over what had been expected to nearly $19.6 million. Catlett reported, “This is the result of cont-inued strong growth in assessed valuation in the city, which has been occurring for the last several years.”

However, the city now sees a 1.7 percent drop from what was expected in sales taxes to a bit less than $7.4 million. While up from last year, Catlett noted that some additional growth “was anticipated by the city's sales tax consultant that they no longer feel will occur.”

The projection for income from franchise taxes, which residents pay on their public utility bills, will drop again this year, now to some $2 million or 5.3 percent lower than had been expected.

“These declines reflect lower electric usage and a gradual migration of cable television cust-omers to satellite and internet-based services, for which the city does not collect a franchise tax,” Catlett reported.

The projection for revenue from the property transfer tax has been increased to $650,000 or 18.6 percent above what had been expected, due to “strong sales activity in the city,” stated Catlett, who noted, “This trend is expected to continue next fiscal year....”

Income from building permits are projected to drop some $200,000 to $1.6 million, as small increases are expected for transit occupancy and business license taxes and planning fees.

Upward budget adjustments total about $1.8 million from all funds, with $490,595 coming from the city's general fund. Included is $350,000 for new financial and human resources systems.

One of the more interesting additions to the budget is $25,000 for a “space planning study” for city hall, since “accommodating additional employees in city hall is becoming a challenge,” the Catlett report noted. A temporary office trailer added behind city hall is now also full.

Funds “will be utilized to study options for a permanent expansion of city hall,” with council considering a capital improvement project proposal after alternatives have been examined.

And $2,500 was allocated to cover staff time for a LoveYorbaLinda community service day, modeled after the LoveFullerton event in May.

Yorba Linda's roadway landscaping, street lights, traffic signals to cost nearly $11 million this year

Keeping Yorba Linda's roadways landscaped and lighted with street traffic guided by properly functioning traffic signals will cost close to $11 million for the new fiscal year that began July 1.

And the greater portion of that cost, some $7 million, will be paid through assessments on this year's property tax bills for owners of 22,438 properties on the rolls of the county tax assessor.

And again, a large share of the $7 million will be paid by property owners in 34 local landscaping zones, mostly located on the city's northern border and on the eastside.

The zones include 12,445 single-family residences and 593 multi-family units, representing 57 percent of the city's 21,686 single-family residences and 51 percent of 1,152 multi-family units.

Properties in these zones receive “special benefits” from the landscaping, so assessment totals vary, ranging from $46.28 to $1,007.52 per parcel for the year. Special benefits are largely “aesthetic,” allowing residents “a more pleasant environment to walk, drive, live and work.”

That description and financial matters associated with the city's Street Lighting and Landscape Maintenance District – created in stages from 1979 through 1990 – are included in a 255-page report from Willdan Financial Services, the city's consultant on landscape and lighting issues.

As recently as 2012, the city had six local landscape zones, but at the urging of many property owners in these larger zones, the number has expanded through the years to the current 34 to better define the special benefits received and more fairly appropriation the costs involved.

Another problem area is the increasing costs of maintenance in some of the zones, with the expense in some zones subsidized from the city's general fund because not enough money was raised from the assessments attached to the property tax rolls.

Other than an annual cost-of-living adjustment, rates could not be raised without a vote of affected property owners. Some zones passed higher rates, while others turned down the proposed increases.

Resident-requested re-votes approved higher rates in some defeated zones, when it became apparent the city would cut maintenance to the level funded by the property tax assessments.

All city properties are in an arterial landscape zone maintaining major thoroughfares ($55.90 per parcel) and an arterial street lighting zone ($1.48 per parcel). Most parcels are in the local lighting zone ($19.11 per parcel) and one of three traffic signal zones (most $5.50 per parcel).

The city has 1,079 arterial street lights, 4,954 local street lights and 69 signalized intersections.

Funding for the $4 million not paid through the property tax assessments comes from the city's general fund through a “general benefit” payment ($932,374), other city-related sources (about $1.5 million) and an “additional city contribution and/or service reductions” (about $1.5 million).

Signups begin to seek city council, school trustee and water director positions on November ballot

Signups begin Monday, July 16, to run for some four dozen elective City Council, school trustee and water director positions representing North County residents that are scheduled for the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

The signup period runs through Aug. 10 but is extended through Aug. 15 for offices where an incumbent does not file for re-election. Council position signups are at city halls, while school and water board candidates file at the Registrar of Voters, 1300 S. Grand Ave., Building C, Santa Ana.

Potential candidates – especially first-time contenders – are advised to begin the signup process early, since several mandatory documents must be completed before a name is certified for the ballot.

Among required documents are a declaration of candidacy, campaign finance report and ballot designation and candidate information papers. Signing of a “code of fair campaign practices” outlining “principles of decency, honesty and fair play” is optional.

Also, council positions may require submission of a nomination petition with a specified number of registered voter signatures. Contact city clerks for specific city requirements.

One important aspect of the local governing positions is that Orange County's two major official party organizations, the Democratic and Republican central committees, view the offices as training grounds offering valuable name recognition for seeking partisan positions.

For example, Phillip Chen, who represents Brea, La Habra, Placentia and Yorba Linda in the state Assembly, began his political career as a school trustee, and Sharon Quirk-Silva, who serves Buena Park, Fullerton and La Palma in the Assembly, started on a city council.

And Ling Ling Chang, sworn in to her state Senate position June 25 to replace the recalled Josh Newman and who represents all seven North County cities, was a city councilwoman.

Other council members and school trustees dotted the June ballot seeking higher offices.

Although council, school trustee and water director positions are non-partisan, the party central committees pick candidates to endorse for the offices. Candidates trumpet these endorsements in automated phone calls and on multiple mailings to the party's voters.

Open water director positions include a North County slot for the Municipal Water District held 18 years by 49-year Yorba Linda resident Brett Barbe, and three on the Yorba Linda Water District board.

Three positions are open at the North Orange County Community College District, Brea-Olinda Unified School District, Fullerton Joint Union High School District and Buena Park, Centralia, Cypress, Fullerton, La Habra, Lowell and Savanna elementary districts, and two at the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District and Anaheim Union High School District.

Three seats are open on the Brea and Buena Park city councils and two on the Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, Placentia and Yorba Linda councils.

Placentia-Yorba Linda school district adopts immigration status policy required by state law

A first-ever written policy outlining student rights regardless of immigration status has received a unanimous first reading from trustees of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.

The policy is mandated by state law for all public schools, including charter schools. Other North County elementary, high school and unified school districts have adopted or are in the process of adopting similar policies, some based on a state-developed model document.

First reading of the single-page Placentia-Yorba Linda district policy came at a June trustee meeting. Adoption is anticipated after a second reading, expected at a July 10 session.

Basically, the law, Assembly Bill 699, adds a student's immigration status as a category protected from discrimination, along with already existing protections, such as for disability, nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender and gender identity or expression.

The law was effective Jan. 1, with school districts given until July 1 to adopt an appropriate policy. State Assembly passage was 60-13, with north county members splitting their votes (Sharon Quirk-Silva yes, Phillip Chen no). State Senate passage was 31-6 (Josh Newman yes).

“This policy helps to ensure that no student shall be denied equal rights and opportunities nor be subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying in the district's programs and activities on the basis of his/her immigration status,” Richard McAlindin, the Placentia-Yorba Linda district's executive director of instructional support, reported to trustees.

Among provisions of the Placentia-Yorba Linda district policy:

--”District staff shall not solicit or collect information or documents regarding the citizenship or immigration status of students or their family members or provide assistance with immigration enforcement at district schools, except as may be required by state and federal law.”

--”No student shall be denied equal rights and opportunities nor be subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying in the district's programs and activities on the basis of his/her immigration status.”

--”The superintendent or designee shall notify parents/guardians regarding their children's right to a free public education regardless of immigration status or religious beliefs and their rights related to immigration enforcement.”

--”Consistent with requirements of the (state Attorney General), the superintendent or designee shall develop procedures for addressing any requests by a law enforcement officer for access to district records, school sites or students for the purpose of immigration enforcement.”

--”The superintendent or designee shall report to the board in a timely manner any requests for information or access to a school site by an officer or employee of a law enforcement agency for the purpose of enforcing the immigration laws.”