In 2018: The best and not-so-best in Yorba Linda

Reviewing 2018 in Yorba Linda:

Best trend (Part 1): Again more students took more Advanced Placement examinations at El Dorado, Esperanza, Valencia and Yorba Linda high schools with up to 88 percent pass rates.

Best trend (Part 2): And a record number of students earned the International Baccalaureate diploma at Valencia High with a 91 percent success rate, far exceeding the global 79 percent.

Worst trend: Again, sadly, this is the only county city without scheduled bus service, to the detriment of high school and college students, budget-minded workers and senior citizens.

Best (or, at least, better) behaved politicians: Only two negative campaign mailers – one in the City Council race and one in the water board contest – marred the year's election cycle.

Worst behaved politicians: The race to replace Ed Royce in Congress drew an onslaught of “hit piece” mailers, from winner Gil Cisneros and opponent Young Kim, often two each day.

Newest city record: Peggy Huang won the highest-ever City Council vote of 18,764 (three candidates, two seats), to beat Allen Castellano's 16,879 in 2004 (five candidates, three seats).

Most surprising election news: The first by-district election in the Placentia-Yorba Linda school district failed to draw opponents to trustees Carrie Buck in Area 5 and Karin Freeman in Area 4.

Least surprising election news: Democrats registered in this city dropped behind “no party preference,” 23.6 to 22.1 percent, with the GOP figure at 50.5, reversing statewide trends.

Most hopeful consultant contracts: One firm has been hired to help recruit businesses for the city's retail centers and another to manage a significant portion of the city investment portfolio.

Best reaction to safety concerns: Placentia-Yorba Linda school district added security cameras to high school campuses and instituted several measures for visitor checking at all school sites.

Best audit policy: Special “deep dive” audits examined the use of city credit cards and disposal of surplus property last year and contact administration and overtime use this year.

Most unusual contract: Yorba Linda Water District employees were granted 3 percent salary increases for each of the next five years that mix lump sum payments with base salary hikes.

Most usual contract: Yorba Linda's city employees were granted salary hikes for each of the next three years, consisting of 2 and 2.5 percent increases, along with other benefits.

Best hospital news: Placentia-Linda Hospital celebrated 46 years by opening a new $10 million operating room, allowing more procedures to be performed at the 114-bed facility.

Most interesting real estate news: A portion of city-owned land once designated for a Friends Christian High School campus on Bastanchury Road will be sold to build 23 high-end homes.

Most noteworthy factoid: Water use in Yorba Linda Water District jumped 14 percent, up 6 percent from expected 8 percent hike.