Yorba Linda: A look-back at 2019 people, events

A look-back at people and events for 2019 in Yorba Linda:

Saddest civic loss: Longest-serving City Councilman (30 years) and Mayor (5 years) Hank Wedaa, an unwavering low-density, measured-growth advocate for the city, died at age 95.

Best law enforcement news: The city pays the third-lowest per-capita cost for police services ($178.41) of the county's 34 cities (range $156.50 to $802.75), based on a recent survey.

Longest wait for historic restoration: An often-stymied, $1 million renovation of the Trueblood home behind Polly's restaurant received council approval, with completion scheduled for Fall.

Most significant academic honor: The College Board named Placentia-Yorba Linda school district to the Advanced Placement Honor Roll for increased participation in AP coursework.

Best scholarly achievement: International Baccalaureate's diploma pass rate at Valencia High School hit 96% under coordinator Fred Jenkins, a Valencia High and Harvard University grad.

Most animal care dollars: The council budgeted a new high of $333,000 for OC Animal Care services, with a focus on licensing more of the city's estimated 14,760 dogs.

Best transportation decision: The return of scheduled bus service on Yorba Linda Boulevard to and from Town Center after years of the popular route 26 stopping at the city's west border.

Worst transportation decision: Not restoring service to and from Fairmont Boulevard for students and workers who used route 26 to travel to schools and jobs in Placentia, Fullerton.

Least unexpected news: The city made plans to hire new employees – 5 full-time equivalents this year and 6.8 next year – mostly for Town Center, library and arts center positions.

Most surprising political news: The city's number of registered Republican voters dipped below 50%, with the GOP now 49.9%, Democrats 23.1% and no party preference 22.7%.

Most hopeful endeavor: Peggy Huang is the first sitting council member to seek a seat in Congress, though John Gullixson ran in a 1988 primary before he was elected to council.

Fastest change of mind: Supporters of an online K-12 charter school withdrew a petition for recognition before Placentia-Yorba Linda trustees could set a public hearing on the matter.

Best compromise: Developer of 84-acre Cielo Vista high-end housing tract addressed the many concerns raised by the vigilant Protect Our Homes and Hills organization.

Best pro-active effort: City officials participated in early stages of the state's Regional Housing Needs Assessment process that will assign housing planning numbers to the city for 2021-29.

Next-best pro-active effort: Officials commissioned a 374-page traffic flow study for an In-N-Out Burger restaurant expected to open in 2021 on land now occupied by the library.

Most notable volunteers: Dedicated teachers and aides use mobile classrooms for released-time Christian education in 21 local elementary schools, building on 66 years of service.

Yorba Linda initiates modest program to spruce up business storefronts using State of the City funds

A modest program to encourage business and shopping center owners and local business associations to improve Yorba Linda's retail shopping experience will be funded by the city.

The program allows business owners and groups “to apply for a small grant to enhance, attract and/or encourage business patronage” in the city, according to a two-page set of guidelines adopted earlier this month on a unanimous vote of City Council members.

Grants are limited to a maximum of $2,000 each on a first-come, first-qualified basis, with one grant allowed per year per recipient. Funding will come from tickets and sponsorships sold for the mayor's annual State of the City address, held in October or November.

Income from the event is split between the city and Chamber of Commerce. The city's 2019 portion totaled $10,600, which would allow five grants to be awarded for the year, according to a report to the council by Pam Stoker, the city's economic development manager.

Examples of eligible improvement projects include enhancement of building facades or store-fronts, such as awnings, signage, lighting, window, doors and planters, and correction of code violations to business exteriors.

Other examples are improvements to retail center common areas, such as monument signs, lighting, paint and landscape, and implementation of a business-oriented event, which would encourage patronage and increase sales tax generation.

Not eligible are expenditures related to general repairs and maintenance; architectural, engineering, design and permit fees; interior improvements; historical restorations; and projects completed prior to application approval.

Grant funds will be released to recipients “as a reimbursement after the completion of the project or event,” Stoker reported. “The city will require evidence of payment and proof of completion prior to release of the grant funds.”

Stoker added: “It is envisioned that additional funds will be added to the program annually following the State of the City event.” Annual reports will be provided for all grant awards.

Complete information is available from the Economic Development Department at City Hall.

Update to my Aug. 1 column on the Trueblood House restoration: The council has approved a five-year lease with the Chamber of Commerce to occupy the 1,167-square-foot Craftsman-style home at 4801 Park Ave., at Lemon Drive, southeast of the post office facility.

The chamber will pay the city $2,083 each month, plus a $50 monthly operating expense fee, both with a yearly consumer price index adjustment not to exceed 2%. The chamber will pay for all janitorial expenses, furnishings, equipment, utilities and supplies.

The $1 million restoration of the home built in 1918 on a 7,362-square-foot lot is expected to be completed in the fall, with the chamber scheduled to take occupancy Sept. 1. The city is sharing the cost with the developer of a nearby project.

Yorba Linda's Black Gold Golf Course, Phillip Paxton Equestrian Center: the financial facts

Interesting financial facts for two of Yorba Linda's municipal facilities – the city-owned Black Gold Golf Club and the city-leased Phillip S. Paxton Equestrian Center – merit attention this week.

First, the 219-acre golf and restaurant facility reported a positive net income of $547,000 on revenues of $6.2 million. After spending $157,000 for improvements, the final net income for the fiscal year ending June 30 was $390,000, above the $294,000 that was anticipated.

However, the city's financial statements “are prepared on a full accrual basis of accounting,” which include non-cash adjustments, according to a recent report to City Council members from Parks and Recreation Director Mike Kudron.

So the books show “net income was negative $658,544,” after factoring in $753,536 for depreciation and other amounts for accrued interest on outstanding construction loans, new assets capitalization and the principal paid on the outstanding loan for purchasing golf carts.

“The primary reason for the negative net income is related to depreciation; however, this does not reflect the true value of the golf course property, including the clubhouse,” Kudron noted in his report.

Longtime residents who followed civic affairs in the late 1990s might remember pollyannaish predictions from some then-serving council members that Black Gold would return $1 million yearly to the city treasury, replacing fading income from development fees in the built-out city.

The club's revenue breakdown for the fiscal year: total income was 103% of the prior year, with green fees at 97% (due to a “very wet winter/spring”), golf shop at 109% and food and beverage sales at 114%. Rounds played declined by 1,118 from last year.

The average rate paid per player was $48.60, a drop of 69 cents. Kudron noted, “When weather presents challenges, lower rates are offered to attract additional business. This results in higher rounds played, but a lower green fee average.”

Second, it's back to the drawing boards for improvements to the 5.5-acre equestrian center on Buena Vista Avenue. The council rejected all eight bids received to expand a horse arena; add a vehicle ramp; modify hardscape, landscape and irrigation; and remove paving and landscape.

Low bid for the project was $398,000 from Micon Construction of Placentia, much higher than the estimated $246,000, leaving $152,000 unfunded. The city's Equestrian Committee recom- mended using $75,000 in equestrian funds and finding $77,000 elsewhere.

Another option presented by the committee was to complete the project in phases and change the scope of the project to fit the allotted budget, a recommendation adopted by the council, as the panel on a unanimous vote directed staff to modify the project.

The rent-free lease with the county, which must approve any changes to the center, runs to 2038. The primary purpose of the property is flood control, according to the lease.

State mandates for Yorba Linda housing

Yorba Linda, along with California's other 481 municipalities, is required by state law to meet several mandates regarding the provision of housing within the city's 20-square-mile territory.

One of the most significant is the Regional Housing Needs Assessment, commonly known as RHNA (rhee-nah), which dates back to 1969 legislation requiring cities and counties to plan to meet the housing needs of everyone in the community.

The Southern California Association of Governments develops the housing numbers assigned to the 197 jurisdictions in six southern California counties. The 2021-2029 numbers will be re-leased in draft form in February, with final numbers known in August after an appeals process.

For Yorba Linda, 2,039 housing units were assigned in 2008-2013 and 669 units in 2014-21, which include very low, low, moderate and above-moderate categories of household income.

Details of the RHNA process and a description of planning factors Yorba Linda officials say will impact housing numbers for the city are outlined in my Sept. 19 and 26 columns, which are posted on the Orange County Register website (type my name in the search bar).

The latest housing issue that will impact Yorba Linda involves accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, which are commonly called “granny flats,” “in-law” or “bonus” units or “casitas.” The units can provide rental income or house a family member.

Yorba Linda's five-member, City Council-appointed Planning Commission will act on an amendment to the city's zoning code regarding ADUs at a future session, after adopting a resolution to initiate the process at the panel's November meeting.

The amendment will align the city's code with new state legislation limiting the regulations a city can impose on the units, thus allowing more units to be built on parcels with single- and multi-family residential zoning.

The new state law allows two accessory dwelling units on lots with single-family homes and multiple units on lots with multi-family homes, prohibits minimum lot sizes and prohibits set-backs for units built within an existing structure or a new structure built in the same footprint.

The law also prohibits charging development impact fees for units less than 750 square feet and limits the fees for larger units, prohibits owner-occupancy requirements until 2025 and prohibits requiring replacement parking when parking is eliminated to create a unit.

Update to my Nov. 2 column on bond elections: Yorba Linda and statewide voters will cast ballots on school bonds March 3, when a $15 billion measure will be on the state's primary ballot, $9 billion for preschools and K-12 schools, $4 billion for universities and $2 billion for community colleges.

Also on the same ballot, a small number of Yorba Linda's registered voters – about 60 – who reside in the Rancho Santiago Community College District will help decide the fate of a $496 million bond measure.