Yorba Linda City Council: allocates cash reserves, reviews state-mandated housing report

 Decisions by the Yorba Linda City Council on allocating excess cash reserves and a state-mandated progress report on meeting California housing requirements merit attention this week.

Council approved the disposition of about $7.2 million in excess reserves held in the general fund reserve account at a March 17 meeting. Most of the cash – $5.6 million – will be moved to a special reserve fund for future capital improvement projects.

Significant amounts of $583,100 each will be used to help offset the city’s unfunded pension and post-employment benefits liabilities. Since mid-2017, the city has allotted about $3.1 million to offset the pension liability and about $3.7 million for post-employment benefits.

Council’s action included retaining the remainder in the general fund operating reserve.

The separate library fund, with revenues exceeding expenditures by $933,800, transferred $700,000 for future maintenance and capital improvements and contributed $116,900 each for meeting unfunded pension and post-employment benefits liabilities.

A council policy states that when general fund operating reserves exceed 60% of general fund appropriations, city staff will recommend to the council a plan to use the excess funds, which totaled $7.2 million. Some $23.8 million will remain in the reserve fund.

When the current fiscal ends June 30, a $51,000 operating budget surplus is expected, down from $114,253 anticipated when council approved appropriations of $50.9 million.

The state requires cities to submit an annual report summarizing progress on implementing the city’s general plan and reports on housing production, stated a report from Planning Manager Chris Dominguez.

 “The city remains in compliance with state housing laws and maintains a state-certified housing element, but like most cities, may be subject to...provisions related to housing production progress,” Dominguez reported.

The city’s current Regional Housing Needs Allocation is to provide opportunities for 2,415 units, including 765 for very-low household incomes, 451 for low household incomes, 457 for moderate household incomes and 742 for above-moderate household incomes.

The report states that for 2021 through 2025, 239 units have been permitted, including 91 for very-low income households, 24 for low income households, 16 for moderate income households and 109 for above-moderate income households.

Yorba Linda has been subject to a state provision requiring “by right approval” of projects proposing 50% affordability units since 2018, without ever having a developer submit a project under that provision, according to Dominguez.

This provision is separate from the “builder’s remedy” under the state Housing Accountability Act allowing “by-right approval” of projects that do not comply with the general plan or zoning code in cities without a state-certified housing element, a requirement that Yorba Linda meets, Dominguez noted.

Student achievement in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District; Yorba Linda City Council approves townhome project

Progress in student achievement in both English-language arts and mathematics was one key finding in a mid-year update of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District’s local control and accountability plan viewed by trustees at a February meeting.

The state-required update shows results in the three-year plan that “describes the goals, actions, services and expenditures to support positive student outcomes that address state and local priorities,” according to district officials.

The current plan, which was drafted in 2023, listed “desired” three-year outcomes for the 2026 ending date. Adoption of the next three-year plan is scheduled for a June 16 meeting, following an April 26 study session and a June 2 public hearing.

Student achievement in both English-language arts and mathematics is measured by an assessment test given each spring to students in third through eighth and 11^th grades.

A 2023 baseline shows a 64.75% achievement rate in English-language arts increasing to 67.39% at the mid-year mark, with a desired outcome of 70.8% after three years.

And a 2023 baseline shows a 53.48% achievement rate in mathematics increasing to 56.07% at the mid-year mark, with a desired outcome of 59.95% after three years.

Similar results were shown in “English learner” and “socioeconomically disadvantaged” subgroups.

Other results show a 2023 graduation rate baseline of 94.3% increasing to 95.6% mid-year, with a desired 95.8% after three years; and a 2023 high school dropout rate baseline of 2.3% increasing to 2.4% mid-year, with a desired outcome of less than 1.3% after three years.

Also, a 2023 Advanced Placement test pass rate baseline of 85% increased to 91.2% mid-year, with a desired outcome of 88% after three years; and a 2023 baseline of 59.5% of students meeting university entrance requirements dipped to 57.9% mid-year, with a desired outcome of 69.5% after three years.

The district’s charter school, the Orange County School of Computer Science for sixth through eighth grade students at the Bernardo Yorba campus, posted results in both English-language arts and mathematics.

A 2023 baseline of 55.9% achievement rate in English-language arts increased to 60.85% mid-year, with a desired 62% after three years; and a 2023 baseline of a 48.19% achievement rate in mathematics dropped to 43.56% mid-year, with a desired rate of 55% after three years.

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Yorba Linda’s City Council on March 3 approved a 62-unit townhome project for a 2.65-acre parcel fronting Yorba Linda Boulevard between Jessamyn West Park and North County Chabad Center on a 4-1 vote. Councilman Shivinder Singh was opposed.

The builder agreed to some 160 conditions to the project consisting of three- and four-bedroom units in 12 buildings, but nearby residents still opposed the development. City staff told the council there were “no qualifying reasons” to deny the project because of state laws.