Yorba Linda's cost for law enforcement, e-bike regulations viewed by City Council members

 Yorba Linda’s cost for law enforcement service by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the City Council’s direction for e-bike regulations enforcement merit attention this week.

Funding for city-wide policing by sheriff deputies for the fiscal year that began July 1 will total nearly $15.6 million, according to recent action by council members. That figure is less than last year’s total by $25,777, noted a report by Allison Estes, assistant to the city manager.

However, the cost for this year’s service could increase, based on action by the county Board of Supervisors regarding contract negotiations on salaries and benefits with the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs.

“Any cost increase resulting from county labor negotiations will require the City Council to approve an amendment and an additional budget appropriation,” Estes told the council.

“The small decrease is attributable to lower retirement and workers’ compensation rates and adjustments to shared service allocations,” Estes added. One of the most recent additions to costs was a patrol vehicle mobile data computer at an annual price of $10,832, she said.

The county department has served the city since 2012, taking over after 42 years by the Brea Police Department. The county also provided contracted service after the city was incorporated in 1967 through 1970.

The current county contract, which runs through June 2030, provides the city with 43 positions plus 11.9 others shared with the county. Among Deputy II positions are 23 in patrol, two on motorcycle duty, two in community support and one school resource officer.

One updated contract provision involves personnel assigned to adjacent county territory operating from the city’s Arroyo Park substation, with the city receiving cross-coverage credits.

After lengthy discussion on e-bikes at a recent meeting, the council directed staff to implement targeted enforcement in coordination with the equestrian community to identify priority locations, continue public education and outreach efforts and explore messaging through handheld devices and other technology.

Staff also was directed to return later in the year with an updated report with enforcement statistics. Among locations suggested for targeted enforcement were high traffic areas, trail system, Town Center parking structure and Village Center.

One challenge to enforcement was identified as “riders fleeing deputies.” Other challenges include state regulations that classify e-bikes as bicycles, with local agencies having limited regulating authority beyond existing state law.

Current enforcement includes warnings, citations, impounding illegal e-bikes and arrests for evading an officer, according to the city’s chief of police services, Captain De Anne Wigginton.

A “ride ready pop-up” is set Aug. 5, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Community Center, and a “ready your ride” is set Aug. 29, 9 a.m. to noon, at City Hall.

As non-partisan candidates start to file for Nov. 3 election, a look at local June 2 primary voting

 A four-week filing period for candidates for non-partisan City Council, school trustee, water and library district directors on the Nov. 3 ballot ends Aug. 7 and local voter turnout and governor results in the June 2 primary merit attention this week.

Scheduled for the ballot are three positions on the Brea council and two each on the Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, Placentia and Yorba Linda councils.

School trustee positions include three each in the North Orange County Community College District; Fullerton Joint Union High School District; Buena Park, Centralia, Cypress, Fullerton, La Habra City, Lowell Joint, Magnolia and Savanna elementary districts; and two each in the Placentia-Yorba Linda and Brea-Olinda unified districts.

Water and library district positions include three each in the Yorba Linda, Orange County and Municipal water districts and three each in the Buena Park and Placentia library districts. One position in each library district is for a two-year short term slot.

Should an eligible incumbent not file for another term, the filing period for that office will remain open for an additional three business days.

Council candidates file at city halls. School, water and library board candidates file at the county registrar’s office, 1300 S. Grand Ave., Santa Ana, Building C. Telephone 714-567-7600. The office posts daily updates on who has filed at ocvote.com under “candidate filing log.”

Orange County completed the vote tally for the June 2 primary on June 25. Here’s the voter turnout and final count for Steve Hilton, Xavier Becerra, Tom Steyer and Chad Bianco in the seven cities served by this newspaper:

Brea turnout was 44%, with 13,538 casting ballots out of 30,745 registered voters. Tally included 4,657 votes for Hilton; 3,028 for Becerra; 2,266 for Steyer; 1,709 for Bianco.

Buena Park turnout was 35.6%, with 16,595 casting ballots out of 46,596 registered voters. Tally included 4,193 votes for Hilton; 4,221 for Becerra; 3,156 for Steyer; 1,985 for Bianco.

La Habra turnout was 37%, with 13,224 casting ballots out of 35,735 registered voters. Tally included 3,794 votes for Hilton; 3,686 for Becerra; 2,315 for Steyer; 1,703 for Bianco.

La Palma turnout was 41.9%, with 4,269 casting ballots out of 10,200 registered voters. Tally included 1,347 votes for Hilton; 1,019 for Becerra; 832 for Steyer; 399 for Bianco.

Fullerton turnout was 39.5%, with 32,360 casting ballots out of 81,962 registered voters. Tally included 9,583 votes for Hilton; 8,682 for Becerra; 5,994 for Steyer; 3,209 for Bianco.

Placentia turnout was 44.1%, with 14,667 casting ballots out of 33,267 registered voters. Tally included 5,073 votes for Hilton; 3,420 for Becerra; 2,423 for Steyer; 1,875 for Bianco.

Yorba Linda turnout was 48.4%, with 23,907 casting ballots out of 49,433 registered voters. Tally included 11,051 votes for Hilton; 4,033 for Becerra; 3,152 for Steyer; 3,319 for Bianco.

Yorba Linda's July 4 fireworks display has an interesting history, including display details

Yorba Linda’s most-watched civic event – the July 4 fireworks display – has an interesting history. Equally interesting is the detailed proposal for this year’s fireworks show from the city’s longtime vendor, Rialto-based Pyro Spectaculars.

This year’s event will be the 37^th since the first display in 1989, which again is expected to draw thousands of spectators to Veterans Park and the Yorba Linda Middle School campus and in backyards, front lawns and vehicles parked on nearby streets.

The annual display has replaced many block parties and family celebrations that featured “safe and sane” fireworks sold by local non-profit organizations as fund-raising endeavors.

The City Council outlawed the sale and use of fireworks within city limits early in 1987, after a 1986 advisory vote in which residents cast 8,651 votes in favor of a ban and 4,207 against.

At first, the cost of the show was financed from the city’s general fund budget, but as income tightened, officials designated two sources to pay the event’s yearly expenses.

One source was the rent from the annual pumpkin patch and Christmas tree lot on the city-owned property at the northeast corner of Imperial Highway and Yorba Linda Boulevard, which is now home to the Yorba Linda Town Center.

The other was the rent earned from a cell tower in Brush Canyon Park, with added income from corporate sponsors and miscellaneous venue sales. Current corporate sponsors include Kristen Fowler Real Estate, Rutan and Tucker (the city’s law firm) and Chick-fil-A restaurants.

The fireworks portion of this year’s event costs $38,750. According to a report to the council by Mike Brandenburger, the city’s recreation supervisor, “Pyro Spectaculars has been responsive, met expectations and provided exceptional fireworks displays conducted by an experienced fireworks crew.”

Based on this year’s proposal from the fireworks firm, viewers can expect a wide array of pyrotechnic selections, including 100 shots of 2-inch and 400 shots of 2.5-inch aerial shells.

Some 4,208 shots of seven different types of pyrotechnic devices also are planned for the main body of the show.

The grand finale is expected to feature 502 shells, consisting of 250 2-inch and 252 2.5-inch bombardment shells. A total of 5,210 shots is anticipated during the 20 minute display that’s scheduled to begin at 9 p.m.

Interestingly, according to news reports, this year’s fireworks show on the National Mall will attempt to set a Guinness world record for largest fireworks display, with a 40-minute show consisting of 860,000 shells. The usual mall show uses 17,000 to 20,000 shells.

The Veterans Park site on south Valley View Avenue will open at 5 p.m. for family activities that include a free kids’ fun zone, food vendors and live music from Daniel Bonte and the Bona Fide. No alcohol, personal fireworks or tarps on grass are allowed. Animals are not recommended because of the noise levels involved.