Yorba Linda: Tree trimming costs, Adventure Playground fee policy, Citizen of the Year

 Yorba Linda's city-owned tree trimming and general maintenance costs, Adventure Playground pricing policies and annual Citizen of the Year selection merit attention this week

Annual cost to trim and otherwise maintain the wide variety of trees long enjoyed by residents on the city's westside parkways, eastside landscape maintenance districts and citywide park sites will be about $1.1 million under a new City Council-approved contract.

Contract terms include tree trimming on a rotating basis, tree removal, stump grinding, palm tree skinning, manual irrigation, tree planting and emergency response for the thousands of city-owned trees.

The three-year, seven month contract was won by Anaheim-based West Coast Arborists over four other bidders, with the highest bid coming in at some $6.4 million for the one year period.

Total cost for the December through June 2028 contract will be a bit over $4 million. The West Coast firm previously won the bid in 2016 and has worked under several extensions. The new contract includes the possibility of two one-year extensions.

Costs will be apportioned to the eastside landscape maintenance district for 75%, the public works department for westside work for 13% and parks and recreation for trees at park sites for 12%.

The city's council-appointed, five-member Parks and Recreation Commission has unanimously voted to not implement fees for use of the popular Adventure Playground “at this time” but has requested that a possible fee structure “be brought back for consideration in the future.”

Parks Superintendent Jeff Ruth told commissioners that potential fee collection could present a number of challenges at the playground which offers such features as a splash pad, waterslide, wiffleball field and zipline next to Hurless Barton Park on Casa Loma Avenue.

Yorba Linda's 21^st Citizen of the Year is Lainie Nicholson, a 14-year resident, who, according to the city, “exemplifies the spirit of service and commitment, making a lasting impact on our community through her tireless efforts.”

Nicholson is active with Yorba Linda Food for Families, Girl Scout and Oak Canyon Nature Center programs, Sunrise Rotary charities and Meals of Love at Ronald McDonald House.Her 49-year involvement with Scouting includes 14 years leading Troop 81 and nine years as director of the Yorba Linda Girl Scout Day Camp, the largest in Orange County.

The Citizen of the Year designation dates back to 2004, when the late Paul Armstrong was named as the first honoree. The choice is made by a five-member committee that includes the mayor and one member appointed from each of the city's four commissions.

The committee makes the selection from nominations made by the community. Nominations are due each September, with the person honored at an October “State of the City” address. The city website has nomination forms.