A Message from the City Manager

Dear Yorba Linda Community,

Welcome to August! While summer break is a great time to take vacations, the City of Yorba Linda hasn’t slowed down one bit. Yes, we take vacations too, but we haven’t taken our foot off the gas pedal! Our team has continued doing the critical work that keeps Yorba Linda running smoothly, and it shows! In this month’s e-newsletter, you’ll learn about the important projects and initiatives we’re working on to improve our community. From resident-led housing policy recommendations to emergency evacuation zone education and fun events like National Night Out and the 3rd Annual Chalk Art Festival -- the City of Yorba Linda continues to be an exceptional place.

Finally, I would like to highlight that the deadline for submitting nominations to recognize an outstanding local resident as the 2023 Citizen of the Year is approaching quickly. We believe that honoring the people who make Yorba Linda such a beautiful community deserve to be publicly recognized so that their life of service will inspire others to share their time, talent, and treasure too. Please visit the City’s website for more information about the Citizen of the Year program and past winners.

Thank you for engaging with us and staying in the know about all the latest City news.

Mark Pulone

City Manager

Yorba Linda Celebrates National Night Out Tonight!

Yorba Linda Police Services is hosting its annual National Night Out event tonight at the Yorba Linda Community Center (4501 Casa Loma) from 6-8 p.m. This is a national crime prevention event fostering community partnerships and unity in support of our safe neighborhoods. There will be an array of static displays available from our specialty units for families to explore, a K9 demonstration, community resources, and much more! Please follow Yorba Linda Police Services on social media to learn more.

City Council Supports Resident-Driven Housing Element Recommendations

On a unanimous vote, the Yorba Linda City Council directed staff to move forward on a resident-driven series of recommendations to advance the City’s 2023-2029 Housing Element. The recommendations are detailed in a report (PDF) produced by the Yorba Linda Housing Policy Resident Working Group, an assembly of 17 residents from across Yorba Linda who collaborated over six evening meetings to learn about and discuss the development of a new approach to the City’s Housing Element.

The Working Group developed a series of recommendations to balance out housing sites across the city while protecting open spaces and creating a new downtown experience in Savi Ranch. Details on the sites and recommendations are outlined in both the report and the presentation (PDF) that was delivered at the July 18, 2023 City Council Meeting. City Staff will begin a new phase of public engagement on the revised Housing Element that will last through October 2023, when the City anticipates sending a revised Housing Element to the State of California, Housing and Community Development Agency to ensure the plan meets State housing requirements. Stay tuned for more information.

City Debuts New Website Design!

The City’s website just got a brand-new look! Based on residents' feedback, we’ve been working hard to launch a stylish website that creates an exceptional experience for everyone, no matter what device you’re using. The new design is inspired by Yorba Linda’s beautiful community and puts the City information that’s most important to you right at your fingertips. The new look is now live, so check it out at www.yorbalindaca.gov.

Action Alert! Know Your Way During Emergencies, and Sign up for AlertOC!

Wildfires and other emergencies can be chaotic and stressful, so planning ahead is critical! Yorba Linda is prone to damaging wildfires and other disasters that could require you to evacuate your home with little or no warning. While the City of Yorba Linda and our public safety partners have planned and trained extensively, including creating evacuation zones, we need you to do your part too. Residents play an essential role in their own protection by making their own preparation for disasters. So, we encourage everyone to Know Your Way and identify all the ways to exit their neighborhood. Since there is no one-way to safety that fits all disaster scenarios, knowing multiple routes to get out of your community is critical.

To help you identify your neighborhood exits, we encourage residents to visit www.yorbalindaca.gov/KnowYourWay. Then, search your address to learn your evacuation zone’s name and view your zone’s informational flyer to learn more about your neighborhood exits. During an evacuation, the City will refer to these zones by name when we send out AlertOC emergency alerts, so don’t forget to sign up to receive emergency notifications at www.alertoc.com.

The City will be hosting wildfire community preparedness meetings soon to dive deeper into this topic, in addition to other important wildfire information. We'll be announcing those dates shortly, but you can sign up to receive an email invitation so you won't miss it.

Equine Emergency Preparedness Clinic

Coming to Yorba Linda

The City of Yorba, in coordination with the Yorba Linda Country Riders and Avid Identification Systems, is hosting an Equine Emergency Preparedness Clinic on Saturday, August 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Phillip S. Paxton Equestrian Center. Come learn ways to prepare you and your horse for an emergency or natural disaster. Services and resources that will be offered include:

• Microchip purchase and registration ($20)
• Microchip Implant ($25)
• Equine Vaccinations
• Trailer Loading Practice
• Equine Emergency Evacuation Kit Preparation List
• Photos of Horses with Owners (Emergency ID)
• Emergency Preparedness Resources (AlertOC and Know Your Way)

Reservations are recommended. Please view the event flyer for all detailed information.

Coming Soon: 3rd Annual Chalk Art Festival and More Summer Fun!

The Chalk Art Festival at the Yorba Linda Cultural Arts Center is back for a third year of art and fun! Check it out on Saturday, August 26, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The outdoor paseo will be transformed into its own unique coloring book by chalk artist Stacy Moffat and other chalk artists. This event will feature a giant, immersive chalk mural and plenty of chalk available for children to color, live music from Chicken Nuggets on a Tuesday, a craft station, and lawn games. Food trucks Taco Miendo and Cali Delights will be selling authentic Mexican food and a variety of tasty desserts. For more information about this event, please contact the Cultural Arts Center at 657-242-4660. This event is proudly sponsored by Sunshine Pediatric Dentistry!

Also, be sure to add these remaining summer family fun events to your calendar:

Last Chance to Join the Library's Summer Reading Program

There is still time to participate in this year's Summer Reading Program. Register and log your reading online for a chance to win raffle prizes. Hurry, the Reading Program ends on Saturday, August 12!

Save the Date for the State of the City

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

The City of Yorba Linda is excited to host the 2023 Mayor’s State of the City Address! This annual event is hosted in the beautiful East Room of the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum and will provide an opportunity for Mayor Hernandez to share with our business community, partners, and residents the highlights of City efforts, key projects and initiatives, City priorities, partnerships, and future planning. This year's event will take place on Wednesday, October 18, with a networking social hour at 5:30 p.m. and a three-course dinner and program at 6 p.m. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact the Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce at 714-993-9537. Stay tuned for more ticketing details.

Nominate a Citizen of the Year!

You can help us ensure this year's Citizen of the Year recognition goes to someone deserving by nominating a local community servant who goes above and beyond for Yorba Linda! The City is currently accepting nominations for the 2023 Citizen of the Year recognition and we invite you to participate. Nomination forms and detailed information about the program, including a list of past recipients, are available on the City's website. Please submit completed nomination forms by September 8, 2023.

City Adds New Electric Vehicles to Fleet

Yorba Linda is now an “E-questrian” community too! The City just received ten new all-electric Mustang Mach-Es to replace aging vehicles in our fleet. By using a special grant from South Coast AQMD to fund the purchase, these new vehicles will help the City cut down on costs and tail-pipe emissions as we drive around Yorba Linda to serve the community. Be sure to wave next time you see one of our ponies out on the streets!

City Completes LMAD Renovations Along Lindsey Drive

City staff recently completed several landscaping renovations along Lindsey Drive from Esperanza Road to Channing Street in the City's Landscape Maintenance Assessment District. Our team worked with the Yorba Linda Water District to obtain water efficiency rebate funds for turf replacement. The ground cover on the sloped areas at the corner monuments was replaced with climate-adapted plant material. Bougainvillea, Arbutus, and Lantana will bloom throughout different times of the year, while the Carissa and Furcraea will provide a textured support of green foliage. The new design will frame the entrance nicely all year round.

The intersection slope at Channing Street and Lindsey Drive was also renovated to create a welcoming view as residents and visitors approach the neighborhood. The palette was designed to compliment the monument entrances to ensure a cohesive design. Once mature, the newly installed trees will provide blooms for pollinators and varying textures at the intersection.

The walls and caps in this area also received a refresh as staff touched up the stucco and replaced broken cap bricks. As a final touch, the walls received a fresh coat of paint to provide the best backdrop for the new plant material. This project is just one example of the many projects the LMAD is working on to ensure Yorba Linda remains exceptionally beautiful for years to come.

Help Us Find Unsung Heroes

All year, we are focusing on honoring Yorba Linda’s unsung hometown heroes – the people who live up to our community’s highest ideals of service and engagement – but we need your help! Please tell us if you know someone who deserves to be highlighted. Email us a brief description of the community member and their worthy deeds. Selected individuals will be honored at a council meeting, and we will share their stories on our social media channels. Thank you!

OCSD Warns E-Bike and Electric Motorcycle Riders

Yorba Linda Police Services has received an influx of concerns from the community regarding e-bike and electric motorcycle-related violations occurring on Yorba Linda's local trails and roadways.

Our deputies have observed an increase in riders violating traffic laws and creating unsafe situations throughout the city for pedestrians and motorists alike. Please remember that electric motorcycles, such as Sur-Ron (pictured above), are considered off-road vehicles and are not allowed anywhere in our city. They lack the requirements of bikes and e-bikes for legal on-road use, including having speed and power limits that exceed legal limits for e-bikes. Violators will be subject to multiple citations for California Vehicle Code offenses and a 30-day vehicle impound. If you have a legal e-bike, please obey all traffic laws and operate your bike safely.

Yorba Linda Police Services will be enforcing all observed violations, both on and off the roadway, to help protect the safety of our community. For more information, refer to this e-bike guide, or check out our previously posted PSA videos. While we love seeing our youth outdoors having fun, our top priority is to keep everyone safe. Let’s work together to prevent an injury or a worse-case scenario from happening in Yorba Linda.

Learn the ABCs of Drowning Prevention

With prime swim weather upon us, it’s important to remember the key elements of water safety. Keeping yourself and others safe in and around the water is as easy as ABC! Follow the safety tips below to help prevent drownings:

A is for ACTIVE ADULT SUPERVISION

• Assign an adult to be a Water Watcher, actively keeping their eyes on the water without ANY distractions;
• If a child or adult is missing, every second counts! Check the water FIRST!; and
• Wear a water watcher tag (details below).

B is for BARRIERS

• Install and maintain proper fencing around the pool and spa to isolate swimming areas; and
• Use multiple layers of protection, such as fences, gates, doors, alarms, and safety covers.

C is for CLASSES

• Learn to swim by taking lessons;
• Learn first aid and CPR. Always keep a phone nearby to call 9-1-1; and
• Teach children that running, jumping, and pushing others on pool decks is dangerous and can cause injuries. Always enter the pool feet first to know how deep the water is in that area.

Water watcher tags, which can be worn as a reminder of the water watcher duties and identifies which adult is currently responsible for monitoring swimming children, are available at Yorba Linda City Hall, the Thomas Lasorda Jr. Field House, Community Center, and Cultural Arts Center. For more drowning prevention tips, visit OCFA’s website.

Prepare Before Hitting the Trails

Yorba Linda and Orange County boast dozens of beautiful trails that residents can enjoy all year long, but being prepared is the key to staying safe while enjoying your favorite outdoor activities. Be sure to practice the following safety tips while planning and preparing for your next hike or bike ride:

General Best Practices

• Drink water before, during, and after your activity. The general rule of thumb is one liter or 32 ounces of water per hour, per person;
• Wear comfortable and breathable clothing that you can layer based on the weather. Ensure that you are wearing sturdy hiking shoes that provide ankle support;
• Pack a backpack for clothing, water, identification, gear, and snacks. Don’t forget to bring any medications or information on health-related issues you may have;
• Wear sunglasses that block 100% of ultraviolet rays and ensure that you are reapplying sunscreen every two hours or as needed;
• Consider taking a first aid class and carrying a small first aid kit with you before you hit the trails; and
• Ensure that your devices are charged, or bring a portable charger for navigation, contact purposes, or emergencies.

Trail Tips

• Keep an eye on the weather and know the conditions of the trails before you go out;
• Use the buddy system and never hike or bike alone. Consider leaving your plan detailed out at home with a responsible person. Call and check in when you start and finish your activity;
• Stay on the trail and stay alert to your surroundings;
• Use trails that fit your abilities and your health conditions. Do not take on too much if you have not prepared for the hike or the trail that you have chosen; and
• Plan your hike or bike ride to avoid peak heat hours.

Tip, Toss, and Take Action to Stop Mosquitos

The Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District and the City of Yorba Linda remind residents to take an active role in mosquito control by regularly inspecting their property for any stagnant water where mosquitoes can lay eggs. Mosquitoes can complete their life cycle from egg to adult in about a week and only need a body of water the size of a bottle cap to develop. Vector Control would like to remind you to tip, toss, and take action by doing the following:

• TIP: Eliminate breeding sources around your property;
• TOSS: Throw away any unused containers to prevent eggs from hatching; and
• TAKE ACTION: apply repellant and use these tips to combat mosquitoes.

Common sources for mosquito breeding include plant saucers, buckets, tires, pet water bowls, trash cans, water-holding plants such as bromeliads, and landscaping with low-lying areas. Any collected water should be emptied or drained, containers should be tightly sealed to prevent mosquito entry, unnecessary containers should be removed from yards, and green unmaintained pools should be cleaned or treated.

For more information about OC Mosquito and Vector Control, visit ocvector.org.

Protecting the Environment Begins at Home

Preventing pollution may seem like a daunting task, but there are small changes everyone can make in their home to make a big difference. The City of Yorba Linda encourages residents to take these steps to prevent stormwater pollution:

• Do not rinse spills on the patio or driveway with water. Instead, sweep outdoor spills and dispose of them in the trash. For wet spills like oil, apply cat litter or another absorbent material, then sweep and bring to a household hazardous waste collection center;
• Securely cover trash cans;
• Take household hazardous waste, such as unused paint, cleaning products, and used vehicle fluids, to a household hazardous waste collection center. Please store these items in closed, labeled containers inside or under a cover;
• Always pick up after your pet. Remember to flush the waste down the toilet or dispose of it in the trash; and
• Bathe pets indoors or have them professionally groomed.

Thank you for being a great steward of the environment. For more tips and information about stormwater runoff, visit the City's website.