A Message from the City Manager

Welcome to a cold and wet March for the history books! With the February storm's last gasps sprinkling graupel (soft hail) all over Yorba Linda last week, we experienced a rare bit of "snowfall." It was fun to see so many pictures and videos of community members enjoying this rare weather phenomenon, and a great reminder of how Yorba Linda is always beautiful, even in adverse weather.

At City Hall, we're beginning to prepare our budget for the next two years. This vital process will culminate in the adoption of a fiscally responsible budget in June, which will also fund important City projects and initiatives that keep Yorba Linda exceptional for years to come. This is not a dull exercise but an exciting and vibrant process that we engage in to collaboratively build a community worth taking pride in. We are committed to transparency and sharing our approach with the community, so we are utilizing a new budgeting platform called OpenGov to maximize our ability to collaborate and share important information openly. Speaking of City finances, our Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Year 21/22 just won an award for excellence in financial reporting, further demonstrating our resolve to deliver the best and most exceptional services to Yorba Linda.

Wishing you a happy March and a great kick-off to spring!

Best Regards,

Mark Pulone

City Manager

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. Please 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!

Bastanchury Road Widening Now Underway

The widening of Bastanchury Road is now underway! This project will add a second thru-lane in each direction along Bastanchury Road between Casa Loma and Eureka Avenues while also easing the dip between the two intersections. The recent rains hampered the original start date, but work is well underway along with traffic control measures and lane reductions that were recently implemented.

The project is anticipated to run for approximately one year and will involve several phases of work. To begin, traffic has been shifted to the southern side of the existing roadway to allow the contractor to begin operations on reconstructing the northern roadway section along with underground utilities. Please note that reduced speed limits of 25 mph and turn restrictions are in effect within the construction zone. Please drive carefully, and thank you for your patience while we make this stretch of Bastanchury better for everyone!

Library Offers Small Business Workshops

The Library is hosting free monthly small business workshops presented in partnership with SCORE Orange County. These unique workshops focus on topics relevant to local entrepreneurs and begin at 6 p.m. in the Library Community Room. The next workshop topic is "Buy, Sell, and the Value of Your Business," and it will be held on Thursday, March 9. To learn more about upcoming small business workshops, please visit the Library's website at www.ylpl.org. 

Help Us Improve Our Website!

The City of Yorba Linda is in the process of updating the front webpage of the City's website, and we would like your input! As we continue to uphold our standards of exceptionalism, we want our City website to reflect that by prioritizing functionality and access to City-related information (while looking great!). Taking this short survey will help us to better understand your usage of the current website and how to make improvements. For more information on this project, please email us.

Adventure Playground Renovation Nearing Completion!

The reopening of Adventure Playground for year-round use and summer camp programs is right around the corner! Soon, the community will be invited to experience the excitement of Adventure Playground with its new and upgraded amenities, including an upgraded waterslide, splash pad, wiffleball field, zipline, and a three-tower playground structure. For more information, including hours of operation and operating guidelines of Adventure Playground, visit the City's website. Stay tuned for a reopening-day announcement in the coming weeks.

City Wins Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting

We’re committed to conducting City business openly and transparently to the highest professional and ethical standards because our exceptional community deserves the best. So, we’re excited to share that the City’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2021, has been awarded the Government Finance Officer Association’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. This award recognizes state and local governments that go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted financial principles and prepare annual reports that truly demonstrate the spirit of transparency and full disclosure. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting. We are thrilled to win this award. To learn more about the ACFR and other financial documents, visit the City’s website.

Retail Enhancement Program Helps Local Businesses Shine Bright!

We always want to help local businesses achieve their best! The City of Yorba Linda's Retail Enhancement Program encourages owners of retail businesses, shopping centers, or business associations within a retail district to improve the City's retail environment. The program allows eligible applicants to apply for a small grant to enhance, attract, and encourage business patronage. The award can be potentially used to improve building facades or storefronts, monument signage, lighting, landscape improvements, and more. Please visit the City's website to learn more about the program and apply.

Annual Weed Abatement Notices Will be Mailed Soon

The 2020 Blue Ridge Fire was an important reminder of why we must all take fire safety seriously: our proximity to natural open spaces makes our neighborhoods beautiful but susceptible to dangerous wildfires. The City’s annual weed abatement program exists to keep the City fire-safe by ensuring that yards and larger land parcels are cleared of combustible weeds and debris. It’s that time of year again for residents to get an early start on weed abatement.

To comply with California Government Code and City Municipal Code, we will issue notices in mid-March to homeowners where potential fire hazard conditions may exist. Those who receive a notice are required to clear (abate) their property of all combustible vegetation, including dead leaves, weeds, brush, and tree limbs, as well as excess trash, wood, and other combustibles, by May 25, 2023. The Orange County Fire Authority also assesses properties for fire risk and issues notices as needed.

Please keep in mind that weed abatement season is year-round in Southern California. Every property owner is responsible for maintaining their property in a “fire-safe” condition to protect themselves, their neighbors, and the whole community. For additional information about the City’s weed abatement program, please contact the Community Preservation Division at 714-961-7138.

Coming Soon: Wildfire Safety and the Fuel Reduction Project Community Meeting

We're hosting our second community meeting focusing on wildfire safety and the Yorba Linda Fuel Reduction Project on March 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the Yorba Linda Community Center (Imperial Room). The meeting will include presentations on wildfire safety, property protection, and other prevention strategies in collaboration with the Orange County Fire Authority. We'll also provide important updates about the Yorba Linda Fuel Reduction Project, which is funded by a CAL FIRE grant. If you would like to learn more, please visit the City's website or send us an email.

Compost Giveaway!

Join OC Waste & Recycling to pick up free compost on Saturday, April 1, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Valencia Greenery at Olinda Alpha Landfill (1942 N. Valencia Avenue, Brea). Prefilled bags of compost will be available at the Brea location while supplies last. To learn more, visit their website.

Love Yorba Linda Day Returns!

We’re excited to announce that Love Yorba Linda, an exciting day of community-wide service, is returning on Saturday, April 29, 2023. Volunteers can make a difference in their community by participating in various beautification projects throughout the City. So let’s show our community pride by making this the biggest year yet! Learn more about this special day by visiting the Love Yorba Linda website at www.loveyorbalinda.org. Be sure to put April 29 on your calendar, and stay tuned for more updates!

Small Business Relief Grant Application Deadline Extended

The City of Yorba Linda’s Small Business Relief Program is back for a fourth and final round of grant funding! Thanks to funding from the County of Orange, we’re providing grants to help local businesses in their ongoing recovery from COVID-19 impacts. Up to $9,650 grants are available to the first Yorba Linda businesses to apply that didn’t receive an award in prior rounds of this program. To be considered, please apply soon before all our grants are gone! To learn more and apply, visit the City’s website.

Don’t Become a Victim of Bank Jugging

Have you ever had to go to a bank or an ATM to make a significant withdrawal? Are you a local business owner who often transports a large amount of cash to and from the bank? If so, you could be a target of bank jugging.

Bank jugging refers to a scheme where perpetrators surveil financial institutions or ATMs looking for individuals withdrawing large amounts of cash. After identifying a target, the individual is followed to an area where their guard is no longer up, and their money can be taken either unknowingly or by force. This often occurs at the victim’s next stop, either through a confrontation (a robbery) or by breaking into their vehicle to steal the hidden cash. With tax season upon us and with the warmer months ahead, you may find it necessary to withdraw a large amount of cash; remember to make the bank your last stop and be aware of anyone possibly following your vehicle upon leaving.

Yorba Linda Police Services encourages residents to be vigilant and discrete when making large withdrawals at banks or ATMs. Don’t openly carry coin boxes, bank bags, or envelopes. While there haven’t been any recently reported incidences of bank jugging in Yorba Linda, it is a crime that has occurred here in the past. If you notice any suspicious activity or behavior, call the 24-hour non-emergency line at 714-647-7000 and select the option for Sheriff’s Dispatch. If you believe you are being followed or need to report a crime in progress, dial 911.

Tips for Home Heating Safety

For many residents, the high cost of home heating has increased the use of portable space heaters, fireplaces, and wood-burning stoves. Unfortunately, these devices can increase the risk of home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. Please observe the following tips to keep you and your family safe:

• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from all heat sources;
• Hire a professional to clean, inspect, and service your home's heating equipment, fireplace, and chimney every year;
• Purchase space heaters that have an automatic shut-off;
• Only plug space heaters directly into wall outlets and unplug them when not in use;
• Keep space heaters away from children and pets;
• Keep a glass or metal screen in front of fireplaces to prevent sparks or embers from escaping;
• Install carbon monoxide alarms outside each sleeping area and every home level;
• Don't use a gas oven/range for heating; and
• Open the fireplace damper before lighting a fire, and keep it open until the ashes are cool.

For more fire prevention and safety tips, visit OCFA's website.

Gardening Tips That Prevent Pollution

With spring around the corner, many residents will begin refreshing their gardens by planting new flowers, fertilizing, and updating their watering schedules. As you update your garden for the new season, the City of Yorba Linda encourages you to be mindful of the environment by following these helpful tips:

• Carefully follow directions on fertilizers and be sure to measure amounts rather than estimate them. Be sure to avoid fertilizing if rain is predicted within 48 hours;
• Water your lawn and garden by hand to control the amount of water you use. Set irrigation systems to reflect seasonal water needs. If water flows off your yard and into your driveway or sidewalk, your system is over-watering; and
• When adding new plants, choose plants that are native to Southern California that will require less water.