City Manager Pulone responded to the comments made by Mr. de Bruijn and said the pension formulas for each agency are different so he cannot address other agencies. He said Yorba Linda adopted a more modest retirement formula compared to some agencies. However, he said PEPRA was adopted by the State and made the retirement formula for agencies more solvent on a go-forward. He said long term, this will help the City significantly. He said there are pros and cons to changing from a defined benefit plan to a defined contribution plan and said it wouldn't necessarily save the City money. City Attorney Litfin and Finance Director Sunny Han said the cost to withdraw from CalPERS is significantly more expensive and the costs must be paid upfront. He responded to the comments by Ms. Meinhhardt and spoke about the City's weed abatement program and efforts to keep the community as safe as possible. He said there are notice requirements that prohibit the City from abating a property quickly. And concerning the comments made by Mr. Naqvi, he said he does not see a problem with the City removing the memo from the website.
Councilman Singh spoke of two workshops that he attended for newly elected officials, one by the League of California Cities and another from the ACC-OC. He attended the celebration of the Lunar New Year at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum and the Miss Placentia / Yorba Linda Pageant with some of his Council colleagues. He attended two ribbon-cutting ceremonies, one for The Palms Barber & Co. and Coldwell Banker Realty.
Councilwoman Campbell asked for an update on 4802 Valley View's weed abatement. Director Farnsworth said this item will be noticed for a public hearing at the next City Council meeting. Once it is determined that the property is a public nuisance, staff's recommendation will be to place a lien on the property.
Councilwoman Peggy Huang echoed the comments made by Councilwoman Campbell and said Council is very proactive and encouraged residents to contact them with their concerns. She reminded the community to protect themselves from mosquitos and said the Orange County Vector Control report is included in Item No. 9. She concluded by expressing her enthusiasm for being selected to serve on the SCAG CEHD (Community, Economic and Human Development) Committee.
Mayor Pro Tem Rodriguez expressed his gratitude for the update on 4802 Valley View and the City's weed abatement process.
Mayor Lim said there has been a downtrend of e-bikes on the streets. She said to ensure the safety of all residents, Yorba Linda Police Services will be hosting a second community e-bike safety presentation this Thursday, February 6, from 6 to 8:00 p.m., at the Yorba Linda Community Center. An e-bike safety informative video can be found on the City’s website at yorbalindaca.gov/e-bikes. Mayor Lim said Adventure Playground has officially reopened after winter maintenance and water features will open back up in the spring. To help manage weekend visits, reservations are required on Saturdays and Sundays, and are not required Monday through Friday. She said reservations are free and can be made online. Mayor Lim concluded her comments by announcing that Southern California Edison (SCE) will be conducting aerial inspections in the eastern and northwestern end of Yorba Linda using drones and helicopters as part of their wildfire prevention and mitigation program over the next few weeks. The inspections are to help ensure electrical equipment on poles and towers are operating safely and that lines are clear to reduce the threat of wildfires. She said residents can expect to hear or see helicopters and drones, with inspections taking approximately 30 to 60 minutes per pole or tower. Residents with questions can contact SCE at 800-655-4555 or visit the latest news on the City’s website.