CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE YORBA LINDA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, YORBA LINDA HOUSING AUTHORITY AND YORBA LINDA MUNICIPAL FINANCING AUTHORITY JOINT MEETING

MINUTES

Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 6:30 P.m. - 7:30 P.m.

Council Chambers

4845 Casa Loma Avenue

Councilmembers Present:

• Campbell, 
• Haney, 
• Hernandez, 
• Huang, 
• and Rodriguez

Staff Present:

• Brantley, 
• Brown, 
• Christian, 
• Honeywell, 
• Kudron, 
• Litfin, 
• Lixey, 
• Pulone, 
• and Walehwa

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CALL TO ORDER

The City Council/Successor Agency to the Yorba Linda Redevelopment Agency convened at 5:31 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 4845 Casa Loma Avenue.

ROLL CALL

Mayor Carlos Rodriguez was absent during Closed Session.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ITEMS

CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE YORBA LINDA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

A.   CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION, SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION

Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) (2 Cases)

City Attorney Todd Litfin stated that Councilwoman Tara Campbell recused herself for one case on Closed Session Item A, Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation, Significant Exposure to Litigation, because she has a potential conflict under Government Code Section 87100 due to her employment with the County of Orange.    

City Attorney Litfin stated that Mayor Carlos Rodriguez recused himself for one case on Closed Session Item A, Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation, Significant Exposure to Litigation, because he has a potential conflict under Government Code Section 87100 due to the location of his real property. 

B.   CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION

Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) (1 case)

Name of Case: Yorba Linda Estates, LLC v. City of Yorba Linda

Case Number: 30-2021-01206096-CU-OR-NJC, North Justice Center, County of Orange

The City Council voted 3-0 not to appeal the judgment in the case Yorba Linda Estates, LLC, OC 33, LLC, and Yorba Linda Estates North, LLC v. City of Yorba Linda, Orange County Superior Court Case No. 30-2021-01206096.  Mayor Pro Tem Hernandez, Councilwoman Huang and Councilwoman Haney voted not to appeal.  Mayor Rodriguez due to the location of his property and Councilwoman Campbell because of her employment with the County of Orange were recused due to potential conflicts and did not participate in the decision.  The case pertains to plaintiffs’ right to construct an access road to Stonehaven Drive from plaintiffs’ proposed development north of the City.  The Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs.

City Attorney Litfin stated that Councilwoman Campbell recused herself for one case on Closed Session Item B, Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation, because she has a potential conflict under Government Code Section 87100 due to her employment with the County of Orange.    

City Attorney Litfin stated that Mayor Rodriguez recused himself for one case on Closed Session Item B, Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation, because he has a potential conflict under Government Code Section 87100 due to the location of his real property.   

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS

None.

CONVENE INTO CLOSED SESSION

The City Council convened into Closed Session at 5:32 p.m.

RECESS

CALL TO ORDER

The City Council/Successor Agency to the Yorba Linda Redevelopment Agency, Yorba Linda Housing Authority and Yorba Linda Municipal Financing Authority reconvened at 6:31 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 4845 Casa Loma Avenue, Yorba Linda.

ROLL CALL

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Councilwoman Peggy Huang

INVOCATION

Bishop Tom Lindsey, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

CLOSED SESSION REPORT

The City Council voted 3-0 not to appeal the judgment in the case Yorba Linda Estates, LLC, OC 33, LLC, and Yorba Linda Estates North, LLC v. City of Yorba Linda, Orange County Superior Court Case No. 30-2021-01206096.  Mayor Pro Tem Hernandez, Councilwoman Huang and Councilwoman Haney voted not to appeal.  Mayor Rodriguez due to the location of his property and Councilwoman Campbell because of her employment with the County of Orange were recused due to potential conflicts and did not participate in the decision.  The case pertains to plaintiffs’ right to construct an access road to Stonehaven Drive from plaintiffs’ proposed development north of the City.  The Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs.

City Attorney Litfin stated that Councilwoman Campbell recused herself for one case on Closed Session Item A, Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation, Significant Exposure to Litigation and Closed Session Item B, Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation, because she has a potential conflict under Government Code Section 87100 due to her employment with the County of Orange.    

City Attorney Litfin said that Mayor Rodriguez recused himself for one case on Closed Session Item A, Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation, Significant Exposure to Litigation and Closed Session Item B, Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation, because he has a potential conflict under Government Code Section 87100 due to the location of his real property.   

INTRODUCTIONS & PRESENTATIONS

PROCLAMATION TO DMV/DONATE LIFE CALIFORNIA

Mayor Rodriguez invited Rene Sorrentino, OneLegacy Ambassador to the podium and presented a proclamation declaring April 2022 as “DMV/Donate Life Month”.

Ms. Sorrentino thanked Council for the proclamation and encouraged everyone to sign up to become a donor.

INTRODUCTION OF NEW STAFF MEMBER ALEXIS GARCIA, ASSISTANT PLANNER

City Manager Mark Pulone introduced the City's new staff member Alexis Garcia, Assistant Planner and shared a brief overview of his career background. 

Council welcomed him to the Yorba Linda team.

PUBLIC COMMENTS – ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR OR ITEMS NOT ON THE REMAINDER OF THE AGENDA

Alex Hernandez, Library Commissioner, shared that April is National Volunteer Month and expressed appreciation for the Friends of the Yorba Linda Public Library. He said that approximately 85 volunteers manage the Book Corner and volunteer roughly 8,000 hours. They also donate an average of $75,000 a year in support of Library programs. Commissioner Hernandez said the Friends of the Library has nearly 400 members and individual membership is $12 annually.

Wayne Miller, Yorba Linda Water District Director, said the District not only works hard to deliver water and sewer services but also to reduce its cost of operations. Specifically, he said the PFAS plant's impact on their operations equates to a savings of roughly $1.4 million dollars as a result of the plant going into service reliably for the last 4 months compared to last year. He concluded by announcing that the Yorba Linda Water District received the Outstanding Civil Engineering Project in 2021 as well as the Best Overall Project awards in the water category from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Bob Kanne, resident, urged Council to reconsider not appealing the Yorba Linda Estates, LLC v. City of Yorba Linda decision. He reminded the Council that he attended the trial at the court and expressed his concerns. 

Diane Kanne, resident, also urged Council to reconsider and appeal the Yorba Linda Estates, LLC v. City of Yorba Linda decision. She spoke of what she believes are inaccuracies in the Statement of Decision.

CONSENT CALENDAR

Mayor Rodriguez stated that Mayor Pro Tem Gene Hernandez will abstain from Consent Calendar Item No. 2, out of an abundance of caution due to his involvement with Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the numerous contractors that may do work in the City. 

• Moved by Campbell
  Seconded by Hernandez

  It is recommended that the City Council approve the Consent Calendar.

  AYES (5)

  Rodriguez, Hernandez, Haney, Campbell, and Huang

  CARRIED (5 to 0)

1.   WAIVE READING IN FULL OF ALL ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS ON THE AGENDA

• It is recommended that the City Council/Successor Agency to the Yorba Linda Redevelopment Agency waive reading in full of all ordinances and resolutions on the agenda and declare that said titles which appear on the public agenda shall be determined to have been read by title and further reading waived.

2.   ACCOUNTS PAYABLE CHECK REGISTER – APRIL 19, 2022

• It is recommended that the City Council receive and file the accounts payable check register dated April 19, 2022, in the amount of $1,161,290.19.

3.   APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 5, 2022 CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE YORBA LINDA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING

• It is recommended that the City Council/Successor Agency to the Yorba Linda Redevelopment Agency approve the minutes of the April 5, 2022 City Council/Successor Agency to the Yorba Linda Redevelopment Agency joint meeting.

4.   REPORTS OF PLANNING COMMISSION ACTIONS FROM THEIR LAST MEETING

• It is recommended that the City Council receive and file this report.

5.   COUNCIL COMMITTEE AND AGENCY REPORTS

• It is recommended that the City Council receive and file this report.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT/MAYOR’S REPORT/MATTERS PRESENTED BY COUNCILMEMBERS/ OTHER AGENCY REPORTS

City Manager Pulone provided updates on important projects in the City. He said the City has made significant progress with the Adventure Playground renovation and said it will be vastly improved with added restrooms and a treehouse play structure. He said the City anticipates completing the project in the fall. City Manager Pulone said Southern California Edison is almost done relocating power poles on Bastanchury Road, near Eureka Avenue and Casa Loma Avenue, once this is done, trees will be removed on the other side of the road to allow for the widening project. 

Councilwoman Huang thanked Planning Manager Nate Farnsworth and the entire Planning staff for their hard work on the Housing Element. She said the City is the first to have its Housing Element approved in the County. 

Councilwoman Campbell reminded the community that the Love Yorba Linda is Saturday, April 30th and urged those that are interested to sign up for a project at www.loveyorbalinda.org. She concluded by saying that she reported a traffic signal issue to staff over the weekend and thanked staff for being so responsive and quickly addressing it.

Councilwoman Beth Haney said she attended the Emergency Responders Breakfast with her Council colleagues and thanked the Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce for the great event.

Mayor Pro Tem Hernandez said he attended the Ramadan Iftar celebration organized by the Islamic Center with his Council colleagues. He also said that the OCTA and Metrolink are no longer requiring users to wear masks, however, they are still required on Metrorail.

Mayor Rodriguez reminded the community to register for Summer Recreation classes. He said registration can be done online and residents can also view the digital version of the summer guide by visiting YLRecOnline.com. Mayor Rodriguez announced that the Library and Cultural Arts Center won an award for Excellence in Design – Facility Design category at the California Parks & Recreation Society Conference; he urged everyone to visit the Culture Arts Center if they haven't already done so. He concluded by stating that National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day will be on  April 30th. Any unwanted, unused, and expired medications can be dropped off at the Yorba Linda Police Services facility, located at 20994 Yorba Linda Boulevard, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The program is free and more information can be found on the City's website.

ADJOURNMENT

Mayor Rodriguez adjourned the meeting at 7:15 p.m. to the next regularly scheduled City Council/Successor Agency to the Yorba Linda Redevelopment Agency joint meeting on May 3, 2022.