City Manager Pulone thanked the residents who expressed their concerns with the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) site listing. He said the City is about two years into the process and said there is still a long way to go before there is any sort of implementation. The City has just identified potential sites but significant studies would need to go forward before any site is considered for specific development and the constraints residents mentioned may be an issue. He encouraged residents to contact staff for answers to their questions and said upcoming meetings will be community-wide so staff will conduct significant noticing.
Councilwoman Huang spoke about the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church shooting on Sunday, May 15 as members gathered for lunch after morning service at Geneva Presbyterian Church in the City of Laguna Woods. She said her parents are members of the church and the pastor is a close family friend. Councilwoman Huang stated that she was late to join the Council meeting because she was meeting with several victims at their monthly Taiwanese Club meeting and shared that members of the church are appreciative of all the support and prayers. She attended the California Special Districts meeting in Sacramento where they discussed wildfire insurance and spoke of regulation changes the Insurance Commissioner will be proposing. She thanked Commissioner Lim for her work at Love Yorba Linda and expressed her appreciation to the staff involved. With respect to the Housing Element, she said the City does not have a lot of ability to appeal and is required to meet these State requirements.
Councilwoman Beth Haney said last week was National Nurses Week and thanked all nurses who dedicate their lives to helping others. She also spoke of National Police Week and thanked law enforcement for their service. Councilwoman Haney said her prayers are with the families and victims of the Laguna Woods tragedy.
Councilwoman Campbell thanked the residents who expressed their concerns about the Housing Element and said the City is fully complying with Measure B, and there will be many opportunities for more information. She thanked Council for recognizing the Young Civic Leaders Academy and those involved for their support. She said the Yorba Linda Woman's Club gave over $30,000 in scholarships to students across Yorba Linda and Placentia and thanked them for continuing this tradition. Councilwoman Campbell said the Yorba Linda Rotary Lobsterfest will be held this Saturday and said she hopes to see everyone at the Celebration of the Arts and Music Festival on June 5th.
Mayor Pro Tem Hernandez thanked the community for bringing up their concerns with respect to the Housing Element and reminded residents that Council cannot respond during their Public Comment period. He said he was not aware of the slope collapse mentioned by Jim Whited and suggested that staff look into the issue. Mayor Pro Tem Hernandez stated that Council and staff are complying with the State when it comes to housing allocation requirements, but staff has done their best to communicate constraints and issues to the State. He stressed that sites have been identified, but that does not mean those sites will be built on. He announced that last Friday was the 34th Annual Candlelight Vigil by the National Law Enforcement Memorial & Museum, which was a very touching event.
Mayor Rodriguez echoed the comments made by his colleagues regarding the Housing Element. He congratulated Maserati of Anaheim Hills for their grand opening and thanked the Yorba Linda Chamber for the great Yorba Days event. Mayor Rodriguez met with Bridget Blehm, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, and incoming Southern California Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Upperman to discuss how cities can collaborate with the Army to disseminate information on career opportunities with the Army. Mayor Rodriguez announced that the City’s weed abatement goats will be back in town next month as the City expands its pilot program that tests using goat grazing to complete weed abatement in certain sites around Yorba Linda. To help the community learn more about how the goats help to reduce wildfire dangers, he invited the community to meet the goats on Wednesday, June 1st at 2:00 p.m. at Bryant Ranch Park. He also announced this year’s first Movie in the Park event this Saturday evening at Eastside Community Park.