Page 5 Foothills Sentry MAY 2025 @ramblingroseoc Officials report on State of Old Towne Orange City of Orange community leaders addressed a range of issues at the Old Towne Preservation Association's (OTPA) State of the City presentation, April 17. Topics ranged from Old Town parking fees to city finances to Chapman student housing to the homeless, Mills Act, and city services. Questions, many of them from Old Towne residents, were posed by OTPA President Rob Boyce. Mayor Dan Slater, City Councilwoman Arianna Barrios, City Treasurer Garrett Smith, City Manager Tom Kisela, Police Chief Adam Jevec and Chapman Vice President of Community Relations Alisa Driscoll did their best to answer them. Slater on economic development: "Without economic development, the city will be stuck in the mud. We have a full-time staff member devoted to it, and created an economic forum to bring more business to orange. There are lots of things coming down the pike, but it takes time.” Library services: "We are dedicated to our library system, but we had to make cuts. Orange is fortunate to have its own police and fire departments and its own library system. All of those services cost more money than if we contracted with the county. Library funding will be restored as soon as we have more revenue. For now, the choice is between police officers and librarians.” New city manager: "We have a consultant leading the effort to replace Tom Kisela. Over 65 candidates applied; we have many solid applications. Political stability is a dream situation for a city manager. In Orange, the city council gets along, there’s no infighting. We expect to conduct interviews in May.” Police Chief Adam Jevec Residents settle in at the Orange City Council chambers for the State of Old Towne presentation. Mayor Dan Slater Chapman VP Alisa Driscoll Mule deer by Robert Meyer Treasurer Garrett Smith Councilwoman Arianna Barrios City Manager Tom Kisela Kisela on city staffing and services: "Personnel is our number one cost. We’re running 82 vacancies. Our pay is not competitive, we’re losing people for that reason. Others are retiring. We’re looking at how we are doing business from the top down. The challenge is that we provide service. With vacancies, there is a going to be an impact. We’re deferring maintenance, implementing technology, looking to have a balanced budget for general fund this year.” Mills Act: “We’re finding out that some people don’t recognize that it is a contract, that things have to be accomplished on a timeline. We have 430-ish Mills Act contracts, and a large number are not in compliance. Enforcement is a challenge. We’re working with OTPA to come up with options, to come up with a different methodology. Whether the city accepts new applications or not is a policy decision made by the council.” Barrios on paid parking in Old Towne: "I couldn’t vote on it because I live there. Paid parking has been a conversation for 20 years. There were parking meters back in the 1960s. Old Towne is growing with an influx of restaurants, shops and businesses. Employees park there all day, and there is no space for patrons. Paid parking is a big revenue enhancement and allows businesses to thrive with more turnover. The lots out of main plaza area are still free, and we’re offering permit parking in nearby neighborhoods.” Library services: "The cuts we made were due to metrics, based on when people are actually using the library. It was costing us $6 million a year, three times that of larger cities. By cutting hours, we have been able to keep all three libraries open.” Chief Adams on safe and sane fireworks: "The department has a game plan. We’re creating enforcement zones, with more officers in smaller areas. We’re taking a zero tolerance approach; tickets will be issued. There will be a higher presence of officers in no fireworks zones and using maps of prior calls for service, so we know where problem areas are. Most calls that people make, however, are for fireworks that are illegal.” Update on homeless: “We don’t have a homeless shelter, but we have the HUB, just down the street from the police station. The rules there are enforced. Hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. no loitering, no drugs, no pop ups. We estimate between 100 and 115 homeless individuals in the city; our eightperson team maintains constant engagement. We’re working with Caltrans, the highway patrol and Santa Ana to eliminate camps. We sheltered over 200 people last year.” Driscoll on Chapman Specific Plan: "Chapman is asking to increase enrollment at 1.8% per year over 10 years, about 1,800 students. We are committed to housing 50% of undergraduates, and all first and second year students. We’ve redeveloped several halls to allow for more students and just bought a new building that will house 900. We’ve made a $200 million investment in housing over the last decade. Current enrollment is 8,877, just over the 8,700 cap.” Real estate: "Chapman buys properties around itself. We don’t go after properties, but they come to us. The majority of houses we own are used by faculty, staff, single families. We pay property taxes on those. We do everything we can to restore those houses.” Smith on his first months on the job: "You usually think of a treasurer as involved in everything having to do with money. I found out this role is to manage the investment portfolio, so I’m working with Chandler Investments. With that said, there is discussion of making changes and getting more access. I promised you transparency, and I want to do that. I’m working for all of you; maybe by next year things will be slightly different.” Soundness of investments: "I’ve heard good things about Chandler Investments, met with them in January, calling and emailing them more than they are used to. The city has been with them since 2022. There’s over $120 million in our portfolio, which is 100% bonds. We’re seeing 3.5 to 4% percent growth every year. That’s a good number.” VPCSF sponsors Wellness Fair Villa Park Community Services Foundation (VPCSF) and MMG Health and Wellness will sponsor a free Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, May 31 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Villa Park Towne Center, 17855 Santiago Blvd. It is a great opportunity to discover local health professionals and businesses that promote wellness, prevention and valuable health resources to help you live your healthiest life. Whether you’re looking to start a new wellness journey, or just curious about local health services, this event has something for everyone. Bring your family, friends and neighbors. It’s also a great opportunity if you are a business or organization focused on health, fitness, nutrition or mental wellness to showcase your business by securing a space or providing a demonstration at the event. For information, see vpcsfoundation.org. Spring Fling II library fundraiser coming to canyons By Andrew Tonkovich Library of the Canyons, OC Public Library’s smallest branch, is supported by one of the system’s most enthusiastic Friends of the Library (FoL) groups, a project of the Inter-Canyon League (ICL). The Second Annual Spring Fling fundraiser, a homemade chili dinner and dessert auction, will once again be hosted by ICL President Geoff Sarkissian and Master Gardener Sarah Sarkissian, caretaker of their award-winning creek-side garden, a Modjeska destination location all its own. Vegetarian chili with all the fixin’s and homemade desserts ⸻served after competitively friendly bidding for these local culinary creations⸻arrive with live music, all to support the work of the Friends, whose efforts support family and children’s programming and purchases of toys, books and supplies. Last year’s inaugural fundraiser honored the late Fran Williams, longtime FoL chair and onewoman volunteer force of nature. This year the celebration features local artist Robert Meyer, whose “prehistoric”-style animal tracks drawings⸻bobcat, raccoon, deer, skunk and fox⸻decorate the walls of Orange County’s newest, most unique, and much-cherished branch. He’ll speak on his work and offer a short presentation including display of plaster casts upon which his representations of local fauna are based. Tickets are available ($25 tax deductible donation) at the door but please RSVP: atonkovi@uci. edu or (949) 235-8193. Contributing a cake, pastry, pie or cookies for the dessert auction? Let the hosts know, please. For more on the ICL or to make a donation: intercanyonleague.org. Photo by Tony Richards
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