Foothills Sentry September 2021

Foothills Sentry Page 2 September 2021 See "Paseo" continued from page 1 ja dtec.com $ 15 95 /mo SECURITY JADTEC NEED A LITTLE HELP? 714 282 0828 | jadtec.com | ACO4202 We can protect your family, home and business from burglary, fire and medical emergencies. regional and local issues, he said. “Closing a major arterial, even for a few months, has inevitable impacts on the vitality of the his- toric district and its existing mix of businesses, specialty stores and largely independent restaurants.” Few are chosen Adam Duberstein of Respect Orange noted that the Plaza dis- trict represents less than 2% of the city’s sales tax revenue. He pointed to city financial reports that indicate the city’s cost to maintain the Paseo was “100.5% of revenue” during the pandemic. He questioned a city survey conducted to evaluate a long-term Paseo, noting that residents were not included. Respect Orange conducted its own survey, and found that while 92% of those queried believed the Paseo helped save businesses and jobs during the pandemic, most do not want it to continue. Traffic rerouted through residential streets was a major concern for 75% of re- spondents; compliance with Old Towne standards was cited by 77%. During the council discussion, it was revealed that of the 12 to 15 Glassell businesses willing to pay additional fees to continue the Paseo, all of them are restau- rants. Retailers did not support a permanent or seasonal Paseo. “The only people who benefit are restaurants,” Barrios said. “We’re giving a small number of busi- nesses an exceptional boom. Res- idents are not being heard. They haven’t even been asked.” Nice place to visit Conversely, many other Orange residents and visitors applaud the Paseo. In written comments re- ceived by the city council, it is described as a “gathering place,” “family-friendly,” “a welcoming environment,” “a destination,” “a unique public space well worth the cost and inconvenience.” City staff estimates it will cost $50K per month to maintain the two-block Paseo. Fees levied on businesses would cover about 25% of that cost. An environmen- tal review for a seasonal Paseo will run about $100,000, and a design consultant, $47,000. “The Paseo is beloved,” Kim Nichols summarized. “But we need to make sure we do the right thing. Before we decide if it’s permanent, temporary, or not at all, we must do a study first. We need to get all the information, speak to residents, look at every- thing, and then make a decision.” Nichols motioned to follow staff recommendations. The mo- tion passed, 5-2, with Barrios and Ana Gutierrez opposed. 2020 census will redefine Orange voter districts As the population/demograph- ics results of the 2020 census are released, the City of Orange is making preparations to amend its six voter districts. An introductory meeting was held Aug. 25 to introduce the city’s redistricting consultants and give voters an overview of the process and the timeline. Cities with by-district elections must use new census data to re- draw district lines, if necessary, to reflect changes in the population and ensure they are equally repre- sentative. The redistricting must be complete by April 17, 2022. Voters are encouraged to help define communities of interest, submit maps and share their opin- ions. The city plans future work- shops, but dates have not yet been identified. Khd KKZ tKZ<^,KW dƌĞĞ WƌĞƐĞƌǀĂƚŝŽŶ Θ &ŝƌĞ ZŝƐŬ ZĞĚƵĐƚŝŽŶ >ĞĂƌŶ ĨƌŽŵ ĞǆƉĞƌƚƐ͗ ǁŚĂƚ ŝƐ ĞŶĚĂŶŐĞƌŝŶŐ ǇŽƵƌ ƚƌĞĞƐ͕ ŚŽǁ ƚŽ ƐƚŽƉ ĚĂŵĂŐĞ͕ ďĞƐƚ ĐĂƌĞ ƉƌĂĐƚŝĐĞƐ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƉůĂŶƚƐ ƚŚƌŝǀĞ ŝŶ K ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚŽǁ ƚŽ ƉƌŽƚĞĐƚ ǇŽƵƌ ŚŽƵƐĞ ĨƌŽŵ ĨŝƌĞ͘ ƌŝŶŐ ƋƵĞƐƚŝŽŶƐ͕ ƉŚŽƚŽƐ ĂŶĚ ƐĂŵƉůĞƐ͘ ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂǇ͕ ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ ϭϴ͕ ĞŶƚ dƌĞĞ WĂƌŬ͕ ϭϬ Ăŵ &ƌĞĞ ĐĂƚĞƌĞĚ ůƵŶĐŚ ĨŽƌ ĨŝƌƐƚ ϱϬ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͘ /ŶĐůƵĚĞƐ DĂĐ Θ ŚĞĞƐĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŬŝĚƐ͘ WůĂǇŐƌŽƵŶĚ ĞƋƵŝƉŵĞŶƚ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ͘ & ƐŝŐŶ ŽŶ >ĞŵŽŶ ,ĞŝŐŚƚƐ ƌ͘ DŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽ – ǁǁǁ͘& ŚŽŵĞ͘ŽƌŐ WƌĞƐĞŶƚĞĚ ďǇ &ŽŽƚŚŝůů ŽŵŵƵŶŝƚŝĞƐ ƐƐŽĐŝĂƚŝŽŶ ;& Ϳ ĂŶĚ 'ƌƵĞƚƚ dƌĞĞ ŽŵƉĂŶǇ͘ The Orange Paseo gets mixed reviews from businesses and residents. Serrano Water District President Greg Mills, left, and Director Larry Pharris, Jr., right, gave U.S. Rep. Katie Porter (D-45) a brief tour of the new PFAS fa- cility built on the Serrano site in Villa Park by Orange County Water District. A grand opening ceremony will be held when the facility is completed. Photo by Tony Richards