[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6034740,"mediaKeyId","5110906-27caf8561ffb818ad147fc0f295972a5","parentId",5110906,"title","City council receives AB 481 report, green-lights parking program and directs studies on libraries and disability services","audioSeconds",3291,"startMs",10721000,"endMs",14012000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5110906-27caf8561ffb818ad147fc0f295972a5&start=10721&end=14012","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5110906-27caf8561ffb818ad147fc0f295972a5/thumbnail_10721000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6034740/Irvine/Orange-County/California/City-council-receives-AB-481-report-green-lights-parking-program-and-directs-studies-on-libraries-and-disability-services","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6034740-cf28c526b205ab95ea620a115892f2a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136852&Signature=dZOzgXa0yeJKVSaucNEcZxtSepdkqC6uElaQMSsnBt4Fzl2YN-eR60-cCmZg54noeaguz6Coqgs~d2MAfCFzoojqv~zJjtJPwYE5E-tyvdjSFXZHC~-Y5oy6qmDLdwy-94Ns~~lzKq-vI1DazUGO79w6Er1ishqVlglgiIHGSlhlVKmVCUf0aza7SG03q4xHyM9Y61ybjVLHotOoUi0PU9femSVcX7wbBivedahc5RvM-5Y8WUGa2ta6o~jZ4Km2nwfh4wTKldzS7WVLuK4enlaGMHiLTPAnshicLF7RCQa95GHE28I0HaBxUCRFAHcHC2JxtYTJzM2-ngFIK584yg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Irvine, CA","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","At its April 8 meeting the Irvine City Council took a series of procedural and policy actions, most by unanimous or near-unanimous votes.

Military-equipment report (AB 481): The council received and filed the Irvine Police Department’s annual report on military equipment use under Assembly Bill 481. Lieutenant Daniel Hall told the council the department deployed defined equipment during several high-risk incidents in 2024—armored vehicles used in suspicious-person and barricade incidents, less-lethal 40 mm sponge rounds in a park incident, a noise-flash diversion device during a human-trafficking takedown, and extensive unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) deployments for searches and extended operations. The department reported no policy violations and no public complaints; the report was received 5-1 (Council member Carroll voted no on the procedural receipt).

Preferential parking districts: Council adopted an ordinance (first reading by title) and a resolution that formalize a citywide program allowing neighborhoods to create preferential parking districts. The program requires a resident petition (an initial $500 processing fee and two-thirds support in the affected area), online permit management, resident permits priced at $95 (valid two years) and guest permits at $40, and expanded enforcement supported by license-plate-reader technology where communities choose to implement it. Council approved the ordinance and implementing procedures unanimously, 6-0.

Library/community-center feasibility: Council member Liu asked staff to analyze available options for a permanent library and community center in District 1; the motion was amended to direct staff to prepare a citywide analysis of library locations and adequacy. The council approved the direction unanimously and asked staff to return with findings (120-day target).

Disability services expansion: Vice Mayor Mai asked staff to explore options to reimagine and expand disability-care programming with an emphasis on supporting families and the transition of youth to adulthood. Council directed staff to report back within 120 days; the motion passed unanimously.

Consent calendar and other routine items were approved earlier in the meeting by roll call 6-0.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING\tApr 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","In addition to larger items, the council received the required police military-equipment report, approved a citywide preferential-parking policy, and directed staff to analyze permanent library/community-center options and to explore expanded disability services.","taxTitle","Irvine , Orange County, California","taxId",2924,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6034744,"Council approves $900,000 in state homelessness funds for ‘Irvine Cares’ housing pilot targeting local families and students",2312,7815000,10127000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5110906-27caf8561ffb818ad147fc0f295972a5&start=7815&end=10127","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5110906-27caf8561ffb818ad147fc0f295972a5/thumbnail_7815000.jpg","/articles/6034744/Irvine/Orange-County/California/Council-approves-900000-in-state-homelessness-funds-for-Irvine-Cares-housing-pilot-targeting-local-families-and-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6034744-cbf42effed492dae7029cbd9483f2aa2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136852&Signature=Bo2lqdbYLXhZrc2kp~rc-Qy7uHEj3YPIvyCtx~~DKdFftTwWSLh1gFwBRTUCtWiyeIMkm3eqADdaNt9GblCVR3eqXJ0YubapmSoeF-0kQOa1Qb7~n5q3cf79xUgEs7nCUe3s3c3NrfArl~xeD92QddFVKwtsoWqMXQNgkVVcQpciT9lk0zJ~JGE-JJqdK4WDtpCUIATBrDyTrf4ceUie1PyiZ5GFQqheRd2sqLuuJdWgA7oiPLBUHhjkxG8R5GG7O4xus8ZLHMhfyryfu2w8A5NIi-iFCFIGYSKR-t9SCMweMNTs2kUHBmscYrMh4pp5~KseYPsQQ-SR7YwPn-JVtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Irvine City Council voted 5-1 on April 8 to allocate $900,000 in state Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HAP) funds to launch Irvine Cares pilot programs targeting local at-risk populations.

Health and Wellness Director Heather Dionne outlined three initial initiatives under the Irvine Cares umbrella: a Family Housing Assistance pilot that would place up to 25 families with children currently identified as homeless or housing-insecure in rent-restricted Irvine Company apartments and provide case management and supports; a Housing for Higher Learning pilot to assist up to 25 at-risk students at Irvine Valley College with rent stipends and case management; and a Roadmap to Success mentoring program for youth enrolled in Irvine Cares, to be run in partnership with Stand Up for Kids.

Dionne said Irvine’s initial outreach to the Irvine Unified School District identified 103 students in 88 families who met McKinney-Vento criteria. The Irvine Company has agreed to provide 25 existing apartment units restricted for the program’s initial phase. The staff requested $500,000 for the family program, $250,000 for the higher-education pilot over four years, and $150,000 for the youth wraparound program; council approved the staff proposal to appropriate $900,000 in HAP funds and to pursue regulatory changes to prioritize Irvine-connected populations for future affordable housing.

Vice Mayor Mai and other council members praised the collaborative approach with the Irvine Unified School District, Irvine Valley College and nonprofit partners. Council member Carroll voted no, citing concerns raised during the meeting; the motion passed 5-1.

City staff said HAP round 4 and round 5 funds must be spent by mid-2027 and mid-2028, respectively, and that additional HAP round 6 funds were expected. Staff will return with more detailed implementation plans, timelines and agreements with partner agencies.","The council voted 5-1 to allocate Homelessness Assistance and Prevention (HAP) grant funds to three pilot programs—supportive family housing, student housing, and a youth wraparound program—and to pursue policy changes to prioritize Irvine-connected residents for future affordable housing.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6034748,"Residents urge council to keep and upgrade Central Bark; city says staff will re-engage community",609,1054000,1663000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5110906-27caf8561ffb818ad147fc0f295972a5&start=1054&end=1663","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5110906-27caf8561ffb818ad147fc0f295972a5/thumbnail_1054000.jpg","/articles/6034748/Irvine/Orange-County/California/Residents-urge-council-to-keep-and-upgrade-Central-Bark-city-says-staff-will-re-engage-community","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6034748-21cb0d9b77c89ecc09c7eb685ca7f11d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136852&Signature=QfEe4~optTah4vO70ExVcdLMzQtDLQT8et2hQpRbKb30qRX4-PPgirrGlpyn4YvGX3hSHXYQ4gCE5NSF6ZY64MVw2TBsbZT81q3kARLFkWuv1ibG9svMWRCuryNvuqfwpxVmdHxOIBZEI--9n9RfCLxPfifGgTAAyi8ZhYC0semG~gfinD3oXMt34Whn2aTPuD-4I-UCzngFAkqxXSemQI54E~6WV25v7KTTGigUk3~IsaBnNPuEdTEzuGc0YSZMUNj-WdR0bG7rDtu9m~4ZhzYO1K~Wx7DVathrTyjFRjlAWYyGqY3BsstmVF927ogA-Um~~6Q8Yp8kfwRlidvc-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of Irvine residents told the council on April 8 they want the city to keep and upgrade Central Bark—the city’s dog park at Central Park—rather than move it to Oak Creek Park. Speakers said the dog park is a community hub that supports owners, seniors and social ties, and they urged the council to restore a previously planned relocation and associated improvements.

Several residents representing Orange Tree and nearby neighborhoods said staff originally proposed moving the dog park to a site near Oak Creek to accommodate other city projects. After outreach to nearby homeowners, staff explored alternatives. City Manager Chi told the council staff had identified ways to avoid relocating the park by reconfiguring parking and construction staging, and that staff is proposing a capital-improvement allocation in the FY 2025–27 budget to upgrade Central Park with new turf, shade and drainage work.

Speakers said the change had been poorly communicated and that some community groups opposing the original relocation plan were not contacted. Others raised environmental and safety concerns about one proposed site, which sits adjacent to an Orange County hazardous-waste disposal property, and cited noise and traffic impacts for homes near Oak Creek.

Several residents praised Council member Carroll for meeting with neighborhood representatives and asked for continued one-on-one engagement with staff. The city manager said staff had consulted some organizers of the dog-park support group but that opinions had clearly shifted; he said staff will reengage broadly and bring a refined proposal back to council.

No formal vote was taken on the dog-park matter at the April 8 meeting; council members said the issue would be agendized for future discussion and that staff would notify affected neighborhoods and groups as work continues.","Residents from several neighborhoods pressed the council to retain and upgrade the city’s Central Bark dog park instead of relocating it. City staff said they had developed an alternate plan to improve Central Park and will reengage affected residents before decisions are finalized.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6034753,"Irvine council sends modest landscape-and-lighting assessment increase to property-owner vote after heated debate",3157,4691000,7848000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5110906-27caf8561ffb818ad147fc0f295972a5&start=4691&end=7848","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5110906-27caf8561ffb818ad147fc0f295972a5/thumbnail_4691000.jpg","/articles/6034753/Irvine/Orange-County/California/Irvine-council-sends-modest-landscape-and-lighting-assessment-increase-to-property-owner-vote-after-heated-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6034753-88c5aec9690ed48d845e4eefb19dfb13/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136852&Signature=VSLmMPPKS78ZnnpTnd-66My-OwLoMs4JETAb0tBUO-hkRrD~8dIj5Rr6V6NYSYVCpOyKeE-KmpPryWKQvl~MOp~ek7ZT7KFzz5uW4dm4X4ictT4pnGKSVD5U3Hpetmc0UHeBt5z5j2xrwrL3zc5ioeIWGje0y-7r2DjY0u2BDKe-NlXyOJxTnS-jEq3X5DfgtbRFMFHIul97rMcQlu5kIXvpLeWbodrL1MV5JRMrvvIPscc-DwUanku5nJtVFyeqq2fi~ZMJPHgbNfdL173EG~WqpvSquQe028mznUJX78xcXBEpD~FZ9t6F6VcMvXrDVfPYZkN3YR0DvrYqLJZcOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Irvine City Council voted 4-2 on April 8 to begin a Proposition 218 ballot process that would let property owners decide whether to raise the city’s landscape, lighting and park maintenance (LLPM) assessment. The council approved staff’s three-step package to mail ballots, hold a public hearing and certify results.

Council debate centered on whether to ask property owners to pay an incremental portion of a projected $4.6 million shortfall in the LLPM fund. Supporters said the modest assessment would keep park and landscape maintenance at current service levels; opponents said the city should avoid asking property owners to cover costs resulting from policy choices, including the city’s shift to electric landscaping equipment.

The council heard a data-heavy staff presentation explaining that the LLPM assessment district, established by voters in 1997, covers landscaping, lighting and park maintenance. Administrative Services staff said rising costs—chiefly minimum wage increases, electrification requirements and general inflation—are outpacing assessment revenue. Staff proposed an adjustment designed to raise roughly $1.3 million of the projected $4.6 million increase and to keep the assessment at a modest monthly amount for single-family homeowners: Zone 1 would rise from $5.35 to $6.04 per month and Zone 2 from $11.28 to $12.17 per month.

Council members questioned the drivers of the cost increases and the effect of the city’s electrification policy. Council member Carroll asked whether the electrification requirement—shifting landscape contractors to electric blowers and mowers—was driving costs; staff said higher equipment and operating costs borne by contractors were a significant factor among others. Council member Liu urged caution about unintended effects of electrification if contractors rely on portable gas generators to recharge batteries.

After a first vote failed, the council agreed to reconsider. On the second vote the motion carried 4-2, with council members Goh, Liu, Tresider and Mayor Agron voting yes and Council member Carroll and Vice Mayor Mai voting no. The council’s action does not itself increase assessments; it starts the Proposition 218 process that will mail ballots to property owners and require a majority of weighted returned ballots for any increase to take effect.

If approved by property owners, staff said the general fund would still cover the remaining share of the cost increase; the proposed assessment is intended only to reduce future general-fund pressure.

The council set a schedule consistent with the Proposition 218 timeline: ballots would be mailed, a public hearing would be held and ballots tabulated, and the council would adopt a resolution to levy the assessment if the weighted majority of ballots returned favors the increase.

The council requested additional materials before the balloting, including a visual map of benefit zones and details on how other jurisdictions handle similar assessments. Staff said they will provide those documents to council and the public before ballots are mailed.","After hours of testimony and a late reconsideration, the City Council voted 4-2 to start a Proposition 218 process sending a modest increase to the landscape, lighting and park maintenance assessment to property owners for a mail ballot.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City council receives AB 481 report, green-lights parking program and directs studies on libraries and disability services

Council approves $900,000 in state homelessness funds for ‘Irvine Cares’ housing pilot targeting local families and students

Residents urge council to keep and upgrade Central Bark; city says staff will re-engage community

Irvine council sends modest landscape-and-lighting assessment increase to property-owner vote after heated debate