Welcome and thank you for electing me as your City Council representative. I intend to work for you, your neighbors and families in preserving what we love about our community. We have many challenges facing us and I encourage you to continue to share your ideas and concerns.

I will update this web site often to give you community news updates, community accomplishments and other points of interest.

Please feel free to contact me through this web site, directly at Jan@horton4yl.com or by telephone: 714-970-8821. Click Here to subscribe to my newsletter.

WE ARE GIVING THE SEWERS TO THE WATER DISTRICT????

by Jan Horton on February 7, 2010

So I am ignorant now? What is ignorant about wanting to preserve our communities resources or at least get something of value in exchange? Our sewer system is worth $9.8 M and the majority Council (Anderson, Rikel and Schwing) want to give it to the Water District for nothing. First, they devalue its worth by putting it in a negative revenue position, ignoring a voter approved 218 vote to raise the rates. Then they want to give it away. If the decision is made to give the system to the Water District, they would and should raise the rates.
It costs more than ~$20 a year to maintain the sewers. The difference is all of the Water District overhead will be calculated into their rates: new building, equipment, pensions, etc. Mr Schwing mentioned the water district is not collecting enough revenue from the west end rates to cover their costs. So what makes anyone think they would not raise the east end sewer rates?
Our City is a contract city, hiring outside contractors to do landscape and various maintenance projects, to name a couple. Our ability to provide services is generally more economical. The water district has not submitted a bid on the RFP (request for proposal) within our community for east end sewer maintenance for a while because they could not match the low bidder.
For our Mayor to say our consultants calculation on the costs to maintain the east end sewer rates is simply an accounting change is ludicrous! Because our past practice has not accurately determined the sewer maintenance costs, does not mean we should continue that practice. Currently the General Fund makes up the difference. BTW- we threw ~$30,000 away on that consultants work. Why bother to hire an expert and go out for a 218 vote if you are not willing to consider the results? And I am ignorant?

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Be a part of the California Legislative Re-Districting Solution

by Jan Horton on February 1, 2010

You made it happen!
Before the Voters FIRST Act, California lawmakers were charged with drawing their own legislative and Board of Equalization districts. But California voters changed all that when they authorized the creation of the Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission) in the November 2008 General Election. Now YOU can apply to serve on an independent Commission that will draw district boundaries for the state Senate, Assembly, and Board of Equalization.

Please check out General Information at: http://www.wedrawthelines.ca.gov/general_info.html and the Application and Selection Process at: http://www.wedrawthelines.ca.gov/application.html for details on this historic and exciting opportunity for YOU to help draw the lines. Check back frequently as new, updated information will continually be added. If you need a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the Commission selection process, please contact us, toll free, at 1-866-356-5217 or send a letter or e-mail specifying the accommodation you are requesting to: www.votersfirstact@auditor.ca.gov.

General information is available in six other languages: Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese at: http://www.wedrawthelines.ca.gov/toolkit.html

Opportunity for Public Comment for New Rulemaking Process

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YORBA LINDA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CASINO NIGHT

by Jan Horton on January 30, 2010

Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce “Mardi Gras” Casino Night, February 5, 2010. Tickets on salePre-sale: $30 each with $200 in chips or $40 at the door with $100 in chips. 7pm – 11pm. It is always a fun packed evening. To purchase tickets, contact the Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce at: 17670 Yorba Linda Blvd. Yorba Linda CA 92886, Phone (714) 993-9537

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ED ROYCE’S SECOND ANNUAL WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

by Jan Horton on January 30, 2010

The Second Annual Women’s Conference is on Saturday, March 27, 2010 and the keynote speaker is Lisa Ling. Lisa is probably best known for her roles as former co-host of The View television show, current host of National Geographic Explorer and special correspondent for The Oprah Winfrey Show, which has featured many of Ling’s investigative pieces, including a report on North Korea. This year’s breakout seminars offer women a variety of topics from strategizing for your retirement, to stress management, to a woman’s guide to nutrition. Please find additional information about my Second Annual Women’s Conference at www.royce.house.gov/womensconference.
I want to thank Ed Royce for continuing to host this event! I was able to attend the conference last year and it is definitely worth the time spent addressing issues concerning women.

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YORBA LINDA WATER BOARD APPOINTMENT

by Jan Horton on January 30, 2010

The Yorba Linda Water Board of Directors plan to appoint a new Board Member to fill the seat of Paul Armstrong, for a term extending until the end of Armstrong’s term – December, 2010.
Residents of Yorba Linda or Placentia, who live in the boundaries of the water district, are registered to vote and want to apply for the position, should send a letter of interest with their contact information and qualifications to the district by Feb. 5.
The board will interview candidates at its next meeting on Feb. 18. Board members are looking for someone who is interested in remaining in the position and committed to running in the November election.
Information: Annie Alexander, 714-701-3020.

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Yorba Linda Equestrian Feasibility Study 1-27-2010

by Jan Horton on January 30, 2010

A community meeting was held January 27, 2010 to present the Equestrian Feasibility study commissioned by the majority council.Approximately 75-10 people were in attendance. The study was narrow in focus, studying only one site within Yorba Linda, located on County property above the dam along side the lakebed. The results of the study are summarized as follows:

There are three available parcels in the lakebed dam area for potential development:
1. Along Lakeview: 3.3 acres
• There are three active oil wells on that pad that requires a service area left available for use
• Would potentially require widening of the pad adding to the cost
• Would potentially require a signal at Lakeview for safe ingress/ egress
• A member of the community asked how this area would be affected by the grade separation project planned for that area.

2. South of the dam: 4.4 acres
• There are two active oil wells near by
• The site is close to a school and residential property
• The area is in a valley that has limited air circulation and is not esthetically pleasing
• The site will require significant grading and slope easements

3. East of the dam off Ridge Way: 7.0 acres
• Near residential area with local street access
• Easiest to develop, less protected habitat concerns
• access issues: possible emergency exit or site for smaller stable/ arena usage

Some Key points made by the consultants and the community members who spoke:
1. This site overall is very challenging.
2. Two options were identified. Option one included a covered arena, stalls and various other amenities. Option two, a commercial option that housed a vet practice, an open arena and stalls
3. Costs range for Option one was: $5.5 M to $12.7 M; Option two was $3.5 M to 8.7 M
4. Where are the funds coming from? One speaker mentioned, “the same place we get the money for the ball fields”. The Country Riders President mentioned, there are grants and private donations available. No information was presented regarding a business plan or verified sources of funding.
5. About 20% of Yorba Linda horse owners board their animals outside Yorba Linda. At times, this is because they board where their trainer is located.
6. Orange County has lost approximately 2000 boarding stalls in the past 20 years
7. The 88 acre lakebed property is owned by Orange County Flood Control. Staff has indicated, if we wanted to build a project on a portion of the land, they County would require us to be responsible for the entire 88 acres. Due to the erosion and maintenance issues in the area, some speakers were concerned with the City becoming liable for the entire area.
8. In the 1990’s many equestrian facilities went bankrupt. The supply and demand for this type of facility is “squishy” and is adversely affected by the economy, usually it takes a longer time to recover once the economy improves.
9. The current trend: people are giving up their horses
10. There is limited outlook for an elaborate plan. If this plan would go forward, best to stick to basics.
11. Resident concerns:
• Need to preserve the lakebed, avoid over-utilization of the area adding to the erosion problems the area is already experiencing
• Access points onto residential streets for trailers, trucks and increased small streets.
• Safety of horse trailer ingress and egress on Lakeview.
• Questioned why only one site was studied. This was the majority Council direction.
• Why is this being funded with City funds for a small % of the population?
• Why not just cover the Paxton center?
• The past owner of one of the El Cajon stables, stated his stables were not filled to capacity and it was difficult to break even. Stated the cost to run and maintain 125 stalls would require stall fees of about $600-700/ month to break even. He was not in favor of this project being City owned and operated.
12. Some residents stated they would move their horses from outlying stables if we had a facility in Yorba Linda.
13. Yorba Linda has two stable facilities: one is private requiring lessons for horses boarded there. The other is public and is not full to capacity.

To View the Power Point made at the Community center regarding this study go to:
http://tinyurl.com/yjl6y3u
To View Prior posts regarding this topic on this site go to: http://tinyurl.com/lhflr8

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Thanks for all you do!

by Jan Horton on January 21, 2010

Upon the suggestion of a Yorba Linda resident, I am creating a new blog to recognize good deeds done within our community. This is your opportunity to recognize someone for acts of selflessness, accomplishment, service and/or dedication to a person or our community. As one person said, ” There is too much negativity in this world and too many times good deeds go unrecognized.” Lets change that in Yorba Linda!

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SCE Emergency Information

by Jan Horton on January 19, 2010

SCE Preparation Steps
With the National Weather Service predicting a series of winter storms bringing heavy rain, high wind conditions, flooding in the burn areas and snow, SCE is taking the following precautionary steps to prepare for possible customer service interruptions:
· SCE and contract crews are mobilizing as outages occur and will work around-the-clock to restore power in areas that might be affected.
· SCE storm response personnel are on standby to support service restoration, ensuring that the utility has available inventories of material and equipment for repair work.
· Additional SCE customer call center representatives will be activated to help answer customer calls in the event of increased outages.
· Customers can report outages by calling (800) 611-1911.

Safety Reminders
With high winds, heavy rain and snow forecast in the coming days, SCE wants to remind its customers to be prepared in case of weather-related outages and suggests:
· If you know someone who is dependent on electrically operated medical equipment, make back-up power arrangements in case a power outage affects that equipment.
· Watch for traffic signals that may be out. Approach those intersections as four-way stops.
· If you see a power line on the ground, stay away. Do not touch it or try to remove it.
Call SCE or local law enforcement.
· Make sure you have a battery-operated radio and flashlights. Check the batteries to make sure they are fresh. Use flashlights for lighting during a power outage; do not use candles because they pose a significant fire hazard.
· Do not use equipment designed for outdoor cooking indoors. Such equipment can emit carbon monoxide and other toxic gases.
· If you use a generator, place it outdoors and plug individual appliances directly into the generator, using a heavy-duty extension cord. Connecting generators directly to household circuits creates “backfeed,” which is dangerous to repair crews.

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IN MEMORY OF THE HONORABLE PAUL ARMSTRONG

by Jan Horton on January 18, 2010

It is with great sorrow to announce the passing of Honorable Paul Armstrong on January 8, 2010. Paul was a long-time community volunteer and was honored as Yorba Linda’s first “Citizen of the Year”. Most recently, he had been serving on the Yorba Linda Water District Board of Directors and the Yorba Linda Veterans Memorial Board of Directors. For those wishing to honor Paul’s contribution to our community, the family has asked that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the Yorba Linda Veterans Memorial Foundation. Their web link is: http://www.ylvma.org/

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Yorba Linda Gals win at the Western National 4-H Round-Up Horse Classic Competition

by Jan Horton on January 17, 2010

Great News! The team from California was number one at the Western National 4-H Roundup Horse Classic Competition held January 6 – January 10 in Denver Colorado.
This is the FIRST & ONLY TIME in 90 years that California as been the TOP TEAM!!!
The California Team consisted of sixteen California 4-H members, ages 14 – 19. There were 32 states from the USA represented at the National competition, as well as Canada. Four volunteer coaches also attended the event, to chaperone and to coach.
Three competitors took first place, winning scholarships and trophies. They were Alyssa Perez and Shayla Duncan (Yorba Linda, Orange County) and Christine Allen ( San Luis Obispo) Alyssa and Shayla are members of the Yorba Linda Kountry Kultivators 4-H club ( Club has been existed over 30 years in Yorba Linda)
shayla-tisa-alyssacalifornia-national-team-2009

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