Thursday, December 21, 2006

Some Christmas treats for Yorba Lindans

This columnist took a quick peek into Santa’s gift bag, and here’s what he’s delivering Sunday night to a few people who live or work in Yorba Linda:

Parks and Recreation Director Steve Rudometkin: Another citywide celebration to oversee, sandwiched between July 4 festivities and October’s Fiesta Day.

Schools Superintendent Dennis Smith: One hundred barrels to collect rainfall to supply Yorba Linda High School with water, so the campus will open as scheduled in Fall 2008.

Veteran hardware store entrepreneurs Art and Becky Brown: Many lease renewals on their historic Main Street business location, which finds room to stock everything.

Mayor Allen Castellano: A gavel that gives equal time and treatment to speakers who praise or criticize the City Council or individual members.

Friends of the Library President Ed Murphy, Book Corner chair Dick Bevers and FOL volunteers: Another successful year raising funds for library programs, including a best-ever start with the Jan. 27 used book sale in the library’s community room.

Political consultant-for-hire and Villa Park resident Dennis DeSnoo: An E-ticket ride out of town, courtesy of Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Redevelopment.

Caustic council critic Nancy Rikel: Her own public access cable TV show on Tuesday nights, alternating with the council meetings.

Main Street businessman Louie Scull: A completed Old Town revitalization project.

Municipal Water District director Brett Barbre: A free ticket to the next Lobsterfest.

City Clerk Kathie Mendoza and her gracious staff: Fewer initiative, referendum and recall petition signatures to count in 2007.

Arts Alliance founder Gabriella Rollins: A cultural arts facility in the first phase of Old Town revitalization.

Friends Christian Schools Superintendent Rick Kempton: A groundbreaking for the private high school on Bastanchury Avenue sometime soon.

Town Center Blue Ribbon Committee member Pat Nelson: A seat on the Planning Commission.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Phyllis Coleman: A 5-0 council vote on the next city-chamber contract.

Former downtown developer Greg Brown: A chance at another Town Center proposal--but without high-density units, repositioned historic structures and underground parking.

The Town Center Blue Ribbon Committee: Consensus on an Old Town plan that preserves the city’s low-density heritage and earns wild acclaim from residents.

Traffic Commissioner Lee Snyder: The community’s best wishes when he moves to his walnut and apple farm in Atascadero next year.

Cartoonist Kara Dannenbring: A new pen to continue her incisive visual commentary in the Yorba Linda Star.

Downtown residents Jack and Jane Adams and Matt Guptill: Peace of mind now that their properties aren’t subject to eminent domain by the city’s Redevelopment Agency.

Yorba Linda Water District Board of Directors: A successful relocation from the longtime Yorba Linda headquarters to a new facility on Richfield Road in Placentia.

A FINAL NOTE

Santa has a special gift for the citizens who organized Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Redevelopment, which achieved success with the Right-to-Vote initiative, the Town Center zoning petitions and the support given to two new council members:

A place in the pantheon honoring the community’s historic grassroots groups, right next to two early and effective organizations, the Yorba Linda Homeowners Association and the Steering Committee for Incorporation, which were organized in 1960 and 1961.