Mayor Dan Slater (center) with (clockwise from top left) Mayor pro tem Arianna Barrios and Councilmembers Jon Dumitru, Kathy Tavoularis, Dennis Bilodeau, Ana Gutierrez and John Gyllenhammer

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Have you ever wondered what goes on at Orange City Council meetings?

Important decisions to better our city and announcements about our community are made at these meetings.  In this column provided by Mayor Dan Slater, we look at the highlights of recent meetings.

May 14:

1.    Certificates of appreciation were given to Orange High and El Modena High  student liaisons.

2.    Postponed demolition of Old Fire Station 1 on South Grand, pending a future neighborhood meeting and exploring additional options for use of the property after demolition.

3.    Appropriated funds for the rehabilitation of eight streets.

4.    Received our first citywide Sustainability Plan, created at no cost by Chapman University graduating seniors.

5.    Approved a cooperating agreement with Anaheim for the widening of the Orangewood Ave. bridge over the Santa Ana River and for a new Orange water transmission line under the bridge.

6.    Received a report and took public input on the proposed 2024/2025 budget.

May 28:

1.    Approved a new 48 single family 2-3 story small lot subdivision to replace the abandoned AT&T building at 901 East Katella Ave. (NE corner of Katella and Cambridge).

2.    Approved a private contract for “parking on street sweeping days” enforcement officers that will help keep the streets cleaner and bring in $1.5 to $2 million in annual revenue.

3.    Declared the two homes at 171 and 177 North Cypress St. as “surplus” and authorized the sale of the properties.

4.    Voted to add approximately $4.2 million in revenue enhancements to our proposed 2024/2025 city budget.

June 11:

1.    Voted to make approximately $4.1 million in cuts to the proposed 2024/2025 city budget.

2.    Accepted $3,000,000 in grant funding for the HUB Homeless Resource Center (near the police station), courtesy of     State Senator Tom Umberg and State Assemblyman Avelino Valencia.

3.    Held discussion and gave direction to staff on proposed sales tax increases to possibly be placed     on the November ballot.

4.    Adopted a new ordinance to address new neighborhood permit parking areas.

June 25:

1.    Voted to increase ground ambulance transportation rates to match those of the county.

2.    Voted to approve the annual update to the city’s Statement of Investment Policy for fiscal year 2024/2025.

3.    Appointed new members to the city’s Traffic, Planning and Design Review Committees.

4.    Heard a presentation of the new Experience Orange Shop Local Rewards Program.

5.    Approved a new ordinance allowing the transfer of development rights.  This has the potential of adding more parks and open space to the city.

6.    Passed the fiscal year 2024/2025 city budget.

7.    Held discussion on a proposed sales tax measure for the November ballot.  No consensus was reached.

8.    Renewed the contract for nighttime security services at all city parks. 

City Council Meetings 
2nd & 4th Tuesday  /  6 - 8 pm
Agendas are available the prior Thursday.