State City OF THE 2024 Irvine Barclay Theatre March 19, 2024 | 5 p.m.
cityofirvine.org
Irvine City Council
Mayor Farrah N. Khan
Vice Mayor Larry Agran
Councilmember Tammy Kim
Councilmember Mike Carroll
Councilmember Kathleen Treseder, PhD
State City OF THE 2024
Good evening, and welcome to the 2024 State of the City Address. I am honored to stand before you as mayor of this great city, and it is my privilege to share with you the progress we have made, the challenges we have faced, and the vision we have for the future. Can you please give a warm round of applause to the students, our next generation of leaders? Thank you! I would like to take a moment to express my gratitude to my City Council colleagues for their dedication and service to our community. The work that we do would not be possible without their tireless efforts and commitment to making Irvine a better place for all. I would also like to welcome our city commissioners, committee members, state and regional elected officials, military leaders, and international officials joining us today. Thank you for your efforts to enhance and support Irvine…California’s 13th largest city, the fastest growing city in the United States, and America’s greatest master- planned community. I would also like to introduce and thank City Manager Oliver Chi. Our Assistant City Managers, Michelle Grettenberg, Pete Carmichael, and, Brian King … And a special thank you to our Police Chief, Michael Kent. …and of course …I would be remiss if I didn’t extend heartfelt appreciation to the City’s Communications and Engagement team, led by Director Melissa Haley, who contributed and coordinated all facets of today’s event. Additionally, I would like to recognize our City Department Directors, and our incredible staff for keeping Irvine the best place to live…work…and play. At this time, I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Irvine Barclay Theatre, this is the third year they have hosted the State of the City Address! Thank you!
A very special thank you to our Presenting Sponsors… UCI and UCI Health! And to all our sponsors who graciously supported this community event; thank you so much! And most importantly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family for their ongoing love, and support of me, in my role as Mayor of this wonderful community we call home. In my first State of the City, I stood before you, virtually, as COVID-19 saturated our community…region…state, and the globe, and spoke about a number of initiatives such as the Irvine Cares Campaign, COVID 19 task force all with the focus of providing the support our community needed during this unprecedented time.
Since 2020, there has been immense change, growth, and opportunity. Last year,….I spoke about the incredible generational success that Irvine has experienced...transforming an idea into reality and evolving into a world-class city offering residents and businesses the best quality of life. Serving as your Mayor, it has been my distinct pleasure to bring new resources to our City, protecting our quality of life, fighting for working families, combatting climate change, and fostering the legacy of the state’s 13th largest city—the City of Irvine...our City. Our City’s success is a testament to the contributions of each and every one of our community members, both past and present.
Tonight, I am excited to share the state of our great city.
My legacy as your Mayor is intertwined with the fabric of our city. Legacy, to me, means leaving Irvine better than I found it, ensuring it is a place of opportunity, innovation, and inclusivity. It means building a city that not only addresses today’s needs but anticipates tomorrow’s challenges. Legacy means encouraging curiosity. Legacy means breaking the mold and creating new and unique opportunities that will last for generations. This legacy is not mine alone; it belongs to all of us. Together, we’ve built a City that stands as a beacon of what is possible when a community comes together with vision, compassion, and determination. Our commitment to enhancing the quality of life in Irvine has never been stronger. We’ve nurtured our parks, championed diversity, and fostered community engagement, ensuring that Irvine remains not just a place to live, but a place to thrive. With quality of life comes financial stewardship. Our strategic approach to fiscal health, budgeting, and resource management has allowed us to navigate economic uncertainty… while providing unmatched services and programs. Our professional and innovative
State City OF THE 2024
approach demonstrates our commitment to fiscal responsibility, allowing for City programs and services to remain a core responsibility. I am proud to report that the City remains financially strong, with a balanced budget and a contingency reserve of 25%. Most recently, the City saw an increase in revenues generated by sales tax, and sales are up. Let’s keep investing in ourselves, and keep our tax dollars local. Irvine continues to remain in an excellent position. As we move forward, we will continue to prioritize fiscal responsibility and make smart investments in our community. As the 13th largest City in California, and one of the top ten fastest-growing Cities in the nation, Irvine is on a trajectory aimed at greater advancement. We have grown more than 45% in the last decade. This is a testament to our strong and vibrant community and reflects our growth and prosperity. It is no secret that people want to live in Irvine. We are becoming a City that serves as an inspiration to other cities due to our innovative master planning that emphasizes sustainability, green spaces, and community- oriented design. Irvine’s success in creating a high quality of life, with top-tier educational institutions, a thriving economy, and low crime rates, serves as a model for effective city management and development. Additionally, our commitment to environmental preservation and the integration of technology in public services sets a benchmark for forward-thinking and livability. With this growth, we continue to have a seat with the Big City Mayors Coalition, where Mayors from the 13 largest cities in California advise on local issues that directly impact our communities. Just this past year, Irvine secured funding to support regional coordination and develop capacity to address homelessness. Addressing California’s homeless crisis continues to be the number one priority for the Big City Mayors. Additionally, through our participation, we have secured
over $1.6 million dollars to support jobs for Irvine’s youth, jobs for those who wouldn’t ordinarily be engaged with local government, creating a pipeline for future opportunities. As a member of the BCM, I am committed to advocating and fostering relationships to bolster our city’s support at both state and federal levels. This Coalition plays a pivotal role in spearheading initiatives addressing critical priorities, such as homelessness, mental health, the fentanyl crisis, and retail theft. Together, we are actively engaged in crafting impactful proposals to tackle the most pressing issues facing our state and local communities. Most recently, this group advocated a humanitarian initiative ….Prop 1, which could tap into existing revenue to support homelessness and those recovering from mental health and substance abuse issues. Coupled with these issues, we are also embarking on a journey to update our Master Plan, the cornerstone of our City’s growth and development strategy. Crafting a vision for Irvine’s future over the next two decades is no easy feat. Our focus has been on refining our goals and policies to enhance Irvine’s quality of life. The General Plan Update balances the preservation of our residential villages with the transformation of selected areas to accommodate more housing. These updates propose residential expansions in the Irvine Business Complex and in the Greater Spectrum Area, with an increase in residential density near the Irvine Transit Center in the Great Park Neighborhood. While we continue the discussion surrounding the master plan and growth, public safety runs parallel with these efforts. Our City’s safety is paramount. In partnership with the community, Irvine was recognized for its 18th year as one of the safest cities of its size. And people are taking note of the innovation coming from the Irvine Police Department. The City of Irvine received more than $2.2 million in funding to implement a Real-Time Crime Center and introduce a fleet of all-terrain and on-road electric vehicles for policing service in and around the Great Park.
State City OF THE 2024
This all-electric fleet will not only allow us to enhance safety in and around the park, it will allow us to do so while reducing carbon emissions. The Real-Time Crime Center will further enable officers, crime analysts, and dispatchers to gather and communicate critical information in real-time. It serves as a crucial tool for our first responders, ensuring their safety while addressing crime and broader quality of life concerns. We thank Senator Min and Assemblywoman Petrie- Norris for their support in advancing our safety and environmental goals. Innovation continues to be at the forefront of IPD. Last year, the Irvine Police Department launched an innovative and inclusive program, the Immersion Sabbatical Program. A first-of-its-kind among law enforcement agencies, this program allows our officers to experience the cultures of Irvine residents through visits abroad. Officers traveled and lived with host families in countries such as Ghana, Ecuador, and India. This hands-on experience fostered empathy, broadened perspectives, and built stronger, more meaningful connections between our police force and the community. And In terms of technological advancements, since 2018, our department has led the way in deploying drone technology. The Irvine Police Department’s Drone as a First Responder program marks a groundbreaking progress in our dedication to improving public safety and quick response. The drone program is an important advancement that is available for immediate deployment in emergencies. In our continuous effort to enhance community safety, we’ve focused on the emerging issue of E-Bike safety with our partners, including the Irvine Unified School District. Together, we’ve developed a safety program for middle and high school students who use electric vehicles for school commutes. This initiative has been incredibly successful, bringing more than 1,450 participants to our first three safety presentations.
While we address the critical issue of public safety, we must also recognize the interconnectedness of our community’s well-being. From ensuring safety to addressing the unhoused, we understand that fostering a secure and inclusive environment means extending support to those most vulnerable among us. As we embark on a journey towards fostering community resiliency and stability, we collaborated with several partners to ensure every resident has access to safe and secure housing, even in times of hardship. The Eviction Diversion Pilot Program is a collaborative of City-funded service partners, in partnership with United Way and 2-1-1 Orange County, that offers referrals for rental assistance, legal services, and fair housing services to low-income households, with the goal of preventing evictions and addressing homeless prevention collectively. As we have grown and our demographics have changed, we must continue to evolve and remain agile to ensure we are providing our community the holistic support it needs. We pivoted and reassessed the services we provide to our community. This is all coming together under the umbrella of the City’s Office of Health and Wellness where we will offer a continuum of care. As part of that venture, the City of Irvine remains at the forefront in Orange County with its exceptional commitment to affordable housing, boasting over 5,000 units - the highest in the county. What sets Irvine apart further is that 80% of these units are designated for households earning less than 50% of the Orange County area median income, with a significant portion reserved for veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities. This is a testament to our City’s innovative planning and policy development efforts. Looking ahead, Irvine is set to complete two more affordable housing projects within the next 18 months - the Cartwright with 60 units, and Los Olivos with 51 units, bringing our total to 5,259. Additionally, we have several hundred more units in the pipeline, promising even further progress.
State City OF THE 2024
We aim to build on our success, reinforcing our commitment to developing a balanced and inclusive housing plan. The City has seen growth on a number of fronts. Behind the scenes, there’s a hive of activity focused on various sectors including healthcare. As you move about the city, you’re witnessing the tangible results of our commitment to providing top- notch healthcare services and facilities, a testament to our proactive approach in ensuring the health of our community. In healthcare, we’ve focused on both expanding access and enhancing quality. Our partnerships with local healthcare providers have brought cutting-edge medical services to Irvine, ensuring that all residents have access to the care they need. But our work is not done, there is so much more to do. We have to ensure the fundamental right to access healthcare, especially as it relates to the welfare of seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and children, including mental health services. We need to be that beacon of hope. Irvine continues to be a hub for business innovation. By fostering a supportive environment for startups and established businesses alike, we’re ensuring sustainable economic growth. Our business incubators and enterprise zones have been instrumental in this regard, driving innovation and job creation. Irvine serves as a crucial hub for job creation and economic vitality in the region. With its diverse array of industries ranging from technology and biotechnology to healthcare and education, Irvine offers abundant employment opportunities for residents and attracts skilled professionals from around the globe. The presence of leading companies, research institutions, and the University of California, Irvine, as the top employer sustains existing jobs and fosters innovation and entrepreneurship.
Irvine recognizes the value each and every job brings
to the community. We’ve worked hard to advocate for our hotel workers, our unions, and our youth to ensure everyone has a seat at the table and an opportunity to earn a fair wage. Additionally, we continue to welcome new businesses, with more than 3,200 business opening this past year alone. Irvine truly has become the economic hub of Orange County, featuring a landscape that includes medical, biotech, automotive, energy, fiber communications, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing. Every single day WE ARE the job center with our daytime population doubling, or even tripling with the master plan at the forefront. During my time on this City Council, I’ve emphasized the importance of transportation and have advocated for enhancing mobility access. This spring, Irvine will introduce a shuttle service – the Irvine Connect. Linking the Northwood and Woodbridge communities to the Irvine Station, passing through Yale Avenue, Barranca Parkway, and Alton Parkway. This service offers a convenient way for people to reach their homes, workplaces, and schools and provides connections to broader transit networks. This project, which was shaped by the community, represents a significant step towards Irvine’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality. In 2021, the City of Irvine embarked on developing its first Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP). The CAAP will set ambitious but achievable emissions reduction targets for the City. The CAAP builds upon Irvine’s previous steps towards climate leadership, creating a climate-smart City for the future. Just last year, the City of Irvine installed more than 170 new EV chargers at the Great Park alone. The City is committed to working with the community to reduce vehicle emissions and make switching to EV affordable and accessible to all.
State City OF THE 2024
Irvine’s goals are only achievable through partnerships that mark our community’s sustainability journey. Through collaborations, such as the one between the City and OC Goes Solar, we have witnessed positive impacts, with educational workshops and over 180 homeowners who are now empowered to embrace solar energy, resulting in substantial cost savings and environmental benefits. This endeavor and other collaborations continue our momentum toward a cleaner and greener future. The City of Irvine has received the 2023 Beacon Leadership & Innovation Award by the Institute for Local Government for the Cool Irvine program, which empowers residents to take climate action through neighborhood education on environmental issues. It also received a Platinum Level Spotlight Award for efforts to reduce natural gas use as an agency by 38% over the past year. …and for the eighth consecutive year, the Irvine’s park system ranked top 10 in the nation, fourth in the country and first in California. Since its incorporation in 1971, the City of Irvine has worked to balance development and the natural environment. Our parks and open space are a vital part of our community, bringing people together, allowing us to reconnect with nature, and improving our physical and mental health. As our City grows, we remain dedicated to the preservation of natural open space, parks, and trails. While future growth is important, the preservation of Irvine’s legacy is paramount. Just this last year, the City reopened the renovated Bommer Canyon Cattle Camp as a hiking destination, picnic area, and scenic event facility. And while one third of Irvine continues to be preserved open space, we look for opportunities to increase the amount of open space, and are undergoing a feasibility study to create better access for the City’s southern open space areas.
In response to community concerns about odors from All American Asphalt, the City purchased the plant to transform the site into open space with interpretive areas, native gardens, outdoor classrooms, community programming space, and a trailhead. The Gateway Preserve is set to become a new hub for hiking, biking, and enjoyment of the outdoors, while also serving as an entry point – a gateway – to the vast 20,000-acre Northern Open Space Preserve. It will connect to Limestone Canyon, Black Star Canyon, and extend to the Cleveland National Forest. The location will serve a broad range of outdoor experiences for residents and visitors alike, as it sits adjacent to residential neighborhoods, the Native Seed Farm, and some of the region’s most thriving avocado orchards. We’re excited to announce that we’re nearing the start of a major capital project: extending the Jeffrey Open Space Trail (JOST) by 1.5 miles, crossing over the I-5 Freeway from Barranca. This project features a striking bicycle and pedestrian bridge, stretching 1,200 feet over the I-5 freeway. This vital trail connection, will link the Santa Ana Mountains and Cleveland National Forest to trails leading to Quail Hill, Bommer Canyon, and Crystal Cove. Work is set to begin on the bridge later this month with a special ground breaking ceremony. …and we continue to break ground...Marking the 25th anniversary of the MCAS El Toro closure in 1999, the City is now in the next phase of development at the Great Park, known as the Great Park Framework Plan. This development phase introduces over 300 acres of public space, featuring lakes, gardens, live music venues, museums, expansive meadows, and dedicated areas to honor veterans. Grounded in history and driven by community, this new phase is set to offer a broad spectrum of recreational and cultural activities, enriching the lives of Irvine residents and visitors from the broader region. Our staff are diligently progressing with the necessary demolition and grading to bring this vision to life.
State City OF THE 2024
And more is coming! Earlier this month, the Irvine City Council and the Great Park Board approved the setup and operation of the temporary Great Park amphitheater, Great Park Live, preserving live music in Irvine! The venue will also serve as a community and entertainment hub, with plans for a variety of cultural programming, entertainment, and food and beverage offerings. The venue will be a home for community events, providing an area for neighbors, attendees, and visitors to enjoy refreshments during sports tournaments or a day spent at the park. In tandem with the development of Great Park Live, our team is advancing the world-class permanent amphitheater. Late last year, staff was directed to devise plans for a permanent amphitheater capable of hosting up to 10,000 attendees. We are now selecting an architect for the design, appointing an operator to manage the venue, and cementing our partnership with the Pacific Symphony as the City’s resident orchestra. This work underscores our commitment to enriching Irvine’s cultural landscape and providing unparalleled experiences for our community and visitors alike. Everything I mentioned today, is not possible without the unwavering commitment of our dedicated city staff; the backbone of Irvine and our greatest asset. We’ve worked tirelessly to ensure our workforce is diverse, skilled, and motivated, reflecting the community they serve. It’s a testament to our belief in the power of community and the importance of public service. Work is not only contained within the walls of city hall. A healthy budget, compassionate programming, meals for our seniors, well-maintained roads, clean landscapes, stop signs, children playing on safe and inclusive playgrounds, and an opportunity to make memories… You may not see this work being done…but our staff is carefully and thoughtfully instituting unmatched services to ensure our community experiences an exceptional quality of life.
As Mayor of this City, it’s an honor to reflect on the journey we’ve undertaken together since I joined the City Council in 2018. A period rich with moments that not only challenged us but also highlighted the strength and spirit of our community. Some of my most cherished moments include attending CERT Graduations, watching our D.A.R.E. program thrive, fostering relationships with the incredible staff I mentioned, participating in and organizing food drives, supporting the 2/11 Marines, delivering flags to our veterans, creating initiatives to support our small businesses, empowering the youth of our community whether the High School Youth Action Team, or the local troop of Girl Scouts, or visiting Clotilda, honoring one of the most senior members of our community on her birthday every year. It is impossible to capture it all… And this is what I want to leave you with as part of my legacy. The Irvine Accelerator. It is envisioned to be an innovative public-private partnership between the City of Irvine and Sunstone Management. It will create a strong, interconnected, inclusive, and successful entrepreneurial ecosystem in Irvine. Attracting and retaining the brightest ideas, people, and commercial ventures to our City. Moreover, as we all know, the innovation and start up ecosystem doesn’t equitably provide capital and support for women entrepreneurs. That’s why I initiated and supported the establishment of Innov8, the first innovation hub led by women for women. Innov8 will be established later this year, housed at Karma Automotive, and run by CerraCap Ventures’ nonprofit arm, CerraCares. The creation of an Irvine Accelerator will help put Irvine on the map as a premier location for individuals seeking to find and establish high-tech and future-focused business ventures. This public-private partnership with Sunstone Management is a major milestone in strengthening economic development in Irvine, facilitated through my establishment of an Innovation Council in 2021.
State City OF THE 2024
The Irvine Accelerator’s mission is to create jobs and drive economic growth in the region by providing pre-seed capital and business assistance. Some key objectives for the Irvine Accelerator are to provide: Space for early-stage startup companies to connect with resources and build capacity to secure venture capital funding. Mentorship and technical assistance to help early-stage startups to scale. An opportunity for investors to identify and invest in early-stage startup companies. With immense pride… I stand before you this evening to share that the Irvine Accelerator will take its foundation and we expect to curate our initial cohort of companies later this year. Thank you for being a part of my journey….part of my legacy...we are the roots... Now, I am so pleased to welcome our friends from Chinese Dance Company of Southern California … performing an excerpt from Pan American Multicultural Dance Gala, a production that originated here in Irvine… Let’s give them a very warm welcome. As we move forward, let’s continue to build on this legacy, embracing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Let’s shape a future that honors our shared achievements and reflects our common values. And with that I leave you another piece of my legacy, our next generation of future mayors. Please join me in recognizing these remarkable students, who represent the future mayors of our community and are destined to lead with vision, integrity, and compassion. Thank you, Irvine, for the honor of serving you. Together, we have achieved much, and together, we will continue to achieve even more.
cityofirvine.org
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