Yorba Linda’s city officials have been given approval by the City Council to begin negotiations with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for a new five-year contract for law enforcement.
While the current pact doesn’t end until June 30, 2023, Assistant City Manager Dave Christian told council members that it’s “appropriate to consider entering into a new agreement in the coming months, since considering other options requires significant noticing requirements.”
The council also has approved a 4.4% cost increase for the final year of the current contract running from July 1 through June 30, 2023, for an estimated payment of $13.5 million, at the same service level as the past year.
Most of the $570,465 price increase – about $400,000 – will go toward the purchase, maintenance and data storage costs related to new body cameras to be worn by deputies, as well as in-car video in the patrol vehicles supplied for use in the city.
Councilman Gene Hernandez, who retired in 2006 after eight years as police chief in Chino, praised the addition of body cameras to the gear worn by deputies, labeling the change “proactive” and “impressive.”
Hernandez, whose 34-year law enforcement career included service in Fullerton and Orange, also said, “When there’re complaints lodged, it goes a long way in cleaning that up for the deputies themselves.”
The contract calls for 42 full-time department employees costing some $12 million and 12.9 regional and shared employees costing about $244,493. Patrol and motorcycle deputies account for 25 positions. Hours of service provided for the year are estimated at 2,088.
The county department serviced the city since incorporation in 1967 through 1970, before the city began a 42-year association with the Brea Police Department. The county again won the city contract in 2012 and began service in 2013.
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Councilwoman Peggy Huang is the city’s second sitting council member to run for election as a Superior Court judge. She’s one of five candidates for the court’s Office 30. The position is one of nine judicial races on the June 7 ballot with no incumbent running for re-election.
Huang was the top vote-getter in her two elections to Yorba Linda’s council in 2014 and 2018. She lost a bid for a seat in the House of Representatives, running fourth out of seven candidates in the March 2020 primary election in the 45th District.
Her opponents in the judicial race are Michele Bell, Alma Hernandez, Andrea Mader and Benjamin Stauffer.
In 2000, John Gullixson, who served three terms as a council member (1990-2002), lost a two-person race for judge for Office 1 of the Superior Court to Marc Kelly.
Jim Drummond is a longtime Yorba Linda resident. He gives his opinion on local issues weekly. Send e-mail to [email protected].