Indeed, by population we have grown ten- fold since December 28, 1971— when Irvine was incorporated as a City with a population of 17,000.

When I sat down to write this State of the City address, there seemed to be many ways I could approach the task. In the end, I have tried to frame my remarks against the backdrop of the essential elements that define our community. In simple terms, our Due to our master planning, each phase of City is in great shape. We’re financially growth has added new villages to our City. sound, we have a high degree of resident Turtle Rock, Shady Canyon, University satisfaction, and we’re nationally recognized Park, University Hills, Westpark, for the quality and diversity of our City. Woodbridge, Northwood, North Park—each and every village in Irvine has its own unique character and adds to the overall fabric of our community.

Turtle Ridge and Quail Hill, our newest villages in the southern part of our City, have established themselves as part of our network of well planned neighborhoods, and this year we will see Woodbury, our newest Irvine community take shape and become integrated into the Irvine landscape. Irvine

But we are much more. Irvine is proof of the old adage that the whole is much greater than the sum of its parts.

Indeed our success as a community owes to many factors and in my remarks this evening I hope to share with you a big picture perspective on the state of our City.

Irvine continues to be distinguished as a unique, dynamic and growing community. remains a premier community in Orange Our population is approaching 175,000. County and, as I often point out, nobody Irvine Mayor’s State of the City Address, 2005 2 lives in Irvine by accident. Our residents $7.7 million reserve for economic consciously choose to live in Irvine because uncertainties. And our innovative asset of our solid reputation for exceptional management plan has grown to $63 million planning, education, and open space and is structured to provide the fiscal resources, our public safety record and our resources necessary to support the long-term outstanding community facilities. maintenance and rehabilitation of our public infrastructure. And as we all understand, growth presents challenges — challenges we as City That is not to say that the state has not leaders—with the dedicated support of our reduced our revenues. They have. This year talented City staff—strive daily to address. alone, Irvine lost $2.4 million in anticipated It should be noted that thirty-three years revenues from the State, and will lose after our incorporation, “quality of life” is another $2.4 million next fiscal year. still cited as the primary reason people have However with the passage of Prop. 1A this chosen to make their home in Irvine. That past November, cities in will have speaks volumes about our historic greater protection from future losses of leadership, vision, and planning. Simply revenue to the State, and the State has put, the success of our City is reflected in pledged to restore $3 million to our City in our property values, and rooted in our 2006-2007. We will look to our community values. representatives in Sacramento to help secure our municipal interests on this and other important issues being debated by the legislature. I’m very pleased that, while our state representatives could not be with us this evening, their field representatives have joined us. It’s one of the ways they demonstrate that the state of our City is indeed a matter of importance to them.

In speaking with residents, I find that many believe it is their property taxes that primarily support local services and facilities in Irvine. In fact, only about 21% Maintaining the quality of our City is at the of our municipal revenues come from heart of everything we do. Our Irvine City property tax. So while Irvine holds the Government is a $100 million a year number one position on the Orange County enterprise. And just as a businesses profit- Assessor’s property tax role, those revenues and-loss statement establishes the baseline are largely redistributed by the State for for setting annual priorities, so too must we, other purposes. as a City, base our annual planning on our projected budget. By contrast, about 46% of our municipal revenues come from sales tax. For this I’m happy to report that, in a year that has reason, the vibrancy of our business and seen our State’s financial challenges impact commercial sectors is critical to our present cities throughout California, Irvine has and future ability to meet our high remained on a solid financial footing. Our community standards. With nationally current budget is balanced and includes a recognized business leaders like Broadcom, Irvine Mayor’s State of the City Address, 2005 3

Powerwave Technology, Gateway, Cannon, stakeholders. We are developing a strategy Verizon Wireless, Toshiba, Aramark and designed to guarantee that the needs of both Ford Motor Company headquartered in the businesses and residents in IBC are Irvine, our City is now recognized as a considered during the City’s development premier business address. review process.

The has a national With good planning, we are confident that reputation and has grown to reflect a broad IBC can reflect the best of form and function array of business enterprises from and allow for better options for those who manufacturing to retail, from high tech to live and work in the area. biotech... and everything in between. These large commercial areas on the periphery of our City anchor the larger Irvine business sector which includes our neighborhood retail centers, hotels and smaller medical, commercial and industrial properties.

And because we recognize the value of our business community to our City, we have long worked in partnership with the Irvine Chamber of Commerce to support Destination Irvine, their economic development program designed to help Our Irvine Business Complex near John attract new businesses to our City, as well as Wayne Airport continues to evolve as a other business development projects they mixed-use business and residential undertake. environment where 80,000 to 100,000 employees come to work each day. Our And while the Irvine Company can certainly City is currently engaged in a process take credit for providing most of the focused on the Irvine Business Complex to structures and physical resources to attract ensure that as a more dynamic mix of business to our City, it is the Chamber of development projects are considered for the Commerce and other business and area, we properly address the interests of the professional groups which put a face on the existing businesses and other IBC business community here in Irvine and work Irvine Mayor’s State of the City Address, 2005 4

to ensure that our local businesses have Our Public Safety department responds to access to information and essential tools to calls on a daily basis and works to help local support their success. businesses preserve their investment.

I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce Our public facilities, from parks and Jacquie Ellis, CEO of the Irvine Chamber of community centers to our 37 miles of bike Commerce and this year’s chairman of the lanes and 760 miles of sidewalk, are board, Bob King. Through our available for use. And here at the Civic establishment of the Hotel Improvement Center we provide a wide array of services District, resources are being invested to help to businesses from plan checks and building give Irvine a branded identity and support permits to programs that support “family- our local economy. friendly” work environments, help employees get Earned Income Tax Credits and support skill development and mobility for the disabled.

As a City, our efforts are directed daily at supporting the business community as well. With our workday population doubling as You might be surprised to learn that employees come to our City from approximately 750 people commute to and throughout Southern California to work, we from Irvine by rail each working day. Our must provide a high level of maintenance to Irvine Transportation Center (ITC) is the ensure that the over 1,500 lane miles of second most heavily utilized facility in the paved roadway in our City are well designed County — right behind the Fullerton station and safely traveled. — and offers Irvine residents and those who Irvine Mayor’s State of the City Address, 2005 5

work here a higher degree of mobility. So whether it is the upgrade of our 289 Design for our new 500-space, $7.8 million traffic signals to improve mobility through parking structure should be finished by intersections — a project we funded in 2004 November of this year, with construction and which will be completed over the next completed in October 2006. five years — or major road improvements including the Culver Drive realignment, the Later this year we will celebrate the 15th Jeffrey I-405 interchange, the Jeffrey Open anniversary of the ITC to which the com- Space Trail over crossing and the Jeffrey munity will be invited. This will provide an Grade separation set to begin this year, our opportunity to showcase our ZevNet Public Works Department is working daily program — a partnership with the National to ensure that Irvine remains a City on the Fuel Cell Research Institute at UCI, which move. allows for the coordinated use of electric vehicles by commuters at the ITC.

In conjunction with the Orange County Through this partnership we hope to begin Transportation Authority, we are also exploring applications for hydrogen fuel cell exploring enhanced “inter-city” transit via vehicles now in development. We recognize bus and the proposed Centerline Light Rail that mobility is a critical need for those who project that will reach our City at John live in Irvine or travel to — or through — Wayne Airport, and new opportunities to our City. provide “intra-city” transportation with the concept of a “Jamboree Shuttle” to serve the Irvine Business Complex now in the planning stage.

We are represented on the board of the Orange County Transportation Authority by three individuals. Our County Supervisor, Bill Campbell, is now the chair of the Orange County Transportation Authority Board; and our district representatives are Carolyn Cavecche councilmember from the City of Orange; and Mike Duvall, councilmember from Yorba Linda. I want to thank Mike Duvall for attending this

Irvine Mayor’s State of the City Address, 2005 6

evening and for braving rush hour traffic from Yorba Linda to be here.

As one of the few cities in Orange County that can be accessed by every major arterial as well as both of our County toll roads, we rely upon our representatives at the Orange County Transportation Authority to work in collaboration with our City Council and City staff to support transportation needs in Irvine and throughout the County.

There are other types of infrastructure As City leaders we work with University necessary to support personal and leadership to foster a positive relationship professional mobility throughout our between the campus and the community. society. One of the most important is And to the community, the University offers education. everything from medical facilities to a broad range of arts and culture, public lectures and 2005 will mark the 40th anniversary of the the opportunity to hear great national and establishment of the University of California international speakers. I see Liz Toomey, at Irvine. Six years before the City of Irvine Director of Government Relations for UCI is was incorporated, UCI made its debut. And in the audience. Let me express my until UC Merced welcomes it’s first class of appreciation for the commitment Liz and her students next fall, UC Irvine remains the team have made to work in a positive way to freshest face among the UC Campuses. ensure that what occurs on campus meets the interests of the community at large.

As many of you know, Chancellor Ralph Cicerone has been selected to head up the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. and will leave his post at UCI in just a few months. We wish you/him great success in your/his new position and hope your/his successor will continue the work you have done to strengthen the relationship between “town and gown” in Irvine.

But UCI does not stand alone when it comes UCI is currently ranked as the 12th best to higher education in Irvine. We are public university in America out of a field of fortunate to have , 631, and the 43rd best university overall out Concordia University and the El Toro of nearly 2,500. In addition to being the Campus of Cal State Fullerton as part of the largest employer in the City with a faculty of continuum of educational resources in Irvine 1,400, UCI now serves nearly 20,000 as well. Representing Irvine Valley College undergrads and nearly 5,000 graduate is Dave Lang, the President of the South students. Orange County Community College District

Irvine Mayor’s State of the City Address, 2005 7

Board. I am also pleased that President Jack Preus from Concordia University is here this evening as well. Each of these educational facilities help to expand the pool of well- qualified professional talent so desperately needed here in Orange County and throughout our state and nation.

Irvine is fortunate to be served by two local school districts — the Irvine Unified School District and the Tustin Unified School District. And excellence is the model at all our Irvine Community schools. I’m know that Dean Waldfogel, Superintendent of Schools for the Irvine Unified School District, had hoped to be here this evening Our institutions of higher learning are also along with members of the Irvine Unified partners in helping us engage on issues School Board, but unfortunately the school which touch us here in Irvine, but connect us district has their own meeting tonight. I’m to the larger issues we confront nationally very pleased that Francine Scinto is here to and globally. One such initiative, convened represent the Tustin Unified School District at Irvine Valley College, focuses on issues this evening. Our City Council has of Homeland Security, which is on the established liaison committees with both the minds of all Americans today. What we Irvine and Tustin School Districts to recognize is that Homeland Security is, at facilitate better collaboration on behalf of all the local level, about "Hometown Security." Irvine students. We are the front line. Through this initiative and our ongoing efforts to work with While local schools are not administered or individuals and agencies at the County, State funded by the City, Irvine partners with our and Federal level, we advocate for the local schools in many ways. Our joint use resources and tools necessary to ensure that agreement with the Irvine Unified School Irvine is able to meet all our public safety District is a model for how cities can plan and security needs now and in the future. parks and public facilities in ways that better serve our school population. Our City also But with all the accolades that we can works with the schools on public safety and justifiably extend to our local colleges and traffic circulation issues and provides all the universities, it is our K-12 education system crossing guards that serve community that truly provides the backbone to our schools. community and is indeed one of the primary reasons people choose Irvine as a place to And because community leadership is a live, work and raise a family. collaborative effort, we also lend our support to the Irvine Public Schools Foundation, which plays a unique and Irvine Mayor’s State of the City Address, 2005 8

important role in raising millions of dollars automobiles at University High School has each year to bridge the financial challenges benefited from these improvements. These faced by the Irvine Unified School District are not the big splashy events that capture so students can continue to benefit from art, headlines, but every day — here at City Hall science, music and smaller class sizes. I’m and out in the field — people are engaged in pleased that Tim Shaw, CEO of the Irvine addressing challenges around our City and Public Schools Foundation is here this by all accounts the improvements that were evening. made at University High School — both on- site and on the surrounding arterials — have There are a couple collaborations that came made a very positive impact and that is the to fruition this past year that I would like to kind of success that we must continue to highlight. First, after many years of strive for in all our efforts on behalf of the frustration and inaction, the longstanding community. traffic and circulation problems at University High School were finally addressed this year through a long, laborious but ultimately successful partnership between City leaders and our Public Works staff and IUSD leaders, the principal and parent volunteers at University High School and district facilities staff.

Another successful partnership we achieved with IUSD this past year is the new pool at Northwood High School. With a shortage of water space for school athletics, IUSD was able to find the resources to build a pool but not to maintain it. With the support of our City Council, the City will provide funding to maintain the pool for twenty years.

It is an example of what can be achieved In addition, the new William Woollett, Jr. when people come to the table focused on Aquatics Center at Heritage Park not only finding solutions. Having spearheaded the expands community swim space, it includes effort on the City side, it was a quiet but a dedicated pool for use by Irvine High significant triumph for me. Let me School for their excellent swim program. recognize Dr. Diana Schmelzer, Principal of

University High School whose tenacity was It is probably worth noting that when we critical to moving this project forward. Dr. dedicated the funds to rebuild the old Schmelzer will be retiring at the end of this Heritage Park Swim Complex back in 2001, school year, and I’m certain she will better the school and swim club community had enjoy her retirement knowing that the daily serious concerns about how they would interaction between students and Irvine Mayor’s State of the City Address, 2005 9

maintain their programs during the dedication of Phase II of Bill Barber Marine construction phase. Through partnership Corps Memorial Park right next to the Civic with local community associations and Center. friends as far away as SOKA University in Aliso Viejo, all programs continued uninterrupted until the reopening of the new Aquatics Center this past summer.

With its gardens, outdoor amphitheatre, accessible playground, stadium, sports fields and tennis facilities, it has become one of the most popular park facilities in the City.

And with it's monument and memorial to the (I know Dave Salo from the Novaquatics is five branches of our military, the park offers here tonight.) With our beautiful new the solace and reflection befitting a facility Aquatics Complex now fully operational, named for Colonel Bill Barber, a Marine and discussions are now underway about Irvine Medal of Honor recipient for bravery in the being the host City for the U.S. National and Korean War. Jr. National competitions this summer.

Irvine has had the distinction of producing a number of Olympic swim champions including recent Gold Medalists Amanda Beard, Aaron Peirsol, and Jason Lezak, who were on hand for the dedication of our new facility. Who knows what future Olympians will come from our local swim programs... but whether lap swim, water aerobics, swim lessons or free swim, the William Woollett, Jr. Aquatics Complex — named for William Woollett, Jr., Irvine’s first City Manager and a man whose vision helped shape our City — is a wonderful community resource that We also broke ground in 2004 on the Jeffrey will further help define and distinguish our Open Space Trail, a 325-foot-wide, 117-acre community. Mr. Woollett is here this corridor alongside Jeffrey Road that will evening. Please join me in recognizing him. extend between Portola Highway and the Santa Ana (5) Freeway and ultimately There were other new community facilities connect all the way south to the 405 dedicated in 2004. We added to our Freeway. This project, which has been in the inventory of community parks with the planning stage for many years, benefited Irvine Mayor’s State of the City Address, 2005 10

from broad community input which yielded relationship we as City leaders have had a vision of a woody, meandering space with with the Irvine Company throughout our hiking and biking trails and “heritage history as a City that Irvine reflects the best markers” which will help present the story of both the built environment and the natural of Irvine’s evolution from ranchland and environment. agricultural region to the present. We should also take a moment to pay a debt of gratitude to those citizen advocates who worked to shape the 1988 Open Space Agreement which set forth a plan for preservation and public dedication of what will ultimately be almost 14,000 acres of Open Space buffering our City — part of an interconnected natural preserve that will ultimately allow for uninterrupted open space that will extend all the way from Crystal Cove in Newport Beach up through our local Open Space, the , and extending through and well Soon our newest community park — Lower beyond the Cleveland National Forest. Peter’s Canyon Community Park, located in the northern part of our City at the corner of Culver and Bryan near the new Beckman High School — will be dedicated and open to serve the surrounding community.

One of our most exciting recent develop- ments is the partnership we have just estab- lished with the Irvine Company to expedite trail development in our Northern Open Space and expand public access to both our Northern and Southern Open Space.

It will, in fact, be the longest interconnected urban wilderness open space in America and one of the top twenty-five areas of biodiversity in the entire world. And our goal is to see greater public access and greater use by our local citizens for all the open space resources throughout our City.

This is all part of the vision articulated in our General Plan to “permanently protect

I want to thank the Irvine Company for their and preserve designated conservation and innovation and partnership. It can fairly be open space areas as development of said that it is because of the unique designated commercial, industrial, Irvine Mayor’s State of the City Address, 2005 11

institutional, and residential areas occurs.” coming months, the process for moving into It is the essence of master-planning. The the design and development phase will integration of the built environment and the begin. In partnership with those who natural environment. purchase the land, the Orange County Great Park Corporation board will work with the City to execute the appropriate agreements to provide for the dedication of the public lands and the generation of over $400 million in developer fees and assessment district revenues to begin to shape the vision of the Orange County Great Park at no cost to local taxpayers.

The leveraging of resources, both physical and financial, to create a community that provides a wide-range of housing opportunities, and an interconnected system of hiking and bike trails, community parks and facilities, programs for youth and seniors, and what is unquestionably the largest expanse of accessible open space within a city boundary anywhere in Orange I feel obliged to mention that until the sale County. of the El Toro Marine Base is complete and

the appropriate agreements with the purchasers are signed, we as City leaders will remain vigilant to ensure that continuing efforts by pro airport interests to undermine the Great Park Plan are thwarted.

While I was in Washington D.C. last week for the U S Conference of Mayors, I took the opportunity to visit the Pentagon and speak directly with Wayne Arnie, our point person at the Department of the Navy, to express how much we value their unwavering

partnership and commitment to the sale and With the addition of the proposed Orange transfer of the base and to our local authority County Great Park, the vision is even more over the development of the base. We have exciting. In January of 2004, the El Toro created a model that the federal government Marine Base was annexed into our City. In wants to be able to replicate in future base January of 2005, just this month, the closure processes. I also spoke briefly with Department of Navy put the land up for Norm Minetta, Secretary of Transportation, auction. With the sale of the base in the to thank him for his quick and clear response Irvine Mayor’s State of the City Address, 2005 12

to those who have sought his support in agricultural heritage of our region and offers undermining the Great Park Plan. world-class educational, cultural and recreational facilities and other resources to We are writing the final chapter of an epic benefit the community. saga and you have my pledge that as your Mayor, we will defend by any and all means This project has been written about necessary the interests of our City, of our nationally and internationally. It will be citizens, and all the citizens of Orange among the largest publicly driven projects in County to ensure that our future is not America. Professionals and experts in the defined or compromised by outside interests, area of design, sustainability, horticulture, and that the will of the people as expressed architecture and many other fields are through Measure W is protected and upheld. watching, engaging, inquiring and anticipating the evolution of this project. It We brought all our resources to bear to fight is incredibly exciting and we as a City have the airport. Now we must be just as a tremendous role to play through education dedicated to realizing the vision for the and collaboration to help advance the Great Orange County Great Park. Park vision and lay the best possible foundation upon which this long-held dream All five members of our City Council serve will be realized. on the Orange County Great Park board along with four public members — Dick As we begin a new year, the picture for our Sim, Miguel Pulido, James “Walkie” Ray City is both positive and exciting. We and Michael Pinto. remain among the safest cities in America and when measured by FBI statistics on violent crime we are the #1 safest city in America. To help ensure that we maintain our position, we will be adding 10 additional police officers over the next two years and 27 additional police officers over the next five years. These positions have been budgeted and built into our Strategic Plan and I want to reinforce that these are not replacements based on attrition, but additional personnel above and beyond our current staffing to ensure that as our City

expands we have the necessary resources to The current chair for the Orange County manage our public safety needs effectively. Great Park board is Larry Agran, my colleague on the City Council and a local We have also implemented a very successful leader who has distinguished himself for his geo-policing strategy that helps establish a advocacy on open space preservation and his direct relationship between the “Area leadership in fighting the El Toro Airport. Commander,”—those officers who are geographically deployed into one of our All nine members of the board are dedicated three policing sectors — and the to creating — for the benefit of all Orange community. County — a world class metropolitan park that reflects the natural beauty and Irvine Mayor’s State of the City Address, 2005 13

participation on the boards of the Irvine Public Schools Foundation and the Orange County Human Relations Commission.

Now I’d like to introduce the balance of our administrative team who are charged with carrying out the policies and initiatives set forth by this City Council.

First, I’d like to introduce our City Manager, Allison Hart. Dr. Hart has served as City Manager for six years and was Assistant Our three area commanders are here this City Manager prior to that time. After 16 evening and I’d like to introduce them now: years of service to the City she has Commander Jeff Kermode – Portola area announced her plans to retire her position (East of Jeffrey and north of I-5); later this year to pursue new opportunities in Commander Dave Freedland – Crossroads the private sector. There is no doubt that area (general center of the City); and Allison has presided over this City at a time Commander Jeff Noble – University area of dynamic activity and her leadership has (south of I-405 and west of San Joaquin been instrumental in guiding our strategy to Creek) stop the airport, in creating a framework that allows the development of the Orange I also want to recognize our public safety County Great Park without cost to local partners at the Orange County Fire taxpayers, in fiscal leadership for the City in Authority. When Irvine residents dial 911, implementing our Strategic Business Plan, they have access to state of the art public and for a variety of other achievements that safety resources for ambulance, paramedic, have helped maintain Irvine as one of the fire and police services. These are the men top cities in the nation. I want to take this and women we all hope we’ll never need, opportunity to publicly thank our City but who must be prepared to respond to any Manager, Allison Hart, for all her crisis at a moment’s notice. Please join me contributions on behalf of the City. The in recognizing the Irvine Police Officers foundation you have laid will help ensure who are here this evening, along with the the continued success of our City now and in Chief of the Orange County Fire Authority, the future. Chip Prather, and our local division chief, Matt Vadala. Next I’d like to introduce our Assistant City Manager, Sean Joyce. Sean transitioned This seems like a good time to introduce our from a top administrative position in South Director of Public Safety and Chief of Pasadena six months ago to join our Police, Dave Maggard. Chief Maggard has municipal family. Sean is “home grown” ably lead our police department for nearly you might say, having been raised in Irvine two years after coming to Irvine with over — a graduate of — and 19 years in law enforcement experience and after spending many years serving other who, in addition to his professional communities, Sean now gets to invest what responsibilities on behalf of our community, he has learned on behalf of the City of demonstrates his own commitment to Irvine. Sean not only works in our community partnership through his community, he is one of Irvine’s newest Irvine Mayor’s State of the City Address, 2005 14 residents, and like all city employees who camps to our Cultural Arts programs at the Civic have the benefit of living in Irvine, he is Center which include the Global Village Festival enjoying the experience of sharing the held each June and our September Sundays resources Irvine offers with his own family. Concert series.

Next I’d like to introduce Wally Kreutzen. Marty Bryant is our Director of Public Works. Wally has just recently joined our staff as His department has responsibility for building and Assistant City Manager responsible for maintaining all our roads and trails, managing oversight on municipal interests related to everything from traffic to storm water run-off and the Great Park development and related which, more than any other municipal department, matters. Wally is not new to our City must interface regularly with regional having previously served as Director of transportation agencies, Caltrans, our state Administrative Services and most recently transportation agency, and the Irvine Ranch Water as CEO of the Transportation Corridor District. IRWD Board Members Peer Swan, Doug Agencies. Reinhart and John Withers are here this evening which presents an opportunity for me to point out Another relative newcomer is our Director that the Irvine Ranch Water District is recognized of Community Development, Tina nationally as one of the most progressive water Christiansen. In addition to Tina’s agencies in the country because of their leadership administrative responsibilities in planning in conservation and recycling and who partner and development for the City, she has the with our City on storm water management and opportunity to help guide and shape our groundwater restoration. All of our maintenance policies on everything from cell sites to personnel from tree-trimmers to street sweepers sustainability, to ensure that our community are part of this department. Public Works also interests are properly addressed in all oversees the Irvine Transportation Center and, as I matters affecting planning, design and mentioned earlier, partners with the University construction in our City. Tina brings a and others to promote clean, efficient wealth of knowledge and experience and we transportation resources. Marty would probably are happy to have her. want me to point out that those orange cones are there for a reason and safety is an important Our Acting Director of Community Services is concern for those City workers who must work in John McAllister. Since the departure this past the street while you are driving on them. year of Deanna Manning after almost three decades of stewardship over our Community Rick Paikoff is our Director of Services department, John McAllister, former Administrative Services. It is Rick’s job to Deputy Director of Community Services, has oversee all matters related to finance and assumed leadership of the department which human resources. Rick’s department does oversees 14 community parks, 35 neighborhood not have all the bells and whistles that the parks, 97 acres of sports fields, 34 Athletic in- other departments have, but he and his staff fields, 37 miles of bike lanes, our southern open are responsible for making sure all the bells space at Bommer Canyon, our two senior centers, and whistles needed to keep the City the Irvine Fine Arts Center, the Animal Care running like a well oiled machine are Center and Irvine’s dog-friendly “bark-park,” and procured and paid for, and that we have 55 public facilities including the Irvine Civic talented personnel who are trained to handle Center and the Aquatics Center. The Community whatever bells or whistle needs handling. Services Department implements a very broad range of programs from kids club and summer Irvine Mayor’s State of the City Address, 2005 15

Next I’d like to introduce Jeri Stately, our • The 5th hottest town to live in on the City Clerk. Jeri and her staff are responsible West Coast by Money Magazine (Jan. for preparing, handling, filing, sorting and 2005) retrieving everything from our City Council agendas to the official documents that must • The 6th fastest growing city in the US be executed by the City. As the chief with a population over 100,000 by the elections official for the City, Jeri must also US Census Bureau News (2002-2003) handle all matters related to municipal elections, and just as she is doing tonight, • Tree City USA (National Arbor Day Jeri and her staff coordinate all the activities Foundation for the past 14 years) related to the organization and presentation of our City Council meetings. • Bike Town USA (Bicycling Magazine July 2004) Finally, I’d like to introduce our City Attorney Joel Kuperberg. It’s Joel’s responsibility to offer legal advice and advocacy on behalf of our City. Along with other attorneys from the firm of Rutan and Tucker, Mr. Kuperberg helps to ensure that the actions we take do not have adverse legal implications. I want to acknowledge how valuable Mr. Kuperberg has been on the legal side of our anti-airport fight and in supporting the work we have done to create the Great Park Corporation Board and lay a proper legal foundation to support the work we do both on the City Council and on the These accolades we add to a long list of Orange County Great Park Board. recognitions we have received over the years

including: I want to reiterate a point I made previously:

Irvine is not just the most successful master- • One of the ten best cities for women planned community in America, we are a by Ladies Home Journal (April 2001) $100 million plus municipal organization charged with responsibility for maintaining and enhancing the quality of life elements • One of the ten best places to raise a that define us as a City and which our family by Parents Magazine (Date citizens have come to expect. unknown – this was from the late 1970’ or early 1980’s) Our success has been nationally recognized. This past year we were honored as: • One of the 100 safest cities for pedestrians by the non-profit • The Helen Putnam Award, presented “California Walks” pedestrian by the California League of Cities in advocacy group (August 2002) the category of planning and the environment for our Incredible After meeting and conferring with mayors Edible Park project from dozens of other cities across the nation, I have an even greater appreciation for what Irvine Mayor’s State of the City Address, 2005 16

a privilege it is to serve as your Mayor. I am organizations, cultural groups, religious honored to preside over the City of Irvine at institutions and non-profit organizations. this exciting time. We are a city that reflects the benefits of good planning — not only in We are a City that features a spiritual our neighborhoods and villages, but in our community representing virtually every fiscal and strategic planning as well. religious denomination.

Our entire municipal organization plays the role of service provider and you, the citizens of Irvine, are the service population whose interests we strive daily to represent and address. We rely on many tools to communicate with you. Our City website is an award winning resource for just about anything you need to know. If you haven’t visited it lately, check it out at cityofirvine.org.

We are home to dozens of churches and synagogues, a Buddhist temple, the Orange County Jewish Community Center and the . We are, as former Mayor Agran defined it, an “international crossroads city” with residents from every corner of the world.

Each year, to keep citizens informed, we distribute an annual report. This year the City Council will consider implementation of an Irvine Annual Survey so residents will have better tools to communicate with us and help us set community priorities. That idea was brought forth by our Mayor Pro Tem, Sukhee Kang — an example of how new leadership brings with it new ideas and new opportunities. Our City is home to numerous cultural But we know that what we do on the civic groups, including the EKTAA Center for East side is also supported by the work of Indian culture and later this month the South literally thousands of “community partners” Coast Chinese Cultural Center on the north who are engaged through community end of town will open it’s doors. Irvine is associations, local sports leagues, service indeed a place where you can experience the world without ever leaving our City. And with such a diverse population, whenever Irvine Mayor’s State of the City Address, 2005 17

something happens in the world, it touches someone in our community.

In fact, as you may already know, the closed El Toro Marine Base, future home of the Orange County Great Park, will serve as one of only five polling places in the United States — the only site west of the Mississippi — for Iraqi nationals and Iraqi Americans to cast their vote in the first democratic election in Iraq.

The site was selected by the federal Civic participation, community partnership, government because of the large number of leadership and vision. These are the eligible voters in Southern California, but cornerstones and defining principles of our we have seen registration from many City. And as we move into this New Year, I western states. Our Congressman, am confident that this City Council will Christopher Cox and I conferred prior to the dedicate itself throughout the coming year to final decision and agreed that should the ensuring that Irvine’s future remains bright federal government choose El Toro for this and that what we achieve is achieved purpose, we would do all we could to together. support the effort. Our City staff, public safety personnel and even our local Thank you. Chamber of Commerce have partnered, not only with the national administration, but also with the Organization for International Migration who have the lead role in administering Iraqi elections, not only in the United States, but also in 13 other countries worldwide.

And I want to also remind you that right now we have a collaborative effort underway, supported by our City leadership but spearheaded and fueled by the passion of individuals and organizations throughout the community, to help the victims of the Tsunami in south Asia. Under the banner of “Irvine Cares,” efforts are underway throughout the City. There is also a citywide event being planned for Sunday, February 27th here at the Civic Center. You can find a listing on our City website at cityofIrvine.org.

Irvine Mayor’s State of the City Address, 2005 18