Brea and Placentia are overhauling local laws centered on short term rentals like Airbnb in an effort to curb rowdy parties, reduce overcrowded parking and noise complaints in neighborhoods – common concerns from residents throughout Orange County.
Placentia officials are requiring permits, capping the number of people staying in a short term rental and rolling out a buffer zone to limit the number of Airbnb’s in neighborhoods.
In neighboring Brea, officials are hiking fines, going from $100 for a first violation of the city’s short term rental laws to $1,500 – an increase officials say will motivate Airbnb owners to follow regulations in the local pilot program that kicked off earlier this year.
Political spending in the OC Board of Supervisors race is heating up ahead of the June 2 primary – an election that could determine if Democrats hold onto a majority of the board, or Republicans retake the majority.
A local Congressman and veteran leader are creating an advisory panel focused on clinical psychedelic therapy for veterans struggling with PTSD after a presidential executive order opened the door to such treatments and as federal legislation to codify it is being introduced.
Santa Ana is on track to become the second Orange County city to mandate employees monitor self-checkout stands at large retailers like pharmacies and grocery stores – a move retail union officials say increases safety for workers and reduces theft, while grocery industry officials say the law will raise consumer prices.
A host of critical student programs at Cal State Fullerton are also facing funding shortfalls in the upcoming fall semester after the committee that allocates student fee money faced a wave of new funding requests – jeopardizing legacy programs like the nationally recognized speech and debate team and music programs.
Program advocates say the committee has long failed to prioritize funding for existing programs and instead tried funding all student programs, while university officials said the committee had to determine funding for a host of new programs, adding a task force is expected to study the issue.
Despite some residents demanding a new traffic signal at a busy intersection in Fullerton, city council members narrowly rejected the $650,000 proposal as they face an expected $13.7 million deficit in the city’s upcoming budget year.
Officials in Irvine are also grappling with budget deficits as council members scramble on how to best cut spending and drum up revenue while they face an expected $6 million spending gap this year that could balloon to a $47 million deficit in five years.
While officials grapple with projected budget deficits, Irvine City Council members are considering overhauling how voters elect the city council as some officials eye ranked choice voting – an election method used in places like San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley.
After OC Supervisors told the county’s animal shelter to follow its strategic plan, OC Animal Care officials released a report highlighting the progress – but some former volunteers and animal advocates are questioning just how effective the shelter’s plan is.
Seal Beach residents could soon have easier access to parking permits as local officials look to overhaul the application process in order to curb overflow parking throughout the small coastal town.