New Look for Brea’s Official Website
Last week, Brea’s official website, cityofbrea.net, launched with a newly redesigned look. The website continues to offer extensive City information and is available to access from any device, anytime. The same information and functionality remain, but with a modern, streamlined look. A prominent search bar is featured on the homepage to help citizens find information quickly. Residents and visitors can still use Tell Us to submit online requests, and sign-up to receive City information via email or text through Notify Me. Websites for the Fitness Center, Curtis Theatre, and Art Gallery also received new looks. For the first time, the Brea Police Department launched its own dedicated website. It has never been easier to stay informed and stay connected to the City by frequently visiting cityofbrea.net.
Brea Gallery Exhibit Opening
The opening reception for the Brea Gallery’s next exhibit, Nature vs Nature, takes place this Saturday, January 29 from 5 – 7 p.m. For this exhibit, a small group of 12 artists were invited to meditate on the beauty of the natural world, and humanity’s impact on the planet. The opening reception is free to the public.
To close out 2021, the Gallery hosted its fourth and final exhibit of the year, Drawn to Paper: Fresh Perspectives in Mixed Media. The show was the first of its kind at the Gallery and was enjoyed by over 500 visitors of all ages. After the exhibit closed on December 10, the Gallery closed to the public so staff could return art, repair walls, and prepare to accept new artwork for Nature vs Nurture.
Engaging Brea Residents in the Districting Process
Brea continues to engage the public in the process of transitioning from at-large to by-district elections for members of the City Council. In order to gather community feedback on how the final voting district map should be drawn, on January 12, the City hosted the first of two District Mapping Workshops. Participants attending in-person and via Zoom listened to a presentation given by the City’s districting consultant, Dr. Justin Levitt from National Demographics Corporation. Dr. Levitt spoke about the districting process and how it impacts the City of Brea. He also educated the community about districting rules and goals and how to define neighborhoods and Communities of Interest within the City. Dr. Levitt then provided tutorials on various mapping tools available for the public to use in order to determine how they think the district boundaries should be drawn, as well as how to submit their own maps for City Council consideration. After the presentation, participants visited various workshop stations to create their own draft maps and engaged in further conversations about the process.
To promote upcoming community engagement opportunities pertaining to the districting process, information is currently being displayed throughout the City. Large posters are on display at six large bus shelter signs and four kiosks in Downtown Brea. These posters are located in various areas throughout Brea to increase community engagement about the districting process. City staff also created and mailed a districting postcard to every home and business in Brea, highlighting project details and different ways to get involved.
The districting process continues!
The next two Public Hearings required to transition to by-district elections will take place on February 1 and February 23. Both hearings will be held at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. In addition, the next District Mapping Workshop will take place at the Brea Community Center on February 12 from 10 – 11:30 a.m. The public is encouraged to attend and provide their feedback.
Skate Park Upgrades to Begin Next Month
The Skate Park Upgrades project, located at Arovista Park, is set to begin construction on February 7.
In late 2015 the City hired design consultants to lead outreach efforts, and prepare a concept plan and construction documents for the Skate Park upgrades. Two community outreach meetings were held that included neighborhoods adjacent to the project, skaters, and members of the Parks, Recreation and Human Services Commission. Additionally, an internal working group was formed with City staff from the Community Services Department, the Communications & Marketing Division, the Police, and the Public Works Departments to provide additional insight. The final concept plan for the Skate Park Upgrades was developed around the feedback received from the community outreach meetings and the internal working group.
The project will impact every element of the Skate Park and include new skate elements, maintenance repairs, and concrete and drainage work. It will also involve the installation of an ADA ramp, stairs, railings, retaining walls, and the reconstruction of the slope to the east of the Skate Park. Construction is expected to last six months with an anticipated completion date in August 2022.