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City Manager's Report August 26, 2022

Welcome Vic!

The Community Development Department has a new Administrative Intern ready to serve the community. Victor Mireles, who also goes by Vic, is the department’s new intern. He is currently attending Cal Poly Pomona as an Urban & Regional Planning student concentrating in Resiliency, Sustainability, and the Environment. He anticipates celebrating his graduation in May 2023. He brings with him experience working as a Capitol Programming Intern for the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and a Community Development Intern for the City of Walnut. On his off-time, Vic enjoys watching movies, shows, and spending time with friends and family. Vic looks forward to serving and interacting with Brea's community.

Brea Olinda High School Landscaping Project

On August 1, the Brea Resource Center partnered with Brea Olinda High School (BOHS) and performed a light landscaping project in front of the high school’s administration building. The students took time out of their summer break to clean their school campus. With the start of the fall semester, these students displayed their school spirit by beautifying their campus. A special thanks to Brea Olinda High School and its students for all their hard work and dedication.

Volunteers Improve The Tracks at Brea Trail

It has been a busy month for the Brea Resource Center and their volunteers. Recently, they assisted with the spread of mulch on The Tracks at Brea Trail. The volunteers endured hot temperatures in the morning to maintain The Tracks, where residents enjoy partaking in outdoor fitness. A big thank you to the volunteers for braving the warm weather to help improve the aesthetics of The Tracks at Brea Trail.

Eagle Scout Service Project at the Brea Senior Center

The Brea Senior Center was the lucky recipient of an Eagle Scout Service Project completed by Scout Wynston Lam. For the last year, Senior Center staff have been working with Wynston as he diligently created a set of 24 cubbies for seniors to place their belongings in, while they enjoy the center’s exercise classes.

Previously, seniors had to place their belongings on the floor or in another room of Pioneer Hall without supervision. The new cubbies will provide a safe space for their belongings and clear up valuable floor space for seniors to exercise without worry. The City of Brea would like to thank Wynston for all his hard work. Wynston is excited about the positive impact his project brings to the Brea senior community.

Brea Gallery's Summer Art Camps

In collaboration with the Brea Community Center, the Gallery hosted a summer arts camp for kids ages 6 - 11. Students spent the week with instructor Lucia Henry, learning how to use pastel chalk, sculpting ceramic birds, painting ice cream cones, and drawing dolphins.

It was great to have enthusiastic artists in the Gallery who also enjoyed viewing and getting inspiration from the professional artwork on display. The Gallery is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday noon to 5:00 p.m.

City of Brea's National Night Out

National Night Out returned to the City of Brea on Tuesday, August 2. The Brea Police, Fire, Public Works, and Community Services departments gathered in Downtown Brea for a fun-filled night with the community.

Families participated in light-hearted, fun activities at each booth along Birch Street which included interactive games and raffles. The infamous water dunk tank made its return, and community members were excited to dunk a few of the Brea Police Department’s staff. Everyone had the chance to check out emergency vehicles, equipment, and watch two K-9 demonstrations. National Night Out was a success and it was great to see the community enjoy it.

Brea Fest – Food, Drink, Music, and Art Festival

The City of Brea’s 34th Annual Brea Fest occurred on Friday, August 12, throughout the Brea Civic & Cultural Center and part of Randolph Street and Birch Street. The spotlight was on the arts for the evening as the Brea Art Gallery and the Curtis Theatre showcased art projects, demonstrations, and live performances which included Brea’s own Wildcat Marching Band and the Brea Olinda Cheer Team. The community was thrilled to be back in person for the first time since 2019. It was a great way to end summer.

In addition to the 19 participating restaurants, there was an added market row with new shopping opportunities. The market row also had additional seating and games which established a unique festival ambiance for the community to enjoy. This year there was an interactive adult lounge and game experience which included mini golf, beer pong, and laser tag. Thanks to the generosity of local restaurants, numerous volunteers, and City staff who helped make this an amazing event. Save the date for Brea Fest 2023 on August 11.

Brea Skate Park at Arovista Grand Re-Opening

Last fall, the Brea Skate Park at Arovista closed to undergo major renovations and upgrades. The City is happy to announce that the park is set to re-open on Saturday, September 10 at 9:00 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. There will be giveaways from Vans Shoes, Identify Boardshop, and The County Project.

The renovation impacted every element of the Skate Park. New skate elements were added, maintenance repairs were made, and concrete and drainage work was done. An ADA ramp was installed, along with stairs, railings, and retaining walls. The slope to the east of the Skate Park was also reconstructed.

The Skate Park renovation was a multi-year process that included design consultants, extensive outreach efforts, and the involvement of multiple City departments. The final concept plan for the park incorporated community feedback that the City received from community outreach efforts.