Brea’s 19th Annual Inner Coastal & Watershed Cleanup Day
The City’s Public Works Department held its 19th Annual Inner Coastal & Watershed Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 17. Over 70 volunteers removed 800 pounds of debris from the Brea Creek Channel, west of the Downtown area. This annual event is a great way to support a healthier watershed.
Excited to Serve the Community
Brea is proud to have talented, customer-service-oriented staff and would like to recognize the following individuals who have been promoted or recently hired in the Public Works’ Engineering Division.
Ryan Chapman started with the City in March 2020 as Principal Civil Engineer. He worked on a variety of development projects, such as smaller tenant improvements, and quickly advanced to larger development projects. More recently, Ryan worked on Brea 265, a 1,100-unit multi-tract housing, and the Brea Mall expansion. In addition to mastering development projects, he became an integral part of the department’s budget process, developed the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP), and assisted in backfilling several vacant positions in the division. As of September 18, Ryan was promoted to Assistant City Engineer and is now supervising and running the division’s day-to-day operations.
Kristen Kaake joined the Engineering Division as a full-time Administrative Clerk II. Kristen has a background in teaching but has spent the past several years working as a production and logistics coordinator for a manufacturing company. Her professional experience, skills, and friendly customer service are an excellent fit to serve the community.
Joanne Mae Raneses was hired as the department’s Assistant Engineer. Joanne is currently a certified Engineer-in-Training (EIT) for the state of California. Before joining the City, Joanne worked as a Civil Designer for a civil engineering consulting firm. Her skills and experience are a great asset to the City.
Wade Whitman is another excellent addition to the City as a Management Analyst I. He joined Brea from the City of Fullerton where he worked in accounts receivable. Wade is eager to serve the community with his friendly smile and a can-do attitude.
Assistant Engineer Angelica Flores also recently joined the Public Works team. Her previous work experience is from the City of Pasadena in the department of transportation. She graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a degree in Civil Engineering and holds a GIS certificate from Rio Hondo College. Angelica is thrilled about making a positive impact through her work.
Please say hello and congratulate these outstanding staff members when you see them at City Hall or in the community.
Brea Gallery Exhibit Extended
Due to popular demand, the Brea Gallery is pleased to announce that its current exhibit has been extended. Pure Unadulterated Joy, set to close on September 16, will now be on view in the Gallery until December 4. The closing reception for this show has also been rescheduled to December 4. This bright and whimsical collection of contemporary artwork features 11 artists from all over the country. Now, more people will have the opportunity to enjoy this sugary experience before it goes away for good.
Stop in to see this exhibit Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 5:00 p.m. To learn more about this exhibit, visit the Gallery’s website.
Brea’s 6th Cycle (2021-2029) Adopted Housing Element
On September 8, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) certified the City of Brea’s 2021-2029 Housing Element, which is the City’s eight-year housing strategy that addresses local housing needs—identifying the sufficient number of developable land suitable for residential use to meet the City’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation. Brea’s RHNA housing needs for the 2021-2029 planning period was forecasted at 2,365 units, distributed among four income groups. The Housing Element also includes various programs that implement the goals and policies identified in the document.
The Housing Element update process was a two-year community-based process, which included multiple activities and opportunities for the Brea community to be involved and provide input. Brea is the 6th City in Orange County to receive HCD’s certification on the Housing Element, a considerable accomplishment and win for the community.
Birch Hills Golf Course Two-Day Closure
The Birch Hills Golf Course, driving range, and clubhouse will be closed Monday, September 26, and Tuesday, September 27, for its annual fall course maintenance. The fall maintenance closure has occurred in the last few years and is the most efficient and safe means to get maintenance completed on every hole. The tee time system will not allow times during the closure dates. The primary maintenance activities during the closure include green aerification, tee scalping, overseeding, and top dressing. In addition, deep cleaning at the clubhouse is scheduled, drainage and irrigation projects, and additional seeding of the driving range and roughs. Restrooms at the clubhouse will remain open for those using The Tracks at Brea trail.