Author: Roger Bloom

Irvine’s first City Council with more than five members took office on December 10th in front of a celebratory overflow crowd at the Irvine City Council Chamber.

It is the first seven-member Council — with six Councilmembers elected by district and the Mayor elected by a citywide vote — in the City’s history. It’s a change approved by Irvine’s voters in the March primary election this year.

The City of Irvine will be paying about $60,000 less each month for the electricity that runs its many operations. This savings is a result of a vote by the City Council to opt-down to the lowest-cost plan offered by the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA).

The agency stated the request was being made because of steep increases in the cost of renewable energy in the past 12 months.

Julie Zeoli has been named Irvine’s first-ever City Librarian, as plans ramp up for the City to take over its library services from Orange County next year.

“I am deeply honored to serve as Irvine’s first City Librarian,” Zeoli said. “Public libraries are truly the anchor of a community and contribute to essential public programs and services. I look forward to working with the talented team here, developing a world-class library system, and fostering ideas and experiences that will enrich the lives of Irvine residents.”

Ivine is cycling into the future this week with the opening of a first-in-the-City Class IV protected bikeway along 1.25 miles of Cadence — linking Portola High School with the Great Park Neighborhoods to the west.

The new bike lane is open to all bicycle types, including e-bikes.

On November 14th, city and state officials, community leaders and the Irvine Eagles Special...