City Council Examining Ways to Address E-Bike Dangers
On October 22nd, the City Council voted unanimously to take another stab at dealing with the...
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Author: Roger Bloom
A New Era Dawns in Irvine with a New City Council
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.
New Mayor Larry Agran, re-elected Councilmember Mike Carroll, and new Councilmembers William Go, Melinda Liu and James Mai took their oaths and joined incumbent Councilmember Kathleen Treseder on the Council dais.
These six Councilmembers will be joined by a seventh and final colleague after a special election next April 15th to fill the Council seat vacated by Agran upon his elevation to Mayor.
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.
OCPA Asks Council to Opt-Down to Lower Renewable Electricity Plan
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 City government, like other electricity customers in Irvine, is currently enrolled in OCPA’s most expensive tier, which the agency claims to be 100% renewable energy.
However, the City recently received an urgent request from OCPA to opt-down the entire City to the agency’s mid-tier plan, called “Smart Choice,” which OCPA says provides 55% renewable energy.
The agency stated the request was being made because of steep increases in the cost of renewable energy in the past 12 months.
Irvine’s First Class IV Protected Bikeway is Now Open
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.
A Class IV protected bikeway is one that is not defined by just a stripe or other painted markings but is physically separated from the auto traffic on the road, in this case by a small raised median separating the bike lane from the passing cars.
“The addition of a Class IV lane to Irvine’s vast bikeway and trail system is what will continue to set the City of Irvine apart as a premier bike destination,” said Mayor Farrah N. Khan.
The new bike lane is open to all bicycle types, including e-bikes.
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Vice Mayor Agran Secures Unanimous Council Support for Exploring an Expanded Solar Rooftop Program
During the October 22nd City Council meeting, Vice Mayor Larry Agran — who will be sworn-in as...
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