Category: Irvine City Council

Irvine’s Discussion on District Voting Moved to Closed Session

IRVINE, Calif.—After a heated discussion about giving voters the choice in November to expand the city council from four to six seats and changing how ballots are cast for those seats, councilors voted 4–1 on Tuesday to move the issue into closed session at their next meeting. The item—brought forward by Councilman Larry Agran last…


Irvine Officials to Consider District Elections, Adding 2 Councilors

IRVINE, Calif.—The Irvine City Council will discuss July 12 expanding its number of elected officials and switching to district elections to ensure representation of different populations in the city. The item, brought forward by Councilman Larry Agran Tuesday, intends to expand the council seats from four to six, create six districts with roughly 52,000 people…


Irvine Tops Southern California Cities in Access to Parks

IRVINE, Calif.—Irvine ranks among the top 10 cities in the nation when it comes to parks, placing far above other Southern California municipalities in an annual survey released Tuesday by the Trust for Public Land. Irvine ranked eighth on the trust’s list—down from seventh one year ago. The rankings are based on factors including proximity…


Irvine Passes Nepotism Law

IRVINE, Calif.—Irvine formally passed on April 26 an ordinance that will prevent its councilors from appointing family members to the city’s committees, commissions, and boards, though one councilman says the ordinance is politically motivated against his wife, who sits on an advisory committee. Currently, each councilor can appoint one person to each of Irvine’s 23…


Irvine Advances Nepotism Law

IRVINE, Calif.—The Irvine City Council April 12 passed the first reading of an ordinance that will ban nepotism to council-appointed committees, with one councilman claiming the dais is targeting his wife. Councilman Larry Agran’s wife, Dr. Phyllis Agran, currently sits on the Irvine Children, Youth and Families Advisory Committee, of which she was appointed by…


Irvine Advances Anti-Nepotism Law

IRVINE, Calif.—The Irvine City Council April 12 passed the first reading of an ordinance that will ban nepotism to council-appointed committees, with one councilman claiming the dais is targeting his wife. Councilman Larry Agran’s wife, Dr. Phyllis Agran, currently sits on the Irvine Children, Youth and Families Advisory Committee, of which she was appointed by…


Irvine Plans to Move Asphalt Plant Amid Health Concerns

IRVINE, Calif.—Despite Irvine officials’ plan to move a toxic asphalt plant out of the city, concerns still arise as to how long it will take to move the plant and what measures will be taken in the meantime. Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan announced on Feb. 22 that the city, in its lawsuit with All American…


Irvine Council Debates New Clean Energy Proposals

IRVINE, Calif.—An Irvine city council discussion on what percentage of renewable energy should be used at the launch of the city’s new energy enterprise turned into a debate when councilors argued whether the utility provided enough public information. This year, the city founded the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA), a type of Community Choice Energy…


Anaheim Greenlights Veteran’s Cemetery Site

The Orange County Board of Supervisors will consider allocating $20 million toward a veteran’s cemetery at Gypsum Canyon after city council in Anaheim, Calif., approved the location during a July 20 meeting. Council’s support for the site came less than a month after Irvine decided not to move forward with building a Veteran’s Memorial Park and…


Irvine Considers Renaming Orange County Great Park 

The City of Irvine, Calif. will consider renaming Orange County Great Park to Irvine Great Park during its July 13 council meeting to better establish Irvine’s jurisdiction over the land. Councilmember Anthony Kuo said the name sometimes confuses people in Orange County, who believe they should have a say in how the park is developed and managed….