The Cypress City Council met on Monday, September 9. Included in the happenings of note were a City Clerk personnel announcement, an exciting announcement regarding four young ballerinas, and a brief discussion on the cost associated with being part of the North Service Planning Area.
New City Clerk
It was announced that in closed session earlier in the evening, Alisha Farnell had been named the new City Clerk. Farnell has worked for the city for 13 years, as a Management Analyst, then a Senior Management Analyst. When City Clerk Denise Basham retired in April after an 18-year career with the city, Farnell became Acting City Clerk. The City Council has voted unanimously to remove the “interim” modifier from her title. She is now the Cypress City Clerk.
Success at Strong Dance Studio
Four young ballerinas from Cypress’ Strong Dance Studio were recognized. Young Chloe, Katrina, Sophia and Samara have been selected to begin training at the American Ballet Theatre Gillespie School, housed at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. Studio owner Rachel Strong spoke of the pride she has in her students, getting into this prestigious school that dancers nationwide audition for each year. She called the Gillespie School the west coast branch of the “most prestigious company in North America,” and said it’s bittersweet for her to see these four students she’s trained since their earliest dance days move on.
Mayor Stacy Berry read a short bio of each of the girls, and presented them with awards for outstanding achievement in performing arts.
North SPA controversy
There was a seemingly inconspicuous item on the consent calendar, to “Receive and file the settlement agreement with Orange County Catholic Worker and the Memorandum of Understanding for the North Orange County Service Planning Area Homeless Navigation Centers.” While nearly every other item on the consent calendar passed without discussion, Councilwoman Mariellen Yarc pulled this item and wanted to clarify that she was not in support of it.
The item had to do with homelessness in the region, and the lawsuit brought against some Orange County cities after the homeless encampment at the Santa Ana Riverbed was cleared but there was not a corresponding number of shelter beds for the individuals to utilize. The North Service Planning Area (SPA) is a group of North Orange County cities that collaborated to make plans to open two shelters, in Placentia and Buena Park. This will give local police departments the go-ahead to resume enforcing anti-camping ordinances.
Cypress entered into the North SPA by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding, and effectively opting into helping cover the costs of the shelters as a collaborative effort.
However Yarc said the prices that Cypress is being asked to chip in have “shot up” from what they were originally told, and she wanted the City Clerk to note that she was not in support.
The amount that each North SPA city is to put forth was determined based on city population, homeless population and existing homeless shelter beds. According to a staff report, Cypress’ upfront amount is currently estimated to be $62,000, plus an ongoing share of operating costs estimated at $80,000. The report admits that “these costs will likely increase as the projects proceed resulting in additional contributions.”
The City of Los Alamitos has discussed similar frustrations in their City Council, in July having considered leaving the North SPA, but ultimately deciding to stay after assuring that costs would be capped going forward.
Cities can opt out of the North SPA only by giving a one-year notice and making a withdrawal payment equal to three times their most recent annual contribution.
Despite Yarc’s comment, the item passed with the rest of the consent calendar, though the conversation may continue in the future as the shelters develop and costs evolve.
The Cypress City Council will meet again on Monday, September 23 at 7 p.m. at 5275 Orange Ave.
Courtesy photo
