MAY 2025
CITY OF IRVINE EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER
Award and Honor
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT BY OLIVER C. CHI
INSIDE THE GRAPEVINE
Hello, Team Irvine!
May has already been an exciting month in Irvine. Events like CicloIrvine, State of the Great Park, and the opening of the PAC-MAN exhibition, Journey Through the Maze: 45 Years of PAC-MAN, at the Great Park Gallery brought thousands of community members together in meaningful and memorable ways. Thank you to everyone who helped make these celebrations such a success. There’s even more to look forward to in the coming weeks, including our Pride in Irvine celebration May 22, the annual Public Works Week event May 22, and Memorial Day events honoring those who served our country May 25 and 26.
Briefs: Pg. 3
Behind the scenes, incredible work continues across departments. In this issue of the GrapeVine, discover how teams are advancing safety citywide, improving facilities for seniors, and supporting residents in need. The caliber of our staff is truly unmatched, which is evident in the well-deserved awards featured in this issue, including Jesse Cardoza’s recognition as Building Official of the Year in California. More on this incredible honor on Page 4. I’d also like to recognize the continued efforts of everyone involved in the transition back to City Hall. Special thanks go out to Bill Barie, whose leadership and expertise helped make this return smooth and seamless — read more on Page 5. There is so much great work happening in every corner of our organization — all driven by our shared commitment to providing an exceptional quality of life for the Irvine community. Thank you for your continued commitment to our organization and our values, and for your embrace of a team-oriented approach as we continue to engage in the hard work necessary to make greatness something real and tangible here in Irvine.
Feature: Pg. 4
What Are We Up To?: Pgs. 5–8
Happenings: Pgs. 9–10
On the Cover: The Community Development team celebrates with Deputy Director and Chief Building Official Jesse Cardoza, recently named the 2024-25 Building Official of the Year by the California Building Department.
High Fives: Pg. 11
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BRIEFS
Civic Center Parking Lot Construction & Parking Guidelines The Civic Center parking lot is under construction to add more spaces and prepare for future solar panels and landscaping. During construction, employees are encouraged
Cal Baptist University Agreement Discount for City Employees (HR) The City of Irvine has partnered with California Baptist University (CBU) to offer employees exclusive education benefits, including a 20% tuition scholarship and free admissions application through CBU’s Preferred Partnership Program. CBU offers 160+ accredited bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs, available online and on-campus. Additional resources:
to park in the Harvard and San Juan lot, which offers plenty of parking in both the paved and adjacent unpaved areas. To assist, Community Services will operate a shuttle Monday through Thursday, running 7–8:30 a.m. and 4:30–6 p.m., for easy access to the lots.
Parking Guidelines
During construction, we ask that you adhere to the following changes to City operations:
• CBU-City of Irvine
Information Session • CBU Preferred Partnership Program Flier • CBU Online Flier • Getting to Know CBU Flier
• Please park in the overflow lot at San Juan and Harvard whenever feasible. • Please park all City vehicles (Emergency Services exempt) at 17113 Armstrong • Please work from home after 3 p.m. on City Council days as follows. — May 27, June 10, June 24, July 8, and July 22. Construction Schedule • Southern half of the lot (closest to the Civic Center) — This section of the lot will be repaved in May. Staff and the contractor are working to pave the lot on weekends. More details will follow. • Eastern half of the lot (closest to Colonel Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park) — This half of the lot will be repaved in July. Staff and the contractor are working to pave the lot on weekends. Origami Workers’ Compensation System Launches June 2 The City of Irvine is excited to launch the new Origami Workers’ Compensation system June 2. Workers’ compensation forms will no longer be available in paper format on the Intranet, and supervisors will use the new online platform to report incidents: Start a New Injured Employee Incident.
Don’t miss this opportunity to explore your educational and professional goals!
Get it in the Lookbook! Do you need swag, tchotchkes, or other gifts and giveaways? Look no further than the new City of Irvine Lookbook! This provides a vast array of approved items for your team’s needs. From socks, binders, lanyards, and tablecloths, our team has you covered (pun intended). The City of Irvine Merchandise Catalog “Lookbook” is your one-stop shop for City of Irvine and other approved program items, i.e., Great Park, Irvine Cares, Irvine Public Library. The items are available for purchase only. They are not free. Your department head must approve any orders; otherwise, you will be personally responsible for the charges. For any further questions, please contact Kristina Perrigoue at kperrigoue@cityofirvine.org .
Please join one of our upcoming Origami training sessions :
Tuesday, May 20, 10–11 a.m. Join the meeting now - Meeting ID: 253 048 587 885 3 - Passcode: Yq3Qi9kT Tuesday, June 3, 2–3 p.m. Join the meeting now - Meeting ID: 239 816 878 229 9 - Passcode: bp6fS3Jw
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FEATURE
Jesse Cardoza wins Building Official of the Year!
When you walk into any building, your first thought is likely not “how safe is this building?” For Jesse Cardoza, though, it likely is. And if he had anything to do with the building’s safety, it is likely top- notch. Our very own Community Development Deputy Director and Chief Building Official, Jesse Cardoza (CD) , has been named the 2024-25 Building Official of the Year by the California Building Officials (CALBO). The 2024-2025 CALBO Award recognizes exceptional leadership, service, and innovation in the building safety profession. Jesse’s efforts have elevated the work done in the Community Development Department and throughout the City of Irvine. Leading several major initiatives in the past year, such as the creation of the Community Development Assistance Center, which streamlines access to services and reduced processing times; and launching Permits-DIRECT, a real-time permitting platform for solar and energy storage systems, Jesse has led the charge to earn national recognition from the Center for Digital Government. He has also modernized efforts on capital projects and ensured that codes and training are up to date for all employees. Please join in congratulating Jesse on this momentous achievement!
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FEATURE
BILL BARIE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST III EXTRA MILE
Many employees have made their way back to City Hall after working at UCI Research Park for several months. You arrived, plugged in, and got to work. Chances are you did not have any connection issues. That is due to Bill Barie . He has done an outstanding job preparing our new office space! His efforts have been instrumental in the success of the 2nd and 3rd floor upgrade project. Bill took the lead in managing all the infrastructure components necessary to make our technology function seamlessly. From coordinating network cleanup and installing cables, to setting up WiFi, configuring Teams rooms, and preparing for the upcoming Verizon cellular installation — he handled it all with professionalism, precision, and a true attention to detail.
Bill’s dedication, long hours, and hands-on approach ensured that every technical detail was addressed, making the transition back to City Hall as smooth and trouble-free as possible for all City staff returning to City Hall. His proactive communication and commitment to solving problems before they arose made a significant difference in keeping the project on track. “I am truly grateful to Bill for ensuring all the technology was prepared for our team’s move back to City Hall,” said Dahle Bulosan, Director of Administrative Services. He would often come in on his days off to ensure everything was ready for our move. His positivity and dedication to providing exceptional service truly stand out, especially given the demanding workload and tight timeline.”
Looking beyond the recent move, Bill has also been diligently coordinating cabling installs, network services, and Teams rooms for the upcoming transition to the Armstrong building. His leadership and technical expertise remain key in setting our teams up for future success. Bill’s ability to juggle multiple complex tasks while keeping everything organized and on schedule is truly impressive. His willingness to go the extra mile, often behind the scenes, has not gone unnoticed. Irvine employees are incredibly fortunate to have someone so committed, capable, and dependable on Team Irvine! Thank you, Bill, for going above and beyond — your hard work is truly appreciated!
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WHAT ARE WE UP TO?
City Manager’s Office Health & Wellness Team Expanding Food Assistance for Irvine Residents The Health & Wellness division in the City Manager’s Office, in collaboration with Community Action Partnership of Orange County, has been leading a wildly successful Free Grocery Food Box Program for Irvine residents. At an event at Heritage Community Park in March, the group provided 432 food boxes to participants who have shown a need for food assistance. Those participants also picked up food boxes for an additional 1,000 Irvine residents. The Health & Wellness team is working to develop a food delivery service program
element with the Youth Action Team in the Community Services Department, which will provide delivery of food items to residents who cannot attend the
distribution event, due to inability to drive, homebound status, or due to hardship. Learn more at cityofirvine.org/foodbox .
Communications & Engagement
Stay Connected with Irvine! The department manages six social media accounts — and counting! Our newest addition, @irvinelibraries , launched last month.
Irvine Animals : Instagram: @irvineanimals Facebook: irvineanimals X: irvineanimals Irvine Fine Arts : Instagram: @irvinefinearts Facebook: irvinefinearts X: irvinefinearts Great Park : Instagram: @yourgreatpark Facebook: yourgreatpark X: yourgreatpark Irvine Libraries : Instagram: @irvinelibraries |Facebook: irvinelibraries X: irvinelibraries
Follow us to stay up to date on City news, events, and community stories:
City of Irvine : Instagram: @cityofirvine Facebook: cityofirvine X: City_of_Irvine
TikTok: @city_of_irvine LinkedIn: City of Irvine YouTube: youtube.com/ictv30 Destination Irvine : Instagram: @destinationirvine Facebook: destinationirvine-dmo TikTok: @destination.irvine YouTube: @destinationirvine
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WHAT ARE WE UP TO?
Emergency Portable Signal Trailer Acquisition Last month, Public Works & Sustainability’s Signal Maintenance division acquired a knockdown portable signal trailer to serve as an emergency replacement for damaged traffic signal poles. Designed to meet Federal Highway Administration standards, this trailer will provide temporary traffic control in cases where a signal pole is severely damaged and cannot be immediately repaired. Special thanks to La’Ron Ferguson, Erick Johnson, John Mendoza , and Shehnaz Gosla for coordinating the acquisition and implementation of this critical resource. Public Works & Sustainability Signal Maintenance Division
Public Works & Sustainability Transportation Division
Kudos to all involved in this program: Street Maintenance: Andrew Hernandez, Oscar Ornelas, Nathan Vick, Rudy Troncosa Signal Maintenance: Carlo Cambare, Brian Allen, Dennis Chow, Erick Johnson, John Mendoza, LaRon Ferguson Traffic Engineering: Connor Paquin, Wyatt Sing
Facilities Maintenance The Traffic Engineering team is
enhancing the safety of the intersection of Warner Avenue and Santa Ynez with a new solar-powered radar-activated LED stop sign integration. The signs are activated and blink when vehicles/ bicycles are about 400 feet away from the intersection using a radar-activation device. The location was chosen because of its proximity to a school and a park, as well as the difficulty in seeing around a four-lane road with a curve and long pedestrian crossing. The pilot installation and evaluation of its operation will assist staff in determining the potential for broader application within the City.
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WHAT ARE WE UP TO?
Public Works & Sustainability Project Delivery
Rancho Senior Center Improvements
Big changes are coming ahead for Rancho Senior Center. Public Works & Sustainability’s Project Delivery division is working on updating interior walls and making the site more accessible with new concrete work and striping. Construction started in April and will be complete in May. Expect some impacts to the center, including the site entrance and the parking lot. The Public Works & Sustainability Department will keep things on track while working closely with the Community Services Department to reduce disruptions.
Kudos to the following employees who have played a role in this project:
Public Works & Sustainability: Edgar Vallejo, Bobby Ghaemi, Elias Capelle, Daniel Olvera Mendez, Frank Montoya, Ken Addie, Rhett Skinner, and Anne Logie Community Services: Amber Castrey, Sandra Salcedo, Ryan McGaw, Russell Frankston, and Jason Boykin Community Development: Joel Lyles
Community Services Project Delivery
TRIPS Team Shines at CALACT Roadeo! The City of Irvine TRIPS team put their skills to the test at the California Association for Coordinated Transportation Driver & Maintenance Roadeo March 30 in Hesperia, CA. Competing against transit agencies across the state, drivers participated in challenges assessing their behind-the- wheel performance, pre-trip inspection expertise, and wheelchair securement knowledge. Their dedication and hard work paid off, earning the team multiple awards! Erick Paniagua (CS) and Keith Jordan (CS) dominated the wheelchair securement competition, placing 1st and 2nd overall, respectively. Erick also secured 3rd place in the individual
and Kathleen Nicholson (CS) in attendance to cheer them on.
competition, and the City of Irvine TRIPS team took home 3rd place in the team category. Drivers Liz Castro (CS) and Mario Escobar (CS) also participated, contributing to the team’s strong showing. The team was led by Eric Rosales (CS), with Ryan McGraw(CS)
Congratulations to the entire TRIPS team on their performance!
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HAPPENINGS
Now Serving at the Council Café! Recently the Council Services division of the City Manager’s Office joined together for a coffee gathering at “The Council Café.” Team members served up delicious beverages and yummy treats to fellow colleagues and took a short break from their daily work. It’s no surprise there were smiles all around for the team!
Why do you love working at the City of Irvine? At the Employee Appreciation Events in March, the Communications & Engagement Department stopped a few employees amid their lunch and mingle sessions to ask a simple question: Why do you like working for the City of Irvine? Hear what everyone had to say! Great work to Nicholas Gates (C&E) for taking a break from the fun to speak with employees!
Happy Admin Professionals’ Day The Public Works & Sustainability Department’s Business Services division gathered to celebrate Administrative Professionals Day, honoring the dedication and behind- the-scenes contributions of their administrative staff. The team came together to recognize the essential role these professionals play in supporting the department’s daily operations. From coordinating internal processes, to keeping all divisions running efficiently, their attention to detail and commitment to service are vital to the department’s success. This celebration was a meaningful opportunity to show appreciation for their continued hard work and impact. Not pictured: Sarah Bender, Yvette Jaime, Christine Kerolles
Hey, it’s Toni Williams (HR) giving a big smile on Administrative Professionals Day, April 23. Thank you to all the City of Irvine Administrative Professionals who help keep processes running smoothly and on-track!
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HAPPENINGS
Good Times Keep on Rolling! More than 8,500 Irvine residents, visitors, and community members attended the second annual CicloIrvine event held Saturday, May 3 on Campus Drive. The event offered a unique opportunity to hit the streets of Irvine by biking, walking, strolling, and rolling along a car-free stretch of Campus Drive. Our One Irvine Team was pedal to the metal to ensure a grand time was had by all — and indeed it was! Thank you to all of our staff who spent their Saturday serving our City!
Welcome to Team Irvine
Several new employees joined Team Irvine over the last month. Please welcome these new colleagues to Team Irvine!
Francine Speer (AS), Michael O’Toole (CD), Jessica Young (CS), Jarrad Reyes (PS), Layla Tulloch (PS), Kenney Tran (PS), Andrea Mejia (PW&S), and Ronnie Cochran (PW&S) . During day two of the April new Employee Orientation, our new members of Team Irvine visited the Great Park Gallery and saw the “ripest” exhibition at More Than You Can Chew. They are looking forward to the Journey Through the Maze: 45 Years of PAC-MAN exhibition that opened May 18 at the Great Park Gallery!
Learn more about the upcoming exhibitions at the Great Park Gallery and the Irvine Fine Arts Center .
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HIGH FIVES
A huge quack of appreciation goes to Animal Services Officer (ASO) Alvaro “Al” Gonzales (PS) for his egg-ceptional work! When a waddling group of ducks was spotted crossing near Jeffrey and Irvine Center Drive, one unlucky duckling took a dive into a storm drain. The Irvine Police Department flew into action, dispatching ASO Gonzales, who didn’t hesitate to take the plunge and safely rescue the stranded duckling. Thank you, Al, for winging it the best way and going above and beyond to help our feathered friends. You really are a duck- lightful hero!
— Submitted by Robert Espinosa (CS)
A big high-five to Vien Nguyen (PW&S) for her outstanding dedication and hard work! She truly exemplifies the core values of our organization, especially with her exceptional focus on innovation and passion. Her purchasing leadership is key in driving major initiatives like the Great Park Live off-season improvements and the Armstrong Building upgrades. Vien’s contributions have been nothing short of remarkable. Thank you for always going the extra mile, bringing so much energy and creativity to everything you do! Keep up the fantastic work, Vien! I’m honored to collaborate with you on these critical projects. — Submitted by Alex Salazar (PW&S) I’d like to give a high five to Maria Ferris (CC) for recently earning her Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation through the Institute of Municipal Clerks. Achieving the CMC designation is a significant milestone that reflects deep commitment to the professional development, leadership, and excellence in municipal service. This accomplishment is the result of extensive education, practical experience, and ongoing dedication to the highest standards of ethical and effective government. Congratulations, Maria!
— Submitted by Carl Petersen (CC)
Zary Zahedi-Anvar (CS) recently provided exceptional support by translating in Farsi at one of our senior centers during a conversation between a participant and a contractor. She went above and beyond to ensure that all information and questions were communicated accurately between the contractor and the participant. Her efforts were recognized by the department superintendent, who remarked, “Her assistance was invaluable in ensuring we communicated effectively between our participant and contractor today.”The conversation involved several differences in opinion, placing Zary in a challenging position. Despite this, she remained incredibly professional, maintaining neutrality and providing clear and respectful communication. Her contributions were instrumental in resolving the situation and ensuring both parties felt heard and understood. Great job, Zary! — Submitted by Lupe Aburto (CS)
High Five to Tamlyn Asari (CS) , Rescue Transport Specialist, who brought 37 pets to the Irvine Animal Care Center (IACC) in one month through the Third Chance for Pets program. Tamlyn researches, locates, and transports animals from overcrowded southern California shelters to IACC for an increased chance of adoption. Thanks to Tamlyn, this year, IACC has brought in a two-year record high of cats at 89! – and there are three months remaining. Construction activity around IACC hasn’t slowed down this crew. Way to go! Check out the Third Chance for Pets program online.
— Submitted by Paige Kim (CS)
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IN OTHER NEWS
DE&I SPOTLIGHT
Share Your News in the GrapeVine Have a story to tell or a team member to celebrate? The GrapeVine is your place to spotlight City staff and share what’s happening in your department. Whether it’s a shout-out for great work, a fun event recap, or an update from your team — we want to hear it! You are welcome to book a room on either floor; it does not need to be your department’s name room. To do so, enter the name of the room in the Location field of the meeting invite in Outlook. Available rooms will be displayed on your selected date/time. If available at the time, Teams rooms can also be booked ad-hoc using the display pad outside of the room, if available. If a room does not have a display pad outside of the room, it is not bookable. For assistance, please contact the Information Technology division. How to Book a Conference Room Conference and meeting rooms are available on the second and third floor to accommodate your spatial needs. Second Floor On the second floor, the Administrative Services and Communications & Engagement Departments have 27 rooms available. These include 17 conference rooms and 10 meeting rooms, with capacities ranging from three to 12 people. Third Floor On the third floor, thirteen rooms are available for the Human Resources (HR) Department and City Manager’s Office. There are six conference rooms, four meeting rooms, and three private HR rooms. Capacity ranges from two to 18 people.
May DE&I Dates In May, we spotlight the following celebrations and recognitions: Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Mental Health Month Jewish American Heritage Month Older Americans Month May 5: Cinco de Mayo May 12: Buddha Purnima/Vesak May 22: Harvey Milk Day May 26: Memorial Day
Visit cityofirvine.org/dei-calendar for a comprehensive list of recognitions.
Be sure to include your best-quality photos straight from your device.
Send your stories, ideas, and images to pio@cityofirvine.org .
RETIREMENTS M’Lis Fox (CS) Community Services Senior Leader
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