Tonight, I am excited to share the state of our great city. Our city has come a long way in a short amount of time. In 2022 Irvine became the 13th largest City in California, and one of the top ten fastest growing Cities in the nation. This is a testament to our strong and vibrant community and reflects our growth and prosperity. For generations, investment into people has carried Irvine into the thriving city it is today...ensuring that everyone in our community has an opportunity to succeed and reach their full potential. With this growth, we now have a seat with the Big City Mayors Coalition where Mayors from the 13 largest cities in California advise on local issues. And just this past year, Irvine will secure funding to support regional coordination and expand or develop capacity to address homelessness. I will continue to work with my fellow mayors to push for meaningful solutions that will make a difference. As Mayors, we know what’s happening in our cities and where the needs are. I will continue to advocate and work hard to build relationships at the state and federal level. In October 2022, I had the great privilege and honor of welcoming President Joe Biden at the John Wayne tarmac during his visit our great city and Irvine Valley College to discuss the Inflation Reduction Act. It was a momentous occasion, our city continues to gain recognition and put itself on the map. However, we are also aware of the many critical challenges that we face, such as inflation, supply and demand, and infrastructure. Just days before the President's visit, I had the pleasure of hosting former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at our Great Park. He now serves as Governor Newsom's Senior Infrastructure Advisor..….during his visit we shared significant City priorities including, the Great Park Framework and Transit Vision Study. We don't rest on our laurels… we are always working to bring dollars back to Irvine.
Our conservative approach to budgeting and careful management of resources has allowed us to weather the pandemic and economic uncertainty… while maintaining our high level of programs and services. I am proud to report that the City remains financially strong, with a balanced budget and a healthy reserve. Most recently the City saw an increase in revenues generated by sales tax.....sales were up when compared to the same period in 2021. As we move forward, we will continue to prioritize fiscal responsibility and make smart investments in our community. It is no secret that the COVID-19 global pandemic left the world feeling fatigued beyond measure. But together, we faced that challenge and came out strong. The City Council adopted the Irvine Recovery Plan in October 2021. With this we allocated $56 million dollars to community programs and services, like…the • Irvine Children's Fund – which provides childcare scholarships. • And, we also provided grants to support vulnerable populations, small businesses, and emerging nonprofits. • And one of my favorites...is the One Irvine program. There we have provided direct home improvement funds, community building events, and neighborhood improvements. Our investment in our community enables us to continue being one of the most desirable places to live, work and play. Ensuring the safety of our residents is a fundamental responsibility of local government, and a top priority for this Council. For the 17th year in a row Irvine has had the lowest per capita violent crime rate for its size. Irvine has a stellar police department, staffed by dedicated
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