Thank you!

Luckily, the time machine brought me back to 2024 because staying in 1985 would have meant reliving those bad teenage hair years!

As always, it’s a tremendous pleasure to be here with all of you, to highlight Garden Grove’s most significant events from the past year, focus on where we are today, and share some insight into the future of this great city.

2024 is a milestone year. We’re celebrating the 150th anniversary of our town’s formation in 1874. That’s so amazing!

And while not as history-making as our town’s establishment, 2024 also marks my final year as mayor of Garden Grove.

Since 2016, I’ve had the immense privilege of serving this city as mayor and delivering Garden Grove’s annual State of the City address.

Highlighting our City’s recent accomplishments and forward vision, and recognizing the people who make it all possible, has never grown old.

Expressing deepest appreciation to my city council colleagues, our City partners, businesses, investors, service organizations, City leadership and staff, and many more, remains as true today as it was years ago.

And sharing my profound love and passion for this amazing community…my hometown…will stay with me until the end of time.

Just as I can look back on significant experiences from the past that continue to guide me in the future, so does Garden Grove.

Our foundation for success is built in part on the knowledge, experiences, and challenges of the past. Putting that wisdom into practice leads to accomplishments today and a stronger community for tomorrow.

The City of Garden Grove has a 68-year legacy of committed leadership. Just as I became a first-time councilmember and mayor, the changing of the guard represents the next generation of new ideas, vision, and dedication to public service.

I’d now like to take a moment to acknowledge my esteemed colleagues, our current Garden Grove City Council, starting with District 3 Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Tran...

  • District 1 Council Member George Brietigam

  • District 2 Council Member John O’Neill

  • District 4 Council Member Joe DoVinh

  • District 5 Council Member Stephanie Klopfenstein

  • And District 6 Council Member Kim Nguyen-Penaloza

  • Also, our City management team led by City Manager Lisa Kim

  • Assistant City Manager Matt West

  • Assistant City Manager and Economic Development and Housing Director Ursula Luna-Reynosa

  • Police Chief Amir El-Farra

  • Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey

  • Community Development Director Niki Wetzel

  • Community Services Director John Montanchez

  • Finance Director Patricia Song

  • Human Resources Director Laura Stover

  • Information Technology Director Anand Rao

  • And Public Works Director Bill Murray

My thanks as well to the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce and chamber president and CEO, Claudette Baldemor.

I’d also like to recognize a few celebrity guests here today…

  • Former Sublime drummer and Mayor of La Palma Marshall Goodman
  • Former Mayor of Anaheim Tom Tait
  • Arabian Prince from N.W.A.
  • And DJ Symphony

And of course, my enduring love and admiration for my wife Manivone, and our sons, Jaden and Ashton.

With time comes inevitable growth and change, and Garden Grove is a testament to that. Yet, our respect for our historical roots, our hometown feel, and our unwavering spirit of community thrive in every effort and action.

To show you what I mean, let’s set our time machine to 2023, as we watch Garden Grove’s year in review…

Garden Grove: 2023 Year in Review

As you heard in the video, the City was very excited to break ground on the Central Cities Navigation Center last June, and has worked tirelessly to complete this project within one year because of the important resources it brings to those in need.

Today, it’s my pleasure to announce that this goal has been met, as the City will celebrate the center’s inauguration on June 5, 2024!

My thanks to our Garden Grove team, as well as to the cities of Fountain Valley and Westminster, and the County of Orange for this outstanding success!

On July 1, 1957, a year after Garden Grove’s incorporation, the Garden Grove Police Department was born. Comprised of 18 patrolmen, three sergeants, and Police Chief Reese Ballard, the department was entrusted with protecting and serving what would soon become the fastest growing city in America.

While the number of police officers peaked in the late 90’s, budget restraints resulted in officers being understaffed year after year.

Now, thanks to the 2018 passage of Measure O, the 1% sales tax, the Garden Grove Police Department achieved a 97% sworn staffing level at the end of Fiscal Year 22-23.

With additional funding from Measure O, a future Garden Grove public safety facility will break ground in May of this year, followed by an enhanced Civic Center Park, as part of the landmark Garden Grove Civic Center Revitalization Project.

This 152 million dollar project, located in the heart of our city, propels the Garden Grove Police Department into a modern era of public service.

Divided into two phases, Phase 1 is comprised of a 3-story, 103,000 square-foot police facility and 4-level parking structure, slated for completion in March of 2026.

Phase II, anticipated to open in the summer of 2027, creates 2.8 acres of open green space with a memorial garden and walking trail.

Kudos to our Garden Grove project team members, along with Edgemoor Infrastructure and Real Estate, Clark Construction Group, and AC Martin.

From complex public safety facilities to popular Accessory Dwelling Units, the City’s Community Development Department provides the tools needed to build safe, sound projects, and maintain residential and commercial property standards.

This month, the City launches a new 3-month, multi-language awareness campaign highlighting important information and services from the Community Development Department’s Planning, Building and Safety, and Code Enforcement divisions. Themed “Plan – Build – Beautify,” the campaign aims to increase knowledge and encourage the use of online and in-person services to plan smart, build safe, and keep properties looking their best.

Another new tool to connect with City information and services is the redesigned Garden Grove Mobile App.

Created by the City’s Information Technology Department, the app offers a variety of convenient new features including the ability to report an issue directly from your smart device.

Let’s take a look at how modern technology and creativity are making life easier in Garden Grove…

2024 GG App Report Issue Movie

As we explore new technologies, a world where vehicles take flight is no longer science fiction. It’s an exciting innovation that will one day lessen our reliance on roads.

But for now, committing significant efforts and funds into our streets and infrastructure remains a high priority towards enhancing their reliability and longevity.

Over the last year, the City invested nearly 24 million dollars into a capital improvement plan to enhance city streets, parks, facilities, and other essential infrastructure.

The Pavement Management Acceleration program resulted in the substantial improvement of several high-traffic thoroughfares that included Garden Grove Boulevard, Chapman, and Lampson Avenues.

One project area that underwent an amazing transformation is the Acacia-Josephine neighborhood.

During heavy rains, streets lacking curb and gutter, sidewalks, driveway approaches, and adequate paving would flood, extending into the yards of homes. The result of this 2-year, 9.5 million dollar storm drain and street reconstruction project, partially funded by CDBG funds, was elevating the local infrastructure and curb appeal into the 22nd century. That’s amazing!

So, when is Garden Grove’s best time? Personally, I think Garden Grove’s best time is when it’s time to eat!

In 2021, the City’s Office of Economic Development developed a new program that furthered the City’s commitment to supporting small businesses and protecting local jobs in the restaurant industry. Called Foods of Garden Grove, the program features an online interactive map and social media platforms highlighting diverse hand-picked restaurants and eateries, selected for their industry recognition, strong Yelp reviews, and word-of-mouth referrals. The list includes prestigious James Beard and Michelin Star honorees, and Food Network featured restaurants.

The program is currently undergoing a refresh and will soon be re-launched with an expanded list of premier restaurants and eateries. Here’s a sneak preview of what’s in store…

Foods of Garden Grove

Watch for the upcoming re-launch of the Foods of Garden Grove program!

Food royalty has come to Garden Grove as the first Smoke Queen Barbeque becomes the anchor tenant for Cottage Industries, the city’s unique commercial enclave near the civic center that uses repurposed Craftsman homes. Celebrated chef Winnie Yee-Lakhani brings her signature “East Meats West” flavors to the city known for its outstanding food options.

Other food establishments recently, or soon to be joining our city are: bbq Chicken, Pollo Campero, Thirsty Cow Korean BBQ, The Habit Burger Grill, Hummus Republic, Moge Tee, and Yoshiharu Ramen.

Among notable businesses recently opening their doors in Garden Grove is EV manufacturer Harbinger Motors. Setting the course for innovative electric vehicle technology and the growing demand for medium-duty EV’s, Harbinger recently celebrated its official grand opening and the delivery of its first of many Garden Grove-built electric chassis.

Another commodity in high demand is Garden Grove’s hospitality industry. Joining a contingency from Visit Anaheim, City representatives pitched Garden Grove as an international tourist destination to travel agents, travel media, and other industry stakeholders in South Korea and Japan. Realizing that pictures speak volumes in any language, the following video was especially produced to highlight Garden Grove’s local and regional attractions.

2023 Garden Grove Promo Center of Everything

Tourism continues to drive the City’s thriving local economy as Transient Occupancy Tax revenues for Fiscal Year 23/24 are on track to surpass 28 million dollars at the end of June.

Five out of the 8 months in this fiscal year, the City reached historical highs in TOT revenues.

At the start of 2024, the City’s Finance Department presented a 5-year General Fund forecast to the City Council, indicating that without any unforeseen negative impacts to the City’s revenue base, the City will continue to have a balanced budget for the next five years.

For a city that has historically and proudly made more out of less, the future continues to look bright for Garden Grove.

"Things have certainly changed around here. I remember when this was all farmland as far as the eye can see.” That’s a movie line that an 1874 time traveler would say when arriving at the present or future Garden Grove.

As I look back on the past and into the future, I realize how lucky I am that this amazing city has become such an integral part of my being over the past 25 years.

It’s all about the people. The people I’ve met and the genuine friendships I’ve made.

The hundreds of talented and compassionate City employees I’ve worked with who pour heart and soul into their professions, day in and day out.

The public safety personnel who, without hesitation, put their lives on the line to keep the rest of us safe.

Our small business entrepreneurs who risk it all to see their American dreams come to fruition.

Our neighbors who look out for one another. The families who choose to live and raise their children here.

Garden Grove is a special place, and it is imperative that we honor the traditions of our past as time launches us into the future.

I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time over the past 25 years searching for common denominators that bring people of all walks of life together and connect our city’s past to its present, with an eye on what fruits the future might bear.

We must never forget our agricultural roots. The gardens and groves that emanated from seeds sown decades ago and the bountiful crops that have been reaped, as fields have been developed into buildings, and property values have soared following the initial post World War II boom when our city limits were defined on the map.

Travel forward, 68 years from our incorporation, and this city has become a hustling and bustling hub of diversity, a global economy magnified into 18 square miles.

We have a golden opportunity to act as a shining example of how the rest of the world ought to behave, and treat one another with kindness and compassion, because after all, our commonalities far outweigh our differences.

As I run “outta time” serving as your Mayor at the end of this year, I would like to make an impassioned plea for the future leaders of this city to embrace the solid foundation our forefathers laid and maintain a steady, stable, and welcoming drumbeat of progress moving forward, without any unnecessary drama or disruptions.

Our city’s past is highly respectable, and our current condition is healthy, so I encourage everyone in this room to play an active role in shaping our bright future.

And more than anything, I thank you.

Thank you for all the wonderful memories I’ll keep, and from the bottom of my heart, allowing me to serve in office for all these years.

It has been my greatest honor.

A Tribute to Garden Grove Mayor Steve Jones

Thank you, everyone.