View 2020 - 2021 Performance Report (PDF)

January 3, 2022
Honorable Mayor and City Council Members:
I am pleased to present the City of Garden Grove’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-21 Performance Report. This report highlights the most notable accomplishments of each City department during the last fiscal year. The report is intended to assist in the evaluation of the City’s short and long-term goals, and to demonstrate our commitment to providing the highest quality of service as efficiently and effectively as possible.

On an organization-wide basis, the City maintained its focus on implementing the Community Vision and made great strides in sustaining and strengthening the City’s financial position, providing quality services, completing projects outlined in the City’s FY 2020-21 Action Plan and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Primary areas of emphasis centered on financial sustainability, public safety, economic development to preserve and grow City revenues, community engagement, and effective and transparent government.

During the first half of the fiscal year, COVID-19 continued to sweep across the nation and world, severely affecting national and global economies. Local development and business activity slowed and the City took immediate steps to contain costs, promote public safety, pursue federal aid funding, and begin assisting local businesses and community members. Much like surrounding agencies, the City expected to grapple with ongoing budget challenges requiring the use of reserves to maintain essential services. Fortunately, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act to provide local governments much needed financial relief. Garden Grove was allocated $48 million in funding, which provided the ability for the City to rebuild critical services, protect reserves, and plan for facility and infrastructure improvements. This, combined with the reopening of California in June 2021 and continued focus on the City’s key economic development projects, put the City on a solid path of economic recovery.

Among several City actions put into place during the pandemic were enhanced online City Hall Services, creation of a coronavirus webpage, heightened police enforcement, daily meal distribution programs, establishment of several business resource and relief
programs, and vaccine administration by City staff and the Orange County Fire Authority at the county’s Point of Dispensing sites.
Several new and continuing development projects also progressed, which will strengthen Garden Grove’s economic base. One new program, “Foods of Garden Grove,” features a dynamic City webpage and “foodie map” of several select local restaurants, many of
which the City assisted through the Micro Business Relief Grant program launched in 2020. Foods of Garden Grove reflects the City’s commitment to supporting our small businesses while highlighting the best of what Garden Grove has to offer. Other projects
undergoing completion are Pavilion Plaza West featuring the City’s first Sprouts Farmers Market and the 8-story Garden Brook Senior Village affordable housing project.

In the Police Department, recruitment and training were prioritized. Six new police officers, one records shift supervisor, one community service officer and one lateral public safety dispatcher were added to the department. As a result of these efforts,
GGPD’s sworn authorized strength was maintained at 182 officers. Additional achievements included a 10th reaccreditation award by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in August 2020 and the launch of a new mobile mental health program in partnership with Be Well OC in October 2021. The new Be Well OC in Garden Grove program will be a great step towards dealing with mental health issues, substance abuse, and homelessness, while keeping Police Officers free to handle
emergency calls.

In the Public Works Department, Euclid Street and Brookhurst Street from Lampson Avenue to Chapman Avenue; Magnolia Street from Shelly Drive to Katella Avenue; Lampson Avenue from Brookhurst Street to Nelson Street; Brookhurst Street from Westminister Avenue to Trask Avenue; and La Vaughn, Russell and Earle Streets at Imperial Avenue were all rehabilitated. Additionally, the FY 2021-22 budget includes $17.5 million in funding for a pavement management acceleration program to further address the City’s pavement needs. Several state and federal grants provided funding to implement important traffic signal and pedestrian safety improvements throughout the City. Traffic signal upgrades were made at Trask Avenue and Roxy Drive and at Trask Avenue and Newland Street. As part of the improvements, protective-permissive left-turn phasing will be provided for eastbound and westbound traffic on Trask Avenue at Roxey Drive and for all directions at Trask Avenue and Newland Street.

Finally, the Community Services Department provided Garden Grove residents with over 200 wonderful recreation classes and programs including cartooning for kids, ballet, tumbling, tennis, multi-sports, martial arts, summer concerts, movies in the park and special holiday events. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, 96 of these classes were offered virtually. Also, Winter in the Grove, Eggs-cavation, and Summer Movies in the Park were reimagined as drive-through and drive-in events to maintain a fun and safe environment for the hundreds of families and children who participated.

The accomplishments highlighted in this report demonstrate both the City Council’s and staff’s strong commitment to the City’s mission and vision. The leadership of the City Council and the creativity and dedication of our employees continue to enrich the quality of life for the residents of Garden Grove.

Sincerely,
Scott C. Stiles
City Manager