Thank you and good afternoon, everyone. Even though we’re not together in person, it’s my pleasure to virtually deliver the 2021 State of the City address to you today. My hope is that we can once again come together in person to discuss the state of our city in 2022.

As always, I’d like to thank the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce for organizing this event and inviting me to speak to you today.

I’m here in Garden Grove’s legendary Gem Theatre, situated along our city’s Historic Downtown Main Street. It opened in the 1920’s as a vaudeville house, became a single-screen movie theatre in the 1930’s, and over 40 years later, was remodeled to become a live theatre venue. Over the course of its 100-year history, it survived major disasters including devastating earthquakes and a fire. Today, under the management of One More Productions, it continues to entertain generations of audiences with first-class live theatre productions.

In 2020, COVID-19 set the stage for what would be a year none of us will ever forget. And in fact, we shouldn’t. The coronavirus spawned an unprecedented global health crisis that impacted our community’s physical, economic, and social well-being. It closed businesses, took away jobs and homes, prohibited human interaction, and kept us in lock-down and in fear of the unknown.

Now, halfway into year-two of the virus, we’ve come to better understand the nature of the beast and made significant progress towards taming it. Our state’s economy is now officially re-opened, most health mandates have been lifted, and nearly half of California has been fully vaccinated.

The re-opening of the Disneyland Parks and Resort as well as our own Great Wolf Lodge Southern California, mark the revival of our local financial recovery.

Nevertheless, re-building and recovering from the viral storm’s destructive aftermath will take monumental efforts.

The most difficult part of our recovery is accepting the tragic loss of human life. The grief over losing family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, acquaintances, and other treasured members of our community to COVID will be a permanent, painful scar.

Among our community’s never-to-be-forgotten souls, is Garden Grove Police Lieutenant John Reynolds. Besides being a very dear and trusted friend to me, Lieutenant Reynolds was a hero among heroes. He served our community with care, compassion, and commitment, both as an officer and as a volunteer. He was a 25-year member of the Garden Grove Police Department, highly recognized for his professional excellence, and dedicated to mentoring youth as an officer and through the Boys and Girls Clubs of Garden Grove.

It’s important that we keep the memory of our beloved Garden Grove souls deep in our hearts, and honor them for their strength and courage to fight this ruthless enemy.

I’d like to thank and acknowledge the work and collaboration of my City Council colleagues, who kept the city and their respective districts a top priority during one of the most difficult periods on record.

  • Mayor Pro Tem Kim Nguyen, from District 6
  • Council Member George Brietigam III, from District 1
  • Council Member John O’Neill, from District 2
  • Council Member Deidre Thu-Ha Nguyen, from District 3
  • Council Member Patrick Phat Bui, from District 4
  • Council Member Stephanie Klopfenstein, from District 5

Through the good times and the hard times, it’s been my privilege to serve with you all.

My thanks as well to our City management team for skillfully leading City operations and resources from the beginning of this health crisis and now through our recovery, beginning with:

  • City Manager, Scott Stiles;
  • Assistant City Manager Maria Stipe;
  • Assistant City Manager and Community and Economic Development Director, Lisa Kim;
  • Police Chief Tom DaRé;
  • Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Ron Roberts;
  • Community Services Director John Montanchez;
  • Finance Director Patricia Song;
  • Human Resources Director Laura Stover;
  • Information Technology Director Anand Rao;
  • Public Works Director Bill Murray;
  • EOC Coordinator Linda Morin
  • City PIO Ana Pulido.

At the onset of the pandemic, protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the community; maintaining needed programs and services; containing costs; enhancing communication; and assisting local business owners, were at the forefront of the City’s efforts, all of which continue today.

Following the City’s declaration of a local emergency, our City’s Emergency Operations Center, or EOC, was activated under the direction of the chief of police; City Hall went virtual with enhanced online services; and a new coronavirus webpage was created to provide regular news updates and resources for the community.

An increase in police service calls, particularly in the resort area, required heightened enforcement by the Garden Grove Police Department. Thanks to Measure O, additional officers were able to respond to a rise in critical public safety needs.

Public Works continued to provide regular maintenance of the City’s infrastructure systems, including parks, facilities, equipment, and overseeing our animal care services. To lessen the community’s financial worries, the department conducted regular street sweeping services without citing residents for parking violations.

With the cancellation of recreational events and classes, and closure of meeting facilities, the Community Services Department focused on providing free daily meals through their family resource centers and senior center. The department also created a Virtual Recreation Center webpage to keep families engaged with fun online activities.

To assist local business owners with maintaining their operations and workforce, the Community and Economic Development Department created several new business resource programs including:

  • A comprehensive Business Resource and Resiliency Plan;
  • Jobs 1st Program, offering loans of up to $50,000 and job retention grants of up to $25,000;
  • Micro Business Relief Program that provided economic support to 125 local businesses with grants of up to $5,000;
  • Accessible Businesses Program, offering free 60-day temporary outdoor business permits;
  • Jobs 1st To-Go Program, providing up to $1,500 for goods necessary to accommodate delivery and carry out services.

Information on these and other business assistance programs is available at ggcity.org/businesses.

And, as the County of Orange initiated vaccination efforts, the Orange County Fire Authority was called upon to help administer vaccines to the first eligible groups at Point of Distribution centers.

My thanks to all of our City staff for their unwavering commitment to public service and going above and beyond to protect the well-being of the Garden Grove community during this crisis.

According to a June 2021 economic forecast by UCLA Anderson School of Management, California’s economic recovery is poised for a “euphoric” rebound expected to outpace that of the nation. The report says that the state’s strong technology and white-collar business sectors, coupled with a rapid boost in home building, will buoy our economy. However, the leisure and hospitality sector is anticipated to recover at a slower pace due to the massive declines it experienced during the pandemic.

After experiencing annual increases in Transient Occupancy Tax since 2011, as of now, the City has lost approximately 28 million dollars in TOT as a result of leisure and hospitality activities dropping by 70%, due to the pandemic.

While this may paint a bleak economic picture, it’s one shared with all cities that rely on tourism as a major means of revenue to provide necessary programs and services for their community.

Like many other cities, Garden Grove is looking to the federal American Rescue Plan Act, also known as the COVID-19 Stimulus Package, as a critical source of revenue needed to financially recover from the pandemic. Garden Grove’s 48 million dollar ARPA allocation will help restore important City services and address critical infrastructure needs.

While the tourism sector was near a standstill, Garden Grove continued to move forward with new and continuing economic development projects.

One project that we’re revealing here today is worth sinking your teeth into. Have a look…

Foods of Garden Grove

Foods of Garden Grove reflects the City’s commitment to supporting our small local businesses while highlighting the best of what Garden Grove has to offer. Bon Appetit!

Earlier this year, the City broke ground for Pavilion Plaza West, a new multi-tenant commercial development south of The Promenade center. Anchoring the center will be the city’s first Sprouts Farmers Market. This exciting new development is slated for a grand opening at the end of this year.

Another project expected to be completed by the end of 2021 is the Garden Brook Senior Village, located in our OC Koreatown. The 394 senior unit, multi-story, mixed use project on Garden Grove Boulevard, is a collaboration between the City, AMG & Associates, Hoag Foundation, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Garden Grove.

At the end of 2020, the City and Shea Homes celebrated the completion of Gardenia by Shea Homes, a beautiful, 70 single-family-home housing development located at the former Saint Callistus church site, near the Christ Cathedral.

And, just in time for the summer was the official dedication of the Garden Grove Medal of Honor Bike and Pedestrian Trail. The 1-mile trail runs from Nelson Street to Brookhurst Street, and was first introduced as a pilot project at the 2014 Re:Imagine Garden Grove Open Streets event.

The global health pandemic forced all of us to adapt and learn to become more resilient. As we look back, the feeling that we’re left with is gratitude. Gratitude for the health and well-being of our families and loved ones, and gratitude for the heroes in our community who renewed our hope and spirit through their selfless acts of compassion.

Garden Grove Strong

A special thanks to all of our community front line health workers for their dedication to helping others, from our own Garden Grove Hospital, to health clinics and facilities around the city.

To see more stories about our local heroes, visit the Garden Grove Strong webpage at ggcity.org/ggstrong. You’ll also find information on how you can nominate a local hero.

On behalf of the City of Garden Grove and the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce, I wish you all the best. Until next year, stay strong Garden Grove.