Welcome To La Habra Heights . Net
News, Information & Analysis on the City and the Issues
Established 1999
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| June 19,2012 | Water Rate Increase | 20 - 70% increase over 4 years | Board members had said no increase in recent election |
| June 20, 2012 | Road Tax Increase | $500-$600 per year | Up for vote of parcel owners - currently $173 per year |
| November 2012 | Police Service Tax | $300- $500 per year | Council has until July to decide if this will be on ballot |
| November 2012 | Lowell Joint Schools | up to $30 per $100k Valuation | On November Election Ballot if passed |
| November 2012 | State of California | 1/2% Sales Tax Increase | |
| March 2014 | LHH Fire Tax | Approx $600 per year | Council has talked of at least $100 increase over current |
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New $500+ Per Year Roads Tax
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Latest News - Citrus Leaves, Branches, etc MUST be double bagged & Put in Trash, NOT Green Waste! |
Watch Video of Citrus Disease Town Hall Meeting with Question from your Neighbors answered
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Quarantine! - La Habra Heights in Quarantine Area for Fatal Citrus Greening Disease - See Map
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Council Kill Switch to Shut Off Residents is Back!!
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3 More Secret Committee Members Uncovered!
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![]() Jeff Heintz, Cathy Houwen, Newly Found Phil Emery & Faith Grimm, Sue Ferguson and Greg Stefflre |
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St. Patrick's Day Raid - One Year Anniversary
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Breaking - City Accidentally Reveals Another Secret Safety Committee Member, Cathy Houwen!
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New 2 Million Gallon Water Tank Empty Over a Month
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Sheriff Dept, Montebello Canine, & LHH Fire Marshal Respond to Water Board Meeting
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City Abandons Inspection of former Animal-Keeping Property Upon Seeing Camera-Man in the Street!What is the City trying to hide? - Story and see 4 min Video of retreat |
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Secret Park & Rec Committee Reportedly Seen Meeting at Marie Callender's January 18th - More to Follow |
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Breaking News! - Two Secret Committee Members Revealed
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Warning!! - Edison Going Through Community to Install "Smart" Meters.
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Just Released City Documents Reveal Faceless Secret Committees Influencing
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New Taxes & Spending Workshop January 26th, 6:00 p.m. at City Hall![]() |
City of Chino Hills Holds Large Protest Rally & Press Conference Against Power Lines
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Bike & Skateboard Ban at Park
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News You Can Use in City Crackdown On Residents |
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City Revs Up Spin Machine In March Heights LifeHold Onto Your Wallets! |
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Listen Live! - LHH Fire Dept, Fire Watch, Sheriff Dept, LA County Fire ![]() |
See Live View From La Habra Heights ViewCam ![]() |
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"The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist they may retain control over the instruments they have created." Preamble to the California Public Records Act |
Quick LinksCity Council Minutes 1998-2010City Council Minutes - See the minutes for past meetings 1998 - 2009 Note: Detailed City Council minute were discontinued in Dec 2008, over residents objections. Planning Commission Minutes 1998-2010Planning Commission Minutes - Minutes for 1998-2010 Safety Info for Your Evaluation
La Habra Wildfire Response Plan- with info for Heights Residents - See Here LHH Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan - See here Did you just move to Buying a house? See Find out about Learn about the Open Space & Wildlife Corridor that borders our City Powers & Limitations of a City, including Brown Act, Recalls, Initiatives & Referendum
*The General Plan is the "Constitution" of the City.
*Use our server copy when City website is down, then confirm later with city in case of changes. See the OLD Municipal Code, 2000 Grading and Zoning version, here This Code was valid through 2006, not many/any changes from 2000 version
See the La Habra Heights Fire Dept Map, which shows driveways, hydrants and pools. Interesting History of
City and Other Government Info |
La Habra Heights in Springtime New Strategy to Bring Urban Estates to the Heights?
Ray Fernandez echoes National Association of Homebuilders 2008 "Threat" Letter to the City
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City Council Votes Against Open Space
Reducing Property Values and Saleability As National Park Service Wants to Include Parts of LHH in National Recreational Area- Oct 11 Water Board Election Results - November 8th
Would the Easter Bunny Approve? City Responds to Residents' Concerns with new Draft Fire Clearance Guidelines Update: July 5 2011 - City Wants YOUR comments on them - Story Read a great letter from Heights Residents to City Council -here Everyone needs to participate to end the over-reaching weed abatement La Habra Heights Fire Watch Takes on City Weed Abatement Program -June 2011 Story City of Malibu, somewhat familiar with Fire, Gives Mulch Away FREE to Residents as part of Brush Program June 2011- Read Here See List of About 130 Residences with Roadside Clearance Violations in January 2011
See 2011-12 Sheriff Contract. Service Cut to about 15 Hours Per Day - Story
Back Room Discussion with Sheriff Dept Averted. Sheriff Service Slashed. Story Sep 2011 Council Demands Roadside Vegetation Devoid "Moonscape" Council Votes that Residents Must Subsidize Builders with $80,000 per year so City Spending Binge Unabated "They're Back....." "The City Council is trying to make La Habra Heights "Irvine North" and we do not want that. Do you hear us City Council?" - June 2011 Link Crackdown Seige on Residents does not rest even after Council tells Staff to give residents more time
What is City Trying to Hide? See the City Council describe what they are looking for in Roadside Clearance from April 2009 City Reveals "Sgt. Schultz" Type Code Enforcement Policy"I See Nothing!" - May 2011 Story 2011 Car Show Builds on Success May 2011 Story & Pictures starts April 13th and will take 6 to 7 weeks. Update 4/12/11: Contractor Now Says "I don't know" why Undergrounding is being done. See City Animal Farm Raid Photo Album - Here RAID!! - Council Sends 3 Sheriff Cars & Staff Phalanx to Execute Search Warrant on Heights Animal Keeping Family - March 2011 See Story, Pictures & Warrant City Manager Contradicts Federal Grant Application - March 2011 Story Park Grounds Damaged by Weekend Event - Story Update March 31, 2011 - Renter to Pay for Damages ![]() City Gets 10" +/- of Rain Dec 2010 Skyline Drive between Sharpless Dr & Sharpless Ct. Closed Due to Collapse. Workmanship or Design Problems Suspected. Story Back to the Future - Automatic Aid Agreement Negotiations - Story Nov 2010 Council Postpones Mid-Year Budget Review Until March - After Election Usually Held in January or February - Attempt to Protect Incumbents from Bad News? City Council Sends "Crackdown Posse" to Prevent Public & Press from attending Hearing on Code Enforcement Action Against City Council Candidate Phil Lough Dec 2010 - Story Video Press Blackout of Council Candidates Forum Lifted after ACLU hits City with Letter Citing 1st Amendment Issues as City Again Attempts to Shut Out Unfavored News Media - Story Mar 11 LHH Just Like Bell - Round 3 Council Imposed Illegal Fire Tax Increase Two Years in a Row - Story State Controller Auditing City of Bell Should La Habra Heights have an Audit too? - Story Oct 10 La Habra Heights Staff Salaries - Exclusive- Story Sep 10 Stonewalling Public Records Requests, including salary info - Another similarity between Bell and La Habra Heights - LA Times Story Bell type government in La Habra Heights? Part-time (less than 20 hours week) Fire Chief $100k, 6,000 resident community with $200k City Manager, Councilmember gets gold jewelry on residents dime, and Council gives Road Contractor extra $31k Sep 10 Stonewalling Public Records Requests is Illegal Immediate Access Required, No need to give your name, fill out forms, or pay for searching - Aug 2010 Read Here City Council Redevelopment Agenda - Phase II "Residents Will Have to Pay Higher Taxes and Get Less Service to Subsidize Developers & Builders" - May 10 Story Children Risk Arrest to Attend City Council Animal Keeping Hearing Apr 10- Story LHHIA MIA in Struggle to Preserve Animal Keeping in the Heights- Apr 10 Winners and Losers in City Council Urban Estate Redevelopment Agenda - May 10 Story Sheriff's Deputy Stationed at Planning Commission Meeting as Residents Protest Crackdown on Animal Keeping Apr 10- Story Proposed Trash Tax Contrary to City Study - Gag Order Imposed on Trash Companies Apr 10 - Story Assembly Bill to Exempt LHH From Housing Quota Fails - Listen to Hearing Here (29 minutes) -Vipperman Testifies Mar 10 Council Proposes Up To $700 per Residence in New or Increased Taxes Mar 10 Online Poll Indicates Almost 3-1 Opposition - See Poll and Vote A Broken Trust As the Council Considers Raising Taxes, Residents Consider Their Record La Habra Heights Improvement Association Former Vice President Convicted and Sentenced - Mar 2010 Story Market Day April 2010 Mayor Vipperman Spends $20,000 to Sue Residents - Story Feb 2010 La Habra Heights Residents to Celebrate "Freedom Day" April 8 - End of Vipperman Dictatorship - See Vipperman Chronicles Layne Baroldi is subject of Orange County Register Travel Expense Article Mar 2010 - Story
Exclusive - Sexual Harrassment/Termination/Pay Lawsuit against City Settles for $375,000 Feb 2010 - Story Los Angeles Times Story about undue influence in Planning Department Feb 2010 - Story Mayor Vipperman Proposes Aerial Surveillance of Residences for Code Enforcement, Weed Abatement, Observing, etc Other Council Members Appear Baffled Jan 2010 Fire! Above Construction Site on Hacienda, Spreads up Hill toward Panchoy 5 Acres Burn 11/23/09 - Pictures and Video Brad Cooke & Jeff Heintz Win Water Board Election - See Results Large Turnout - Gap Between Heintz and Edwards Narrowed to 25 votes in Late Returns Council Approves Commercial Facilty 3-2 August 2009 Majority 3 Vote Against the Community; More concerned with Tower Owner Profit
2004 Agreement called for tower removal this year. Important Story details here. Members Now Play No Role Other than Paying Dues Focus of Improvement Association VP arrest story shifts to LHHIA Read hereLa Habra Heights Improvement Association Vice-President Arrested on charges including Identity Theft & Forgery See Story on Topix
Recent Planning Approvals have resulted in Resident's losing views and property rights described in the General Plan.
![]() New City Seal? New Planning Commissioners Appointed
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In the Red, Water Board meets at private Hacienda Country Club to Discuss Water Trafficking Deal Finances - Meeting Minutes Oct 2011 Whittier Daily News Article on Water Board Election - Here Just Released Reports Indicate Insufficient Water to Supply Proposed Deal - story Oct 2011
Water Board Balances Budget with Unsigned, Controversial Trafficking Deal Just Released! Read Draft Water Trafficking Agreement - Here Water Board Pres Says, "Aera Dead" Update: Wheeling & Dealing on the Water Board. City Rearranges Fire Dept Pay to Fund Fire Marshal - Story Sept 2011 Developing Story: La Habra Heights Water District Explores Water Trafficking Deal with Rowland Heights - Story Sept 2011
Improvement Association's Heights Life Prints Discredited & Dangerous Did LHHIA take idea from City Council or Vice Versa? New LHHIA By-Laws posted Do you give up your 1st Amendment Free Speech Rights when you are a member? Malign LHHIA Board or Assocation & you are subject to expulsion -.July 2011 Receiving Thousands of Public Tax Dollars a Year Improvement Association Closes Doors to Public at Annual Meeting Probably Better than Inviting Public, then Attacking Them As Happened 1 Year Ago Today - June 2011 National Story Improvement Association 'Peeps' get raided! County Issues Notices of Violation- Story Crackdown on Residents Escalates in Final Days of Baroldi Administration Raid!, Kill Switch and Blackout of Public Comments - March 2011 Story 2010 US Census shows Heights population fell 387 people to 5325- See Stats Most of Decline in Children - See Stories Below for Council Actions Against Kids LHHIA Improvement Association Makes National News Caught in a Lie?- Story Update: City Manager Responds Anonymous Packages Sent to Local News Editors - Investigation Underway Improvement Association Connection? - Story Dec 2010 Whittier Daily News Story on Expensive City Business Cards Symptom of Wasteful Spending In LHH Hundred$ Spent on Fancy Gold Embossed Cards for Staff & Council City Edits Lowell Joint School Board Candidates Forum Broadcast - Election Tampering? Oct 10 Recommendations for Lowell Joint School Board - Here Oct 10 Officials Arraigned for Wining & Dining On the Public Dime "La Habra Heights Water District Board Deja Vu" - Story Oct 10 Banned in La Habra Heights!! Mayor Calls for Criticism of City Manager to be "Off Camera" Story Oct 10 See League of Women Voters - Lowell Joint School Board Candidates' Debate to - Cable Broadcast in the Works Oct 10 - See Webcast- Updated Story "Skids Greased" for Mayor's 3 Level Addition - Procedures Waved? See Pictures from the 2010 Avocado Festival - here Follow-Up Improvement Association Story - "That is definitely Mail Fraud."- Nov 09 Contributors to Improvement Association at Risk - Organization May Not Be as Claimed - Oct 09 Water District Board Wines and Dines at Your Expense - Story Here
Follow-up - 40 More Pages of Water Board Hotels & Meals, including $1000 Weekend in Long Beach - Story here Hacienda Closure an Awakening for All October 2009 Investigation - Water Board Candidate Jeffrey Heintz Under Investigation by L.A. County Recorder for Ballot Designation - Too Late to Change - Update: October 7th Too Close for Comfort? Improvement Association, City Council, & Water Board Axis of Influence? Commissoner Ray Fernandez states checking plans for Code compliance is Crackdown Escalates New City Policy: Residents prohibited from submitting correspondence to Planning Commission Prior to Meeting Serious concerns of legality Park Trail & Parking Area Dedication ![]() August 19, 2009 Crackdown Continues Bike Ban at Park Passed August 13 Council Meeting
Water District Board Election November 3, 2009 Vipperman Files Papers Initiating 2011 Re-Election Effort - July 09
Announces intent to run again at August 13, 2009 CC Meeting Back to the Future Residents Suffering Again Under Planning Process
Commissioner Ray Fernandez Says That Residents should defend themselves against excessive runoff from new development. Council Majority 3 Unhappy With Simple "Call for Review" Process to Correct Planning Approval Errors which violate Residents' Property Rights.
Will They Change it to Protect Builders? Vipperman Chronicles
News Stories about the Outrages & Exploits of Mayor Vipperman moved here City Council Axes Public Works Committee 3-2 July 2009
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Quiet Overhead
Have you noticed that the planes inbound to LAX are much quieter than they used to be? That is because they are silently gliding in now, not descending and repowering in steps.
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City Council Election
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Plans for Harbor Blvd to be widened to 6 lanes, with Bus Route.
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What Did City Officials Know? Council Unanimously passes opposition Resolution at Jan 15 Meeting!
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Fire Tax Increase Double That Allowed by Codes
What do residents think about $25,000 overcharge?
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Fires Burn November 15th
in Brea, Yorba Linda Vehicle is Likely Cause
Hacienda Rd not closed to reduce Fire Danger
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City Committees in Limbo
Council passes Handbook at Feb 09 meeting.
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Residents Seek Solutions To Reduce Hacienda Traffic |
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View Protection Under Attack |
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A Simple Way to Prevent the Most Likely Wildfire
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Public Records Requests |
City Council Meetings Broadcast Live on Internet Starting November 13
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Effective "Poll Tax" on City Council Candidates?
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A Special Place & Special PeopleLa Habra Heights is defined by the rural environment, lack of street lights, and low density. La Habra Heights residents have vigorously and successfully defended our community against threats to our rural environment from within and adjacent to our community. Residents have fought off high density housing, the 39 Freeway, condos in the hills of Whittier, development in Powder Canyon, the widening of Hacienda Blvd. and many others over the years. As stated by a prominent resident, one of the most insidious and damaging threats is the one by one exceptions and variances to our Zoning Code which slowly, but surely, erodes the rural environment and quality of life. Those interested in the history of the City can borrow the tape or DVD "The Story of La Habra Heights" at City Hall. "Beware of those who tout "individual property rights""Beware of those who tout "individual property rights" because that usually translates into"let's destroy the zoning and make this place look like the rest Los Angeles County". Experience has taught me that those people usually want no controls on their development, but want to tell everyone else what to do." The first part of the Mayor's column written for the April 1990 Heights Life, by the outgoing four time mayor, who was instrumental in the founding of the City. This was read into the public record by Julia Higgs at the August 12, 2002 GPAC Town Hall Meeting
MAYOR'S COLUMN THE BATTLE IS NEVER OVERTime and people have been kind to La Habra Heights. Always, it has seemed that we are in the right place at the right time to save this special place from high density development and preserve it for future generations. One needs only to look at Hacienda Heights to the north or the newly emerging Shea development in Rowland Heights to the east to understand why we became a city. This hillside village is too beautiful to allow it to go the way of neighboring communities.
The battle to preserve La Habra Heights will continue. I remember turning to James Littlejohn when we had just won the incorporation struggle and saying, 'It's over, La Habra Heights is safe!." and James replied, "It will never he over, Jean, as long as there is money to be made here." And he was right! Often, people appear in front of the Council saying, "I love this community. I want to keep it the way it is - except for my home which I am going to build four stories high, in a stream bed, and by the way I am going to have to exceed the grading ordinance by 100%, and I would like to run an asphalt plant in the backyard- but I want to keep La Habra Heights the way it is"
Well, take it from an old mayor, you can't have it both ways my friends. Either you maintain your strict standards for development or you lose it all. The most beautiful communities in California; Santa Barbara, Rancho Santa Fe, Rolling Hills, etc., all have strict development standards. Beware of those who tout "individual property rights" because that usually translates into"let's destroy the zoning and make this place look like the rest Los Angeles County". Experience has taught me that those people usually want no controls on their development, but want to tell everyone else what to do. The future of this community depends upon you. It is your choice to make. But, I can assure you, I will always be there when I feel the community we first envisioned is in trouble...................
RepublicOur Country is a "republic", from Latin "res publica" - public thing.It is up to each of us to learn about what your governments are doing, and be involved.It is important for everyone to know their rights to participate in and find out about their governments activities. Find out the facts:The Brown Act, also known as the "Open Meeting Law" or Anti-Corruption ActThe Public Records Act, another good Records Act link"The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist they may retain control over the instruments they have created." Preamble to the California Public Records Act As James Madison, author of the Bill of Rights, said, "Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governers must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it is but a prologue to a tragedy or a farce, or perhaps both." Find out what happened today in U.S. History - A Library of Congress site Why does this even matter?.........Read these The Declaration of Independence The Constitution of the United States The Bill of Rights - the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution There's A Lot Going On In Town - You Need To Get Involved To Preserve Our Rural EnvironmentDon't Take It For Granted Or We Will Lose ItNote: Links to Off-Site locations may become defunct or change content. This is not within our control. Please notify us if you find one. Webmaster
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Does it snow in La Habra Heights? Development vs. Over-development Lost Animal Network - Call 691-1920 if you lost an animal or found a lost one.
Find out about the original "Roads Project" from the City publication "Top of the Heights" that describe them. This was a 5 year long project to restore the roads that ended in 2001. We now pay the annual "Roads Assessment" to keep the roads maintained. See More La Habra Heights controversies at www.theavocadoexpress.com -------------------------------- Find Low Gas Prices at: ......................................
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