Welcome to the April City Manager's Report. I wanted to share with you some of the great events and projects that staff have worked on this month. I genuinely appreciate everyone's hard work. Please read on to see some of April's highlights.
Brea Mall Redevelopment
The Brea Mall is undergoing a transformative redevelopment that promises to bring new energy to this popular retail destination. Earlier this month, the new southwest entrance adjacent to the former Sears building opened to the public. The site for the Life Time Fitness gym has officially broken ground, with ongoing construction. Below are the new tenants in the southwest entrance that will open and be ready for new customers to enjoy.
Known for its aesthetic design, The Alley, a Taiwanese Boba tea shop, handcrafts each beverage with inspiration drawn from art, culture, and community. Signature drinks feature fresh brown cane sugar and their famous “Deerioca” - tapioca pearls made from scratch. With premium tea leaves selected for quality, each drink is full of flavor and is made to be camera-friendly.
GARAGE, now open at the Brea Mall, is a prominent destination for fashion-forward young women. This trend-savvy brand has everyday essentials, denim, and stylish attire for a casual, chic look. Based in Montreal, GARAGE aims to inspire women to be confident and genuine in their self-expression through their apparel and accessories.
Uniqlo is a famous, Japanese, clothing apparel company that seamlessly blends casual wear with functionality. Known for their high-quality, affordable, and versatile clothing, Uniqlo offers an extensive collection for children, women, and men. Originally a textile manufacturer, the company has pioneered innovative fabrics, such as Dry-ex, HEATTECH, and BLOCKTECH – designed to neutralize odor, retain heat, and repel water.
Business Spotlight
The Brea Downtown area is getting a new restaurant to experience. Finney’s Crafthouse is an American, tavern-inspired restaurant featuring gourmet sandwiches, specialty tacos, signature burgers, and freshly-baked flatbread pizzas. The restaurant offers 30 draft beers, highlighting California’s notable craft breweries, as well as a full bar. Its warm, welcoming ambiance stems from its mix of vintage accents, rustic finishes, and unique soundtrack. Experience the vibrant and inviting energy of Finney’s Crafthouse opening soon to the Brea Downtown.
Representative Derek Tran Tours Brea
Earlier this month, Brea’s Congressional District Representative Derek Tran visited to tour the City. Representative Tran was accompanied by Mayor Blair Stewart, Council Member Christine Marick, Assistant City Manager Jason Killebrew, Community Services Director Carrie Hernandez, and North Orange County Public Safety Collaborative Executive Director Soo Kang. Representative Tran visited the Brea Senior Center and greeted the older adult community. He stopped by Arovista Park to see the construction progress of the all-access park, the baseball fields and the skate park. He also drove by the Brea Mall to see their redevelopment project and the Downtown Brea area. We were proud to show Representative Tran the City he represents as Brea’s newest federal Representative for the 45th Congressional District.
Brea Rotary Donation to the Resource Center
The Brea Rotary Club has once again selected the Brea Resource Center as a recipient of their $1,000 Community Services Grant. This funding will allow the Resource Center to continue helping clients in crisis, as well as cover costs associated with providing support to unhoused residents. We remain grateful to the Brea Rotary Club for their continued partnership and ongoing support of these vital services.
E-Bike Legislation Meeting
Council and City staff met with state Senator Bob Archuleta and state Assembly Member Phillip Chen earlier this month. Staff spoke with each member individually and discussed the importance of statewide legislation to help regulate e-bike operations. The City of Brea is focused on keeping both motorists and pedestrians safe. We look forward to working with both Senator Archuleta and Assembly Member Chen to make Brea a safe e-bike city.
Last Sixth Grade Dance of the Year
The Brea Community Center hosted the final Sixth Grade Dance of the school year, with the exciting theme of "All Around the World." Over 200 enthusiastic, Brea sixth graders gathered to celebrate in their best "tourist" attire, marking the end of their elementary school journey. This memorable event provided an opportunity for students to enjoy each other’s company in a fun and safe environment. The evening was filled with dancing, a thrilling inflatable obstacle course relay race, face painting, interactive activities, food, and treats. It was a night for students to bond with their peers before heading to Brea Junior High and saying "bon voyage" to elementary school.
2025 Pet Expo
The Brea Special Events Division held their annual Pet Expo event earlier this month at the Brea Community Center. The Pet Expo showcased unique animals to guests and offered an experience to interact with skunks, goats, rabbits, and more. There were also 100 vendors selling pet related items or providing services. Both City of Brea and Anaheim Police Departments provided a crowd-pleasing K-9 demonstration. There were many adoptable dogs and cats on site, with 51 pets being adopted during the event. We look forward to next year’s Pet Expo.
Recycle Brea Attends the Pet Expo
The Recycle Brea team had a paws-itively great time at this year’s Pet Expo where they handed out nearly 300 free recycling baskets to Brea residents and shared information with event attendees on the City’s upcoming changes to the residential curbside waste and recycling program. As an enhancement to the City’s residential curbside recycling program, the recycling baskets were purchased through the CalRecycle Beverage Container Recycling Grant, which works toward the goal of achieving and maintaining an 80% recycling rate for all California Refund Value (CRV) beverage containers, such as aluminum, glass, plastic, and bi-metal.
The Recycle Brea team will also have the recycling baskets available at the upcoming Fire Department & Public Works Open House on Saturday, May 10.
City Council Approves Updated Agreement with Republic Services
The Brea City Council recently approved an amended agreement with Republic Services to include the necessary programs for everyone to comply with California Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383). The bill requires reductions of organic waste in landfills as part of a greater plan to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants, such as methane. As part of the City’s commitment to comply with SB 1383, Brea residents will be able to dispose of food scraps and food soiled paper in their yard waste carts by this summer. Residents will be receiving various educational forms and outreach via robocalls, informational letters, and educational materials provided by Republic Services to stay informed on this updated program.
If you have any additional questions, call the City of Brea at (714) 990-7691 or email at recyclebrea@cityofbrea.gov
Mission Square Seminar
The Administrative Services Department recently hosted a Lunch ‘n Learn seminar with Mission Square for a financial discussion to fiscally plan for the future of our employees. The learning opportunity provided tools for retirement planning, investment options, financial education, and a personalized financial plan.
Individuals who preferred a one-on-one appointment with a Mission Square representative during the lunch, had the opportunity to schedule a meeting with one of two Mission Square representatives. Many employees attended the seminar and provided positive feedback. There are plans in place to host another learning seminar in August for financial planning for the future
Summer Special Events
The summer season in Brea is quickly approaching and the Special Events Division has planned special events for the community to experience.
Start the summer on Friday, June 20 with Family Films. The first showing will be The Wild Robot (PG) at the Civic & Cultural Center at 8:00 p.m. Snacks and drinks will be provided by Sheila Buonauro Team. Attendees are encouraged to bring comfortable seats.
Next, residents are encouraged to decorate the exterior of their homes with patriotic flair for the annual Home Beautification Contest to celebrate the Fourth of July. Winners of this fun competition will be announced with a prize at the Country Fair. Residents can submit their images by Monday, June 23 by emailing BreaSpecialEvents@cityofbrea.gov
Last but not least, the 45th annual Country Fair will celebrate the Fourth of July holiday at City Hall Park on Friday, July 4 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The celebration starts with a breakfast and a welcome from the Mayor. Guests can enjoy games, attractions, contests, parades, and free swim at the Brea Plunge. Join the Brea community in celebrating our country’s birthday.
Small Business Clinic
After an overwhelming response to the first Small Business Clinic hosted late last year, the Economic Development Division proudly hosted its second Small Business Clinic on Wednesday, March 19 at the Brea Community Center. This Clinic was again facilitated by the Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center.
Local business owners were invited to participate in free one-on-one consultations, where they received personalized advice about their marketing and economic needs, global trends, and more.
Events such as the Small Business Clinic are part of the City’s ongoing commitment to supporting Brea’s small business community. By providing meaningful resources and connections to help local entrepreneurs thrive, the City promotes economic vitality and local resiliency.
To learn more about the City’s upcoming events for small business owners, contact a member of the Economic Development Division at business@cityofbrea.gov.
Well-Fit Day with Brea Fitness Members
Brea Fitness celebrated its members with Well-Fit Day, a special appreciation event featuring a variety of fitness classes, wellness activities, and giveaways. Members participated in Roll & Release, BodyPump, Zumba, Cycle, SilverSneakers, and Mat Pilates classes while also receiving complimentary InBody scans. Guests enjoyed coffee generously donated by Communitea Coffee, along with snacks and wellness resources. Local vendors, including Singer Chiropractic Wellness Center, Farm Fresh Home Food Delivery Services, and the Brea Resource Center, connected with attendees, while StretchLab provided guided stretch demos. The day was a testament to Brea Fitness' commitment to fostering a supportive and engaging fitness community.