Welcome to the July City Manager's Report. I am sharing with you highlights of events and projects that staff has worked on this month. I sincerely appreciate everyone's continued hard work to benefit the Brea community.
2025 Country Fair Celebration
Residents celebrated the Fourth of July holiday by attending the 45th Annual Country Fair at City Hall Park. Mayor Blair Stewart and Parks, Recreation & Human Services Commission Chair Irene Rifilato, emceed the programs throughout the day which included Most Patriotic Baby Contest, Patriotic Pooch Parade, pie eating contest, and hula hoop contest. The day also featured vendors in the Marketplace area, various entertainment bands and line dancing lessons.
Leading up to the Country Fair, the Special Events Division held the annual Home Beautification Contest. Residents were encouraged to decorate their homes patriotically and enter for a chance to win a monetary prize. Members of the Country Fair Steering Committee judged the homes and awarded five winners this year. I would like to thank all the Brea staff members who contributed in making this event a success, along with all the volunteers and the Country Fair Steering Committee. Lastly, thank you to our event sponsors and community partners who make Country Fair possible.
Are you Down with A.P.P?
To continue celebrating the Cities' 50th year of its Arts in Public Places Program, the Communications & Marketing team enlisted City staff to participate in a social media campaign video to further promote this celebration. Thank you to all who took the time to make this video come together. If you haven't had a chance to see the video... view the fun below!
New Fire Chief Appointed
I am proud to announce the appointment of Deputy Chief Dan Mielke as the next Fire Chief of the Brea Fire Department. This promotion comes off the heels from former Fire Chief Mark Terrill, who retired after 30 years of service to the Brea community earlier this month. Earlier in July, Fire Chief Mielke had a nice welcome to his role during his pinning ceremony, alongside his family and colleagues.
Mielke has 21 years of experience serving the Brea Fire Department. Dan was first hired by the Brea Fire Department in 2004 as an Apprentice Firefighter. He promoted to Firefighter in 2005, Engineer in 2013, and graduated from Paramedic school in 2016. He then promoted to Captain in 2017, became a Battalion Chief in 2022, Division Chief in 2023, and Deputy Chief in January of 2024. Prior to working for Brea, Dan began his fire service career with Cal Fire in 2002. Dan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Emergency Services Management.
As Fire Chief of the Brea Fire Department, Mielke will lead the full-service fire agency. The department provides 24-hour emergency response to various critical situations, including fires, explosions, hazardous materials incidents, medical emergencies, accidents, and miscellaneous public assistance requests. In addition, the department operates an active Fire Prevention and Emergency Preparedness Program, which provides for fire inspections, hazardous process permitting, fire code enforcement, public education, and business emergency planning in accordance with the California Code of Regulations.
I have full confidence in Chief Mielke and am excited to support his direction as he guides our Fire Department forward. His leadership and dedication to public service will greatly benefit the Brea community.
Tonner Canyon Fire
On July 3 at 6:58 p.m., a vegetation fire broke out near the intersection of the 57 Freeway and Tonner Canyon Road. The Brea Fire Department, along with supporting agencies and firefighting helicopters, responded quickly to contain the blaze. Through effective ground and aerial firefighting efforts, crews successfully held the fire to six acres and prevented any damage to surrounding structures. The incident was managed without property loss or reported injuries.
OC Vector and Public Works
In partnership with the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD), the Public Work Department helps advertise the "Mosquitoes Suck! Together We Fight!" campaign with large magnets displayed on our city vehicles. There are about 20 trucks with the OC Vector "Fight Back" magnets, which helps promote the wide range of resources that are available to residents to take active roles in mosquito control. These resources are designed to help individuals and communities prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.
OCMVCD is dedicated to providing resources that empower individuals and communities to act against mosquitoes and prevent the spread of diseases. Visit Mosquitoessuck.org for a range of information on how to keep mosquitoes at bay.
Business Spotlight
The City of Brea continues to welcome businesses to the community to help with the economic development and future of Brea. Here are two of our newest businesses that will be opening soon.
Tacomasa, a popular fast-casual restaurant, is opening soon in Brea Downtown. The restaurant is celebrated for its Tijuana-style tacos made with handmade corn tortillas, mesquite charcoal-grilled meats, and house-made salsas and guacamole. The menu offers a variety of items including tacos, mulitas, tortas, quesadillas, and burritos, with street-inspired corn and agua fresca. Tacomasa’s arrival reflects Brea’s continued growth as a dining destination that brings authentic regional flavors to the local community.
Rivian, an American electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, is scheduled to open a showroom at the Brea Mall later this year. Known for its innovative design and cutting-edge technology, Rivian produces all-electric trucks and SUVs that are built for both off-road adventures and everyday urban driving. The company’s flagship models offer long-range battery options, with some models delivering over 300 miles on a full charge. Rivian’s presence in Brea reflects the growing demand for sustainable transportation options.
A Green 4th of July at Country Fair
The Recycle Brea team joined the Fourth of July festivities to share tips on recycling and organic sorting with local families and community members at the Country Fair. The team showcased 35-gallon waste carts to demonstrate that participating in the City’s recycling and organics program doesn’t require much space and ensures SB 1383 compliance. Visitors also learned easy ways to separate food scraps and recyclables. This is part of the educational outreach the City is doing to help connect with the community and educate households of what is considered organic waste and how to dispose of it.
Residents interested in swapping out their current carts for smaller ones should reach out to Republic Services via email at OCRecycles@RepublicServices.com or call (714) 238-2444.
Family Films
The Special Events Division kicked-off summer in June with Family Films. Community members came to the Civic & Cultural Center for an 8:00 p.m. showing of The Wild Robot on June 20 and A Goofy Movie on June 27. The final two events changed locations to feature Family Films at City Hall Park showing Big Hero 6 on July 11 and The Mighty Ducks on July 18. Family Films is sponsored by Sheila Bounauro Team – thank you for providing popcorn, cotton candy and drinks for all attendees.
Friends of the Tracks
The Brea "No Limits Learning Center" has partnered with the Friends of the Tracks at Brea to spread mulch, weed and pick-up trash on the Tracks at Brea. Their recent efforts brought out members of the Parks, Recreation and Human Services Commission to assist on segment four, between State College Blvd and the 57 freeway. Members plan to visit the linear park several times. These efforts have been a nice addition to the work that Public Works and Community Services regularly provides at The Tracks.
"No Limits" is dedicated in providing educational opportunities for people with developmental disabilities through delivering specialized programs and services. They prepare students to be effective communicators, lifelong learners and responsible citizens. Thank you to the participants from the "No Limits Learning Center" for their hard work in beautifying our Tracks at Brea trail.
Recycling Education at the Senior Center
The Recycle Brea team provided an educational session about SB 1383 and the City’s recycling programs at the Brea Senior Center. Seniors learned how to properly sort waste, learned which materials go where, and how to prepare for the new organics recycling program. The team shared tips on separating food scraps and reducing contamination. This outreach supports Brea’s efforts to meet state goals for waste reduction and environmental sustainability.
Celebrating 38 Years of Service
After over 38 years of dedicated service to the City of Brea, Information Technology Supervisor Cliff Flaugher announced his retirement, effective July 22, 2025. Cliff has spent his entire IT career in local government with the City of Brea. He started with Brea as an intern in 1987, was promoted to an Information Services Technician in 1988, and then in 1999, he was promoted to an Information Technology Supervisor. When Cliff started, there were fewer than fifty computers in the entire City, and only two employees in the Division. At that time, Cliff's primary role was supporting the Public Safety critical systems.
Throughout the nineties into the early two thousands, Cliff played a significant role in initiating the Police Computer Aided Dispatching/Mobile Data Enterprise Program, which provided services to nineteen agencies. During his tenure, Cliff has actively represented the City of Brea at the Integrated Law and Justice Agency of Orange County (ILJAOC) board meetings since 2007. He has also been a dedicated member of the Municipal Information Systems Association of California (MISAC) for over fifteen years; and
During his tenure as Brea’s IT Supervisor, Cliff has demonstrated outstanding leadership to the IT staff, Directors, Managers, and the organization. He has provided professional and exceptional oversight in leading multiple IT projects for the City of Brea. Cliff has consistently demonstrated his dedication to the Brea community, early in his career, as he also assisted with the Community Services Department by playing Santa Claus at local elementary schools. His integrity, work ethic, and commitment to supporting Brea will leave a lasting impression on everyone he meets. Over his expansive career, Cliff has continuously embodied the values of public service, serving with utmost dedication, humility, and a deep commitment to those he has served. I will truly miss him but I am excited for the new chapter in his life. Congratulations Cliff!
City Clerk Retires
After over 10 years of dedicated service to the City of Brea as the City Clerk, and over 27 years in public service, Lillian has decided to retire. She began her career in local government with the City of Riverside. She then went on to serve as Deputy City Clerk for the City of Newport Beach and as the Clerk of the Board for the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), before joining the City of Brea as City Clerk in 2015.
During her tenure as Brea’s City Clerk, Lillian has provided exceptional leadership to City staff and professional oversight of the City’s legislative processes, records management, and elections, just to name a few. Lillian has exemplified the qualities that define an outstanding City Clerk. Her attention to detail, ability to navigate complex administrative responsibilities and her dedication to transparency in local government are qualities that have made her an invaluable asset to the City of Brea.
For her outstanding work, Lillian was nominated by her fellow City Clerks and was awarded the California Municipal Clerk’s Association 2025 Spirit of Service award, acknowledging her contributions, and dedication to the development of the Clerk profession. Lillian, it has been a pleasure working with you and I will miss your kindness and vast Clerks knowledge. Congratulations on your retirement!
Celebrate the Arts at Brea Fest
The City of Brea’s Annual Brea Fest will take place on Friday, August 8, from 6:30 to 10:00 p.m. at the Brea Civic & Cultural Center. In honor of our Art in Public Places Program, celebrating its 50th anniversary, Brea Fest will be spotlighting the arts and exhibits to highlight Arts in Public Places in the Brea Art Gallery and Curtis Theatre.
There will be live performances and art demonstrations celebrating the arts for patrons to enjoy. Brea Fest celebrates and supports local businesses by creating this event for community members to sample items from local restaurants. This family friendly event will have a children’s market, live music and more.
By partaking in Brea Fest, you help support the arts in Brea. Brea Fest admission and entertainment are free; there is a nominal charge of $4 per ticket that can be used for food and beverages. We hope to see you there.