Conversations with Irvine City Councilmember Larry Agran: Recent Episodes
Larry Agran
On June 14, Councilmember Larry Agran successfully moved to launch a City-led investigation of the Orange County Power Authority. In this latest podcast appearance, Councilmember Agran expressed some optimism about the investigation and the Council’s support.
Listen to him discuss the Orange County Power Authority. To tune into future City Council meetings, review the Irvine City Council agendas webpage; agendas are posted 7 days before the meeting: https://www.cityofirvine.org/government/city-council/city-council-agendas.
If you would like to connect with Councilmember Larry Agran, email LarryAgran@cityofirvine.org. You can also connect with him on his website at https://councilmemberlarryagran.org or Facebook at https://facebook.com/CouncilmemberLarryAgran.
On May 24, Councilmember Agran provided the public updates on three environmental matters during the Irvine City Council meeting and his podcast “Conversations with Councilmember Larry Agran.”
Listen to him discuss All American Asphalt and the Orange County Power Authority, two agencies that deserve more scrutiny, attention and oversight from the City of Irvine and the Irvine City Council.
If you would like to connect with Councilmember Larry Agran, email LarryAgran@cityofirvine.org. You can also connect with him on his website at https://councilmemberlarryagran.org or Facebook at https://facebook.com/CouncilmemberLarryAgran.
On May 18, Councilmember Agran received a follow-up response to his request (sent 03/24/22) for public records from the Orange County Power Authority. Larry has questioned this City-funded agency’s ability to be solvent, asking:
- What is the number of small, medium, and large commercial customers OCPA has begun serving on April 1, 2022?
- What Power Purchasing Agreements (i.e. contracts) has Orange County Power Authority made with other entities?
- What are the reserve funds OCPA has created to address contingencies and other risk factors?
Councilmember Agran spoke to the lack of information and transparency from OCPA at the last Irvine City Council meeting.
If you would like to connect with Councilmember Larry Agran, email LarryAgran@cityofirvine.org. You can also connect with him on his website at https://councilmemberlarryagran.org or Facebook at facebook.com/CouncilmemberLarryAgran.
Welcome back to the podcast! In a special edition episode, Irvine City Councilmember Larry Agran speaks with OC Fire Watch Manager Tony Pointer from the Irvine Ranch Conservancy.
From May 1-7, California celebrates Wildfire Preparedness Week.
Irvine residents, be proactive and prepared while facing the threat of wildfires. Public emergencies can be unpredictable. Resources like Alert OC (managed by the County of Orange, Orange County Parks, and the Orange County Fire Authority's emergency disaster plan are available for you to prepare for any unexpected natural disasters.
For more information on how to sign up for Alert OC, visit https://member.everbridge.net/453003085613900/faq.
Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/f8vkOns4b3U
If you would like to connect with Councilmember Larry Agran, email LarryAgran@cityofirvine.org. You can also connect with him on his website at councilmemberlarryagran.org or Facebook at facebook.com/CouncilmemberLarryAgran.
On April 26, members of the Irvine City Council heard from the Great Park Neighborhoods Residents’ Council, a group calling for agendized time to participate in Great Park Board meeting decisions.
Councilmember Agran added his voice of support for these residents in his latest podcast, saying:
“Let’s face it: it’s their tax dollars that are building the [Great Park]…I underscored my appreciation for their having shown up, for the fact that they are organizing themselves, and for the fact that they put forward a proposal to be on the agenda at every single Great Park Board meeting.”
The Irvine City Council also approved the City’s first-time beekeeping ordinance. Councilmember Agran was happy to vote in support of a policy that would empower local residents. He encouraged the Council to lower costs in the future and increase participation from the community:
“This is an activity we want to not only facilitate, but also encourage, and one way of doing that is keeping fees very low so that more and more people are inclined to legally establish beekeeping operations in their backyards.”
Tune in to hear the podcast episode and participate in future Council meetings!
If you would like to connect with Councilmember Larry Agran, email LarryAgran@cityofirvine.org. You can also connect with him on his website at councilmemberlarryagran.org or Facebook at facebook.com/CouncilmemberLarryAgran.
At the April 12 meeting, the Irvine City Council voted to proclaim tomorrow, April 24, “Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day” to commemorate the 1.5 million lives lost to the genocide from 1915-1923.
In his latest podcast episode, Councilmember Agran explains the importance of the proclamation and the effect public participation had on the City Council’s vote:
“I want to…thank the many people who showed up and testified. [S]o many of them gave impassioned, informed, compelling testimony. It was an example of what good things we can do at the local level when we listen to the people, encourage them to speak up and speak out, and facilitate free speech.”
Listen to the podcast episode and read the proclamation the City Council approved.
If you would like to connect with Councilmember Larry Agran, email LarryAgran@cityofirvine.org. You can also connect on his website at councilmemberlarryagran.org or Facebook at facebook.com/CouncilmemberLarryAgran.
Larry discusses the Irvine City Council’s 4-1 vote last Tuesday (on March 22) to change procedures for City agendas and meetings. The policy changes included, for example, a reduction in speaking time for large groups of public commenters.
Larry advocated for the public, who spoke out unanimously in opposition at the meeting, and voted against the policy’s unpopular changes, saying:
“If American democracy can't work locally, or if it isn't working locally, or if the public is being shut out by special interest groups or by the Mayor and Council, we are in deep, deep trouble. If we are failing in that regard those passionate about representative government need to be adamant on procedures that allow for and encourage the most significant amount of public participation.”
If you would like to connect with Councilmember Larry Agran, email LarryAgran@cityofirvine.org. You can also connect on his website at councilmemberlarryagran.org or Facebook at facebook.com/CouncilmemberLarryAgran.
Beginning April 1, $7.75 million of Irvine residents’ money is going to be put to the test as the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) launches service for commercial (business) customers. 93% of this electricity is supposed to come from renewable energy sources, but as a ratepayer, businesses will, depending on their size, pay at least 4-7% more in electricity bills per month.
Why has the City Council refused to audit the Orange County Power Authority? So is Larry: “They are playing with the people's money not their own money. Why won’t my colleagues put this matter on the City Council agenda?”
Listen to yesterday’s “Conversations with Councilmember Larry Agran” episode. Click here to see a sample notice OCPA has sent Irvine businesses, and call 1-866-2-OCPOWER (1-866-262-7693) or visit https://ocpower.org if you have questions for this agency.
If you would like to connect with Councilmember Larry Agran, email LarryAgran@cityofirvine.org. You can also connect on his website at councilmemberlarryagran.org or Facebook at facebook.com/CouncilmemberLarryAgran.
We are finally advocating for our residents as a City and getting the job done. Today, Councilmember Larry Agran takes us inside the All American Asphalt plant issue and breaks down the outcome of yesterday's City Council Special Meeting. The City is involved in some tough negotiations with All American Asphalt, and he expects rapid progress within the next 2-4 weeks!
Listen to Larry's newest podcast episode, and stay tuned for more "Conversations with Councilmember Larry Agran."
If you did not make it to last night’s City Council meeting, you’re going to want to catch up on what happened! The Council discussed the Orange County Power Authority, the ARDA site/Veterans Memorial Park, and the establishment of a new Health and Wellness office.
In today’s podcast episode of “Conversations with Councilmember Larry Agran,” Larry wraps up the meeting’s results.
In today’s podcast, Councilmember Larry Agran discusses great news! The Great Park Board unanimously directed staff to study the 125-acre ARDA Site for the Botanical Garden and Veterans Memorial.
In other news, Mayor Khan and Larry have co-sponsored a discussion of the Veterans Memorial Park for the February 8 City Council agenda.
Tune in to today’s episode to hear more!
On January 11th, 2022, Councilmember Larry Agran helped expand and make permanent Irvine’s new standing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. Also, even though Irvine’s a sports-crazy town, we missed a couple! Irvine’s badminton community provided public comments that helped Larry and the City Council kickstart a plan to give every sport space in the City. Tune in to hear Larry tell Irvine’s story of increasing inclusion for everyone.
At a City Council meeting on December 14, 2021, Councilmember Larry Agran raised crucial questions about the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA). Since Larry's return to the Council, he has made numerous attempts for the City to receive "a full public presentation at a City Council meeting" by the Power Authority on its business plan and operations.
Larry believes that Community Choice Energy is an important initiative, and he wants the public to have confidence the Joint Power Authority will launch successfully.
As the goal of the City is to provide businesses and residents with 100% renewable energy by 2025, Larry wants the Authority to reach this target at an affordable price. So far, the OCPA has presented the Irvine City Council with no price for the cost of the renewable energy or schedule of rates.
"It is important for citizens to know how this will work..if the rates offered by the OCPA are considerably higher than SCE [Southern California Edison], then who's going to stay in the Power Authority?"
Larry and the City's residents are committed to the Power Authority's success, but energy procurement is a risky business. That's the reason why he's been asking his City Council colleagues for the Orange County Power Authority and their consultants to brief the City Council on their energy procurement policies and projected costs.
Irvine City Councilmember Larry Agran has a clear message about Irvine's #1 chemical polluter: "The only way we are going to deal effectively with All-American-Asphalt and its toxic emissions is by shutting that plant down."
Hear why the code enforcement hotline Larry proposed at the Nov. 9th meeting of the Irvine City Council is the City's first necessary step.
“My Council colleagues objected to the fact that a public health hotline might cost the City as much as $8000,000 in a year. My reaction was: $800,000 to protect the health and safety of thousands of Irvine residents, you've got to be kidding, this City spends $800,000 just to turn the lights on in the morning.”
Also, "The Orange County Power Authority will fail...and take our $7.75 million with them if they cannot successfully compete with Southern California Edison." Irvine needs a public presentation from the OCPA, explains Larry in the latest episode of Conversations with Councilmember Larry Agran, so that a positive initiative, Community Choice Energy, does not devolve into higher rates and dirtier energy at the hands of mismanagement.
On October 26th, 2021, Irvine City Councilmember Larry Agran opposed a resolution the Irvine City Council adopted (4-1) to support the placement of the Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon in Anaheim Hills. Tune in to hear Larry explain why his vote upheld the people of Irvine’s directive for the ARDA site at the Great Park, and why we should start honoring our veterans with a perimeter park surrounding the ARDA site.
Listen to Irvine City Councilmember Larry Agran discuss the October 12th City Council meeting where he expressed his concerns with the Orange County Power Authority.
Join Irvine City Councilmember Larry Agran as he discusses a possible botanical garden at the Great Park, and ways to enforce truck routes carrying possible toxic emissions from the All American Asphalt plant.
Irvine City Councilmember Larry Agran recaps the contentious September 14 City Council meeting with updates on Irvine's rule of two and the All American Asphalt plant
This is the first episode of our audio series Conversations with Larry, produced by the office of Irvine Councilmember Agran.
Get ready to hear Larry talk about what's really happening regarding the All American Asphalt plant and the growing public health concerns from residents in the northern part of Irvine.
"I believe the city government should be on the side of legitimately aggrieved residents….not finding reasons not to help them out."