Community Link Newsletter

 

Community Link Newsletter

July 15, 2022 | Edition 79

Welcome to the Community Link Newsletter

Our weekly newsletter aims to keep residents and businesses connected to us and all that is going on in and throughout the City. You can connect with us and learn more about our community, cultural events and celebrations, and news of interest by reading this newsletter, visiting our website at cityofirvine.org, and following us on our social media channels listed at the bottom of this email. We look forward to connecting with you. 

 

Pete Carmichael named Great Park Executive Director and Tim Gehrich named Director of Community Development

Pete Carmichael
Tim Gehrich

After a robust analysis of current and future City of Irvine operations and community priorities, City Manager Oliver C. Chi named Pete Carmichael as Great Park Executive Director and Tim Gehrich as Director of Community Development. 

Carmichael has served as the Director of Community Development for the City of Irvine for the past five years. In his new role, Carmichael will be responsible for leading the development plan for Great Park, and guiding the City’s Great Park development priorities.

For the past 11 years, Gehrich has served the City of Irvine as the Deputy Director of Community Development, overseeing all of the planning functions, both current and long range, for the City. As Director of Community Development, Gehrich will be responsible for managing, planning, and organizing all programs and activities in the Community Development Department, including Building & Safety, Housing, and Planning and Development Services. 

Read the full press release on the City's website for more on their backgrounds and previous experience. 

 

July is Park and Recreation Month!

Park and Recreation Month

At the July 12 City Council meeting, our Community Services Department was honored through an official proclamation recognizing July as "Park and Recreation Month."

This group of employees, and many more not pictured, provide a multitude of services to our community to grow, play, connect, and enjoy our City and its many offerings: enrichment classes, facilities reservations, youth programs, teen activities, family and child services, senior nutrition, paratransit, animal care, athletics, aquatics, fine arts, and much more. Our park system was also recently ranked among the top ten in the nation by the Trust for Public Land for the seventh consecutive year. 

Join us in celebrating the month and the services you have come to enjoy July 28, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Lakeview Senior Center, the Great Park Visitor Center, or Adventure Playground. Crafts, activities, and refreshments will be available. Celebrate your Community Services Department and get involved by signing up for classes at activities at yourirvine.org

 
Bridge Study

Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge Prioritization Study

We are conducting a study to help prioritize locations for pedestrian and bicycle bridges in our City, and we need your input.

Join us for a virtual meeting Wednesday, July 27, at 6 p.m. to learn about the Bridge Prioritization Study and share your feedback.

 

Your input and experiences using Irvine's trail network are essential to the outcome of this study. Visit cityofirvine.org/sharestheway to access the meeting via Zoom and to take a survey prior to joining. 

 
UCI Health Blood Drive

Give Blood, Help Others, Receive Giveaways!

It's a win-win scenario when you donate blood, and you have an upcoming opportunity to do so at Great Park Tuesday, July 19.

Sign up to donate blood from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the drive, hosted by UCI Health and the City of Irvine. The blood drive will take place in Parking Lot 2 at Great Park.

Your donation can help cancer patients and people who have experienced trauma, as well as babies in the NICU. Appointments are required. Please visit UCI Health's website to make an appointment. All donors will receive a Starbucks gift card and a UC Irvine blood donor canvas tote bag. 

 
Sizzlin' Summer Concerts

Rock out this Weekend!

It's the dog days of summer —  Tijuana Dogs, that is! The City of Irvine Sizzlin’ Summer Concert series brings free, family-friendly music shows to Mike Ward Community Park — Woodbridge. This Saturday, July 16, at 5:30 p.m. see Tijuana Dogs!

 

Come and groove along to dance party rock by the popular Orange County rock band Tijuana Dogs.

General admission is free (no tickets or pre-registration required) for first-come, first-served seating. Limited reserved seating near the stage for groups of five is available for $20 at yourirvine.org. Bring a picnic basket or purchase treats from on-site gourmet food trucks. Bring chairs and blankets; layered clothing is also recommended.

 

For more information, visit cityofirvine.org/specialevents.

 
Nelson Mandela

Make a Difference in Honor of Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela International Day celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world and the ability to make an impact. The day was originally set by the United Nations on his birthday, July 18.  

 

Mandela remains a symbol of power by resisting oppression, choosing dignity over humiliation, speaking up during injustice, and forgiving rather than hating. In honor of his 67 years of public service, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the United Nations ask that individuals spend 67 minutes of their time helping others.  

 

View City volunteer opportunities at cityofirvine.org/volunteer, and make an impact on your community.

 

Upcoming Meetings & Events 

July 16 | 6:30 p.m. 
Movies on the Lawn: "Encanto"

 

July 18 | 5:30 p.m.

Finance Commission

July 21 | 5:30 p.m.

Planning Commission

View the City Calendar 

We Are Irvine