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. 

Swearing-In Ceremony for Irvine City Council

The community is invited to the City of Irvine’s swearing-in ceremony for the newly-elected City Councilmembers Tuesday, December 13, at 6:30 p.m.

Councilmember-elect Kathleen Treseder, Councilmember Larry Agran, and Mayor Farrah N. Khan, who have both been re-elected, will be sworn into office for their respective terms. The event is available to view live on ICTV, which is available on Cox Communications Channel 30, AT&T U-verse Channel 99, cityofirvine.org/ictv, and youtube.com/ictv30.

The City Council Meeting will begin at 4 p.m., and a recess will be taken from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for a welcome reception. The Council meeting will resume after the reception at approximately 6:30 p.m. for the swearing-in ceremony.

For more information on how to join a City Council meeting or to view a recording of the ceremony, visit cityofirvine.org//ictv.

Holiday Tree Lighting is This Weekend

Join in celebrating the season Saturday, December 3, as “snow” falls over the Irvine Civic Center and the community gathers for the annual Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony. Enjoy an evening of holiday cheer featuring visits with Santa Claus, live holiday music, games, crafts, and a winter-themed train route. This free event is from 4 to 6:30 p.m. 

Guests are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped gift suitable for infants or children up to age 12. Toy donations aid the Irvine 2/11 Marine Adoption Committee Holiday Toy Drive.

Art Exhibition Revisits Old Town Irvine 

The winter art exhibition, “Old Town Irvine,” will be on display at Irvine City Hall Friday, December 9, through Friday, March 17, as part of the “Art at City Hall” series. An opening reception will be held Thursday, December 15, 3 to 5 p.m., at Irvine City Hall.

Presented in collaboration with the Irvine Historical Society, “Old Town Irvine” presents a selection of reproduced images that chronicle the earliest years of the City’s foundation. Once an agricultural hub, now a fast growing city of over a quarter million residents, the exhibition features photographs by visual documentarian Rene Laursen and selections from UCI Libraries that capture our City’s small-town origins.

City Hall is open to the public 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. The exhibition, parking, and opening reception are free and open to the public.  

Adopt a Furry New Family Member

The Irvine Animal Care Center will host its 16th annual Home for the Holidays Pet Adoption Fair Sunday, December 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Pet rescue groups and animal shelters will bring hundreds of homeless dogs, cats, rabbits, and small animals for adoption.

In addition to adoptions, Home for the Holidays features vendors and services for pets and their humans, gourmet food trucks, a bake sale, and an opportunity drawing.

Tickets will be on sale at the door for $5 per adult; children are free. Parking is free.

Irvine Earns Perfect Score on Municipal Equality Index

The City of Irvine has earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index.

The Index looks at how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are for LGBTQ+ people who live and work in communities nationwide. Irvine scored a perfect 100 points, plus nine bonus points, for:

Non-discrimination laws.

City services for the LGBTQ+ community and those living with HIV or AIDS.

Benefits provided as a municipal employer.

We will continue working to ensure our LGBTQ+ community feels safe, welcomed, and accepted.

Learn more about the report.