Advertise on podcast: Brea Talks

Listen in as Mayor Cecilia Hupp and Brea’s Executive Staff present the 2026 State of the City. Administrative Services Director Monica Lo talks about the city’s financials (3:24). City Manager Kristin Webster lays out what we’re doing to advocate for Brea at the local, state and federal level (7:11). Fire Chief Dan Mielke and Chief of Police Adam Hawley discuss the proactive steps being taken in reducing wildfire risk (12:12) and impaired driving within our city (17:55). Assistant City Manager and Community Development Director Jason Killebrew gives an update on progress at the Brea Mall (24:04), while Interim Community Services Director Sean Matlock shares about the continued success of the HOPE Center and progress on construction at Arovista Park (29:35). Lastly, Public Works Director Michael Ho gives an update on Brea’s Capital Improvement Program projects past, present and future (36:25). This episode of Brea talks is brought to you by the Brea Line newsletter.  BREA Line is now a fully digital interactive, newsletter, sent directly to your email inbox.  Here, you can stay current on city news and be among the first to register for recreational classes and programs.  To view the latest issue and subscribe to the newsletter, visit cityofbrea.gov/brealine today!

Dan Fenstermaker sits down with Brea's City Engineer Ryan Chapman and gets into the particulars regarding the City's Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Learn exactly what the CIP is (1:00), the similarities and differences between the CIP budget and the City's general operating budget (2:25), and how we pay for it (9:12). This episode of Brea talks is brought to you by the Brea Line newsletter.  BREA Line is now a fully digital interactive, newsletter, sent directly to your email inbox.  Here, you can stay current on city news and be among the first to register for recreational classes and programs.  To view the latest issue and subscribe to the newsletter, visit cityofbrea.gov/brealine today!

Dan Fenstermaker chats with Fire Marshal Nicole Pesqueira of the Brea Fire Department and Aerial Support Officer Ryan Klug of the Brea Police Department. Hear about how fire season is now more year round than a specific period of time (1:42). Learn about best practices regarding barbecuing, campfires, bonfires, and fire pits (3:57), things to consider when using your air conditioning (11:25), and how to best manage your home’s fire risk with defensible space and home hardening (15:16). Then hear why fireworks in Brea are illegal, and what the City is doing to deter them (22:25). This episode of Brea talks is brought to you by the Brea Line newsletter.  BREA Line is now a fully digital interactive, newsletter, sent directly to your email inbox.  Here, you can stay current on city news and be among the first to register for recreational classes and programs.  To view the latest issue and subscribe to the newsletter, visit cityofbrea.gov/brealine today!

Liz Pharis welcomes back Brea Assistant City Manager and Community Development Director Jason Killebrew to discuss the process of development in a city. Learn about the role of the Community Development Director within an agency (2:17), the role of a city as it relates to property rights and fostering growth as well as community needs (6:18), the communication aspect between property owners, developers and the city (16:30), and how to get involved, get more information and be effectively heard regarding development in your city (22:17). This episode of Brea talks is brought to you by the Brea Line newsletter.  BREA Line is now a fully digital interactive, newsletter, sent directly to your email inbox.  Here, you can stay current on city news and be among the first to register for recreational classes and programs.  To view the latest issue and subscribe to the newsletter, visit cityofbrea.gov/brealine today!

Aimée Matsumoto sits down with Community Services Supervisor Billy Hutchinson and Community Services Specialist Jovi Negos to discuss all things summer. Hear great information about Brea’s aquatics program (2:47), sports programs, volunteen opportunities (4:54), important registration dates (6:34), and the wide variety of contract classes the City offers throughout the summer (7:50). Also, learn about the City of Brea’s Summer Day Camp (13:00) and Helping Hands Scholarship Program (15:14). This episode of Brea talks is brought to you by the Brea Line newsletter.  BREA Line is now a fully digital interactive, newsletter, sent directly to your email inbox.  Here, you can stay current on city news and be among the first to register for recreational classes and programs.  To view the latest issue and subscribe to the newsletter, visit cityofbrea.gov/brealine today!

Andrea Carvajal welcomes two guests from Brea's Planning Division, Brea's new City Planner Maribeth Tinio and Brea's Senior Planner Jessica Newton. Learn about what a General Plan is and the history behind this document in Brea (2:15), when this latest update began (5:25), and what is next regarding the General Plan (7:28). Then learn about Brea's Core Specific Plan (), where the idea came from (8:15), what is next and how to get more involved (10:18). This episode of Brea talks is brought to you by the Brea Line newsletter.  BREA Line is now a fully digital interactive, newsletter, sent directly to your email inbox.  Here, you can stay current on city news and be among the first to register for recreational classes and programs.  To view the latest issue and subscribe to the newsletter, visit cityofbrea.gov/brealine today!

Dan Fenstermaker sits down with Investigator Mike Janetzke of the Brea Police Department to discuss all things fraud and scams.  Learn about the evolution of these types of crimes regarding technology (1:40), the dangers of identity theft (2:45), the lengths that scammers go to get your money (7:51) the psychology behind “cognitive paralysis” (12:56), and what you can do to better protect yourself against these criminals (19:55).  This episode of Brea talks is brought to you by the Brea Line newsletter.  BREA Line is now a fully digital interactive, newsletter, sent directly to your email inbox.  Here, you can stay current on city news and be among the first to register for recreational classes and programs.  To view the latest issue and subscribe to the newsletter, visit cityofbrea.gov/brealine today!

Aimée Matsumoto sits down with Brea Economic Development Manager Melissa Furio and Brea Administrative Services Director Monica Lo to discuss the direct impacts shopping and dining local have on quality of life as well as the quality of a city's services and infrastructure. Hear from Melissa about what Economic Development is exactly (2:09), the history of of these efforts in Brea (4:15), and what makes Brea’s business community unique (6:00). Then, learn from Monica about the fiscal impacts shopping and dining have on the City’s budget, the significance of sales tax regarding revenue (12:43), and the potential discrepancies between online and in-person shopping (14:47). This episode of Brea talks is brought to you by the Brea Line newsletter.  BREA Line is now a fully digital interactive, newsletter, sent directly to your email inbox.  Here, you can stay current on city news and be among the first to register for recreational classes and programs.  To view the latest issue and subscribe to the newsletter, visit cityofbrea.gov/brealine today!

Aimeé Matsumoto and Brea Gallery Director Katie Chidester sit down and discuss National Arts & Humanities Month (1:08), as well as the newest exhibition coming to the Brea Gallery, the Super Art Friends Show (1:31), a collaboration between the City of Brea and Yo Gabba Gabba!  Then, Aimeé and Katie welcome two special guests, Yo Gabba Gabba! creators, Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz.  Hear about the origins of the hit show (2:56), its ties to the City of Brea (9:31), what role Southern California plays in its inspiration (17:31), and what this Brea Gallery exhibition means to its creators (23:43). This episode of Brea talks is brought to you by the Brea Line newsletter.  BREA Line is now a fully digital interactive, newsletter, sent directly to your email inbox.  Here, you can stay current on city news and be among the first to register for recreational classes and programs.  To view the latest issue and subscribe to the newsletter, visit cityofbrea.gov/brealine today!

Listen in as Mayor Blair Stewart and Brea’s Executive Staff present the 2025 State of the City. City Manager Kristin Griffith and Administrative Services Director Monica Lo talk about the recent businesses opening in Brea, as well as the city budget, put together by an award winning Finance Division (1:57). New Fire Chief Dan Mielke and Chief of Police Adam Hawley  discuss the proactive steps being taken in expanding life saving services (6:38) and crime reduction (10:30). Assistant City Manager and Community Development Director Jason Killebrew gives an update on progress toward diverse housing options in the City (15:58), while Public Works Director Michael Ho reminds residents about the renewed street sweeping enforcement as well as the new organics recycling program (19:48). Lastly, Community Services Director Carrie Hernandez shares about the continued success of the HOPE Center and celebrates the 50th anniversary of Brea’s Art in Public Places program (22:59).  This episode of Brea talks is brought to you by the Brea Line newsletter.  BREA Line is now a fully digital interactive, newsletter, sent directly to your email inbox.  Here, you can stay current on city news and be among the first to register for recreational classes and programs.  To view the latest issue and subscribe to the newsletter, visit cityofbrea.gov/brealine today!

Dan Fenstermaker welcomes back Lieutenant Chris Harvey of the Brea Police Department to talk about electric bikes, also known as e-bikes. Learn about the origins of laws geared towards this newer tech (0:53), what Brea PD is focused on when encountering e-bikes in public (2:03), the different classes of e-bikes and what prospective e-bike shoppers can expect from each of them (3:31), what public and shared spaces e-bikes are legally allowed to be ridden in (9:42) and what educational opportunities are out there for Brea Olinda students and also e-bike violators (11:11). For more information, visit CityofBrea.gov/EBikes This episode of Brea Talks is brought to you by the Brea Police Department Citizen Academy. Every Monday evening at 6:15, starting September 8th thru November 3rd, learn about what we are all about at your Brea Police Department, and how it functions from day to day operations to crime scene investigations. It's fun, interactive and just a click away. Applications are on the website, CityofBrea.gov

Dan Fenstermaker sits back down with the Brea Public Works Department’s Recycling Team, Francesca Vivanti & Destiny Garcia, this time to talk about the new Organic Recycling program now in affect.  Hear a little history on Organic Recycling in the State of California (1:47), find out what is and is not considered eligible for your organic waste bin (5:43) - with some significant common misconceptions (13:57),  how multi-family units and businesses are able to participate in the organics program (18:45), and tips and tricks on how to make your organic recycling habits easier (24:19). This episode of Brea Talks is brought to you by the Brea Police Department Citizen Academy. Every Monday evening at 6:15, starting September 8th thru November 3rd, learn about what we are all about at your Brea Police Department, and how it functions from day to day operations to crime scene investigations. It's fun, interactive and just a click away. Applications are on the website, CityofBrea.gov

Dan Fenstermaker talks trash with the Brea Public Works Department’s Recycling Team, Francesca Vivanti & Destiny Garcia.  In part one of this two part topic, learn about the history behind recycling legislation and efforts (2:44), common misconceptions that lead to “wish-cycling” (7:36), what happens to your recyclables once they leave your property (14:37), and what happens if we don’t properly sort our waste (17:33). For more information visit CityofBrea.gov/RecycleBrea This episode of Brea Talks is brought to you by the Brea Police Department Citizen Academy. Every Monday evening at 6:15, starting September 8th thru November 3rd, learn about what we are all about at your Brea Police Department, and how it functions from day to day operations to crime scene investigations. It's fun, interactive and just a click away. Applications are on the website, CityofBrea.gov

Dan Fenstermaker concludes his conversation with the Brea Building and Safety team (and Friends) as they discuss in detail the process of opening and/or moving a business into the City of Brea. Rounding out this three part series on the heels of Building and Safety Month, learn about the steps involved with commercial projects from checking in with the Planning Division (4:25), submitting your project application to Building and Safety (10:32), who looks at your plans and what they’re looking for (11:25), and the final steps in this process to finally get your project across the finish line (22:27). This episode of Brea Talks is brought to you by the Brea Police Department Citizen Academy. Every Monday evening at 6:15, starting September 8th thru November 3rd, learn about what we are all about at your Brea Police Department, and how it functions from day to day operations to crime scene investigations. It's fun, interactive and just a click away. Applications are on the website, CityofBrea.gov

Dan Fenstermaker continues his conversation with the Brea Building & Safety team, this time discussing the various nuances of residential projects. Learn from Alexis Mendicino and Rogelio Cortes what residential building codes are hiding in plain sight (2:25), the process of putting in a major project like an ADU (6:53) and what the most common misconceptions are regarding residential construction projects and the process involved with them (14:01). For more information visit the Brea Civic & Cultural Center, Call 714-990-7601 or Email [email protected] This episode of Brea Talks is brought to you by the Brea Police Department Citizen Academy. Every Monday evening at 6:15, starting September 8th thru November 3rd, learn about what we are all about at your Brea Police Department, and how it functions from day to day operations to crime scene investigations. It's fun, interactive and just a click away. Applications are on the website, CityofBrea.gov