Irvine Council Votes to Pay for Child Care Center

In what is believed to be the first such municipal action in the nation, the Irvine City Council voted Tuesday night to sponsor the formation of a child care center for local residents and workers.

The council voted 3-0 on the recommendation of a city-appointed Irvine Child Care Committee, which reported Tuesday night that a nonprofit, public-benefit corporation was needed to operate the proposed Irvine Child Development Center.

The council also approved loaning the corporation $182,000 in start-up funds, repayable with interest. The project’s cost is estimated at $1.3 million.

The child care center, to be built at the corner of Alton Parkway and Harvard Avenue, is scheduled to open in September and is to serve up to 100 children, city officials said. The project has been in the planning stages for nearly three years.

At a Dec. 15 meeting, the council adopted some committee recommendations and asked the panel to return with a formal proposal.

Councilman Edward A. Dornan did not attend Tuesday’s meeting. Councilman C. David Baker, a leading candidate for the 40th Congressional District seat of retiring Rep. Robert E. Badham (R-Newport Beach), did not return from a brief recess in time for the vote. Baker was unavailable for comment late Tuesday.

Mayor Larry Agran, who with council members Sally Anne Miller and Ray Catalano voted for the project, said the center represents a milestone for Irvine.

“I’m gratified to see we’re making progress on our commitment to provide decent, affordable, quality child care to every child whose parents either live or work in Irvine who need such child care,” Agran said.