The Exit of one Chief Ushers the Entry of Another

15 Dec 2011 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Budget, Ca, City of Rialto, davidsMarketing, Family, Flores Park, Holidays, Layoffs, Nieghborhood Watch, Protest, Public Safety, Rialto Fire, rialto unified school district, RUSD, Taxes, The Circle Vision Quest, Uncategorized, youth

People I give you the end of one and the beginning of another.

Police Chief Mark Kling will no longer be the chief of police in the city of Rialto.

Chief Kling was a good Chief but in Rialto it’s not hard to do when you see some of the leadership we have resided under over the last 15 years.

I at one time was the Chiefs biggest advocate, when he removed community policing and chased good people into early retirement I was left to pause is this man really who he claims to be?

Chief Kling did his best, but it wasnt enough we needed more.

Will Capitan Farrar be able to fill these shoes? Can he bring TRUE community policing back to Rialto? What are his plans for the future? Are the other 2 Lt’s spots ever going to be filled? Can we still count on Rialto PD being there when we need them?

Only Time will tell, maybe we should ask I’m running for office Baca Jr he is all over this SB Sun Article, do your job baca get out of the lime light.

SB Sun Article Below:

After 5 1/2 years, Police Chief Mark Kling is calling it quits.The veteran police official, with a doctorate in public administration, is going to teach at the undergraduate and graduate level at Riverside’s California Baptist University, retiring from police work after more than 30 years.Kling, 54, said he will be revamping the university’s criminal justice program, will teach within the program and also will teach public administration and political science.”I came here to do a job and I have done that job and it is time to move on,” said Kling, who for six months this year wore the hat of both police chief and city administrator.

His last day as police chief will be Dec. 29.

Kling said he will be replaced by Tony Farrar, who has been employed by the Rialto Police Department for 22 years. During the last five years, he served as captain with the responsibility for the department’s field operations.

Farrar holds a master’s degree in the administration of justice and an MBA.

Kling said that he took no additional salary while serving as interim city administrator, an action that saved the city considerable money.

“It was my way of giving back to the community for their support,” Kling said in an interview Tuesday.

When Kling arrived in Rialto, he walked into a demoralized Police Department that had been slated for elimination a few months before.

A large community outcry kept policing in Rialto under local control instead of under contract with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

During his tenure, Kling transformed the department, giving it tools to increase productivity and restoring its pride, said City Council member Joe Baca Jr.

“He brought back the gang unit, brought injunctions against gangs and took many other actions that had never been done in this city,” Baca said.

Kling’s tenure, however, was blemished by an embarrassing sex scandal in 2010 when a female employee at a Rialto strip club alleged she and an on-duty officer had sex three times at the Rialto Police Benefit Association’s union hall.

Prior to those allegations becoming public, Kling began installing vehicle locators on all police cars, to allow supervisors to pinpoint where officers are during their shift.

That process was completed in mid-2010.

Earlier this year, a Rialto police officer and an Orange County defense attorney were arrested by FBI agents on bribery charges.

Baca said Kling took swift action against those whose conduct fell short of the department’s standards.

“Chief Kling took personal responsibility for mishaps within the department. He didn’t try to hide anything….One of the things you can’t do as a leader is control what the troops do,” Baca said in an interview Wednesday.

Kling said that his leadership style includes “moving a lot of people out of organizations that probably should have never been there.”

As city administrator, Kling fired a contract employee at the Rialto Municipal Airport after he found documents suggesting financial irregularities there.

“Kling really trained his support staff to become leaders,” Baca said.

By grooming Farrar, he saved Rialto a significant amount of money because the city didn’t have to hire a headhunter to find its next police chief, Baca said.

Kling said he pushed department members to pursue educational opportunities “at every level.”

Studies show there is a correlation between the education level of a police department and how it treats its community, Kling said.

“I have no doubt in my mind that Tony Farrar is the best candidate for police chief, not just here, but anywhere,” Kling said.

Water Rates go up, up, up

09 Dec 2011 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Budget, Ca, City of Rialto, Family, Layoffs, Taxes, Uncategorized, youth

So once again the water rates are the topic of conversation and its all about raising them.

It is said that we have neglected our water and waste system, who is the “WE”. No one ever called my house and asked me if I want to continue to neglect our infrastructure, I don’t sit on any boards or communities. I just pay my taxes and fees. To be honest EVERY SINGLE time I have come before the dias at city council the council pretends they don’t work for us and they are untouchable. The most elder councilman Ed Scott has had plenty of time to begin working on these problems. Joe Baca Jr has been in local politics long enough to know this was coming on the municipal and State level. Plus Mrs Robertson and Mayor Vargas have been around quite a while and nothing has been done.

something that perplexes me though are they selling us water at cost? Meaning after all the bills are paid there isn’t anything left over? That would mean were not back filling or have been back filling the general fund with monies that could have been used to begin to start dealing with our infrastructure issues?

What I love is how Stephen Dopudja, a civil engineer with Irvine-based SAIC Energy, Environment & Infrastructure LLC who the council is paying with our tax dollars all but uses an agency he isn’t a part of or has any say in to threaten the residents of this city.

Im sorry Rialto Governing board we the people have nothing left to give, you want to over tax us and fee us to death. Un employment numbers are high and are only dropping because people are giving up on looking for work because it’s so hopeless. If you raise the rates you had better find a innovative collection agency to work with because the residents probably wont be able to pay their bills.

If the system is this bad I call on all Senior members of our city government who have ignored and mismanaged funds to this point to step down and resign.

Rialto officials will separate rate proposal from American Water issue

Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer

Posted: 12/08/2011 01:20:41 PM PST

RIALTO – City of Rialto officials will be seeking significant hikes in water and wastewater treatment rates early next year.This effort will separate highly-charged issue of whether or not American Water Works Co. Inc. will manage the city’s water operations for 30 years.

“It doesn’t matter what we do (on that). Rates have go to go up,” Mike Story, city administrator, said during a meeting of the Rialto Utilities Commission Tuesday night.

Last summer, when the motion to outsource the water department to American Water died on a 2-2 vote by city council, officials said that large rate increases would be coming.

For years, various city councils have ducked the politically unpopular vote to increase water and wastewater rates.

The result has been that the city’s aging water infrastructure now needs some $40 million in upgrades and repairs.

Story said that a rate request in some form will likely come before city council during its Jan. 10 meeting.

Regardless of that date, the issue will not be considered during council meetings scheduled for Tuesday or Dec. 27, he said.

A vote by the council to boost water and wastewater rates would be subject to a Proposition 218 vote, meaning that a negative vote by 50 percent of the property owners – plus one vote – would block the increase.

The voting period ends 45 days after the council’s affirmative vote.

For several weeks, utility commission members have been developing a “Water, Wastewater & Rate Education Outreach” plan to tell in great detail why the rate increases are necessary – and what payments to the water system buy.

The board consensus Tuesday night was that there will be three or four public meetings offered at different times and locations – when it has been determined what the rate increase will be.

Stephen Dopudja, a civil engineer with Irvine-based SAIC Energy, Environment & Infrastructure LLC, said that city residents elsewhere in the state have decided to neglect their water system and repeatedly defeat water rate increases.

But ultimately the state steps in.

“The Department of Public Health is not going to let water systems become a health hazard. They will come in and levy fines in the millions of dollars,”

Then the ratepayers in those city must pay for needed improvements – and the fines.

“The question is does Rialto want to be part of the solution,” he said.

SAIC has been hired by the city as a consultant for water and wastewater issues.

jim.steinberg@inlandnewspapers.com, 909-386-3855

Reaction to Tragedy

28 Nov 2011 6 Comments

by rialto-now in Family, Fontana PD, Holidays, Layoffs, Public Safety, Sierra Lakes Parkway, Taxes, Uncategorized, youth

Hello everyone, I from time to time cover topics outside of Rialto. My goal is and always will be to cover the ins and outs of Rialto but we all travel outside of our city to shop work and live.

At 6:05 November 27, 2011 My family and I were on our way to get gas at the Costco on sierra lakes parkway. As I made my left turn from sierra to the parkway traffic came to a screeching halt. My first thought was people were still out like crazy shopping and the lights were backing up, I was wrong and the truth was much worse than I expected.

A young man and his friends were running across the parkway and one was struck by a green Honda civic with so much force the windshield was totally caved in. Most people just drove on by a few stopped I was one of the few.

I safely pulled my car to the side and had my wife put on the flashers. I called 911 and rushed to the scene to assist the others that had stopped. One lady was down with the teen talking to dispatchers others were trying to get the young mans friends to remain calm, he was breathing but very bloody and not responding to our voices. As I turn as my back was to the intersection I see motorists nearly running us down screaming profanities and honking angrily, REALLY!!!!!!!

The first woman on scene was with the teen I turned my attention to giving the best information to the fire dispatcher that I could so that they could come as prepared as possible. While doing this I directed traffic to keep everyone safe. Once the first Fontana Police officer arrived on scene I left him with the victim and shut down anymore traffic coming down that side of the parkway. One person cussed and mad because he needed to get into the lowes shopping center and didn’t like to be inconvinced, REALLY!!!!!!!!! Wait till its him or someone he loves and cares for lying in the road fighting for their lives, his tone will change.

The people who stopped to help were people of faith because they took the friends aside and began praying with them it was nice to see.

People POLICE, FIRE & AMR don’t run code 3 (lights and sirens) for a lunch break their on their way to a serious call get out of their way……….. Pull to the right, if that’s not safe just stop they will go around you.

I was prepared for this because I do it daily on the job and have had tons of first responder training, but I still found myself unprepared. I have no first aid kit in my car, no gloves, no flashlight and neither did anyone there some of those people helping the teen have his blood on them not safe, I was directing traffic with no reflective clothing no flashlight not safe. I will learn from this and stock both cars with whats nessicary for an emergency, listing the following:

First Aide kit – Nothing to fancy but one with gloves and a CPR mask bare minimum.

Flashlight – LED flashlights last a long time on their batteries and have long-lasting lenses good for something you don’t need everyday.

Reflective Vest – Thier not expensive and can make helping someone out safer for you and them.

Take a First Aide Course – Red Cross offers a program that is inexpensive and informative it will help you understand what emergency dispatchers are asking you and prepare you for the most common emergencies.

Put vandals to work

08 Nov 2011 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Public Safety, Taxes, youth

The following post was taken from the San Bernardino Sun Newspaper Voice of the People Section:

I am responding to “Sheriff’s
deputies jail two vandalism suspects,” Oct. 26.

I have a solution for these vandals who think spraying their graffiti all
over the place is so much fun once they’re caught make them go clean it up! Give
them a toothbrush, some cleanser and make them stay there as long as it takes to
remove every bit of it! No meal breaks. They need to be held responsible for
their actions.

Community service agencies, make them paint over their ugly messes instead of
having our crews take their time to go out and paint over them. I realize not
all of them are caught, but the ones who are need to own up and undo the damage
they caused!

You do the crime, you pay the fine. In this instance, it’s cleaning up after
themselves.

– JUDY RODOCKER, Reche Canyon

Assembly Member Carter News Letter

08 Nov 2011 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in City of Rialto, Family, Family Sports, Fun, Holidays, Military, Public Safety, Rialto Fire, rialto unified school district, Taxes, youth

Carter
November 2011 E-Newsletter

Shortly before Thanksgiving 2009,
Assembly Member Carter and Community Action Partnership Executive Director
Patricia Nickols packed Thanksgiving food boxes for families in need at St.
Paul’s African Methodist Episcopal Church in San Bernardino. Assembly Member
Carter encourages everyone to volunteer in the community to make this
Thanksgiving holiday a meaningful one.

Dear Friends,

The Thanksgiving holiday is a
time to gather with friends and family to reflect upon what we care about most
and what we are most thankful for. I am thankful for the veterans and the men
and women currently serving in the Armed Forces, many of whom are overseas and
away from their families. We honor their sacrifices.

I encourage you to volunteer
in your community to make this holiday a meaningful one. Make it a priority to
donate funds, food or your time to nonprofit and community organizations that
are serving those in need. You alone can make a positive impact in the lives of
those around you.

Here is a list of local
organizations to get you started so that you may be able to assist as the
holiday season approaches.

Frazee Community
Center
1140 West Mill Street
San Bernardino, CA 92401
(909)
889-4424
Hutton Community
Center
660 Colton Avenue
Colton, CA 92324
(909) 370-6168
Mountain View Community
Church
8833 Palmetto Avenue
Fontana, CA 92335
(909) 357-9377
Loveland Jubilee
Pantry
1436 North Ayala Drive, Suite G
Rialto, CA 92376
(909)
873-2710

Best wishes for a happy and
healthy Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,

Wilmer Amina
Carter
Assembly Member, District 62

Protect your
Children from Harm

November is Child Safety and
Protection month. Here are a few tips to keep your children safe during this
holiday season:

Be cautious of choking
hazards – coins, marbles, keys, jewelry, paper clips, water bottle tops, safety
pins, removable rubber tips on doorstops, jeweled decorations on children’s
clothing, crayons and hard, round foods.
Injuries from hot liquids
are the leading cause of nonfatal burns. Use anti-scalding devices for faucets
and showerheads to help prevent burns.
Install child-proof locks on
anything and everything that can open. This is especially important on medicine
and kitchen cabinets.
Use carbon monoxide alarms
near sleeping areas and test smoke alarms to make sure they are in good working
order.

Remember to keep a list of
all emergency numbers on your refrigerator or other easily accessible area. For
a list of local resources in your county, please visit http://www.sbcounty.gov/dph/documents/cah_community_resources.pdf.

Legislative Wrap-up:
Assembly Member Carter’s Key Bills Signed into Law

A number of Assembly Member
Carter’ bills were signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown, all centering around
her policy priority issues, which include education, jobs and economic
development, public safety and health.

Assembly Bill 230 is a joint
effort with the students of San Bernardino Middle College High School. This bill
exempts a middle college high school student from being assigned a
“low-enrollment priority” by a community college. This will give the students in
these programs increased access to California Community College (CCC) courses
and expand their opportunities to complete the middle college high school
program.

The Governor also signed
Assembly Bill 316, a crucial piece of legislation to help combat the rise of
metal theft in the district and across the state. The bill provides that a
person who steals copper materials including wire, cable, and piping, exceeding
$950 in value, is guilty of grand theft and will be punishable by a fine,
imprisonment or both.

Assembly Bills 221 and 892
streamline processes and provide flexibility for both housing and transportation
projects. This helps jobs and shovel-ready projects to move forward. AB 221
allows the Department of Housing and Community Development to use bond funds for
the Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP) and the Supportive Housing
Program. AB 892 allows Caltrans to continue the federal National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) by waiving sovereign immunity for certain programs resulting
in eliminating one layer of government review and allowing projects and jobs to
begin in a timely manner.

Assembly Bill 1077 supports
growth and economic development around Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park
while also providing protection to this unique historical and cultural
resource.

Assembly Member Carter is
pleased that the Governor saw the merit and importance of these measures, and
signed them into law. For more information on Assembly Member Carter’s
legislative package, please visit her website at www.assembly.ca.gov/a62.

If you have a bill idea,
Assembly Member Carter would love to hear about it. Please email her at assemblymember.carter@assembly.ca.gov.

Back Row, from left: Craig Scott, San
Bernardino Police Department; Matt Ballinger, Fontana Police Department; Pastor
Owusu Hodari, San Bernardino County Public Defender; Joe Martinez, Rialto Fire
Department; Jim Eason, San Bernardino County Fire Department; Assembly Member
Wilmer Amina Carter; Jon Montgomery, San Bernardino County Fire Department;
George Alaniz, San Bernardino County Probation Department; Richard Dewberry, San
Bernardino Police Department; Eugene Chavez, San Bernardino County Probation
Department; Linda Bourke, Rialto Police Department; John Lapioli, San Bernardino
County Sheriff’s Department; Louis Johnson, Fontana Police Department; Dr.
Mannie L. Brodie, San Bernardino County Public Defender; front row, Joyce
Roberts, Colton Police Department; Yuriana Nava, Colton Police Department; Greta
Hodges, Rialto Police Department; Cecilia Chavez, Fontana Police Department; and
Paul Dennert, California Highway Patrol.

Assembly Member
Carter Honors Public Safety Volunteers

Assembly Member Carter hosted
her third annual awards program to honor volunteers in public safety agencies on
October 28 at the Inland Regional Conference Center in San Bernardino. She was
joined by San Bernardino County Sheriff Rod Hoops, San Bernardino Police Chief
Robert Handy, County Fire Chief Mark Hartwig, Fontana Police Chief Rod Jones,
Colton Police Chief Steve Ward and other officials.

The volunteer honorees have
given thousands of hours in service to their communities through the Sheriff’s
Department, the Public Defender and Probation Departments, Police Explorers,
County Fire Department, the California Highway Patrol, and the Colton, Rialto,
Fontana and San Bernardino Police Departments.

Assembly Member Carter says,
“Those individuals who offer their time and talents to their communities are
truly our unsung heroes. Too often, we forget to stop and acknowledge the great
contributions volunteers make to the fabric and character of our communities. I
want to publicly thank and recognize these heroes.”

Assembly Member Carter, THINK Together
student Cheyenne Young; and Chantal Anderson, Principal of Bemis Elementary
School in the Rialto Unified School District

National Lights on
Afterschool at Bemis Elementary

Assembly Member Carter
visited THINK Together’s extended learning time program at Bemis Elementary in
the Rialto Unified School District (RUSD) on October 19. Her visit was tied to
National Lights On Afterschool, an initiative of the National Afterschool
Alliance. Lights On Afterschool is held annually to bring visibility to the
importance of after-school programs in providing safe, supervised learning
environments for school-aged children. The THINK Together model is unique in the
state, providing a structured, academically-oriented program which includes
homework help, academically-oriented activities, structured physical education
activities/nutrition instruction, as well as leadership and team-building
activities. THINK Together serves about 3,000 students in 32 schools in the 62nd
Assembly District. Learn more at www.THINKTogether.org.

From left, honorees Cheryl Brown,
Laura B. Goodly, Brenda Odell, National Council of Negro Women Inland Empire
Section President Lois J. Carson; Keynote Speaker and TV newswoman Beverly
White, Assembly Member Carter; Geraldine Foxall-Kater; Beverly Powell; and
Melody Anye Riley attend the National Council of Negro Women Bethune Recognition
Luncheon at the Inland Empire Regional Conference Center in San
Bernardino.

Former Carter Staff
Honored at NCNW Luncheon

Assembly Member Carter
presented the Community Award to Eldred Marshall, former Carter legislative
staffer and talented musician. Ms. Carter called Marshall a genius who began
playing the piano at age six. He recently received a Master of Music degree and
is working on a Masters of Organ degree. The award was presented at the 32nd
Annual National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) Mary J. McLeod Bethune Recognition
Luncheon on October 29, 2011 in San Bernardino.

Each year a different NCNW
Section hosts the event in commemoration of Mary McLeod Bethune, the
organization’s founder and the Inland Empire section hosted this year. The
keynote speaker was Beverly White, KNBC newscaster. She offered an inspiring
message about the life of Henrietta Lacks, the woman whose cancer cells have
been mass marketed for research worldwide and about EPA Administrator Lisa P.
Jackson.

Raise Awareness of
Alzheimer’s Disease

Today, in the United States,
there are an estimated 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease
with more than 580,000 in California. According to the Alzheimer’s Association,
this figure will rise to 678,446 by 2015, and 1,100,000 by 2030. The warning
signs of Alzheimer’s disease are often dismissed as side effects of normal
aging. If you or someone you know is experiencing memory loss or changes in
behavior or thinking skills, it’s time to learn the facts. Early detection,
diagnosis and intervention are vital because they provide the best opportunities
for treatment, support and planning for the future. To learn about the 10 signs
of Alzheimer’s disease or for more information on Alzheimer’s disease, please
visit http://www.alz.org/californiasouthland/

Commending Native
Americans for their Contributions

Millions of Americans will
commemorate the contributions that Native Americans have made to our country,
our state and our society during Native American Heritage Month in November. The
beautiful culture and heritage of many nations are ingrained in the names of our
communities, rivers, lakes, cities, streets and food.

Assembly Member Carter honors
the legacy of American Indians for their contributions to our rich history.
Among the Native Americans to receive the United States Medal of Honor for their
heroism are: First Lieutenant Jack C. Montgomery and Second Lieutenant Ernest
Childers, both United States Army, 45th Infantry Division during WWII. Also,
John Bennett Herrington is a former NASA astronaut who flew on the STS-113
Endeavour, the sixteenth shuttle mission.

Assembly Member Carter
commends the many Native Americans who continue to make our communities stronger
by serving as community college board members, police officers, teachers,
doctors, firefighters, civic leaders, military service men and women and public
servants.

Recognize the
Seriousness of Diabetes

During National Diabetes
Month, take a moment to recognize just how many people are affected by this
disease. According to the American Diabetes Association, a person is diagnosed
with diabetes every 17 seconds and diabetes remains as the leading cause of
heart attack and stroke.

From 1999 to 2008, the
highest number of deaths due to diabetes was among San Bernardino County
residents who lived in postal zip code 92335, which is in the 62nd
District.

Learn more about diabetes on
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov. Another resource is the American Diabetes
Association’s Center for Information and Community Support at 1-800-342-2383 or
visit the website www.diabetes.org. Let’s take an active role to stay as healthy
as possible!

Assembly Member Carter’s intern Alicia
Barrett is from Ontario and is currently an undergraduate student at the
University of California, Irvine. Her academic interests center on Political
Science and Women’s Studies. While interning for Assembly Member Carter, Alicia
hopes to gain insight into the policy issues that affect constituents. Her
future plans include a career in public policy or government.

Ellison Ma is Assembly Member Carter’s
newest intern in her Capitol Office. Originally from San Francisco, Ellison is
currently in his third year at UC Davis in the fall, majoring in Political
Science. He plans to pursue graduate studies in public policy.

Levi Swindell of Elk Grove is a
graduate from Virginia Military Institute, where he majored in history and
attended on a football scholarship. He was honored to march with the VMI corps
of cadets in the President Barack Obama Inauguration Parade. Levi plans on
obtaining a master’s degree to work in federal law enforcement or Homeland
Security.

Carter in the
Community

From left, Assembly Member Carter,
Assembly Member Sandr� R. Swanson (AD 16) seated; Senator Curren Price, Chair of
the Legislative Black Caucus, and Assembly Member Steven Bradford (AD 51), at
the Legislative Black Caucus Leadership Symposium on October 15th.

Assembly Member Carter joins the
sponsors and children who participated in the Grand Opening of The Leaven
Tutoring Center at Quail Ridge apartment complex in Rialto. From left, back row,
Ricardo Lorenzo and Khalid Alwan, Directors, Oracle Communities Corporation and
owners of Quail Ridge; Mark Lillis, Executive Director, The Leaven and Assembly
Member Carter. This photo was taken by W. Jordan Bennett.

Assembly Member Carter presents the
co-chairs of the Inland Empire Disabilities Collaborative with a resolution
recognizing their service and the five-year anniversary of the Collaborative.
From left, Ann Kasper and Bill Nessel, co-chairs, Inland Empire Disabilities
Collaborative; Assembly Member Carter and Carol Fitzgibbons, Executive Director,
Inland Regional Center; Lisa Hayes, Manager, Senior and Disability Services,
Molina Health Care; and Ben Jauregui, Disability Program Manager, Inland Empire
Health Plan (IEHP).

From left, Barbara Ward, Deputy
Secretary, Women and Minority Veterans; Assembly Member Carter; Senator Gloria
Negrete-McLeod; and Tina Lifford, motivational speaker at CalVet Women Veterans
Conference, “Enhancing Inner Beauty, Inner Strength,” at the DoubleTree Hotel in
Ontario on October 7.

At the George E. Brown, Jr. Elementary
School Groundbreaking on October 21 were: from left, San Bernardino Unified
School Board Member Danny Tillman, Mrs. Marta Brown, Assembly Member Carter,
Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod, and San Bernardino Unified Assistant
Superintendent of Facilities and Operations John Peukert (in back). The
elementary school is the newest in the San Bernardino Unified School District,
located at 25th & Highland Ave., adjacent to Arrow View Middle
School.

On Saturday evening, October 22 at the
National Orange Show Valencia Room, Assembly Member Carter received the 2011
Distinguished Benefactor Award from the San Bernardino County Safety Employee’s
Benefit Association (SEBA) at an event to benefit the SEBA Charity Fund. SEBA
represents 3200 San Bernardino County Deputy Sheriff’s, District Attorney
Investigators, Welfare Fraud Investigators and Probation Corrections Officers.
From left, Assembly Member Carter and Safety Employee’s Benefit Association
President Laren Leichliter. The main sponsoring organizations were: SEBA, San
Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Tommy and Maria Ramos, James and Rowena
Ramos.

The NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner on
October 27 at the San Bernardino Hilton Hotel, recognized health educators.
Assembly Member Carter was presented with the Healthy Living Advocate Pioneer
Award by Cheryl Brown, President of the NAACP San Bernardino Branch.

Assembly Member Carter presents
certificates to representatives of The NAACP, the Inland Empire Concerned
African American Churches and Time for Change to acknowledge the organizations’
ninth annual health fair on October 22. From left, Kim Carter, Time for Change;
Beverly Jones Wright, NAACP; Assembly Member Carter and Veatrice Jews,
IECAAC.

At the Inland Empire Concerned African
American Churches 9th Annual Health Festival, Assembly Member Carter
demonstrates a unique stationary bike which includes a blender powered by
peddling and allows the rider to make a smoothie.

City Update

14 Oct 2011 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Budget, City of Rialto, Family, Layoffs, Public Safety, Rialto Fire, Taxes, youth

City Clerk/KRTO

The 13^th Annual Rialto Family Festival

The festival held on Saturday, September 17^th was a success. Many residents came out and enjoyed the day. We are looking at how we can expand on this event for next year along with the continued support of donations and sponsorships.

Centennial Celebration

Planning Committee meetings are held every other Wednesday in the KRTO Conference Room. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for October 12^th and October 26^th at 6:00 p.m.

A fundraiser for the Centennial Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, October 22, from 3:00 p.m. to CLOSE at Farmer Boys and Popeye’s, located at the corner of Baseline and Ayala. Tickets of $10 can be purchased for a Cheeseburger Combo or Fish Sandwich Combo which includes refillable fries. Tickets are now on sale at the City Clerk’s office. And, as an additional fundraiser, $10 gift cards can be purchased from Coffee Nutzz, where you can enjoy delicious coffee, frappanutzz and smoothies!

Rialto Walk of Fame stars continue to be a big seller. As word continues to get out to the community, people are excited to be a part of Rialto History. Come in and buy your star!

The Centennial Gala, a black tie event, will be held on Friday, November 18, at the Carl Johnson Center. Tickets for $100 per person, or $1000 for a table of 10, can be purchased at the City Clerk’s office.

Police Department

Homeland Security Grant Program 2011

The police department has once again been approved for funding thru the Department of Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) 2011. This funding is for first response personnel, and will assist the department in increasing its ability to effectively respond to major incidents and/or disasters.

Park Camera Phase II

Technology has become a critical element of crime fighting in the 21^st century. Law enforcement agencies at all levels are using technology to enhance their effectiveness in such areas as solving crimes, streamlining dispatch and deployment systems, developing faster electronic field reporting methods and sharing information among partners. Use of such technology often leads to resource management that is both more effective and cost efficient.

The department is in the process of implementing Phase II of its Park Camera Project. Phase I encompassed three city parks; Jerry Eaves Park, Frisbie Park and Rialto Park. Phase II will encompass Fergusson Park, Birdsall Park, Flores Park, Bud Bender Park, Andreson Park, and Margaret Todd Park.

Safe Moves City

The Safe Moves City course is an interactive exercise that allows students to learn about safety by walking and bicycling through a miniature city called “Safe Moves City”. “Safe Moves City” consists of streets, sidewalks, intersections, crosswalks, traffic signals, traffic signs, residential areas, business districts, cars, trucks, buses and a railroad track with signals, crossing gate and train. “Safe Moves City” is designed to simulate the diverse traffic environments in Rialto and to create “problem solving” experiences for each grade level.

Under the supervision of Police Traffic Officers, students will walk and/or ride a bicycle through “Safe Moves City” while trying to avoid over twenty (20) traffic hazards. The Officers will evaluate the student’s performance and discusses the results with each teacher and students. We will be presenting this program at several schools during the month of October 2011.

Fire Department

Open House

The Rialto Fire Department will be holding our annual open house in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week Saturday October 8 at Headquarters station, 131 S. Willow Ave. from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM.

Rialto Improves Rolling Stock

The Fire Department is preparing three new Dodge Ambulances to be put in front line emergency service at the start of November. This batch of Ambulances is the first Dodge ambulances Rialto has purchased and is a change from Ford that we are presently operating. The Fire Department has also ordered a new Technical Rescue vehicle which was purchased with an “Assistance to Firefighters Grant” and a $100,000 matching fund by the City. The Fire Department is raising funds with the intent of receiving the Rescue vehicle without cost to the City. The Rescue vehicle will be in service at the start of January 2012.

Rialto Centennial

The Fire Department is planning on displaying Old Betsy our 1923 Fire Engine on the front lawn of the woman’s club on Rialto November 19^th during the City of Rialto Centennial Celebration.

Development Services Department

City Council Awards Contract for Utility Relocation to Support Future Freeway Retail Development

On September 13, 2011 the City Council awarded a $246,019 construction contract to Merlin Johnson Construction to relocate two water lines and construct a sanitary sewer that will support the redevelopment of a 3 acre site on the northeast corner of Riverside and Easton Avenue, which previously contained Fire Station #202. Construction of the water mains and sewer line will commence in October and be completed by December, 2011. The site has been entitled for the development of two fast food restaurants and a third parcel that could contain a sit down restaurant or other complementary retail uses. Upon completion of the utility relocations, the next step will be to complete the site improvements to support development, including grading, street improvements, parking area, landscape and signage.

Agency Makes its Annual Payments to Various Tax Entities Totaling $5.4 million

Redevelopment agencies throughout California generally have obligations to “pass-through” a portion of the property tax increment to various taxing districts within their jurisdictions. The Redevelopment Agency of the City of Rialto recently processed payments totaling $5.4 million for the benefit of local schools, utility districts, and county government agencies. This represents 21% of the Agency’s gross property tax revenue of $25.5 million in FY11. In addition, the Agency paid another $1.4 million to the State as part of its SERAF obligation for FY11.

New Businesses Locating in Rialto

The recession caused a number of recently completed industrial buildings to become, or remain vacant. A surge in recent industrial leasing has brought a number of recognizable businesses to Rialto.

The Klein Ranch Project welcomed its first two occupancies, with Living Spaces leasing an 800,000 square foot facility and Razor leasing a 600,000 square foot facility. The Klein Ranch Project is fully occupied for the first time. CBRE Investors acquired the Project from Klein Ranch East LLC.

American Building Supplies leased the 734,000 square foot Rialto Commerce Center Building owned by Rialto Realty Holding 11. The former 84 Lumber Store on Rialto Avenue was acquired by American HandForge and the company is adding another 40,000 square feet. ProComp Automotive leased the 72,000 square foot facility in the OMP-Rialto Distribution Center. Bissel Homecare purchased a 247,000 square foot building in the OMP-Rialto Distribution Center. Go Green leased the 128,000 square foot building at the northwest corner of Cedar Avenue and Merrill Avenue and will commence operations in December.

The industrial vacancy rate has declined from approximately 20% one year ago, to under 10% today as a result of these new occupancies. Rialto will benefit from the availability of new jobs and economic activity from these businesses.

Largest Rooftop Solar Installation in US Completed in Rialto

The 43-unit Oltmans Construction Company has completed the installation of the largest rooftop solar installation the U.S. has ever seen. The rooftop installation took place atop a Prologis distribution center at the northeast corner of Merrill Avenue and Linden Avenue. The solar panels will produce 8.6 megawatts from the 1.2 million square feet of panels. The project is part of Southern California Edison’s renewable energy program.

TELACU Commences Construction of Senior Housing Community on Bloomington Avenue

On September 26, TELACU commenced construction of the 75-unit affordable senior rental housing project at the corner of Bloomington Avenue and Lilac Avenue. Funding for this project includes $12,300,000 from the federal Section 202 program and $3,800,000 from the Agency’s Low-Mod Housing fund. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2012. The Project recently paid $939,000 in development fees, including building permit/plancheck and development impact fees.

Public Works Department

Painting of Civic Center Campus Buildings

Painting of the Civic Center campus has begun with the City Clerk/Human Resources building by our in-house crews. Painting will continue through the month of October and is scheduled to be completed in time for the City’s Centennial celebrations.

Civic Center Energy Efficient Window Retrofits

Public Works in-house crews have installed new energy efficient windows in the City Clerk/Human Resources, Finance, and Administration buildings. These windows were fully paid for with grant monies, are a great visual improvement to the Civic Center campus, and will reduce the energy consumption of each building.

Centennial Walk of Fame, Stars, Benches, and Monument

Construction is complete within the existing raised median along Riverside between Rialto and Second Street in Downtown. The installation of the stars and benches will commence in early November. Majority of the construction work was performed by in-house crews, including site preparation, grading, assistance in forming, as well as complete construction of the monument. Project is on schedule.

Free Dump Day

Regularly scheduled quarterly free dump/cleanup day, October 22^nd – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. There are no changes to the services offered to the public:

Household Hazardous Waste, behind 246 S. Willow
Used Tire Drop-off, Rialto Airport, 1451 N. Linden
Electronic Waste Collection, south lot City Hall, 150 S. Palm
Salvation Army Collection, south lot City Hall, 150 S. Palm
Mid-Valley Landfill, 2390 Alder Ave.

Burrtec Waste will post roll-offs at three locations to provide free disposal to residents of multi-unit complexes: Cactus and Randall, Linden and Merrill, dead-end of Sycamore north of Easton. Flyers will be posted in multi-unit complexes in the vicinity of these locations.

Special Collection

Our special collection for this quarter is Soles 4 Souls, a non-profit that collects shoes for distribution in underdeveloped countries and areas hit by natural disasters. Shoes will be collected on October 22^nd as part of Free Dump Day in the south parking lot at City Hall and will be transported to the Soles 4 Souls warehouse in Fontana afterwards.

Solid Waste Division Move

The Solid Waste Division will complete their move to join the Public Works Department and be operating out of 246 S. Willow by October 10^th.

Commissioning for the Wastewater Treatment Plant

The City has installed three Fuel Cells at the Wastewater treatment Plant to produce renewable power/green energy. The three fuel cells, Gas Treatment Unit and FOG (Fat, Oil, and Grease) systems are currently in commissioning and when completed they can generate up to 900 kWh of electricity to run the treatment plant. The Fuel Cells are fed from digester gas produced by the two digesters at the plant.

Kristina Dana Hendrickson Cultural Center

The Kristina Dana Hendrickson Cultural Center which was formerly known as the First Christian Church had exposure to rain water which has damaged the basement of the building. Repair work was performed mostly with our in-house crews.

Fire Station No. 202

Fire Station No. 202 is now located at 1700 N. Riverside Avenue. Currently, it is under construction and on schedule. The work is about 70% complete with walls up and roof in place.

Riverside / I-10 Bridge Widening

The project is on schedule and currently staff is working closely with SANBAG staff to plan for the opening ceremony well in advance of the City’s Centennial celebrations. City Council recently authorized additional pavement work near the bridge which will make the roadways smoother and presentable.

Administrative & Community Services Department

Recreation Brochure

The Recreation & Community Services Department is once again mailing the Recreation Brochure to all households in Rialto. The Brochure has been redesigned and provides residents with all they would want to know about the latest and greatest in Recreation. The Brochure can also be viewed online at www.RialtoRec.com .

Please take a moment and look closely at page 25 in the Brochure. As part of the City’s Centennial Celebration, on November 19^th, there will be a 3K Family Fun Run/Walk. For added fun on your walk, dress up from your favorite decade as you stroll through the ages on this retro run. Prizes for costumes will be awarded! To sign up today, or for more information, please call the Recreation Department at (909) 421-4949. We’ll see you on November 19^th!

Also, as part of the Centennial Celebration, we are still taking parade entries. Have your group or organization recognized in the parade and help make the Centennial Celebration a success! For an application, please visit the Recreation website, call (909) 421-4949, or visit us at the Rialto Community Center.

Jack Simonson Center

City Staff completed the final phase of the electronic reader board project by installing JACK SIMONSON CENTER lettering on the awning above the reader board.

On January 20, 1990, City Council Members voted unanimously to name the fitness center, pool, and theater complex the “JACK SIMONSON CENTER.” This was done in honor of Jack Simonson, the City’s first Director of the Recreation & Community Services Department. Mr. Simonson was employed by the City of Rialto from May 1957 to August 1984 and served as Director of the Recreation & Community Services Department from March 1970 to August 1984.

Council Member Ed Scotts Response

03 Oct 2011 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Budget, City of Rialto, Layoffs, Public Safety, Rialto Fire, Taxes

Mr. Phillips

we are still in negotiations with fire fighters I am on that committee, while things
are going very well the I simply am not at liberty to discuss those talks with
you. As to the utility tax that tax under state law must go into the general
fund in order for it to go into a special public safety fund it requires a 2/3
approval of the voters that’s not how it was placed on the ballot nor do I
believe that it would pass. I remind you that the first election of the utility
tax it only passed by 5 votes. Having said all of this 80% of the general fund
goes to police and fire the other 20% goes to other employees and services.
Bottom line we are all in this together and we have to work together to find
solutions.

Thanks for your questions

Ed Scott

The problem with this response is two things:

One he didn’t seem to understand what I was talking about when I asked about the utility tax I wasn’t asking for a new one I was talking about the one shoved down our throats all those years ago that is now being used elsewhere not in public safety. Two I don’t know about you readers but I don’t trust politicians any farther than I can throw them. So since everyone is talking about laying off ten of our fire fighters and making emergency response a serious issue around Rialto I don’t care about confidentiality I want some transparent dialogues in this process so don’t get broad sided by council and have our backs and lives against a wall.

The latest on Rialto Fire Dept and the City of Rialto

29 Sep 2011 1 Comment

by rialto-now in Budget, City of Rialto, Family, Layoffs, Protest, Public Safety, Rialto Fire, Taxes

First off my question to our council:

Now in my opinion I don’t believe that we can afford any layoffs, especially
with the new fire station still not completed. Layoffs are going to force
overtime a lot of overtime and I vividly remember Mr Scott bocking at the amount
of overtime the fire dept had last year in comparison to PD. Keep working with
the fire fighters, don’t try to show your strength through ultimatums and fear
tactics.

Finally I wasn’t at the last council meeting but I would have come un glued
if I had to hear people comparing what a fire fighter makes a year, How much
money should one make when they put their lives on the line daily for complete
strangers?

Why dosent the 8% Utility Tax go for public safety anymore?

I await your comments, nothing will be taken out of context I only seek
honest open dialogue.

*****************************************************************************

What I found out is sad and makes me wish I was at the last council meeting and not fighting crowds at work.

First off according to a source from inside the Fire Dept. there were a lot of friends of Ed Scott at the council meeting. These people got up and were saying that fire fighters make 300 K a year and implying that we could do better to cut their salaries and get rid of some. Now I know this is hard for some of you to understand if you have never been in harm’s way, but let me tell you it takes a special person stand firm and charge forward in the face of danger. Yes I know they knew what they were getting into when they signed up for the job but even so they do what most of us don’t want to and some of us are incapable. It takes the courage of a bear to rush into a fire to save a life heck it takes balls just to get within 50 feet. My friends and I were somewhat ambulance chasers in our youth, the last time we did it was to a house engulfed in flames from the opposite side of the street with the windows up the heat was intense and scary, I would never want the job of rushing into that mess to save other homes, lives or one of their own.

Ok so not every call is a fire, ok. How much of a strong stomach and clear mind would you need to care for an accident victim that was just thrown from a moving vehical? How would you react to the job of being the one responsible for caring for a gun shot victim, that is a cop that later died, what kind of resolve does that require?

We can talk about how to find creative ways to keep fire fighters working, but I refuse to allow people to try to put a price on how much a man or woman is worth that is willing to risk their own lives just to save a stranger.

Now to the Utility Tax. We pay 8% on our utilities every month which is supposed to go to Fire and Police, that was a selling point they think they don’t have to adhere to. Now let me be out front I voted no on this for 2 reasons. 1 not everyone had to pay it senior citizens were exempt, don’t they use the same services we do? 2 I knew this was going to happen where we found out that it didn’t go to public safety and we would be here in a hole trying to lay off public safety officers.

More to come visit the Facebook page to get up to the date info:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rialto-Residents-for-Rialto-Fire-Department/145275045567795