Rialto City Council Meeting

26 Mar 2013 2 Comments

by rialto-now in Barbara A. McGee, Ca, City of Rialto, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, In & Out, Inland Empire, Joe Baca Jr, Mike Story, Rialto, Rialto Police Department, Shawn O'Connell, Water, youth

This is just a reminder to our readers that the next Rialto City Council meeting is tomarrow March 26 at 6:00pm

Here is a like to the online agenda see you there:

http://www.ci.rialto.ca.us/documents/downloads/Regular_Meeting_Agenda_–_3-26-2013.pdf

They will be discussing the results of Measure “W” and it looks like they will be talking about paying another firm ALOT of money for another tank farm tax. This si your opportunity to get out there and get heard.

They also will be discussing the retail project on Easton and Riverside Ave.

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown Introduced Bill to Give Student-Athletes Full Scholarships and Additional Stipend

18 Mar 2013 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy, Assemblymember-Elect Cheryl Brown, Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Holly Mitchell, Joe Baca Jr, Rialto, San Bernardino, youth Tags: , , , , ,

What are your thoughts on this bill?

untitled

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown Introduced Bill to Give Student-Athletes Full Scholarships and Additional Stipend

 

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino) amended AB 475, which will require public universities in California to award five year scholarships to their student-athletes starting in 2015. Additionally, schools will be required to cover the full cost of attendance and include an additional $3,600 student-athlete participation stipend.

 

“A year-to-year scholarship does not foster retention and convey that universities have a serious investment in seeing their student-athletes graduate,” said Assemblymember Brown. “Coaches and athletic departments will have to change their approach to recruiting student-athletes.”

The NCAA is responsible for governing an industry that generates over $11 billion annually in revenue. NCAA governs the amount of aid that universities can award each student-athlete and the length of the award. These scholarships do not cover the full cost of attendance to universities in California and require that student athletes sign away their ability to profit from their athletic accomplishments in perpetuity.

 

AB 475, which is being sponsored by the National College Players Association, will require all scholarships offered by public universities in California to be guaranteed for five years. Additionally, all universities with media and licensing revenues in excess of $20 million would be mandated to cover the full cost of attendance and provide the additional $3,600 stipend.

“It is unconscionable for California to allow a non-profit organization generating billions of dollars in profits to the detriment of college athletes, to dictate the educational policies and practices of our states public universities,” Assemblymember Brown concluded.

AB 475 was assigned to the Assembly Committee on Education.

 

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown represents the 47th Assembly District, which includes Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Rialto, San Bernardino, and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy.

 

Website of Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown: http://www.asmdc.org/members/a47/.

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown Speaks About Honoring a Legacy that Continues to Inspires

18 Mar 2013 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy, Assemblymember-Elect Cheryl Brown, Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Rialto, San Bernardino, youth Tags: , , , , ,

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown Speaks About Honoring a Legacy that Continues to Inspires

brown

Photo caption: (L to R back) Twillea Evans-Carthen, manager, Human Resources Programs & Employment, CSUSB (receiving the certificate for honoree Lois Carson),  Dr. Milton Clark, dean, Undergraduate Studies, CSUSB, Walter Hawkins, former director of research policy and analysis, CSUSB, Sam Fellows, former adjunct professor, CSUSB, the Honorable Wilmer Amina Carter, ret., State Legislature,  Dr. Jean Peacock, associate dean, College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, CSUSB, Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown, 47 District, and Dr. Mildred Henry, CEO of the San Bernardino Pal Center at the Pioneer Breakfast in the Santos Manuel Student Union on Friday, March 8.

Photo by Robert A. Whitehead/CSUSB

SAN BERNARDINO -Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino) delivered the keynote address at the inaugural Pioneer Breakfast hosted by the Black Faculty, Staff and Student Association at California State University, San Bernardino. The event was held Friday, March 5 at the Santos Manuel Student Union and celebrated pioneering African Americans from the Inland Empire that have made and continue to make significant contributions to the community.

 

The 2013 honorees were: The Honorable Wilmer Amina Carter, retired, California State Legislature; Walter Hawkins, a founding member of the Black Faculty, Staff and Student Association and retired director of research policy and analysis at Cal State San Bernardino’s department of undergraduate studies; Dr. Jean Peacock, an alumna, founding member of the Black Faculty, Staff and Student Association and professor of psychology and former assistant dean in the university’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences; Dr. Mildred Henry, the first African American to become a tenured professor at the university’s College of Education and now a professor emeritus; Lois Carson, a member of the university’s first graduating class in 1967; Sam Fellows, alumnus and adjunct professor, who holds a master’s degree in education and social work from the university; and Dr. Milton Clark, an alumnus and the first Black associate professor of English at the university, who is currently the university’s associate vice president for undergraduate studies and was recently named the university’s first chief diversity officer.

 

During her address she spoke about the pioneering firsts and sacrifices that were made by each of the honorees on behalf of the Black faculty, staff and student population. During the late 1970s, these individuals set the tone for equality in terms of hiring, retention and promotion within the Black faculty at Cal State San Bernardino.  Among their primary duties was to promote diversity within the university.

 

As a group, they sought to increase Black student recruitment and improve Black student graduation rates. They also engaged the community, specifically the Black community and worked together to improve campus policies that would eventually benefit Black student recruitment.

 

“I was honored to be a part of this special event. I enjoyed talking about my friends and the tremendous impact they’ve made in the community, state and for some, the nation. This special recognition was well deserved,” said Assemblymember Brown.

 

Following her address, she acknowledged the upcoming Class of 2013 graduates and assured them that she’s working very hard to address their needs by creating an environment for job growth.

 

She spoke about her introduction of AB 285, a bill to improve the quality of life for residents in the 47th Assembly District and throughout the state by promoting small business growth, which will translate to job creation within some of the state’s highest unemployment areas. AB 285 was the first bill that she introduced during the 2013-2014 legislative session, signifying the importance of jobs in the district.

 

Contact (909) 381-3238 for more information.

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown represents the 47th Assembly District, which includes Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Rialto, San Bernardino, and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy.

 

Website of Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown: http://www.asmdc.org/members/a47/.

Good Safety Tip For Home Safety

09 Mar 2013 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Burglury, Ca, City of Rialto, Coffee Nutz, Crime, Flores Park, Flores Park Neighborhood Watch, Fontana PD, Inland Empire, Nieghborhood Watch, Public Safety, Redlands PD, Rialto, Rialto Police Department, San Bernardino PD, SCAT, Shawn O'Connell, Twitter @IEBeatriz., youth

Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

Car keys

Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents, your Dr’s office, the check-out girl at the market, everyone you run across. Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.
This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It’s a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage.
If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won’t stick around. After a few seconds, all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won’t want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.
Please share thispost with everyone I know because I think it is fantastic. Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can’t reach a phone. My Mom has suggested to my Dad that he carry his car keys with him in case he falls outside and she doesn’t hear him. He can activate the car alarm and then she’ll know there’s a problem.

Assembly Memeber Brown Introduces Bill 335 to Curb Costly Vehicle Impounds

02 Mar 2013 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy, Assemblymember-Elect Cheryl Brown, Bad Commerce, Ca, City of Rialto, Colton, Crime, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Inland Empire, Public Safety, Rialto, Rialto, Rialto Police Department, San Bernardino, Uncategorized, youth Tags: , , ,

Below you will find Assembly Woman Cheryl Brown’s latest Bill. This Bill by its own wording seems to further work against our Law Enforcement professionals when trying to enforce our Laws that you must have a valid driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle in California.

This bill claims it is aimed at helping low income families that can’t afford to pay impound fees by allowing a licensed driver to come pick up the vehicle. My biggest problem with this is what is keeping them from getting behind the wheel of that same vehicle the following day? If a licensed family member couldn’t keep the car from being legally driven the first time without the threat of penalty they won’t worry about the second or third……….

I find it mind boggling that we continue to raise taxes on purchases; gas and income then turn around and blame the police and long existing laws on the plight of the low income families.

In the second piece by the Assembly Woman’s office the statement is made that only people outside of the 47th district are upset about the new law. I don’t think that is true at all. I received this press release weeks ago and was torn on posting it. You see I have developed a relationship with Assembly Woman Brown’s office. They include me in her press releases and since local papers and media don’t seem to find her work important we have become the go to place to get the latest and greatest. Now that I am publishing this opposition piece that will probably go away.

Something my father told me was the only people afraid of the law is people living outside of it. Why would a low income person that has a valid license even have a reason to fear their vehicle being impounded? They wouldn’t here is a list of reasons you are without a license:

DUI

Reckless driving

Too many tickets

Owing child support

Not a Valid Resident

So pretty much this only affects people that drink and drive, have no respect for the road rules or they owe child support and refuse to pay. Hmmm ok now it’s clear why we need these laws right?

Now to the Police Departments, that is listed as already changing the laws to fit someone’s political leaning. All of these cities have 2 things in common high crime and felony disrespect for enforcing laws that are difficult at times. LAPD & LASD both have had tons of controversy over the last couple years are we really going to use them as a test study for a law like this?

So what do the stats say about unlicensed drivers and the cause and effect of impounding vehicles? Here is a break down:

  • In 2008 AAA (Triple A) conducted a study of accidents in 6 states titled “Unlicensed to Kill”, in those states California was included.
  • 7,700 fatal crashed per year.
  • 1 out of 7 drivers involved in those crashes had no license, an invalid license or an unknown status.
  • Annually 4,000 people are killed in collisions in California.
  • More than 20% of Drivers involved in these collisions are not licensed to drive.
  • A driver with a suspended license is 4 times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision.
  • California has 20 million licensed drivers.
  • 720,000 licenses have been suspended or revoked.
  • Estimated 1 million drivers are driving without ever being issued a license,

In Rialto alone the following stats are provided (2010-2011):

  • 2080 citations were issued for CVC 12500, unlicensed drivers.
  • 895 citations were issued for CVC 14601, suspension violations.
  • 129 drivers involved in collisions were unlicensed (21.99%).
  • 69 drivers involved in Hit & Run collisions were unlicensed (22.07%).

So if all of this isn’t enough to make you wonder why we would lessen the penalty of Driving without the proper license this story from one of the cities (San Francisco) that has a police department currently allowing unlicensed driver to keep their cars.

Drew Rosenberg, 25, was killed by an unlicensed driver who was in the U.S. under a program called Temporary Protective Status. Attempts at obtaining justice for this crime have thus far gone unheeded. Here is a detailed account of what has transpired. Read more about him and his families loss at http://unlicensedtokill.org/

Driving is a privilege and not a right…if you abuse it, then it is taken away.

If you would like to let The Assembly Woman know how you feel please contact her PR person:

CONTACT: Ashley Jones

(909) 381-3238

Ashley.Jones@asm.ca.gov

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown Seeks to Curb Costly Vehicle Impounds

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino)  has introduced AB 335, a bill that will assist the working class communities by prohibiting law enforcement from impounding vehicles that can be parked legally or released to a licensed driver. AB 335 would amend the current law that requires a police officer to impound a car if the person is found driving a vehicle without a license or driving with a suspended or revoked license.

“The goal of this bill is to help curb the practice of impounding and holding vehicles for 30 days for drivers who are cited with a suspended or revoked license. A driver should never operate a  vehicle  without a license, but they shouldn’t be forced to pay thousands of dollars in towing and impoundment fees as a result of a mandatory 30 day hold,” said Assemblymember Brown.

Vehicle impounds have a devastating impact on working class drivers who depend on their cars to get to work, transport their children to school and take care of other necessities. The cost of retrieving the vehicle is often so high that they end up losing the car.

“There are several police departments around the state that have implemented their own vehicle impoundment policy against unlicensed drivers. Those departments allow such drivers to either park their cars in a legal parking space or move the car to avoid an impoundment. AB 335 would simply codify this policy to make it a statewide practice,” concluded Assemblymember Brown.

The bill was introduced yesterday and has been moved to the Assembly Rules Committee for assignment to the appropriate policy committee.

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown represents the 47th Assembly District, which includes Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Rialto, San Bernardino, and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy.

Website of Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown: http://www.asmdc.org/members/a47/

WHY OPPOSITION TO AB 335 IS BASED ON MISGUIDED ASSUMPTIONS

February 21, 2013

If you have not heard the misguided outrage over my introduction of AB 335 dealing with impounding vehicles for traffic violations, you probably live in the 47th Assembly District, which is the District I represent.

It appears that my legislation has been the focus of groups and individuals who do not live in the 47th Assembly District and are oblivious to the abuse the bill is designed to prevent. While I realize that the opposition is stemming from a certain mindset and predetermined judgments that have absolutely nothing to do with the purpose of the legislation, I would hope everyone reads the bill before they jump to assumptions that we are condoning unlicensed drivers.

First, this bill is drafted to protect low and fixed-income families who can’t afford to lose their only means of transportation for 30 days because someone in the household decided to drive without a valid driver’s license.  It is unquestionable that vehicle impounds have a disproportionate impact on low-income drivers because the cost of the impound fees are often greater than the vehicle’s value.  In fact, the cost of retrieving a vehicle from impound is sometimes so expensive that low and fixed-income families choose to walk away from their vehicles instead of paying the unaffordable impound fees.  Eventually, drivers who fail to pay the fees vehicles are routinely auctioned off to the benefit of the towing company.  Unfortunately, for those families, this is usually the only vehicle the family owns.

For example, in San Bernardino drivers of impounded vehicles pay a $225 towing fee and $50 a day in storage fees.  After a 30-day hold, it leaves owners with a bill of $1,725. Oakland has a $170 towing fee and $60 a day in storage fees, which is $1,970.  In 2010, Oakland towed 2,058 cars of unlicensed drivers, accumulating about $288,120 in tow release fees.  In the city of Escondido, towing fees generate approximately $400,000 a year.  These large fees and penalties are exactly the kind of fiscal incentive that too often leads to abuse of impounding laws.

AB 335 simply implements what several police departments around the state have voluntarily added to their own internal policy, which allows a driver with an invalid license to safely park their cars in a legal parking space, or they can authorize a licensed driver to take the car from the scene.  The police departments of Oakland, San Francisco, Berkeley, Vallejo, Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Sheriff, in addition to several others are part of the growing list of agencies choosing to not impound driver’s vehicles.

In the 47th Assembly District as with all households, most are licensed drivers but there is always one or two that don’t have a valid license.  This is no reason to impound their vehicles for an inordinate amount of time, especially 30 days.  It does not take that long to clear up any deficiencies with one’s driving privileges.

Under this bill, unlicensed drivers will still be cited or arrested and pay the requisite fees/fines.  There is absolutely nothing in AB 335 that prevents full enforcement or punishment of unlicensed drivers.   However, if a vehicle can be legally parked or released to a licensed driver to avoid the impound costs, it will be permitted.

So assumptions that this bill allows unlicensed drivers to continue driving illegally for whatever reason are not true.  It is also not true that simply allowing a family member or individual to safely recover their only means of transportation empowers them to drive illegally.  To assume, that every car impounded is owned by the driver is also false.  The bill does not prevent any officer on site making the decision to tow; however, it does make it the officer’s last option.  This would be very important for grandma to get her car back because she did not know that her grandchild was driving on a revoked, suspended or invalid license.

I encourage you to visit my website to read more about AB 335.

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown represents the 47th Assembly District, which includes Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Rialto, San Bernardino, and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy.

Website of Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown: http://www.asmdc.org/members/a47/.

https://www.aaafoundation.org/sites/default/files/2011Unlicensed2Kill.pdf – 2011

https://www.aaafoundation.org/sites/default/files/UnlicensedToKillResearchUpdate.pdf – 2008

 

Dr. Seuss Event at Cal State Univerity

26 Feb 2013 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy, Andy Carrizales, Colton, davidsMarketing, Edgar Montes, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Inland Empire, Rialto, San Bernardino, www.babyelepnatbooks.com, www.careervisionbyjamie.com, youth

Dr Seuess Event

 

Dr.SeussEvent

March 9, 2013

10-11a.m. : Performance

11a.m. – 2p.m. : Arts & Crafts

Location: John M. Pfau Library

5500 University Pkwy.

San Bernardino, CA 92407

4th floor of Library

 

You are encouraged to bring lunch and snacks.

Parking is FREE by stopping at the kiosk for a numbered flyer.

RSVP’s is required by emailing Iwona Contreras at icontrer@csusb.edu with the total amount of adults and kids.

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown Voices Small Business Concerns during JEDE Committee Hearing

10 Feb 2013 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy, Assemblymember-Elect Cheryl Brown, Budget, Ca, Centurion Security Patrol, City of Rialto, Coffee Nutz, Colton, davidsMarketing, DOVE CHOCOLATE DISCOVERIES Chocolatier, Farrell’s Resturant, Fontana, Food Trucks, Frank Montes, Grand Terrace, IE Gourmet Food Trucks, In & Out, Inland Empire, Rialto, San Bernardino, www.careervisionbyjamie.com, youth Tags: , , ,

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown Voices Small Business Concerns during JEDE Committee Hearing

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino) voices small business concerns during JEDE Committee Hearing.

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino) voices small business concerns during JEDE Committee Hearing.

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino) joined committee members for a hearing of the Jobs and Economic Development & the Economy (JEDE) Committee on Tuesday, February 5. JEDE is the policy committee in the State Assembly responsible for reviewing policies and legislation related to small business development, international trade and other economic development related issues.

 

The JEDE Committee includes Assemblymember Jose Medina, chair, Assemblymember Travis Allen, vice-chair, and Assemblymembers Tom Daly, Paul Fong, Steve Fox, Ben Hueso, Eric Linder, Melissa A. Melendrez, and V. Manuel Pérez. Assemblymember Ken Cooley also joined the members of the JEDE Committee for the hearing.

 

JEDE is currently tackling the state’s economy and unemployment figures by seeking job creation opportunities. During the hearing, Assemblymember Brown spoke about the importance of supporting small businesses and jobs in the Inland Empire and she indicated there are impediments to businesses.

 

“I’m glad I had the opportunity to voice concerns on behalf of the small business community in the 47th District during the hearing. Supporting small business is so important to me because small businesses provide a majority of jobs in our district. Small businesses are hurting right now and many of them are closing their doors. We need to help our small businesses by updating and streamlining some of the state’s regulatory processes,” said Assemblymember Brown.

 

Assemblymember Brown said she plans to support the JEDE Committee as they look for ways to improve our state’s economy.

 

For more information, contact (909) 381-3238.

 

 

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown represents the 47th Assembly District, which includes Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Rialto, San Bernardino, and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy.

 

Website of Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown:http://www.asmdc.org/members/a47/

Coffee with the Chief February

05 Feb 2013 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Beatriz E. Valenzuela, Ca, City of Rialto, Crime, davidsMarketing, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Davids-Marketing/156816741049580, Josef (Joe) Britt, Nieghborhood Watch, Public Safety, Rialto, Rialto, Rialto Police Department, SCAT, Street Crime Attack Team, SWAT, Twitter @IEBeatriz., youth Tags: ,

Come out to this month’s coffee with a chief. This month it will be located at Carrows Restaurant on Baseline Ave.

I have found this event as a great way to connect with Rialto’s Top Cop and learn what’s going on within the confines of police work in Rialto.

Chief Tony Farrar has worked tirelessly to put together programs that help his police make Rialto a place to learn, live, work and play. Command staff that normally attends these meetings is Cap. Deanda, Lt. Karol and Community Liaison Officer Cpl. Neilson.

If you have a desire to know what’s going on you should attend.

If you have questions regarding Rialto’s Law Enforcement you should attend.

If you live, work, own a business or rental property you should attend.

See the Image below for details and we will see you there.

coffee

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown to Swear-in New Sacramento NAACP Executive Committee Members

24 Jan 2013 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy, Assemblymember-Elect Cheryl Brown, Ca, City of Rialto, Colton, davidsMarketing, Deborah Robertson, Dr. Harold L. Cebrun, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Josef (Joe) Britt, Rialto, Rialto, San Bernardino, youth Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown to Swear-in New Sacramento NAACP Executive Committee Members

 

SACRAMENTO– Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino) will swear-in thirteen new executive officers of the Sacramento NAACP branch including the new president, Tyrone Netters, on Wednesday, January 30 at the State Capitol in Sacramento. As a former executive officer of the San Bernardino NAACP branch, Assemblymember Brown said she’s honored to be a part of the experience.

 

“As a former branch president, I’m proud to support the NAACP. I’m excited to participate in the ceremony as the officiator, it’s a true honor. I am sure the leadership and advocacy of the new executive committee members of the Sacramento Chapter will have an immense and vital impact in the Sacramento community,” said Assemblymember Brown.

 

This is the second time in history that a former NAACP executive officer in the State Legislature will swear-in an executive committee. The Honorable Mervyn Dymally was the first executive officer in the State Legislature to hold this honor.

 

The following officers will be sworn-in by Brown on January 30: 

 

Tyrone Netters, President

Stephen Webb, 1st Vice President

Betty Williams, 2nd Vice President

Velma Sykes, Treasurer

Joell Reed, Secretary

Aliane Murphy-Hasan, Asst. Secretary

Dale McKinney, Chair, Education

David Clements, Chair, Criminal Justice

Peter Brixie, Attorney, Legal Redress

Malachi Smith, Chair, Veteran Affairs

Natasha Drew, Advisor Youth Council

Stacey Drew, Freedom Fund Committee

Dr. Nate White, Chair, Membership

 

The ceremony will take place in Room 127 from 5:00 – 7:00p.m. A light reception will follow in Room 125.

 

For more information, contact (909) 820-5008.

 

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown represents the 47th Assembly District, which includes Colton, Fontana , Grand Terrace, Rialto, San Bernardino, and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy.

 

Website of Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown: http://www.asmdc.org/members/a47/

First Council Meeting of 2013

17 Jan 2013 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Bad Commerce, Ca, City of Rialto, Currupt, davidsMarketing, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Inland Empire, Joe Baca Jr, June Hayes, Mike Story, Public Safety, Rialto, SCAT, Shawn O'Connell, Street Crime Attack Team, Uncategorized, youth Tags:

https://twitter.com/RialtosNowThis is the link to click on Twitter to get a play by play of Rialto City Council meetings we try to attend all of the meetings.

Current sitting Council from left to right. Shawn O'Connell, Ed Plamer, Mayor Robertson & Joe Baca Jr.

Current sitting Council from left to right. Shawn O’Connell, Ed Plamer, Mayor Robertson & Joe Baca Jr.

The meeting held January 8th 2013 was not long but it was full of interesting items.

Rialto PD Community Officer Cpl. Cameron Nelson is giving a presentation on the dangers of synthetic drugs

http://youtu.be/3BArWvTjysI opens his presentation.

http://miami.cbslocal.com/latest-videos?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6714960 Dangers of “Spice” video.

http://youtu.be/-mil_VdTabk After the Video

http://youtu.be/mDbQRyhLL1g Continued presentation

http://youtu.be/BWea3iMX0Io Ends with a Question from Councilman Joe Baca Jr.

Councilman Palmer is asking questions about park cleanliness. This was in reference to Item D2 on the Consent Calendar. Councilman Ed Palmer raised concerns over park cleanliness and the quality of work being done by the outside contractors. His solution for one of the biggest and most used parks is Jerry Eves Park is to allow the Soccer League who uses that park the most to have the responsibility of keeping it clean and getting paid for it.

This is a good idea it raised allot of concerns from other council members of not including other sports leagues and giving them the opportunity, what about changes in the Volunteer ranks of sports leagues and what about parks that had no sports field. They approved the allotment of $39,661 to Azteca Landscaping for Landscape Maintenance District and Grounds Maintenance Services from now until June 30th 2013. In that time Public Works Director Marcus L. Fuller will put together a plan to include community partnerships with groups in Rialto. City Manager Mike Story suggested that the sports teams caring for their own fields could be used to eliminate some of the lighting fees the city has began asking the teams to pay with cuts in revenue.

June Hayes lambastes council over confusing utilities concession agreement. There are businesses and homes outside the city limits that are tied into our waste water system. These individuals are charged 3 times the amount a waste water customer is charged inside the city limits. With the new connection agreement the talk was if the rates would be necessary or fair. The justification of the higher rates remaining was to allow a buffer to exists to help bridge any unseen accounting issues over the next year.

At the last council meeting Councilman Shawn O’Connell asked the city staff to go over the figures and better pin down what was needed and if they could do with a smaller buffer in an effort to bring outside customers in line or close to that of customers inside the city. June Hayes argument was the councils apparent lack of foresight and continued damage to potential businesses by charging the external businesses at such a higher rate. They made a decision to lower the rates for the residential customers from 3 times what Rialto Residents pay to 1.3 times the rate. The rate for the businesses effected outside the city would remain at the rate of 3 times. The reason was to make sure that if Veolia the outside contractor running the wastewater systems number were incorrect the Rialto Rate payers would be in jeopardy of having to fill in the gap with even higher rates. Council echoed the notion you feed the family (Rialto Residents) first. After a year they will re-evaluate the charges. City Attorney Jimmy Gutierrez stated they can legally (in his opinion) charge outside customers higher rates and make a profit.

Councilman Palmer asks for true transparency no more wasting tax dollars on veiled vacations. City Council in an effort to show that they will do whatever they can to show they are sharing in the cuts. This was done by a Motion Councilman Joe Baca Jr. that all trips, conferences and trainings would be frozen for the remainder of this year’s budget ending June 30, 2013 if someone thought there was a reason to attend an event or travel they would have to bring the item before the council and let the people hear what the money was being spent on. Staff reported that there was $22,343 left in the council’s budget and $6,400 for supplies.

Joshdularny@inlandnewspapers.com

Joshdularny@inlandnewspapers.com

Josh Dulaney of the San Bernardino Sun Newspaper called this an attempt to look in the couch cushions for spare change in a effort to balance the budget. If Mr. Dulaney ever spent any real time at council meetings or even getting to know the city he would have known the reasoning for Councilman Ed Palmer to bring this up as a TAB item. Councilman Palmer stated that when he first became a Council Person that he was told the trips were vital, after a few though he began to see it was more vital for city staff to attend conferences and such since they were the ones getting the deals done. He also stated that trips to Washington were more like tax payer vacations because if he wanted to speak with (then) congressman Baca he could see him when he was here in the district.

Mayor Robertson objects to councilman Baca’s motion to eliminate council travel budget and vote on each instance as needed it appeared she saw it as an attack on her the vote passed 3-1 with Mayor Robertson voting No. Two of the amounts highlighted in the budget report were $25,203 for membership in the League of Cities and 5,200 for Mayors League of cities registration.

We move from council travel budget to slurry seal contracts. According the Public Works Director Marcus Fuller in the past the contractors have failed to cover the amount of area they promised so the city is behind their scheduled Slurry Seal plan. American Asphalt was the chosen bid and they came in well under the amount that Mr. Fuller had calculated. Mr. Fuller hoped to be able to extend the scope of work and catch up on the places they have fallen behind.

Visit this web link to learn what Slurry Seal is and what it is used for http://amasphalt.com/services/preventative-maintenance.asp

Moving right along to discussing how to fill the empty council seat the debate over filling the empty council seat was more how to appoint the person and less about if an election was even in the discussion. Mayor Robertson wanted the process to be identical to when she was appointed. With the mayor attending some events in Washington DC this month and the looming deadline of the Utility Tax ballot measure and the further city debt to deal with the councilmen O’Connell, Palmer & Baca decided to have interested parties submit a letter of reference to the city clerk’s office and the Mayor forced a 3 day deadline of last Friday 1-11-2013 at 5 pm. The word around is that 9 people submitted letters for the council to look over. We know that Joe Britt, Ed Scott & Raphael Trujillo were confirmed to have included their letters, the other 5 remain a mystery. Council will spend the following week to make a decision and will make it public on 1-22-2013. To hold a special election it will cost $285K for open council seat that made this avenue a dead issue.

Something confused me at this meeting & I plan to obtain clarification. I requested to speak on 2 issues at this council meeting. I submitted my intentions on the communications form and submitted it. For some reason Mayor Deborah Robertson chose to ignore this intent and force me to wait until the end at the Oral Communications portion of the meeting. It was my understanding that people were directed to this point when they were speaking on an issue not on the current agenda. Under the Oral communications section Council, staff or the Mayor are under no obligation to respond or address your comments. Is it Mayor Robertson’s intent to ignore the will of the people?

In the Oral Communications I (David Phillips) and Rafael Trujillo spoke out. I spoke on the need to be quick, fair & wise with the council appointment as well as highlighting more wasted money that was allocated to the rails to trails project in the amount of $14,500 through heavily populated gang area.

Rafael Trujillo spoke out on the large amount of graffiti that plagued our city over the holidays. Mr. Trujillo was so much calling out the city as he was pleading with them to take care of the graffiti in a timely manner. He said that his community takes care of graffiti inside his community (Elm Park) but he needed the city to pick up the slack on the outskirts of his community.

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