Politics, Government and Business in Southern California's Inland Empire
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 05/09/2012 06:31:07 PM PDT
CLAREMONT – A three-year salary and benefits agreement has been approved between the city and the Claremont Police Officers Association.
The new contract ends months of contentiousness. The city declared negotiations to be at an impasse in late August, and union members on April 11 turned down by a single vote an earlier agreement, forcing additional negotiations.
Wes Woods II
Created: 04/11/2012 06:08:51 PM PDT
CLAREMONT – The police union has rejected a three-year contract offer that had been agreed upon by its leadership and the city.
Detective Rick Varney, the Claremont Police Officers Association president, said he was sorry about the failed agreement.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 03/30/2012 06:07:44 PM PDT
CLAREMONT – After months of rancor, lawsuits and even some threats, the City Council and the Claremont Police Officers Association have reached a tentative agreement on a 3-year labor contract.
The council is due to vote on the contract at its April 10 meeting, city officials said. The CPOA will present the agreement to its members on Monday.
Wes Woods II, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Created: 01/09/2012 03:03:05 PM PST
View Document: Lawsuit filed by Claremont police union vs. city and chamber
CLAREMONT – The Claremont Police Officers Association has filed a lawsuit against the Claremont Chamber of Commerce and the city alleging its right to freedom of expression, association and assembly were violated at the Village Venture event in October.
Repairs driving up price
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 12/10/2011 06:07:27 AM PST
Significant water rate hikes in San Bernardino and Los Angeles County cities since the beginning of the year has caused many angry ratepayers to speak up.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 11/27/2011 06:03:42 AM PST
CLAREMONT – Claremont City Council members recently took the first step toward offering Assistant City Manager Tony Ramos a contract as its new city manager despite some community criticism over his bankruptcy issues.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 11/25/2011 06:21:17 PM PST
CLAREMONT – The Claremont Unified School District’s recent raises for two administrators that officials say will save thousands of dollars have drawn criticism from the Claremont Faculty Association.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 11/17/2011 12:25:41 PM PST
CLAREMONT – City Manager Jeff Parker will leave his position on Dec. 26 to take over as city manager in Tustin.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 11/12/2011 09:28:09 PM PST
CLAREMONT – The Claremont Police Officers Association has taken two legal actions to protest the City Council forcing its members to increase their retirement contribution by 6 percent.
An unfair labor practice charge was filed in late October with the state Public Employment Relations Board. The city has 30 days to respond to the filing.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 11/11/2011 08:21:26 PM PST
CLAREMONT – Residents upset with Golden State Water Co.’s double-digit rate increases are being asked to attend a meeting with an administrative law judge.
Wes Woods II, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Created: 10/26/2011 11:26:25 AM PDT
CLAREMONT – Police officers union members will immediately begin paying a 6 percent contribution to the California Public Employees Retirement System, joining other city unions.
Wes Woods II, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Created: 10/22/2011 06:09:01 PM PDT
CLAREMONT — Councilman Corey Calaycay has received a letter from a political action committee saying it will “actively oppose” him in future elections apparently as a result of his stance in the stymied city negotiations with the police union.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 10/13/2011 06:20:08 PM PDT
CLAREMONT – City officials said they believe the Claremont Police Officers Association is demanding favorable treatment in their contract negotiations after the association had charged the city with unfair labor practices.
Wes Woods II, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Created: 10/10/2011 03:49:36 PM PDT
CLAREMONT — The City Council is expected tonight to approve spending some money up front on retirement incentives to save money over the long haul.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 10/04/2011 05:57:49 PM PDT
CLAREMONT – The Claremont Police Officers Association has charged the city of Claremont with unfair labor practices.
The claim indicated the city has violated the government codes for “the right to participate in a union; retaliation against employees; implementation of last, best and final offer; and discrimination.” according to the documents.
By Wes Woods II Staff Writer
Created: 09/01/2011 04:50:54 PM PDT
CLAREMONT – City officials said they are at an impasse in their negotiations with the Claremont Police Officers Association and the Claremont Police Management Association.
Bonita and Mt. San Antonio boards cancel elections
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 08/21/2011 07:03:11 AM PDT
It will be a three-person race for two seats on the Board of Education of the Claremont Unified School District in the Nov. 8 election.
Board member: School’s reputation is tarnished
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 05/24/2011 08:44:06 PM PDT
CLAREMONT – A Claremont Unified school board member has blasted a colleague for harming the school district’s reputation and potentially damaging student achievement.
Over 600 local certificated employees face loss of jobs
Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 03/13/2011 09:52:21 PM PDT
It’s going to be another tough year for Inland Valley school districts as they continue to shrink staffs and increase class sizes due to the bleak financial condition of the state.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 03/09/2011 08:45:45 PM PST
Voters created the new city of Jurupa Valley and elected three incumbents in San Dimas and two new faces in Claremont on Tuesday.
Claremont does have provisional ballots to be counted today, which might change the result of the third seat on the ballot.
Staff Report
Created: 03/09/2011 05:45:35 PM PST
Claremont and San Dimas headed to the polls on Tuesday to cast votes on local races.
Claremont voters elected incumbent Sam Pedroza as well as Opanyi K. Nasiali and Joseph M. Lyons to fill three City Council seats.
Votes cast
New members for Claremont
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 03/08/2011 10:04:15 PM PST
Claremont and San Dimas went in different directions on Election Day.
Based on unofficial final results, Claremont voters elected incumbent Sam Pedroza as well as Opanyi K. Nasiali and Joseph M. Lyons to fill three council seats.
By Wes Woods II Staff Writer
Created: 03/04/2011 10:15:06 PM PST
San Dimas and Claremont may both take new directions starting Tuesday – Election Day.
The biggest turnover could be on the Claremont City Council, where three seats will be filled.
Vote 2011 | Claremont City Council
Rivals try different tactics to stand out
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 02/26/2011 07:05:23 AM PST
CLAREMONT – With eight people running for three open City Council seats, the candidates’ toughest fight has been separating themselves from the pack in time for the March 8 general election.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 02/26/2011 09:48:05 PM PST
CLAREMONT – Mayor Linda Elderkin is not through with the city even after she has decided to leave her city post in order to spend more time with her family.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 02/19/2011 04:12:30 PM PST
CLAREMONT – Claremont Unified School District board members voted unanimously Thursday night to place a revenue extension measure on the June ballot to stop further school cuts and keep revenues to enable the district to invest in students and schools.
Claremont panel: Change needed to avoid deficit
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 02/13/2011 07:01:42 AM PST
CLAREMONT – The city’s Economic Sustainability Committee has found that the Claremont’s current financial model is not sustainable.
The panel presented its findings to the City Council last week, projecting a $2.3 million deficit for 2015-16 with a worst- case scenario increasing the shortfall to $4 million.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 02/06/2011 07:01:41 AM PST
CLAREMONT – The Claremont Unified School District search for an interim superintendent has produced an interview for one candidate with two more planned in coming weeks.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 01/11/2011 05:30:22 PM PST
CLAREMONT – City Council hopefuls offered their ideas on city economics at a Tuesday morning candidates forum.
Participants at the Claremont Chamber of Commerce networking breakfast and candidates forum featured incumbent Sam Pedroza and candidates Robin Haulman, Rex Jaime, Michael John Keenan, Joseph M. Lyons, Opanyi K. Nasiali and Jay Pocock.
Giffords
Attack weighs on Scripps
Ryan Carter, Staff Writer
Created: 01/09/2011 08:43:39 PM PST
CLAREMONT – The Arizona massacre that ended with six people dead and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords fighting for her life Sunday echoed through a stunned campus community at Scripps College this weekend.
Giffords graduated in 1993 from Scripps before eventually moving back to her native Arizona and representing the Tucson area in Congress.
A look ahead
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 12/20/2010 10:08:45 PM PST
CLAREMONT- Eight candidates seeking three seats on the City Council will keep the attention of Claremont voters early in 2011.
The large number of candidates is the result of two of three incumbents – Peter Yao and Linda Elderkin -failing to file for re-election in the vote on March 8.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 12/20/2010 10:08:48 PM PST
CLAREMONT – This city dealt with some contentious issues in 2010 including an affordable housing complex and a bond measure that provided for a David vs. Goliath matchup.
Among the top stories in 2010 in Claremont:
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 12/12/2010 07:01:34 AM PST
CLAREMONT – While there is still time to run for the March 3 General Election in this city, the hourglass is almost empty.
The city has had 11 people pull nomination papers as of Friday, but only two candidates have returned them.
Filing opens for March 8 ballot
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 11/20/2010 10:56:20 PM PST
Claremont, La Verne and San Dimas could all have new city council members or mayors next year.
The four-week filing period for the March 8 election opened Monday, but while a number of candidates in the three cities have picked up nomination papers, no one has yet returned completed documents.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 11/06/2010 08:13:59 PM PDT
CLAREMONT – The City Council recently updated its priority list, which included removing as a priority southside improvements.
With in-fill sidewalk on San Jose Avenue in January and a traffic signal and resurfacing on Arrow Highway in July and August, improvements are no longer needed, Mayor Linda Elderkin said at a special meeting on Saturday.
Who gets the bill?
$95 million Measure CL bond proposal for schools draws opposition
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 10/24/2010 02:46:34 PM PDT
CLAREMONT – Voters will decide Nov. 2 whether the school district should issue $95million in facilities bonds under Measure CL.
The measure calls for the issuance of general obligation bonds to repair and upgrade the district’s schools. If it passes, it would cost property owners in the Claremont Unified School District about $45 per $100,000 of assessed value for 30 years.
Staff Reports
Created: 10/08/2010 08:19:54 PM PDT
Pros and cons on the nine California propositions for the Nov. 2 general election will be discussed at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Claremont Public Library, 208 Harvard Ave.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 09/10/2010 07:35:35 PM PDT
CLAREMONT – Several city residents on Thursday voiced displeasure toward a plan to turn the city’s trash collection services over to a private firm.
City officials are considering the change as a cost-savings measure.
Pensions proving costlier
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/21/2010 10:35:15 PM PDT
CLAREMONT – The big pay raises that Indio gave to a former Claremont city manager and assistant city manager will cost the Inland Valley city an additional $100,000 a year in pension liability now that both have retired.
Final salary at retirement is one of the factors that determines a public employee’s pension and the pension liability for each city or agency where the retiree worked in his or her public career.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 07/29/2010 05:55:39 PM PDT
CLAREMONT – A couple of City Council members are questioning pension costs for police officers.
The city of Claremont and the Claremont Police Management Association this week approved a contract that saves more than $19,300 compared to the adopted budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year.
Schools pact set
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 07/24/2010 07:08:33 AM PDT
CLAREMONT – The Claremont Unified School District and the Claremont Faculty Association on Friday reached a contract agreement, according to an union official.
The three-year agreement, which is retroactive to the 2009-10 school year, includes an $800,000 contribution that district officials said they needed from the union.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 07/23/2010 06:08:43 PM PDT
The Claremont Unified School District has approved the placement of a $95 million bond measure on the Nov. 2 election ballot.
School district officials said the bond was necessary to update aging classroom facilities and improve classroom technology.
Schools short on reserves for 2012-13
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 06/26/2010 07:07:53 AM PDT
CLAREMONT – The school district has passed its three- year budget, but is below the state threshold for reserves in its third year.
This could cause Los Angeles County to get involved in Claremont Unified School District’s operations, but school officials said they doubt that will happen.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 05/26/2010 09:17:53 PM PDT
CLAREMONT – The Claremont Unified school board on Tuesday night approved issuing 41 layoff notices to ensure the district’s financial security.
More than 30 teachers as well as counselors, nonunion managers and a psychologist will receive the notices.
Board to take up issue tonight
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 05/24/2010 10:17:30 PM PDT
CLAREMONT – The Claremont Unified school board will recommend laying off 28 full-time certificated employees at a special meeting tonight.
Employees expected to be laid off include teachers, a counselor and a psychologist.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 05/22/2010 07:32:30 PM PDT
CLAREMONT – The City Council met Saturday to discuss its 2010-11 operating budget and after more than three hours of talks agreed with changes made based on new budget projections.
Council members also said they were satisfied with revisions made to address the 2011-12 deficit.
Created: 03/22/2010 05:33:19 PM PDT
When the economy began to decline in 2008, investments through the California Public Employees’ Retirement System took a hit.
As a result, cities in the Inland Empire have been juggling losses in revenue while making sure they meet employees’ retirement obligations.
This is the status of pension obligations of some Inland Empire cities:
COLTON
CONTRIBUTION: $5.75 million in 2008-09
PENSION OBLIGATION BOND: $31.14 million
EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION RATE: 19.498 percent fire, 20.052 percent police, 7.060 percent misc.
EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION RATE: 9 percent fire, 9 percent police – paid by city. 8 percent misc. – city pays 4 percent.
Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/19/2010 07:36:00 PM PDT
COLTON – Pricey pension packages, budget breakdowns and deep deficits have reduced or jeopardized the reserves some cities have amassed over recent years.
Both Colton and San Bernardino are struggling with dwindling incomes that have burned cash reserves to dangerously low levels.
Rialto is struggling with higher pension costs set to start July 1, which a top official has said will deplete a sizeable $31 million reserve within three years if employees don’t agree to concessions.
Job cuts in district
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 02/20/2010 09:07:46 PM PST
CLAREMONT – The school district is expected to send out at least 30 preliminary layoff notices, a district official said.
They would be distributed equally to all instructional areas and would be mailed March 15, said Devon Freitas, assistant superintendent of human resources for the Claremont Unified School District.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 02/12/2010 06:29:01 PM PST
CLAREMONT – A budget workshop this week tried to inform residents and officials about the city’s finances – but a big question was left unanswered.
“No one knows if we’re going to have cuts or not,” City Manager Jeff Parker said.
City department heads are assembling their budgets and are anticipating a deficit.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 12/20/2009 09:25:18 PM PST
CLAREMONT – Like many cities in California, city and school board officials contend that budgetary issues will be at the top of their agendas in 2010.
“The big stuff for us is going to be No.1. We start our budget process for our two-year budget come January,” Claremont City Manager Jeff Parker said.
“Obviously, we’re working on that with the economics of today.”
The city will first have to deal with additional impacts from the state budget cuts, Parker said. He also strongly criticized lawmakers in Sacramento and the impact of their actions on Claremont.
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 11/29/2009 11:42:16 PM PST
CLAREMONT – The City Council has approved an extension of its eminent domain powers on nonresidential property.
The city’s Redevelopment Agency in November 1997 amended its redevelopment plan to reinstate eminent domain authority on nonresidential property.
The authority was set to expire in December.
In order to extend the authority for an additional 12 years, the agency had to amend its redevelopment plan.
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