Politics, Government and Business in Southern California's Inland Empire
Special meeting scheduled Monday night
Liset Marquez, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/02/2013 05:45:21 PM PST
Updated: 03/03/2013 12:01:51 AM PST
MONTCLAIR – The City Council will get a look at how San Bernardino County Fire Department could operate its fire services during a special workshop Monday night.
Liset Marquez, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/26/2012 07:57:59 PM PDT
Updated: 10/26/2012 11:11:04 PM PDT
MONTCLAIR – It’s getting ugly.
The City Council race, which has centered around pension costs, has become a contentious battle for two open seats.
Staff Report
Posted: 10/24/2012 08:47:32 PM PDT
Updated: 10/24/2012 10:43:37 PM PDT
To assist voters in the Nov. 6 election, the Daily Bulletin has asked municipal candidates questions about issues concerning their respective cities.
In some cases, the responses have been edited for space.
To read entire story, click here.
Election 2012
Liset Marquez, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/21/2012 07:07:04 AM PDT
Updated: 10/21/2012 05:37:38 PM PDT
MONTCLAIR – If there is any question how contentious the City Council race has become, just look to the campaign being run by the city’s police and fire unions in an effort to unseat the incumbents.
Liset Marquez, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/21/2012 12:48:03 PM PDT
Updated: 10/21/2012 05:36:37 PM PDT
MONTCLAIR – The committee for City council candidate Richard Beltran and the city’s two public safety associations have been accused by a resident of running a coordinated campaign.
Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/18/2012 06:08:48 PM PDT
Updated: 10/18/2012 09:56:04 PM PDT
It’s probably too early to know if 2012 will be remembered as an especially angry election year, but the vitriol seen during past weeks’ debates between the Democratic and Republican presidential tickets may have trickled down to the contests for local offices.
By Liset Marquez, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/17/2012 11:56:14 PM PDT
Updated: 10/18/2012 12:37:21 AM PDT
MONTCLAIR — One City Council candidate was booed and another was called a liar Wednesday night by some attendees at a candidates forum at the Senior Center.
Beau Yarbrough, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Created: 09/14/2012 05:28:16 PM PDT
ONTARIO – If there’s one thing a high school community understands, it’s pep rallies.
Cheerleaders and mascots for the Chaffey Joint Union High School District’s 12 high schools on Thursday night marched down the aisles at Hill Auditorium to energize advocates for its $848 million bond that is on the Nov. 6 ballot.
Liset Márquez, Staff Writer
Created: 07/03/2012 01:17:40 PM PDT
MONTCLAIR – Addressing recent criticisms by the city’s firefighters union, City Council members on Monday night defended their stance toward public safety.
A report recently released by the city showed its sole paramedic squad was only deployed 15 percent of the time in the 2011-12 fiscal year due to budgetary issues.
Liset Marquez, Staff Writer
Created: 06/13/2012 05:17:01 PM PDT
MONTCLAIR – When the City Council approves its budget for the new fiscal year next week, it will do so without having to do any more layoffs or ask personnel to take pay cuts.
As proposed, the budget identifies the long-term revenue sources to pay for the city’s bond payments, which are about $1.92 million annually.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 04/16/2012 05:00:42 PM PDT
MONTCLAIR – A new residential development in the city has received a boost from a well-known figure.
Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund, in which former Los Angeles Laker Earvin “Magic” Johnson is a partner, has made a $25.7 million investment in a joint venture with an affiliate of GLJ Partners for the acquisition and development of The Paseos, a transit-oriented apartment development in north Montclair.
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 03/18/2012 03:36:06 PM PDT
Related story: Lawmakers react to CalPERS struggles
Local officials say funding for services are expected to take another hit with the California Public Employee’s Retirement System lowering investment return forecasts last week.
CalPERS, the nation’s largest public pension fund, has requested state, local government and school districts increase contribution rates.
Return projections were lowered from 7.75 percent to 7.5 percent.
Liset Marquez, Staff Writer
Created: 01/15/2012 06:03:48 AM PST
MONTCLAIR – The City Council took its first step in dissolving its redevelopment agency, but officials are worried that the move may cause the city to default on a short-term bond it took out several years ago.
In a special meeting on Thursday, the City Council agreed to oversee the winding down of the Montclair Redevelopment Agency, as well as to transfer the agency’s housing assets and functions to the Montclair Housing Authority.
Jannise Johnson, Staff Writer
Created: 12/22/2011 05:33:53 PM PST
MONTCLAIR – The Montclair City Council decided 3 to 1 Wednesday night to require members of the Montclair Fire Fighters Association to continue their 6 percent individual contribution toward their retirement fund.
Negotiators for the city and the association (MFFA) had been at an impasse since February.
By Liset Márquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Created: 10/05/2011 10:45:44 AM PDT
MONTCLAIR — Executive and department managers have agreed to permanently contribute to their pension benefits to help the city deal with a long-term shortfall in its bond payments.
In the past, the city has contributed to the employees’ pension benefits.
Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 09/08/2011 08:31:58 AM PDT
MONTCLAIR – City Council members have agreed to pay the state a ransom of $3.6 million to continue operating its redevelopment agency.
Cities agree to ‘ransom’
Liset Marquez, Staff Writer
Created: 08/17/2011 09:07:36 PM PDT
A pair of Inland Valley cities this week started the process to participate in a state program that would allow them to keep their redevelopment agencies operational.
Workers will be asked to pay into retirement
Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 06/22/2011 04:48:14 PM PDT
MONTCLAIR – Public safety and other city employees will be asked to permanently contribute to their pension benefits to help the city deal with a long-term shortfall in its bond payments.
Deadline for pink slips
Doubt again faces teachers
Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/15/2011 07:02:32 AM PDT
Joyella Beuler spends five afternoons a week teaching reading, writing and math to enthusiastic kindergarten students.
But like thousands of other teachers statewide, the Lytle Creek Elementary School teacher faces an uncertain future.
Week ahead
Vacant seat also on tonight’s agenda
Mediha Fejzagic DiMartino, Staff Writer
Created: 03/27/2011 09:34:32 PM PDT
The Upland City Council will discuss the city manager’s performance in closed session during a meeting tonight at City Hall.
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.
R.C., Fontana spurred growth
James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Created: 03/12/2011 11:09:52 PM PST
Growth in those areas and across the Inland Empire came largely because of affordable homes sold in the first half of the decade, said Brad Kemp, director of regional research at Beacon Economics.
Lack of overtime funds idles paramedic squad
Lori Consalvo, Staff Writer
Created: 02/26/2011 07:05:23 AM PST
MONTCLAIR – The Fire Department has depleted most of its overtime budget and will take a paramedic unit out of service whenever a firefighter is ill or on vacation.
By Canan Tasci Staff Writer
Created: 02/18/2011 06:38:51 PM PST
ONTARIO – Ontario-Montclair School District’s superintendent described the district’s $13.2 million budget reductions in two words – gut wrenching.
Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 02/16/2011 06:48:16 PM PST
MONTCLAIR – A request to increase the Fire Department’s overtime budget has been turned down by City Council members at their midyear budget review.
The Fire Department is requesting $94,496 for additional overtime for the remainder of the fiscal year, but, instead, council members on Tuesday directed Fire Chief Troy Ament to implement “jump staffing” to help control costs.
Wendy Leung, Staff Writer
Created: 02/13/2011 10:05:36 PM PST
Ontario-Montclair School District officials are expected to weigh budget reductions of up to $13 million at their board meeting on Thursday. The reductions are a part of the district’s contingency plan for a worst-case scenario – if voters do not approve a tax extension proposed by the governor. The item will be discussed at the Central Language Academy auditorium.
Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 02/09/2011 10:53:31 PM PST
MONTCLAIR – The threat of Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to abolish redevelopment agencies has drawn criticism from City Council members.
In a 4-0 vote at Monday’s meeting, the members approved a resolution opposing the proposal to eliminate agencies across the state. Mayor Paul Eaton was absent.
Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 02/07/2011 09:19:14 PM PST
ONTARIO – Ontario-Montclair School District could face up to $13.2 million in budget cuts for the next school year if the Legislature and voters are not willing to OK a tax extension proposed by the governor.
Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 02/06/2011 07:01:36 AM PST
If the governor’s proposal to abolish redevelopment agencies becomes a reality, Montclair will have to fund a couple of full-time positions and find ways to support wages and benefits for a number of other full-time positions.
Lori Consalvo, Staff Writer
Created: 01/12/2011 08:20:34 PM PST
MONTCLAIR – After a six-month deadlock, City Council members on Tuesday imposed a reduction of benefits for the city’s firefighters.
The unanimously passed decision will now require Montclair Firefighters Association members to pay two-thirds of the city’s contribution to their retirement fund for the next 12 months.
Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 10/14/2010 06:30:26 PM PDT
Online: Check out Montclair candidates’ biographies at www.dailybulletin.com/elections.
MONTCLAIR – Two incumbents and two newcomers talked about development and finding sources of new city funding at Wednesday evening’s City Council candidate forum.
Nelson
10:58 PM PDT on Monday, October 4, 2010
By JEFF HORSEMAN
The Press-Enterprise
Just five city managers in California — and only one in the Inland area — earned more than Temecula City Manager Shawn Nelson in 2009, according to a survey.
Nelson, 51, earned $336,288 last year, an amount that includes his base salary, deferred compensation and other payouts, according to the survey released last month by the League of California Cities, an advocacy group for cities and towns. Nelson’s base pay is $291,571 a year, according to Temecula.
Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 08/03/2010 10:04:49 PM PDT
MONTCLAIR – The star of Monday evening’s City Council meeting was Ed Starr, whose contract as the new city manager was approved.
Starr succeeds Lee McDougal, who retired in June after 18 years in the position. The contract calls for no increase in Starr’s assistant city manager pay of $163,400.
Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 06/25/2010 01:18:58 PM PDT
MONTCLAIR – By incorporating a hoped-for agreement with city employees to take pay cuts, the City Council this week approved its 2010-11 budget.
City employees are being asked to take off 80 furlough hours in the 2010-11 fiscal year as well as pick up a larger share of pension contributions to help balance the city’s budget.
Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 05/20/2010 09:49:15 PM PDT
MONTCLAIR – City Council members unanimously approved a two-tier pension program that will reduce the retirement benefit for non-safety employees hired after June 20.
The city’s retirement rate and annual costs will decrease as a result of the contract amendment with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System that was approved at Monday’s council meeting. The change does not affect police officers and firefighters.
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.
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