Politics, Government and Business in Southern California's Inland Empire
March 20, 2013; 04:47 PM
Redlands employees staged a demonstration on Tuesday, March 19, over what they said is a 7 percent pay cut and 3 percent cut in benefits proposed by the city.
To read story by Erin Waldner in The Press Enterprise, click here.
January 17, 2013; 05:58 PM
Unemployment in Redlands declined in 2012, housing prices and sales tax revenue increased and the city issued more than 380 business licenses.
To read story by Jan Sears in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Saturday, November 24, 2012 – 10:45 a.m.
There’s some creative thinking going on in the city of Redlands these days.
The financially-strapped city is looking for revenue generators and believes it’s found one.
Published: 20 November 2012 – 10:00 PM
A nearly $8 per month trash rate increase spread over three years was approved by the City Council on Tuesday, Nov. 20, with the revenue designated to help repair the city’s dilapidated streets.
To read story by Jan Sears in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Published: 20 October 2012 – 08:12 PM
Attracting new business to Redlands, the city’s budget and keeping the community safe as more parolees are released from prison are key topics for the six City Council candidates.
To read story by Jan Sears in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Published: 11 October 2012 – 11:02 PM
The six candidates for Redlands City Council discussed issues ranging from economic development to a proposed 38 percent trash collection rate hike to fix city streets during a two-hour forum on Thursday evening, Oct. 11.
To read story by Jan Sears in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Kristina Hernandez, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/22/2012 02:16:50 PM PDT
REDLANDS – November’s election will change the dynamics on the City Council.
Two council seats are on the ballot – outgoing Councilman Jerry Bean’s and that of Mayor Pete Aguilar, who is running for re-election. So there will be turnover in at least one council seat.
Published: 21 August 2012 – 06:25 PM
San Bernardino County supervisors gave the go-ahead Tuesday, Aug. 21 for a developer to build a 306-unit apartment project in the Donut Hole area of Redlands despite opposition from the city.
To read story by Imran Ghori in the Press-Enterprise, click here.
Kristina Hernandez, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/31/2012 01:59:19 PM PDT
REDLANDS – Mayor Pete Aguilar announced Tuesday that he will seek re-election to retain a seat on the City Council in November.
The announcement comes two weeks after the nomination period for the fall election opened on July 16.
Aguilar was appointed to the council in 2006 to fill a vacancy, becoming the second youngest member on the council in the city’s history at the age of 26.
BY JAN SEARS
STAFF WRITER
jsears@pe.com
Published: 28 July 2012 06:10 PM
Redlands had to loan more than $3 million from its general fund to its redevelopment successor agency on Thursday, July 26, to cover an unexpected demand for more money from the state.
The money to cover the $3.1 million loan came from the city’s water department and was transferred, with City Council approval, to Redlands’ former redevelopment agency, now referred to as the successor agency. The agency needed the money to cover a bond payment due this month.
BY JAN SEARS
STAFF WRITER
jsears@pe.com
Published: 26 July 2012 10:53 PM
Candidates seeking office in Redlands’ November elections will be asked to abide by voluntary limits on fundraising, the City Council agreed Thursday evening, July 26.
Councilman Bob Gardner sought limits on both campaign spending and fundraising, but agreed to focus on fundraising alone when other councilmen began raising questions about his proposal.
BY JAN SEARS
STAFF WRITER
jsears@pe.com
Published: 23 July 2012 05:47 PM
A resolution that would encourage candidates for two Redlands City Council seats in November to adhere to voluntary fundraising or spending limits likely will be considered at the council’s first September meeting.
The council last week, over the objections of Councilman Jerry Bean, asked city officials to prepare the resolution. Council members didn’t decide whether the limits would be on spending, contributions or both, or precisely what those limits would be.
Toni Momberger, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/06/2012 03:30:07 PM PDT
REDLANDS – Councilman Jerry Bean said Friday he will not run for re-election in November.
He has served one term. He won election to a four-year City Council term in 2007. His term was extended by one year when the council moved the November city elections from odd-numbered to even-numbered years.
Staff and Wire Reports
Posted: 07/06/2012 06:31:47 PM PDT
The Redlands Tea Party Patriots moved quickly in opposing the state Legislature’s support of a bullet train in California.
Thursday afternoon, the Assembly approved S.B. 1029, authorizing the state to begin selling about $4.5billion in state bonds for the nation’s first high-speed rail system, taking an initial step toward the ambitious $68billion project that Gov. Jerry Brown hopes will be a part of his legacy.
BY JAN SEARS
STAFF WRITER
jsears@pe.com
Published: 02 July 2012 04:55 PM
The results of a study proposing fee increases for city services — from construction permits to adopting a dog from the city shelter — have raised concerns among city councilmen.
Nearly all city fees would be going up. Some would more than double, while others would increase as much as 21 times over current amounts.
By Kristina Hernandez
Posted: 06/28/2012 04:25:37 PM PDT
REDLANDS — The nomination period for those wishing to throw their hats into this November’s city election is still a few weeks away. But buzz is generating around town on who is and who isn’t going to run.
Four positions are up for grabs, including the two council seats occupied by Mayor Pete Aguilar and Councilman Jerry Bean.
BY JAN SEARS
jsears@pe.com
Published: 22 June 2012 05:14 PM
With Metrolink expecting to begin service to Redlands at five rail stops later this decade, the City Council last week took an early step toward planning for development around the stations.
The city’s planning staff is creating new guidelines for development around the rail stops. Those guidelines eventually will be added to Redlands’ general plan, which guides the city’s development.
BY JAN SEARS
STAFF WRITER
jsears@pe.com
Published: 20 June 2012 06:25 PM
After restoring a few items to Redlands’ general fund for the next fiscal year — including money for fee waivers for groups holding events in town — the City Council approved the $53.7 million spending plan.
The council added about $226,000 to the budget presented to them by City Manager N. Enrique Martinez. Councilmen Jerry Bean and Bob Gardner, who made up the council’s budget committee, said they wanted to add $95,000 to complete a revision of the housing element of the city’s general plan.
BY JAN SEARS
STAFF WRITER
jsears@pe.com
Published: 15 June 2012 06:56 PM
When Redlands’ five city councilmen consider the 2012-13 general fund budget on Tuesday, June 19, they will hear a little bit of good news along with the not so good.
While property tax revenues continue to sag, sales tax revenue is “climbing out of the hole a little bit,” City Manager N. Enrique Martinez said last week.
BY JAN SEARS
STAFF WRITER
jsears@pe.com
Published: 23 April 2012 07:03 PM
Since December, members of Occupy Redlands have been appearing before the City Council, reading a resolution opposing corporate personhood and urging the council to vote on it.
They have appeared at almost every council meeting in the past four months, taking three-minute turns reading the resolution, and more recently, reciting a long list of U.S. cities and counties that have voted to support it.
They may finally achieve their goal next month.
BY JAN SEARS
jsears@pe.com
Published: 22 April 2012 06:19 PM
Redlands’ labor negotiator has begun meeting with representatives of employee groups to discuss salary and benefit issues that city officials say could help improve Redlands’ long-term financial health.
The City Council has directed its negotiator, Richard Kreisler, a partner in the Los Angeles law firm Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, to propose changes in employee retirement and lifetime health care benefits and overtime, city spokesman Carl Baker said in a news release.
Patrick Fite, For the Daily Facts
Posted: 01/26/2012 04:25:15 PM PST
Practicing simple energy efficient methods can add up to huge savings, as the Redlands Unified School District (RUSD) has shown during the past 26 months by saving more than $900,000 in energy costs.
Molly Davis, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/21/2012 03:24:10 PM PST
REDLANDS – Oranges. They’re all over Redlands. In the groves, on the street signs, on the city’s logo, even on the masthead of this newspaper.
And for the past few weeks, oranges have had members of the city baffled as they try to understand who has been managing the city’s groves.
Molly Davis, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/18/2012 04:38:10 PM PST
REDLANDS – Historic preservationists cautiously celebrated after receiving word that cinema owner George Krikorian is in default of an agreement with the city that could lead to his purchase of a historic downtown packing house.
Molly Davis, Redlands Daily Facts
Posted: 12/22/2011 03:28:34 PM PST
REDLANDS – When it comes to fighting against an unwanted assembly bill, the Redlands Tea Party Patriots are working the old fashioned way – going door to door to gather signatures against AB 131.
The new legislation, AB 131, would give undocumented students in California the opportunity to apply for financial aid.
BY JAN SEARS
STAFF WRITER
jsears@pe.com
Published: 17 December 2011 08:04 PM
The developer of a proposed 809,000-square-foot distribution center in north Redlands pledged to bring the city an environmentally sound, solar-panel ready and attractively landscaped building — and to preserve the north Redlands palm rows that are iconic to the city.
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/14/2011 04:40:19 PM PST
Regional mail processing centers in the cities of Industry and Redlands remain on the chopping block, despite the cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service’s decision to delay closing any of its facilities until mid-May.
Each site has 750 employees, postal officials said.
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.
Molly Davis, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/07/2011 05:49:38 PM PST
REDLANDS – Regardless of what their views are, Redlands has a number of different vocal and visible political groups giving opinions on the country’s problems, and solutions.
BY JAN SEARS
STAFF WRITER
jsears@pe.com
Published: 02 December 2011 10:59 AM
A fatal shooting outside Charlie Jewell’s in downtown Redlands prompted the city manager to write a letter chastising the bar owner and ask the City Council to consider regulations that would hold businesses accountable for the bad behavior of their customers.
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/11/2011 04:37:50 PM PST
Members of Occupy Wall Street-inspired groups from throughout region will protest together today as Occupy Inland Empire for the first time in a rally in San Bernardino.
11 arrested in police clash at Occupy Riverside
Toni Momberger, Redlands Daily Facts
Posted: 11/07/2011 10:19:49 AM PST
The day after Occupy Redlands organizer Keith Jackson drafted an official statement of non-violence, he and about 40 other Occupiers from around the Inland Empire were put to the test.
Sandra Emerson, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Created: 11/06/2011 05:53:46 PM PST
RIVERSIDE – After nearly an hour and a half of group discussion in the human microphone fashion, members of several Occupy Wall Street movements in the Inland Empire raised their hands, wiggled their fingers and a consensus was reached – a committee will be formed to propose future activities bringing all their movements together.
By Catherine Garcia For the Daily Facts
Posted: 11/05/2011 05:06:06 PM PDT
REDLANDS – An estimated 70 protesters with Occupy Redlands marched around the Bank of America downtown on Saturday afternoon, carrying signs and passing out brochures with information on how to switch to credit unions.
By Molly Davis, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/02/2011 08:25:57 PM PDT
REDLANDS – Supervisor Neil Derry held a Town Hall meeting Wednesday night in an effort to open up a dialogue with the people he represents.
About two dozen people gathered in council chambers of City Hall to hear Derry discuss the state of the county and offer him about their concerns.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 – 06:00 a.m.
Boy, you really gotta hand it to those Redlands Unified School District trustees.
Earlier this year the group voted to quit funding secondary school bus service due to a financial shortfall.
A move most school districts resisted.
Staff Report
Posted: 08/31/2011 06:13:01 PM PDT
Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands, was in Hesperia on Wednesday to help break ground on the city’s largest transportation project.
Friday, August 26, 2011 – 07:40 a.m.
When I read one of the stories in Friday’s edition of The Sun newspaper I had to roll my eyes.
One of the main stories in the paper thin publication was three democrat mayors endorsing a democrat tribal chairman for county supervisor.
Ramos
By Molly Davis Staff Writer
Posted: 08/25/2011 11:54:01 PM PDT
REDLANDS – Three local mayors lent their support Tuesday to James Ramos, who is running for San Bernardino County supervisor.
10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, August 23, 2011
BY JAN SEARS
STAFF WRITER
jsears@pe.com
With the future of its Redevelopment Agency uncertain, the Redlands City Council took a procedural step on Tuesday to ensure that the agency will be able to continue to meet its financial obligations.
06:35 PM PDT on Friday, August 5, 2011
The Press-Enterprise
Redlands-based Environmental System Research Institute has won a $240 million federal contract to purchase licenses and agreements for a Distributed Common Ground System for the U.S. Army.
To read entire story, click here.
Downtown is big goal for Redlands
Molly Davis, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/20/2011 06:40:52 PM PDT
REDLANDS – Although the city may not be financially well-off, there’s still much to be proud of, Mayor Pete Aguilar said Wednesday.
Speaking to local business leaders, residents and public officials, the mayor gave the State of the City address at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon held at the University of Redlands’ Orton Center.
10:00 PM PDT on Saturday, July 9, 2011
By JAN SEARS
The Press-Enterprise
The University of Redlands will contribute $112,000 this year to help the city with some projects dear to the university’s heart that Redlands otherwise might not be able to afford.
By Molly Davis Staff Writer
Posted: 07/07/2011 07:33:49 PM PDT
REDLANDS – City Council members will continue to have the option of receiving health-care benefits after a resolution to withdraw their participation in a benefits program failed to pass.
Garcia pays tribute to his predecessor
Molly Davis, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/06/2011 08:04:26 PM PDT
REDLANDS – Mark Garcia, the new police chief, is assessing things.
Molly Davis, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/22/2011 06:45:35 PM PDT
REDLANDS – Local officials are voicing concern over a plan to divide the city between two congressional districts.
By Jesse B. Gill Staff Writer
Posted: 06/09/2011 08:42:06 PM PDT
REDLANDS – The second-highest member of the San Bernardino City Police Department command staff was picked Wednesday as the new police chief for the Redlands Police Department.
Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/08/2011 06:27:59 PM PDT
Potential police chief candidates interviewed last week and the city manager this week, who hopes to make a decision “soon.”
10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, June 7, 2011
By JAN SEARS
The Press-Enterprise
A 2011-12 Redlands general fund budget that requires 19 employee layoffs and reductions in service in various departments, but preserves $6.2 million in reserves and requires no loans, has been adopted by the City Council.
10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, June 1, 2011
By JAN SEARS
The Press-Enterprise
The Redlands City Council had its first conversation Tuesday about an austere but balanced 2011-12 budget that would lay off 19 city employees and abandon a program that helps pay for school crossing guards.
Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/25/2011 10:23:46 PM PDT
REDLANDS – Residents can take a look at the proposed city budget today when it is published for public viewing.
The draft budget will be available on the city’s website and at the A.K. Smiley Public Library. The proposal outlines how the city manager and City Council budget subcommittee plan to fill the roughly $3.9 million gap the city faces in the upcoming fiscal year.
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.
Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/15/2011 02:41:13 PM PDT
REDLANDS – The City Council soon will receive a proposal on how the 2011-12 budget could be balanced without borrowing or increasing taxes – but the solution will not come easily.
10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, May 4, 2011
By JAN SEARS
The Press-Enterprise
The Redlands City Council has approved a contract with a new auditing firm, Lance, Soll & Lunghard LLP, which has offices in Orange and Los Angeles counties and the Temecula area.
Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/25/2011 08:12:51 PM PDT
REDLANDS – Some city employee bargaining units are still willing to work with the City Council subcommittee negotiating with them over the past few months.
City says unions won’t take cuts
Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/23/2011 03:17:40 PM PDT
REDLANDS – Negotiations between the City Council and the city’s nine employee unions have come to a halt as city officials said it became clear some did not want to renegotiate their contracts to the terms proposed by the mayor and mayor pro tem.
Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/06/2011 05:57:04 PM PDT
REDLANDS – Gov. Jerry Brown’s promise not to cut school budgets may soon be broken and that will likely mean the Redlands Unified School District will lose at least $2.6 million more from its shrinking budget.
10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, April 5, 2011
By JAN SEARS
The Press-Enterprise
A three-year round of water and sewer rate increases will begin in May, the Redlands City Council decided on a divided vote Tuesday evening after several hours of comments from residents mostly opposed to the increase.
Local choices won’t seek job
Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/22/2011 10:05:58 PM PDT
REDLANDS – The city’s next police chief will not come from the city’s own Police Department.
City Manager N. Enrique Martinez announced Tuesday that none of the four police lieutenants is interested in the position, which will now be open to candidates from outside the city.
Residents share thoughts at forum
Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/19/2011 10:33:38 PM PDT
REDLANDS – The search for the next Redlands police chief officially began last week with a public forum designed to include residents in the hiring process.
Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/28/2011 07:22:04 PM PST
REDLANDS – The City Council will meet at 6 tonight and view a presentation on the service priorities of the Police, Fire and Quality of Life departments.
Also on the schedule is a presentation on how to make Redlands more environmentally sustainable.
Companies likely to retain current workers
Molly Davis, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/27/2011 08:14:31 PM PST
People can begin to feel some relief after recent reports suggest that layoffs have declined for now.
Economists agree that businesses are less likely to make staff cuts, while unemployment figures are not expected to drop.
Mayors Pat Morris, Pete Aguilar, Larry McCallon, David Zamora and Rhodes Rigsby
Posted: 02/26/2011 07:09:41 AM PST
As the mayors of five cities in the heart of the east San Bernardino Valley, it is our collective responsibility to ensure we make the strategic investments required to rebuild our regional economy and ensure its vibrancy and sustainability for the 21st century. Our highest priority has been modernizing our region’s transportation infrastructure to ensure our valley is economically attractive to businesses, jobs and residents.
Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/22/2011 05:47:10 PM PST
REDLANDS – City officials say they will continue to follow the transparency provisions of the Brown Act regardless of whether the state reimburses the city for doing so.
10:00 PM PST on Wednesday, February 16, 2011
By JAN SEARS
The Press-Enterprise
A “somewhat rosy” picture of Redlands’ municipal budget was delivered to the City Council this week, along with warnings that the report should be received with cautious optimism.
School works to regain financial footing
Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/07/2011 06:33:39 PM PST
International bond ratings agency Fitch downgraded the University of Redlands’ revenue bonds three notches last week, from A to BBB.
Fitch Inc., had not assessed the university since 2008, said Colin Walsh, a director at Fitch. The downgrade is a result of budgetary factors that have happened since that time.
10:28 PM PST on Sunday, February 6, 2011
By JAN SEARS
The Press-Enterprise
Redlands residents will receive notices this week that their water and sewer rates are likely to increase by 5 to 6 percent annually over the next three years.
The City Council agreed last week to rate increases of 5.5 percent for water and 5 percent for sewer this year.
Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/01/2011 07:33:51 PM PST
REDLANDS – The city soon will begin what leaders admitted will be an arduous and painful, but much-needed, task.
With support of the City Council, Councilman Bob Gardner will work in the coming week with city staff and City Manager N. Enrique Martinez to develop a process by which the city will approach budgeting.
Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/31/2011 06:03:03 PM PST
REDLANDS – The City Council will meet today and discuss how it will approach the budgeting process for the upcoming fiscal year.
Councilman Bob Gardner said he plans to introduce to his fellow councilmembers the idea of establishing a set of policies which they will adhere to when creating future city budgets.
Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/29/2011 10:27:45 PM PST
REDLANDS – More than a month into its budgeting process, the Redlands Unified School District is still unsure how much money it will receive from the state in the 2011-12 school year.
10:00 PM PST on Saturday, January 15, 2011
By JAN SEARS
The Press-Enterprise
The search for a new police chief in Redlands will begin with the department’s current leaders, the city manager says.
Jim Bueermann, a 32-year department veteran who had been chief since 1998, retired at the end of December. He is staying on under contract until the end of June while a new chief is sought.
Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/04/2011 08:30:43 PM PST
REDLANDS – The City Council voted to fill its $1.3 million deficit in the 2010-11 fiscal year, opting out of layoffs and banking on assumed property- tax revenue.
In a 4-1 vote Tuesday, the council decided to combine cuts to services and supplies, reallocate funds and budget money from expected additional property tax pass-through revenues from the Inland Valley Development Authority to fill the deficit that remained in the current fiscal year.
10:00 PM PST on Tuesday, January 4, 2011
By JAN SEARS
The Press-Enterprise
A City Council discussion of how the next police chief will be selected evolved Tuesday into a debate over whether Redlands should consider contracting with the Sheriff’s Department for police services.
Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/02/2011 04:35:54 PM PST
REDLANDS – The City Council will meet Tuesday to take another look at possible ways to fill the $1.3million deficit remaining in the 2010-2011 fiscal year.
The new council first looked at the shortfall at a special meeting Dec. 14 and took a second look on Dec. 21. The council took no action to fill the gap but asked City Manager N. Enrique Martinez to provide additional details on potential budget reductions they might make this month or next.
Jim Bueermann
10:00 PM PST on Friday, December 17, 2010
By RICHARD BROOKS
The Press-Enterprise
After more than three decades as a Redlands police officer, Chief Jim Bueermann is retiring Dec. 31, though he is likely to remain on the job while a successor is found, city and police officials say.
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