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Wednesday, March 6, 2013 – 09:30 a.m.

Here’s some news coming across the transom Wednesday morning.

Rialto voters pass utility tax extension

Rialto voters have passed Measure W, with 63% giving approval. The measure, requiring a majority passage, will extend the city’s utility user’s tax for five years.

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The Sun: Rialto City Council defends public prayers before meetings

Rialto-Seal

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/03/2013 05:39:07 PM PST

RIALTO – Pastor Trish Valdez of Lost and Found Ministries took part in a long-standing City Council tradition when she opened the Feb. 12 meeting with a prayer for wisdom on behalf of elected leaders and other decision-makers.

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The Sun: Rialto voters to decide on $11M tax measure Tuesday

Rialto-Seal

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/02/2013 07:06:09 PM PST

RIALTO – A tax measure on Tuesday’s ballot will show how much of an appetite those here have for helping the city dig out of a financial hole created by the still-sluggish economy and generous benefits given to public employees by previous city councils.

Voters will either extend the $11 million utility-users tax another five years through Measure W or let it expire on June 30.

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The Sun: Rialto City Council appoints former member to fill vacant seat

Rialto-Seal

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/28/2013 08:13:20 PM PST

RIALTO – Citing the need to present a united front as well as save the taxpayers money that would’ve been spent on a special election, the City Council in a 4-0 vote on Monday night appointed Lynn Hirtz to fill the vacant seat on the dais.

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The Sun: Rialto City Council deadlocked on appointing new member

Rialto-Seal

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/23/2013 05:15:02 PM PST

RIALTO – A vacant seat remains on the City Council after the four members couldn’t agree on whom to appoint Tuesday night.

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DailyBulletin: Rialto City Council to appoint new member

Rialto-Seal

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/08/2013 09:43:35 PM PST
Updated: 01/08/2013 09:50:50 PM PST

RIALTO – The City Council moved forward Tuesday with plans to fill the vacant seat on the dais through an appointment process.

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The Sun: In 2013, Rialto faces its own ‘fiscal cliff’

Rialto-Seal

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/29/2012 12:38:07 PM PST

RIALTO – It was late February in 2010 when former City Administrator Henry Garcia issued a warning about the city’s finances.

Rialto, he said, had a “36-month window” before it faced a financial crisis brought on by a gasping economy and skyrocketing public employee costs.

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The Sun: In Rialto, new city council ready to roll; perchlorate surcharge may go away

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/09/2012 10:07:35 PM PST

RIALTO – A new City Council will be sworn in Tuesday while a taxpayer surcharge is expected to go.

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The Sun: Rialto to decide on special election to raise tax

Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/25/2012 01:08:11 PM PST

RIALTO – The City Council may declare a fiscal emergency Tuesday in order to ask voters to extend a tax on utility use that officials say is necessary to prevent severe cuts in public safety and other city services.

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Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/20/2012 10:54:58 PM PST

RIALTO – Severe cuts in public safety and other city services can be expected if voters here don’t approve an extension of the utility-users tax before it sunsets in June.

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The Sun: Deborah Robertson makes history as Rialto’s first black mayor

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/11/2012 01:59:31 PM PST

RIALTO – More than 100 years after the city recorded its only black resident – a woman – it elected its first black mayor, also a woman.

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InlandPolitics: Could more Inland cities be on the bankruptcy track?

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 – 11:30 p.m.

Could more Inland cities be on the road to municipal bankruptcy?

The answer is yes.

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The Sun: City of Rialto approves water rate increases, denies petition

Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/27/2012 12:07:27 AM PDT

RIALTO – The Rialto City Council on Tuesday voted to end the contentious issue of a whooping rate increase by voting 4-1 for its approval.

The issue, and a related agreement to outsource the city’s water and sewer operations to New Jersey-based American Water Works Co. Inc., have been a boiling point for many residents for over a year.

The council’s action will propel water and sewer rates 114.8 percent by 2016.

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The Sun: Rialto council to take up water, sewer rate hikes again

Jim Steinberg,Staff Writer
Posted: 06/24/2012 03:11:16 PM PDT

RIALTO – The City Council will again take up the controversial water and sewer rate hike issue at Tuesday night’s meeting.

The proposal, which would boost water and wastewater rates 114.8 percent by 2016, survived a strong challenge fueled by a door-to-door and mail campaign by the Utility Workers Union of America.

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The Sun: Vote counting continues on Rialto water rate hikes

 

Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/20/2012 07:25:34 PM PDT

RIALTO – City employees on Wednesday continued to count protest ballots opposed to steep increases in water and wastewater rates.

It was not clear Wednesday that there were enough votes to reverse the City Council’s majority vote to enact rates that would hike combined water and wastewater sewage rates by 114.8 percent by 2016.

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The Sun: Rialto City Council OKs 30-year contract with American Water Works

By Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/28/2012 04:47:40 PM PDT

RIALTO – City Council voted 4 to 1 in favor of a controversial 30-year contract with New Jersey-based American Water Works Co. Inc., which would mean a 114.8 percent increase in water and wastewater rates by 2016.

About 400 residents crammed into City Hall and three overflow sites – the library, the public access television station and the main fire station.

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By Jim Steinberg Staff Writer
Posted: 01/24/2012 08:43:11 PM PST

The Fontana and Rialto city councils scrambled on Tuesday night to approve measures paving the way for a Feb. 1 deadline for the dissolution of their redevelopment agencies.

Meanwhile, because of the complexity of what needs to be accomplished in a short time frame, two bond-rating agencies have taken negative actions toward billions of dollars in California bonds secured by redevelopment tax increment revenue.

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The Sun: Rialto approves increases in development fees

By Jim Steinberg Staff Writer
Posted: 12/27/2011 08:31:41 PM PST

Rialto City Council Tuesday night unanimously voted to approve sweeping increases in development impact fees, many for the first time in more than a decade.

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VVDailyPress: Adelanto city finance director steps down

George Harris to take Rialto position
December 26, 2011 1:21 PM
Natasha Lindstrom, Staff Writer

ADELANTO • George Harris, Adelanto’s finance director, is leaving one of the city’s top posts to take over as director of administrative and community service for the city of Rialto. His resignation takes effect Jan. 5.

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The Sun: Rialto could raise fees for developers

Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/23/2011 06:38:05 PM PST

RIALTO – The city of Rialto will hold a public hearing Tuesday on a proposal to raise development impact fees for general civic facilities, such as police, fire, park, storm drain and water and sewer facilities.

Increases could be approved at the conclusion of the public hearing.

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DailyBulletin: Water rate hikes tied to aging infrastructure

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.

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The Sun: Inland Empire Occupy groups rally Saturday in San Bernardino

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.

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The Sun: Member of Rialto school board sends kids to Fontana

Montes

Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/26/2011 06:40:35 PM PDT

RIALTO – For five years, Rialto Unified school board member Edgar Montes has had twin boys improperly enrolled in Fontana Unified School District.

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The Sun: Rialto lays off 20 employees to narrow projected deficit

Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/06/2011 07:44:41 PM PDT

RIALTO – The city on Thursday laid off 20 full-time employees, the first time such action has been taken in a decade.

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The Sun: High court to decide case from Rialto

Associated Press
Posted: 09/27/2011 10:33:32 AM PDT

WASHINGTON – In a case stemming from Rialto, the Supreme Court will decide whether private lawyers hired as outside counsels for governments can be sued.

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Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/26/2011 07:47:46 PM PDT

RIALTO – One well serving residents more than a decade ago might have delivered concentrations of perchlorate high enough to affect the development of fetuses, infants and children, state officials say.

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The Sun: Rep. Baca seeking USGS survey of perchlorate plume

Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/14/2011 09:55:59 PM PDT

RIALTO – Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, asked a congressional subcommittee Wednesday to act on his legislation requiring the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct a study of the Rialto-Colton water basin that focuses on its perchlorate plume.

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The Sun: Mike Story, 27-year Rialto city employee, named city administrator

Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/17/2011 02:01:00 PM PDT

RIALTO – Mike Story has lived here since 1980.

He raised two children, coaching softball and soccer in the process.

For 27 years he has worked for the city of Rialto.

This week he became city administrator and is already at work to come up with recommendations to trim the city’s budget and reorganize city departments.

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Rep. Joe Baca

By Jim Steinberg Staff Writer
Posted: 08/11/2011 12:45:03 PM PDT

RIALTO – Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, is seeking to remove two animal species from protection under the Endangered Species Act, which he said is stalling the development of more than 8,000 residential units here.

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The Sun: Rialto votes to keep RDA

City will pay $6 million to state to maintain agency
Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/27/2011 03:35:43 PM PDT

RIALTO – The City Council has voted unanimously to stay in the redevelopment game and pay the state what was described as a $6 million “ransom” early next year.

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The Sun: Rialto’s financial future bleak without cuts

Even with one-time fixes city facing a $5M deficit
Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/13/2011 08:18:15 PM PDT

RIALTO – Two weeks ago, residents flooded the Council Chambers when the controversial contract with American Water Works Co. Inc. was up for a vote.

Sharp rate increases were at stake and public input forced a decision that ended a move to contract out the city’s water department.

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InlandPolitics: Once again Lewis-Hillwood want more from Rialto

Sunday, July 10, 2011 – 07:00 p.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, July 10, 2011 – 10:40 p.m.

The City of Rialto may as well give The Lewis Group of Companies and Hillwood Development the Rialto Municipal Airport property on a platter and throw in whatever money they want and desire.

Of course, you guessed it!

Once again, this lop-sided public-private partnership has reared it’s ugly head on the Rialto City Council agenda. And of course it’s now time to renegotiate the already renegotiated deal to redevelop the Rialto Airport.

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The Sun: Needs of Rialto water system reflect a national trend

Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/09/2011 10:19:24 PM PDT

RIALTO – The public disclosure that Rialto’s water system needs $42 million in upgrades and renovations is symptomatic of a national trend that civil engineers have long called alarming.

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The Sun: Accused Rialto officer placed on unpaid leave

Jesse B. Gill, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/08/2011 06:10:31 PM PDT

RIALTO – The police officer arrested Monday by FBI agents and indicted federal grand jury has been put on unpaid leave pending a Rialto Police Department internal affairs investigation.

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The Sun: Long wait for layoffs

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.

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By Jim Steinberg Staff Writer
Created: 05/12/2011 04:48:40 PM PDT

RIALTO – The school board on Wednesday night approved final layoff notices for 85 teachers and 11 counselors as part of a plan to avoid a $9.5million revenue shortfall for the next school year.

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The Sun: Rialto council OKs controversial plan

Project could provide 5,000 jobs
Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/16/2011 10:12:59 PM PDT

RIALTO – Developer Timothy J. Howard calls the Rialto Commerce Center project “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something big and get it right.”

But for the many residents of the unincorporated Bloomington community, the 164-acre warehouse project – which is to include six buildings ranging in size from 64,000 to 1.6 million square feet – is a threat to their lifestyle, health and safety.

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The Sun: Rialto looks at plans for water

Proposal would lease out city’s facilities
Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/10/2011 08:08:54 PM PDT

RIALTO – As negotiations continue with a private water company, the city will hold its third workshop Thursday on a proposal to lease the city’s water and wastewater facilities.

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The Sun: Airport leader is fired

Rialto official seeks review
Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/14/2011 05:18:00 PM PDT

RIALTO – Interim City Administrator Mark Kling has fired Rich Scanlon, a contract employee at Rialto Municipal Airport, and has asked the District Attorney’s Office to investigate hangar rentals at the airport.

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The Sun: Districts sent out preliminary pink slips to teachers

By Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell Staff Writer
Posted: 03/11/2011 05:09:24 PM PST

The county’s school districts issued hundreds of preliminary layoff notices to teachers and other certificated staff this week, prior to Tuesday’s state deadline.

In the San Bernardino City Unified School District alone more than 200 notices were sent as the district faces another year of deep budget cuts.

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The Sun: EPA plans first rules on perchlorate in drinking water

By Jim Steinberg Staff Writer
Posted: 02/02/2011 08:57:29 PM PST

COLTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday announced it would move forward with the development of regulations for perchlorate, reversing a Bush Administration decision.

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The Sun: Rialto, Colton plan meeting to voice concerns

Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/01/2011 09:16:56 PM PST

Top officials from Rialto and Colton have made plans to soon meet and discuss mutual concerns such issues as traffic planning and perchlorate contamination as well as possibly settling ongoing litigation.

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The Sun: Rialto projects at risk

Plan by Gov. Brown may prevent developments
James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/23/2011 09:18:23 PM PST

RIALTO – A state plan to take local tax dollars could cancel an expansion of Pepper Avenue and alter a plan to bring an In-N-Out Burger to the city.

Last week, city officials said Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to shut down local redevelopment agencies likely would not hurt a redevelopment project that would help build an In-N-Out on Riverside Avenue just south of the 210 freeway.

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The Sun: Rehires ruffle feathers

Council member objects to move
Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/17/2011 08:34:50 PM PST

RIALTO – The city has brought three recently retired employees back on a part-time basis, but given the city’s financial constraints one City Council member has questioned the move.

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DailyBulletin: City Attorney to be arraigned

Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 01/08/2011 07:07:29 AM PST

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has charged the city attorney of Chino and Rialto with two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Jimmy Gutierrez is expected to be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in the Los Angeles Superior Court in West Covina.

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The Sun: Rialto works to improve its financial footing

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/28/2010 09:46:13 PM PST

RIALTO – Residents can expect to see a handful of grand openings as the city celebrates 100 years of incorporation next Nov. 17.

In the meantime, city officials will continue to juggle the budget.

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The Sun: Spending, scandal affect Rialto

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/28/2010 09:46:13 PM PST

RIALTO – This city has had its fair share of controversy over the years, and 2010 was no different, with concerns over the size of public pensions, opposition to a new residential development and an alleged sex scandal that led to two city police officers leaving the force.

Right out of the gate, officials warned that sweetened pensions kicking in this month could place the city’s finances in peril.

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The PE: Joe Baca Jr. to run for former Assembly seat

Joe Baca Jr.

By PE Politics
on December 3, 2010 2:34 PM

Rialto City Councilman Joe Baca Jr. said Friday that he will run for his old Assembly seat in 2012.

The current occupant of the 62nd Assembly District, Wilmer Amina Carter, D-Rialto, is beginning her final two-year term in office. She replaced Baca in 2006 after Baca unsuccessfully ran for the overlapping 32nd Senate District after one term in the Assembly.

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The PE: 2 quit, 4 disciplined in police sex scandal

06:49 AM PST on Tuesday, November 23, 2010

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

Two Rialto police officers have quit and four others have been disciplined following an internal investigation into allegations that officers had sex with strip club employees at a police union building.

Rialto Police Chief Mark Kling said he had been pursuing the termination of the two officers believed to have engaged in sex while on duty, but they ended up resigning.

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The Sun: Rialto cops’ union chief belittles suit

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/20/2010 09:50:28 PM PST

RIALTO – The police union president on Friday slammed charges of negligence made by the attorney for a strip club worker at the center of an alleged sex scandal involving Rialto police officers.

A lawsuit filed against the city by Danuta W. Tuszynska on behalf of Spearmint Rhino bartender Nancy Holtgreve says the Rialto Police Benefit Association “maintained no safeguards nor security nor monitoring of the building” where Holtgreve alleges she had sex with police officers.

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The Sun: Attorney claims break-in

Office of lawyer in Rialto scandal hit
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/17/2010 04:24:12 PM PST

The attorney for a Rialto strip club worker at the center of an alleged sex scandal involving Rialto police officers said Wednesday her office was broken into last weekend.

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The Sun: Strip club worker files suit against city of Rialto, police chief

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/12/2010 07:38:20 PM PST

PDF document: Holtgreve civil suit

RIALTO – A strip club worker at the center of an alleged sex scandal involving police officers has filed a $500,000 lawsuit against the city and Police Chief Mark Kling.

Nancy Holtgreve, who describes herself as a bartender at the Spearmint Rhino in the lawsuit filed this week in San Bernardino Superior Court, alleges in the suit that she suffered emotional and physical abuse, and violations of her civil rights in the wake of her relationships with Rialto police officers, which she says frequently included sex with the officers while they were on duty.

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The Sun: Rialto council slated to talk Renaissance project

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/08/2010 04:08:32 PM PST

RIALTO – A master-planned community proposed for the north end may take another step forward Tuesday night.

That’s when the City Council is scheduled to consider approving the draft environmental impact report for the Renaissance Rialto project.

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The Sun: Rialto police sex scandal investigation could conclude next week

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/05/2010 04:05:00 PM PDT

RIALTO – An internal investigation into an alleged sex scandal involving a handful of police officers could be wrapped up in a week, authorities have confirmed.

“We’re reviewing the possibility of disciplinary policies with the effected employees as this investigation comes to a conclusion,” Police Chief Mark Kling said Friday.

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Rialto police announce departure
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/31/2010 09:46:26 PM PDT

RIALTO – Another officer allegedly connected with a sex scandal involving strip club workers has left the Police Department, authorities have confirmed.

“Effective Sept. 25, I had another officer that was in the investigation that is no longer with the department,” Police Chief Mark Kling said.

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DailyBulletin: City attorney for Chino, Rialto in DUI arrest

Neil Nisperos and Josh Dulaney, Staff Writers
Created: 10/26/2010 06:14:13 PM PDT

CHINO – The city attorney of Chino and Rialto was arrested early Saturday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.

California Highway Patrol officers from the Santa Fe Springs station arrested Jimmy Gutierrez at 1:52 a.m. on Fairway Avenue, just south of the 60 Freeway, in the City of Industry, officials said.

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The Sun: Critics slam pay deal

Rialto school chief gets $250K salary plus pension
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/18/2010 08:44:34 PM PDT

RIALTO – Critics of the state’s pension system on Monday blasted the school board’s recent decision to extend Superintendent Harold Cebrun’s contract to the tune of $225,000 a year, plus benefits, through November 2014.

Cebrun will earn the salary on top of an annual pension listed at $150,134 by the California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility, a nonprofit group that collects retirement information and posts online the pensions of public employees in the state who take in more than $100,000 a year.

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The PE: TEMECULA: City manager’s pay is election issue

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.

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Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/04/2010 03:31:01 PM PDT

RIALTO – An environmental group has joined with a neighborhood organization on the north side in a lawsuit against the city to stop part of a massive development approved by the City Council in July.

The Endangered Habitats League and Save Lytle Creek Wash have filed a California Environmental Quality Act lawsuit in opposition to three of the four neighborhoods proposed for the Lytle Creek Ranch project, saying the neighborhoods encroach on a delicate flood plain and will endanger the San Bernardino kangaroo rat as well as other species.

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The Sun: Woman in alleged Rialto Police sex scandal to file lawsuit

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/28/2010 05:10:16 PM PDT

RIALTO – The attorney for Nancy Holtgreve, a strip club worker at the center of an alleged sex scandal involving on-duty police officers, is moving forward with a lawsuit against the city after it recently rejected a $500,000 claim.

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The Sun: Rialto to discuss outsourcing Water Department

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/27/2010 09:39:44 PM PDT

RIALTO – The union representing city Water Department employees says the City Council will put jobs at risk and lose control over the city’s water rates if it approves an agreement with a private company to run its water, wastewater and recycled water systems.

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The Sun: Rialto police sex scandal investigation complete

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/09/2010 06:35:45 PM PDT

RIALTO – An internal investigation into an alleged sex scandal involving on-duty officers and workers at the Spearmint Rhino strip club has been completed and a report is under review, Police Chief Mark Kling has confirmed.

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SBSun: Come on back, San Bernardino school district says to 47 laid-off teachers

Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/03/2010 05:23:18 PM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO – During the two months she was laid off, San Bernardino teacher Joyella Beuler worried about paying bills and what to do next.

It didn’t take long for her to get an answer.

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SBSun: Six running for Rialto school board

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/30/2010 05:08:58 PM PDT

RIALTO – Two incumbents are defending their seats on the school board against four challengers, one of whom is a self-described white nationalist.

Joanne Gilbert and John Kazalunas said Monday that Rialto Unified School District needs continuity in its leadership.

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SBSun: $98 million bond urged

Rialto Unified schools
Repairs due, officials say
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/28/2010 07:33:56 AM PDT

RIALTO – Temperatures hitting the 100-degree mark greeted students returning to physical education classes last week inside Eisenhower High School’s gym.

And those usually start by 10:30 a.m.

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SBSun: Cuts hover over police

Cities look at using deputies
Melissa Pinion-Whitt, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/22/2010 09:45:41 PM PDT

Rialto police Sgt. Richard Royce says an uncomfortable subject has been popping up a lot lately during police union conferences: Outsourcing.

“We all get fed the same lines from the city about problems with the economy,” he said.

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SBSun: Rialto police officer named in sex scandal has left department

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/20/2010 09:03:29 PM PDT

RIALTO – The police officer allegedly at the center of a sex scandal that has rocked the Rialto Police Department is off the force, police officials said Friday.

“I can confirm that James Dobbs is no longer employed by the Rialto Police Department,” Police Chief Mark Kling said Friday. Kling confirmed that Dobbs’ last day was Aug. 12, but would not confirm if Dobbs resigned or was fired.

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Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/20/2010 04:24:03 PM PDT

RIALTO – Come Tuesday night, the City Council election scheduled for Nov. 2 may find its place among bad TV shows, magazine subscriptions and other things that get canceled.

Because Councilman Joe Baca Jr. and Councilwoman Deborah Robertson are running unopposed for the two council seats up for vote this year, the city has the option to cancel the election and appoint the incumbents to office. The city stands to save $75,000 in election costs if it doesn’t hold the election.

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SBSun: Rialto incumbents running unopposed

Baca

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/13/2010 11:50:26 AM PDT

RIALTO – In a city of 100,000 residents, not one has stepped forward to run against the two incumbents seeking re-election on Nov. 2.

Councilwoman Deborah Robertson and Councilman Joe Baca Jr. are the only two candidates to qualify through the City Clerk’s office.

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PE: San Bernardino County voters will be busy Nov. 2

10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, August 12, 2010

By DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
The Press-Enterprise

Voters in San Bernardino County will elect a county supervisor, three mayors and a host of city council and school board members Nov. 2.

The election filing period ended Friday for most races, and on Wednesday for those races in which one or more incumbents did not seek re-election.

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SBSun: Claim over police sex sent back

Rialto says request was late
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/09/2010 05:37:10 PM PDT

RIALTO – The city has returned a $500,000 claim to the Riverside lawyer representing a strip club worker at the center of a sex scandal involving Rialto Police Department officers.

“We’re sending her letters saying the claim is untimely,” City Attorney Jimmy Gutierrez said.

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SBSun: City attorney to work sex case

Rialto official says no outside counsel needed
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/08/2010 07:03:12 AM PDT

RIALTO – City Administrator Henry Garcia said Friday he doesn’t expect the city to bring in outside attorneys to handle a $500,000 claim filed against the city by a woman who says that she had sex with Police Department officers while they were on duty.

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RivPE: Claim accuses Rialto police of group sex at union hall

11:43 PM PDT on Saturday, August 7, 2010

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

A woman who raised allegations about Rialto police officers having sex with strippers at a police union building has filed a $500,000 claim against the city.

The claim by Nancy Holtgreve, a waitress at the Spearmint Rhino strip club, describes police officers engaging in group sex at the police union building with female employees from the club. She accuses the city of fostering and perpetuating a culture of sexual harassment by police officers.

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SBSun: Police costs on table

Cities seek wage concessions as they face severe shortfalls
Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/07/2010 03:46:19 PM PDT

Colton and Pomona in recent weeks have discussed disbanding their police departments and contracting with their county sheriff’s departments.

San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies along with officers in Fontana, San Bernardino and Rialto have been asked to make painful concessions on pay and benefits.

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SBSun: Woman alleges group sex at Rialto Police Department Union Hall

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/05/2010 09:07:39 PM PDT

Online extra: Read the claim (.PDF file) Editor’s note: Contains mature language and subject matter

RIALTO – Police officers engaged in group sex with female workers from the Spearmint Rhino strip club, according to a $500,000 claim filed by a woman at the center of a sex scandal that has sent shock waves through the Police Department and city.

“The claims that we have made are simply the tip of the iceberg and we have substantial proof to back up these claims, and my client will move forward with a lawsuit should the city not take her claims seriously,” said Danuta W. Tuszynska, a Riverside-based attorney representing Nancy Holtgreve.

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