Politics, Government and Business in Southern California's Inland Empire
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/20/2013 08:50:18 PM PDT
Updated: 05/20/2013 08:50:25 PM PDT
UPLAND – Members of the city’s Finance and Economic Development Committee were updated Monday on the city’s fiscal situation, which is still uncertain.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/14/2013 11:58:51 PM PDT
Updated: 05/14/2013 11:59:54 PM PDT
UPLAND — The Upland Unified School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday recieved a two-and-a-half page list of possible cuts suggested by employees.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/03/2013 07:38:31 PM PDT
Updated: 05/03/2013 11:34:47 PM PDT
UPLAND — The Upland Unified School District will need to identify $9 million in cuts for the 2013-14 fiscal year budget over the next two months or face insolvency.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/22/2013 10:09:35 PM PDT
Updated: 04/22/2013 10:09:47 PM PDT
UPLAND – The City Council, after several months of discussion, agreed Monday night to revise the city’s campaign contributions limit ordinance.
By Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/11/2013 02:27:07 PM PDT
Updated: 04/11/2013 04:28:44 PM PDT
UPLAND — The city is looking for a replacement.
A replacement on the city’s Housing Authority Board of Commissioners following the resignation of Councilman Gino Filippi.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013 – 10:00 a.m.
One has to really wonder just how unhappy San Bernardino County officials are these days.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/16/2013 06:51:47 PM PDT
A San Diego Superior Court judge, in an effort to encourage a settlement between San Bernardino County, and Upland and two transportation agencies, purged his Feb. 5 decision to dismiss all damages claims the county made against the city and the two agencies.
Joe Nelson and Sandra Emerson, Staff Writers
Posted: 03/16/2013 05:17:55 PM PDT
Updated: 03/16/2013 06:51:03 PM PDT
After nearly nine years and roughly $46 million in taxpayer money spent by all parties involved, San Bernardino County’s indemnity lawsuit against Upland and two transportation agencies has left scars, but none that cannot be healed, officials say.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writers
Posted: 03/13/2013 07:57:17 PM PDT
Updated: 03/13/2013 07:57:34 PM PDT
UPLAND– The Upland City Council is still unable to decide how to implement changes to their ordinance limiting campaign contributions.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/12/2013 08:49:23 PM PDT
San Bernardino County on Tuesday settled its nearly 9-year-old lawsuit against the city of Upland and two transportation agencies regarding the county’s landmark settlement with Rancho Cucamonga investor group Colonies Partners LP in 2006.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/11/2013 09:55:33 PM PDT
Updated: 03/11/2013 10:06:45 PM PDT
UPLAND – The Upland City Council on Monday approved the mid-year budget review, which shows about $200,000 in savings.
Position has been vacant since 2011
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/11/2013 08:58:23 PM PDT
Updated: 03/11/2013 08:58:30 PM PDT
UPLAND – As city officials continue to work through Upland’s financial troubles, they are seeking help in monitoring day-to-day finances.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/05/2013 10:54:40 PM PST
Updated: 03/05/2013 10:54:46 PM PST
UPLAND – The Upland Finance and Economic Development Committee was updated today on the city’s mid-year finances.
They also recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution amending the 2013-14 fiscal year budget.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/05/2013 10:49:58 PM PST
Updated: 03/05/2013 10:50:13 PM PST
UPLAND – The Upland City Council held a special closed session meeting tonight to discuss two lawsuits facing the city, including the costly San Bernardino County Flood Control lawsuit.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/01/2013 07:31:27 PM PST
San Bernardino County’s days are numbered in deciding if it will appeal a judge’s decision to dismiss its lawsuit seeking partial reimbursement from Upland and two transportation agencies on a $102 million legal settlement.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/01/2013 05:21:12 PM PST
Updated: 03/01/2013 10:16:38 PM PST
UPLAND – The first of several new stores in the highly anticipated second phase of the Colonies Crossroads Shopping Center are opening this month.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/25/2013 09:29:50 PM PST
Updated: 02/25/2013 09:31:32 PM PST
UPLAND – The City Council Monday night agreed to revisit a review of the city’s campaign contributions and spending limits ordinance.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/19/2013 05:16:47 PM PST
Updated: 02/19/2013 06:27:15 PM PST
UPLAND – A contractor sentenced in a federal bribery case involving former Mayor John Pomierski is the first of four defendants in the case to be released from prison.
February 12, 2013; 08:56 PM
A group of Inland city officials urged San Bernardino County supervisors on Tuesday, Feb. 12, to end the county’s costly lawsuit against three public agencies to recover $102 million paid in the controversial Colonies settlement.
To read story by Imran Ghori in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/11/2013 09:27:43 PM PST
Updated: 02/11/2013 09:28:17 PM PST
UPLAND – The City Council on Monday approved new employment contracts that include concessions offered by employees to help alleviate pressure on the city’s budget.
Joe Nelson and Sandra Emerson, Staff Writers
Posted: 02/10/2013 03:34:01 PM PST
Updated: 02/10/2013 10:57:13 PM PST
San Bernardino County’s lawsuit against Upland and two transportation agencies in which the county seeks to recoup a portion of a $102 million legal settlement could force Upland into bankruptcy court, City Manager Stephen Dunn said.
February 06, 2013; 07:09 PM
A judge rejected San Bernardino County’s efforts to recoup $102 million paid in the Colonies settlement, throwing out its damage claims against three other agencies for an agreement he called “unconscionable, unlawful and sordid.”
To read story by Imran Ghori in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/30/2013 08:24:55 PM PST
Updated: 01/30/2013 08:49:52 PM PST
A San Diego Superior Court judge on Wednesday tentatively dismissed a nine-year-old lawsuit by San Bernardino County against three public agencies in which the county sought to recoup a portion of a $102 million legal settlement the defendants say was corrupt.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/27/2013 06:10:31 AM PST
Updated: 01/27/2013 05:42:16 PM PST
UPLAND – The City Council has given staffers approval to withdraw the city from its risk-management pool to potentially save the general fund $150,000 annually.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/20/2013 06:06:03 AM PST
Updated: 01/20/2013 05:47:34 PM PST
UPLAND – The city is on its way to hiring a finance manager to help keep track of city finances.
Staff Report
Posted: 01/16/2013 05:57:35 PM PST
Updated: 01/16/2013 09:26:39 PM PST
UPLAND – City Councilman Gino Filippi will meet with friends and supporters for a late New Year’s lunch and discussion of public safety, housing and economic development.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/15/2013 06:36:00 PM PST
Updated: 01/15/2013 11:05:43 PM PST
UPLAND – City Manager Stephen Dunn has placed his recommendation on outsourcing public safety on hold pending the outcome of labor negotiations.
Dunn said during the City Council meeting Monday that all seven of the employee groups have offered to pay their portion of their pension.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/12/2013 06:09:07 AM PST
Updated: 01/12/2013 07:38:11 PM PST
UPLAND – Council members will get back into routine Monday with the their first meeting of the year.
By Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/20/2012 11:14:17 AM PST
Updated: 12/20/2012 07:57:07 PM PST
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Former Upland City Manager Robb Quincey pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony corruption charges in West Valley Superior Court.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/16/2012 06:05:43 AM PST
Updated: 12/16/2012 05:23:08 PM PST
UPLAND – Mayor Ray Musser’s first action as mayor already has one council member questioning his decisions.
Sandra Emerson , Staff Writer
Posted: 12/10/2012 03:35:21 PM PST
UPLAND – The new phase of the Colonies Crossroads shopping center in northeast Upland isn’t quite ready to open yet, but city officials are already anticipating the sales and property tax revenue the project is expected to generate.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/09/2012 01:05:14 AM PST
UPLAND – Tonight’s City Council meeting will be the last for Councilman Ken Willis, who has served in this position since 2000.
Willis has decided to retire and will be replaced by newly elected Councilman Glenn Bozar.
By Greg Devereaux
Posted: 12/07/2012 03:16:42 PM PST
Last week, The Sun and the Daily Bulletin published an editorial and a guest column taking the County of San Bernardino to task for seeking payment of substantial debts owed to the county by the cities of San Bernardino and Upland. What the editorial and column failed to grasp is that when a city refuses to pay the county for a service it used or an impact it caused, it pushes the obligation onto the residents and businesses in other cities.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/26/2012 09:25:43 PM PST
Updated: 11/26/2012 11:05:22 PM PST
UPLAND – The City Council on Monday gave City Manager Stephen Dunn authorization to move forward on researching several long term solutions to reign in the city’s budget.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/25/2012 06:13:04 AM PST
Updated: 11/25/2012 05:33:37 PM PST
UPLAND – City Manager Stephen Dunn will re-present his recommendations for long-term savings to the City Council during their meeting on Monday night.
Dunn was asked by the council during a special meeting earlier this month to include cost estimates for his long-term recommendations to save $2 million in the budget annually.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/11/2012 07:32:30 PM PST
Updated: 11/11/2012 07:35:01 PM PST
UPLAND – An auditor hired by the Upland Firefighters Association mixed compliments with criticisms in his review of the city’s finances.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/07/2012 09:23:30 PM PST
Updated: 11/07/2012 10:01:18 PM PST
UPLAND – The City Council has told City Manager Stephen Dunn to move forward on short-term solutions to keep the city’s financial situation from deteriorating further.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/05/2012 02:11:54 PM PST
San Bernardino County and its transportation planning agency are enmeshed in a legal challenge over whether the transportation agency should partially reimburse the county for a legal settlement with a land developer that prosecutors allege was corrupt.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/04/2012 11:54:40 AM PST
Updated: 11/04/2012 05:15:48 PM PST
UPLAND – The City Council needs to free up $2 million annually in the general fund in order to regain financial stability, according to a report from City Manager Stephen Dunn.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/28/2012 04:24:46 PM PDT
Updated: 10/29/2012 11:19:57 PM PDT
UPLAND – Employee pensions have become a highly contested issue as city leaders continue to look for ways to cut their costs.
Candidates running for City Council and mayor next week may be faced with the issue once elected.
By Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/25/2012 11:43:51 AM PDT
Updated: 10/25/2012 06:18:05 PM PDT
UPLAND – Before filing criminal charges last week, investigators with the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office interviewed officials about former City Manager Robb Quincey’s statements during an arbitration hearing with the city and a settlement he made with a police sergeant. Quincey, 52 of Upland, has been charged with three felonies including, misappropriation of public funds, gaining personal interest from an official contract and perjury.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/22/2012 09:50:22 PM PDT
Updated: 10/22/2012 09:50:49 PM PDT
UPLAND – City Manager Stephen Dunn on Monday had a clear message for residents regarding the city’s dire financial situation.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/21/2012 07:07:05 AM PDT
Updated: 10/21/2012 10:23:42 PM PDT
UPLAND – The city’s non-safety employees are willing to discuss potential concessions as long as upper level management is willing to take a hit as well, according to a representative for the employees.
By Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/19/2012 12:29:42 PM PDT
Updated: 10/19/2012 07:33:05 PM PDT
UPLAND – The former Upland city manager faces felony corruption charges filed Friday by the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/13/2012 03:53:03 PM PDT
Retirement doesn’t just bring a watch for employees leaving many local cities – it can mean hundreds of thousands of dollars in cashouts for unused vacation, sick time and other benefits.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/12/2012 09:03:51 PM PDT
Updated: 10/12/2012 09:23:03 PM PDT
UPLAND – Representatives of the city’s police officer and firefighter employee groups blame city leaders for the current financial crisis, saying they have failed to properly manage the city’s budget.
By Sandra Emerson
Posted: 10/12/2012 06:52:36 AM PDT
Updated: 10/12/2012 07:10:44 AM PDT
UPLAND – City leaders must aggressively cut spending in order to avoid declaring a fiscal emergency and filing for bankruptcy protection, according to a city memo obtained by the Daily Bulletin. Among the cuts being considered are contracting out police and fire services and reducing compensation or benefits for city employees.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/06/2012 12:17:52 PM PDT
Updated: 10/06/2012 05:33:48 PM PDT
UPLAND – The City Council and residents will hear an update on the city’s dire financial situation during Monday’s meeting.
The city is still waiting for the results of its annual audit, but officials expect cuts will need to be made in the near future.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/06/2012 07:11:38 AM PDT
Updated: 10/06/2012 11:56:46 PM PDT
An L.A. County Fair vendor employee is accusing Upland Councilman and mayoral candidate Gino Filippi of pushing him following a dispute over the price of a hat.
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.
By Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 09/09/2012 02:11:52 PM PDT
RIVERSIDE — A Rancho Cucamonga man was sentenced Monday to 12 months and one day in prison for aiding Upland’s former mayor in soliciting a bribe from a city business.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 09/09/2012 02:11:52 PM PDT
Anthony Orlando Sanchez, a co-defendant convicted in the federal bribery case against the former mayor of Upland, is scheduled to be sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Riverside.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 09/08/2012 07:11:13 AM PDT
UPLAND – City Council members will hold their first regular meeting Monday following the summer break and intend on tackling their own compensation.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 09/05/2012 08:39:53 AM PDT
UPLAND – The City Council has approved a three-year contract with Fullerton-based law firm Jones & Mayer for city attorney services.
By Sandra Emerson
Created: 08/27/2012 12:26:25 PM PDT
Upland contractor John Hennes was sentenced today to 12 months — six months in jail and six months of home confinement — for his role in a federal bribery case involving former Upland mayor John Pomierski and a local business.
Week ahead
Staff Reports
Created: 08/26/2012 12:14:45 PM PDT
Upland contractor John Hennes is scheduled to be sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Riverside.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 08/16/2012 06:08:36 PM PDT
UPLAND – Councilwoman Debbie Stone has asked city staffers to place an item on the Sept. 10 agenda to cut council members’ pay by 15percent.
Stone, a mayoral candidate, said the cut is necessary due to the city’s ongoing budget constraints.
By Sandra Emerson, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Created: 08/15/2012 04:32:21 PM PDT
UPLAND — Councilman and mayoral candidate Gino Filippi has been accused of violating the city’s ethics code ordinance. Filippi suggested and voted for the ordinance, but now questions its legality.
Sandra Emerson
Created: 08/13/2012 09:44:41 PM PDT
UPLAND – The City Council on Monday night finalized the city manager’s contract as well as selected a new city attorney.
By Sandra Emerson
Created: 08/09/2012 05:10:43 PM PDT
UPLAND — Although former Mayor John Pomierski has pleaded guilty and been sentenced for accepting a bribe from an Upland business owner, he is still entitled to lifetime medical benefits through the city.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 08/06/2012 08:57:54 AM PDT
RIVERSIDE – Former Upland Mayor John Pomierski was sentenced Monday to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a federal bribery charge.
Pomierski was sentenced during a hearing at U.S. District Court in Riverside for accepting a $5,000 payment from the property owner of Chronic Cantina restaurant in Upland in exchange for helping him obtain a conditional use permit.
Monday, August 6, 2012 – 02:25 p.m.
It’s a two year federal prison sentence for Former Upland Mayor John “J.P.” Pomierski.
The sentence related to Pomierski’s plea to accepting a $5,000 bribe was handed down by U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips in Riverside on Monday afternoon.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 08/01/2012 03:53:25 PM PDT
UPLAND – The City Council’s decision in May 2011 to fire City Manager Robb Quincey has been upheld by an arbitration judge.
Judge Sam Cianchetti found that Quincey violated the city’s ethics rules and broke his employment contract by intentionally concealing his settlement of a claim brought by an Upland police officer who investigated a July 2008 domestic incident involving Quincey and his girlfriend.
Sandra Emerson
Created: 07/23/2012 09:57:54 PM PDT
UPLAND – The Upland City Council on Monday decided to table the closed session evaluation of the city manager as well as approval of his contract.
Special Section: San Bernardino
The deterioration of San Bernardino’s public finances to the point where city officials are willing to declare bankruptcy could be the prologue to another fight over public employee benefits.
Pension costs are not the only source of San Bernardino’s financial ills. The city’s own financial analysis blames weak revenues, deficit spending and accounting errors for a $45 million deficit.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 07/19/2012 09:05:01 PM PDT
UPLAND – The Upland Unified School District Board of Trustees on Thursday approved an agreement with classified employees to reduce their salaries by 7.78 percent.
The employees, who are members of the Upland Chapter of the California School Employees Association, agreed to the reduction, saving the district $848,528 in the current fiscal year.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 07/09/2012 11:16:03 PM PDT
UPLAND – Council members have adopted the city’s 2012-13 fiscal year budget, which includes cuts in services and layoffs in the Police Department.
The City Council in June had postponed the adoption of the budget – whose fiscal year started July 1 – to allow staffers more time to negotiate with employee groups on concessions.
Staff report
Posted: 07/09/2012 10:32:47 AM PDT
Upland City Council members tonight will consider adopting the 2012-13 fiscal year budget.
The budget proposal includes cuts to services and layoffs in the Police Department in order to fill a $3.6 million gap.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/06/2012 09:12:01 PM PDT
UPLAND – The City Council on Monday will consider adopting a budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year after a failed attempt to reach agreements on concessions with employee groups.
The council in May reached out to the city’s seven employee groups for concessions in order to avoid cuts to city services and layoffs in the Police Department.
Sandra Emerson, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Created: 07/04/2012 11:11:10 PM PDT
UPLAND — The school district’s Board of Trustees has decided to eliminate home-to-school transportation for students in grades 7-12 to address needed cuts in the 2012-13 fiscal year.
The school board spent several weeks discussing possible reductions to Upland Unified’s transportation program.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 07/03/2012 09:51:27 PM PDT
UPLAND – The city’s Finance and Economic Development Committee has recommended that the City Council adopt the 2012-13 fiscal year budget, which includes layoffs in the Police Department and cuts to services.
By Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/25/2012 11:48:09 PM PDT
The Upland City Council on Monday agreed to renew City Manager Stephen Dunn’s contract for three more years.
The council met in closed session to review Dunn’s performance and to consider a renewal of his one-year contract.
Sunday, June 23, 2012 – 11:00 a.m.
News from across the transom this Sunday morning.
Arnett to challenge Shorett again
Joe Arnett is going to take another shot at unseating San Bernardino City Councilman Fred Shorett.
By Wes Woods II and Sandra Emerson
Created: 06/20/2012 06:08:08 PM PDT
UPLAND – City Manager Stephen Dunn this week pushed back against accusations that the city has asked the federal government to crack down on the G3 Holistic medical marijuana dispensary.
Attorney Roger Jon Diamond has said the city is out to get his client, G3 Holistic President Aaron Sandusky, for continuing to fight Upland over medical marijuana issues in court.
Sunday, June 10, 2012 – 07:30 p.m.
News of interest crossing the transom:
Obama blows it again!
President Barack Obama stepped on it big time last week. He said the private sector is doing just fine and that state and local governments needed to hire more employees.
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