Politics, Government & Business in California's Inland Empire
By Leslie Parrilla, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 07/07/14, 2:28 PM PDT | Updated: 37 secs ago
COLTON >> An investigation related to the city’s top manager comes at one of the worst times for Colton — budget season.
The situation has prompted a 60-day delay until the police chief, who has been tasked as interim city manager in Stephen Compton’s absence, guides departments, many without directors, into a fiscal plan to keep the city running.
San Bernardino’s deal means pensions off bankruptcy table
By Steven Greenhut1:47 p.m.July 7, 2014
SACRAMENTO — The nation’s largest pension fund, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, has racked up another victory in its effort to halt any effort by municipalities to get out from under their crushing pension obligations.
Published: July 6, 2014 Updated: 10:42 p.m.
Riverside is investigating whether someone covertly recorded former City Manager Brad Hudson’s comments nearly five years ago and then shared the tapes with others, including Councilman Paul Davis.
That brings the number of probes at Riverside City Hall to three in the past three months, putting officials in an unprecedented – and likely uncomfortable – situation.
To read story by Alicia Robinson in the Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Ben Baeder, Whittier Daily News
Posted: 07/06/14, 6:03 PM PDT | Updated: 31 mins ago
At an increasing pace, your local government is spending your tax money paying lobbyists to get some more of your own tax money sent back to your community.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 07/03/14, 12:25 PM PDT | Updated: 33 secs ago
ONTARIO >> When the latest passenger traffic figures for L.A./Ontario International Airport were released, a different trend emerged from what the medium-hub facility has experienced in the past three years.
Published: July 5, 2014 Updated: 9:55 p.m.
The latest attempt to let Riverside County supervisors fill vacancies in their ranks appears to be dead, potentially giving the governor the chance to appoint a supervisor by year’s end.
To read story by Jeff Horseman in the Press-Enterprise, click here.
Thursday, July 3, 2014 – 10:15 a.m.
Here’s some news flowing across the transom Thursday morning.
Official unemployment rate falls in June
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 288,000 jobs were added in June. The number dropped the official unemployment rate (U-3) to 6.1%
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 07/01/14, 8:19 PM PDT |
SAN BERNARDINO >> The deadline passed Tuesday for two citizen-sponsored charter amendments to make it on November’s ballot, but the proponent behind at least one of the measures says he intends to keep gathering signatures for the next election.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 07/01/14, 8:07 PM PDT |
SAN BERNARDINO >> Some City Council members are calling for a review of City Manager Allen Parker after he and the finance director were absent during the city’s final budget hearing, leaving them to pass the cuts-filled spending plan with some questions unanswered.
By Leslie Parrilla, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 07/02/14, 8:18 PM PDT |
COLTON >> New information came to light this week about an investigation related to the city manager being placed on administrative leave, with concerns mounting during a troubled City Council meeting rife with complaints from the public.
By Grace Wong, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 07/01/14, 10:32 PM PDT | Updated: 27 secs ago
ONTARIO >> After a tumultuous few City Council sessions in recent weeks, Tuesday’s meeting saw a relatively short council agenda.
The two items that generated the most discussion dealt with Councilman Paul Vincent Avila and his issues with other council members.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 – 10:00 a.m.
The San Bernardino County Grand Jury has released its final report for 2013-14.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 07/01/14, 8:26 PM PDT | Updated: 9 hrs ago
Grand Jury foreman Rosie Hinojos chalked it up to a more efficient and better managed county than in previous years.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 06/30/14, 9:17 PM PDT | Updated: 30 secs ago
SAN BERNARDINO >> The city passed its budget for the 2014-15 fiscal year Monday night, three hours before the year began.
The 5-2 vote — Councilmen John Valdivia and Benito Barrios opposing — came after warnings on one hand of disastrous effects in bankruptcy court if a full budget wasn’t passed by that deadline, and on the other of dire threats to the city from cuts contained in the budget.
By Ed Mendel
Monday, June 30, 2014
An initiative that would phase out Ventura County employee pensions is headed for a court test, challenged by a union lawsuit contending the change requires state legislation.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 06/28/14, 11:04 PM PDT | Updated: 1 min ago
SAN BERNARDINO >> The fire union continues to accuse the city of keeping $75 million “hidden in misleading or unmarked investment accounts” despite city officials’ position that the money was openly posted and legally can’t be used to prevent cuts to public services like the Fire Department.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 06/28/14, 1:45 PM PDT |
The San Bernardino County civil Grand Jury will release its annual report on Tuesday.
The report will be released at noon, following a 10 a.m. ceremony in the Board of Supervisors Chambers dismissing the 2013-2014 grand jury and appointing members for the 2014-2015 panel, said Melonee Vartanian, assistant to the Grand Jury.
IE Business Daily
June 28, 2014
Walt Disney had an irrepressible imagination that led him to dream big, create his own animation studio, and ultimately design and build the world’s preeminent theme park’s. Long after his passing, his vision continues to entertain billions of people, young and old. Even Michael Eisner’s leadership could not long stifle the Disney tradition.
Saturday, June 28, 2014 – 11:00 a.m.
Here’s an update of recent publicly-available federal lawsuit filings against San Bernardino County.
By Leslie Parrilla, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 06/27/14, 12:00 PM PDT |
COLTON >> The City Council wants answers.
Council members want an update on the status of City Manager Stephen Compton at Tuesday’s regular City Council meeting.
By Grace Wong, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 06/26/14, 10:21 PM PDT |
ONTARIO >> The City Council passed a nearly $470.25 million budget for 2014-15, an increase of $7.74 million over the current fiscal year, at a special meeting on Thursday evening.
BROOKE SELF
STAFF WRITER
Posted Jun. 26, 2014 @ 7:31 pm
Updated Jun 26, 2014 at 7:38 PM
ADELANTO — Adelanto city officials said dramatic cuts to its general fund mean its $2.61 million deficit will merely increase by $22,000 in 2014-15. However, that still might not be enough to stave off a bankruptcy filing, the city manager said Thursday.
Published: June 26, 2014 Updated: 7:18 p.m.
The recent change in Moreno Valley’s leadership has some city and county officials hoping it could mean an end to the city’s litigation against the March Joint Powers Authority.
To read story by Imran Ghori in the Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Christina Villacorte, Los Angeles Daily News
Posted: 06/26/14, 2:01 PM PDT | Updated: 18 hrs ago
Los Angeles County CEO William Fujioka, credited with helping the county emerge virtually unscathed from the Great Recession while many other local governments teetered on bankruptcy, announced Thursday he will retire at the end of November.
June 25, 2014
Eastvale City Councilman Jeff DeGrandpre abruptly resigned Wednesday night after accusing his council colleagues of engaging in “back-door deals,” causing dissension at City Hall and holding meetings that violated California’s open-meeting law.
To read story by Sandra Stokley in the Press-Enterprise, click here.
Published: June 25, 2014 Updated: June 26, 2014 10:59 a.m.
An investigation into complaints against Riverside City Councilman Mike Soubirous was unable to determine whether he violated the city charter and ethics code. The council will hold a hearing on the findings July 22.
An investigation into complaints against Riverside Councilman Mike Soubirous was inconclusive, finding that “it would be speculation” to say whether Soubirous did anything wrong.
To read story by Alicia Robinson in the Press-Enterprise, click here.
Published: June 25, 2014 Updated: June 26, 2014 10:59 a.m.
Perris City Councilman Julio Rodriguez was out of jail on Wednesday, a day after his call to 911 ended with him in handcuffs.
To read story by Sarah Burge in the Press-Enterprise, click here.
June 24, 2014 by Jeff Horseman
Riverside County supervisors voted unanimously during a special meeting Tuesday, June 24 to have Riverside City Attorney Greg Priamos lead the county’s legal team.
To read story by Jeff Horseman in the Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 06/24/14, 9:39 PM PDT |
UPLAND >> Martin Lomeli has been named the interim city manager through November 14.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 – 10:00 a.m.
Here’s some news flowing across the transom Tuesday morning, in case you missed it.
U.S. Consumer Confidence Index hits post-recession high
The Consumer Confidence Index hit 85.2 in June, according to the Conference Board.
By Ed Mendel
Monday, June 23, 2014
Bankrupt San Bernardino announced an agreement with CalPERS last week to pay off an unprecedented pension debt owed for skipping payments to the pension fund for a year — $13.5 million, plus several million more in penalties and interest.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 06/19/14, 8:30 PM PDT |
San Bernardino International Airport’s interim executive director, A.J. Wilson, may be retiring, but his departure comes amid some major new arrivals and developments at the airport.
By David Allen, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 06/19/14, 5:04 PM PDT | Updated: 1 min ago
You think the situation is tense in Iraq? Try an Ontario City Council meeting.
Like a bomb that might go off if mishandled, Tuesday’s meeting proceeded in relative calm but with quiet anxiety. In the final moments, Councilman Paul Vincent Avila, whose behavior has dominated recent meetings, asked a provoking question.
Thursday, June 19, 2014 – 11:00 a.m.
Here’s some news flowing across the transom Thursday morning, in case you missed it!
High Desert cities approve budgets
Two High Desert cities have approved balanced budgets, for their 2014-15 fiscal years.
By Dale Kasler
dkasler@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Jun. 18, 2014 – 8:55 pm
CalPERS and bankrupt San Bernardino have reached an “interim agreement” that could head off a major legal battle over bankruptcy debts and the ironclad status of public pensions, the city reported.
June 18, 2014
Riverside City Attorney Greg Priamos, a leader in the fight against medical marijuana dispensaries in California, has been offered the job as Riverside County’s new chief counsel.
To read story by Dayna Straehley in the Press-Enterprise, click here.
Published: June 17, 2014 Updated: June 18, 2014 8:35 a.m.
Riverside County may be forced to lay off dozens of workers from its regional hospital and information technology department, the county’s budget chief said this week.
To read story by Jeff Horseman in the Press-Enterprise, click here.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014 – 10:00 a.m.
Here’s some new flowing across the transom Tuesday morning, in case you missed it!
Inland Cities budget woes ease
Several Inland Empire cities are facing a less dicier budget picture in their upcoming fiscal years.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 06/15/14, 9:12 PM PDT |
UPLAND >> Residents will have to pay more in utility bills starting next month, with increases expected to continue over the next several years.
Sunday, June 15, 2014 – 09:30 a.m.
Could bankrupt San Bernardino use the shuttered Maruko Hotel for the homeless?
It’s an interesting question that proves a point.
Saturday, June 14, 2014 – 07:00 p.m.
The financial picture for San Bernardino County is becoming rosier by the day.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 06/12/14, 6:59 PM PDT | Updated: 13 secs ago
SAN BERNARDINO >> A Superior Court judge on Thursday granted a restraining order against Service Employees International Union Local 721 on behalf of the San Bernardino County Public Employees Association.
Thursday, June 12, 2014 – 04:30 a.m.
The never ending saga, surrounding the redevelopment of the former Norton Air Force Base, continued Thursday, with the announcement that the executive director of the San Bernardino International Airport, is leaving June 30.
By Doug Saunders, The Sun
Posted: 06/09/14, 3:14 PM PDT | Updated: 1 min ago
COLTON >> City Manager Stephen J. Compton has been placed on paid administrative leave pending review of “certain personnel actions,” according to a city news release.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 06/09/14, 8:02 PM PDT | Updated: 1 min ago
UPLAND >> Despite meeting for the third time, the City Council has failed to come to a decision on hiring an interim city manager.
By Sandra Emerson, Redlands Daily Facts
Posted: 06/09/14, 6:19 PM PDT |
HIGHLAND>> The City Council is considering placing an initiative on the November ballot that would split up the town into council districts, in reaction to legal threats made by activists.
Monday, June 9, 2014 – 08:30 a.m.
It’s round twenty for San Bernardino International Airport (SBD).
While nearby Ontario International Airport struggles to regain passenger traffic count, officials at SBD are hoping that a new makeover will help the aging and dormant facility re-market itself.
Published: June 8, 2014 Updated: 11:09 p.m.
Beaumont’s efforts to build roads on its own, ignoring a regional program its City Council agreed to embrace, appear to have backfired.
And the bill for independence is tens of millions of dollars, a judge has ruled.
To read story by Craig Shultz in the Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Ed Mendel
Monday, June 9, 2014
Stockton filed a revised debt-cutting plan last week that could lead to a deal with a holdout creditor, Franklin bonds, possibly enabling the city to emerge from bankruptcy without cutting pensions.
By SAMANTHA GALLEGOS
Posted 06.08.2014
State lawmakers and voters agree on one thing: transparency in government.
Local government, that is. State government remains exempt.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 06/06/14, 11:22 PM PDT | Updated: 47 secs ago
UPLAND >> City leaders are hoping the third time’s the charm in its search to replace – on an interim basis – retiring City Manager Stephen Dunn. A third special closed session meeting will be held Monday afternoon to discuss the possible hiring of an interim city manager.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 06/05/14, 1:55 PM PDT |
RIVERSIDE >> Citing the lack of progress in the last four months, a judge has given Ontario and Los Angeles more time to gather evidence in their dispute over control of L.A./Ontario International Airport.
Published: June 2, 2014 Updated: June 3, 2014 8:51 a.m.
The effort to recall three members of the Hemet City Council is dead.
To read story by Craig Shultz in the Press-Enterprise, click here.
May 31, 2014 7:09 PM
SHEA JOHNSON, STAFF WRITER
ADELANTO • City Manager Jim Hart said this week Adelanto would allow a new private correctional facility on its turf in a potential deal being marketed right now to Los Angeles County by a familiar and controversial figure.
By Ed Mendel
Monday, June 2, 2014
A decade ago new accounting rules directed state and local governments to begin calculating and reporting debt owed for health care promised retirees, which for state workers turned out to be more than the debt owed for pensions.
By Greg Yee, Press-Telegram
Posted: 05/29/14, 10:54 AM PDT | Updated: 6 hrs ago
California’s police departments do not have a blanket right to conceal the names of officers involved in shootings, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a decision expected to have statewide implications.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 05/28/14, 10:49 PM PDT |
SAN BERNARDINO >> Two departments, $84 million in proposed spending and about $7 million in proposed cuts down, a long way to go.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 05/27/14, 9:42 PM PDT |
UPLAND >> City Manager Stephen Dunn announced at Tuesday night’s council meeting that he will retire effective June 30, in the midst of financial turmoil and after a testy relationship with some members on the City Council.
Attorneys must answer or ask to dismiss by June 5
May 27, 2014 5:46 PM
SHEA JOHNSON, STAFF WRITER
VICTORVILLE • The Securities and Exchange Commission recently amended its complaint alleging fraud in a 2008 municipal bond offering against the city, Assistant City Manager Keith Metzler and others. The SEC had to do so to comply with a federal judge’s order to show proof of earlier dismissed claims that the city and Metzler were also benefactors of ill-gotten gains.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 05/26/14, 10:23 PM PDT |
GRAND TERRACE >> An almost total loss of institutional memory and severe financial constraints allow city leaders very little margin for error as they follow a course toward hoped-for economic development, but they expect a strategic plan for the next six years to help keep them on track.
By IE Business Daily
May 24, 2014
Leadership requires many virtues. The first and foremost of those is competence, or at least the public perception of it.
By Leslie Parrilla, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 05/23/14, 7:47 PM PDT |
SAN BERNARDINO >> Unprecedented cuts during unparalleled times are hovering over leaders in this bankrupt city, possibly forcing them to close all three branch libraries, shut down two fire stations and wipe out half of one department’s employees in an effort to balance a $124 million budget and shore up a $22.8 million deficit.
May 23, 2014 5:12 PM
STAFF REPORTS
SACRAMENTO — The California State Board of Equalization has announced that local governments will collect $1.075 billion in tax revenue in the upcoming fiscal year.
Thursday, May 22, 2014 – 09:30 a.m.
Comedy is starting to make a comeback on the Fifth Floor of the San Bernardino County Government Center, located at 385 N. Arrowhead Avenue, in lovely downtown San Bernardino.
By Leslie Parrilla, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 05/21/14, 5:09 PM PDT |
RIALTO >> For the first time in about five years the city will be able to balance its budget without pulling from reserves.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 05/19/14, 10:30 PM PDT |
SAN BERNARDINO >> Recommended changes to the city’s governing document — including the lightning rod issue of how to set police and firefighter pay — were moved toward the ballot by a unanimous City Council vote on Monday.
That’s not the end of the road, though.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 05/18/14, 8:17 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO >> Charter amendments recommended by a council-appointed charter committee will be reviewed by the City Council on Monday to possibly add to November’s ballot.
The meeting begins at 4 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 300 N D St.
May 18, 2014 12:05 PM
BROOKE SELF, STAFF WRITER
ADELANTO • The Adelanto City Council voted 4-1 this week to approve a contract with municipal consultants Urban Futures, Inc., in what one official called a “proactive” step to avoiding a bankruptcy filing.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 05/17/14, 10:10 PM PDT |
CalPERS has again agreed to push back its appeal of San Bernardino’s bankruptcy eligibility and cancel an August hearing in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, saying in a joint filing with the city that the delay is “critical to the success of the ongoing mediation.”
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 05/15/14, 8:15 PM PDT |
SAN BERNARDINO >> Signature-gathering began Thursday to put two proposed amendments to the City Charter on November’s election ballot, an effort that will take place alongside discussions of separate — in one case contradictory — recommendations of proposed charter amendments from a citizens review committee.
May 15, 2014 3:56 PM
STAFF REPORTS
APPLE VALLEY • The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada has granted the Town of Apple Valley a Certificate of Achievement for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.
By Dale Kasler
dkasler@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, May. 14, 2014 – 10:50 pm
When the bankrupt city of Stockton unveiled its plan to reorganize its debts last fall, it spread the financial pain among a host of bondholders. CalPERS was spared, and a potentially bloody fight over the sanctity of pension benefits was avoided.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 05/13/14, 11:53 PM PDT |
SAN BERNARDINO >> The city charter review committee’s recommendation to replace the section setting public safety salaries with a collective bargaining process became unanimous at the committee’s final meeting before the City Council will vote on which changes to put on the ballot.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 05/13/14, 4:23 PM PDT | Updated: 41 secs ago
County CEO Greg Devereaux on Tuesday presented a $4.4 billion recommended budget for the next fiscal year to the Board of Supervisors, with 37.9 percent of spending proposed for Human Services, 19.2 percent to Law and Justice and 11.5 percent for Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
May 13, 2014
California’s formula to distribute money to help pay for public safety realignment lacks incentives and transparency, according to a new report by the Legislature’s nonpartisan fiscal analyst.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 05/12/14, 11:20 PM PDT |
UPLAND >> A resident has raised the question if Mayor Ray Musser violated the Brown Act when he got council consensus to cancel a town hall meeting scheduled for last week.
By Ed Mendel
Monday, May 12, 2014
An Assembly committee last week approved a bill aligning the state law covering 20 county retirement systems with federal tax law, disappointing some who want to bar the use of “excess” investment earnings for retiree health care and other purposes.
By Doug Saunders, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 05/10/14, 4:10 PM PDT |
UPLAND >> A meeting put on by resident Eric Gavin to seek answers to the city’s problems instead disintegrated into name-calling Saturday at the Senior Center.
May 9, 2014
It’s clear a civil grand jury struck a nerve in Riverside County government with a report critical of how county supervisors run a program intended to help worthy causes.
County Executive Officer Jay Orr used part of the Board of Supervisors’ May 6 meeting to critique the process leading to the report about Community Improvement Designation funds, which are allocated equally to each supervisor and typically spent on nonprofits and community events.
To read story by Jeff Horseman in The Press Enterprise, click here.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 05/09/14, 7:23 PM PDT |
UPLAND >> Mayor Ray Musser defended his decision to cancel a town hall meeting this week, saying all elected city officials needed to attend.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 05/08/14, 7:41 PM PDT |
RIVERSIDE >> Continued assurances from San Bernardino and CalPERS that mediation is going well, without further details, are threatening to wear out the patience of the city’s fire union, police union and perhaps the bankruptcy judge handling the case, it was reported in court Thursday.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 05/06/14, 11:28 PM PDT |
SAN BERNARDINO >> The citizen charter review committee voted 7-2 Tuesday night to recommend that the City Council ask voters to repeal Section 186 and instead set salaries for police and firefighters by collective bargaining.
By Leslie Parrilla, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 05/06/14, 5:59 PM PDT |
RIALTO >> As the closure of the Rialto airport nears reality next month, plans for the major residential and industrial project to replace it are being retooled, possibly to build fewer homes and more retail, while making way for large corporations in search of big lots to build campus-like settings.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 05/05/14, 4:37 PM PDT |
SAN BERNARDINO >> A heated online argument between Mayor Carey Davis’ chief of staff and a former elected official raised questions in the mind of some about the appropriateness of the staffer’s behavior, while others said it was a reasonable response to a political opponent’s intentional provocation.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 05/05/14, 8:41 PM PDT |
SAN BERNARDINO >> A proposal to increase resident engagement by starting City Council meetings at 6:30 — after the end of a 9-5 job, as all other local cities do — was defeated on a split vote Monday night.