“Peyton Drive, Another Route Might Be A Better Route!”

Staff Reports

Chino Hills – H & H Contractors, Inc., of Highland, started stating equipment and supplies on Mon., Mar. 2, to begin work on the $4.9 million project to construct the final phase of the Peyton Drive widening project between Chino Hills Parkway and Eucalyptus Avenue; and improvements to English Channel and Carbon Canyon Channel south of Eucalyptus Avenue.

The dirt lot on the southwest corner of Eucalyptus Avenue and Peyton Drive, used for overflow parking at Chino Hills Community Park, will be closed for the duration of the project. The contractor will begin construction of a bypass road through the dirt lot, to be used only when Peyton Drive must be closed. Construction of the curb, gutter, and new roadway in front of Chino Valley Community Church, on the east side of Peyton Drive, will also start early in the project.

English Channel improvements on both sides of Peyton Drive, and construction of the Carbon Canyon Channel box culvert, will also be underway soon.

The contractor is required to maintain one lane of traffic in each direction at all times, unless otherwise approved by the City Engineer. In an effort to reduce the impact on morning school traffic, the contractor has been directed to make every effort to avoid encroaching into the travel lanes from 7 to 9 a.m., and after 3:30 p.m., unless absolutely necessary, and approved in advance.

Normal working hours for the project are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. No work will be done on weekends or holidays. Schedules and plans are subject to change due to emergencies, weather, and other factors. There may be periods of flagman-controlled traffic throughout the project. Motorists are encouraged to use another route, if possible, and expect delays.

Pedestrians, including children walking to school, will always have access to a walkway in the area. All pedestrians will be required to cross the streets at crosswalks.

Peyton Drive from Chino Hills Parkway to Eucalyptus Avenue will be widened to four lanes, including curbs, gutters, sidewalks, medians, streetlights and landscaping.  Overall, the project will be underway for approximately 12 to 15 months, and will affect travel on both Peyton Drive and Eucalyptus Avenue.

Signs have been posted along the route with the slogan, “Peyton Drive, Another Route Might Be a Better Route!” As the project proceeds, motorists should consider the benefits of using another route if their destination is not on the Peyton Drive corridor. Chino Hills Parkway or Grand Avenue provide an east/west alternative to Eucalyptus Avenue.

Several tools provide motorists with information about the project. The City website, http://www.chinohills.org/PeytonConstruction, includes a project description and a link to two webcams that provide a live view of the project area 24/7 so motorists can check traffic conditions. One view is of northbound Peyton Drive from Morningfield Drive, and the second camera view is a southbound view of the Peyton Drive/Eucalyptus Avenue intersection.

A new app, OxBlue Camera Viewer, is available and allows users to view the webcams from a smart phone, iPad, or tablet device. Links to the app and directions for use are available on the City website.

The City’s E-Notify system will provide text or email alerts when new information is posted on the City website. To subscribe, visit http://www.chinohills.org/ENotify and select “Peyton Corridor Traffic Impacts.”  City TV3/41 channel 3 for Time Warner Cable Television Subscribers and channel 41 for Verizon subscribers will also include general information.

As the project proceeds, sports enthusiasts who visit Chino Hills Community Park are advised to travel from Chino Hills Parkway to Eucalyptus Avenue as their route to avoid the Eucalyptus/Peyton intersection.

Funding for the Peyton corridor project will be provided through a combination of sources including local funds; a grant from the Federal Highway Administration; San Bernardino Associated Governments funding through Measure I, the half-cent sale tax approved by voters to fund transportation projects; San Bernardino County Flood Control District; Traffic Facilities Fee; Storm Drain Facilities Fee; and the Gas Tax. For additional information, please call (909) 364-2775.

Staff Reports

Photo Courtesy: SBSD
Aaron Misael Viteri Vera, arrested for kidnapping.

Chino Hills – On Wed., Mar. 4, Chino Hills Detectives arrested a Riverside man for kidnapping after he used social media to lure a victim to Chino Hills by falsely representing himself as an employer for Amazon, and then held the victim against her will.

Aaron Misael Viteri Vera met the 19-year old victim on a phone application designed to connect people for social, personal or professional relationships. The victim had posted her profile as “Seeking Employment.”  Viteri Vera – who used the screen name, “Jay Delgado” – communicated with the victim for weeks via social media and text messages regarding employment at the Amazon warehouse. In the texts, he told the victim his name was “Jay” or “James.” The communications were professional and revolved around possible employment.

On Feb. 26, Viteri Vera and the victim met at a Subway to eat lunch and discuss her possible employment with Amazon. Viteri Vera waited for the victim in his car and told her he did not want Subway. He offered to drive the victim to Wendy’s instead. The victim got in the car and Viteri Vera got on the freeway. He took the victim’s phone and refused to return it to her.

The victim realized they were not traveling toward Wendy’s and became alarmed. There was a brief struggle inside the car and the suspect started to slow down. The victim, fearing for her life, opened the door to jump out of the car. The suspect grabbed her by the waist of her pants and tried to keep her in the car. Viteri Vera slowed the car and tried to keep her inside. As he continued to slow down, the victim jumped from the car and ran. The victim reported the incident to law enforcement and Deputies began the investigation.

Detectives and deputies from the Multiple Enforcement Team at the Chino Hills station served a search warrant at Viteri Vera’s house in Riverside on the morning of Mar. 4.  Viteri Vera was contacted and taken into custody without further incident. He was booked into the West Valley Detention Center for the above charges.

Viteri Vera had documents with the names of other women and had several profiles on various social media sites. Detectives fear there may be other victims of Viteri Vera’s scheme and urge anyone with information to contact the Chino Hills Police Department at (909) 364-2000.

By Claire Lewis

(Photo Courtesy: ipaws.com)
A microchip reader shows this pup is protected.

Chino Hills – Last November, the Chino Hills City Council adopted a resolution making a commitment to eliminate the euthanasia of adoptable dogs, with a goal of becoming a “No Kill” community by Jan. 1, 2016.  Their “Getting 2 Zero” program is at the helm of their commitment, helping to focus on the prevention of animal abandonment and avoiding euthanasia.

In order for the program to be successful, the community will need to be educated, adoption centers will have to become more prevalent, and the provision of low-cost veterinary clinics – including the installation of microchips (now a requirement, along with licensing, for dogs over four months of age) – will need to be made available.  In addition, the sales restriction of dogs and cats at Chino Hills pet stores and the Municipal Code legislation banning the sale of unhealthy puppy mill and cat factory animals also helps to encourage adoption.

The Inland Valley Humane Society has recently adopted a strategy to eliminate euthanasia in healthy and adoptable animals, and a multitude of local cities have been contacted with the request to adopt the policy.  Kudos go to Chino Hills for being way ahead of the game by already introducing this compassionate and common sense approach to the community.

In fact, Chino Hills has launched a dog microchip rebate program as an important component of their “Getting 2 Zero” plan.  Microchips – an easily injectable GPS-like tracker – helps reunite pets that become lost with their owners.  Now a requirement of dog ownership, Chino Hills will provide a rebate of up to $30 for dogs that are properly licensed through the Inland Valley Humane Society, and registered to a Chino Hills Address.

According to the City of Chino Hills website, the dog’s microchip must be registered with the microchip company, and the expenses incurred after Oct. 28, 2014.  This rebate program is funded through the City’s General Fund as part of Animal Control Services.  Residents can bring their dog license paperwork, the microchip receipt and proof of registration to Chino Hills City Hall (14000 City Center Drive).  The rebate check will be delivered in approximately 15 days after approval.

If you are considering becoming a pet owner, or getting a companion for a pet already part of your family, take a look at your local shelter.  There are dogs and cats of every age and breed, just waiting and hoping to become part of a loving home environment.  The City of Chino Hills and the Inland Valley Humane Society have implemented programs to make adoption a viable and positive choice.

Ask your city if they are part of the “Getting 2 Zero” program.  For more information, please contact the City of Chino Hills at (909) 364-2714.

Staff Reports

Chino Hills – Residents who are interested in serving on the City of Chino Hills Healthy Steering Cities Committee (Healthy Cities) are invited to complete an application for consideration. The Council voted recently to accept applications so that each member may appoint one resident to serve on Healthy Cities.

Each council member will recommend an individual for appointment, which must be affirmed by the Council. The term of the appointment matches the term of the appointing council member.

Healthy Cities was formed in 1994 and revamped in 2014. The Committee was established to assist in assessing community needs, defining health priorities, and developing programs to enhance the quality of life within the community. Meetings are held quarterly, on Mondays at 6 p.m., to evaluate and recommend programs that meet the Committee’s goals through the use of a variety of service providers.

Programs operating under the Healthy Cities umbrella are as varied as enrichment programs for all ages, fitness and hiking programs, opportunities for youth involvement, health and wellness seminars, and more. A complete list is noted on the application.

The Healthy Cities Committee will be comprised of 25 people including City Commissioners; students at the high school and college level; and representatives from Chino Valley Unified School District, Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce, Chino Hills Police Department, County of San Bernardino, Chino Valley YMCA, Chino Valley Fire District, five residents appointed by the Committee, and five residents appointed by the City Council.

Completed applications must be returned to the City Clerk’s Office on the second floor of City Hall, 14000 City Center Drive, by 4 p.m. on Fri., Mar. 6.  Council members will review applications and schedule interviews. Selections are expected to be announced at the March 24 or April 14 City Council meeting.

The next Healthy Cities Committee meeting is on Mon., May 11, at 6 p.m.

Applications are available online at http://www.chinohills.org/HealthyCitiesApplication and at Chino Hills City Hall, 14000 City Center Drive, Chino Hills 91709, on the second floor in the City Clerk’s lobby.

Completed applications can also be mailed to the address above.  To request a faxed application, please call (909) 364-2620 or send an e-mail to www.cityclerk@chinohills.org.

For additional information, please call the City Clerk’s Office at (909) 364-2620.

Chino Hills Deputies Stop to Assist a Stranded Motorist and Discover He’s Wanted for Kidnapping

Staff Reports

Chino Hills – On Feb., 5 at approximately 3:35 a.m., a Chino Hills deputy stopped to assist a stranded motorist on the northbound off ramp of Highway 71 at Grand Avenue, on the border of Chino Hills and the city of Chino.

While assisting the driver safely out of the roadway, the deputy noticed the subject had a bracelet on his ankle commonly associated with probation or parole out-of-custody monitoring. Upon further investigation, the subject, identified as Josue Rivera, was found to have warrants for traffic violations and a Kidnapping/False Imprisonment case.

During a search of his vehicle, a forged Resident Alien card bearing Rivera’s photo and another individual’s name was located in his wallet. Deputies believe Rivera used the forged identification card for employment and has used it during court proceedings to assume a false identity.

Rivera explained the GPS tracking bracelet was placed on his ankle by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents when he was unable to post bail on another criminal case.

Rivera was booked at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on the warrants, as well as Forgery.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact the Chino Hills Police/Sheriff’s Station at (909) 364-2000.