Tag Archives: Eastvale City Council

New Eastvale Mayor and Council

Staff Reports

Courtesy: City of Eastvale

Eastvale – The City of Eastvale has a new Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, new Councilmembers, and a new City Manager.

At the Dec. 14 City Council meeting, new members of the Eastvale City Council were sworn in, a new Mayor and a new Mayor Pro Tem was appointed. Last month, a new City Manager was also selected.

The December meeting began with accepting the declaration of the Nov. 8th General and Special Municipal Elections. Then a presentation was given for outgoing Mayor Clint Lorimore and outgoing Councilmember Brandon Plott.

An Oath of Office took place for Todd Rigby, Councilmember for District 1, Clint Lorimore, Councilmember for District 3, Jocelyn Yow, and Councilmember for District 4, Mike McMinn, Councilmember for District 5.

The Council appointed Todd Rigby as the new Eastvale Mayor and Christian Dinco as the new Mayor Pro Tem with a unanimous vote for both. The Mayor and the Mayor Pro Tem will preside until the last City Council meeting of 2023.

At the Nov. 16 Eastvale City Council meeting, the Council also appointed Mark Orme as the new Eastvale City Manager. They approved the proposed Employment Agreement for the Position of City Manager as well. The motion passed with a 4-0 vote. Councilmember Yow was not present at the meeting, but former Mayor Clint Lorimore said that prior to this meeting, the decision to hire Orme was unanimous.

“The City conducted a rigorous and extensive recruitment process for the selection of a new City Manager,” stated the Eastvale Agenda Staff Report. The report explained that they conducted two rounds of interviews with applicants before selecting Mr. Orme. Contract negotiations were also conducted, according to the report.

During the meeting, Councilmember Dinco stated that he thinks Orme is “going to lead the City in a really positive way to Eastvale’s next chapter. With so much development happening in the future and so many great opportunities coming for the City, I’m really excited to potentially approve this employment agreement with Mark Orme tonight.”

Orme was previously the City Manager for the City of Chico for approximately 8 years. Prior to that, he served as the Assistant City Manager in Chico. For more information about Orme, visit page 2 of our Eastvale News December 2022 publication.

Eastvale Election On Nov. 8

Staff Reports

Eastvale – The community is encouraged to vote on Nov. 8 for our next elected Eastvale City Councilmembers. Each of the five Councilmembers are directly elected by the registered voters of their district, according to the City. There are four open Council seats for Districts 1, 3, 4, and 5. District 2 will be open to vote in 2024.

The positions of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem are not directly elected. The elected City Council will select the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem and those positions typically serve a calendar year.

The current qualified City Council candidates include the following:

District 1: Todd Rigby

District 3: Clint Lorimore

District 4: Raul Gutierrez, Anuradha Saini, and Jocelyn Yow

District 5: Michael McMinn, Michelle Sheen, and Richard Duran

To determine which district you can vote for, enter your address at https://www.eastvaleca.gov/government/city-clerk-s-office/elections

You can also vote early in person at any of the 11-day or 4-day Vote Centers in Riverside County.

The following in-person vote center will take place from Oct. 29 – Nov. 7 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and on Election Day, Nov. 8 from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.:

– Harada Neighborhood Center Activity Room C – 13099 65th Street, 91752

The following in-person vote centers will take place from Nov. 5 – Nov. 7 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and on Election Day, Nov. 8 from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.:

– City of Eastvale City Hall Council Chamber – 12363 Limonite Ave, Suite 910, 91752

– Eleanor Roosevelt High School Library – 7447 Scholar Way, 91751

– Rosa Parks Elementary School Multi-Purpose Room – 13830 Whispering Hills Drive, 91752

The following mail drop off centers will be available from Oct. 11 – Nov. 7, Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and on Election Day, Nov. 8 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

– Eastvale Community Center – 13820 Schleisman Road, 91752

The following mail drop off centers will be available from Oct. 11 – Nov. 7 during regular City business hours and on Election Day, Nov. 8 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

– City of Eastvale City Hall Council Chamber – 12363 Limonite Ave, Suite 910, 91752

To find out more about the other Vote Centers located in Riverside County, visit www.voteinfo.net. For questions about voting at City Hall or the Community Center, reach out to cityclerk@eastvaleca.gov.

New Downtown Approved By Council

Staff Reports

Eastvale – At the May 11 City Council meeting, the Eastvale City Council voted 5-0 to approve a revised plan for the new Downtown Eastvale. This is expected to be developed between Hamner Avenue, Limonite Avenue, Scholar Way, and 58th Street.

Peter Carlson, the project developer’s consultant, said that construction could start as soon as 2023 and grading can begin within the next few months. However, this project could take years to build.

The new revised plan will span over 154 acres of land. Fifty-two acres off Limonite and Hamner Avenue will include commercial development of 595,000 square feet. It will also include 660 apartments, a civic center with a New City Hall, a state-of-the-art police station, and a brand-new library. In addition, 87 acres off Scholar Way and 58th Street will host 1,840 homes, including single-family homes, townhomes, and apartments. Fourteen acres will contain parks and open space. Then a new fire station will take place on one acre of land off Scholar and 58th Street.

The developer of the Leal Property, The New Home Company, said they are “committed to the growth and prosperity of the City of Eastvale by bringing together a magical destination for residents and guests,” stated the City of Eastvale in a news release. “The future downtown will also serve as an economic catalyst for the community by welcoming new businesses and employment opportunities for Eastvale.”

The Downtown Eastvale Community desires to “build a place that THRIVES in the Inland Empire while maintaining our historic charm,” stated the Downtown Eastvale website. The community’s planning area will be “centered around the City’s town center and will help re-define the location as a regional destination of significance and interest,” according to the city’s website.

To view pictures of the plans or to find out more information, visit http://www.downtowneastvale.com.

Eastvale Appoints Acting City Manager

Staff Reports
Eastvale – On January 12, the Eastvale City Council unanimously appointed Henry Garcia as the new Acting City Manager while existing City Manager Bryan Jones’ is still on paid administrative leave.
The City’s news release stated that Garcia has 30 years of experience in public administration, and he was appointed to ensure fluid city operations during Jones’ absence. The City did not say why Jones was taking a leave of absence because they stated that information is confidential. However, the news release said that City Clerk/Communications Director Marc Donohue and Community Development Director Gina Gibson-Williams have been jointly serving as Acting City Managers since Dec. 14.
Garcia has three decades worth of experience in professional public services work, including roles as city manager in Azusa, Colton, Rialto, and Moreno Valley. He has also helped Eastvale facilitate and draft the City Council’s strategic plan in 2018 and 2021, according to the City’s release.
“Mr. Garcia has the experience, familiarity and knowledge to step seamlessly into this role and continue the momentum, stability, and continuity the city has seen the last couple of years regarding business growth and service expansion,” said Mayor Lorimore.
When Garcia’s appointment was announced on the City’s social media, community members expressed their concerns regarding Garcia’s previous position as Moreno Valley City Manager. Garcia was employed while the City of Moreno Valley was facing a corruption investigation in 2013. Garcia resigned at the May 13, 2013 City Council meeting after the probe began.
At the Eastvale City Council meeting on January 12, City Council Member Brandon Plott addressed these concerns by saying Garcia had nothing to do with the corruption and that the District Attorney (DA) cleared Garcia of being involved. He explained that the investigation was surrounding a Moreno Valley City Council Member accepting bribes. Plott reassurred the community that they looked into everything surrounding this investigation, researched the articles, and talked it over with one another.
He expressed his support of appointing Garcia by saying, “I have seen nothing but the best here when working with Henry, and I expect nothing but the best.” However, he felt it was needed to bring up those concerns posted on social media. “I just wanted to comment on that and clear the air,” Plott said at the meeting.
Council Member Jocelyn Yow added to this topic by saying, “I’ll be honest with everyone, I had my reservations,” referring to appointing Garcia. But she explained she reviewed each article surrounding the investigation and spoke to Moreno Valley Council Members. She concluded that Garcia’s involvement was unfounded and he was the right choice for Acting City Manager. Yow explained that they need an Acting City Manager right now and Garcia has experience in the City and with City Staff, so he was the best choice at this time for this position. She admitted she would not have chosen him for a permanent position, but sees him in this temporary position for a few months at most.
Council Member Christian Dinco discussed the topic of a permanent position earlier in the meeting as he said Garcia being a CalPERS annuitant would benefit the City. Dinco explained that Garcia already has the city manager experience to fill their current need, but will not be interested in a permanent position in the future.
Eastvale Mayor Lorimore showed his support of Garcia’s appointment in the City’s new release. “With Mr. Garcia’s depth of experience helping cities run smoothly, Eastvale will benefit from his knowledge in consensus building, strategic planning and goal setting to help further our strategic goals as we head into 2022,” said Lorimore.
Garcia also expressed his excitement to be appointed as the new Acting City Manager. “The City has many goals to work on in 2022, and I’m honored to help guide City staff toward achieving the objectives set forth in the strategic plan,” said Garcia. “By maintaining fiscal strength, protecting public safety, bolstering the city’s infrastructure, and supporting local businesses, we will collaboratively expand opportunity in the City of Eastvale.”

Community Shares Concerns About Future Eastvale Apartments

Staff Reports

Photo Courtesy: Facebook; Several community members carried “No Apt” Signs and voiced their opinions at the July 28 City Council Meeting.

Eastvale – Several Eastvale community members gathered at the July 28 City Council meeting to voice their concerns about the proposed apartments to be built on Sumner and Schleisman Road. The meeting was packed with residents holding “No Density APT” signs, with crowds of people both inside and outside the building. It was reported that there were over 50 speakers addressing their concerns and providing suggestions to the council, and the housing portion of the meeting lasted over 4 hours long.

The conversation among the community started when Stratham Homes proposed to build 216 High-Density apartments and townhomes at the corner of Sumner and Schleisman Road. The structures are proposed to be 2 and 3 stories tall and include a 5,000 sq. ft. complex on the property.

The main concerns of the community are the increased traffic the apartments will bring. The residents suspect the traffic will increase collisions and pose a risk to children walking or riding bikes to school, which is only a half mile away. They are also concerned about the road diets that they expect will go along with the apartments.

Residents are hopeful that the Council listened to their concerns and will come up with another solution that meets the needs of the Housing Element Plan and the community. 

The City has discussed their Housing Element Plan in news releases and videos. They recently uploaded a video discussing how every City in the state of California is required to update their housing element plan every eight years. “This is a state mandate and by law, requires our city to comply,” stated the City in a Facebook post. However, they encourage the community to provide their input view the RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Allocation) Challenge.

The challenge is an online simulation tool where community members have an opportunity to be a “resident planner” and create a “balanced housing plan by adjusting future housing units to meet State requirements.”

The City stated that the ideas created in this simulation are a “key piece of community input that will guide the development of our Housing Element planning document update to be in compliance with state regulations.” Once residents are completed with their housing plan, you can submit it directly to the City and the City team will use the results to inform the Housing Element update.

You can access the simulation tool through the month of August by visiting: https://eastvaleca.abalancingact.com/TaketheRHNAChallenge The City also provided a list of frequently answered questions about the Housing Element that can be found here: https://engage.eastvaleca.gov/housing-element.

Update since published: The City hosted an Eastvale Housing Open Forum on August 26th from 6 to 8 pm at New Day Church. City staff took questions on the 3,028 housing units the residents are concerned about. More information to come.

Councilmember Tessari Resigns

Staff Reports

Photo Courtesy: City of Eastvale.

Eastvale – It was announced on Aug. 12 that Councilmember Joe Tessari will resign from the Eastvale City Council. “Joe and his wife Lanee are off to start a new adventure in the State of Texas,” stated the City.

Joe has made a huge impact on the city as a member of the City Council, Planning Commission, and he was a proponent of Eastvale’s incorporation from the beginning. He served throughout the City, first one of the City’s first Planning Commissioners until August 2014. He was then “appointed to the Eastvale City Council in August 2014, re-elected in November 2016, and continued to serve until today,” stated the release. “He also served as Mayor in the City of Eastvale in 2017.”

As a volunteer, he served as a Board member and Club President for the Eastvale Kiwanis Club for over 7 years. Tessari helped champion the Roadway Adoption Program, along with several other charitable events in our City.

“We wanted to take a moment to thank Joe for all that he has done for our community,” stated the City. “Best of luck to Joe and Lanee on their move to Texas. We’ll miss you!”

Eastvale State Of The City Was A Success

Photo courtesy: City of Eastvale
The Eastvale City Council Members enjoying the State of the City Business Luncheon on July 17.

Staff Reports

Eastvale – Many attended the 8th Annual State of the City hosted by the Eastvale Chamber of Commerce. The theme of this year’s State of the City was Thriving Together.

“There is a saying that you can go faster by yourself, but you can go further together,” stated a City post. “That’s really where thriving together comes into place. Your voice matters and you’re essential to ensuring that Eastvale continues thriving together for generations to come!”

The two-day celebration began on July 17 with a Business Luncheon held at 11:30 a.m. at the Eastvale Community Center.  On Thursday, July 18, residents gathered at 6 p.m. at Eleanor Roosevelt High School for the community event. Mayor Todd Rigby shared the State of the City Address, which included the state of Eastvale, city accomplishments, and goals for the future. The free event also included the city’s popular “Taste of Eastvale”.

“As a long time Eastvale resident, I am proud to serve as Eastvale’s Mayor,” said Mayor Rigby. “I have had the opportunity to watch Eastvale continue to progress and thrive throughout this year and the exciting part is, this is just the beginning and we’re just getting started!” said Rigby.

“In Eastvale, we have an opportunity to create great places for people to connect, prosper, and truly thrive,” said Bryan Jones, City Manager.  “We want to work with the residents of Eastvale to really truly understand what is our potential and what really matters to them when it comes to creating a sense of community and an experience and a feeling that they can truly feel proud to call home,” added Jones. 

Last year, the City of Eastvale assembled the Strategic Planning and Goal setting workshop, which included city management, city staff, and public input.  After the workshop, the following six targets were identified as the key pillars for the future: 1) Communication/Community Engagement 2) Public safety 3) Economic Development 4) Organizational Development 5) Finance/Budget and 6) Infrastructure.

Over the last year, the following great things happened in the City:

  • For the 8th year in a row, the City has presented a balanced operating and capital budget
  • The City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report was awarded the prestigious Certificate of Achievement for financial reporting
  • City Staff has made such an impact in the community that many departments have grown
  • A new user friendly City website was launched
  • Public outreach and public workshops have taken place in an effort to include residents in city decisions
  • City Hall has expanded its services, such as now providing Notary and Passport Services
  • A Community Satisfactions Study was launched for the first time this year

The City is also building healthy reserves by setting aside at least six months or 50% of annual regular general fund operating expenditures.  These strong reserves are combined with two land investment acquisitions assets including 7 acres at Hamner Place and 22 acres at Scholar Way and Citrus Street. “We’re investing in our city so it can thrive for decades to come,” as stated in the State of the City video.

In addition, the City also announced the establishments that have recently opened, which include:

  • The Station in Eastvale
  • Café Rio
  • MOD Pizza
  • Starbucks
  • In-N-Out
  • Dick’s Sporting Goods
  • W Cafe
  • Miguel’s Jr.
  • El Pollo Loco
  • Les Schwab Tires
  • Pita Street
  • Creamistry

At the State of the City, several projects and updates were also announced:

  • Two trails will be built through the community in an effort to connect the city schools and parks. This will be funded by the $8 million grant the City was awarded from the State. The City plans to work closely with residents over the next year to design these trails. 
  • Limonite Avenue and I-15 Interchange, which is expected to open this November
  • Hamner Avenue Bridge Widening Project, expected to begin construction after the Limonite Interchange is complete.  This will be a six-lane bridge and a multi-purpose trail to replace of the two-lane bridge currently over the Santa Ana River.
  • Limonite Avenue extension, located west of Archibald, across the Cucamonga Creek.  This extension will connect Eastvale to the City of Chino. A design was recently started for this extension.
  • The Merge, expected to include business park buildings and a retail center
  • Hamner Place, expected to have retail and Eastvale’s first hotel
  • More retails stores will open at The Station

The following restaurants and establishments are expected to open as well:

  • Chik-Fil-A
  • Tony’s Chop House
  • Heroes Restaurant and Brewery
  • Sprouts Farmer’s Market
  • Which Wich
  • Quick Quack Car Wash
  • Big Wok Mongolian Grill
  • Eastvale Medical Plaza 
  • Staybridge Suites by IHG, including a rooftop bar and vegetarian options

 “Community is very important in our city,” said Council Member Jocelyn Yow. “It’s really important that we build that community in City of Eastvale,” added Yow.

In an effort to connect the community, the following events and programs will take place in the City:

  • The Tailgate Fest, a country music festival, expected to take place in August
  • An Arts and Public Places Program will be initiated, including a very special mural that will involve our community

Public safety is also a top priority in Eastvale.  The Sheriff’s Department and Fire Department are doing a great job keeping the community safe, which is why the City was ranked the 12th safest city in the state.  Below are the additions and accomplishments made to the City’s Public Safety:

  • A motorcycle deputy was added
  • An automated license plate reader program was implemented
  • ALPR cameras were installed on patrol vehicles and various entry/exit points throughout the city
  • The Neighborhood Watch Program covers every area in the City; we are one of the first cities in the country that has accomplished this.

However, the City is still looking into how to enhance the City’s safety through collaborative endeavors and advanced technology.  Here is what is expected to be added to increase community safety in the next year:

  • A medic squad, which is a smaller truck that can help respond to critical incidents
  • 10 patrol hours were approved to be added, which equates to two more deputies to be on patrol 

Other items that are expected to be launched or pursued in the future are:

  • Business Registration process will be made available online within the next year
  • A local library will be pursued
  • Additional entertainment options will be pursued

In addition, over the next year, the City will launch the Eastvale 2040 plan to help identify where the City should be in 30 years, how to get there, and what the City needs to put in place today so that the city can truly thrive.  This plan will involve a lot of community engagement. “We look forward to your feedback, ideas, and vision as we identify what this plan will foster for years to come!”

Mayor Rigby added a final note about how important the community’s feedback is.  “No matter how young or hold old you are, we believe you have a voice in our community and we want to make sure our community knows that you have a voice,” said Rigby. 

WE are Eastvale, thriving together!

Eastvale Appoints New Mayor

Photo Courtesy: City of Eastvale

By City of Eastvale

Todd Rigby has lived in Eastvale for almost a decade as a California native.  He is a strong believer in giving back to his community. Professionally, he works in residential real estate as a broker and owner.  Rigby and his wife Charlene are the parents of three children.  Rigby enjoys volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America, his church, and local sports organizations.  

Todd received his Associate’s Degree from Santa Ana College in Liberal Arts, and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Brigham Young University in Facilities Management with a Business Minor. He then went on to receive a Master’s Degree from Azusa Pacific University in Human Resource Organizational Development.  

“I am excited for this new role and look forward to continuing to serve the residents of our community,” said Mayor Todd Rigby.  “Thank you to my fellow Council Members for your vote of confidence. We have a great team in place on the Council and within our City staff. I look forward to a great year of accomplishing our strategic goals, and with our team effort, I have no doubt we will continue to make Eastvale a great place to live, conduct business, and visit.”

Eastvale City Election Results

By Michael Armijo

Eastvale – The results are in and the three seats up for election are filled. For City Council there were 3 districts up for election: District 1, 3, and 4. In District 1 the current council representative is Todd Rigby. He was unchallenged by the deadline last month so he will retain his seat. So Todd Rigby will continue to represent District 1.  In District 3, Howard Feng, and Chris Hook could not beat incumbent Councilman Clint Lorimore. So Clint Lorimore will continue to represent District 3. In the final District, 4, Bart Moreno lost to Jocelyn Yow. Yow will represent District 4.

For the Corona-Norco Unified School District, only one seat affected the City of Eastvale. There was one candidate trying to upseat incumbent Bill Newberry, and she was successful. The challenger and new board member is Elizabeth “Lisa” Marroquin.

Bill Newberry received 45.9% of the votes with 3,342 votes, and winner Marroquin has 54.04% of the votes with 3,930 votes.

In District 3 winner Clint Lorimore recieved 54.15% at 717 votes, Howard Feng was at 32.40% with 429 votes, and Chris Hook has 13.44% with 178 votes.

District 4 showed winner Jocelyn Yow at 69.16% of the vote with 1139 votes, and Bart Moreno yielded 30.84% at 508 votes.

These counts are as of Nov 9 from the Riverside County Registrar’s office and do not include any provisional votes, which were not enough to change the outcome. For more information please sign onto: www.voteinfo.net.

A little history on the decision to divide the City of Eastvale into districts: The City Council previously took action at the April 27, 2016 City Council meeting to initiate the process of converting to by-district voting beginning with the November, 2016 election. The Council approved Resolution No. 16- 09 initiating the by-district process. So instead of their traditional “at large” option of voting, this resulted in a few positive changes to the city:

1. The city will have representation by all parts of the city. So as the city was cut up into 5 areas, there can only be a candidate who lives in those district areas that are up for election.

2. The marketing costs will be more affordable. So if a “rich” candidate, or someone who has the ability to raise more money than the others, dominated past elections they can no longer do so. It levels out the political playing field financially.

What has also changed is the election cycle. State law now requires all elections to be held in November, with the exception of Primary elections, which are historically held in June. This has been a great cost saver to cities who ran their elections outside of the county election cycles. Now cities who paid for elections in odd months can now streamline their costs.


For additional voter registration information visit www.voteinfo.net or contact Eastvale City Hall at http://www.eastvaleca.gov/.

Eastvale City Council Recap

By Tiana Goegebuer

Eastvale – The February 22nd City Council Meeting was attended by Council Members Rigby, Rush, and Plott, as well as Mayor Pro Tem Lorimore and Mayor Tessari. The invocation was led by Pastor Ed Moreno from New Day Christian Church, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Pro Tem Lorimore. After a moment of silence to honor the fallen Police Officer from the City of Whittier, the Council moved into a Closed Session.

In the Presentations/Announcements portion of the meeting, Mayor Tessari invited Captain Rossi from Fire Station 31 to accept the Safely Surrender Baby Month proclamation. The Council then moved Item 10 on the Agenda, the City Manager’s Report, to this portion of the meeting.

Next, the meeting progressed to the Public Comments section, a resident stated his concerns about birthing homes in Eastvale, to which the Council responded by saying that since the issue is currently part of an ongoing investigation, not much information could be given without harming the pursuit.

The Consent Calendar was discussed next, and all Items were passed 5-0.

In the City Council Business section, Item 9.1 involved Richard Wall being sworn in to the Public Safety Commission. Item 9.2, an Investment Portfolio Update was approved 5-0. Item 9.3, Solar Powered Receptacles Project Overview and Approval of Memorandum of Understanding Senior Administrative Analyst Rodriguez was continued to a later meeting. Item 9.4, Pavement Management System Update was approved 5-0. Item 9.5, Draft Truck Route Study Update was approved 5-0. For Item 9.6 , the Appointment of Ad-Hoc Committee, the Council voted 5-0 to appoint an ad-hoc committee comprised of two planning and two public safety commissioners with alternates, plus two community members selected by City Staff.

The meeting adjourned with closing statements by the Council and City Staff. ■

Eastvale City Council Election Results

Staff Reports

Eastvale – The first casualty of “district voting” claimed its first victim last month as Brandon Plott from District 5 edged out Mayor Ike Bootsma to represent that particular area.

Other than the pressing Federal and State elections on the ballot this Tuesday, the City of Eastvale had three council seats up for election, where eight residents vied for seats of the newly formed Districts 1, 2, and 5.

District 1 saw Todd Rigby earning a spot while District 2 showed Joe Tessari kept his seat beating out his competitor.

District 1 encompasses the north east side of Eastvale, from Cloverdale through the Ontario border. Todd Rigby beat Mario Marroquin for District 1 City Council Seat, lasting a partial term of two years,

Contrary to district 1, City Council Seats of Districts 2 and 5 will last a full term of four years, 2017-2021.

District 2 encompasses the mid to north side of Eastvale, zigzagging from Schleisman, Scholar Way, through Citrus, Harrison, and Chandler, ending by River Road at the Corona border. Joseph Tessari will serve an additional term for District 2 City Council Seat.

The final district up for election, District 5, covers the west side of Walnut from Archibald Ave to the Chino border.

Ike Bootsma, who is retired, was a current councilman and Mayor of Eastvale, lost to Brandon Plott.

After growing concerns about the at-large voting process, Eastvale City Council approved Resolution No. 16-09 in April earlier this year, initiating the by-district voting process carried out for the first time in Eastvale on Tuesday. A by-district election system requires City Council candidates to reside in the District they are vying to represent and can only be voted on by residents of that specified district.

Many California cities have converted from at-large voting systems to by-district in order to ensure representation of minority populations within cities. The California Voting Rights Act prohibits an at-large voting system that is capable of influencing the outcome of an election, or reduces the possibility of a class to elect their choice of candidate.  In 2004, the city of Modesto’s voting system was challenged under the Act, resulting in the initiation of a by-district voting system and a cascade of other charges against cities throughout California, mostly coming from Southern California.

Switching to a by-district meant carving district lines throughout the City of Eastvale. Both four and five district maps were proposed to city council, which chose a five district representation. In June 2016, the City Council chose the final 5 district map out of three options proposed. More details about the conversion from an at-large election system to a by-district can be found at http://www.eastvaleca.gov.

Ten New Military Banners Installed

By City of Eastvale

On Wednesday, November 2nd the City of Eastvale installed ten (10) new military banners along Archibald Avenue between 65th Street and Grapewin Street.

“The Military Banners are a reminder of the men and women who are serving on active duty in the United States Armed Forces.  It is an honor to see each one and know they are representing Eastvale, California,” said Mayor Ike Bootsma.

The Eastvale City Council allocated funding for the fiscal year 2016/2017 to continue the Military Banner Program. The program is also funded by donations from local businesses, residents and Eastvale non-profit organizations. 100% of donations are allocated to the installation and maintenance of the program.  Any contribution amount is greatly appreciated.

“We truly appreciate the continued support for our Military Banner Program by our residents, local businesses and Eastvale non-profit organizations. Shortly after the City’s re-administration, we received a generous donation from Waste Management which was much appreciated,” said Bootsma.

Ten new military banners were installed to honor the following military personnel:

U.S. Air Force
Ronald M. Cabal

U.S. Army
Nicholas Casanova
Robert Espinoza
Maria Nufable

U.S. Navy
Jeffery S. Davis
Colin Liddicote
Sean Pierre Rangel

U.S. Marine Corps
Adrian Canales
Christian Cervantez
John C. Jimenez

The City of Eastvale will be accepting new applications for the Military Banner Program starting in January of 2017. If you are interested in donating to Eastvale’s Military Banner Program, contributions can be sent to:

City of Eastvale
Military Banner Program
12363 Limonite Avenue, Suite 910
Eastvale, CA 91752-3667

To learn more about Eastvale’s Military Banner Program, please visit www.bitly.com/eastvalemilitarybanner for program details.

City Council Meeting

By Tiana Goegebuer

The September 14th 2016 City Council Meeting was attended by Council members Clint Lorimore, Adam Rush, and Richard Simmons, as well as Mayor Pro Tem Joseph Tessari and Mayor Ike Bootsma. The invocation was led by Pastor Rob Norris from The Crossings Church.

Cub Scout Pack 803 lead the Pledge of Allegiance before presenting awards to Ike Bootsma, Richard Welch, and Jane Anderson for their work and dedication to the City. Student Liaison Natalie Diaz updated the Council on the local school’s upcoming events before the meeting progressed to the next Item on the agenda.

During the Public Comment section, multiple residents came forward to express their concerns about “birthing hotels,” where foreign mothers allegedly give birth with the purpose of having a child born as a U.S. Citizen. The residents claimed that there are approximately 12 apartments and 16 houses in Eastvale being used as a birthing hotels. They cited concerns about the safety, health, and even the effect on the housing market that these “businesses” will have on the community in the present as well as the future. In response to the statements made by the residents, the Council asked that the City Staff provide some form of report on the investigations and actions that are currently taking place to try and combat the problem and present the information at a future City Council Meeting.

After the Public Comment’s, the meeting moved to the Consent Calendar, and Item 6.1 was continued so that Staff could make amendments to previous minutes.

The Council then proceeded to 8.1, which authorized the Eastvale Chamber of Commerce to host the 2017 State of the City Address. It was approved 5-0.

8.2 authorized City Staff to spend the amount of $10,000.00 to administer the Military Banner Program. It was passed 5-0.

Item 8.3, the Chandler/Selby Project Award was passed 5-0.

8.4 was passed 5-0 in favor of awarding a contract to Econsolutions for Economic Development Consulting Services and authorized the City Manager to execute the necessary documents.

The City Manager, Staff, and Council Members presented reports before the meeting closed at 8:23 p.m.

 

 

Eastvale’s August Town Hall Meeting Recap

The August 2nd, 2016 Town Hall meeting was held at Rosa Parks Elementary school. The purpose of the meeting is to update the community on the latest news from various departments and organizations, as well as give residents an opportunity to ask questions of the aforementioned groups.

Mayor Ike Bootsma opened the meeting by discussing past events, upcoming events, and upcoming projects taking place in the city. He stated that the construction on the 200 acre Goodman Commerce Center “…is one of the largest mixed-use developments in Southern California.” Amazon and the Volkswagen Group of America have both announced that they will be building a new Fulfillment Center and a training facility, respectively. The project is expected to employ over 4,000 people.

The Mayor then reflected on the recent Waste Clean Up event that took place at Eleanor Roosevelt High School. The event allowed residents to dispose of things such as electronics, mattresses, etc. with a total of 24.31 tons of waste being taken. Bootsma attributes a large amount of the success to the ERHS student football volunteers who braved the heat for hours, stating: “I really cannot give enough credit to our teenagers who do so much for our city.” The next Waste Clean Up event will take place on November 5th at Dr. Augustine Ramirez Intermediate.

Mayor Bootsma then moved to discussing the new Map for the district elections that was approved by the City Council. The change took place immediately “in preparation for the November 8th, 2016 general municipal and special elections.” He then stated that the City Council nomination period is open and will conclude on Friday, August 12th 2016. The period is only open to registered voters in District’s 1, 2, and 5.

Bootsma closed by mentioning the upcoming events in the community, such as JCSD’s Concerts in the Park, National Night Out, a Moonlight Cinema event, and answered some questions posed by residents. For more information on the upcoming events, see the City of Eastvale’s website.

Next, the Lieutenant Scott Forbes gave an update on behalf of the Eastvale Police Department. He started by thanking the volunteers that put in many hours to help keep the city safe. Next, he discussed the slight uptick of crime seen in the recent weeks, which is not unusual in the summer months, the department’s average response time, and the issue of mail theft in the city.

Rafael Gonzalez gave an update on JCSD and the Parks Department, stating that the Eastvale Community Park is now in phase 2 of development. Another representative from JCSD mentioned current and upcoming events, such as the Concert’s in the Park, the Moonlight Cinema on August 13th, youth sports sign-ups, as well as a 5K and 10K on October 1st. Alison Loukeh, a Conservation Coordinator from JCSD, said that the biggest water usage problem in Eastvale stems from water run offs in the streets. She stated that a landscape class will be offered on September 17th, and that you can RSVP for it online.

Next, CNUSD Communications Director Evita Tapia Gonzalez stated that the school district is currently preparing to welcome back students for the 2016-2017 school year. She stated that the new STEM program is expected to fully open in either 2018 or 2019, and that a new elementary school is also coming to Eastvale in the next few years.

James Huffman and M. Visak from Animal Control presented information on the types of issues they have been taking care of, such as dogs returned to owners, citations issued, and animal cruelty investigations. Visak warned that the new developments surrounding Eastvale have pushed some wild coyotes into our neighborhoods, so extra caution should be taken to “keep your pets safe.” He mentioned that the Riverside County Department of Animal Services offers low cost vaccinations and licensing for pets.

Lastly, Eastvale City Manager Michele Nissen mentioned that the city is currently in the process of obtaining 2 grants that would help to fund school safety, as well as a Cops grant for law enforcement services

Eastvale Holds Elections Nov 8

Staff Reports

Eastvale, CA – As many have claimed they aren’t going to vote in this November election due to the choice of candidates, the City of Eastvale will need you to go out and vote anyway, as three seats are up on the City Council.

The City Council previously took action at the April 27, 2016 City Council meeting to initiate the process of converting to by-district voting for the November, 2016 election. The Council approved Resolution No. 16- 09 initiating the by-district process, and District 2 and 5 are for the full term of four-years and a Councilmember from District 1 for a partial term of two-years.

Districts 1, 2, and 5 are up for election and there are eight residents who are vying for those seats. In District 1, which encompasses the north east side of Eastvale, from Cloverdale through the Ontario border, you have newcomers Mario Marroquin and Todd Rigby vying for a council seat. District 2, which covers the complete opposite of 1, encompassing the mid to north side of Eastvale, zigzagging from Schleisman, Scholar Way, through Citrus, Harrison, Chandler, ending by River Road at the Corona border, you have emcumbant Joseph Tessari against newcomer Bashar Madani. And finally in District 5, current Mayor Ike Bootsma is defending his seat against Raul Gutierrez, Robert Hetrick, and Brandon Wilson Plott. District 5 covers the west side of Walnut from Archibald Ave to the Chino border.

The City Clerk is the local elections administrator and coordinates with the County of Riverside in the conduct of Municipal elections. This includes, but is not limited to, the preparation of necessary resolutions calling for General and Special Municipal Elections and declaring the result of the election, the coordination of the candidate nomination process and the receipt and processing of initiative, referendum and recall petitions. Regular elections are consolidated with statewide elections, scheduled on the first Tuesday of November of even numbered years to fill expired City Council terms. All election services are provided according the California Elections Code, according to the city of Eastvale’s website.

City Council members are elected at-large for a four year term. Council Members serve “staggered” terms, meaning that either 2 or 3 seats are open for election every two years. Council Members receive $400 per month stipend as compensation for their service.

Qualifications for Candidacy. To qualify as a candidate for member of the City Council, you must reside and be registered to vote within the jurisdiction at the time nomination papers are issued. More specifically, you must be:

  • Be registered voters at their current residence in the City of Eastvale
  • Residing in the district in which they are running
  • A citizen of the United States
  • 18 years of age or older
  • Not disqualified from holding office by the Constitution or laws of the State of California.

To become a candidate, you must first be issued a Nomination Paper which specifies the office you are seeking. You must obtain the signatures of at least 20 and not more than 30 registered voters within the City of Eastvale. A number of additional forms are required to be filed.
The nomination period ran from July 18, 2016 through early August 12, 2016. Write-in candidates must file a statement of write-in candidacy, a nomination paper and a Statement of Economic Interests, as well as other forms, during the period of early September 2014 through late October 2014. Signatures and voter registration information on the nomination paper will be verified in the same manner as a regular nomination paper. Write-in candidates’ names donot appear on the ballot or in the sample ballot pamphlet.

Voter registration forms are available at all public libraries, post offices and City Hall. To receive a registration form by mail, please call the Riverside County Registrar of Voters office at (951) 486-7200 or the City Clerk’s office at (951) 703-4420. Completed registration forms can be hand-delivered to the Registrar’s office located at 2724 Gateway Drive, Riverside, CA 92507 or Eastvale City Hall located at 12363 Limonite Avenue, Eastvale, CA 91752 or dropped off in any U.S. mailbox. No postage is necessary. For additional voter registration information visit www.voteinfo.net. (most information courtesy of the City of Eastvale)

 

 

Eastvale City Council Recap

July 13 City Council Meeting

By Emily Aguilar

The first city council meeting was held on July 13, which began with a legislative update from the League of California Cities representative, Erin Sasse. In her report, Sasse spoke about a series of bills being reviewed at the moment, such as AB 1575 which deals with regulating medical marijuana, AB 2291 which requires local governments to adopt ordinances as second units and prevents governments from repealing second unit, and SB 1387 which would add 3 additional statewide position to South Coast Air Quality Management District. After her presentation, Tyler Master gave a presentation on the WRCOG streetlight program. The program is aimed to assist WRCOG cities to adopt and afford streetlights in their jurisdictions. The presentation emphasized information on the project as well as the goals the project seeks to achieve.

Afterward, the city recognized city volunteers Chanel Chavez, Gilmar Tenes, and Adrianna Godfery. An additional person, Jose Raymundo, was awarded with a certificate of recognition, but he was not present. Anwar Kahn then delivered a Public Safety Commission Update in which he spoke about the Commission’s initial plan to develop a residential parking program, which did not go through during the Commission meeting. July 26 will be the next Commission meeting.

Before moving on, Officer Jason Horton took a moment to address the Black Lives Matter that occurred on June 9th. He reflected on the efforts the Eastvale Police Department took to ensure that an upheaval did not take place. Throughout the day, the police department tried to maintain peace, and thankfully, the protestors were ready to follow police orders for most of the event. He continued to compliment the protesters for being compliant and holding an overall peaceful protest, in spite of the initial altercation that occurred when some protesters broke away from the crowd and blocked the streets. Police followed efforts to make sure the protestors complied. The police department received numerous compliments from citizens inside and outside Eastvale for their organized, helpful efforts to maintain the protest civilized.

Afterwards, Natalie Diaz provided a Student Liaison report. It was announced that various CNUSD elementary schools had begun their school year this month. July 7th was the beginning of a new school year for Ronald Reagan Elementary School, and on the same day, they held a Parent Information night for the parents. Also occurring on July 7th was a Successful Parent Night event for Harada Elementary. Another information night took place at Eastvale Elementary. The ERHS Associate Student Body (ASB) club is currently at a leadership camp at UC Santa Barbara. July 28th will be registration day for ERHS.

All items were approved on the consent calendar.

The council then went on to discuss a proposal to install a 50-foot Verizon cell tower on 8306 Grapewin. The location where the tower would be built was chosen because the area was known for having poor reception, and if the towers were to be built, then Verizon customers would receive improved coverage.

City staff recommended the council to disapprove the tower because the Planning Commission discovered the zoning measurements did not meet the requirements that are set in the Eastvale Zoning Code. It was also discovered that the zoning area proposed would not help with reception.

Amidst discussion, Bootsma opened the floor for public comments. Out of the 18 individuals who arrived, 12 were not in favor of the tower. While residents such as Hicko Itokazu believed that the tower was necessary in order to increase coverage in the case of emergencies, other residents believed the tower would not increase coverage, take up space, some believed the tower would better “service Norco and Riverbend,” and others did not think the tower would be pleasant to look at.

Kevin Sullivan, a project representative, tried to defend the zoning and coverage criticisms. Council member Simmons commented that “enough was not done” in order to find a good site for the tower. Before rejecting the project, Council member Rush decided to give Verizon a second opportunity to review the zoning area and re-evaluate the project’s blueprints. The council motioned this plan, and a second  hearing will be held on August 24th. Read the article on page 1 for more information about the Verizon Tower.

Following the long discussion, the council quickly moved through the Business Items. The council motioned to approve law enforcement services between the city and the county, they approved to select Aegis ITS, Inc. as the provider for annual traffic signal maintenance, then they approved G.M. Sager Construction Company, Inc as service providers for asphalt and concrete maintenance, and they also approved MCE Corporation as the service provider for on-call miscellaneous services. One item the council did not motion was Council member Lorimore’s proposal to move the city manager report to an earlier slot in the meeting. Lorimore stated that the city manager report should be moved in order to allow audience members to hear the announcements that are usually given toward the end of the meeting. However, the rest of the council decided not to change the order of the council meeting.

Before concluding, Michele Nissen briefly spoke about the Public Works department and the efforts they have put into forming ideas that help the city effectively save money. She also mentioned that another Black Lives Matter protest was scheduled to be held on Saturday July 14th on Archibald and Schleisman. Lastly, Mayor Bootsma discussed a recent luncheon at Ontario Airport, where he had an opportunity to meet their new CEO.

Council member Lorimore adjourned the meeting in memory of the officers who died in the Dallas shootings.

 

July 27 City Council Meeting

By Tiana Goegebuer

The July 27 city council meeting was attended by Councilmembers Clint Lorimore, Adam Rush, and Richard (Dickie) Simmons, as well as Mayor Pro Tem Joseph Tessari and Mayor Ike Bootsma. The invocation was led by Pastor Tim Eaton from Edgewater Lutheran.

A recap of the Waste Clean Up event that recently took place at Eleanor Roosevelt High School was presented to the Council. The first of its kind in Eastvale, the event enlisted the help of some ERHS football student volunteers, and was considered to be a success. A student representative from ERHS accepted an award from the Council later in the meeting on behalf of the volunteers that participated in the event. The next Waste Clean Up event is scheduled for November 5 at Dr. Augustine Ramirez Intermediate School.

Christine Jamoralin was introduced to the Council as Eastvale’s new Fellow from the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG), and will remain with the city until the end of March. Other announcements included the selection of a golf event date by the Eastvale Community Foundation, as well as an update on the banner program.

In the Public Comment section of the meeting, a representative from the Public Safety Commission issued statements and raised some questions about possibly instituting parking permits in Eastvale.

6.1-6.5: The Council moved to approve the Consent Calendar. All items were approved 5-0.

8.1: The Community Development Block Grant was approved 5-0, authorizing the City Manager to execute the supplemental agreement for the 2016-17 community development block grant program year.

The City Manager’s report included information on the following: a proposal for economic development services, a Finances award received by the city of Eastvale, an increase in the median sales price for housing, and more. Various Committee’s then gave their reports, which included an update on road construction progress, an update on the new fire station, a Police Department update, etc.

The City Manager then thanked and said farewell to City Clerk Marc Donohue for his services to the city of Eastvale, which was later echoed by the Councilmembers.

The meeting closed with statements from the Councilmembers, and Mayor Bootsma extended an invitation to all to attend the following upcoming events: JCSD 60th Anniversary celebration, the Town Hall meeting, and the National Night Out. The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

 

 

 

City Council Recap

By Emily Aguilar

Eastvale – At the June 8 City Council meeting, Eastvale’s City Councilmembers dealt with a plethora of urgent matters, the conclusion of the voting district topic being the forefront of discussion.

Samantha Waterman led the evening by presenting an update on the Cadiz Water Project. The Cadiz Water Project’s goal is to conserve water in Southern California and prevent mass evaporation. Eastvale is currently home to an underwater reservoir that is at threat for evaporation. In order to protect that water, the Cadiz Water Project has been pumping water from a 34,000 acre underground reservoir and storing it throughout Southern California. Bootsma expressed discontent with the project, stating that he believes that the plan benefits the company as opposed to the state as a whole. Waterman defended her position stating that the project would help with sustaining water during the drought, to which Bootsma passively agreed.

Afterward, newly appointed Student Liaison Natalie Diaz reported the Eastvale Elementary production of the Jungle Book at the ERHS Theater on June 14-15. Eastvale Elementary also held an awards assembly throughout the week of June 20, and their final day was June 24. Their school year was scheduled to continue on July 5. RHIS is also looking for business partners to help sponsor their academic and scholarship programs.

The first public comment was given by Hari Dhiman from the Eastvale Chamber of Commerce, who spoke about the success on National Prayer Day. Some upcoming events include an election for a new board member. Angelo Navarez, who is also part of the Eastvale Chamber of Commerce, announced that Vince Ferragamo was selected to be the guest speaker at the annual Installation Dinner & Awards Banquet on July 19. Lastly, Eastvale resident John Kopp recommended that the staff read The King of California, a book that covers the history of California’s water wars.

All items were approved on the consent calendar.

Finally, the council moved to the third installment of the voting boundary maps. Although there were two maps displayed in a PowerPoint presentation presented by Doug Johnson, it should be noted that there were actually three maps the council was able to choose from: Draft A, Draft B, and Draft C. Draft C is available only to the council.  In spite of the map they choose, citizens will nevertheless have to elect council members through their perspective districts, and they will have to vote for council members they wish to have represent said individual district.

In his presentation, Johnson assured that the maps were not only evenly divided by population, but that they upheld the California Voting Rights Act criteria. The only visible differences in the maps were that some districts appear smaller than others, or extend throughout different streets. Nevertheless, they are the same in terms of population. Another request during the presentation was to also adopt an urgency ordinance to officially change the voting system from an “at-large” voting system to a “by-district” election; this would be handled after the councilmen voted on a map.

After the presentation, John Kopp, a resident who had spoken during the public comment, expressed his desire to have the council choose map 5A. Nevertheless, the council decided in favor of Map C, much to Rush’s discontent. Rush was adamantly hesitant to motion Map C because it was not made public. In spite of Rush’s disapproval of the motion, the council adopted Map C as the official map in a 3-5 motion; Lorimore being the other council member to disagree. They also motioned to approve the ordinance.

Map C is currently available on the City of Eastvale website under the City Hall/City Council tab.

Afterward, the staff requested the council to increase Waste Management fees. Waste Management is allowed to increase their fees based on the costs of waste and recycling disposals and Consumer Price Index. Starting on July 1, the fees were set to increase by 2.33%, meaning that households would experience a $0.60 increase. The city also requested the council to shift the CPI method to the Water Sewer Trash Index. The council approved both requests. Additionally, the council approved a request to increase fees for hauling and picking up waste and recycled material.

The council also adopted a resolution to support the Active Transportation Program Cycle 3 Grant Application, which would provide money to install bike and walking routes for the Safe Route to School project. The city motioned to provide the project with $1,500,000.  The city also reviewed the grants the city had received and the budget fiscal plans for the upcoming year.

Before concluding the meeting, Nissen stated that she would be attending a meeting regarding choosing a site for the civic center; Bootsma congratulated Press-Enterprise journalist Sandra Stokley on her upcoming retirement; and Tessari congratulated Councilmember Lorimore on his election to the Republican Central Committee.

At the June 22 meeting, the Community Foundation announced they had elected a new board member who is specialized in human resources and office management. They also announced the wine and beer tasting that would take place at the Picnic in the Park; in addition to the adult entertainment band that would be present.

The council then took a moment to distribute two certificates of recognition, the first one going to Sandra Stokley, who was a journalist who had covered Eastvale events for the Press-Enterprise. She had recently retired, and the city wanted to show her their gratitude for her work. The city also recognized George Alvarez, who was retiring his position as the Manager of Public Works in the city.

Student Liaison Natalie Diaz shared some announcements about Eastvale schools. She informed the audience that Eastvale Elementary and Ronald Reagan Elementary ended their school year on June 21, while Harada was scheduled to end on June 24. School resumed for all three schools on July 5. Harada Elementary also held a few successful events, such as the father and son baseball game in Rancho Cucamonga and a mother and daughter screening of Finding Dory at Edward’s Cinema.

Chad Blaze was the only speaker for the Public Comment portion of the meeting. Blaze, a resident of Norco, thanked Eastvale for helping Norco modify issues near Hamner and Silver Lakes.

Before motioning the items on the consent calendar, Rush pulled item 6.9 and discussed it. The item was a recommendation to implement adjustments to animal control fees, and Rush wanted clarification on how the fiscal impact would offset the costs of contracting with the County for animal services. Nissen addressed Rush’s concerns stating that the city had decided to keep the fees as adopted by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors in order to control the fees of cost recovery. The council then motioned the items on the agenda.

The council approved a resolution to adopt a proposed diagram for selected districts in Eastvale. The council then approved another request to adopt an annual operations and capital improvements for the upcoming fiscal year. In order to prepare for the 2016 League of California Cities conference set to occur on October 5 – 6, the council selected councilmember Lorimore to be the representative delegate while councilmember Tessari would be the alternative representative.

Once they were able to dive through a few easy topics, the councilmen were presented with the proposal to have pole-mounted observation cameras implemented throughout the city. The purpose of these cameras is to regulate illegal activity occurring on streets where crime is prominent, such as Bellgrave, where illegal street racing has been prominent recently. The footage on these cameras would be accessed by the public if they request it from the city, then a password would be provided for that individual if there was a valid reason for viewing the footage. Councilmember Lorimore was hesitant about the cameras, claiming that he feels that surveillance would be violating privacy, especially since these cameras may be placed near private property. In order to address his concerns, Lorimore was assured that cameras’ outcomes would be reviewed on an annual basis in order to ensure that the city was not abusing the city’s privacy. Ultimately, it was requested that the council approve motion to purchase three pole-mounted cameras with the company Security Lines US, who have been in service for 13 years throughout the West Coast, and they also asked the council to amend the fiscal year budget to amount $27,000 that was allocated from the gas fund. The council approved it by a 4-1 vote, Lorimore being the only one to oppose it.

After a long discussion, the council returned to the other topics on the agenda. The council approved a 2-year contract extension and a 10% rate increase with Michael Baker International in order to work with their contract planning services. They also extended another 2-year contract and a 7.5% rating increase with the Interwest Consulting Group to provide engineering, building and safety services, and public works. Lastly, the council approved a renewal contract with HdL Coeren and Cone for Property Tax Services.

Before concluding, Nissen reflected on her experience with Sandra Stokley, stating that she will miss working with her. She met with Patrick O’neil, who will be taking Stokley’s place, and she stated that she looks forward to making him part of the community. The city staff briefly spoke about the upcoming Picnic in the Park, stating that Silver Lakes will charge $8.00 for parking while ERHS would have free admission, and they also spoke about plans to regulate traffic and crime on those three nights. It was also announced that Eastvale would hold the League of California Riverside meeting for the first time on July 11.

Eastvale City Council Recap

By Emily Aguilar

Eastvale – On the May 11 City Council meeting, the main discussion focused on districting. Residents stated that the city’s at-large voting system violated the California Voting Rights Act and was thus unfair — so much so that a lawsuit was threatened against the City. The council ultimately opted to adopt a by-district voting system. This means that residents will vote by district as opposed to voting at-large. In the next few weeks, the council will expect to partake in intense discussions about organizing these new districts.

While the council looks forward to these discussions, they were first presented with some calming topics. A few hours prior to the meeting, the council elected Richard Simmons as the new council member who will temporarily fill in Bill Link’s vacancy. This decision made the meeting begin late, but the council immediately went into discussion.

Lea Patterson from the Southern California Gas Company shared a PowerPoint presentation outlining the city’s pipeline project. Construction will be taking place in June on Citrus and Harrison. Following the presentation, Mayor Bootsma took a moment to make two proclamations: the first was presented to Dr. Aimee French from the American Lung Association in California Inland Counties in order to recognize the week of May 11th as Women’s Lung Health Week; the second proclamation recognized May as Mental Health Awareness Month.

The council then opened the floor to the Public Commentary portion of the meeting, and was met with four concerned Eastvale residents who were displeased with their neighborhoods. The first to express his anger was Andres Carrillo, who explained that an individual was living in an unoccupied location in his neighborhood. Another resident having issues with her neighborhood was Cindy Quach, who is allegedly being verbally harassed by one of her neighbors. Another resident named Isabel Hernandez testified in defense of Quach’s statements, and further asked the council to look into the case Quach had presented. The council assured that they would find a way to help Quach. While not necessarily a problem in her neighborhood, Amiro Alvara expressed opposition against the new districting method the council had to adopt, but unfortunately, the council explained that they could not do anything to change the decision.

All items on the consent calendar were motioned. Before the council could get to the heart of the meeting, they decided to first discuss item 8.2, which dealt with changing the city’s investment policy plan. The changes would include increasing the city’s allocations, align investments with California Government Code 53601, and add a 5% issuer limit for any non-government issuers. After making a motion to accept the new policy plan, the council finally moved to the main discussion of the night: the districting plan.

This discussion was set to be split into two, the first hearing being on that night and the second half was set to take place for the next meeting. Doug Johnson presented a PowerPoint that showed two sets of maps. The first one showed four different proposed maps that outline how each district would potentially look while another set showed five different maps. The second set would call for a single mayor at-large for all five districts. Johnson explained why each set met the necessary criteria for districting. After looking at the proposed maps, and hearing opposition and support from residents, the council discussed amongst them once more and decided to motion for five districts with one mayor at-large.

Going back to item 8.1, the council motioned to approve a Storm Drain tract on Archibald and Schleisman. The rest of the meeting consisted of talking about Richard Simmons as the new, but temporary, council member.

The second City Council meeting took place on May 25. At the beginning of the meeting, the council briefly re-introduced Richard Simmons, who would temporarily be replacing Bill Link until November. The council then plunged straight into the first order of business: the Public Safety Commission and Community Foundation update. To recap the Public Safety meeting that takes place every other Tuesday, it was stated that the meeting focused on setting up e-watches around neighborhoods as well as setting up a parking permit block, which they will discuss in their meeting at a later date.

The Community Foundation also stated that they are hard at work with setting up military banners. The Foundation has been receiving so many applications for military banners that they asked Bootsma for permission to set the banners up on Schleisman. Bootsma stated that he would like to have that proposal as a topic at a future meeting. They also announced that they are looking for new members to join the Community Foundation.

The council then moved on to recognize a number of Eleanor Roosevelt HS (ERHS) students who had volunteered their time to the city. The council also awarded certificates of recognition to graduating ERHS Julia Sung for her position as the Student Liaison.

The newest Student Liaison is Sophomore Natalie Diaz. Her first school update was short, announcing that Ronald Reagan’s first promoting class would graduate on June 24. She also announced that ERHS’s graduation ceremony, which is expected to include 10,000 family members, will take place on June 1.

The public comment was short, but touching. The Troop 724 Girl Scouts presented two craft books compiled of thoughtful life lessons, which will be displayed at the Eastvale Public Library.

After all the items on the agenda were motioned, the council was once again able to focus on the districting topic that will be taking up a good portion of council discussions for the next few meetings. Once again, Doug Johnson was present to show the council a series of five maps that they can choose from. Johnson reminded the five members that they are to choose a map that balances the population in each district. A few city residents shared their opinion about the maps, with some of them stating that they were in support of the districting and others showing discontent with the new system. Nevertheless, the council decided to look more in detail at the maps and make a decision on which map they will chose next meeting.

Moving onto other topics, the council motioned to approve the new unclaimed money policy, which meant the city would have claimed any funds that remain unclaimed for over three years. They also approved a request to adopt a lighting and landscaping maintenance. Lastly, the council appointed Simmons to lead the Planning Commissions and Public Safety Commission team.

The council concluded their meeting with a few announcements from the staff. Michele Nissen mentioned the opening of the new Amazon fulfillment center. Amongst other topics were the council’s plans for the upcoming weeks in regards to discussions about the city’s future.

Litigation Threat Changes Eastvale Elections

By Raymond Mendoza

Eastvale– Changes are in store for Eastvale for the upcoming November elections, as the Eastvale City Council recently voted to change its “at-large” system of city council elections to “by district” – meaning that council members must be elected from certain geographic areas within the city.

While the vote was 3-0 in favor of the change during the latest council meeting on April 27 (Councilmember Adam Rush was absent) the council members noted their decision was only made to appease litigation threats made by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

According to Attorney Betsy Martin, the City of Eastvale received a letter from the group in April stating that they would sue the city if Eastvale did not switch to “by district” elections in time for the November 2016 election. The group claimed that the City of Eastvale’s current election system is violating the California Voting Rights Act of 2002.

According to a statement issued by the city, Eastvale is not the only city being threatened with litigation. Inland Empire cities such as Rancho Cucamonga, Wildomar, Hesperia, Chino and Upland all received the same demands regarding by-district elections.

“We recommend that you do (change to “by district” elections),” said Martin. “No city has ever successful defended a voting rights challenge.”

Martin went on to discuss how the California Voting Rights Act of 2002 is intended to ensure that “protected groups” – such as minority races – have their voting rights protected. Martin mentioned that the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund was alerted due to the efforts of an unknown Eastvale community member.

“Rather than spend a lot of money on fighting something that will certainly be a losing proposition, we suggest you go forward and draw your own districts as rapidly as possible,” said Martin.

During the June 2010 Eastvale incorporation election, 54 percent of the voters were in favor of “at-large” elections – which allowed anyone who lives within the city to run for city council. “By district” only received 27 percent of the votes.

Council Member Clint Lorimore voiced his distaste for the election changes, stating that breaking the city into districts would accomplish very little since there is no major racial divide from one area of Eastvale to the next.

“I want to express my frustration with this process,” Lorimore said. “I believe that we in Eastvale are a homogenous community. We’re not broken into specific areas where one ethnicity lives. It is not going to be helpful, in my opinion, for our city to do this.”

To push these changes ahead at an accelerated rate, city officials hired the National Demographics Corporation to study the city’s population and prepare draft plans for the proposed districts that also meet legal requirements. The draft of proposed districts will be available to the public this month on the city’s website and residents are also encouraged to voice their opinions concerning the new districts during its upcoming public hearings on May 11, May 25, and June 8.17

Eastvale Appoints New Councilmember

Photo courtesy: City of Eastvale Richard “Dickie” Simmons was sworn in at the Eastvale City Council meeting on May 11.

Photo courtesy: City of Eastvale
Richard “Dickie” Simmons was sworn in at the Eastvale City Council meeting on May 11.

By Michael Armijo

Eastvale – Richard “Dickie” Simmons was appointed as the newest Eastvale City Council member on May 11.

After Council members interviewed 10 candidates in order to fill Councilman William “Bill” Link’s vacant seat, Simmons was appointed with a 4-0 vote and was sworn in immediately.

Simmons, 67, is a community activist and volunteer that served as a field deputy for the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors for 17 years. Simmons also served in the U.S. Marine Corps and with the Los Angeles Police Department. However, Dickie is well known for his presence in the Inland Empire. He moved to Eastvale in 2002 and was so active in the Eastvale community that he was known as “Mr. Eastvale”.

With the resignation of Link in March, the Eastvale City Council opened up the “appointee process” last month. Link resigned because he moved out of the city, according to City Hall.

“The appointee will serve until this November 8th election,” said Mayor Ike Bootsma. “Then voters can choose a new city council member to serve the final two years of Bill’s (Link) term.”

This is the third time in 5½ years that the council appointed someone to replace a council member who resigned.

The council decided not to hold a special election because it would cost taxpayers over $60,000 to do so, according to City Hall. The earliest an election could take place would be August, so it makes sense to wait until the general election in November.

All appointees were required to be registered voters living in Eastvale. Each candidate gave a two-minute statement and was asked predetermined questions.

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This article was updated by Eastvale News staff.