Tag Archives: jcsd

Jurupa Community Services District Elects New Officers for 2022 

JCSD

Jurupa Valley – At its December 13 meeting, Ken J. McLaughlin was named President of the Jurupa Community Service District (JCSD) Board of Directors.

President McLaughlin, who recently served as Vice President, was first appointed to the JCSD Board in 2000 and is currently the longest-serving Director on the Board. He represents Division 1, which includes the northern area of the JCSD service territory within the City of Jurupa Valley. President McLaughlin is a strong proponent of diversifying JCSD’s water portfolio and increasing water supply reliability.

“I look forward to leading JCSD as we face challenges such as drought conditions while maintaining our tradition of providing quality services to our customers,” said President McLaughlin. “It is an honor to serve as President and represent the interests of our community while fulfilling JCSD’s mission of delivering high-quality services to our community.”

In addition, Jane Anderson was selected to serve as Vice President of the Board of Directors. Vice President Anderson was first elected to the Board in 2007. She represents Division 5, which includes areas within the City of Eastvale south of Bellegrave Ave and west of Hamner Ave. As a strong advocate for her constituents, she is a vocal supporter of water conservation and JCSD’s award-winning parks and recreation program.

For more information about JCSD’s Board of Directors and meeting schedules, visit www.JCSD.us/Board

Founded in 1956, the Jurupa Community Services District is a public governmental agency which provides services and programs to the cities of Jurupa Valley and Eastvale. It is governed by five elected representatives (Board of Directors) from both cities. Serving over 130,000 people in a 40-square-mile area, JCSD provides a variety of community services and programs including water, sewer, street lights, frontage landscape maintenance, graffiti abatement, and parks and recreation services.

JCSD Receives Two Awards Of Excellence

JCSD

Eastvale/Jurupa Valley – Congratulations to Jurupa Community Services District, Parks & Recreation Department for their two Award of Excellence from the California Park & Recreation Society for its JCSD’s Friday Flicks & Food Trucks Marketing Campaign and Summer Eastvale Edition – “Rising Together, A New Dawn of Recreation” Brochure Cover in the category of Marketing & Communications!

The CPRS awards program recognizes outstanding achievement in the areas of facility design, park planning, marketing and communication, and community improvement and programming through demonstrating the CREAM principals of challenge, resourcefulness, execution, accomplishment and alignment with the parks and recreation mission.

According to Steve Lawson, Director of Parks and Recreation, “The CPRS awards program is the highest recognition our agency can receive, and our award is a credit to the creative and innovative team whose commitment to the Eastvale community is what made this happen. We are honored to receive this award on behalf of our residents.”

CPRS Executive Director Stephanie Stephens states, “These agencies represent the finest in initiatives addressing community issues, recreation programming, park planning, facility design, and marketing and communications in California. Park and recreation agencies throughout the state provide families, individuals, and groups access to the serenity and inspiration of nature; spaces and places for play and exercise; opportunities for directed and self-directed recreation; positive alternatives for youth to reduce crime and mischief; and activities that facilitate social connections, human development, therapy, the arts, and lifelong learning. CPRS and our award sponsors, RJM Design Group, Inc., Little Tikes Commercial and SVA Architects, are proud to recognize excellence in park and facility design, community initiatives, recreation programs, and marketing and communications.”

The California Park & Recreation Society presented awards in 5 categories:

• Creating Community Award of Excellence

• Excellence in Design – Park Planning

• Excellence in Design – Facility Design

• Marketing & Communications Award of Excellence

• Professional & Service Awards

CPRS is a membership organization with just over 4,000 members representing the 535 local parks and recreation agencies throughout the state. The mission of CPRS is to advance the profession and its members through education, networking, resources, and advocacy. Learn more at http://www.cprs.org.

Snow Is Coming To Eastvale Sat. Dec 2

By Anthony Saude

 

Eastvale – The Holiday season is here and that means Christmas is right around the corner, complete with snow in Eastvale! Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD) hasn’t forgotten local residents and presents their annual Winter Wonderland extravaganza complete with a Tree Lighting Ceremony on Sat., Dec. 2nd at the Eastvale Community Center. So pack the kids into the family sleigh, pick up grandma on the way and come out and enjoy this fun filled event that was made with your family in mind. The annual Winter Wonderland will be in full swing from 3 pm to 9 pm on Saturday and will feature the tree lighting ceremony at 6:30 pm.

Snowtime begins right here in the southern California desert for the kids and Santa will be there taking pictures with the kiddos. There will be holiday performances for your entertainment going on throughout the event all day Saturday. We are proud to announce that the United States Marine Foundation will be there collecting new unwrapped toys for their annual toy drive again this year.

Bring a big appetite and sample some or all of the delicious cuisine proudly being served by specially handpicked vendors for your dining pleasure.

During special sneak peek hours on Friday December 1st from 6:00-9:00pm you can get a jump on the shopping crowds, over 30 holiday craft vendors will be present so you can get some early Christmas shopping done find. If you can’t make it don’t worry they will be there through the entire Winter Wonderland event on Saturday as well.

This year for the first time we are bringing T. Marie Boutique will be joining the festivities and they will be rewarding the first 10 early bird shoppers with some beautiful swag bags during the sneak peek hours on Friday night.

There is something for everyone at the Winter Wonderland, you don’t want to miss this 2 day extravaganza.

The Eastvale Community Center is located at 13820 Schleisman Road in Eastvale.

For more information about meetings and other JCSD programs and projects, please visit our website at http://www.jcsd.us or call (951) 727-3524. About JCSD Founded in 1956, the Jurupa Community Services District is a public agency known as a Special District, governed by a five-member, elected, Board of Directors. JCSD serves over 118,700 people in a 40-square-mile region of western Riverside County in the cities of Jurupa Valley and Eastvale by providing a variety of critical services such as water, sewer, street lights, frontage landscape maintenance, and graffiti abatement. JCSD is also responsible for parks maintenance and recreation programming within the JCSD parks territory. For more information, visit our website at http://www.jcsd.us.

 

 

 

 

Fall Into Some Fun At JCSD’s Annual Fall Festival Jurupa Valley

It is FALL FESTIVAL time again, this year it will kick-off on Saturday, October 7th, 2017. Jurupa Community Services District’s (JCSD) Parks and Recreation Department’s annual Fall Festival will be at Harada Heritage Park located at 13099 65th Street, Eastvale. Bring the whole family to join in the experience; there will be live music, dance performances and games. The Family Fun Zone, Hay Maze and a Pumpkin Patch are all day fun for the kids. It is back by popular demand the 2nd annual Red Wagon Parade if you own a red wagon decorate it and enter the contest. Admission is free on the day of the event the cost for the Family Fun Zone wristbands will be $5. There will be a large variety of food and merchandise to purchase from one of the many vendors that will be attending.

This year the City of Eastvale will be offering a free Bicycle Valet service in their continued efforts to develop a bicycle master plan and campaign to increase bicycle safety. Grab your helmet, hop on your bicycle, and pedal to the picnic!

 

WHEN: – Saturday, October 7th, 3 p.m. – 10 p.m.,

Concert begins at 7:30 p.m. – Featuring DSB (Journey Tribute Band)

If you have any questions, please call the JCSD Parks and Recreation Department at (951) 727-3524 or visit our website atwww.parks.jcsd.us.

 

The Jurupa Community Services District is an independent local government agency, governed by a five-member, elected Board of Directors. JCSD serves more than 107,000 people in a 48-square-mile region of western Riverside County that encompasses the city of Eastvale and a significant portion of the city of Jurupa Valley. JCSD provides a variety of critical services such as water, sewer, frontage landscape and street light maintenance, and graffiti abatement. JCSD also provides park maintenance and recreation program services throughout most of the city of Eastvale. For more information, visit our website at www.jcsd.us.

 

 

Eastvale Holds 13th Annual Picnic In The Park

Photo courtesy: JCSD
Picnic in the Park begins Friday, June 23rd and ends Sunday, June 25th.

Staff Reports

Eastvale – It’s that time of year again when Eastvale and surrounding cities get ready for the 13th annual picnic in the park sponsored by Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD).

“You can expect picnicking, carnival rides, a beer garden, food and retail vendors, a watermelon eating contest, and even a salsa making contest, among other things” said Madison Crask, JCSD Senior Recreational Leader. “We are happy to announce that we’ve expanded the carnival rides area, making it larger than in the past.”

Picnic in the park is a three day event celebrating the Fourth of July, complete with an extravagant firework show. JCSD Parks and Recreation Department has received many awards for various events and activities like this because they know how to a throw party. This pre-Fourth of July celebration will be held at Eastvale Community Park, located at 12750 Citrus St. in Eastvale, near Hamner Ave.

The FREE event opens on Friday, June 23 at 5 pm and closes at 11 pm. Saturday hours are from 2-11 pm, Sunday 3 to 10 pm. There will be many things to do like picnic games, carnival rides, waterslides, bounce houses, and contest with prizes to win. The carnival attractions will be located on the West End of the event and will open at 5 pm. Entertainment on opening night, Friday, will be “Queen Nation,” a “Queen” cover band that will perform at 7 pm.

Parking will be available at the following locations- Eastvale Community Park (FREE UNTIL FILLED), Eleanor Roosevelt High (SMALL FEE TO BENEFIT SCHOOL), and Riverheights Intermediate School (SMALL FEE TO BENEFIT SCHOOL). Both schools are located on Scholar Way.

· Eleanor Roosevelt High School (7447 Scholar Way) – west parking lot and parking lot in front of the performing arts building.

· River Heights Intermediate School (7227 Scholar Way) – Outdoor basketball courts on the west end of campus.

They will be many vendors there selling goodies like kettle corn, Italian ice and much more. On Saturday various performances by Rockstars Of Tomorrow will take place throughout the day followed by the 9 pm firework show. Sunday the park will open at 3 to 10 pm. There will be activities like a salsa making competition from 3 to 6 pm, and in the main courtyard a giant waterslide, mega slip n slide, and mini waterslides for the younger children, so bring your bathing suits. The firework show will begin at 9 pm, but it’s recommended that you come early to reserve your viewing location.

Picnic in the park has become a tradition in many families so feel free to come out and celebrate your Fourth of July and neighborhood pride.

As a reminder, loud noises and flashes of lights from firework displays may be stressful for pets, especially cats and dogs. Please take extra precaution to safeguard your pets during the Picnic in the Park fireworks show on Saturday, June 24th from approximately 9 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Fourth of July and the days leading up to the holiday are the busiest times of the year for animal control. Pets may flee from their home as a result of fear from fireworks. Keep your pets safe and in a stress-free environment during large fireworks displays.

Connect with us on Social Media @JCSDParks. Share your memories this summer using #PIP2017 or #JCSD2017. If you have any questions, please call the JCSD Parks and Recreation Department at (951) 727-3524 or visit our website.

E-CITIZEN MOBILE APP

By City of Eastvale e-citizen-app-pic-bw

EASTVALE– The City of Eastvale, in collaboration with the Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD), launched a free smart phone app that enables the community to report non-emergency civic issues in 2013. The E-Citizen app, built by City Sourced, allows citizens to easily report water waste, graffiti, vandalism, potholes, city municipal code violations and more through their smart devices.

Residents can download the E-Citizen mobile app by visiting the iTunes or Google Play store on their smart devices. After residents can use the app to submit a report by following these simple steps:

  • See an issue
  • Snap and include a photo/video/voice memo (optional)
  • Select the location
  • Select issue from the list
  • Provide a description
  • Submit it

All service reports are submitted with a GPS location of the issue and if desired an image/video/voice memo. They are then routed to the appropriate City of Eastvale department or partner agency for investigation and resolution. E-Citizen is for passive, non-emergency, service requests. Please dial 9-1-1 for public safety reports. When a citizen submits a non-emergency report, they will receive a push notification that it has been successfully submitted and are able to follow the progress of the issue with updates from the responsible party.

“When residents report their issue via the E-Citizen App it helps us, help them more efficiently. The citizen can receive push notification updates on the status of the issue until their service request is resolved,” said City Manager Michele Nissen. “This helps us keep from duplicating resources on an issue, thus resolving issues quicker.”

Citizens who wish to submit a report anonymously may do so by selecting that option under the app settings. However; the City of Eastvale may need to contact the reporting party for additional information in order to resolve the issue and for updates regarding the report. All contact information remains confidential.

 

JCSD Dances to help Eastvale Resident get her Dancing Legs!

Photo courtsy Face Book @Daretodancechallenge

Photo courtesy Face Book @Daretodancechallenge

JCSD

Eastvale, CA –The Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD) Parks and Recreation Department is dancing to help 3 year old Finley Smallwood raise money and awareness about Cerebral Palsy.

Beautiful Finley was born 9 weeks premature and suffers from Cerebral Palsy. She loves to dance, but can’t move without help. The Smallwoods received recent news that Finley is a great candidate for selective dorsal rhizotomy. The procedure may help her walk and even dance on her own someday; however, the procedure is not covered under their medical insurance. That is where the #DareToDanceChallenge was born.

To help raise awareness for Cerebral Palsy and help Finley with the cost of surgery, JCSD invites everyone to participate in the Dare to Dance Challenge this Friday (July 29) during the 65th Street LIVE Concert in the Park event held at Harada Heritage Park.

All concert guests will be encouraged to dance with Finley and show support for her cause. The event will be filmed, posted on social media, and will include a dare for other nearby agencies to dance too! If they don’t accept the challenge within 24 hours they must donate $20 to www.doyoudaretodance.com, or better yet, everyone can Dance AND Donate!

You can help a little girl get her miracle — to one day dance and walk on her own.

#daretodancechallenge

Now it’s YOUR turn! We Dare YOU Dare to Dance!

If you would like to learn more about Finley’s journey and how you can help, please visitwww.doyoudaretodance.com

About 65th Street LIVE

The annual summer concert series presented by Jurupa Community Services District’s (JCSD) Parks and Recreation Department just got even better!  This yearly summer concert series tradition, now entering its eighth year, is being launched as 65th Street Live!  In addition to live music performed by local bands at Harada Heritage Park in Eastvale, there will be added fun to make your family’s summer even more memorable.

Put on your dancing shoes, bring the entire family, your friends, and neighbors, and get ready to celebrate the season with the following bands:

Photo courtesy Instagram@ fifiandmo

Photo courtesy Instagram@ fifiandmo

Time: All concert performances are from 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Harada Heritage Park, 13099 65th Street, Eastvale
Cost: Concert is free and wristbands for the Fun Zone are $5.00
Parking: Additional parking available on 68th Street
What to Bring: Lawn chairs, picnic blankets, food, etc.
Vendors: Vendors will be selling a variety of food and drinks
Questions?: Visit www.parks.jcsd.us or call (951) 727-3524

Connect with us on Social Media @JCSDParks. Share your memories this summer using #65thStreetLIVE or #JCSD2016. If you have any questions, please call the JCSD Parks and Recreation Department at (951) 727-3524 or visit our website at www.parks.jcsd.us.

Tyler Slavin to Host Football Camp with JCSD!

Photo courtesy: JCSD

Photo courtesy: JCSD

Staff Reports

EASTVALE– Tyler Slavin will be offering a one day football camp where you can work on your football skills under the watchful eye of an NFL player.

Tyler is a 2010 graduate of Eleanor Roosevelt High School, where he played football, played basketball, and ran track.  The 1st-Team D2 All-American wide receiver has been the recipient of several awards, including the National Best Wide Receiver award, the Daktronic Award, the NCAA Offensive Player of the Year Award, and the D2 Statistical Leader Award.

Tyler has played for the St. Louis Rams and the Seattle Seahawks.  He says that it has always been a passion of his to give back to kids, and he can think of no better way to do that than to give to the young people of his hometown of Eastvale.

“I want to show the community that it is possible to accomplish your dreams, and that I was once the underdog.  No one expected me to get this far, but through it all, I persevered and made it- I know the next person can and will too.”

The camp will take place at the Eleanor Roosevelt Stadium on Saturday, April 9, 2016 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Your camp registration will consist of a two hour training session, a camp T-shirt and an autographed photo.  There will be a full coaching staff on hand and all positions will be worked with.

Register online at www.parksreg.jcsd.us or at the Eastvale Community Center.  Registration will end on Friday, April 8, 2016.

Age Requirements:
Ages: 4-12 10a-12p
Ages: 13-18 12p-2p

Spots are limited! Register today to ensure your spot!

Prevent Clogged Pipes During the Holidays And Year-Round

Courtesy of Jurupa Community Services District

 

Scraps of turkey, stuffing, potato peels, and other uneaten remnants of Thanksgiving are usually the culprits for a busy holiday season for plumbers across the nation and also for Jurupa Community Services District crews.

From Thanksgiving Day through the New Year celebrations, it’s a very busy time for JCSD’s Sewer Operations team.

Families across the JCSD service area will be hosting holiday feasts that result in an increase in cooking, eating, and disposing of large amounts of food over a short period of time. Additionally, many families will have an increase in guests which equates to the extra usage of showers, toilets, washing machines, and sinks.

Wastewater leaves a home through a lateral line which falls under the responsibility of residents. The main sewer line, which serves multiple homes, is the responsibility of JCSD. Residents count on lateral lines, which are usually 4-inches in diameter, to transport wastewater to main sewer lines.

Before disposing of any items down the drain or the toilet, keep in mind that only sanitary and liquid waste should be discharged into the sewer system.

The main culprit for clogged pipes is grease. When grease makes its way into sewer pipes, it cools, solidifies and sticks to pipe walls, eventually causing a clog. Grease also binds to other items in the sewer, such as roots and solid items that should not enter the sewer system. Food waste disposed of in the “garbage disposal” is a common cause of lateral blockages during the holidays. Solid food waste should be disposed of in the trash can, rather than the sink.

With Thanksgiving Day and other holiday celebrations around the corner, it’s important to keep these tips in mind, so you can spend more time with your family and less time contacting a plumber or JCSD:

  • Place food preparation and leftover waste in the trash instead of kitchen sinks. Use strainers to capture food preparation wastes before they go down the drain. Scrape all leftovers you may have on your plate into the trash before washing your plate.
  • Never pour fats, oils or grease down drains. The safest way to dispose of kitchen grease is through the trash. Make sure the grease has cooled down before disposing of it in the trash.
  • Never flush so-called “flushable wipes,” cotton balls, swabs, feminine hygiene products, or facial scrub pads down the toilet. They do not dissolve and can cause clogs. The only solid waste that should be flushed is toilet paper and human waste!

When sewer problems arise, residents should first call JCSD at (951) 685-7434, so the main sewer can be checked. JCSD’s main phone line is answered on holidays and after regular business hours. JCSD will conduct an inspection to determine if the stoppage is in the main or the lateral line. If the main sewer is clear, the resident will need to contact a plumber or sewer contractor to clear the lateral line. Although there is no extra charge for JCSD to check the main line on a holiday, residents will be responsible for the cost of contacting a contractor or plumber regardless of the location of the stoppage.

 

JCSD Earns National Accreditation

Mark of distinction recognizes commitment to highest level of service to the community

Photo Courtesy: JCSD

Photo Courtesy: JCSD
Eastvale Community Center

Courtesy of JCSD

Jurupa Valley – On Sept. 14, Jurupa Community Services District’s (JCSD) Parks and Recreation Department, which serves Eastvale residents, joined the ranks of elite park and recreation agencies and departments across the country by earning accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).

This distinguished accomplishment was awarded during the 2015 NRPA Annual Conference in Las Vegas, NV. CAPRA accreditation is the only national accreditation for park and recreation agencies, and is a measure of an agency’s overall quality of operation, management and service to the community. This mark of distinction indicates that an agency has met rigorous standards related to the management and administration of lands, facilities, resources, programs, safety and services.

As part of the accreditation process, JCSD had to demonstrate compliance with 144 recognized standards and document all policies and procedures. Often the process helps identify efficiencies and heighten areas of accountability, all of which translate into higher quality service and operation to benefit the community.

“I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication of the Parks and Recreation staff, as well as the key personnel from other JCSD departments that made this possible. JCSD Parks and Recreation may be the youngest department to receive this recognition and it would not have been possible without the commitment of our Board of Directors and the cooperation of other local agencies,” said Jane Anderson, Board President.

The process for accreditation involves a formal application, self-assessments, a site visit by a team of trained visitors that results in a written report, and a hearing with the commission to grant accreditation. Once accredited, the agency must uphold the standards by submitting an Annual Report and is reviewed again in five years. The Commission is comprised of representatives from NRPA, the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials, the International City/County Management Association, the Academy for Leisure Sciences, the Armed Forces Recreation Network and the Council of State Executive Directors.

JCSD staff is honored to serve the Eastvale community and will continue its commitment to deliver the best services possible. The Board of Directors and staff extend their gratitude to the community for their support of JCSD’s Parks and Recreation Department.

For more information about CAPRA accreditation, visit www.nrpa.org/CAPRA.

Founded in 1956, the Jurupa Community Services District is an independent local government agency, governed by a five-member, elected Board of Directors. JCSD serves more than 118,700 people in a 41-square mile region of western Riverside County that encompasses the City of Eastvale and a significant portion of the City of Jurupa Valley. JCSD provides a variety of critical services such as water, sewer, frontage landscape and street light maintenance, and graffiti abatement. JCSD also provides park maintenance and recreation program services throughout most of the City of Eastvale. For more information, visit our website at http://www.jcsd.us. About NRPA The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 50,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit http://www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit http://www.parksandrecreation.org.

JCSD Successfully Refinances Special Tax Bonds

Tax savings for approximately 3,600 homes in Eastvale

 

Staff Reports

Jurupa Valley – The Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD) has completed a refinancing of $45,685,000, for Series A in special tax bonds for four Community Facilities Districts (CFDs), and a refinancing of $19,090,000 for Series B in special tax bonds for eight CFDs.

Many new communities, such as Eastvale, require the construction of infrastructure such as parks and public facilities, street lights, and connections to water and sewer systems. CFDs levy special property taxes paid by homeowners for the construction of such infrastructure.

The CFDs included in the Series A refunding were Nos. 18, 19, 22 and 39. The CFDs that were included in the Series B refunding were Nos. 1, 3, 5, 6, 10, 14, 24, and 29. The average reduction in the residential annual tax bill will range between $53 and $251 per parcel for Series A, and between $16 and $185 for Series B.

This refinancing is estimated to save residents approximately $248,213 of annual debt service savings for Series A, and $145,301 for Series B. The total payments over the life of the bond in today’s dollars are equivalent to approximately $5,455,153 in savings for the property owners of these 12 CFDs. As a result of the lower debt service payments, the homeowners in the following 12 CFDs will have a reduced special tax levy beginning with the upcoming December 2015 property tax bill:

Courtesy of the City of Eastvale

Courtesy of the City of Eastvale

The refinancing of existing CFD bonds does not extend the original terms of repayment to maximize the total interest savings for each resident of the CFD. This refinancing reflects JCSD’s ongoing commitment to maintain the lowest cost financing available for the CFD debt. JCSD reviews the CFD debt on an ongoing basis and refinances existing debt when there is an opportunity for savings.

The current round of refinancing was preceded by $33 million of CFD debt that JCSD refinanced in 2013, and $97 million in 2014. Those two refinancings produced a total of $15 million of savings, and generated more than $1,110,000 in annual debt service savings for those 15 CFDs.

The total combined amount refinanced is approximately 60% of the total CFD debt outstanding, saving Eastvale residents a total of $20.5 million over the lifetime of the outstanding bonds.

If you have any questions, please call the JCSD Finance Department at (951) 685-7434 extension 115.

JCSD Board Announces New Board Member

 

City of Eastvale

Jurupa Valley– At a Special Board Meeting on July 1, 2015, Jurupa Community Services District’s (JCSD) Board of Directors interviewed seven candidates to fill a vacant Board seat, as a result of the unexpected passing of Director Robert Craig. Joan E. Roberts, Ph.D., has been appointed by the Board to represent Division No. 3 of JCSD’s service area. Her appointment is effective immediately through November 2016.

Ms. Roberts is a lifelong Jurupa Valley resident and business owner. She has held numerous leadership positions including two terms as President of the Jurupa Valley Chamber of Commerce. She is currently serving as President of the Riverside Community College District Foundation and the Riverside Medical Clinic Foundation.

“As a resident and business owner in Jurupa Valley, I would like to work with the other Directors to collaborate with neighboring water agencies to enhance the reliability of long-term water supplies. I am honored to be selected and look forward to working with the community, Board and staff.” Currently Ms. Roberts is the president of Roberts & Associates, Inc. and is the owner of Visiting Angels of Riverside County, a non-medical homecare company. Her experience also includes more than 20 years in the field of education. Being selected as the “Woman of Distinction” in 2014 for the 61st California Assembly District and earning numerous Summit Awards for being a top 20% Visiting Angels Living Assistance franchise owner are just a few of her many awards and honors.

Ms. Roberts earned her Doctorate in Education from University of California, Riverside. She received her B.A. and M.S. in Communicative Disorders from University of Redlands.

“On behalf of JCSD, I’d like to welcome Ms. Roberts to the Board, and I look forward to working with her. She brings to the Board valuable professional and community experience and expertise,” said Jane Anderson, Board President.

About JCSD

Founded in 1956, the Jurupa Community Services District is a public agency known as a Special District, governed by a five-member, elected, Board of Directors. JCSD serves over 118,500 people in a 40.79-square-mile region of western Riverside County in the newly-incorporated cities of Jurupa Valley and Eastvale by providing a variety of critical services such as water, sewer, street lights, frontage landscape maintenance, and graffiti abatement. JCSD is also responsible for parks maintenance and recreation programming within the JCSD parks territory. For more information, visit our website at www.jcsd.us.

JCSD Shares Latest Drought Regulations

Achieve a mandatory 25% statewide reduction in potable water use

 

By Aileen Flores

Jurupa Valley – In response to Governor Jerry Brown’s recent Executive Order, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) released a draft of its latest drought regulations on Apr. 28.

The overall goal of the new restrictions is to achieve a mandatory 25% statewide water usage reduction.  Each urban water supplier will be required to meet a specified conservation standard based on their average gallons-per-capita-per-day (GPCD) for the months of July, August, and September 2014.  Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD) and their customers would be mandated to meet a total 28% district-wide reduction in potable water usage, down from the 32% originally proposed by the State Water Board.

At a 28% water usage reduction, JCSD’s cutback is expected to be approximately 5,625 acre-feet (AF) (which is equivalent to 1,832,914,288 gallons).  JCSD’s service area has already consumed 1,345 AF to date.

The State Water Board’s most recent draft would require urban water suppliers such as JCSD to:

  • Meet water conservation standards through the reduction from both residential and non-residential users.
  • Ban the use of potable water to irrigate turf on public street medians.
  • Prohibit the use of potable water to irrigate newly constructed homes and buildings as established by the California Building Standards Commission.
  • Notify customers of a potential leak on their property.
  • Submit monthly detailed reports, starting with June 2015 metrics, to the State Water Board.

The State Water Board estimates the new regulations will go into effect May 15 and must be implemented by water urban suppliers by June 1, 2015.

All Californians are still prohibited from:

  • Washing down sidewalks and driveways.
  • Watering outdoor landscapes in a manner that causes excess runoff.
  • Washing a motor vehicle with a hose, unless the hose is fitted with a shut-off nozzle.
  • Operating a fountain or decorative water feature, unless the water is part of a recirculating system.

JCSD is currently in Level 2 (Drought Caution) of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP). The following Level 2 irrigation restrictions were adopted in August 2014 and continue to be in place, until further notice:

  • Residential and commercial ornamental landscape and turf irrigation is limited to four (4) days per week, which equates to being able to water every other day.
  • Residential and commercial ornamental landscape and turf irrigation is limited to the hours between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., for no longer than 10 minutes per station, per day.

Additionally, all leaks must be repaired within 72 hours of notification from JCSD.  Residential and commercial businesses are notified via door hangers or direct mailers regarding identifiable or reported leaks.

The following are currently exempt from irrigation restrictions, until further notice:

  • Functional sports and activity fields.
  • Residential or commercial ornamental landscape that use non-potable water.
  • Landscape that uses properly functioning water-efficient devices such as drip/micro irrigation systems, stream rotor sprinklers, and weather-based irrigation controllers.

The following are the State’s additional regulations that were implemented on Mar.  7:

  • Irrigating turf or ornamental landscapes during and 48 hours following measurable precipitation.
  • Restaurants and other food service establishments can only serve water to customers on request.
  • Operators of hotels and motels must provide guests with the option of choosing not to have towels and linens laundered daily and prominently display notice of this option.

Many conservation programs and services are in place to assist residential and commercial customers, which include rebates for water-saving devices (high-efficiency washers, weather-based irrigation controllers, rain barrels, etc.), turf replacement programs, free sprinklers, and educational workshops, and conservation events.  For more information about these programs visit the websites below or call JCSD’s Conservation Coordinator at (951) 727-8007.

For more information on how to increase your water-use efficiency, visit the following websites:

  • JCSD.us/Conservation provides a description of conservation programs offered by JCSD and partnering agencies. Here you will also find JCSD’s WSCP.
  • iEfficient.com is a collaborative conservation effort developed by water agencies and cities throughout the Inland Empire, including JCSD.
  • SaveOurWater.com is a partnership between the Association of California Water Agencies and the California Department of Water Resources.
  • BeWaterWise.com offers tips from Metropolitan Water District.
  • WesternTurfReplacement.com is a program that pays a rebate incentive of $2 per square foot of area that is replaced with water-friendly landscaping.
  • SoCalWaterSmart.com provides a listing of all the rebates that are available to JCSD customers and most water customers in Southern California.

Eastvale: Getting Healthy!

On Saturday, October 25th, 2014 be sure to come by the Healthy Eastvale Fair!  The event is 6:30am-11:00am at the Eleanor Roosevelt High School at 7447 Scholar Way in Eastvale.  Activities include health screening, family fitness fun and information from local health and fitness vendors.

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EASTVALE – An Interview with Council Member Ric Welch

By K.P. Sander                                           Council Member Ric Welch

Eastvale – Richard “Ric” Welch was elected to Eastvale’s City Council in 2010, serving a four year term. He has extensive municipal government experience, and has been an active member of our community since 2001. Ric and his family can often be seen enjoying Eastvale’s parks, trails and community events.

Q:  You are a member of Eastvale’s Inaugural City Council.  What is your number one goal for the City this year (2014)?

A:My number one goal for the City in 2014 is to either see the City realize the replacement of Vehicle License Fees or move on with the determination of realistic public service delivery levels for the foreseeable future. We have spent considerable time and effort attempting to recapture funding that was part of the budget projections that determined feasibility for cityhood. This year, we need to move forward, one way or the other. I believe that we’ve done a pretty good job of adjusting to the dramatic toll taken by the decisions in Sacramento and it’s time to view these adjustments as permanent, regardless of what is fair or ethical, and move forward with plans for a lean but healthy City government. Dramatic increases in service are not possible under the current budget, so we need to ensure the most efficient use of the revenue we have and search out new sources where appropriate. Comparatively speaking, Eastvale has sufficient means and will continue to thrive as long as we all agree to live within them.

Q:  What do you feel are Eastvale’s Biggest Challenges going forward in the next several years?

A: One of the more important challenges that we face is to engage a broader segment of our community in decisions about our future. I tend to see a lot of the same faces at most gatherings in our City and know that with a population of over 50,000, there are a lot of Eastvale residents that have yet to be heard from. As a city, we need to find ways to connect with more of our neighbors to get their input on the future of Eastvale. Decisions related to local spending, service delivery, planning, zoning, etcetera, should be made with input from as broad a spectrum as possible. The recent input on the Leal Specific Plan is an example of a successful outreach effort that needs to be replicated on other topics. There will always be difficult decisions to be made and elected officials need to hear from all perspectives to adequately represent the city.

Q:  You have children in several of Eastvale’s wonderful schools.  With all the new housing forthcoming, how do you see additional population factoring in to the current school capacities?

A: While I’m very proud of our school district and the way that they’ve handled such dramatic growth, I don’t think there’s any question that the city needs to see Yorba Elementary School built now to relieve pressure on Clara Barton Elementary, and yet another elementary school will likely be needed in the near future. I’m concerned that much of the new housing is being built farther and farther from existing schools and that means more vehicle traffic at bell time, to an already overwhelmed system, even if there is capacity remaining in the classrooms. The traffic issues will only be addressed by additional schools, changes in behavior that increase walking and biking, a return of school busses, or some combination, thereof.

Q:  How long has your family been in the area, and what attracted you to Eastvale?

A:We moved to Eastvale in 2001 and were attracted by the home prices and plans for the wonderful new schools and park system.

Q:  You are also Park and Community Affairs Director for JCSD (Jurupa Community Services District).  Have you finalized plans for the Desi Arnaz house, central to the Lennar Homes development on Citrus Avenue?

A: The Desi Arnaz house was really an afterthought to the original reason for discussing the property with the Altfillisch representatives. The original discussion was over land necessary to complete the Eastvale Trail between Riverwalk Park and the planned Eastvale Community Park. When presented with the possibility of also purchasing the home, I brought the Parks Committee in for a tour. We have and will continue to work with other groups and the general public to determine the ultimate use for the home, but will concentrate on the trail and surrounding property in the interim.

Eastvale: Jan. 28 Town Hall Meeting Recap

BY JENNIFER MADRIGAL

Eastvale – The Eastvale Town Hall Quarterly Meeting was held at Ramirez Junior High on Jan. 28. Various departments and organizations came to give updates and answer questions for the community. Here is a brief recap of what information was presented.

Riverside County Sheriff Report/CALFIRE Update: Asst. Police Chief Michael Yates updated the public on various crime statistics in Eastvale. He stressed the importance of Eastvale being named one of the safest cities in California (FBI Report October 2013), noting overall community involvement.

Yates says Part One crimes have declined. In the time period from Jan. 1, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2013, there were 28,982 calls, with 9,729 citations written, 43 DUI arrests, 128 injury auto accidents, 243 non-injury collisions, and zero fatal collisions. Police response time has been getting better, as well.

Many marijuana grow houses have been successfully shut down, said Yates. In 2013, 27 houses were shut down with a total of 46 houses in Eastvale overall. The Sheriff’s Department has been extremely successful with the help of the community in identifying and taking these houses down. At one point, they were seeing two houses per week, but they have seen a steady decrease over the past few weeks.

A new trend in crime in Eastvale is “fishing.” Yates says this typically involves young groups of kids out at night between midnight and 3 a.m., walking through neighborhoods checking to see if car doors are unlocked. They simply walk by and lift the handles. If cars are open, they quickly grab loose change, computers, phones, etc., and move on to the next vehicle. The money is often used to buy alcohol and drugs, as the amount of change adds up rather quickly, said Yates.

CAL/FIRE stressed the importance of fire safety, especially in the dry, drought conditions that we are currently facing. Of all the calls they have received in 2013, 72.3% were medical and 2.6% were fire related. The medic squad has taken 27 responses since it came into operation in the latter part of 2013. This has taken some of the load off of the fire engines. When the second fire station at Selby/Chandler opens, this will reduce the call volume even more, according to fire officials.

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Ric Welch of JCSD addresses the community during the Jan. 28 town hall meeting in Eastvale. (Jennifer Madrigal)

Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD): Ric Welch of JCSD announced that Eastvale Community Park will be opening March 8. Welch also said the district has added more recreational classes for mature adults and is forming a citizen’s advisory board to receive input from residents.

Corona-Norco Unified School District (CNUSD): The state has changed how school districts get their funding and it is now connected to local control. Money must now be tied to a local plan with community engagement. A committee with 32 people has been formed to look at relevant data (student achievement, attendance, climate of school, etc.) to establish guidelines.

CNUSD is still considering the feasibility of the “Geo Bond.” A survey was done last year and the district is still looking at the details and what the plans will be for the communities. It is important to note that Yorba Elementary School in Eastvale will be completed with or without the bond. However, the district still needs more schools, because more growth is expected in Eastvale over the next seven to ten years. The “Geo Bond” for Eastvale would most likely be used for technology, infrastructure, and safety, as well as another elementary school and possibly an alternative high school. CNUSD will be doing another public survey and hopes to make a decision early to mid-summer on whether or not to proceed with bond. If they do proceed, this bond would be on the ballot for the November election season.

Senator Roth’s Office: Roth’s office says the senator is still fighting for our funds from Vehicle License Fees (VLF). Last week, Roth was able to gain the support of Assembly Speaker John Perez. Roth’s office has decided to change the bill by splitting it into two separate parts with hopes of making it easier and more cost effective. One part of the bill is now called SB69 and will deal with the recently incorporated cities like Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Menifee, and Wildomar. The other part of the bill will deal with annexations. The hope is that this new method will focus more on assisting new cities now. It also makes the bill more cost effective, which will make it more appealing to the governor. Roth’s office is optimistic that this is a step in the right direction.

Bill Newberry also shared that Roth has been nominated as “Legislator of the Year” for all the work he has done for Riverside County.

State Assembly Office: Assemblyman Eric Linder will be backing up Senator Roth on the Vehicle Licensing Fee issue. However, Linder’s office is focusing on AB 1438 – a bill concerning sex offenders. Currently, a sex offender can apply for a certificate of rehabilitation, and if they are successful, they do not need to register as a sex offender. AB 1438 seeks to remove this for offenders who violate children. The Assembly is also working on the surplus from Prop 30. They are hoping to have funds allocated more toward education and to put the rest away for a “rainy day” fund.

Leal Specific Plan: Asst. Planning Director Cathy Perring spoke to the public about the development of the Leal property. The property was originally part of a general plan for mixed-use, with retail, offices, etc. Although the land is not owned by the city, they are working with the Leal family to prepare a plan that will guide development. The city has asked for the public’s opinion and ideas for what the land could be used for. Please go to www.lealspecificplan.com to submit ideas and vote by February 7. The ideas will be presented to the City Council at the February 26 meeting, with action on a vision plan expected at the March 26 meeting.

Goodman Commerce Center: Goodman Birtcher is a real estate company that owns, develops and manages property. They will be investing $250 million in the City of Eastvale. The Goodman Commerce Center will be opening in Eastvale in conjunction with Lewis properties. Over the last two years, they have been meeting with constituents, planning staff, etc., on how to develop the 200 acres located in the “pan-handle” of Eastvale. The property is adjacent to the I-15 freeway off Cantu-Galleano and Bellegrave.

Some of the land will be used for industrial purposes with direct freeway access for trucks. This will limit trucks on our roads and prevent more traffic issues, according to Birtcher. The south 25 acres will be a business park and will have employee pathways and trails, which will be more visually pleasing and add to the landscape of the area. There is also a retail/commercial component of about 45 acres. It is currently zoned for a hospital, hotel, etc. Currently, this is in the conceptual stage, but it could be a draw for major retailers.

An Environmental Impact Report has been started and Goodman also plans to widen Hamner Avenue by three lanes, as well as build and maintain landscaping in that area. The commerce center has the ability to generate as many as 2,500 – 4,600 jobs to our area, according to Birtcher.

Chino Desalter Expansion Project: Joseph Blume and Cindy Miller of the Chino Desalter Authority/Butier Engineering Inc., spoke about the project, which will bring more drinking water to the cities of Eastvale, Ontario, Corona, and Norco. This part of the project, which involves placing a 30-inch diameter pipeline through Eastvale, is part of an overall expansion project of the CDA’s water treatment plant and delivery system. Once completed, expansion will provide 10 million gallons of drinking water per day to the communities. Construction is expected to start on Mississippi Drive in Eastvale and run north along Hamner Avenue to Riverside Drive. Hamner will stay open, although there will be some delays. However, no detours are expected. They also plan some night construction, using flag men, and will be working during the holiday season (Thanksgiving 2014 thru Jan. 1, 2015). There also may be some water shutdowns, but the plan is to use phasing limits in construction to keep inconveniences to a minimum. The project is expected to be completed by February 2015.

Riverside Animal Control: Mark Visyak, Animal Control Officer, spoke to the community about 2013’s statistics. In 2013, there were 1,463 calls overall. The breakdown of these calls consisted of: impounds (346), returned to owners (24), dead animal retrieval (167), citations (85), requests for patrol (329), assists to the fire department (2), assists to code enforcement (1), assists to the police (11), investigations for bites, barking, etc. (107), and lots of opossums.

Eastvale Community Foundation: The foundation announced it will start selling Eastvale decals for cars as a way to help raise money. It was announced that the Youth Scholarship Program is back. Applications will be available at Eastvale City Hall beginning Monday, Feb. 3 through May 1, 2014.

The next Eastvale Quarterly Town Hall Meeting will be held in March, with date and location to be announced.