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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReporter Spring 2018Meet the New Leaders of Rancho Cucamonga’s First Responders Congratulations to the newly promoted Fire Chief Ivan Rojer and Chief of Police Donny Mahoney. eporterR 2017 was IncredABLE pg 3 Healthy RC Invites Teens to “Channel the Inner You” pg 4 Expanding Access to Solar in Rancho Cucamonga pg 7 Volume 14, Issue 1 Spring 2018 Rancho Cucamonga’s first responders strive to provide world-class community service and protection. Fulfilling this goal starts, as they say, at the top. We are proud to announce two recent changes in the leadership of these fine service organizations that are sure to preserve the outstanding reputation of both departments. Congratulations to the newly promoted Fire Chief Ivan Rojer and Chief of Police Donny Mahoney. Fire Chief Ivan Rojer - The Fire District bid farewell to Fire Chief Costello in late November 2017. He retired after 32 years of service. The organization has since promoted Deputy Chief Ivan Rojer to its top leadership role. Chief Rojer not only serves this community, but also calls Rancho Cucamonga home. He began his Fire District career in 1992, during which he also put himself through Paramedic school and earned a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Studies from Cal State University, Long Beach. He promoted through the ranks of Engineer and Captain before becoming Battalion Chief in 2009, and Deputy Chief of Operations in 2014. Chief Rojer also earned the State’s esteemed Chief Officer Certification. His passion and professionalism are evident through his servant leadership. He describes it as “making a difference because we care.” Chief of Police Donny Mahoney - Mahoney served in the Air Force as a Jet Aircraft Mechanic and worked in the private Aerospace sector before joining the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in 1992. He is a 26-year veteran of the department and his service includes over six years on patrol, four of those years on a motorcycle in the City of Rancho Cucamonga. He also served as a Homicide Detective, CSI Supervisor, and Commander of the Crime Lab, Twin Peaks/Lake Arrowhead communities, and the West Valley Detention Center. As you can see, our new Chief brings a tremendous amount of law enforcement experience to the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department. He is committed to providing exceptional law enforcement services while developing healthy community partnerships that enhance the quality of life for all Rancho Cucamonga residents. “The outstanding members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and the city of Rancho Cucamonga share a passionate commitment to the safety and well-being of the citizens of Rancho Cucamonga. With this strong and devoted relationship, I feel anything is possible,“ said Chief Donny Mahoney. Partnerships – They don’t just happen! Partnerships have been a consistent theme in Rancho Cucamonga since our city’s incorporation in 1977. Early in our history the City built the Epicenter Sports Complex that includes a minor league Single A baseball stadium at Rochester and Arrow. The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, now an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, signed a lease to occupy the facility and play games during the season. Out of that grew a long-standing and mutually beneficial partnership. The RC Quakes support the City and many organizations and businesses in Rancho Cucamonga. They run one of the finest Single A teams in minor league baseball, having won more than one championship, and delivering a quality on-field product year in and year out. The RC Quakes are now an established family tradition in Rancho Cucamonga and we are proud of the partnership. One of the newest City partners is GOALS, a UK-based company that operates small-sided soccer facilities. The public-private partnership will meet the needs of the ever growing and popular subset of the soccer industry in the greater Rancho Cucamonga region. Rancho Cucamonga, their second United States location, held their formal Grand Opening on February 10, 2018. The facility includes eight smaller synthetic turf fields and two larger synthetic turf fields, including a clubhouse and dining area just south of the existing Epicenter facility. We look forward to many years of partnering with GOALS. Rancho Cucamonga recently received several State and National awards for Los Amigos Park. This park would not be possible without all the partnerships involved. The City received money from the State of Caifornia through the Park Bond Act that was approved a number of years ago. The City’s winning request for this competitive funding was the result of a great partnership between Community Services, Los Amigos School, and the adjacent community. Tremendous public participation made the initial conceptual location and design phases possible. Public participation was our winning edge. That partnership continued as the park was built, through the official naming process, and including design elements in the park made by students at Los Amigos. IEHP was a valuable community partner that helped fund exercise equipment in the park. The end result is multiple levels of recognition for the park design and construction process, highlighting the success that only comes through teamwork. The City intends to continue similar partnerships into the future. The draft Master Plan “reVISION” for Central Park includes several indoor and outdoor elements including the potential for aquatics. The City is also seeking interested potential private partners to help fund the Second Story of the Biane Library at Victoria Gardens – which is in itself a partnership between the City of Rancho Cucamonga and Forest City. The project will create an interactive children’s learning museum for the entire region. The City will also soon finalize a public-private partnership to improve fiber connectivity and broadband service citywide. Partnerships like all of these don’t just happen, they are the result of hard work and future planning. We look forward to all that is to come for Rancho Cucamonga. — John R. Gillison City Manager City Manager’s Message We Want to Hear from You Local input is always welcome in Rancho Cucamonga and now there’s a fast, easy way to provide yours! FlashVote lets you become an active participant in local government with just the tip of your finger. This breakthrough service for local government surveys residents once a month, in one minute or less. Sharing your input has never been faster. 1. Sign up today at www.FlashVote.com. 2. Receive a quick one-minute survey once a month. 3. View the results once the survey closes. Once the survey closes, the results are open to all survey participants. The City of Rancho Cucamonga is dedicated to our #RCCommUNITY and FlashVote helps us hear from you. Don’t miss your chance to be part of our next FlashVote survey. 2 A sample FlashVote Question Response RC Sports Center Coming Summer 2018 The RC Sports Center will be a new state-of-the-art home for Rancho Cucamonga Sports. For nearly 20 years the Community Services Department’s Sports Division hub has operated from a leased building on San Bernardino Road. The City’s popular sports programs such as youth basketball and volleyball will soon have a brand-new home. The highly anticipated RC Sports Center is currently under construction at the Rancho Cucamonga Epicenter and Sports Complex. The walls are up, the final phases of construction are underway, and the doors are scheduled to open in Summer 2018. The new facility will have three indoor high school regulation-size basketball and volleyball courts, three outdoor high school regulation covered basketball courts, a multi-purpose room, and a café. Program offerings may be affected by the move. Please be advised that some drop- in sports will be temporarily discontinued beginning Sunday, April 1st. Adult basketball will not be offered for season three, and youth volleyball with operate out of Cucamonga Middle School during the transition period. The Community Services Department’s Sports Division is excited to welcome the community into its new home at 8303 Rochester Avenue. In the meantime, please visit RCpark.com for updates. 2017 was IncredABLE The IncredABLE’s Program grew by leaps, bounds, and a few kicks in 2017. If 2017 is any indication of things to come for the City’s IncredABLE’s program, then 2018 is going to be spectacular! Participation in City classes, events, and the Special Olympics Local Program increased over the course of the past year with no signs of stopping. The City established its Special Olympics Local Program in 2016. Building on the success of the first season, participation in the sport more than doubled in 2017. Fourteen athletes regularly participated in the program and were invited to take part in the Special Olympics Inland Empire Regionals in Perris, CA. Two IncredABLE athletes placed gold and silver in the individual skills portion, and the team took home bronze in their division. The Special Needs Partnership Coalition, a group of representatives from several organizations formed to support the needs of our Special Needs residents, presented its first Special Needs Resource Fair in 2017. This event was a tremendous success with 150 families in attendance, obtaining program information and resources from organizations throughout the Inland Empire. Thanks to the positive feedback from all in attendance, the Partnership Coalition plans to make this an annual event. The next event will be held on February 24, 2018. 2018 is off to a great start with three new classes: Sportball Multi-Sport, Family Yoga, and Social & Adaptive Baking Skills Class. The Spring will bring Friday Night Fun Clubs, the Special Needs Prom, themed “A Night on the Red Carpet,” as well as gymnastics and self-defense classes. The City hopes to become even more IncredABLE as the Special Needs programs continue to grow. Come participate in your favorite event or class. Bocce is underway for the Spring and the City is constantly recruiting athletes, coaches, and volunteers. For more information, visit the IncredABLES program online at www.CityofRC.us/incredables. 3 Healthy RC Invites Teens to “Channel the Inner You” Wednesday, March 28th Calling all high school teens! The City of Rancho Cucamonga and Healthy RC are excited to introduce the first Teen Forum, “Channel the Inner You.” Join us on Wednesday, March 28th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center (12505 Cultural Center Dr., Rancho Cucamonga). The Teen Forum is a one-day event designed to bring together and empower high school teenagers from all walks of life. This free event will feature an inspirational keynote speaker, interactive breakout sessions on identity and passion, and chances to win raffle prizes. Breakfast and lunch will also be included. The goal is to inspire teens to make a difference and become catalysts for positive change in their home, school, and community. It will be a space for youth in Rancho Cucamonga to raise awareness on day-to-day issues and discuss how they can develop actionable steps to improve the quality of life in their community, thus promoting a strong community and healthy living. What will teens get out of this event? • Confidence and a sense of identity • A platform to address issues and concerns in their community • Strategies for improving quality of life for their peers • Lots of fun and new friends • Opportunities to win raffle prizes and gift cards For more information, and to participate in the Teen Forum, please contact Healthy RC at www.HealthyRC.com or (909) 774-2044. Healthy RC Hosts End of Year Celebration Healthy RC honors the contributions of Rancho Cucamonga residents and community groups. The City’s Healthy RC program celebrated a year of accomplishments at the 2017 End of Year Celebration at Central Park. The evening recognized more than one hundred outstanding community volunteers and featured the sharing of community impact stories. The evening was filled with heart-warming accounts that remind everyone of how unique our #RCCommUNITY is. Community members shared testimonies including participants of the CASA cooking class (Susie Contreras), the Bringing Health Home Program and Mental Health initiative (Kristal Alvarez), Healthy RC Youth Leaders (Francisco Villagomez and Catherine Damond), Healthy RC Community Champions (Manuela Amaya), and Compassionate Community initiative (Shavonna Parker). Healthy RC recognizes volunteers for their outstanding commitment to the community every year. Congratulations to this year’s Healthy RC Outstanding Leadership Award recipients: Francisco Cardenas (Community Champions), Delaney Degner (Youth Leaders), and Women on the Move (Healthy RC Partner). This year, Healthy RC presented its first ever Compassion Award to Jeni Watanabe from Abundant Living Family Church. If you are passionate about improving the quality of life in our community, we invite you to be a part of the Healthy RC Steering Committee. For more information visit www.HealthyRC.com or call (909) 774-2044. The Healthy RC team is excited to see what this new year will bring for our #RCCommUNITY! 4 Caring is Always in Season The City of Rancho Cucamonga and Healthy RC Compassionate Community initiative continues to inspire residents to make a difference. Sharing compassion and promoting acts of kindness ultimately leads to a healthy, sustainable, and resilient community. Residents from our community recently took it upon themselves to create projects that care for communities both here at home and across the world. Winter weather inspired Healthy RC Community Champions to make soft and warm scarves for residents who may not have access to warm winter clothing. Creative volunteers made and distributed more than 50 scarves to the homeless during the 2018 Point in Time Count, and to under-resourced families identified by the RC Family Resource Center staff. Healthy RC Youth Leaders launched a fundraising campaign to support the victims of the devastating hurricanes in Puerto Rico. They collected donations from students and teachers at middle and high schools across the City. All funds collected went to the Hispanic Federation UNIDOS Program – an organization that delivers emergency relief aid to over 70 municipalities in Puerto Rico. Properly Preparing Your Pool Get your pool ready for summer and protect the environment. Good housekeeping practices for swimming pool maintenance help keep pollutants out of our waterways and protect the environment. Did you know that chlorine and other pool chemicals harm our waterways when they are improperly discharged? Draining your pool is usually not a great idea, though it is sometimes necessary for repairs or maintenance. If you must drain your pool, here are five easy steps you can follow to properly discharge your swimming pool water: 1. Shut off the chlorination system or stop adding chlorine. 2. Hold the water in the pool for at least five days or add a de-chlorinating agent. 3. Use a pool testing kit to ensure the level of chlorine is at 0.1ppm before discharging the water. Make sure all debris is removed, chemicals are dissipated, and the water is free of any discoloration, mosquitoes, dirt, or algae. The water’s pH should be between 6.5 and 8.5 before discharging. 4. Submit a Non-stormwater Discharge Notification form to the Engineering Services Department before you drain your pool. You can download the form at www.CityofRC.us, or call the Environmental Programs Info Line at (909) 919-2635 with questions. 5. Drain the pool water through your lawn or landscaped area. The flow should be controlled to prevent erosion problems and keep it from entering your neighbor’s property. Please note that the water from saltwater pools should only be drained to the sewer or hauled away. Check with the Cucamonga Valley Water District for requirements for discharging to the sewer by calling (909) 944-6000. Please remember: properly dispose of filter and backwash solids in the trash or landscape area, neutralize acid washes before discharging to the sewer, and do not discharge to the storm drain. Call the Environmental Programs Info Line at (909) 919-2635 if you have any questions. Go Green With These Spring Cleaning Tips Clean your cupboards and shelves without dirtying the planet. Spring is the perfect time of year to clear out clutter. Before you toss anything, please think about the environment and check to see if the items you are cleaning out of your home need special disposal. Here are some disposal options that can help make your spring cleaning easier: Say Goodbye to Bulky Items: The Bulky Item Pick-up Program can help you properly dispose of that worn-out couch, or other large items that can’t be reused and are too big for your trash barrel. Rancho Cucamonga residents that have residential barrel service with Burrtec Waste Industries are eligible for four free bulky item pick-ups per calendar year. Bulky items include furniture, appliances, rimless tires, and televisions. Many stores offer free removal of your old appliances and furniture when your new ones are delivered, so be sure to ask. Vehicle parts, construction materials, and hazardous waste are not eligible. For more information and to schedule a pickup, call Burrtec Waste Industries at (909) 987-3717. Put Your Yard to Work: Your green waste is not wasted; it’s recycled into compost or mulch. Excess seasonal prunings can be hauled away with your regular green waste at no additional charge. Tie them into bundles no larger than 18 inches in diameter and four feet long, and place them next to your green waste barrel on your regular pick-up day. Remember, the green waste barrel is for grass clippings, brush, prunings, leaves, twigs, weeds, livestock manure, and small branches less than six inches in diameter. Residents may place excess seasonal green waste out for pick up at no additional charge up to two times per year. If you consistently have more green waste than can be stored in your barrel, call Burrtec Waste Industries at (909) 987- 3717 to request an additional green waste barrel for a nominal monthly fee. Safe Disposal of Household Hazardous Waste: Don’t forget your garage during your spring cleaning. Did you know that you can safely dispose of many of your unused household cleaners, paint, used motor oil, and electronics at the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility? Some of the acceptable items include used motor oil, batteries, fluorescent bulbs and tubes, television sets, and computers. The service is free, but proof of residency in San Bernardino County is required. Business waste is not accepted. The collection facility is open Saturdays only from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The collection facility is located at 8794 Lion Street, between Vineyard and Hellman, off of 9th Street. Please note that the facility will be closed on the following holiday weekend: Saturday, May 26th. Visit the City’s website www.CityofRC.us or call the Environmental Programs Info Line at (909) 919-2635 for a complete list of acceptable items, transportation guidelines, and holiday closure info. 55 Spark of Love Toy Drive Celebrates 25 Years Celebrating a quarter century of spreading holiday magic in Rancho Cucamonga. Thank you, Rancho Cucamonga! Because of your generous donation of thousands of toys, Rancho Cucamonga Firefighters shared the Christmas spirit with over 3,000 children in our community during the 25th Annual Spark of Love Toy Drive. Rancho Cucamonga Fire District has been part of the toy drive sponsored by K-ABC7 since it began in 1992. The program continues to grow, helping more children each year with generous donations from community members and local businesses. Our firefighters can’t do it alone, however. Lots of groups partner with the Spark of Love to collect toys. Retail stores, real estate offices, schools, and other businesses host collection boxes throughout the holiday season. Jersey Mike’s hosted a fundraiser for the toy drive and employees at our local Sprouts Marketplace sponsored a corporate donation for the toy drive. Almost 24 non-profit organizations serving Rancho Cucamonga children (such as state preschools, foster care agencies, faith-based outreach groups, etc.) help distribute gifts. Families in need can also sign their children up to receive toys through the six National Community Renaissance apartment complexes, Northtown Community Center, or the RC Family Resource Center. Filling requests for toys requires lots of helpers. Several church youth groups, sports teams and scout troops volunteer their time packaging up the toys so they are ready for distribution. A special thank you to the Church of Latter Day Saints San Sevaine Ward, Hillside Ward, and Chaffey Ward for continuously helping package the toys for over a decade. None of this would be possible without the community support we receive each year. Thank you, Rancho Cucamonga, for sharing your holiday spirit and generous hearts with those less fortunate in our community. 6 Taking Back Our Communities The City of Rancho Cucamonga joined the Taking Back Our Community (TBOC) Coalition in late 2017 with the support of the City Council. The Coalition is supporting the California Public Safety Partnership (CAPSP) as they work hard to pass an important public safety measure on the November 2018 ballot. The proposed “Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act of 2018” seeks critical reforms related to accountability for serial theft, reinstatement of DNA collection for certain misdemeanor convictions, reclassification of certain crimes as violent crimes, and parole reform. The Attorney General of California issued Title and Summary for the initiative on January 4th, but it may not clearly summarize the true intent of the measure, and will require extensive public outreach and education in a short period of time. Nearly 366,000 qualifying signatures must be submitted to the county election officials in order to qualify for the November ballot. The collection of signatures began on January 11th with two kick- off events held in Whittier and Sacramento. To learn more about the proposed measure, visit www.KeepCalSafe.org. For more information about the Coalition, visit www. TakingBackOurCommunityCA.com. Take Action! #BeKindRC It’s your turn! Join our community in creating a compassionate environment for everyone who lives, works, and plays in Rancho Cucamonga. Take the kindness challenge and open a door, share a smile, lend a helping hand, or give someone a compliment. For more information and to participate with Compassionate Communities please contact Healthy RC at www.HealthyRC.com or (909) 774-2044. #BeKindRC Act Open a doorShare a smileGive a complimentLend a helping hand Rancho Cucamonga Says No to Marijuana Businesses As state laws surrounding marijuana change, local regulations are now set. Recent changes in California law are raising the same question in cities across California: can a marijuana business operate here? The answer in our community is no. All marijuana/cannabis businesses are illegal in Rancho Cucamonga. This includes all medical and recreational stores, delivery services, commercial growing, product manufacturing, and testing labs. The Bureau of Cannabis Cultivation is aware of the ban and will not issue state licenses to operate in Rancho Cucamonga. Any cannabis business opened here will be shut down immediately and the owners/operators will be prosecuted. To find out where you can legally operate a cannabis business in another California city, contact the Bureau of Cannabis Control at (833) 768-5880 or www.bcc.ca.gov. To view the Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Code regarding cannabis, please visit www.CityofRC.us. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about cannabis: Are there any cannabis businesses I can do from my home? No. All cannabis businesses are illegal in Rancho Cucamonga. Can I grow marijuana for my personal use? State law and Rancho Cucamonga’s Municipal Code allow cultivation of six or fewer plants per home for personal use. Plants must be grown indoors; outdoor growing is illegal. Please check with the Building and Safety Department regarding any changes to your plumbing and/or electrical systems to support an indoor growing space. You can make an appointment by calling the Building and Safety Department at (909) 477-2710. Where can I smoke marijuana? State law allows personal use on your private property. At home, use is permitted in your backyard if it is not visible from the street or any other public place. Using cannabis in a public place, such as a public sidewalk or on a restaurant patio, or anywhere visible to the public, front yard, apartment patio or balcony, is against the law. If you rent and/or have an HOA, you must contact them for further regulations. Can I have marijuana delivered to me? No. It is illegal to have cannabis delivered to any home or business in Rancho Cucamonga. How do I report a possible illegal grow or other marijuana nuisance? You may either contact Community Improvement by phone at (909) 477-4247 or via email at CommunityImprovement@CityofRC.us, or contact We Tip confidentially at (800) 78-CRIME. Expanding Access to Solar in Rancho Cucamonga The advantages of solar power are now more accessible than ever for families. The City partnered with GRID Alternatives, a local community-based nonprofit that makes renewable energy more accessible. The group offers low-income families the opportunity to have solar energy installed on their homes, thanks to Cap and Trade funding from the State of California. To qualify for the program, applicants must own and live in their home, live in a qualified section of the city, meet certain income requirements, and pass a roof inspection. Qualified sections of Rancho Cucamonga include most neighborhoods below Foothill Boulevard. The process requires no money from the homeowner, and requires no loans, liens, or credit checks. The GRID Alternatives Program recently helped local homeowners, Mike and Suzy Weaver, who have been retired for just over a year. They have owned their home for 35 years. Mike and Suzy Weaver read about the City partnership with GRID Alternatives in a previous issue of the Grapevine. Suzy’s brother took advantage of a similar program in a nearby city and she thought, “Well, I better apply too!” After submitting the application, Suzy said, “I got a quick response from GRID Alternatives and things have moved smoothly ever since.” This unique opportunity allowed the Weaver’s to have a solar powered system installed on their roof without cost, loans, or liens. Their new solar powered system also comes with a 20-year warranty. A solar powered system could significantly help reduce your electric bills. To find out if you meet the eligibility requirements for the GRID Alternatives program please call (951) 465-2864, or visit www.gridsolar.org. 7 8 Book-to-Action Program to Debut at Asian & Pacific Islander Cultural Arts Night Community reading program explores the beauty and history of the east. The Library is pleased to present the Book-to-Action program in conjunction with Asian & Pacific Islander Cultural Arts Night this April and May. Book-to-Action is a community reading program funded by a grant from the California Center of the Book. The program also educates about timely and relevant social issues. The first reading selection, The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, supports the Healthy RC Compassionate Community Initiative. The Book-to-Action program will also include special activities at the Library’s Asian & Pacific Islander Cultural Arts Night on May 4th at the Paul A. Biane Library. The evening will feature entertainment, crafts for children, and fun activities for the whole family. Free tickets are available at both libraries on April 23rd and free copies of The Book of Joy will be available while supplies last. Check the Library for other Book-to-Action events during the month of April. 2018 Arbor Day The City of Rancho Cucamonga will celebrate Arbor Day by hosting a tree planting event on Wednesday, April 11th. The event will begin at 9:30 a.m. and take place at Central Park, located at 11200 Base Line Road, Rancho Cucamonga. Veterans and City Personnel will participate in the tree planting ceremony. In the event of rain, Arbor Day will be rescheduled to Wednesday, April 25th. The public is encouraged to attend this event to learn more about the importance of the Urban Forestry Program. Please join us as Rancho Cucamonga Celebrates 29 years as “Tree City USA!” For more information on veteran participation, please contact City Arborist Lucas Mitchell at (909) 774-4115. Align your Business with the Community Grow your community and your brand in one easy step. The City of Rancho Cucamonga invites you to become a sponsor of two new opportunities offering high visibility and branding possibilities created to meet your needs. The Second Story at the Paul A. Biane Library at Victoria Gardens The Rancho Cucamonga Public Library Foundation has committed to raise $1.5 million to aid the Rancho Cucamonga Public Library with the design, manufacture, and installation of six hands- on interactive discovery exhibits. The new Second Story space will focus on literacy and STEAM learning outcomes. This exhibit area will hold custom designed pieces that allow families to learn together through interactive play. This unique addition to the Library will be the first of its kind in the region. The RC Epicenter Sports Complex The RC Epicenter Sports Complex offers unique and exclusive sponsorship opportunities at Rancho Cucamonga’s newest sports facility, the RC Sports Center. The 54,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art sports center is now under construction. It will offer three indoor and outdoor multi-sport courts, multi-purpose room, and café. If you are looking for an opportunity to align your organization with the community of Rancho Cucamonga and beyond, the RC Epicenter Sports Complex offers a wide range of opportunities that can help you do just that. Join fellow sponsors and donors in support of the City’s mission to enhance quality of life in our community by offering a wide variety of recreational and cultural arts programs and services at safe and well-planned parks, community centers, and venues. Learn more by visiting www.CityofRC.us. www.CityofRC.us 10500 Civic Center Dr., P.O. Box 807, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 · (909) 477-2700 • Fax (909) 477-2846