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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReporter Spring 2019Second Story and Beyond at the Paul A. Biane Library Your support can help build up library programs and community growth. eporterR Affordable Senior Housing pg 3 High School Teens Invited to Teen Summit pg 4 RCPD Offers Expert Help with Car Seat Safety pg 7 Volume 15, Issue 1 Spring 2019 The Second Story and Beyond at the Paul A. Biane Library needs your support. The Rancho Cucamonga Library Foundation is currently engaged in a capital fundraising campaign to garner public support for the Second Story and Beyond. Foundation members are also exploring opportunities for partnerships and sponsorships to develop it into a unique, interactive discovery space. In the coming years, this space will feature interactive exhibits for play and learning geared towards science, art and various literacy programs. The completion of Second Story and Beyond is a long-supported City Council goal and will assist in building commUNITY in Rancho Cucamonga. This special space is a dynamic resource that offers the entire community a wide variety of expanded programs. It also features an early learning area, art studio, kitchenette, workshop and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) lab, along with 6,500 square feet of flexible programming space. Several new services have also been developed since February 2017 in an effort to enhance opportunities for people of all ages. These services include educational classes and space for special programs, rentals and private events. For example, contract classes such as Little Scientists, Robotics Challenge, Proactive Parenting and College Readiness are offered to encourage lifelong learning, supplement the City’s current line-up of recreational activities and support Healthy RC initiatives. Randall and Janell Lewis have a long history of supporting arts and education. In an effort to promote education, the Lewis Family generously pledged $1.5 million for the development of the Second Story and Beyond interactive discovery space. This significant contribution will help fund a variety of hands- on, interactive exhibits. Among their many contributions is an ongoing support for the Lewis Family Playhouse, which brings theatre, art and cultural experiences to the community. The Second Story and Beyond will be a regional draw for the City of Rancho Cucamonga that serves as an attraction for the entire family and enhances the economic development and growth of the City. To find out how you can support this important initiative, please visit the library online at CityofRC.us/Library. Housing in Rancho Cucamonga – Something for Everyone Since its early days in the 1980s and 1990s, Rancho Cucamonga has been a diverse community. Our demographics include many faiths, ethnicities, income levels, and age ranges. This diversity is also reflected in the many types of housing in the community. The Alta Loma area includes larger lots of half-acre and above at the north end and smaller quarter- and eighth-acre lots at the south end. Etiwanda features not only equestrian properties and ranch style houses, but also undeveloped land. Cucamonga is mainly comprised of smaller lots and homes. The middle part of the city also reflects this diversity. Victoria features zero lot line parcels, while Terra Vista includes small single-family lots and many large two- and three-story apartment complexes. Red Hill is known for its eclectic non-tract housing built over many decades. The Fourth and Sixth Street corridors from Milliken to Haven uniquely feature apartments and offices in close proximity. This range of housing played a key role in the City’s development, helping it weather several real estate downturns with minimal problems and ensuring that the community retains a diverse mixture of people at all income levels, age ranges, and family sizes. The “Something for Everyone” trend continues today. Some of the lots in Alta Loma continue to infill with half-acre and larger estate-style housing, often reaching $1,000,000. Terra Vista continues to grow and add new and diverse apartment communities along Church Street. Condominium and townhome complexes at Day Creek/Baseline and Haven/Church include stacked flats and some small-lot detached single-family homes. Red Hill’s unique characteristics remain, with eclectic architecture and larger homes on modest size lots that are oriented and designed to take advantage of the unique views. Development at Hermosa and Foothill is now moving into the mix with three- and four-story resort style urban apartment living that will include rooftop amenities, swimming pools, on-site dog parks, bicycle facilities, and unique walk-up retail. Empire Lakes will be a unique mixture of transit-oriented development with apartments, condominiums, townhomes, single-family detached homes, and multi- story buildings near the Metrolink station. Rancho Cucamonga also continues to expand senior housing with new facilities opening recently on Highland, soon on Archibald, and later this year on Haven and Church and Base Line and Day Creek. Rancho Cucamonga neighborhoods are diverse not only in styles, but also price ranges. Home prices range from $400,000 to $1,000,000 and monthly leases range from $1,300 to $3,300. Singles, couples, starter families, and large families all have a place in Rancho Cucamonga whether you are looking for land where your pets and kids can play and roam, secure lock-and-go features with expansive views of the valley, or a home within walking distance of shops and restaurants. These diverse housing opportunities continue to nurture the wide range of demographics that ensure the community retains its vibrant diversity. In addition, by providing something for nearly anyone we help protect existing neighborhoods and ensure that those residents continue to enjoy the unique community they first experienced when they moved to Rancho Cucamonga. — John R. Gillison City Manager City Manager’s Message 2 2019 State of the City Address Save the Date: February 28, 2019 The City of Rancho Cucamonga is excited to host the 2019 Mayor’s State of the City Address presentation & networking event in partnership with the Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce. This year’s theme, From Foundation to Future, is meant to be both a tribute to Rancho Cucamonga’s collective history and a celebration of what is yet to come. Contact the Lewis Family Playhouse Box Office for tickets: LewisFamilyPlayhouse.com or (909) 477-2752. SAVE DATE Date: Thursday, February 28, 2019 Time: 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Location: Victoria Gardens Cultural Center 12505 Cultural Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739 Tickets: $25.00 • Box Office (909) 477-2752 Sponsored by: From Foundation To Future STATECITY The City of Rancho Cucamonga in partnership with the Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce present Rancho Cucamonga Mayor’s For Ticket Inquiries Call: (909) 477-2752 Sponsorship inquiries, call (909) 774-2208 or email Dianna.Lee@CityofRC.us For ticket proceeds to benefit the Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce, use the code: CHAMBER www.LewisFamilyPlayhouse.com (additional fees for online sales) Affordable Senior Housing Expands in Rancho Cucamonga Villa Pacifica II set to expand housing and opportunity for our senior community. The City of Rancho Cucamonga is partnering with Orange Housing Development Corporation, a non-profit affordable housing provider, to build Villa Pacifica II, a brand new affordable senior housing community, located at 7918 Archibald Avenue. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 National Population Projections, the size of the senior population will significantly increase in the next decade. This kind of increase makes it imperative to create more available affordable senior housing for our growing senior population. Affordable housing options like Villa Pacifica II make it possible for our senior citizens to continue enjoying our beautiful city and stay in a community that is close to their loved ones. This brand-new facility is an extension of the current standing Villa Pacifica and will consist of 60 affordable housing units. In addition to its accessibility and sustainability efforts, Villa Pacifica II is also located within close walking distance to bus stops, supermarkets, pharmacies, general retail, a public library and medical clinic. This recently opened property is another example of the City’s continued efforts to provide a diverse mix of housing options for our community. Camp Cucamonga is the Place for Summer Fun! Look no further for a fun and safe place for your child to spend the Summer! Camp Cucamonga is an all-inclusive Summer program tailored specifically for youth and teens that provides eight weeks of fun-filled activities sure to keep your camper entertained. Campers keep busy creating new friendships, learning new skills and making memories to last a lifetime. Our counselors are prepared to keep the fun going with new weekly themes and experiences. Whether your child loves the outdoors or the indoors, they are all certain to enjoy their time hanging out at Camp Cucamonga. Youth Camp (ages 5-10) is located at the Lions East Community Center. Campers experience traditional summer camp activities, water activities, and field trips. Teen Camp (ages 11-16) is located at Lion West Community Center and features field trips, games, crafts, gaming, swimming, special events and much more. Camp Cucamonga for Summer 2019 begins Monday, June 3rd. Registration and payment plans will be available to residents beginning March 4th. Don’t forget to take advantage of early bird rates and sibling discounts. Early bird rates are available to Rancho Cucamonga residents from March 4th to March 31st, and non-residents beginning April 1st. Visit RCpark.com beginning February 11th for specific details about Camp Cucamonga programs and weekly fee information. 3 Photo courtesy of C & C Development Caring is Always in Season The Compassionate Community initiative was launched by the City of Rancho Cucamonga and Healthy RC in 2017 and has continued to inspire residents to make a difference in their community. Whether a project is big or small, the effort of sharing compassion and promoting acts of kindness will ultimately lead to a more healthy, sustainable, and resilient community. Acting on Compassion The City’s annual Thanksgiving Basket event was a great success with close to 300 food baskets distributed to families in need in our community. The RC Family Resource Center received several donations from city departments, churches, businesses, schools and local residents. Special donations for the Thanksgiving baskets also came from Dr. Cohen’s office, as well as free basketball tickets from the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario – complete with a visit from mascot “KC the Condor” who helped assemble the baskets. The RC Family Resource Center staff received an overwhelming response from residents expressing how this event really displayed how much the City of Rancho Cucamonga cares about the community. If you would like to get involved next year, please contact Tesia Trisnadi at the RC Family Resource Center at (909) 774-2362. Compassionate Community Corner CompassionateCommunityCornerIt’s Your Turn You can get involved in creating a welcoming and unified environment for everyone! Take action and share your #BeKindRC story & tag us on social media. You can also participate by sharing your compassionate stories, become part of the planning committee, or getting involved as a volunteer. Contact us at RC.Healthy@CityofRC.us or (909) 774-2043, or visit HealthyRC.com for more information. High School Teens Invited to Teen Summit Healthy RC invites teens to an empowerment event. Calling all high school teens! The City of Rancho Cucamonga and Healthy RC are organizing the second annual Teen Summit designed to empower teens to make a difference and become catalysts for positive change in their home, school, and community. Join us on Wednesday, March 27th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Central Park, located at 11200 Base Line Road, Rancho Cucamonga. This free event is held over Spring Break and includes breakfast, lunch, and a chance to win raffle prizes. Omnitrans coupons are also available by request. What will you get out of this event? • Build leadership skills that support self-respect and compassion for others. • Explore your world and current issues through engaged and creative learning. • Develop character and confidence that encourage and promote effective communication skills, positive goal setting, and a strong foundation for a successful adulthood. For more information and to participate in the Teen Forum please contact Healthy RC at HealthyRC.com or (909) 774-2043. 4 City Recognized for Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Efforts Multiple agencies agree that Rancho Cucamonga is a leader in building a sustainable community. The City of Rancho Cucamonga received 6 awards in 2018 for its Sustainable Community Action Plan (Plan) and robust energy efficiency efforts. Rancho Cucamonga Mayor L. Dennis Michael stated, “Being a recipient of these awards truly authenticates the City’s holistic approach to sustainability that encompasses a collaborative community input process.” The list of awards includes the Cool Planet Award from The Climate Registry and Southern California Edison (SCE), Green Region Award from Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), Innovation in Green Community Award from American Planning Association Inland Empire Section and California Chapter, Platinum Level Beacon Spotlight Award for achieving a 23 percent energy savings from the Institute for Local Government, and the Red Tape to Red Carpet Award for Sustainable and Green Development from the Inland Empire Economic Partnership. These impressive accomplishments were achieved by implementing an increasing amount of sustainability initiatives such as retrofitting 15,000 streetlights to LED, expanding the electric vehicle charging infrastructure, partnering with GRID Alternatives to install no-cost solar powered systems on 10 homes for low-income families and installing green bike lanes at key intersections throughout the city. Recognitions like these reinforce that the Plan is truly the vision and roadmap for Rancho Cucamonga’s sustainable future. Key areas of the Plan include energy and water efficiency, land use and open space, transportation and mobility, green building and waste reduction while addressing economy and community health and equity throughout. This approach utilizes a unique triple-bottom line analysis to drive holistic and comprehensive sustainable change throughout the community. The City’s participation in all of these award programs aligns with the Healthy RC initiative program, which strives towards a healthy and sustainable Rancho Cucamonga by adopting policies and implementing programs and strategies that advance health and environmental sustainability in the community. For more information, please contact Deborah Allen, Management Aide-Sustainability, at (909) 774-2047 or by email at Deborah.Allen@CityofRC.us. For more information on the green programs, energy efficiency, and solar programs available please visit HealthyRC.com. 55 Celebrate National Bike Month with Healthy RC Pedal your way to health and safety this May. Join the City of Rancho Cucamonga in celebrating National Bike Month. For the entire month of May, thousands of people across the country will be cycling, rolling, and walking their way around. Bike Month is a great way to promote bicycling, street safety, and the importance of physical activity. A 30-minute bike ride can burn anywhere from 200 to 300 calories. Cycling also improves heart health, joint mobility and increases blood flow. Choosing to bike instead of drive reduces air pollution and traffic congestion. Whether you ride for fitness, transportation or fun, you can find an activity perfect for you and maybe even try something new. Here are some ideas on how to participate: • Join your local school on May 8th to celebrate Bike to School Day. • Host a Bike Rodeo at your school. • Participate in National Bike to Work Week from May 13th-17th. • Attend an Open Streets or Ciclavia event. • Plan your own “Bike to” event. If you would like to join the City’s efforts to make the community more walkable and bikeable, get involved with Safe Routes to School (SRTS). This program brings together parents, community members, students, teachers, school officials and public safety personnel to identify and address potential safety issues and strategize ways to educate and encourage students to become more physically active and aware of their surroundings. For more information, visit HealthyRC.com or email us at HealthyRC@CityofRC.us. 10 families received no-cost solar through Grid Alternatives partnership 2,298 homes completed energy efficient upgrades through the statewide financing program 35% of Rancho Cucamonga facilities are powered by renewable energy 15,000 streetlights retrofitted resulting in 1.3 million dollars saved in energy costs ENERGY EFFICIENCY BY THE NUMBERS Get Proactive About Fire Safety Become your own best line of defense against house fires. Recent news station video and photos of the devastating loss of whole neighborhoods destroyed by wildfires captured our attention during the recent fire season. While these losses are tragic, an almost silent tragedy of greater magnitude occurs every day. Fires in our homes disrupt lives, injuring and killing family members and destroying our valuables and keepsakes. The United States Fire Administration reports that there were 364,300 residential fires in 2016, the most recent year for which data is available. That equates to nearly 1,000 homes on fire every day in our country. Those fires resulted in 2,775 deaths and 11,025 injuries. The real tragedy is that most of those fires, deaths, and injuries could have been prevented. Here are some areas in which you can safeguard your home: Cooking The number one cause of fires in homes is cooking. This is true for all types of homes – houses, condos, apartments, and mobile homes. Most cooking fires result from carelessness and leaving cooking food unattended. A review of our fire reports shows that not only are there many cooking fires throughout the year, but there are many more near misses, or times when food is beginning to burn and action is taken just in time to prevent a fire. Some of the fires and near misses have resulted from: pizza boxes put into ovens, plastic containers stored in the oven or broiler, frying foods left unattended, or spilled foods not being cleaned from ovens and stoves. Too Much Stuff A condition that contributes to the fire risk in our homes is simply having too much stuff. Actual hoarding is a specific concern, but a simple excess of household and personal belongings stored and stashed throughout the house can be a hazard. Allowing home products to accumulate on floors, in hallways, and bedrooms can make it difficult to get out of the home quickly if a fire occurs. It can also make it difficult for firefighters and paramedics to get to you as quickly as possible if there is a medical emergency. All of that extra stuff is just more fuel for fire, smoke and damage if a fire occurs. Escape Plan Every home should have an emergency escape plan. Everyone in the home needs to know the plan, including two ways out of rooms and the common meeting place outside of the home. These plans need to be practiced so that there will be less panic when an escape is necessary. Close the Doors The best way to prevent a fire from spreading throughout the home is to keep doors closed when not in use and close doors behind you when you evacuate the home in the event of a fire. Even a lightweight, ordinary bedroom door can hold a fire in place long enough for firefighters to arrive and put the fire out. The Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District wants you to be safe at home and be able to escape quickly if a fire occurs. For more information about home safety, visit the Fire District’s website at RCFire.org and choose Fire & Life Safety Tips. Photo credits: City of Santa Rosa; CBS7 Odessa, TX Solar Power and Electrical Safety Awareness Class Learn to harness the power of the sun with safety and confidence. Collaboration between Ready RC and Healthy RC brings a high-energy, no-cost Solar Power and Electrical Safety Awareness Class to the residents of Rancho Cucamonga. Have you ever been concerned about the power of electricity and its unknowns? How about the potential safety issues of the fast-evolving world of solar power? We all deal with electricity in our daily lives, but you may be surprised at how often we are exposed to solar power. This class utilizes a first-responder style of instruction that has been modified for the general public. This class features an interactive setting where volunteers are put in scenarios and asked how they would respond. Their responses help instructors guide them toward reaching the safest course of action. One community resident, Steve Dee, stated, “Even with my years of general experience with electrical safety, I left the course with a wealth of knowledge that I now implement in my day- to-day interactions with both solar and electrical power. I highly recommend any resident to take this free course. The live demonstrations and detailed discussions provided me with a complete understanding of the dangers while also increasing my comfort levels interacting with both solar and electrical power.” The course will provide videos and demonstrations on the basics of electricity, as well as detailed discussions on the protective Faraday cage, the explosive arch flash and blast and the very dangerous down power lines, to name a few. The goal is to make all residents aware of as many electrical and solar hazards as possible. The greater the awareness, the more lives we can save! Visit RCFD.eventbrite.com to register for this free event and join us on Saturday, March 16th. 6 >Exclusive tour of the new facility >Free food >Raffle prizes S O L A R & E L E C T R I C A L S A F E T Y A W A R E N E S S C L A S S DATE TIME LOCATION Saturday, February 2, 2019 Saturday, March 16, 2019 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. RCFD All Risk Training Center  11285 Jersey Boulevard Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 This event is made possible by a grant from the California Fire Foundation and PG&E. RCFD.eventbrite.com RSVP: AGE 18 AND OLDER FREE EVENT JOIN US FOR: Learn how to protect your property and safely interact with electricity in this interactive class! RCPD Offers Expert Help with Car Seat Safety Safety comes first when driving with child passengers. It is very important to make sure your child’s car seat is installed properly. The Rancho Cucamonga Police Department has a certified car seat technician on staff that can help install your child’s car seat and provide you with the latest news and current laws pertaining to child passengers. Maryann Herrarte earned her certification several years ago and has some advice for parents: • Find the appropriate seat based on your child’s age and weight. • Make sure it is installed properly. • It is highly recommended that a child be restrained in a car seat with a five-point harness for as long as possible. • Make sure the seat fits in your car properly. • Parents should research and stay educated on current car seat design and laws. • Try to avoid used car seats. Car accidents remain the leading cause of death of children ages 1-13. Car seats and boosters provide safety for your child while traveling in a vehicle. Current California law requires children under the age of eight to be secured in a car seat or booster in the back seat. Children who are eight years of age, or have reached four-foot-nine inches in height, may be secured by a booster seat but, at a minimum, must be secured by a safety belt. Herrarte wants parents to be mindful of the fact that car seats can actually expire. She explains that the plastic with which they are made can become less durable over the years, especially if it has been left out in the elements. Before you use a second hand car seat, know its history. How old is it? Has it ever been involved in a vehicle accident? Did the accident cause damage to the mechanisms of the seat? If you do not have the answer to these questions, we suggest you do not use it. If you have any questions or would like more information, please call Maryann Herrarte at (909) 477-2828. Protect the Environment with Responsible Pool Maintenance A few steps can ensure your pool doesn’t impact the land in which it sits. If your pool requires maintenance before the coming Summer, make sure to take steps to ensure your efforts are environmentally responsible. Best practices for swimming pool maintenance help keep pollutants out of our waterways and protect the environment. Chlorine and other pool chemicals are harmful when improperly discharged. Draining your pool is usually not a great idea, though it sometimes becomes necessary for repairs or maintenance. If you must drain your pool, here are five easy steps 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 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 CityofRC.us, or call the Environmental Programs Info Line with questions at (909) 919-2635. 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 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 also remember to 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.7 8 Little Free Libraries Little houses that help grow big imaginations. You may have noticed Little Free Libraries popping up in our community. These special little spaces are free “take a book, return a book” exchanges that utilize small house-like structures placed throughout the community. Each one is unique in décor but identical in function. They house a small collection of books from which anyone is welcome to take one to read or leave one for someone else to enjoy. Each box contains around 20 volumes that are curated by local “stewards,” usually the people who put up the boxes in the first place. They use their own tastes to build the initial collections, but the contents of the boxes are constantly changing as readers take and leave books based on a traditional honor system. Families interested in having a Little Free Library of their own can learn more about it at the “Young Builders: Little Free Libraries” workshop starting April 6, 2019. This class will provide children with a hands-on opportunity to assemble and decorate a Little Free Library to take home. To register for the class, visit RCpark.com and use barcode #18414. Black History Night at the Library An annual celebration of history, art, and culture. Join the Rancho Cucamonga Library in celebrating its 12th Annual Black History Month Cultural Arts Night on Friday February 22nd from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Paul A. Biane Library. Building on the success of previous years’ events, this year’s program will celebrate music and culture with something for everyone featuring music, entertainment, displays and a variety of youth, teen and family activities. Free tickets will be available at both libraries beginning February 4th. For further information call (909) 774-3907 or (909) 774-3976. www.CityofRC.us 10500 Civic Center Dr., P.O. Box 807, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 · (909) 477-2700 • Fax (909) 477-2846 Spring Cleaning Tips Go green with these Spring cleaning tips. 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 should make your spring cleaning easy: Say Good-bye to Bulky Items The Bulky Item Pick- up Program can help you properly dispose of worn- out furniture or other large items that 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 item pick-ups must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance of your service day. Please do not place items at the curb until the morning of your scheduled pick up day. To schedule a pickup or for more information, call Burrtec Waste Industries at (909) 987-3717. Green Your Yard Excess seasonal green waste can be bundled and placed beside your green waste barrel for pick-up. Tie prunings into bundles no larger than 18 inches in diameter and 4 feet in length and they will be hauled away at no additional charge. Residents may place excess seasonal green waste out for pick up at no additional charge up to two times per year. If you consistently produce excess green waste, call Burrtec Waste Industries at (909) 987-3717 to request an additional barrel for a nominal monthly fee. Safe Disposal of Household Hazardous Waste Safely dispose of unused household cleaners, batteries, paint, used motor oil and electronics at the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility located at 8794 Lion Street between Vineyard and Hellman Avenue off of 9th Street. The collection facility is open Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Please note that the facility will be closed on Saturday, May 25th. The service is free, but proof of residency in San Bernardino County is required. Business waste is not accepted. Visit the City’s website 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.