(As published in the Butterfield Stageline)
I am excited because, for the first time in Chino Hills' history, your votes in June will ensure that Chino Hills will have a resident elected to the California Assembly. Mayor Curt Hagman is actively running for the seat currently held by Assemblyman Bob Huff. Bob is a friend of Chino Hills and he is now running for the seat of State Senator Bob Margett (so he will still represent us). Mayor Curt will do a fantastic job representing our city and the rest of our region. He has numerous endorsements in OC, LA County and of course in the Inland Empire. I respect what he has done for CH and look forward to his June election as the Republican nominee. Vote early and often.
Also, read through my entire article to see the NEW STORES that have signed leases for the SHOPPES. It is way "kool".
1) Our Neighborhood Monument Signs are being stolen. These thieves are looking for brass items. The newspapers have been spotlighting brass and copper as "hot" theft items. We will not replace these signs with brass lettering.
2) The school district has decided to come back to the table and partner with the city in developing a park in lower Los Serranos. Several months ago I wrote about a planned park next to Chaparral Elementary that the city would build and own but the landowner, Chino Unified, balked at that idea. The district wanted to keep the land for expanding the school site but has changed their minds. We shall see.
3) The new Community Center, on Pipeline across from Bravo Burger, is in its design phase. There have been community input meetings held with stakeholders and money is set aside to build the facility. Our county Supervisor Gary Ovitt has provided Chino Hills with the millions needed to construct the building from past county budgets.
4) Also, there are 11 other new park projects in the design phase. Our Park Master Plan, updated in 2007, helped identify other needed recreational facilities. We need them "shelf ready" as we prepare for our adoption of next year's city budget. These projects are also then ready for grants applications and other funding sources. Once the designs are completed, the City Council will review the concepts. We are undertaking this effort because "shelf ready" projects are often the first to receive grant funding.
5) The McCoy Equestrian and Recreation Center is revamped and available for small receptions and events. It's a beautiful new facility with the McCoy home now available for rent along with the larger banquet hall. Come check it out.
6) Freeway officials are looking to convert parts of the carpool lanes of the 10, 210, and 110 freeways to rush hour toll lanes.
7) As a public service... and I hate getting these calls... here is the "411" on Do Not Call Lists. If you are not on the federal list call 888-382-1222 or go online at "http://www.donotcall.gov". You can even verify if they still have you on the list.
8) I receive lots of junk mail and credit card offers for our adult sons and also me. So here is information that was new to me: opt out of telemarketer junk mail. Visit "http://www.dmachoice.org" and on the left hand is a button to opt-out of mail. The next page has choices to make for eliminating junk mail. It works just like the "do not call" lists. I just signed up the whole family and I'll let you know how effective it is.
9) I was astonished and I joined the tidal wave of national uproar over the City of Berkeley's condemnation of a Marine recruiting center. The Berkeley City Council voted 6-3 to tell the U.S. Marines that its Shattuck Avenue recruiting station "is not welcome in the city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders." Berkeley's call to close the recruiting center was also accompanied by the conveyance of a city-sanctioned parking space to the anti-war group "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_Pink" for the purposes of protesting. As the story became national news and people and government officials started to fire away (pun intended) Berkeley has backpeddled and stated the council members misunderstood the resolution. Yeah, right.
10) Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Market at the Gordon Ranch Center is a "go" and has submitted an application.
11) The Golden Triangle is located at the southeast side of the 71 and Soquel. It's called this because the land forms a triangle as Pomona Rincon is on one side and the 71 on the other (near CHHS.) There will be another 165K feet of mixed-use retail, hotel and medical office building. Adjacent to this site is the piece of property directly in front of CHHS. That was approved for a new type of hospital that provides specialty acute care procedures and no emergency room service or walk-in service.
12) I am apprehensive that the 71 could become a bottleneck as people get off Grand Avenue going to the Shoppes. After much haranguing on my part, it appears Caltrans will make a double left turn from northbound 71, as you turn left onto Grand heading to the Shoppes. I am now looking for them to make the following change to southbound 71 traffic turning right onto Grand heading to the Shoppes. I believe we need a dedicated lane so traffic does not stop on the 71 off ramp! Therefore, Caltrans would have to close one lane of traffic under the overpass so as to allow a dedicated lane from the off ramp.
13) Our school district wants to have a full time police officer dedicated to the two junior highs in Chino Hills effective immediately. The total cost of the officer is around $150K/year and we would split the cost. We currently share the cost of officers at both high schools. I have a hard time believing we need a full time officer, especially with the budget crunch the district and our city will face next fiscal year. Therefore the city council needs more information and justification from the school district so this was pulled off our agenda until a later date.
14) Habitat For Humanity will build a home in Chino Hills. The city is giving them a parcel of land at 4646 Fairway Drive, which is a city owned parcel. The initial construction of the home will be built at the LA County Fair during its September Fair season and then transported here. Habitat will sell it to a first-time homebuyer whose income is below 80% of the median SBC income. The selected family is expected to help finish building the house along with other volunteers. It should be a pretty cool project.
15) Here they are... stores that have signed a lease and getting ready to open in late May: Food establishments are Yard House, PF Changs, California Pizza Kitchen, Wood Ranch BBQ, Pinkberry Yogurt, Panera Bread, Chipotle, Haagan Dazs, Johnny Rockets, Peet's Coffee, RA Sushi, Pacific Fish Grill, Fuzzywigs Candy Factory. I love H&M and Denise loves Chico's and Ann Taylor Loft. Here are the rest of the outstanding stores: Barnes and Noble, Trader Joes, Active, J.Jill, American Eagle, Aveda, Banana Republic, Coldwater Creek, Pac Sun, Jos. A Banks, Lane Bryant, Luluemon Athletics, Brighton, Children's Place, Claire's, Dali Boutique, Mint Footwear, New York & Company, Sunglass Hut, Victoria's Secret, The Walking Company, White House/Black Market, Bath and Body Works, Beachworks, Bella's Boutique, Comerica Bank, Dexterous Salon, Reflection Shoes, Sanrio, Solstice, The Buckle, Gymboree, Hollister, Limited Too, Momotree, Rebel Sport, LA Fairchild, Jared Jewelers. These agreements equal 80% of the project. Another 13% are in various stages of lease negotiations.
16) At our other major new retail center, The Commons, here are their major signed leases: Lowes, Lucilles Smokehouse BBQ, ToysRUs, BabiesRUs, and an Ayers Hotel.
17) We will celebrate the grand opening of the Shoppes in May. We wanted something unique and now we will have a smaller version of Victoria Gardens, with our own pedestrian promenade. This significant project resulted from our partnership with Opus West, a major commercial developer. It was an extremely complex and daunting deal that has been the main focus of our city's leadership team for years. As a result, we will have upscale shopping and dining opportunities that have not been available before. Our 1% share of the sales tax alone is projected to add $1 million/year to help fund city services, not to mention many tremendous new jobs. A job fair will be held soon.
18) The electronic age even affects our water system. Throughout the city we are gradually replacing water meters that are attached to the side of the house with "radio read" meters. The old style requires an employee to walk and manually read each meter. About 8,500 have already been replaced and another 2,000 this year are planned. This will eliminate the need for more employees to walk up and down streets. Instead, one person can drive and electronically receive your household usage.
19) Several months ago Chino Hills held a "protest vote" regarding increased charges in water, sewer, and trash. We are the only city that held a protest vote and actually sent ballots to our residents to vote against these rate increases. About 1,100 "no" votes out of 23,000 were received. The water rate increases are necessary to ensure that the City has sufficient revenues to meet all operation and maintenance expenses of the Water system and sufficient reserves for the Water Fund. The revenue from the Water rate increases will stay in the Water Fund, not in the General Fund. Sewer and trash were "pass through" charges. If they were not approved, who would pay for it?
20) As you are all aware, California is facing a very tough budget situation. California has a $3.3 billion deficit in the current fiscal year, and it is projected to grow to $14.5 billion by the end of the next fiscal year in June 2009 unless strong action is taken. Not sure yet what that means for our city but I am sure we will suffer at the hands of the state.
21) SCE facts: This major utility covers 11 counties, over 13 million residents, and 428 cities. They do have an award winning rebate program for energy efficient programs and services, so check out their website for details.
Please call or email if you have any question or ideas.
Councilmember Ed
Email: c.h.mayor.ed@gmail.com
H: 597-0535
and is not a part of nor affiliated with the City of Chino Hills.