Compiled by Bill Ruh, CVAR Director of Government Affairs SAN GABRIEL VALLEY The Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District is launching the region’s first ever Residential Plant Voucher Program to incentivize residents to transform their landscapes with drought-tolerant plants and develop water-efficient gardening practices. The program will provide up to $250 dollars of water […]
Cities Report – February 2019
Compiled by Bill Ruh, CVAR Director of Government Affairs Southern California Gas Co. filed a proposal on Feb. 28 to serve millions of households with renewable natural gas derived from the methane from human waste and dairy farms. If the California Public Utilities Commission approves the plans, SoCal Gas Co. would offer renewable natural gas to […]
Cities Report & Election
Statewide Results: Last Tuesday, about 39% of registered voters in California turned out to vote, 3 points below the last Gubernatorial election in 2014. The big news for the night was the defeat of Proposition 10, with 61.7% of voters rejecting the measure. If approved by the voters, Proposition 10 would have repealed the rent […]
June 2018 – Cities Report
BALDWIN PARK Baldwin Park approved a 20-year development agreement for marijuana distributor Rukli Inc. The agreement was first described in a city staff report as a lifetime agreement for Rukli’s second location at 4150 Puente Ave., but city Community Development Director Gus Romo issued a corrected version that clarified the term for the agreement. The […]
Cities Report – Feb. 2018
by Bill Ruh CVAR Director of Government Affairs AZUSA After less than a year on the job, Hermosa Beach City Manager Sergio Gonzalez has resigned from his position to take the same position in Azusa. His resignation from Hermosa Beach is effective March 22. Gonzalez said he accepted a city manager’s job in Azusa to […]
Cities Report – May 2017
CALIFORNIA Parcel Tax exemptions: AB1891, which passed unanimously in September 2016 and took effect Jan. 1 2017, says that once an exemption to a school district parcel tax is granted, it will remain in effect until the taxpayer becomes ineligible. An analysis of the bill said it will be up to taxpayers to notify the […]
Cities Report – February 2017
BALDWIN PARK The city council unanimously adopted a resolution on Feb. 15 declaring the city a “sanctuary” for all residents, regardless of immigration status. Although “sanctuary” is not an official designation, cities across the country and the region, including La Puente, Pasadena and Los Angeles, have recently reaffirmed or adopted policies preventing local law enforcement […]
Cities Report – January 2017
by Bill Ruh, CVAR Government Affairs Director BALDWIN PARK Six new digital billboards will be constructed along the 10 Freeway in Baldwin Park under a new contract approved by the City Council. The council voted 3-2 to enter into a contract with Bulletin Displays, LLC, to install six new billboards and provide a time […]
Cities Report – November 2016
Compiled by Bill Ruh, CVAR Government Affairs Director AZUSA Even before being officially sworn in on Monday, Nov. 21, Police Chief Steve Hunt’s leadership was tested. As interim chief and just after being named chief of the Azusa Police Department in early November, Hunt had two fires and an Election Day shooting to handle. Hunt, […]
Cities Report – October 2016
October 2016 REGION What do you do with a 500-foot-tall mound that covers San Gabriel Valley’s waste? You build a park on top of it. That is what the Board of Supervisors signed off on when they approved the plan for the Puente Hills Landfill Park, a 142-acre park in Puente Hills on what was […]