MONTCLAIR - The city's future housing needs and challenges will be just two of the topics to be discussed in a joint session of the City Council and Planning Commission this week.
The meeting on Wednesday is a part of the city's housing element update, which ensures future policy is reflective of community needs, challenges and opportunities through 2014.
State law requires local government to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for its physical development. The housing element is one of the seven parts of a local general plan.
Last week, community members, developers, local organizations and city officials met for more than an hour to discuss some of the challenges and opportunities at a housing element workshop.
"It was interesting to hear the community's concern about what they need for housing in the city," said Khalilah Durias, Apartment Association of the Greater Inland Empire public affairs coordinator.
At the first workshop on Thursday, attendees participated in a "Post-It Note" exercise. They were asked to write down three housing challenges and three housing opportunities in Montclair.
Some identified challenges were housing variety, affordable housing and funding. Opportunities included more mixed-use, pride in home ownership and safety.
The goal of the workshops and study sessions is to create the final housing element.
It is expected to take five to six months to complete and willcost about $45,000, said Steve Lustro, community development director.
The housing element establishes city policy and programs regarding:
- Maintenance of existing housing stock.
- Preservation of existing affordable housing types.
- Creation of new housing to meet the needs of all members of the community.
- Provision of resources to help people meet their housing needs.
Wednesday's meeting will provide a review of the workshop as well as a housing element presentation and update.
The joint session meeting is at 7 p.m. Nov. 18
at City Hall, 5111 Benito St., Montclair.
Author Larry A. Brown Sr. Book Signing Event
TIME: 2-4 p.m.
WHERE: Borders, 5055 S. Plaza Ln., Montclair, CA 91763
WHAT: Brown will be available to sign copies of his biblical studies book, "The God Walking Program: Steps leading us to the Father's will."
The installation of solar panels might just be the next best thing to sliced bread, especially for business owners lucky enough to have flat roofs.
This form of renewable energy is helping save some money for residents and business owners, helped by multiple incentives.
That's the reason in Montclair a sea of solar panels were installed last month atop the Costco on Central Avenue, covering about 85 percent of the store's roof.
The solar array consists of 1,864 solar panels generating enough power to offset Costco's electrical power use by up to 30 percent. It's projected to pay for itself in seven years, said Merry Westerlin, Montclair's building official.
The installation is part of the California Solar Initiative for customers in California's investor-owned utility territories, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric and Pacific Gas & Electric.
As a program administrator for the California Solar Initiative, Edison has helped more than 7,000 of its customers install solar panels on their homes and businesses, resulting in 128 megawatts of new emission-free generation.
"For the average residential customer it covers up to 50 percent of their bill, but it depends on the size of the system they purchase and how much energy they use," said Gary Barsley, Edison's manager of the Solar I IncentiveProgram.
Since the state program began in 2007, SCE has provided more than $174 million in incentives.
Barsley said residents and commercial solar panel instillations have become very popular in the Inland Empire.
Instillation of solar panels is nothing new to Costco said Craig Peal, assistant vice president of energy/building control for Costco.
The big box retailer by the end of the year will have installed 37 solar power systems on rooftops of stores in Hawaii, California and New Jersey.
More installations are to follow, but Peal said it will depend on a variety of circunstances.
"It's a combination of prices, federal and state incentives, and if the building is safe enough (for) the solar panels," he said.
Montclair's Costco also has a rooftop weather station that will monitor real-time site conditions and the amount of power that is produced.
The two systems working together can determine from a remote location if the system is operating at an acceptable level or if it is in need of maintenance or repair.
This is important for a system of this size and cost to keep the system operating as efficiently as possible, Peal said.
He admits the company is not trying to be "green" as much as they're able to make "an investment and a decent return."
"On average, 20 to 25 percent of the building's total electric consumption will come out of these systems," Peal said.
Solar companies offer rooftop panels at wildly different prices, depending on where they're being installed and the kind of incentives available.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This form of renewable energy is helping save some money for residents and business owners, helped by multiple incentives.
That's the reason in Montclair a sea of solar panels were installed last month atop the Costco on Central Avenue, covering about 85 percent of the store's roof.
The solar array consists of 1,864 solar panels generating enough power to offset Costco's electrical power use by up to 30 percent. It's projected to pay for itself in seven years, said Merry Westerlin, Montclair's building official.
The installation is part of the California Solar Initiative for customers in California's investor-owned utility territories, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric and Pacific Gas & Electric.
As a program administrator for the California Solar Initiative, Edison has helped more than 7,000 of its customers install solar panels on their homes and businesses, resulting in 128 megawatts of new emission-free generation.
"For the average residential customer it covers up to 50 percent of their bill, but it depends on the size of the system they purchase and how much energy they use," said Gary Barsley, Edison's manager of the Solar I IncentiveProgram.
Since the state program began in 2007, SCE has provided more than $174 million in incentives.
Barsley said residents and commercial solar panel instillations have become very popular in the Inland Empire.
Instillation of solar panels is nothing new to Costco said Craig Peal, assistant vice president of energy/building control for Costco.
The big box retailer by the end of the year will have installed 37 solar power systems on rooftops of stores in Hawaii, California and New Jersey.
More installations are to follow, but Peal said it will depend on a variety of circunstances.
"It's a combination of prices, federal and state incentives, and if the building is safe enough (for) the solar panels," he said.
Montclair's Costco also has a rooftop weather station that will monitor real-time site conditions and the amount of power that is produced.
The two systems working together can determine from a remote location if the system is operating at an acceptable level or if it is in need of maintenance or repair.
This is important for a system of this size and cost to keep the system operating as efficiently as possible, Peal said.
He admits the company is not trying to be "green" as much as they're able to make "an investment and a decent return."
"On average, 20 to 25 percent of the building's total electric consumption will come out of these systems," Peal said.
Solar companies offer rooftop panels at wildly different prices, depending on where they're being installed and the kind of incentives available.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
MONTCLAIR - Parking in the city on several public streets as well as in a bus loading zone at Kingsley Elementary School will soon be restricted.
The public as well as Ontario-Montclair School District and Montclair Public Works Committee officials requested the changes.
The changes:
Elimination of parking for trucks carrying more than 10,000 pounds on both sides of Brooks Street from Ramona Avenue to a point 480 feet east.
"While the trucks on Brooks Street are parking legally, drivers pulling out of these industrial areas say when they exit the driveway, they can't see because the trucks restrict their view," said Steve Lustro, community development director.
Restriction of parking on the north side of Howard Street between Wesley and Essex avenues for street sweeping between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mondays.
Bus parking at a bus dropoff area will be allowed between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m. Monday through Friday at Kingsley Elementary, 5625 Kingsley St. The school has not bused students in a while, but that changed this year.
"We have some students that qualify for busing, so we now have buses coming to that school," said Jim Kidwell, OMSD deputy superintendent of human resources.
"This way when the buses do come to the school, they can get in and get out easily."
It will cost $1,000 to purchase signs, posts and hardware to implement the changes.
The signs are expected to be up in 30 days. Affected property and business owners would be notified regarding the restrictions before the signs are installed.
The public as well as Ontario-Montclair School District and Montclair Public Works Committee officials requested the changes.
The changes:
Elimination of parking for trucks carrying more than 10,000 pounds on both sides of Brooks Street from Ramona Avenue to a point 480 feet east.
"While the trucks on Brooks Street are parking legally, drivers pulling out of these industrial areas say when they exit the driveway, they can't see because the trucks restrict their view," said Steve Lustro, community development director.
Restriction of parking on the north side of Howard Street between Wesley and Essex avenues for street sweeping between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mondays.
Bus parking at a bus dropoff area will be allowed between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m. Monday through Friday at Kingsley Elementary, 5625 Kingsley St. The school has not bused students in a while, but that changed this year.
"We have some students that qualify for busing, so we now have buses coming to that school," said Jim Kidwell, OMSD deputy superintendent of human resources.
"This way when the buses do come to the school, they can get in and get out easily."
It will cost $1,000 to purchase signs, posts and hardware to implement the changes.
The signs are expected to be up in 30 days. Affected property and business owners would be notified regarding the restrictions before the signs are installed.
Here's a link to the Montclair City Manager's report for Oct. 23-29
Yesterday I posted an entry about Montclair Yamaha's unexpected closing and move out.
I just got a message from Steve Lustro, the city's community development director, explaining the loss to the city.
"Any loss to the City's sales tax base in this economy is significant. Our hope is that the store reopens soon," he said.
If you're wondering about Montclair Yamaha's unexpected closing and move out, you might have to continue scratching your head.
I contacted Steve Lustro, the city's community development director, via e-mail to see if he happened to know anything about this and he said, "Actually, it came as a surprise to us too."
"There are signs in the windows that say something about the store being closed "temporarily" because of a change of ownership, but to my knowledge, nobody here at the City has spoken with anyone regarding what will happen with the store," the Lustro's e-mail read.
He said the city was not notified in advance about the store closure.
I'm waiting to see if there is any significant loss to the city's revenue or what the city is now going to do.
I'll keep you posted as more news comes in.
Chino Basin Water Conservation District, in partnership with the Inland Empire Utilities Agency and local water agencies, will host the fourth annual Regional Water Conservation and Landscape Fair.
This fair is free from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 24 at Chino Basin Water Conservation District's facility, 4594 San Bernardino Ave., Montclair.
There will be free water saving devices and raffles throughout the day with the grand prize -- at 1:30 p.m. a high efficient clothes washer will be raffled.
Since outdoor water use accounts for approximately 50 - 70 percent of a typical home's water consumption, the fair will focus on outdoor water conservation with information provided by vendors on water wise landscaping, efficient irrigation practices and rebate programs.
In addition drought tolerant plants for sale.
There will also be various information booths demonstrating ways to reduce your indoor water use.
The event will include a performance by the National Children's Theatre, a petting zoo and pumpkin patch, a giant slide, face painting, and exhibits by the local police and fire departments.
Information: (909) 626-2711 or Dfigoni@cbwcd.org
MONTCLAIR -- The city is currently updating the Housing Element of its General Plan for the period 2006-2014.
The Housing Element establishes city policies and programs regarding maintenance of existing housing stock, affordable housing, creation of new housing, and providing resources to help residents meet their housing needs.
An important part of the Housing Element update process is determining the housing needs of Montclair's residents.
The city will conduct a Housing Element Workshop on from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 12 in the Community Room at the Montclair Police Department, 4870 Arrow Highway.
Workshop attendees will have the opportunity to provide input on current and future housing needs, challenges and opportunities.
Further information about the Housing Element update may be obtained by calling Michael Diaz, city planner, (909) 625-9432.
Family fun and raising funds for a worthy cause is what Care and Company's Fall Harvest Fiesta is all about.
The event -- from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 10 at Bethany Baptist Church, 9950 Monte Vista Ave. -- will offer games for children, food, vendor booths as well as provide information about the nonprofit and its hygiene pantry.
Entrance fee is $1 per person. Children under 3 can get in free.
For more information, call (909) 240-1551 or visit www. careandcompany.org.
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