Highlights from this weeks City Manager Report
- Mayor Paul Eaton is the new Southern California Association of Governments District 09 Regional Council Representative. He was the only candidate in SCAG District 09 to submit his name for candidacy, and, due to the absence of additional declared candidates, the SCAG District 09 Representative election scheduled for April was canceled.
- Community Development staff met with Larry Martin, Montclair Plaza General Manager, and an architectural team working on a new exterior sign and graphics program for the Plaza. The proposal would involve the replacement of nine Plaza identification signs throughout the property, including the landmark 100-foot high pylon sign along Interstate 10. Unfortunately, staff was contacted March 25 by Martin and told that the sign project, along with the proposed renovation of three mall entrances on the north-facing side of the Plaza, have been placed on hold for the time being. Postponement of the work is likely attributable to the continuing financial woes of Montclair Plaza's owner, General Growth Properties.
- Costco has informally submitted revised plans for a proposed car wash just west of the existing gas station. City staff had a number of concerns with the first submittal, which proposed an all-metal building and insufficient on-site circulation improvements. The revised plan proposes a split-face masonry block structure consistent with the warehouse, metal accents, and signage to match that on the main building and gas station. Staff will be reviewing the proposed changes to the parking lot circulation to determine if they are adequate before moving the project forward to the Planning Commission for consideration.
- The city is presently out to bid to replace the underground fuel tanks at the City Yard with new state-of-the-art, above-ground tanks. Bids for this project are scheduled to open on April 2 with construction to begin in late April. Because the existing tanks do not meet the new Air Quality Management Phase II vapor recovery requirements, fuel cannot be placed or dispensed from the tanks, effective April 1. City staff who normally obtain fuel from the City Yard for City vehicles will need to fuel up at the Police Department.
- Last week Economic Development Coordinator Melinda Flores attended a meeting at the invitation of San Bernardino County's Department of Workforce Development, to discuss the Federal Stimulus Package.
Here is a recap of what was discussed at the meeting:
- Funds from the Federal Stimulus Package will be allocated and administered by the San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board (WIC).
- WIC would like to partner with cities directly for the additional $17 million dollars of stimulus funding.
- An open forum was held to determine funding capabilities and how to best utilize stimulus funding to help spur economic growth.
- The input provided by each city will be evaluated by WIC to determine if city programs meet federal laws.
Click HERE for the full City Manger Report ending March 26.
-Warm Regards,