From the City Managers desk:
City creates action plan to deal with swine flu
This week Montclair Hospital Medical Center held a meeting regarding action plans for dealing with possible Swine Flu patients in the city.
Representing the city were Fire Chief Troy Ament, Division Chief Layne Shiba, Administrative Officer Mike Donley, Personnel Officer Gary Charleston, and Assistant Director of Human Services Marcia Richter.
Attendees were updated with the latest information released by the County Department of Public Health.
Hospital and city staff exchanged information and concerns related to treating potentially infected citizens, as well as outreach information to calm unnecessary panic.
The meeting was beneficial for both groups and provided a good exchange of information that will assist everyone, should the illness become pandemic.
Firefighters practice saving lives
This week Montclair Firefighters instructed Fire Suppression crews on rooftop ventilation, which is the practice of making openings in the roof of a building to allow super-heated gases and toxic smoke to escape.
This vital task enables firefighters to rescue trapped victims and extinguish fires.
Due to the dangerous nature of this task, firefighters must study building construction, tools, and access for all types of buildings, including residential and commercial.
Training consisted of a classroom presentation and a manipulative exercise at the drill tower, utilizing chain saws and other tools to make ventilation holes in the three roof props used in this training.
Park gets recycled water
This week Monte Vista Water District crews completed the water meter conversion from potable to recycled water at Saratoga Park.
City crews had made the necessary alterations to the existing irrigation system last October in anticipation of this connection.
Signs to inform visitors the park is now irrigated with recycled water were placed at entrances and key locations within the park.
Saratoga is the second park site to start using recycled water for landscape irrigation purposes. Last July, the Chino Basin Water Conservation District began using recycled water to irrigate turf areas and the demonstration garden.
On April 22 the Monte Vista Water District Board of Directors declared a Stage II water supply shortage due to continuing drought conditions and restrictions in imported water deliveries to the area.
The district is seeking a 10 percent to 15 percent reduction in water demand and has indicated the following water uses are prohibited:
- Watering landscapes during daytime hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Exceptions: Hand-watering, drip irrigation, new grass or plants, system maintenance, nurseries
- Excessive runoff from landscape irrigation
- Hosing or washing paved surfaces, including sidewalks, driveways, patios, parking areas
- Failure to repair leaks within 48 hours
- Washing motor vehicles without using a hand-held bucket and hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle
- Serving water at restaurants unless requested to do so
- Using decorative water features unless water is recycled
Penalties for violations consist of two written notices; a $50 fine for the third violation; a $100 fine for the fourth violation; and a $150 fine and a flow restrictor for the fifth violation.
To comply with restrictions, all watering times on irrigation controllers for City facilities, parks, parkways, and median islands have been reduced by ten percent.
This reduction in water usage will have a slightly negative effect on the appearance of some landscaped areas, especially turf in median islands and at city facilities.
Life is a series of collisions with the future. ~José Ortega y Gasset
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