May 2010 Archives

The next RC Now entry will be on June 1. I am taking a trip to the Bay Area for a wedding and a trip to the dentist's office to get my wisdom teeth pulled. Wish me luck on both.

Wednesday's City Council meeting ended shortly after 11 p.m. with a moment of silence in honor of Yesica Monica Gillison, 37, who died last week. Yesica is the wife of Assistant City Manager John Gillison. Monday's City Council meeting in Pomona also adjourned in honor of Yesica. John once served as deputy city manager in Pomona.

Landscape Maintenance District 6, otherwise known as the Caryn community, might be slated to vote again on whether fees should be raised.

In December, residents of this community voted against a fee increase but a group of residents formed a coalition to revisit the issue. Tonight, the City Council authorized city staff members to begin the process of another special ballot slated for fall.

For more information about the neighborhood coalition started by Ed and Rob Hills, send them an e-mail at RCLMD6@gmail.com.

The City Council called on the governor to suspend AB32 tonight, the state's Global Warming Solutions Act, due to fears that implementation would exacerbate current economic conditions. The council voted tonight to adopt a resolution requesting the state defer AB32, citing several studies and news reports that predict the legislation would impede economic growth and hurt businesses. In 2006, AB32 was adopted by the Legislature with a goal of bringing the state's greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

Mayor Don Kurth said he wanted to consider another resolution in the future that would call on the state to repeal AB32.   

El Loco Cantina has lost its ability to serve hard liquor and provide entertainment. On a unanimous vote, the City Council revoked the business' entertainment and conditional use permits.

"I can't help but believe that a night club operation is going on there and it has been a success," said Councilman Dennis Michael. "But it was a success that was never permitted and allowed to be used."

The final draft of the General Plan update was approved by the City Council tonight, capping off a two-year effort of revising the master document that guides development in the city. It's been nine years since the General Plan was last updated.

Councilwoman Diane Williams, an avid reader, likened the massive document to good prose.

"I'm so proud of this," Williams said. "I don't know if there's a contest for this kind of thing but this surely is an award winner."

This revised plan is expected to carry the city to build-out, or about 10 more years.

After the plan was approved, Planning Director James Troyer gave consultant Sam Gennawey a hug.

"In the last two years, did you guys ever hug?" asked Councilman Dennis Michael.

The two shook their heads.

                                                                          Thomas Cordova/Staff Photographer

Wishing the hundreds of motorcyclists participating in Run For the Wall a safe and sunny journey. The annual ride to the nation's capital bolstering veterans issues got started this morning at Victoria Gardens. To see more of staff photographer Thomas Cordova's photos, click here. 

It's 7.28 p.m. and council regular John Lyons is the first of 11 speakers at tonight's City Council meeting. He announced his endorsement of Mayor Don Kurth for the 63rd Assembly District.

Tell us something we don't know, John.

Lyons was wearing a T-shirt with "Don Kurth" emblazoned on the back.

"We need a tax crusader, folks," Lyons said. "And he's a tax crusader."

The City Council is expected to adopt the final draft of the General Plan update tonight. A similar approval was completed last month by the Planning Commission and resulted in a baseball stadium-like wave.

El Loco Cantina will likely find out whether it can continue serving liquor and provide entertainment at its restaurant. Owner Jose Sambolin said without the entertainment and conditional use permits, his business will likely shut down.

Landscape Maintenance District 6 and a resolution asking the state to defer the global warming solutions law AB32 will also be discussed at the 7 p.m. meeting. 

Councilman Rex Gutierrez is not making an endorsement for the highly contested 63rd Assembly District Republican primary, unlike Councilwoman Diane Williams, who is endorsing Redlands Mayor Pat Gilbreath. Or is he?

After Don Kurth's sent out a mailer last week likening the ideas of opponent Mike Morrell to those of liberals, Gutierrez couldn't help but speak out.

"Though I have been largely silent over the past year while fighting my own battles, I will not stay silent when I see grave injustices being perpetrated," Gutierrez wrote in an e-mail.

Gutierrez didn't outright endorse Morrell but called the mortgage broker a friend and a good, decent man.

"Never in my life have I seen more distortions and outright falsehoods than I have seen coming out of Mr. Kurth's campaign," Gutierrez wrote. "From what I read daily in those mail pieces that Don paid good money for, Mayor Kurth has single-handedly led Rancho Cucamonga to greatness. Baloney!!"

My how four years have changed! The two people who helped kick-start Kurth's political career are now among his critics.

Ten performers will take the Lewis Family Playhouse stage for the fourth annual Spotlight on RC at 7:30 p.m. May 28. The performance last year is pictured.

The showcase of local talent this year will feature acts by Joie Annunziato, Jordyn Bristol, Kaylee DeLeon, Genevieve Ellis, H'Atina Gilliard, Kaitlynn Lucas, Leeann Martinez, Virginia Martinez, Raven Saulpaugh and Ashley Valiente. The fan favorite of the night will win a $50 gift card from Gali's Restaurant and Bar.

Tickets are $12.

Information: 909-477-2752

 

A pirate band, balloon sword fights and other "Treasure Island" related activities are scheduled tomorrow from noon to 4 p.m. at the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center courtyard. The free event corresponds with the production of "Treasure Island," which closes May 22.

   

The U.S. Green Building Council will host an Inland Empire Green Building and Business Expo on May 26 at the Frontier Project. Workshops on green energy jobs, green public facilities, energy-efficient assessment programs and other topics will begin at 3 p.m. Cost is $50 for Green Building Council members; $75 for non-members and $25 for students.

Click here to register.  

The Historical Preservation Association will lead a Historical Home Tour on May 23. It'll be the first time in 25 years since such an event is held. The tour, from 1 to 5 p.m., will take participants to the Thorpe House, Christmas House and Isaac Lord House.

Tickets are $25 and proceeds will go toward the association's educational fund. The tickets can be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce, Frame-Art at the Sunrize Plaza, The Wine Tailor and City Hall.

Information: 909-989-7772

The Senior V.I.P club will put on a community yard sale next Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of the senior center. Proceeds from the sales will go toward transportation programs at the center.

Information: 909-989-0295

Chino High and Pitzer College alum Barbara Sinor has written her fifth book "Tales of Addiction and Inspiration for Recovery." The book weaves the tales of various people, including Sinor's son, struggling with addiction. She will read excerpts from the book and sign copies at 2 p.m. May 22 at the Victoria Gardens Borders.

Information: www.drsinor.blogspot.com

Eighties band Loverboy and comedienne Vicki Lawrence are among the 2010/11 lineup at the Lewis Family Playhouse. The season starts Sept. 11 with Loverboy and closes June 4, 2011 with "Vicki Lawrence and Mama: A Two Woman Show." Single and subscription tickets go on sale Saturday.

The Playhouse's fifth season will also feature:

The all-female ensemble Mariachi Divas on Sept. 18
The Bob Hope Road Show starring Lynn Roberts on Sept. 19
Country music group Asleep at the Wheel on Dec. 10
The Glenn Miller Orchestra's "In the Christmas Mood" on Dec. 19
Bobby Caldwell and Diane Schuur in "Sing 'N Swing" on Jan. 15, 2010
Broadway at the Garden's "Jesus Christ Superstar" April 8 to 17
MainStreet Theatre Company's "Anne of Green Gables" May 7 to 22

Click here for more about the lineup.
Information: 909-477-2752

 

This year's Relay For Life will take place at the Quakes' stadium at 9 a.m. Saturday. So far, 514 people have signed up to participate and have raised nearly $22,700. Fontana and San Dimas will also host the 24-hour relays on that day.

Once upon a time, politicians shook hands and kissed babies to get votes. Today, they have to be more creative.

Mayor Don Kurth, for instance, has his own baby to kiss. He brought his newborn to a candidate forum last month, a savvy move considering his audience was a women's group.

"It was my turn to babysit," Kurth said.

Over the weekend, Paul Chabot, Kurth's opponent in the 63rd Assembly District race, had a "Shoot-off for Freedom" at Redlands Shooting Park. The event was an opportunity to exercise Second Amendment rights and to "blow the heck out of clay pigeons."

Later this afternoon at the Rancho Cucamonga Post Office, Chabot's campaign manager will impersonate Elvis and sing "Return to Sender." The performance is meant to encourage voters to return political mailers to the sender (or Kurth).  
 

Channel 11 aired a piece on Congresman Gary Miller on Thursday, which included interviews with his opponent Lee McGroarty and Citizens For Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. The segment was produced by Tim Harrell, who has left a legacy in this city's Council Chambers. For this piece, Harrell approached Mayor Don Kurth at a special meeting for an on-camera interview. (Looks like Kurth's on the cutting-room floor.) That confrontation did not go so well. Since then, Kurth has requested a velvet rope to separate the dais from the general audience.

 

The paper endorsed Fontana Councilwoman Aquanetta Warren for the 63rd Assembly District GOP primary today, calling her a "hard worker" and someone who is capable of "negotiating effectively." The editorial also had kind words for Warren's opponents.

The primary is June 8. For more about the race, read the article that appeared in Sunday's paper.

The city was ensnared in a couple of controversies recently related to home Bible studies. In March, some members of Shiloh Tabernacle Church were asked by the code enforcement division to end their home Bible studies or obtain a conditional use permit.

To give city staff members better direction, the City Council discussed the definition of church earlier this week. Here's what City Attorney Jim Markman came up with:

Church - A use provided by a legally constituted religious organization, in a building or buildings maintained solely for and limited to public and family worship of a deity or deities, together with buildings and uses which are accessory thereto and limited to the teaching of religious dogma, accessory social functions and one single-family dwelling for the use of the minister or caretakers. This definition includes synagogues, temples, mosques, and other buildings for the purposes stated herein but excludes day care centers, community recreation facilities, and private and/or secondary educational facilities.

Markman said this definition will help code enforcement officials distinguish between those who conduct ancillary religious activities in their homes and those who are opening up a church in a residential neighborhood.

The City Council on Wednesday gave Markman direction to draft an ordinance based on this definition and forward it to the Planning Commission.

The annual family-friendly Ron Ives Bicycle Safety Rodeo will take place 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 15 at Red Hill Park. There will be a bicycle obstacle course and a free pancake and sausage breakfast. The park is on 7484 Vineyard Ave.

Taiko drums, Bollywood dancing and an opportunity to dig for terra cotta soldiers will be among the activities tomorrow night at the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center.

The library is celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with festivities beginning 7 p.m. There will be performances by a Filipino dance troupe, storytelling and crafts for children. The event is free and no tickets are required.

Information: 909-477-2720 

The City Council on Wednesday amended the development code to allow crematories in an industrial district bounded by Fourth Street, 15 Freeway and Etiwanda Avenue. Businesses that provide funeral and crematory services will not be permitted in other parts of the city.

This change came after businesses near Fourth Street and Haven Avenue complained last June when an applicant made plans to establish a crematory near the busy intersection. The business later withdrew the application and the city realized it was time to give its land use requirements a second look.  

Mayor Don Kurth is often mindful of the clock, allowing high school students to leave the City Council meeting at 9 p.m. He did so tonight, which was appreciated by at least one student.

"I don't know why we had that assignment" he wondered. "It was torture."

The upcoming senior center gala, code enforcement concerns and illegal immigration were among the topics during the public comment portion of this meeting, which lasted 80 minutes.

Also discussed at the start of the meeting was John Lyon's weight. Lyons, a longtime council meeting attendee, lifted his T-shirt and declared he lost 45 pounds. A thinner and leaner Lyons recently found out his blood pressure dropped from the 150 level to about 80.

"You've got the blood pressure of a 21 year old," his doctor told him.

"That's all I've got of a 21 year old," Lyons said.

Congratulations, John! How did you do it?

Unlike the city of Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga does not start its City Council meeting with prayer. But during the public comment portion of the meeting, residents are welcomed to lead the council in a prayer, as two people did tonight. One ended the brief prayer, "In Jesus' precious name, amen." Tomorrow, by the way, is the National Day of Prayer.

Because prayers are often made in Jesus' name at the City Council meetings in Lancaster, two residents are suing the city, according to the Times. Last month, Lancaster voters approved a measure that made the opening prayer city policy.

What do you think? Do prayers have a place in City Council meetings?

It's Cinco de Mayo, not Dia de los Muertos. Nevertheless, the City Council will discuss crematories at tonight's meeting.

The city is expected to approve a code amendment that would allow funeral and crematory services in the industrial area east of the 15 Freeway.

A public hearing will take place on the allocation of Community Development Block Grant
funds. This year, the city will receive $1.1 million in grant funding.
 
Finally, there might be a revision of the definition of "church" and "church activities" in light of the bible study fiasco in recent months.

A group of seniors will get decked out for the prom on May 16 but these aren't your high school seniors; they're senior citizens. The 7 to 10 p.m. event at the James L. Brulte Senior Center will feature a live band, finger foods and an opportunity to get your prom picture taken. Participants can vote for prom king and queen. Cost is $10.

Information: 909-477-2780 

That banging on your door could be a Census worker wondering why you were among the 28 percent in this city that failed to mail in the 2010 Census form.

On Saturday, 635,000 Census takers across the nation started knocking on doors. The response rate in this city so far is 72 percent, which is also the nation's rate. In 2000, Rancho Cucamonga's response rate was 76 percent.