City Manager's Updates

CalPortland Investing Major Funds

in Center for Technical Excellence

Along with other management staff, I recently met with representatives of CalPortland, owners and operators of the CalPortland Center for Technical Excellence located at 1490 Rubidoux Boulevard here in Jurupa Valley. CalPortland, founded in 1891 in Colton, is a major producer of construction materials including cement, concrete, aggregates, asphalt, and concrete products. The company is headquartered in Glendora and has 3,000 employees and annual sales of over $1.5 billion.

CalPortland has supplied construction materials for some of the most notable landmarks and structures in the western United States including the Getty Center, the Los Angeles Coliseum, Staples Center, Hoover Dam, the Los Angeles Cathedral, the Wilshire Grand building, major freeways, and many more.

CalPortland bought their building here in Jurupa Valley in 2018. The Center for Technical Excellence will house 40-50 high-paying professional jobs with an average annual salary of $100,000. The company is investing several million dollars on building improvements and landscaping. The Jurupa Valley building will house CalPortland’s corporate cement lab as well as engineering, sales, technical sales, marketing and fleet functions. It will also house the largest cement technical library in the world for the Portland Cement Association.

It was an honor to meet Stephen Coppinger, Vice-President of Engineering Services, Tom Wilson, Laboratory Manager of the Crestmore Laboratory, and other members of the CalPortland Team.

Getting to Know Jurupa Valley—A New City Manager’s Itinerary

In less than two weeks I will have completed my first 90 days as Jurupa Valley’s new City Manager. Here are just a few of the ways that I have tried to get up-to-speed on what the community is all about:

I took a whirlwind half-day tour of all Jurupa Valley parks with Colby Diuguid, General Manager of the Jurupa Area Recreation and Parks District as my tour guide.
I took a tour of the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station led by Lieutenant Danny Young, followed by a two-hour ride-along with Sergeant Iemsisanith.
I met with the leadership team of the Riverside County Department of Animal Services and took a tour of their top-notch animal shelter located on Van Buren here in Jurupa Valley. Terri Rollings joined me for the meeting/tour. Director and Chief Veterinarian Allan Drusys and Animal Services Chief Jaclyn Schart, along with other members of their team, were very helpful and welcoming.
I had a get-acquainted meeting with Planning Commission Chair Arlene Pruitt.
I attended my first Healthy Jurupa Valley monthly meeting in January, and earlier this month I had a get-acquainted meeting with Diana Fox and members of her leadership team.
I met with Diana Leja and Ron Anderson of the Jurupa Valley Chamber of Commerce to get familiar with the Chamber’s current projects and priorities and to gain a better understanding of the current funding agreement between the City and the Chamber.
I had a get-acquainted meeting with Rick Bishop, Executive Director of the Western Riverside Council of Governments to learn more this very important regional organization.
I had lunch with Chris Berch, General Manager of the Jurupa Community Services District, to learn more about JCSD and to talk about issues of mutual interest to both of our agencies.
I attended my first Interagency Coordinating Council Meeting on January 31.
I met with the leadership of the Riverside County Emergency Management Department to discuss various emergency preparedness issues in Jurupa Valley.
I met with Eastvale City Manager Bryan Jones to get acquainted and to discuss issues of mutual interest to both cities.

It has been fun and educational so far, and I anticipate that the next 90 days will include many more opportunities to get to know the people and organizations that keep Jurupa Valley moving forward.

Path of Life Receives HEAP Grant to help Jurupa Valley Residents

Path of Life applied for and was awarded a State of California Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) grant for homelessness prevention. The grant that Path of Life received with City support will provide $114,000 toward homelessness prevention services directly to Jurupa Valley residents over the next few years. For the 2019-20 fiscal year, the City Council allocated a modest $12,000 in homelessness prevention funding as a component of Path of Life’s homelessness services contract. Besides CDBG funding, this grant award represents the first major injection of outside funding into the City’s homelessness response efforts. This is a major win for the City!

Homelessness prevention services include programs like short-term rental assistance, utility assistance, and minor home repairs. This approach helps stabilize low-income individuals and families on the brink of homelessness. Often times, temporary or unexpected hardships can push Jurupa Valley residents into homelessness. This program provides a safety net for people experiencing those unfortunate instances. Path of Life has applied for funding for the 2020-21 CDBG program year. If approved, their homelessness services contract will be augmented with this new funding source.

CDAC Process Starts Next Week

The Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) will meet on March 2, 2019 and March 9, 2019. The CDAC will receive presentations from the City’s two Public Service Grant applicants; Path of Life and the Family Service Association. With technical guidance from City staff, the CDAC will deliberate the viability of the programs being proposed by the applicants. Eventually, their recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for approval as part of the City 2020-21 CDBG budget allocation process.

Video Streaming Update

Swagit, the City’s video streaming contractor, will be arriving on Monday, March 2, 2020 to begin installing the video streaming equipment approved by the City Council in December of last year. They hope to have the equipment up and running in time to stream the March 5, 2020 City Council meeting. Swagit provides a simple, yet cutting edge technology service. We’re excited to see the camera system in action.

Engineering Department Updates

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Granite Hill Pavement Rehab

The Granite Hill project is identified within the current CIP from Pyrite to Edgewood (east of Camino Real)
In order to accommodate the upcoming project being designed by JCSD, we will design for the construction of Granite Hill to be left uncapped
When JCSD completes construction of the pipeline, the City will construct the final 2" AC pavement cap over the previously reconstructed area
The bid package for this work is nearing completion and will be brought to City Council for award in April or May, with construction beginning shortly after

Philadelphia Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation

The Philadelphia Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation was not specifically identified in the current CIP, but is budgeted with funds from the 2019-2020 Pavement Rehabilitation, Locations TBD Project
The City of Fontana just recently completed the construction of Philadelphia Avenue over the San Sevaine Channel
The City of Fontana also completed pavement rehabilitation work on the north side of Philadelphia Avenue from the channel to Country Village Road
This project will reconstruct the south half of Philadelphia Avenue from the channel to Country Village Road
This project will be bid together with the Granite Hill Pavement Rehabilitation Project to increase the project size and benefit from the economies of scale

Emergency Management Updates

2019 Novel Coronavirus

The City of Jurupa Valley is closely monitoring the outbreak and will continue to work closely with the Riverside County Dept. of Public Health, CDC, CDPH, and all necessary agencies to ensure up to date information is shared with our city residents, businesses and community partners.

At this time, there are no current cases reported within Riverside County however we encourage residents to be safe, take recommended precautions, and those who are exhibiting signs of the flu, should visit their health care provider immediately.

For information regarding the current Corona Virus (COVID-19), please visit the links below.

Riverside County Public Health

Centers for Disease Control

World Health Organization

California Department of Public Health

Cal Fire Updates

Jurupa Valley had 872 calls for service in January 2020

Fire Station 18

Interior and Exterior Station rehabilitation project is in progress.

Fire Station 16

Rehabilitation of the interior of the Station will begin in April.

Sheriff's Department Updates

Parole/Probation Compliance Sweep

On Friday, February 07, 2020, beginning at 10:00 AM, members of the Jurupa Valley Station’s Special Enforcement Team conducted parole/probation compliance checks throughout the city of Jurupa Valley at the direction of Sheriff Chad Bianco.

The focus of the operation was to arrest any and all subjects found to be in violation of any crime, parole and probation violations. The goal of the operation is that the arrest of these offenders improves the overall quality of life for the citizens of the city of Jurupa Valley.

During the operation approximately 11 compliance checks were conducted at various locations throughout the city, with assistance from California State Parole.

During the operation, deputies located methamphetamine, heroin, and drug paraphernalia. California State Parole agents addressed multiple parole violations during this operation.

For more information, please visit the Riverside County Sheriff's Dept. website

Marijuana Indoor Cultivation

Search Warrant

On February 21, 2020, at 09:45 AM, at the direction of Sheriff Chad Bianco, members from the Jurupa Valley Sheriff station’s Special Enforcement Team conducted a marijuana eradication search warrant on the 6800 block of Nottoway Ct., in the city of Jurupa Valley.

Deputies recovered a total amount of 469 marijuana plants and 5 pounds of processed marijuana. Also, $17,000 in US Currency was located and seized for Asset Forfeiture, (all weights are approximate, the currency is estimated as it was placed in a sealed bag for counting within the Accounting and Financing Division).

For more information, please visit the Riverside County Sheriff's Dept. website

Man steals electrical panels from homes in Jurupa Valley

Theft of Electrical Breakers/Panels and Search Warrant

On Wednesday, January 15, 2020, a deputy assigned to the Jurupa Valley Station responded to the 3900 block of Iron Mountain Circle, in the City of Jurupa Valley regarding a theft of electrical breakers.

The suspect(s) involved in this theft removed several electrical breakers and panels from a couple of residences and fled the location. A citizen within the Jurupa Valley community provided video surveillance, which captured images of the suspect and the vehicle used during the commission of this crime

Deputies assigned to the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station Special Enforcement Team (SET) assumed the investigation. During their investigation they were able to determine a series of electrical panel and breaker thefts that were occurring in the cities of Jurupa Valley, Eastvale and Ontario.

On Sunday, February 16, 2020, a search warrant was written for a residence and a vehicle located in the 6500 block of Etiwanda Ave, in the city of Jurupa Valley. Several electrical breakers, electrical panel covers, solar panel box’s and other items linking the suspects to the theft were located during the service of this search warrant.

For more information, please visit the Riverside County Sheriff's Dept. website

Quality of Life Citations

On February 22nd the Sheriff's Department conducted an off road vehicle operation. Quality of life Deputies issued 15 Off Road Vehicle type citations and 7 noise ordinance citations.

Public Works Updates

Large Debris Clean up at Bain and Union cul de sac

Public Works in collaboration with Riverside County Flood Control and Burrttec Waste recently cleaned up a strip of flood control and City owned property at Bain and Union.
A total 118.84 Tons of trash were collected and disposed of.

Debris cleaned
on Pacific Avenue

Illegal dumping on Mission cleared

Missing sign replaced on
Jurupa at Felspar

Employee Highlights

Connie Cardenas has been appointed as our new permanent Director of Administrative Services.
Miguel Del Rio and his wife have welcomed their first child.
Jose Ibarra has passed his CBO Management Module certification.