Dear Friends and District Five Residents:
This is the June Newsletter with some general information on economic development, infrastructure updates, and more.
I encourage you to stay connected by following me on Facebook @MayorBarajas or Instagram @MayorBarajas or sign up for my monthly newsletter below!
I hope you enjoy this e-newsletter. Please reach out to me if I may be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Chris Barajas
Mayor
COMMUNITY developmenT
JURUPA VALLEY PRO RODEO
A project I've been working on for quite some time is bringing the Jurupa Valley Pro Rodeo back to our residents! I've been talking with stakeholders like fellow community leader JARPD Director Godinez, Planning Commissioner Laura Schultz, and many more on the steps we need to take to bring this project to fruition. My goal is to bring back the Rodeo in 2023 over a three day weekend with events such as mutton busting, bull riding, barrel racing, and more. If you're interested in helping please email me at cbarajas@jurupavalley.org
(Photos attached are of my family at past Jurupa Valley Rodeos)
TRUCK INTENSIVE USE ORDINANCE
We approved the first phase of the Truck Intensive Use Ordinance which rezoned multiple sites that are currently zoned as MH-Manufacturing Heavy (Warehouses, Truck Uses, etc) to uses more compatible to what currently exists around them. An example would be a large parcel at our border with Fontana on Sierra. It's currently zoned MH and is next to a housing community. We approved a zone change to A-1 LDR (Low Density Residential). Another example are the In and Out and Old Sizzler (property owner is actively looking for a new tenant). Both of these sites are zoned MH and are being changed to Commercial. One last example is land on the Southside of Clay up against the river which can potentially be used by equestrians or other users is also zoned MH and will be changed to W-1 Watershed to protect the open space.
INLAND EMPIRE TRADE TECH CENTER
I had the opportunity to visit the proposed IETTC site with Congressman Mark Takano who secured $1.5 million for the planning of the project months ago providing the necessary spark to get this project to fruition.
From there, we headed to our local VFW to discuss City projects and events. We also spoke with residents about current projects at the local and federal level and potential new projects. It was a productive evening! As I've shared many times, if you've never been to our local VFW, you need to check out Friday night dinner at least once. Next Friday is steak night
infrastructure
Ever wondered which roads have been repaired and which ones are scheduled for repair in our City? You can view all that information at the following link:
Each year, during our public budget hearings we review available funds and approve the next set of projects on our CIP list.
Some current projects to note that have received funding are:
- Pacific Ave Road and Bicycle Lane rehabilitation between 42nd and Mission.
- Limonite between Felspar and Pedley
- Traffic Signal light at Jurupa and Pedley
- Mission phase 2 between Bellegrave and Pyrite
- Van Buren Widening between the Bridge and Limonite
Visit the link above for a full list of projects. I've asked staff to work on creating a more user friendly map by introducing interactivity through a GIS map instead of a flat file. More to come.
JURUPA ROAD GRADE SEPARATION UPDATE:
VAN BUREN BLVD. LANE CLOSURE:
Expect single lane closures on Van Buren Blvd. from Rutile St. to 56th St.
PLEASE REDUCE YOUR SPEED.
There will be trucks entering and exiting the job site, so please exercise caution when driving through the area.
SUBSCRIBE for project updates at
http://www.JurupaGradeSeparation.com
BUSINESS ACCESS REMAINS OPEN #ShopJurupaValley
CIERRE DE CARRIL VAN BUREN BLVD:
Espere cierres de un solo carril en Van Buren Blvd. de Rutile St. a 56th St.
POR FAVOR REDUZCA SU VELOCIDAD.
Habrá camiones entrando y saliendo del sitio de trabajo, así que por favor tenga cuidado al conducir por el área.
SUSCRÍBASE para recibir actualizaciones del proyecto en
http://JurupaGradeSeparation.com
ACCESO DE NEGOCIOS SIGUE ABIERTO #ShopJurupaValley
SUBSCRIBE for project updates at http://www.JurupaGradeSeparation.com.
BUSINESS ACCESS REMAINS OPEN buy local and #ShopJurupaValley
You can see more info and stay up to date with road closures and more here:
city manager updates
Our City Manager Rod Butler is releasing bi-weekly City Manager Updates. You can view the full updates at the following links:
No Updates to Report this Month
RESOURCES
council business/community news
At a WRCOG Admin and Finance Committee meeting we continued work on the I-REN (Inland Regional Energy Network). As we finalize the MOU between all parties, we are creating a governing body with 3 members from each Council of Government. Our recommendation to the full Executive Committee for WRCOG's representatives are Mayor Crystal Ruiz of San Jacinto, Councilmember Jacque Casillas of Corona, and myself. The full Executive Committee will vote on this recommendation at our next scheduled meeting.
If you want to learn more about what a Regional Energy Network does, you can learn more here: https://socalren.org/
Congratulations to Lion Elvera Borders! She does so much for our community, well deserved!
Lion of the Year 2021-22. Elvera Borders!!
At the last TUMF Northwest Zone Executive Committee Meeting we approved the 2022 Northwest Zone 5 Year Transportation Improvement Program.
Through the TUMF program, we're getting vital funding towards the following infrastructure projects:
- Limonite Ave, Bain to Homestead 2 to 4 lanes
- Market St and Market St Bridge from Rubidoux Blvd to the Santa Ana River 2 to 4 lanes
- Rubidoux Blvd/SR60 Interchange
- Bellegrave Ave (Cantu-Galleano to Van Buren) 2 to 4 lanes
While these funds are a tremendous help, there are still some gaps that we need to close the funding gap on.
Email me any questions at cbarajas@jurupavalley.org
A HUGE Thank you to CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department and Jurupa Valley Sheriff's Station for their quick response to the #PalominoIC! Their outstanding work in getting vital resources to the site quickly no doubt contributed to no lives or structures being lost. There are minor damages to some structures and a full assessment will be completed. City Staff already has our building inspector out to assess the damage to the Rite Aid and everyone will be able to return to their homes. Some residents in the area may notice some retardant on their homes, it is biodegradable.
I had the opportunity to visit the site and get updates from our Fire Chiefs and RSO Lieutenant. I am extremely grateful for all they do to keep us safe.
As a result of Jurupa Valley Planning Commissioner and Executive Director of the CCAEJ (Ret.) Penny Newman's continued advocacy and due diligence on #Stringfellow, we became aware that without notification, DTSC transferred hazardous material from the Exide site in Vernon to the Stringfellow site right here in Jurupa Valley.
We are demanding that DTSC remove these containers immediately! You can read the letter we have sent to DTSC that is attached.
Thank you to General Richard Roth and Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes for their support and advocacy on behalf of our residents regarding #Stringfellow and the illegal action by DTSC.
We DEMAND DTSC remove these hazardous materials immediately!
Thank you to the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice for the opportunity to join them, the Federal EPA, South Coast AQMD, and more on part of their tour visit to Stringfellow. I shared about the containers of hazardous material DTSC has stored there and the City's position demanding their removal.
I had the opportunity to visit multiple sites of the #UnionFire with CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department earlier today. We recently approved the 2022-23 Local Responsibility Area Wildland Protection Reimbursement Agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. This allows for a quicker response and continued resources past the standard mutual aid agreements for fires in wildland such as the Santa Ana River which is state lands.
There are multiple engines still on scene with a couple of hand crews looking for hot spots. There were no active flames while I visited the sites. Crews will remain generally in the area between the nature center and the Van Buren bridge through tomorrow working the area and will reassess when appropriate.
We have received reports that a few structures sustained some damage. While we are awaiting a full assessment, I've asked City Staff to look into potential resources for those affected by the fire.
I can't thank our Firefighters and Sheriff Deputies enough for keeping our residents safe. As a small token of my appreciation I did take them some goodies/snacks.
Be sure to follow CalFire social media accounts such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc for updates and for future reference. I've also seen many recommend the Watch Duty App:
