The Azusa City Council adopted the City’s Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget along with key spending priorities, including over $13 million toward various community improvements.
The City of Azusa remains in a strong financial position with a balanced General Fund Budget of $55.2 million, over 55% in reserves, and a surplus of approximately $9.3 million after all anticipated expenditures for the year.
Community improvements identified by the City Council include a comprehensive modernization of various facilities such as the Azusa Library, Senior Center, Memorial Park campus, Women’s Club, Boy Scout House, and the construction of Azusa’s first Dog park.
The City also set aside additional funds for enhancements to Azusa’s downtown, along with $500,000 in assistance to local businesses through a Small Business Support Grant Program. The City Council also earmarked approximately $2 million to address impacts related to those experiencing homelessness in the City.
The City of Azusa also announced that it has received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. This award recognizes local government budget documents of the highest quality that reflect both the guidelines established by the National Advisory Council on State and Local Budgeting and the GFOA’s best practices.
The City of Baldwin Park is considering a ballot measure which would increase the sales tax by .75%. The measure is under consideration for the November 2022 General Municipal Election ballot.
The Stakeholder Advisory Committee composed of residents, business owners and City and school representatives will engage the community in dialogue about area needs. Based on their conversations with the public, the Committee will develop recommendations to the City Council and partner with the Council and City staff to inform residents about the proposed measure.
Public opinion polling conducted in April and May found that 70% of residents would support the proposed measure. The change in sales tax, if approved by Baldwin Park voters, would apply to certain goods and services sold within Baldwin Park. The tax would not apply to other purchases, including the sale of most groceries, professional health services or utilities.
Those interested in seeking additional information should call (626) 960-4011, Ext. 112, or email Rosa Caballero, executive secretary, at rcaballero@baldwinpark.com.
The Chino City Council has announced the appointment of Linda Reich to serve the Chino community as its new City Manager effective August 8, 2022.
Ms. Reich currently serves as Chino’s Director of Community Services and has been employed by the City since May 2002. She has over 31 years of experience in local government, having held various executive, management, and supervisory positions. Prior to her time in Chino, Reich worked for the City of Culver City.
Ms. Reich lives in Chino with her family. She holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Cal State Northridge and a Doctor in Public Administration degree from the University of La Verne. Ms. Reich is also Lecturer in Leadership at the University of La Verne.
Per Reich’s 5-year contract, she will receive an annual salary of $279,911 plus benefits.
The city has announced that the budget continues to be balanced. The Council noted that the new budget retains current levels of public services and highlights new investments in local capital improvements along with community access and recreation programs. '
The adopted budget includes:
28 capital improvement projects that will enhance local roads, water/sewer utility infrastructure, parks, transportation amenities and facilities. A few highlighted projects include:
Roads: Street resurfacing projects to rehabilitate Citrus Avenue, Grand Avenue, Workman Avenue, Rowland Avenue and several residential streets.
Utility Infrastructure: The replacement of 1.5-miles water mains and sewer mains on arterial and residential streets;
Parks: Construction of a new Community Skate Park at Wingate Park and plans to begin construction on the first phase of the City’s Recreation Village that will provide new indoor recreation space for basketball, volleyball and community programs;
Transportation: Continued work to implement a Railway Quiet Zone through the community, enhancements to bus stops/shelters, the addition of bicycle travel improvements at Wingate Park to connect with Grand Avenue and Glendora Avenue heading north and traffic safety upgrades such as traffic signal improvements and a grant-funded project to install in-pavement flashing crosswalks at specific State-approved locations.
Facilities: The creation of a new Business Incubator Space in Downtown Covina to provide affordable office space for small businesses and grant funding to acquire and preserve the Covina Center for the Performing Arts in the City’s Downtown Commercial corridor.
Funding through the American Rescue Plan Act to provide household childcare assistance grants, youth scholarship grants for the City’s Build-a-Dream Program for recreation programs, fee assistance programs and capital investment grants for existing and new local businesses.
Ongoing resources to address many important community priorities, including: Public safety services, including police, fire and emergency preparedness.
Providing community-based programming, such as the City’s Summer Entertainment Series, the Covina Christmas Parade, senior services, youth programs and library services along with programs to support persons experiencing homelessness with case management assistance and interim housing needs. Additionally the budget continues the maintenance and repair of concrete sidewalks, curbs and gutters and City facilities.
In the City of El Monte, Plaza Ortiz Apartments, an affordable housing community, has announced that they are now accepting applications for occupancy. Plaza Ortiz is managed by Hyder Property Management and is located at 10945 Valley Blvd in El Monte. Plaza Ortiz offers efficiency, one, two and three bedroom units. Income restrictions apply. All units are equipped with a refrigerator, stove, dishwasher and microwave oven. The complex includes a computer lab, community room, playground, laundry room and parking for each unit. Water and trash are included in the rent. Rents rage from $776-$1,844.00. Occupancy standards are:
Efficiency: 0-2 people
1 bedroom: 1-3 people
2 bedroom: 2-5 people
3 bedroom: 3-6 people.
Applicants must have proof of income and assets, social security cards and birth certificates for minors. Applicants need to have good credit, no criminal history and good landlord references. For more information call: 213-468-2467 or 800-746-6597.
Plaza Ortiz is part of the on-going effort by the City of El Monte to provide affordable housing and meet their Regional Housing Need Assessment Numbers.
On June 7, 2022, La Verne voters in Districts 1, 3 and 4 voted under the City’s new district based election system for the first time. Following the conclusion of the Los Angeles County Registrar’s
Official Election Canvass period, the elected City Council members were seated during the Council meeting on July 18. The members of the new La Verne City Council are:
• District 1: Steven Frank Johnson
• District 2: Rick Crosby
• District 3: Meshal “Kash” Kashifalghita
• District 4: Tim Hepburn
• District 5: Wendy M. Lau
The new City Council’s first act was to select a Mayor to serve until July 2023. The City Council unanimously voted to appoint Tim Hepburn as La Verne’s Mayor. After Mayor Hepburn’s term, the Mayoral seat will rotate and City Council will select another member to become the next Mayor. Councilman Rick Crosby was also unanimously elected to serve as La Verne’s Mayor Pro Tem.
The 272-unit Camino Real Apartments in Rancho Cucamonga has been sold for $123 million or $425,205 per unit, according to Vizzda, a commercial real estate data provider.
The complex was sold by San Mateo-based Acacia Capital Corp. to a real estate investment trust managed by TA Realty in Newport Beach.
The 249,658-square-foot complex built in 2002 on 20 acres comes with detached garages and a mix of one-, two- three-bedroom units. Rent at the complex ranges from $2,270 for a one-bedroom, one-bath, 720-square-foot apartment up to $3,400 for a three-bed, 1,312-square-foot unit.
Brasada Estates, a luxury housing community located against the foothills in San Dimas, has announced its first official closings and move-ins. Since its inception, this community of 65 residences by homebuilder Grandway Residential has garnered strong interest and demand.
Priced from the low $3 millions, Brasada Estates presents one- and two-story residences ranging from 4 to 6 bedrooms, 4 to 6.5 bathrooms, 3-car garages and approximately 4,476 to 6,261 square feet. Designed by internationally renowned architect Danielian Associates and marketed by Kovach Marketing, Brasada Estates’ showcases designs with courtyards, grand foyers, great rooms, formal dining rooms, culinary kitchens, breakfast nooks and dual walk-in pantries, per plans. Every home includes a downstairs master suite. Multiple covered patios provide indoor-outdoor entertaining spaces and master alcoves allow for private escapes.
Personalization options are also available, such as a second kitchen, extended great room, additional bedrooms or study, pool bath and wine storage. All features have been curated for energy efficiency throughout.
Brasada Estates located near Cataract Ave. and Foothill Blvd., at 1580 Brasada Lane, San Dimas, CA 91773.
Institutional Property Advisors (IPA), a division of Marcus & Millichap (NYSE:MMI), announced the sale of Foothill Ridge, a 232-unit apartment located at 1334 W. Foothill Blvd in Upland, California. The $82 million sales price equates to $353,448 per unit.
According to IPA Foothill Ridge benefited from nearly $3 million in capital improvements in the last three years, with approximately two-thirds spent on property systems and common area improvements. The property has an average occupancy of 97% and benefits from the strong demographics in Upland where the median household income is $100,000.
Foothill Ridge Apartments is a garden-style apartment complex made up of 32 one- and two-story buildings built on 11-plus acres in 1973. The property has ample open space and recently modernized amenities, including a resort-style pool with a furnished sundeck, spa, fitness center, dog park, playground, and barbecue grills. Apartments have energy-efficient appliances, large closets, and central air conditioning.