Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in La Verne public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
47 issues
Temporary groundwater transfers with Three Valleys MWD
The state-required five-year update refreshes the city's water supply planning and drought response playbook, including new rules on water loss reporting, potable reuse, and turf irrigation bans starting 2027.
Citywide emergency evacuation plan gaps
The city's prior hazard mitigation plan had expired; the new 2026 plan identifies 30 actions against wildfire, earthquake, flooding and severe weather. Adoption makes La Verne eligible for FEMA hazard mitigation grant funding, which can cover 75% or more of project costs.
Arrow Highway bikeway cost-sharing with Pomona
Pomona and SGVCOG's protected bike lane on Arrow Highway would end at White Avenue in La Verne, converting one eastbound lane. La Verne can piggyback on the repaving for about $528,000 — roughly $247,000 less than going alone.
Paramedic certification pay and firefighter labor relations
Teamsters Local 1932 is now the official union for the city's general employees after ousting City Employees Associates in an April election. A union rep warned the city must keep the status quo and bargain before implementing job classification changes tied to the budget.
Arrow Highway traffic signal gridlock
Commuters and residents slammed the unsynchronized signals on Arrow Highway between Wheeler and White, describing 20-minute waits at evening rush hour. Staff explained a Los Angeles County Traffic Signal Synchronization Project is under construction through the corridor, complicated by railroad crossings and Metro, with additional improvements planned at White Avenue.
Unlicensed dirt bike activity in neighborhoods
Richard Bowen reported a group of young teens riding unlicensed dirt bikes through stop signs on Emerald Avenue, harassing drivers and endangering pedestrians. He asked police to review his video footage before someone gets killed.
Water System Planning and Rates
The council funded a $249,946 update to the Water Master Plan, the first since 2020, including the city's first conditions assessment of wells, reservoirs and pump stations. The results will feed the upcoming water rate study.
Community Events: Holiday Stroll and Walk of Honor
The council approved city support for two December 5 Old Town events with a new cost-recovery policy: the nonprofits reimburse material costs while the city donates staff time. Council members also pressed the Walk of Honor committee to make its honoree selection process more transparent.
Waste Management Billing Dispute Raised in Public Comment
Starting September 1, Waste Management bills residents directly instead of the city — same rates, new bill format, 120-day late-fee grace period, plus August workshops and a weekly help desk at City Hall. Check your first bill carefully.
Metropolitan Water District Battery Fire Response and Claims
Metropolitan Water District representatives updated the council on the investigation into the battery incident that triggered the evacuation, reporting 28 claims received so far. Council members pressed for faster claim processing and greater city oversight of battery facilities.
Veterans Hall Operations and VFW Agreement
The city spends about $11,000 a year cleaning Veterans Hall while the VFW pays nothing. Staff is drafting an agreement requiring the post to help maintain the building it uses, and moving a preschool program into the hall.
Christmas Morning Event Goes Community-Led
The century-old Christmas Morning tradition will now be run by a community committee, with the city providing $13,000 in seed money and $3,000 for city costs. Candy bags return, golf carts replace volunteer runners, and the committee must report back under the city's new partnership rules.
2026 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Adoption
The city's prior hazard mitigation plan had expired; the new 2026 plan identifies 30 actions against wildfire, earthquake, flooding and severe weather. Adoption makes La Verne eligible for FEMA hazard mitigation grant funding, which can cover 75% or more of project costs.
Emergency Response
La Verne just lifted evacuation orders after a battery storage fire was finally put out, so residents can head home. The bigger takeaway: these battery facilities near neighborhoods can create real emergency risks, and the city’s response is now in the spotlight.
Battery Facility Fire Emergency
A lithium battery fire in La Verne is finally cooling down, but evacuation orders are still active—so if you're in the zone, don't head back yet and keep watching for official updates. It's a public safety risk with real disruption for nearby residents.
Emergency at Water Facility
An explosion and fire at a La Verne water facility forced evacuations and injured one person. If you’re nearby, expect possible disruptions to emergency response and water service while crews secure the site and assess damage.
Campaign Sign Placement on Public Property
Council candidate Richard Bowen said the incumbent placed a campaign sign on public property at Via Del Monte and Wheeler, contrary to the rules Bowen was given when filing. Staff will review the sign placement rules with staff.
Public Art Fund Ordinance and Policy
The city has roughly $671,000 collected from developer in-lieu fees but no formal rules for spending it. The draft ordinance would require bigger developments to fund public art, and council wants more oversight — Planning Commission, council review, local artists, and historical fact-checking — before approving a final version.
Sierra La Verne Property — Mystery Golf LLC
Richard Bowen raised the formation of a Sierra La Verne Golf LLC by developer Matthew Waken on the Sierra La Verne property and demanded transparency. The city says no plans have been submitted and it knows nothing about the LLC.
Affordable Housing Development Impact Fees
For the first time in over 20 years, La Verne set affordable housing fees on new development — deliberately below the legally defensible maximum to keep developers coming. Fees fund affordable housing, and the City Manager can negotiate project by project.
Middle Management 2% COLA
Sergeants and the captain get a new three-year contract aligned with the officers' union deal — pay raises, a master's degree incentive, and higher CalPERS contributions — costing $19,412 this year.
Cell Service and Microcell Expansion
A new master license agreement lets carriers put small cell equipment on city poles — Verizon is already lined up for 5-8 sites, with several targeted at North La Verne's notorious cell dead zones.
LACAHSA Homelessness Prevention Grant
The city accepted $460,000 in county funding to build a homelessness prevention program, finish the Valley Rancho Mobile Home Park feasibility study, and train staff on homelessness law.
Farmers Market Return and Chamber Partnership
The city cut its Chamber subsidy to $35,000 but backed a plan to bring back a farmers market, possibly in the City Hall parking lot, with vendors getting a break on business license fees until a new master-license system is set up.
Purchasing Policy and Competitive Bidding
The city raised its no-bid purchase threshold to $7,500 and replaced mandatory five-year rebidding with a documented review. Critics warn it invites favoritism toward long-time contractors, pointing to unbid contracts like RKA's million-dollar-a-year deal.
Affordable Housing Lot Merger Exception
A zoning amendment creates an exception to the rule forcing jointly-owned nonconforming lots to merge — clearing a barrier for affordable housing projects like the Lutheran High School-affiliated property on First Street.
Gold Line Pedestrian Bridge Funding Amendment
The council approved adding $2 million in restricted COG funds to the Gold Line pedestrian bridge project, bringing the total to just over $28 million. Bids were delayed three weeks with 60 prospective bidders, and the council wants a serious cost conversation — and La Verne signage on the bridge — before construction.
Street Sweeping Contract Transition
Athens Services wanted an 18% rate hike, so the city signed a one-year interim deal with CMAX at the same $39.14 per curb mile ($173,000 cap). A competitive RFP comes later this year — and residents asked why the city didn't start bidding earlier.
School Zone Speed Limit Lowered to 20 MPH
Under AB 382, La Verne lowered school zone speed limits from 25 to 20 mph when children are present — years ahead of the state's 2031 deadline. New signs cost about $5,000 and police will run an education-first enforcement period before citations begin.
Fire Risk Reduction Designation for La Verne
La Verne is one of just 42 cities on the state's Fire Risk Reduction Community List, which supports grants and is already helping some residents shave insurance costs. Firewise leader Raymond Swain said the city and community groups will keep building on the momentum.
Goldspotted Oak Borer Infestation in Marshall Canyon
An invasive beetle has killed or infested nearly half the surveyed coast live oaks in Marshall Canyon. The county is applying for a $5 million state grant that could pay to treat up to 400 trees and remove 200 dead ones — decisions the city would still make. Residents can help by not moving oak firewood and reporting declining oaks.
Measure G Elected County CEO Concerns
The council voted to send a letter asking the Measure G Task Force to engage with cities before finalizing recommendations on the new countywide elected CEO position, which cities feel is being fast-tracked without their input.
Employee Compensation and Benefits Update
The council updated benefit resolutions and the full-time salary chart, including roughly $43,000 in added medical contributions and $147,595 in negotiated raises — all general fund costs offset by Measure LV money. Negotiations with remaining employee groups continue.
Measure GG Paramedic Fee Increase (Prop 218)
Measure GG brings in $1.06 million a year but EMS costs run $3.8 million, leaving about $1 million on the general fund. Council is weighing a ballot measure for November 2026 to raise the $6.90 monthly fee — possibly to $12.50 or more — with a better inflation escalator.
EIFD Board Appointment and Recruitment
Only two people applied for the public seat on the Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District board, so the council reopened recruitment for 60 days instead of appointing. Council members want better outreach and public education about what the EIFD actually does.
Trailer Parking Ordinance Update
New rules require street-parked trailers to be hitched to an operable vehicle, with time limits by type and fines starting at $55. Aimed at safety and cutting visual blight; exemptions exist for emergencies, remodels, and moves.
City-Owned Mobile Home Parks
The Public Financing Authority adopted budgets for La Verne Mobile Country Club and Valley Rancho, both self-sustaining without city subsidy. The 1996 purchase bond for Mobile Country Club will be paid off this year, and the city is exploring a possible change in the management company.
Short-Term Rental Pool Party Nuisance
Resident Pam Berry described a renter on her cul-de-sac hourly-renting a swimming pool on an app for up to $100/hour, drawing crowds of up to 100 people and repeated police visits. She urged the council to tighten short-term rental ordinances to cover this.
CCW Psychological Evaluation Policy Change
Universal psych evaluations for concealed-carry applicants are gone; the chief can still order one case-by-case based on background findings, and the $150 subsidy is eliminated. Some residents said the extra screening layer made them feel safer.
Heritage on White Affordable Housing
Three of 17 condos at 2467 First Street will be restricted as affordable ownership housing for 45 years as a condition of the condo conversion — one very low-income and two moderate-income units, with a preference for local buyers.
FY 2026-27 Budget and Measure LV
The city's $101.5 million budget is adopted, with the General Fund balanced but relying on one-time sources. Personnel costs and a 37% jump in CalPERS payments are the big long-term pressure — expect this conversation to continue.
Annual Assessment District Levies
Rising water costs and a state law banning non-functional turf are straining the city's three landscape and lighting districts, where expenses already outpace revenue in most zones. The council wants better public outreach before asking voters to raise assessments in 2027.
Old Town Business Improvement District
The BID's ~$25,000 annual assessments were renewed unchanged since 1986. The advisory board chose to skip funding the 2027 Cool Cruise car show in favor of physical improvements, though grant money might save the spring car show.
Police Middle Management Labor Agreement
Sergeants and the captain get a new three-year contract aligned with the officers' union deal — pay raises, a master's degree incentive, and higher CalPERS contributions — costing $19,412 this year.
Budget Deficits and Reserve Protection
This year is running about $300,000 over budget (mostly retirement payouts), and next year's draft has a $233,628 gap. Council wants to protect 30% reserves and is eyeing event sponsorships, Veterans Hall cost recovery, and fee changes rather than slashing community programs.
E-Bike and Scooter Regulation
The city's first e-bike ordinance is now law: Class 3 e-bikes banned from sidewalks, riders must be 16+, and fines run $100-$500 with a safety class alternative. Council kept Class 1 and 2 bikes legal on sidewalks after police data showed nearly all crashes happen on streets, not sidewalks.
Sewer-to-Water Internal Loan
The new fund loan policy sets rules for a short-term loan from the sewer fund to the water fund to keep cash flowing — the water fund is running short based on the rate study.