Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in San Dimas public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
20 issues with medium priority
AED and CPR requirements on city fields (AB 310)
The field allocation policy would be updated to meet new state law (AB 310) requiring access to defibrillators and CPR training — a player-safety improvement at city sports fields.
Lone Hill Park watershed management project
A regional stormwater management project at Lone Hill Park was up for environmental clearance and conceptual design approval. It could improve water quality and park facilities, with final design dependent on construction funding.
Flock Safety mobile security trailer pilot
A one-year pilot would lease a mobile security trailer equipped with automatic license plate readers, with $35,000 appropriated. Supporters see a crime-deterrence tool; the technology raises privacy questions for some residents.
Tree Preservation Ordinance exemptions for single-family homes
The city was considering exempting single-family properties from its tree preservation ordinance, which currently restricts tree removal. Homeowners would gain flexibility, but protections would remain on open space, slope, and HOA-maintained areas.
Fourth of July celebration costs
Staff suggested skipping an annual Fourth of July event because of its cost and planning burden, keeping the City Birthday and Music in the Park events instead. Residents who love a hometown fireworks show had a stake in the outcome.
Halloween safety in San Dimas
Councilmembers urged drivers to slow down Halloween night, especially on the busy San Dimas Avenue strip between Bonita and Gladstone. City staff are checking crosswalks and sidewalks to keep trick-or-treaters safe.
2027 Solid Waste Rate Increase
Waste Management requested a 3.51% increase to San Dimas solid waste collection rates for 2027, continuing year four of a five-year adjustment plan. This affects monthly trash bills for all residential and commercial customers.
Trash Wranglers equipment support
San Dimas High School students running the Trash Wranglers cleanup club asked the city to help sponsor trash pickers and gear — they've grown to about 60 members but ran out of tools. Rotarian Raymond Foster offered to help connect them with funding, and the council voted to add the group's needs to a future agenda.
Bonita Avenue Right-of-Way Vacation
The council and Successor Agency were asked to spend $106,260 to hire Psomas to prepare a cleanup plan for the 344 Bonita Avenue property — a step toward remediating that site.
Parental Access to Youth Incident Reports
Staff reviewed how the city's Kids Fun Club program handles incidents involving children, recommending the city keep telling parents at pickup, documenting the conversation, and handing them a note summarizing their child's involvement.
Public Comment on City Action
A San Dimas hardware store owner says the city damaged his property without giving him proper notice, and he’s asking the community to back him up. If that’s true, it’s a local accountability test: did the city follow its own notification rules, and who pays for the damage?
Termination of the railroad cantilever signal project
A 1915 Santa Fe cantilever signal has sat in storage at Horse Thief Canyon Park since 2021, waiting on donations to build its display at the San Dimas Railroad Museum site in Rhodes Park. Only about $4,000 of an estimated $50,000-$60,000 has been pledged, so the council gave the project 90 days to show real fundraising progress before deciding whether to build it or donate it to another city or museum.
City Hall HVAC boiler replacement
The 25-year-old City Hall boiler needs replacing, but the only bid came in at $226,148 — nearly double the budget. The council rejected it and staff will re-bid after tweaking the plans.
Area Infrastructure and Construction Updates
The city hired DMS Consultants for $103,437 in design work on the San Dimas Canyon Road project — new pavement, ADA ramps, and bike lanes — using a $850,000 federal grant secured through Congressman Cisneros's office. Construction, estimated at $3.6 million, will come back to the council later.
AB 1786 — Best-Value Contracting Support
The city signed onto a bill that would free cities from always taking the lowest construction bid on complex projects over $1 million. Council members said the lowest-bid rule has burned them before with problem contractors.
SGVCOG public safety grant extension
The council extended the deadline to spend the remaining $140,149 of a $200,000 public safety grant to June 30, 2026 — funding security cameras, drones, and emergency communication upgrades.
Waste Management performance and SB 1383 compliance
San Dimas is only diverting about 45% of residential and 14% of commercial organic waste, risking state fines. A grant-funded contract with Go2Zero Strategies will fund targeted education — including for multifamily properties dealing with contamination fees — with enforcement as a last resort.
Pickleball Courts at the SportsPlex
Converting a tennis court to four pickleball courts ran into surprise costs — the old slab is 26 inches thick and has electrical conduit buried in it. The council approved the extra $11,150 so the project can finish in February, and held off on $20,000 sound panels until noise complaints actually show up.
FY 2026-27 CDBG Funding for Housing and Community Programs
The city's $158,491 federal block grant will fund low-income home repairs (grants up to $15,000, or $40,000 for qualifying mobile homes), youth scholarships raised to $12,000, and a downtown restaurant assistance program. Last year the housing division spent $1.1 million across programs and helped 132 households.
Theft of City Property
Someone swiped a 300-pound bronze frog statue from San Dimas City Hall, and now the city has to figure out security and whether to replace it. It’s a bold, weird theft—and taxpayers may end up covering the cleanup.