[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6541299,"mediaKeyId","3558570-f6264ad41451ad7e89cbb829fe38d4f4","parentId",3558570,"title","Residents urge awareness as Cal Fire's updated hazard zones expand in Chino Hills; council hears public comment","audioSeconds",367,"startMs",6666000,"endMs",7033000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3558570-f6264ad41451ad7e89cbb829fe38d4f4&start=6666&end=7033","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3558570-f6264ad41451ad7e89cbb829fe38d4f4/thumbnail_6666000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6541299/Chino-Hills-City/San-Bernardino-County/California/Residents-urge-awareness-as-Cal-Fires-updated-hazard-zones-expand-in-Chino-Hills-council-hears-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541299-3b23ed949b95eb857ecce8529f9231ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203450&Signature=EkcWh8u-5RMwyNzm8oroi6T2GnHookWaT438Bsol1Vhz5IufwXHJVkRgzXwwe3lW3Ad9Fl0-jfTTXbeq~4TfLSBmOa17hXmnNAO5adGxllxi7a5A3tzerugIBvYtBaOTs~MQhpf9N7jUaV49Cq0IobHPcWINZz3P8IhZBAdJ15TbH9VYvD8lhtFp8bEY9BHY6snLyRJwII7ESAshGRgj-iscWOgwUe~m~tjCleXcgIT-jMLhEI0Gp9wjJXsCgKYcxo2yVZSq8X-bK7qsfEl2gwcJsAUSsCmMNmovPzCkgZIrfJ1zeJVvtK5WuII-XyXnujVgamRmsSU0LXCt~Gt-CQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Chino Hills","date","2025-05-27T00:00:00Z","article","A resident told the Chino Hills City Council on May 27 that updated Cal Fire Local Responsibility Area (LRA) hazard-zone maps released this year significantly expanded mapped wildfire severity in Chino Hills and urged the city to publicize the change and expand community preparedness.

Ann Lahr, speaking in public comment, said Chino Hills had the highest acreage increase in California under the new maps and urged the city to step up outreach, publicize an upcoming San Bernardino County Fire District public hearing and consider additional fire-safe councils, volunteer watch programs and wildfire-awareness workshops. She highlighted potential insurance implications and asked the city to help residents understand the consequences of the new designations.

City Manager Ben Montgomery and staff said the city and the fire district are constrained by state mapping rules. Montgomery noted the fire district is limited in its ability to change the state-generated hazard designations but that the district will host a local hearing and provide information; a public hearing by the district was scheduled for July 9. Staff also said the city regularly conducts weed-abatement inspections, works with the fire district on defensible-space enforcement and uses public-information channels to communicate red-flag warnings.

Fire and safety staff reported there are cameras and monitoring systems (some with automated smoke detection) covering park and open-space areas; the department also is coordinating with the state parks on fire-risk management. Montgomery said conversations are in progress with county officials about where the county can assist; he reported the county CEO and staff had discussed a targeted approach for certain commercial properties where the city already receives a larger portion of property tax revenue.

Ending: Councilmembers and staff asked for more public outreach and suggested exploring volunteer or spotter programs modeled on adjacent jurisdictions; staff said it would continue coordination with the fire district and state park officials and provide additional information to the public about the maps and upcoming hearings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Chino Hills - City Council Meeting - May 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A resident warned the council the city's acreage saw the largest statewide increase in mapped fire-hazard severity, urged outreach and defensible-space programs, and staff described existing inspection and outreach efforts; a public hearing is scheduled by the fire district on July 9.","taxTitle","Chino Hills City, San Bernardino County, California","taxId",5813,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6541304,"Chino Hills council upholds ban on private decorations for city monument signs; motion passes 3-1",418,5051000,5469000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3558570-f6264ad41451ad7e89cbb829fe38d4f4&start=5051&end=5469","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3558570-f6264ad41451ad7e89cbb829fe38d4f4/thumbnail_5051000.jpg","/articles/6541304/Chino-Hills-City/San-Bernardino-County/California/Chino-Hills-council-upholds-ban-on-private-decorations-for-city-monument-signs-motion-passes-3-1","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541304-9117940ac1275ecc80d6c0aba8f86058/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203450&Signature=NOGdAj53TvRptRMlHbUrndLBEf7nDtkdnzjcy96fhR3Kr1lni1qfAU9e11zB7k0hxHF4XyVIUde9oGzoCwJVbSwfK1szClj6Vnkt0kyZFWZnoWIzmONBt-JrR3seiXXd0bXYRiZ410gQ33P~6E6UxaLzkqF0s7Mq2eFuat4L10MFbJVtoYXMst2RT4fSDjK0CpkwbG3bMM1spudA5Qio~bCXmaIk6M~-PexzlN3dn8vjRH-hWq7czdfR9y3nrErhD9QTEJPvFM6QEiP0mKj1nYY36TikrZoEW9-KhH~Q0aVqjz4idcnRcr95b4fewOz-Xh1mIP-p3FPAxD63GrxYGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Chino Hills City Council voted 3–1 on May 27 to keep in place a prohibition on private parties adding decorations to city-owned neighborhood monument signs.

City Manager Ben Montgomery told the council staff had evaluated four options after a homeowners association placed seasonal decorations on a monument at Alterra Park: (1) a permit process to allow private decorations on city property, (2) sell city monuments to private owners, (3) a city-run holiday decorations program, or (4) continue the current prohibition. Staff recommended the fourth option, citing legal and administrative difficulties.

Montgomery said a permit program would be difficult to administer and could raise free-speech issues because the city could not limit private use only to adjacent homeowners without exposing itself to equal-access or content-based challenges. Selling a portion of monument property, staff added, would require parceling and utility work that could be cost-prohibitive; a city-run decorations program would require up-front funding and decisions about which holidays to include.

Councilmember Cynthia Moran seconded the motion to continue the prohibition, and the motion passed 3–1; Councilmember Marquez voted no. Montgomery said staff will continue to enforce the current practice and field requests. The adopted policy keeps monuments available for their original public purpose and restricts non-city decorations on city property.

Ending: The council’s action formalizes the city’s longstanding approach and directs staff to maintain the existing prohibition rather than develop a permit program or sell monuments to private associations.","After staff warned of free-speech and liability problems with allowing private groups to decorate city-owned neighborhood monuments, the City Council voted 3-1 to continue prohibiting non-city installations on monument signs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6541309,"Chino Hills projects $2.2 million general-fund shortfall, council weighs sales-tax option",6759,130000,6889000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3558570-f6264ad41451ad7e89cbb829fe38d4f4&start=130&end=6889","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3558570-f6264ad41451ad7e89cbb829fe38d4f4/thumbnail_130000.jpg","/articles/6541309/Chino-Hills-City/San-Bernardino-County/California/Chino-Hills-projects-22-million-general-fund-shortfall-council-weighs-sales-tax-option","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541309-58e80f3c09074f1de1e2a65e46493368/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203450&Signature=RbXK7CN7N-QZid2N0myzbU4HplD6zw78uDN~6oUPGRbEyz8gGYnR2YiSx-z9yOEPmVu6znaFsfKW6HvEeDa8b2HykVxfqadHT7JSKPeLlYlvUfRBSH~V0-sLax25MKttF~s6n1nFicWMKnkTnEDMrMxW7mWwkf5vUTxTpxgWH1HDM6DCDGfDEFdOxAHgMWfjyl3wSY-FOYl36aw9KuEyssBVqP0twB15NHpnyW2ibLaGSKw2sYC2ENUuDZfuYD7YfJcmcA~eq43UskR9USnAgmtGTsFwl4~bY3ytjljERkNofcJPKm4LwUHoBv79hQGS2jFnGbie4ul~HshKe2skVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chino Hills City Manager Ben Montgomery told the City Council at a May 27 budget workshop that the city is proposing a fiscal year 2025–26 budget that spends about $2.2 million more in the general fund than it expects to receive in revenue.

Montgomery said the proposed all-funds budget totals about $148 million in revenues and roughly $150 million in expenditures. The city projects a general-fund revenue of $56.4 million against proposed general-fund expenditures of $58.6 million, leaving a gap Montgomery described as “a planned draw on reserves.” He said unrestricted reserves would remain sizable — roughly $34.9 million — but would decline over a five-year projection if current revenue and spending patterns continue.

The council and staff emphasized that property tax and sales tax are the city’s two largest general-fund revenue sources and that both are effectively constrained. Finance staff warned sales-tax receipts are projected to fall about 2 percent next year and noted the city receives roughly 4 cents of every property-tax dollar collected in the county and about 13 cents of each sales-tax dollar collected by the state. Krista (Finance Director) and consultant HDL briefed the council on revenue drivers and the limits of local control.

Why it matters: Council members framed the budget as a structural issue — rising operating and contract costs, multi-year contract escalators, aging infrastructure and higher energy costs have outpaced modest revenue growth. Staff said the city can cover the shortfall this year from reserves but that continuing to do so will reduce the city’s financial cushion over time and could force program cuts or new revenue measures.

Council members focused discussion on options to increase revenue. The most-discussed option was a voter-approved local sales-tax measure (an additional 1 percentage point), which staff estimated could raise roughly $10 million to $12 million a year for the city once fully realized. Councilmembers noted nearby cities adopted similar measures, and staff said local control of a sales-tax increment would let Chino Hills set spending priorities. Several council members said they expect to pursue public outreach and education before advancing any ballot measure.

Other revenue issues and limits: Montgomery and other staff detailed federal and state uncertainties that have already trimmed expected funding. Staff said several federal earmarks — including $2 million for electric resiliency, $2 million for recycled-water support and $1.8 million for fire-risk reduction — were delayed by the federal budget process and did not flow to the city as expected. On the state side, staff noted the governor’s May revision showing a large state shortfall and warned some grant programs such as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) are uncertain.

Expenditure drivers and reserves: Staff called attention to rising personnel costs, multi-year contract escalators, deferred maintenance on parks and facilities and higher energy and water costs. The finance presentation showed total reserves (restricted plus unrestricted) at about $46.9 million, equal to roughly 81 percent of operating expenditures; the unrestricted portion was about $34.9 million (about 60 percent of operating expenditures). Staff modeled that without revenue increases or further cuts the combined reserve balance could decline markedly over five years.

Landscape and lighting subsidy, community services fund consolidation: Staff highlighted two recurring budget pressures. First, the city is subsidizing the landscape and lighting (L&L) district by about $3.8 million because assessments have not been raised since the early 1990s and roughly half the city’s parcels participate in the district. Second, staff has proposed consolidating the separate Community Services Fund into the general fund for administrative clarity; that accounting change reduces the appearance of community-services spending in year-over-year comparisons but does not reduce the actual level of investment in parks, events and recreation services.

Capital projects and staffing: Public Works Director Daniel Bobadilla summarized the capital-improvement program (CIP), including carryover projects and $12.2 million in proposed new CIP requests for parks, streets and water/recycled-water infrastructure. Finance staff noted the all-funds budget includes a $12.3 million CIP program and the water utility represents the largest share of CIP funding. Citywide authorized full-time positions are proposed at 156, a net increase of two positions, plus several reclassifications and two new positions in the public-works water division.

Next steps: Staff said the council will revisit and (if ready) adopt the budget at an upcoming council meeting. Montgomery and councilmembers said staff will continue public outreach, update five-year projections quarterly and bring back specific options — including analysis and outreach plans for a potential sales-tax ballot measure — for council consideration.

Ending: The council did not adopt the budget at the workshop; staff will bring a proposed budget for formal action at a future council meeting after additional review and outreach.","City staff presented a preliminary fiscal 2025–26 budget showing a $2.2 million general-fund gap, robust reserves that will fall under current trends and discussion of a possible voter-approved 1% sales-tax measure to plug structural revenue shortfalls.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge awareness as Cal Fire's updated hazard zones expand in Chino Hills; council hears public comment

Chino Hills council upholds ban on private decorations for city monument signs; motion passes 3-1

Chino Hills projects $2.2 million general-fund shortfall, council weighs sales-tax option