Public commenters urge implicit-bias training and local-hire commitments at Moreno Valley meeting

Public commenters at the Moreno Valley Planning Commission’s Jan. 9 meeting urged the city to provide implicit-bias and sensitivity training for appointed officials and to press developers for stronger local-hire commitments.

Justin Jackson, who identified himself during public comment, raised a dispute over remarks he said were made by “Commissioner Joanne Steffens” referring to members of the community as “monkeys.” Jackson said he did not believe the commissioner was “a racist” but argued elected and appointed officials should consider the difference between intent and impact and the need for implicit-bias and sensitivity training. He also asked whether commissioners and elected officials receive training on CEQA and whether implicit-bias or sensitivity training is provided to commissioners.

Union representatives and other commenters also urged the commission to encourage the developer for the MAS Toyota expansion to hire local, pay area-standard wages and consider community-benefit agreements. Julio Flores, speaking for the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters, asked that Moss Brothers engage responsible contractors who pay prevailing local wages and prioritize local hires. Another commenter asked the commission to seek a 25% local-hire threshold through a voluntary community-benefit agreement; commissioners and the applicant discussed the legal limits on requiring local-hire percentages for private developments.

Staff reply and city practice: Community Development Director Angelica Fostalupa and planning staff responded later in the meeting. Fostalupa said commissioners and staff receive regular training, including ethics and public-meetings conduct, and she confirmed the city’s economic-development team is “highly involved” during the development-review process and promotes incentive programs to encourage local hiring. Planning staff reiterated that, under land-use review, the city generally cannot mandate local hiring for private developments without specific legal findings; however, staff said the city offers incentives and recruitment services (including Moreno Valley Business and Employment Resources, or BERC) and partners with Moreno Valley College on workforce pathways.

What public comment sought: Speakers asked for three things: explicit training for commissioners on implicit bias and CEQA, stronger outreach and workforce training partnerships (for example with Moreno Valley College), and voluntary developer commitments — such as community-benefit agreements or owner-entered hiring goals — to prioritize local hiring and area-standard pay. City staff and commissioners said many of those efforts already occur through economic-development outreach and recommended pursuing those partnerships earlier in project development so workforce and training pathways are in place before construction bidding.

Ending: No formal action was taken on these public comments at the Jan. 9 meeting. Staff said training and economic-development outreach are ongoing and that developers are encouraged — but not required by entitlement — to participate in local-hire incentive programs.