Upland council begins review of nonessential programs amid large deferred‑maintenance needs; fireworks decision deferred

Upland — The Upland City Council on Feb. 24 began reviewing a staff list of nonessential city programs and possible reductions as the city confronts large deferred‑maintenance needs for roads and facilities. Assistant City Manager Steven Parker told the council the list was produced quickly in response to a council request and said staff values all the items but wanted direction because some decisions, including the city's Fourth of July fireworks show, have time‑sensitive planning needs.

The issue matters because council members and staff said road and infrastructure needs outstrip available funds, and recent ballot defeats of local measures mean the city has limited new revenue options. Parker presented reserve balances and program costs and estimated that eliminating every item on the quick list would free about $4.3 million — an amount that staff and several council members said would not materially move the needle on the city's multi‑hundred‑million dollar maintenance backlog.

Parker said the city maintains a 25% general‑fund economic uncertainty reserve and that other reserves include a pension stabilization fund (about $8.4 million), an OPEB trust (about $2.4 million) and an infrastructure improvement reserve (about $1.65 million). He told the council the pavement and sidewalk master plans show "hundreds of millions of dollars of deferred maintenance," and that the city's pavement condition index and costs for rehabilitation require…