Residents urge Chino Hills to adopt responsible-investment policy; presenters cite portfolio returns and risks

Chino Hills — During the public-comment period Aug. 12, several residents called on the City Council to adopt a responsible-investment policy that would add ethical criteria and public oversight to the city’s investment holdings.

Jasser, who provided a written proposal to the city clerk, asked the council to adopt clear ethical guidelines and establish a responsible-investment committee composed of finance staff, residents and a council representative. He told the council the city portfolio earned an average yield of 4.92% as of June 2025 and outperformed the Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) benchmark of 4.53%. He said a policy would reduce exposure to high-risk sectors and add public oversight.

Jim Gallagher also urged the council to adopt a stated mission or vision for the city’s investment portfolio and flagged categories he believes the city should avoid, including businesses with poor environmental records or those broadly tied to tobacco, weapons, coal and hard-rock mining. He recommended defining both negative-screening criteria and best-in-class positive criteria.

Other speakers praised recent community events — Sandra Jones thanked organizers of National Night Out and Sophia, representing Art Wilderness Institute, called for the city to apply sustainability and equity values to procurement and trail maintenance. Council members acknowledged the requests and encouraged staff follow-up; one council member suggested staff should clarify past allocations to organizations used for outreach.