In The News
RTA vehicle gets second life with Path of Life Ministries
Source: The Press-Enterprise
Published: April 24, 2012
A homeless shelter in Riverside now has its own van to whisk people to job training and child care.
The Path of Life Ministries shelter took delivery Thursday of a 2006 Ford El Dorado van as part of the Riverside Transit Agency’s (RTA) vehicle donation program that gets buses and vans for nonprofit groups. The vehicles have exceeded their recommended service life and are no longer capable of remaining in the active fleet, but are in good condition and equipped with amenities such as wheelchair lifts.
Path of Life’s Vice President of Operations Damien O’Farrell said the white van, which seats up to 12 people and has space for three wheelchairs, will come in handy for transporting people to employment centers where they get hands-on training and job skills necessary to succeed. The van also will transport children to day care facilities.
“We are truly excited about this partnership, and the opportunity to close those gaps in services for people who are the most vulnerable,” O’Farrell said. “Providing transportation to job training and child care is a huge step in right direction.”
In addition to a safe and warm place to sleep, shelter guests are offered an evening hot meal, breakfast in the morning, and shower and laundry facilities. Adults meet with staff to identify and reach their individual goals. Referrals to and assistance from community resources are also available. Each year, the shelter serves nearly 900 guests, the majority of which are children.
County Supervisors John Tavaglione and Bob Buster, who sit on the RTA Board of Directors, helped facilitate the donation. Buster said RTA’s donation program prolongs the life of these useful vehicles and allows groups such as Path of Life Ministries to enhance their services.
“Transportation is critical for helping people get on their feet, restore family and strengthen their financial opportunities,” Buster said. “RTA is putting taxpayer dollars to good use by giving these vehicles a longer, more productive life.”
Said Tavaglione, “This is an extraordinary opportunity to put this vehicle to good use for a truly worthy cause. During these tough economic times, groups such as Path of Life are making a positive difference in our community.”
The Riverside Transit Agency provides public transportation for Western Riverside County, operating 36 fixed routes, eight commuter routes and Dial-A-Ride service. RTA’s service area spans 2,500 square miles, the second largest in the nation. For bus route and schedule information contact RTA at 951-565-5002 or visit RiversideTransit.com.
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Group helping youth in crisis gets van
Source: The Press-Enterprise
Published: March 31, 2012
Officials at Operation SafeHouse are always looking for ways to spread their message of hope. Their mission just got easier.
That’s because the nonprofit group that helps runaway and homeless children received a donated van from the Riverside Transit Agency, and it won’t be long before the van gets a new look with a full vehicle wrap. A key-passing ceremony was held at RTA headquarters on March 19.
“This is something we have wanted for years,” said Operation SafeHouse’s Program Director Fonda McGensy. “The children are going to be thrilled, plus we now have a new way to advertise our services.”
McGensy said the white 2006 Ford El Dorado van, which seats up to 12 people, plus two wheelchairs, will come in handy for transporting children on field trips and to community events. It will also be used as part of the group’s outreach efforts at area schools to educate students about their services.
With 4,000 runaways each year in Riverside County, RTA continues to partner with Operation SafeHouse to help children in need. Each of RTA’s fixed-route vehicles displays a yellow “Safe Place” sign that enables children to get transportation to a shelter without question and free of charge. RTA has worked with Operation SafeHouse since 1997.
District 2 County Supervisor John Tavaglione, who sits on the RTA Board of Directors, helped facilitate the donation. Tavaglione said RTA’s donation program prolongs the life of these useful vehicles and allows groups such as the Operation Safe House to enhance their services.
“RTA is putting tax-payer dollars to good use by giving these vehicles a second life,” Tavaglione said. “During these tough economic times, valuable nonprofit groups such as SafeHouse are faced with their share of financial challenges. I’m pleased that this vehicle will be put to good use and help make a positive difference in our community.”
For years, RTA has donated vehicles to cities, churches, senior centers and nonprofit agencies. The vehicles have surpassed their recommended service life and are no longer capable of remaining in the active fleet, but are in good condition and equipped with amenities such as wheelchair lifts.
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Supervisor John Tavaglione Selected As Elected Official of the Year By PUBLICCEO.ORG
Source: Publicceo.org
Published: January 31, 2012
Many local government officials wear multiple hats, serving simultaneously on numerous boards and commissions to better their local communities. Some have the added challenge of bearing responsibility to their constituents and advocating for their colleagues across the State. Even fewer have had to deal with issues as complicated and potentially messy as Realignment of public safety.
However, the dedicated team at the California State Association of Counties has been an effective advocate for their members, and their success is in no small way attributed to their President, Supervisor John Tavaglione of Riverside County.
Supervisor Tavaglione has served as a CSAC Officer for the past three years and in 2011 he served as President during one of the most challenging years in the group’s 117-year history.
The first issue that Governor Brown addressed when sworn into office was his ambitious and historic Realignment Plan. Shifting billions of dollars from the State to the local level can carry tremendous risks not only for the governments themselves, but for the people they represent. However, CSAC and Tavaglione worked with the Governor to develop a plan that was manageable, safe, and responsible.
“His leadership and commitment to California’s 58 counties is unparalleled,” said David Liebler, the Director of Public Affairs and Member Services at CSAC. “He has traveled to Sacramento on a regular basis, met with the Governor and Legislative Leaders on a moment’s notice, presided over key CSAC meetings, and helped to craft a strategy with a goal of ensuring California counties ultimately receive constitutionally protected funding for realigned services.”
Now, more than a year after the idea of Realignment was first introduced, the state’s counties are receiving inmates and assuming responsibilities for parolees and probationers. A constitutional protection for funding for those services has qualified for the November 2012 ballot by way of the Governor’s Tax initiative.
Despite all of his successes at the State level, we would be remiss to not recognize his continued work for his constituents in Riverside County. The County – like so many in the State – has been plagued by budget deficits that forced hard choices between cuts in services and staff, increasing revenues, or increasing borrowing. Riverside has made difficult and sometimes unpopular choices, such as cutting non-public safety budgets by an average of 25%. But those decisions helped the County protect its reserve fund while ensuring the safety of its residents.
To help reduce expenditures, the County had been negotiating with its bargaining units to increase the share of pension contributions made by the employees themselves. The negotiations resulted in little progress and subsequently the County imposed a new contract. That contract established not only a second pension tier for new hires, but it also increased the employee share of pension contributions. Now, all employees will pay the entire employee share of the pension costs by 2014 – where under the previous contract the County paid the entire employee share for any employee with more than 5 years with the County.
For his work in Riverside, and especially for his efforts as the President of the California State Association of Counties, PublicCEO is proud to announce that John Tavaglione is the recipient of our 2011 County Official of the Year.
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Supervisor John Tavaglione Appointed Chairman
Source: Valleynews.com
(Partial Article) Published: December 13, 2011
RIVERSIDE - Riverside County Supervisor John Tavaglione today was appointed chairman of the Board of Supervisors, a post he last held in 2007.
At the beginning of its second-to-last meeting before the Christmas break, the board unanimously approved Tavaglione's appointment, as well as the appointment of Supervisor John Benoit to the vice chairmanship.
The chairman is responsible for conducting the board's regular meetings, signing proclamations and representing the county at public events. The vice chair steps in whenever the chair is unavailable.
Tavaglione is finishing a year at the helm of the California State Association of Counties, where his duties have included engaging the governor on state actions that impact localities.
The new chairman is expected to outline his goals for 2012 during the board's first meeting in the new year on Jan. 10.
The county is facing an $80 million deficit, which could necessitate laying off up to 600 employees.
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CAI: Gas turbine demonstration project approved by County Supervisors in California
Source: Combustion Associates, Inc.
(Partial Article) Published: November 30, 2011
Riverside County Board of Supervisors passed the proposal for a 1 MW Methane-Powered Waste-to-Energy Project at a recent Board Meeting. This project, proposed by County Supervisor John Tavaglione is a huge victory for both the County of Riverside, and Corona-based manufacturer Combustion Associates, Inc.
Combustion Associates, Inc. (CAI) is the only firm in Riverside County producing power plants from 1 - 10 MW. A potential partnership between CAI and Riverside County will help create jobs for the local workforce while offering CAI a showcase project to domestic and international clients.
“With AQMD introducing tougher standards on conventional internal combustion engines used to convert methane to energy, a jet-turbine system may be the only type of power plant capable of meeting these tougher standards. This is an opportunity for the county to help a local business owner create more jobs and have a fully functional system in place at one of the existing landfills,” said Tavaglione.
“Receiving this approval from the Riverside County Board of Supervisors is a big milestone for our company and we’re looking forward to a “win-win” partnership” reflected Kusum Kavia, Chief Operating Officer of CAI.
CAI is currently in the commissioning phase of an 80 MW complete “green field” power plant in Benin, West Africa. CAI is also taking part in the forthcoming Renewable Energy and Efficiency Trade Mission to Turkey hosted by U.S. Commercial Services with additional support from Vice President Joe Biden.
CAI has been recognized by numerous State and Federal Agencies for its pioneering work in this field as well as in performance and quality. They are also the recipient of the 2011 Presidential “E” Award for Excellence in Exports, presented by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
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Vote on Outdoor Lighting Regulations Delayed Over Requests for Exemptions
Article by The Valley News
Published: November 22, 2011
RIVERSIDE - Concerns about spoiling holiday displays and hindering agricultural operations prompted the Riverside County Board of Supervisors today to postpone -- for a second time -- a decision on whether to impose fines up to $500 on residents or businesses whose outdoor lights create a nuisance.
"I had no intention to restrict people from lighting their houses for Christmas," Supervisor John Tavaglione said of his proposed "light trespass" ordinance. "I don't care how long they want to leave their lights on. The more holiday lights we see, the better."
One of the measure's provisions stipulates that outdoor holiday decorations are to be turned off by 11 p.m. That restriction, along with concerns that wine growers might face penalties if they use mobile lights during nighttime grape-picking in vineyards, led County Counsel Pamela Walls to request additional time to modify the proposal so that exemptions could be put in place.
Tavaglione said when he introduced the ordinance last month that it would provide the county with the necessary tools to "to deal with individuals who want to harass neighbors through lighting, or who have lighting in place that impacts communities."
The proposal would set penalties for property owners who allow their exterior "luminaires" to shine too brightly, infringing on neighbors' lots. Tavaglione said excess lighting not only wastes resources but affects people's health.
The proposed ordinance would require that all outdoor light fixtures "be located, adequately shielded and directed such that no direct light falls outside the parcel of origin, or onto the public right-of-way" and "shall not blink, flash or rotate."
Exceptions would be made for street lights and lights utilized by public safety agencies, as well as lights used for public or private monuments.
A complaint of light trespass would have to be filed with the sheriff's or code enforcement departments, whose personnel would conduct a follow-up investigation to confirm a violation.
The first two violations in a six-month period would be classified as infractions. A third offense in a six-month period would be treated as a misdemeanor.
The minimum fine for a first offense would be $100. The penalty for a second offense would be $250, and the penalty for three or more offenses would be $500 -- with the possibility of up to six months in county jail.
The board will reconsider the ordinance at its final meeting of the year -- Dec. 20.
To view the original article online please click here.
County supervisors vote to push California to adopt their fast-track permit plan
Article by Mydesert.com
(Partial Article) From Paul Young, City News Service
Published: November 22, 2011
RIVERSIDE (CNS) - Riverside County supervisors voted unanimously today to put the county's lobbyists to work advocating state legislation that would create a "fast-track" permitting process intended to save developers time and money.
Supervisor John Benoit, a former state legislator, and Supervisor John Tavaglione, president of the California State Association of Counties, proposed that the county spearhead efforts to establish laws to reduce the burdens on commercial and residential developers trying to get a project cleared by regulators.
"Our thought was to encourage the state to do a better job in economic development," Tavaglione said. "There are a number of different permits and licenses (businesses must obtain). The state takes much too long to process these permits. That's why we're losing so many businesses in California. There's a huge amount of bureaucracy."
Benoit agreed there is too much "red tape" that discourages ventures.
"The point is, the state has got some trimming they could do," the supervisor said.
Benoit and Tavaglione envision a statewide fast-track policy that replicates the county's.
Under Board of Supervisors' policy A-32, developers can seek fast-track authority if certain criteria are met. For instance, if a commercial builder can show that a project will create 40 new, permanent full-time jobs or will generate $12.5 million in annual taxable sales, the enterprise is deemed fast- track eligible.
In addition to dedicating its state lobbying team toward efforts in establishing a statewide fast-track bill, the board authorized EDA staff to assist with composing a future measure.
"California Fast Track will send a message that this state is serious about job creation, retention and making our state attractive to the business community," according to the supervisors' proposal.
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"College of Foreign Trade" A Huge Success...
Article by PRWEB.Com (Partial Article)
Published November 21, 2011
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors and the Economic Development Agency Office of Foreign Trade hosted the “Riverside County College of Foreign Trade” at the Riverside County Administration Center. The event is the first in a series of seminars focused around educating local business representatives and government officials about the procedures involved and benefits accrued from establishing or improving overseas trade practices in any of the four foreign trade zones located throughout Riverside County.
Speaking at the event were numerous federal officials involved in varying aspects of the overseas market, including the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of Commerce, Holly Vineyard, and Richard Swanson, Regional Director of the United States Department of Commerce. Both federal officials detailed the economic benefits Riverside County has received due to its inclusion of foreign trade zones, and encouraged other manufacturers throughout the region to utilize this incredible resource. Holly Vineyard from the US Department of Commerce noted “California is a bellwether state when it comes to exporting, and Riverside County in particular has taken a lot of strides and efforts to help its companies learn more how to export.” With four foreign trade zones and a fifth in the works, Riverside County currently leads the nation as the most export-friendly region in America. The excellent location and availability of land make the area appealing for large manufacturers to set up shop, most recently welcoming the enormous LEED Certified Skechers distribution plant in Moreno Valley.
While conducting foreign trade may appear to be a daunting task for most small businesses, David Josephson of the Export-Import Bank spoke on the procedures and criteria required with garnering foreign direct investment for local businesses–an alternative method to securing financing and insurance when individuals directly involved are unwilling to accept the credit risk of international business. Quelling fears and offering resources for manufacturing employers to utilize in exporting is a top priority of the seminars, as Tavaglione observes despite the fact that “the region has a high unemployment rate, manufacturing continues to grow.”
On top of all the information shared,Riverside County’s “College of Foreign Trade” offers incredible networking opportunities for attendees. Foreign Trade Commissioner for the Riverside County Economic Development Agency, Tom Freeman recognizes the seminar as “the first time we’ve been able to bring leaders in the business community and local government together to educate them about not only the importance of foreign trade, but how they can do a better job of knowing how to use all the tools that are available from the federal government, the county, banking institutions, EB-5 centers, and our foreign trade zones.” Surely Riverside County’s economic success will reverberate throughout California and other areas will follow the lead of the “most foreign trade zone-friendly county in the United States.”
To view the original article online please click here.
Riverside County Hopes to Ease Concerns Over Parolee Plan AB 109
Article By MyDesert.com
From Kate McGinty
Published: 24 October 2011
Riverside County jails will be too full to handle new inmates by the end of the year, Sheriff Stan Sniff said today.
He spoke during a three-hour forum today designed to reassure residents not to be “unnecessarily worried” about AB 109, a piece of legislation that took effect Oct. 1. It hands counties the responsibility for supervising and re-incarcerating most parolees once released from prison. In an effort to reduce the prison population, the bill also means parolees will no longer return to state prisons for parole violations. It is up to counties to jail them.
The law — which applies only to non-serious, nonviolent, non-sex offenders, who comprise the majority of state prisoners — also slashes in half the maximum punishment for a parole violation. It will now be six months. About 1,650 of those convicts will arrive in Riverside County over the next year — including an estimated 236 who have been arriving or are set to arrive this month.
“There is no question that the jail is going to be overwhelmed by the sheer capacity of limitations that we’ve got and the new influx of inmates we’re going to be dealing with,” Sniff said. “We’re already feeling the pinch.” The forum marks the first time the oversight committee — which also includes Chief Probation Officer Allan Crogan and Desert Hot Springs Police Chief Patrick Williams — have spoken publicly since the shift began.
“This change won’t be simple and I’m still concerned about long-term funding from the state, but we’re already off to a good start,” said Riverside County Supervisor John Tavaglione, who oversaw the forum. The forum runs from 9 a.m. to noon today at the executive office at 4080 Lemon St. in Riverside and is being streamed online at www.countyofriverside.us.
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Political Empire - Tavaglione Says Set the record straight
Article By The Press Enterprise
(Partial Article) From Staff Reports
Published: 9 October 2011
Now that California’s realignment plan is in effect, Riverside County Supervisor John Tavaglione wants to set the record straight.
Realignment shifts the supervision of some low-level offenders from state parole to county probation. In addition, those convicted of some offenses will serve time in county jails rather than state prison. It all started Oct. 1.
But Tavaglione, president of the California State Association of Counties, said there is a lot misinformation floating around and he has scheduled an Oct. 24 public forum to “set the record straight.”
“There is a lot of angst out there and a lot of misinformation that is being put forth by even public safety professionals and elected officials indicating this is an early release,” he said. “This is not an early release.”
Tavaglione’s forum is open to the public and starts at 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors chambers, 4080 Lemon St., in downtown Riverside.
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Free flu shots for seniors at Jurupa Valley health fair
Article by KABC
Published: 6 October 2011
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- A health fair will offer free flu shots to senior citizens at Country Village Apartments on Thursday, Oct. 13.
Senior citizens over the age of 55 can get a free flu shot and talk to healthcare providers at 10250 Country Club Dr. in Jurupa Valley from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the ballroom of the apartment complex.
Riverside County Supervisor John Tavaglione is sponsoring the fair.
Social Security, Medicare, the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) and various health plans and county agencies including Office on Aging, Veteran Services and Mental Health will have representatives available to help seniors, according to Tavaglione. Alzheimer's Association and Blindness Support Services will be on hand. Help finding caregivers also will be available.
A continental breakfast and lunch by the Riverside Culinary Academy and sponsored by Riverside County Economic Development Agency will be provided free of charge, Tavaglione announced.
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9/11: Inland Southern California marks anniversary
(Partial Article) BY DAVID KECK | STAFF WRITER | dkeck@pe.com
Published: 13 September 2011
On a day now forever reserved to honor America's resilience, Inland residents joined the nation Sunday to remember those who lost their lives a decade ago in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
FLAGS UNFURLED
Four giant American flags were unfurled from the county administrative building in a sunrise ceremony in Riverside. Applause broke the somber remembrance as the banners were lowered down the four sides of the 14-story building, the tallest in Riverside.
County Supervisor John Tavaglione fought back tears as he spoke of the horrific events on the date 10 years ago.
He compared 9/11 to other national tragedies such as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the space shuttle disasters and Pearl Harbor.
"These are all days that will remain in our minds forever," he said at the event, which began at 6:30 a.m. "After 9/11, I felt helpless. I bought four 30 (foot) by 60 (foot) American flags to hang on our tower to honor those who lost their lives."
Those original flags became tattered and torn, and eventually were removed. The flags unfurled Sunday will be displayed on the county building on Lemon Street for 11 days.
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