Rialto · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Rialto public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Ambulance fleet replacement
The city is buying 13 mechanical CPR devices and 4 cardiac monitors so every frontline 911 unit runs the same equipment — better training and better cardiac arrest care.
Countywide ambulance service transition (Confire taking over from AMR)
On October 1 the county's fire agency takes over ambulance service in the largest such transition in the U.S. Rialto Fire has set up an incident management team and response plan to keep EMS coverage uninterrupted, and will bring back an interfacility transport agreement around January.
SBA Disaster Loans for December Storms
An SBA rep told the council that low-interest disaster loans are available for San Bernardino County residents and businesses hit by the December 16–26 storms — deadlines are April 6 for physical damage and November 9 for economic injury.
Federal immigration enforcement near Rialto schools
Three speakers described masked, unidentified agents detaining people near Rialto schools, causing attendance to drop. The mayor and police chief explained SB 54 bars local police from assisting federal immigration enforcement, and the department won't ask crime victims about immigration status.
Fire Station 201 and 204 improvement projects
After cars crashed into Fire Station 201 — including one just last week — the city is building exterior safety protections. The council approved the $937,665 construction contract but held back a $188,965 construction-management change order, demanding competitive pricing from other on-call contractors.
Fire department radio contract
The city locked in a five-year deal with the county for fire radios and dispatch — there's no alternative provider, since the county owns the system.
Cybersecurity and Network Infrastructure Replacement
The city's core network equipment is at end-of-life and losing security updates, exposing the city to cyberattacks. The council bought new switches and firewalls to build layered defenses.
Fire Station 1 vehicle strikes and rebuilding
More than seven cars have crashed into Fire Station 1, and Mayor Baca wants the council to start planning to rebuild or relocate it. Council Member Montoya noted insurance money has been in hand for years while firefighters remain in portable buildings.
Homeless Services Funding
The council renewed the SWAG homeless outreach contract at roughly $814,000 a year, crediting it with cutting the counted homeless population from 156 to 44. Some residents questioned the cost per person.
Jail Staffing Contract
A new state rule requires a female jailer on duty at all times, so the city is adding jailers through a five-year, $4.1 million Allied Universal contract to keep officers in the field instead of booking prisoners.
Warehouse Fire Safety and Inspections
After a weekend fire at an Amazon warehouse and a Korean barbecue fire that shut a business down, council members pushed for proactive warehouse inspections, specialized firefighting equipment for battery and high-heat fires, and an additional tiller ladder truck. Mayor Pro Tem Scott said better inspections might have caught the barbecue fire before it destroyed the business.
Traffic Safety and Impaired Driving
Two Eisenhower High students presented sobering stats — Rialto ranks 4th of 61 comparable cities for alcohol-involved crashes — and urged more prevention campaigns, signage and DUI outreach. Mayor Pro Tem Scott, whose son was killed by an impaired driver, invited them to his annual MADD walk.
Tenant habitability and retaliation concerns
A tenant organizer reported uninhabitable conditions, five retaliatory eviction filings, and alleged misuse of city fire inspections to harass tenants at Townhouse Village Apartments. She's starting a Rialto tenants union and asked the city for help.
Heat Wave and Power Shutoff Preparedness
Edison predicts 30 heat wave days this year versus 14 last year, meaning more preventive power shutoffs. The mayor pro tem wants a battery assistance program like Norwalk's for seniors and medically vulnerable residents.
Massage parlor moratorium
The city extended its temporary ban on new or expanded massage parlors while staff write permanent zoning and regulatory standards aligned with new state law. Council members stressed making sure parlors aren't fronts for other activity.
Fire apparatus fleet replacement
Three rigs up to 22 years old failed their fleet inspections, so the city is leasing two new engines and a 107-foot aerial truck for $5.75 million over five years. It keeps firefighters safe and reliable, but it's a big long-term commitment.
Fire Station Apparatus Bay Doors
Bay doors at Fire Stations 203 and 204 have become unreliable, so the council spent $495,500 to replace them — treated as a life-safety matter.
Vista View Apartment Fire Victim Housing and Recovery
Two months after the fire, three families are still in a hotel waiting for safe apartments, and residents say they've heard nothing about the GoFundMe relief funds. A resident advocate asked the city to set up the promised meeting between property management and victims, and pressed on code enforcement of rental housing safety.