Rialto · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Rialto public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Assembly Bill 179 impact fee implications
The city attorney warned that under new state law, if Rialto applies for state affordable housing funding, it must waive development impact fees or lose dollar-for-dollar state money — effective July 2027.
Veterans' endowment fund proposal
Council Member Montoya pressed for a long-discussed endowment fund to pay for veterans' events like Memorial Day and Veterans Day observances; the council directed staff to bring a proposal back by the mid-year budget.
LLMD No. 2 Annexation for PPD 2024-001
A small commercial parcel south of Foothill Boulevard and east of Sycamore is being annexed into the landscaping and lighting district so the city can maintain its street lights and landscaping. The lone property owner supported it; no protests were filed.
Delinquent refuse liens
After a public hearing, the council approved filing liens against properties with unpaid trash bills from late 2025 with the county recorder.
Labor side letters restore 4/10 workweek
New two-year compensation deals were adopted for the Rialto City Employees' Association and Teamsters mid-management unit, along with an updated citywide pay plan.
Records management system renewal
A $330,964 five-year renewal of the city's records software, covering resolutions, ordinances, minutes, and permits. A resident asked that the public be told what updates change.
Billboard Easement Sale
The city sold easements under four digital billboards on city-owned parcels for about $3.8 million, keeping its free ad benefits but giving up a long-term income stream from the leases.
Campaign Contribution Limits
Rialto adopted its own campaign finance rules, keeping the $5,900 limit but creating an annual contribution cycle. Critics said the public had no chance to weigh in before an election.
FY 2026-27 City Budget Adoption
The council set the budget adoption hearing for June 23 instead of June 9 after Mayor Pro Tem Scott said the council needed more time to scrutinize the budget binders. Residents can weigh in at the June 23 hearing.
Replacing Contract Workers with City Employees
Mayor Pro Tem Scott has pushed for years to bring plan checking and inspections in-house, arguing contractors deliver slower, lower-quality work. The council capped contract services at half their budget and required a December report on hiring progress.
Special District Assessments for FY 2026-27
Street light and landscape maintenance assessments stay essentially flat next year. The street light district still runs a projected $535,771 deficit covered by the general fund, and commercial parcels in one LLMD 2 zone see an 8-cent increase.
City Workforce Vacancies (AB 2561)
The city has 46 open jobs out of 502 positions — a 9.16% vacancy rate. Council members criticized slow hiring timelines and pushed HR to recruit locally and fill vacancies faster, since open positions affect the budget and workload.
Solid Waste Rates for FY 2026/2027
Trash rates go up just pennies a month — and some commercial and senior rates actually drop — thanks to a renegotiated county disposal deal cutting the gate rate from 85% to 83%. Council members praised the relief for seniors on fixed incomes.
City Payroll Processing Deficiency
Auditors flagged inconsistent handling of personnel action forms that led to late pay, missed benefits, and overpayments. Staff are rolling out a digital workflow system and filling a key accounting supervisor position to fix it.
State Funding Advocacy — Splash Pads, Water Wells, Senior Roofs, Cameras
The mayor, a council member, and the city manager lobbied legislators in Sacramento for funding for splash pads at four parks, water well plume cleanup, senior center roof repairs, the veterans memorial, and intersection safety cameras.
Federal Grant Funding for Community Services and Housing
The council approved the plan for about $1.4 million in federal CDBG and HOME grants funding 13 activities — public services, housing rehab, and infrastructure — aimed at low- and moderate-income residents.
FY 2024-25 annual audit delayed
The city's annual financial report got a clean audit opinion, but the council only got it Thursday night — so it tabled acceptance two weeks to actually review it with staff.
LMD No. 2 Annexation and Assessments
A 3.96-acre commercial parcel was annexed into the Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District so the city can accept and maintain its landscaping and streetlights; the protest ballot drew one ballot, in support.
Temporary Staffing Costs in Treasury
Montoya flagged that the city is paying temp agency workers $65–$92 an hour for jobs paying about $22 an hour base, and caught a $40,000 error in the staff report. The contract passed at a corrected $150,000 total.
CFD 2024-1 (Renaissance) Special Tax Bonds
The council authorized about $10.5 million in bonds to fund public improvements and impact fees for the Renaissance development — repaid through special taxes on the 429 homes in that district, not citywide taxpayers.