Rialto · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Rialto public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Pacific Clinics conditional development permit denial
The commission is moving toward denying a mental health services clubhouse in a neighborhood commercial zone, saying it's too close to homes and the site is too small. The final denial resolution comes up October 21.
Truck yard near residential homes at Harupa and Willow
A 6.55-acre truck yard proposed across from homes at Jurupa and Willow Avenues didn't get heard because of a public notice error. It returns October 21, giving neighbors another chance to comment.
Adult mental health clubhouse relocation to North Riverside Avenue
The commission is moving toward denying a mental health services clubhouse in a neighborhood commercial zone, saying it's too close to homes and the site is too small. The final denial resolution comes up October 21.
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.
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.
Police Headquarters Cost Increase
The new police headquarters will cost $7.86 million more than planned, mostly for surprise utility, drainage, and culvert work plus a south parking lot on the old mortuary parcel. Council approved it, warning that delays would cost even more.
Street and sidewalk repair funding
A resident said the street was destroyed by warehouse construction and asked whether it will be repaired; staff directed her to Public Works.
Willow and Valley Warehouse Project
Two industrial warehouse buildings are coming to a long-vacant corner at Valley Boulevard and Willow Avenue. Environmental advocates wanted a full EIR over wildlife concerns, but the council approved the project, citing the disturbed site and the Planning Commission's unanimous recommendation.
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.
$50,000 Water Conservation Grant and Rebate Programs
The regional water plan shows Rialto has five years of drought supply, but the Rialto-Colton basin is declining and doesn't recharge naturally. Recharge negotiations stalled for months but are restarting, with agreements hoped for by year's end — or the council may act to protect the city's water rights.
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.
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.
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.
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.
MS-4 Water Permit and Settlement Offer
The mayor spoke against a regional water-quality permit that could cost Rialto $537 million over 20 years; a resident asked for public transparency on a related settlement offer and violations.
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.
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.
Rialto-Colton Groundwater Basin Decline
The regional water plan shows Rialto has five years of drought supply, but the Rialto-Colton basin is declining and doesn't recharge naturally. Recharge negotiations stalled for months but are restarting, with agreements hoped for by year's end — or the council may act to protect the city's water rights.
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.
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.
November 2026 General Municipal Election
The council called the city's general municipal election for November 3, 2026, consolidated with the statewide election.
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.
Sycamore sewer capacity
The existing Sycamore sewer line is 80% surcharged and at risk of overflows as the area grows. The new 15-inch trunk line serves everything north of the 210 freeway down to Baseline Road.
Parks master plan and grant funding
Rialto has about 2.5 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents — below its own 3-acre standard — and no parks master plan since 2010. The new plan could unlock $5-15 million in state and federal grants for courts, splash pads, and park upgrades.
Industrial warehouse at Valley Boulevard and Lilac Avenue
A 23,112-square-foot warehouse fills a vacant 1.4-acre corner in the Gateway Specific Plan area, with trucks limited to Lilac Avenue access to stay away from sensitive receptors. Commissioners verified the driveway aligns with the Days Inn across the street.
Renaissance Phase 2 — 292 new homes off Linden Avenue
The second phase of the Renaissance development adds 292 single-family homes, a recreation center, pool, dog park, and pickleball courts. Commissioners debated traffic impacts at Linden and Renaissance Parkway, especially during Amazon shift changes, and whether a traffic signal will eventually be needed.
City Council Candidate Debate
Rialto's 4th Ward City Council candidates went head-to-head, debating how to fix homelessness, boost fire services, and rein in the mayor's influence. They also talked about improving city leadership and getting more folks involved.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Resource Drive Reconstruction
Resource Drive is in total pavement failure (PCI of 15) and has generated complaints and claims over potholes. The council awarded a $1.42M contract to Vance Corporation to rebuild it, with rain in the forecast raising urgency.
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.
Locust Gateway Logistics Center warehouse approval
A 664,859-square-foot warehouse is coming to the corner of Locust Avenue and Lowell Street, bringing an estimated 550 permanent jobs, union construction agreements, and a $4 million payment to the city. Traffic studies flag impacts at three Locust Avenue intersections, with about $365,000 in fair-share fees and road improvements required.
Water and Wastewater Rate Increases
The city wants to raise water rates 23% next year (then 18%, 17%, 3%, 3%) and sewer rates 5% a year to catch up on inflation and fund $32.7M in water and $70.3M in sewer capital projects. The council balked because it never approved the underlying capital plan and questioned where $35 million in prior rate-stabilization money went. Expect the fight to resume January 27.
Renaissance Specific Plan Park Removal and Land Use Changes
A planned public park on Planning Areas 126 and 133 near Ayala Drive is being traded for warehouse/business-center designations, tied to a land sale to Newland Real Estate. The upside: $17.3 million in developer park fees is freed up that the council can spend on parks anywhere — Council Member Montoya suggested Jerry Eves Park expansion or a soccer field. Some 15-20 residents opposed at the Planning Commission, though none spoke at the council hearing.
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.
Election Results
Wondering who's calling the shots in Rialto? This breaks down the latest election results for mayor and city council, so you know exactly who's making the decisions that affect your community.
Ethics Violation
A Rialto councilmember is in hot water over an alleged ethics violation. The complaint suggests they might have broken conflict-of-interest rules, potentially shaking up local politics.
City Administrator Appointment
Rialto's got a new top dog running the city's daily grind! Rod Foster is now the City Administrator, meaning he's in charge of making sure everything runs smoothly and the city council's plans actually happen.
Smoking Ban
Rialto is cracking down on smoking in public spaces like parks. If you're a smoker, you'll need to find a new spot to light up, as these areas are now off-limits.