HESPERIA:
The new high desert San Bernardino County government center will be located in the City of Hesperia; four cities were bidding for the site. The location will be Smoke Tree Street and 7th Avenue, just north of the Hesperia City Hall and library.

COACHELLA VALLEY:
State Fish & Game granted six month extension on expiring permit relative to the protection of the fringe-toed lizard. The extension was granted on the condition that the Valley's eight cities, the County, and other agencies get broad approval on the $2 billion conservation plan known as the "Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Plan."

NOVEMBER 7, 2007: ELECTIONS COMING UP: WHO WILL BE OUR CITY LEADERS?

Palm Springs
Seats Up:
Ron Oden (mayor), Michael McCulloch (council), Stephen Pougnet (council)
Mayoral Candidates:
Steve Pougnet, mayor pro tem, Realtor; Arlene Battishill, regional development manager; Donald Cook, retired contractor, Palm Springs Shrine Club member; Bill Ferra, retired banker and sales representative; John Tymon, singer, songwriter, inventor

Desert Hot Springs
Seats Up:
Alex Bias (mayor), Mary Stephens (mayor pro tem), Hank Hohenstein (council)
Mayoral Candidates:
Alex Bias, Yvonne Parks, Robert Bentley, Adam Sanchez
Council Candidates:
Karl Baker, Jr., Russell Belts, Henry "Hank" Hohenstein, Sharon Sandison, Terry Scheurer, Al Schmidt, Mary Stephens

Blythe
Seats Up:
Charles Grotke (vice-mayor), Alfonso Hernandez (council)
Council Candidates:
Charles Grotke, Alfonso Hernandez, Richard Contreras, Dale Reynolds, George Thomas, Cary Covel

Redlands
Seats Up:
Gilberto Gil (council), Pete Aguilar (council)
Council Candidates:
Eddie Tejeda, Jerry Bean, Jeff Sceranka, Henry William Nickel, Nancy Ruth White

Norco
Seats Up:
Harvey Sullivan (mayor), Kathy Azevedo (council), Herb Higgins (council)
Council Candidates:
Ann Marie Knudsen, Robbin Koziel, Lois "Granny" Loock, Terry Robertson, Greg Newton, Berwin Hanna, Kathy Azevedo, Malcolm Miller

CITY MANAGERS ON THE MOVE:

Coachella
Former City Manager: Jerry Santillan
Interim City Manager: Steve Brown
Desert Hot Springs
Former City Manager: Ann Marie Gallant
Interim City Manager: Rick Daniels (Formerly with the Salton Sea)
Los Alamitos
Former City Manager: Luci Romero Serlet
Interim City Manager: Nita McKay
Apple Valley
Former City Manager: Bruce Williams
Interim City Manager: Interim Manager begins October 1st
Long Beach
Former City Manager: Gerald "Jerry" Miller
Interim City Manager: Patrick West

BIA RIVERSIDE SEEKS HOME BUYER STIMULUS PACKAGE:

The Building Industry Association, Riverside Chapter has recently approached the Riverside County Board of Supervisors with a short-term home buyer stimulus package meant to soften the blow of the current housing market. These measures are a first step meant to spark the process and future measures will follow to strengthen the housing market in Riverside County. The County Board of Supervisors and cities elsewhere in the County can materially influence the cost of housing construction and by direct relationship, the development value of land.

BIA has asked for certain stimulus actions shown below in hopes it will stimulate the regional housing market and provide relief for those home buyers looking for housing in the Inland Empire.

BIA's List of Short-Term Home Buyer Stimulus Efforts

• Fees:
1. Defer all impact mitigation fees to Certificate of Occupancy.
2. Delay all new impact fee proposals;
3. Require an AB1600 Nexus relationship for all new fees and updates.
• Entitlement / Conditioning Process:

Suspend all new Board policy proposals, new rule - and regulation creation that add time, cost and uncertainty to the planning, development and building process. Require staff to send all industry related proposed policy changes to Supervisors with copy to BIA. Require consistent implementation of existing building standards and guidelines and operating procedures.

• Property Taxes:

Establish a streamlined petition process for merchant builders and developers who are or will soon request lower property tax assessments based on current market values.

• Requested Implementation:

Establish County / BIA Task Force to itemize and codify relief efforts.

BIA plans to continue this process by meeting with the local municipalities and make the same requests of their staff and elected officials.