The Mitzelfelt Memo is a periodic electronic newsletter from the office of Brad Mitzelfelt, First District Supervisor for the
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| In This Issue... | October 30, 2009 |
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Two-Year Investigation Cripples Violent Victorville Gang County Allocates Nearly $10 million to High Desert Road Projects SANBAG Developing Plan to Meet Needs of High Desert Commuters Mitzelfelt Developing Plan for County to Acquire Victor Valley Museum County Kicks Off Support Our Troops Campaign County Purchases Phelan Memorial Library Mitzelfelt Secures $2 Million to Address Foreclosure Crisis Supervisors Approve Funds for Homeless Services County Allocates Workforce Training Funds to Victor Valley College Renovation of Barstow Sheriff's Station Takes Major Step Mitzelfelt Provides Funding for School Resource Officer in Needles New Mojave River Bridge on Rock Springs Road Takes Major Step Spring Valley Lake Water System to be Upgraded
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Two-Year Investigation Cripples Violent Victorville Gang
A two-year investigation by the Sheriff Department's gang team led to arrest warrants being issued for 75 members of a Victorville gang with ties to the Mexican Mafia, County officials announced on October 1 at a press conference in Victorville. "I want to congratulate and thank the Sheriff's gang team and everyone who worked on this case for their dedication and hard work in severely disrupting this violent gang that had been terrorizing part of Victorville," said First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, who spoke at the press conference alongside County Sheriff Rod Hoops and District Attorney Mike Ramos. "Gang members are on notice that we will continue to be vigilant in protecting our neighborhoods and our citizens. If you are committing crimes, we will catch you and put you away." The investigation began in early 2007 when gang investigators noticed an increase in crimes related to East Side Victoria, a gang formed in the early 1970s which claimed the area of Old Town Victorville as its turf. The gang has been involved in crimes ranging from drugs to kidnapping to murder. Investigators began cultivating informants, gathering intelligence and identifying the key leader and his lieutenants. Fred "Joker" Archuleta was identified as the leader of the gang, until 2008 when George "Rascal" Degraw assumed control and oversaw an extensive criminal enterprise that has been involved in narcotics, guns, assault, attempted murder and extortion. Investigators learned that many crimes went unreported because victims were afraid of retaliation. "That residents were afraid to even report crimes shows the demoralizing, terroristic effect gangs can have on entire communities," Supervisor Mitzelfelt said. "Thanks to this outstanding police work, the people of Victorville can rest a little easier." Investigators were also able to interrupt planned robberies, assaults with deadly weapons and even a kidnapping. During the investigation, they recovered guns, ammunition, cash, narcotics, stolen property, stolen vehicles and gang paraphernalia. During a sweep October 1, many of the suspects were taken into custody. "The Board of Supervisors, the District Attorney and the Sheriff always have public safety as our top priority and I pledge that operations like this will continue to have our full support," Supervisor Mitzelfelt said, also commending the Victorville City Council for providing significant funds through its Sheriff's police contract to allow for strong anti-gang efforts. County Allocates Nearly $10 million to High Desert Road Projects Projects Include Improvements Around New Oak Hills High School The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on October 6 allocated nearly $10 million in state bond money for paving and rehabilitation projects in the High Desert, including $800,000 to pave roads around the new Oak Hills High School. "This money will help make our roads smoother and safer," said Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt. "As the desert grows, it is important to keep our roads in the best condition possible for both the safety of our residents and to attract businesses that will bring more jobs to the region." The projects include paving key dirt roads, constructing turn pockets and repaving roads with worn and damaged pavement. The funding comes from Proposition 1B, the nearly $20 billion bond measure approved by state voters in November 2006. Part of the bond money is distributed based on a formula that considers registered vehicles and total road miles in the area. Projects in the First District total $9,990,000. The projects being funded are:
SANBAG Developing Plan to Meet Needs of High Desert Commuters On October 6, San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) announced that the agency is exploring commute improvement ideas for Victor Valley residents who work ‘down the hill' in San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Orange, or San Diego Counties. "Thousands of high desert residents spend hours each day commuting into the Inland Empire, Los Angeles or Orange County for work," said Supervisor Mitzelfelt, who serves as SANBAG Vice-President. "It is my hope that this study can address their needs because these long commutes affect quality of life and the strength of our Victor Valley communities." About one-half of all workers in the Victor Valley area work at employment sites that are at least 40 miles away – with many people traveling more than 100 miles each way. Many who make this commute drive their cars through congestion on the I-15 corridor and Cajon Pass. The goal of the Victor Valley Long Distance Commuter Needs Study is to provide a comprehensive assessment of long-range commuter transit needs for residents living in the Victor Valley and to develop strategies to meet those needs. This project is being sponsored by San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) and has been guided by a steering committee consisting of representatives from San Bernardino County, Victorville, Adelanto, Hesperia and Apple Valley, as well as representatives from the Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA). At the completion of this project, a series of recommendations will be made to SANBAG to implement the strategies that best meet the needs of Victor Valley commuters. "In addition to the commuter needs study, my office is also developing a strategic plan to place traffic cameras along the I-15, and call boxes and service patrols throughout the High Desert in at-risk locations," added Supervisor Mitzelfelt. Three alternative approaches to meet the daily needs of long distance commuters have been selected for further analysis. Each alternative strategy, emphasizes a different approach toward satisfying the long-distance commute needs of Victor Valley residents. The strategies range from strengthening current efforts to support ridesharing activities, to the implementation of express bus services to selected locations. For more information about the strategies under consideration and background on the project, please visit www.VictorValleyCommute.com. The website also includes an on-line survey and a chat room where people can share thoughts with the project team and others interested in the project. Mitzelfelt Developing Plan for County to Acquire Victor Valley Museum Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt recently announced he is developing a plan to assume ownership and operations of the Victor Valley Museum in Apple Valley. "One of my priorities as Supervisor has been to bring a County museum to the high desert, so this idea brought to me by the Victor Valley Museum seemed like a natural partnership," said Supervisor Mitzelfelt. "Assuming public ownership of the museum will ensure its historical, cultural, educational and scientific resources remain available and will be preserved and protected for residents for years to come." In July of this year, the Victor Valley Museum approached Supervisor Mitzelfelt with concerns over its ability to operate the facility under current economic conditions. The museum has experienced substantial hardships due to losses in fundraising revenue, which serves as the museum's primary source of funding. The museum offered full transfer of title to the facility should the County accept title to its ownership. As a result, Supervisor Mitzelfelt worked with the San Bernardino County Museum and County Administrative Office to develop a plan to assume ownership and operate the facility. A key component of the takeover would be to ensure as seamless a transition as possible so as to not substantially interrupt the community's use and enjoyment of the museum. The County's acquisition plan would include two phases. In the first phase, the County would allocate one-time funding to refurbish and upgrade existing public exhibits, enhance or develop new programmatic outreach, and enhance the exterior and interior of the building. This would result in a temporary partial closure wherein the county would continue to allow residents to use portions of the facility on a limited basis. Phase two would be intended to attract existing patrons – those who have visited the facility previously – and to cultivate a new and growing audience through new exhibitions, programs, lectures, travel programs and other outreach events. As patron and school use increase through added programs and outreach, a re-examination of staffing levels, hours of operation and programs relative to local cost would be performed. Costs for the acquisition plans are estimated to be approximately $250,000 and would be paid out of Supervisor Mitzelfelt's district funds. Ongoing operational costs would be borne by the County Museums Department and be offset by fundraising activities. Bringing the museum in line with requirements of the County Museum's accreditation will result in the museum being eligible for more grants than in the past. Discussions are also underway with local cities in an effort to help fund ongoing operations through support from a variety of sources. The Apple Valley Town Council on October 13 voted to allocate up to $15,000 per year to support museum operations. "I have long admired our Victor Valley Museum and the dedicated patrons and volunteers who have kept it a viable amenity for our community," said Mitzelfelt. "I am also glad to be able to step in at a time of need and secure the future of the museum. It is a future that will include expansion and result in an even better community asset. "This would not have been possible without the selfless efforts of those people who got it started and kept it going for so many years. They will be appropriately honored as a new era for the Victor Valley Museum begins." County Kicks Off Support Our Troops Campaign Supervisor Mitzelfelt on October 29 announced that County residents and employees have an opportunity to show their appreciation for our active duty military and their families as the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors and County Veterans Affairs Department sponsor the third annual Support Our Troops holiday drive. This year, the County is partnering with Yellow Ribbon America and the American Legion, 25th District, to collect toys, gifts and gift cards to distribute to the families of troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Having served oversees during wartime, I understand how much troops appreciate having the support of their fellow countrymen," said Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt. "Being separated from your family in time of war is difficult, but the holidays are an especially hard time for our troops. Receiving gifts like this is a tremendous morale booster for our men and women in the armed forces." The Global War on Terror has placed a significant demand on the military with multiple overseas deployments and lengthy separations from family and friends. These separations are especially difficult for troops and their families during the holiday season. For the past two years the Support Our Troops holiday drive has brought out a caring and compassionate response from San Bernardino County with thousands of contributions made each year. This year, Support Our Troops is asking for donations of gift cards including Visa/MasterCard, department store, toy store, gas station, grocery store and prepaid phone cards, toys, games, books and small electronics which will be collected at most County Fire Stations and County Libraries through December 7, 2009. For more information visit http://hss.co.san-bernardino.ca.us/VA/ or call the San Bernardino County Veterans Affairs Department at (909) 387-5516 or toll-free at (866) 4SB-VETS. County Purchases Phelan Memorial Library On October 19, at the request of Supervisor Mitzelfelt, the Board of Supervisors approved an agreement with Sanka Development, Inc. of Phelan to purchase the busy, new Phelan Memorial Library. "The popularity of the Phelan library demonstrates what an important resource it is for the community," said Supervisor Mitzelfelt. "In addition, we were able to save the taxpayers significant money because it was built through a public-private partnership." Phelan Memorial Library opened in August and has already established itself as an important center of community activity. Nearly 9,000 people visited the library in September alone, and more than 6,600 items were circulated. In addition, there were more than 2,800 computer reservations made. Based on hours of use, an average of 15 computers were in use per hour of operation. The library has only 16 computers for now, meaning almost every computer is constantly being utilized. Construction on the $1,588,857, 8,400 square-foot building began in January 2008. Through a competitive bidding process, the County sought a contractor who could provide land and also construct the project. The County would then buy the building and land after completion. Phelan Memorial Library serves as the first stand-alone public library in the area. Previously, San Bernardino County provided library services at a 5,000 square-foot shared facility located at Serrano High School. The new library is located near the intersection of Lindero Street and Clovis Road in downtown Phelan. On August 22, 2009, Supervisor Mitzelfelt joined community leaders before a crowd of more than 300 people for the grand opening of the Phelan Memorial Library. The new library features a 750 square-foot meeting room, which is available for community use, a 600 square-foot computer lab, a 600 square-foot children's area, and a 450 square-foot young adult area. The facility can support up to 30 public-access computers. Staff levels have been increased and the new library features $100,000 worth of new materials. Most significantly, the library is open 48 hours per week instead of 27 hours per week as it was when it was located at Serrano High School. Mitzelfelt Secures $2 Million to Address Foreclosure Crisis At the request of Supervisor Mitzelfelt, the Board of Supervisors on October 20 approved the allocation of $2 million in Home Investment Partnership Act (HOME) funds to address the foreclosure crisis in the County. "San Bernardino County, especially the High Desert region, has been hit especially hard by the foreclosure crisis and these funds represent one more step toward overcoming that crisis," said Supervisor Mitzelfelt. "The sooner we can get foreclosed homes repaired and resold to families, the better the quality of life in our County will be. Economists are predicting that the number of foreclosures may increase significantly in the near future due to rising unemployment and pending foreclosures not released by banks yet." Mitzelfelt proposed the allocation during Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting as an amendment to the original proposal. The funds were carved out of an initial proposal to allocate $8 million in HOME funds for the development of multi-family housing in the County. HOME funds are allocated to the County by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the purpose of creating or rehabilitating housing or to help families acquire housing. The County's Community Development and Housing Department is now expected to return to the Board of Supervisors on December 1 with a proposal for how to best use the $2 million. That proposal could include a plan to partner with developers to acquire and rehabilitate homes and may also include an allocation of some of the funds to the County's down payment assistance program. Earlier this year, Supervisors allocated $1.1 million in HOME funds to the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino for its rental assistance program and $1.5 million for the County's down payment assistance program. The down payment assistance program offers up to $54,000 in assistance to potential homebuyers who earn no more than 80% of the area median income. The assistance funds are provided as a no-payment, no-interest loan, which is forgiven if the family lives in the home for 20 years, or is repaid if the home is sold sooner. San Bernardino County is currently ranked as the sixth-worst County in the state for the rate of foreclosures. Supervisors Approve Funds for Homeless Services The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on September 22 approved the allocation of nearly $3 million in grants to community based organizations for homeless prevention services. The allocation includes $1 million dollars for the Victorville-based High Desert Domestic Violence Program (HDDVP). "I'm glad to partner with High Desert Domestic Violence in this effort," said Supervisor Mitzelfelt, who is a member of the County's Interagency Council on Homelessness. "Their demonstrated leadership, engagement with the community and concern for the less fortunate among us are traits I know they will continue to display as they reach out to local residents." San Bernardino County received the funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which allocated $1.5 billion nationwide as part of the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program. The funds were distributed to local government agencies to provide financial assistance and services to either prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless or to help those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-housed and stabilized. HDDVP will use the funds to provide rental assistance and utility payments for low-income individuals and families. Services will be targeted to residents in the cities of Barstow and Adelanto, as well as other First District unincorporated areas. In order to identify those in need, HDDVP is partnering with the City of Barstow and local Barstow social service providers, Adelanto Community Tool Box, the Boys and Girls Club of the Victor Valley, and local churches. A new mobile office, created to efficiently distribute the funds, will be traveling to outlying communities to ensure that lack of transportation does not prevent anyone from receiving the help they need. "I am proud that our Board of Supervisors and county staff acted quickly to secure this funding for the neediest in our community", said Darryl Evey, Executive Director of HDDVP. "For those who are facing imminent eviction and utility termination, this is the relief they need to get a new start." "It's exciting to see this infusion of federal stimulus money into Barstow," added Barstow Mayor Joe Gomez, who was appointed by Mitzelfelt in July to the County's Interagency Council on Homelessness. "We are looking forward to collaborating with all of the partners in providing assistance for those in need." County Allocates Workforce Training Funds to Victor Valley College The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on October 19 awarded federal stimulus funds to Victor Valley College to support its wastewater management training program. "These are jobs that are in high demand and pay well," said Supervisor Mitzelfelt, who sits on the Board of the Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority and who recommended to the Workforce Investment Board that the program be funded. "In addition, these skills are transferable into the alternative fuel industry, which is poised to become a major employer in the High Desert." The training program at Victor Valley College will enable County residents to qualify for jobs in the wastewater industry. Starting salaries are in the $40,000 range with the potential to go much higher as workers attain additional certifications and experience. The jobs are expected to be in high demand because experienced operators are starting to retire. Also, the industry will expand in coming years as population growth will require the construction of new plants and the expansion of existing plants. The allocation of $154,750 in federal stimulus funds, recommended by the County's Workforce Investment Board, means the Wastewater Management training program at Victor Valley College can train up to 50 individuals for careers that will remain in demand for years to come. The training will also qualify the workers for a new segment of the alternative energy industry, which will use algae to create high-quality biodiesel. The skills that wastewater professionals develop are the same skills needed for the development and production of the new algae-based fuels, said Logan Olds, General Manager of the Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority. Renovation of Barstow Sheriff's Station Takes Major Step The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on October 20 awarded a contract to complete the renovation of the Barstow Sheriff's station. The project is the second phase in a two-part remodel to expand and update the station. "Sheriff's Department staff provide critical services for the public and they deserve adequate facilities," said Supervisor Mitzelfelt. "This renovation will relieve overcrowding in the station and provide staff and the public with a station they can be proud of." The first phase of the remodel included renovating the lobby and restrooms to bring them into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as expanding the station's parking lot, and the adjacent park. That expansion added 40 parking spaces and new security gates. In addition, Stiern Park was renovated with plants and ground cover that require less water. With the initial phase complete, Supervisors today awarded a $1.1 million contract to complete renovations and upgrades of the remainder of the building. The contracted amount was approximately 20 percent below original estimates. During the project, the entire facility will be gutted, updated and upgraded. The renovation will include adding 4,000 square-feet of new space, as well as new features such as a women's locker room, which the original station did not have. The project is expected to begin in November and take approximately one year to complete. The Barstow station is responsible for covering 10,000 square-miles of the County, encompassing a region that stretches from Trona through Baker and all the way to the Nevada state line. Sheriff's department staff have been in the same facility for more than 40 years. As deputies, commanders and support staff have been added to fill growing needs, the station has become overcrowded. The station is located at 225 E. Mountain View Avenue. Mitzelfelt Provides Funding for School Resource Officer in Needles The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on October 7 approved Supervisor Mitzelfelt's request to provide $35,000 to support a School Resource Officer in Needles. "A School Resource Officer is able to build positive relationships among students, parents, staff and law enforcement," said Supervisor Mitzelfelt. "Having an officer on campus can help at-risk children and others stay away from drugs and gangs, while implementing other programs to promote a safe environment at school and in the community." The School Resource Officer is a Sheriff Deputy who will provide training, counseling, and information to staff, students, and parents, provide a positive role model and build trust with the student body, act as a problem-solver and liaison to the community, including coordinating activities with related agencies such as Juvenile Probation and Child Protective Services, develop alternative programs for at-risk youth and first-time offenders, investigate criminal and traffic offenses that occur on campus, mediate on-campus problems and serious truancy issues, and assist with school disciplinary matters as appropriate. Providing funding for the officer is a joint effort among Supervisor Mitzelfelt's office, the Sheriff's Department, the City of Needles and Needles Unified School District. The officer is based at Needles High School but serves all schools in the district. New Mojave River Bridge on Rock Springs Road Takes Major Step A bridge where Rock Springs Road crosses the Mojave River took a major step toward becoming a reality on October 19 when the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors voted to begin seeking a consultant to design the bridge and conduct the environmental review. "This is a project that Victor Valley residents have needed for years," said Supervisor Mitzelfelt. "This bridge will ensure that commuters have easy access across the river regardless of weather, and will prevent further congestion on Bear Valley Road during major storms." Rock Springs Road is a major east-west corridor between Apple Valley and Hesperia that carries up to 12,000 vehicles per day, many of them on their way to or from Main Street in Hesperia or Interstate 15. In the past, the road surface frequently washed out where it crosses the Mojave River, and in the heavy storms of January 2005, the 1,100-foot-long crossing was destroyed. When County Public Works rebuilt the crossing later that year, it was designed with large concrete culverts and a sloping concrete road surface that could withstand heavy flows without damage. But the crossing still needs to be closed during major storms when water overtops the road, requiring motorists to take a 12-mile detour. At the request of Supervisor Mitzelfelt, the County is now pursuing funds through the Federal Highway Bridge Program to construct a four-lane bridge. The first step came Tuesday when the Board of Supervisors authorized a Request for Proposals to seek a consultant to design the bridge and conduct the required environmental review. Once the project is designed and "shelf-ready" it will be more competitive for the federal funds. The cost of the contract is expected to be about $2 million. The contract will be awarded in late January with the design and environmental review due to be completed about 18 months after that. The total cost to construct the bridge is projected to be about $20 million. Spring Valley Lake Water System to be Upgraded The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on October 6 approved a project to replace the aging and failure-prone water service lines in Spring Valley Lake. "These water lines have been causing problems for Spring Valley Lake residents for some time," said Supervisor Mitzelfelt. "This will increase the reliability of the water system and improve safety on the roads." The water lines were installed in the 1970s and the lines that run from the water mains in the street to customers' water meters have often burst. That has led to hundreds of emergency calls and high overtime costs. The failures have also led to extensive road damage and created public safety hazards. The County has instituted a multi-year program to replace the original water service lines, particularly in areas that have seen a high number of failures in recent years. Approximately 550 service lines will be replaced. The project includes replacing the existing lines and fittings from the main line to the curb-side water meter. The estimated cost is $400,000. Construction crews are also coordinating with the County Public Works Department to do the replacements before any scheduled repaving of roads. The replacements will reduce water line failures and resulting road damage, and improve public health and safety. |