The following updates were provided by Riverside County First District Supervisor Kevin Jeffries.
Cost of Fire Insurance
The price for some homeowners and business owners to obtain insurance for their property has gone through the roof and is still climbing. For others, they cannot even afford to buy insurance if they can find it.
In October 2023, the Associated Press reported Riverside County was the nation’s top for wildfire risk for insurance companies and homeowners. Homeowners and businesses across the state are having to turn to the California Fair Plan Association as an “insurer of last resort.” The California Insurance Commissioner reports, “When the FAIR Plan takes on more customers, it causes traditional insurance companies to withdraw from certain areas, further increasing dependence on the FAIR Plan.”
During the recent Riverside Hawarden fire, six structures were damaged or destroyed, with one homeowner reporting to the media that he no longer had insurance. With this crisis likely lasting for several more years, we have to make sure our local fire departments are fully staffed and have the resources available to help save homes and lives. Cooperation between fire departments is also critical, and this should include the direct connection of their individual dispatch centers so that the closest resources are initially dispatched – thereby saving critical minutes when a fire is growing.
Non-City Trash Rates
If you reside or operate a business in an unincorporated community (outside of city boundaries), the county regulates your trash hauler, as well as their rates and a host of other conditions that come with their Exclusive Franchise Agreements (aka monopolies).
One of those regulatory requirements is to do whatever the State of California mandates upon counties (and cities) to do. Trash is highly regulated, and trash service is becoming more and more expensive.
On Tuesday, September 10, at 9:30 a.m., the board of supervisors will conduct a public hearing to consider rate increases and other requirements. Trash rates are proposed to go up for homeowners and businesses alike. In some communities, the proposed increase could be substantial. To find your rate proposal visit https://rivcoeh.org/and scroll down to click on the “Franchise Waste Hauler Agreements” box. You can enter your address or parcel number there, or simply click on the map for more details.
Land Use Changes
For landowners and residents who are in an unincorporated community, the county Planning Department has kicked off a “General Plan Amendment Foundation Cycle.” Roughly 76 landowners from across the county have submitted proposed concepts for new Land uses for their property.
For the First District, 20 landowners have submitted. The bulk of their proposals (but not all) are to switch their land use from Rural or Low-density residential to – you guessed it – Light Industrial/Business Park (warehouses), mostly in the Mead Valley area along the 215 freeway. If you want more info on these proposals, visit https://planning.rctlma.org/2024-general-plan-foundation-amendment-cycle.
Speaking of Mead Valley
If you occasionally enjoy sampling various foods from licensed Health Department-approved food trucks in a fun, festive atmosphere, then you need to consider stopping by the Mead Valley Outdoor Marketplace on the southwest corner of Cajalco and I-215. It’s a family-friendly place with a mix of 30 to 40 food trucks and vendor booths that operate on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Entry is free, but no alcohol is allowed.
Next Month
I hope to report on a concerning issue developing at the March Air Reserve Base. It has to do with the March Joint Powers Authority desiring to increase the number of commercial/private sector air cargo flights at a time when the military base is facing growing foreign political and military concerns in the Pacific theater.
As always, feel free to email me with your thoughts or suggestions to improve county services (or to vent about those services). I read pretty much every single email sent to me (vulgar ones have a special round file).
