Top Stories   FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010

On March 2, 2010 the Planning Commission officially denied a request to allow the establishment of a 7-11 convenience store in a portion of the building located at 601 E. Foothill Boulevard. The proposal included the sale of beer and wine and 24 hour/ day operating hours. The applicant has appealed the Planning Commission decision. The City Council will conduct an appeal hearing on Tuesday March 23, 2010 in the Council Chamber located at 225 W. Second Street. The appeal hearing will not commence before 7 pm. A copy of the appeal document is attached. For more information, please contact the Planning Division at 909-399-5470.

• View the Appeal (Adobe Acrobat, 2964KB)

Verizon has temporarily halted the FiOS build in Claremont due to contractual agreements with the 18 Local Franchise Agreement cities. Where contracts to finish the builds in those cities have come due, Verizon is obligated to complete the builds per the contracts. Verizon is also obligated, as per our State Franchise, to complete a certain percentage of the FiOS build in diverse underserved cities in California. Claremont does not meet the criteria of a diverse underserved city. In order to meet this obligation, Verizon has had to step up the build in those cities. Verizon hopes to be back in Claremont to continue the FiOS build, however no date has been set. Resiodents may call Gary George, Verizon Director of Government & External Affairs at
909/261-0663.

The City Council reorganized at the March 9, 2010 City Council meeting, unanimously selecting Linda Elderkin as Mayor. Councilmember Corey Calaycay passed the gavel to Ms. Elderkin amidst applause from the audience. Councilmember Sam Pedroza was nominated as Mayor Pro-Tem and voted in unanimously. Mayor Elderkin and Mayor Pro Tem Pedroza will serve one year in the position.

• View more photos of the Council reorganization

The City has successfully settled the claim with Terno Construction and its insurance company over the removal of a Dutch Elm tree at the corner of Indian Hill Boulevard and Tenth Street. The City will be reimbursed $79,000 for the replacement of the tree.

The City worked with an arborist to determine the value of the tree and costs associated with replacing it. The City asked for and received $79,000 for the cost of replacing the tree and to compensate for its loss. The City will use the funds to replace the tree after the signal installation is complete. The remaining funds will be used to address the backlog of trees that need replacing in the City.

The contractor will have materials and hardware to finish the project within two weeks. Staff anticipates the work to be completed March 30, 2010

Residents will be receiving their 2010 Census questionnaires in their mailboxes this week. It is vital that residents fill them out and mail them back to the Census by April 1 to avoid having a Census Representative visit their homes. The informaion recieved from the Census determines the amount of funding the community receives for programs, roads, and services.

By law, census answers may not be shared with other federal agencies or law enforcement.

• Visit the Census 2010 website