Volume 11 | March 13-17, 2017
Explorers Assist Bill's Special Kids Baseball League

On March 10, the Moreno Valley Police Explorers spent the evening assisting the “Bill’s Special Kids Baseball League,” a local baseball education league and therapy program for children with a variety of special needs.

Known as the Stallions, the league was created by Bill Yearsley, a long time Moreno Valley resident and retired member of the Air Force. The league is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Mr. Yearsley has spent 47 years of his life volunteering as a board member for Moreno Valley Youth Federation Pony Baseball. He began The Stallions began in 1997 with just 12 children; the league has grown to 75 children. Mr. Yearsley’s commitment to children, baseball and his community is extraordinary.  

The Moreno Valley Police Explorers would like to thank the Stallions for the opportunity to meet new friends, play baseball and enjoy a wonderful evening.

This is just one of the many ways the Police Explorers volunteer their time in the city.  

City Accepting Applications for Military Appreciation Banners and Pavers

Applications for Military Appreciation Banners and Pavers are currently being accepted by the City of Moreno Valley to honor our local military personnel and their families.

Applications must be submitted by April 17 to ensure they are installed by the City's Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 29.

The program recognizes military men and women who have served in the past or are currently serving, whether defending the home front or serving overseas.  In addition to supporting our local military members, the City’s Military Appreciation Banners and Pavers program also helps promote patriotism and pride throughout our community. 

The Military Appreciation Banner program is partially sponsored by the Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee.  As a result of the committee's generous support, applicants will be responsible for just a small portion of the cost of having a personalized banner created and installed on a city street light pole. The total cost for applicants is $100. 

The Veteran’s Military Program pavers are inscribed with the name of military veterans and active duty service personnel and the branch of service.  The pavers are installed around the Moreno Valley Veteran's Memorial on the Civic Center plaza. The nominee must be currently serving or have served in the United States military or with an ally of the United States. The cost of a paver is $200. 

For more information visit the City of Moreno Valley's website or contact the City’s Parks & Community Services Department at 951.413.3701. 

Hire A MoVal Grad Rewards Moreno Valley Businesses for Hiring Locally 

Moreno Valley businesses will receive incentives for hiring local residents who have recently graduated from college or earned a certification from an accredited Riverside County school under a new City of Moreno Valley pilot program.

The Hire A MoVal Grad program rewards local businesses that hire Moreno Valley graduates by awarding a $1,000 stipend for each recent Moreno Valley graduate up to a maximum of five new hires.

“This program will help put our educated and talented youth to work right here in City of Moreno Valley for jobs elsewhere,” said Mayor Yxstian Gutierrez. “A small investment in our youth today will translate into rich dividends for our workforce and our future.”

The Hire A MoVal Grad is expected to create up to 100 new-full time jobs for local Moreno Valley residents over the next two years. 

The pilot program will begin July 1, 2017 and run through June 30, 2019.

In order to be eligible, Moreno Valley businesses must be licensed by the City of Moreno Valley and hire a Moreno Valley resident who has received a degree from an accredited Riverside County college or university, completed a vocational educational training program from an school or finished a comprehensive CTE Course of no less than three courses through the Riverside County Office of Education within the past two years.

The new hire must work for the employer for at least six months for a minimum of 35 hours per week before the business can apply for the $1,000 Hire A MoVal Grad incentive.

Incentives will be provided on a first come basis. Program costs are currently capped at $50,000 a year.

The Hire A MoVal Grad program is the latest phase in the City’s award winning Hire MoVal program to provide lucrative incentives to businesses in exchange for hiring Moreno Valley residents.

The Hire MoVal Program also provides businesses complimentary access to workforce recruitment services, job announcements and job fairs to make it even easier to hire qualified employees in our community. Eligible businesses that meet designated thresholds for hiring Moreno Valley residents can benefit from significant discounts to their electricity bill or receive waivers of business license fees.

For more information about the City’s Hire MoVal Program please visit the City of Moreno Valley website.


Local Artists Invited to Participate in Public Art Expo

Show off your artwork while helping to give Moreno Valley City Hall and other City facilities an artistic flair.

The City of Moreno Valley is currently accepting applications from local artists to have their artwork displayed at locations across the City.

Artists who live or work in Moreno Valley are eligible to apply.

All works of art will be reviewed by the City's Arts Commission with preference given to family-friendly works.

The application deadline is April 17, 2017. Art pieces will be displayed from May through August 2017.

Applications are available here.

For more information, please contact the City's Parks and Community Services at 951.413.3701. 

"Officer Friendly" Improving Quality of Life for MoVal Businesses, Shoppers

The City is improving the quality of our life for our business owners and shoppers with our “Officer Friendly” program.

Beginning in February, the Moreno Valley Police Department has an officer assigned to “foot patrol” in and around Moreno Valley’s business districts. 

Getting the officer out of his car and on the street makes him more visible and allows him to build long-lasting and effective relationships.  

He serves as a direct point of contact for business owners and employees to ask questions, share concerns and resolve small issues before they become larger problems. 

He also pays close attention to members of the homeless community who may congregate in and around the City’s business districts. Officer Friendly provides them with information about homeless resources available as well as addresses any criminal activity he sees, including panhandling and public intoxication.  

This approach helps reduce the impact of homelessness on our businesses while helping those on the street to get the help they need.  

If you see Officer Friendly walking around your local shopping center, make sure to stop him and say hi.


Reche Vista Drive Widening Project Complete

A traffic signal has been installed at the intersection of Heacock Street and Reche Vista Drive. completing the final stage of the Reche Vista Drive capital improvements project.

The $3.8 million project realigned winding Reche Vista Drive to make it safer for the thousands of drivers who drive it daily.

The project, which began in early 2015, realigns the two-lane Reche Vista to extend straight to Perris Boulevard, replacing a steep, winding section of the road that was a frequent site of traffic accidents.

The 2,400-foot extension where Perris Boulevard previously had dead-ended features wider lanes and shoulders and a center turn lane.

A set of solar-powered flashing beacons were also installed for an equestrian crossing at the intersection of Reche Vista Drive and Canyon Ranch Road.

Independent Audit Gives Moreno Valley Clean Bill of Health

An independent audit conducted by accounting firm Vasquez & Company reported this week that the City’s processes and internal controls are properly in place and auditors “did not identify any instances of fraud, abuse or illegal acts."  

The City Council directed auditors to conduct an in-depth fiscal review to ensure what residents have been hearing about the financial problems of other cities and jurisdictions was not happening here at the City of Moreno Valley. 

After conducting a risk assessment to identify areas where the City might be at risk for fraud or abuse, the firm of Vasquez & Company reviewed processes, interviewed all levels of City staff in all departments, and conducted independent research to identify if the proper fraud prevention processes were properly in place. 

Vasquez & Company provided the City with a clean bill of health. In addition, the firm provided City Council and management several general operating and staffing improvement ideas for cost savings and operational efficiencies that will continue to be explored.

Building Codes Keep Moreno Valley Safe

The City of Moreno Valley adopts the California Building Code every three years to safeguard the lives, health and property of our residents and visitors. 

Building codes may seem boring to some, but these rules – and their enforcement – are crucial to making sure you and your loved ones can live, work and play in a safe environment. 

The current California Building Code includes various elements including safety, structural, accessibility, energy conservation and sustainability.  As part of the adoption process cities and counties can make amendments through local ordinances based on the jurisdiction’s specific needs.  Amendments may be necessary for high wind zones, increased fire threats or extreme natural landscape features such as steep canyons or hills. 

Moreno Valley’s adoption of the 2016 California Building Code included improvements for special uses, building next to open brush areas and better control of hazardous materials. 

In order to provide residents of Moreno Valley with the most up-to-date and complete set of codes, the City must follow specific State rules to ensure Moreno Valley’s codes are in full compliance.

The City is pleased to report the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) reviewed Moreno Valley’s current code adoption efforts and found it to be acceptable, enforceable and in compliance with State law.  

Whether you live, work, or play in Moreno Valley, you can feel confident you are in a safe environment.