Improving Riverside County Residents Quality of Life

DHL Update
Requested test flights before the DHL jet package express project was approved at March Field.  Bob was the lone vote against the proposal after proponents refused to conduct test flights and concealed the takeoff path and noise estimates.  He leads the effort to ban the disturbing night flights, which put a $6.7 billion tax base under the noise at risk and could discourage better employers from locating here. Expert international financial analysts now report the DHL domestic air express operation is a “financial disaster” and should be shut down.

Woodcrest Library Funded and helped design the County’s first “green” building, the beautiful new Woodcrest Community Library. Read More >>

MARS Program
Initiated new summer park and recreation programs in Wildomar, Temescal Valley, Mead Valley, and Woodcrest

Protecting Open Space, Arroyos and watercourses
Protected the last major open space along the Santa Ana River in the La Sierra area of the City of Riverside from overdevelopment. Created the City/County Arroyo Watershed Committee to protect arroyos and natural streams throughout Riverside County.

Trails
Helped extend the mountains to coast Santa Ana River Trail through Riverside. Added hundreds of miles to the Riverside County Trails System in the 1st District.
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Parks
Opened up and funded four new parks in Wildomar last year providing recreational opportunities to thousands of residents. Made sure that unfair fees would not be assessed to sports leagues who use these new parks.
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Helped Wildomar Become a City
Protected the right of 30,000 Wildomar residents to determine their community’s future, leading the long struggle at the Local Agency Formation Commission to prevent annexations that would have broken up the area forever. Proposed and funded the fiscal studies that proved Wildomar could afford to become a city without raising taxes.

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Working to Reduce Train Noise and Delays at Street Crossings
Called for safe grade separations at street crossings and noise mitigation for increased freight trains and the new Metrolink commuter train service planned through the University Heights area of the City of Riverside.

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Making Sure that Riverside County has sufficient reserves to pay for needed services when times are lean.

Made sure over the years that Riverside County had enough reserves to endure fluctuations in the economy so that needed services would not be cut to those who need them most especially seniors and the disabled. The County of Riverside continues to have one of the highest bond ratings of any other County.

The County continues to balance its $1.9 billion General Fund budget with strong spending controls, maintaining a robust reserve of 18% or $353 million, without raising any taxes. The County can now weather the economic downturn without public service cuts or layoffs.

The County’s fiscal health has been recognized by the three credit rating agencies, Moody’s, Standard & Poors and Fitch, with “high quality” designations of Aa3 and AA. Such excellent ratings lower borrowing costs for long-term projects, making your dollars go further.

Bob pushed to make the County meet its employee pension and retiree benefits obligations head-on, taking pro-active measures such as issuing lower cost pension obligation bonds which saved $113 million, and reducing the unfunded liability to manageable levels.

The County’s $4.7 billion pooled investment fund is prudently managed, but maintains a competitive yield on the portfolio. Following strict investment policies established after Orange County’s bankruptcy, Riverside County did not purchase any risky sub-prime mortgage backed securities.