Fontana · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Fontana, California public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Senior residential care facility on Maloof Avenue
A proposed 24-bedroom care facility for seniors needing help with daily activities drew heavy neighborhood opposition over parking, traffic, and street safety. It was approved unanimously because it's a permitted use in the zoning district with a CUP, and it met parking and traffic standards.
Zoning and Development Code amendments (MCA 26-0005)
The city is proposing a sweep of changes to its zoning code — how medical uses work in commercial zones, business park rules, screening for loading areas, and Route 66 Gateway design standards. These rules shape what future development looks like citywide.
FY 2026-27 special tax levies for Community Facilities Districts
The Council was scheduled to place sewer, nuisance abatement, weed abatement, and rubbish charges on the property tax rolls for the year — the mechanism by which many Fontana households pay these services.
Village of Heritage Liberty Parkway Pavement Rehabilitation
A $638,000 change order would push this patching and repaving project to roughly $3.19 million total. Residents using the Liberty Parkway entrances would see improved pavement.
Call to remove Commissioner Benjamin Alba
Two residents asked the council to remove Parks, Community and Human Services Commissioner Benjamin Alba, a Claremont police corporal, over the November 28, 2025 traffic-stop death of Diego Rios, which the LA County medical examiner ruled a homicide. The council took no action during the meeting.
Renter protections and eviction prevention
A resident described receiving an invalid 60-day eviction notice for a 'substantial remodel' with no permits on file, and said Fontana lacks eviction-prevention support for housed residents, with affordable housing satisfaction scoring below the national average in a recent survey.
Street Paving and Traffic Signal Funding
The Council was scheduled to award a construction contract for a new traffic signal at Baseline and Palmetto Avenues. A working signal there should improve safety for drivers crossing or turning at that busy intersection.
San Bernardino Regional Housing Trust Participation
The council accepted $500,000 in county homelessness funding and awarded a geotech task order for the West End Regional Navigation Center. Mayor Warren pushed back on social media fears, saying access will be referral-based with law enforcement transport, not walk-up.
59-unit condominium development on Foothill Boulevard
A 2.3-acre site at Foothill Boulevard and Almond Avenue could become a 59-unit attached condominium complex. It would add housing along a busy corridor, and neighbors may weigh in on traffic, parking, and design at the public hearing.
Ventana Specific Plan Commercial Center
An 11.55-acre shopping center proposal within the Ventana Specific Plan that would add a gas station, drive-throughs, and alcohol licenses for a convenience store and grocery store.
Sierra/Terra Vista Commercial Center
A proposed 69,617-square-foot shopping center anchored by a nearly 50,000-square-foot grocery store at the northwest corner of Sierra Avenue and Terra Vista Drive, including beer and wine sales and a drive-through restaurant. It would also reconfigure parks and planning areas in the Arboretum Specific Plan.
West End Regional Navigation Center
The Council was set to award a construction contract of up to $14.6 million for the West End Regional Navigation Center, a homelessness response facility, with $4.2 million in new funding from the Transitional Use Tax fund.
Sewer rate adjustment FY 2026-27 through 2030-31
Ordinance No. 1993 would let the City adopt new or increased sewer service fees by resolution, a step that could affect utility bills.
Industrial commerce center appeal near Hilton Drive
Two new industrial commerce center buildings totaling about 72,000 square feet are proposed on nearly 4 acres. New construction in this corridor could bring jobs and investment but also construction activity and truck traffic nearby.
Development Agreements: Goodman, Acacia and North Palisades
Three ordinances on second reading would lock in development agreements for major projects — Goodman, Acacia and North Palisades — covering multiple parcels in the city. These agreements set the terms under which the developers can build.
Fiscal Year 2026/27 Supplemental Budget
The Council was scheduled to act on the supplemental budget report for the coming fiscal year, which can add, adjust or trim spending mid-cycle.
Commercial center and grocery store at Sierra Avenue and Terra Vista Drive
A 9.3-acre shopping center with a grocery store, shops, a pad building, and a drive-thru restaurant is proposed near Sierra and Terra Vista. The plan also reshapes parts of the Arboretum Specific Plan, which guides how that whole area grows.
Street and Park Infrastructure Investment
The council locked in about $2.3 million in contracts to repave high-wear street segments and install artificial turf on two sports park fields, plus $242,000 for pavement data collection to target future repairs.
Call for Removal of Parks and Community Services Commissioner
Two residents publicly demanded the removal of a Parks, Community and Human Services Commissioner over alleged misconduct connected to a police-involved incident that resulted in a death, citing ongoing investigations and legal action.
Downtown Core Parking and Outdoor Dining Code Amendments
New rules would effectively lift parking requirements for much of the downtown core within a 400-foot radius of city parking facilities, revise the No Net Loss program, and clarify vehicle parking vs. storage. Council members questioned whether the radius is too small and whether parking at the new structure will stay free.
Opioid support and response services agreement
A one-year, $310,104 agreement with The River's Edge Ranch was on the consent calendar to provide opioid support and response services in the community.
48-Unit Apartment Complex at 7227 Oleander Avenue
A 48-unit apartment complex across two three-story buildings is proposed on 1.9 acres on Oleander Avenue. It would add rental housing to the neighborhood pending design approval.
City Hall Renovation Project Phase II
The council was set to award a $49.4 million construction contract to Swinerton Builders for Phase II of the City Hall renovation, plus a separate $554,325 geotechnical testing task order. This is one of the city's biggest capital projects.
Reproductive Health Clinic Zoning Ordinance
Fontana’s city council just kept a ban in place that blocks a new Planned Parenthood from opening. That means the city is still limiting where reproductive health clinics can operate—and local patients may have to go elsewhere for care.
Automated License Plate Reader Cameras
The city planned to spend about $1.05 million on Motorola license plate reader cameras citywide. The technology helps police locate stolen vehicles and suspects but raises questions about surveillance of everyday drivers.
FY 2025-26 Midyear Budget
Staff was scheduled to present the midyear budget status, showing how city spending and revenue are tracking halfway through the fiscal year. It is a key check on whether services and projects stay funded.
Emergency Shelter Overlay at 11109 Jasmine Street
The Council was scheduled to finish adopting an ordinance applying the emergency shelter overlay to the city-owned property at 11109 Jasmine Street, which is also the subject of a proposed sale to Water of Life Church. The rules set development standards and operating regulations for emergency shelters on that site.
Industrial commerce building at 14970 Jurupa Avenue
Prologis wants to build a 492,240-square-foot industrial building near the Southwest Industrial Park. The design review hearing is where neighbors can weigh in on how the project looks, operates, and affects nearby properties.
ICE presence concerns at city council meeting
Fontana residents packed a city council meeting to demand answers about ICE operating locally, and things got tense. If you care about immigration enforcement in your city, this is a signal to show up and speak.
Legal Settlement
Fontana is paying $900,000 to settle a lawsuit after police reportedly pressured Tom Perez into falsely confessing to killing his father—who was actually alive. That means local taxpayers are covering the bill for a wrongful interrogation case.
Police Misconduct Settlement
Fontana is shelling out nearly $1 million to settle a claim that a 17-hour police interrogation psychologically tortured a man. That means local tax dollars are covering the fallout from a serious police-conduct case.
Street Vendor Enforcement
Fontana is stepping up enforcement against unlicensed street vendors, so expect more crackdowns on food carts and pop-up stands. If you buy cheap food from these vendors, your usual spots could disappear or get fined—and licensed businesses may see less competition.
Lawsuit Settlement
Fontana just settled a lawsuit with the California Attorney General, so the state’s legal fight with the city is now resolved. The details aren’t spelled out here, but settlements like this can change how City Hall operates and may come with costs or new rules.
Environmental Enforcement Settlement
Fontana just settled with California's Attorney General over alleged environmental violations. The deal could mean fines or required fixes, so residents may eventually feel it in city budgets or local services. Details are thin, but it’s a costs-and-compliance story worth watching.