Jan

26

“Grades in for Mitzelfelt’s first year”

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Supervisor for 1st District has kept his promises, but work still needs to be done

HESPERIA -“ When seeking his appointment, San Bernardino County 1st District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt said he could do in two years what others could do in four. Having now been in office for one year, Mitzelfelt says he is on track to do exactly that.”

From the Victor Valley Daily Press, January 15, 2008, By Ryan Orr, Staff Writerâ€¦ (Continued below)

Mitzelfelt based his assumption on the knowledge and experience he already had within the county, serving as chief of staff for his predecessor Bill Postmus. The other four county supervisors agreed, choosing Mitzelfelt to fill the position over 12 other High Desert residents vying for the spot.

“I’m pleasantly surprised,” said Apple Valley Councilman Rick Roelle, who sought the appointment in 2007. “He’s been very receptive. It’s totally opposite of what I expected.”

Mitzelfelt has improved the quality of life in the Victor Valley by backing an illegal dumping ordinance, securing $1.2 million in Proposition 40 funds for parks and reserving funds for workforce training programs. His most significant accomplishments, however, have been through improving public safety.

Mitzelfelt followed through on promises of expanding the District Attorney’s Identity Theft Unit, expanding the Adelanto Jail and most significantly, continuing the war on gangs through supporting injunctions, satellite tracking and youth intervention. “We often tell young people to stay away from gangs,” said Mitzelfelt. “But if we fail to give them other productive activities, that’s when the gangs win some of our youth over to their destructive lifestyle.”

Some other priorities he had when he took office have yet to be addressed. One is building a permanent bridge over Rock Springs Road to avoid the burden on residents when the road is washed out during major floods. Another is graffiti abatement. After Mitzelfelt was appointed he said that graffiti in the High Desert is a rapidly growing problem. “Those and a number of other projects are still on the top of Mitzelfelt’s priority list and our office continues to work on them,” said David Zook, spokesman.

Mitzelfelt said he will continue to focus on much-needed transportation projects for the Victor Valley, admitting how frustrating it can be to make progress. Issues that regularly stall projects include, interagency bureaucracy, construction costs, environmental studies and an unstable economy, said Mitzelfelt.

Mitzelfelt has also improved communication between his office and residents in unincorporated communities. “I don’t have any complaints,” said Terry Kostak, vice president of the Oak Hills Property Owners Association. “His office has been very congenial.” Kostak said that despite having much of the same staff as Bill Postmus, Mitzelfelt’s office has been very receptive. “It’s like night and day with the communication,” Kostak said, comparing the two supervisors.

In the year that Mitzelfelt has been supervisor, his office has sent out roughly 100 press releases, more than half of the number sent out by his predecessor in his six-year tenure. “It’s been an eventful year,” Mitzelfelt said.

Link: http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/mitzelfelt_4518___article.html/office_year.html

Jan

20

‘Helendale project gets priority’

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“Railroad crossing creates choke point for residents”…

“HELENDALE — The Vista Road Grade Separation in Helendale has been added to the Measure I project list for San Bernardino County, putting it on the fast track to relieve congestion for frustrated residents. Vista Road serves as the major road link between the densely populated Silver Lakes housing development and National Trails Highway. The railroad crossing has created a choke point for Silver Lakes residents who use Vista Road to get to and from work. ‘The Vista crossing is a real problem because it’s the only way out of Silver Lakes, particularly for emergency vehicles,’ said San Bernardino County 1st District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt.”…

…From the Press Dispatch, January 20, 2008, By Ryan Orr, Staff Writer (continued below)…

“The $26 million project will create an overpass or underpass for the BNSF/Union Pacific trains to go, leaving the road open for residents. ‘It’s definitely an issue, especially because of emergency vehicles,’ said Craig Schneider, president of the Helendale Community Services District. Schneider said it’s not uncommon to have to wait for up to 15 minutes for a slow passing train to pass. By adding it to the project list, Mitzelfelt hopes to get environmental studies started and hopefully begin construction in the next five years. Mitzelfelt’s plan is to request $15 million from the public utility commission, which awards annual grants for grade separation. The railroad would have to match 10 percent of that, or $1.5 million. Another $1.2 million would come from Measure I funds and the last $8.3 would be funded through developer fees and mitigation, as well as additional Measure I funds.

“Ryan Orr may be reached at 951-6277 or rorr@vvdailypress.com.”

Link: http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/road_4604___article.html/vista_million.html

Jan

13

‘P3s improve quality of life in California’

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In his State of the State address … Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke of an innovative way to build projects by joining with the real engine of our prosperity – the private sector. …

…From the San Bernardino County Sun, Jan. 13, 2007, by Brad Mitzelfelt (continued below)…

…The policy is called P3, which is short for Public-Private-Partnerships.

The governor also talked about passing legislation to cut red tape for building P3 projects. We need that legislation in place soon.

Traffic on our highways continues to increase. Not only is the number of cars increasing, but we’re also seeing more truck traffic. And it’s only going to get worse. It’s predicted that the volume of freight traffic coming from the seaports in Los Angeles, Long Beach and Hueneme in Ventura County is going to triple. With traditional sources of money for new infrastructure being as dry as the Mojave River in summer, we need to find innovative ways to build new highways.

One such P3 project is already under way and has galvanized two counties – Los Angeles and San Bernardino – and five cities – Palmdale, Lancaster, Adelanto, Victorville and Apple Valley – to work together collaboratively and innovatively to build a new P3 transportation project called the High Desert Corridor.

In March, a two-county Joint Powers Authority will be receiving proposals from engineering firms to privately finance and design the new corridor and join it with public sector projects already under way in Victorville. We see this as a prototypical P3.
As part of redevelopment projects in Victorville, the initial east end of the highway’s planning and environmental review is well under way, with Caltrans projecting construction to begin in 2013. The first segment will link Interstate 15 to US-395. This would connect these two north/south truck corridors with a major new intermodal rail yard under development at Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA) – the former George Air Force Base in Victorville. SCLA is the economic engine of the largest Redevelopment Area in the nation.

The logistics airport is already a base-closure success story, and its strategic value to California and the nation is now becoming more widely understood. With its new rail yard connected by a spur to BNSF’s triple tracks, Victorville plans to double the region’s capacity to put shipping containers onto rail cars – a critical statistic when you consider that the Los Angeles Basin’s existing intermodal yards have reached their capacities.

This new highway connection unlocks systemwide capacity at a critical time to enable growth and reduce negative impacts on communities. The result of these efforts will be jobs, economic growth, and traffic relief in the Los Angeles Basin and the Inland Empire.

Proposition 1B transportation bond funds are now being considered for $2 billion worth of freight-related projects. As one of four projects on San Bernardino County’s priority list, we are hoping the High Desert Corridor competes successfully at the state level for these bond funds. If so, the funds would catapult the project from the drawing board to construction even sooner, beginning its westward expansion from Victorville to Palmdale.

If the project is successful in securing Proposition 1B funds, the city of Victorville has pledged another public sector match of as much as $200 million from redevelopment funds.

Public/private partnerships are not new for the region. In Victorville, private and local sources are already pumping close to $1 billion into the development of airport, rail and distribution center space, with exponentially more on the drawing boards there and in the Antelope Valley.

In the Antelope Valley, the cities are finalizing plans to connect the High Desert Corridor to the LA/Palmdale Regional Airport, which is operated by Los Angeles World Airports. The cities and airports on the both ends of the Corridor are working on “inland port” plans to attract private sector logistics jobs.

Just for the development in and around the airport and rail yard in Victorville, the region would see more than 40,000 jobs created – amounting to $5 billion in new annual economic activity.

Regionally, the High Desert Corridor will provide substantial congestion relief along Interstate 5 and State Route 14 in the Santa Clarita Valley, along Interstates 15 and 10, and Highways 60, 210, 138 and 18.

Nationally, the High Desert Corridor will provide the first direct express highway connection between the two north/south trade corridors in the western United States – Interstate 5 and Interstate 15. This missing trade link along the perimeter of the Southern California region will provide the time and economic incentives necessary for freight, trucks and motorists to bypass the most congested areas of the region. It will do this first by diverting truck traffic from the ports to rail. Later, it would further reduce congestion by diverting truck traffic from other Southern California freeways and highways and by bringing more jobs to the High Desert, meaning fewer commuters jamming our freeways.

All of this means a better quality of life for Californians.

The old way of financing and building infrastructure is growing obsolete. We’ve provided a very viable example of what the governor envisions – a partnership between government and the private sector that will benefit the economy, the environment, freeway congestion and quality of life – a perfect P3.

Brad Mitzelfelt is chairman of the High Desert Corridor Authority and supervisor for the 1st District of San Bernardino County.

Link to online article: http://www.sbsun.com/pointofview/ci_7955730

Jan

12

‘County Plans Public Safety, Transportation Improvements for 2008′ – Barstow Desert Dispatch

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…By RYAN ORR and JASON SMITH, staff writers…”BARSTOW- The Barstow area could see a larger airport and expanded sheriff’s station in 2008.

“Public safety and transportation projects are among the major county undertakings planned for the coming year which could affect Barstow, said San Bernardino County First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt.

“‘Our biggest priority is making our streets safer, and one of the ways we’re doing that is expanding our jail system,’ he said.

“A $2 million renovation of the Barstow sheriff’s station and jail and tripling the numbers of beds at the Adelanto Detention Center are scheduled to begin in the coming months. Mitzelfelt said that money for the projects has already been set aside and will likely avoid potential state or county budget cuts.

“‘If the county general fund takes a big hit, it will be my first priority to make sure public safety is the last affected,’ he said.

“Other public safety priorities include getting deputies back out on the streets, preventing the early release of inmates and continuing with anti-gang efforts countywide.

“The county also hopes to assist the city and non-profit groups in plans to design a one-stop homeless center in Barstow, but the project is still in the planning stages, he said.

“Mitzelfelt said that the Barstow-Daggett Airport will likely see $3.65 million in runway construction paid for by Federal Aviation Administration grants and a new airport administration building.

“To cope with anticipated industrial growth in Barstow, railroad grade separations are planned at Lenwood Road in Barstow and Vista Road in Helendale, paid from by county and city funds.

“‘With the train traffic increasing its important we address the effects this had on traffic,’ Mitzelfelt said.

“He said the county will assist the city of Hesperia in the widening of Ranchero Road, but a major priority will be expediting the High Desert Corridor.

“The corridor will eventually go from Apple Valley to Palmdale. The contract for the western portion between Highway 395 and Palmdale Road could be awarded as early as this year, Mitzelfelt said.

“In the interim, Mitzelfelt said he will help support Victorville in getting a portion of the corridor between Highway 395 and Interstate 15 built, which will give a significant economic boost to Southern California Logistics Airport.

“Mitzelfelt said he hopes the entire corridor will be completed within 10 years.

“The 60,000-square-foot building will cost around $20 million, Mitzelfelt said, and will include offices for all general departments excluding health and human services.

“Overall, the county is going to see how the state’s deficit might affect its own funds this year, said spokesman David Wert.

“‘The state has sometimes looked to local government as a source of funding to close its gap,’ Wert said.”

Link: http://www.desertdispatch.com/news/county_2347___article.html/barstow_mitzelfelt.html

Jan

10

Mitzelfelt Urges State Board to ‘Fully Implement’ Jessica’s Law

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From the Victor Valley Daily Press…”Sex Offender Management Board hears local concerns; Mitzelfelt asks board to fully implement Jessica’s Law.” By Ryan Orr, Staff Writer… “SAN BERNARDINO – The California Sex Offender Management Board came to San Bernardino on Wednesday to hear concerns from local leaders on sex-offender tracking. The board was formed in 2006 to address implementation of laws that apply to sex offenders. San Bernardino County 1st District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt testified in front of the board, encouraging members to fully implement Jessica’s Law. The law was passed in November 2006, prohibiting sex offenders from living near schools and parks and requiring them to wear Global Positioning System tracking devices.

“The residency restrictions were implemented over the summer but only about 50 percent of offenders statewide are currently fitted with GPS devices, said Sen. George Runner, R-Lancaster, who sponsored the initiative.

“In San Bernardino County the compliance rate is 93 percent, said Mitzelfelt, who added that there are nearly 4,000 sex offenders countywide. ‘We’ve been dealing with these issues because 400 to 700 sex offenders are being released from state prison to parole each month,’ Mitzelfelt said. ‘We prosecute more than 1,000 per year in our county alone.’ Runner said that one of the problems authorities have run into with Jessica’s Law is local governments not being able to afford to institute some of the law’s requirements. ‘The people asked for it to be done,’ Runner said. ‘It’s the state and legislators’ responsibility to fund it.’

“During his testimony to the board, Mitzelfelt stressed the importance of interagency cooperation.

“Mitzelfelt said that Tuesday, as a result of cooperation between the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and law enforcement officials in Los Angeles County, a registered sex offender that had been hiding since 2003 was located and arrested in Rancho Cucamonga. ‘It’s my opinion that, thanks to that cooperation, San Bernardino County residents – and Californians – are safer,’ Mitzelfelt said.

“Ryan Orr may be reached at 951-6277 or rorr@vvdailypress.com.”

Jan

10

‘Victor Valley has slew of county projects for 2008′

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…From the Victor Valley Daily Press, By Ryan Orr, January 9, 2008… “SAN BERNARDINO – In 2008, San Bernardino County will try and secure state funds for transportation projects and try to increase revenue in the midst of the economic downturn. The biggest improvement in the Victor Valley will be the quality of life. San Bernardino County 1st District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, who secured $650,000 last year for the Adelanto Boys and Girls Club, plans on continuing his support of youth programs as part of the war on gangs. A large part of that, Mitzelfelt said, is gang prevention and intervention.

“The Boys and Girls Club has now requested a second charter for Silverado High School, said Judith Gargyi, executive director. It is part of the club’s promise to expand and reach as many kids throughout the Victor Valley as they can. Mitzelfelt said he will continue to pledge his support, but until the county’s budget is discussed, he doesn’t know what kind of funds will be available.

“The High Desert County Government Center is expected to break ground this year and will give Victor Valley residents much needed county services that they can now only get by driving to San Bernardino. The 60,000-square-foot building will cost around $20 million, Mitzelfelt said, and will include offices for all general departments excluding health and human services.

“A new county library is slated to break ground Friday in Phelan.

“Other priorities for the Victor Valley include the expansion of the Adelanto Jail, which will almost triple its current capacity, getting deputies back out on the streets, and preventing the early release of inmates.

“As far as transportation projects, the county will assist the city of Hesperia in the widening of Ranchero Road, but a major priority will be expediting the High Desert Corridor. The corridor will eventually go from Apple Valley to Palmdale. The contract for the western portion between Highway 395 and Palmdale Road could be awarded as early as this year, said Mitzelfelt. In the interim, Mitzelfelt said he will help support Victorville in getting a portion of the corridor between Highway 395 and Interstate 15 built, which will give a significant economic boost to Southern California Logistics Airport. Mitzelfelt said he hopes the entire corridor will be completed within 10 years.

“‘Overall, the county is going to see how the state’s deficit might affect its own funds this year,’ said spokesman David Wert. ‘The state has sometimes looked to local government as a source of funding to close its gap,’ Wert said.”

Link: http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/county_4411___article.html/mitzelfelt_valley.html