To improve traffic safety across California, the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency approved 274 state and local applicants to receive about $87 million in federally-funded traffic safety grants the Office of Traffic Safety administers. The grant-funded programs will help combat alcohol and drug-impaired driving, encourage seat belt and child safety seat usage, fight distracted driving…

Consider defensible space a “buffer” zone between a home or building and the potentially fire-prone grasses, trees and vegetation that surrounds it. The California Public Resources Code 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space, formed by creating two zones. Zone 1 is the area within 30 feet from a building, including outdoor decks, sheds and…

County Service Area charges At the May 21 Riverside County Board of Supervisors’ meeting, a public hearing was set for June 25 for comments on the possible increase in County Service Area charges for fiscal year 2013-14. On the Hill, the CSA 36 (Idyllwild) rate would remain the same at $35 per parcel. The CSA…

Proposition 10 proposes to allow local governments to adopt rent control on any type of housing unit. The measure also would state that local governments’ rent control ordinances cannot abridge a “fair share of return” for landlords. Passage would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995. The official ballot summary is as follows: •…

At its March 26 meeting, the county Board of Supervisor’s approved a “Roadmap for Public Safety.” This action preceded the board’s first budget hearings for fiscal 2013-14, which begins July 1, which were held Monday, April 1. Fifth District Supervisor Marion Ashley submitted the road map. The approval formally sets public safety as the county’s…