WRCOG GA 2024 Program

EVENT PROGRAM

THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2024

PECHANGA RESORT CASINO | TEMECULA, CA

FEATURING

SEAN McVAY

HEAD COACH OF THE LA RAMS

Western Riverside Council of Governments pays homage to the indigenous ‘Atáaxum (Luiseño people) and acknowledge the land on which the 33rd Annual General Assembly and Leadership Address is located and upon which we are gathered is part of their Traditional homeland. Today, Pechanga is one of six federally recognized Luiseño Bands whose Traditional territory encompasses western Riverside County, northern San Diego County, and the Southern Channel Islands. The Pechanga people have remained committed to the stewardship of this land over many centuries. It has been cherished and protected, as elders have instructed the young through generations. We are honored and grateful to be here today on their traditional lands.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:

DEAR VALUED PARTNER,

It’s hard to believe another year has passed and we are all joining together again to celebrate the 33rd Annual General Assembly & Leadership Address. Along with our 22 member agencies, I would like to welcome you to another exciting event.

A special thanks to our many sponsors, who help ensure we can host this premiere event without using any public dollars. Tonight, we promise you an evening filled with opportunities to discuss and collaborate, as businesses and government come together to share common community goals. We will share experiences, discuss ideas, and learn new perspectives on leadership from our renowned speaker, LA Rams Head Coach Sean McVay.

We encourage you to use the registration app “Whova”, which you registered with to connect with new people you meet tonight, participate in lively discussion boards and post photos from the event.

After hearing from our keynote speaker, we invite you to stay late and experience the live music and dancing at the Post Event Reception, hosted by NAIOP, located in Summit A &B this year. It’s a great time to keep those lively conversations going after an exciting evening.

Thank you to our Executive Committee, member agency staff, and all who have supported WRCOG over the past year and we hope you have a wonderful evening!

Sincerely,

Chris Barajas WRCOG Executive Committee Chair Councilman, City of Jurupa Valley

SEAN McVAY

HEAD COACH OF THE LA RAMS

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER

Head Coach of the LA Rams Sean McVay has been making history with his collaborative leadership style and unparalleled offensive strategy, becoming the youngest Head Coach in NFL history to win a playoff game, make multiple Super Bowl appearances, and win, leading his team to victory in Super Bowl LVI. Following a college football career as a wide receiver at Miami University in Ohio, McVay became the youngest person in recent NFL history to be hired as a coach when he joined the Rams at age 30. He went on to revitalize the franchise, earning a reputation for what The Ringer calls a “rare brand of collaborative genius” and “the most advanced offensive mind in the game.” McVay has cultivated an expertise in strategic leadership as well as contagious enthusiasm and shares practical takeaways for those looking to create advantages out of adversity in work and in life.

The AP NFL Coach of the Year is also a powerful advocate for his colleagues, prioritizing conversations about mental health and wellness, and seeking compromises that include all points of view. For McVay, communication is the most important element of his leadership style. He shared his philosophy of the role of a coach in an interview with FOX Sports, “that’s one of the most important things a coach can do is provide support, and the best leaders make people, in any situation they are part of, better." While McVay is certainly an expert in strategy, his impact as a leader is felt in his ability to set his team up for success through open communication, humility, and compromise – and his insights are sought after by individuals and organizations seeking to improve their teamwork and achieve success.

Beyond Waste Management

We care about the communities we call home. And we know that nothing is more important to their future than a healthy environment.

That’s why we’re working every day to find new ways to manage waste and recycling, and generate energy from organic waste.

Because for us, it’s more than managing waste; it’s about providing the solutions you need today for a more sustainable tomorrow.

Scan to learn more or visit wm.com/sustainability

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:

EVENT AGENDA

4:00 PM

PRE-DINNER RECEPTIONS

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

6:00 PM

8:30 PM

WELCOME

Chris Barajas WRCOG Chair

Mark Macarro Tribal Chairman

Malia M. Cohen California State Controller

INVOCATION

PRESENTATION OF COLORS

U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard

BUSINESS MEETING

FLAG SALUTE

BAG PIPER

Chrisy Orcholski Surf City Piper

NATIONAL ANTHEM

Layla Sapp & Grace Little Recent Graduates of Ramona High School, Riverside Unified High School District

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS

COMMITTEE MEMBER SERVICE MILESTONES

STAFF RECOGNITIONS

DINNER

SPEAKER:

SEAN McVAY

HEAD COACH OF THE LA RAMS

SPONSORED BY

WRCOG EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee is WRCOG’s decision-making policy board. The Executive Committee is comprised of elected officials from each of WRCOG’s member agencies and meets monthly to discuss policy issues and consider recommendations from WRCOG’s Technical Advisory Committee.

Wendy Hewitt Calimesa

Bob Karwin Menifee

Joseph Morabito Wildomar

Dr. Edwin Gomez RCOE

Christian Dinco Eastvale

Rita Rogers Perris

Phil Paule EMWD

Lisa DeForest Murrieta

Mark Terry Canyon Lake

Elena Baca-Santa Cruz Moreno Valley

Chuck Washington County of Riverside District 3

Brian Tisdale Lake Elsinore

Chuck Conder Riverside

Brenda Dennstedt WMWD

Jacque Casillas Corona

Karen Spiegel County of Riverside District 2

Crystal Ruiz San Jacinto VICE-CHAIR PAST CHAIR

Kevin Bash Norco

Yxstian Gutierrez County of Riverside District 5

Mike Lara Beaumont

Sheri Flynn Banning

Jackie Peterson Hemet

James “Stew” Stewart Temecula

Kevin Jeffries County of Riverside District 1

2ND VICE-CHAIR

Chris Barajas Jurupa Valley

PUTTING THE PUBLIC BACK INTO PUBLIC POLICY

The Master of Public Policy program at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy is uniquely situated to educate our next generation of public leaders—not “experts” who sit removed from the public—but servants who humbly and knowledgeably engage residents in making decisions that affect their day-to-day lives. We truly see our mission as “putting the public into public policy.”

LEARN MORE about the School of Public Policy and the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership

Inside the classroom, our state and local policy specialization underscores the government/citizen relationship over the last two centuries and provides a comprehensive understanding of how faith, history, and culture shape all aspects of the public square.

Outside of the classroom, the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership promotes and supports productive interaction between communities and local government through its Professional Certificate in Public Engagement for Local Government program, by its thought leadership in contributing to leading local government publications, and by actively participating at prominent local government conferences.

WRCOG LEADERSHIP

WRCOG MEMBERS

City of Banning

City of Beaumont

City of Calimesa

City of Canyon Lake

City of Menifee

City of Moreno Valley

City of Murrieta

City of Norco

City of Perris

City of Riverside

City of San Jacinto

City of Temecula

City of Wildomar

County of Riverside

Eastern Municipal Water District

Western Water

Riverside County Superintendent of Schools

City of Corona

City of Eastvale

City of Hemet

City of Jurupa Valley

City of Lake Elsinore

Navigating in and out of Ontario International Airport is a breeze with quick access and easy parking. Not to mention over 65 daily nonstops to more than 20 destinations. And if you fly internationally, the newly opened Global Entry Enrollment Center makes it convenient to interview for expedited clearance through customs. So, leave the stress of other Southern California airports behind. Because let’s be honest, faster is always better when it comes to your airport.

Get down to business – book your journey through ONT today.

ONT is the 9th Largest Cargo Airport in the U.S.

In 2023, ONT handled 752,199 tons of cargo – which is critical in driving business to and from Southern California for our partners and creates a positive economic impact on our region. ONT also has one of the region’s longest runways and acres of developable space, making it easy to do business here.

WHAT IS WRCOG?

WRCOG is a Joint Powers Authority (JPA), consisting of the County of Riverside, 18 cities, two regional water districts and the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools. Recognizing that issues related to growth are not constrained by city or county boundaries, WRCOG focuses on a number of regional matters important to the future of Western Riverside County. By working together through its committee structure and utilizing existing resources, WRCOG enables strong advocacy, and strengthens Western Riverside County’s standing in southern California and the state. WRCOG’s program areas are varied and range from transportation to air quality, solid waste, environment, energy, resiliency, sustainability, and growth.

Our programs include:

• Energy (PACE, Streetlights)

• Inland Regional Energy Network (IREN)

• Environment and Recycling (Clean Cities Coalition, Solid Waste Cooperative, Regional Food Rescue Program, Used Oil Recycling, Love Your Neighborhood, Community Transportation Needs Assessment)

• Public Service Fellowship Program

• Grant writing assistance

• Regional Planning

• Transportation (TUMF, Active Transportation Plan, VMT Mitigation, Transportation Modeling Services)

• Water Task Force

SCAN THE QR CODE TO ACCESS WRCOG'S DOCUMENTS

THE SUBREGION

WESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY

2024 SPONSORS

TITLE SPONSOR

Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians

PLATINUM SPONSORS

Howard Industrial Partners

Riverside County Executive Office

Waste Management (WM)

GOLD SPONSORS

Best Best & Krieger

Ontario International Airport

The Energy Coalition

SILVER SPONSORS

Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District

DeGrave Communications & RMG Communications

IDI Logistics

Lewis Brisbois

Lewis Management Corp

March Joint Powers Authority

Majestic Realty Co

Optimus Building Corp.

Richland Communities

Riverside Transit Agency

Western Municipal Water District

CENTERPIECE SPONSORS

Western Municipal Water District

Eastern Municipal Water District

DECARBONIZATION SPONSOR

Modern Hydrogen

PROMOTIONAL ITEM SPONSOR

Economic & Planning Systems Inc.

HEADSHOT SPONSOR

Tripepi Smith

AD SPONSORS

Arantine Hills Holdings

Burrtec Waste Industries, Inc.

Environmental Science Associates

Frontier Energy, Inc.

Keenan & Associates

KTUA

MSW Compliance

PARS- Public Agency Retirement Services

Probolsky Research

Shopoff Realty Investments

Stafford HR Consulting

WRCOG recognizes and thanks our many sponsor partnerships for the 33rd Annual General Assembly & Leadership Address!

ENERGY EFFICIENCY SPONSOR

IREN

POST-EVENT RECEPTION SPONSOR

NAIOP Inland Empire Chapter

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SPONSORS

Pepperdine University

BRONZE SPONSORS

Alabbasi Construction and Engineering

Albert A. Webb Associates

American Medical Response (AMR)

Bechtel Corporation

Building Industry Association - Southern CaliforniaRiverside County Chapter

Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP

California Apartment Association

Charter Communications

Citizens Business Bank

CR&R

David Taussig and Associates dba DTA, Inc.

Eastern Municipal Water District

EPD Solutions, Inc

Fehr & Peers Associates, Inc.

GHD

HDR Engineering, Inc.

Hillwood

IEHP

Inland Economic Growth & Opportunity (IEGO)

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

Mark Thomas

Metropolitan Water District

Morongo Band of Mission Indians

National Community Renaissance

OPR Communications, Inc

PlaceWorks

Promeli VideoWorks

Riverside University Health System

San Manuel

Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority

SCAG

Soboba Casino

South Coast AQMD

Southern California Edison

Southern California Gas Co

Truck Terminal Properties

Twintel Solutions

WSP

The Lewis Group of Companies Congratulates Western Riverside Council of Governments on another successful year.

2024_WRCOG-General-Assembly_AD-CA-Water-For-All_V1_PRINT.pdf 2 4/29/24 3:10 PM

Western Water is one of the largest public agencies in Riverside County, providing water, sewer, and recycled water services to nearly 1 million people.

With core values of customer service, innovation, and environmental stewardship, Western Water helped launch a statewide coalition dedicated to preserving California's way of life, improving the environment, and supporting the State's economic vitality.

Western Water invites you to learn more about SB 366, known as CA Water for All, which will compel California to plan long-term for a resilient water future.

All Californians depend on it.

Learn more about Western Water at WesternWaterCA.gov.

Learn more about CA Water for All and how you can get involved, scan the QR code.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD RECOGNITION

BLUE STAR MOTHERS HOME

Blue Star Mothers H.O.M.E. is a cornerstone of support in California’s Inland Empire, devotedly serving our military families and personnel. As a respected chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America, they tirelessly provide support across Southern California, emphasizing the well-being and recognition of our troops. Their efforts culminate in the crafting and distribution of care packages that remind our service members of their valued status as heroes, no matter their location. Through various events, they foster a sense of community and support among military families, veterans, and their peers. Their advocacy work is crucial in ensuring the welfare and acknowledgment of our service members. Blue Star Mothers H.O.M.E. operates inclusively, embracing all who wish to join their mission.

LEAPS & BOUNDS PEDIATRIC THERAPY

Leaps & Bounds Pediatric Therapy, founded in 2010 by Dr. Cassandra Sanders-Holly in Norco, CA, has evolved from a modest one-woman venture into one of the nation’s largest pediatric therapy practices, specializing in hippotherapy. Dr. Sanders-Holly, recognizing a crucial gap in specialty services for disabled children, incorporated the therapeutic use of horses—a fun and effective treatment method. To support this service, she and her husband established the nonprofit Friends of Leaps & Bounds Pediatric Therapy in 2012, which has successfully raised funds to cover most session costs and expanded services to include Adaptive Riding, Sibling Support, and inclusive camps.

Leaps & Bounds serves 1,200 individuals weekly across the Inland Empire and Orange County, providing over 50,000 life-changing therapy sessions annually. Leaps & Bounds understands financial constraints that many who need services may face and has made great strides in ensuring that top-notch care is accessible to all.

“We are humbled and honored by the recognition and invite you all to come visit our ranch, to experience the magic,” said Dr. Sanders- Holly.

DAN GONSE

Dan Gonse has significantly contributed to enhancing Wildomar's community through his dedicated involvement with the Wildomar Beautification Volunteers over the past three years. By combining his professional skills with his passion for service, he has not only led efforts in graffiti removal but has also educated other volunteers on effective techniques, greatly amplifying the group's impact. His commitment extends beyond simple clean-up tasks; Dan has generously provided his property for storage, facilitating over 160 community cleanups.

Reflecting on his service, Dan states, "Over these years, my role with the Wildomar Beautification Volunteers has become more than just a duty; it's my way of building stronger bonds within our community. There's an immense sense of fulfillment in turning a challenge into an opportunity for improvement and camaraderie. It's about doing what I can, where I can, to make a difference."

NOLAND TURNAGE

Noland Turnage has dedicated over thirty years to serving the Perris community, notably spending the last nine as the Community Outreach Pastor for The Grove Community Church of Riverside. His profound commitment to the people of Perris and its neighboring areas is reflected in the numerous impactful projects he has led. Notably, Noland has been pivotal in the beautification efforts on Evans Rd and oversees an outreach center that has provided essential clothing items to over 450 clients in 2023 alone. Additionally, his leadership extends to a transformative program for children of incarcerated parents, taking them to camp for the past 12 years, and he has collaborated with The Spark of Love Foundation to distribute hundreds of toys in the community.

During the challenging times of the pandemic, Noland not only maintained four food distribution sites but expanded to add two more, enhancing food security in Perris, Good Hope, and Mead Valley. As the director of the Moses Schaeffer Community Center and Mead Valley Community and Senior Centers for the past seven years, Noland notes, “I continue to serve all for God’s Glory and the joy it brings to me.”

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD RECOGNITION

TRACY DAVIS

(CONTINUED)

Tracy Davis has made significant contributions to her community inTemescal Valley area and the County as a whole, through her roles as an environmentalist, naturalist, and active community member. As the Identity Committee Chair and a member of both the Beautification and Education Committees for the We Are Temescal Valley group, Tracy has been instrumental in projects like the USPS designation of "Temescal Valley" and the creation of murals at local schools and the Deleo Regional Sports Park. Serving on the Board of Directors for the Temescal Heritage Foundation, Tracy's efforts support the Annual Community Faire and scholarship programs. Additionally, her dedication as a Master Composter & Waste Resources volunteer has earned her recognition from the County's Department of Waste Resources. Tracy also provides advisory input to the Board of Supervisors as part of the El Sobrante Landfill Citizens Oversight Committee. Her decade-long leadership as chairperson of the Architectural Review Committee at Wildrose Ranch further exemplifies her commitment to community and environmental stewardship.

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TOTAL BUDGET

$20.5 million in revenues & transfers-in

$19.8 million in expenditures

AGENCY GOALS

Ensure fiscal solvency and stability of the Western Riverside Council of Governments

1 2 3

Develop a process to vet fiscal impacts and potential risks for all new programs and projects.

Maintain sound, responsible fiscal policies

WRCOG’S STRATEGY

Provide detailed financial statements for public review online.

In addition to the Strategic Plan Goals, the Executive Committee directed a longerterm look at the Agency’s finances to better identify and mitigate potential risks. This resulted in a fiscal modeling exercise that demonstrated the long-term fiscal health of each fund based on current activity, recessions, and other scenarios

BUDGETING PRINCIPLES

This year ’ s budget was built on a set of guiding principles: Ensuring the fair distribution of funds and funding requests

Requiring non-comprehensive programs (those which do not benefit the entirety of the member agencies) to be self-sustaining

Focusing on the long-term health of each fund, and Moving toward these goals in an incremental way when full scale immediate changes are impractical.

FISCAL YEAR 24/25 BUDGET

TUMF PROGRAM

One of WRCOG’s largest programs and provides funding for transportation projects Since its inception, over $1 billion in TUMF projects have been funded.

Anticipate funds for FY 24/25

$70 million

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:

ESA is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm.

We plan, design, permit, mitigate, and restore—for projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. We are 50 years strong in 21 offices across California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeastern United States.

Air Quality

Biological Resources

Climate Change & Resilience

Cultural & Historic Resources

Environmental Permitting & Compliance

Environmental Review & Documentation

Fish and Aquatic Sciences

Flood & Stormwater

Management

Landscape Architecture

Planning

Restoration Technology

Water Resources

We are proud to support the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG). THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:

National CORE has been transforming lives and communities for more than 30 years. An award-winning affordable housing developer, National CORE has created a platform for individual and community change. In partnership with the Hope through Housing Foundation, National CORE provides impactful resident programs and services to help children and teens achieve success, improve families’ financial well-being and promote senior health and wellness.

VISTA DE LA SIERRA Riverside, CA

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:

For 3 2 years Shopoff Realty Investments has transformed underutilized, undervalued or mismanaged real estate into more attractive and valuable assets. We pursue the highest and best use for all our properties, focusing on enhancing communities, fostering long-term partnerships, and producing event-driven appreciation.

Strategies and Solutions

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Our solutions and expertise includes:

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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR: THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:

TOGETHER, WE HAVE THE POWER TO KEEP THE FUTURE BRIGHT

We are proud to sponsor the WRCOG 33rd Annual General Assembly and Leadership Address

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:

Transit

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2 0 2 4 W R C O G

GENERAL ASSEMBLY & LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Your Local Champion for Equitable Access to Energy Resources

Our mission is to build a stronger clean energy economy and community throughout California’s Inland Empire by connecting residents, businesses, and local governments to a wide range of energy efficiency resources. Together, we will empower local governments to practice energy efficiency; support workforce education and training in our region; and enable code compliance in the building industry.

Our Programs

Public Sector Program

Who We Are

We are a network of partners including the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, San Bernardino Council of Governments, and Western Riverside Council of Governments formed to serve the cities and communities of our region.

We build capacity and knowledge to enable local governments to effectively leverage energy efficiency services and to demonstrate best practices. We take a comprehensive approach in helping local and State agencies undertake energy efficiency projects—from designing performance specifications to project completion—at no additional cost.

Workforce Education & Training Program

We support various workforce and education programs to encourage and realize energy efficiency goals across sectors. We provide training, tools, and opportunities for diverse participants in Disadvantaged Communities to pursue careers and contract opportunities in energy efficiency. This includes deploying up to 27 fellows every year to support public sector agencies with their energy efficiency initiatives within municipal operations and through outreach and engagement within the communities.

Codes & Standards Program

We work closely with local building departments and the building industry to provide training and support to enable long-term streamlining of energy code compliance. We also assist local government agencies in better understanding and enforcing building codes.