TLMA Telegram

Quarter 1 - March 2025

Riverside County Transportation delivering $43.6 million in ARPA-funded projects

The Riverside County Transportation Department received $43.6 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill passed by Congress in March 2021 to aid communities in recovering from the economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since receiving the funds, the department has initiated or completed 23 road improvement projects across Riverside County, enhancing infrastructure and transportation for residents.

To recognize the dedicated efforts behind these projects, Transportation Director Dennis Acuna and Deputy Director Hector Davila recently presented ARPA Project Delivery Awards. These awards honored staff members who ensured the funds were utilized effectively and contributed to meaningful improvements for the community.

Award recipients included teams from Engineering, Environmental, Contracts Bidding, Survey, Real Property, and Utilities, all of whom played a crucial role in executing these infrastructure projects.

The ARPA projects include: Jurupa Railroad Grade Separation project in Jurupa Valley Temescal Canyon Road widening from two lanes to four lanes De Portola Road detention basin construction near Temecula Grand Avenue traffic signal in Lakeland Village Curb, gutters and sidewalks at the following locations:  Oleander Avenue in Mead Valley Theda Street in Good Hope Good Hope Area sidewalks Clark Street in Mead Valley Grand Avenue in Lakeland Village Carver Tract - Phase 2 near Indio Resurfacing at the following locations: Rancho Jurupa Park in Riverside Lakepointe Drive in Lake Hills Nuevo Road in Nuevo Indiana Avenue in Home Gardens El Cerrito in Temescal Canyon Harlow Avenue in Home Gardens Lake Skinner Park in Winchester Lake Cahuilla Park - including slurry seal work - in La Quinta 12th Street in Nuevo 13th Street in Nuevo Apricot Avenue in Nuevo Stalder Avenue in Nuevo North Drive in Nuevo View this video to see more information about the projects.

Brian Contino named Riverside County Code Enforcement Director

Code Enforcement’s new director, Brian Contino, comes to Riverside County from the City of Little Rock, Arkansas with more than 17 years of experience in municipal code enforcement and community development.

“I'm excited to work with this incredible organization and the talented and dedicated Code Enforcement team,” he said. “I'm eager to contribute my skills and experience to Riverside County's mission.”

Contino says joining Riverside County appealed to him “because of its strong sense of community, diverse population and the opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking organization that values innovation, collaboration, and service excellence.”

“I saw an opportunity to contribute my skills and experience in a way that aligns with my personal values and professional goals,” he said.

While in Little Rock, Contino served as a Code Enforcement Manager and Assistant Director of Housing and Neighborhood Programs where he oversaw a range of divisions including Animal Services, Code Enforcement, Community Development, Land Redevelopment, and Homeless Services, ensuring those programs met the highest standards of regulatory compliance and community well-being. 

Contino is no stranger to Southern California. Prior to his job in Arkansas, he spent 14 years at the City of Newport Beach Code Enforcement Division where he managed enforcement operations with municipal codes and maintaining community standards.

“Throughout my career, I have remained passionate about fostering safe, sustainable, and thriving communities through regulatory excellence, cross-department collaboration, and innovative program development,” he said.

Contino wants Riverside County residents to know that their concerns are important to him and the department.

"I expect the department to operate with transparency, integrity, and responsiveness," he said. "Our goal is to listen, communicate clearly, and provide timely and effective solutions that reflect both your needs and those of the County."

Code Enforcement and agency partners address homeless encampments and provide services for unhoused people in Indio and Mecca

More than 25 unhoused people at three different encampments in unincorporated Indio and Mecca received clothing, housing, food stamps and Medi-Cal resources, along with food for their pets during a multi-agency operation held in February by Riverside County Code Enforcement.

Two units from Riverside County Behavioral Health the Department of Public Social Services, and other county partners teamed up with Code Enforcement to assist people at Landfill Road and Dillon Road in unincorporated Indio, under the bridge at 66th Avenue Bypass, and Coahuilla and 3rd Street in Mecca.

“This collaborative approach demonstrates the effectiveness of bringing multiple agencies together to provide direct assistance to our most vulnerable populations,” said Code Enforcement Director Brian Contino. “Code Enforcement’s dedication, alongside these critical partnerships, continues to make a real difference in connecting individuals to resources that improve their quality of life.”
Code Enforcement found a total of 36 encampments at the three locations. The operation was led by Code Enforcement’s Combustible Material Task Force (CMTF) because these encampments can pose a fire hazard to the community.

Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez provided funding for Code Enforcement’s CMTF to improve public safety and public health in the district.

“Addressing homelessness requires both enforcement and compassion for people. By cleaning up encampments while also providing vital services like housing, medical care, and other resources, we are working to improve public safety and uplift our most vulnerable residents,” Perez said. “These collaborative efforts ensure that people in need receive help to rebuild their lives while keeping our communities safe and clean.”

Along with housing and rehabilitation resources, people at the encampments were provided with food, hygiene bags and clothing from the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, in addition to the opportunity to be assigned a bed.

Agencies will monitor the progress of people who accepted benefits and assistance, and Code Enforcement and the Sheriff’s Department will work with the owners of the properties where the encampments were found to secure the area from trespassing and clean them up.

Riverside County names new Cannabis Enforcement Team supervisor

Riverside County has promoted Anayeli Rangel to lead the Code Enforcement Department’s Cannabis Enforcement Team, recognizing her strong commitment to tackling illegal cannabis operations and serving her community.

Rangel joined the Code Enforcement department three years ago as a Code Enforcement Officer II, where she worked with the Special Enforcement Team. She quickly gained hands-on experience handling a wide range of ordinance violations, often working after hours, nights, and weekends to uphold County regulations. Her dedication and expertise led to a promotion to Senior Code Enforcement Officer on the Cannabis Enforcement Team.

In her new role, Rangel will oversee countywide efforts to combat illegal cannabis activity, and ensuring compliance with local regulations. Her leadership will strengthen enforcement strategies and support community safety initiatives.

Among Rangel's recent accomplishments is being one of three remote drone pilots for the department's Drone Task Force which has aided officer safety and efficiency. As a volunteer for the California Association of Code Enforcement Officers (CACEO), she was elected as a Board of Director for Region 6 where she represents Riverside and San Bernardino counties through various committees. 

"I am excited to lead the Cannabis Enforcement Team, an eager team in the distinctive challenges we face maintaining public health, safety and community improvement," she said.

Rangel will be the main point-of-contact for people seeking information regarding illegal cultivation sites, dispensary operations, hemp registrations, medical marijuana cards, intoxicating hemp products, and various departments and governmental agencies to achieve Code Enforcement and cannabis enforcement team goals.

The Cannabis Team may be contacted at 951-955-2004 or 760-393-3344 or visit their website for more information at ce.rctlma.org.

County temporarily halts acceptance of new short-term rental applications in Thousand Palms and B Bar H Ranch

On March 11, the Board of Supervisors approved a temporary moratorium on issuance of new short-term rental applications for the unincorporated areas of Thousand Palms and B Bar H Ranch. The pause will remain in effect until April 25, 2025, unless extended by the Board of Supervisors.

During this time, Planning Department officials will engage with stakeholders, and evaluate complaints received, density and numbers of short-term rentals within the two areas, and potential mitigation controls, if necessary. Planning staff have a community meeting scheduled on Tuesday, April 1 at 6 p.m. at the Sunline Transit Agency boardroom at 32505 Harry Oliver Trail in Thousand Palms.

Planning and Code Enforcement Department staff have been drafting amendments to the County’s short-term rental ordinance since directed to do so by the Board of Supervisors last August.

This current temporary moratorium follows a similar action taken by the Board of Supervisors in 2022 for the unincorporated areas of Idyllwild and Wine Country, where new regulations were introduced to address concerns about impacts from growing numbers and densities of short-term rentals. That moratorium was lifted in December 2024 after new rules were enacted that included density restrictions and limits on the numbers of short-term rentals allowed in these areas.

Concerns over growing complaints in Thousand Palms and B Bar H Ranch—where reports of noise disturbances, illegal parking, and unauthorized events have steadily increased since 2021—prompted County officials to act. The number of short-term rental applications in these areas has surged, with 29 new applications since 2023, representing a 74% increase over the previous year. Currently, there are 68 active and pending STR certificates in the area.

If this growth continues unchecked, it could pose risks to public health, safety, and the environment—potentially threatening the very resources that attract visitors to the county.

The moratorium, however, does not impact existing short-term rentals or the renewal of current short-term rental certificates, allowing permitted operators to continue their business.

Meet our Code Enforcement Drone Task Force

Code Enforcement uses drones to help officers conduct inspections and improve the quality of life in our communities.

Drones help keep officers safe because they can fly over rough terrain, inaccessible areas, and avoid aggressive animals and bad weather conditions.

Our team gained FAA certification and training to fly drones.

Our Drone Task Force follows policies on the storage, retrieval and dissemination of images captured by our officers.

Our pilots are proud to serve the County of Riverside.

Stay tuned for more updates on our work.

East Hemet Cleanup a success for the community

Nearly 32 tons of waste was removed from the East Hemet community following a neighborhood cleanup held by Code Enforcement with assistance from Third District Supervisor Chuck Washington's office.

Community Development Block Grants were used to fund the event where 215 residents were able to dispose of bulky items, appliances, e-waste and tires.

Transportation Department Performance Measures

October to December 2024

Banning High school students inspired to pursue careers in transportation

Seven students interested in construction and engineering from Banning High School were invited by Riverside County Transportation to observe and learn about construction field work in the department.

The visit was organized through Tomorrow’s Talent, an organization connecting school districts with industry.

On March 19, the students were able to tour the Mayor Berwin Hanna Bridge at Hamner Avenue construction site in Norco, help operate the traffic striper where each student was able to make two passes on the striping machine to paint test stripes, and they toured the Materials Lab to learn about how soil, asphalt, and concrete are analyzed. 

It was a great opportunity for the students to get a hands-on glimpse into the world of construction as well as an opportunity for the Transportation Department to showcase some of our responsibilities and talents.

Rebuild or repair after a fire? We are here to help

If you property was damaged or destroyed by recent fires, the Department of Building & Safety can help you with the process of rebuilding and repair. 

Visit our website at building.rctlma.org/fire-assistance for information on how to start the process, fee estimates and answers to frequently asked questions.