[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6616041,"mediaKeyId","2854581-b69505b76608a07c8b6526e4a69405a0","parentId",2854581,"title","West Covina wins $4.7 million HSIP grant to upgrade signal and pedestrian equipment at dozens of intersections","audioSeconds",529,"startMs",9185000,"endMs",9714000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2854581-b69505b76608a07c8b6526e4a69405a0&start=9185&end=9714","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2854581-b69505b76608a07c8b6526e4a69405a0/thumbnail_9185000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6616041/West-Covina/Los-Angeles-County/California/West-Covina-wins-47-million-HSIP-grant-to-upgrade-signal-and-pedestrian-equipment-at-dozens-of-intersections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6616041-c93059e348ef37188e15609189df5861/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187307&Signature=UjUb6Dzh71YzHcUT2ovpv2ItDSNYREmydIDNxuDkhVnifjDGimRE~lPEGqHk5A-urFDggenN6E~t~P0Yh~fWcAT02tNw5Ei~js1CH7o~na7iT2zJ9jgRfJBZqUE~1pfjugeqe1DS1GSCC0Ho-rMLk4S3TqZDZ~vxo~vBvx01wsQGbfWT5bshLNOxqMRJvpjWkEj6P0Zk5DKu~Zuz8jA7AIzHeTDO2Iyl2t1dl4LR~VzKzM8QNAVW~nhnpO4dgKAicAPm9iljFjEvhcR7m28cqm-FaF0YspWQa50GRyfdlbCLlcPz1XVy-nZhgMqrH1vSWbneQnP6FT2qeS~jMXoiEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-03T00:39:50.18Z","article","The City of West Covina was awarded about $4.7 million in federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds, city engineers told the council on April 1, to replace traffic-signal hardware, add pedestrian-safety timing and provide protected left-turn phasing at multiple intersections.

City Engineer Michael Lloyd said the city must provide a roughly 10 percent match — approximately $500,000 — and that the total project cost is about $5.2 million. The grant covers countermeasures at roughly 60 locations; the city earlier received HSIP Cycle 10 funds for 10 intersections and the two cycles together will reach about 74 intersections, Lloyd said.

“An adopted local roadway safety plan is required to be eligible to submit for HSIP funding,” Lloyd told the council, adding the city’s plan was adopted in 2022. He said the application is competitive; West Covina received the 11th‑largest award among cycle 12 recipients.

Lloyd outlined next steps: Caltrans must authorize preliminary engineering, the city will prepare an RFP for design consultants, and signal poles and some equipment are long‑lead items that may take five to six months for delivery. He said the expected construction completion date for the HSIP cycle 10 work currently under construction is late 2026, and that the new cycle will follow the federal and Caltrans submittal, approval and bidding process.

Several council members asked about specific intersections and the timeline for upgrades. Lloyd said particular intersections, including one raised by Councilman Cantos, will receive upgraded signal heads, pedestrian timing known as leading pedestrian intervals, and protected left-turn phases where warranted. Lloyd cautioned that the Caltrans approval and procurement process will lengthen the timeline, and asked the council to expect an 18–24 month process before construction begins on the new cycle.

The grant requires that projects demonstrate a benefit‑to‑cost ratio above program thresholds; Lloyd said HSIP quantifies safety benefits for collisions prevented compared with project costs to compute that metric.

City staff said they will return with design agreements for council consideration before beginning construction procurement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","The City of West Covina - April 1, 2025 - City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The City of West Covina has been awarded roughly $4.7 million in federal HSIP funds to upgrade traffic-signal hardware and pedestrian timing at dozens of intersections; the city must provide a 10 percent local match and expects design and procurement to take many months.","taxTitle","West Covina, Los Angeles County, California","taxId",3860,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6616046,"West Covina begins citywide street‑sweeping sign installation; council members press for enforcement and route quality checks",1237,7103000,8340000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2854581-b69505b76608a07c8b6526e4a69405a0&start=7103&end=8340","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2854581-b69505b76608a07c8b6526e4a69405a0/thumbnail_7103000.jpg","/articles/6616046/West-Covina/Los-Angeles-County/California/West-Covina-begins-citywide-streetsweeping-sign-installation-council-members-press-for-enforcement-and-route-quality-checks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6616046-49d059c9789ade81c77dca59646645d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187307&Signature=oUnqy6VEwY1UJl6QxYRFISCd-Ga0ikjMAnYw1fQ07Kctar2jNP3RRByDPNAuhun1eKEwQmnvPZHk7ihgtw2iEtz3xZ7koqFvc5ndgzJUfXN3cgGMOR28n8LzJXI74fGu2NwiK8oChJZl2tbNBFewv2xqU6Y0EgCsCfDE8JweL8z2ivtndib3XR1vSJxtTRxTbboQBZak8m2ivb2HjJT0h6wVXU-6Bai506oSCw7p7wJuHgHwN9yd~QNVzqoWDEoCMqwMugF7Ewjzewbsm8EKEMGkikazYKIhXMqhXGojF99FQWLHUYX6dKk9fpQlczes7gtM4-vqBmuMG7-0Fnkotg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City engineering staff told the West Covina City Council on April 1 that the city has ordered and begun installing more than 5,100 street‑sweeping signs as part of a transition to a weekly street‑sweeping program, and several council members pressed staff for enforcement and quality controls.

Robert Ortega, the city’s CIP project manager, said staff ordered two sign sizes — larger community-entrance signs and smaller mid-block signs — totaling 1,548 large signs and 3,647 small signs for a total of 5,191. Ortega said installation began Feb. 19 and that weather and coordination with existing signs have affected the timeline.

Ortega said engineering inspected pole placements to guarantee at least seven feet of pedestrian clearance and reviewed Americans with Disabilities Act considerations. He described a Google Earth map used to set locations, and said staff will move signs where feasible when residents raise legitimate placement concerns.

Council members had three lines of concern: whether high-density streets had alternate-day sweeping (to ease parking burdens), the timing and reliability of sweeper routes, and whether public‑safety staff could supervise sweeper performance. Public‑safety Director Mylan said staff planned to begin issuing warning notices only after the old signs are removed and the new signage is accepted by engineering, and that citations would follow roughly 30 days after warning notices.

Councilman Brian Gutierrez asked for public‑safety personnel to follow sweepers and document whether routes were completed and debris collected. Mylan agreed the department could provide oversight and said additional staff are being onboarded in April and May to support enforcement. Ortega said the city configured the program to include alternating schedules only in higher-density neighborhoods because a citywide alternate-day plan would increase the contract cost; he agreed to return with a cost estimate if the council wanted a citywide alternate schedule.

Multiple council members and residents raised parking‑burden scenarios — narrow streets or cul‑de‑sacs with limited legal parking — and asked staff to adjust placements and time windows where feasible. Ortega and Public Safety said they would fine-tune routes and coordinate with the contractor and TransTech on relocations and schedule changes.

No formal vote was taken; staff said they will return with a performance update and with cost estimates for any broader alternation program the council requests.","City engineers described a multi-week program to install more than 5,000 new street‑sweeping signs and mountings ahead of a weekly street‑sweeping schedule; council members urged public-safety staff to follow sweepers to ensure routes are completed and to report back on problem neighborhoods.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6616049,"West Covina officials say multiple water agencies manage hydrants, urge inspection and longer pipe-replacement program",460,1342000,1802000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2854581-b69505b76608a07c8b6526e4a69405a0&start=1342&end=1802","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2854581-b69505b76608a07c8b6526e4a69405a0/thumbnail_1342000.jpg","/articles/6616049/West-Covina/Los-Angeles-County/California/West-Covina-officials-say-multiple-water-agencies-manage-hydrants-urge-inspection-and-longer-pipe-replacement-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6616049-2c1629202fd54f734329eee6e6e76e5c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187307&Signature=LO0GF6JHRihAmugT1VT3h4y-ffj9TN4sDPVK77fBwlOYZ6evIEb-7nu8v5I0vYvAaw7KlEOc0NJutQNcB7UmOOhs9DOrdgazqmcohvzhEys3wD6~EOqL~rMvxVDXMzGf-Bv7wtV~c~HQaW7vnVHR1wppO3fESERuG9jHQucr73jqsNU4yvXf~--17H1HRRXVGtaRjMTf-GM36IwmGjFN~6J7q0dyVnGExRHOOxA3TUE0U0MDmsYWazb4ocXosRqTQjIwiqDMlPWATcGajjZ4KsYTAW3PMETbMJxoZh8BHi3XOPo2zE~D4W0mHZm2ZEJe~YyNyVWh8nIWMWythYgb-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","West Covina fire and water officials told the City Council on April 1 that eight different water purveyors serve the city, that responsibilities for hydrant maintenance rest with the individual purveyors, and that utilities are seeking more funding to accelerate replacement of aging pipelines.

Chief Chip Brown of the West Covina Fire Department told the council the department “has not experienced an issue with dry hydrants or lack of water pressure,” but emphasized that companies must keep hydrants inspected and flow-tested. “NFPA requires annual inspection for leaks, damage, function, and clearance around the hydrants,” Brown said. He said flow testing is required every five years.

The presentation included officials from Valencia Heights Water District and Suburban Water Systems. Michael Delgado, vice president of field operations for Suburban Water Systems, said Suburban serves roughly 300,000 residents across its system and maintains about 7,000 hydrants systemwide, including about 2,100 hydrants inside West Covina. “Part of our job as a water utility is to help maintain public safety and to help maintain public health,” Delgado said. He described a multi‑decade pipeline replacement program the company prefers to run at about 1 percent of pipe footage per year but said the California Public Utilities Commission recently approved a much smaller rate that would slow that work.

Valencia Heights staff described their system as having 11 reservoirs with capacity of 5.5 million gallons, three wells, and four interconnections with neighboring agencies to support reliability during emergencies.

Utility officials described short- and long-term measures: spot inspections of hydrants, five‑year flow testing, portable and permanent backup generators at pump stations, tank inspections and recoating, and a prioritized pipeline replacement program. Delgado said Suburban has invested about $15 million in pipeline replacement in 2025 and that many mains were installed between 1955 and 1965, which helps explain the need for ongoing upgrades.

Council members pressed for answers about regulatory oversight and public disclosure. Chief Brown said the city was still securing records from some purveyors and negotiating a nondisclosure agreement with Suburban to receive inspection reports, but he pledged to inform the council to the extent NDAs allow. Councilman Brian Cantos asked for an update by June on which purveyors have met inspection/testing requirements; Brown said staff is still collecting and will report back.

Delgado and Suburban President Craig Gott said customers can review a consumer confidence report online for information about water quality, and Delgado outlined customer assistance programs including a $9 monthly discount, leak-repair rebates up to $500, and a lifeline program to replace leaking service lines from meter to house.

Council members asked about the CPUC decision that approved a lower pipeline-replacement rate than the utility requested. Delgado said the utility will reapply for higher replacement authorization in the next cycle and asked the council for a letter of support; he said the reduced rate approved by the CPUC would stretch replacement to centuries at the currently authorized pace.

The presentation closed with city staff noting they will continue outreach to smaller purveyors, work to obtain inspection records, and coordinate any further reporting to the council once NDAs are settled.","Fire and water utility officials told the City Council that eight separate water purveyors serve West Covina, that hydrant testing and replacement are required on multi-year cycles, and that utilities are seeking more funding to accelerate aging-pipe replacements after recent wildfires highlighted reliability concerns.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6616030,"Residents urge West Covina to consider spay/neuter rules and microchipping to ease shelter strain",798,3702000,4500000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2854581-b69505b76608a07c8b6526e4a69405a0&start=3702&end=4500","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2854581-b69505b76608a07c8b6526e4a69405a0/thumbnail_3702000.jpg","/articles/6616030/West-Covina/Los-Angeles-County/California/Residents-urge-West-Covina-to-consider-spayneuter-rules-and-microchipping-to-ease-shelter-strain","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6616030-a6980b822268218ba42446983229c166/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187307&Signature=F4wy1kWw3QQ75cDv8m3ObnbklPKr0Sr4g33dxul~B6d9OpUVBWGZC7PSDq0VZkZqasWapSC4fj-q67-car~C5Nvr49wPdDCMuXBzbmTJiZEpqNIf8-h9Sy0lNqQR6K8Zx1BvacRVl-qz234OIUalqFo8ZF2Ydy01WrE5pQMKUnbIiylMEoiGJAKswesyBGuecDS8Nr-cYHT6RJAsU7FF4CsUXduGItZ7QJUC0zoTI9oxofD1vQQIrxH6-65L4anJMYcaL4B1N49F-CVQVH9cX6lt8k-nsgfttbNR~8p835S1IueZvKLZk~xycBui0uKYOMUoOcnxnMvSSskkPtCILw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Volunteers and animal-welfare advocates used the West Covina City Council’s public-comment period on April 1 to urge the city to pursue spay/neuter and microchipping requirements and increase outreach to reduce shelter intake and euthanasia.

Tom Keish, who identified himself as a volunteer with the LA County Animal Care Center and the local shelter, said shelters are “overwhelmed” and pleaded with the council to consider spay/neuter and microchipping requirements. “Spaying and neutering is the single most important thing we can do to save cats and dogs from all the suffering and death that overpopulation causes,” Keish said. He proposed a city “pet of the month” program to raise awareness and encourage adoption.

Other commenters, including Veronica, emphasized microchipping as a permanent means to reunite lost pets with owners and reduce shelter stays. Robert Arnold and another long‑time volunteer described elevated euthanasia rates and urged the city to coordinate with other nearby cities on regulations and enforcement.

City Manager Paulina said the city does not currently have a mandate to require spay/neuter and noted a substantial fee difference that can affect homeowner incentives; she said staff will work with the county and consider public education and outreach options, and that the county has been asked about restoring door‑to‑door canvassing of animal licensing and vaccination/tag compliance.

Council members suggested additional outreach, including helping residents find low‑cost services, posting information from the county and reviving pet-education events. No council action or ordinance was proposed on April 1.","Several residents and animal-welfare volunteers urged the council during public comment to require spay/neuter and microchipping to reduce shelter intake and euthanasia; the city manager said the city currently has no mandate but will work with the county and consider education and outreach measures.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6616035,"West Covina council votes to introduce ordinance easing removal of commissioners over objections from minority member and residents",2137,5398000,7535000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2854581-b69505b76608a07c8b6526e4a69405a0&start=5398&end=7535","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2854581-b69505b76608a07c8b6526e4a69405a0/thumbnail_5398000.jpg","/articles/6616035/West-Covina/Los-Angeles-County/California/West-Covina-council-votes-to-introduce-ordinance-easing-removal-of-commissioners-over-objections-from-minority-member-and-residents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6616035-9c2bf6c849f47b76d6639760604148a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187307&Signature=U~MBZFpbdpjNhS4MvYNI2VzGgmHo39sPJgs7uTPHX2WDm-M-hn0A2Ajf3sFfGFcmDy2UoWA7hZFnarLgw2jBxz7nrrivQSA-AUneJlzcbJF1wOFSJyFL1XZbpqD6Gpa7PmvflTG9p19bNZIxEnZXhd8aYkFpHVu~xmuayk5EQyezFeAeE8lWG6Sl8JRLXzgDkqz-hDJMSJN2i-ncfkRdsqk4FtXkRkKQD5zfBzO99Z9Kz91spYWjEWXB73zqlqZX6CgyM-9TBLXLnYyo0Bydb-Y4p8pMN2IdvEGXARlNgR25uiGZh-5mh4DPDvr40zvjTk99K-J~uZ2Sf~SWhKkHDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The West Covina City Council voted 3–1 on April 1 to introduce an ordinance that would amend municipal code section 2‑67 to allow the council to remove commissioners without the current 'for cause' requirement. Councilman Brian Cantos cast the lone vote opposed.

Council Member Brian Gutierrez, who introduced the item as a “Mother may I” request at an earlier meeting, argued the change would increase accountability and oversight of commissioners. “...this is an accountability measure,” Gutierrez said during the item’s discussion, urging the council to consider removal authority as a tool to ensure commission performance.

During oral communications, multiple residents and commissioners urged the council to withdraw the proposal or to preserve the existing standard. Nick Lewis, a former commissioner and public commenter, said the change would enable politicization and asked, “Will the result of your actions tonight be that you will without cause remove all of council member Cantos' commissioners?” Jerry Patrice called the proposal “a malicious power grab designed to reduce the voice of the minority.”

Mayor Pro Tem Lopez Viado and others described prior incidents in which commissioners’ personal conduct had prompted concerns and said the current higher vote threshold provided deliberative protection; Lopez Viado said she supports keeping a supermajority threshold as a safeguard but also described past situations where removal was ultimately necessary for the council’s ability to function.

City Attorney clarified that the proposed ordinance would remove the statutory definition of “for cause” and lower the procedural barrier to removal to a four‑member majority vote; the draft red‑line presented to council shows specific edits to section 2‑67.

Council adopted a motion to introduce the ordinance for further consideration by a 3–1 vote (Gutierrez, Lopez Viado and Mayor Wu voting yes; Cantos voting no). The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Lopez Viado. No final adoption vote occurred on April 1; the item will proceed through the normal ordinance introduction and subsequent public hearing/second‑reading steps if council directs.

Separately, the council approved the consent calendar items 1–5 (except item 2, which was pulled for discussion) by a 4–0 roll-call vote earlier in the meeting.","The council voted 3–1 to introduce an ordinance that would allow removal of appointed commissioners without the current 'for cause' requirement; Councilman Cantos voted no and multiple residents spoke against the change during public comment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

West Covina wins $4.7 million HSIP grant to upgrade signal and pedestrian equipment at dozens of intersections

West Covina begins citywide street‑sweeping sign installation; council members press for enforcement and route quality checks

West Covina officials say multiple water agencies manage hydrants, urge inspection and longer pipe-replacement program

Residents urge West Covina to consider spay/neuter rules and microchipping to ease shelter strain

West Covina council votes to introduce ordinance easing removal of commissioners over objections from minority member and residents