Dear Moreno Valley Residents:
As we welcome the new year, I'd like to reflect on some of the many accomplishments we achieved as a community in 2017. The City Council adopted the City's first Strategic Plan, Momentum MoVal just one year ago. This plan charts the course for Moreno Valley's future. We are reaching our objectives together and will continue to meet and surpass our goals in 2018.
Momentum MoVal encompasses six critical priorities, which include Economic Development, Infrastructure, Public Safety, Library Services, Beautification/Community Engagement/Quality of Life, and Youth Programs. Our focus on these priorities will enhance the quality of life for all Moreno Valley residents. The following are just a few accomplishments our community has achieved in 2017:
This year the City of Moreno Valley was ranked as one of the most fiscally strong cities in the United States. The Fiscal Times rated Moreno Valley amongst cities such as Irvine, Huntington Beach, and Boston, Massachusetts.
We implemented additional phases of our Hire MoVal program to encourage more businesses to hire Moreno Valley residents. Hire MoVal provides residents with jobs and businesses with a qualified workforce. We also launched our Hire a MoVal Grad program to reward business for hiring local Moreno Valley graduates. The City Council dedicated $100,000 over the next two years to give recent graduates a much-needed edge in the hiring process. Thanks to efforts like Hire MoVal, employment in our community has surged to more than 94%.
The City of Moreno Valley also received an international award for economic development excellence for our business attraction website www.morenovalleybusiness.com.
We are building our City's foundation upon solid infrastructure, which is why I proposed an initiative to repair our roads. The City Council approved this $1.2 million initiative this year to begin an ambitious program to slurry seal streets throughout Moreno Valley. We're already moving swiftly to begin important road repair projects.
We enhanced our public safety efforts with additional Police Officers and Firefighters. Our Police Officers engaged with our community consistently throughout the year. And over 4,000 people attended our 4th Annual Public Safety Expo to see how our Police Officers and Firefighters keep Moreno Valley safe every day.
We concluded this year by opening Moreno Valley’s first ever satellite library branch. The new Library is located in the Moreno Valley Mall. This branch provides residents with another location to embark upon new literary adventures, a source of information, and a place to gather as a community. Learn more about the new Library at www.moval.org.
We have many programs designed to increase the beauty of our City, promote community engagement, and enhance the quality of life for community members. These programs range from improving care for our community's pets to beautifying residential areas to promoting health and recreation. We are honoring our promise to keep MoVal beautiful with our Adopt- a- Road and Sponsor- a- Street programs. These beautification programs empower residents, and businesses to keep our streets looking great.
I was honored to host the City’s first ever Telephone Town Hall this year. Over 30,000 residents joined this community meeting without ever having to leave the comfort of their home. The Telephone Town Hall helped us to discover what residents need the most. We have already held a second successful Telephone Town Hall, and we will continue to hold these meetings throughout the coming year.
The City completed our “M” Lighting project on Box Springs Mountain. This project illuminates the “M” using a new multi-colored LED light system. Lighting the “M” promotes the City, its civic institutions, state and federal holidays, and other public events of community significance as well as times of celebration. The City may accept community requests for special lighting to recognize a specific cause or to commemorate or enhance a specific event. Non-profit and charitable organizations can request that the ‘M’ be illuminated in specific colors to elevate awareness of their cause. The “M” will be permanently lit every night to guide our residents home. More information about the the "M" Lighting project is available at moval.org/mschedule.
This year we opened the City’s first inclusive playground at Shadow Mountain Park. This unique play structure gives children of abilities the opportunity to play together.
Providing children and families with a fun way to celebrate Independence Day, the City hosted the annual Fourth of July Parade and Family FunFest. Thousands of residents attended these events to celebrate our nation and unite as a community.
Our Summer at City Hall internship program provided high school students with the skills and experience necessary to excel in an active workforce. The City will continue this worthwhile program, which exists as a partnership between our local school districts.
This year’s Snow Day and Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony brought the community together. Children and families enjoyed a day filled with snow play, art, games, food, contests, crafts, and festive lighting.
Finally, we launched new registration software for our recreational programs. It is now easier than ever to sign your children up for Moreno Valley’s many sports, and recreational opportunities. The new website registration software is available at moval.org/sports.
We will continue focusing on economic development, modernizing infrastructure, enhancing public safety, expanding library services, engaging our community, and investing in the key to our bright future – our children. I wish you all a happy and safe New Year!
[END]