AWARD WINNING COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER OF THE TOWN OF APPLE VALLEY OUR ADOPTED About the Cover BUDGET This past year, Apple Valley welcomed many new businesses, issued 114 Certificates of Occupancy, resurfaced 35 miles of road, replaced 175 Town road signs, cleaned 32 miles of sewer, swept 900 miles of curbing, and of Appl of e coordinated the adoption of hundreds of animals in its care. In the midst V Town alle ey y ll , a C V alifo of the national pandemic, the Town welcomed a Starbucks to the newly Apple rnia California developed Nico Plaza, engineered new Safe Routes to School projects for students and families, and earned its ninth consecutive first place award as the best place to live in the High Desert by readers of the local newspaper. The future looks bright as Virgin Trains USA has acquired property and will begin construction of a high-speed rail station in the newly annexed area of Apple Valley near Dale Evans Parkway that will connect Southern California to Las Vegas. Town of App le Valle y, California INSIDE NOTICE TO APPLE VALLEY VOTERS INFORMATION ON MEASURE O In July, the Apple Valley Town Council placed a 1% sales tax measure on the Nov 3, 2020 election for voters to consider. This information guide can help residents better understand the details of Measure O. What is the current sales tax? WHERE DO MY SALES The sales tax rate in Apple Valley is 7.75%. The Town TAX DOLLARS GO NOW? Community Enhancement receives 1% and the other 6.75% is allocated to the EXPANDED PROGRAM...Pg. 3 state and county. Measure O would raise the sales The Town uses sales tax revenues to tax rate to 8.75% and the Town would receive 2%. pay for general public services such as: • Law Enforcement Officers How much funding would the measure generate? ILING THROUG Measure O is estimated to add $6-7 million annually • Road Construction SA H to the Town’s general fund. 20 20 • Parks and Ballfields TOGETHER What has the Town done to cut expenses? Over the last several years, the Council has made • Community Events, Concerts and significant cuts in staffing, salaries, benefits and Recreation Programs State of the Town services. However, due to State takeaways of local funds, the rising costs of providing local services, and • Reserves to pay for potential SAILING THROUGH 2020...Pg. 4 emergencies or revenue impacts the recent financial impacts of the COVID-19 virus, the Town’s expenses outpace revenues. What is the Town’s highest expense? When did the Town last raise the sales tax rate? The Town’s cost for law enforcement is $15.5 mil- The Town has not raised the sales tax rate in its 32 lion, representing 43% of the Town’s general fund years of incorporation. This will be the first time Apple of $36.1 million, and will climb $1 million annually to Valley voters have considered a sales tax measure. $20 million by 2025. Can the Town raise revenues What would happen if the measure does not pass? without raising taxes? Road Reconstruction Begins If the measure does not pass, the Town will not re- Over the years, the Town has strived to build our AV RD & HWY 18 ...Pg. 7 ceive the additional 1% sales tax revenue. As costs economic base by attracting new retail and indus- rise, the Town Council will then have to consider cuts trial development and by encouraging community to Town services in order to balance the budget. This support of local businesses through our Shop Local may include reducing law enforcement personnel, campaigns. These efforts all increase revenues, but delaying or suspending road improvements, reduc- not enough to offset rising costs. Revenues from ing aquatics and other recreational programs. Measure O could be used to close this deficit. Shall a measure to enact a sales tax at the rate of 1% in the Town of Apple Valley, providing approximately $7,000,000 annually until MEASURE O ended by voters, to fund general Town services, requiring annual Community Rallies independent audits with all funds remaining local, be adopted? TO KEEP PARK OPEN...Pg. 12 Our Town | OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2020 [email protected] | www.AppleValley.org 1 “We often get requests on Face- book and other social media re- garding lost dogs, broken sprin- Town of Apple Valley, Ca klers, , graffiti, weeds, and more,” lifornia said Orlando Acevedo, Director of Business Development and Com- munications. “However, social media is not as efficient a tool for reporting as using the app. Com- munication on Apple Valley Con- nect goes directly to the appro- priate staff. Comments on social media can be lost in a sea of other content.” CONNECT WITH US ON OUR MEETING CALENDAR Until state guidelines change, all REVAMPED APP meetings are available online at applevalley.tv or on Frontier channel Need to report a pothole? Some Grafitti? Illegally dumped trash 29 or Charter Spectrum channel 186. or tires? It is easier than ever now with the Town’s revamped mo- Public comments may be submitted bile app. GET THE APP! to [email protected]. The app can be found on Rebranded as Apple Valley Connect, the app combines the both the Apple App Store TOWN COUNCIL Town’s existing Citizen Request Management (CRM) system and Google Play Store by October 13 & 27 with the former Apple Valley Watch app to improve customer searching “Apple Valley November 10 & experience and backend support. Connect.” Residents can also December 8 access Apple Valley Connect at 6:30 p.m. “We wanted to provide an improved and unified experience for via the Town’s website our community,” said Innovation & Technology Officer Brandon under Let Us Know, or at Cales. “Current users can expect the same features they are ac- applevalley.org/AVConnect. PLANNING customed to, but with an enhanced user interface and hopefully In addition to the app, COMMISSION more capabilities in the future.” residents can continue to use 1st & 3rd Wednesday the “Let Us Know” feature at 6 p.m. Reports submitted through the app are sent directly to the as- on the Town’s website to signed department allowing for a more efficient and timely re- report similar issues. sponse. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION December 3 at 6 p.m. October 12 – Columbus Day TOWN November 11 – Veterans Day HOUSEHOLD December 24 to January 3 HAZARDOUS WASTE HOLIDAY CLOSURES Winter closure Every Saturday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. We are closed on alternating Fridays. Upcoming closures are: Hazardous Waste Collection Center Oct. 16 & 30, Nov. 13 & 22, Dec. 11. 13450 Nomwaket Road Facemasks required 2 Our Town | OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2020 OUR To wn of Apple Valley, California EXPANDED COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM REAPS BEAUTIFUL RESULTS Response time to illegal dump sites and roadside Community Enhancement Program: See graffiti, blight, damage to public parks cleanups is much shorter now that the Community and streets? Let us know via the Apple Valley Connect App or visit www.AppleValley.org Enhancement team has expanded from one full-time and click on the “Let Us Know” link at the top of any page. Using this feature creates a staff member working on Saturdays, to four people case that can be handled by staff. working additional days per week. Bulky Item Pickup: Burrtec Waste offers single family residences two curbside Town Maintenance Workers assigned to these cleanups pickups per year for large appliances such as refrigerators, washer/dryers, mattresses, assist with homeless encampment abatement, court- furniture and TVs. Call Burrtec at (760) 245-8607 to schedule a pickup. ordered abatements, property cleanups and board- ups. They will participate in and help facilitate our Household Hazardous Waste collection facility: Open every Saturday except community events including the Tire Amnesty and holidays, 10 am to 2 pm, to accept hazardous waste such as paint, medications, batteries, Neighborhood and Community Cleanup days. chemicals, televisions, and more, for free. Visit www.AVCode.org for a complete list of what is accepted. “So far it has been highly successful, and we are getting a ton of positive feedback with how quickly we are able Neighborhood Cleanups: Discard your yard waste, furniture, mattresses, small to get to a location and have it cleaned,” said Code appliances, metal, household trash and more at Lion’s Park on Oct. 17 and Nov. 7. The Code Enforcement Manager Guy Eisenbrey. Enforcement Department will be stationed at the park from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to accept these items free of charge. Visit www.AVCode.org or call (760) 240-7560 for more information. Keeping Apple Valley beautiful is a community effort. Join the Code Enforcement and Public Works departments for monthly activities to eliminate blight, reduce illegal Tire Drop Off Day: Discard up to nine tires for free at Lion’s Park from 8 a.m. to dumping and offer recycling opportunities. 2 p.m. on Dec 5. Passenger tires only. No rims or commercial dealers please. [email protected] | www.AppleValley.org 3 NG THRO I U Town of AIL GH Apple Valley, California S 20 20 TOGETHER The world looks a lot different now than it did a year ago. One description of 2020 goes something like: “I heard that we are all in the same boat…but it’s not like that. We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat. One person might shipwrecked, another taking on water, another sailing safely at a distance on calm seas. We are all on different ships during this storm experiencing a very different journey.” Hosted by the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce, the annual State of the Town Address was presented virtually by Mayor Nassif and the Town Council.