👋 Hi neighbors! I hope to see you out and about town this weekend. In case you missed our Thursday event’s newsletter, it includes a list of spots to see dazzling holiday lights in and around La Verne. We also have a heartwarming tale about a local toy drive that really gears up the holiday spirit for kids in our community. 🚴‍♀️ Read the archived newsletter here.

— Staci Baird, Editor & Publisher

Welcome new readers! We’re thrilled you’re here and excited to share local news and events with you.

🔎 Spotted something newsworthy? Spill the tea → Email NEWSTIPS@lavernedaily.org

Santa Ana’s Hot Take: Why This Recent Warm-Up Isn’t So Out of Line

It has definitely been warmer than average, but it’s normal not to be average, according to Adam Krueger, chief meteorologist for Fox 11 LA. 🤔 Our day-to-day weather depends on the prevailing pattern, and wind direction plays a huge role. This week, we had an offshore “Santa Ana” wind, which dramatically reduced the ocean’s influence on us. But, as warm as it was, Krueger says we didn’t reach record highs, which just goes to show it occasionally gets this warm and warmer this time of year. Can we expect more of the same weather? Krueger says it will be cooler, especially near the coast, but overall, it will be warmer than average for at least the next week.

Follow @weatheradam on Instagram or catch him on Fox 11 LA at 5, 6, 10, and 11 p.m. His weather forecasts incorporate popular song lyrics and are pretty entertaining!

Codes, Meters & Drones

Here’s what you should know — and how to weigh in on the next City Council meeting.

La Verne City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15
Where: City Hall Council Chambers, 3660 D St., La Verne
How to attend: In person or via Zoom at LaVerneCA.gov/zoom

🔗 Council Regular Meeting Agenda (pdf)
🔗 City Council Meeting Agenda Packet (pdf)

Civic Tip: The California Brown Act is the state’s open-meetings law, requiring local government bodies—like city councils, commissions, and school boards—to conduct their business transparently and in public. It mandates advance posting of agendas, guarantees the public’s right to attend and comment, and prohibits decisions from being made in secret. In case you’d like to learn a little more, the ACLU of Northern California put together this handy Frequently Asked Questions (pdf) about The Brown Act.

🌟 Three Noteworthy Items

1. New Building, Fire & Green Code Adoption — Public Hearing

Why this matters
These codes affect all construction, remodels, fire safety standards, energy efficiency rules, and wildfire-zone requirements. Residents planning home projects—or concerned about wildfire safety—may want to weigh in.

Public input
✔️ Full public hearing held during the Dec. 15 meeting
✔️ Residents may comment in person or via Zoom
✔️ Emails accepted until noon Dec. 15
✔️ A second public hearing/second reading is scheduled for Jan. 20, 2026

🔗 Urgency Ordinance (pdf, page 38)
🔗 Proposed Ordinance (pdf, page 53)

2. Drone Ordinance — First Reading

Why this matters
This would create La Verne’s first-ever local rules on drones, affecting hobbyists, photographers, real estate professionals, and residents concerned about noise, privacy, and safety.

Public input
✔️ Open to public comment because it is part of Public Hearings/Discussion Calendar
✖️ Not a full public hearing, but residents can comment during this agenda item

🔗 Proposed Ordinance (pdf, page 64)

3. Digital Water Meter Purchase

Why this matters
This is a major update to our water infrastructure. The City plans to spend up to $540,000 to roll out digital water meters. These systems can:

• Allow residents to track water use in real time
• Detect leaks faster
• Replace aging analog meters

Public input
✔️ Have questions about privacy, cost, and timeline? Residents may request to pull this item from consent for discussion and comment in person or via Zoom.

🔗 HydroPro Quote (pdf, pages 28-29)

Also of note: Annual Development Impact Fee Report

Why this matters
This report explains how fees from new development are collected and spent—including funds for parks, storm drains, roads, police, and fire facilities.

The City of La Verne released its annual Development Impact Fee Report (pdf, page 30) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, as required under California Government Code Section 66006. The report outlines how the City collected, earned interest on, spent, and managed development impact fees—charges paid by developers to help fund the public facilities and infrastructure needed to support new growth. While some fee programs saw active spending this year, others continue to build reserves for future large-scale projects. The report also includes legally required five-year findings for fee balances in the Affordable Housing and Storm Drain Funds that have remained unspent for more than five years.

Two funds—Park Development and Storm Drain—recorded project expenditures this fiscal year. The Park Development Fund spent a total of $785,557 across two major public amenities projects. The largest investment, $705,038, funded restroom upgrades and the installation of an inclusive playground at Las Flores Park, a project completed in July 2025 and supported 34 percent by development fees. An additional $80,519 supported final construction payments for improvements at the Aquatic Center, which were largely financed through grants and partner contributions from Bonita Unified School District and the University of La Verne.

The Storm Drain Fund recorded $350,547 in expenditures, reflecting final billing for the White Avenue Storm Drain Betterment project. Although construction finished in 2021 as part of the Gold Line Light Rail Project, the City received the final invoice during this fiscal year. The project was fully funded by development impact fees.

In accordance with Government Code Section 66001(d), the City also evaluated two long-held fee funds. The Affordable Housing Fund continues to accumulate revenue toward future multi-phase affordable housing developments, which require additional outside funding sources to proceed. The Storm Drain Fund likewise holds reserves intended for upcoming multi-year stormwater capture and drainage improvements identified as City priorities.

All expenditures were made in compliance with the City’s budget and legal requirements, though the Park Development Fund currently carries a temporary negative balance due to delayed grant reimbursements.

City Council recently approved new development impact fees. Read more about that in our Dec. 6 newsletter: La Verne Updates Development Impact Fees: What Residents Should Know

Public input
✔️ Residents may request to pull it from Consent for discussion and comment in person or via Zoom.

Notice: Special Meeting and Public Hearing

City Council will hold a public hearing for the appeal of a menacing dog determination at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16 in the City Hall Council Chambers. There will be an opportunity for public comments. Special Meeting Agenda (pdf)

Got a favorite holiday house in La Verne?
Email your photo to NEWSTIPS@lavernedaily.org for a chance to have the photo featured in our newsletter!

📸 See more photos and videos on our Instagram @LaVerneDailyNews!

Upcoming Dates to Note

• Household Hazardous Waste Collection – Saturday, Dec. 20 at Brackett Field, Fairplex Drive & West McKinley Ave., La Verne. More information
• Christmas Morning Event – Thursday, Dec. 25
  🎅 Santa’s rolling through La Verne on Christmas morning! Beginning at 7 a.m. Dec. 25, sirens will announce his arrival as he passes by homes to share holiday greetings. Visit laverneca.gov/ChristmasMorning for maps and estimated sighting times.
• City Hall Holiday Closure – Dec. 24–Jan. 4
• Next City Council Meeting - Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026

See an error? Email STACI@lavernedaily.org. Read our Corrections policy

This newsletter leveraged ChatGPT, and Grammarly for research and organization and copy editing, with all facts verified through city documents and a human editor.

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In Case You Missed It

• Volunteers, Fire and Police Associations, Hillcrest, and a Local Bike Shop Are Powering Holiday Magic in La Verne
• Mark your calendars! We have a list of local events you won’t want to miss Dec. 11-21
• New E-Bike Rules Could Be Coming to La Verne

Local News Roundup

• University of La Verne to Play Key Role in $10 Million Initiative Expanding Pathways to Ministry and Graduate Theological Education | University of La Verne
• Pomona In Talks to Acquire Claremont Graduate University | Inside Higher Ed
• Rios family pushes City Council for transparency | Claremont Courier
• $7.5M grant will fund AI research center at Cal Poly Pomona | Claremont Courier

See an error? Please email staci@lavernedaily.org. Read our Corrections policy

This newsletter leveraged ChatGPT, and Grammarly for research and organization and copy editing, with all facts verified through city documents and a human editor.

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