Weekly. Report. City of Highland. Greenspot Connection Project. August 24, 2017

Transcription

1 City of Highland Weekly Report August 24, 2017 Greenspot Connection Project On June 26, 2017, Redlands Consultants & Associates submi ed a Condi onal Use Permit Applica on (CUP) to subdivide two (2) parcels into four (4) parcels. Proposed on one (1) of the parcels is for the expansion of the exis ng self-storage facility, approximately 1.42 acres. On another parcel, the proposal consists of a new commercial development to include a single-story, approximately 3,500 sq.. convenience store and service sta on with six (6) fueling sta ons. Also, two (2) retail stores, and a car wash on approximately 1.51 acres. The two (2) other parcels will possibly contain two (2) quick-service restaurants with drivethru. The development will also include on-site parking, bike racks, signage and landscaping. City of Highland ~ Base Line Highland, CA ~ ~ highland.org

2 P a g e 2 4 Clever Ways to Encourage Your Children to Recycle As we all know, recycling is crucial when it comes to caring for our planet and instilling this responsibility in children when they are young is a surefire way to encourage them to do it for years to come. But how can we do this without it being reduced to an unpleasant chore? As a former preschool teacher, I ve found that one of the easiest ways to get children excited about cleanup is to turn it into a game. As luck would have it, there are plenty of ways to transform something seemingly mundane like recycling into a fun pastime. Sort-the-Recycling Game To get kids started in the world of recycling, you first have to teach them how to sort. Allison McDonald of No Time for Flash Cards created a wonderful little game for her son to do just that. With nothing more than cardstock, magazines, berry containers, scissors and double-stick tape, you can create a delightful game that allows your little ones to use their problem-solving skills and develop a love for sorting recyclables at the same time. Online Sorting Game It s no secret that today s children are incredibly tech savvy. These tiny digital natives have taken to computers and tablets like ducklings to water. If your kids are in the mood for something a little more 21st century than cardstock, turtlediary.com has this awesome sorting game. Players drag and drop items from a conveyor belt into one of three containers: compost, recycle or trash. I love the addition of compost, as it adds more dimension to the wonderful world of sustainability! Nature Walk Recycling Game Nature walks have always been my go-to trick to get kids moving and interacting with their environment. Collecting rocks, doing crayon rubbings of fallen leaves, and catching and releasing insects all work to get children excited about the beauty of our planet. Another thing nature walks are good for is an opportunity to do a little community service and recycling at the same time. Choose a neighborhood, park or semi-busy street (if they re not the kind to run into traffic) to explore with your little ones. Take along two bags one for trash and one for recycling. Have the children keep an eye out for litter. When they find some, allow them to sort it into the proper bag. You can even turn it into a fun bingo game! Take some time to talk about why we shouldn t litter and how it s bad for our environment. When the walk is over, dispose of the trash and send the recycling on its way to the plant!

3 Treasure Hunt At one point or another, many of us have flirted with the idea of buying a metal detector in the hopes of finding valuable antiques or jewelry. Unfortunately, as most metal detectorists will tell you, you re far more likely to find old beer cans than anything worthwhile. However, I ve found that the key is to manage expectations after all, one person s trash is another person s treasure! Start by explaining that the goal is to find as many recyclable metal items as possible. Then, grab a child-sized metal detector and something to carry your finds in, and let your kids go exploring. Beaches, parks, fields, woodlands and ghost towns are all great places to probe with a metal detector. By turning trash into treasure, you ll get your kids excited about cleaning up their environment and if you happen to find something of value, that s just a bonus! A Few More Tips Though so much of recycling can be transformed into a game, you ll still need to explain the importance of recycling to your children. Pop over to your local library and look for children s books regarding recycling. Read these books together and talk to your kids about why you recycle, and why you think it is important for every member of the family to do so as well. Place recycling bins in multiple rooms of the house, and ensure they re at a level that your children can access. You can even encourage them to create signs for the bins so they feel like they have a little more ownership in the project. The more involved they are, the more fun they have and the more fun they have, the more likely they are to continue to recycle for the rest of their lives. Public Services Keep Our Ocean and Drinking Water Clean TIPS FOR POLLUTION PREVENTION Protect Water Quality You and your family play an important role in preventing pollution. As you perform your daily activities at home or on the job, be proactive. It is easier to prevent pollution than to clean it up once it has occurred. When it rains or when water flows out of yards, it gets collected by the storm drain system. All water that enters the storm drain system flows untreated directly into our creeks, rivers, bays, and ultimately the ocean along with the pollutants it carries: trash, bacteria, sediment, heavy metals, fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants enter our waterways every day. Keeping pollutants out of storm drains helps preserve our environment and improve water quality. It can also help you avoid costly fines related to the illegal disposal of trash and other pollutants into the storm drain system.

4 Prevent Pollution One of the best ways to prevent the flow of pollution into our local waterways is to prevent water from leaving your property as you perform daily activities. By eliminating basic things, like over-irrigation and cleaning hard surfaces with water, you can prevent urban runoff and avoid discharging pollutants into our local waterways. Around your home Trash, pet waste, yard chemicals and home construction projects can all contribute pollution if not contained and disposed of properly. Reduce bacteria in our waterways by picking up litter from around your yard and neighborhood and carry bags to pick up after your pet. Store all household chemicals in a sturdy, covered container. Sweep up trash, sediment, and debris and dispose of construction waste in the trash. In your yard Yard waste has the potential to carry hazardous landscaping chemicals like pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers into the storm drain system. it also generates a large amount of bacteria if left to decompose in curbs, catch basins, and local waterways. Sweep up yard waste instead of hosing it away and keep curb gutters free of leaves and grass clippings. Replace turf grass with native plants to conserve water and reduce the need for landscape chemicals. Use mulch to prevent weeds, water loss and erosion. Stop irrigation runoff by adjusting sprinklers and reducing watering times. During the rainy season, redirect your rain gutter downspouts to flow into your landscaping where the water can be absorbed and replenish groundwater. Or, connect your downspout to a rain barrel to store the water for later use. From your car Your car can be a source of automotive pollutants such as motor oil, anti-freeze, transmission fluids, and heavy metals. it is important to check your vehicle regularly for fluid leaks and keep it serviced. Use a funnel to prevent spills and keep rags and absorbents within reach. Use drip pans, drop cloths, or containers to collect fluids when making repairs or collecting leaks. Wash your car on your lawn or direct wash water to a landscaped surface to avoid releasing automotive pollution into our waterways. Make a pledge to implement the above practices daily. Think Blue appreciates everything you do to help protect our local waterways! The storm drain system and sewer system are NOT connected. Only Rain should go in the storm drain. Article courtesy of earth911 and City of San Diego s Think Blue. For more information please contact Carlos Florez of the Public Services Division at ext. 271

5 P a g e 5 Join us at our next Highland Improvement Team cleanup project! This will be a yard cleanup for a senior Highland resident! The cleanup takes place on Saturday, September 16, 2017 from 8am to 12pm. Volunteers can pre-register by contac ng Volunteer Services or can sign-in that morning star ng at 7:30am at Highland City Hall located at Base Line. We will need to travel to the cleanup site. All volunteers will be required to provide their own transporta on. Join us! The Highland Improvement Team is always looking for new team members. Volunteers of all ages are welcome. This is the perfect opportunity for students, seniors, families and service groups to volunteer together! Residen al Projects Needed. The primary goal of the Highland Improvement Team is to assist senior residents with yard clean-ups. There is absolutely no cost to the homeowner as volunteers complete all work. The following lists how you and your home can qualify as the next HIT project. Here is how a senior homeowner can qualify: Home: must be located in the City of Highland Homeowner: MUST BE 55 years or older Homeowner: If DISABLED, ANY AGE QUALIFIES Homeowner: MUST RESIDE in home For more informa on, contact Volunteer Services at extension 203 Finance Commercial Business License Applications There was one new Commercial Business License for the Week Of 8/21/17 to 8/24/17 Paleteria Y Nereria El Aro de Michoacan

6 alendar of Events September 5, pm Planning Commission, Donahue Council September 11, pm to 5pm Blood Drive Committee Meeting NEW MEMBERS WELCOME! Highland City Hall Base Line, Highland September 12, am COPS, Beattie M.S., 7800 Orange Street September 14, pm Community Trails Committee, Donahue Council September 16, :00am to 12:00pm Registration: 7:30am to 8:00am Highland Improvement Team Cleanup NEW VOLUNTEERS WELCOME! Highland City Hall Base Line, Highland September 19, pm - Planning Commission, Donahue Council September 25, :30pm to 6:30pm Highland Community BLOOD DRIVE Highland Police Station Base Line, Highland September 26, 2017 October 5, pm Historic Board, Donahue Council October 10, am COPS, Beattie Middle School, 7800 Orange Street October 12, pm Community Trails Committee, Donahue Council October 17, 2017 Planning Commission at 6pm, Donahue Council October 24, 2017 November 7, pm Planning Commission, Donahue Council November 9, pm Community Trails Committee at 5pm, Donahue Council November 14, am COPS, Beattie Middle School, Location TBD November 21, pm Planning Commission, Donahue Council November 28, 2017 December 12, 2017 October 3, pm Planning Commission, Donahue Council Created by: Lisa Del Rio