Maintenance on 12 San Bernardino bridges to last through February
Riverside nonprofit's volunteers help hurricaneravaged Georgia
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Riverside supervisors OK hiring security firms to make safety improvements
A nighttime view of the Riverside County Administrative Center. | Photo courtesy of Supervisor Kevin Jeffries' Office/Facebook
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ual employees to damaging county property and equipment. This growing concern has underscored the urgent need to evaluate the safety and security of the public buildings, parking facilities and employee workspaces." According to the agency, "expert threat assessment services" are needed — over and above the law enforcement input already available through the sheriff's department — to handle all of the required evaluations and modifications. "It is crucial for the county to adopt a comprehensive and coordinated approach to security," the EO stated. No specific examples were cited of employees endangered on the job or while going to and from countyowned and operated buildings, nor did the supervisors request that Assistant Executive Officer for Public Safety Michelle Paradise provide any. Officials said that just
over 300 vendors who provide security-oriented services were solicited for bids on the contracts, but only the two selected firms followed through. According to the agreement with Aanko Technologies, the company will provide a thorough assessment of the configurations of county facilities to scope out entrances, perimeters, parking lots and other physical locations where changes might enhance security. Aanko will also be responsible for improving the county's background check system for employees, examining how visitors are screened, setting up emergency drills and "incident response protocols," as well as establishing self-defense training programs and internal reporting mechanisms to mitigate potential threats within the county workforce. Documents indicated
Foresight Security Consulting's tasks will somewhat overlap Aanko's with a few redundant assignments, while also changing "badge access control systems," which have surfaced recently as a problem, highlighted in an Office of Auditor-Controller report that showed some terminated employees have continued to enjoy use of their building badges after their dismissals. Foresight's personnel will also be focused on narrower "workplace impacts" from domestic abuse and sexual harassment, offering training to employees on how to achieve resolutions. The firms' three-year contracts, ending Sept. 30, 2027, will be eligible for automatic renewals. All of the costs will be covered through the EO's fiscal year appropriations, without drawing down county discretionary income, documents stated.
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Multiple cities to pay more for Riverside County animal control services By City News Service
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By City News Service
he Board of Supervisors on Tuesday authorized the Riverside County Executive Office to hire two firms at a total cost of $900,000 to assess and address identifiable security threats to employees and make facilities safer for dayto-day operations. In a 5-0 vote without comment, the board signed off on the agreements with Salinas-based Aanko Technologies Inc. and Wilsonville, Oregon-based Foresight Security Consulting Inc. Each compact will be in effect for three years at a "not-toexceed" price of $450,000 apiece. "In recent past, some departments within the county have experienced threats made against facilities and employees," according to an Executive Office statement posted to the board's agenda. "These incidents have ranged from threats directed at individ-
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he Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a series of cost increases to contracts with five cities that rely on the Riverside County Department of Animal Services for animal control enforcement and shelter space. In a 5-0 vote without comment, the board cleared the changes sought by the department in its agreements with the cities of Indio, Cathedral City, Perris, Rancho Mirage and San Jacinto. "The county has a comprehensive Animal
Services Department that not only helps safeguard domestic animals but also provides resources to the community to assist pets, pet owners, as well as public safety regarding domestic animals," the agency said in documents posted to the board's agenda. Officials wrote that a rate study was initiated to determine whether the county was netting "full cost recovery" for its animal control services, and the conclusion was that a "more balanced approach" was required to enable the contracting municipali-
See Animal control Page 31
LA84 report highlights gaps in play equity and barriers to youth sports By City News Service
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statewide report found that nearly two-thirds of schoolaged children, particularly in the Inland Empire, Central Valley and far northern parts of California, fail to meet federal guidelines related to physical activity, officials announced Friday. During a State Senate Education Committee Hearing at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood Friday morning, the LA84 Foundation released the findings of its 2024 California Play Equity Report, a study of statewide play equity, youth participaSee Play equity Page 32
tion and physical activity levels. National research firm EVITARUS collected data for the report. The aim of the report is to establish a new baseline for play equity, a concept of ensuring all children regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, zip code or socioeconomic status have access to play and physical activity, according to the LA84 Foundation. According to the report, California's youth are not moving enough. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S.