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Fontana, California • July 26, 2024
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First Responders Memorial is still under design BY JOHN SANDERS Fontana Herald News Staff
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he city of Fontana’s $1.6 million First Responders Memorial is still under design with construction to begin in spring 2026. The memorial pays tribute to the first responders who risked their lives to rescue and protect civilians during the Sept. 11 attacks. The memorial will incorporate a fragment of the World Trade Center’s structure into its design. It will be built around the existing roundabout fountain in the Civic Center Campus at the intersection of Civic Center Drive and Wheeler Avenue. Mayor Acquanetta Warren said that using a fragment of the World Trade Center poses design concerns. “Bringing the memorial to fruition, which incorporates an actual fragment of the World Trade Cen-
ter, presented a few challenges,” Warren said. “Incorporating the beam into the design required a specific structural detail that significantly increased the overall expense. This necessitated a redesign and relocation of the memorial to accommodate the fragment properly while ensuring the design was structurally sound and aesthetically respectful. Despite these challenges, the new design and location were carefully planned to keep costs in line with the current approved budget, ensuring that the project remained financially feasible without compromising the memorial’s integrity and purpose.” According to the city’s website, the goal is to “create a poignant connection with the past while honoring the bravery and sacrifice of those heroes. “This memorial not only pays homage to the courageous indi-
viduals who lost their lives, but it also serves as a symbol of hope and resilience. By immortalizing a fragment of the World Trade Center, we are reminded of the strength of the human spirit and our collective ability to rise above adversity.” The city said that it wants visitors to become inspired by the First Responders Memorial and its message of hope. “Through this commemoration, we strive to ensure that their memories live on, serving as a source of inspiration for generations to come,” it reads. “The Fontana First Responders Memorial invites visitors to reflect, remember and find solace in the midst of tragedy. It stands as a beacon of unity and resilience, reminding us that even in the face of darkness, our shared humanity can bring forth light and hope for a better tomorrow.”
This digital render demonstrates what the First Responders Memorial will look like. It will be built around the existing roundabout fountain located within the Civic Center Campus at the intersection of Civic Center Drive and Wheeler Avenue. (City of Fontana/Submitted)
First Responders Memorial fontanaca.gov
Sierra Avenue widening targets summer completion
Council votes to halt Planned Parenthood building
BY JOHN SANDERS Fontana Herald News Staff
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ierra Avenue, spanning from Foothill Boulevard to Baseline Avenue, is wrapping up its nearly two-year, $8 million construction project. With an expected completion this summer, the street will have six lanes and offer improved access between Downtown Fontana, North Fontana and the State Route 210 corridor. Other improvements include additional curbs and gutters, sidewalks, a raised landscape median, a storm drain and a new
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traffic signal at the intersection of Sierra and Reed. Another benefit is improved traffic flow, with newly added left-turn lanes and upgraded traffic signals at the intersections of Foothill Boulevard, Miller Avenue and Baseline Avenue. According to the city’s Capital Improvement Projects, these additions contribute to the master plan for circulation, which specifies Sierra Avenue as a “modified major highway” due to its increased traffic flow. The updated sidewalks will increase accessibility for pedestrians, seniors and people with disabilities or those using wheelchairs. The previous sidewalks were disconnected, with uneven placement and buckling. The project will add continuous sidewalks, bicycle lanes and curb and driveway ramps on both sides of Sierra Avenue. Existing curb ramps will be upgraded to meet current Americans with
Disabilities Act standards. Aesthetic improvements are included as well. The city website notes there is minimal landscaping and no representation of “community pride” along the roadway. The project added a raised and landscaped median area that will reduce points of driving conflict for left-turn and U-turn movements. Once these improvements are completed, the project needs to go through the utility relocation phase. This involves moving underground or overhead utilities that may have been affected by construction. Utilities like cable, telephone and electricity wiring as well as sewer, water or gas lines may need to be adjusted to accommodate the additions.
For more information, visit fontanaca.gov
BY SPENCER WEST Fontana Herald News Staff
he Fontana City Council voted 6-1 on July 23 to extend its moratorium on the planning and construction of a Planned Parenthood center. The one vote against the extension came from Councilmember Jesus Sandoval. Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino County signed a lease in 2022 that would allow it to build a facility in Downtown Fontana. After Planned Parenthood spent a year filing permits and designs for the new facility, the Fontana City Council approved an urgency ordinance. The ordinance prohibited “service-based, nonentertainment uses” in the area of the proposed Planned Parenthood. The city council said the Fontana General Plan states that Downtown should be a “hub for dining, shopping and entertainment.” The reasoning given was not satis-
factory enough for Planned Parenthood, which filed a lawsuit against the city. Planned Parenthood argued the city council illegally added the entertainment hub section to its general plan to specifically target Planned Parenthood and its proposed facility. The court hearing was scheduled for July 25, but has been pushed to Aug. 25. “We will continue to challenge this moratorium on behalf of all Fontanans, who deserve better health care and education in their communities,” Planned Parenthood said. “At Planned Parenthood, we welcome every patient who walks through our doors, regardless of health insurance, immigration status or ability to pay. Our entire medical team looks forward to someday welcoming patients to this health center and helping them to live healthier, happier lives.” The city, however, said, “The ordi-
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