Hesperia · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Hesperia public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Permitting, Fee Estimates and Technology Upgrades
Vice Chair Steeno and others described how hard it is to figure out total development fees up front and how plans sit untracked in the queue. Director Acevedo said the city is improving early fee estimates and rolling out Tyler software by late 2026/early 2027 to track applications online.
Delinquent Utility Collections on Property Tax Roll
About 1,100 properties with unpaid water and trash bills will have those costs placed on the county property tax roll. Council members questioned how renters, landlords, and paying ratepayers are affected; staff said the county route recovers roughly 95%+ of debt by year three versus 8-10% with private collectors.
Proposal to sell city assets to close budget gap
Councilmember Ochoa wants the city to look at selling Hesperia Lake, the library, the golf course and the animal shelter to balance the budget without new taxes. Nothing was decided — he asked for it to be added to an upcoming budget-cutting agenda item.
Teamsters labor negotiations
A Teamsters Local 1932 business agent asked the council to direct its bargaining team to give union members the same benefits the city already gives non-represented employees.
FY 2025-26 Mid-Year Budget
The city's budget is tracking close to last year, with the water fund balance expected to grow to $142.8 million. The council added $255,000 for street maintenance needs, including a worn-out dump truck and a traffic signal pole hit at I and Bear Valley.
Fleet maintenance costs and vehicle replacement strategy
The city is spending big on repairs to aging dump trucks and a patch truck while waiting for a replacement swap-loader truck due in March. A resident questioned whether repeated emergency repairs beat proactive replacement.
Traffic control box decorative wraps criticized as wasteful
Robert Davy called the $30,000 traffic box wrapping program a waste, urging the money go toward left-turn signals and warning wraps invite graffiti. Council Member Lee defended wraps as cooler-running and easier to clean; Gregg called it a trial run.
Emergency fine suspension ordinance
Council Member Ochoa asked the city to suspend weed abatement and trash fines during emergencies and draft a standing ordinance within 30-45 days so the city can act proactively in future disasters.