The City of Moreno Valley was ranked one of the financially strongest cities in the United States, according to an analysis of city fiscal strength by The Fiscal Times.  Moreno Valley was ranked third in the survey of 116 cities with populations over 200,000.

Chicago and New York City ranked at the bottom of the analysis of fiscal strength based largely on 2015 financial reports. 

The Fiscal Times credited Moreno Valley’s modest debt loads and large general reserve funds for helping the city rise to the top of the rankings.

Moreno Valley’s “presence near the top of the list is testimony to California’s economic recovery, but it also suggests that sound financial management practices make a difference,” The Fiscal Times wrote.

Despite facing similar challenges that bankrupted other cities, Moreno Valley avoided a fiscal crisis during the Great Recession, "apparently because officials showed greater discipline with respect to spending and borrowing," according to The Fiscal Times.

The ratings were based on five factors:

• The ratio of a city’s general fund balance to its expenditures
• The ratio of its long term obligations to total government-wide revenues
• The ratio of actuarially determined pension contributions to total government-wide revenues
• Change in local unemployment rate
• Change in property values

Moreno Valley took a highly disciplined, methodical approach to meet the challenges of the nationwide recession.  A multi-year Deficit Elimination Plan carefully phased spending cuts, while preserving key public services.  Swift action by the City Council completely erased Moreno Valley’s structural deficit even sooner than planned, balancing the budget in 2013.  As a result, the City’s General Fund has remained fully balanced for four consecutive years and the General Fund Reserve has increased to pre-recession levels.

“The City of Moreno Valley is proud of our continued commitment to fiscal responsibility which allows us to continue delivering the services our residents expect and deserve in the most cost-efficient manner,” said Moreno Valley Mayor Yxstian A. Gutierrez.  “It is clear that our efforts to create jobs – including 9,000 new jobs over the last three years - and to compete locally, nationally and internationally to attract businesses to Moreno Valley are working to expand the local economy and enhance the quality of life for our residents.”

Read The Fiscal Times article here.  See the complete rankings here.

Read the California Policy Center's article on how Moreno Valley did it.

Black History Month, or National African American History Month, is a celebration how the achievements of black Americans have helped shape the history of the United States.

Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world also designate a month to celebrating black history.

The City of Moreno Valley is celebrating Black History Month with a variety of activities.

Mark your calendars for the wonderful events below and check out the City Calendar for other ways to commemorate Black History Month.

February 7
6:00 p.m. Black History Month Presentation: Meet Author Erich Martin Hicks

Free book signing event at the Moreno Valley Public Library. Learn about the story of Mary Fields, better known as 'Stagecoach Mary', the first black woman postal carrier who braved the wild frontier, blizzards, Indians and Outlaws by herself to deliver the U.S. Mail and other important documents that helped settle the territory of central west Montana.

Moreno Valley Public Library, 25480 Alessandro Blvd, Moreno Valley, CA 92553

February 16

1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Senior Center Black History Month Celebration

Join us at the Moreno Valley Senior Center in celebrating Black History month, on Thursday, February 16 in the Moreno Valley Ballroom from 1- 3 pm. Entertainment and refreshments will be served.

Moreno Valley Senior Center, 25075 Fir Ave, Moreno Valley, CA 92553

February 25

1 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Moreno Valley Cultural Arts Foundation’s Celebration of Black History Month in conjunction with the City of Moreno Valley’s Arts Commission and Library Commission.

Free exhibition of local artists and artists from the Society of Nigerian Artists, literary readings, discussions and a variety of other activities. A reception will be held at 5 p.m. to kick off the start of the Vanguard Art Expo and MusicFest presenting artists/artisan vendors and live music featuring several local musicians and bands.

Vanguard Art Gallery, 27120 Eucalyptus Avenue, Suite G, Moreno Valley, CA 92555

The City of Moreno Valley is working hard for you.

The City recently began publishing Moreno Valley at Work: A Weekly Summary of Good News from the City Where Dreams Soar to let residents know about all the great things going on at the City of Moreno Valley.

From road improvement projects to opportunities to learn how help first responders during a disaster to the latest businesses openings, make sure you get the good news delivered right to you inbox every Friday.

Sign up for Moreno Valley at Work here. 

Over the holidays, Moreno Valley celebrated the opening of three new retailers: 

• Best Buy Outlet opened at Stoneridge Towne Center, at SR-60 and Nason St.  The Moreno Valley Best Buy Outlet is one of only five in the nation and stocks big appliances, home theater, and computers. 
• Forever 21 opened their expanded, 2-story “F21 red” store at the Moreno Valley Mall.  F21 red stores are designed for family-friendly shopping.
• Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches opened at the TownGate Promenade, at Day St. and Campus Pkwy.  Jimmy John’s serves from-scratch food with locally purchased produce, meats, and cheeses brought in fresh and hand sliced daily.

Best Buy Outlet, F21 red & Jimmy John’s join Cumin Thai restaurant and Heavenly Edibles bakery; both recently opened at TownGate Center.

Other retailers and restaurants that are slated to open in the near future include:

• All American Ice Cream – Moreno Marketplace
• Cupcake & Espresso Bar – TownGate Promenade
• Dickey’s BBQ Pit – TownGate Promenade
• Fatburger – The Quarter
• Habit Burger Grill – TownGate Promenade
• Hyundai of Moreno Valley – Stoneridge Towne Center
• Mountain Mike’s Pizza – Sunnymead Towne Centre
• Organic Nail Bar – TownGate Promenade
• Pieology – TownGate Square
• Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen – TownGate Square
• Red Carpet Hair Studio – Moreno Valley Plaza

For more information about the City’s new businesses or to learn more about establishing a new business in Moreno Valley, please check out www.morenovalleybusiness.com or contact the Economic Development Department at [email protected] or at 951.413.3460.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUMMARY Curious about what’s coming to Moreno Valley?  Did you know that Best Buy Outlet, F21 red & Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches are now open for business in Moreno Valley?  If you want to be the first to know about coming businesses and new developments under construction, check out monthly update of the Economic Development Summary

In the market for a new job?  Join the Hire MoVal Job Seekers' List today!  For more information about Hire MoVal or to advertise a Moreno Valley job opportunity, please contact the contact the Economic Development Department at [email protected] or by phone at 951.413.3460.

The City of Moreno Valley Office of Emergency Management is holding a three-day Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) workshop from Friday, March 3, 2017 to Sunday, March 5, 2017 to train residents how to respond to disasters and work effectively with emergency responders.

CERT training includes instruction in basic disaster response skills, including fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members will be able to provide critical help their neighbors or coworkers during a disaster when first responders are not immediately available to help. 

To become certified, sign up for a CERT class today!

Registration forms available at www.moval.org or by contacting the Office of Emergency Management at 951.413.3800 or email [email protected]

The next 3-day CERT course will be held at the Emergency Operations Center at 22870 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos on the following days:

Friday, March 3 – 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday, March 4 – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, March 5, 2017 – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Attendees must attend all three days of training in order to become CERT certified.

 

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Impossible to see, taste, or smell the toxic fumes, Carbon Monoxide can kill before you are aware it is in your home.

Carbon Monoxide can come from several sources including gas-fired appliances, charcoal grills, wood-burning furnaces or fireplaces, and motor vehicles. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea, and fatigue.

The effects of Carbon Monoxide exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health, and the concentration and length of exposure. You can protect yourself and your family by following a few easy steps:

• Install at least one Carbon Monoxide alarm, with an audible warning signal evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, near sleeping areas and outside individual bedrooms. Carbon Monoxide alarms measure levels of the gas over time and are designed to sound an alarm before an average, healthy adult would experience symptoms.  

• Have your heating system, water heater, and any other gas, oil or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.  

• Don’t use your range or oven to help heat your home and never use a charcoal grill or hibachi in your home or garage.  

• Never keep a car running in a garage. Even if the garage door is open, normal circulation will not provide enough fresh air to reliably prevent a dangerous buildup of Carbon Monoxide.

Click here for more important safety tips from the Moreno Valley Fire Department.