The Eastvale Town Hall meetings are always interesting. The meetings provide local residents an opportunity to meet and question the local officials.
The various agencies make a public report. Then the public has an opportunity to question the representative regarding any matter that would involve that particular agency. It is very information driven discussion. Occasionally someone will be a bit upset about a certain issue. The representative always seems prepared to handle the matter.
These dialogues are an indication of the community awareness of the Eastvale residents. The requested action invariably involves making the community a better place to live. The request may make a more attractive community or a safer neighborhood or a more community friendly issue with the parks. These issues are presently handled through county departments or districts. Once the City of Eastvale is incorporated, these same services will probably be contracted for by the City through the present service providers. they will do so through the direction of the Eastvale City Council.
There might be a perception that any anti-cityhood opinions are not allowed. There have been some tense question and answer moments. Overall the questions can be discussed in the smaller informal meetings after the general meeting is dismissed.
I encourage Eastvale residents to participate in the meetings. After all it is our community and we should have our voices heard about the direction of our own neighborhood.
There is one persistent question. What will cityhood cost us. State regulations prohibit the city from imposing any new taxes without a vote of the people. Every Eastvale resident knows that we currently pay very high property taxes compared to many older communities. Any additional taxes are apt to impact the price of real estate adversly.
If the matter of cityhood comes to a vote, every candidate for city council should be committed to the proposition of "No new taxes!"