Highland · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Highland public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Illegal Fireworks Enforcement and Citation Appeals
The city is aggressively citing property owners — not tenants or guests — for fireworks discharged at their properties on July 4th, backed by dashcam video. Owners are on the hook even if they weren't home or didn't light anything, and fines can reach $2,000.
Warehouse Time Extensions and Environmental Impact
Residents and labor advocates heavily criticized the approval of warehouse time extensions, pointing to increased diesel truck traffic, air pollution, and health risks near schools and residential areas.
Industrial Expansion for Robertson's Ready Mix
Residents and organizers from the San Bernardino Airport area pushed back against time extensions for two approved warehouses, highlighting severe concerns over heavy truck traffic, air quality, safety near schools, and environmental justice.
Measure E Local Sales Tax Support
The city is placing a one-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot to help pay for police, fire, 911 services, and road repairs. City leaders say revenues are falling behind rising costs, and this tax would keep money local rather than letting the state take it.
Citywide Public Safety Community Facilities District
The city established a new community facilities district to ensure new developments help fund police, fire, and paramedic services, with a $310 annual per-unit assessment initiated by a 79-home KB Home project.
Public Nuisance and Unpermitted Operations at 25414 Base Line
Residents from Highland Avenue and surrounding cul-de-sacs voiced serious concerns about nighttime noise, illegal street racing, and public nuisance issues caused by vendors and visitors. They requested enhanced law enforcement and speed bumps to protect neighborhood children.
Airport Community Environmental Justice and Infrastructure
Residents from the San Bernardino Airport area testified about severe air pollution, heavy truck traffic, lack of sidewalks, and neglected infrastructure, urging the city to reject warehouse expansion.
Patriot USICVI 5th Street Warehouse Annexation and Development
A large warehouse project requiring parcel annexation from San Bernardino and multiple zone changes was continued to March 17 to allow environmental consultant reviews to finish.
Housing Element Compliance and Greenspot Road Upzoning
Complying with state housing mandates, the council approved rezoning 89 acres along Greenspot Road to Planned Development with a high-density housing requirement. Council members expressed frustration that state mandates force high-density housing into high-fire and flood-risk areas.
CDBG Fund Allocation and Non-Profit Support
Due to a 30% funding cut in federal CDBG grants, the city had to make difficult choices, fully funding code enforcement and street repairs while trimming and reallocating public service grants among the Senior Center, YMCA, and Little League.