EASTVALE, CA (July 1, 2013) – The Eastvale City Council announced today that it is implementing a multi-faceted zero tolerance policy on marijuana grow houses in Eastvale. Over the next 60 days the community will see a number of policies implemented in a continuing effort to proactively combat marijuana grow houses in the city.

The Riverside County Sheriff and City staff have been diligently working together to promptly identify and immediately shut down grow houses in Eastvale. In an ongoing effort to combat this issue, the City will be using existing laws such as the “Drug Abatement Law” under the State of California Health and Safety Code. Additional aggressive measures include working directly with key staff at Southern California Edison (SCE) to identify houses that are suspected of bypassing the SCE electrical meter, implementing a rental inspection and registration program as well as launching a city-wide Neighborhood Watch campaign with a program kick-off event on July 19, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. on Springvale Court.

City Manager Carol Jacobs stated, “our message is clear in Eastvale, if you rent your property to an individual or group of people at which illegal activity occurs then you, the property owner, are responsible. The “I didn’t know” defense is no longer acceptable. This team approach will affect positive change in Eastvale.”

Over the next several months, the City of Eastvale will be providing the community with on-going information and tips on how to identify “grow houses”. This will include: rental registration, business registration for property owners who rent their properties, an inspection program, information on how to choose a legal renter, how to work with the real estate and property management companies and using the Drug Abatement laws as an aggressive deterrent.

The City’s Chief of Police, Captain Danny Feltenberger, said, “Every tip we have received from the community regarding suspected grow house activity has been confirmed. The residents are batting 1,000!” The residents of Eastvale are the best eyes and ears for thwarting this type of illegal activity.

Mayor Ike Bootsma vowed, “The City Council is committed to eradicating marijuana grow houses in the City of Eastvale. By working with the Sheriff Department, city staff, our community partners and the residents, we will solve this problem. This type of illegal activity will not be tolerated in the City of Eastvale.”

City Attorney John Cavanaugh stated, “The City Council has given a clear mandate to the City’s Attorney’s Department to take all necessary legal actions in an effort to compel property owners to take more responsibility for renting their investment properties to tenants for illegal purposes.”

About the City of Eastvale:
Eastvale, one of California’s newest cities, incorporated on October 1, 2010. Roughly ten years prior, Eastvale was a part of the world-famous Chino dairy area, home to thousands of dairy cattle and only a handful of residents. Today, Eastvale has an ever-growing population of 57,251 residents according to recent CA Department of Finance data. Roughly 90 percent of the city is developed and served by a variety of local and regional shopping centers. Eastvale residents are proud of their community and of incorporation as well as the chance to chart their own future as an independent city. Eastvale is a young and dynamic community in Western Riverside County filled with economic opportunity and strong values. The City Council values and encourages public participation in the governing process. For more information on the City of Eastvale, please visit: www.eastvaleca.gov