By K.P. Sander 
Eastvale – Richard “Ric” Welch was elected to Eastvale’s City Council in 2010, serving a four year term. He has extensive municipal government experience, and has been an active member of our community since 2001. Ric and his family can often be seen enjoying Eastvale’s parks, trails and community events.
Q: You are a member of Eastvale’s Inaugural City Council. What is your number one goal for the City this year (2014)?
A:My number one goal for the City in 2014 is to either see the City realize the replacement of Vehicle License Fees or move on with the determination of realistic public service delivery levels for the foreseeable future. We have spent considerable time and effort attempting to recapture funding that was part of the budget projections that determined feasibility for cityhood. This year, we need to move forward, one way or the other. I believe that we’ve done a pretty good job of adjusting to the dramatic toll taken by the decisions in Sacramento and it’s time to view these adjustments as permanent, regardless of what is fair or ethical, and move forward with plans for a lean but healthy City government. Dramatic increases in service are not possible under the current budget, so we need to ensure the most efficient use of the revenue we have and search out new sources where appropriate. Comparatively speaking, Eastvale has sufficient means and will continue to thrive as long as we all agree to live within them.
Q: What do you feel are Eastvale’s Biggest Challenges going forward in the next several years?
A: One of the more important challenges that we face is to engage a broader segment of our community in decisions about our future. I tend to see a lot of the same faces at most gatherings in our City and know that with a population of over 50,000, there are a lot of Eastvale residents that have yet to be heard from. As a city, we need to find ways to connect with more of our neighbors to get their input on the future of Eastvale. Decisions related to local spending, service delivery, planning, zoning, etcetera, should be made with input from as broad a spectrum as possible. The recent input on the Leal Specific Plan is an example of a successful outreach effort that needs to be replicated on other topics. There will always be difficult decisions to be made and elected officials need to hear from all perspectives to adequately represent the city.
Q: You have children in several of Eastvale’s wonderful schools. With all the new housing forthcoming, how do you see additional population factoring in to the current school capacities?
A: While I’m very proud of our school district and the way that they’ve handled such dramatic growth, I don’t think there’s any question that the city needs to see Yorba Elementary School built now to relieve pressure on Clara Barton Elementary, and yet another elementary school will likely be needed in the near future. I’m concerned that much of the new housing is being built farther and farther from existing schools and that means more vehicle traffic at bell time, to an already overwhelmed system, even if there is capacity remaining in the classrooms. The traffic issues will only be addressed by additional schools, changes in behavior that increase walking and biking, a return of school busses, or some combination, thereof.
Q: How long has your family been in the area, and what attracted you to Eastvale?
A:We moved to Eastvale in 2001 and were attracted by the home prices and plans for the wonderful new schools and park system.
Q: You are also Park and Community Affairs Director for JCSD (Jurupa Community Services District). Have you finalized plans for the Desi Arnaz house, central to the Lennar Homes development on Citrus Avenue?
A: The Desi Arnaz house was really an afterthought to the original reason for discussing the property with the Altfillisch representatives. The original discussion was over land necessary to complete the Eastvale Trail between Riverwalk Park and the planned Eastvale Community Park. When presented with the possibility of also purchasing the home, I brought the Parks Committee in for a tour. We have and will continue to work with other groups and the general public to determine the ultimate use for the home, but will concentrate on the trail and surrounding property in the interim.
