EUNICE M. ULLOA KAREN C. COMSTOCK
Mayor CHRISTOPHER FLORES
MARC LUCIO
Council Members
CURTIS BURTON DR. LINDA REICH
Mayor Pro Tem City Manager
CITY of CHINO
13220 Central Avenue, Chino, California 91710
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 667, Chino, California 91708-0667 (909) 334-3250 • (909) 334-3720 Fax
Web Site: www.cityofchino.org
June 18, 2026
The Honorable Sean P. Duffy
Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Subject: City of Montclair, California – Central Avenue Bridge Replacement Project Dear Secretary Duffy,
On behalf of the City of Chino, I am writing to support the City of Montclair’s (City) application to the Bridge Investment Program for the Central Avenue Bridge Replacement Project (Project). The City, in cooperation with the County of San Bernardino and the California Department of Transportation, will replace the structurally deficient Central Avenue Bridge that crosses over the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) corridor. The Project will address deficiencies by replacing the bridge and widening it from four to six lanes. The new bridge will improve UPRR' s freight operations by removing bridge supports within their right of way, providing operational improvements at the adjacent Montclair Yard, and increasing goods movement capacity. In addition, the Project will include Class II bike lanes and sidewalks to ensure safer active transportation routes.
The City of Chino (population 91,403) is best known for its small-town charm and prime Southern California location. Nestled in the western Inland Empire in San Bernardino County, Chino borders Los Angeles and Riverside Counties and is only two miles from the border of Orange County. This location offers access to international shipping ports, large fulfillment centers, private and international airports, and access to major freeways. With a population growth of nearly 25% between 2010 and 2020, Chino is one of California's fastest growing cities. The Project is located less than one mile north of Chino and will be an added investment to our community as Central Avenue is a principal arterial road that serves as a connection between the Interstate 10 freeway (located in Montclair) and State Route 60 (located in Chino). The Project is crucial as it ensures efficient traffic flow between two major freeways, reducing delays and supporting regional mobility.
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The Project will enhance safety, improve goods movement, reduce traffic congestion, provide better access for bicyclists and pedestrians, improve air quality, and ensure well-maintained infrastructure in our region. The City of Chino supports the City of Montclair's funding request for this Project and asks that it be considered under the Bridge Investment Program.
Sincerely,
Eunice M. Ulloa
Mayor
cc: Chino City Council
Hye Jin Lee, Director of Public Works, City of Chino
EUNICE M. ULLOA KAREN C. COMSTOCK
Mayor CHRISTOPHER FLORES
MARC LUCIO
Council Members
CURTIS BURTON DR. LINDA REICH
Mayor Pro Tem City Manager
CITY of CHINO
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 667, Chino, California 91708-0667 (909) 334-3250 • (909) 334-3720 Fax
Web Site: www.cityofchino.org
June 19, 2026
The Honorable Blanca Pacheco
California State Assembly
1021 O Street, 4510
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Assembly Bill 1821 — California Public Records Act: Agency Response Time — SUPPORT As June 10, 2026)
On behalf of the City of Chino, I write in support of Assembly Bill 1821, which would make several important updates to the California Public Records Act, including preserving the clarification that certain agency response periods are calculated in business days rather than calendar days. As amended June 10, 2026, the bill also addresses designated methods for submitting public records requests and limited fee authority for commercial use requests and requests determined by a court to have been submitted with malicious intent.
Public agencies are committed to transparency and providing timely access to public records. At the same time, the volume, complexity, and format of public records have changed significantly. Requests now routinely involve large volumes of email, text messages, electronic files, audio and video recordings, body-worn camera footage, and other digital records that must be searched, reviewed, and, when legally required, redacted before release. This work often requires coordination among multiple departments, information technology staff, legal counsel, and records personnel.
Current law requires an agency to make its initial determination within 10 calendar days, with a possible 14-calendar-day extension under unusual circumstances. Because those timeframes include weekends and holidays, agencies may not have the full number of working days needed to conduct a thorough, legally compliant review. AB 1821 would provide a more practical and consistent framework by changing those periods to 10 and 14 business days, respectively. This important change remains in the bill as amended on June 10, 2026.
The June 10 amendments also recognize the importance of clear intake procedures for public records requests. AB 1821 would require agencies to designate a physical office location and a specified email address for submission of requests, while allowing agencies to identify other reasonable submission methods, such as a mailing address or online portal. This would help provide Hon. Blanca Pacheco
June 19, 2026
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clarity to both requesters and agencies, reduce confusion about whether a request has been properly submitted, and support timely processing through established public-facing channels.
This adjustment is especially important for local agencies where staffing is limited and public records responsibilities are often carried out by employees who also support public meetings, elections, boards and commissions, agenda management, contract routing, records management, and other core services. A business-day standard would not reduce an agency’s obligation to respond to records requests or make disclosable records available. Rather, it would help ensure that agencies have a reasonable opportunity to identify responsive records, determine whether exemptions apply, protect confidential or legally protected information, and provide accurate responses.
AB 1821 would also provide limited authority to recover search and review costs for commercial use requests, while exempting requests made by educational or non-commercial scientific institutions, government agencies, and representatives of the news media. The bill would also allow an agency to petition the superior court for a determination that a request was submitted with malicious intent before imposing search and review fees in that circumstance. These provisions are aimed at preserving access for public-interest requesters while recognizing the significant staff time and public resources that may be required to process certain requests.
For the City of Chino, public records requests have increased significantly and become more complex, requiring more interdepartmental coordination in recent years. In 2025, the City of Chino received approximately 6,085 requests (1,114 by the City Clerk, 4,971 by Chino PD), many of which required the review of emails, text messages, video footage, police records, contracts, personnel-related records, and numerous other documents. By comparison, in 2022, the City received a total of 4,787 requests, 487 by the City and 3,186 by Chino PD. Even when staff work diligently, weekends and holidays can materially reduce the actual time available to complete the required review. AB 1821 would provide a more realistic timeline while preserving the public’s right to access disclosable public records.
California’s local agency clerks, records managers, and other public records professionals see firsthand how important it is to balance prompt public access with careful legal compliance. AB 1821 supports that balance. It recognizes that public records work is not simply a matter of locating a document; it frequently requires thoughtful review to protect privacy, privileged communications, confidential information, and other records exempt from disclosure under state or federal law.
For these reasons, the City of Chino supports AB 1821. We thank you for your leadership on this most important issue. Please do not hesitate to contact Vivian Castro, Deputy City Manager, at Hon. Blanca Pacheco
June 19, 2026
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[email protected] or 909-334-3307 should you have any questions or wish to discuss our position.
Sincerely,
Eunice M. Ulloa
Mayor
cc: Senate Committee on Judiciary
Honorable Susan Rubio
Honorable Michelle Rodriguez
Chino City Council
California Municipal Clerks Association
League of California Cities