Cooperation Helps Build a Better Beaumont

Submitted by the City of Beaumont

Beaumont works closely with those who teach us, heal us, quench our thirst, keep life fun—and even bury us.

Like the pieces on a puzzle, these public agencies work with the city to deliver the best in new improvements and services. Many of these agencies meet regularly to discuss issues and work out solutions.

It’s all about getting things done in a neighborly way.

“Cooperation is always better than conflict,” says General Manager Mickey Valdivia of the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Recreation and Park District.

Tradition of public service

The history of our hometown’s public agencies offers a glimpse of time gone by and a window to the future.

Only one of the agencies is older than the city itself. The Beaumont Library District actually formed in 1911—a year before Beaumont incorporated.

In 1928, Beaumont residents voted for their own public cemetery district, a sacred ground where they can visit generations of family members and loved ones who are buried there. It is now known as the Summit Cemetery District.

Over the years, other districts followed, including the Mt. San Jacinto College District, which is now celebrating their 50th anniversary. In fall 2010, the college opened a local campus to serve the Pass area.

Growing cooperation and tax revenue

In recent years, Beaumont has worked hand-in-hand with our neighbors—using redevelopment money, development fees, and other funds—to improve and expand facilities and services in our hometown. 

As one of the Inland Empire’s premier locations, Beaumont’s growth has played a significant role in making possible many of these exciting additions, including new bridges and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Property tax revenue has gone up with the new building.

“Beaumont has certainly been the leader,” said Chief Executive Officer Mark Turner of San Gorgonio Pass Memorial Hospital. The hospital is scheduled to open a new emergency room and critical care unit in April and plans a six-story patient tower in the future.

“We’re supportive of growth because it will mean expanded services and facilities for the community.”

A bright future

Our lives and those of future generations are enriched by this true hometown partnership. The cooperative approach between Beaumont and other public agencies has helped residents in many ways.

Here are a few examples:

• Our youngsters swim and train in an Olympic-sized pool at Beaumont High School.
• Sports lovers of all ages play baseball and softball under new lights on new fields at Noble Creek Community Park.
• We can hop in a new elevator at the Beaumont Library, get off at the second floor, and enjoy reading and other programs.
• We can enjoy plentiful, affordable, pristine water for decades to come thanks to $100 million in water improvements, including everything from new reservoirs to new water lines.
• Students and motorists are kept safe by a new bridge over the wash at Beaumont High School, along with two pedestrian bridges.
• Middle and high school youngsters can get to and from school safely, affordably and reliably by taking city buses provided by Beaumont Transit.

Working together

Much of our community’s progress grows out of regular meetings of the Collaborative Agency Committee. Membership includes the city of Beaumont, the Beaumont Unified School District, the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Recreation and Park District, the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District, and the Beaumont Library District.

About three years ago, Beaumont played an instrumental role in creating the Committee, which meets every two months. The discussions began by talking about how to divvy up emergency preparedness money collected from a fee that Beaumont imposed.

Gradually, the four agencies added new topics to their agendas, and the spirit of cooperation grew. A recent example is the newly completed bridge over the wash at Beaumont High.

(Beaumont built the bridge with help from the Beaumont Unified School District, and the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency. Beaumont Unified contributed $600,000 and Pass Water Agency donated land for right-of-way.)

“When we explain what we’re doing to other cities, they’re astounded that we can get all the players in a room to share ideas and work things out,” Valdivia said.

So the next time you see new public improvements and services in our hometown, it’s likely that cooperation between our area’s public agencies played a big part.