Upland City Council Meeting Highlights

🏡 Cracking Down on Nuisances, Supporting Struggling Residents & Strengthening Fairness

April 14, 2025 – Upland City Council Meeting Summary

The City Council this week approved three important measures that will make Upland a quieter, fairer, and more accountable place to live. From barking dogs to citation fairness to overdue fines, here's what you need to know:

🐶 Tired of Barking Dogs at All Hours? Help is Here.

The Council introduced an ordinance to fix Upland’s outdated animal noise complaint rules.

Why This Matters:
Previously, complaints often went unresolved because City staff had to personally verify noise—which rarely happened outside business hours. The new rules let residents submit video and audio proof of the noise, making enforcement more efficient and responsive.

Key Changes:

• Proof Options: 2 neighbors within 200 yards file complaints, or 1 neighbor provides video showing:

  • 30 minutes of continuous noise, or

  • 60 minutes of intermittent noise in 24 hours

• Progressive Penalties:

  • $250 (first offense), $500 (second), $1,000 (third+ within a year)

• Accountability: Offenders may face misdemeanors or court action for repeated violations.

• Cost Recovery: The City can now recoup enforcement costs from repeat offenders.

Bottom line: This new ordinance protects our quality of life by giving residents a clear process to resolve persistent animal noise complaints.

💵 New Hardship Waiver for Certain Fines

Upland is now offering a financial hardship waiver program for certain code violations—particularly those labeled as infractions, including:

• Building and safety code violations

• Short-term rental infractions

• Repeat violations within a year

Here’s how it works:

• Apply within 5 days of getting a citation

• Show evidence of:

  • A real effort to comply

  • Financial hardship (e.g., tax returns, income/expense records)

• Applications are reviewed by the City’s Finance Director

• If approved, reduced fines may be granted and must be paid within 10 days

This brings Upland in line with state law and ensures we don’t punish residents already facing financial difficulty.

⚖️ Citywide Fine Schedule Gets an Overhaul

The City also adopted a new Administrative Fine Schedule to ensure consistent, fair, and transparent penalties for municipal violations.

What Changed:

• Uniform Structure:

  • Infractions: $100 → $200 → $500 (1st–3rd offense within a year)

  • Misdemeanors: $250 → $500 → $1,000

• Special Categories:

  • Short-term rental violations: $1,500 → $3,000 → $5,000

  • Building code violations: Up to $2,500 for commercial properties

  • Fireworks: $1,000 for illegal types, $500 for "Safe and Sane" misuse

Late Fees Introduced:

• 50% penalty after 90 days late

• 100% penalty if unpaid beyond 90 days

• Applies unless a hearing or waiver request is underway

Grace Periods: Many violations still include a grace window for correction—ranging from 1 to 30 days depending on severity.

This updated schedule makes expectations clear, improves fairness, and strengthens our enforcement system without being overly punitive.

📬 Stay Informed

For more updates like this—without the spin—sign up for The Upland Update at www.TheUplandUpdate.com. Stay in the loop on what’s happening in our city and how it affects your home, your street, and your wallet.

—
Councilman James Breitling
District 2 | City of Upland!