Dr. Yxstian Gutierrez, Mayor
Contact Mayor
Dr. Yxstian A. Gutierrez
Phone: 951.413.3008
Email: yxstiang@moval.org
Address:
14177 Frederick St.
Moreno Valley, CA 92553
Mayor Gutierrez' Weekly Message
Mayor's Minute
April 14, 2021
Last week Riverside County moved from the Red Tier to the less restrictive Orange Tier of California's Blueprint for a Safer Economy, which guides our safe reopening. While we are trending in the right direction, some parts of the country are seeing new spikes in virus spread, including concerning variants of COVID-19.
There is one way to ensure our positive trends continue and we put the pandemic to an end: Vaccinations.
We have moved from the most restrictive Purple Tier down to Red and now Orange because we are halting the spread of the virus while successfully vaccinating our seniors and the most vulnerable in our community. Now, with eligibility open to ALL residents age 16 and over, we can finish the job and continue safely reopening our city. Continue to hand wash, sanitize and wear masks to protect yourself and those around you while safely enjoying more open tables at our restaurants, increased capacities at your fitness center; and more open pews at weekend church services.
For detailed information on Orange Tier openings, from essential services to recreational activities, visit the State’s COVID-19 website. For vaccination appointments – now open to ALL residents at least 16 years of age – visit www.moval.org/vaccine.
|
- Coronavirus
Efforts - Meet
Mayor Gutierrez - Committee &
Board Participation - District
Map - District
Photo Album
Coronavirus Efforts
As fast as the coronavirus crisis is evolving, I have been heartened to see our community adapting just as quickly. Our City Council and I, working with what has to be the most talented and dedicated municipal staff, have had to anticipate coronavirus-related challenges and respond just as rapidly.
Here is a summary of actions we’ve taken to help Moreno Valley get through this unprecedented situation:
- Declared a local State of Emergency
- Convened Disaster Council meetings to address emerging issues
- Instituted the City of Moreno Valley’s Pandemic Flu Plan
- Activated the City’s Emergency Operations Center
- Communicating our community’s needs to County, State and Federal lawmakers
- Activated Alert MoVal, the City’s emergency notification system
- Distributed numerous important News Releases to the City’s email list subscribers and news media
- Launched the Coronavirus Information Page
- Launched the Coronavirus Resource Page to connect residents and businesses to thousands of resources to help them weather this storm
- Made automated calls to residents providing important coronavirus information
- Implemented Zoom video conferencing technology to allow residents to remotely participate in City Council and Planning Commission meetings
- Restricted public access to City Hall and other City facilities to support the Governor’s Stay at Home directive
- Suspended penalties and interest on late payment of fees and fines during restricted City Hall access
- Working with the CDC, State of California and Riverside County Public Health to address this situation from Moreno Valley’s perspective
- Working with local grocers to provide seniors and residents with disabilities priority shopping hours
- Working with local grocers to understand their supply-chain needs
- Providing support to businesses large and small to navigate this difficult time
- Posting regular social media messages, videos, and informational graphics to provide timely and factual coronavirus information to residents and businesses
- Delivering regular messages to the Community via the weekly Mayor’s Message and Moreno Valley at Work e-newsletter
- Producing many “Special Message from the Mayor Covid-19 Video Updates” for YouTube, MVTV-3 and the City’s Website
- Supporting Riverside University Health System and their mission
- Launching the MoVal Meals Program for seniors and residents with disabilities
- Working with our partner agencies to help the homeless
- Working with local non-profits to address other community needs
- Ordering equipment for our first responders to use while serving the emergency needs of the community
- Ensuring the safety of pets at the Moreno Valley Animal Shelter
- Supporting our local school districts as they continue to educate the children of our community
- Continuing to provide essential City services, including maintaining the City’s roads
- Ensuring full time City staff, including part-time and temp workers are paid
- Created a special Moreno Valley Food Resource webpage, connecting residents with food pantries, local restaurants, MVUSD/VVUSD meals for students, and more
- Implemented a system in order for residents and developers to submit project applications and pick up plans to avoid delays
- Supported local business owners by encouraging residents to use curbside pick-up, takeout and delivery options
- Worked with our many generous Moreno Valley businesses and distributors to secure food and equipment donations
- Paid tribute to our heroic healthcare workers by lighting Moreno Valley’s iconic M in their honor
- Ensured vital federal funding by encouraging residents to be counted in the 2020 Census
- Connected small businesses to critical funding resources
- Protected Moreno Valley Utility customers from rate increases, late fees and disconnections
- Protected residential and commercial tenants by suspending interest, fees and penalties for non-payment or late payment of rent due to coronavirus
- Encouraged applications from non-profits and government entities for nearly $1.2 million in federal Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus and $631,000 in Emergency Solutions Grants Program Coronavirus funding
- Lighted MoVal’s iconic M in honor of teachers and public servant
- Hosted Live Coronavirus Crisis Q&A session for residents
- Reopened several open spaces, hiking trails and sport courts for public enjoyment while maintaining physical distancing
- Visited Renaissance Village senior living facility with Mayor Pro Tem Baca, Police and Fire to bring Mothers Day cheer to residents
- Created Senior Eats, a meal delivery program in conjunction with local restaurants, to deliver nutritious meals to seniors
- Welcomed the military’s flyover salute to heroic healthcare workers
- Partnered with Feeding America on a drive-thru food distribution event for community members
- Provided fun stay-at-home activities for residents of all ages
- Welcomed Governor Newsom’s economic reopening plan for Moreno Valley businesses
- Recognized the need to connect with residents who usually attend the City’s annual Memorial Day event, and delivered holiday remarks via the internet and local cable TV to bridge the distance
- Expressed grave concern over potential educational budget cuts by writing a series of letters to Governor Newsom
- Created the “Adopt-A-Senior” program to celebrate local high school graduates
- Secured locations for COVID-19 testing sites across the City
- Created a small business emergency grant program, “Forward MoVal,” to assist business owners affected by the pandemic
- Lighted Moreno Valley’s mountain-top M in honor of each high school graduating class
- Expanded outdoor dining options for Moreno Valley restaurants to serve more customers while complying with state rules for physical distancing
- Created park and pick-up services for residents at Moreno Valley’s Public Libraries
- Provided free WiFi internet access to the public at City facilities, including City Hall, the Libraries, the Employment Resource Center and more
- Encouraged residents show their holiday spirit by participating in 4th of July holiday contests
- Wished residents of Renaissance Village a happy Father’s Day along with public safety members
- Initiated the Got You Covered free mask giveaway campaign
Meet Mayor Gutierrez
A resident of Moreno Valley for more than 20 years, Mayor Gutierrez serves as the City’s first directly elected Mayor. He began service as a City Council Member in 2013, was appointed Mayor Pro Tem and Mayor, and was elected Mayor of Moreno Valley in 2016. Mayor Gutierrez is proud of the City’s success in bringing more than 14,000 new jobs to our community over the past four years.
Under his leadership, Moreno Valley was ranked the third most fiscally strong City in the nation - a testament to sound financial management practices - and the City’s second library branch opened.
He championed the award-winning Hire MoVal program – an initiative that promotes hiring local Moreno Valley residents while offering economic incentives to businesses through utility rate discounts and business license waivers. The program’s expansion - Hire a Grad - benefits businesses that hire local college and career technical school graduates.
He advocates for Moreno Valley’s Citywide Camera program and cutting edge community policing programs which allow the City to stretch resources while reducing crime and making neighborhoods safer.
Mayor Gutierrez also works diligently to improve community engagement to help ensure that City government effectively represents its residents and businesses. He created the Summer at City Hall program to give local high school students an inside view at how city government works and spearheaded the establishment of the Emerging Leaders Council, a panel of college students between the ages of 18 and 25 who advise Moreno Valley officials on youth issues.
Mayor Gutierrez currently serves on the Parks, Community Services and Trails Committee, the Economic Development Subcommittee, the Finance Subcommittee, and the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC). As an alternate, he serves on the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG), the Riverside Transit Agency, the Public Safety Subcommittee,
In addition to his role as Mayor of this dynamic City, Mayor Gutierrez has spent more than a decade working with children as a special education teacher with the Moreno Valley Unified School District. He also serves on the board for the Renu Hope Foundation, a non-profit group dedicated to lifting up working families by providing education and other support services to guide them on their paths to success.
He is a member of the United States Conference of Mayors Latino Alliance Committee along with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Mayor Gutierrez also serves as a local board member for the US Selective Service. Members are nominated by the governor and appointed by the director of the Selective Service System on behalf of the President of the United States. Mayor Gutierrez has been serving in that capacity since 2016.
The first member of his family to go to college, he earned an associate’s degree from Moreno Valley College, a bachelor’s degree from California Baptist University, a master’s degree in Education from American InterContinental University and a doctoral degree in Special Education from Northcentral University.
Mayor Gutierrez is also an alumnus of USC’s Executive Education in Public Policy program and the USC Executive Education Marshall School of Business program in Strategic Analysis in Achieving Competitive Advantage.
The former local business owner is proud to live, work and play right in his hometown. He enjoys spending time with his family, friends, and his two dogs- Kayla and Lassie.
“I am honored to have been chosen as the first directly-elected Mayor of Moreno Valley, the City where I grew up and the City where I continue to live and work,” said Mayor Gutierrez. “I look forward to bringing more job opportunities and preserving an exceptional quality of life for our community. Together, we are putting Moreno Valley on the map and continuing to make it work for our residents.”
Committee and Board Participation
City Council Subcommittees
Primary
- Economic Development Subcommittee
- Finance Subcommittee
- Parks & Community Services Council
Alternate
- Public Safety Subcommittee
Inter-Agency
- Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC)
Alternate
- Riverside Transit Agency (RTA)
- Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG)
District Photo Album
Photographs are from City Events
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
