Author: Gabriel Avalos

Posted on by Gabriel Avalos

The City is seeking qualified muralists(s) to design and install a large-scale mural celebrating our local history, culture, and community. The mural is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and is a collaboration between the City of Covina and the Kizh Tribal Nation. Interested muralists should submit their qualifications no later than May 28, 2026, 12:00 PM PST. Muralists interested in participating in the optional site visit on Thursday, May 14, 2026, must first contact dchadwick@covinaca.gov to sign up. For all details, including submission requirements and submission portal link, visit www.covinaca.gov/bids-rfps

Posted on by Gabriel Avalos

In the upcoming election, Covina voters will see Measure CC on the ballot. This proposed measure asks residents to consider adopting a ¼-cent local sales tax, expected to generate approximately $3 million annually for the city.

If approved, the funding would support essential local priorities such as emergency medical response, fire and police services, homelessness solutions, street repairs, and park improvements. The measure is also designed to help ensure that sales tax revenue generated in Covina remains in Covina and is directed toward local services and community improvements.

Measure CC also gives Covina voters the opportunity to have a direct say in how these locally generated funds are used. As election day approaches, residents are encouraged to review the measure and stay informed about what it could mean for the future of the community.

Learn more: https://covinaca.gov/measure-cc/

Maintaining yard and vegetation upkeep can be challenging for some residents
due to age, health, financial hardship, or other circumstances. The Code Cares
pilot program is designed to assist those in need while promoting community
pride and involvement.

How the program Works

The public may submit a nomination form to Us. Our team will review the
candidates and select up to three properties for a community clean-up day.
Interested in sponsoring or volunteering in an upcoming community clean-up
day? Let us know!

Nominate A Property

Complete a nomination form and drop it off at the Code Enforcement Counter at
City Hall, or email the form to codeenforcement@covinaca.gov

Nomination Form
Volunteer

Interested in volunteering? Contact us at codeenforcement@covinaca.gov

Posted on by Gabriel Avalos

The Planning Division has released the draft update to Title 17 of the Covina Municipal Code for public review. During the past two years, the City has undertaken a comprehensive effort to modernize, simplify, and consolidate more than 50 chapters of the municipal zoning code into 14 chapters! This project is being led by Nancy Fong, Community Development Consultant with Interwest Consultant Group, in collaboration with the City’s Community Development staff.  

The proposed code update would modernize code language, improve usability, simplify development standards, and incorporate tables intended to provide clearer direction regarding applicable zoning and development requirements. The public may learn more by visiting the project webpage, which includes the project timeline, the full draft code for review, and an interactive map showing properties proposed for a zone change as part of the update.

The proposed zone changes are primarily administrative in nature and designed to align the City’s zoning map with the General Plan. As proposed, the identified properties would not experience changes to their underlying permitted uses.

A workshop is planned for summer 2026.

Maintaining yard and vegetation upkeep can be challenging for some residents
due to age, health, financial hardship, or other circumstances. The Code Cares
pilot program is designed to assist those in need while promoting community
pride and involvement.

How the program Works

The public may submit a nomination form to Us. Our team will review the
candidates and select up to three properties for a community clean-up day.
Interested in sponsoring or volunteering in an upcoming community clean-up
day? Let us know!

Nominate A Property

Complete a nomination form and drop it off at the Code Enforcement Counter at
City Hall, or email the form to codeenforcement@covinaca.gov

Nomination Form
Volunteer

Interested in volunteering? Contact us at codeenforcement@covinaca.gov

Posted on by Gabriel Avalos

We want to hear from you! The City is gearing up to submit an application for Caltrans ATP Cycle 8 Funding. If awarded, the City would use these funds to improve Second Avenue and Rowland Avenue, including expanding and updating bicycle lanes and improving pedestrian paths and crosswalks. Scan the QR code or visit bit.ly/4toKM9O to provide feedback. The survey takes about 3 to 5 minutes to complete.

Maintaining yard and vegetation upkeep can be challenging for some residents
due to age, health, financial hardship, or other circumstances. The Code Cares
pilot program is designed to assist those in need while promoting community
pride and involvement.

How the program Works

The public may submit a nomination form to Us. Our team will review the
candidates and select up to three properties for a community clean-up day.
Interested in sponsoring or volunteering in an upcoming community clean-up
day? Let us know!

Nominate A Property

Complete a nomination form and drop it off at the Code Enforcement Counter at
City Hall, or email the form to codeenforcement@covinaca.gov

Nomination Form
Volunteer

Interested in volunteering? Contact us at codeenforcement@covinaca.gov

Posted on by Gabriel Avalos

The City has developed a pilot program to proactively assist residents who may face challenges with addressing common municipal code violations related to property maintenance. The Code Cares Pilot Program would consist of volunteers, sponsors, and code enforcement officers to organize community clean-up events related to overgrown vegetation in the City of Covina. Residents may self-nominate or nominate a neighbor to be considered. Interested in sponsoring a cleanup event or volunteering? Let us know!

Visit www.covinaca.gov/codecares for more information.

Maintaining yard and vegetation upkeep can be challenging for some residents
due to age, health, financial hardship, or other circumstances. The Code Cares
pilot program is designed to assist those in need while promoting community
pride and involvement.

How the program Works

The public may submit a nomination form to Us. Our team will review the
candidates and select up to three properties for a community clean-up day.
Interested in sponsoring or volunteering in an upcoming community clean-up
day? Let us know!

Nominate A Property

Complete a nomination form and drop it off at the Code Enforcement Counter at
City Hall, or email the form to codeenforcement@covinaca.gov

Nomination Form
Volunteer

Interested in volunteering? Contact us at codeenforcement@covinaca.gov

Posted on by Gabriel Avalos

This week, the City of Covina received notice from its water billing software provider, AVR Utility Billing, that recent updates to the system’s billing platform have created access issues for Covina water customers. Our team is working closely with the software vendor to restore full functionality as quickly as possible.

Please note that these issues will not interrupt water service for Covina Water customers and no late fees or water shutoffs will be incurred as a result of these system updates. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience that our customers may experience during this unplanned system update and we will continue to share information as it becomes available.

Payment Options
In the meantime, note that the following payment options are available:

  • Automated phone payment – (855) 234-0365. Note that payments made through the automated phone options may not post for up to 2 business days.
  • In person via cash, check, or credit card at City Hall – Finance Department during business hours (Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.).
  • Drop box outside of City Hall on College Street.
  • Payments can be mailed to:
    City of Covina, Finance Division
    125 E. College Street
    Covina, CA 91723-2199

Customer Support

We are facing a high volume of calls and strive to respond promptly to each inquiry. You can also send us an email at water@covinaca.gov for a same-day response.

Posted on by Gabriel Avalos

In light of recent immigration and customs enforcement activity in the region, we understand that many in our community may be feeling anxious or uncertain. The City of Covina is committed to protecting the rights, dignity, and well-being of all our residents, regardless of immigration status. 

This page has been created to provide access to trusted information, legal resources, local support services, and community organizations. Our goal is to ensure that everyone who calls Covina home feels informed, respected, and supported.

Learn more HERE.

Posted on by Gabriel Avalos

Wave hello to FRIC & FRAC. Launched in February 2025, FRIC and FRAC is a free transit service to help you get around Downtown Covina. Fric and Frac stands for Free Rides in Covina and Free Rides Around Covina. The service is in a pilot phase and is meant to improve connections in the city’s transit-oriented downtown, helping to connect the Covina Metrolink Train Station with all that our downtown has to offer. The program was also launched as an economic development tool to help make Covina stand out in the San Gabriel Valley as a destination for visitors and businesses alike. To learn more about the transit program, including the fixed route and operating hours, visit www.covinaca.gov/fricandfrac. 

We are also on social media, follow, share, and tag @Gocovina. Enjoy the ride!

 

Posted on by Gabriel Avalos

We are excited to share a list of the newest City housing-related laws that are important in understanding State of California Affordable Housing laws that apply to all jurisdictions within California, including the City of Covina. These laws are intended to expand opportunities for affordable housing, ADU construction, and mixed-use development. If housing projects are proposed in conformance with California affordable housing laws, The City of Covina is compelled to approve those housing projects that have demonstrated to be in compliance with the applicable California affordable housing laws. Understanding these State of California Affordable Housing laws is essential to understanding potential housing projects proposed within, or adjacent to, the City of Covina. It should be noted that affordable housing projects that comply with the applicable State of California statute(s) are not subject to discretionary review/approval by the City of Covina, those projects are still required to comply with California Building Codes and Fire Codes.

Please find our new webpage here: https://covinaca.gov/our-community/state-housing-laws/

Posted on by Gabriel Avalos

Covina, CA – The City of Covina is pleased to announce that Ric Walczak has been selected as the City’s next Chief of Police following Chief David Povero’s announced retirement at the end of December. Chief Walczak will be responsible for continuing to provide responsive policing services, leadership for Covina Police Department team members and facilitating engagement with community stakeholders.
Chief Walczak has strong ties with the Covina community, starting as a Police Officer in 1996 and progressing through the leadership ranks of Sergeant, Lieutenant and most recently, Captain, where he has served since 2019. In the role of Captain, Walczak has overseen both the Operations and Support Services Divisions within the Department, leading a staff of 100 sworn and non-sworn team members and overseeing the Department’s operating budget. Through his 29-years with Covina Police Department, Walczak has participated in a variety of functions with the Department, including patrol operations, investigations, communications, crime prevention, administration and community relations.

In learning about his appointment to serve as Chief of Police, Walczak expressed his sincere appreciation to the men and women that serve in the Department, the City Council and the Covina community noting, “Covina has been home for my family over the last several decades. It is my privilege to work with our exceptional team and community to foster new opportunities and enhance the City’s reputation of being a great home town.”

Ric Walczak grew up in Covina, where he attended Northview High School and later received a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration at the University of La Verne and a Master of Science in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership at the University of San Diego. A strong believer in training and education, Ric has also attained a P.O.S.T. Management Certificate and was a graduate of the California Police Chief’s Executive Development program. Outside of work, Ric enjoys spending time with his wife Mary, his sons Ollie, Andrew and Ricky, and his parents Richard and Mary Lou.
Please help us congratulate Ric on his appointment to Chief of Police, as he assumes this new role on Wednesday, January 1, 2025.

Contact:
Chris Marcarello, City Manager
cmarcarello@covinaca.gov
(626) 384-5410