About
Tim Sandoval moved to Pomona when he was just nine years old. Even as a child, he knew that a community as richly diverse as Pomona was capable of amazing things. As Pomona High’s class speaker, he defended the character of the school and the surrounding community in an impassioned year-end speech. He attended Montvue Elementary, Emerson Middle School, and Pomona High School before finishing his education at University of California, Riverside.
After graduating, Tim returned to Pomona to help others in our community to access college as well. He led Pomona Valley Community Development Center’s youth programs, then taught English at a nearby school. In 2001, Tim became a founding member of Bright Prospect, a mentoring organization that has helped more than two thousand at-risk youth become part of the first generation of their family to complete their Bachelor’s degrees. Many of these youth come to share Tim’s passion for Pomona, returning after college to give back to the community.
In 2016, Tim was elected as Pomona’s Mayor, garnering 63% of the vote. In 2020, he was re-elected by a similar overwhelming margin. As Mayor, he has championed legislation aimed at inclusiveness, environmental sustainability, and fiscal responsibility. He has exhibited caring leadership, championing the needs and concerns of those most vulnerable in our community. He has restored Pomona’s leadership role in Southern California, leading numerous regional boards and commissions. He provided a steady hand, guiding our city during the COVID-19 crisis, providing factual information, access to critical resources, and taking action to protect the health, safety, and economy of our city.
Prior to his service as Mayor, Tim was chairperson for the Waste and Recycling Moratorium Task Force, and he is a board member of Clean & Green Pomona, the dA Center for the Arts, and the Pomona Public Library Foundation.
To hear more of Tim’s story, watch his 2014 talk at TedX Claremont.
Tim’s Accomplishments as Mayor.
Housing
- Approval of thousands of market-rate and affordable housing units across the city
- Reversed years of delay in affordable housing by Constructing hundreds of affordable housing units, including Veterans Park Apartments, Villa Esperanza, and Chris Hartmire Plaza (Cesar Chavez Foundation)
- Adopted an inclusionary zoning ordinance requiring housing developers to build affordable housing
- Adopted rent stabilization that protects renters from excessive increases and no-fault evictions, while exempting new development and allowing landlords to realize profits and keep pace with increased costs.
- Adopted an ordinance allowing accessory dwelling units on residential properties
- Adopted a “Pro-Housing” update to Pomona’s Housing Element that identifies affordable housing needs in the city
- Opened Hope for Home, the city’s homeless service center
- Supported County Measure H to provide funding for homeless services which passed in 201
Environment and Open Space
- Updated impact fees paid by developers to pay for new parks and infrastructure – fees that hadn’t been updated since 1989
- Complete redesign of Hamilton Park, including an all-abilities playground
- Construction of new Phil and Nell Soto Park in Wilton Heights neighborhood
- Improved accessibility at Lincoln Park
- Secured funding for design and construction of all-abilities playground at Civic Center Park
- Secured funding to develop San Jose Creek linear park, providing a vital pedestrian and bicycle connection through the western part of the City
- Initiated the first Parks Facilities Master Plan in decades (completion in 2024)
- Adopted an Urban Forest Management Plan
- Supported the planting of thousands of trees along streets, in parks and schoolyards since 2017.
- Adopted an ordinance banning new waste, recycling, and pallet facilities in the city
- Elimination of 20+ miles of truck routes to reduce noise and air pollution
Families and Children
- Established an initiative to support our children under 5 years of age, in partnership with PUSD, Pomona’s Promise, and UCLA.
- Increased funding to support the expansion of youth and child programming
- Established COVID-19 Action Committee to assist and support families with food, and rental assistance
Streets, Transit and Public Infrastructure
- Secured funding to extend Metro Gold Line Light Rail to Pomona as Chair of the Construction Authority (opening in 2025)
- Secured funding for re-design of Garey Avenue and Holt Avenue corridor to improve vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle transportation
- Initiated Complete Streets ordinance to enhance our public rights-of-way
- Approved and funded relocation and restoration of the historic City Stables as part of the new Water Department Facility (planned completion 2024)
- Secured $5,000,000 Clean California grant to improve public infrastructure
- Supported efforts to obtain $22,000,000 in Transformative Climate Community funding to increase climate resiliency and enhance public infrastructure
- Implemented the Art in Public Places Program, utilizing funding to enhance our public infrastructure
- Founded and participates in Pomona Beautiful, a grass-roots, city-wide beautification effort that conducts weekly clean-ups
Public Safety
- Over the past 7 years, secured solid pay increases for police and City staff as compared to the previous 20 years; passed historic 4 year contract with police and city bargaining units.
- In collaboration with community based organizations, established a pre-arrest youth diversion program to keep youth out of the criminal justice system.
- Established an Ad-Hoc committee to end sex trafficking.
- Established a Violence Prevention and Intervention Program to reduce homicides in the city.
- Banned the use of no-knock warrants in the city.
Business and Economy
- Developed an ordinance that has allowed a limited number of legal cannabis businesses with strict licensing and operational standards – an ordinance that has become a model for other communities seeking to balance economic opportunity with safe neighborhoods
- Supported small businesses during the Pandemic through grant programs and outdoor dining opportunities.
- An update to Pomona’s Downtown Specific Plan to guide development in our city’s center
- Entered into an agreement with the Fairplex to develop a specific plan and fund mitigation efforts
- Approval of three new hotel projects (two constructed, one pending)
- Expansion and attraction of large manufacturing facilities, including Siemens, Torn & Glasser, and Impex
- Initiated a comprehensive update of Pomona’s 75-year-old Zoning Code to modernize business standards, respond to changing business needs, and implement policies adopted in the General Plan (completion in 2024)
Fiscal Responsibility
- Increased City reserve funds to provide stability during economic downturns and manage increased pension obligations
- The establishment of a volunteer sales tax fund citizen’s oversight committee
- The establishment of a Fairplex mitigation fund oversight committee
- Supported local sales tax ballot initiative passed in 2018
- Supported local cannabis business tax ballot initiative passed in 2018
Administrative
- Formed Pomona Choice Energy to consolidate energy purchasing, create options and reduce costs for residents
- Negotiated favorable waste hauling contract to control costs for residents in the face of increased requirements due to unfunded state legislation
- Established City Hall Innovation Team to promote innovation throughout the organization and improve customer service.
- Appointment of new leaders to key city positions, including City Manager, City Attorney, and City Clerk
- Implemented live-streaming of council meetings
Values
- Proclaimed Pomona as one of the first “compassionate cities”
- Adopted an ordinance enforcing the California Values Act
Regional Leadership
- Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative Fellow
- LA Metro Board Director
- Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Transportation Committee Chair
- Past Chair of the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority
- Past Chair of the Alameda Corridor East Project
- Past Vice-Chair of the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control