Lampkin for Ontario City Council
Civic Information Index

How Ontario Works

Ontario's city government makes decisions that affect your neighborhood every day. This index links to published articles and explainers so you can understand how it works — and what's at stake.

22 published articles across 9 topics

City Council

How the council is structured, what it can and cannot do, and how District 3 fits into citywide decisions.

Planning & Development

How development projects are reviewed, approved, and tracked — and what residents can do to participate.

Explainers coming soon

  • How to comment at a Planning Commission meetingComing soon
  • What is an EIR and when is one required?Coming soon

Roads & Traffic

Who is responsible for street maintenance, traffic signals, and pedestrian safety in Ontario.

Explainers coming soon

  • Who fixes potholes in Ontario?Coming soon
  • How are traffic signals timed and who controls them?Coming soon
  • What is the difference between a city street and a county road?Coming soon

Parks & Recreation

How Ontario's parks are managed, funded, and shaped by community input.

Explainers coming soon

  • How are Ontario parks funded?Coming soon
  • How can residents request park improvements?Coming soon

Public Safety

How Ontario Police, fire, and emergency services are organized and funded.

Explainers coming soon

  • How is the Ontario Police Department funded and overseen?Coming soon
  • What is CONFIRE and how does it serve Ontario residents?Coming soon

Housing

Ontario's housing goals, state mandates, and what local government can actually do about affordability.

Explainers coming soon

  • What is the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) and what does it require of Ontario?Coming soon
  • What tools does the city have to encourage affordable housing?Coming soon

Schools & Partnerships

How Ontario's city government relates to OUSD, Chaffey College, and community education programs.

Explainers coming soon

  • How does the city partner with Ontario-Montclair School District?Coming soon
  • What role does Chaffey College play in Ontario's workforce development?Coming soon

Economic Development

How Ontario attracts businesses, manages industrial growth, and supports local workers.

Explainers coming soon

  • How does Ontario's Economic Development department work?Coming soon
  • What is the Ontario Model Colony and how does it shape industrial zoning?Coming soon

City Finances & Infrastructure

How Ontario's budget is set, where money comes from, and how infrastructure decisions are made.

Explainers coming soon

  • How is Ontario's annual budget adopted?Coming soon
  • What are development impact fees and who pays them?Coming soon
  • How does Ontario fund infrastructure like roads and parks?Coming soon

Want to go deeper?

Browse all published articles from the campaign, or explore the Ontario Development Transparency Dashboard to trace planning decisions back to public records.

Browse all articles Transparency Dashboard