Grossich Appointed to Planning Commission, First Non-Resident Appointed in City History

For the first time in city history, the Planning Commission of the City of Colton includes a member who is not a Colton resident. Gary Grossich, owner of Nickelodeon Pizza, officially took his seat as a planning commissioner during the Jan. 27 regular Planning Commission meeting, where he was seated alongside the commission's other newest appointee, Rosa Granado-Dominguez, and Richard Prieto, who was re-appointed to both the commission and as its chairman. Following his appointment, Grossich wrote on Facebook, "I'm both honored and humbled to be given the opportunity to be the first non-resident Colton business owner to ever serve the City of Colton on a commission. As those of you that know me already know, I may sleep in another town, but my life is lived and my heart is always here in Colton." Grossich has owned Nickelodeon Pizza, located at 1411 East Washington Street next to Fiesta Village in Colton, since 1973. Though a resident of nearby Bloomington, Grossich is active in the goings-on of Colton, regularly attending council and other commission meetings. He is also a longtime member of Colton First, an action group comprised of local residents interested in keeping local government in check and in being responsive to the needs of taxpayers. Colton's Municipal Code calls for appointments to city commissions and committees to be made by each of the councilmembers and the mayor to represent each of Colton's districts on the commission or committee. The city Municipal Code also allows the council and mayor to appoint an individual not residing in their districts at their discretion "in order to assure that the most interested and qualified individuals serve on the various committees and commissions within the city," Municipal Code Chapter 2.30.030 states. These individuals must be appointed by majority vote of the council. Grossich was appointed to fill a vacancy in the 4th District seat with a majority vote of the council, with Mayor Richard de la Rosa, Mayor Pro Tem Frank Navarro and Councilmembers David Toro, Deirdre Bennett and Luis Gonzalez supporting his appointment. Grossich, whose father served on the Colton Planning Commission in the 1970s, pointed to business as one of the city's top priorities. "As a business owner I want to work to make Colton a truly 'business friendly' city by promoting policies which help us retain our current businesses, while attracting new ones," Grossich stated, adding, "With that said, the residents must always come first, but the business community should be a close second as revenue from businesses is how we fund the services our residents need and deserve."