Thursday, July 10, 2025

• City Council Meeting July 2025

Reminder, Wildomar's 17th birthday celebration is happening on Saturday, July 26th at Marna O'Brien Park. Put it on your calendar now!

  TOP NEWS FROM THE MEETING

Meeting Recap

Back row, L-R: Mayor Protem Carlos Marquez, Councilwoman Bridgette Moore, Councilman Joseph Morabito. Front: Mayor Ashley DePhillippo and Captain James Rayls.

Item 1.9 Add One Additional Motor Deputy

This isn't as easy as going down to Pie Nation and ordering a round of Nation Sticks. It takes many months to have a motorcycle delivered, and as long, or longer, to have a trained motor officer assigned (after all, they don't grow on trees).

Soon enough, we'll have two guys chasing down the road demons in town... don't be one of them.

Item 1.10 Marna O'Brien Park Rubberized Play Surface

This feels like it's been a long time coming. With the impediments neutralized, it's slated to be installed by the middle of September. 

Item 2.1 Development Code Amendment (Cannabis)

Let me go straight to the bottom line and then fill in a couple of details from my point of view. 


The bottom line is that there will be no practical changes. 

No one has ever approached the planning department or the economic development department with even the slightest hint in wanting to cultivate, manufacture, distribute, or have a testing laboratory in Wildomar.

Mind you, this is one of those "if you're for it, then vote no" moments where Yes Means No.

We had six people who spoke on the item. Four in favor of changing the code (restricting certain commercial cannabis businesses), and two were against the change.

Remember, the matter at hand was ONLY whether to keep the codes the way they were, or to restrict future business opportunities, nothing else. 

Still, the comments went back to whether or not cannabis should be used at all, especially recreationally. 

If I were just Joe Blogger I'd happily post the back and forth discussion in detail, but I don't won't my colleagues to feel any pinch by highlighting our disagreements. 

Especially since this is, in my estimation, a big nothing burger meant to do little more than close a barn door after we granted permission to people to take as many horses as they'd like.

If this topic interests you, I invite you to watch the video. I'll add a link at the bottom.

I will leave a transcription of my initial comments below. As I was rewatching the video, I saw how much gesturing I was doing... so I made a short video. 


Summary of initial comments by Joseph Morabito on Item 2.1

First,  I want to appreciate the emails I got and the various speakers, Maribel, Gianni, Gina, Mari, John, Jessica, thank you for coming out and expressing your thoughts here.  

Now, remember, this is just about changing some codes.  It's not about whether it's a good thing or not, or medical versus recreation.  Those are fair concerns, but that's not what tonight is about anyway.

California legalized cannabis use back in 2016. That was Prop 64, I believe. Whether it's medical or recreational, this is the United States, and we have a lot of liberties here. 

So, whether you want to think it should only be a medicine, you're probably right. But if somebody else wants to think, well, "That's how I'm going to ease the tension at the end of the day", well, they're also right. 

I've never used it. I'm not interested. I would suggest "don't use it"but that's me. That's my opinion for me.  

And again, when it comes to changing the existing codes, I thought about this a little bit, and I would need a reason why, other than "I want to".

Certainly not to further ban, especially because there has not been any inquiry about these other commercial uses. 

Some person mentioned whether there's also 'never been a surf shop here or a ski shop [in Wildomar]'

Okay, well,  we don't need to go out of our way to ban those.  And I'm assuming that we have strict guidelines in California that already regulate [cannabis] heavily.

I can't imagine what it would take (amount of money) for somebody (non-retail cannabis business) to come into Wildomar. 

The real estate here is expensive, and to get a building built, it would be pretty Herculean of them to get past all that and want to [proceed here] (compared to places with lower costs).   

I'm not aware of any additional dangers based on the existing retail shops.  

Now, something that might be a danger is some of the places that sell alcohol. They're open all night, some of them, or at least past 10 o'clock. And it can get kind of sketchy there. They don't have any security.

Under today's codes, the cannabis retailers have guards, lots of cameras, lights, everything. In fact, the retail centers where they are are safer because of that.  

As far as putting something on the ballot, I want to put you on the spot, City Clerk Jeanet Morales. 

How much would a special election probably cost?  

Or, [how much is saved when a City Council seat election is cancelled due to there only being one qualified candidate]?

We save around $16,000 on that one. 

So if it's citywide, it's many thousands of dollars, probably over $50,000 if not even more.  So that is one of the things that you do, elect city council members to make these kinds of decisions.  

But I respect the thought of putting it on the ballot, but in a representative democracy, we are your representatives and pretty much make those votes.

I've noticed that since [cannabis] has become legal in many of the states, that now we're starting to see various reports of, "Look, it's not necessarily any better to smoke that than tobacco for your lungs." 

But again, that's a personal decision that people make. So, anyway,  I am not in favor of eliminating any potential future businesses. I would appreciate it if you have a reason behind why you want to change it.

It's well worth your time watching the video of this item. There were a lot of thoughts and opinions shared. 

I just didn't see the justification of the changes, but that's ok, the majority makes the decision, and then we move on to the next item.

I did suggest an alternate motion where we'd increase the setbacks to 600 feet, but not further restrict future business options, but it died for lack of a second.

We don't hold grudges because of how a vote goes.

Wildomar Rap opinion time


My favorite thing in the whole wide world (a demonstrable overstatement) is when someone brings up a discredited survey from 2018 (before I was elected to the city council) as the basis of their actions.

I'll repost what I published in November 2019.
---
A survey done nearly two years ago was brought up during a public comment. 

During her public comment, Gina Castanon mentioned that the survey that has been used as the primary reason to keep commercial cannabis banned was, "flawed, in my opinion"

Shortly thereafter, the same survey was used as a key reasoning point for opposing the regulation of cannabis in Wildomar during council discussion.


Opinion Time


The survey was done to see if Measure AA would pass or not (the sales tax increase that was approved by a vote of the people in 2018)

The survey came back with the claims that AA would get 68% of the vote, but in reality, it only got 58% of the vote. Those 10 percentage points equate to being off the mark by 17%. That is a staggering miscalculation in my view.

The same survey asked a handful of questions, to less than one thousand registered Wildomar voters. It came back with 55% saying they were opposed to any commercial cannabis businesses in the city.

If the first part of the survey (about taxes) was wrong by 17%, then can't we assume that the second part was also wrong to one degree or another? 

If it wasn't off by the same 17%, how about a third of that... 5%. Which makes the survey an even split.

That said, since when are major issues decided by a survey of less than 10% of the voters? 

Still more arguments against the flawed survey

It only asked registered voters their opinion, not the residents that choose not to register to vote for one reason or another. There are many people that choose NOT to register based on their religious beliefs.

Aren't their opinions important on matters that don't get settled at the ballot box? I sure think so.

How about longtime permanent residents? I won't name any, but for example, before my wife took the oath of citizenship back in 2007, she could not register to vote. 

There was no outreach made to those that cannot register to vote, but are every bit as much a part of our community as the registered voters.

----
Those were a lot of words for something that won't be moving the needle one single solitary iota... and iotas are pretty small.

Item 3.3 Metal Shipping Containers

In brief, the current codes only allow shipping containers on properties that are five acres or larger. Wildomar has many, many properties that are under five acres with a shipping container on it.

Do you know where this (these) shipping containers are in town?
The question is/was, do we change the code that was originally written by Riverside County and tailor it to something more suitable to Wildomar, or leave it as is?

Leaving it as is would put very many people into a situation where they'd have to remove their shipping containers.

Remember, the claim that "I've had my container for many years before Wildomar became a city" doesn't hold water because these containers were NEVER legal even under county rules.


The city council and planning commission want to update the code. Any changes are still in the discovery/discussion stage. 

If you have thoughts that you'd like heard, please email them to me (jmorabito@wildomar.gov) and I'll get them to the planning department for further discussion. 

For me, I suggested that if there are properties under 1 acre that have a shipping container on them, to either grant a temporary amnesty that expires when the property changes hands, or, if possible, write stricter requirements they'd have to meet. 

I anticipate this matter coming back before the end of the year.


Link to agenda and video. Just look for the item you want to watch and click it.

https://cityofwildomar.granicus.com/player/clip/1234?view_id=1&redirect=true

Thursday, June 12, 2025

• City Council Meeting June 2025

   TOP NEWS FROM THE MEETING


  • Wildomar City Hall Goes Back to Five Days a Week
  • Water Rates to Go Up By an Average of $15 Per Family of Four in July
  • 20 Acre Park Update
  • 2nd Motor Officer Added ($456K First Year Costs)

It was a great meeting. I encourage you to cue up the video (link will be at the bottom of the blog) and listen to it as it happened, but I'll give you a brief overview of the most noteworthy items in the half hour I have to put this blog together.

The biggest news of the night was delivered at the end, and was a surprise to at least two of the council members: City Hall will go back to five days a week from 7:30am to 6pm. 

That was something the council has been working towards since I got onto council in 2018. There were several things that kept it from happening over the years, but the final impediment was removed in April, and in less than two months, the will of the people was finally heeded. 

Thank you to Mayor Ashlee DePhillippo for being the final push getting this nailed down... kudos to you!

Water Rates Going Up

We knew this was coming. The State has a pie-in-the-sky approach to governing as they're trying to legislate perfection. 
tHaNk yOu, sAcRamENto, yoU'rE alWaYs lOokINg oUt foR Us. 

They are trying to regulate something known as PFAS in drinking water, which, if we're honest about it, is a veritable impossibility to illiminate no matter how desperately would like to. 

But what isn't impossible is to create regulations that make the precious resource more difficult for average people to afford. 


New Park Update

For those who don't know, the city bought about twenty acres of land from the lovely ladies who run Anne Sullivan Preschool about two years ago. It's directly to the east of the school, and continues southward down Palomar a bit.

They've been using it as a natural park to walk through, and they wanted the city to take it over and continue the "natural park" feel, instead of the other option: selling to a developer and building more houses.

There will be parking off Palomar, and the projected opening is less than a year away. There are no specifics this far out, but the city is contractually obligated to have it opened to the public by June of 2026. 

It'll look mostly like it does today. If there are ever further upgrades, that's years into the future, and many millions of dollars away.

Before it opens, we'll be giving it a proper name... be part of the process. 

2nd Motor Officer Approved
I was on record saying that I'd rather have more patrol time, or even more code enforcement, than a second motor officer at the cost of half a million dollars per year. We can't have everything.

Contrary to the well-meaning but misguided views of my learned council colleague Carlos Marquez, we will always be a small market team. 

I never said we were a minor league [team], but a small market [team]. 

Let's jump headlong into the baseball analogy... in this case, we're the 
Kansas City Royals. 

Kansas City isn't a minor league team like Lake Elsinore Storm, it simply doesn't have the capacity to compete with New York or Los Angeles, just as Wildomar doesn't have the capacity to compete with Temecula or Riverside. 

Their budgets dwarf ours, just as the Dodgers' ability to endlessly shell out greenbacks reminds the Royals who they are.

Sure, some people love sloganeering; it feels good, but I've never been much of a rah-rah guy boosting unrealistic things.
Let's not lose sight of who we are.
Plenty of small-market teams have won the World Series, and Wildomar can achieve excellence while not forgetting who we are. 
•                •                •

Last, but not least, (actually, this happened at the beginning of the meeting), Wildomar honored its first Employee of the Year, Dustin Wyatt.
Homegrown Dustin Wyatt of the public works team gets Wildomar's first employee of the year award. Back row is Councilmembers Dustin Nigg, Carlos Marquez, Bridgette Moore and Joseph Morabito. Mayor Ashlee is standing to Dustin Wyatt's right in the front of the dais.

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

• Planning Commission Meeting Preview June 2025

It's been a while since I've seen a sizeable Planning Commission agenda, and the June meeting is set to have at least three major items.

Right out of the gate is Cherry Outpost (Retail Center).

2.1 Cherry Outpost Retail Center Project

Since this is an active development that may come before the city council someday, I have to be doubly cognizant to remain unbiased. I'm just here to share information I got from the agenda.

1) a 4-story, 72-room hotel (45,571 square feet)

2) a gas station complex, including a 4,176-square-foot convenience store with an attached 3,200-square-foot drive-through restaurant, and a 2-position RV fueling area 

3) a stand-alone 4,425-square-foot fast food/drive-through restaurant

4) a 5,724-square-foot express car wash with related accessories.

From the agenda

"The Applicant (Jack Kofdarali) has secured one (1) lease for Tommy’s Car Wash. The other uses are unidentified at this time."

Psst... FYI, last I heard,Tommy's brand is owned by the applicant.

Project Location/Vicinity: The project site encompasses approximately 6.65+ acres and is located at the NWC of Cherry St. & Bundy Canyon Road. 


The project site is comprised of two (2) legal parcels zoned C-H (Commercial Highway) and is currently vacant. There are single family uses both north and east of the site. 


Cherry Outpost Sign Program Analysis: The applicant has submitted a master sign program for the proposed retail center for Planning Commission Consideration. 

The sign program meets all code requirements in Chapter 17.180 (Signs) of the WMC. The sign program is provided for Commission consideration in Attachment F. 

You guessed it, the carwash is the only future business that is signed to go in, and the same owner already has one approved and underway on Clinton Keith/Stable Lanes (west side of freeway, between the Starbucks and Stadium Pizza). Not to mention one across from the new Kaiser on Wildomar Trail.

Staff’s recommendation for approval of the sign program is included in PC Resolution No. 2025-10 (Attachment C).

Something to keep in mind

The Planning Commission decision is final, so the CUP would not go to Council if approved by the Planning Commission, unless the decision is appealed.

Without the CUP, the car wash cannot go there.


This is a very weighty agenda item with over 20 attachments. Use the following link to access the agenda item.

LINK

Each of these is several pages, if not dozens of pages.


2.2 Development Code Amendment No. 2025-01 (Cannabis Code Amendment)

The city council made a few minor modifications to the existing code earlier in the year. The above graphic gives a summary.

3.3 Request for Direction on the Placement of Metal Shipping Containers as Accessory Structures on Lots or Parcels Not Less Than 1/2 Acre in Size Within the Agricultural and Rural Residential Zones

PROJECT ANALYSIS: 

Existing Standards: Metal shipping containers are only permitted on properties of at least 5 acres in certain zones. Containers must comply with setback, height, and aesthetic standards. Conditional use permits (CUPs) may be required in some cases to ensure compatibility with surrounding uses. 


Public Comments and Potential Changes: 

  • Allowing metal shipping containers on smaller parcels within agricultural and rural residential zones, subject to development standards. 
  • Implementing conditional use permit (CUP) requirements for containers exceeding a specified size or number. 
  • Requiring aesthetic enhancements (e.g., painting, screening) to minimize visual impacts. 

Pros: 

  • Provides property owners with additional storage options. 
  • Supports agricultural uses with secure, weather-resistant storage. 
  • May reduce unauthorized placement of containers. 

Cons: 

  • Potential for negative visual impact on residential areas. 
  • Risk of noncompliance or unauthorized container use. 
  • Possible conflict with residential neighborhood character in rural zones.

Wildomar Rap opinion time


I live in Windsong Valley, and containers wouldn't go here since our lots are very small in the first place. However, I'm a big proponent of property rights, and if a container was going to be coming into a smaller lot size (half acre minimum), and done in a way that respects the neighbors (interpreting that is where the wheels are most likely to go off the rails), it would be fine by me.

What say you when it comes to shipping containers being used in residential areas? Should the existing codes be changed or remain the same?

Thursday, May 15, 2025

• City Council Meeting May 2025

 It was a very long meeting with some very interesting items. 

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Troop 332.

The first order of business after the Pledge of Allegiance was to adopt a resolution appointing Chris Mann as the interim city manager for six months with a yearly compensation of $250,000 plus the standard benefits any city employee would get. It passed 5-0. 
Interim Wildomar City Manager Chris Mann

Wildomar Rap opinion time


One of the two big news stories coming out of Wildomar this year was the Black Series Trailers debacle, which had a great ending from our perspective; the other was the separation with the previous city manager.

I wrote as much as I could regarding the city manager matter in earlier blogs. A lot had to go unsaid due to the rules around closed session meetings.

In an action at the April 29th special city council meeting, I was a no vote for Chris Mann as reported by the City Attorney. On May 14th, I was part of the unanimous decision to bring him aboard.

Why the change?

It was never about Chris's abilities or his integrity. He's well-respected in the region. I have high confidence that he's capable of doing a great job. 

Yes, I read the blogs from Yucaipa. 

(this is where it gets dicey)

My reading of the matter is that Yucaipa's city council has been contentious for a while (how long? I don't know), and when the voting majority changed in the 2022 election, they made a change in their city manager: Hello Chris.

When the majority changed again in 2024, they made another knee-jerk reaction: Goodbye, Chris. 

If you want to read about it, do a quick internet search.

For a long time, I’ve likened Wildomar to a small-market team in the world of sports.

The way I see it, we can't reasonably compete with the likes of Temecula, Murrieta, Corona, Riverside, etc. We can't pursue the big-time free agents. Our budget simply isn't like the others.

My assessment was that 'Chris is out of our league'. I'm happy to have him here, like who wouldn't want Shohei Ohtani... ok, that might be too much... let's use Bobby Witt Jr. as an example instead (an all-star level player that would be highly sought by big market teams)

I'm satisfied with the interim contract, even at $250K per. 

Assuming all the dominoes fall in the right order, when it comes time for a permanent city manager contract, that may put me back to my original vote, irrespective of how well he's hitting in the cleanup spot

That's a long way off, but I needed to weigh in now.

-----

A word about how much a city manager in 2025 makes

I've read countless comments of disbelief regarding how much a city manager makes. I agree that they often make an unbelievable amount of money. 

Research what some of the local salaries are reported to be. 

Most are over $300K, and that's before an embarrassment of additional perks. Things like deferred comp, car allowance, tech allowance, the best insurance conceivable, a ton of days off, and more.

I don't know how things were allowed to get so far out of hand, but that can be said of countless other things in California, too. Go ask ChatGPT and you'll be stunned to see what they make all over the country. 

Last on this topic

In a City of Wildomar Press Release from April 29th, it was reported that a separation agreement with the former city manager had been reached, which included a severance of $44,000. 

That's two months, folks.

Is that a lot? 

Two months is not a lot when the rest of the contract has about nine months on it. 

1.18 Marna O'Brien Park Rubberized Play Surface

This has been a long time coming. The nonprofit Wildomar Parks & Community, headed by Bridgette Moore, secured a sizable grant from the county to pay for this upgrade. 

It's anticipated to be installed before the end of the fiscal year, before July  1st.


3.1 Biennial Budget Workshop - Public Safety Budgets 

These three items, not currently in the budget, were discussed.

There was a lot of information, and I'll leave a link here so that you can access the slide presentation to get a better sense of it. 

link to 39 slide presentation

With #1, I didn't get enough information to be swayed. Also, I'm not a fan of increasing regulations on business. Is there an issue with businesses catching fire in Wildomar, or do we have a solution that's looking for a problem? 

Item #2, the cost of the proposed second motor officer is nearly half a million dollars. That would have to come from somewhere. It was said that it would likely come out of the fund we use for road improvements. 

#3, I'm all in favor of a stronger code enforcement team. I just don't know that this is the best path to achieving it. I'm looking forward to round two when this comes back in June.

Though our city has more revenue now than before I was elected to the city council in 2018, we are still a small budget city, and we can't have everything. We have to make tough decisions.

In the end, we opted to wait until the next meeting to allow ICM Chris Mann the chance to go over the item thoroughly and participate more fully in the process. 

3.2 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation

As it happened, the very next item on the agenda was regarding our roads. 

"Roads" came back as a number one concern from residents in a recent survey (which is the usual top concern)

I suggested getting Monte Vista south of the construction area, the areas near Tres Lagos (Catt and Arnett), and Hidden Springs onto the list, too.

Again, keeping in mind how tiny our budgets are for all matters, including roads, we have to take a frugal approach to where the road dollars go. 

If an area with poor streets is currently in the planning department pipeline (albeit slower than molasses in winter), the city will spend its road dollars in other areas. 

3.3 Ordinance to Designate the City of Wildomar Fire Hazard Severity Zones and Adopt the Map of These Areas

Red is very high, Orange is High, and Yellow is moderate.

This map is a joke. My house is in the yellow, one neighbor's is in the orange, and still others are in the gray. 

From the agenda

DISCUSSION: The law does not allow for a local jurisdiction to request changes or provide comments to the State Fire Marshal on the FHSZ designations.

Knowing the above, I wasn't interested in discussing another bit of nonsense pushed out by the state that MUST be adopted.  

Once the presenter was finished, I verified that we had no choices, then moved for approval, saying, "Thank you, Sacramento."

SOAP BOX MINUTE

Please give me an example of life in California getting better when Sacramento passes laws in the last couple of generations.

The more they help, the more difficult life seems to get for the working families.

That's really all I have time to go over for this meeting, but I do suggest that you use this link and check out the video of the meeting. The new format is great. You can click an item, and you'll be brought to that portion of the video. If you've never tried it out before, give it a whirl. 

https://cityofwildomar.granicus.com/player/clip/1215?view_id=1&redirect=true


Tuesday, April 29, 2025

• Special City Council Meeting April 28, 2025

Being that I'm on the city council, and that 99% of the meeting was in closed session where we are not allowed to go over the items discussed or risk be charged with breaking the Brown Act, I'm just going to give you the barest bones bits of news that came from the meeting. 

Below is a minute long video after we came out of closed session.


Below is the transcription from the video of the meeting. Speaking is City Attorney, Tom Jex. 

"The city council met in closed session with respect to the one item on the closed session agenda. The city council took several actions. 

The city council voted for one with Councilmember Morabito voting no to select Chris Mann as the interim City Manager, subject to the preparation and approval of an interim city manager employment and pending successful completion of reference and background checks.

City Council also directed the City Attorney to prepare an interim City Manager Employment Agreement for the May 14th, 2025 City Council meeting. 

Until such time as the Interim City Manager Employment Agreement is approved by the City Council, Janet Morales will remain the acting City Manager. That concludes the report."

Mayor Pro Tem Carlos Marquez and Councilman Joseph Morabito (publisher of Wildomar Rap) were appointed to the subcommittee to meet with prospective Interim City Manager Chris Mann. 

•    •    •

Just in as I was putting this blog together, a press release from the City of Wildomar:



PRESS RELEASE:

Retirement Separation Agreement Reached with Wildomar’s Former City Manager

 

WILDOMAR, CA – The Wildomar City Council and former City Manager Dan York have agreed to

York’s retirement commencing on May 9, 2025. York will receive a severance payment in the

amount of $44,026.66, which is equivalent to 2 months’ of his pay.

 

York has served as City Manager since 2/1/2022. The City Council appreciates York’s service

to the Wildomar community and wishes him a happy retirement.


Wildomar Rap opinion time


Here's all that I'll say about both items in this blog. 

I'm happy with the progress we're making with selecting an interim city manager.

I'm happy with the separation agreement with our former city manager.