• City Council Meeting August 2017 2.0

I wasn't really sure why there was a need for a second city council meeting in the month of August before the meeting, and after it was concluded, in under an hour, I still can't figure out why the agenda couldn't have been included in the prior or next meeting(s).

At that, I did find a few nuggets of info worth sharing that I gleaned from the meeting.

Public Comments on Non Agenda Items.

On behalf of Wildomar Little League, Mason Ballard presented a plaque of appreciation to the City Council. He and his family are relatively new to Wildomar, but he has shown outstanding levels of alacrity when it comes to The W. 

We need more people like him, and his wife Lisa, stepping up and helping out. In the short video you'll get a feel of his infectious good will as he recites the Little League pledge.

Let's segue to a prediction of the end of the world.

Miss Miller informed us that, according to a youtube video, the world is coming to an end during the month of September... at least that's what I got out of her sermon like comment. 

She also was plugging a demonstration she has planned in Temecula. If you are looking to tap into your inner SJW (Social Justice Warrior), then you'll want to be at Butterfield Square this Saturday night. By the by, she actually walked away from the microphone with 30 seconds left on the clock.

I guess that means she won't be attending the free concert in the park at Marna O'Brien that is slated for the same day and time. D'oh!

If you haven't been on Youtube lately, we have the phenomenal [sic] of the events of Revelations, perhaps culminating September 23rd, 2017. Supposedly the Sun turns black for three hours, the battle of Armageddon as the woman flees into the wilderness begins the tribulation.

I know some of you read the holy book and Revelations, and so the woman in the desert in the prophesy is symbolic of the nations fleeing from the wrath of armed and violent nations, America being the worst.  —Miss Miller, August 30, 2017

Her speech, which had NOTHING to do with the city of Wildomar, went on for another minute but I lost interest after her verbose anti-American barrage (It's an easy bet that Colin Kaepernick is her favorite football player).

I don't like to get religious, because we all have different beliefs, but you opened the door Miss Miller, so I'll walk through it. I was raised with the bible as the center of the family, and I guarantee you that you are NOT Christlike on any level. Give your lame attempts at preaching a rest... or save them for the snakes you've seen "slither from one hole to another hole across the street."  (an actual quote of hers from January 2017, link to blog covering it)

If you'd like to see her dire predictions, as the rest of us did, watch the video below. Always entertaining, and always for the wrong reasons.

Now for something of substance:

The Grand Avenue Multi-Purpose Trail Project is on target to begin in September and be completed by March. The funding for the entire project ($1,080,050.00 was procured through various grants).

Link to March 2016 Blog covering this topic

However, my favorite part of the project, the proposed roundabout at Sheila and Grand, is now on the shelf. Lack of funding is what nixed it. Thing is, now that it's off the table, don't look for it to ever come back to the drawing board.

Who doesn't hate the stop sign that is currently at this intersection?

The only other item of merit that I found interesting is that the State has changed the official term from "Second Unit" to "Accessory Dwelling Unit" (ADU) for something the rest of us call a "Granny Flat" or Casita.

Earlier in the year, the State of California passed a bill aiming to curb unnecessary burdens that local municipalities put in the way of people trying to build such a structure. 

Most of it is laudatory, but the part I couldn't help but get floored by is that the DIF fee (development impact fee) is $12K. 

That's even if the ADU is inside your home. I can picture a lot of people risking a code violation in order to save $12,001 if they're building this within the walls of their home.

I've included the three minute video of Planning Director Matt Bassi's presentation. 

A couple of screen captures stitched together in photoshop.

Business Insider article on the topic of ADU's in California

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Now for an "Oh Geesh" moment

During the consent calendar portion of the meeting, agenda items that generally don't need rehashing, five people pulled items. Most were talking about the Grand Avenue Multi-Purpose Trail that will be coming our way.

They all seemed to favor it, but still wanted to kvetch about apparent imperfections in the plans. In my former life I washed windows and there are few things less fresh than the comedian that comes up from the other side of the glass, points to the window and uncorks the very worn out, "Hey, you missed a spot!"

Yes, the dude was very clever and original with that remark (insert eye roll here)... as were the other five guys that had said it earlier that day. 

Hey, we all can find faults in nearly everything if that was our purpose in life, but what the hell benefit would there be in that course of action? 

Thinking outside of the box... if the goal is to repel people, then it's a terrific plan of attack.

The person that I always enjoy watching as she speaks during public comments is WIN Committee original, Gina Castanon. I can't figure her out. Is she nervous or actually as surly as she comes off?

She is also a prime influence in Wildomar's Historical Society, and when I went to one of their events (the yearly ringing of the bell at Wildomar Elementary in 2016) I was threatened with a lawsuit. LOL... but seriously, I just wanted to buy one of those root beer floats y'all were selling. 

After that, I better understood Stan Smith's nickname for that group: 
The Hysterical Society

I've had a few other encounters with her, and each have been almost as inexplicably negative as that one was. 

Which brings us to the point from the meeting. She got borrowed time, for a total of 6 minutes (points to her for only using four and a fraction of them), to complain about parts of the trail that must narrow to 8 feet in certain spots (also known as pinch points) where there just is no wiggle room.

Lo and behold I have video of the July 2016 Trails Meeting that she alluded to and was able to pull out Tim Walker's quote... so there wouldn't be any confusion as to what he actually said.

The long and the short of it was that a trails subcommittee meeting, that should have taken 30 minutes lasted more than 90 minutes... (what's new, right?).

Nearing the end of a tediously long meeting Tim Walker said, "If it comes down to people suing I'll tell you one thing right now, the city council —at least I will vote— to close some of the trails that are pinch points. If I'm afraid that people are going to sue me on a pinch point [...] I'll vote to close the thing."

Tell me again how that isn't reasonable, and the correct way to take care of the city's interests, if unavoidable litigation is hanging in the balance?

Here's a link to the blog discussing it.

I've made two videos on the topic. 

The first has just the salient parts of the issue. Starting with Castanon's claims that Walker's comments were "inappropriate" at last year's subcommittee meeting, and that he "would rather see the trails closed down and avoid litigation if that's going to be a liability issue" (again, as if that would be a bad move if it came down to it). 

Then Tim Walker's response, and a snippet from Mayor Walker dating back to last Summer's meeting. All a bunch of needlessly wasted time, but the types of nonsense that is the usual board of fare at Wildomar city meetings.

Just in case someone wants to accuse W'Rap of giving misleading reports, the second video includes Gina Castanon's entire comment from last night, Tim Walker's response and a response from City Engineer Dan York without edits. You watch, you decide.

The rumor mill has long had it that she is planning on running for city council next year. Could you even imagine it? 

Our city council has been so boring over the years that I've been attending city meetings that I'd find it to be hilariously awesome if she were to run, and exponentially more so if she were to win.

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What is the future? Isn't the future, after all, the fabric we weave out of the strands of the present? So, if you know all the strands, all the threads, and all the stitches, why isn't it possible to foresee the design? 

– EG Marshall (CBSRMT 1974)

Wildomar Rap reminds you that if you knew the future, such as who was going to run for city council next year, life would be pretty boring.

• Planning Commission Meeting December 2015

There really wasn't much actual business in tonight's meeting. The agenda had a couple items that were approved by the county, before Wildomar became a city, that needed extensions. One being where the old Brown house was (Grand and McVicar) and the other on Monte Vista north of Cornerstone Church.

The red circle is where a traffic light is slated to go in. 

The only thing noteworthy was the public comment by Gina Castanon, a resident that lives in the area. I've uploaded a video to her 6 minute diatribe, so you can see her points as the rest of those in attendance heard them... a handful even applauded.

Where do I start here?

Do I sympathize with Gina Castanon?

A bit. She was here when Wildomar had a population of under 5000 and she's seen 30,000 people move into what used to be a vacant area. Across from her used to be Rancho Fortunado, a place that used to have a practice track for race horses. That property was still up when I moved here in 2001.

It's been gone for well more than ten years now, and had been slated for housing tracts before The Great Recession. It laid fallow until somewhat recently and is now graded and ready for nearly 200 homes. The project that was in question tonight is west of her home, and will have 108 single family homes, on 35 acres, once it gets built.

People tend to exaggerate when they are passionate, and passionate she was. Here are the parts I had to shake my head at.

• 1:15 of the video she reminds the audience that she was part of the incorporation committee (WIN - Wildomar Incorporation Now).

Let me suggest to all of you that still have this high up on your Curriculum Vitae, please feel free to retire it. It's nice and all, but has very little meaning in the real world.

• 1:26 "This is the most rural area of Wildomar."

Ummm... errrr.... again with the worn out "rural" hooey? Really? There? Take a look at the map at the top of this blog and you'll see that this vacant field is actually out of character with the rest of this part of the city. There are rooftops everywhere but there. 

• 2:35 "The other conditions I'm going to put on this project..."

I'll just chalk that one up to nervousness. She can't really think that she's in a position to dictate to others how their already approved project can be... can she?

• 4:30 "If you do go ahead and pass this extension, you better have some conditions on this project that they need to really work with this community. The city can't afford lawsuit after lawsuit because the planning commission doesn't get the job done."

Ouch... sounds kind of threatening to me. 

• 4:50 "Why don't you work with the community, and the concerns we have, and maybe the lawsuits might go away."

Who says that the planning department, the commission or the council isn't "working with the community" here? 

Like it or not, the people that will be living to the south of you, and also to the west, are ALSO members of the community... or will be so, once the Bekins trucks unload them. 

Their voices will be every bit as important as yours is. I truly love hearing the stories from people that have been in Wildomar for a long time, but the length of your tenure here has no value beyond being able to win at Wildomar Trivial Pursuit. 

I've heard it said more than once before, from others that were on the vaunted WIN Committee that forming a city wasn't to prevent growth, but to have a say in how the city grows. 

The response of the applicant begins at the 6:30 mark of the video. His opening sentence is as follows.

Sometimes this city gets sued unfairly. They get sued by a little cadre of people, who I will not name, but it costs many thousands of dollars to resolve these issues. CV Communities resolved these issues in favor of the city and their project. We are now resolving another issue with another woman who sued the city. Specious lawsuit at best, and we've given them two days to dismiss their case. We're through having the city be bullied.

This item passed by a vote of 4-1 with Commissioner Gary Brown dissenting. Once it was settled the applicant's team, about half a dozen professionals, left the council chambers. Not long after they made it out the glass doors Gina Castanon stormed out and a loud exchange could be heard coming from her aimed at the applicants. They wanted no part of it and headed for their cars.

•      •      • 

The other bits on the agenda didn't have any opposition, being that one was another extension request approved 5-0 and the other were some minor changes to another long dormant project that is on the extreme southwest border of Wildomar and Murrieta.

Tonight was also the night that the Planning Commission chose the Chair and Vice Chair for next year. Usually the current vice chair slides over to Chair, but it looks as if Commissioner Dan Bidwell will be relocating next year. So current Chair, Veronica Langworthy, was nominated by Commissioner Stan Smith to keep the Chair for another year and it was seconded by Commissioner Gary Brown.

Gary Brown was tagged for the Vice Chair position.

•      •      • 

The talent for being happy is appreciating and liking what you have, instead of what you don't have.

― Woody Allen

Wildomar Rap tip of the day: if you're one that wants to angle for flies, remember honey is a better bait than is vinegar. Since most of us aren't interested in catching flies in the 21st century let me restate it. If you want something, try sweetness. No one likes to be wooed with lemon juice.

• Planning Commision Highlights: Jan 15, 2014

Just a few highlights from tonight's meeting.

In the opening Public Comments portion of the meeting, Kenny Mayes had an interesting suggestion. He suggested that the city commission a 3-D model of the city so that it would be easier to grasp the various projects that are being brought before the Planning Commission. He suggested that each square foot could represent a square mile. I like the idea, but it goes back to the same old question of money. I'm guessing that if we want something detailed and truly representative of the area, it would cost a bankroll.

With our budget constraints, and the constant need to defend lawsuits,
I doubt we'd be able to afford much more than something like this at this point.

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I don't know what to say about the next part. In short, Martha Bridges interrupted from the audience with a shout of "point of order" in a very stern schoolmarm tone, and then tried to take over the meeting before Chairman Stan Smith got her to take her seat. Then when it was time for public comments on the issue at hand, all she wanted to do was talk about an 85 page letter she wrote. I can't imagine what her point was... If you have 50 seconds of your life you're willing to burn, go check out the video I took of it.

Assistant City Attorney Erica Vega addressed Martha's concerns, and indeed, ALL 85 PAGES, were provided to the three Planning Commissioners. As if having 85 pages was supposed to come with some level of magic or something. 

Instead of wasting 85 pieces of paper times three, city staff printed on both sides of the paper... so only 43 pieces of paper —times three— were wasted... but imagine all that ink down the drain for nothing. All that waste isn't very environmentally friendly when you think about it.

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Gina Castanon had nine minutes and I had to appreciate her passion about the subdivision that will be going in across from where she's lived for longer than many of us have been able to drive. I also respected that she made it clear that she isn't trying to stop the project. She had valid concerns, and it's too bad she left before Dan York got to his part of the meeting where many issues she happened to bring up were addressed. 

The thing I didn't get was when she emphatically said, "You guys better be careful with what you do here!" and then punctuated it with, "You'd better do your due diligence on this project."

After a 3-0 vote to recommend to the council, she left. Perhaps she was scheduled to leave anyway... even though the next item on the agenda was only 1500 feet further up Palomar. 

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City Engineer Dan York gave a great report about various Capital Improvement Programs in the works, and how he's gotten grants to cover the costs. 

Chairman Stan Smith made two points that I want to share. 

First was that he'd like to see the 12 acre parcel in the flood plain, near the creek off of McVicker be used as a passive park for the entire community. 

Dan York confirmed, "Riverside County is amenable to allowing the use of the flood control area for a passive park and recreation."

I was speaking to Dan after the meeting, and it looks like there is a terrific plan in the works, from Temecula to Lake Elsinore. More info will be coming out this Spring on the project.

Second point that Stan made was that he'd like to see public comments be available at the end of the meetings. I agree, seems like a chance for some catchall comments for people that might have thought of something as the meeting transpired.

It also appears that we'll be getting a new Planning Commissioner soon. I look forward to meeting him/her. That leaves one more seat opened. If interested in the position, contact the city by clicking this link.

http://www.cityofwildomar.org/planning-commission-vacancy.asp

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