• City Council Meeting September 9, 2015

There were only two pieces of business on the agenda and both were continued to a meeting set for two weeks from today (Sep. 23, 2015). So it turned out to be a very truncated affair.

Still, there were things that were worthy of reporting so let's have at it.

Our fire chief Joel Vela has taken a promotion and will be transferring to Sacramento. We'll learn who our new fire chief is shortly.

From L-R: Bob Cashman, Marsha Swanson, Mayor Ben Benoit, Joel Vela, Mayor Pro-Tem Bridgette Moore, Tim Walker.

Non agenda public comments
• Brent Benson spoke about an ongoing issue with a property adjacent to his on Union St. He wanted to file a formal complaint where abandoned vehicles, junk and other trash has been accumulating since 2008. He also noted constant trespassing on his property, to get to the back of the property in question, something that occurs several times a day, and as late as 1:00am. He'd like to build an additional home on his property, but if nothing is done to clean up the mess, "it will be like living 50 feet from a landfill."

I'm not a fan of such fire and health hazards myself, so I hope that can be taken care of post haste, and then similar code enforcement happen throughout the city too.

• George Cambero, of EVMWD reminded us all that the higher bills will be hitting this month. You'll now see the higher rates and the drought surcharge added in. For those with questions, the number 951-674-3146 was given out for you to call. Also there is a first come first served low income program called the RARE program.

•Sheila Urlaub repeated her concerns about not rushing to fill the empty planning commission seat and wanting the planning commission appointed at large vs. appointed one per council member.

• Kristan Lloyd spoke on behalf of the Wildomar Historical Society. They will be having a membership drive in October, cost is $25 for single $35 family $100 business.

• Ken Mayes warned about reinstalling the wheelchair swing, that he termed "a backyard contraption" at Marna O'Brien park.

• George Taylor spoke about the need to get the already purchased emergency radios up and running as we near the promised El Niño.

Council Communications 
• Bob Cashman announced that after 40 years at his day job, he retired and will now be able to spend more time in Wildomar.

• Bridgette Moore mentioned an El Nino Prep Class that will be at city hall next Tuesday (9-15) at 6:00pm. The free concert in the park this Saturday (9-12)  at Marna O'Brien Park. The following Saturday (9-19) is Astronomy Night at Marna O'Brien Park; Saturday October 3rd will be a movie in the park (The Croods) at Marna O'Brien Park; Saturday October 24th is Trunk or Treat at Marna O'Brien Park.

• Ben Benoit mentioned the ribbon cutting at Pins 'N Pockets. The ribbon cuttings at Natalie's Rascals and Pie Nation. He also showed some pictures on the widescreen displays of his meetings at such places as SCAG (Southern California Associations of Governments), RCTC (Riverside Country Transportation Commission), WRCOG (Western Riverside Council of Governments) and the HERO program.

Other than the alphabet soup stuff, if you're a regular reader of Wildomar Rap you heard about the things on the Mayor's list as they occurred. ☺

2.1 Elm Street Residential Project
This was continued due to a glitch in the agenda packet.

This was covered at the August planning commission meeting. (Here is the write up of that meeting)
No need to go into it at this time since it'll be a topic in the special meeting in two weeks.

There were three public comments, though I expect all three of them to repeat themselves at the full public hearing in two weeks. Bob Cashman chose to add some comments here, tipping his hand in my opinion, that he will be voting against this project in two weeks.

3.1 Wildomar Master Drainage Plan Lateral C-1 Storm Drain Project
This was also postponed due to technical issues in the agenda packet. Since this will be discussed in two weeks, makes since to cover the details then. Though there are issues with a property owner that appears to be making things difficult. This project will help the entire city, but especially those that live from Windsong to past Palomar where water collects during storms and rainy months.

I liked the suggestion by Gina Castanon, to use eminent domain if the property owners in question continue the holdup of the project. She had other questions but was told by the Mayor that "It's in process, we're moving as fast as we can. Look forward to next month."

Which sounded like movement will have taken place by then on this issue. It's also going to be discussed at the special meeting already mentioned above.

City Manager's Report
Gary Nordquist mentioned SB25, which is this year's attempt to get our VLF funds back. A total of $1.9 Million per year that the city is being deprived of by Governor Brown. The bill has passed both houses up in Sacramento, with a reported 100% support from the Assembly and the Senate. Next stop is the governor's desk.

I can dovetail on the SB25 [status]. That bill actually is on the governor's desk as of 4:30 Monday night. He has the next 30 days to sign or veto the bill. I can tell you that Senator Roth has a meeting scheduled tomorrow with the governor. They know (Sacramento big wigs) that our four cities desperately need this money (Wildomar, Eastvale, Menifee and Jurupa Valley) for public safety reasons. 

— Mayor Ben Benoit

Mr. Nordquist is suggesting a letter writing campaign to urge the governor's signing of the bill.

On the VLF funds issue, I'll believe it when the check is cashed... not a moment sooner.

State of the City is Wednesday October 7th. Doors open at 6:00pm and there will be vendors with finger foods. Speech is set to start at 6:30pm. There should be an e-vite in your email shortly if you're signed up with Stay Connected through the city.

Use this link

On the vacant planning commission seat, one person has applied so far. When I heard the person's name I was very pleased that a longtime active member of the city put his name in the hat; John Lloyd. We both agreed that it would be a good dilemma to have additional qualified names in the mix. I tossed out the old baseball adage of you can never have too much pitching. Let's hope there ends up being a dozen names in the mix... but if not, I'm glad for the one that stepped up first.

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My favorite poem is the one that starts 'Thirty days hath September' because it actually tells you something.  ― Groucho Marx

Wildomar Rap can multitask, but can't juggle.

• City Council Meeting January 14, 2015 Recap

Let's go down the agenda.

First up was Wildomar City Attorney Thomas Jex reporting on a new lawsuit against the city and Cornerstone Church.

A group calling themselves "Cornerstone Concerned Area Residents" which if it were a more honest name would be something like "Area Residents That Hate Everything About Cornerstone Church" but what's in a name... right?

The reportable action on that topic was that the City Council unanimously voted to defend the lawsuit. This was another Ray Johnson special, but this time the group is headed by a guy named Jim Filanc.

Interesting that the last time Cornerstone had a proposed project in front of the council, this guy had said, "We want the city to have all the facts on what the impact will be on traffic on Monte Vista," he said. "We don't want to stop them from developing. We just want to make sure they pay their fair share and that it's a condition of the project."

Click here for the full article in the UT.

Well, I guess times have changed since there is a comprehensive EIR and they [Cornerstone] are more than paying "their fair share" for this project.

Presentations

• Ethan Edwards received recognition for his Eagle Scout project. 

Eagle Scout Ethan Edwards with Mayor Ben Benoit.

• We met the outgoing Fire Chief Steve Beech's replacement Joel Vela and Division Chief Geoff Pemberton.

Public Comments
There were seven public speakers tonight. Of note were:

• Kenny Mayes speaking about the need for a Food Truck ordinance and wondering when we will be getting the promised Parks Commission. 
• Miss Miller wanted the council to set aside other work and put their efforts on stopping Chemtrails and Global Warming. 
• Bill Keane (sp?) wanting a stop sign on Wesley at Union to slow down the speeders.
• Kristan Lloyd spoke about the historic significance of The Brown House and wanted it known as Wildomar Heritage Museum from here on out. She also took issue with the word, dilapidated, that the city has used in connection to the Wildomar Heritage Museum.

Just to be fair, the word may not be along the lines of "Cozy" or "Quaint" or "Historic" but a person would be hard pressed to find a more apt word for the current condition of the Wildomar Historic Museum than Dilapidated.

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• Matt Patrick was speaking about speed issues on Via Sarah.
• Judy Gugliemana represented the Wildomar Chamber and some of their coming events.
• Kathy Bundy spoke about a planned Volkswalk on June 6th which is National Trails Day.

2.1 and 2.2 were continued to the February meeting.

3.1 Baxter/Susan GPIP

This was covered in Wildomar Rap last year when it was in front of the planning commission. 

Click here for that blog.

This was one of those, "yes you can ask permission to ask permission" moments again. If I were the developer/landowner I'd seriously think about scrubbing this plan the way they envision it. 

You know you're in trouble when Council Member Tim Walker says, "Miss Miller was right" and Mayor Ben Benoit says, "I'm with Miss Miller here." Referring back to her public comments on the project and the area in general.

My favorite part of her comment was when she blamed all the concrete in the area for a bee sting she recently got in the jugular vein which now requires her to sleep with gloves for the next two weeks. She also saw some lion foot prints near Clinton Keith... then she slammed her papers against the podium and stormed out.

This passed 3-0 with Bob Cashman recusing himself since he lives near the project.

3.2 Gracepoint Church Public Use Permit Extension

They need a two year extension to complete their project due to funding and illness that hit the project manager. It passed 4-0.

3.3 Professional Services Agreement

Dan York was speaking about the Parks Masterplan and Traffic Signals in relation to DIF fees and TUMF fees. It was more sausage making and after my eyes finished glazing over I heard the vote go 4-0 to approve. 

City Manager Report

Gary Nordquist mentioned the coming Walmart public hearing on January 21, 2015 at 6:30pm. A scoping meeting for the Grove Park project this coming Monday at 6:00pm.  

He also gave the final numbers for the Green Waste Cleanup Event. The Marna O'Brien location had 132 signers and went through 16 bins and collected 30 tons at a cost of about $2300 paid to CR&R. On the other side of the freeway, at the La Estrella area, there were 78 signers (no bin count) but the services were donated by Waste Management.

He mentioned how the new Subway on Bundy Canyon is progressing.

City Clerk Debbie Lee thanked the City Staff, the City Council and her "Wildomar Family" for the condolences she received after her mother passed. 

Future Agenda Items

Bridgette Moore wants construction project signs to be addressed. (Example: A sign at the new Subway construction telling passersby what the project is, and projected finish dates).

Bob Cashman wanted Wildomar's historic structures designated or recognized. He's counted 14 such structures. 

Tim Walker wanted to get school test scores for Wildomar specific schools, away from LEUSD.

Ben Benoit Wants an option for various neighborhoods to be able to avoid the Windsong Valley slurry boondoggle when their neighborhoods are scheduled to be re-slurried, by paying additional monies through their HOAs if desired.

Marsha Swanson wasn't at tonight's meeting.

♥

Mayor Ben Benoit adjourned the meeting in honor of Debbie Lee's mother.

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We are men of action. Lies do not become us. 
- Farm Boy Wesley AKA The Dread Pirate Roberts

Wildomar Rap has been accused of not including "vital info" in blogs. I can handle being called a city insider/suck up, but shake yourself. This blog always has the vital info.