• City Council Meeting: April 2020

Well, that was a first. The meeting was held through the video meeting app called Zoom. Mayor Dusting Nigg was the only council member in the actual council chambers and the other four of us, and most of the staff, were present by way of two way video.

The view from my monitor.

Considering that there were no presentations, only a couple of public comments on non agenda items, which were read into the record by the Mayor, and it appeared to be a light agenda at first blush... I was surprised how long it lasted. 

TOP NEWS FROM THE MEETING

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• Many commercial restrictions have been relaxed to help our local businesses.
• Discussion of whether to have the Wildomar mayor elected at large, instead of on a yearly rotational basis.
• Joseph Morabito declared his candidacy, and asked his fellow council members to endorse him if the mayor at large option goes forward. 

3.1 FY 2019-20 3rd Quarter Budget Report 
(16:10 mark in the video)
It's far too soon to tell, but my humble prediction is that the fallout from the Covid19 restrictions on business will have a long lasting effect. Not only on local businesses and the employees of such, but on the city's budget too, which relies heavily on sales tax (about a 20% to 25% chunk of it).

3.2 Suspension of Certain Enforcement Activities to Address COVID-19 Crisis
(29:25 mark in the video below)
Some of this made sense, and other parts didn't make sense. I was against this the way it was originally presented. It relaxed many things that, in my opinion, had ZERO to do with the current Covid19 crisis and shouldn't have been attached to it. 

Things like suspending the new guidelines on temporary banners, which also included allowing the developer billboards seen all over town, for developments NOT in Wildomar mind you, to remain up.

There are several such examples of this throughout the city.

 Also, for some inexplicable reason, project site signs (see image for example) were going to be omitted during the self isolation period too.

This sign is 100% more effective in letting the community know about a project that will be coming to the planning commission, or city council, than 1000 emails that get deleted before being opened. These signs only came about a handful of years ago, and have been greatly appreciated. Yes, they cost the applicant money. I heard they're near $500 to have put up, and that could be a hit they take twice if they have multiple meetings, but if the price tag is the problem, looks like we need a new vendor to put them together. 

There is a streamlined way for businesses to put up a temporary banner letting the public know that you're open for business during these Covid19 times. The permits are free so if you need this, contact city hall and take advantage of it. 

Another thing that was thrown in there was suspending the newly enacted rules about storing your RVs/boats/trailers in the street.

If you need to quarantine, and you have an RV, we all get it and wish you well. There will be no restrictions on such things. However, on the other hand, those of you that think the street is an extension of your backyard, and you can park your eyesore anywhere you damn well please... it's on. 

That's still not ok!

Your rights to park your monstrosity end where your driveway ends. Have some respect for others and store it properly... which is NOT in the street, or hanging over into the sidewalk.

A modified version of this item passed 5-0. 

Removed from the original were the developer billboards, project site signs, most temporary banners (especially the ones that have long since faded and turned to threads, but the business owner cares so little that they leave them up anyway), and reined in the time the suspensions were to be in place to that of 30 days after the city's state of emergency is declared over.

Wildomar Rap opinion time

I understand the sentiment in coming up with the suspension of those items, we all feel somewhat helpless and want to show that we're doing everything we can to mitigate the real economic pain that is hitting much of our community, but the measures that were first suggested were NOT things that I agreed with.

I want to point to this item as a model of how things should be done in Sacramento and in DC. 

This item came full of things that I wasn't in favor of. I'd say that is also true for other members of the council too. 

We discussed it, we mulled it over a bit, and we compromised. The final wording isn't 100% the way I would have made it, but the same is true for each member. Give and take, aka "compromise" is the way to get things done. 

3.3 COVID-19 Update
(1:08:20 mark in the video)
This was a rather lengthy item, with updates from several departments. It was all interesting, but if you've been paying attention, you already know most of it. If you haven't been paying attention, they you probably have already stopped reading this far down in the blog. I suggest that you watch the video for the full item.

3.4 Directly Elected At Large Mayor 
(1:48:30 mark in the video below)
This was probably my favorite part. First, this came about from the January meeting's "future agenda items" segment. At that meeting, Mayor Nigg asked that we discuss the merits of an at large mayor, along with city council districts instead of five.

I love discussions and I came prepared with several paragraphs of concerns. You can read them below, or cue up the video for them as I read them at the meeting.

Item 3.4 Directly Elected Mayor at Large

Like with many other topics I see both good things and bad things in this item.

Let’s start with the good. It would allow residents a chance to vote for TWO members of the city council instead of just one.

That is a good thing.

It would also allow for continuity that doesn’t get interrupted year after year by rotating the position, which requires at least weeks, if not months to readjust to.

The negative aspects of this include getting a mayor that is in over their head or, possibly worse, one that becomes headstrong.

Those are things that would have to be endured for four years instead of the remainder of a given year. I believe it would be less likely for a Mayor in a rotational system to start thinking they’re above the council… and if the mayor isn’t really up to snuff, their time in that position would also be limited.

Like most things in our city, this is something that, if pursued, needs to be done reflecting the will of the people.

For me to vote in favor of this, we would need to agree to hold at least one special meeting.

Perhaps a workshop where all five members of the council attend, but being a less formal meeting than a city council meeting where people could freely express their thoughts and views, and ultimately having it end up on the ballot.

As an aside, I won’t be in favor of spending any amount of money on a survey that is looking to divine what the voters might think about it.

A serious concern when it comes to electing a mayor at large is which year will the election be in?

In most cases, we can expect at least one of the candidates for mayor to be a sitting city council member, which would then create issues of fairness to consider.

If It’s in a presidential year, such as this year, that would put council members from districts 2 and 4 at a disadvantage. If it were in an off year, that would put council members from districts 1, 3 and 5 in a bad position if they chose to run for mayor.

I came up with three suggestions to consider.

First, a “resign to run” mandate. If you want to run for mayor, you need to resign your seat first if it isn’t already up at that election, and no running for both mayor and a seat on the council at the same time.

Second option, make it a two year term similar to a member of the state assembly or a member of the US Congress.

Third, Though it would cost more, put the election either in an odd numbered year or make it during the primary instead of the general election.

However, if this does go forward, I’d like to announce my candidacy for Mayor of Wildomar now, and I’m looking for endorsements from my colleagues on the city council… Who can I count on? All of you?

Side note: Though my declaration of running for Wildomar mayor was somewhat tongue in cheek, I was serious. I'll be running for that seat if it gets established.

This wasn't a formal topic requiring a traditional motion, second and vote. This was just to let staff know whether to keep working on it or not. This passed 4-1 with me being the lone no vote.

I'm all in favor of further discussion, but only AFTER the public gets brought into it... and I was against spending any additional money or staff time on it, but I was overruled. 

It was going to be 3-2 to spend up to $10,000 on this, but once it was obviously going to pass, the second "no" vote change to a yes. If you want specifics (like who voted which way) watch the video below. 

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"The right to swing my fist ends where the other man's nose begins."
– Oliver Wendell Holmes (1841-1935)

Wildomar Rap prefers to hang out with people that don't make a habit of swinging their fists about in the first place. Come on Ollie, shake yourself!

This blog was produced for viewing on a desktop or a laptop. Though it's been optimized for smartphones, the formatting can look odd on a smartphone or if you get this delivered through email (such as missing video links). Link to proper format.

• City Council Meeting: January 2020

An interesting meeting. One that I've described as being like Christmas from my standpoint. Many items I've been eager to see taken up, came together. I'll highlight those in the body of the blog.

TOP NEWS FROM THE MEETING

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• $750 awarded to two local non profits
• Temporary Sign Ordinance adopted
• Weed Abatement Program adopted
• $10,000 given to Santa Rosa Plateau for fire restoration
• "Keep It Clean Wildomar" program to address litter in town
• Continued Sidewalk on Mission Trail beginning in February lasting through April

The second order of business was a short presentation where $750 was awarded to SWAG ($500) and Friends of the Library ($250). The money was "won" in a drawing at a December luncheon put on by MHeT (Manufactured Housing Education Trust). 

L-R: Mayor Dustin Nigg, Marsha Swanson, Bridgette Moore, Ben Benoit, Joseph Morabito, Aaron Petroff (SWAG), Connie Nadar (Friends of the Library) and Ashlee DiPhillipo (SWAG).

The meeting started with the annual presentation of acknowledging the previous year's mayor, Marsha Swanson. Followed by a brief presentation by EVMWD where they discussed PFAS (Polyfluoroalkyl Substances). Chemicals that are measured by PPT (Parts Per Trillion).

I asked how long they stay in the environment, and was told that they are considered to be "forever chemicals".

To illustrate PPT, it was suggested that a 1 PPT would be equal to a single drop in a container the size of the Rose Bowl.

2.3 Zoning Ordinance Amendment (Signs) 

(58:00 mark of the video at the bottom of the blog)

Here's the background on this. Without being too self serving, sign blight in Wildomar has long been a bugaboo of mine. 

I pushed for this, and with the help of fellow councilmember Ben Benoit asking for a subcommittee in the middle of 2019, we were able to work with staff to come up with an ordinance that will give the city the proper tools to keep sign blight to a minimum.

If you're asking what do I mean by "sign blight" harken back to what the intersection at Inland Valley and Clinton Keith looked like a few short months ago.

These illegal banners at Inland Valley and Clinton Keith were removed in late 2019.

Our sister city to the north has a few areas that need attention, and this is what it looks like when one sign is allowed to stand. It invites many copycats (see before and after examples below).

As seen near the far entrance to Costco in LE January 2020.

According to Google maps, this is only 11 months earlier.

As seen near the far entrance to Costco in LE Cambern Ave, January 2020.

Signs are like rabbits. This was taken in February 2019.

Wildomar Rap policy update

I've learned a lot the first year on city council when it comes to posting blogs. We have a good group of council members and though we don't always agree, we respect our differences and move on once the item is over.

With that in mind, if I have a disagreement with a council member(s) during a city council meeting, I'll either not mention it in the blog, or I'll not name the council member. 

With the above established, though this was approved 5-0, one member of the council was initially on the fence, and suggested that such an ordinance wasn't very "business friendly". 

If you tend to share that POV, please go back and look at the photos above and tell me if allowing unregulated signs (especially in the public right of way) is something you want or not in Wildomar.

One reason why Wildomar doesn't look like the examples above is because I've personally removed far more signs than I can count (and believe me, I've done a lot of driving throughout SWRiVCo since being elected in 2018, and those are NOT the exception in many areas). 

Without naming specific retail locations, I bet you can think of a location or two where there is sign/banner blight... with so many signs or banners (many of which have long since faded and are torn) that you have no idea what's being advertised. 

The new ordinance will allow temporary banners for special promotions, up to four times a year. If you're interested in the nuts and bolts of the ordinance, please follow this link and jump down to page 529.

This won't take effect for several weeks, and our economic development department will reach out to the businesses that are currently in breach and explain the new rules.

Another key provision in this ordinance deals with developer signs. When the subcommittee first met, I didn't even know that these signs were illegal.

On the Clinton Keith southbound off ramp there were 6 such billboards, all advertising developments in other cities, that just took it upon themselves to put them up. As you drive on the freeway, or other major roadways that lead out of town, you'll see this pattern repeated over and over again... but not for much longer.

This is part of my "Christmas" description where a lot of good things for Wildomar came together at one time (yeah, my letter to Santa this year wasn't one he usually gets). 

3.1 Establish Speed Zones on Mission Trail, Palomar Street, Bundy Canyon Road, and Corydon Street

The point of this was to make it so that we can write speeding tickets. You may be thinking, "If it's a street in the city, and someone is going fast, just right a ticket... what's the big deal? Sheesh!!!" 

If you don't want to lose time and money by getting pulled over, then CHOOSE to travel at the speed limit and don't drive like a dolt.

Great, but we're talking about state rules, and logic doesn't always intersect with Sacramento's version of reality.

3.3 FY 2019-20 Mid-Year Budget Report

This was a big item because it came with nine "Decision Packages." Blue means it was adopted, Orange means it was tabled for now. None were rejected outright.

1) $10,000  Minor SFR Parking Code Update 

2) $75,000 Weed Abatement Program

3) $5,000  Santa Rosa Plateau - Fire restoration Fund 

4) $180,000  Fire Station 61 - New Driveway 

5) $20,000 Fire Station 61 - Septic System Repair/Replacement

6) $80,000 Fire Station 61 - Replace Gate and Fencing 

7) $43,000 City Clerk Department Enhancements 

8) $30,000 Speed Survey Package

9) $34,000 SWAG Enhancement

Here is my thinking on the various decision packages

1) Just like any other place of business, there are often things that are necessary but basically run in the background. This is one of those.

2) Weed abatement has been another of my pet issues. Last year was particularly bad. We had rains that caused a super bloom of poppies in Elsinore, and a super bloom of weeds everywhere else. 

We haven't had the proper mechanism in place to do what other cities routinely do... ticket properties that refuse to knock down their weeds, and if necessary, do the abatement and then bill them. This was Christmas present number two for me. 

3) This item went off the rails a couple of times, but ended up being approved... for double the original asking price.

As much as I really appreciate the Santa Rosa Plateau, I was not in favor of this. 

Once a year we are awarded federal money to distribute to local non profit agencies and last year we had a total of $17,000 (CDGB). But this wasn't CDBG money, it was general fund money.

2019's CDBG money was divided in half to two different groups. HOPE and Assistance League. HOPE aims to feed local people in need, and Assistance League clothes underprivileged school kids with their program "Operation School Bell".

For as terrific as nature education is, and it is —especially up in the Santa Rosa Plateau, I wasn't comfortable with giving them a portion of our tax dollars, even at the modest amount of $5000. 

Santa Rosa Plateau spokeswoman Ginger Grieves gave an impassioned plea for the funds. 

I asked if they've approached other public entities, like the school districts. It was almost like I was on Venus speaking in a distinct Martian dialect. No one seemed to get why I'd ask such a thing, and I was told that such a request would be "inappropriate".

Wildomar Rap opinion time

Obviously I'm still new to elected office, and I still haven't bought in that the school district is somehow better or different than city hall. It's still taxpayer money from the same taxpayers. 

How puzzling, in my opinion, that the city can be asked to dole out money to an entity that isn't even in the city (gateway to the plateau or not), but it would be viewed as "inappropriate" to ask a school district, that is funded by the same residents, and whose kids are the ones that get the lion's share of the benefits in the first place.

I hope I never get so used to the way government is run as to not at least question the above form of logic.

Ginger mentioned that she was approaching the other cities in the area, and also asking them for the same amount.

I asked for a clarification, if the larger cities, with far larger budgets, were being asked for the same figure of $5000. That was confirmed. 

I then asked what they were prepared to give to Wildomar in return. 

Seriously, you want $5000 from our general fund, I think we should have gotten something in return. 

I suggested free hiking for a month. I even suggested making it in August (arguably the hottest, least attractive time of year to hike), but I was told that they didn't control that part of the plateau. 

It was at this time that Mayor Nigg said, "I have my own thoughts with this. I've been contemplating this... and Joseph, I'm probably going to blow your mind right now [...] I'd like to actually increase the amount, from $5000 to $15,000." 

For about five seconds, I thought the Mayor might say, "Sorry, but no." Boy, did I get a wrong number on that one. ☺

You have to watch the video... at that moment I made the international motion of one's mind being blown.
Mayor Pro-Tem Moore suggested $10,000 instead of the Mayor's $15,000. I countered with $2,500 because we're a small city in both population and budget, but knew that I would be the odd man out, and acknowledged that on mic.

The Mayor came back with a quote from Sons of Anarchy, "I accept that."

Wildomar Rap opinion time

This is how government is supposed to go. Not everyone will agree and once an item is voted on, it's time to move on without rancor... especially if one finds themself on short end of the vote (me in this case).

Now if we could only get the higher levels of government to follow suit. (I'm shouting at you Sacramento and DC) 

For the record, I bumped into Ginger Grieves the next day and congratulated her on getting the money, and encouraged her to use the opportunity to guilt the other cities into emulating their little brother city's generosity. ☺

Here is the 15 minute video segment of the Santa Rosa agenda item.
4, 5 and 6) The driveway and the gate were tabled, but I have a feeling they'll be coming back in six months. I simply am not for those items the way they're packaged. 

The driveway is about water runoff after washing the vehicles and they were asked "a couple of times by city code enforcement to not wash the engines."

Thinking outside the box with Wildomar Rap 

What are they using to wash their vehicles with that would be harmful to the environment? I'm talking about in real terms.

It's our fire department and our public works/code enforcement so how about we tell the PW/CE peeps not to worry about them washing the vehicles and seek out other violators. It's not as if any of that runoff actually gets anywhere near the channel, nor is it toxic. 

Seems like a better option than tearing up a driveway that works, that gets NO traffic on it —yes, there is a 50,000 pound vehicle, but it travels at about 2 mph while on the driveway— and spending an estimated $180K to appease the authors of unrealistic legislation up in Sacramento.

When it came to the gate, with their increased staff size it's difficult for them to get all their staff's vehicles behind the gate. Okay, I get that.

So I suggested, that since we're Wildomar (rural and all that... especially where the fire station is) that they don't need an electronic gate. It was said the the mechanism is what is the bulk of the cost, and we know that such a thing will be costly over time with maintenance. 

I further suggested that they could easily operate the gate manually, which was greeted with snickers from one council member, "We're not asking the firefighters to do that."

I don't get it

We're talking about the most fit members of our community, and it seems reasonable to me to ask them to open and close a gate by hand in order to save the taxpayers many tens of thousands of dollars. I'm just weird that way. I'm fiscally conservative, in both rhetoric and practice.

Making sure the septic system is in proper working order is a no-brainer.

7, 8 and 9) Without the proper tools, the job can't be done. These items are needs and didn't require any debate.

•                •                •

From the city manager's report we learned that the Mission Trail sidewalk construction in Sedco, phase 2, will begin in February and last through April depending on rain. 

Keep It Clean Wildomar was introduced, which the city will elaborate on soon. 

Last bit of info was a story related by the mayor that on the first day of our new medic squad's service, they delivered a baby on the freeway at night.

The action in the video below doesn't begin until about nine and a half minutes in.

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In normal situations we can rely on common sense to guide us, but what do we rely on in situations which involve forces we know nothing about?
– EG Marshall (CBSRMT)

Wildomar Rap has heard about these "normal situations" and is looking forward to encountering one at some point.

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• They're Finally Gone!!!

If you've driven by the T-intersection of Clinton Keith and Inland Valley in the past, you've undoubtedly seen some long standing banner blight... but not anymore. 
It's all been removed!

I almost couldn't believe my eyes when I didn't see the banners this morning.

This is another step in the right direction when it comes to cleaning up Wildomar. Yes, there are many other things on the list to get to... but, to quote a friend, Rome wasn't built in a day. ☺

A trip down banner nightmare lane.

There is a new temporary sign ordinance that has been in the works since Summer and soon shall get to the planning commission, and then go to the city council for final approval and fully operational in the first quarter of 2020.

Whether it was the sign fairy, all the noncompliant businesses spontaneously choosing to remove their junk at once, or code enforcement that made this happen; THANK YOU!

If you have a business in Wildomar, and you've put up some illegal signs/banners around town, I suggest that you pull them down voluntarily... unless you really want a visit (or worse) from a member of Wildomar's code enforcement.

HINT

If you planted a sign on property that you don't own, it's illegal. Please save the code enforcement peeps a trip, and self regulate.

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He that is proud of riches is a fool. For if he is exalted above his neighbors because he has more gold, how much inferior is he to a gold mine.
– Jeremy Taylor

Wildomar Rap is the gold mine.

This blog was produced for viewing on a desktop or a laptop. Though it's been optimized for smartphones, the formatting can look odd on a smartphone or if you get this delivered through email (such as missing video links). Link to proper format.