Congratulations, Chris, or should I say, "Mr. City Manager!"
The only item on the agenda was to ratify the new, four-year contract for Wildomar's 6th City Manager, Chris Mann.
I look forward to working with him even more now that the "interim" restraints have been removed. Let's go get 'em!
There were two votes that were part of the process.
One in closed session, which was reported out as 5-0 to select Chris Mann to be the permanent City Manager.
Joseph Morabito and Chris Mann at the 2025 Temecula State of the City event.
The second vote was regarding the contract, it went 4-1, with Councilman Joseph Morabito (the guy writing this blog) voting not to approve.
My reasoning didn't change from my no vote back in April when Chris was hired on as Interim City Manager.
To respect the process, and the law (the ever-looming Brown Act), I can't get into the particulars of how the contract was cobbled together (closed session restrictions), but I'll sum it up this way while being as nice as I possibly can be...
Five amateurs were dealing with a professional, and in my estimation, it's evident in the final product, i.e., the contract.
Note to self, too many chefs ruin the stew, or is it supposed to be the "pudding"? Key to the cartoon, Joseph Morabito is the odd man out on the left side.
To be fair, the negotiating subcommittee of the Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem, spent a lot of time during this process, and were able to change the first iterations of a contract from something that would have been rejected 5-0, to one that passed 4-1.
For many observers, when both sides of a negotiation don't get what they wanted at the outset, that signifies a good deal.
Key details of the contract: • $281,000 with an automatic COLA based on CPI
• Four Year Deal
• 12 Month Severance, Paid Monthly (hopefully never needed)
• Automobile Allowance: Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) monthly
• Deferred Comp: The City shall annually contribute into the qualified 457 account
in the City Manager’s name the maximum annual contribution, including any age-related
and “catch up” provisions.
The first year is an additional $20,000 (low estimate on my end) and once he reaches age 50 (in two years) an additional $7500 per year is paid by the city.
I can almost hear it now, "Hey Joseph, why are you speaking out of both sides of your mouth here?"
"How can you congratulate the new City Manager and at the same time vote against the contract?"
Easy, two different things can exist at the same time.
Obviously, I'm out of step with the other four-fifths of the council on this.
In my view, the contract is too rich for Wildomar. I saw that back in April, and my opinion didn't change over the Summer.
One argument, a pretty solid one if you're of that mindset, is that a city should hire someone for City Manager who will bring many years of experience, which generally comes with a high dollar payout.
My argument has long been that Wildomar can't compete with larger cities, and it's folly to attempt to. Wildomar can prosper while staying in our own lane. The City of Wildomar is a good place, strike that, a GREAT place to work.
If a prospective employee's career path leans more heavily in the direction of top compensation in their field, that's perfectly fine, but they'd be walking down the wrong lane if they're expecting Wildomar's name to be at the bottom of the check.
If what they value is a slower, more personal pace —the kind our small city offers compared to the 100,000-population-club cities, then Wildomar would be the spot in SWRivCo where they should look.
A N A L O G Y T I M E
Here's Joseph about to wade into dangerous waters.
No, not by talking about verboten negotiation details, I already said that wasn't going to happen... but even worse... POLITICS.
Instead of a baseball analogy, I'm going to use examples from the current crop of national political figures.
We know that there are young up-and-comers in both major political parties, no matter how much you may hate one or both of the options,(stick with me a sec).
In this analogy, I'm going to use JD Vance, or, if you prefer, Pete Buttigieg (don't get bogged down here, lol).
These are considered to be talented people at the younger end of their political careers. For many, the two stand out as all-stars, with many suggesting them for the highest office in the land, though others argue they’re still in the formative years of proving themselves.
I would have preferred we go in that direction, an up-and-comer, because it comes at less of a price tag and at least the same level of work and dedication, as (in my estimation)the candidate would be doubly motivated to show their selection was the right one.
Try this on for size
Imagine if we had snagged Chris Mann for his first City Manager job back in 2019, instead of Canyon Lake, we'd have been getting the up-and-comer, which I believe such commodities still exist, and with the lower price tag I've been pointing to.
He's living proof of such... right?
► If AI can be trusted as a source
Chris Mann's first annual salary as Canyon Lake city manager, starting March 1, 2019, was $165,000.
This was confirmed by the Canyon Lake City Council's approval of his first raise on April 1, 2020, which brought his salary to $165,000
Salary: In May 2022, following a performance evaluation, his annual salary was increased to $200,000. At the time, he was noted as the lowest-paid city manager in Riverside County.
But we're here now, and I'm confident that Wildomar will do well under his tutelage. My lingering reservations were never about his abilities, just the weight of the contract.
Joseph Morabito, the lone ‘no’ vote on the contract, volunteered to swap the nameplate from ‘Interim City Manager’ to ‘City Manager’ and was the first to offer a handshake, symbolizing unity despite his earlier dissent.
Yes, speaking in the third person is lame, but sometimes it just seems to fit better.
Final note:
I caution you to NOT miscontrue the basic points above.
I do not think Wildomar should seek to underpay city employees, just for us to recognize our limitations and work within that rubric. If, by chance, you missed that point, I apologize for any ambiguity.
"City Council provided direction and reached an agreement with the interim city manager for a permanent employment agreement"
After a four hour closed session meeting, the Wildomar City Council came to an agreement to sign Chris Mann to a four year contract.
It will be finalized at a special meeting at 4pm, Friday the 26th.
Look for the contract in the agenda packet, which should be released before the end of the day of September 25th.
The bullet points include a salary of $281,000 for four years with 12 months of severance.
City Attorney Thomas Jex reads the report from the closed session.
Below is the report from the meeting. No votes were taken just an agreement was reached by the council as a body.
"The City Council met in closed session with respect to the items on the closed session agenda, and theCity CouncilProvided direction and reached an agreement with the interim city manager for a permanent employment agreement.
Which will be on a regular meeting City Council agenda on September 26th at 4 p.m.So this meeting will adjourn to a regular adjourned meeting of September 26th2025 at 4 p.mThat concludes the report."
At the top of the meeting was a recognition of US Constitution Week, by Daughters of the American Revolution.
Meeting Recap
Captain Mark Boydd, 26 years as part of RSO.
Now Wildomar's "Chief" of Police, though his rank of Captain remains, and our law enforcement is through the Sheriff's Department, not a police department.
Here's a slide from the Flock Camera update. I'll provide a link to the five-slide presentation here. LINK
Look at the stolen vehicle numbers in this graph (red font). They've gone down year after year since the cameras were installed. Is it a coincidence or are the cameras a deterrent? Something the department is tracking.
1.7 Rejection of Blackseries RV, Inc. Government Act Claim
I've been going to city council meetings since 2013, and this is the first time I remember seeing such a thing on an agenda.
There were two public comments on the item, but other than that, there isn't anything to report beyond what you see here.
From the agenda: DISCUSSION:
Under the Act, most actions seeking money or damages against a public entity, or a public employee acting within the scope of employment in California, must be preceded by a proper administrative claim (Gov. Code, § 905 et seq.) Here, the Claimant filed the Claim with the City alleging that the City improperly converted Claimant’s property (i.e., trailers and forklifts), estimated in the Claim to be valued at approximately $3.78 million.
1.8 Consultation Services for Preparation of a Strategic Plan
Review and comment on a proposed RFP for a strategic plan consultant
This was just to approve a Request For Proposal, but I have serious reservations about going forward with engaging a consultant for these purposes.
To me, this is one of those "wants" over "needs" moments... and at the cost of an estimated $100,000 I can't imagine why we make such a move at this juncture in Wildomar's history.
Maybe if my three-year-old grandson moves to Wildomar and runs for city council, at that time, maybe such an idea would be worth funding.
This was helping streamline the process of park rental issues. An example before the amendments was that the city council had to approve things that are better handled at the staff level.
There was also language amended when it came to parking (leaving cars) at the park. For some reason, the previous language allowed for 144 hours before a car would be cited or towed. Now there are zero hours that a car can be left overnight without prior consent.
3.2 Health Benefit Allotment
In short, as you probably deal with in your own lives, every year the cost of healthcare goes up at rates that typically outpace inflation (that's its own discussion for another day). This is an effort to simplify the yearly process while bringing in some cost savings at the same time.
This will still allow for employees to be fully covered and include options for spouses and dependents.
The idea behind offering a cash-in-lieu option is to disincentivize employees from double-dipping if they're already receiving coverage elsewhere (from their spouse).
So then the question would be, "Do we want to cover the employees or not?" and since the answer is "Yes", instead of having to go through this every year, knowing there's going to be [costs] outpacing inflation, it makes sense to come up with this [idea].
—Joseph Morabito, September 10, 2025
City Manager Report
"On the topic of Tres Lagos, we hear you..."
Please watch the comments from Interim City Manager Chris Mann regarding Tres Lagos.
I asked that we look into anti-loitering ordinances to address the bus stop in front of Tres Lagos.
•
The meeting was closed with a few words by Mayor Ashlee DePhillippo regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
► Mayor Ashlee DePhillippo
Coming into this meeting, these meetings today, I had a lot on my mind, and as many of us today, we're coming into preparing for tonight, learned of the shocking and tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk.
This is not political.
Soon after the announcement of his death, I heard a chorus of definitive bipartisan denouncements of his assassination and the assassination of political violence of any kind.
We would like to join that chorus and emphatically stand against the political violence of all kinds.
We must always protect and preserve ours and others' First Amendment rights, including the right to political speech, which Mr. Kirk dedicated his life to and perhaps ironically lost his life exercising.
Our hearts go out to all who loved Mr. Kirk, to those who witnessed this tragedy, and the pain and suffering that they will endure having witnessed it.
Biggest takeaway: Additional gas stations and car washes no longer permitted in Wildomar.
TOP NEWS FROM THE MEETING
Alexis Perez and Johnny Santos Recognized For Their Acts of Heroism
No More Gas Stations or Car Washes in Wildomar
New Top Lieutenant For Wildomar
Seed Library at the Library
City Council Meetings to Be Livestreamed on YouTube
Restriping of Widomar Trail at the Freeway Inches Closer
Meeting Recap
Honoring residents Alexis Perez and Johnny Santos for their quick actions in helping at the scene of a traffic collision and putting out fires.
Photo courtesy of Cory Gorham
Agenda item 2.1 was passed 4-0 to disallow any new gas stations or car washes anywhere in the city, and limit any new storage facilities to industrial zoned areas.
If it's not already obvious, the barn is Wildomar, the horses are gas stations and car washes, and the farmers are the city council. Joseph Morabito is the little guy near the pony. 😂
Note that several already approved, but unbuilt, gas stations and car washes are in the pipeline.
There is a new "Beyond Gas" that is in the grading phase of development on Clinton Keith at Elizabeth Lane.
The same group had put a pre-application in for a second location on Clinton Keith, at the empty corner on Palomar.
Also, safely out of the barn, are FIVE more car washes, which, if my count is accurate, come with two more gas stations.
For more details, please watch the video. The link will be at the bottom of the blog. Just click on Item 2.1, and you'll be directed to that portion of the meeting.
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Lieutenant Dave Clark is making way for Lieutenant Jeff Reese
I was looking for some pictures to share, but couldn't find any except for the back of their heads from the video of the meeting. lol, not happening.
Jeff Reese has spent many years in our area. He was assigned to the Lake Elsinore Station back in 2017 when he was a new sergeant. He also oversaw the SET team in Wildomar for about two years.
Dave Clark will still be in the area as he's now assigned to Lake Elsinore.
•
Seed Library at the Library
I know that this could easily be overlooked, but what a great asset to the community. Unless you're a farmer looking to plant 50 tomato plants or 20 zucchini plants, you'll end up with a lot of leftover seeds if you buy a package of seeds.
This gives you a chance to buy a package of seeds and then share them with the community, or, just go to the library to see if you can score some free seeds.
There will be many other types of seeds besides vegetable seeds.
•
Wildomar to f.i.n.a.l.l.y. get a free YouTube channel
I was lobbying to have Facebook Livestream also included, but the consensus was to just use YouTube at this point in time.
I anticipate that the September city council meeting will be on YouTube.
I'd been pushing for this since before being elected to the city council. Finally, the excuses for why we were avoiding the world's largest video platform were vanquished!
Thank you, Mr. Interim City Manager. 😁
•
Saving the best for last: Public Works Update
I've included a standalone video (hosted on Wildomar Rap's YouTube channel). I suggest that you play it and listen to the nearly twenty minutes of updates and five plus minutes of questions and comments so that you can get a detailed update of what's happening in our city.
For those of you who prefer bullet points of key projects, here goes:
• Wildomar Trail restriping at the freeway is still on track, but the timeline is said to be 6 to 8 months. I asked if that meant it should be done before next Summer, and the answer was 'yes'.
• Safe left turn from Shell on Bundy at the Sellers traffic signal.
• Palomar widening from Wildomar Trail to north of Gruwell is on schedule and should be completed before the end of the year. Though there will be lane closures from time to time. Plan ahead, and take a different route when that's happening.
• The work at the corner of Monte Vista and Bundy Canyon by Riverside County Flood Control should be finished by the end of the year (November was mentioned).
The street hasn't been repaired yet, though it's now open.
• Traffic signal improvements
Other matters from the meeting
2.3 Adoption of Revised Fire Safety and Prevention Fee Schedule
3.2 Addition of Fire Safety Specialist Position
Wildomar Rap opinion time
I'm sure that these previous two items are very important, even though up to this point in time, mankind has survived just fine without such constant incursions from the State into every facet of our lives.
Just remember, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction... which generally comes in the form of higher costs for everyone.
There was much more at the meeting, so please cue up the video and take a look.
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
Presentation to RSO Captain Jim Rayls
Wildomar To Double Traffic Enforcement
Marna O'Brien Tot Lot Inches Closer To Rubberized Play Surface
Unused Portions of the Existing Cannabis Code Get Amended
Metal Shipping Container Discussion
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 aboutchanging 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.
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