• City Council Meeting October 2018

The meeting was light on meaty issues and heavier on presentations and public comments. 

Probably the biggest news item came in the last few moments when it was announced that there will be a special city council meeting dealing with the topic of cannabis on October 24th.

PRESENTATIONS 
1. Elsinore High School Presentation included a video made of a photography field trip and that the percentage of university ready students doubled from 21% ten years ago, to 41% this year.

A fun misunderstanding came when Mr. K mentioned "underwater housing" and Mayor Ben Benoit took it literally... and not as a device for using a camera underwater. See the short video for a bit of levity. ☺

2. Fire Department Quarterly Report didn't include any graphics, but the stats showed 786 calls in the first quarter, 71% were medical and 60% of all calls were handled by station 61. 

A proclamation was given to Battalion Chief Todd Phillips.

L to R: Tim Walker, Dustin Nigg, Todd Phillips, Bridgette Moore, Mayor Ben Benoit and Marsha Swanson is behind the Mayor.

3. Police Department Quarterly Report (postponed)
4. Library Update had Melina Velazquez share that the library had 6000 patrons in September. It's the 200 anniversary of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and that they will showing the 1931 Boris Karloff film, and then The Bride of Frankenstein as part of a double feature (check with the library for details).

She also highlighted that the chess club will be meeting on October 26th, and that there is an adult coloring book club. The library will be hosting an SAT prep class in November.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
   • Connie Nader talked about the library and the desire to see it expanded and that libraries are more than just about books.
   • Ken Mayes talked about The Friends of the Library, voting no on Measure AA, an independent forensic audit of the city, and a "sunshine" ordinance.
   • Rick Harris shared his concerns about a street light that was knocked over, and it took five days to have it cleaned up.
   • Laura Girard represented Sycamore Academy and invited the council to visit the campus for their History Showcase on November 15th. And the new "school zone" that is now at their school.
   • Joseph Lacaio(sp?) discussed big rig parking on Durango Court. (Odd factoid... the property in question is where my mom lived from 1989 to 2003)
   • Miss Miller sang and then endorsed Wildomar City Council candidate Joseph Morabito.

"Mr. Morabito couldn't be more dedicated to the city of Wildomar. He tries every avenue of communication to awaken the city to the activities and problems. Filming the events, and coming to the meetings and talking about places that aren't as clean as they should be [...] so I am going to support him even though he might say some wild things about me, I couldn't have enjoyed the journey more Mr. Morabito."

- Miss Miller

Wildomar Rap opinion time

This campaign for city council has been a real learning experience. 

When I first discussed running I knew that I had to change course from disregarding the feelings of people that I had written about, and I needed to approach the people that got rough treatment at my hands with a sincere mea culpa.

In so doing I've been able to mend fences with many people, not all, but many and have earned a second look and sometimes their backing. That wasn't the intent when I changed course, but I'm happy to have Miss Miller's endorsement. 

Maybe it indicates that I'm not such a bad guy, or that the people are just ready for a change.

The other day I learned that I was endorsed by a key figure from the WIN Committee (the group that spearheaded cityhood), and the Wildomar Historical Society: Gina Castanon.

I haven't asked for any endorsements and I haven't forged any alliances, but when people that are active in the community can look past previous differences and divisions, it makes me sit up and pay attention.

Consent Calendar

1.6 Wildomar Marketplace (51:40 mark of the video)
   • Ken Mayes pointed out flaws in the permitting process that would allow Wildomar Marketplace to hold their craft event at the park.

Wildomar Rap opinion time

Ken made many legitimate points, but there is the letter of the law and the spirit of the law and a good arbiter knows when to apply one or the other. In this case we have a local couple that has taken the idea of a craft fair to heights they didn't anticipate. 

She's been struggling to keep things within the various codes and ordinances but has continued to face stumbling blocks. It appears that the new home of Wildomar Marketplace will be The Elks Lodge, but that won't start until December.

She was contemplating paying any fines and having it at her home, but then the idea of having it at Marna O'Brien park was presented to her and that's where it will be this Saturday from 9am to 2pm. 

There were a couple of issues that had to be overcome. First was that the promoters wanted to have a raffle, something that isn't permitted. There was another technical problem with the permit, needing to have been approved 60 days in advance.

To stay within the rules, the raffle was taken out and the council waved the usual 60 day permit requirement. This is a good event for the city, and I want to thank Councilmember Bridgette Moore for her continuous work trying to get this event to happen and stay within code.

3.1 FY 2018-19 First Quarter Budget Report
This item had no public speakers and only lasted about 4 minutes. (This item starts around the 1:02 mark of the video).

3.2 Community Development Block Grant/Consolidated Plan Briefing
Another short item that took just a couple of minutes, which included a public comment from Ken Mayes about the library. (Jump to the 1:06 mark of the video)

3.3 Professional Services Agreement with Social Work Action Group (SWAG) for Homeless Outreach (1:09 mark of the video)
City Manager Gary Nordquist discussed a three month agreement with SWAG that will cost $6,000. He mentioned wanting to have a longer agreement with them, but funding is an issue. 

Ken Mayes brought up that SWAG isn't "shown" as being registered with the Registry of Charitable Trust. 

Wildomar Rap opinion time

I'm a rules and regs type of person too, and I think that the city has to safeguard against entering into agreements/deals with those that disregard them. 

Thing is, SWAG is in the process, and it's a well known reality that there can be a tremendous lag time between the filing of paperwork, and it finally showing up on a government website. 

Please watch the video which starts at this part of the video to hear the rebuttal to Mr. Mayes' remarks.

City Manager Report
  • State of the City Event on October 17th starting at 5pm.
  • Trunk or Treat at Marna O'Brien Park October 27th.
  • Community photo contest will be coming soon.
  • The election will be on Tuesday, November 6th.
  • Coffee with the Mayor will be Monday, October 15th, 5:30pm at The Bean.
  • Community Clean Up will be November 3rd. Elsinore High School and Ronald Reagan Elementary.
  • Special City Council Meeting regarding Cannabis on October 24th.

Below is a link to the entire meeting.

•                •                •

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.
– T. S. Eliot

Wildomar Rap has gone too far more than once.

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