The last regularly scheduled city council meeting of 2017 didn't have any surprises, but will be known for having beaten back Stonehenge of Wildomar... I'll highlight that where it came up in the meeting. PRESENTATIONS 1. Holiday Decorating Winners
A montage of the three category winners.
1) Griswold Category: 25011 Cinnabar Court 2) Traditional Category: 35690 Woshka Lane 3) Judge's Recognition: 21504 Coral Rock Lane Plug those addresses into your GPS and be sure to drive by and take a look. There are quite a few spectacular displays throughout Wildomar to be seen this year. Don't miss them.2. Stan Smith Planning Commissioner Plaque It's hard to believe that it's already been four months since all around good guy Stan Smith passed away. The city presented his son, Kevin Smith, with a plaque for recognition of his contributions to the city of Wildomar. 3. Five Year Employee Pin – Matt Bassi Matt Bassi hits a milestone with Wildomar and is presented with a five year pin.
4. Miss City of Wildomar Jessie Taylor spoke to the crowd as Mayor Walker looked on. Her ultimate goal is to compete for Miss America. PUBLIC COMMENTS (non agenda items) • George Taylor spoke about the worsening conditions of Bundy Canyon. That is one horrible road. • Glenn Copple thanked the council on behalf of the youth of Wildomar. • Scott Scharpen (sp?) pastor at Rock Valley church and a ministry called gomobileforlife that offers free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds to women. • Ken Mayes spoke for 6 minutes (with donated time from Martha Bridges). He talked about the dismal condition of the city's current website.
WR Notes:
The website issue has been ongoing for quite awhile.
There is a blog from March of 2016 that quotes Janet Morales as saying they hoped the new website would have been completed last December.
Just like the live streaming, the city website is something that should have been given more importance from the get go. I'm sure there are a ton of reasons why the city's website has been so poorly run over the years, but none that couldn't easily be refuted. Sorry city fellers, but them is the facts.
Much of the second half of Ken's comments were directed at Wildomar Rap... but of course not by name. Normally I'd just ignore this, but this is too fun to let go by the way side. He seemed to take umbrage with my assessment of Kathleen Hamblin's outrageous claims,at the most recent planning commission meeting, that the city was trying to somehow keep the populace in the dark about the inner workings of the city by not live streaming of meetings. Seriously? Do you think that the city council is the yard duty, and that you quoting things to them is supposed to get me sent to time out or something? His quotes and misquotes only proved the original point I made. They bent the truth (commonly known as lying) to make a point. They were called out on it, and then didn't like being exposed. Bummer man.
Part of the accusation was that I'd never even spoken to Kathleen before. Probably not. However, when her new bestie is Martha "Park Slayer" Bridges (sitting side by side and chatting throughout the meeting) connecting the dots is child's play.
Who doesn't love to play dot-to-dot?
Kathleen, if you'd like to talk sometime, let's do it. I'll be at the Breakfast With Santa event this Saturday, and would enjoy saying hello to you. Heck, the city council and many of the staffers will be there too.
More WR Notes:
My favorite part of his diatribe was when he said that Wildomar Rap used "Gestapo tactics". Let's do the math here. I go to city meetings and city events and I write about what I saw... from my perspective. (This has NEVER been a secret) I have a facebook page that allows comments, and I answer nearly all of them. Same for this blog. I allow comments, and I respond to nearly every single one of them. "Gestapo tactics" is childish, and typical of what a worn out intellect comes up with when faced with a different point of view.
• Kathleen Hamblin talked about the need for live streaming of city meetings. • Mason Ballard showed off his festive sports coat and talked about his wife Lisa being elevated to president of Wildomar Little League. • Miss Miller sang for the council before getting into a diatribe against Christmas. I actually agree with many of her points about it. Her part starts at the 15 minute mark of the video. 3.1 Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez Update on State Issues I've included the video of the good assemblywoman for those that would like to hear her assessment of things at the state level. There were about 2000 bills signed into law this year. As a non partisan myself, that has plenty of reasons to strongly dislike BOTH parties (especially the further out on the fringes one travels) I was stunned once I heard about Bill AB 1448 (Elderly Parole Program). It will allow convicted felons, that are at least 60 years old and have served 25 years, to be up for early release, no matter what crime it was that they committed. This is what happens when we have one party rule for decades... Hey Liberal, are you really that enamored with convicted felons that you want them running around the community instead of behind bars? Shameful! 3.4 Temporary Storage of Brown House Cornerstones at Marna O’Brien
Park Here's the skinny on this. The Wildomar Historical Society wanted to store some old stones (purported to have been from a local quarry) at Marna O'Brien park. City Manager dubbed the collection of stones as "Stonehenge". The moniker was picked up by both Mayor Walker and Councilmember Nigg during the discussion. The area selected is across from the wheelchair swing (also known as the Freedom Swing). It seemed like a slam dunk, until the council started discussing it. It also didn't help their cause (WHS- Wildomar Historical Society) to be a complete no show at the meeting. This item, like many other agenda items dealing with the Brown Houseover the years, took FAR TOO LONG, but ended up getting voted down anyway. At first it appeared that it would get tabled until more information came in, but the Mayor made a good point when he said, "Let me ask you this, who want's it in the park?" Marsha Swanson said, "I just think what we're seeing there is not pretty. If there's something they (WHS) really want there, they could show us how they could put it together there and what kind of plaque they're going to put up [...] or take them somewhere else." Dustin Nigg made the motion to deny, but that led to more discussion. Which led back to the Mayor's first point about wanting it in the park or not. It was a 5-0 vote to deny. I don't understand why members of the Wildomar Historical Society don't just have them moved to one, or more, of their own rural properties. It made no sense to have a temporary pile of rocks at the park, even if the WHS was paying liability insurance on them. As the discussion mentioned, "temporary" in connection to the Brown House can become a decade in a blink of an eye. 3.5 Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem 2018 This was a quick item. Mayor Walker nominated Mayor Pro-Tem Ben Benoit for mayor and was voted in 5-0. I was surprised when Dustin Nigg then nominated Marsha Swanson to be Mayor Pro-Tem... all along I anticipated that spot to be going to him. My guess is that it'll be his (if he wants it) this time next year. 2018 being an election year, makes me think that Marsha Swanson will be running again since she took the mantle of Pro-Tem here. Just a guess, but can see it coming to fruition.
• • •
Don't be so humble - you are not that great. – Golda Meir The conundrum continues since Wildomar Rapis neither humble nor great.
A very short Planning Commission meeting which only had a couple of real bits of business to attend to: extending the time for two approved projects and electing new commission officers. I can't believe it's already been three years since I blogged about Rancon's 11.62 acre, 13 parcel, 96,240sf medical, office and retail project located at the southwest corner of Clinton Keith Road and Elizabeth Lane. They asked for, and received, an additional year for their project. Don't be surprised if this happens again next year too.
What's the hold up fellas? It's been three years, and the economy is doing fine and can't be used as an excuse for foot dragging here. I sure would like to see that area developed, but if they're not in a rush, why should the rest of us be? It's their money. There was a second such EOT (Extension of Time) for an already approved project. The Oak Springs Ranch residential project consists of about 312 apartment units (already built & occupied), 103 single family lots (currently undeveloped) and an open space lot for trail and drainage purposes. This time extension request represents the first of 5 possible time extensions. The tract map was first approved by Riverside County Board of Supervisors on November 20, 2007 for the subdivision of approximately 48.5 into 106 parcels. I can't imagine what these people are waiting for... another downturn in the economy or something?
For reference, the orange star is where city hall is.
With the passing of Commissioner Stan Smith last month, that opened the Chairman's seat. It was a natural choice to select Vice-Chair John Lloyd. He was nominated by Commissioner Kim Strong, and his nomination was seconded by Michele Thomas. He was elected by a 4-0 vote. The Vice Chair was a unanimous choice for Michele Thomas. Her nomination was made by Kim Strong and seconded by Veronica Langworthy. John Lloyd was quoted as saying, "I for one would like to thank you for voting me in, but I'm kind of worried because I have big shoes to fill here. Stan will definitely be missed." The meeting was adjourned in memory of former PC Chairman Stan Smith. (It was also heard that Mayor Pro-Tem Ben Benoit will likely appoint a new planning commissioner at the next city council meeting.)
Next planning commission meeting is set for October 4th.
• • •
If only, when we hear old age coming, we could bar the way and shout, "The one you seek is absent. Call another day." Old age must come to everyone. Old age is, afterall, a part of the grand design for life. So, why do we fight it? It's a battle no human being has ever won. – E.G. Marshall (CBSRMT) Wildomar Rap welcomes old age... the older and prunier the better.
The morning of Saturday, August 19th, 2017 was picture perfect with unseasonably moderate temperatures for the middle of Summer in the IE. It also was the day that family and friends of Stan Smith, about 150 people, said their goodbyes to him.
Wildomar's Cornerstone Community Church hosted the viewing, service and reception. It began with a couple of songs accompanied by acoustic guitar.
One of several tables in the foyer that displayed remembrances of Stan.
There were three eulogies First by longtime friend of Stan Smith, Rick Estes. Below are some highlights.
• He was my first boss. [...] In those days we didn't have so much formal education [In the real estate business], it had to be done by learning on the job. So he would correct my contracts, he would correct everybody's contracts in the office, he was the general manager. He'd take us out, and if necessary show us how to do the things that you do when you're selling land. He taught by example, so I learned how to locate corners and fill out a contract properly, and find flood plains [...] but more important than anything else he taught me, by example, the integrity that is necessary to sell. The honesty. When you told somebody something, it was your word, that was the end of it. The paper was important, but it was your word that was most important thing. • Stan was a 'people oriented person'. He never talked about money or commissions, it was people that mattered. That was consistent through his entire life. • I think it's probably pretty obvious by the crowd you see here, the family that is involved. He was very proud of his sons and his grand kids. As they were growing he would talk about them, brag on them like dads/grandpas are supposed to. If you wanted to get Stan going, to get him talking, wanted to spend some time... ask him about how his grand kids are doing and out would come his telephone and you'd get a chance to see and hear what was [what]. • Stan was involved in the planning of [the city of] Wildomar, the community of Wildomar. I can't tell you all the organizations he was involved in. Obviously he was involved in the Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Realtors, he was involved in the Southwest Area Plan, and it goes on and on. Some don't know that he was actually involved, back around '75, when we were lobbying for the off ramp at Baxter because Caltrans didn't have that in the plan. So it goes right back to the very beginning, the Baxter off ramp and how it goes down to the center of Wildomar, was part of his doing. • Stan got me involved in the WIN committee, he recruited me. I came to the first meeting at his request. One of the things about him in the WIN committee was such a source of detailed knowledge, he had an ability to remember details. If you needed to know almost anything, he was there. He knew all the boundaries of the old land grants. He knew the streets, he knew the subdivisions, and it went on and on and on. I don't think it would be possible for the city of Wildomar to be incorporated without Stan's help.
• The picture you see up here, the picture you saw on the flyer, is the same Stan, the same smile that he had 42 years ago when I met him.
A memorial resolution from the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.
Mayor Pro-Tem Ben Benoit spoke for about five minutes about Stan. Selected highlights below.
• For those of you that don't know me, I'm Ben Benoit Mayor Pro-Tem for the city of Wildomar. I wouldn't be in that position today if it wasn't for Stan. When I met Stan I had just been talked into running for city council by Scott Farnam, and Scott told me "There's someone you've got to meet right away." It only took me a few minutes to realize that everything I needed to know I could learn from Stan. • Just like Rick [Estes] said, there wasn't a map at city hall, there's not a map in this community, and there's not a map in the communities around us that Stan didn't know what was there, why it was there, how it got there. And I'm not [just] talking about the current place, but [what] was there before it, and before that. • As I look around this room of the great friends of Stan, I'm envious. I'm envious that all of you have had decades with him, as I only had one decade with him. That decade was filled with so many smiles, so many helpful moments. • Matt Bassi, our planning director, (after he was first hired) came to me and said, "Ben, I just had lunch with Stan, the planning commissioner, and I now understand the layout, the plan, the organization, every detail of our city's general plan." So we can keep calling it "the general plan", which is the plan that our city goes by when we look at development in our city, but to me, it's "Stan's plan" and it's a wonderful plan. • When I got on city council in 2010 I asked for applications for planning commission, and I was so honored when he put his application in. I was so happy to make him my planning commissioner. • Thank you Stan. Thank you for all your hard work in the community, the communities around us, and thank you for giving us all the great plans to go forward with. • To Stan's family, there wasn't a time that I could be with him where I couldn't hear all the wonderful things about all of you. He loved all of you so much. Thank you for letting us have our time with him, and thank you for all the time you were able to support him [allowing] him to go out into the community, because we know that it takes a lot of good family time to do that. Thank you.
The flag draped coffin sat at the front of the stage as Ben Benoit delivered some heartfelt words.
For the next 8 minutes there was a charming slide show that had photos of Stan from his earliest years, right through his last birthday party. I'll post the pics I took of his 78th birthday here.
Stan shakes hands with Michael Sheehan as he accepts the anchor clock birthday gift from the VFW. Looking on is Bridgette Moore (standing on the left) and Tim Walker (standing on the right).
Stan showing off his new clock.
Stan enjoys the moment with his granddaughters.
Kevin Smith regales the crowd with stories of his dad.
Marsha Swanson talking about how many years she'd known Stan.
Members of the WIN committee in attendance: Rick Estes, Bob Cashman, Stan Smith, Geri Stevenson, Tim Underdown and Bridgette Moore.
Joseph Morabito poses with the birthday boy. (Can there be a higher privilege than having the guest of honor give you rabbit ears?)
Staff pastor Tyler Moore gave an uplifting talk that weaved together stories about Stan regarding his family, friends and involvement in the community and some scriptures too over the course of fifteen minutes. The entire address was well crafted, and it was difficult to choose which passages were to be shared. Below are just a few of the gems I paid special attention too.
• I listened to Kevin [Smith] as he told me about his father, as Kevin told me about Stan the man, the oldest of seven children, growing up, working before school and after school in the orange groves. Growing up with a mindset, a mentality that there's always something to be done. A work ethic that served him well, especially in the navy. • Kevin told me of a fierce love that Stan had for his wife. A love that would wait during his times serving our country. A love that would not only span those short years, but a love that would span the entire test of time —forty-six years, married to the love of his life. • Kevin told me about the love his father had for his boys, a love that wouldn't spoil his two boys rotten but a deeper love. A love that would teach them discipline and the blessing of hard work. The love of a father that would not spare his children, but would cultivate that hard work in him and [his brother] Mark throughout their development. • I want to encourage you today, whatever lesson, whatever value, whatever ethic, whatever principle, [however] Stan impacted your life; I want to encourage you today — don't let it end here, don't let it end now. Take it with you out those doors. Share it with others. Demonstrate it. Live it out. The lessons, the memories, the love from Stan, share it with your friends and your family as well.
The service was concluded by the singing of Amazing Grace by the same duo that had sung at the opening of the service. Afterward his family escorted the coffin through the hall to the hearse that was taking him to his final resting place, the Riverside National Cemetery.
Personal note
I don't know how it happened, but I became friends with Stan Smith sometime over last three plus years. I can come off as aloof, but his friendly nature blasted right through that facade.
I first saw him in action in 2013 when I went to my first planning commission meeting. I remember wanting him to be more forceful with the gavel at times, but that wasn't his way. He was always more than willing to hear all sides of the issue, even the rude people that couldn't care less about decency and decorum.
I had the opportunity to have a one on one breakfast with him a couple of years back at OMG (Old Market Grill). It was one of those meetings that you hoped could continue well beyond the appointed time. Quite the story teller he was.
He also entrusted me with some historic photos of Wildomar. He allowed me to scan them in before returning them.
Wildomar Elementary: Class of 1928. David A. Bown is standing, top row on the right.
I used to see him at the Wildomar Chamber monthly breakfasts. More than a couple times he would come over and sit at the same table I was at.
I remember more than one bus trip to Harrah's that we both were on. The first one was a couple of years back. I just remember that he and Gary Brown were joking with my wife Grace the whole ride home... while I was taking a hops driven siesta.
An example of his sense of humor. He delivered the above with a perfect straight-man look on his face.
The 2017 Harrah's bus ride had us changing our usual eating plans. In the past we'd headed straight for the Mexican restaurant, but this time we went to the buffet. As it turned out, veterans could eat free that day, and that covered a friend too.
With some quick calculating by Bridgette Moore, we paired up all the vets with non vets and we all ate for free. That night I was Stan's date, though we sat at different tables.☺
Grace and I would see him at park events, where he'd often be with his granddaughters. Even though they weren't little, they'd be there for the movies in the park.
I also had the opportunity to meet him over at the VFW, usually for their renowned steak nights. The last time was just a couple of months ago, and though my wife wasn't feeling well that night, she suggested I take Stan up on his invitation.
It was Stan, Cheri and Rod Zamora and me. Not the usual crowd, but a great evening just the same. That occurred a couple of months before he was diagnosed with cancer. At that time, he was hoping to qualify for a knee replacement surgery. Life throws curve balls and who knew that would be the last steak night I'd be able to hang out with him.
The last time I saw him was at the Riverside Kaiser hospital about a week before he passed away. All things considered, he looked pretty good that day, and was up to his usual gregarious self. We didn't stay too long, but I'm glad I had a chance to give him a hug before saying goodbye.
Below is a brief video of Stan leading the planning commission meeting in the pledge of allegiance.
• • •
“Immortality is to live your life doing good things, and leaving your mark behind.” —Brandon Lee (1965-1993)
Wildomar Rap isn't concerned with immortality, or leaving a mark behind, but does enjoy doing good things when the opportunity arises. Goodbye dear friend Stan, you'll truly be missed and will continue to serve as a role model, even in your absence.
The meeting started with a moment of silence for planning commissioner Stan Smith who had passed away the evening before.
Wildomar City Council honoring the memory of Stan Smith before the meeting got underway.
The room was filled, it was a packed house, but not all the chairs were filled, and there certainly wasn't any overflow crowd of hundreds that was promised and prepared for. There were three comments on non agenda items. • Ken Mayes has attacked the character of Stan Smith multiple times (though never with the courage of his convictions by using the man's name), and did so again during his three minutes. This cretin has no shame, no dignity and isn't worth more time than that. • Sheila Urlaub spoke about dirt that is still on Lemon St that washed up there during the rainy season. She added that she "was shocked that anyone would take any kind of a dig at any community member who gave as much to the community as [Stan Smith]", she said that was "just disrespectful". • Miss Miller did what Miss Miller does best... she was Miss Miller. She was talking about the state of California passing "an aggressive climate change bill" and then bemoaned "anyone that depends of fossil fuels for transportation." I guess brooms don't use fossil fuels, so she's in the clear. She blamed climate change on developers, and pointed out developer Bill Lo by name... which she nicknamed Bill "Lou".
Though this meeting was primarily about the Camelia Townhouse Project, I'm going to add the video of her commentary here. It's as entertaining as it is convoluted —sorry, no singing in this one. It's apparent, by each and every comment she makes, that she's nothing more than a misanthrope.
The first order of business was Mayor Tim Walker cautioning the crowd. "As Mayor I have the authority, if people are unruly, we can ask you to leave. We don't want to ever do that [...] but we need to make it civil. We're still all people who live in this valley, and we're all Americans."
It never got out of hand, though the peanut gallery was in full force throughout the meeting... to the point that they (the Murrieta residents) basically jeered Alan Long, their own council member that came and spoke at the meeting.
I noted two reasons why things stayed within the lines. First, the council isn't the planning commission, and weren't intimidated. Second, and probably more weighty, were the two uniformed deputies, along with the Chief of Wildomar police standing near the door. Not to mention the local Rotary president there too, that looked like he might be a government agent. ☺
Let me sum up the meeting here, then break it down afterward.
Bill Lo, the developer, came in with even more concessions than before, and even included a visual screen (75% opaque) that would stay up until the trees fully grew in (the comparison was to a screen at a driving range).
Before the night was over, he even agreed to pay for a signal light out of his own pocket, a non reimbursable hit of $250K.
Even after all his effort to find middle ground with those of Grizzly Ridge, it all fell upon deaf ears. The opposition were (and still are) well past obstinate. None of their comments, save the first one, which was by their lawyer, even acknowledged the changes.
They just read from their prepared scripts and repeated the same tired lies they'd been bleating for the past few months. It was pathetic. One woman, that made a fool of herself the last time, outdid herself here. Out of courtesy to her grandchildren, I won't point her out... if you watch the video of the public comments you can decide for yourself which one I'm talking about... you'll know which one I'm referring to by the uncontrollable laughter her statements engender.
Then Larry Markham, spokesman for Bill Lo came back and answered the various questions raised.
Oh, I forgot to mention that my prediction from the last blog, that someone would do a document dump, came true. It was the old Bridges and Burkette team, I guess they thought they'd lend their wisdom (cough) to the process.
Thankfully, the developer didn't blink and asked for the meeting to go forward... though, let's be real... this is going to end up with greenbacks being exchanged somewhere to call off the dogs before it's over. Then the council started their discussion. After enduring both Councilmembers Marsha Swanson and Dustin Nigg being disrespected by the audience, Mayor Pro-Tem Ben Benoit basically laid them all out for their disrespectfulness. It was well overdue and appreciated by many in attendance. From there, after discussion and debunking more of the disinformation involved in the matter, the council voted in favor of the project.
A glimpse at what the development will be paying out.
The video of the developer's presentations is about twenty minutes long if you'd like to watch and hear how it transpired in real time. I'll mark out the highlights below.
Barbecue areas removed as requested by the opposition.
Increased the setback to a minimum of 50 feet.
Green wall to be on a raised grade of 2 feet, and the block wall will be 8 feet instead of 6 feet. Which equals a 10 foot visual buffer along the entire south property line.
Very first construction item will be a visual screen where it affects the south property owners, about 15 feet high. Similar to a driving range screen that is 75% opaque. Which would remain in place until the trees grew into an adequate canopy.
Install an acoustic blanket to reduce construction noise.
Construct buildings 1 through 10 last as to maximize the screening from the landscape.
Improve Jefferson/Palomar (on their side of the project) from the project out to the culvert to the north which would be widened to its ultimate width.
There are forty-two minutes worth of public comments. Take a look at them if you'd like. The people from Murrieta did what they've done from the start, summed up in one word: NIMBY.
Then there were the Wildomar cranks. I'll discuss them later on... suffice to say, they didn't disappoint. Especially when Trudy Curry repeated her anger with being excluded from a private meeting with residents from a housing tract that she's miles away from. Even my ego isn't that big.
The one comment I'd like to highlight was from longtime Wildomar resident, Rick Estes. He wanted to remind the audience that "there are alternatives to this project... If you were to turn it down, it would be forced to go into some other direction, it could certainly be worse, I suppose that in theory it could be better, but I mean you may have to live with something totally different. [...] What are the alternatives? Because the alternatives are not keeping it rural [either]. I just want to make that point, because I think it needs to be said."
After the public was done speaking, and there was a brief intermission of just a few minutes so that the developer could discuss the Bridges/Burkette letter, Larry Markham came back to answer any questions that arose.
Addressing a comment from the last speaker: This is not a high density apartment project. We are slightly over 6 units to the acre (where 5 to 8 are allowed). It's the lowest density range that is allowed in the general plan.
Addressing concerns about bus service and bike lanes: There is a bike trail and trail system that has been worked out between the three developments in play. To the best of his knowledge RTA hasn't requested a stop.
Responding to Gary Andre's comment about entry monuments: There are entry monuments at both entries.
Responding to comparisons to the apartments going in on Mission Trail in Lake Elsinore: That is a subsidized "affordable housing" project. Camelia is not an affordable housing project. It's a for sale project. "I'm not really sure how to compare the two."
"Miss Miller's contention that somehow this hillside is in the floodplain, I'm not really sure how that would work. We are not in a floodplain, I can guarantee you that."
"Looking at the CEQA letter that was submitted by Miss Bridges, we feel very comfortable that all the issues, in consultation with Mr. Stark who prepared the environmental document, Mr. Bassi, Mr. Jex and my applicant, that we are comfortable with moving forward."
Addressing Miss Miller's concerns regarding archaeological studies, he made it clear that all such studies have been done (there was a 110 page report in the agenda packet dealing with this).
Councilmember Moore asked, "[After your individual meetings] was the feeling that the residents were ok [with the project]?" At this the crowd got vocal before Mr. Markham said, "There's no question, the residents next door have basically said, I mean, several even said, they'd prefer the no project alternative; nothing be built. There're others that say, "Well, we would prefer a single family residential project.""
The last part of the meeting was the council discussion and vote. I'll highlight the various council member's key comments. I'm not going to go chronologically, but lump all the pertinent comments, each member made, in their own highlighted content box. Let's start with Councilmember Swanson. She's always steady as a rock and backed with decades of local hand's-on experience.
Marsha Swanson
• I keep hearing "rural" and "we want to keep it rural" and "our general plan really isn't our plan." The general plan has been the plan since the city became a city. Bridgette and I were at the visioning meeting in 2008.
I don't know were everybody was six months ago, we had visioning meeting right here, and we do have a vision statement: The city of Wildomar will be a safe, active community, responsibly grown, with quailty infrastructure, while keeping a hometown feel. I don't think there's one person on this council that doesn't want to live in a rural area.
• I moved here forty-three years ago, and we built our house on a hill, that's a nice place to build, on six acres. There was nobody around us, but I looked right into the backyard of the closest home and it was a black angus ranch, and he had a pond. It's all gone. It's [the development known as] Windmill now.
• I don't even think there is a date of when they're going to be built. Mr. Lo is trying to entitle this property right now. And when he entitles it these conditions will go with the property to whoever buys it. • In a condo, they only own the airspace within their unit. They have an HOA that will keep the grounds up, will keep the roof up, will keep it painted. There will be no junk in the yards, because there are no yards. You won't have to look at any of that. Single family residences can have six cars in the backyard, they can do whatever until code enforcement repeatedly and repeatedly goes to make those things go away. The condos you're going to have [next to you] will have the outsides totally maintained. And there is a demand in Wildomar for that kind of living.
One really has to love Councilmember Nigg's approach to the job and his dedication to it. I bet it's a wee bit more than he was expecting, but I'm glad to see that his sense of humor is still there... and so will you if you watch the video. ☺
Dustin Nigg
• I told Michele [Thomas], my planning commissioner, months ago when this was brought up, "that I think it's incumbent upon us, as a city, to be good neighbors to Murrieta. I think there is a middle ground that we can all come to."
I didn't know what the answer was, I told her "that was part of her job" to try and get us there, and I really do think that the middle ground has been met. Actually, I think we're past the middle ground. Now I think we're like at the 70 yard line with the developer making the concessions.
• I was at a friend's house a month ago; a one story home. I walked into their backyard, [they have a] six foot fence and there are two story homes all around them, with windows. They're still people.
Regardless if you live in a townhouse or a house it's still people that have windows that can look into your backyard. I don't know what everyone's doing in their backyards that...(laughter from the audience and the council)... I get it, pull a Trump, build a bigger wall. (more smiles and laughter)
• I took pictures. You've got to be kidding me [I thought]. This is actually worse [than Camelia]. They're butted up against each other.
(Motioning to the Grizzly Ridge group) You're looking at 50 feet away with a big mesh net, and 8 foot wall, a bunch of trees that are being planted - that are already grown essentially, triangulated so you can't see anything.
On top of that you have frosted windows. So, to me, the whole privacy thing is out the window. Well, not out the window, drastically mitigated. (then responding to something) It's behind the window. (to which more laughter was heard. How can you not love this guy?☺)
• (This was a fun comment that is best watched in context on the video) I'm a reservist in the Marine Corps. I have to be on base Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The more rank you pick up, the more stuff you have to do during the month on your own time; it's a service to your country, to your Marines, training them —all that— so they can fight and kill people. I look at city council the same way. It's a service to the community, we don't kill anybody, but uh... (to which the crowd and council gave a good chuckle at)
To me, the following was the take away part of the meeting. Outside of all the disinformation that had been dealt with, Ben Benoit's comments were what has been needed to be heard for the longest time from dais.
He basically laid out the audience, and those that have been spreading vicious rumors on social media sites. I'll cull my favorite quotes, but it's well worth your couple of minutes to listen to them as they were said in the video below.
Ben Benoit
• I'm absolutely disgusted with the people that come into this room and decide to boo and yell back at the council members here as we try and deliberate the problem that's in front of us. It's rude, [...] and I would never even dream of going into any building and doing that, other than to just say, "I'm going to stick it in your eye," and I just don't understand that. I've taken the time to go out in this community, I was tramping out in the hills up there today, looking this project over, yet all I hear is disrespect from the group that's asking us, of something.
• The point of tonight is that we go and we deliberate up here, and we look at what is best for our entire community. Not just one neighborhood. Not just one area. Not just one family.
• I find it also very offensive when I find things in my mailbox that say things like, "Your city council doesn't know what the zoning map means." I know exactly what the zoning map means, and to find that in my mailbox —is pretty untrue, and it's also very offensive.
• When I look at this project, and see that it fits within our general plan, and I look at all the concessions that Bill Lo and his team have done, and all the hard work they've put into it, I take offense when people come in here and do nothing but boo and chatter and get upset that you think we're, somehow, taking money for all this.
It's just offensive, and comments like that were made about our planning commissioners, and directed directly at Stan Smith, my planning commissioner, who passed away last night.
Councilmember Moore brought several important points to the conversation, while delivering them emphatically where needed. Her steadfastness is what got the final concession, at the last possible point before the vote, when developer Bill Lo agreed to put in the traffic light.
Bridgette Moore
• When I was [driving south] on Jefferson, and then it forces you to make a left onto Grizzly Ridge, to me it seems like that would be a cut-through. Residents who are [traveling] on Jefferson, now cut through Grizzly Ridge, it's a downhill slope, and then they get out to Washington —which turns into Palomar. Having Jefferson go through, to me, seemed like that would actually make Grizzly Ridge safer because you wouldn't have that cut-through. • I'd actually like to have a signal. Just a couple of months ago we were reviewing a project on Bundy Canyon that also didn't have a signal.
No one's ever had to stop there, so that's already going to be a big change; residents having to stop. Then to have a three way stop come in, I can picture the back up, especially when Sycamore gets out, to be very long. Even though it doesn't warrant a signal, I think a signal's needed.
• (Looking at the general plan land use map that is on the wall in the chamber) The general map is on the left hand side, and if you look at it, it's primarily yellow and green. That is medium density [yellow] and mountainous green, that will stay that way. If you look at that map, it's about 80% yellow and green. We are rural. We're only talking about this little triangle (where Camelia is located) at the very end that is medium high density. That has been that way since —even the city council member from the city of Murrieta says— since 1989. We are not changing any rural. We're not.
• The zoning map [designation] R-R was a holding [designation]. If you say, "Well, spend the money and change the zoning map [to match the general plan land use map]" well look what happens.
If we change the zoning map, spent the money, and they matched. We wouldn't really have anything to discuss tonight. This gives us a voice.
[Had the zone already been changed to match the general plan] the project could have built ten feet from the property line. That would have been the law, and that's what they would have put in.
You wouldn't have gotten [increased] setbacks, you wouldn't have gotten frosted windows, you wouldn't have gotten mesh screens, you wouldn't have gotten any of that.
This gave everyone a voice, and it's a better project for it because it didn't match and you have to go through this process. • This project is already medium high density residential. He's only changing the zoning to match that, and that is by law he has to do that. We're not changing rural. We're not getting rid of rural. We're not changing the general plan.
Now, if this project wanted a general plan amendment, then yeah, a lot of things said tonight [during public comments] would be true. But this is not a general plan amendment. He's only changing the zoning to match the general plan and it's been that way in the general plan since 1989.
Wildomar's not changing anything. I'm not changing my stance on [being] rural. It's 80% yellow and green. We're still rural.
Mayor Walker did a great job of keeping the order, even when the catcalls got above a low roar.
Tim Walker
• I've been here since '79 when we bought here. We didn't like anybody moving to my town. (a bit of laughter) But we knew it was coming because they built a freeway while I was living here. I thought, uh oh here we go.
• I'm on two and a half [acres], I still have neighbors right above me looking in my backyard, and I told them, "Hey, I swim in the buff at nighttime. If you want to come out, full moon, it's not a safe place to be." (which brought a hearty round of laughter) • What we can do as a council is we can approve the projects that go along with our general plan and hold the standards up and say, "This is what we want [for the community]." The concessions [for this project] were amazing. They didn't have to make any of the concessions. I think people forget that this is property owned by people. There are property rights in the United States, and if I own a property I should be allowed to build something on my property. Now, when you're in a community like this (Wildomar), the community decides how much you can build, and [if] it's on the general plan.
In the video you'll hear —what can't be described as anything other than poorly trained, adult children, around the 3:00 minute mark of the video. Absolutely despicable they way they behaved.
There's no point in respecting people that clearly demonstrate that they don't understand the concept themselves.
When this project first hit my radar I was against it. Even at the start of the meeting I was still a little bit against it... and just like there's no such thing as being "a little bit pregnant" my "little bit against it" still meant I was against it. Then I heard the concessions. What kind of person makes demands, gets the demands, and then remains unbending anyway? Well, in Wildomar they call themselves Warriors, and most of those are part or Willie Mar's infamous Cantankerotti.
Who are Wildomar's Cantankerotti
Good Ol' Kenny Mayes, mugging for the camera with his (ever so clever) circle slash "no Cameila" print out that was pinned to his shirt. In the middle is serial litigant Martha Bridges, chatting with new inductee to the club, Trudy Curry (in fuchsia). Congrats guys, you lived up to your dismal reputations.
I coined the term "Cantankerotti" almost four years ago. It's a portmanteau that brings "cantankerous" and "glitterati" together.
It describes those that have been haunting Wildomar [usually] since before cityhood. All grinding their individual axes for one cockamamie reason or another which invariably harms the greater good of the city and its residents.
The meeting was like a class reunion of the rejects from Welcome Back Kotter.
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back! Not the fun sweathogs that we all knew and loved like Vinnie Barbarino, Arnold Horshack, Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington or Juan Epstein... but the ones no one remembers. Who were they again?
In tow were the hall of famers including Martha Bridges, Ken Mayes (duh! he's always there), Gary Andre and last minute arrival Miss Miller. Had to get a kick out of Bridges donating her two minutes to Curry.
As badly botched as her time at the mic was, talking about her apparent approval of high density/low income apartments in Lake Elsinore —across the street from Wildomar, and how they're better than the Camelia project, then claiming that the city did this to score $4,000,000, which sounded almost as if the money was going to be divvied up between the council and staff from her description. Still, through all that, I'm sure that Trudy spoke much more sanely than Martha was capable of.
If there was ever a doubt about the Warriors of Wildomar, it evaporated quicker than mist on an August's sidewalk after their performance at the meeting and the weeks leading up to it.
Anyone that would listen to them at this point, for even half a second, is either new to the situation and doesn't know any better, or they're just a bona fide moron. If you think I'm a big meany and a real stinker for not tolerating pigs like the warriors, and your heart breaks for them... please allow me to remind you that you are NOT welcome at my blog. Stop reading it now. Who told you this was required reading in the first place? Seriously, get your Wildomar information from Kenneth over at Nextdoor, or wait for the bimonthly articles on our city in the Press Enterprise.
The meeting was adjourned in memory of Stan Smith.
• • •
Being around people with whom you feel a connection, on many levels, not just a professional one, is very relaxing. Your ears are more open to someone who is not a cantankerous bastard. – Jacqueline Bisset Wildomar Rap kindly reminds you that when people stop listening to you, it could very well be that your cantankerous bastard reservoir is overflowing again.
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