• City Council Meeting February 2018

Between items 3.1 and 3.3 this meeting was full of detailed information. 

So much so that I'm just going to highlight the portions that caught my attention, but first let's start off with the recognition of two Eagle Scouts that came at the front of the meeting.

Noah Thompson's project dealt with the snack bar at Marna O'Brien park. He installed removable screens, that are now part of the health code, for the service windows. 

Back row: Tim Walker, Dustin Nigg and Marsha Swanson. Front Row: Bridgette Moore, Mayor Ben Benoit, Eagle Scout Noah Thompson, Katelyn Wilkinson a representative for Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez  and Glenn Miller a representative for State Senator Jeff Stone.

Nate Coddington's project was also at Marna O'Brien park. He replaced the wooden backstops on the baseball diamonds.

Back row: Tim Walker, Dustin Nigg and Marsha Swanson. Front Row: Bridgette Moore, Mayor Ben Benoit, Amber Diaz (Nate's mom), Eagle Scout Nate Coddington, Katelyn Wilkinson a representative for Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez  and Glenn Miller a representative for State Senator Jeff Stone.

PUBLIC COMMENTS (on non agenda items)
• Dave Crook (sp?) discussed speeding issues in the Lemon/Almond/Waite area.
• Brad Darymple brought up illegal dumping and off roading in the part of the city that borders Menifee.
• Ken Mayes (with donated time) had a slide show (literally) of things in town that he doesn't like. His list included home school inspections, fire hydrants, CSA 103 (an "assessment on 1084 homes located in the oldest part of Windsong Valley") which has "disappeared from the tax bill", the city fence code, the City Manager's pay, staff reports (in the online agenda packets) needing to include all the visual displays that will be at the meeting.

Wildomar Rap opinion time:

I'll have to try the slide show routine sometime too —looked fun. But in all seriousness, it was very effective to get the point across, about several issues, to all five city council members, and key staff members, at once.

Still, I have a sneaking suspicion that Kenny Mayes will be giving 6 minute slide shows at all the meetings from this point on. Might as well just cut out the middle man and make room for it on the agenda as a recurring item.

His final issue (about expanding the agenda packet to include all video display items) was brought up by Mayor Ben Benoit at the end of the meeting under "Future Agenda Items" where he asked staff to start including such items in the (digital) packets.

• Monty Goddard thanked city staff for the maintenance done at Windsong Park.

CONSENT CALENDAR
Before this part came up there was a change in the agenda and City Manager Gary Nordquist discussed the reason(s) why the new city website didn't launch before the end of January. 

"We encountered some delays," was the gist of the explanation. Mark your calendars for March 1st, which is the new target date for the switch over.

1.6
Monty Goddard spoke to this. This added a 12th holiday/floating vacation day, in perpetuity, to city employees (made possibly by the city getting the VLF funds returned from the governor). 

He noted that agenda item 3.3 also aims to reward city staff with a one time bonus of one vacation day for every year they "endured those dark fiscal days" (a quote from the agenda packet).

Wildomar Rap opinion time:

The Wildomar city staff has done a great job, especially considering those "dark fiscal days" and all, and a reward is in order now that there is the money to do so. 

However, let's keep in mind that public employees (whose salaries are public knowledge) aren't underpaid, even in our quaint little city. 

The fact that they didn't find themselves in the unemployment line, like many non public employees during those times, could have been considered a bonus in its own right.

I can see them getting either A or B, but both A and B?

I'm thinking that the extra holiday/floating vacation day was a pretty good attaboy on its own... but there I go again, always having had to earn money in the private sector, so I probably don't get it.

1.9
Ken Mayes attacked the credibility of ALS1 (who will be putting on the 3rd annual ALS1 5k on May 19th at Marna O'Brien Park — see flyer below). 

Hey Erin and Ken (the key local figures behind the 5K fundraiser), if there is paperwork that needs to be finalized, I suggest that you put that on your "do it yesterday" list. Otherwise, some wiseguy is going to look to shut down your event. 

I hear that there could be a beer garden there too... 
few things are as satisfying as a couple of frosty 
Saturday morning pops to get the weekend rolling along! ☺

As much as we hate it, red tape is there to protect the public from conmen looking to take advantage of the good nature of the public. That means everyone has to jump through the same legal hoops, even the good guys, to put on a fundraising event; especially one that is backed by the city.

Tangent Time

No doubt that is why the Original Christmas Tree Lane event (that was an annual event at the Lake Elsinore Outlet Center) is gone now. It was hosted by two local retirees that had no idea about the complex web of requirements the state has for such charitable endeavors. 

Blog about the demise of OCTL

Some "concerned citizen" suggested that the State AG look into the event... and that was the end of that, along with about $10K per year that got distributed to local youth orgs with the proceeds... but I digress.

3.1 Western Community Energy Community Choice Aggregation Program
This dealt with an energy scheme (in the British sense of the word) that would have the city join a JPA (Joint Powers Authority) to get their power from a newly formed CCA (Community Choice Aggregation), called Western Community Energy (WCE).

There was a slide show presentation that lasted about 10 minutes touting the benefits of joining WRCOG's brainchild.

A slide that tried to explain the CCA, and how the energy gets from them to you.

This only got more mind-boggling as the 25 minute presentation went on. Below is part of a slide that showed the proposed savings.

A lot of effort to save 2% to 4% if you ask me.

I won't sneeze at saving a couple of percentage points, but the large sums of savings (seen above) really won't be amounting to anything. 

My wife and I don't use a lot of power, but we'll still be celebrating our windfall of (up to) $40 a year in style.

Those numbers (~4% Savings in 10 years = $49+ million) come from adding up all the small savings of the rate payers, then acting as if there will be a large pool of money at the end of the rainbow.

Here are some of the takeaway facts.
•  Both cities and individual rate payers can opt in or out of the CCA at anytime. 
(I didn't hear anyone mention penalties for doing so, but makes me wonder if there are any. Usually if there are no penalties, that is specifically gone over).
•  The power would still be delivered to homes and businesses with the existing power grid, which is controlled by SCE in our area. 
•  The existing tiered rates would still be applied by Edison for delivering the energy, even though the rate payer would be buying from someone else. 
•  Start up costs range between $4M and $7M depending on number of cities joining, which will be covered by WRCOG.
•  If adopted, and things go as planned, they would start "serving load" by October of 2018.

Councilmember Nigg asked some basic questions to get the answers on the record. 
• Customers can opt out whenever they want, is that correct?
• Cost savings [mentioned in the presentation] are typical?
• The start up costs are covered by WRCOG?

To which "correct" was given as a response each time. The short exchange is in the 1:45 minute video below.

Wildomar Rap opinion time:

The "tiered rate" issue really got Councilmember Tim Walker exercised. His home is all electric and his bills are far higher than the average (from what I gathered). 

His point was, which seemed reasonable, is that if he uses more energy, he's already paying the additional costs for the additional supply, including the additional taxes that would come with it. 

He wasn't too happy about, what amounts to a penalty, in the tiered rate system. Especially if he were to be buying his energy from a different company, but still getting stung by SCE on the delivery side.

The video below is a snippet of Councilmember Walker asking about tiered rates, and then talking about wind cars and oil being a "renewable" energy source.

Let's create a scenario here.... Ah, how's this one:
You've been buying your chocolate milk from a venerable local dairy, but they charge you extra if you want more than 10 gallons delivered to you - tiered pricing. (Yes, it's preposterous, but stick with me...)

A different dairy approaches you (WRCOG or WEC - whichever it is) and tells you they'll sell you chocolate milk for about 2% to 4% less than the first dairy... but the first dairy (SCE) is still going to deliver it to you.

In the end, you're still using the tiered-price delivery services of the first dairy (SCE), and you're paying them like before too.

So, in conclusion, if you have high personal demands for chocolate milk (power) then it looks like you might want to buy your own chocolate cow (solar power at your home) and be done with either of the above options.

Another fun part of this agenda item was when Ken Mayes did his public comment routine and equated this JPA with the Animal Shelter "fiasco" of the past and made it clear that he wanted no part of the 2%-4% savings that would come from it, "I for one, will opt out, TONIGHT, from purchasing electricity from this JPA."

Good on ya Kenny, SCE will be glad to take your extra dollar a month.

This was just a "discuss and provide direction" item, and no action was taken, though it sounded as if SCE would be putting together a presentation of their own on the matter.

Since there seems to be savings to the rate payers, and an easy way to opt out if things change, I can't image the point of not exploring this further.

The thing I want to know is, if this is better than peaches and cream like it's described, then why aren't all the local cities beating a path to their door? Why the deliberation? Why does it sound like WRCOG would be sanguine if they could "amass five to six cities" when their organization has eighteen?

If you'd like to take a look at the 20+ slides, use this LINK and look for item 3.1 and click on it.

3.3 FY 2017-18 Mid-Year Budget Report
This item took an hour, in addition to updating where the budget stands, there was also lengthy discussion about what to do with the newly returned VLF funds (about $2.4 Million annually).

It was asked of the various departments for a wish list of sorts. The price tag came back at $6.9M worth of items.

Don't feel bad, this was difficult to read (due to small font size) at the meeting too.

All things on the list are either obviously worthy, or an argument can be made for them. It's just a matter of money.

Things ranging from additional police (a no brainer) to wobblers like a new kitchen for the fire house ($60,000), and head-scratchers like a $60,000 video package to be able to start live streaming the city meetings (all approved).

There was a lot of discussion, so I'm going to include the video of the entire item. It begins with City Manager Gary Nordquist discussing the various spending options proposed and other aspects of the item (about 28 minutes worth). 

From there went the public comments, council discussion, input from Fire Chief Todd Philips and Police Chief Daniel Anne, more discussion and then the vote.

At one point Councilmember Nigg balked at the idea of spending $60k on remodeling the firehouse kitchen.

"I just can't see the justification there. I've read through the staff report. I would [want to] line it out and apply it (the $60K) to [other things]. I just can't justify taking $60 grand for a kitchen when we have roads that don't work that well." 

Chief Todd Philips came to the podium to elaborate on the needs of Station 61. For those interested in more details there, check out the video and jump to the 33 minute mark where the councilmember starts the topic.

The list of recommendations was unanimously approved by the council. With the addition of $4000 per year for TIP (Trauma Intervention Program). The entire agenda item is covered in the video below.

My favorite quote came from Councilmember Marsha Swanson. It was in reference to the additional $2.4M to the budget:

I think that Gary [Nordquist] has lead us well.  He's kept us in line all this time, and just because we feel like we've got some money —that's just a feeling we have, we don't have any money. We're not even back to where we were, so I think we need to start off slow. We're going to look at this throughout the year. If there're some ways we can add some other things, I'm all for adding a motor officer... I just think we need to stay within his recommendations, that we need this reserve cushion. None of us knows what's going to happen tomorrow, or what we might need [...] and if we don't have reserves, and we aren't fiscally conservative we're not going to get anywhere. We've got time, let's just take baby steps to start with and go with the recommendations.  

I wanted to ask about the $60,000 for video stuff. 

I know this guy that does video, and thinks that number is about 10 to 20 times too high. 

I obviously went into the wrong business. I should have aimed to be a government contractor.

Thing is I didn't fill out a speaker card, and there wasn't a solicitation of the audience if anyone else would like to speak before that part of the meeting was closed, so I'll just opine here instead.

Wildomar Rap opinion time:

We've NEVER had live video of the meetings, and I don't get the point of going from Zero to Cadillac (maybe I should say 'Tesla' so the younger generation will get the reference) all at once. 

I've heard that it's got a lot of bells and whistles. That'll be good news to the 11 people that will be utilizing it on a regular basis.

At $18,000 a year to operate, it had better whistle!

Seriously, do the math ($18,000 ÷ 12 months is $1500 per month). 

After the overpriced equipment is purchased, the city is planning on paying $1500 a month to operate it (though the graphic above says $3,000 a month). 

Even if the city meetings take up 15 hours a month, which they probably only take up about 5 total, that is $100 an hour. 

Am I still in Wildomar? Are they trying to live stream city meetings or are they building a Hollywood set?

Without being too much of a joker, if you went down to Costco you could buy an eight camera HD security set up for under $400. 

Sure, it would cost money to have it installed and set up (apparently $20K is the going rate cities pay for such things), but with that kind of thing there's no reason why one of the city interns couldn't be taught how to turn it on, then switch from camera one (on the dais) to camera two (the podium) to camera three (the video display) and back. 

Such a set up might be underwhelming for bigger cities, but spending $60K for such a thing in Wildomar just reminds us, that no matter how noble the players, tax money is spent differently than how we spend our own money. Either that, or I'm just a cheap bastard that can get a lot of mileage out of lesser items.

•                •                •

It was learned that two signature events in town will not be happening this year. First, the Rotary BBQ failed to get enough backing to make a go of it. It was scheduled to be at Marna O'Brien park on April 21st. In it's place will be a Astronomy Night event.

The other annual event that won't happen this year is the Bicycle Safety Event. Each year the attendance has gotten smaller and smaller. It's a shame. Those that did attend, really enjoyed it.

•                •                •

"These days, government employees are better off in almost every area: pay, benefits, time off, and security, on top of working fewer hours. They can thrive even in a down economy."
– Mort Zuckerman 

Wildomar Rap wasn't shrewd enough to consider a gubment paycheck when younger, and now the gravy train is full up.

• Bicycle Safety Event/ALS One 5K 2017

Wildomar Rotary's annual bicycle safety event, and the ALS One 5K were held on the same day this year, in conjunction with the city of Wildomar's Health and Safety Fair. 

Though the setting up of the course began around dawn and the last remnants were down a little after noon. The planning for such a multi pronged event was many months in the making.

The pre-race introductions began a few minutes before 8:00am, and then the first 10K in the city's history began.

The runners assembled around the stage as introductions were made, and the reason why event promoter Erin Hartley is motivated to put on the event. Link to blog with Erin and Ken Hartley discussing the lead up to the inaugural ALS One 5K.

The start of the 10K, with the eventual winner (in green) out to an early lead.

Not long after that the 5K started and over 200 runners began their 3.2 mile journey that started and finished in the park. 

And they're off... 

Less than 20 minutes after the start, the winner crossed the finish line. 
He lead wire to wire.

The course made it's way to Union St. down to Wesley, back up Union St to a city controlled buffer zone between houses near the south side of Collier elementary's campus, down Palomar and then to the finish line near one of the ball fields in the park.

There were quite a few vendors and booths that were part of the health and safety fair.

Janice Lee of Geri Fit shares info with some potential customers (fifty years from now). ☺

Part of the bicycle event was the BMX Pros Stunt Show, a crowd favorite. The highlight of the first performance was jumping over the Lake Elsinore Storm's seven foot tall mascot, Thunder. 

Check out the 18 second video where Thunder ends up getting bonked on the nose.

Three eager volunteers from Wildomar Elementary showed much bravery.

A series of images where volunteers were jumped over.

The feelings of relief, and the looks they cause, are classic.

The safety part of the event started with sign in, then getting a free helmet, and going through an obstacle course designed to teach kids about the rules of the road.

The two green bikes in the lower left were some of the bikes given away.

Rotarian Stewart Moore helps adjust the strap on the helmet of another satisfied customer. 

Long time Rotary member Paul Bakeman shows what to do at a traffic signal.

A lot of kids didn't bring their bikes, but that didn't prevent them from walking the course, and hearing the information about what to do at crosswalks, train tracks and other things a cyclist might encounter along their rides. 

Rotary member Andy Morris works the crossing gate.

The key figures behind the Bicycle Safety Event are Bridgette Moore and April Watkins. I asked for a little history behind the event and was told:

In 2007, April's family and my family were in Cub Scout Pack 332 together. One of our Scouts, Jessie James Possehl, was hit and killed while riding his bicycle. Our Pack 332 put up the reward to find the driver and it worked! April, Cody (the younger brother of Jessie) and I then started working on a Bicycle Safety idea in his honor. We contacted Supervisor Bob Buster who put us in touch with IEHP. The first event was held in the Elks Lodge parking lot. 

Nita McCoubrey speaks about safety, and the importance of wearing helmets while biking. In the background, from left to right, are: April Watkins, Sunny, Daisy, Bridgette Moore, Tim Walker, and one of the stunt show riders.

•          •          •

If only we'd stop trying to be happy we'd have a pretty good time.
– Edith Wharton, 1862-1937

Wildomar Rap doesn't quite agree with Ms. Wharton's point. I think if people would stop any whiny complaining, we'd have an even better time. 

• Chords and Vines: Guest Ben Benoit

Today saw another adventure of local radio coming to Wildomar, when host Kat Ellis brought her Chords and Vines show to Los Reyes Mexican restaurant. 

She had local songstress Grace Richardson as her musical guest, and Mayor Pro-Tem Ben Benoit as her Special Guest.  

I've been to several of Kat's broadcasts in the past. One at D'Canters, a couple at The Corporate Room, one in old town Temecula at a cheese shop and now, May 7th's, at Los Reyes.

A photo I happened to take about three weeks prior, when it was NOT raining.

Each experience has been as different as the venues that they've been in. Who knows, maybe they can swing a combo radio show/fundraiser at the VFW sometime in the future?

Originally it was slated for the patio area, but the rains brought the production inside. Normal restaurant ambiance was in full swing. Meaning, at times, it was too noisy to hear the live show.

Left to right: George Hager, Grace Richardson, Ben Benoit, Tom Plant and Kat Ellis.

That's ok, because lunch was great and and so was the margarita I had. Which reminds me, usually the premise of Chords and Vines is to pair wines with various foods. They swapped out the wines for some tequilas on today's edition of the show.

From left to right, Ben Benoit, Tom Plant, Kat Ellis and barkeep JJ.

Erin Hartley, of the ALS ONE 5K that is coming up, was also in the house. She was surprised to find out that she'd be a guest on the show, but she used the opportunity to talk about her upcoming event. 

With spot guest Erin Hartley (far left). Discussing the upcoming ALS ONE 5K.

The 5K is part of the Wildomar Trifecta of Awesomeness that will be held on Saturday morning, May 13th, 2017. Also part of the festivities will include a health and safety fair, the annual Rotary Club bicycle safety event, and three showings of the BMX Pros stunt show. 

Be sure to check out the promotional video done by Wildomar Elementary's THINK Together after school program. Then mark your calendars and come on down to Marna O'Brien park and catch one of the BMX Pros exhibitions.

Don't miss the BMX Pros stunt show

The musical guest, Grace Richardson, performed one song, and though the area she had to work in was confining, that didn't interfere with her hitting every note. Same went for guitarist George Hager —not missing a chord... even after sampling the tequilas. 

To get more information on the Chords and Vines radio program, now a part of the Temecula Entertainment Network, check out their website at this link:LINK

The weekly show is heard from 2pm to 3pm, on Sundays. 
Kat, who has grandchildren at both Wildomar Elementary and Ronald Reagan Elementary, was telling me that they will be starting production on the Chords and Vines TV show on cable TV soon.

Link to replay of the show 

Kat Ellis photobombs her own photo when she spotted me taking a few pics.

On the way into Los Reyes I happened upon the coolest license plate I've seen in quite awhile.

Gotta love that throwback black and yellow plate. If you're under 50, you probably don't remember when those were standard issue. 

If you guessed that this was on Bridgette Moore's car, that would have been understandable, but wrong. It's on Ben and Jaimie Benoit's car. 

Here's a link to the blog covering the 2016 Chords and Vines program when Bridgette Moore was the special guest.

•          •          •

"I don't want any yes-men around me. I want everybody to tell me the truth even if it costs them their job." 

– Samuel Goldwyn, 1879-1974

Wildomar Rap would like to remind Mr. Goldwyn that it's easy to talk big when you don't personally have anything on the line.

• Bicycle Safety Event 2016

What a difference a week makes

Last week's temps were at about 100 for the Wildomar ALS-ONE 5K, this week they didn't even hit 70, and if anything, it got a bit cooler as a mild breeze arrived. C'est la vie.

In total about 150 kids signed up for the bicycle safety course put on by the Wildomar Rotary Club.

Rotarians Paul Bakeman and Mike Nichols help kids get signed up.

They were reminded about the importance of wearing a helmet, and were provided one too. They then went through an obstacle course to test their knowledge on the rules of the road.

There were many information booths in operation. Among them, CHP, VFW, Wildomar City CERT, Wildomar Chamber, water safety and many others.

Kids learning about the Highway Patrol

Like years past, the most popular part of the event was the BMX Pro stunt show. 

Miss Wildomar Jessie Taylor closes her eyes as one of the BMX Pros jumps over her. 

A popular skit had eight volunteers being jumped over. The first time had the BMXer get off his bike at the last minute and jump over them on foot. 

The crowd was asked if they wanted to see him "jump with his bike"?

So he pedaled up to speed, and at the last moment dismounted and jumped over the eight, with his bike in his hands.

In the end, he did do a bunny hop jump over the eight and the crowd loved it.

There were three shows by the BMX Pros, and a drawing for Storm tickets and three different bicycles donated by Walmart. 

Reading out the winning numbers.

Funny story about the bicycle giveaways 
The first bike to be given away was a pink bike, but of course the winner was a boy. The pink bike was bumped to for the next ticket called... also a boy.

Third time was the charm as the pink bike was won by a girl.

The pink bike goes to the girl in pink.

After the first BMX Pro show, there was time for some pictures with the riders.

(L-R) Councilmember Ben Benoit, BMX Pros and Wildomar Queens,
Mayor Bridgette Moore, Mayor Pro-Tem Tim Walker.

•        •        •

When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me. 

—Emo Philips

Wildomar Rap reminds you that there is more than one way to skin a cat, but any method you choose will end up with you explaining it to the judge.