• City Council Meeting November 2017

Several interesting things came out of this meeting, including news about the Brown House coming down, two new members of the Measure Z Oversight Committee, and possible higher taxes coming to our city in the future. (Yeah, I bet you love that last one the most.)

Before any of that, there were three "presentations" before the meeting proper got underway. 

The first was a Storm Water presentation dealing with the Santa Margarita Water Quality Improvement Plan. 

Hint, Wildomar is within the Santa Margarita Watershed. It can be divided into nine distinct hydrological areas. If you want the details, click the link.

To visit the website by projectcleanwater, dealing with this topic, click this LINK.

It's an attempt to clean the water beyond what we've managed to do over the last 40 to 50 years. I'm sure it's being done with good intentions. I'm trying to remember where the path paved with good intentions often leads...

Not sure about you, but I've never met a person that is in favor of polluted water. However, I have encountered many that would be happy to see modern life get turned on its head in an unrealistic attempt to return the environment to a pre-human pristine condition.

My takeaway from this is that you need to be ready to see your costs of living go up... what's new, right? 

One of the many slides seen during the presentation.

Recent legislation (SB 231) signed by Governor Brown changes the definition of Storm Water, and the bottom line to that is that YOU WILL BE HOSED over it. (bad pun intended)

The key phrases and quotes from presenter Richard Boone were:

• Cost-sharing (for costs that didn't exist yesteryear)

• Establishes enforceable goals and milestones and compliance penalties if goals and milestones aren't met.

• As the science evolves. (Yea, more unsettle science that we're going to spend money on)

• "Finally, I think it's inevitable that the cost of compliance will likely increase." 

Just part of the joys of living in a state long controlled by one party rule that even seeks to oust its own members that aren't "progressive" enough.  

link to LA Times story about a liberal trying to unseat Nancy Pelosi for NOT being liberal enough.

I'm sure we all can afford "inevitable increases" to pay for such lofty pursuits... but I have to wonder if there will ever be a limit to such endeavors?

Police Department Update

Captain Daniel Anne spoke for about 4 minutes, giving an update with 3rd quarter crime stats. The video is below.

Fire Department Update

The stats from the Fire Department update were

• 288 Emergency Calls, of which 70% were medical calls.

There was also a recap of the Wildomar Fire. It was made known that the name of the fire wasn't due to the close proximity to the city, but since it started at the Wildomar Off Road Park.

Gotta love government [over] efficiency. The incident is still "under investigation" though it has been clear from the start that it came about from a motorcycle accident.

Public Comments

• Michael Ghoslin from Lakeview Chapel discussed wanting to have a pro-life mobile clinic operate from his church's parking lot "from time to time".
• Bob Cashman discussed his concerns over the former Wildomar Chamber of Commerce merging with Murrieta's Chamber of commerce.
• Miss Miller lamented that the presentation about Storm Water wasn't aimed at halting all development in the area. She also proposed that people meet at the corner of Malaga and Mission Trail, Saturday evening (November 11th) at 5:00pm to discuss "several hundred more houses" at Summerly in Lake Elsinore, and the increased traffic it will bring.
• Ken Mayes brought up the issue of live streaming city meetings. Then he went into LaLa Land again by implying that the city council and staffers actively seek to keep public participation to a minimum, "The time of shutting out the local citizens from the decision making process needs to come to an end."

Hey Mayes, we get it. What you're really saying is that you want the electeds, and the paid professionals, to turn it over to you and your fellow incompetent Wildomar Warriors. 

Sorry, but until you seek office, and get elected, your copious amounts of reading things on the internet don't make you qualified to run this city.

Hey City people... it's time to call his bluff and put in the live streaming.  

My money says he couldn't be kept away from his bi-monthly chance to finger wag... even if he had twice the injuries that Kentucky Senator Rand Paul sustained the other day.

• Patrick Ellis spoke about the newly merged Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of commerce.
• Lindsay [Night-zee-who] (as it was pronounced by city clerk Debbie Lee) discussed her concerns about a (yet to be officially proposed) shopping center on Clinton Keith near Stable Lanes Rd, and the types of shops that she has heard might be coming. (sounds interesting... I'd love to hear what she's heard).
• Laura Girard of Sycamore Academy invited the council to a couple of the school's upcoming events.

Public Comments on Consent Calendar
• Ken Mayes used his time, and an additional 3 mins donated to him, to rail against Items 1.4, 1.6, 1.7 and 1.8. 
1.6, the deal with the Historical Society, which will allow them to store bits of the old Brown House (once it's demolished) really bothered him. 
1.7 is where the American Cancer Society has asked to hold their yearly Relay for Life at Marna O'Brien park since the high school is no longer an option with the installation of their new turf on the football field.

He obviously misread the agenda from the parks subcommittee meeting where it said — Fiscal Impact: Costs of approximately $5000, to mean a gift to the organization.

From the recent parks subcommittee agenda.
Yellow highlight and red check mark are my additions.

1.8 Partnership with Rotary Club for Annual BBQ
He lamented that "at least three of the city council members" are classed as "club leaders" in the Rotary Club of Wildomar.

Let me interrupt here. It's not "at least" it's just three. If you have difficulty in counting on one hand, that should be the first indication that other parts of your reasoning skills are equally as suspect.

He suggested that the council members in question (Ben Benoit, Marsha Swanson and Bridgette Moore) recuse themselves from that item. Interesting point, but I'm 100% certain that the City Attorney Thomas Jex has that covered.

Thing is, these wannabe legal scholars that haunt Wildomar won't hear for a minute that they are indeed clueless on the matters. They take obtuseness to seldom seen levels.

He then hinted at possible legal action when he said, "Public officials can face potential legal liability, including taxpayer lawsuits, criminal penalties and the loss of public confidence"

This really was the Ken Mayes show last night. Most of which was the same inane lashing out against the city that he's become renown for. Hey Mayes, it's time that you put your legal prowess to the test. Put up or shut up. Get that lawsuit ready, filed and served or sit back down... you're boring the rest of us.

From the recent parks subcommittee agenda. 
Yellow highlight and red check mark are my additions.

I'm including the video of his comments on items 1.7 and 1.8 which also has commentary from Thomas Jex, Bridgette Moore and Mayor Tim Walker included. Had to love it that he has a problem with an annual event that clearly states there is NO FISCAL IMPACT on the community.


• George Cambero spoke on Item 1.6 Brown House Storage Agreement. The big news I got from this is that dismantling of the Brown House will begin in two to three weeks.

2.1 Zone Change
This was gone over in a recent planning commission meeting. It deals with a 1.73 acre parcel that is on Clinton Keith, across from the shopping center that has Barons in it.

link to planning commission blog covering it

Pretty basic, it's looking to get the zoning map to agree with the general plan land use map. It passed unanimously.

2.2 Urgency Ordinance Extension

This dealt with the temporary moratorium pertaining to marijuana cultivation and manufacturing in town.

This is allowing the council until December of next year to come up with ordinances regarding legal marijuana in town.

City Attorney Thomas Jex explained it, then Ken Mayes and Miss Miller weighed in. There was the briefest of council discussions and it was voted on.

This will play big next year, and I wonder if there will be any voter backlash when it comes time to vote for city council members in districts 1, 3 and 5 over it? Time will tell.
3.1 Preliepp Apartments GPIP
This was also gone over in the blog covering the September Planning Commission meeting (click this link if you want more details). Since this item is all but DOA after four of the council members gave their opinions on it, there is no sense in wasting too much time detailing it.

This graphic shows where there are already 1600 apartments in 1800 foot radius of the site.
Either already built, or already approved.

Mayor Pro-Tem Ben Benoit recused himself since he works in the apartment industry. 

Marsha Swanson was interested in hearing more about their specifics, she stated that she's "on the fence right now".

Dustin Nigg gave a very direct opinion, "I would recommend not to waste your money." He later came back and explained his views on it, but that didn't change his bottom line.

Bridgette Moore started off by saying she was with Marsha. Adding that she was unsure "if we need any more apartments." Suggested they research what just happened with the Camelia project, which was "zoning conformance" and not a general plan amendment. 

Mayor Tim Walker said he was "not for this" for two reasons. First was having all the apartments in one area, and that it doesn't conform to the general plan. He made another good point about the value of business park areas and how few we have in town.

3.2 Establishment of Community Facilities District

This was about being business friendly to small developers, allowing them to defer parts of their Development Impact Fees. For those that apply to be part of this, they'll have to meet certain criteria, and will be paying interest on the balance. 

It's a ten year program, that could last as long as twenty years.

How's that? you ask. 

Since the "loans" are up to ten years long, if a qualified applicant comes in at the 119th month (there are 120 months in 10 years) of the program, they'd have up to ten years to pay it off. Which would mean the program's ultimate sunset could be as many as twenty years, though it's only for ten.

There is no one size fits all for this as each project would be judged on their own merits. If you'd like to hear the presentation given by Assistant City Manager Dan York, and the comments associated with it, watch the video.

Ken Mayes spoke on this. (about the 7:15 mark of the video)

My notes said, "Ken Mayes makes another idiotic statement." So I went back to the video to see what it was, and I was right... another (in an endless line of) idiotic statements. 

"This is nothing more than a way for staff to hide the incompetence of this city, and the greed of developers [ready] to take advantage of this incompetence. In a mad rush to build out this city many mistakes are being made that will speed the process of the destruction of this community."

If you've ever wondered why I hammer this guy for being a nutter... this would qualify as one of a baker's dozen Exhibit A's he's amassed in the last four years that I've been around.


3.3 Community Interest Polling
This one is probably the most important thing that came from the meeting. It's real easy to suggest that the purpose of such a polling company is to find out how much tax can be raised on us. 

So many times residents will complain about a lack of one thing or another in town (be it police coverage, poor road conditions, etc), and I'm quick to remind them that we can have anything in town that we want. It only takes money.

Usually I get a wrinkled nose response when I ask if they'd be willing to have their taxes double to pay for such things. Yeah, me neither. Part of the reason why I moved to Wildomar was that the taxes were low. 

Yes, compared to some of our neighboring communities it can be the wild west out here... but I signed up for that when I bought my house back in 2001.

Still, there is a large influx of new residents since that time, and it's the will of the majority that rules the day (or it damn well better be). Polling seeks to find what the people want.

I like the way Marsha Swanson put it. 

• This is so important to do. We have a handful of people that come out every month here and we know how they feel. We know what they want, what they don't want, but that's only a few people. We're a town of 35,000 people, and we can't call them all.

• I get complaints all of the time about homeless and drugs. Are we willing to pay higher taxes to have more police on the street to get rid of it... [or] are we not?

• I am not for higher taxes, period. But, we may have some people here that it's important to. It's not my choice, it's the people that live here, their choice. 

• She looked right at Ken Mayes and said, "I think finding out what they feel about cannabis, what they feel about higher taxes, and hearing about how they really feel [is a good thing]. Not just from Kenny, I like that he comes and tells us what he feels, but I want to hear from everybody. Not everybody can come to this meeting and not everybody would watch it live stream. I'll tell ya, I wouldn't sit at home and watch this — no way."

When the conversation turned to Prop 64, and local cannabis sales and manufacture, Mayor Tim Walker made an interesting observation about federal law and how the city council members have all sworn to uphold the constitution and it's laws. 

If you jump to about the 13:45 mark of the video, you'll see a bit of heat start to generate on the dais. Primarily between Tim Walker and Ben Benoit. 

Tim Walker is dead set against marijuana on all fronts by the way I read it, and it being (wrongly) classified as a Schedule 1 drug (like heroin) is just a convenient cover the way I see it. 

Ben Benoit on the other hand, based on what I've seen him argue from the dais when this topic has come up a few times, seems to take more of the libertarian stance on it. Leaving the decision of use to the law abiding adult in question. I can't be certain where he stands on the issues of sales and manufacture in town.

At one point, after discussing federal law and states rights, Benoit said to Walker, "I encourage you to look that up, talk about that, and I would respectfully ask that you not say that we're (the city council) violating our oath when we sit up here and look at this ordinance that has been passed by the state of California and the California voters."

The subcommittee that will be addressing which questions to ask the public will be comprised of Marsha Swanson and Ben Benoit.
Last on the agenda was appointment of two new members for the Measure Z Oversight Committee. 

Three people applied, and two people were chosen. Scott Rux and Shelley Hitchcock. Thanks for stepping up and helping the community.

Funny thing though, Ken Mayes was able to raise the bar for "what the hell was that" comments with one on this topic. 

He bemoaned the "apathy" in a town of 35,000 people when only three applications were submitted for the Measure Z committee, and only one was submitted for the Planning Commission seat the month earlier.

I have a confession to make. It's all my fault. You see, me and my stupid camera have given a front row seat to all that care to watch, and they've seen the rigmarole they'd have to put up with from guys like you Ken. 

Had I not started uploading videos of city meetings, there would be a line from here to Cucamonga of eager volunteers looking to be in the lime light of a Planning Commission seat or a coveted Measure Z position.
Still, that leaves one important question unanswered from you Ken... what are you waiting for? When are you going to shut your trap and apply for one of the positions you think should have more applicants? 

Most people that want to help out their communities don't really want to have to run a gauntlet of bored and angry old people to get there. 

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In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
– Martin Luther King Jr. 

Wildomar Rap reminds those of you without any friends, you don't need to worry about the above quote.

• New Little Free Library

Usually I stick to things that are completely within the friendly confines of Wildomar, but for those that regularly make their way into Lake Elsinore, I've been tipped off about another Little Free Library in that fair city to the north.

A fun little building that has a small amount of train track with a hand car next to it. 
The Little Free Library is located in the back where the parking is located.

In April I had the chance to tell you about the first Little Free Library in the area, located at DeJong's Dairy.

Link to blog about LFL at DeJong's

Kaylyn Turner at DeJong's Dairy next to the Little Free Library she installed in April 2017.

The Rotary Club of Lake Elsinore has just installed it’s first Lending Library at the Lake Elsinore Chamber of Commerce at 132 W. Graham in Lake Elsinore.  

The Little Free Library is located at the back (south) side of the property.

Little Free Library is a world-wide program, with more than 16,000 lending libraries are available in countries worldwide. 

Not everyone has easy access to the public libraries, particularly which the closure of some smaller libraries.  The lending library project provides ready access to books within walking distance.  

A closer look at the decorations on the sides.

According to the press release, by Lake Elsinore Rotary Member Mary Brown, "The libraries are designed, constructed and installed by Rotarians and friends of Rotarians who donate their time and tools."

The “take a book, leave a book” approach supports education and literacy on a community level.  The project was started by Rotarian Todd Bol (seen above) in 2009 in Wisconsin and it has spread worldwide. 

“The vision of the libraries is to inspire reading,” explains Rachel Borg, Rotarian and local teacher, who saw the idea in a Rotarian magazine and challenged the club to participate.  “Lots of our club members volunteered to build the libraries and look for book donations, it was exciting to see the enthusiasm.” 

Library builder Frank Lembo, teacher Rachel Borg,
Club President Rick Morsch, all Rotary club members.

It's always a treat to highlight local groups that do so much for their communities... nice going fellow Rotarians. 

I asked if their new Little Free Library had its own facebook page, and it doesn't at this time. 

The one over at Dejong's has one. Go over, check it out, and give it a like when you get a chance. LINK

Two extra photos, just for fun. The first shows the title of the book that Grace Morabito was posing with at the Free Little Library. Seemed a touch ironic to me.

"The Book Thief"
The idea of the LFL is to "take a book" and to "leave a book."
Though I think there's little doubt that more are withdrawn than deposited.

Though I've driven past this historical building many times, I've never really looked at it. I don't know how long it's had it's current theme, but had to love the painting of Wildomar's namesakes on the front of it.

This large painting adorns the front of the building.

The caption reads Elsinore Santa Fe Train Station depicted here, circa late 1890's with a few of our founders. From left, Donald Graham, Margaret Collier Graham, William Collier and Capt. Leonard Buckingham Peck. 

Imagine if Ol' Cap'n Peck had joined those three when they came to The W on their naming expedition back then. Our town could very easily have ended up being called Wildopeck, Wildoham, Wilmarhamdo or Leomardowil. The horror!☺

•                •                •

"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have."
— Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

Wildomar Rap finds that the harder one works, the more they've earned a second IPA.

• Restaurant Chatter

First up is the unexpected closing of D'Canters. They've been around for years, and were practically an institution.

The lettering had been scrapped off the entry door and window.

It had a full bar and it was one of the few places that live music could be heard in town. I'd only eaten there a handful of times over the years, but had been there for other functions. 

If you look closely at the top of the image, you can see where it had said D'Canters.

I remember the 2014 election watch being held there, along with the Rotary meetings before they were moved to the Elks Lodge last year. The radio program Chords and Vines broadcast from there before too.

I checked online and over at Yelp this recent review was left.
When I went over to their website there was an "under construction" image.

I didn't hear the reason, though there was a bit of talk on social media. Still, most times that a popular business goes under, it's a money/management issue... sad no matter what. It'll be interesting to see what ends up in that space.

Link to the D'Canter's Yelp page

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UPDATE

Since this blog was published, the former owners of D'Canters made a statement that was sent out by email.

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•                •                •

While I was out getting a picture of the door that had been freshly scraped, I snapped a shot of The Hive (which has never opened, and I'm not sure they ever will at this point). It's supposed to be a sports bar. 

At the northwest corner of Clinton Keith and Palomar.

The talk around the water cooler is that the new owners were getting geared up to open when the county stepped in and informed them that, what was ok when it was Tesoro Italian Restaurant was no longer within code. The cost to bring it up to code was the key stumbling block as I remember it.

We're still bee-ing patient, but are loosing hope. This sign has been up for about a year.

It's great to have the county health department/code enforcement looking to keep things safe for us all, but if they were to ratchet up their vigilance more than it currently is, their only option would be to swaddle everyone in bubble wrap and disallow any food sales... ANYWHERE. ☺

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While completing the circuit I drove by the STILL unopened Wildomar Square (other than Taco Bell, which was wise enough to find a way to be on their own schedule). 

Like you've read in Wildomar Rap several times before... Dunkin Donuts, Jersey Mike's, Robeks, Angelo's Brick Oven Pizza, Sushi Ka, The Habit, Country Kitchen and Super Cuts are on the verge of opening. 

September 18th blog discussing the impending opening

Though no one would talk on the record, this can be laid at the feet of the developer (the stories I've been told, yikes). It has to be costly to NOT be able to open when you were told you'd be able to open, back when you signed your lease.

One case I know of, though I won't name the business, was told that that they'd be able to open by Veterans Day 2016. Not Veterans Day 2017 (next week) but an entire year earlier. Then it was bumped to Spring of 2017, then September. As it is, they will be lucky if they can open by the first of the year.

There's still no indication that construction on their 65 foot, LED paneled sign has even begun yet.

•                •                •

In the same shopping center as the former D'Canters is a new food place that is getting ready to open called Poke Port. According to Google, it's pronounced like Pokémon, not like poke in the eye.

This is where the old Submarina sandwich shop was. Next to Tacos Tijuana.

I found the following definition of poke at People.com. 

Poke means “to slice or cut” in Hawaiian and refers to chunks of raw, marinated fish — usually tuna — which is then tossed over rice and topped with vegetables and umami-packed sauces.

One sushi chef stated:
“It’s the next generation of sushi, but easier to eat.”

I can't wait to try a bowl of raw fish salad. Sounds de-lish! ☺

Sushi and Sashimi are great, and now Wildomar will be having three such establishments (unless I'm over looking one somewhere). No, I'm not counting that one sign, that's never going to amount to anything, between the freeway and the USA gas station.

Funniest practical joke in town.

•                •                •

Over at The Barn (located on the northeast corner of Palomar and Clinton Keith) there is a new place called Boba & Tea.

The place still has that new car smell to it. ☺

Boba comes in a variety of flavors. It's milky tea with tapioca balls at the bottom. An interesting drink, not my favorite, but my wife can't get enough of it. You should give it a try sometime.

Better than a 'Chai Tea Latte with 2 extra pumps' any day. ☺

I showed up there around 8am. The door was opened but they weren't opened for business yet. I was told that they open at 10am. 

It was obvious that they were still getting things together. If you look closely in the picture above, there's a stool propping the door opened... and it still has foam protectors on the feet. 

A few doors down at The Barn, there is a coffee place that looks to be several weeks from opening. 

I read this as 3 Bean, as in coffee beans.

I couldn't see any details about what the establishment is going to be like. It's a rather good sized place, but not sure what they'll be doing beyond coffee. (If I were ever to open a storefront business like this, I'd have clear information marked so my future customers knew when the projected opening was, and what the business was going to be. I'd also have a website up and running with clear links to it. I'm just weird that way.)

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UPDATE

I've since learned that it's going to be called Bean Coffee Roasters. They also have a location in Temecula from what I've been told.

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I used to be a Starbucks person, even though many people have told me that their coffee tastes burnt, but with their most recent price hike ($2.65 for 20 ounces) I'm ready for an alternative. Perhaps this place will be it. 

One thing is for sure, once all these food places open, there will be quite a few more options for casual dining in town. Being someone that still prepares meals at home, I have to wonder where are all the customers going to come from?

Aren't their prepared food needs already being met? 

In any event, I look forward to all the new places opening. Trying them out might make for fun blog topics. ☺

•                •                •

"Victory goes to the player who makes the next-to-last mistake."
- Chessmaster Savielly Grigorievitch Tartakower (1887-1956)

Wildomar Rap is victorious no matter when the last mistake occurred.

• Planning Commission Meeting November 2017

There was no real news that came from the meeting, other than the swearing in of new commissioner Mason Ballard which was handled by Mayor Pro-Tem Ben Benoit.

Mason Ballard along with his wife Lisa and son Kenny,
as Ben Benoit performs the swearing in duties.

Mr. Ballard has only been in Wildomar for a handful of years at this point, but has already jumped into the community with both feet. He is a booster of Wildomar Little League, has been a frequent attendee at local events and now looks to lend his experience to the Planning Commission.

He will be in the seat that had been held by Stan Smith since Ben Benoit was first elected to the city council. 

Being a fresh face in town, I see him being a good fit for the future of Wildomar, striking a balance among the others that have been in the area far longer.

Now the planning commission has a full complement of five commissioners, and let's see if that can hold true through at least the next city council election cycle; not a sure bet based on recent history.

From left to right, Vice Chair Michele Thomas, Chair John Lloyd,
Veronica Langworthy and newest member Mason Ballard.

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In other news, there is going to be a workshop where the public is encouraged to participate... especially if you're part of any organization that utilizes the parks or services the youth of the community. 

Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 6:30pm.

This is your chance to be a part of the future of Wildomar parks.

You'd think that something like development of the new park would be controversy free... but this is Wildomar, where parks were successfully closed by a handful of misfits not all that long ago.

Though the cranky pants people (affectionately known as The Cantankerotti around here) are mostly ineffective in their aims to hold Wildomar back in the mid part of the last century, it's not for a lack of trying. 

I bailed out of the website called Nextdoor (it turned out to just be another place on the net for people to post foolish comments and ruin it for those that would like to use it as the community bulletin board it was intended to be), but a screen shot of the thoughts of one of the usual suspects was sent to me.

"Over the top"? Really???
More of the same lack of depth
that we've come to expect from that quadrant.

Seriously, the average person would have to work at a double overtime speed to even get within range of their infamous inanity. Something that effortlessly comes to them like beads of sweat off Harvey Weinstein's hairy back in a sauna. (just try and get that image out of your head ☺)

If you're interested in the future of Wildomar parks, and don't want geriatric cranks trying to ruin them in their nascent stage, consider participating in the coming workshop... even if only by email. 

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The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.
– Albert Einstein

Wildomar Rap is a highway with no speed limits, but paved about half as well as Lost Road.