CIty Updates - NEW

As an update, the city now has a new General Plan as of last Tuesday. This is the road map for development within the city. If you'd like to have a look, you can view a copy at City Hall (it's huge FYI) or you can go to the City's website.

Additionally the council reorganized positions. Brian Tisdale will continue to serve as mayor (we didn't think holding the position for only the past 2 months was enough time in the hot seat!)

Also Daryl Hickman is Mayor Pro Tem, and Peter Weber is the RDA Chairman.

A recent DUI checkpoint yielded two arrests, so that's 2 people who were taken off the street before they killed someone.

There will be several other DUI checkpoints throughout the year, thanks to grant funding.

Also, I hope you've noticed the work going on at the City's boat launch. A six-lane, 400 foot boat launch, 260 parking spaces, and two 200-foot long floating docks are currently being constructed at the site, located at 32040 Riverside Drive. The new ramp will enable boats to be launched at water levels 5 to 10 feet lower than the Seaport Boat Launch off Lakeshore Drive, and will remain usable year round. In addition to the launch, the project includes the creation of an adjacent picnic area, fish-cleaning station, barrier-enclosed wading pool and restrooms.

This project is being funded with a grant from the State Department of Boating & Waterways, Redevelopment funds and money earmarked for park improvements.

Coffee with Councilwoman Melendez NOV 16- NEW

My monthly meeting with residents and business owners at Flour Fusion is tomorrow, November 16 from 9:00-10:30

I look forward to seeing you!

October 11 Council Meeting - NEW

FYI, there will be NO STUDY SESSION for this Tuesday's October 11 meeting, since there's not much to study.

Ironically, one of the agenda items is to decide whether or not we will continue to even have study sessions. This is agenda item #11

Also of note is a Structure Abatement Appeal, which is item #7. This relates to action taken against property located at 522 North Riley. If you want details of why this property was placed in abatement, click on the title of this post above. From there click on Item #7

A Priest and a Rabbi Walk into a Bar - NEW

The title of this post is due to the ABSURDITY of a bill waiting for the Governor's signature.

Everyone remember when we passed the mandate of having to use E-Verify last year? Well, now a bill called the Employment Acceleration Act has passed the senate which will make our ordinance null and void.

This bill actually conflicts with the Legal Workforce Act, a bill pending in the U.S. House of Representatives that would require the use of E-Verify by ALL American employers.

So here we go again, California trying to forge their own trail and be seen as a leader. Problem is, they're leading us all around in circles.

The claim is that there are some "inconsistencies" with the program, or that it can lead to inaccuracies. Well, yes, I'm sure there are some inaccuracies. But then, my bank makes mistakes from time to time and we're not legislating they stop keeping track of our money are we?

Is there contaminated water in Sacramento that's causing this debilitating mindlessness? Is it that they're just being hacked by savvy IT guys and they're not really the ones writing these bills?

Because I like to save the best for last, Assemblyman Paul Fong of Mountain View sponsored the bill.
His contact info: Tel: (408) 277-2003 or Tel: (916) 319-2022

You should call him, I think he'd like to hear from you...and several hundred of your closest friends.

We Have a New Councilmember - NEW

Well, we finally have a new council member!

Tuesday night was a long night, and it ended with the four of us at an impasse.

We had two votes for Kelley by Magee and Tisdale, and two votes for Morsch by myself and Hickman.

We had 6 Lake Elsinore residents lobby on behalf of Genie Kelley, and 3 on behalf of Rick Morsch.

When we appeared to be able to go no further, I chose to compromise and nominate Peter Weber, one of the other 4 qualified candidates.

Unfortunately, there was no interest in compromising from anyone else, we ended with a deadlock.

We met again today, Friday the 16th, and once again Genie Kelley was nominated by Magee. It was clear we were obviously not going to agree on Morsch or Kelley, so I again offered a compromise and nominated Peter Weber.

I am happy to report that this compromise was reluctantly agree upon by a 3-1 vote.

Peter Weber has been appointed to serve out the 16-month term left vacant by Amy Bhutta.

We can now move on with the city's business with all five members. Hallelujah.

September 13 Council Mtg - NEW

Before I get into council items, I hope everyone had some time to pause a moment on September 11th and think about those who lost their lives a decade ago. There are many many children who will never know their father or mother because of the attacks on our soil. Don't let the memory of 9-11 fade into the distance.


City Council agenda items of interest are as follows:

Item #8 - Interim Urgency Ordinance to extend for an additional 10 months and 15 days the temporary prohibition on the permitting of boat docks within areas zoned as recreation districts.
This is to allow time to draft boat dock standards that are consistent throughout. Currently there are no boat dock standards.

Item #9 - Special Event "Monster Massive" Consideration
This is an electronic dance music festival, billed as "America's Largest Halloween Party". The event is to be held October 29, from 4:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. Discussion will need to take place about whether the site for the event (the motocross track) can accommodate the anticipated large crowd and if there is enough time to pull together the traffic plan and adequate security. The promoter stated they could expect up to 40,000 people. (yes, that's correct, 40,000).

Item #10 - City Council Vacancy - The City Council will briefly interview the "Final Four" applicants and select one to fill the vacant council seat. The final four are:

Jerry Carlos
Genie Kelley
Rick Morsch
Peter Weber

One More Time - NEW

At the last City Council meeting it was unanimously approved to place myself and Councilman Tisdale on a subcommittee to interview city council applicants.

As you may recall, Amy Bhutta resigned last month. The position must be filled by within 60 days.

Rather than ask the taxpayers to shell out $70,000 for a special election due to the abrupt resignation, we instead appointed the subcommittee.

The suggestion was made to "narrow it down to 4 or 5 candidates", then it was suggested that no one was really "stuck on a specific number", and then it changed again to "narrow it down to four candidates".

The final motion was to bring back 4 candidates.

However, councilman Tisdale and I were able to narrow it down to two candidates we felt were the best for the job, and felt that decision would be supported.

Three (3) members of the public spoke against this decision and demanded that we bring forward 4 finalists instead of 2. The council requested that we bring back 4 names instead of just 2.

Therefore, Councilman Tisdale and I will meet again and add two more name to the list, in addition to the two already selected, as finalists for consideration by the entire City Council at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting on September 13.