March 9 Council Update - NEW

DON'T FORGET, THIS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9 IS MY "COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR" AT FLOUR FUSION ON MAIN ST. FROM 9:00-10:30. COME TALK TO ME!


Here are the items of interest on the agenda for Tuesday, March 9, 2010.

Item number #7 - Use of State Prop 1b funds for pavement rehab of city streets.
Staff is proposing using Prop 1b funds to repair two roads: Sumner Ave. from Main to Chaney, and Heald Ave from Main to Chaney. The estimated cost is $705,000.00

Staff also proposes using Prop 42 (Gas Tax) money to pay for the Design Phase of these repairs, in the amount of $20,000.00

We as a city have until 2013 to spend the funds appropriated, or I guess the state takes it back. Even though it was ours to begin with, but please, don't get me started on that.



Item #8 - GO-Pass Program. This is a cooperative effort between RTA and Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) . It allows registered students of MSJC to board all RTA fixed route buses at no charge.

The Southcoast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) disperses taxes collected from AB2766 for programs like this one to cities. Assembly Bill 2766 (AB2766) was passed to help alleviate traffic congestion, air pollution and parking problems.


The cost to the city for one year is $1,081.00. The money would come from funds the city receives from AQMD as mentioned above. The money is taken from the taxpayers, then you get just a little back, but you have to spend it on what they feel is an appropriate use of taxpayer money. How's THAT for irony?


Item #16 - Report on the Mid-Year status of the budget
The online staff report for this item incorrectly states the city anticipates a reduction in revenue of $1. This should read $1 million.

Staff anticipates $1 million less in revenue this year.
Last year about 1 million was taken from the Rainy Day Fund to balance the budget. We apparently did not need that much due to a reduction in expenses in Fire, Police and Parks & Rec.

So, staff proposes using the money we didn't need last year and using it this year, along with taking an additional $245,000 to cover the $1 million shortfall in revenue.

The shortfall in revenue comes from 1) decrease in property tax 2) decrease in sales tax 3) decrease in Fire Tax Credit

If approved, it would leave roughly 6 1/2 million in reserve funds.


To view more detailed staff reports for all agenda items, click on the title of this post.

Senate Candidate

Hi everyone! This Saturday, March 6th, 37th District Senate candidate Russ Bogh will be at the Starbucks on Grape Street in Lake Elsinore from 10:30-12:00.

This is an opportunity for you to meet him and ask questions before voting in the special election on April 13, 2010.

See you there!

The Latest Scoop - NEW

Who says there isn't anything new going on?

1) New businesses in town
Golden Chopsticks Restaurant on Collier
Sea Food Restaurant on Mission Trail
Giovanni & Isaacs Art & Antiques on Main Street
Total Performance Auto Repair on Corydon

2) The School District wants to expand Tuscany Hills Elementary School

3) We are waiting for a use agreement from the School District for Terra Cotta Joint Use Gymnasium. It has been open for use by the school district since October. It has not been open for resident use to date. The city (taxpayers) chipped in $750,000 for the gym.

4) The Outhouse Campground, busted for property maintenance issues and nuisance issues.

5) We may have a new event in town, The Warrior Dash. Event organizers originally wanted to hold it at Temescal Canyon Road, but the county said no. Organizers are now in communication with the Storm Stadium to host the event there on April 10th and 11th. Are you a warrior?
Click the link to see what it's all about http://www.warriordash.com/index.php

Council Meeting Results

Tuesday was an interesting day. We had the recall election, which failed. Councilman Buckley will retain his position on the council. It's just too bad the taxpayers have to foot the bill for an election that clearly by the results, no one wanted to see succeed.

We also heard the appeal made by Trevi owner Michel Knight. There was much discussion, but in the end we voted not to revoke his C.U.P. at this time. Rather, we made an offer; Trevi brings everything up to code standards and agrees to drop the lawsuits he has brought against the city. He has until March 23 to accept the offer. If he does not accept, his C.U.P will be revoked.

Tough Times, Simple Solution

http://www.thetreasurebox.org/video.php

Elsinore First Assembly, located at 19740 Grand Avenue has teamed up with an organization called Treasure Box.

This organization provides quality nutritious food for significantly less than what you would pay at the grocery store.

The food is name brand and costs $30 per box. If you click on the link at the top of this post you can watch the news video about this organization.

This is not government assistance. This is not food stamps or WIC.

We have a lot of folks out of a job. We have seniors who are having a tough time paying the bills. We have families struggling. We have kids who are hungry and parents who can't afford to feed them.

This organization may be the help you need during these tough times.

**I have not tried the food myself so I cannot comment on the quality**

Pick up is at Elsinore First Assembly once a month. Go to www.thetreasurebox.org/pr to order. You must pre-order your box.

Tidbits

I thought I would share a few items of interest with all of you.

1) Plan were submitted the week of Feb 1st for a new Italian Restaurant called Grapes & Tomatoes, to be located in the Canyon Hills Shopping Center. That's good news, we could use more restaurants.

2) Last week, roughly 300 people from the Lambs Fellowship worked in the city to help those in need. Volunteers worked on two properties. One was a home owned by a 101 year old woman who was in desperate need of roof repairs.

3) The other home, occupied by a senior citizen, had no landscaping in the front yard, just dirt. Volunteers helped to landscape the front yard. Looks like good things happen when the community pulls together to help each other out.

4) Plans are still going forward for Walgreens to move into the old Burger King site on Mission Trail. They submitted their initial plans in January.

5) Saturday auditions were held at the Diamond Stadium to select who will sing the National Anthem on opening day, April 8th. And no, I don't know who won!

6) The recall election is set for Tuesday, February 23rd, which is next week. No matter your opinion, you need to vote. This election could be decided by one vote, will it be yours?

Feb 9 Council Meeting Stats

First, to those of you who visited this site earlier today and instead found an obnoxious Go Daddy advertisement, SORRY! I don't know what happened, but it was fixed fairly quickly.

And now, the update on what we'll be looking at on Feb 9th.

PUBLIC HEARING
1) Resolution declaring weeds, rubbish, refuse and dirt a nuisance: property owners to be notified.

There are about 8,200 vacant properties subject to this notification. If the resolution is adopted, notices will be mailed to these property owners. They will be asked to abate the weeds, rubbish, etc. or they will be assessed the cost for the city to conduct the abatement.

BUSINESS ITEMS
1) Consideration of Citizens Activity Teams Volunteer Program

This is a program brought forward by Mayor Pro Tem Bhutta. It is a program designed to use volunteers from the community for services such as: mail delivery between city facilities, light clerical, reception desk, illegal sign removal, on-site work at City Yard, Senior Center, Lake facilities, citizens patrol, business patrol, shoreline patrol, parking/traffic control, event assistance, neighborhood watch.

The estimated cost to implement the program without grant funding is $6,000.00
The estimated cost to implement with grant funding is $3,500.00


2) Modification to Grading Permit for the project known as La Strada

The applicant is requesting a modification to their grading permit to allow quarry/processing of material on-site, as well as acceptance of an addendum to their Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND). An MND is a document that shows how an applicant will reduce the effects their project will have on the environment (ie: air quality, noise, biological resources, transportation, etc.)