The regular meeting of the Lake Elsinore City Council and Successor Agency on March 14 was brief and brisk as consent calendar items 1-9 were passed unanimously, as were Successor Agency Consent Calendar items 10-12.
As always, the meeting ended with City Council Member comments and Brian Tisdale used the opportunity to share what he learned at the most recent annual meeting of the California Association of Councils of Governments. He sits on its board, representing the Western Riverside County Council of Governments. He said that at the Riverside Convention Center meeting, there was much conversation about electric vehicles and what is going to happen in 2035 when there will be no more gas vehicles allowed in California.
Tisdale encouraged anyone who is concerned about this issue to act now to voice their opposition by writing to their assembly members, senators, governor and anyone else who might listen because he said the state is simply not ready for this. He said, “The people that are going to be impacted the most by this are the poor and there’s no real resolution for that.”
The ramifications of deciding to go completely green with electric vehicles have not been fully explored. Tisdale went on to say that the state plans to study this year how to close gas stations. “I don’t know what that’s going to do for our tourism industry when folks drive in (from other states),” he said. “I don’t know what it’s going to do for our military and other federal employees because most of the time they’re exempt from state rules so it’s going to be interesting. I don’t think the people up in Sacramento care or even understand.” Those interested in tracking all bills that are looked at by local governments can visit www.calcog.org.
Council Member Robert “Bob” Magee agreed with Tisdale, stating, “The infrastructure definitely needs some work. We are not ready for an all-electric fleet of vehicles.” On the subject of the building of mega warehouses, Magee said he and Mayor Pro Tem Steve Manos recently met with some representatives from the development community at a meeting sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce to discuss the City’s proposed “Good Neighbor Policy.” He said it “outlines the requirements the City Council would like to see, should developers seek to build mega warehouses near single family dwellings and other sensitive receptors.” Magee said they would like more input from homeowners and reminded everyone that the item, which was continued from a prior City Council meeting, has been agendized for March 28 when it will be put up for a vote. “If people come here to speak, we will take their comments,” Magee said. “We need your comments; whether you’re a builder, a property owner or a renter, we need to hear from you about what you think about mega warehouses in our valley.”
Magee then reported that someone had stolen a 10,000-pound equipment trailer that Sports Car Club of America’s San Diego chapter parked at the Storm stadium parking lot in preparation for an upcoming event there on March 24 and 25. “This organization is run by volunteers, people who sacrifice in order to enjoy their hobby,” Magee said. Anyone who sees the trailer is asked to notify the sheriff’s department and share any information with the group at info@sdrscca.com. Magee said the organization plans to borrow equipment from the Los Angeles chapter to enable them to host their event at Diamond Stadium as planned.
Manos echoed Magee’s comments about the subject of mega warehouses. “I think this city has done a fairly good job of communicating to the business community and to the development community when we want a certain standard,” he said.
Mayor Natasha Johnson shared that the City Council as a whole wrote a letter of support for Senate Bill 602, which was introduced by Bob Archuleta. It is an act to amend Section 602 of the Penal Code, relating to trespass, basically allowing non-trespass letters from owners of businesses and homes to have their requests on file for three years rather than just one and to be able to submit them electronically. “This will allow law enforcement to properly do their job and enforce the law,” Johnson said, adding that the bill is set to be heard on April 11. “We asked our colleagues up and down the corridor in Riverside County to band together and out of 16 cities, we got 16 yesses, so along with four of the five county supervisors, we all sent letters of support. I think together we can do some big things.”
City Manager Jason Simpson reported that Pulte Homes has been asked to post a 35 MPH speed limit sign on Nichols Road, where construction is taking place.
There was one Public Hearing item earlier in the meeting which was a request for approval of a tentative tract map to subdivide a 2.14-acre parcel into one lot for condominium purposes and to subdivide an industrial building currently under construction into six condominium units. A short presentation by Kevin Beery on behalf of the planning division provided some background on the project, noting that on Feb. 21, the Planning Commission held a public hearing and voted 3-0 recommending City Council approval. After the presentation, a motion was made by Tisdale to approve which was seconded by Manos. It was passed unanimously, 5-0.
The next regular meeting of the Lake Elsinore City Council and Successor Agency is scheduled for Tuesday, March 28 at 7 p.m. For more information, www.lake-elsinore.org.
