Candidates Expound on Menifee Community Issues at Forum
Differing viewpoints regarding the priority of road construction projects and methods of economic growth in Menifee were highlights of a can...
http://www.menifee247.com/2012/09/candidates-expound-on-menifee-community.html
Candidates also debated the effectiveness of the current Menifee City Council in working together and with city staff. Eight of the nine candidates for mayor and two council district seats participated, with only District 1 candidate Greg August absent.
About 100 people gathered in the theater at Paloma Valley High School for what was the last scheduled forum featuring all candidates before the Nov. 6 election. Candidates gave opening and closing statements and answered questions, many of which were sent via email from Menifee 24/7 readers.
City officials previously identified the No. 1 priority in alleviating traffic around Interstate 215 to be the Newport Road Interchange. Planning and design of that project is taking place and partial funding has been secured for reconstruction designed to widen and improve the Newport Road bridge, on-ramps and off-ramps.
While some candidates favored the commitment to that project as the first step in a long-range plan to alleviate traffic congestion, others favored putting the Newport project on hold. More important, they say, is the construction of an additional freeway overpass at Holland Road -- a project that lacks a design plan and funding at this point.
Mayoral candidate Darcy Kuenzi, responding to a related question about the traffic problems on Newport Road, agreed with Zimmerman, saying there already are short-term improvements in place there. She pointed to plans to eliminate the center median to increase the left-turn pocket from westbound Newport onto Haun Road, as well as a plan to widen Newport Road east of Antelope Road.
But Scott Mann and John F. Smith, the other two mayoral candidates, disagreed.
"Holland Road should be the No. 1 project," Mann said. I was one who argued to get the Holland overpass project in the plans originally.
"We have three east-west arterials in town: Scott, Newport and McCall. If they begin working on Newport without having the Holland overpass first, can you imagine what a traffic mess it will be?"
Smith, a newcomer to city government with a background as a fraud investigator, agreed.
"We need the Holland Road interchange; that's the best solution," he said. "We can hold off on Newport for a while."
Wallace Edgerton, a current city councilman with years of service in Menifee and Long Beach before that, spoke of his experience in city government and was critical of areas where he believes the inexperience of others has been a negative factor.
"We serve the voters," said Edgerton, who is running against Zimmerman for a council seat in District 3. "As city council members, we should stay on top of the staff; that's our responsibility. We don't need to disagree with everything they do, but we can certainly question actions that are proposed."
Kristjansson says she believes in the feasibility of creating paths between the two areas for exclusive travel by golf carts -- a method of transportation used by many Sun City residents. Martin, however, says he questions the feasibility of such an idea.
Kristjansson agreed with others who favored the addition of white-collar jobs to the city, although she cautioned that it's a complex process because of the specific criteria big companies require in order to relocate here. Martin said he believes much more strongly in the positive effect blue-collar jobs have on the local economy.
Sullivan, president of Sun City Concern and the Rotary Club of Menifee, said her priority is the welfare of senior citizens in her district, although she is also concerned about differences between seniors and younger residents.
"I don't see a lot of respect from either side," she said.
"It's not a generation gap, it's a respect gap," Mann said when answering a question about the needs of young families who have moved into the area in recent years. "We have a great opportunity to serve all our residents. I'd like to establish a parks commission so we can determine how to direct the recreational opportunities moving forward."
Smith criticized city officials for what he called excessive spending, saying "this city council will put Menifee into backruptcy in the future if this continues." He offered to show residents copies of city salary and expense figures after the meeting.
Edgerton said his No. 1 priority is protecting home values in the city. For this reason, he is opposed to "excessive development" in the future.
While Edgerton opposes extensive negotiations with developers, Zimmerman, Kristjansson and Kuenzi say they believe in the need for increased business to help build the city's tax revenue base and provide for future amenities.
"Menifee finds itself at a crossroads," Kuenzi said. "Which direction are we going to take?"
That's what voters will decide on Nov. 6.
A video of the entire candidates forum will be available on www.menifee247.com later this week.
The district 3 race seems to be a shut out for the newcomer.
ReplyDeleteBad choice of words. I should have said a"shoo-in" for the challenger Mr. Z. and completely "shut out" Wallace
DeleteIf you are referring to Bill Zimmerman as the newcomer, you are mistaken. Bill has been on the Planning Commission for 4 years and knows what the City of Menifee needs to be successful. He also has lived in District 3 for many years. His opponent, Mr. Edgerton, decided to move to District 3 earlier this year after he found out that Darcy Kuenzi was going to run for Mayor. If you don't beleive me, please check for yourself...Mr. Edgerton went on record at a Council meeting earlier this year about where he was moving to. Edgerton is not what the City of Menifee or District 3 needs. He is out of touch with the younger demographic of District 3 and is promising to do things that he simply cannot deliver upon. He fails to realize that the City only has 11% of its total land available for changes in use, but continues to profess that he can keep all of the open fields undeveloped. Much of the land he is referring to is already entitled for development, it just hasn't been built on yet because of the slowdown.
ReplyDeleteSomeone knows the facts and has done research. THANK YOU! Sept. 27, 2012 7:55
Delete7:55pm, One wonders why your coming across as know it all, when a lot of the things your writing are simply not true. For one thing, District 3 has NOT been around for many years. As for the undeveloped land, much of it has NOT been sitting waiting for developers. I doubt very much whether Wally and Judy would deliberately look for a house based on wanting to be in a certain area just to run for a seat. You put way too much emphasis on Mr. Zimmerman's Planning Commission, it appears Mr. Zimmerman has a lot of time to volunteer and be appointed to projects for the city. I think he thinks without a college degree or real experience somehow volunteering will give him the 'know how' to run a city, it does neither.
DeleteIn order to run a city we need folks on the city council with either experience and/or education if not, we will be doing nothing but making major mistakes that will cost you and I, tax payers dearly in the end. Just because you volunteer does NOT qualify you!
Delete8:14 & 8:18
DeleteWhat's important is what you do with that college degree after you get it.Are you so naive that you believe Wally DIDN'T move for the purpose of running for election?
12:23p, Bill is this you again?
DeleteThe bridge at Newport is further along in the process than Scott or Holland, plus Holland would be paid for entirely by the City of Menifee. Newport has an overall County of Riverside transportation element to it and can receive funding from RCTC since it transports traffic from unincorporated County areas, Winchester, and Hemet. The Scott bridge costs can be shared with Murrieta since it services both cities. Plus, if you do Holland first, and then Newport and Scott undergo construction, Holland would take ALL of the traffic that is currently shared by Newport and Scott...talk about a nightmare.
ReplyDelete8:32p. First of all, they would never do both at the same time, (Newport and Scott Rds) They would work on one and then the other, leaving two ways to get across this city. IF Riverside County was so interested in our fixing the roads, why on earth didn't they do the right thing the first time around.? Surely they must have done studies of the growing areas, knowing full well in 5 yrs we'd have a growing population, and yet they decided to take the lazy way out, and build small leaving the funding and worries up to the City of Menifee. Not very good leadership if you ask me. Riverside County has always been slow in getting anything done compared to other counties in southern California.
DeleteThe salary of the City Staff is in line with all of our neighboring Cities and completely justifiable given the population and the working budget of the City
ReplyDeleteUsually salaries are based on 1) education 2) skills 3) experience and years doing a similar job. It is not based on hidden agendas. Mr.Smith made some very valid points at the last campaign at Paloma. In my opinion, simple projects take forever to complete in this city, is it because many on the staff have never done this type of work before and therefore not experience with what it is they're really suppose to be doing?
DeleteWas it hubris that kept the other candidate for District#! from participating in the debate at Paloma last Wednesday? Or is it possible that Greg August assumes he has already convinced seniors in District 1
ReplyDeleteto vote for his inexplicable policy of absolutely "no development " ?
Perhaps August's absence was due quite simply to his inability to provide details in support of the notion that a stagnant community is a viable one .
However, Keunzi, Kristjjanson, and Zimmerman presented constructive ,creative, goal-oriented
proposals which exemplified "vision" ; beautifying downtown Sun City, improving traffic flow in order
to attract small business and increase revenue for this young city.
What some seniors fail to grasp is that a thriving city embraces young and old alike- it enhances the quality of life for all. Do you people really like the reference to Sun City as "The Waiting Room"!?
The four horsemen of the apocalypse are descending upon the City of Menifee.
ReplyDeleteYou may not recognize them at first:
• The oldest and frailest is a bit shaky in gait and has a little trouble with which direction to take. He may abandon the horse and just ride in with one of his Cadillacs.
• The next rider is in the position he regularly assumes: number two. He is an unsteady rider; definitely an amateur.
• The third member you can’t miss because of his pompous gait and noisy, obnoxious snorting.
• The fourth member fell off his horse from the weight of the wooden coins in his pocket; we may have to carry this one for awhile.
You may not be aware of these mythic figures at first. That’s because of the camouflage the media provides to conceal their modus operandi. Even so, you will surely recognize the familiar image as they ride away from you with their tails held high.
The media will only allow you to address them in glowing terms, so my advice to you is this:
Just let them ride off, unless, of course, you want to be part of the broom-and-dustpan brigade cleaning up after them for the next four years
Is the fourth member a ranch owner?
DeleteBill Z has like 27 years experience in land planning as his profession. He told me that the company that he worked for in the 80's and 90's does structural engineering for bridges.
ReplyDeleteWally knows about politics. We hear his lectures at every meeting. Frankly I'm tired of it.
5:04p...And, you believed him? Look up the 'real' Bill Zimmerman! Don't be fooled by this Bully...
DeleteDid research on Zimmerman. All good.
Delete24/7 has the most info.
Californian has article about his fight to protect our rural areas.
It's wrong to widen Newport before adding the Holland bridge. We only have two accesses to the freeway in menifee. If Newport is worked on first, then traffic will get extremely bad during the construction. At least if Holland is done first, there will be less traffic passing over the Newport bridge during construction. All in favor...VOTE FOR WALLACE EDGERTON
ReplyDeleteWhat happens after the road issue?
DeleteI don't think I can take any more negative Councilman's arguing.
ReplyDeleteWe need leaders who will send the right message to potential businesses. The message is "We now work well together" and "We have a welcome environment". That is both staff and Council.
I am choosing the Candidates that are friendly, and give us a good name.
Scott Rd only has one lane going each way. And Scott Rd and Haun Rd. is also where there is talk of a Cosco and a Walmart to be built. Both very good opportunities for better paying jobs locally and will create more revenue for Menifee.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there is noway for that to happen without the Holland bridge and the Scott Rd. bridge widened. First should be the Holland bridge to ease traffic while Scott Rd. is being widened. Then we can start with the widening of Newport. If we try to widen Newport first like what Zimmerman wants to do. Then, most of that traffic is forced to Scott Rd. which is only one lane and is already overwhelmed with traffic. And one more thing. Stop building these strip malls, until you can atleast figure out how to get them occupied. Shop at Scott is 100% vacant, and it looks like there trying to add another strip mall almost across the street. I doesn't make sense. We need bigger business if we want to gain more revenue's.