Lack of settlement extends City's lawsuit vs. Valley-Wide

Wheatfield Park is one of the largest Menifee Parks controlled by Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District. File photo

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Riverside Superior Court has set a May 29 date for the latest hearing in what has become nearly a three-year lawsuit in the City of Menifee's attempt to take control of parks east of the 215 Freeway from Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District.

The hearing was scheduled following several months of negotiations between the City of Menifee and the Riverside Local Agency Formation Commission failed to result in a settlement, according to court records. LAFCO, which has authority to rule on the City's request for detachment from Valley-Wide, ruled in July 2017 that Menifee could detach itself from Valley, but with several conditions:

-- An election be held to receive public approval of the change in tax assessment districts from Valley-Wide to the City of Menifee.

-- The City of Menifee must agree to pay $500,000 to Valley-Wide as compensation for the gym and community center adjacent to Wheatield Park.

-- The City of Menifee must agree to pay $500,000 to Valley-Wide as a gap bridge (half of what was requested).

-- The City of Menifee must agree to employ Valley-Wide employees affected by the change.

Contesting the conditions -- primarily whether LAFCO has a legal right to require the election for a change in tax assessments -- the City filed an appeal of LAFCO's decision. In October 2017, that appeal was denied, and in November 2017 the City filed a lawsuit against LAFCO and Valley-Wide. The next two-plus years have consisted of a number of court hearings and negotiation meetings between the City and LAFCO that have failed to bring about a resolution.

The background of this complex situation can be found in Menifee 24/7 articles here and here.

Contacted by Menifee 24/7, Menifee City Attorney Jeffrey Melching would confirm only that the litigation is ongoing.

Meanwhile, Valley-Wide continues to control parks east the 215 Freeway, including large recreation and sports venues at Wheatfield Park and Lago Vista Sports Park. The City of Menifee has controlled parks west of the freeway since taking that over from Riverside County.

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