Commentary: City owes Menifee residents some answers

Commentary by Doug Spoon, Editor

A recent study concluded that Menifee is the ninth fastest growing city in the nation. We certainly don’t doubt that.

But where would Menifee rank on the list of best managed cities? That’s the question we should be asking.

Who would’ve imagined that a city nearing 110,000 in population would spend weeks without its top two administrators, with no change in sight? And who would’ve believed that the person chosen as Acting City Manager would rank below all the department heads in seniority?

Well, who would’ve thought that city officials would be as lenient as they have been in enforcement actions against George Krikorian, master of the phantom theater project?

Is this how Menifee residents want their city to be run?

It has been six weeks since it was announced at an Oct. 18 City Council meeting that City Manager Armando Villa was placed on paid administrative leave. According to the official announcement, the action taken by the City Council – by a 3-2 vote – was “not punitive or disciplinary”, but necessary during a personnel investigation by an outside counsel (details not disclosed). It was later learned that the City’s No. 2 official – Assistant City Manager Rochelle Clayton – was also placed on paid leave during the same investigation.

That in itself leaves residents to wonder how the two officials are connected in the investigation, and who lodged the complaint. But just as mysterious is what’s taking the investigator so long, and what went into the selection of the Acting City Manager?

Rebekah Kramer was given the title of Acting City Manager. An analyst in the City Manager’s Office, her official title is Assistant to the City Manager, not Assistant City Manager. She ranks below all the Department Directors in terms of seniority.

It’s curious that Kramer was given the position ahead of department heads such as Jonathan Nicks (HR and Community Services), who has the additional title of Deputy City Manager; and Gina Gonzalez, who has 10 years with the City and as Economic Development Director is one of the most recognizable faces in the region. If Nicks has an additional title none of the other department heads have, why wasn’t he made Acting City Manager? Or, considering the priority the City places on economic growth, why wasn’t Gonzalez the choice?

The decision to go with Kramer was reportedly made by the City Council. Why was this decision made? And did Kramer then turn around and place her superior Clayton on leave, or was that decision also made by the City Council? Or perhaps by the outside counsel handling the investigation?

What’s this investigation about, anyway? Why is it taking so long? If the outside investigator can’t make a decision in six weeks, perhaps the City Council members should put some pressure on him or take matters into their own hands. Are they afraid of litigation?

We don’t know the answers to these questions. But one thing we know for certain: The longer this lasts, the worse it looks. And the part of Menifee’s mission statement about transparency? Apparently that has been long forgotten.

The City was already fighting the negative image of the Krikorian theater project, which has remained unfinished for years while the City decides how many $200 fines and notices of violation to serve. Krikorian is great at stalling, which he has shown in the latest development following the city’s announced intention to place a lien on the property. The theater walls are still standing, and Krikorian – once again -- filed an appeal of the City’s action.

According to City spokesman Phil Southard, the matter will now be resolved through third-party arbitration. That means another delay and, in essence, serves notice that the City couldn’t resolve this issue itself.

Now comes word that the corner retail structures remain in limbo as well. Previously, the City reported that Krikorian met a Sept. 1 deadline to apply for permits to continue construction on that phase of the project, and that those plans were being processed. But now, according to Southard, Krikorian missed a subsequent deadline to meet building and safety requirements, so a Notice of Violation for Public Nuisance was issued by the City.

Then there’s the issue of the City’s failed attempt to detach itself from Valley-Wide Recreation & Park District in order to control all city parks – not just those west of the 215 Freeway, as currently exists.

The City actually won a ruling over Valley-Wide made by a regional sanctioning board in 2017, but with the conditions that the City pay Valley-Wide $1 million and consent to a public election on the matter because tax assessments would change parties. Apparently worried that they would lose the election, City officials turned down the deal, which has since expired. And the $1 million payout? That’s nothing when you consider that the City is spending over $4 million on an amphitheater alone.

Now that Valley-Wide has announced huge fee increases to community groups for field use, the City would appear to be in a better position in the eyes of residents. But now they would have to start the detachment process all over again, and who knows how long that would take?

None of the aforementioned issues alone could destroy a city, but together they don’t paint a pretty picture for a city that is supposed to be “up and coming.” Whether you blame Villa, the City Council, the investigator in the Villa case or all of the above, it’s a mess that is affecting Menifee’s ability to do business and save face in the region.

While City officials are busy bragging about Menifee’s status as a “boomtown”, perhaps they should take a look at how they are doing business. Surely they don’t want the boomtown to blow up in their face.