Council votes to explore City's expansion to the east

By Doug Spoon, Editor

The Menifee City Council last week voted to explore the annexation of 1,929 acres of land east of the city limits.

Some consider it a logical move to expand the city limits eastward to include Liberty High School and the large new housing development adjacent to it. Others believe it is not worth the expense to add acreage to an already fast-growing city.

The vote to direct staff to pursue the annexation process was 3-2, led by outspoken mayor Bill Zimmerman. Mayor pro tem Dean Deines and council member Lesa Sobek joined Zimmerman in voting to approve the action. Casting opposing votes were council members Bob Karwin and Ricky Estrada.

Currently, that portion of land is part of unincorporated Winchester. It is bordered by Briggs Road to the west, Leon Road to the east, Newport Road to the north, and Scott Road to the south. Proponents of the move cite the area as being within Menifee’s “sphere of influence” – something that is defined as “a planning boundary outside of an agency’s legal boundary (such as the city limit line) that designates the agency’s probable future boundary and service area.”

In order to annex that land, Menifee would need to amend its general plan and receive approval of the Riverside County Local Agency Formation Commission. Also needed would be an environmental review. According to city staff, the process is estimated to cost up to $700,000. Even then, there is no guarantee of approval.

“Having all our high schools in the same sphere of influence is important,” Karwin said. “But our past relationship with LAFCO does not give me a favorable view of how this comes out. Spending $700,000 is a pretty big lottery ticket.”

Karwin’s comment referred to the city’s dealings with LAFCO in its prior efforts to take control of east-side parks away from Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District. To him, the price tag is simply too high for an action that would not be guaranteed.

Joining him in opposition was Estrada, who made a comparison citing the City of Perris’ alleged attempts to control the economic corridor in north Menifee.

“The space we have – we need to manage that,” Estrada said. “We don’t like how Perris tells us what to do, and now we are here telling Winchester what to do. I think it’s hypocritical of us to do this to our neighbors.”

Winchester residents are not likely to give up that land without a fight. A committee of residents has been seeking cityhood for years. Hearing that some Menifee officials consider that land within Menifee’s sphere of influence angers some.

“This has been going on for a while behind closed doors,” said Andy Domenigoni, chairman of the Winchester-Homeland Municipal Advisory Council. “Over a year ago, we talked about getting together to discuss this. Since that meeting … crickets. Where did the ball drop?

“This is going to cost you a lot of money, and there’s no guarantee you can win that fight.”

Zimmerman was adamant that such a move made sense for Menifee.

“Those 1,900 acres was always a part of the Sun City / Menifee area plan before we became a city,” the mayor said, referring to previous County designations. “That portion got left out there and it’s up for grabs. It was never a part of the Winchester plan, but there’s a piece out there, and now Winchester says 'we might as well pick it up'. We’ve put a flag in the ground for that land ourselves.”

In an October 2022 City Council discussion of the city’s sphere of influence, council members discussed land going as far east as Winchester Road (Highway 79). Zimmerman now says that was a mistake, but that extending the boundary to include Liberty High School is essential.

“This is the school’s request as well,” he said.

Gregg Cowdery, vice chairman of the Winchester MAC, said that Winchester officials originally wanted Menifee’s city limits to end at Menifee Road. He claims that in exchange for Winchester agreeing to the wider Menifee boundary, Menifee officials promised not to seek further expansion.

Last week’s action does not commit Menifee to an annexation process. Even if officials decide to continue with it, annexation would require a favorable vote of local residents.

“We thought that 1,900 acres would be a great compromise,” said Deines, who served on an ad hoc committee about the topic with Zimmerman.

City staff will study further the cost of the process and factors involved and will report back to the council at a future date.