The City of Menifee’s published list of Guiding Principles includes a category labeled “Responsive and Transparent.” Unfortunately, its failure in that category is leading to a growing sense of mistrust among some residents.
Those who say on social media that “We’re becoming another City of Bell” might be exaggerating, but the oft-mentioned word “corruption” can’t be too comforting to officials who continue to push the City’s theme of “New. Better. Best.”
To become “better”, Menifee needs to start answering some questions in a hurry.
In reporting on public affairs, Menifee 24/7 has constantly run into roadblocks when inquiring about controversial decisions and policies. We’ve submitted public records requests regarding allegations of misconduct in the police department. The response: “There are no public records responsive to your request.” We asked for an explanation of City Manager Armando Villa’s four-month forced leave of absence in 2023-24. The response: “No comment.”
Q: What really happened between the City and George Krikorian? A: “We can’t comment on legal matters.” Q: How do you justify the expense and delays regarding the $6.1 million amphitheater? A: “It’s a unique design. The majority of funds are restricted to development.”
And now, it appears there are crickets once again regarding the Randy Madrid mess. Throwing this controversy on top of all the others, residents on social media are screaming, “Investigate them all! Vote them all out!”
The City’s response: City attorney Jeffrey Melching has told the mayor, all other City Council members, and Villa not to discuss the issue with Menifee 24/7. Once again, they are hiding behind a legal shield in an apparent attempt to minimize the damage.
Why does the City not have a policy for validating the required city residence of City Council members and Planning Commissioners?
The Municipal Code requires Planning Commissioners to be a Menifee resident and a registered voter in Menifee. And by state law, City Council members must also live in the district they are elected to serve, starting at the time of their filing for candidacy and continuing throughout their term. (California Government Code 34882). However, there is no requirement that they submit proof of residence or voter registration documentation, provide utility bills or lease agreements, or undergo residency verification by the city clerk.
Basically – and this appears to be the case in many cities – City Council members and Planning Commissioners are “under the honor system”. No one is ever caught breaking the residency rules unless a private citizen submits a complaint to the District Attorney’s Office – which is what happened in Madrid’s case.
Now that it has been confirmed that Madrid does not live in District 4 and would not be eligible to serve as a City Council member there, people are wondering whether he ever lived in Menifee at all while serving as Planning Commissioner for 10 years.
This is a key question, because the evidence appears to show that he did not. And if that’s the case, the validity of all actions the Planning Commission approved while Madrid was a member could be called into question.
Property records show an address on Camelina Street in Lake Elsinore (Canyon Hills community) for Madrid. In an investigator’s Declaration in Support of Arrest Warrant, investigator Michael Hamilton reported observing Madrid driving away from that home in August. And a 2020 civil court case involving Madrid and others shows that Madrid was served a summons at that same address.
Madrid’s real estate development company, RM Project Development, lists as its business address a residence on Rim Creek Path in Menifee. Sources claim that Madrid used that address as a home address, but property records do not associate him with that address.
Scott Mann, mayor of Menifee in 2015, told Menifee 24/7 on Monday that he appointed Madrid to the Planning Commission that fall. He was asked whether he knew whether Madrid lived in Menifee at the time.
“As far as I recall, yes,” Mann said. “I went to a meet and greet for Randy at his home in the Evans Ranch Development (in 2015). At least as far as I know, he lived in that house. I never checked.”
Apparently, neither did anyone else. After Mann lost to Neil Winter in the mayoral race in 2016, Winter chose to keep Madrid as his Planning Commissioner. Then after Winter died in 2018, mayoral successor Bill Zimmerman retained Madrid as well. Still, no residency check was ever made.
“When I became mayor, I wanted to honor Neil Winter’s accomplishments, so I made no changes,” Zimmerman said on Monday. Madrid was reappointed to the Planning Commission by City Council member Dean Deines in 2024 when Mayor Ricky Estrada’s choice for Planning Commissioner was Tammy Ramirez.
One current City official who did respond to Menifee 24/7 is a Planning Commissioner who apparently can’t help himself when given a platform to speak. Michael Knighten, who has staunchly defended Madrid on social media, was asked if he knew whether Madrid lived in Menifee during his time on the Planning Commission.
“I have Asperger’s syndrome and am a major introvert,” Knighten said. “That’s not my style to hang out at people’s houses. Of the current Council and both Commissions, I have only been to two people’s homes — one of which was for the first time 2 1/2 weeks ago.
“I am a firm believer in the justice system — you’re innocent until proven guilty.”
A check of other local cities shows that Murrieta, Temecula, Lake Elsinore, and Perris also do not have municipal codes requiring verification of residency for the City Council members or Planning Commissioners – suggesting a flaw in the system that should be corrected. Others, such as the City of San Bernardino, do check residency.
The problem is that the state and county leave that up to the individual cities. County Registar of Voters spokeswoman Elizabeth Florer told the Press-Enterprise newspaper on Monday that “The filing of criminal charges does not, by itself, remove a qualified candidate from the ballot.” Previously, Florer told Menifee 24/7, “The Registrar of Voters’ office is not an investigatory body and does not determine or investigate candidate eligibility for municipal offices.” She referred us to the City of Menifee for questions.
Would the City of Menifee decide at this point to declare Madrid ineligible as a candidate? Who knows? Once again, the City isn’t talking.
Commentary: City’s refusal to comment adds to negative image
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The City of Menifee’s published list of Guiding Principles includes a category labeled “Responsive and Transparent.” Unfortunately, its failure in that category is leading to a growing sense of mistrust among some residents.
Those who say on social media that “We’re becoming another City of Bell” might be exaggerating, but the oft-mentioned word “corruption” can’t be too comforting to officials who continue to push the City’s theme of “New. Better. Best.”
To become “better”, Menifee needs to start answering some questions in a hurry.
In reporting on public affairs, Menifee 24/7 has constantly run into roadblocks when inquiring about controversial decisions and policies. We’ve submitted public records requests regarding allegations of misconduct in the police department. The response: “There are no public records responsive to your request.” We asked for an explanation of City Manager Armando Villa’s four-month forced leave of absence in 2023-24. The response: “No comment.”
Q: What really happened between the City and George Krikorian? A: “We can’t comment on legal matters.” Q: How do you justify the expense and delays regarding the $6.1 million amphitheater? A: “It’s a unique design. The majority of funds are restricted to development.”
And now, it appears there are crickets once again regarding the Randy Madrid mess. Throwing this controversy on top of all the others, residents on social media are screaming, “Investigate them all! Vote them all out!”
The City’s response: City attorney Jeffrey Melching has told the mayor, all other City Council members, and Villa not to discuss the issue with Menifee 24/7. Once again, they are hiding behind a legal shield in an apparent attempt to minimize the damage.
Why does the City not have a policy for validating the required city residence of City Council members and Planning Commissioners?
The Municipal Code requires Planning Commissioners to be a Menifee resident and a registered voter in Menifee. And by state law, City Council members must also live in the district they are elected to serve, starting at the time of their filing for candidacy and continuing throughout their term. (California Government Code 34882). However, there is no requirement that they submit proof of residence or voter registration documentation, provide utility bills or lease agreements, or undergo residency verification by the city clerk.
Basically – and this appears to be the case in many cities – City Council members and Planning Commissioners are “under the honor system”. No one is ever caught breaking the residency rules unless a private citizen submits a complaint to the District Attorney’s Office – which is what happened in Madrid’s case.
Now that it has been confirmed that Madrid does not live in District 4 and would not be eligible to serve as a City Council member there, people are wondering whether he ever lived in Menifee at all while serving as Planning Commissioner for 10 years.
This is a key question, because the evidence appears to show that he did not. And if that’s the case, the validity of all actions the Planning Commission approved while Madrid was a member could be called into question.
Property records show an address on Camelina Street in Lake Elsinore (Canyon Hills community) for Madrid. In an investigator’s Declaration in Support of Arrest Warrant, investigator Michael Hamilton reported observing Madrid driving away from that home in August. And a 2020 civil court case involving Madrid and others shows that Madrid was served a summons at that same address.
Madrid’s real estate development company, RM Project Development, lists as its business address a residence on Rim Creek Path in Menifee. Sources claim that Madrid used that address as a home address, but property records do not associate him with that address.
Scott Mann, mayor of Menifee in 2015, told Menifee 24/7 on Monday that he appointed Madrid to the Planning Commission that fall. He was asked whether he knew whether Madrid lived in Menifee at the time.
“As far as I recall, yes,” Mann said. “I went to a meet and greet for Randy at his home in the Evans Ranch Development (in 2015). At least as far as I know, he lived in that house. I never checked.”
Apparently, neither did anyone else. After Mann lost to Neil Winter in the mayoral race in 2016, Winter chose to keep Madrid as his Planning Commissioner. Then after Winter died in 2018, mayoral successor Bill Zimmerman retained Madrid as well. Still, no residency check was ever made.
“When I became mayor, I wanted to honor Neil Winter’s accomplishments, so I made no changes,” Zimmerman said on Monday. Madrid was reappointed to the Planning Commission by City Council member Dean Deines in 2024 when Mayor Ricky Estrada’s choice for Planning Commissioner was Tammy Ramirez.
One current City official who did respond to Menifee 24/7 is a Planning Commissioner who apparently can’t help himself when given a platform to speak. Michael Knighten, who has staunchly defended Madrid on social media, was asked if he knew whether Madrid lived in Menifee during his time on the Planning Commission.
“I have Asperger’s syndrome and am a major introvert,” Knighten said. “That’s not my style to hang out at people’s houses. Of the current Council and both Commissions, I have only been to two people’s homes — one of which was for the first time 2 1/2 weeks ago.
“I am a firm believer in the justice system — you’re innocent until proven guilty.”
A check of other local cities shows that Murrieta, Temecula, Lake Elsinore, and Perris also do not have municipal codes requiring verification of residency for the City Council members or Planning Commissioners – suggesting a flaw in the system that should be corrected. Others, such as the City of San Bernardino, do check residency.
The problem is that the state and county leave that up to the individual cities. County Registar of Voters spokeswoman Elizabeth Florer told the Press-Enterprise newspaper on Monday that “The filing of criminal charges does not, by itself, remove a qualified candidate from the ballot.” Previously, Florer told Menifee 24/7, “The Registrar of Voters’ office is not an investigatory body and does not determine or investigate candidate eligibility for municipal offices.” She referred us to the City of Menifee for questions.
Would the City of Menifee decide at this point to declare Madrid ineligible as a candidate? Who knows? Once again, the City isn’t talking.
Doug Spoon