City Manager Armando Villa, council member Ben Diederich, and Acting Police Chief Dave Gutierrez at Tuesday’s Town Hall meeting. (Staff photo)
The City of Menifee held the second Town Hall meeting of the year featuring a City Council member on Tuesday, with city officials stating their commitment to transparency with residents.
“We’re making big strides to be accessible,” City Manager Armando Villa told the audience gathered at Kathryn Newport Middle School for a Town Hall hosted by District 2 council member Ben Diederich. “We want to be a city where you run the city.”
Menifee residents often complain on social media sites that the City Council “does whatever it wants and doesn’t listen to the people.” It should also be noted that very few residents attend council meetings to express concerns or question the Council or City staff about issues. That said, Villa and Diederich emphasized the fact that they are now “taking the council to the people”, giving them another opportunity to address city officials in person.
A small but vocal audience took advantage of the situation, asking questions of and making comments to Diederich, Villa, and the many department heads seated at the head table. Some examples:
— On the topic of e-bikes, Acting Police Chief Dave Gutierrez said the Police Department has impounded “probably 15 or 20” e-motorcycles, which are not allowed on city streets. He acknowledged that enforcing traffic laws regarding legal e-bikes is more difficult because youths tend to scatter when confronted by police, but he also said that the PD is making progress in this area with its new use of drones to track offenders.
“We made a social media post a couple weeks ago where we used drone technology to track a group of e-bikes,” Gutierrez said. “We were able to cut their paths off and make an arrest.
“We will always respond, so we urge people to call when they see incidents. We can’t promise we will always respond immediately if we’re on a priority call, but we will respond.”
Gutierrez also mentioned a widely reported case in Orange County in which a mother was criminally charged after her son struck a pedestrian. “District Attorneys are on board with action like that,” he said.
Diederich also called attention to one of the educational efforts of the City and PD regarding e-bike safety – “Menifee E-Bike Safety Day” on May 23, when PD officers will provide instruction to participants on proper and safe use of e-bikes in an event at City Hall.
— Villa responded to a couple of Quail Valley residents who suggested that the vacant former Fire Station 5 in that community be renovated and used as a police substation.
“I would like you to consider making the old fire station a PD substation,” said resident Rita Peters. Richard Melrose, another Quail Valley resident, claimed that city officials mention the possibility of improving the fire station for other use but do nothing about it.
“I never hear anybody say they’re working on the problem,” he said. “I wish you would look at that seriously.”
“We are considering options for that building,” Villa said. “In the next couple years, in better economic times, we can consider funding for that. It’s a challenge right now.”
— Asked about further development on Newport Road, Economic Development Director Kayla Charters reported on the upcoming arrival of a Planet Fitness gym next to the Sprouts market, a Dutch Bros. coffee shop, Richie’s Diner next to Raising Cane’s (plans are being processed), and a Neighborhood Health Care facility.
Charters also acknowledged that Costco is in the process of “due diligence” in its application for a store on Haun Road, as previously reported here. She also said that City officials believe there are potential options for businesses on the Krikorian Theater property, provided Krikorian is willing to sell.
— Public Works Director Nick Fidler reported that a proposal for the retrofit of the former Bank of America building on Cherry Hills Avenue in the Sun City community is going to City Council next week. The building is being prepared for use as a police substation.
— Fidler was also questioned by Planning Commissioner Michael Knighten, one of the attendees, about the status of the amphitheater in Central Park, following a statement that the long-delayed structure would be completed by the end of the year. The latest delay, as previously reported here, is the wait for specially crafted curved wood beams for the cover that are reportedly being created at a company in Switzerland.
“How many pieces are being made for the amphitheater?” Knighten asked. Fidler responded, “About 38.” Knighten then asked, “Where are they now?” Fidler responded, “In Switzerland.”
“So they’re not on the boat headed here yet, and you still say the project will be finished by the end of the year?” Knighten asked. Fidler responded, “Yes.”
— Fidler reported that the Scott Road widening project recently received some federal funding and that the environmental impact report should be completed by June. The next step would be acquiring the right of way needed for the wider road. He said design of the project is 60 percent complete.
— In response to complaints about traffic throughout the city, Villa had this to say:
“We make significant investments in road infrastructure to the tune of about $25 million a year. But we have over 1 billion in projects needing to be done overall in the city. If we did nothing but road building, it would take 10 years to build all that we need. We ask for your patience.”
