Unincorporated Communities Initiative to fund Valle Vista Library paving, Hemet Sheriff’s station cameras

Joe Naiman

Writer

Riverside County will be using Unincorporated Communities Initiative funding for the paving of the Valle Vista Library overflow parking lot and for cameras for the Sheriff’s Department’s Hemet station.

A 5-0 Riverside County Board of Supervisors vote Tuesday, Jan. 24, approved $75,000 for the parking lot paving and $100,000 for the cameras. The board action also directed the appropriate county agencies to initiate work on the projects.

COUNCIL from page A-1 month. The Parks Deputy stats reported 281 calls for service during the fourth quarter, 17 arrests and eight investigations. The use of Flock Cameras resulted in 13 arrests, 27 vehicles recovered and 11 investigations.

Clark reported that three community events held during the final quarter had been wildly successful with an overwhelming positive response from vendors and residents who attended. He thanked the council and city staff for their “incredible support” during the prior week and a half, stating that anything that was asked for was done.

The City of Lake Elsinore Code Enforcement Team was presented with the inaugural Jill Robinson

A November 2020, county board of supervisors meeting called for the creation of an Unincorporated Communities Initiative to improve the infrastructure and services provided to residents of unincorporated communities with an emphasis on disadvantaged unincorporated communities.

The program is funded through the Unincorporated Communities Fund which is allocated during the annual budget process.

A team of county Executive Office staff and department heads held 15 community meetings and conducted online surveys before presenting a needs assessment to

Award from the Code Enforcement Officer Safety Foundation, a nonprofit organization that was formed “to promote best practices for the safety of Code Enforcement Officers throughout the United States; to provide a resource for officers; report incidents; provide up-todate training and to encourage a high standard of professionalism.” Foundation president Justin Edson said the national award was being presented “in recognition of your agency’s efforts to promote officer safety and mitigate risk by adopting policies, implementing training and prioritizing safety equipment to Code Enforcement personnel.” More information can be found at www.codeofficersafety.org.

Edson said, “I would also like to commend manager Fred Lopez

4.86 % the county board of supervisors in May 2021. The fiscal year 20222023 budget includes $10,000,000 for the Unincorporated Communities Fund to be divided evenly between each of the five supervisorial districts. The funding for the library parking lot paving and for the sheriff’s cameras is from the Third District budget.

The $75,000 for the Valle Vista Library overflow parking lot paving covers an increase in construction costs. The work will include three inches of pavement over the existing base and a detention area to treat runoff from the new pavement. The Valle Vista Library has for his leadership and support for this staff over the years. We hope that other agencies will follow the example of Lake Elsinore.”

Eight speakers took advantage of the one-minute public comments portion of the meeting before City Council Consent Calendar items 3-11 were approved unanimously after questions from a local resident were asked and answered by City Engineer Remon Habib about item No. 9, pertaining to the Terracina final map. Successor Agency Consent Calendar items 12-15 were approved, with Council Member Timothy Sheridan abstaining from No. 15.

A Public Hearing regarding the Ramsgate Development Agreement was called to order at 7:31 p.m. and one request to speak on behalf of the applicant was a monthly average of 3,896 visitors but currently only has 26 standard parking stalls and two stalls meeting Americans with Disabilities Act standards. The paving project will add an additional 11,000 square feet of available parking space. The initial engineering estimate for the paving was $180,000, but the bids which were received were significantly higher.

The $100,000 for the Sheriff’s Department will purchase 34 Flock Cameras which will be installed by the Sheriff’s Department throughout unincorporated communities serviced by the Hemet station. Flock Cameras capture granted. This was followed by a presentation from the City’s Planning Manager Damaris Abraham. She concluded her overview of the project by saying that staff recommends approval. Votes taken after the public hearing was closed at 7:36 p.m. were unanimous in favor of approval.

Several more members of the public were heard from before City Manager Jason Simpson was asked for his comments. He said, “I want to acknowledge the outpouring of support from the community over the last week. I specifically want to recognize city staff for their efforts in response to the voluminous amount of needs to our RSO and first responder families at the press conferences, vigil and in assisting our station as they get back on their feet. I’m very proud of all their efforts; they went above and beyond.”

City Council Member comments included some upcoming events of interest to residents. The Collier Ave./Minthorn St. resurfacing improvements will affect roadways from Feb. 6 through March 31. The Lake Elsinore Historical Society will launch the Ruth Atkins Speaker Series on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Lake Elsinore Cultural Center, 183 N. Main St. The free event will feature guest speaker Dr. Luke A. Nichter discussing President Nixon’s tapes and the history surrounding them. For more information, 951-678-1537.

Mornings on Main Farmers Market will return on Feb. 12 and be open every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at downtown Main Street. Admission and parking is free.

Before adjourning the meeting, Johnson said, “We are heartbroken. Darnell served our city and this loss is hard, and hard to wrap our brains around. There is a lot of frustration and confusion and even anger.” She then shared a short still images with date, time, and location which can be used during a criminal investigation and also assist in locating stolen vehicles and in alerting law enforcement of vehicles associated with Amber Alert, primarily child abductions and also when the victim is in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury, and Silver Alert, when an elderly or developmentally disabled individual is missing and is considered at risk, situations. inaugural Jill Robinson Award is given to Lake Elsinore for providing safety training, equipment and policies to promote the safety of its Code Enforcement employees. Valley News/Courtesy photo video of some events that took place in Lake Elsinore following the senseless death of Calhoun, who lost his life “serving and protecting our community.”

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at jnaiman@reedermedia. com.

Johnson said, “There are not any words that I can share that will make this any better and there are not any things that I can share that you probably haven’t heard.” She said that typically, elected officials are told not to make promises. “But we as a council promise that his legacy will live on, that this will not be in vain, the sacrifices will not be forgotten, and we are going to close tonight in his honor. Rest in peace. God bless the Calhoun family, you’re in our thoughts and prayers.”

With that, Mayor Johnson gaveled the meeting to a close at 8:08 p.m.

The next regular meeting of the Lake Elsinore City Council and Successor Agency is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. For more information, www.lakeelsinore.org

Joanne L. (Callahan)

O’Connell , 77 years old, was a 45 year resident of California originally from Stoughton, Massachusetts. Joanne passed away on Jan. 16, 2023. She, with her family, lived in Menifee, California since 2001.

She is survived by John J. O’Connell, husband of almost 60 years; three daughters, Julie Ann of Pembroke, New Hampshire; Dawn Marie of Milton, Florida and Michelle Leah of El Cajon, California. She had 10 grandchildren (one predeceased) and 14 greatgrandchildren. Joanne (Nana) was loved and will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to Tunnel to Towers, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306 or www. T2T.org.