LECC honors municipal clerks and approves Good Neighbor Policy

Diane A. Rhodes

Special to Valley News

Mayor Natasha Johnson presented Lake Elsinore City Clerk Candice Alvarez and her team with a proclamation that proclaims the week of April 30-May 6 as “Municipal Clerks Week” in the City of Lake Elsinore. “They are the heartbeat of our city,” Johnson said. “They’re the connection, the communication and the consistency that keeps us all in line, so we appreciate them.”

In part, the proclamation stated that the Office of the Municipal Clerk is a time honored and vital part of local government that exists throughout the world and provides the professional link between citizens, the local governing bodies and agencies of government at other levels. Municipal clerks have pledged to be ever mindful of their neutrality and impartiality, rendering equal service to all.

Johnson thanked Alvarez and her team for upholding that commitment because “in order to have a good City, you have to have a good City Clerk’s office, so we are incredibly grateful; congratulations on your week.” As a resident of Lake Elsinore, Alvarez said she is thankful for the support she receives from the city council in providing as much transparency as possible to the citizens.

Being a good neighbor

A business item regarding the approval to implement the Good Neighbor Policy for Warehousing, Logistics, and Distribution Uses began with a staff report presented by the city’s Interim Assistant Community Development Director Damaris Abraham, on behalf of Planning Department staff, toward the end of the meeting and generated much discussion.

She shared the evolution of this policy which began with a memorandum to City Manager Jason Simpson by Council Member Robert “Bob” Magee, dated June 28, 2022. It outlined a proposed Good Neighbor Policy to address issues regarding large warehouse/ logistics centers potentially being built near sensitive receptors. At the July 26, 2022 City Council meeting a subcommittee was established that included Magee and Mayor Pro Tem Steve Manos to work with City staff in developing appropriate policies and standards.

The item was continued from the Feb. 14 and March 28 City Council meetings to allow more time for the subcommittee to meet with and get feedback from the business community, and for the public to provide input.

The policy applies to warehousing, logistics and distribution land uses with buildings that are 250,000 square feet in size or larger. It will ensure that projects will be designed and operated in order to mitigate negative impacts on the environment and sensitive receptors, such as homes, parks and schools. The policy also seeks to preserve and advance the city council’s vision in the City’s General Plan and Dream Extreme 2040 Plan.

These land uses are not currently defined in the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code and are not identified as either a permitted or a conditionally permitted use. Title 17, or zoning, of the LEMC would need to be amended to include definitions. This policy was designed to put some parameters in place to protect sensitive receptors.

Agnes Williams was one resident who took to the podium during public comments to share that while reading the policy and all its modifications during the past several months, she feels the endgame is the health, welfare and safety of those sensitive receptors and finds the policy, procedures and processes will help all residents.

Manos thanked Magee for initiating the plan and having the foresight to recognize that the expectations, goals and safeguards to the business community and residents needed to be put in writing. “Without adopting this policy, there is no protection,” Manos said. “Our goal is to provide safeguards to residents and fairness to developers.”

Magee stressed that it has taken 10 months to get to this point and that those who own property in Lake Elsinore currently have no safeguards from mega warehouses being built in their neighborhoods.

“The goal of this policy is clearly to send a message to the builders, ‘don’t build these monsters near our homes but if you must, we are going to demand setbacks starting at 1,000 feet, noise standards, hours of operation restrictions, and a much-enhanced architectural design and landscape design’ but never would we allow these closer than 300 feet,” Magee said. “For nearly two decades, the City and the Chamber have been selling a lifestyle that never included a mega warehouse in anyone’s backyard. This policy is meant to reflect our responsibility to protect that promise that we made when we were inviting people to come invest here.”

The resolution, adopting Council Policy No. 400-16 establishing a Good Neighbor Policy for warehousing, logistics and distribution uses within the City of Lake Elsinore was approved unanimously 4-0, with Council Member Brian Tisdale being absent.

Mosquito season coming

At the beginning of the meeting, a presentation on ways residents can protect themselves from mosquitos following recent rain events was provided by the Northwest Mosquito and Vector Control District’s new District Manager Mark Breidenbaugh. For those bothered by mosquito bites, he said there is scientific evidence to support the fact that some people are more attractive to mosquitos than others and the best way to avoid them altogether is to eliminate standing water on your property and encourage neighbors to do the same. Also, avoid times when mosquitos are active, which is generally in the evening and wear a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registered repellant such as DEET. For more information or to report potential mosquito breeding sources, visit www.northwestmvcd.org or call 951-340-9792.

First quarter fire stats

The City of Lake Elsinore Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire first quarter report was given by Division Chief Lonny Olson who reported they responded to 1,635 calls for service, with the majority being for medical service. This included 394 responses with the new Medic Squad 10 apparatus at the Elsinore station.

Olson shared the first quarter Fire Marshal statistics and welcomed Traci Williams as the new Fire Marshal. Total reviews were 69, total annual inspections were 49 and total inspections (which included weed abatement and special events permits/inspections) numbered 109. The amount of time to complete all reviews and inspections in a timely manner exceeded goals set.

With wildfire season looming, Olson reminded residents to get ready. It is known that 95% of wildfires in California are caused by people. It’s important to use powered outdoor equipment only before 10 a.m. and never when it is windy or excessively hot due to sparks. For more information, www.readyforwildfire.org

Other business City Council Consent Calendar items 4-12 were approved unanimously 4-0 as were four Successor Agency Consent Calendar items.

A Public Hearing on the Master Drainage Plan Update included a presentation by Joseph Caldwell with Albert A. Webb Associates before requesting the City Council adopt the updated plan and fee schedule. He summarized the extensive study that concluded that the City of Lake Elsinore has experienced serious flooding problems in the past and as it continues to urbanize, the risk of flood damage is expected to increase unless flood protection and drainage facilities identified in the report are constructed in an orderly manner. The proposed MDP lends itself to staged construction as funds become available and offers a comprehensive long-term plan to provide stormwater facilities that are necessary to protect life and property from flood hazards in the city. A motion to adopt the resolution was made by Manos, seconded by Magee and approved unanimously.

The second Public Hearing was to consider a planning application for an Evergreen Commercial Development Project to develop a new 57,254sq.ft. commercial center on an 8.863-acre site at the southeast corner of Cambern and Central avenues. Abraham, on behalf of Planning Department staff, presented the staff report.

The proposed retail center would be built in two phases but would eventually consist of an anchor grocery store, two quickserve drive-thru restaurants, a gas station with a convenience store, a drive-thru car wash and 369 parking spaces to accommodate customers.

Abraham noted that on April 4, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the project with a 4-0 vote. She also noted that staff was recommending adoption of 12 separate resolutions that would cover approval of all aspects of the commercial project.

In comments/questions to the applicant, who was represented by Karen Levitt Ortiz, Magee questioned the need for yet another car wash in the area that is already saturated with them. Manos was concerned about building a fourth gas station within the same block.

Council Member Timothy “Tim” Sheridan said, “I suppose that while you can make the argument that we don’t need another gas station or car wash, that’s up to the companies. We’ll let the capitalism process work itself out. I support this project.” The resolutions were then adopted with a 4-0 vote.

The next regular meeting of the Lake Elsinore City Council and Successor Agency is scheduled for Tuesday, May 9 at 7 p.m. For more information, www.lakeelsinore.org.