Future city signage plans approved by Menifee City Council

Tony Ault Staff Writer

After months of discussion on a possible Menifee Comprehensive Citywide Signage and Wayfinding Program Package, Menifee City Council adopted some options to change them as presented by RSM Design consultants.

In recent months the city has been changing more than half of its current street signs with about 3,800 left to change. The city opted to go ahead with a slightly different street sign profile in the future but will keep the current brown earth tone color. The main city park signs and overhead freeway signs at the entrance and exit of the city will be changed but the exact changes are yet to be finalized. They will be changed to show the city’s changing commercial and housing offerings.

The change of the city brand as being a “New” city will most likely change after 15 years of its existence, but the brand will show what amenities in both commerce and residential housing have been changed to benefit its future residents. The city is expected to show even more growth in the next decade.

The final designs of the entire city signs were shown by RSM Design executive Cody Clark whose firm has been working with the city council and staff for over two years. Many of the suggested changes by the council were made, but they still found some concern about the size, color and liability they would bring to the city.

Mayor Pro Tem Bob Karwin responded first, following the presentation, and questioned the color blue on all the signs as suggested by RSM, since the current city signs being replaced have a brown background. Clark said that would not be difficult to change.

Council member Lesa Sobek questioned the cost of completely changing the signage which was estimated from $560,000 to $1.2 million considering sign replacements were currently being done.

City Manager Armando Villa assured Sobek the cost of the complete signage changeover would be over a number of years budgeted through Capital Improvement Programs.

Council member Dean Deines agreed the sign colors should remain in brown on the street signs as they are now, but other boundary, park and freeway signs could have different colors.

Sobek suggested the developers might do their own signage at the parks and other monuments they build citing their amenities.

Council member Ricky Estrada said he agreed with the RSM changing the future signage as a way to improve the city’s impression in the future.

Mayor Bill Zimmerman at first suggested that more time be allowed before the council made a final decision and to table any current action. Villa said too much time has been invested to delay the decision any longer, but the council could add any changes in future meetings. He also said the decisions on the overhead

Cody Clark of RSM Design presents the color options for future street signage freeway signs may not be just the city’s request since other cities and Caltrans are involved.

The council finally approved the basic RSM designs on the street signs with the color brown but made any other wayfinding and freeway signage open for other changes in the future as time passes and with the council’s approval.

Menifee Fire and Riverside County Fire Chief Lonny Olson reported to the council that the department’s call or response time has been reduced by nearly 30 seconds below the goal of 5 minutes set by the department standards with the addition of Medic Squad 7 out of Sun City. He said the average call time is now within 4.6 minutes.

He said the department received 3,482 calls in the past three months with 5 of those being structure fires and 160 traffic accidents. He said the city department made more mutual aid calls to the city of Perris than those units coming into Menifee. He was asked by Sobek to see if that partnership might be improved.

Olson said the county is working with Winchester and French Valley to open or locate places for new fire stations to ease the mutual aid burden on Menifee. The new Winchester station, whose location

Menifee updates on street projects and construction

MENIFEE - The City has project and construction updates to share with the community. For a current list of street projects and construction updates, visit our interactive mobile and web map at www.cityofmenifee.us/traffic.

Holland Road Overpass – City

Capital Improvement Project

The City is actively performing work related to the Holland Road Overpass project. Holland Road between Hanover Lane and Antelope Road will remain closed for the duration of the project, which is expected to last 17 months. For additional information and to sign up for project updates, please visit www.hollandoverpass.com.

SoCal Gas Company – Lazy

Council meeting. Valley

Creek Neighborhood (Lazy Creek Road and Evans Road) Southern California Gas Company has completed the installation of gas line connections in the Lazy Creek neighborhood. All roads are open and traffic control has been removed. Additional paving work will occur in midAugust and project updates will be provided at that time.

School Zone Signs and Marking Refresh

The City’s Public Works Street Maintenance Crew continues to make progress on the city-wide refresh of school zone pavement markings and crosswalks. Crews have completed refresh work at Bell Mountain Middle School and Southshore Elementary School and will begin Menifee Valley Middle School, Paloma Valley High School, and Evans Ranch Elementary School the week of Monday, August 7. Traffic impacts are expected to be minor; however, motorists should avoid areas with wet paint signage. Work locations will be updated weekly throughout the summer.

Murrieta Road Improvements – City Capital Improvement Project

The City’s roadway improvement project continues on Murrieta Road. Roadway grinding and paving work will continue through Friday, July 28, and striping work will continue through early August. Traffic lanes will be reduced to one lane in each direction, with intermittent traffic control in place along Murrieta Road from the Salt Creek channel to San Quintin Drive. Traffic delays should be expected in the project area through August 2023.

Valley Boulevard between McCall Boulevard and Ridgemoor Street

The developer of Cimarron Ridge continues installing underground improvements on Valley Boulevard between McCall Boulevard and Ridgemoor Street. Traffic delays should be expected in the area through August 2023.

Bradley Road at Holland Road – Storm Drain/Sewer Construction Work

Sewer mainline facilities are currently being installed adjacent to Holland Road as part of the Menifee 80 residential housing tract. Storm drain work remains temporarily delayed, and updates for this project will be provided when work proceeds. Holland Road is currently open in all traffic directions at this time.

SCE Work on Menifee Road – Newport to Holland the was not revealed should be opening very soon.

Complying with the state’s requirements, a Municipal Building and Construction Code was amended to provide safety measures in buildings in the event of a tsunami hitting Menifee.

“That’s really not likely,” joked Karwin, but the ordinance change is necessary according to the state.

A tsunami is a sudden rise in the ocean tides brought on by an earthquake or other natural event. There were no presentations that evening.

Tony Ault can be reached at trault@reedermedia.com.

Southern California Edison (SCE) work will continue during daytime hours at the intersection of Newport Road and Menifee Road. Traffic control will be in place, reducing travel lanes during project work; however, driveway access to businesses in the area will remain accessible. Message boards containing contact information for the project will also be placed in the project area. Completion of work in this area is now expected to continue through mid-August 2023.

Menifee Road South of Highway 74 – City Road Resurfacing Project Resurfacing of this portion of Menifee Road has been completed and traffic lanes are open in all directions.

Romoland Grid Resurfacing – Capital Improvement Project

The City has initiated the resurfacing project for roadways in the area of Jackson Avenue, Ethanac Road east of Sherman Road, and the installation of new pedestrian ramps. Lane closures and detours will be in place for the duration of the project through mid-September 2023.

Normandy Road Street Improvements – Capital Improvement Project

The City is constructing pedestrian access improvements along Normandy Road over Salt Creek. Traffic delays should be expected between La Ladera Road and Berea Road while the project is active. The project is anticipated to be completed in early August 2023.

Murrieta Road and La Piedra Road – New Traffic Signal

The developer of Quartz Ranch is currently installing a new traffic signal at the intersection of Murrieta Road and La Piedra Road. Lanes may be reduced to a single lane with flaggers present during construction. Detours will be posted. Traffic delays should be expected through the end of August 2023.

For questions on the project/ construction updates listed, please contact Philip Southard, Public Information and Legislative Affairs Officer, at (951) 746-0654 or at psouthard@cityofmenifee.us