Those That Can, Do….

 

….THOSE THAT CAN’T, TEACH…. 

…AND THOSE THAT CAN’T TEACH..SELL REAL ESTATE.

Zak’s usually sharp brain has finally kicked back to the “on” mode, after being  overcome with annoyance with a Menifee City Councilman abusing his guest privileges at last Wednesday’s Wildomar City Council meeting.

But the same issue attends.  The vote was 3-2 to give developers a 50% reduction in Developer Impact Fees (“DIF”) to stimulate the local job market. What Zak missed is the blatant “aye” votes on the issue by two realtors, whose occupations rely on “inventory” of homes to be bought and sold.  Councilwoman Swanson specifically spoke to the issue that Wildomar currently has so little inventory that Realtor/former Planning Commissioner Casillas had to buy a home in Lake Elsinore.

Realtor/Mayor Scott Farnam and Realtor/Councilwoman Marsha Swanson should have recused themselves from the vote due to an explicit conflict of interest. Now Zak, and other Wildomar residents, will have to absorb the “developer’s impacts” ourselves. 

Wildomar cannot afford to waive developer fees, period.

Comments can be made to former Realtor, Zak at zakturango@excite.com or by making a comment within.

Menifee Mommas, Don’t Let Your Babies….

…GROW UP TO BE ASSES.

Menifee city councilman, Scott Mann, representing the Western Riverside  Council of Governments (“WRCOG”), spoke to the Wildomar Council last evening in an attempt to get support for reducing developer fees by 50% to “bring jobs” to the area. Despite the courageous opposition of Councilman Bob Cashman and Council woman Sheryl Ade,  Mayor Farnam, Mayor Pro Tem Moore and Council woman Marsha Swanson voted “aye,” thereby pushing the matter forward in the process.

Councilman Mann then retook the public dais and mocked Cashman and Ade by gloating that Menifee, who has dropped their fees, will be happy to take the tax increment from Wildomar, an embarrassing breach of civic politeness.

What an ass.

They are cute, however, when they’re little.

Comments can be made to Zak at zakturango@excite.com

A Media Circus….

…MUST HAVE IT’S OWN CLOWN

Mayor Scott Farnam tried to avoid his own agenda item to dismiss Planning Commissioner Gary Andre during tonight’s City Council meeting by describing a ” media circus  created by reporters and Bloggers.” His lame attempt to deflect the matter as only having to do with finding a replacement for Commissioner Casillas was exposed by the number of public speakers withdrawing their speeches in support of Andre, when they each realized that the Mayor was dodging his own issue.

One citizen bravely spoke to the Mayor and correctly told him that this divisive issue was his own doing.

Sorry Mayor, this one’s on you.

Comments can be made to Zak at zakturango@excite.com.  He is the other  one in the center ring.

Farnam Confused By History…

 

A bully pulpit is a public office or other position of authority of sufficiently high rank that provides the holder with an opportunity to speak out and be listened to on any matter. The bully pulpit can bring issues to the forefront that were not initially in debate, due to the office’s stature and publicity.

This term was coined by President Theodore Roosevelt.

…..HE FORGETS THE PULPIT PART..

…but keeps the rest of the quote.

Mayor Scott Farnam’s reported plan to oust Planning Commissioner Gary Andre is not welcome to Wildomar Magazine. 

Gary Andre is a hard working Commissioner and puts in the time to understand the issues.  Yet for his hard work, he is Farnam’s target for Andre’s vote against the Cornerstone Athletic Field and Parking lot expansion.

Councilmembers will be wise to mind their tongues when they give voice to their complants about Andre, who, if he has erred, is entitled to conference with the council and to defend himself, if necessary.  Defamation of his character could be costly to the city of Wildomar. Hell, what’s next? Removing Commissioner Dykstra for code violations on his commercial parcel?

Who is the ultimate bully behind this move to punish Gary Andre?

Comments can be made to Zak Turango at zakturango@excite.com.    

Bullies’ comments might get posted.

The End Of Civility…..

…BROUGHT TO WILDOMAR BY MAYOR SCOTT FARNAM

According to the PRESS ENTERPRISE, Saturday,  October 24, 2009, Reporter Aaron Burgin reports on a Wildomar city council agenda item for next week, wherein Short-term Mayor Scott Farnam (fortunately, his mayor stint ends next month)  targets Planning Commissioner Gary Andre for a hostile removal:

“The actions of an outspoken Wildomar planning commissioner have prompted the mayor to call for a City Council discussion that could lead to the commissioner’s ouster.”

Wildomar Magazine  believes that Farnam’s actions will trigger the eventual end to Farnam’s brief political career in Wildomar with this unfortunate attack on a hard working, dedicated public figure like Gary Andre.

Since Andre was appointed by Councilmember Sheryl Ade, if Farnam had a problem with Andre, political civility and council agreed-upon rules should have led Farnam to contact Ade to discuss Andre, which he has not done.

Andre is further quoted as to the reason behind the ouster:

“Andre said he believes his recent criticism of Cornerstone Community Church’s plans to expand its parking lot is prompting Farnam’s ire.”

And, of course, this is a warning shot over Ade’s political bow for her apprpriate motion and vote to appeal the Cornerstone project (it’s been stated that she committed “political suicide” for her vote) before the full council, which Farnam and fellow Cornerstone lapdog Mayor Pro Tem Bridgette Moore  voted against.

This uncivil act by Farnam will unleash an adverse reaction within the Wildomar body politic that Farnam has only started to realize. Wildomar Magazine will appear tame and restrained in comparison to what’s currently being emailed about Farnam.

For the first time in Wildomar Magazine history, comments will be permitted on this post to allow readers a robust commentary on Farnam actions against Andre.

Quiet Commissioner Casillas Resigns….

 …He showed Wildomar how to handle a project nightmare

Reported in today’s Press Enterprise, Commissioner Miguel Casillas “said the commission’s recent approval of Cornerstone Community Church’s parking lot expansion was the toughest decision he was part of.

Soft-spoken, Casillas often deferred comment to other board members, but he said he did not want people to misconstrue his silence as a lack of knowledge or caring.

“I know that there are people out there who might think that, but it’s just the person that I am,” Casillas said.”

Wildomar Magazine thanks Casillas for his public service to the community of Wildomar.  The Planning Commission is tough work, with lots of documents to read and then to have to publically face project owners and, approve or deny their dreams or, in some recent cases, nightmares.

Zak has only three humble suggestions for Councilmember Swanson, whose Commissioner chair she must nominate to fill: 

One, no more realtors (the real estate industry is well represented by the council’s current make-up), and;

Two, no more Cornerstone members ( for the same reason).

Third, surely, Wildomar would be well served by “someone like”  long-time resident George Taylor, who applied for the Commission last year.  George knows the community and along with his late wife, Marie (one of Zak’s favorite Wildomarians), served the community faithfully. Further, he would be able to express himself openly as he did at the last city council meeting. He’s not afraid to state his opinion.

It’s not Zak’s call  but I’m just saying….

Comments  in support of “someone like”  George Taylor can be made to “someone like” Zak Turango at zakturango@excite.com.

Planning Commission Doesn’t Yet….

..UNDERSTAND THEIR AUTHORITY

Zak Turango attended this evening’s Planning Commission hearing on the RV storage facility. Of course, they approved it. 3-0.  Commissioner Andre left early to attend another public meeting and Commissioner Dykstra was absent.

“Land Ace,” as Developer Guy Larry Markham’s license reads on his yellow Corvette handled all questions in his usual soothing style.  Water collection  from the currently dry creekbed on the parcel, not a problem as their development will push the water from upstream to Lake Elsinore more efficiently and actually help the area.

The discussion between staff and commission highlighted a significant problem inherited by Wildomar from the County. No one has tackled the standing water, during and after rainy season in what is known as the Wildomar Swamp. So approval of the latest project merely continued an old practice; ignore the problem this time, we’ll catch it later. The issue seems to be water flooding septic tanks and failing leach lines in neighboring parcels.

The Commissioners should have taken the project in the context of the larger issue and delayed approval and/or conditioned the project relative to neighboring parcels andt hen instruct planning staff to take the lead and try to get the surrounding parcels hooked into a sewer system at the same time as construction. It wouldn’t cure the entire problem but, as the old saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles……

City Council should make this issue a high priority now and begin to tackle a real Wildomar matter. And encourage the Commissioners to flex their muscles. They have legitimate power to shape Wildomar in a quality manner.

Comments can always be made to zakturango@excite.com.

 

Planning Commission Lacks??….

…..UNABLE TO REJECT SUBSTANDARD PROJECTS

The non-political concept of appointed Planning Commissioners is to provide the city’s residents with an effective filtration system for new projects brought by the development community, rejecting, in some cases, altering others, to conform to the “vision” for Wildomar.

However, in recent weeks, Wildomar’s Planning Commission capitulated to the mass of “Cornerstoniacs” that crammed the hearing room and adjacent hallway, ignoring the legitimate concerns of affected neighhbors, voting 4-1 (Commissioner Andre properly voting Nay to the Cornerstone mining operation that compels an Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) merely on the absurd need to move 700,000 cubic yards of dirt).  Andre received an undeserved, faith-based “middle finger” from one of the Godly visitors for his courageous vote (shown below. Perhaps this Believer doesn’t understand the vulgar concept).

Two weeks ago, the Commission approved a trailer park disguised (see below, yet again) as a wholesale nursery on Bundy Canyon, exhibiting an inability to review projects and reject substandard projects, to the detriment of Wildomar.

Therefore, Wildomar Magazine challenges the Wildomar Planning Commissioners to tighten their civic corsets when questionable projects come before them and say “no” when “no” is the best response for the residents of Wildomar.

Get your girdles on correctly and then, and only then, you  can make manly comments to Zak Turango at zakturango@excite.com.

 

 

Oviedo Irreplacable….?

…WILDOMAR LUCKY TO HAVE FRANK AS CITY MANAGER?

According to the Elk Grove Citizen, dated September 2, 2009,”….cost will be offset by not rehiring a deputy city manager in the place of Frank Oviedo who left in August to be city manager of Wildomar in southern California.”

Wildomar Magazine hopes Frank is as good a manager for Wildomar as he apparently was in distant Elk Grove as a deputy manager. So much so that Elk Grove gave up looking for his replacement.

Back in the day when a smoker would approach Zak, seeking a light for an unfiltered Camel with an innocent question,” Got a match?” The instant answer was always, “Not since Superman died!”  That still cracks me up.

Ahhhh, gone are the days of such banal humor.  Now, one has to do this  stuff to be thought of as funny.

Got a match Elk Grove? Not since Frank left.

Anyway, have a powerful day, Frank.

Comments can be made to zakturango@excite.com.  Please leave the humor to we professionals.

Wildomar Already Has…

 

…TWO DISTRICTS…

…CORNERSTONE  AND THE REST OF US….

And Cornerstone has three solid votes in any issue involving them, while The Rest Of US (“TROU”) have only one, maybe two votes.  Councilmember Sheryl Ade voted to hear the Cornerstone project before the city council, not because she is opposed to the project, but there are unresolved issues that will impact TROU.

You had to be there, at the city council meeting, to witness Mayor Pro Tempore  Bridgette Moore and Mayor Scott Farnam elbow the other out of the way to get their  Nay votes on the record. Farnam was quite dismissive of Councilmember Ade’s Motion to hear the project before the council, stating “the motion dies for lack of a second” when Councilman Bob Cashman did not notice that a motion had been made.  After Farnam’s Quick Pitch (all those in the Cornerstone Baseball ministry understand what a Quick Pitch is), Cashman seconded Ade’s motion to reflect his own wishes but the motion did not carry on a 3-2 vote that can be mailed in next time, when the project is re-heard on the City of Menifee’s appeal.

Cornerstone brought at least one hundred alleged Wildomar members to the Planning Comission meeting to flout their numbers for their District. So far voting by districts is working for them.

How’s it working for the rest of Wildomar?

Opinions expressed by Wildomar Magazine are solely the opinions of Zak Turango and no one else so save your accusing breath.  However, meaningful comments may be made to zakturango@excite.com if you have anything valuable to add to the conversation.