How Embarrassing for the Citizens of Wildomar

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While inspecting the city parks on a recent Thursday I came across a gentleman trying to make the ballfields usable at the city’s premier park, Marna O’Brien. He was out at the third base area and then the first base area with a barrel pump sucking up water, into a bucket, out of the depressions that fill up with water whenever it rains. When he filled up the 5 gallon bucket he would lug it over the the drainage swale in the grass area and dump it then trudge on back and do it again, over and over. This was on the most heavily used field in the park.

View a short U-Tube Video

These depressions have existed since the day the parks were re-opened in 2014 and have gotten worse due to a lack of proper maintenance on the part of city staff. The person in the video was a volunteer not a city employee.

The above photo was taken on April 17, 2014, just days after the parks were re-opened using Measure Z Parcel Tax money.

This picture, of the 3rd baseline on the same field as the video, was taken September 17, 2014 just 5 months after the parks re-opened.

These fields have been in need of added engineered material that has migrated away due to use and should be laser graded annually, the last time these fields had material added was when the parks were rebuilt by the County of Riverside in 2008.

The citizens of this City were billed $354,577.00 according to the Measure Z Parcel Tax Report for FY 2016-17 of which 2/3rd was spent on Marna O’Brien Park. Where did it all go.

A Fun Night Out

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Went to the Riverside Art Museum to see some Chicano Art from the collection owned by Cheech Marin.
Papel Chicano Dos: Works on Paper. (65 pieces by 24 artist)

Got a pamphlet signed as they ran out of exhibit catalogs two people in front of us.

Even got our picture with Cheech Marin

Brought back a lot of fuzzy memories, to much smoke in the eyes.

Has Wildoslavia failed again

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Is this pothole the result of wildoslavia not cleaning out another storm drain

Evidence of a Storm Drain below this hole is provided by the Lakeland Village Master Drainage Plan

In the black circle is where this pothole is

This is so reminiscent of the Prairie Street Storm Drain of a couple of years ago.

This was the second time this occurred within weeks.

The outflow end of the above drain. This was taken 2 years ago and nothing has been done since.

Beware your Privacy at Windsong Park

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CITIZENS OF WILDOMAR BEWARE YOUR PRIVACY!

Your privacy and the privacy of your children may be violated at Windsong Park, when some unsuspecting person stops by to use the facilities, as the lock on the portable restroom is missing (like gone)

Your health may also be in jeopardy as the hand sanitizer dispenser is also broken and laying about.

So much for daily maintenance that is costing $4,500.00 a month ($150 a day) we had better service when we paid $850.00 a month ($28.33 a day) to a small company

QUEEN’S LAKE at REGENCY HERITAGE

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New water feature in Wildomar dubbed the Queen’s Lake is located in the Tot-Lot at Regency Heritage Park, 20171 Autumn Oaks Place Wildomar, CA 92595 near Wildomar’s only dog park.
So grab the dog and your water wings

And take your children to visit this vernal swamp before it evaporates, which could take some time as this is turning out to be a “normal rainy season” unlike the past 3 years which were extremely dry.

Ramp Provided for ADA access

While visiting Queen’s Lake bring your water dog to play in the mud at Wildoslavia’s premier dog park,

Future home of a drinking fountain for your pooch.

Or maybe you would like to play hangman on one of two half-court basketball courts, as long as you don’t mind a bent rim or a little mud.

In order to prevent a traffic jam on entry there really needs to be a no-fishing sign on the bridge into this city facility.

For your $28.00 a year you should be proud of this wonderful features brought to you by the city of wildomar.

Good Idea, Bad Plan

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There is a move about town to install a “Drinking Fountain”, for dogs and humans, at the infamous Regency-Heritage Park located in the northwest side of Wildoslavia. While the idea has been batted about for a number of years the city has apparently located a willing child and sold them on doing a “Scout Project” to cause this fountain project to spring to life.

The idea is a good one and has been long sought after by dog owners, the few that use the DG covered dog park, as the summer months are rather warm in this part of the world where there is little grass to play on.

Above Picture taken in July

Even in Winter there is little grass in this neglected park

The above picture taken in December, the green outside dog park is weeds

The plan is bad plan because this park is a part of the, poorly maintained, drainage system that directs waters from several areas of Wildoslavia, namely to the south as far as Marna O’Brien Park and the hills to the Southwest of the park above the Woodmoor Tract of homes.

The red lines are the existing storm drain infrastructure, the blue line is the proposed additon. The following pictures show the areas where these enter the park

The above picture is looking southwest towards the hills above the Woodmoor Tract

The above picture is looking south towards Marna O’Brien Park, notice the wire has been lifted to facilitate the flow of water, presumably by city staff.

Above picture is looking east towards Palomar St.

The above picture is looking into the park from the Palomar pipe, notice the debris that has been there for years and still is.

In the past it has resulted in much damage being done to this park.

The above pictures were taken in September of 2014

This damage still happens today

Notice the engineered material that cost thousands of dollars is saturated from a December 2016 storm. The damage is so severe the swings have been removed.

Taken the day after Christmas 2016 near the drain for this Tot-Lot in Regency-Heritage Park

This poorly maintained drainage system for this park is slated for an upgrade somewhere in the future, brought to you by Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation (RCFC&WCD), the upgrade is a part of the recently (January 2014) adopted Lakeland Village Master Drainage Plan

This Lakeland Village Master Drainage Plan (Lakeland Village MDP) calls for the current 10 foot wide X 18 inch deep channel through Regency-Heritage Park to be widened to 42 feet in width X 6 feet in depth. This new channel, referred to as “Open Channel A” will be capable of handling a 100-year event consisting of 1,115 cubic feet of water a second.
The city has known about this concept since they were notified by a concerned citizen more than 2 ½ years ago. Refer to

REGENCY HERITAGE PARK MORPHING INTO OPEN CHANNEL A

The above article was written in February of 2014

What does the city lose when this “Open Channel A” is constructed. Nobody really knows at the present time. The RCFC&WCD has a concept but no engineering has been done.

It is possible that 30 feet of the enclosed area currently called the dog park will disappear making the existing dog park smaller while at the same time making it more likely to survive as future flooding will be eliminated. It also means that whatever “Drinking Fountain” installed will lose its water source as the metered water is located on the east entrance nearest Autumn Oak Place.

That is unless the city plans for the new water pipe feeding the “Drinking Fountain” to be installed below the 6 foot depth of the future channel. Does that sound like a “Scout Project”, not many are qualified to operate a backhoe.

One Million Dollars Gets You What ?

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The amount of revenue collected through the Measure Z Parcel Tax since it was passed in November of 2012 is $994,624.00 just shy of one million dollars.

Since the Measure Z Oversight Committee is unable to explain where almost $300,000 goes every year I figured I would give the public a little insight.
First off, when Measure Z was enacted and the parks re-opened on April 12, 2014 the city was paying $870.00 plus supplies per month for Janitorial Services at Wildoslavias three parks.
In June of 2014 the cost went up to about $1400.00 per month.(There appears to have been no contract)
November 12, 2014 a new contract with a new company was approved, on consent calendar Item #1.7, by the City Council which brought the cost up to $23,620 annually ($1968.00 per month) per the staff report.
This contract was relatively short-lived as in June of 2015 another company was doing the work by way of an emergency purchase order for $4,500 per month, this went on until April of 2016.
At this time a contract was again approved on the Consent Calendar, Item #1.5, with another company increasing the monthly cost from the previous contract to 15/16: $3,824.53, 16/17: $3,974.09, 17/18: $4,123.65 these charges do not include supplies as the vouchers show separate invoices for supplies.
What have we gotten for this 357 percent increase (357%)

Let’s take a look through pictures.

On Monday, December 12, 2016 at 10:52am we find this at one of our parks.

Notice the trash

We know the cleaning crew had been around because there was a new liner in the nearest trashcan

This is 10:00 in the AM

Then we take a trip over to the city’s premier park, in the afternoon of another day, and find these conditions:
Picture take December 16, 2016

Picture taken December 16, 2016

We also find this character (gray object leaning up against the concrete pillar next to the tree) sucking up the city’s power with his cell phone out of view of the parks cameras, while hiding behind one of the little league container.

This individual was present at this park again on Friday, December 23 at approximately 1:00pm

This is another of the parking lot electrical receptacles put in for the failed Farmers Market, now used by various individuals to power there phone chargers, vans, boom boxes, etc.

It seems the city hasn’t figured out what a circuit breaker breaker is for.

Picture take December 19, 2016

A return trip on Monday afternoon shows the conditions of the previous Friday still exist
Picture taken December 19, 2016

OK so the first time was a Friday afternoon, December 16, 2016, the second time was a few days later on Monday morning, December 19, 2016.

The above picture was taken a week after the first one, Friday, December 23, 2016 and the following picture a full eleven days, on December 27, 2016

The grounds drying out and someone is back in business.

These problems show a lack of caring on the part of the city.
A couple of new problems also show a lack of attention by city staff where-in some has turned the ball fields into an off road course.
Taken December 19, 2016

Twice since re-opening the parks the city manager has gotten quotes for gates to lock-up the parking lot at night, still no gates.

Some will say, well this is all during a week where it has rained some.
I say what are we the citizens paying over 325,000 dollars a year for.

Salaries paid to city employees to operate and maintain our parks totals $37,100 last year, this should be sufficient to monitor the contractors hired and take of the little things.

These contracted expenses of $126,800 last fiscal year are not being wisely spent.
It appears that the expenditure of $184,900 on Marna O’Brien Park alone is a total waste as no one is walking these parks daily to ensure that are clean and safe for city residents, this includes the city employee assigned to this task, the company contracted to provide “Facilities Maintenance and Janitorial Services” at a cost of $3,824.53 per month or the landscape company that is paid $34,003 annually (just for Marna O’Brien Park) to be responsible to maintain the lawn and shrubs where the campsite was located.

Further evidence of the sloppy work being performed by those employed to provide safe clean parks is found in the boy’s/men’s restroom.

Picture Taken on July 11, 2016

Picture Taken 5 months later December 23, 2016

Now we can add the other sink, $300,000 annually and we get duct tape.

The drinking fountain nearest the basketball courts has been missing its decorative buttons since day one of the parks opening.

Picture Taken April 17, 2014

Picture Taken November 16, 2016
The city can’t even spend a couple of bucks to make it look presentable.

The mayor of this berg insist on using scout projects to enhance the parks, they do the jobs the citizens are paying good money to be done professionally, money that is not being spent as the current reserves of the Measure Z Fund is in excess of $100,000.00.

These were replaced earlier in the year but a lack of proper supervision has resulted in numerous pieces of hardware coming off.

Ever wondered what happened to the bucket so prominently displayed in the first Annual Report FY 2013/14

It found a new home on the other side of the park

Back to scout projects

This fence should be straight and taut

A month later, Zip ties should not have been used

Here is another scout project gone awry in less than a year

These containers were for the collection of recyclables, they were installed just over a year ago.

Ever wonder how much this project has netted the city ?, or any charitable group ? The answer is zero

Now there is talk of another scout project, the installation of a drinking fountain for dogs at Regency-Heritage Park aka The Dog Park aka Open Channel A of the Lakeland Village Master Drainage Plan

A drinking fountain is a good idea for a dog park, but, only if the dog park is in proper location and can actually be used.
Here is a picture of the entrance to “The Dog Park” on Christmas Eve 2016. Ho Ho Ho!

Welcome to the locked gate that goes up after every rain event in Wildoslavia
This is a flood control channel after all, soon to be widened by County Flood Control. This widening will increase the width of the current channel which is 10 feet wide by 18 inches deep to 40 feet in width by 6 feet in depth, taking away an approximately 30 foot wide strip of the dog park.

This flood control channel that is home to the dog park also has a Tot-Lot as a part of its amenities. This is what it looked like most recently.

Look Ma, no swings. The two bucket swings have had no safety belts since the parks re-opened.
Notice the water logged “engineered surface” the cost several thousand dollars.

Back to the scout projects, these bulletin boards were placed in the parks in June of 2015

ViviLnk

By the middle of July they looked like this

ViviLnk

They were repaired by the city and now look like this, a year later.

As for a lack of safety of all citizens one only has to look at the Rabbit Hole.

The protective wire has been folded back, I guess water couldn’t flow fast enough with it covering the hole.

Merry Christmas Wildomar

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Mother Nature doesn’t take a day off

Mother Nature, on Christmas Eve, did what the city has failed to do. She has started dismantling one of the dead trees found in its smallest park.
A number of these dead trees were highlighted in a previous blog.

This picture taken on Christmas Day after being notified the tree was missing a portion of its top.

The fallen debris

Picture of the same tree, the middle tree, taken in June of 2016 about the time the Measure Z Oversight Advisory Committee was doing it’s annual assessment, wherein not a single member made mention of the condition of the trees. All of the Fremont Cottonwood Trees, except one in what is referred to as the Creek Garden, appear to be suffering from some sort of malady

HO HO HO Where is Santa’s Dough ?

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LOOK MA NO MONEY

The following was brought up, in part, at the wildomar City Council meeting of December 14, 2016. My Public Comments were apparently deemed inappropriate for a local blogger as my comments must have hit the cutting room floor. Included at the end of this article are my Public Comments in there entirety from my notes.

Since the Measure Z Oversight Committee was charged with looking after the collections starting with the Breakfast with Santa 2013 that responsibility has been waning.

(The comingling of revenues raised by this event was questioned since the beginning with city staff and the city manager expressing their opinion that this was appropriate).

This event had been held at Wildomar’s Fire Station 61 since 1979 with volunteer firefighters making the pancakes. The station was always working with various community leaders and groups to come up with different fundraisers to help offset the costs of up-grading and purchasing new state-of-the-art equipment needed in helping save lives and property. In 2004 they served about 300 residents to raise money to replace its out-dated emergency squad vehicle. A new one would have cost about $80,000.
http://myvalleynews.com/local/spark-of-love-toy-drive-to-aid-needy-families/

Today this event is monitored by the MEASURE Z OVERSIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEE. This is made clear by the following statement:

The Special Event revenues reflect the Breakfast with Santa event wherein the City partnered with the Rotary Club.

The above line is found in the Measure Z Oversight and Advisory Committee Annual Report for FY13-14 on page 15 of the report found at: http://www.cityofwildomarparks.org/measure-z-documents
Also included in the above Annual Report is the following on Page 7 for the
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA 2013 (Held December 21, 2013)

Park Services Highlights
Breakfast with Santa event was conducted at the Fire Station on Gruwell Street. Over 250 guests participated in the event. Total net revenues were $1,109.63.

During December, the Breakfast with Santa event was conducted at the Fire Station on Gruwell Street. Over 250 guests participated in the event. Total revenues were
$1,644.00, expenses were $968.75, (refer to attachment 2). The revenues were
originally recorded in the general fund and now have been transferred (except $50.00 which will be transferred at the City’s mid-year report on 2-11-2014) to the Measure Z fund, where the expenses were incurred.
The above comments are included in Agenda Item #2.1 FY 2013-14 Mid Year Report, Staff Report Discussion of January 23, 2014
Also found at http://www.cityofwildomarparks.org/measure-z-documents

On January 16, 2014 the Wildomar Rotary Club received its cut
Voucher 202951 01/16/2014 Vendor 000214 Rotary Club of Wildomar
Invoice #11314 Breakfast W/Santa Fundraiser $484.37

Even in the most current Agenda Packet for the Measure Z Oversight Advisory Committee this event has its own line and budget in the financial reports

What has happened since the first year of the Measure Z Oversight Advisory Committee’s oversight of the event called BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA 2014 (Held on December 13, 2014)
May 28, 2015 Measure Z Oversight Advisory Committee Agenda Item #2.1
FY 2014-15 3rd Quarter Report
Page 8 of 20 shows that the city budgeted $4,200 and brought in revenue of $4,418.00. (December 2014 Breakfast with Santa)
The only expense found in found in the 3rd quarter report is Stan Argent- Breakfast with Santa 300.00

In March of 2015 the Wildomar Rotary Club received its half of the revenue generated after expenses.

Voucher 204466 03/05/2015 Vendor 000214 Rotary Club of Wildomar
Invoice #30515 Breakfast with Santa Fundraiser $1,339.00

According to City of Wildomar Vouchers (shown below) a total of $877.22 was spent on various supplies. The city also spent $1,177.11 on 4 Grills for community events add to that the $300 from the 3rd Quarter report above brings the total expenditures for the 2014 event to $2,354.33.

Revenue in of $4,418 minus expenses of $2,354.33 leaves $2063.67 divided by 2 gives the city of wildomar and the Wildomar Rotary Club $1,031.83
(How is it the Rotary Club received $307.16 more than the city)

Voucher 204188 12/18/2014 Vendor 000067 Petty Cash Invoice #79
Petty Cash Replenishment Breakfast with Santa $ 13.46

Voucher 204192 12/18/2014 Vendor 000186 Rightway
Invoice#59557 12/13/2014 Breakfast with Santa $ 209.90

Voucher 204238 12/30/2014 Vendor 000006 Wells Fargo
Invoice #121214 Breakfast with Santa Supplies $ 21.59
Invoice #121214 Breakfast with Santa Supplies $ 28.08
Invoice #121214A Breakfast with Santa Supplies $ 29.16
Invoice #170 Breakfast with Santa Supplies $ 93.31
Invoice #41847 Breakfast with Santa Supplies $ 12.48
Invoice #4900-5852 Four Grills for Community Events $1,177.11
Invoice #7 Breakfast with Santa Health Permit $ 87.00
Invoice #8055 Propane for Breakfast with Santa $ 252.83

Voucher 204262 01/08/2015 Vendor 000773 South Shore Deli Provisions, Inc.
Invoice #57073 Supplies for Breakfast W/Santa $ 308.00

Voucher 204295 01/22/2015 Vendor 000011 CR&R Inc.
Invoice #276984 12/16/14 Additional Pick-up Breakfast w/Santa $ 40.53

Voucher 204388 02/12/2015 Vendor 000067 Petty Cash
Invoice 81 Breakfast w/Santa $ 33.71

After all is said and done for Breakfast with Santa 2014 the Annual Report shows nothing.

Measure Z Oversight Advisory Committee Agenda Item #2.2
SUBJECT: FY 2014-15 Annual Report
Makes no mention of Breakfast with Santa Revenue (2014)

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA 2015 (Held December 12, 2015)
Now let’s look at the Breakfast with Santa 2015
July 7, 2016 Measure Z Oversight Advisory Committee Agenda Item #2.1
SUBJECT: FY 2015-16 3rd Quarter Report
(Page 7 of 14)
255-3556 Breakfast with Santa Budgeted $4,000 Actuals as of 3/31/16 $0.00

That is until December where the Agenda Packet shows the following
September 8, 2016 Measure Z Oversight Advisory Committee Agenda Item #2.1
SUBJECT: FY 2015-16 Year End Report – Pre Audit
(Page 19 of 110)
255-3556 Breakfast with Santa Budgeted $0.00 Actuals as of 6/30/16 $0.00

But what about all the expenses shown in the city vouchers listed below:

2015
Voucher 205573 12/10/2015 Vendor 000649 Mint Print Media
Invoice #950 Banner for Breakfast with Santa $ 51.84

Voucher 205576 12/10/2015 Vendor 000526 Print Postal
Invoice #12537 Breakfast with Santa 2015 $ 340.20

Voucher 205577 12/10/2015 Vendor 000186 Rightway
Invoice #120115 Breakfast with Santa $ 209.90

Voucher 205697 01/14/2016 Vendor 000006 Wells Fargo
Invoice #00001 Breakfast with Santa Propane $ 27.77
Invoice #106 Breakfast with Santa 2015 Supplies $ 125.31
Invoice #1167803 Breakfast with Santa 2015 Supplies $ 28.08
Invoice #19 Breakfast with Santa 2015 Supplies $ 209.93
Invoice #451167793 Breakfast with Santa 2015 Supplies $ 30.24
Invoice #47100 Breakfast with Santa 2015 Supplies $ 32.31
Invoice #8992 Breakfast with Santa 2015 Health Permit $ 97.25

Voucher 205698 01/14/2016 Vendor 000006 Wells Fargo
Invoice #20232 Breakfast with Santa 2015 $ 15.60
Invoice #3161897 Breakfast with Santa 2015 Tarps $ 12.92

These expenses total $1,181.35

The Wildomar Rotary Club received a check

Voucher 206017 04/07/2016 Vendor 000214 ROTARY CLUB OF WILDOMAR
Invoice #40716 BREAKFAST W/SANTA FUNDRAISER $1,142.08

With no revenue recorded (not even from the 8 sponsors) not sure how that happened.

2015 is also the year the Mayor stated that the city’s proceeds would be used to purchase emergency radios for the city and some of it was

Voucher 205550 12/10/2015 Vendor 000006 Wells Fargo
Invoice #239019 CEMETERY EMER EMER RADIO SUPPLIES $ 33.92
Invoice #899103591108 CEMETERY EMER EMER RADIO SUPPLIES $ 29.64
Invoice #9585034 CEMETERY EMER EMER RADIO SUPPLIES $ 83.91
Total $147.47

Voucher 205697 01/14/2016 Vendor 000006 Wells Fargo
Invoice #9960267 UV-5R DUAL BAND EMERGENCY RADIOS- CEMET $226.53

Voucher 205776 02/04/2016 Vendor 000006 Wells Fargo
Invoice #172663 Power Supplies for Disaster Net Radio $161.75

TOTAL $535.75

If the Rotary Club received their one-half then what happened to the rest of the city’s half amounting to $606.33

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA 2016 (Held December 10, 2016)
So far there are no numbers to look at, the most recent Quarterly Report for FY16-17 shows a line item for a budget of $4,000

Will the lack of accounting and oversight continue into the New Year. With there being as many as 15 sponsors this year the money will be substantial.

The next question that needs to be asked:
If Measure Z budgets for this event, are not the revenues the property of Measure Z.
If that is so, how is it the city can spent any of this money on anything other than parks related expenses.

My notes from the evening of December 14, 2016

Public Comments

Since the beginning of the Measure Z Oversight Committee the task of accounting for the Breakfast with Santa funds has belong to the committee, according to staff, with Measure Z funds budgeted for this event and the revenue line 255-3556 Breakfast with Santa one would believe this to be true.

For the 2013 Breakfast there was a budget of $1600, the committee saw most of the invoices and receipts and the results, $1,109.63 net revenue was included in the FY13-14 Annual Report. Of this $484.37 was shared with the Rotary Club

Since that time there has been virtually no accounting of the monies budgeted, spent or brought in.

Breakfast with Santa 2014 showed that $4,200 was budgeted, in only one quarterly report (the other quarters showed nothing budgeted) but $4,218 was brought in of which $1,339.00 was shared with the Rotary Club, a single expense of $300 was recorded. These numbers got no mention in the FY 2014-15 Annual Report.

Breakfast with Santa 2015 showed that $4,000 was budgeted but the quarterly reports show no expenditures even though $1,142.08 was shared with the Rotary Club. Per our Mayor the city’s cut was to fund Emergency Radios which this city spent $535.75 for such radios, what happened to the rest of the money.

Pre-audit numbers for FY15-16 show absolutely nothing budgeted nor any actual revenue brought in. There are also no expenses recorded.

For this years Breakfast with Santa 2016 $4,000 has been budgeted, we will have to wait and see if it gets any mention at all.

Wildoslavia Remove Your DeadWood

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Is it proper for the taxpayers of this community to assume the liability for the dead trees that exist in the parks,

This is a question posed at the last Measure Z Oversight Advisory Committee meeting of December 8, 2016

The answer was, we know about the tree at Marna O’Brien Park, it’s located in the parking lot near the baseball fields.

The explanation as to why this tree is still present was because the city needed to study how to remove the tree from the planter without harming the irrigation system.

This is a drawing I received from the city of wildoslavia which shows a single ¾ in line coming into the planter going around the planter and exiting to one additional planter.

All that time spinning a single tree, cut the tree down eliminating the hazard. Then figure out how to remove it without tearing up too much of the planter. The irrigation system can be cut coming in and going out, capped and then replaced when a new tree is put in.

All the while they missed the original question

Being as I had posed this question in the Public Comment period of the meeting with several other questions thereby using up my three minutes and per the city’s rules of engagement I was unable to ask follow-up questions or engage in conversation. I could not ask the following with emphasis on a couple of key words.

Is it proper for the taxpayers of this community to assume the liability for the dead trees that exist in the parks

Below are trees located at another of wildoslavia’s parks that are clearly dead. First picture was taken this summer and second picture was taken this week.

Above photo taken June 27

Above Photo taken December 12, this week