Imaging my surprise when I received an e-mail about work finally starting on the long ago anticipated lights and security system a Windsong Park. The biggest surprise was 1. It’s a Saturday and
2. It’s Valentine’s Day.

A close up of one of three holes being prepared.

An idea of where they are located

Long ago anticipated seems to be a key element to happenings in Wildomar. The inspection of all 3 of the Tot-Lots occurred almost 4 months after opening ceremonies, with another 5 months lapsing before their rehabilitation was started, yes there is more to do to bring them into full compliance but a least the work has STARTED.
The irrigation pump at Marna was fixed 8 months after hydro-seeding, long after any chance of growing a somewhat useful grass surface.

These lights as part of a security system, with increased patrols and on call private security along with a camera being the other portions were promised in a February 12, 2014 City Council Meeting.

Wildomar City Council Minutes

The pertinent words

Much to the dismay of park neighbors the fence was removed on a Friday October 24, 2014 with no security measures in place including access by residents of the private security patrols phone number, this was added after being brought to the attention of the city manager by an area resident

This number subsequently washed away in one of the rainstorms.

Numerous dates for the installation of security measures were given after the fence came down by everyone at city hall from the city manager to each of the council members, such as the end of next week, within a couple of weeks, by the end of the month.
Then came the poster proclaiming a date certain.

First date was delayed until February 11th due to delivery problems ?

While conversing with the employee of the company installing these lights apparently they are duplicates of the type installed at Marna O’Brien Park along the pathways. These lights according to County of Riverside drawings are 90 watt Low Pressure Sodium which consume an estimated 372,600 watts annually each. (This 93.15KWH per month will only cost an additional $13.04 a month in additional charges for this park at current rates, this does not include replacement cost of bulbs which last about 4 years and assumes peak demand charges are not incurred)
[This based on Southern California Edison’s Standard All Night Service operating schedule of approximately 4,140 hours of service per year one arrives at a total power consumption of 1 million 117 thousand 800 watts annually (1,117,800W) for 3 lights being installed]

Leave it to a city that proclaims it wants to be sustainable along with wanting to accept WRCOG’s green initiative to reduce our carbon footprint to install old technology, the rest of the country is currently headlong into replacing the old with new and installing Adaptive LED lighting technology which uses far less power (up to 60% less), being able to power down after certain time periods and powering up when required such as when directed to by motion sensors.
To install lights that burn continuously throughout the night in a park closed at dusk when a camera with infrared technology sees just fine in the dark appears foolish. But what’s new, city officials are continually making foolish decisions because they won’t ask for input from its citizens. ( A number of those citizens work for Southern California Edison including one that is currently an Electrical Systems Planner and has access to the latest systems and figures.)
This unwillingness to ask is one of the reasons the electric bill at Marna O’Brien Park cost 6 times normal when Demand Charges are included. These demand charges currently add up to about $36 per KWH.

Some will say, you are never happy with anything that gets done in this city , I say, your right things can always be done better. If nothing is said then the status quo will prevail and what’s the fun in that.

“What a waste it is to lose one’s mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is.”
Vice President Dan Quayle, 1989