2013/14 Could Be Breakout Year For Lake Elsinore

More fire and police, quick street repairs, a new regional learning attraction, freeway signs that promote Lake Elsinore, and 800 new homes are among some of the commitments for the city in the 2013/14 fiscal year that begins July 1.

The issues were discussed during Thursday’s Budget Workshop at the Lake Elsinore Senior Center that saw city staff, council members, and the public weigh in on the 2013/14 highlights.

City council members must still adopt the 2013/14 fiscal year budget in June, but what they saw last night clearly impressed them.

The Money
According to the figures presented by Lake Elsinore City Manager Grant Yates along with Director of Administrative Services James Riley, the city will have an operating budget of nearly $35 million in fiscal year 2013/14.

Key highlights include a nearly $2.3 million increase in projected general fund revenues. Yates attributed the increase, in part, to a better economy that’s seeing more home construction, increased consumer spending at local businesses, and more companies eyeing Lake Elsinore.

The city’s fund balance reserve is also expected to increase from $3.6 million in 2012/13 to $5.2 million in 2013/14.

Total projected revenues in 2013/14 are just over $27 million; total projected expenditures are nearly $30 million. The deficit is being covered by carryover revenue from last year and budget stabilization reserve, Yates and Riley pointed out.

Yates is not overly concerned about the deficit.

“We have so much room to grow,” he said. “If we were a built-out city, I would be worried, but we’re not.”

Yates pointed to the city’s population of just over 50,000 residents.

“Our build out is more than 220,000,” he added. “We’re spending money to retain money.”


Where’s The Money Going? 
Police and fire services are Lake Elsinore’s largest expenditures. During the 2013/14 fiscal year, the city expects to spend (after offsets) nearly $8.5 million on police, and about $5.4 million on fire.

Lake Elsinore contracts for these public safety services through the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department. Contract rates are set, but the city is beefing up. The Rosetta Canyon Fire Station will open in June, and the city has budgeted for two additional motorcycle cops and a community services officer.

The city will also be hiring new staffers to accommodate the projected increase in new construction that includes a scheduled 800 new homes in the city. Another engineer and two inspectors are proposed for the city.

The city is also looking to convert an existing part-time special events coordinator position to full time. Yates said the number of events that now come to the city – special events at the Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park, the lake, area parks, historic downtown – necessitate the added manpower.

Additionally, three maintenance workers will be added, with their salaries paid for by gas tax, and a full-time budget officer will be installed.


Spending On The “Fun Stuff”
Lake Elsinore is expected to get some new attractions in 2013/14. Approximately $250,000 is projected to be spent on a skate park in Serenity Park; $150,000 on playground equipment improvements are slated for Summerlake, Yarborough and Machado parks; and $200,000 in landscaping, parking and drainage improvements are scheduled for Whiskers Beach off Lakeshore Drive.

Pat Kilroy, who serves the city as director of parks and recreation and is a biologist, has proposed a $150,000 fishery at La Laguna Resort that would not only serve the lake’s amphibious population to improve water quality, but would also be a learning facility that could potentially attract school districts from around the region.

A City Park shade structure, parking lot improvements and an electrical enclosure at Lakepoint Park, fencing at Swick-Matick Park, improvements on the San Jacinto River Nature Trail, and a new roof for the Cultural Center are also slated in the upcoming fiscal year.

Street Improvements
Several roads are tapped for repaving next year, including Summerhill Drive from Canyon Ridge to Via De La Valle at a cost of $400,000.

The city will also enhance Collier Avenue with design improvements to the center divider, landscaping on the median, and new City of Lake Elsinore monument signs to welcome visitors and residents. The budgeted cost on the project is $1 million.

Main Street in historic downtown is also expected to see approximately $296,000 in improvements, including ADA compliant ramps on street corners, replacement of broken and missing pavers on sidewalks, incorporation of the city’s logo throughout, and crosswalk improvements.

Two city bridges – the Nichols Road/I-15 overpass and the Franklin Street overpass -- are slated to have giant City of Lake Elsinore monument signs installed on them at a total cost of $180,000.

But arguably the most remarkable street improvement proposal for 2013/14 is the acquisition of two “Heatwurx” machines from the well-known heavy equipment manufacturer, Caterpillar. The Heatwurx, which cost approximately $60,000 each, would allow city workers to repair potholes and cracks in about 20 minutes per location, according to Yates who is excited about the technology that he believes will result in much cheaper and faster repairs.

“We are the first city in the state to utilize these,” he said.

The Heatwurx equipment works by heating up existing asphalt and a roller is used to reform and repair material.

During Thursday’s meeting, long-time community activist Chris Hyland raved about the equipment.

“This is so exciting,” she said. "I am thrilled about this." 


The Year Ahead
“The City of Lake Elsinore renaissance begins now.”

That’s a phrase coined by Mayor Bob Magee.

“I think it’s very relevant and is inline with our vision statement,” Yates said.

That statement reads, “The City of Lake Elsinore will be the ultimate lake destination where all can live, work, play, build futures and fulfill dreams.”