Politics & Government

Wildomar Parks: When Will They Open? How Are My Tax Dollars Being Spent?

Of the three Wildomar city parks, two are closed. But that is expected to change in early 2014.

During Thursday night’s regularly scheduled Measure Z Oversight Advisory Committee meeting, Wildomar City Manager Gary Nordquist estimated all three parks will be open early next year due to volunteer efforts and a revenue stream that will pay for rehab and maintenance at the facilities.

While Marna O’Brien Park has remained open in the city, Wildomar’s Heritage and Windsong parks have closed due to lack of funding to maintain them.

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Click here to read about a fourth Wildomar park. The Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved the 27-acre land transfer July 16.

In November, that scenario changed dramatically when Wildomar voters approved Measure Z, which imposed a $28 annual tax on the city’s property owners. 

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The annual revenue stream is supposed to be used solely for the city’s parks. 

The five-member citizen-based Measure Z Oversight Advisory Committee was formed after November's election to advise City Council regarding the collection and expenditure of the new tax revenues designated for the parks. 

During Thursday’s meeting with committee member Dawn DeVolder absent, committee members heard presentations by Nordquist about the parks’ two-year budget, as adopted by City Council. They also got the latest rundown on the facilities.

Presently, it is expected the $28 annual tax imposed on 12,903 parcels citywide will bring $343,200 to the city annually, Nordquist explained.

However, through no fault of its own, the city has yet to collect that revenue. In Riverside County, property tax bills are mailed out in late September/early October for the tax year that begins July 1. Tax bills are payable in two equal installments, with the first coming due Dec. 10 and the second by April 10. 

Nordquist said the city should see the Measure Z revenue approximately 30 days after each installment is due.

So while the city awaits its parks’ revenue stream, a local church has offered its volunteers to help spruce up the facilities and ready them for opening ahead of schedule.

On Oct. 26, nearly 500 United Methodist Church members, friends and family are expected to be at the parks, planting, removing graffiti, cleaning up trash and making necessary repairs at the facilities.

Marna O’Brien Park’s fields are scheduled to close shortly before the church’s self proclaimed “Great Day of Service” and will stay closed through the remaining fall months and most of winter, Nordquist said, explaining the closure is needed to allow newly seeded fields to grow.

Although the church’s efforts will provide significant savings to Wildomar, Nordquist explained the city still expects to spend approximately $306,700 on the parks during the 2013/14 fiscal year that began July 1, with much of the expense due to rehab efforts. 

During the 2014/15 fiscal year, the parks’ expenditure is projected at $310,500, with money forecast to be spent on yet-to-be determined recreation programs and contracting a part-time special events coordinator for the parks, Nordquist explained.

Thursday’s meeting saw just under a dozen members of the public turn out. The next Measure Z Oversight Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled at Wildomar City Hall, Oct. 24, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. 


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