Politics & Government

Wildomar Residents Brainstorm With City Manager During Budget Workshop

City parks were among the top discussion topics Wednesday night.

Despite the city council and city manager’s urging that Wildomar residents turn out for the March 20 Budget Workshop, few showed up.

During the 6:30 p.m. event at City Hall, about a dozen people were in attendance to share their budget ideas for Wildomar with City Manager Gary Nordquist. His staff had sent electronic invitations to residents who have registered to receive email notifications, and a notice was published on the city’s website and in local news publications.

Although turnout was low, Nordquist received many ideas from residents who were present to discuss the next two fiscal years that begin July 1.

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Nordquist was particularly eager to hear suggestions from residents on how tax revenues reserved for city parks should be spent.

Maria Walker, wife of Wildomar Mayor Tim Walker, suggested, among other things, that the city consider park improvements, such as shading over playground equipment and drought-tolerant landscaping.

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Wildomar resident Martha Bridges offered that, in addition to children’s activities at the parks, the city should also consider events adult residents can enjoy, such as park concerts, outdoor exercise classes and educational events.

There were also concerns expressed about parks' security. One resident said he worried that quality of life for residents who live near the parks will deteriorate once all the facilities reopen. He feared late-night calls to police about criminal activity in the parks won’t receive high priority due to Wildomar’s recent cuts in public safety.

Nordquist acknowledged the concern, which eventually led to a discussion about security cameras for the parks and the city’s top priority of adding more cops on the streets.

Talk of how to put more money in city coffers was also on the table Wednesday night. Wildomar resident Gil Rasmussen presented Nordquist with a written proposal that he claimed could bring back more than $325,000 per year to the city. Rasmussen’s plan calls for Wildomar to bow out of its current Joint Powers Authority agreement tied to the Southwest Communities Animal Shelter.

Instead, under Rasmussen’s plan, Wildomar would establish its own Animal Control Service Department for approximately $175,000 annually. The cost would be offset by approximately $80,000 in revenues derived from pet licensing, dropping the total annual expenditure to less than $100,000, according to Rasmussen’s plan.

Another cost-saving consideration discussed Wednesday night was the rent Wildomar pays for its existing City Hall space in the Albertson’s shopping center on Clinton Keith Road. The lease, which expires in December, is approximately $11,000 a month. Nordquist said the city is evaluating its options, including negotiating a better deal on the space, buying a space, or moving to another location.

Bridges also suggested the city consider investigating whether it can recoup money spent on what she termed “inferior” slurry seal work on Wildomar roads, particularly around the Windsong area.

Nordquist was receptive to all the ideas, which will now be sent to city staff for review. He pointed out that while Wildomar still owes more than $1.7 million to the county, that figure is the city’s only debt. Additionally, Wildomar has maintained a balanced budget despite Nordquist added.

“The last couple of years we’ve been in survival mode,” he explained.

Indeed, police and fire comprise the bulk of city expenditures at about $4.2 million combined annually -- not including an anticipated hike expected to be nearly 5 percent in the upcoming year --which leaves little for other city expenditures.

Residents will get another chance to air their thoughts during a June 10 public hearing on the matter slated as part of the regularly scheduled Wildomar City Council meeting.

In the meantime, Nordquist is still taking budget suggestions. Residents can call him at 951-677-7751 or email gnordquist@cityofwildomar.org.


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