Menifee California - It was standing room only in the 1000 seat Bell Mountain Middle School auditorium as the community and invited guests participated in the inauguration ceremony and the inaugural meeting of the City of Menifee City Council.  Young Menifee Girl Scouts were on hand as greeters and later passed out city commemorative medallions.  Lou Monville from O'Reilly Public Relations acted as MC of the ceremony followed by an invocation by senior pastor Gary Galbraith of Revival Christian Fellowship, who prayed for our new Beginnings. 

The Riverside National Cemetery Honor Guard carried in the colors followed by  the Pledge of Allegiance led by Boy Scout Troop 444.  Paloma Valley High School Junior Eric Handy blew the roof off with an A capella rendition of the National Anthem which ended in rousing applause as the colors were retired.  I think I teared up on his last note, Eric was a great choice and should be proud of his talent and contribution.

There were several local and state representatives who attended or sent representation including the offices of Governor Schwarzenegger, Congressman Mary Bono Mack the 45th district Representative, Assemblyman Paul Cook, of California's 65 Assembly District, Supervisors Jeff Stone of the 3rd district and Marion Ashley of the 5th district.  Representatives from the Riverside County Fire and Sheriff's Department and our very own Chief of Police James McKelvey (sp?).  He's actually the Captain of the Perris Station and has been appointed as our City Police Chief.  I missed the Council meeting where we contracted with the Sheriff's department, so I'm not sure how it is that we have a City of Menifee Police squad car, but we do, and I'll try to find out more about it.  Representatives from our neighboring cities of Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Murietta and Temecula also came to participate in the celebration.

After the swearing in of Council Members by Supervisor Jeff Stone, each member gave a short introduction speech and then got down to some official business. In just a few strokes of the gavel the council confirmed the appointment of Wallace Edgerton as Mayor and Darci Kuenzi as mayor pro-temp.  They also considered our first five ordinances required for City operation according to state law in the incorporation of a new city. During the coming months and years, the City will revise and add to these ordinances to create its own laws to be known as the Menifee Municipal Code. The ordinances voted on were

• 2008-1:  the adoption of county ordinances including land use for a period of 120 days

• 2008-2:  the establishment of Menifee Municipal code relating to general administration, finances and contracting.

• 2008-3:  an interim planning commission appointing the city council members and confirming that the city council will act as the appeals body for any planning, zoning or code enforcement appeals.

• 2008-4:  establishing a sales and use tax to be administered by the state board of  equalization.

• 2008-5:  establishing a special gas tax street improvement fund.

The council also ratified a few dozen prior actions taken as an interim body as resolutions, to handle the transition of powers between the county and the City. I'll post them in our forum for review, but basically they cover governance, budget and finance, roads and franchises, county service areas, PARSAC memberships, regional board memberships and our lease agreement for the City Hall with New hub Properties LLC.

After the official business was concluded, the Council accepted a presentation of a baby Coast Live Oak tree from the Luisana band of the Pechanga Indian tribe. It was noted that the sapling was from the great Mother Oak and that very few have been given out. Menifee is the only City honored with this particular gift. The Pechanga Indian tribe has great history in the valley and reminded us of the singing rock and the burial grounds in town. He wanted Menifee to understand that this was a special gift from the heart of the Pechanga Tribe.

Joe Daugherty, representing the Menifee Incorporation Committee also made a presentation of a large 3-D plaque depicting an oak tree surrounded by acorns and individual leaves representing the donations and support of so many of the people of the Menifee Valley who had contributed time and money toward city hood. The names of the "founders" are engraved on each individual leaf and the plaque will hang in the new City Hall.

Mayor Wallace Edgerton ended the meeting with a moving speech recapping the march to cityhood and the promises that he and the city council had made to Menifee. Even with the financial turmoil in the nation, he declared that our budget was sound, with a surplus; that the council and staff promise fiscal responsibility; that the best of Menifee lies in the people and the wide open spaces, enough for parks and playing fields; and that taxes and fees would not rise on his watch. He didn't have the gavel in hand when he ended the meeting, but it was ended on that up note.

I also made it across the parking lot to Wheatfield baseball field to catch a burger and the
restless Menifee Mustangs who were waiting for Scott Mann to throw out the first pitch and start the game. There was a great crowd just typical of all that's great about Menifee. Parents watching their kids play and rooting them on to victory. I hope they won, they were looking pretty good when I left.  Thunder, the Lake Elsinore Storm mascot was on hand to rile the kids up.

I finally made my way to the Menifee Lakes Country Club, where it also was standing room only.  After all the hoopla about RSVP's... this was a great reception type event, and YES!!! they made room for everyone.

Entertainment was provided by the Armand Blais orchestra and the committee did a great job.  Very festive, great food, champagne and the ice sculpture was over the top. All in all it was a great celebration and maybe we can give our City Council a chance to breathe now that it's all official.  They have all worked so hard to give us their best all summer and we held em to the fire.  The celebration was well deserved and a great way to launch our new Beginnings.

Last changed: Oct 08 2008 at 1:39 PM

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