The council was late returning for a closed session, the results of which were either not disclosed or continued to a future date. After a musical interlude waiting for the council to return to open session, the usual intros were accommodated.

Special presentations included scholarships awarded by Interwest Community Foundation.

Next came a proclamation for Pride Month 2021, stating more or less that the city of San Jacinto is a multi-cultured city and that all walks of life are a welcome part of the community.

The Consent Calendar readings were waived and all items were passed by 4-0 vote with Council Woman Ruiz an excused absence, as follows:

Minutes from the June 1 regular meeting approved.

Warrants and Disbursements approved.

The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 21-05 repealing Chapter 930 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code. Established the Appropriations Limit from proceeds of taxes for the fiscal year 2021-2022.

Approved and adopted Resolution No. 3871 establishing the appropriations limit from proceeds of taxes for the fiscal year 2021-2022.

Approved the Professional Services Agreement with Robin Gilliland Consulting for Homeless and at-risk population (HARP) services.

Approved a Professional Services Agreement with Melendez Consulting, Inc.

Approved a Professional Services Agreement (3rd and final extension of the Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with Dave’s Hauling for right-of-way clean-up.

Approved a 1-year professional services agreement extension with Lynn Merrill and Associates for Fiscal Year 21-22 NFDES technical support.

Adopted Resolution 3860, approving wastewater rate increases pursuant to the Wastewater Rate study prepared by Raftelis; and pass-through increased to the rates adopted by Eastern Municipal Water District that are imposed on the city for a five year period commencing July 1, 2021, which includes 12% increase for the coming year and 8% per year for three years following.

Approved and adopted Resolution confirming a diagram and assessment and levying the assessment for Assessment District 2003-1 for FY 2021-2022.

Approved and adopted Resolution 3869 confirming a diagram and assessment and levying the assessment for the District for FY 21-22.

Approved and adopted Resolution 3868 confirming an assessment and levying the assessment for the District for FY 21-22.

City Council, by motion, approved Resolution No. 3861, adopting the updated 2020 City of San Jacinto Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan, as required by the Urban Water Management Planning Act (California Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan, as required by the Urban Water Management Planning Act (California Water Code Section 10610 et seq.) And the Water Conservation Act of 2009 (California Water Code Section 10608 et seq).

Approved the Resolution and Agreement for Professional Assistance with Robert Brady.

Approved and accepted the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title II, Self-evaluation and Transition Plan for receipt and file.

City Council, by motion, adopted Resolution No. 3872 adopting Fiscal Year Budget 2021-2022 for the General Fund and all other funds, except the Successor Agency, which is adopted by separate action. Approved the Successor Agency Board, by motion, adopt Resolution No. SA 21-02 adopting the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Operating and Capital Budget for the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Jacinto.

Note: DOCUMENTS RELATED TO OPEN SESSION AGENDAS (SB343) – any public record, relating to an open session agenda item, that is distributed within 72 hours prior to the meeting is available for public inspection at the public counter located in the Administration Building in City Hall, 595 S. San Jacinto Avenue, San Jacinto, CA 92583.

The elephant in their midst was Councilman Joe Lopez, who was out on bail from numerous charges against him when he was arrested a day before, more of which will be revealed as information is obtainable from the San Jacinto’s Police Department the District Attorney’s Office in Riverside. Innocent until proven otherwise.

Just sayin’ rustystrait@gmail.com

Rusty Strait • Senior Reporter

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

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What started out as a well-deserved moment of silence and remembrance for Rose Salgado and a beloved member of the Soboba reservation who passed away this week after a long battle with cancer took off afterward at a pace on a back-country preacher at a West Virginia Pentecostal Meeting. I know because therein lie my roots.

San Jacinto is a city on the move. In fast succession, several remembrances were recalled, including the life of a local riverbed resident who recently also passed.

All pertinent items on the agenda were passed unanimously in rapid-fire order, including issuing several updated amendments to already approved lots for housing developments. Mayor Alonso Ledezma Loza, who chaired the meeting, discussed the rising appearance of roadside vendors that are rapidly aligning the roadways into and in San Jacinto, without vending permits, some of whom are coming all the way from Los Angles. He felt that in order for them to operate in a healthy atmosphere, two things must be brought into play, (1) licensing and (2) assurance of healthy non-contaminated fruit and vegetables. All agreed that they should not operate within the city without obtaining a vendors license.

Not to be denied a place in the rotation, City Manager Robert Johnson ran off a litany of projects that would startle the city council of a great metropolis, including but not limited to the following; a new Dollar Tree, Healthy Eating (involving a series of places and events that your reporter will be covering in weeks to come, Demler Egg Ranch which will include a fertilizer plant, new home developments. Etc.

There was much discussion and slides to make their point about progress with filling potholes on the streets of San Jacinto, as well as on the Ramona Express, which one councilman described as questionable to drive on. They boasted of the 7200 yards of rubbish removed from the local storm canals, 77 leaking water meters being replaced and 82 dig alerts that were checked out in order to prevent interference with underground wiring and piping.

San Jacinto beatification was thoroughly covered and approved, including Community Partnerships that include gardening, churches, resources and sponsorships (seeking as many financial investments into their effort as possible and announcing many new community business donations to the effort).

The HARP program (which I will be going into in full depth up the road) covers San Jacinto Unified School District, Public Safety, Philanthropic Organizations, The Faith-Based Community and Street Outreach programs. One project should attract the attention of the entire Valley, Mistletoe Park (Once a notorious gang hang-out) is being converted into a Future Court Project, which will be in conjunction with the business and civilian community. I gather it to be a sort of stop by gym, recreational and exercise location with a 7-minute program that isn’t going to over-tax anyone’s energy. (More in the future on that as it progresses).

Then, there is the oft-neglected Sallee Park which is currently being upgraded, but I would describe it as more a rebuilding with total remodeling that will include a Community Garden, Boxing for Christ, etc. (partly financed by generous grants with many local businesses chipping in. Community Garden Murals are planned with local artists (youth and elder) contributing.

There seems to be no end to the projects, projects in progress and projects in the planning stages. Nearby communities will be casting envying eyes on the runaway train that is now the city of San Jacinto. Fasten your seat-belt folks; this may be a bumpy ride that is headed for a smooth ending and I, for one, would like to watch it grow and be a part of it. Just sayin’. rustystrait@gmail.com

Rusty Strait • Senior Reporter

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

The post SAN JACINTO COUNCIL MEETING IS LIKE A RUNAWAY FREIGHT TRAIN appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

There was a roll call, followed by invocation, pledge of allegiance and into the meat of the session. The following items were all approved as presented.

1. Consent calendar.

2. Approval of previous minutes dated 01/21/2021.

3. City Council received and filed the Treasurer’s Report for the month ending December 31, 2020.

4. City Council accepted the Local Road Safety Plan submitted by the Engineering Department.

5. City Council approved the plans and specifications for the Ramona Expressway Median Art Project, Phase 1; Awarded the construction contract to Universal Construction and Engineering for $298,694.23; allocated 10% of the bid amount for soft costs and 10% of the bid amount for construction contingencies; rejected all other bids; authorized the City Manager to execute the construction contract. The Engineering Department submitted it.

All in all, there was no dissension. Now, if the Hemet City Council Meetings were so easy, I could handle a second job without a problem. Oh well, just sayin’.

rustystrait@gmail.com

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

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