Menifee City Council's First Public Meeting

The first ever public meeting of City of Menifee's City Council was held this evening at Kay Ceniceros Center. Several people were in a...

The first ever public meeting of City of Menifee's City Council was held this evening at Kay Ceniceros Center. Several people were in attendance, many of which were prospects seeking employment as city attorney, and what not.

There were a lot of suits in the room.

Even though the Registrar of Voters apparently still have some votes left to count, it seemed clear that these five council-elects have their seats in place.

Mayor Appointed

Wallace Edgerton, who received the most votes, was granted the title of Mayor, a motion granted by Denver, and seconded by Kuenzi. The title of Mayor Pro Tem was granted to Darci Kuenzi, a motion granted by Scott Mann, and seconded by Edgerton. But before that happened, Denver made a motion to make Fred Twyman as Mayor Pro Tem, but no one would second, and the motion died.

Looking at the faces of the council-elects, during the appointment process, I could tell all five of them knew what was going to happen. The nomination of Edgerton was pretty much a non-issue. But the appointment of Mayor Pro Tem seemed as if discussions had been taking place prior to this meeting, because council-elects were staring into space, tapping their feet, showing no emotion on their faces, and anxiously waiting to get through the process as quickly as possible. It looked they were all running on auto-pilot.

Edgerton also brought up the job of Council Secretary. Since the city doesn't have such a person hired, Councilmember Mann was nominated, received a motion and a second. At this point, if you want a job with the city, if you want to volunteer, if you want to offer something, contact Scott Mann at: MenifeeCityClerk@mchsi.com

menifee city council
Mayor Edgerton seated in the middle of the first meeting of the first city council


Public Comments

The open session was largely to hear public comments, and several people spoke. Many of them simply gave congratulations, and other gave mutual pats on each other's back for helping with the cityhood incorporation process.

Chris Thomas, who ran for city council but came up short, spoke out urging the council meet with County officials, and have them put a halt to a "multi-family development", and let the new city negotiate with developers. I didn't ask him what that multi-family development was.

Bill Zeidlik, who had been very active in CEDCO, the parent organization that spun off the Menifee Valley Incorporation Committee, spent as much time as he possibly could demanding more advance notice of meetings, a later meeting time, and wanted to know how residents could put their name down to become involved in city operations. Edgerton had to interrupt several times to say that he was exceeding his alotted time.

But probably the most influential commenter of the evening was Barbara Spencer, president of the Menifee Valley Historical Society, who addressed the city council with a passage from the Brown Act. The Brown Act, is piece of State law that requires public officials to hold meetings and hearings in public, and provide facilities that allow all persons access to these meetings and hearings. It was Barbara's quotation that would send the rest of evening into disarray.

Interviewing Prospective City Employees

As I said above, a large number of the people present were there to compete for jobs, mostly high level jobs, namely city attorney.

The city council was to interview these people in closed session. But not longer than Barbara Spencer quoted the Brown Act, Edgerton addressed the audience that he wanted to hold at least part of this session in public, for the fact that all council members seemed to be in disagreement on how the Brown Act applies in this case, and that the council did not have a city attorney to consult with. I was quite impressed to see Edgerton give careful consideration here, and even though it would submarine the rest of the meeting, it gave me a sense that he was drawing from experience.

The case in question, is that the city is not yet official, and the city council members present are not really city council members, since their elections have not yet been certified.

That caused Edgerton to call upon Dave Wilman, a representative from the League of California Cities, to act as an unofficial legal counsel. It appeared to be Wilman's interpretation that even though the city wasn't official, and the council members were not official, the Brown Act still applied.

The other problem to all this, is that the assembly hall we were gathered in, had to be vacated by 6:00pm, because another group had it reserved. So we all moved into a different room, that was very tiny and cramped, about the size of someone's bedroom. One of the attorneys there, representing a lawfirm, and who was competing for business, addressed the council saying that there was not enough room to fit everyone, and many others could not see or hear the meeting, and therefore constituted a violation of the Brown Act.

Mann intervened, saying that it was possible to hold the meeting private session, because they would be interviewing people, not companies. Edgerton then sought legal counsel again from Dave Wilman, the representative from the League of California Cities. Wilman, deferred to an attorney who was working for Canyon Lake. That attorney spoke out and disagreed with Mann, saying that the persons here seeking employment are actually representatives of lawfirms, and that the Brown Act requires an open session to interview businesses.

But since the tiny little room was already a violation of the Brown Act, Mayor Edgerton asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting for next week. At that point Kuenzi intervened, pointed her finger into the air, and then spoke in a very stern and deliberate tone, saying that they needed to get on with business, that they needed to hire a city attorney, and that they could not adjourn. Mann seemed to back her up on that statement. However, Denver made a motion to adjourn, and Twyman gave a second. Edgerton adjourned the meeting.

menifee city council hearing
Many of the people in attendance were suits competing for business.


Next Meeting

The next meeting will be scheduled for 7:00pm, Wednesday June 25. A location has not yet been identified, but Tywman talked about using Paloma Valley High School.

The council will actually be meeting 5:00pm for a closed session, and then the open session at 7:00pm.

Trivia

Don Vesey, president of the Quail Valley MAC, became the first person to address the first Menifee City Council. He simply gave a congratulations to the councilmembers.

Related

City-Council 661025821462990472

Post a Comment

  1. Steve, I think you're being a little unfair to Bill Zeidlik. I only remember him being interrupted by Edgerton once to let him know he was over his time, though I will say Bill was long winded. Not knowing him, he seemed a little tense to me, but I think you misrepresented what actually happened. Mr. Zeidlik talked about what you said, but I would say the main issue he spent time talking about was trying to get assurance that the counsel had taken everything into consideration as they proceed. To be honest, I was not familiar with what he was saying, but I would say that he seemed to be exhorting the counsel to be careful.

    Anyway, maybe some more information about this Brown Act would be in order. It seemed to be the topic of the night.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Steve-
    Congratulations on coverage of a significant event, and speed of reporting to the public. I am really impressed. This is close to real time, and more concise than TV coverage.

    Thanks

    Jim Carter

    ReplyDelete
  3. What are the suits after? the meeting almost sounds like my monthly HOA meeting. I know everyone has a valid concern or opinion I just wish some could follow decorum and get it put in simple terms and move on...to carry on just loses interest in ones point and then it is lost. Please let the drama remain low.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The City Council needs to hire a city attorney, or some kind of official legal counsel. Most of those suits represent lawfirms competing for that business. They had hoped to interview for the job. But the Brown Act was called upon, and pretty much put an end to the interview process.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Steve,

    Would you sum up the meeting by saying, "nothing happened"?

    Except nobody knew how to interpret the Brown Act.

    ReplyDelete
  6. It is good to know that John Denver will be able to commute from wherever he lives to the Menifee Valley for his new job, sitting on our City Council. I was worried that the distance he had to travel to get here was going to be a big financial burden on him, with gas prices as high as they are.

    But with all the developers he represents, I'm sure money won't be a problem for him. Welcome to Menifee John. Before driving home after a hard few hours work on the City Counsel or School board, why don't you take a look at the town and community and get to know it. Before you have Menifee turned into a shopping mall, it would be nice to get to know a place as something other than a paycheck and a few family homes in your rearview mirror.

    ReplyDelete
  7. From the sound of it, the council-elect has been meeting behind closed doors prior to this meeting.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Does anyone know how to make contact with the Council members? I am a merit badge counselor with Troop 444 here in Menifee and some of the merit badges require the Boys to talk to the local government. Well now that we have one I'd like to take advantage of them. My e-mail address is sciwig@verizon.net, any help would be appreciated. Thanks

    Steve Iwig
    Troop 444 Committee Member

    ReplyDelete
  9. Steve Iwig,

    Councilman Twyman has posted his phone number on this site a number of times and is willing to talk with most. My guess is he will meet with you.

    If you want to speak with Darci I am sure you can find her dining with a prominent developer any night of the week.

    Good Luck.

    ReplyDelete
  10. First, I'd like to say that I really appreciate this site. It is very imformative of what's going on.
    I thought I read in the Press Enterprise that Darci wanted to compensate the people who were appplying for the job for their time. That doesn't seem right.
    Maybe they should just hold all of their meetings in closed door sessions so they won't have to deal with the people they represent.

    ReplyDelete
  11. For Steve :
    Hope this helps.

    Wayne Edgerton jedgerton@ahslink.com

    Darcy Kuenzi
    darcyk@email.com

    Fred Twyman
    fatwyman@aol.com

    Scott Mann
    Website: www.mannformenifee.com

    John Denver
    jdenver999@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sorry, a typo on John's email. Its:

    jdenver666@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Looks like we have seen our first broken campaign promise! Wally said throughout his campaign that because of his extensive experience as a councilman that he would be ready on day one! Wally stated over and over that he would know what to do from the start. It doesn't sound like he knew what to do at all! I would have thought he would at least do his homework on the Brown Act and know what to do. Apparently being on a city council where everything is already set up is very different from trying to set up everything yourself.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I really wish the people of this town would lighten up. We have just elected a city council, it is going to take time to get it going even if you've had experience. Enough with the people bashing, and the Quail Valley and outer areas that will be joining Menifee Bashing. Its Gross!
    Temecula and Murrieta seem to have done alright since becoming cities.They have multiple sport parks and community centers. The cities are clean and landscaped.
    Look around at Menifee, it's not to pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Holly, Temecula and Murrietta have respectful people working for their betterment..We have other city and county rejects that move around like parasites..This city was in trouble with 2 names Denver and Darci. By the way, most of their deals are done behind closed doors and most have already started..Ahh yes wait and see the fireworks.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Holly, Temecula and Murrietta have respectful people working for their betterment..

    How many Temecula councilmembers are tied into Rancon?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Did Darcy REALLY say that the attorneys should be reimbursed for their gas because they came to interview?? How classy is THAT ??For heavens sake - that should embarrass the entire council, let alone embarrass the applicants !! If that's her way of doing business, she must have been used to being 'bought'. BTW, if she's so free with council's money, how about giving each homeowner she's representing (supposedly, but I fear she represents the developers first and foremost)gas money for driving to the meetings? I'll wear a suit if it means she pays me more attention. Bottom line: her offer to reimburse their pockets for gas money, should speak embarrassment to the entire council!! KEEP HER IN LINE BEFORE SHE GETS US ALL A BAD NAME..hers is bad enough already !!

    NEW THOUGHT: I understand that she is supposed to be a legal guru about running a council. If that's the case, why is she so ignorant of adhering to the Brown Act?? more embarrassment...

    ReplyDelete
  18. Give her a break, she hasn't finished ready the City Council for dummies book yet...

    ReplyDelete
  19. This blog is turning into a gossip and complaining column. It's rather depressing. Do we need a mediator here? Better watch out for slander.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I was looking forward to employment by the City and started reading this site for current information. The comments don't seem to go towards solutions, only condemnation. I have a hard time listening to someone named "Anonymous". Perhaps Anonymous could offer some tips?

    ReplyDelete

Readers are invited to leave a comment to contribute to public dialogue. Comments will be reviewed by a moderator and will not be approved if they include profanity, defamatory or libelous comments, or may otherwise be considered objectionable by Menifee 24/7 editors.

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