Calimesa Insider

Episode 30 - Jumping to Conclusions Oct 25, 2024

This week, City Manager Will Kolbow addresses some information out on social media that is incorrect regarding contracting for the County Line Road project. He discusses the progress of the project since he came to the City, the many hiccups and frustrations along the way, and where the light at the end of the tunnel might be. He also directly addresses an incorrect conclusion about conflicts of interest regarding the firms working on the project.

Episode 29 - 2024 Cal Cities Conference Oct 19, 2024

This week, City Manager Will Kolbow discusses the sessions he attended at the Cal Cities Conference this week held at the Long Beach Convention Center.

Episode 28 - Oak Valley Town Center Update #2 Oct 11, 2024

Back in May, City Manager Will Kolbow provided an update on what is happening at the Oak Valley Town Center (Episode 7 of the podcast). This week, he gives another update on what has been happening over the past few months and the steps that have been taken so far to try and get work going again at the Town Center. He also gives a summary of the business item that was on this past Monday's City Council meeting agenda.

Episode 27 - Legislative Update Oct 06, 2024

This week, City Manager Will Kolbow, with the end of the California legislative session, gets into some of the bills that were passed (and one that was vetoed) that will have an impact on local cities, including on homelessness, warehouses and housing.

Episode 26 - State of the City 2024 Sep 27, 2024

This week's episode features City Manager Will Kolbow's keynote address from the Calimesa 2024 State of the City, which took place on Thursday, September 26, 2024. Held in partnership with the Calimesa Chamber of Commerce, the State of the City was attended by over 150 business and governmental leaders from the Pass Area. The full video of the State of the City will be uploaded to the City of Calimesa's YouTube page at cityofcalimesa.net/youtube.

Episode 25 - Empowerment Sep 20, 2024

This week, Will talks about this past week's City Council meeting, what is happening with the Council meeting this coming Monday, and tells about the team building event that the City's executive team participated in this week and how that adds value for the City.

Episode 24 - Development Update Sep 13, 2024

This week, we go over some of the items on the upcoming City Council agenda, including an item relating to the Senior Meal Program. We also provide a development update, including what is happening with the Summerwind Specific Plan, the Calimesa Golf Course, the Sandalwood Travel Center, and other projects.

For the full development update, visit the following link and go to page 96: https://www.cityofcalimesa.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09162024-243

Episode 23 - Setting the Record Straight Sep 06, 2024

With the continuation of the Oak Valley North public hearing coming a couple of weeks, the City has been getting a steady stream of feedback on the project. However, there is a theme that possibly speaks to the misunderstanding of the entitlement process, so the City Manager speaks to some of these examples and lays out the process for a project such as this one. He also talks about the purpose of the podcast and why it exists.

City of Calimesa Land Use Workshop: https://www.youtube.com/live/sim71rsYnA0?si=L_aZKr37Tvt-eurs

Episode 22 - Month in Review Aug 30, 2024

This week, City Manager Will Kolbow reviews his activity for the month of August to give you a flavor of what a city manager does on a day-to-day basis. He also provides a quick update about activity on County Line Road and a concerning development regarding the Banning DMV office.

Episode 21 - Homeowners' Insurance Concerns Aug 23, 2024

Fire Chief Tim O'Connell is the guest on this week's episode, where we discuss the inherent fire risks associated with living in a community like Calimesa, what the City has control over when it comes to homeowners' insurance rates and policy availability (and what we don't), what the City does to reduce fire risk, and ways homeowners can help the cause. We also recap Monday's City Council meeting and provide some follow up and clarification on last week's episode.

Episode 20 - Senior Meal Program Aug 16, 2024

This week, our City Manager discusses the City's successful senior meal program and the journey of Assembly Bill 2410, sponsored by Assemblyman Greg Wallis, with regard to grab-and-go senior meals. He also discusses the upcoming City Council meeting, including the reason why the hearing on Oak Valley North will be continued (meaning delayed) until September 23.

Episode 19 - Staffing Levels Aug 09, 2024

In this week's episode, the City Manager discuss City staffing levels and how they compare to neighboring cities. He talks about how lean the City's budget is and how Calimesa has to do a lot of the same things that other cities do, but with a fraction of the staff.

Links mentioned during the podcast:

City Council Public Safety Workshop (April 29, 2024): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX6wPxhGSEU&t=4s

Calimesa Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget: https://www.cityofcalimesa.net/Archive.aspx?ADID=231

Episode 18 - State Mandates vs. Voters Aug 02, 2024

This week, City Manager Kolbow talks about a voter initiative in a Northern California city that will, if passed, likely lead to precedent-setting litigation involving state housing mandates and the voter initiatives. This includes a conversation about several other cities that are facing or have faced similar dilemmas where the will of the voters and state mandates are at odds when it comes to housing.

Episode 17 - Realities Special Part 4 - Economic Development Jul 26, 2024

In the final episode of our four-part special, Will discusses what economic development is, one of the most common misperceptions about economic development, what one popular retailer looks for in a potential site, and how land use decisions and economic development influence one another. We also wrap up the series and how all of these realities come together to influence almost all decisions that the city makes.

Episode 16 - Realities Special Part 3 - Influences on Land Use Decisions Jul 19, 2024

In part three of our four-part series of the realities in which Calimesa, and California cities in general, operates, we discuss the City's General Plan and zoning ordinance, the various considerations that go into land use decisions, how staff formulates its recommendations, and how changing laws and market forces have shifted how we look at land use decisions.

Calimesa General Plan: https://www.cityofcalimesa.net/DocumentCenter/View/163/Calimesa-General-Plan-PDF?bidId=

Calimesa Land Use Workshop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sim71rsYnA0

California Housing Graph: California Housing.jpg

Episode 15 - Realities Special Part 2 - Land Use History in California Jul 12, 2024

This week, we present the second episode in our four-part series on the regulatory and economic realities of local governments in California. This episode focuses in on the history of land use, how different movements have shaped land use policies and restrictions, and a court case that led to a significant piece of legislation that is an integral part of large scale development.

Land Use Workshop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sim71rsYnA0

150 Years of Land Use: https://www.cacities.org/UploadedFiles/LeagueInternet/91/91ed1e31-0a7b-43cf-b7c4-260ad9de2e0f.pdf

Episode 14 - Realities Special Part 1 - Long-term Effects Jul 05, 2024

This month, Calimesa Insider is presenting a 4-part special that will explore some of the economic and regulatory realities that cities up and down California are facing, and how those realities influence decisions.

In this first part, we explore three decisions that have occurred over the past 45 years that have greatly impacted the revenues and costs of local governments.

Episode 13 - Infrastructure Updates Jun 28, 2024

City Engineer Mike Thornton is the guest this week on the podcast, speaking about what functions the Engineering Division does for the City and gives updates on some major projects, including various projects along County Line Road, the Singleton Road missing on and off ramps, pavement management, and Calimesa Creek.

Episode 12 - A Captain's Legacy Jun 22, 2024

City Manager Will Kolbow is joined by soon-to-be retired Riverside County Sheriff's Captain Evan Petersen. Captain Petersen served as the Calimesa Police Chief over the past year and made some great changes that will leave us better than he found us. Captain Petersen tells about how he found a career in law enforcement, some interesting moments in his career, the changes he implemented at the Cabazon station and Calimesa specifically, and the state of law enforcement services for Calimesa.

Episode 11 - Cherry Valley Blvd. Interchange Jun 15, 2024

The Cherry Valley Blvd. interchange had traffic signals installed and activated about 6 months ago, but is that all that is happening? Fortunately, the answer is no. City Manager Will Kolbow talks about what steps have been taken so far in the project to upgrade the interchange, and where we are going. He also gives a preview of this coming Monday's City Council meeting.

Episode 10 - Budgets and Truck Lanes Jun 08, 2024

This week, the City Manager talks about the Interstate 10 truck climbing lane project taking place between Live Oak Canyon Rd./Oak Glen Rd. and County Line Road as well as the City budget...but from a different approach. He talks about the taxes you pay at different levels of government, the services provided at each level, and the cost of doing business. It gets to the heart of some of the biggest concerns residents and businesses have when it comes to taxes and public services.

Links referenced in today's episode:

Information on running for City Council: https://www.cityofcalimesa.net/194/City-Council-Elections

San Bernardino I-10 Truck Climbing Lanes Project: https://www.gosbcta.com/project/i-10-truck-climbing-lane/

Riverside County I-10 Truck Climbing Lanes Project: https://www.rctc.org/projects/10-truck-climbing-lane-project/

Video of Budget Workshop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ulj4r2g9TTE

Video of Budget Adoption: https://www.youtube.com/live/PuMYmryVVdo?si=OI_k0X9JuuEBkzun&t=1157

Agenda for Latest City Council meeting (includes draft budget starting on page 42): https://www.cityofcalimesa.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06032024-220

Episode 9 - Transportation Funding Jun 01, 2024

This week, City Manager Kolbow talks about transportation funding in Calimesa, with a focus on the Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee (TUMF) program. The latest nexus study is out for public review, so we explain what TUMF is, how it is divvied up, and what it is used for. Below are links to participate in the TUMF Nexus Study process:

Link to WRCOG's Studies & Documents page, containing links to the draft 2024 Nexus Study and information on the upcoming informational meeting: https://wrcog.us/201/Studies-Documents

Direct Link to 2024 Nexus Study: https://wrcog.us/DocumentCenter/View/10258/TUMFNexusStudy240513DRAFT

Link to Zoom informational meeting, taking place Tuesday, June 4 at 1 PM: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81502368810?pwd=WVlOaExpcVVrR2x2MjA4NTJrc3Vqdz09

Episode 8 - County Line Road May 25, 2024

On this week's episode, City Manager Will Kolbow gets into the status of the County Line Road project, including background on the project, why roundabouts were selected for the project, why 5th and County Line Road took so long to open, and what is still remaining on the project. He also recaps the most recent City Council meeting and provides an overview of the upcoming Scoping Meeting regarding the Mesa Verde Specific Plan Subsequent EIR preparation.

Episode 7 - Oak Valley Town Center Update May 18, 2024

Calimesa Insider is back, and we are moving to a weekly program. Shorter episodes, recapping the week at the city and a look ahead at the next week. This week, we take a look at what is happening at Oak Valley Town Center and why work has stopped.

Episode 6 - City Council Meetings & Public Participation Jan 12, 2024

Happy 2024! The Calimesa Insider podcast is back and on this episode City Manager Kolbow talks about how City Council meetings work, the laws and policies that govern Council meetings, and describes how the public can effectively participate in the public process. It's a long episode because there is so much to go over, but we think it will be worth your time and, as a result, your time spent at a City Council meeting will be much more productive and valuable.

Episode 5 - State of the City 2023 Oct 09, 2023

In this special episode of Calimesa Insider, we are (mostly) recording on location at the 2023 Calimesa State of the City, which had a much different look than years past. We brought the community together to celebrate our town and its accomplishments. In this episode, City Manager Will Kolbow is joined by Councilmembers Jeff Cervantez and Linda Molina, as well as Calimesa Chamber of Commerce President Shea Choy and Executive Assistant Donea Matheson.

Episode 4 - Fire Department Sep 14, 2023

This month, City Manager Will Kolbow sits down with Fire Chief Tim O'Connell and former City Manager Bonnie Johnson to discuss the City's Fire Department. Bonnie shares with us how her professional background prepared her for the heaviest lift of her professional career: starting a fire department from the ground up. She shares why the City went in the direction of forming its own department and the challenges that came along with it. Chief O'Connell then discuss his career journey and what our department looks like today in year six of operation, as well as some of the goals and priorities of the Fire Department to meet the challenges of both today and the future.

Episode 3 - Sheriff Services Jul 28, 2023

By popular demand, City Manager Will Kolbow is joined by Riverside County Sheriff's Department Captain Evan Petersen to talk about sheriff services in the City of Calimesa. In this conversation, we got to know Captain Petersen, what is included in the City's sheriff contract, the role of the City's Problem Oriented Policing deputy, how technology has both helped and hindered police work, as well as the effects that changes at the State level has had on policing in our region.

Episode 2 - All About Finance Jun 22, 2023

With the recent approval of the City's Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget, City Manager Will Kolbow took the opportunity to speak with Finance Director Celeste Reid. She covers what the day-to-day operations of the City's Finance Department look like. Will and Celeste also have a discussion about the creation of the budget, as well as City's annual audit and what that entails.

In addition, Will gives an update on the interim improvements at Cherry Valley Blvd. and I-10, a preview of our State of the City coming up in October, and the City's recently approved animal control contract with the County of Riverside.

By popular demand, our next episode will feature a discussion on police services in the City of Calimesa.

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast via your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode!

Episode 1 - What does the City Manager Do? May 19, 2023

Welcome to the premier episode of Calimesa Insider! Here is what on this month's episode:

What Calimesa Insider will be all about
A little bit of background on our City Manager
Some history of Calimesa
General Law vs. Charter
Council-Manager form of government
The role of the City Manager

Next month, Finance Director Celeste Reid will join City Manager Will Kolbow to discuss the City's Finance operations and the Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget.

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