TEMECULA -- Whatever "quality of life" is here, the City Council is ready to preserve it.

And $75,000 has been set aside for the effort.

Last week, the council approved, 4-0, with Councilman Ron Roberts absent, the initiation of what is expected to be a monthslong process of hiring a consultant, forming a blue-ribbon panel of community members, and the eventual crafting of a policy to guide the city as it works to protect the quality of life in Temecula.

But what exactly is quality of life? Is it like the wind -- being everywhere but nowhere, something that can be felt but never touched?

The council members admitted it's a nebulous concept, but all believe it is important to the residents, nonetheless.

"The phrase is a bit vague," said Councilman Chuck Washington, who suggested the city seek a quality-of-life analysis in February. "I don't want it to be perceived as political double-speak. What we are trying to do is create a framework that encompasses everything from business development to public safety to educational opportunities."

Washington likened the concept of quality of life to a more personal example, such as a loved one.

"You know how you feel about them: You can't just pick one thing," he said. "Same goes for Temecula's quality of life. It's multifaceted."

In the written plan, composed by the city staff members who will shepherd the master plan process, quality of life has a broad reach.

The proposed plan is slated to be a "road map" that defines the city's long-term goals in areas such as the continual maintenance of public infrastructure, public safety, higher education, business retention and attraction and city fiscal stability.

Fortunately for residents, all those areas of interest have already been mapped out with a slew of other plans such as the city's general plan, Youth Master Plan, Cultural Arts Master Plan, the Parks Master Plan, the Trails Master Plan -- and the list goes on.

"We were trying to come up with a title that encompassed all the things we wanted to accomplish," Temecula Mayor Mike Naggar said of the proposed quality of life master plan. "Really, we should have called it a 'Temecula Sustainability Plan.' But then people would ask, what does sustainability mean? Well, it means quality of life … It comes down to keeping what we want, obtaining what we want and doing that over the long run."

While the general plan is a mandate by the state of California, a quality-of-life plan is not.

"Most cities do not go any further than a general plan," said Councilman Jeff Comerchero. "I truly believe that one of the things that sets us apart is that good cities don't let things happen by accident. One of the reasons Temecula has been successful is that we plan very well, while other cities plod along one year at a time and only react."

Comerchero said he would like the quality-of-life master plan to focus on preserving the small-town feel of Temecula, and the values of the city. It is expected the plan will take a year and a half to complete.

Besides hiring an outside consulting firm, which will probably happen in January, the city expects to create a Blue Ribbon Committee of professionals in various fields, along with stakeholders in the community, such as residents, business owners and representatives of nonprofit agencies.

Washington and Councilman Roberts will head the effort to recruit up to a dozen members for the Blue Ribbon Committee.

Councilwoman Maryann Edwards says she expects the phrase "quality of life" will mean different things to different people.

"I think most people will say 'quality of life' are the reasons they moved here, such as great schools, great amenities, safety, affordable home prices, great community spirt and clean air," she said.

She added that a major component to the success of the master plan will be getting residents involved and asking, "What is important to you?"

Edwards said she suspects that while many residents will identify many of the same issues, different demographic groups within the city, such as senior citizens, young families and singles, will prioritize those issues differently.

As for nailing down a definition of what quality of life is, Roberts said it comes down to a feeling.

"It is very hard to describe," he said. "But I think you experience quality of life, and Temecula has always been able to make people's lives better."

Contact staff writer Nicole Sack at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2616, or nsack@californian.com.