The game is afoot, but it is no game. The plays have been in motion for years.
Most recently, it has seemed like a game of Whack-A-Mole with Granite Construction providing player instructions. After Local Agency Formation Commission member Russell Kitahara admitted to meeting with Granite Construction's Gary Johnson three times, it was LAFCO member Phil Williams popping up to request a fee-waived redress of an annexation agreement the Temecula City Council fulfilled, albeit with vocal protest, at its July 13 meeting.
The awkwardness of Williams stepping down from behind the county dais to address his colleagues at the July 22 LAFCO meeting became obvious, even to Williams, who withdrew his request. Then, Nelson Mamey, a landowner in the area of Granite's proposed Liberty Quarry just outside of Temecula, popped up with check in hand to pay the $875 fee, although his rehearing request echoing that of Commissioner Williams was not received in proper time before the July LAFCO meeting.
Temecula met an agreement with LAFCO to give up the sphere of influence to gain an annexation of 4,500 acres, but that deal is now in limbo until the county agency meets again on Sept. 23.
Bless him, but it seems like every time Councilman Mike Naggar hears the words "open space," he starts talking about trails, nature hikes and park rangers ---- he cannot help himself ---- and that alone does not seem factually different enough to merit official reconsideration.
No matter.
On the Friday before even seeing the rehearing application request dated July 26, filed on a letterhead from "Mamey Investment Corporation," LAFCO Executive Director George Spiliotis decreed the request would be granted.
A county government staff person should at least review an application before approving it. Spiliotis must have ink stains on his desk from rubber-stamping paperwork before it has even arrived.
Unfortunately, our three Temecula incumbents appear too preoccupied with getting re-elected to pursue the suspected LAFCO malfeasance they vocalized at the July 13 council meeting. This lack of follow-through will not win votes from a Tea Party electorate that is not into timidity. Those who sit on their hands may find themselves unseated in November.
The council and counsel should take a close look at U.S. District Court case C08-05775, People of the State of California v. multiple departments of the United States government filed by our California attorney general.
If the City Council is too timid to fight here and now for our community, citizens can and will independently petition the state office of the attorney general. Then, in November, we vote.
PAUL JACOBS writes from Temecula. Contact him at TemeculaPaul@aol.com.
