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8 | SUN CITY CORE COURIER | SEPTEMBER 2024 | By Menifee Mayor Bill Zimmerman There are two words that elected officials must try our best to avoid: Distractions and Dysfunction. Both words certainly lead to a third D: Detriment. Let's start with "Distractions." If you are someone who reads the regional newspaper or watches the local TV news, then you've seen a few cities and school districts around us that are plagued with distractions. Their meeting rooms and chambers are filled with angry protesters, carrying signs and speaking at the podium. These meetings end up going late into the night because of the hours of public testimony and vitriolic discourse. In Menifee, we do our best to keep our agenda focused on "city business" and not allow our discussions to venture into state or national issues that are not in our Council's purview. It is tempting for politicians to want to be perceived as a hero for a social cause. We've seen elected leaders who look for opportunities to grandstand in support of a special interest group, hoping to garner their votes. It can be a slippery slope when any public agency votes to acknowledge or financially support a particular group, especially a protected class. It gets very awkward when the next organized group stands before the same officials seeking equal treatment. It can even set up an agency to be accused of discrimination. It is commendable that our local leadership has exercised best practices to keep the agenda topics on point and are steering clear of unnecessary distractions — so far. The other D-word is "Dysfunction." It happens when personalities clash, and it happens in many settings wherever people are together — at the workplace, an organization, and even at home. But I'm proud that today's leaders in Menifee are demonstrating the effectiveness of working alongside each other, functioning like a "team." It's in the interest of any city that strives to be prosperous to function well together. Cities compete to attract desired businesses, such as entertainment, professional jobs, and new dining experiences. These business entities will gain the confidence to invest in a city that demonstrates good governance, respectful decorum, and a spirit of cooperation. To see this first-hand, please accept my invitation to attend a future city council, planning, or parks commission meeting, the public is always encouraged to attend in person or view streaming at MenifeeTV. Some of us find enjoyment as "historians in training." Whenever we read the biographies of the early pioneers, it feels like we're traveling back in time. We get a sense of the social dynamic and lifestyle in Menifee before automobiles or electricity. For instance, the teenage son of a farmer would have a circle of friends that was limited to the 10 or 12 kids at the schoolhouse. Romantic opportunities were limited to where one could reasonably walk or visit on horseback. The Menifee Historical Association plans to host a free program on Sept. 21 where we'll learn about the marriages between recognizable family names, such as Holland, Christensen, and Scott, whose farms were about a mile from each other. We hope you'll join us. By Bob Karwin, City Councilman, Menifee District 1 Greetings, Sun City. It seems like every month I tell you that there are a lot of exciting things happening in our fair city. I am pleased to report that we have more exciting things coming, and we are not slowing down. On July 8th, the brand new Riverside County Superior Court location in Menifee opened for business. This modern facility features nine courtrooms that will hear civil and family law cases. No criminal cases will be heard in the Menifee court, and there is no probation office. The State has closed the Hemet courthouse, which heard primarily family law cases. This facility will be a big boost to our local economy. In other news, the Holland Road overpass construction is nearing completion. That means we can now start preliminary planning on our next major infrastructure project, which is the widening and improvement of the McCall Boulevard overpass. Last year, Mayor Zimmerman and I met with Congressman Ken Calvert and requested federal funding for this project. We learned on July 12 from Congressman Calvert that he was able to secure three million dollars in federal funding that will bring us very close to "fully funded" for the project. We hope to have this project completed within five years. Finally, our Sun City residents are always looking for new and exciting restaurants and entertainment. Award-winning Chef Rosie O'Connor has opened a new restaurant called Lady M Bistro in the Sun City Plaza (27192 Sun City Boulevard). Along with great food, they have karaoke, live music, and comedy shows. See more at www. ladymbistro.com. City Council meetings are held at City Hall the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 6 pm and are open to the public. You can also watch online on our YouTube channel. Feel free to email me at bkarwin@cityofmenifee.us. Avoiding the "Two D's" Exciting Things Happening

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