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7 RESOLUTION NO. 24-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MENIFEE,
CALIFORNIA, ACKNOWLEDGING THE NEED FOR EXPANDED
PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS WITHIN
SOUTHWESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY AND FUNDING FOR THE
COST OF TENANT IMPROVEMENTS TO CREATE AN EXPANDED
PRESENCE FOR CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS
AT THE MT. SAN JACINTO COLLEGE CAMPUS IN TEMECULA
VALLEY
WHEREAS, the City of Menifee ("City") is located in Southwestern Riverside County, with a current population of 110,034 projected to grow to 126,000 by 2026; and WHEREAS, within the City and the greater region there presently is not a full-fledged four- year public university, thereby forcing students pursuing higher education seeking to begin a four- year education after graduating from high school to leave this geographic area or to commute great distances; and
WHEREAS, the commute time to the nearest four-year public universities is upward of one to two hours, exacerbated by the lack of public transportation to access those schools; and WHEREAS, this region is projected to grow through 2060 without pause, making it one of the fastest-growing geographic areas in California and nation; and WHEREAS, the region presently has a lower than statewide average percentage of population that has completed a four-year university education; and WHEREAS, the region is working strategically and earnestly to attract higher-paying jobs to increase social mobility and to help reduce significant workforce commuting to other regions, which not only causes massive freeway congestion and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, but also greatly impacts the quality of life, including physical and mental health, for those commuters and their ability to be active contributors to their communities; and WHEREAS, California State University, San Marcos
(“CSUSM”) reports that about one-quarter of their student population come from this geographic area, which equates to approximately 4,000 students; and WHEREAS, CSUSM also reports that they have a large number of students from the area that do not finish their Bachelor's degrees there; and
WHEREAS, enrollment at Mt. San Jacinto Community College (MSJC) is up 50-60% over pre-pandemic enrollment; and
WHEREAS, considering vehicle mileage, fuel cost, and the expense of time waiting in traffic, the absence of a four-year university in this region creates a real barrier to personal growth and professional development, as well as economic growth of this region. 4 8
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7 NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MENIFEE, CALIFORNIA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
1. Access to public higher education opportunities is critically important to economic growth within the region.
2. The CSUSM Temecula Valley campus is an important link to expand public higher education in this region and the symbiotic relationship of this campus to regional economic development goals and needs.
3. The City strongly supports regional efforts to advocate for funding for the expansion of public higher education in Southwestern Riverside County.
4. The City requests its legislative representatives consider this need and assist in the advocacy efforts for the necessary funding to complete the tenant improvements for the CSUSM Temecula Valley campus expansion, and four-year education in Southwest Riverside County.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this _____ day of _____ 2024. ______________________________
Bill Zimmerman, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Sarah Manwaring, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
___________________________________
Jeffrey T. Melching, City Attorney