CITY OF MENIFEE
SUBJECT: Strategic Plan Implementation Update
MEETING DATE: February 18, 2026
TO: Mayor and City Council
PREPARED BY: Jennifer Jackson, Sr. Management Analyst
REVIEWED BY: Rebekah Kramer, Deputy City Manager
APPROVED BY: Armando G. Villa, City Manager
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Receive and file an update on the implementation of the 2023-2028 Strategic Plan for the period extending from July 1 to December 31, 2025.
DISCUSSION
The City’s five-year Strategic Plan establishes the City’s vision for the future and sets a roadmap for meeting current and future needs. The 2023-2028 Strategic Plan (Plan) was most recently updated in June 2025 and subsequently adopted at the City Council meeting on July 16, 2025.
This Plan includes the following five overarching Strategic Priorities:
1.Connectivity and Mobility – Enhance accessibility and link the community with sustainable infrastructure to meet the City’s needs.
2.Unique Identity - Engage in thoughtful and collaborative planning with stakeholders to develop a distinct sense of place that leverages the community's historic and scenic assets and makes the City a highly attractive and desired destination for residents, businesses, and visitors.
3.Community Engagement and Social Infrastructure – Create opportunities to bring people together and enhance communication to amplify accessibility, increase awareness, and proactively deliver information to maintain quality of life and build a strong community.
4.Thriving Economy – Encourage intentional smart growth and support the City’s business community so that residents have access to businesses, housing, employment, and well- paying jobs.
5.Safe and Vibrant Community – Provide exceptional public safety and maintain the City's attractive look and feel so that Menifee is one of the safest cities where residents and visitors are secure in their neighborhoods and surrounding spaces.
City of Menifee Staff Report
Strategic Plan Implementation Update
February 18, 2026
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The objectives outlined in the Plan are designed to support the vision for the future and fulfill the City’s strategic priorities and goals. Performance measures are established to monitor progress.
Based on the Plan, specific capital and operational projects are prioritized and included within the City’s operating and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budgets.
The Implementation Plan tracks the progress made in executing the goals and objectives established by the Mayor and City Council in the Plan. Implementation Plan updates are provided biannually, with the last update provided on July 16, 2025, for the six-month period extending from January 1 through June 30, 2025. This report summarizes the goals and objectives initiated and/or completed during the last six months of the five-year planning period extending from July 1 through December 31, 2025.
Implementation Plan Highlights
Connectivity and Mobility
CIP Projects: The Fiscal Year (FY) 2025/2026 CIP includes 19 projects which received funding during this reporting period. These projects are intended to mitigate and reduce traffic congestion on the City's streets and roadways based on the Traffic Mitigation Plan (TMP), including 16 in design, two in construction, and one completed. These projects include, but are not limited to:
1. Bradley Road Bridge over Salt Creek (CIP 13-04) - In Construction
2. McCall Blvd/I-25 Interchange (CIP 14-01) - In Design
3. Scott Road/Bundy Canyon Road Widening (CIP 20-01) - In Design
4. Garbani Road/I-215 Interchange (CIP 20-05) - In Design
5. Paloma Wash Pedestrian Bridge (CIP 20-13) - In Construction (completion March 2026)
6. McCall Blvd Widening (CIP 22-03) – In Design
7. Goetz Road/Vista Way Traffic Signal (CIP 23-02) – In Design
8. McCall Blvd/Sun City Blvd Left Turn Pocket Extension (CIP 24-02) – Closeout
9. Romoland Elementary School (CIP 24-04) - ATP - In Design
10. Harvest Valley Elementary School (CIP 24-15) - ATP - In Design
11. Murrieta Road/Holland Road Intersection Improvements (CIP 25-01) – In Design
12. Murrieta Road Widening – Holland to Newport (CIP 25-03) - In Design
13. Holland Road Widening – Bradley to Haun (CIP 25-04) – In Design
14. Evans Road/Craig Avenue Traffic Signal (CIP 25-05) – Final Design
15. FY 24/25 Local Roads AC Resurfacing Program (CIP 25-07) – In Design
16. Antelope Road Resurfacing – Aldergate to Indian Gdn Dr. (CIP 25-08) – In Design
17. Garbani Road Drainage Improvements (CIP 25-09) – In Design
18. Ethanac Rd/Antelope Rd Intersection Realignment Feasibility Study (CIP26-01) - In Progress
19. FY 25/26 Local Roads AC Resurfacing Program (CIP 26-06) - In Design The 365-foot Bradley Road Bridge over Salt Creek (CIP 12-04) construction commenced in early August 2025. At the conclusion of the reporting period, crews had completed the concrete placement for the first set of bridge columns and for the abutment #4 footing, one of the bridge’s end supports. Construction is on schedule, with project completion anticipated in Fall 2026. Once completed, the state-of-the-art bridge will mitigate seasonal flooding during rain events and City of Menifee Staff Report
Strategic Plan Implementation Update
February 18, 2026
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provide reliable north/south access on Bradley Road, improving safety by eliminating motorists traveling through moving stormwater and help ensure faster response times for first responders serving the Menifee community.
An update to the City’s Pavement Condition Index (PCI) as part of the Pavement Management Program (PMP) is underway, with the final PMP report and recommendations presented on February 4, 2026. Additionally, several maintenance projects commenced in FY 2025/2026 to improve the PCI ratings in some of the most critical areas. This includes four resurfacing projects:
1. FY 25/26 Local AC Resurfacing: Approx. 1.25 centerline miles of roadway total, including approx. .25 centerline miles of residential and 1 centerline mile of major roadways, all of which have a current PCI of less than 70.
2. FY 25/26 Slurry Seal Project: Approx. 2.26 centerline miles of roadway. Slurry Seal in Bidding phase.
3. Mapes Road Resurfacing: 2,600 cubic feet (.25 centerline miles) - In the Design phase.
4. Antelope Road Resurfacing: approximately 6,600 cubic feet (1.25 centerline miles) for a total of 6.3 centerline miles - In the Design phase.
Additionally, the Riverside County Annual Resurfacing project includes four roadway segments within City limits: Lindenberger Road/Scott Road to 2,154 feet south of intersection, Menifee Road/Scott Road to 2611 feet south of intersection, Scott Road / Menifee Road to Lindenberger Road, and Briggs Road from Highway 74 to McLaughlin Road.
Unique Identity
The Placemaking, Unique Identity and Tourism Master Plan was adopted at the November 5, 2025, Council meeting, and now serves as the foundational work that will guide future projects, programming and development. Staff are currently engaged in a discussion regarding next steps and implementation strategies.
Key Plan takeaways include:
Establishment of the City’s Five Pillars of Unique Identity - Culture and Heritage, Adventure, Innovation, Community and Belonging, and Opportunity. Recognition of Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) as a Community Anchor. Identification of the need for a City Epicenter and Key Identity Anchor. Regional Events Assessment - four signature event opportunities identified:
oMenifee AdventureFest - Outdoor recreation and wellness celebration leveraging the newly acquired 398-acre Menifee Hills area.
oMenifee Spark! - an innovation and culture festival highlighting MSJC and the City’s entrepreneurial spirit.
oHeritage Celebration - Reimagined event honoring Menifee’s history and cultural roots.
oSupporting Events which reinforce the City’s adventure, innovation, community and heritage themes.
City of Menifee Staff Report
Strategic Plan Implementation Update
February 18, 2026
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Community Engagement and Social Infrastructure
Social Media & Community Alerts: The City continues to improve community awareness by encouraging residents to sign up for City alerts and follow the City on social media. During this reporting period, the City saw a 7.9 percent increase in social media followers, growing from 88,521 to 95,512. This data reflects the growth of our primary City of Menifee accounts, which include Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and Nextdoor. The City also maintains social media accounts for Menifee’s Police, Community Services, and Economic Development Departments.
Subscriptions to the City website newsflash alerts increased by one percent from 2,480 to 2,502.
Menifee TV: The City’s Public Education Government (PEG) channel can be accessed on multiple cable providers: Spectrum (channel 1301 HD), Frontier (channel 25 SD), and Mediacom (channel 595). It is also available on the City’s website at cityofmenifee.us/Menifeetv. Menifee TV aims to deliver quality local programming, public meetings, and service announcements. During this reporting period, 37 original content videos were produced. This includes the “Menifee in the Works” series (highlighting Public Works Department operations and capital improvement program), “Hometown of Heroes,” and Public Safety Announcements (PSAs) regarding E-Bike safety geared towards our youth. Communications staff also transform content from these videos into engaging posts for the City's YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram social media platforms.
Website Enhancements: The City’s ADA website compliance consultant has completed the ADA revamp of the City’s website, and it is now operating in compliance with all applicable regulatory standards. As the next step, the IT and Communications Departments are evaluating the current website and mobile application functionality and identifying opportunities to enhance and upgrade the system. Based on this review, the City plans to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) this spring for a more comprehensive redesign and enhancement of the City’s websites and mobile application.
Park Amenities/Recreation Program Enhancements: The City is devoted to developing unique park amenities, recreational facilities, and programming to serve the community's diverse needs in alignment with the Parks Master Plan. Several projects are currently underway to help meet those needs.
Following the acquisition of the 398-acre Menifee Hills property, the City contracted with Dokken Engineering to conduct a feasibility study to improve connectivity and public access between Menifee Hills and the Salt Creek Trail area. Study completion is anticipated by the end of FY 2025/2026.
Property acquisition of the 1.94-acre Sun City Greenspace parcel (which will serve as a future passive park) was completed in November 2025. Design for the park has been finalized, and staff submitted a $750K Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant application in August 2025 to develop the parcel into a passive park including a pollinator garden. Awards are anticipated to be announced Spring 2026.
City of Menifee Staff Report
Strategic Plan Implementation Update
February 18, 2026
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With a grant award from the National Parks Service administered by the California State Parks Department as part of the Outdoor Legacy Recreation Program (OLRP), staff initiated the design process for Quail Valley’s first City park. Once complete, the 10.45-acre nature-themed park will include a multi-use field, play area, and interactive nature trails.
Progress continues at Central Park, with both the completion of the Civic Center Parking Lot (CIP 22-24) and the construction of the Paloma Wash Pedestrian Bridge (CIP 20-13) well underway.
The Central Park Amphitheater project (CIP 19-15) construction continues, with installation of the bowl anticipated during FY 2026/2027. Once finalized, these three projects will transform the City’s entertainment landscape with a new, vibrant, and multi-functional venue.
Engagement Opportunities: The City recognizes the importance of providing engagement opportunities for residents to enhance their understanding and participation in City planning, community events and activities. Highlights of engagement activities that took place during this reporting period include:
Joint City Council / Parks, Recreation & Trails Commission workshop was held in September 2025 to review and discuss the fiscal impact analysis associated with annexation of the streetscape, retention basin, parks and facilities contained within the three landscape maintenance districts (LMDs) located in the City of Menifee that fall within the Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District (“Valley-Wide”) service area. Following this review, the Council directed staff to pursue a phased annexation approach in collaboration with Valley-Wide, beginning with the Menifee Parks LMD located entirely within Menifee’s city limits As part of the LAFCO review process, issues related to sequencing, transition planning or high-level considerations for the remaining two LMDs (North and South) each of which include areas that fall outside of the city limits may need to be addressed as this effort progresses. As a next step, City staff are working in partnership with Valley-Wide to solicit proposals from qualified consulting firms to provide professional services to support the preparation and processing of a LAFCO annexation application. Partnership with Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1956 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) - the Community Services Department (CSD) formalized a partnership with the non-profit VFW Post 1956 through 2030 to support veterans, promote civic engagement and leverage resources of both organizations to produce quality programs for the public.
Menifee Valley Historical Association MOU - a 5-year agreement was approved to support activities that identify, preserve, and promote the legacy of Menifee Valley and provide meaningful and engaging educational programs to the public. Blue Envelope program partnership - Menifee PD has partnered with the Inland Regional Center (IRC) through August of 2027 to provide materials and training for the Blue Envelope program. The Program is intended to enhance communication and safety during interactions between first responders and individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (including those who are deaf or hard of hearing).
City of Menifee Staff Report
Strategic Plan Implementation Update
February 18, 2026
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Fall 2025 Citizen’s Academy - a total of 30 residents and business owners completed the eight-week course designed to provide an opportunity to meet with City leaders and learn about City operations and services.
2025 Education Summit – The sixth annual Education Summit was on October 23, 2025, with representatives from Menifee Union School District (MUSD), Perris Union High School District (PUHSD), and Romoland School District, as well as Santa Rosa Academy and Springs Charter Schools, and Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC). The 2025 Summit centered around how the City and schools can collaborate to enhance safety in the Community. Each representative discussed common safety measures affecting both the City and the schools, including safe routes to schools and the various safety programs and services available to students. The City Clerk’s office also introduced the new “Menifee Leaders of Tomorrow” Youth in Government program. Scheduled to launch in Fall 2026, the program will offer high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to participate in and learn about the essentials of local government. 2025 State of the City Address – The annual State of the City address was held at the HCN Bank Stadium located on the MSJC Menifee Campus. Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and open to the public, the event provided an opportunity to celebrate the City’s progress and unveil what’s ahead for a community built with families in mind. This year’s theme, “City for Families,” highlighted the people, places, and partnerships that make Menifee a vibrant and thriving place to live, work, and invest.
Eighteen special events were held during this reporting period including:
1. Menifee Moonlight Market
2. Family Camp Out
3. Shakespeare in the Park
4. Movies in the Park
5. National Night Out/Movies in the Park
6. Art-A-Faire
7.Haunt Your House Decorating Competition
8. Clean Air Day
9. Bulky Item
10. Fall Festival
11. Dia De Los Muertos
12. Veterans Day Celebration
13. Trot for a Cause
14.Xtream Light Fight - House Decorating Contest
15. Christmas Tree Lighting & Holiday Bazaar
16. Breakfast with Santa
17. Mighty Me Holiday Party
18. Santa on Wheels
City of Menifee Staff Report
Strategic Plan Implementation Update
February 18, 2026
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Thriving Economy
Business Development: The City’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) document is currently being finalized and is under review by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). Once approved and adopted by the City Council, the updated CEDS will identify key industries, emerging market opportunities, and targeted economic drivers that will enable the City to better support entrepreneurship, attract investment, and enhance sustainable economic growth. This item will be taken to the City Council on February 18, 2026 (same day as this update).
As Menifee continues its rapid growth, the City continues to prioritize the diversification of our revenue streams. This proactive approach focuses on identifying opportunities to fund and support city operations and service needs. Part of this strategy includes exploring the potential formation of a public safety Community Facilities District (CFD) to secure long-term funding for essential services.
The Urban 3 study has been completed, and the Land Use Financial Analysis was presented as part of a joint City Council and Planning Commission Workshop on December 17, 2025. This "value per acre" analysis will help identify the tools and incentives to attract development. In the next reporting period, Menifee’s land use and infrastructure cost analysis and expense projections will be completed. Findings from this additional analysis will guide staff in creating policy and program recommendations that will help support implementation of the priorities and goals established in the Strategic Plan and enable the city to be more fiscally resilient and sustain municipal service delivery well into the future.
During this reporting period, the City issued Certificates of Occupancy for 24 new businesses (storefronts) in the retail, commercial and industrial sectors and issued 165 new home occupation business licenses.
Community Development: During the reporting period, 14 million square feet (sq ft) of new industrial development and over 1 million sq ft of new commercial/retail development projects have been designated in key areas of the city. When completed, these projects will help to diversify the City’s revenue streams to support municipal services and long-term financial sustainability. Projects that have entered the entitlement since the last update include:
Costco – 162,000 sf of retail space in entitlement review Neighborhood Healthcare – 22,000 sf of medical office space in entitlement review TownePlace Suites – 177 room hotel in entitlement review RDO Equipment – 31,800 sf of retail space in entitlement review Kaiser Permanente Medical building - 50,800 sf of medical office space approved Fitwell Health Campus - 69,000 sf of commercial space with 9,000 sf of office space approved.
The City is also in the process of updating the Temporary Use Permit (TUP) review process to improve efficiency, reduce processing time, and minimize costs to the public. Staff is coordinating City of Menifee Staff Report
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across departments to fast-track all City and public event permits through a single, unified review process.
Safe and Vibrant Community
In its 2025 Safest Cities report, the safety advisory group Safewise named Menifee as one of the safest cities in California (ranked #18) for the second year in a row. The report noted decreases in both property and violent crime in the City over the previous year. This achievement is the result of the City’s ongoing commitment to provide a safe and vibrant community.
In November 2025, Menifee PD launched the first flight of its Drone First Responder (DFR) program. The DFR drone assists patrol units on various call types -- improving response times, officer awareness and safety, and community safety. The DFR drone is operated from the newly designed Real-Time Information Center, which includes computers, monitors, and TV screens.
The Citywide Safety Master Plan effort is underway, with the Request for Proposals (RFP) released in October 2025. Consultant interviews were conducted in November, and the contract was awarded by Council in January of 2026. Due to the significant effort required, the Implementation Plan deadline has been extended from June 2026 to December 2026 to align with the contract project timeline.
Public Education/Training: A total of 347 people participated in the Menifee Life Savers training during this reporting period, with 2,122 people having participated in the program to date. In addition, 28 citizens completed the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) basic training program during this reporting period.
STRATEGIC PLAN OBJECTIVE
The Strategic Plan Implementation Plan Update addresses all the Strategic Plan objectives.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action. The costs associated with the implementation of each of the Strategic Plan elements are incorporated within the City’s Operating and CIP budgets.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2023-2028 Strategic Plan Update (June 2025)
2. 2023-2028 Strategic Plan Implementation Task Summary – Update (July 1 – December 31, 2025)