Menifee Mayor and City Council March 4, 2026
City Council Chambers
29844 Haun Road
Menifee, CA 92586
Ricky Estrada, Mayor
Bob Karwin, District 1
Ben Diederich, District 2
Dan Temple, District 3
Dean Deines, District 4
MINUTES
Menifee City Council
Regular Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, March 04, 2026
6:00 PM Regular Meeting
Armando G. Villa, City Manager
Jeffrey T. Melching, City Attorney
Stephanie Roseen, City Clerk
REGULAR MEETING (6:00 PM)
1. CALL TO ORDER
Acting Mayor Karwin called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Bob Karwin, Ben Diederich, Dan Temple, Dean Deines
Absent: Ricky Estrada
3. WORDS OF INSPIRATION
3.1 Micah Orloff - Ministry Board Member, Elevation Church
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Jesse Sims led the flag salute.
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 Winter Teen Awards
Community Services Supervisor Michael Rinehart introduced the winter teen awardees: Lacie Lomenick, Elizabeth Raines, and Isabelle Lumamba.
5.2 Business Spotlight – Lady R Bistro
Economic Development Director Kayla Charters introdcued the Business Spotlight Program and the City Council recognized Chef Rosie owner of Lady R Bistro.
5.3 Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce Two-Year Strategic Plan Presentation
Menifee Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Katie Luna provided a presentation.
5.4 Economic Development Quarterly Update
Economic Development Director Kayla Charters provided a presentation.
Menifee Mayor and City Council March 4, 2026
6. AGENDA APPROVAL OR MODIFICATIONS
The agenda was approved unanimously (4-0-1, Estrada absent) with no modifications.
7. PUBLIC COMMENTS (NON-AGENDA ITEMS)
The following speakers addressed the City Council on non-agenda items.
Lupe Jenkins
Lori Cluff
Mike Knighten
Jesse Simms
8. COUNCILMEMBER UPDATES AND COMMENTS
Councilmember Diederich reported on the meetings and events he attended. • Menifee Union School District (MUSD) State of the District • Southwest Higher Education Coalition Meeting
• Southwest Leaders Coalition Meeting
• Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting
• Menifee’s Citizens Academy
Councilmember Temple reported on the meetings and events he attended. • VFW Awards Ceremony
• MUSD State of the District
• Menifee Interfaith Council Meeting
• Menifee’s Citizens Academy
Councilmember Deines reported on the meetings and events he attended. • VFW Awards Ceremony
• Menifee’s Citizens Academy
• Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) Admin and Operations Committee Meeting
Acting Mayor Karwin reported on the meetings and events he attended. • Art A Faire at Kat Ceniceros Senior Center
• Motte Museum Open House
• Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) Budget and Implementation Committee Meeting
• MUSD State of the District
• Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) Community Meeting in Quail Valley • Lady R Bistro Birthday Celebration for Linda Denver
• Live Jam Event
• Ready Set Future Event
• Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) Executive Committee Meeting
• Menifee’s Citizens Academy
Menifee Mayor and City Council March 4, 2026
9. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The following set of minutes were approved unanimously (4-0-1, Estrada absent) with no modifications.
9.1 February 18, 2026 Minutes
10. CONSENT CALENDAR
The consent calendar was approved by the following vote.
MOVER: Ben Diederich SECONDER: Dan Temple
10.1 Waiver of Reading
ACTION
1. Waived the reading in full of any and all Ordinances listed on this agenda and provided that they be read by title only.
10.2 Warrant Register
ACTION
1. Ratified and approved the Voucher Lists dated 1/30/2026 and 2/6/2026, the Payroll Register/Other EFTs dated 1/27/2026, 1/30/2026, 2/2/2026 and 2/3/2026 and the Void Check Listing PE 1/31/2026, which have a total budgetary impact of $4,323,052.61.
10.3 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report
ACTION
1. Received and filed the General Plan Annual Progress Report (APR) for 2025 as required by state law to show progress toward implementation of General Plan Goals and Policies.
10.4 Establishment of Section 115 Trust
ACTION
1. Approved a professional services agreement with Phase II dba Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS) for administrative services of the City’s Section 115 Trusts; and
2. Adopted Resolution No. 26- 1683, approving the adoption of the City of Menifee’s Post Employment Benefit (OPEB) Trust and Pension Liability Trust, collectively Section 115 Trusts, for the purpose of prefunding pension and/or OPEB obligations, to administered by PARS and authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to act as the City’s Plan Administrator; and
AYES: Karwin, Diederich, Temple, Deines
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Estrada
Menifee Mayor and City Council March 4, 2026
3. Authorized the initial transfer of $2,616,761 from existing Assigned Fund Balance (Unfunded Pension Liability and OPEB Liability).
10.5 Proposed Change Proceedings for Community Facilities District No. 2025-4, Heritage Village
ACTION
1. Adopted Resolution No. 26-1684, a resolution of consideration to amend the list of facilities authorized to be financed by Community Facilities District (CFD) No. 2025- 4, Heritage Village, located on the northwest corner of Menifee Road and Rouse Road.
10.6 Memorandum of Understanding with United States Postal Inspection Service for Criminal Offense Investigation Coordination Efforts
ACTION
1. Approved and authorized the City Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) for Inland Empire Financial Crimes.
10.7 Bid Award and Agreement with Co Brothers, LLC for the Audie Murphy Ranch Sports Park Improvements
ACTION
1. Awarded bid and authorized the City Manager to execute a Contract Services Agreement with Co Brothers, LLC to perform construction services for the Audie Murphy Ranch Sports Park Improvements Project, Capital Improvement Project No. 22- 27, in a total amount not -to-exceed $499,800; and
2. Adopted Resolution Nos. 26-1685 and 26-1686, authorizing the appropriation of a transfer out in the amount of $65,000 from available fund balance in Fund 2490 CFD Audie Murphy Ranch and into expenditures within the Capital Projects Fund 4320 to the Project account.
10.8 Agreement Amendment with Gentry General Engineering, Inc. for On- Call Guardrail Replacement and Repair Services
ACTION
1. Approved and authorized the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 2024- 0190 with Gentry General Engineering, Inc. for on -call guardrail replacement and repair services, increasing the amount by $100,000, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $280,000 and extending the agreement term through January 31, 2027.
10.9 Agreement Amendment with J. Smith and T. Muli for Professional On- Call Services for Hydrological Review and Inspection Services
ACTION
1. Approved and authorized the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 3 to the Master Agreement with J. Smith and T. Muli, for hydrological review and inspection services, increasing the compensation by $100,000, for a three- year total agreement amount not-to-exceed $550,000 through June 30, 2026.
Menifee Mayor and City Council March 4, 2026
AYES: Karwin, Diederich, Temple, Deines
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Estrada
11. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
11.1 Confirmation of the Statement of Abatement Costs for the Krikorian Entertainment Complex
City Clerk Stephanie Roseen reported that staff was requesting to continue the item to the March 18, 2026 City Council meeting.
ACTION
1. Continued the public hearing to a date certain of March 18, 2026.
MOVER: Dean Deines
SECONDER: Ben Diederich
12. DISCUSSION ITEMS – NONE
13. CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS
None.
14. CITY MANAGER REPORTS
None.
15. FUTURE AGENDA REQUESTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS
None.
16. ADJOURN
Acting Mayor Karwin adjourned the meeting at 7:01 PM.
Stephanie Roseen, MMC
City Clerk