RESOLUTION NO. 24-4727
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MURRIETA, CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING THE NEED FOR EXPANDED PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS WITHIN SOUTHWESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY AND STATE AND REGIONAL 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 Murrieta ("City") is located in Southwestern Riverside County, with a current population of approximately 115,000, projected to grow to 130,000 by 2040; and WHEREAS, within our 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 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, which is 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 below 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 comes from this geographic area, which equates to approximately 4,000 students each year; and WHEREAS, CSUSM also reports that they have a large number of students from the Southwest Riverside County area that do not finish their Bachelor's degrees there; WHEREAS, enrollment at Mt. San Jacinto Community College (MSJC), the closest community college to the City, is up 50-60% over pre-pandemic enrollment; and WHEREAS, considering vehicle mileage, fuel cost, the expense of time waiting in traffic, and the overall deterrent effect this distance can create, 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.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MURRIETA, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Access to public higher education opportunities is critically important to economic growth within the region; and Section 2. The CSUSM Temecula Valley campus is an important link to expanding public higher education in this region and the symbiotic relationship of this campus to regional economic development goals and needs; and Section 3. The City strongly supports regional efforts to advocate for funding for the expansion of public higher education in Southwestern Riverside County; and Section 4. The City requests its legislative representatives to 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, estimated to be $11 million, as well as to work toward a full-range four-year public education campus in Southwest Riverside County.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 5th day of March, 2024.
______________________________
Lori Stone, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Cristal McDonald, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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Tiffany Israel, City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE )§
CITY OF MURRIETA )
I, Cristal McDonald, City Clerk of the City of Murrieta, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 24-4727 was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Murrieta at the regular meeting thereof, held on the 5th day of March, 2024, and was signed by the Mayor of the said City, and that the same was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Cristal McDonald, City Clerk
Resolution No. 24-4727