TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Kristen Crane, Assistant City Manager
PREPARED BY: Kimberly Ramirez, Deputy City Clerk
SUBJECT:
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Review, Establish, and Appoint Representatives to City Council Subcommittees and City Affiliated Organizations
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ABSTRACT
During the February 26, 2026 Special City Council Workshop and at the March 3, 2026 Regular City Council meeting, the City Council requested to bring back an item to consider whether to create four new City Council subcommittees and to appoint a Council Member to represent the City for higher education advocacy. This report addresses these topics.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Consider establishing the below subcommittees and if established, appoint two Council Members to serve as members:
1. Ballot Measure Ad-Hoc Subcommittee
2. Downtown Design Guidelines Ad-Hoc Subcommittee
3. Equestrian Center Ad-Hoc Subcommittee
4. Tour de Murrieta Ad-Hoc Subcommittee;
Consider designating a Council Member to represent the City to advocate for expanded higher education facilities in Southwest Riverside County, including participation in the Southwest Riverside County Higher Education Coalition; and
Review current list of subcommittees and City affiliated organizations to provide direction to staff as appropriate; and
Take any additional related action the City Council deems appropriate.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On March 3, 2026, during the Requests to Add or Remove Future Agenda Items, Council Members Warren, DeForest, Stone, and Holliday requested subcommittee considerations for further discussion (Consensus).
On January 20, 2026, the City Council discussed and made appointments for 2026 to City Council Subcommittees and City affiliated boards and commissions (Vote: 5-0).
CITY COUNCIL GOALS
Maintaining a high performing organization that values fiscal sustainability, transparency, accountability and organizational efficiency.
DISCUSSION
At the February 26, 2026, Special City Council Workshop and at the March 3, 2026 City Council meeting, the City Council requested a future agenda item to discuss and consider the formation of additional Council subcommittees. Below is a discussion of the potential new subcommittees/appointments mentioned. Staff requests that the City Council discuss each one and determine whether there is consensus on the formation of each one, and for any subcommittee that there is consensus to add, provide clarity of purpose, and then appoint City Council members to the newly formed subcommittee.
• Ballot Measure Ad-Hoc Subcommittee
Protection of “local control” is a key topic in the City’s Legislative Platform. Specifically related to land use, this has been reinforced with the adoption of resolutions and through legislative advocacy. The City Council has discussed the pursuit of a Statewide ballot initiative for the November 2028 election to preserve local control of land use. This topic (pursuit of a Statewide ballot initiative) has also been identified by the City Council as a Tier 1 priority.
As part of the February 26, 2026 Special City Council Workshop and at the March 3, 2026 Regular City Council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Holliday requested that the City Council consider forming a City Council subcommittee to work toward a Statewide ballot initiative regarding local control for land use. If created, this subcommittee’s substantive work would eventually be transferred to an independent campaign committee operating with private funds, ceasing the involvement of City staff and funding.
If the consensus of the City Council is to form this subcommittee, staff seeks feedback on the vision for the role of the subcommittee and the Council Members appointed to serve on it, as well as expectations for the role of staff to support it, particularly considering the magnitude and financial cost of leading an effort for a Statewide ballot initiative and the legal constraints on the use of public funds in connection with campaigns for ballot measures.
Subcommittee Purpose: Explore feasibility of the City sponsoring and working in pursuit of a Statewide ballot initiative regarding local control.
Membership: Two City Council Members
• Downtown Design Standards Ad-Hoc Subcommittee
At the February 26, 2026, Special City Council Workshop, Council Member Warren requested consideration to establish a subcommittee dedicated to reviewing and establishing Downtown Design Standards.
Through subsequent discussion with Council Member Warren, seeking clarification about the vision for this subcommittee for the purpose of this report, she outlined two specific topics proposed for review by this subcommittee for a short, focused duration of approximately four meetings, to help alleviate questions that arise from developers:
1) Design standards set forth in the Downtown Specific Plan, particularly related to building setbacks. The focus would be to review the current standards for possible fine-tuning rather than an overhaul; and
2) Evaluation of current requirements for private developments related to public right-of-way street improvements (e.g., streets, sidewalks, gutters, road access) in areas with low-density residential zoning.
If the City Council establishes this subcommittee, staff seeks City Council direction on its scope and vision, selection of a name for the subcommittee that matches its purpose, as it could exceed areas outside of the Downtown, as well as direction on where this initiative fits within the existing City Council Tier 1/Tier 2/Tier 3 priorities.
Subcommittee Purpose: Seeking more clarity from City Council
Membership: Two City Council Members
• Equestrian Center Ad-Hoc Subcommittee
The Equestrian Center - evaluating its condition and necessary rehabilitation work, as well as identifying long-term solutions for it - has been identified by the City Council as a Tier 1 priority. During the February 26, 2026, Special City Council Workshop, the City Council reaffirmed the need to address the Equestrian Center’s current condition and its future.
At the March 3, 2026, Regular City Council meeting, Council Member DeForest requested consideration for formation of a subcommittee to address the current condition of the Equestrian Center and its future.
Subcommittee Purpose: Review options for the direction of the Equestrian Center based on cost, current conditions, City Council strategic alignment, and future usage; and provide a recommendation to the City Council. Automatically sunsets upon final recommendation to the City Council.
Membership: Two Council Members
• Tour de Murrieta Ad-Hoc Subcommittee
At the February 26, 2026, Special City Council Workshop, Council Member Stone proposed establishing a subcommittee to review the partnership between the City and the Tour de Murrieta organization. The Tour de Murrieta is identified as a City “Signature Event” that promotes tourism in the City and contributes to the local economy.
The City Council previously identified working with the Tour de Murrieta organizers to explore the potential for expanded partnership as a Tier 2 project. This occurred in 2025/2026, which was reflected in the most recent Tour de Murrieta “Race Weekend” events, held March 28-29, 2026, including a community 5K run hosted by another nonprofit organization and a community concert on Saturday evening at Town Square Park & Amphitheater.
If the City Council establishes this subcommittee, staff seeks City Council direction on the scope and vision for its purpose, as well as clarification on prioritization of this item, which is currently at Tier 2, which means it is not a project staff is aggressively working on.
Subcommittee Purpose: Seeking more clarity from City Council
Membership: Two City Council Members
• Designation of a Council Member to Represent the City in Advocating for Expansion of Higher Education in Southwest Riverside County
The City of Murrieta has expressed support for the need to pursue expansion of higher education in Southwest Riverside County. This includes adoption of City Council Resolution No. 24-4727, which advocates for expanding higher education within Southwest Riverside County and expansion of the Mt. San Jacinto College Temecula Valley campus to support a greater presence by California State University San Marcos for the benefit of students from this region, including Murrieta. This has evolved into plans to establish a University Center that will enable multiple institutions of higher learning to locally offer four-year degree programs across various educational disciplines.
At the March 3, 2026 Regular City Council meeting, Council Member DeForest requested consideration for the Southwest Riverside Higher Education Coalition to be a recognized City Council appointment. Council Member DeForest is the Chair of the Southwest Riverside Higher Education Coalition, which 1) advocates to federal, state, and local elected leaders and agencies for the need to expand higher education in the region, 2) works to engage regional stakeholders in the advocacy effort, 3) seeks to raise funding to support the physical construction of facilities; and 4) champions bringing this to fruition.
As there is currently no joint powers agency or formal entity associated with this topic, this role would be categorized as “Miscellaneous” under the Local Appointments List, similar to the Southwest Elected Leaders Collaborative, which also advocates to state, federal, and regional leaders. This would be an designation for one City Council Member.
Advocacy for higher education is not identified as a Tier 1/Tier 2/Tier 3 project; it is considered an Administrative Priority versus a “special project.”
Additionally, if the City Council supports this action, staff seeks City Council concurrence to use City funding for periodic participation by the representative in necessary advocacy trips to meet with federal and state representatives to pursue funding and support.
PUBLIC NOTICING
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of
the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
FISCAL IMPACT
While there is no direct fiscal impact associated with the action to establish the subcommittees and appointments, there is a value for staff time/capacity to support them, including in context of how work on these initiatives fits with other Council priorities, as well as a cost potentially for work to support them and/or their recommendations/activities.
ATTACHMENTS
None.