The City of Temecula is planning to celebrate Dec. 11, and the public is invited to join and enjoy free hot dogs and holiday cookies.
Mayor Chuck Washington told the audience gathered at Tuesday night's regularly scheduled city council meeting that he is looking forward to celebrating several key milestones at the Dec. 11 city council meeting.
First, Washington said council is expected during the Dec. 11 meeting to consider a proclamation honoring the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Mission Indians for its purchase of 365 acres of land owned by Watsonville, Calif.-based Granite Construction. The land was the former site of the much-contested Liberty Quarry project.
While the exact details of the proclamation have not been shared, Washington suggested the city consider formally marking Nov. 15 as a day to honor the Pechanga tribe for its $20 million investment in Temecula. Nov. 15 represents the day in which Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians tribal chairman Marc Macarro officially announced the agreement with Granite.
Washington said he is open to other ideas from the community on ways to honor the tribe.
City Councilwoman Maryann Edwards echoed Washington’s sentiments and said Pechanga has “taken away the biggest threat … to our city. It was a heroic effort. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
To prevent an issue like Liberty Quarry from surfacing again, Mayor Pro Tem Mike Naggar said he would like to see the city scrutinize property outside the Temecula city limits.
“We have to be a little bit proactive,” Naggar said, suggesting the city should compile a list of parcels that might be considered for annexation or purchase by the city.
Although the fight over Liberty Quarry is over, the city is still wrangling with two lawsuits it filed over the issue. City Attorney Peter Thorson announced Tuesday that council approved moving forward on litigation in the fast-track case and pursuing compensation for attorney's fees in the environmental impact report case against the county.
In addition to the Liberty Quarry issue, the city may also be celebrating the Nov. 24 crowning of Great Oak High School’s girl’s cross-country team as state champions. Washington said the city would like to honor the team and a formal invite to the Dec. 11 meeting will be sent to the girls.
Lastly, the city will administer to Washington and Naggar the oath of office during the Dec. 11 meeting, which is the last city council meeting of the 2012 calendar year.
Both councilmen were re-elected to office by Temecula residents during the Nov. 6 election.
The Dec. 11 meeting is currently scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Temecula Civic Center.
Editor's Note: Temecula City Council members Jeff Comerchero and Ron Roberts were absent during Tuesday's meeting.
