Mayor Jackie Peterson urged a deliberate, public process on the Hemet United annexation petition and proposed a citizen review committee to examine the petitioners’ forthcoming plan of services and its fiscal and service implications. “I am proposing forming a citizen review committee made up of 4 residents from the city, 4 from the proposed annexation area, and a retired judge to serve as a neutral chair,” Peterson said during her opening remarks.

The item drew weeks of public attention and more than 40 speakers at the Dec. 9 council meeting. Opponents pressed the council on immediate costs they say would fall on county residents — including potential loss of county rent protections and higher taxes — and questioned whether the city is ready to deliver expanded police, fire and street services. “We will fight annexation all the way,” resident Roxanne Partita told the council, saying many unincorporated residents fear higher costs and loss of existing protections.

Proponents argued annexation would bring local control over land use and a larger tax base that could attract retailers and services to the Hemet Valley. “Annexation gives Hemet local control over land‑use decisions currently made by the county,” said Matthew McPherson, a downtown property owner who supports the petition.

Council members debated whether forming a committee was the right next step. Supporters said it creates a structured, public review; critics said it would slow a process that is already under county and LAFCO procedures and could be used to legitimize the petition. Councilmembers Clark and Lodge voted no; the motion to form the Annexation Citizen Review Committee passed 3–2.

What the committee does — and does not — mean: the committee as approved is an advisory, study body and does not itself accept or reject a plan of services nor does it place an immediate legal block on the LAFCO process. The city clerk and staff will work with the council to define the committee’s procedures, information access and public meeting schedule. The council recorded concerns about staffing impacts and transparency and asked staff to return with process details and outreach plans.

Next steps: the council directed staff to stand up the committee process as described and to continue public outreach. Any formal plan of services from petitioners would still follow the statutory LAFCO review process; if the city receives a plan it would evaluate that plan and decide whether to sign off or not at a future time.

The vote to form the committee was the most consequential council action of the night and the council did not adopt or reject any plan of service at this meeting. The council also asked staff to ensure the committee and any materials are publicly posted so that county residents and city residents alike can follow the review.

Provenance: Topicintro SEG 1950; Topfinish SEG 5784.