Lake Elsinore council adopts 2025 building codes, receives AB 1600 fees report and authorizes special tax bonds

The Lake Elsinore City Council on Nov. 18 took several administrative and financial actions: it received and filed the AB 1600 annual report for development impact fees, adopted an urgency ordinance to update local building and construction codes to the 2025 California Building Standards Code, and authorized the issuance of special tax bonds for Community Facilities District (CFD) 2022‑1 (Harbor Hill Ranch).

Assistant Director of Administrative Services Raffney presented the AB 1600 report, which accounts for development impact fees collected and spent in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Raffney reported carryover balances in several accounts, naming approximately $780,000 in traffic impact fees to be used for citywide traffic and highway safety improvements, about $1,100,000 in library facilities fees earmarked for the new downtown library, and roughly $1,300,000 in fire facilities fees toward a future fire station. The council voted to receive and file the report (5–0).

Billing manager Belvin explained that state health and safety law requires local agencies to adopt the most recent editions of model construction codes. The council unanimously adopted an urgency ordinance to amend Title 15 of the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code to incorporate the 2025 California codes, including the Wildland‑Urban Interface code and related model codes, with amendments as proposed by staff (motion carried 5–0). Council members noted the item is largely top‑down state policy with limited local discretion.

Tom Jacobs of Stifel presented a financing package to authorize special tax bonds for CFD 2022‑1 (Harbor Hill Ranch). The resolution authorized preparation and filing of financing documents including the preliminary official statement, indenture, bond purchase agreement and appraisal. Jacobs said the council‑authorized not‑to‑exceed par amount is $11,000,000 and that market estimates expect issuance near $10.2 million with an average borrowing cost of about 5.15% over a 30‑year period. The bonds would finance acquisition of city facilities and improvements, including storm drains, street improvements and certain water and sewer infrastructure to be constructed by Elsinore Valley Water District. The council authorized the resolution (5–0).

Other business: the consent calendar actions advanced several routine items (with a small number of items pulled for separate consideration). The successor agency consent calendar also passed unanimously. The council closed the meeting with community announcements and upcoming holiday event dates.

Next steps: accepted reports and adopted ordinances become part of the administrative record; bond financing actions proceed to the bond‑document preparation and closing steps as described in the staff report.