Measure Z report shows tight fund balance as parks grapple with rising lighting costs

Chair Rodriguez opened the Wildomar Measure Z Oversight Advisory Committee meeting and committee members approved the agenda and consent minutes by unanimous voice votes.

Adam Janssen, city staff, presented the fiscal year 2025–26 second-quarter financial report for Measure Z, reporting roughly $222,000 in revenues and $255,000 in expenditures and stating a point-in-time fund balance of about "$1,000 and $1,619." He said the city has received the first half of assessments and projected a larger year-end balance once the second-assessment installment arrives in June. Janssen told the committee the fund received $200,107 of a $380,000 special-assessment budget and noted park facility rentals—especially at Martin O'Brien Park—are a major revenue source.

"We have revenues of about $222,000," Janssen said. "Out of the special assessment, out of the $380,000 budgeted, we received $200,107." He also reported Martin O'Brien facility rentals had produced more revenue than expected and that field and gazebo bookings have been strong.

Committee members pressed staff on operating costs. Parks Manager Daniel said electricity for field lighting is the single largest cost driver and described how the city exceeded its budgeted lighting expense. "We budgeted $35,000 for our lights and we're currently surpassed that — we're like at $45,000," he said, adding that higher usage during the football season and the need for nighttime lighting are the principal causes.

Daniel described the park layout and allocation system for Martin O'Brien Park, which he said is a nine-acre site with three baseball fields that can be converted to multiple soccer or football fields. He said the city uses a seasonal allocation policy that prioritizes local resident leagues and then opens remaining dates during a 30-day submission window; he estimated roughly 70% of field use went to resident leagues.

On fees, staff said current rental and lighting rates are dated and under review. Daniel said the city currently charges $5 per hour per field for residents and $15 for nonresidents, with an additional light fee of $15 per hour for residents and $33 per hour for nonresidents. He said the fee schedule dates to 2008 and staff are considering adjustments to move toward cost recovery while avoiding undue impacts on nonprofit leagues.

On potential energy improvements, staff said grants generally do not cover replacement of sports-field lighting and that securing funding to convert older fixtures to LED remains a challenge. "Most grant programs will pretty much cover anything else but they won't cover field lights," Daniel said.

In the parks manager report, Daniel said the city awarded the janitorial services RFP to The Cleaning Squad; services began Feb. 1 under a three-year agreement that Daniel described as competitively priced and within Measure Z funding capacity. He also said the community services functions are moving under public works effective March 1, with a new community engagement team to handle event-related reservations. The city plans to launch CivicRec reservation software in March to streamline park and field bookings; the annual Measure Z report is expected to be presented in May after final audit work.

When asked whether the janitorial contractor is local, Daniel said the selected firm is based in Temecula and other bidders were regionally located. The committee received and filed the financial report and, with no further public comment, adjourned the meeting.

Actions taken at the meeting included approval of the agenda and approval of the minutes for 12/04/2025, each by recorded voice vote (3–0). The committee received and filed the Measure Z second-quarter financial report; no formal motion was required for receipt and filing.