Mayor Bridget Moore touts Wildomar City's growth, 20% reserve policy and major road and park projects

Mayor Bridget Moore delivered Wildomar City's 2024 State of the City address, crediting local businesses, nonprofits and intergovernmental partners for the city's recent growth and announcing several near-term infrastructure and planning milestones.

Moore said property-tax and building/engineering revenues were "higher than anticipated," and the city has adopted a new finance-reserve policy to maintain 20% of the general fund in reserve to insulate Wildomar from unforeseen challenges. "We are very proud of that," Moore said of the reserve policy, adding that the city is rolling out new finance software and expanding its municipal vehicle fleet to 11 vehicles.

The mayor framed the general-plan update as a foundational, legal document that will guide land-use, housing, mobility and infrastructure decisions for the next 20 years. Community Development Director Matt Bassie is leading the update, which Moore said is "nearly complete." "A general plan is crucial to a city," she said, noting that zoning and development decisions must be consistent with the plan.

Moore listed a string of development projects under way or expected to begin: a seven-story patient tower at Inland Valley Hospital slated to open in early 2026; an 84,000-square-foot Kaiser Permanente medical office recently opened on Wildomar Trail; a planned Marriott TownePlace Suites next to Kaiser; and the Wildomar Commerce Center on Clinton Keith that will include industrial and retail space.

On housing, Moore described multiple residential developments at various stages: Verona (80 single-family units), Boulder Creek (108 homes), a 117-unit community near Palomar Street, Horizon Place (138 condos), Tricon Wildomar (170 apartments) and Oat Springs Ranch phase two (288 apartments). She gave expected target completion windows where available.

Major street projects were front and center in Moore's remarks. She said the City Council is scheduled to consider a contract award for Palomar Street widening in October; if awarded, construction would begin in the fall and aim for completion around summer 2025. Bundy Canyon segment two is targeting a spring 2025 contract with construction from summer 2025 to summer 2026. The Clinton Keith widening to six lanes is also expected to move toward a spring 2025 contract with mid-2025 construction and completion in late 2025 or early 2026. Moore emphasized that some projects require external approvals, noting the city is coordinating with Caltrans on an interchange change and a southbound right-turn lane on Wildomar Trail.

Moore said the city received "just over two million" in a federal grant for SECO Boulevard improvements, which will include roundabouts, bike lanes, sidewalks and medians. She also outlined the design and planned phasing of a 27-acre park adjacent to Ronald Reagan Elementary, targeting a construction-contract decision in spring 2025 for phase one (parking, trails and a bicycle course).

Public-safety and public-works updates included Measure AA-funded upgrades for first responders, work by Cal Fire and Riverside County Fire at Fire Station 61, and partnerships with the Riverside County Sheriff's Lake Station. Moore credited public works with repairing more than 12,000 square feet of potholes, abating roughly 38,000 linear feet of weeds (about 7.2 miles), trimming 98 trees and conducting graffiti and illegal-dump removal operations.

Moore highlighted civic engagement and volunteerism: Wildomar beautification volunteers contributed more than 3,000 hours in 2024 and collected more than 5,500 bags of litter since the program began; Robin Atkins was named Volunteer of the Year and Rosio Battello Citizen of the Year. She closed by urging residents to attend council meetings, join committee efforts, and participate in mayoral and chamber coffees.

The event concluded with chamber organizers thanking sponsors and city staff and formally closing the 2024 State of the City program.