Lake Elsinore is not Paying its MSHCP Fees

I am the city of Beaumont’s Representative for the Western Riverside Habitat Conservation Agency. The purpose of this agency is to purchase land for conservation of endangered species so that Roads, Developments, Homes and Public Building can be built without having to get separate permits from the Fish and Wildlife Services.  When this Joint Powers was created the only allowed exemption to paying the fee was to donate usable property to the agency that was properly appraised and approved by a majority of the board by adoption of a resolution. I reviewed the resolutions for the past 10 years and only found one that was done properly which was for the City of Perris. The city of Beaumont has always collected the required fees from every builder in accordance with the terms of the agreement and the city ordinance. Right now the City of Beaumont pays about 10% of the total revenue for the agency and has the 2nd largest area of property in acreage in conservation.

A few months ago I noticed that Lake Elsinore was not paying their fees but was rather claiming exemption from some old projects that were approved back in the 1990’s. They just kept reauthorizing their exemption. This is not allowed. I questioned it at the June meeting of the Agency and asked for an accounting of the funds paid by each agency from conception to now. I also asked if a copy of these exemptions could be made available. The member from Lake Elsinore was not present.  Soon after I made the request the alternate member (Robert Magee who is also the First Dist Supervisor’s Chief of Staff) came in and talked to staff. He was upset. He said those agreements are valid. I asked again can we see them. I was told it would take two months to produce them. I said “What” this information should readily available. I told them I don’t think these agreements are valid.  They said they would take it up at the July meeting. At their executive meeting last week they cancelled the July meeting and won’t be meeting until September. What do they have to hide?

I estimate that the City of Lake Elsinore has probably withheld anywhere from one to three million dollars in money that was suppose to go the habitat purchase. Why are they being allowed to do this?

I will bring more information as I get it.  I suspect that there are other cities in the Southwest portion of the county doing the same thing. Why hasn’t the county looked into this matter and did something about it. Could it be that’s because two the supervisors have the city council members on their payroll. Just asking. More to come.