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Raul Madrid, a longtime developer, is assisting Perry and Sandy Karpouzis in attempting to satisfy Redlands’ demands so they can get water service. “Once the paperwork is completed and the fees are paid we anticipate being able to open Tom’s Burgers in 60-90 days,” says Madrid. Diners will then be able to grab a burger on the way in and out of town instead of driving over to Alabama and Lugonia. Mentone Matters will keep readers posted on this development, as well.

Raul Madrid, who does not want to annex his 13 lots on San Bernardino Avenue, across the street from Seven W Enterprises (formerly the Lockheed facility), or pay Redlands’ “development impact fees” in the amounts presented to him, submitted two legislative amendments to Senator Mike Morrell’s office early last year. The proposed amendments languished  in Sen. Morrell’s office for many months; late last year Sen. Morrell asked Madrid about it; he then called his office and a different legislative aide was assigned to take care of the proposed amendments. They were forwarded to Legislative Counsel and then rewritten according to that attorney’s suggestions. The proposed amendments were submitted as SB 646 and given to the Senate’s Governance and Finance Committee last month.

A Pamela Miller, whose website states she is the Executive Director of CALAFCo, a 501c3 private organization of LAFCos,called Sen. Morrell’s office and stated that the bills would “die in committee.” Sen. Morrell’s aide was adamant, Madrid says, that the proposed amendments would not pass through the Committee and be submitted to the entire Senate for voting. 

The Senate’s Governance and Finance Committee, which is reviewing the proposed amendments, is composed of Senators Senator Mike McGuire, John M. W. Moorlach, Jim Beall, Robert M. Hertzberg, Melissa Hurtado, Jim Nielsen, and Scott D. Wiener; the Committee’s address is “State Capitol, Room 408, Sacramento, CA 95814,” should anyone care to write and ask that the Bill pass their committee and be submitted to the entire Senate, whose names and addresses are accessible on https://www.senate.ca.gov/ senators. 

 The proposed amendments read as follows (the most important part to us is underlined): (In regard to annexation) Government Code section 56133 adds to its subsection(b) “2) “The commission shall authorize a city or district to extend a service outside its jurisdictional boundary, but within its sphere of influence, if no city, district, or public utility, as defined in Section 216 of the Public Utilities Code, provides that service, irrespective of whether a change of organization is anticipated. The city or district providing the extended service within the meaning of this paragraph shall not deny the extension of a utility service to a property owner located within the extended service area based upon a property owner’s election not to participate in an annexation or preannexation proceeding.”  [Emphasis is added.]

Regarding the fees Redlands charges for services which it provides (and the ones it does not provide but still charges for), the proposed legislative amendment to Government Code section 56013(5), instead of ending with “facilities” adds: “and is of proportional benefit to the person or property being charged.” [Emphasis is original.] This amendment merely refers to Government Code section 66001(a)(1-3), with which some agencies have not been complying but which requires that “development impact fees” in other words, fees for water meters and traffic  off and back on the Boulevard, for example, be reasonably related to the actual cost of providing such services.  MM readers may remember seeing the list of fees charged to Tom’s Burgers, which is reportedly one of the reasons it hasn’t opened for 11 or more years.

LAFCO’s agenda at the last meeting attached CALAFCO’s “Legislative Report,” containing an accurate summary of the Bill; however, its first comment stated that the Bill did not provide for a change of organization (read: annexation). However, the code section contains the language “irrespective of whether a change in organization is anticipated”; thus, the amendment still anticipates a change of organization.  

Its second comment was regarding LAFCO’s role approving the annexation; San Bernardino LAFCO’s Application for Extension of Service by Contract – although it asks about anticipated annexation and the reasons it is or is not anticipated – does not list annexation agreements as documents required for its review, nor require Redlands to demand annexation.  CALAFCO’s third comments on §56133, in its section (3), substituted “water and sewer”, for the bolded words “a service” and “a utility service.” CALAFCO’s next section (3) comment,  mentioned “higher fees and charges to those outside the jurisdictional boundaries,” and questioned the word “proportional” as undefined.      

In a letter to LAFCO’s counsel about the inaccuracy of these comments, this writer concluded: “It is curious to this office that CALAFCo, in its advisory-only role and of all of the cities located in the 58 counties in the State of California, provides comments on the amendments which seem most related to the conflict between Redlands and Mentone, the subject of C.O.M.E.T. vs. City of Redlands.  At best, CALAFCo seems to misunderstand its own summary; at worst, it appears an attempt, although a private 501c3 organization, to lobby against passage of the amendments. 

“It seems that Government Code §56375(a)(6), stating “A commission shall not impose any conditions that would directly regulate. . . property development, or subdivision requirements” would preclude LAFCo from insisting that Redlands or any other city require an annexation agreement in exchange for water service. We in Mentone hope that the San Bernardino County LAFCo will not take any steps to frustrate the passage of the proposed amendments, intended for our – and all other unincorporated territories’ – benefit.”

LAFCo stands for Local Agency Formation Commission, which was set up by the California Legislature in the 1960s to oversee property development; each County has a LAFCO, as it is sometimes spelled. 

CALAFCO is a private 501c3 organization which was formed to lobby the California Legislature on behalf of LAFCO, only; its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws state that it is limited to such lobbying subjects. 

Vol. 2, No. 4 – March 2019 (II)

As MM stated in its last OpEd, the Redlands City Council voted to approve the Annexation “Agreement” submitted by the developer of the Dollar General on Mentone Boulevard, which agreement was recorded in the San Bernardino County Recorder’s office on March 3, 2019. Raul Madrid, another developer, but who is based in Southern California and does not want to annex his Mentone property, had called the Dollar General developer, located in northwest Texas, on Wednesday, March 13; that person appeared not to know much about the proceedings on his project but referred Madrid to the person doing the paperwork, Madrid said. He added that he had talked to that person a year or two ago, and they were only interested in doing what they had to do to get the project finished. Apparently it was begun in 2017. Madrid obtained, and provided to Mentone Matters shortly thereafter, the City’s staff report, a portion of which is embedded here, with some areas highlighted:

“OSC17-50

PROJECT DETAILS

“PROJECT SUMMARY AND LOCATION MAP

OSC 17-50 is located east of Agate Avenue and south of Mentone Boulevard (APN 299-221-06). The project is located approximately ½ mile south of the city limits. Staff review indicates the project is consistent with the City’s General Plan.

“DISCUSSION OF SUBSECTION H. CRITERIA – RMC 13.060.050 H

(H.1.) Relationship of the property and its proposed use to the city’s General Plan and zoning ordinances.

The City of Redlands General Plan Land Use Map shows the subject property as designated for ‘Commercial’ uses. The existing lot of record is approximately 4.53 net acres in size, of which the proposed Dollar General store would occupy approximately one acre. The applicant is proposing to connect to the water system in the Mentone Boulevard right-of-way (at the front of the subject property) for the proposed retail store. If this property were to be annexed in the future, the subject property would likely be zoned General Commercial (C-3) District, and the majority of existing development in the vicinity appears to be consistent with General Plan Land Use Map as well as the C-3 District.

(H.2.) Relationship of the property and its proposed use to the City’s Water Master Plans, and the City’s Water Capital Improvement Programs:

The 1998 Water Master Plan included the area of the property in their service area study, and the incremental demand was included in sizing the existing water mains that serve the area. There are no water CIP (Capital Improvement Program) projects programmed for this area.

(H.3.) Proximity of the property to the city’s boundaries and existing utility infrastructure:

The project is within the city’s Sphere of Influence as defined by LAFCO. The project is located approximately ½ mile south of the Redlands city limits.

The project is subject to meeting utilities development requirements. The development requirements for water infrastructure are contained within this staff report.

(H.4.) The Proposed Potential for New Revenue Sources for the city to Pay for City Services Provided to the Project as a Result of Annexation and Development of the Property:

Staff has examined two factors of potential revenue to the city given the provision that the project is annexed into the city and the site is developed.

“POTENTIAL REVENUE FROM DEVELOPMENT

If the property were annexed into the city with the existing development of the site, the following is an estimate of revenues per unit that are in excess of utility impact fee revenue:

• Sewer Lateral Inspection

• Solid Waste Capital Improvement Charge (per unit)

• Transportation (per unit)

• Fire Facilities (per unit)

• General Government Facilities (per unit)

• Library Facilities (per unit)

• Open Space/Park Facilities (per unit)

• Police Facilities (per unit)

• Development Impact Storm Drain (per unit)

“COSTS OF SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED:

Services relative to Factor A:

The majority of revenue collected under factor A are impact fees established to offset development impacts and do not have a direct impact upon city services. Fees collected for building and safety plan check and permits would require services from the city of Redlands. The additional services required for building and safety services can be accommodated by existing building and safety personnel and facilities.

Services relative to Factor B general observations. Generally revenues collected for low density single family residential areas are about equal to costs. This is an area however that is distant from the current police, fire, and other city facilities and it can be anticipated that the costs would be somewhat higher for this project given its location. While this project by itself would not require the addition of more A detailed evaluation of services would be provided upon annexation. For the purposes of this evaluation, staff has made some

staff or facilities, if other annexations of similar projects in the Mentone area were annexed to the city the cumulative impacts could require additional staffing and or facility expansion.

(H.5.) The Proposed Standards for Development of the Property:

The subjectproperty is currently vacant and unimproved, an existing lot of record, and the proposed land use is consistent with the General Plan Land Use Map and the suggested zoning district. Should this property be annexed in the future, the proposed land use would be consistent with the General Plan and General Commercial (C-3) zoning. The standards for the C-3 District are outlined in the table below and the proposed improvements appear to be consistent with these City development standards.

“DRAFT DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS

The following items are required prior to approval of APPLICATION FOR WATER AND SEWER SERVICE CONNECTION and prior to WATER METER INSTALLATION.

1. Pay the Water Capital Improvement Charge.

2. Pay the Water Source Acquisition Charge

3. Pay the Water Meter Charge

4. Install an approved backflow device on the proposed domestic water service because of the use of a separate irrigation system on the property.

5. Pay the Sewer Capital Improvement Charge

6. Pay all Amounts Equivalent to Development Fees for Pre-Annexation Agreement”

As also stated in MM’s last OpEd, at the February 19 Redlands City Council meeting, just before voting to approve the Annexation “Agreement,” Mayor Foster expressed a disinterest in annexing Mentone “in the foreseeable future.” Readers are invited to look at the language showing Redlands’ intention that this project be in the City Limits, particularly its No. 6 on the last page.

The new store is, of course, adjacent to the historic Dodge/William Winter home whose history (with some re-formatting for this program) is included elsewhere in this edition of Mentone Matters (courtesy of Marie Reynolds, Vice President of the Redlands Area Historical Society, and whose late grandfather-in-law published the Mentone News in the 1930s and ’40s).

Vol. 2, Iss. 4 – March 2019 (II)

This article is being re-published in Mentone Matters with permission of its author, Marie Reynolds, Vice President of the Redlands Area Historical Society, whose grandfather-in-law published the Mentone News in the 1930s and ’40s. The original title was “William Winter Residence – Mentone Boulevard & Crafton (formerly Ruby) Avenue.” Thank you, Marie! –MM

Celebrated New York drama critic, poet and author William Winter (1836-1917) purchased a ranch property from Mentone co-founder William B. McIntosh and built his California retreat on the southwest corner of Mentone and Crafton avenues in 1893.  It was christened Ederline Cottage, after the New Brunswick residence  of his Scots-born wife, Elizabeth Campbell, an authoress whose pen name was Isabelle Castlebar.  

They had five children; son William Jefferson Winter, an actor, married his co-star, renowned child actress Elsie Leslie, in 1901.  She had starred with the great actor Joseph Jefferson  -who along with such personages as Richard Mansfield and Madame Helena Modjeska stayed at the Hotel Mentone.  

The Winter family visited the ranch frequently until they moved to Mentone year-round due to the poor health of their son, Louis.  During that time William Winter, a Shakespearean authority, continued  his position with the New York papers and traveled frequently to their home on Staten Island for work. 

Son Jefferson had successful surgery at the nearby Mentone Sanitarium (previously Hotel Mentone).  Several family members died at the property, including son Louis Victor Winter in 1905 and Miss Isabel M. Campbell.  Louis’ son was nearly bitten by a rattlesnake on the ranch in 1901. 

“From across the continent came in 1893 the most famous dramatic critic of his day, William Winter, and settled upon the outskirts of Redlands, at Mentone.  For forty-four years the critic of the Tribune, to which he had been appointed by Horace Greeley himself, and author of many volumes, he published his elegy for his son Louis not in the New York Tribune, but in the Redlands Citrograph,

A kingly name! a name of grace! my heart repeats it, o’er and o’er,

With love and pride – but his dear face I see no more.

Lured by Winter’s eulogies of Redlands, Shakespearean Actor Richard Mansfield bought an orange grove at Wabash and Lugonia, planned to erect thereon a stone castle (perhaps using such Mentone and Crafton stones as the Southern Pacific had not hauled for the paving of Los Angeles streets and the building of San Pedro’s breakwater) but never accomplished his dream.”  

“Scarce a quarter of a century has passed since all this region was wilderness.  Today there is not in the world a scene of softer grace or more radiant promise.”  William Winter, 1893.  

W. P. McIntosh re-acquired the property from the Winters in 1920.  In interview with Barbara Bristow, descendant Betty McIntosh Shirley shared her memories of the property:

” My father, George McIntosh, was the first postmaster.  I was raised on the 40 acres where the antique shop is now.  

Across the street was the small house built by Gordon Donald for the Byron Starkweathers; probably about 1920 or so.  

The rock store was owned by Mrs. Hill and Miss Morrison, who were sisters of Mrs. Velardo, whose husband was the barber in the rock store on the other corner.  Across on the boulevard was the Hallett family.  At one time they had a big orange-shaped stand.

Every 4th of July my Dad sent for a big crate of fireworks and we’d have a wonderful celebration.  There was a large reservoir on our front yard.  Homer Blackmore (a grocer who later sold to Lehman’s) would bring a dozen watermelons up early in a.m., put them in that ice cold Bear Valley water, and by evening they were cold.  

My Dad built small rafts and put Mt. Vesuvius things on them.  There were sky rockets and all sorts of things.  All up and down the Blvd. there were cars and people watching the display.

Our house was on the Blvd., but there was an almost exact replica of it on the s/w corner of the 40 acres – that our grove man lived in.  It had no electricity, I recall and I never knew why it was built or for whom in the family.

The Lindsay Olive people bought our olive crop every year.  They came with big trucks and barrels – usually at night.  The pickers slept under the trees.  The green home-style olives were my Dad’s recipe.

We had mandarin – tangerine trees.  Every year the Chinese would come and pick them for their New Year’s.”

In more recent times the house was used as a cafe and antique store.  It is currently the residence of Arthur and Shirley Dodge.

Elsie Leslie (August 14, 1881 – October 31, 1966) was an American actress. She was America’s first child star and the highest paid and most popular child actress of her era.

Leslie’s first role in 1884 was Little Meenie in Joseph Jefferson’s production of “Rip Van Winkle”. In 1887, she was recognized as a star with her performance in “Editha’s Burglar” opposite E. H. Sothern at the Lyceum Theatre in New York and opposite William Gillette on the road tour.[1] She achieved further fame with her roles in “Little Lord Fauntleroy” in 1888 and “The Prince and the Pauper” in 1890. The most enduring image of Leslie is the portrait of her, posing as Little Lord Fauntleroy, painted by William Merritt Chase. [2]

Leslie lived in the rarefied kingdom of the theater. She moved amongst and conversed with people everywhere she went and her friends were not only nearly all adults, they were among the most accomplished in the nation. She had pen pals everywhere with whom she maintained a lively correspondence, including leading actors, actresses and statesmen, as well as two young girls nearer her own age, one younger, the other a year older: Eleanor Roosevelt and Helen Keller. “I like to write letters,” she once said, “but I like to get the answers still better.”[3]

Leslie took a break from acting, but returned to the stage in 1898 to play parts in The Rivals, The Cricket on the Hearth, The Christian, The Taming of the Shrew, The Man on the Case in 1907, and Louis N. Parker’s Disraeli with George Arliss in 1911; but after years away from the stage she could not recapture the old magic as an adult. She had married Jefferson Winter, son of drama critic William Winter, but this marriage ended in divorce, after which Leslie married Edwin J. Millikin in 1918. She and her husband traveled the world until they returned to New York City, where she lived until her death in 1966.[4]

Leslie was known as a wonderful child. She carried on correspondence with her friends from her acting days until her death. Photographs of Leslie, parts of her diary, along with letters and cards from such luminaries as Mark Twain, Helen Keller, Edwin Booth, William Gillette, Elliott Roosevelt and Joseph Jefferson, are recorded in “Trustable & Preshus Friends”.[5][6]

She is also remembered by the “Elsie Leslie” doll by Madame Alexander, No. 1560 in the series.[7]