At the end of August, California State Auditor Grant Parks released his agency’s audit of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the California Public Advocates Office (Cal Advocates). The audit looked at the agencies’ review and participation in the rate requests from California’s three largest electric utilities and natural gas company — Pacific Gas…
This year, 2023, has been one of many weather surprises, extremes and changes — from winter’s record precipitation to the moderate spring, a boiling summer and then a rare hurricane appearance last month. In the final weeks of July, Idyllwild set five high temperature records; then last week, another high temperature record was tied. On…
The renewal of a joint fire services agreement among the state, county and local cities was approved at the Aug. 29 meeting of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. This agreement will cover three fiscal years, beginning with the current one, 2023-24, and will expire June 30, 2026. County Fire Chief Bill Weiser made the…
At its Aug. 29 meeting, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved an extension of the moratorium on issuing new short-term rental (STR) certificates in Idyllwild (including Pine Cove) and the Wine Country. The new Ordinance 449.253 is effective immediately and will expire in one year or once revised Ordinance 927.2 (STRs) goes into effect,…
At its Aug. 29 meeting, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved an extension of the moratorium on issuing new short-term rental (STR) certificates in Idyllwild (including Pine Cove) and the Wine Country. The new Ordinance 449.253 is effective immediately and will expire in one year or when a revised Ordinance 927.2 (STR) goes into…
At a special meeting Monday, Aug. 28, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors unanimously ratified the Proclamation of Local Emergency issued when Hurricane Hilary’s tropical storm remnants passed over the county Aug. 18 and 19. The proclamation issued Aug. 21 expired Aug. 28 and had to be ratified by the board to continue in effect….
Editor’s note: See the separate and accompanying story which describes the comments from Idyllwild residents or STR owners during the commission meeting. Wednesday, Aug. 23, the Riverside County Planning Commission recommended that a revised Ordinance 927, “Regulating Short Term Rentals [STRs],” be sent to the board of supervisors next month for adoption. After hours of…
At Tuesday’s Riverside County Planning Commission meeting, more than 50 people spoke during the public comment period. Seventeen of them were either Idyllwild residents or have property in Idyllwild. Below is a summary of each of their comments to the commission about the proposed changes to Ordinance 927, Short-term Rentals (STR). Alexandra Koromzay expressed concerns…
In a brief meeting last Thursday, the Fern Valley Water District’s (FVWD) board of directors reviewed the end of fiscal year 2022-23 financial results and appointed a committee to review conservation incentives. Last year’s budget surplus topped half a million dollars. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, FVWD’s income was a pleasant surprise….
Hurricane Hilary promised rare weather. She arrived Sunday as a tropical storm and has departed. Some of her highlights include 11.7 inches of rain falling on Mt. San Jacinto’s Peak. This was the largest amount of rain fall recorded in Southern California as of 5 a.m., Monday, Aug. 21. Closer to Idyllwild, 7.8 inches were…
