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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem No. 17 - Supplemental - Written CommunicationFrom:Candice Alvarez To:Luz Reyes Subject:FW: [External]Ambassador Discipleship Center Date:Thursday, March 21, 2024 5:21:01 PM -----Original Message----- From: Tim Bedley Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2024 7:53 PM To: City Hall <cityhall@lake-elsinore.org> Cc: brett@dreamcenterle.org Subject: [External]Ambassador Discipleship Center Message from external sender. Use Caution. Dear distinguished members of LE City Council, I am in full support of the Dream Center’s plan to use the Ambassador for changing lives. I am currently a teacher in the LEUSD where I began my teaching career in 1989. Over the past 35 years of serving in this community, and being involved for 25 years at Calvary Chapel near downtown, I have seen a steady increase in needy individuals and families. How awesome is it to be blessed with Brett and Aubrey Masters, dedicated leaders and servants who care so deeply for the hurting in our community. I also have the perspective of appreciating the rich history of Lake Elsinore. Over 20 years ago, I developed a curriculum for third graders to learn about our amazing past. The Ambassador Hotel is a key historical fixture. Seeing this building sit empty and degrade over the years has saddened me. I’m a Lake Elsinore amateur historian and I am so excited at the prospect of bringing this important building back to life! Please! Please support Dream Center’s vision for restoring the Ambassador to its former glory and using it to bless the community. This decision is a crossroad in bringing hope and beauty to our beloved city. Tim Bedley From:Candice Alvarez To:Luz Reyes Subject:FW: [External]Ambassador Discipleship Center Date:Thursday, March 21, 2024 5:20:51 PM Attachments:image001.png image002.png image003.png image004.png image005.png Candice Alvarez, MMC City Clerk City of Lake Elsinore 951-674-3124 ext. 262 From: Robert Ingram Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2024 11:48 PM To: City Hall <cityhall@lake-elsinore.org> Cc: Brett@dreamcenterle.org Subject: [External]Ambassador Discipleship Center Message from external sender. Use Caution. Lake Elsinore City Counsel Board members , I cannot express my greatest support enough for the planned renovation of the Ambassador Hotel in downtown Lake Elsinore which has been proposed by pastor Brett Masters and the Dream Center planning team.This renovation and repurposing of this historical city building will have a huge impact on the inner city lives of the homeless, mentally ill, and drug addicted in our community.It will have the same transformational impact that the Dream Centers have had wherever they have been proposed similar projects in inner city urban areas which are currently at the greatest risk of human degradation and exploitation, resulting in increased crime, mental illness, drug abuse and broken families.The Dream Center Ambassador Hotel project will create a Center of hope by providing ,basic clothing,nutritional and health services ,and most importantly housing for families and classes for employment and basic living schools which will transform lives and as a result will transform the entire culture of downtown Lake Elsinore. Sincerely, Dr Robert James Ingram, Senior lead pastor Calvary Chapel Bear Creek, Wildomar California, Clinic Director of Ingram Family Chiropractic,Temecula, California From:David Bellucci To:Luz Reyes; Jill Theriot; Subject:[External]Support of Dream Center CUP for Ambassador Hotel Date:Saturday, March 23, 2024 7:56:04 PM Importance:High Message from external sender. Use Caution. Luz, Jill: Hello and thanks for your consideration of this email. I am David Bellucci. I have worked with Brett and his Dream Center Food Pantry in processing food donations and collecting food from donors. The doners are local Lake Elsinore Businesses. I really appreciate the way the Dream Center has allowed me to be part of the solution to feeding hungry people. The Dream Center is a shinning spot in the Lake Elsinore landscape providing a great view of what Lake Elsinore leadership values. Brett's / Dream Center's plans for the Ambassador Hotel will search out homeless people that want change in their lives and once fully launched will provide them with: food, shelter, toilet / shower facilities, life skills training. The resources that Brett envisions will allow homeless people without hope to become hardworking productive citizens. Please convey this email to the City Council members and the Mayor of Lake Elsinore. They have the power to allow Brett and the Dream Center to turn homeless people into people with hope and a future. Lake Elsinore's Leadership team can claim the victory and be a critical part of the solution of the homeless problem that is in their City. My faith teaches me that it is hypocritical to not take positive action to provide for the poor and then live a blessed life of abundance. My Ultimate Boss Jesus Christ gave two simple commands: Love God with all your heart soul, mind and strength and love others as you love yourself. Be part of the solution to the homeless problem. Please grant Brett the Conditional Use Permit for the Ambassador Hotel as a resource center for the homeless. My God Shine Upon Lake Elsinore and the Lake Elsinore City Council and Mayor as they tackle the homeless problem in the City. My Very Best to you all. Yours in Christ Dave Prospect and Surround A Petitiona 0 Aga 1. 2,v 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 1( 1: 1; 1; 1! 11 30 3� Pro'0 ject ru:!r.. . PR 0. D rosr)ect and Surround ing Area Partners Una peticion contra el p ro y ecto de refuglos para 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. desampardos dea Ambassador Hotel 11 f, INII Prospect and Surrounding Area Partners A Pefifion nst Ambassador Hotel Project LAYs,,,E ELS11Ni0P%,..E VALLEY C H A &A P)F R OF C 0 M M E R C E March 26, 2024 Honorable City of Lake Elsinore City Council City of Lake Elsinore City Manager & Assistant City Managers My name is Kim Joesph Cousins, and I am the President & CEO of the Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce. I have been the CEO for the last 20 years where I have done economic development for our city, helping bring businesses and jobs to Lake Elsinore to help improve our quality of life. Economic Development and Business Attraction are a function of: LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!! As the chief Economic Development contractor for the City of Lake Elsinore, I feel compelled to express our concerns about the proposed Ambassador Project site which is NOT exempt from CEQA as it is a fundamentally different use from the Hotel & Restaurant Operations of the Original Ambassador Hotel. As a transitional housing program that is CLOSED to the public the City of Lake Elsinore will lose approximately $136,000 of Occupancy Taxes and the cafeteria primarily provided services to the residents and volunteers at NO CHARGE, will be a loss of approximately $10,000 and $16,000 dollars in Sales Tax per Year. The Ambassador Hotel was a place of Commerce from the late 1800's through the 1990's with rooms for rent, restaurant sales and businesses operating out of the facility ALL generating taxes for the City. Clearly the PROPOSED NEW USE for the Ambassador is NOT in any way shape or form anything like its Original Use and would require a CEQA Review! The task of remediation, masonry reinforcement & sprinkler installation ALONE will be a herculean task and is not a simple remodel. We believe that alternative locations may better serve the goals of the Ambassador Project without impacting the economic development and the vital atmosphere of our historic downtown. This project will create a DISTRACTION for Investment in the Historic Downtown. The Chaney St./Minthorn St. site has access to bus stops, alternative education, as well as the depth of social services and the Dream Centers' food Pantry. This is a synergistic location to ensure a FULL set of services and support for their program participants. This is certainly an admirable program but in the COMPLETELY WRONG LOCATION!! The Chamber of Commerce respectfully asks for a "NO" Vote on Public Hearing Item #17. Valley Chamber of Commerce 132 West Graham Avenue • Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 (951) 245-8848 • Fax (951) 245-9127 • www.lakeelsinorechamber.com LADE ELSIfiOB,,E.VALLEY C H A M B E R February 2, 2024 Planning Commissioners City of Lake Elsinore City Council of COMMERCE City of Lake Elsinore City Manager & Assistant City Managers My name is Kim Joesph Cousins, and I am the President & CEO of the Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce. I have been the CEO for the last 20 years where I have done economic development for our city, helping bring businesses and jobs to Lake Elsinore to help improve our quality of life. Bottom line is the location is NOT appropriate for the development of a thriving downtown economy. I believe it is important to recognize and appreciate the valuable work undertaken by the Dream Center Lake Elsinore, which has made a positive impact on the lives of people in Lake Elsinore. Dream Center received the Chamber's Non -Profit of the Year in 2017 and Brett Masters received the Chamber's Citizen of the Year that same year. As the chief Economic Development contractor for the City of Lake Elsinore, [feel compelled to _express our concerns about the proposed Ambassador Project site which is NOT exempt from CEQA as it is a fundamentally different use from the Hotel & Restaurant Operations of the Original Ambassador Hotel. As a transitional housing program there will be 52 residents on three (3) floors of the four-story building that will not be open to the Public and will not.be paying any room rental (Occupancy Tax), so there is a lost of approximately $136,000 of Occupancy Taxes paid to the City on an Annual Basis. In addition, the first floor contains a cafeteria primarily provided services to the residents and volunteers at NO CHARGE, so that the Original Restaurant would have generated between $10,000 and $16,000 dollars in Sales Tax per Year to the City of Lake Elsinore on Annual Basis! Clearly the NEW USE for the Ambassador is NOT in any way shape or form anything similar to it's Original Use and would require a CEQA Review! The task of remediation, masonry reinforcement ALONE will be a herculean task and is not a simple remodel. Main Street is the heart of our community, where businesses thrive, -and families come together to dine and play. While we support the Dream Center's mission, we believe that the Ambassador Project does not belong on Main Street near our economic engine as well as our new $30 -million city hall. Our concern stems from a desire to continue to attract businesses to our Main Street corridor, as an enjoyable area for families that fosters economic growth. This Congregate Living Facility has nothing to do with business attraction but is more likely to deter economic development in the Historic Downtown! There is NO SYNERGY with the existing Downtown Merchants, NO Public access that generates traffic to the downtown area, NO crossover visits from patrons to nearby businesses, NO Demand for services from surrounding businesses from the Program Participants, NO attraction to for investment in the area as Participants pre/post admittance my be loitering on the streets of Lake Elsinore. 132 West Graham Avenue • Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 (951) 245-8848 • Fax (951) 245-9127 s www.lakeelsinorechamber.com LADE ELS11A0P%s.E.VALLEY CHAMBER of COMMERCE The Historic Downtown Merchants are VERY concerned about their Investment on Main Street. Future Investors will be deterred from investing in an area that has a facility NOT engaged in attracting visitors to Main Street. We believe that alternative locations may better serve the goals of the Ambassador Project without impacting the economic development and the vital atmosphere of our historic downtown. The Chaney St./Minthorn St. has access to bus stops, alternative education, as well as the dept of social services and the Dream Center food Pantry. This is a synergistic location to ensure a FULL set of services and support for the program participants. In conclusion, let us work collaboratively to find a solution that honors both the mission of the Dream Center and the vitality of our historic downtown and consider alternative locations that are an appropriate fit and do NOT hinder Economic Development while ensuring our community continues to thrive and our Main Street remains a place where businesses can grow. The Chamber of Commerce respectfully asks for a "NO" Vote on Planning Application 2022-02 Sincei Kim Jc President/CEO Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce 132 West Graham Avenue • Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 (951) 245-8848 • Fax (951) 245-9127 • www.lakeelsinorechamber.com My name is Patty Butteling and I am a member of the community group, Saints Alive, from Calvary Murrieta. I have worked alongside the Dream Center as a volunteer for years and have always been impressed with the hard work and dedication of the volunteers and staff. The compassion shown to those in the Lake Elsinore area is such a needed blessing to this community of homeless individuals and families, including Veterans. The Dream Center needs the support of the community now more than ever. The hurdle that this Center faces today is to get the City Council of Lake Elsinore to approve a Use Permit for a property in the downtown area. This property was purchased to house a new program that will be offering members of the homeless community, already living in Lake Elsinore, a chance to re-build their lives and start over with much needed job and life-skills training. The Ambassador Project is unlike any other program offered in the Lake Elsinore area today. I am passionate about seeing this project come to life. After some research, I discovered that the Dream Center’s project aligns quite nicely with many of the missions and values I found stated on the Lake Elsinore City public website. And this program will serve as an added benefit to the community by helping the city achieve their Dream Extreme 2040 goals. The project supports many of the city’s “key anchors”, visions, and aspirations for the Downtown Area. I cannot think of a better place for rebuilding lives and creating identities of future residents of Lake Elsinore. The city considers the lake area to be “vital to enhancement of their community”, and the Ambassador Project is designed to move many of the already homeless individuals and families out of encampments and into proper housing, by transitioning them through the Ambassador Project. I say this because many of these individuals completing this program may go on to apply and be approved for affordable housing within the city’s limits. If it is the city’s aspiration to seek innovative, inclusive, enduring solutions, it is in the best interest of all parties to get a “yes” on the approval of the permit. In a resident survey conducted between 2019 and 2020, it appears that homelessness was on the top 5 of the concerns for safety within the city. The Dream Center ’s program has many key elements that will assist the city in meeting strategies designed to keep the downtown and lake areas safe for all residents, those with homes and those without. Thank you in advance for your time in reading this email and sharing it with the members of city council who are directly involved in making the decision to either approve or deny the Dream Centers Use Permit. Philippians 1:6 says, “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ”. My God finishes what He starts!