HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 14.1 Written CommunicationsLeticia Cervantes
143 N. Vicentia Ave.
Corona, CA 92882
Jason Simpson, City Manager
City of Lake Elsinore City Hall
130 S. Main Street
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
/las/ad
My name is Leticia Cervantes, I would like to appear and be heard atyour regular meeting
On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 7:00 pm atthe Lake Elsinore CulturalArts Centerat
183 N. Main St. Lake Elsinore, CA 92530.
Please let me know if your schedule changes. My phone number is (951)264-2428.
ThankYou,
Leticia Cervantes
CITY OF
LADE LSI1J0RE
�; DREAM E)CTREME
VIA FIRST CLASS U.S. MAIL
January 12, 2026
Leticia Cervantes
143 N. Vicentia Avenue
Corona, CA 92882
Re: NOTICE OF HEARING TO PROPERTY OWNER
Assessor's Parcel Number: 373-151-014
Dear Ms. Cervantes:
Pursuant to Section 1245.235 of the California Code of Civil Procedure, you are hereby
notified that at a regular meeting to be held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. (or as
soon thereafter as the agenda item relating to this public hearing is reached), at the Lake Elsinore
Cultural Arts Center, located at 183 North Main Street, Lake Elsinore, California, the City
Council of the City of Lake Elsinore intends to consider adopting a Resolution of Necessity,
authorizing the commencement of eminent domain proceedings for the acquisition of fee interest
in certain real property for public use which, according to the last county assessment roll, is
owned by you. The public use for which this resolution of necessity will be considered is for
construction of public parking. The description of the property to be acquired is attached as
Exhibit "1" to this notice.
A hearing will be held at the time and place mentioned above. You have the right to
appear and be heard on the following matters referred to in section 1240.030 of the California
Code of Civil Procedure:
1. Whether the public interest and necessity require the project for which the
property sought to be acquired.
2. Whether the project is planned or located in the manner that will be most
compatible with the greatest public good and lease private injury.
3. Whether the property is necessary for the proposed project.
. 4. Whether the offer required by Section 7267.2 of the California Government Code
has been made.
951.674.3124
130 S. MAIN STREET
LAKE ELSINORE, CA 92530
\,\/W .LAKE-ELSINORE.ORG
Main File No 36893 J.Page-
# 2..
APPRAISAL OF REAL PROPERTY
LOCATED AT
APN: 373-151-014
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
Lot -8, Blk-F, Tr -SD Jones Add To Elsinore, M13-4, Pg -177.
FOR
Leticia Cervantes
143 N Vicentia Ave
Corona, CA 92882
OPINION OF VALUE
150,000
AS OF
10/20/2025
BY
Rod Hefington
Quality Appraisal Service
19095 Rockmen St
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
(951) 678-7866
qualityappraisalservice@msn.com
www.qualityappraisalservice.com
Form GA2V LT - "TOTAL" appraisal software by a la mode, inc. -1-800-ALAMODE
EXHIBIT 1
EXHIBIT B2
PLAT MAP
FEE INTEREST
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951.674.3124
130 S. MAIN STREET
LAKE ELSINORE. CA 92530
WWW.LAKE-ELSI NORE.ORG
Good evening, everybody, good evening, City Council,
I am Leticia Cervantes, I am 72 years old, and the property owner of
parcel #373-151-014. The corner lot on Main St. and Prospect
Tonight, I want to address two issues before the City Council:
Necessity and the Offer.
"Necessity" is the standard set by the Legislature which the City Council
must enforce. Public entities too often play loose with the word
necessity and try to take land they would LIKE to have, WISH they
could use, or MIGHT make some use of in the future. THAT IS NOT
THE STANDARD.
We must keep in mind the value our founders and then our state
governments have placed on private property, and how much we want to
minimize government taking of private property -- especially where it is
not a necessity.
I cannot stop the city... but you can. The legislature empowered YOU,
City Council, to stop the taking of private property when it is not a
necessity.
My property is 7,500 sq. ft., 50 ft. on Main St. and 150 ft. on Prospect
St. It is in the Historic Main St. Near City Hall and within the heavy
downtown shopping area. With easy access to the 15 freeway and close
to all other government buildings. However, the city has a large Public
Parking on Main St. between Heald Ave. And Peck St. There is also
parking on both sides on Main St. and a large parking on Main St. And
Sulpher St., just across my property. There is also a Public Parking next
to the City Park on Main St. Therefore, the City has ample parking
without taking my property.
I was offered $100,000. That is much less than the FAIR MARKET
VALUE. I have been paying property taxes and cleaning this property
for 23 years.
I have spoken with eminent domain attorneys and obtained an appraisal,
which I shared with the city. I then spoke with the appraiser who
confirmed, "The least I should get is $150,000.
Recently, I spoke with an eminent domain attorney who told me that an
eminent domain purchase is not like any other purchase. He said that
first of all, the property must be appraised at its Highest and Best Use -
not its current use. He told me that appraisers often find very different
uses to justify much higher prices than the current use.
But more importantly he said, is that the Fair Market Value in eminent
domain is the HIGHEST PRICE a willing and informed purchaser
would pay to an informed seller who is under no pressure to sell.
The "highest price" concept I described is in Code of Civil Procedure
section 1263.320
Highest Price is not "average" or "median" price -- it means if there are
10 sales of similar properties, one looks to the 2 or 3 highest prices per
square foot to determine Fair Market Value.
My valuation of $150,000 is fair. It is consistent with eminent domain
principles and the Legislature's requirement of -- FAIR MARKET
VALUE.
I urge the City Council to take one of two actions: (1) determine that it is
not a NECESSITY to take my property, or (2) to accept my counteroffer
of $150,000. It will likely save both of us a lot of time and legal fees if
we resolve it today. Thank you for your attention