Calimesa Insider

After nearly five months away, Calimesa Insider is back! City Manager Will Kolbow returns with a new podcast studio and plenty to talk about.In this episode, we're catching up on some of the biggest developments in Calimesa, including the proposed Cherry Valley Boulevard annexation, the latest on Oak Valley Town Center and the Everest lawsuit, funding efforts for the Cherry Valley Boulevard interchange, and the City Council's approval of the updated Mesa Verde Specific Plan.We'll also discuss the new City Hall, what's happening with Dutch Bros. and other businesses at Summerwind Commons, upcoming road improvements, Fire Department leadership changes, and the City's new five-year Strategic Plan.It's been a busy few months, and there's plenty more to come!**Learn more:** calimesa.gov

Who is actually responsible for fixing traffic on I-10, I-15, SR-91, and other major corridors in Riverside County?In this episode of Calimesa Insider, Will Kolbow sits down with Aaron Hake, Executive Director of the Riverside County Transportation Commission, to talk about what RCTC does, how transportation projects are funded, why local dollars matter, and why freeway projects can take so long.The conversation also covers the Traffic Relief Plan, the I-15 Smart Freeway Pilot Project in Temecula, express lanes and toll lane misconceptions, Measure A, Freeway Service Patrol, and the connection between transportation planning and habitat conservation through the Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority and the MSHCP.For Calimesa and the San Gorgonio Pass, this episode also looks at why I-10 matters, what it takes to deliver interchange projects, and how small cities can make regional transportation priorities more competitive.Learn more:rctc.orgtrafficreliefplan.org

What’s being built in Calimesa—and what’s coming next?In this episode of the Calimesa Insider Podcast, we walk through the City’s newest tool: an interactive ArcGIS Story Map designed to give real-time updates on development and capital projects across the community.Using this new map, we break down:• Key development projects like Summerwind Commons, Oak Valley Town Center, and Sandalwood Travel Center• Major capital projects including the Cherry Valley Interchange, Singleton improvements, and Calimesa Creek• The future of City Hall and Mountainview Park• How projects get approved—and what the City can (and can’t) controlThis tool is designed to improve transparency and make it easier for residents to stay informed.📍 The Story Map will be available soon on the City’s website.🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch here for the full walkthrough.#Calimesa #CityUpdates #Development #Infrastructure #LocalGovernment #CommunityGrowth #PublicWorks #Transparency #Podcast

Ever read your local Facebook community group and think… “there’s no way this is real”?In this episode of the Calimesa Insider Podcast, City Manager Will Kolbow takes a lighthearted—but honest—look at real posts and comments from local community groups.From roundabout confusion… to water quality concerns… to development and housing debates… we break down:What people are sayingWhat they’re getting wrongWhat they’re getting right (yes, it happens!)And how things actually work behind the scenesThis episode isn’t about calling anyone out—it’s about clearing up common misconceptions and helping our community better understand how cities really operate.💡 If you’ve ever wondered:How roundabouts actually workWhy development happens the way it doesWho decides what businesses come to townOr how to interpret public noticesThis one’s for you.👉 And if you already know the answers… help us out. Share this episode with someone who might not.

In this episode of the Calimesa Insider Podcast, City Manager Will Kolbow pulls back the curtain on a question many residents ask but few fully understand: What does a City Manager actually do?Instead of describing the role in theory, this episode walks through a real-world breakdown of the first two months of 2026. Listeners get a behind-the-scenes look at the wide range of responsibilities that come with managing a city—from infrastructure planning and regional coordination to budget oversight, development discussions, and public safety collaboration.The episode highlights how city management requires constant problem-solving and coordination across departments, agencies, and community partners. Topics include major infrastructure projects like the Cherry Valley Boulevard interchange, development planning such as Mesa Verde and Oak Valley Town Center, regional transportation coordination, budget management, and the day-to-day realities of leading a municipal organization.Subscribe to the Calimesa Insider Podcast for regular updates on development, infrastructure, city government, and community events in Calimesa.#LocalGovernment#CityManager#Calimesa#MunicipalGovernment#CityPlanning#PublicAdministration#Infrastructure#EconomicDevelopment

When a City Manager attends a conference, some residents immediately wonder: is it professional development… or a taxpayer-funded junket?In this episode of Calimesa Insider, City Manager Will Kolbow pulls back the curtain on what actually happens inside a statewide City Manager conference. From state budget deficit warnings and housing mandates to artificial intelligence policy discussions and infrastructure funding shifts, this episode explains how those conversations directly impact Calimesa.He walks through:• State fiscal uncertainty and revenue protection• Housing and homelessness funding trends• Infrastructure funding implications• Why Calimesa is ahead on AI policy• Strategic planning implementation and the March 21 public workshop• Leadership resilience and the council-manager form of governmentThis is not a highlight reel. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how local government anticipates risk, protects taxpayer dollars, and strengthens institutional stability.🎙 Calimesa Insider is hosted by the City Manager and designed to bring transparency to how local government actually works.#LocalGovernment #CityManagement #Calimesa #PublicService #MunicipalLeadership #StrategicPlanning #ArtificialIntelligence #PublicSafety #CityCouncil #GovernmentTransparency00:00 Conference ‘Junket’ vs. Reality: What City Managers Actually Do00:43 Podcast Intro + Personal Note (A Proud Dad Moment)01:49 Why Napa, and Why Conferences Matter for Stewardship03:34 Conferences as Early-Warning Systems (Risk, Networks, Realism)10:06 Theme 1: State Fiscal & Policy Uncertainty—What It Means for Calimesa14:21 Housing, Homelessness & Public Safety Funding Pressures17:40 Strategic Alignment as a Budget Tool (Priorities Drive Decisions)19:05 Theme 2: AI in City Hall—Innovation with Guardrails & Transparency23:05 Governing in the Digital/Social Media Era: Trust, Facts, and Discipline27:49 Theme 3: Strategic Planning That ‘Sticks’ + Calimesa’s March 21 Workshop30:46 Leadership Resilience, Culture, and the Council-Manager Model33:29 Wrap-Up: Why This Was Stewardship (Not a Junket) + Subscribe

In this episode of Calimesa Insider, viewers get to know Edgar Garcia beyond the dais.Councilmember Garcia shares his personal journey as a husband and father of three, including raising a child with Down syndrome, and how those experiences have shaped his perspective on service, leadership, and community. He talks about why he and his family chose to make Calimesa their home, what stood out to them when they first arrived, and how living here influenced his desire to serve.The conversation also explores his professional background in education and family support, lessons learned from working with students and families, and why empathy, listening, and trust are essential in public service.This episode is part of the City’s ongoing effort to help residents better understand the people who serve their community — not in a political or campaign context, but as neighbors, parents, and public servants.📍 Learn more about the podcast: calimesa.gov/podcast

Most people encounter development at the very end — when a project reaches a public hearing or construction begins.This episode of the Calimesa Insider podcast explains what happens long before that moment.City Manager Will Kolbow walks through how development actually works from a developer’s perspective, including land assembly, financing, entitlement, infrastructure timing, City Council discretion, and the risks faced by both cities and investors.The episode explains why development decisions are rarely simple, why both approvals and denials carry consequences, and why understanding the full process matters.🎧 Listen now at calimesa.gov/podcast#LocalGovernment #CityPlanning #UrbanPlanning#CivicEducation #PublicPolicy #CommunityDevelopment#Infrastructure #LandUse #MunicipalGovernment

Every January 1, hundreds of new California laws quietly take effect. Some change daily life for residents and businesses. Others reshape how cities are required to operate — even if the public never sees those changes directly.In the first episode of the Calimesa Insider Podcast for 2026, City Manager Will Kolbow breaks down a focused list of new and newly operative state laws that will have the biggest real-world impacts this year.This episode covers:Minimum wage changes and how they ripple through the local economyNew rental housing habitability requirementsConsumer protections affecting food delivery, banking fees, and AI transparencyHousing and CEQA changes that affect how quickly projects move forwardState laws that limit local zoning discretionAnd a deeper dive into SB 707, a major update to the Brown Act that will change how public meetings work across CaliforniaThis is not a political discussion. These laws are already passed. The goal is to explain what actually changes in 2026, what residents may notice, and how cities like Calimesa are required to implement state law.If you have questions about a specific state law not covered in this episode, feel free to reach out via Instagram or email at [email protected] for listening, and thanks for staying informed.

This episode of the Calimesa Insider Podcast is a little different—and intentionally so.Rather than a highlight reel or a list of complaints, this is a candid year-in-review of what really happened in Calimesa in 2025: the moments that brought the community together, the behind-the-scenes work residents don’t always see, the challenges that tested us, and the progress that quietly moved the city forward.In this episode, we reflect on:Community events and why connection mattersThe people behind city services and organizational culturePublic safety milestones, including an ISO Class 2 ratingFiscal responsibility, balanced budgets, and long-term stabilityInfrastructure realities, including County Line RoadModernization efforts like online permittingStatewide advocacy for seniors through AB 1476Development updates and realistic timelinesWhat’s ahead for Calimesa in 2026 and beyondCalimesa is 35 years old—and still growing into the city it wants to become. This episode is about transparency, context, and informed conversation—because good governance starts with shared understanding.Whether you’ve followed the podcast all year or you’re listening for the first time, this episode is a meaningful place to start.🎧 New episode available now.