News from Supervisor V. Manuel Perez

North Shore, CA: – Community members can learn about Riverside County’s plans for the north end of the Salton Sea, and how these plans will be paid for, at a public meeting in North Shore on Tuesday.

The public financing authority for the Salton Sea Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District, a newly created financing structure to support Riverside County’s North Lake Plan, will meet for the first time at 11 a.m. October 15.

The public is welcome to attend the meeting, which will be at the North Shore Beach & Yacht Club Community Center in North Shore, 99-155 Sea View Dr.

“I’m glad we’re having this meeting in North Shore, which is where our efforts are centered on in providing a safe and stable Salton Sea, protecting public health and the environment, and creating economic, tourism and recreation opportunities,” said Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “I am excited to hear the presentations and reveal the project plans we have been working on for the northern shore of the Salton Sea.”

In 2018, Supervisor Perez introduced a concept, the North Lake Plan, for the north side of the Salton Sea located in Riverside County. The plan would consist of infrastructure to protect the northern shore of the Salton Sea such as an in-sea barrier around the contours of the northern shoreline that will create a deep lake. The plan was adopted into the state’s Salton Sea Management Plan (10-Year SSMP) last year.

The county could move the North Lake plan forward through a mechanism known as an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD). The EIFD operates similar to a redevelopment agency, using the increment in the increased value in property, sales and hotel tax to repay bonds used to pay for construction of projects.

In October 2018, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors established the Salton Sea EIFD, the largest EIFD in California. The Salton Sea Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District Public Financing Authority will provide public oversight of the EIFD, governing its activities such as the issuance of bonds to fund projects.

The authority is comprised of three members of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and two public members. Joining Supervisor Perez on the five-member authority are his fellow Supervisors Chuck Washington and Jeff Hewitt, and public members Kari Middleton Hendrix and Pedro Rincon.

At the meeting, county staff will present the North Lake Plan and next steps for the public financing authority.

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Supervisor V. Manuel Perez represents the eastern two-thirds of Riverside County on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. Stretching from Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs, south to the Salton Sea and east to Blythe and the Colorado River, the 4th District is the largest geographical district in the county.

Supervisor Perez’s office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.