District 4 Council Member· 2024-2028
James Stewart
Temecula
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 18
- Total speaking time
- 1:55:40
- Avg per meeting
- 6:26
- Segments
- 1655
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Top issues during term (20)
Opposition to SDG&E Golden Pacific Powerlink Project
The city is spending on attorneys and transmission experts to fight the route; the project itself would be SDG&E's largest capital project ever.
Flock Surveillance Cameras
Hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on the camera network, per the commenter.
Stephens' Kangaroo Rat Mitigation Fee Revision
No direct fiscal impact to the city — all fees pass through to RCHCA, but developers building here pay up to 80% more per acre.
I-15 Smart Freeway Pilot Results
The pilot cost $33 million over eight miles, far less than freeway widening at $10-100 million per mile.
Warehouse at Creekside tenant conditions
The building was described as a $6 million publicly funded project.
Old Town Frog Parking program
$500,000 from the 2022 pandemic community reinvestment program.
Election integrity concerns
El Niño Storm Preparedness
Initial Tiger Dam deployment is estimated at about $65,000, with costs for sandbags, riprap and erosion supplies funded from emergency management and public works budgets.
November 2026 election cancellation for Districts 1 and 3
Canceling the uncontested races would save the city the cost of running an election no one is contesting.
Altair development progress
The change reduces the unit count from 212 to 176, trimming the number of new homes added to the area.
Proposed E-Bike Park
Residents asked whether it would require a bond measure or local tax; no cost estimate is public.
Noise and Damage at Ronald Reagan Sports Park
Damage to the recently repaved parking lot creates maintenance costs; requested security would add expense.
Glyphosate use in city parks
No cost figure was given; resident volunteers offered to assist at no charge.
Redhawk Golf Course Event Center
Generates private economic activity and potential transient occupancy or local spending benefits.
Old Town private parking ordinance
Funded by $500,000 already set aside from the 2022 community reinvestment program.
Special Needs Resource Guide
Butterfield Stage Road Easement Acquisition (Closed Session)
Price and terms of the easement acquisition were under negotiation; amount unknown.
Fire Station 73 Gym/Garage Construction
$3,856,620 contract plus up to $385,662 in potential change orders.
Storm Drain Pipe Lining Program (PWSD-23)
Amends the FY 2027-31 Capital Improvement Program budget; specific amount not stated in the agenda excerpt.
New Alcohol Use Permit System
Businesses pay the same fee as the old CUP process, and a new fee resolution sets the permit cost.
Decisions during term (217)
Recorded while Stewart was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Consent Calendar Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 (waiver of readings, minutes, demands, financial statements/budget adjustments, Fire Station 73 contract, storm drain CIP, Winterfest closures)
Adopt Ordinance No. 2026-08 — Stephens' Kangaroo Rat Mitigation Fee (Second Reading)
Community Services District Consent — Items 9 and 10 (minutes and financial statements)
Successor Agency Item 12 — Financial Statements for Fourth Quarter Ended June 30, 2026
Item 13 — Receive and File AB 1600 Development Impact Fee Report, FY 2025-26
Item 15 — Status Update on Opposition to SDG&E Golden Pacific Powerlink Project
Closed Session — Easement Acquisition at 41333 Armada Place (Butterfield Stage Road Phase III)
Approve Action Minutes of October 13, 2026
Consent Calendar (Items 1-9)
Introduce Ordinance 2026-08 — Stephens' Kangaroo Rat Mitigation Fee Increase
Approve Old Town Wayfinding Sign Program
SDG&E Golden Pacific Powerlink — status update and outreach approval
Closed session settlement — Solana Winchester, LLC v. City of Temecula
Waive Reading of Title and Text of All Ordinances and Resolutions Included in the Agenda
Approve Action Minutes of September 22, 2026
Approve List of Demands
Adopt Resolution Revising the Schedule of Authorized Positions and Salary Schedule
Approve First Amendment to the Agreement with MNS Engineers, Inc. for On-Call Engineering and Environmental Services for Fiscal Years 2025-29
Approve Sixth Amendment to the Agreement with T.Y. Lin International for the I-15/French Valley Parkway Improvements - Phase II, PW16-01
Approve Action Minutes of September 22, 2026
Voting record (10)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
Introduce Ordinance 2026-08 — Stephens' Kangaroo Rat Mitigation Fee Increase
Approve Old Town Wayfinding Sign Program
Adopt Ordinance No. 2026-07 — Alcohol Use Permit (Second Reading)
Position on Proposition 1 — California Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond
Does not trust the state with the funds; prefers the RCTC local-control model
Appoint unopposed candidates and cancel November 3, 2026 election for Districts 1 and 3
Formal Opposition to SDG&E Golden Pacific Power Link Project
Approval of Pauba Road Pavement Rehabilitation Traffic Striping Alternative 3
Expressed preference for maintaining the existing road configuration while providing minor enhancements.
Pauba Road Road Diet Striping (Item 14, part 1)
Concerned about unknown impacts of reducing to one lane each way
Direction to Restudy Pauba Road Striping Alternatives (Item 14, part 3)
2026 Proclamation List (Item 20)
Prefers proclamations be presented at community events rather than at council meetings