Murrieta's Future Hinges on Jobs, Education

It is probably not shocking to learn that most Murrieta residents don't work where they live.

Only about 13 percent of the job force work in the City; another 8 or 9 percent may be self-employed, and the rest--about 80 percent--work outside the City, said Stanley Hoffman, a consultant hired by the City to help craft the economic development element of its General Plan 2035.

That is slightly lower than Temecula, which employs about 16 percent of its labor force, according to 2008 figures from the Employment Development Department.

"Murrieta has grown largely as a suburban area; the population over last 20 years quadrupled. Temecula on the other hand was developed with more of an economic base. Murrieta is pretty much the same size as Temecula but with a different economic structure," Hoffman said.

He added that Murrieta has about 25 percent the amount of export-based jobs per capita than Temecula does. In retail, Hoffman said Murrieta falls behind neighboring cities, including Lake Elsinore.

At least 18 to 20 percent of Murrieta residents commute to San Diego, with the average commute at 36.5 minutes each way. The push in the coming years will be to provide jobs for the level of education Murrieta residents have, which is at an associate's degree level or above, Hoffman said.

"The skills are here, the labor force is here, the land is here--now we just have to attract those jobs," Hoffman said to the Murrieta Planning Commission during a public hearing Wednesday.

"When you look at your labor force, (the people) who live here and work elsewhere, you have a higher proportion of management professionals than you have jobs for."

Hoffman encouraged the City to develop the Golden Triangle area.

"One of the strengths that has really come out about Murrieta besides the accessibility is the land price and availability.

"One of the major components of that strategy is to maximize that Golden Triangle area...With Murrieta’s strategic location along the interstates and the soon-to-be Highway 79 [French Valley Parkway] once the plan is set, it has to be dynamic," he said.

Bruce Coleman, Murrieta's economic development director, said he sees the City attracting bio science and information technology companies. All agreed that having adequate education centers to produce those highly skilled workers was also a goal.

He said the City has been in talks with California State University San Marcos, mostly in reference to four-year degree programs in those fields. But he said trade schools and the City's current relationship with Mt. San Jacinto College are also important, as are relationships between high school students and members of the business community.

"It is so criticial to be encouraging the students to see what is out there," Coleman said. "We are in an entirely different world--an international world. We are constantly working with the school district to encourage their robotics, because frankly globalization is changing all of our lives...all of this has to be simultaneous."

Other parts of the General Plan discussed during Wednesday included the Healthy Community Element, the Recreation and Open Space Element, Air Quality Element and Noise Element.

More jobs locally would help air quality, and less time spent in the car driving to work would make for healthier residents, planners agreed.

As the Planning Commission is getting closer to completing hearings on the General Plan, its adoption has been moved out. The last of four Commission hearings scheduled for April 27 was moved to May 11. At that time they will likely vote on the their final draft, which will then move on to Council near the beginning of July, according to City Planner Cynthia Kinser.

Staff is currently preparing responses to public comments and letters recieved about the plan.