Council Coffee

Mayor Pro Tem Mary Craton is happy to sit down with residents over coffee on the third Monday of each month, at 9:30 a.m. at The Cup Above. Her next Coffee is Monday, April 16. Councilwoman Nancy Horton has coffee with residents at the Sports Stop on the last Tuesday of the month. Her next Coffee will be April 24, at 10 a.m.

City Calendar

City-wide Cleanup

The next City-wide cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, April 21, 8 a.m. to noon at Canyon Lake Community Church.

Spring Fest

Residents who enjoyed Oktoberfest in the Towne Center will love Spring Fest. The family event is scheduled for May 19, from 4 to 9 pm. This event will offer a kids zone, food, music and lots of fun.

Housing-related fraud

The Friday Flyer regularly publishes market updates from Gene Wunderlich, director of government affairs for the Southwest Riverside County Association of Realtors. Mr. Wunderlich is part of a Fraud and Risk Management task force and recently provided the following reminder and e-mail address if people see something fishy or have concerns about a housing-related issue. Contact fraud@srcar.org.

Code Red options

The City of Canyon Lake has instituted the Code Red Emergency Notification System – an ultra high-speed telephone communication service for emergency notifications. This system allows City officials to telephone all or targeted areas of the City in case of an emergency situation that requires immediate action (such as a boil-water notice, missing child or evacuation notices). 

The City’s Code Red system has received new software allowing residents to choose which call lists they would like to have phone numbers assigned to. The “Emergency Call” list is automatic for those who enter their phone number on the website. The “General Notification” list is optional. Log into www.cityofcanyonlake.com to update lists and choose either just the emergency calling list or both lists. 

Veterans Memorial bricks

The City of Canyon Lake is perpetually selling bricks to honor veterans and active duty military at the Veterans Memorial. The applications are available at City Hall or at www.cityofcanyonlake.com.  

Call vector control

The Northwest Mosquito & Vector Control District provides vector control services (mosquitoes, flies, rats, Africanized honeybees, black flies and midges) in Canyon Lake. Residents experiencing vector control problems in the community should contact the District at 951-340-9792 or visit www.northwestmosquitovector.org.

Calling about power outages

Southern California Edison public affairs representative Viet Tran encourages residents to call the SCE 24 hour emergency hotline at 800-611-1911 to report an unscheduled outage. Its the primary way SCE crews know that there is a problem and can be deployed. Residents have been calling Tran, but he notes, "If each and every resident were to call me about an outage (unplanned/emergency), it defeats the purpose of the call center and deployment of our crews. It is most effective to call the 24 hour emergency number."

Calling 911 from cell phone

City Manager Lori Moss has confirmed that the emergency number to use on a cell phone for the police is 951-684-0911. This goes to Riverside County, not CHP.

City Hall hours

City Hall is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's closed Fridays. The City's website provides helpful forms and information at www.cityofcanyonlake.com. Residents may contact info@cityofcanyonlake.com and the City's Facebook page.

Passport services

The nearest facility for passport services is Sun City Main Post Office, 26822 Cherry Hills Blvd. in Menifee. The phone number is 301-3657.

Landscape water efficiency

City Hall encourages water efficiency. Anyone planning to rehabilitate landscaping or irrigation, and the project cumulatively exceeds 1,500 square feet in size, needs to submit plans to City Hall. A list of drought tolerant plants can be found by visiting www.cityofcanyonlake.com.

Building permits

A building permit is required when any owner or authorized agent who intends to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit. The building official can also provide information on work exempt from a permit.

Office hours of the Building and Safety Department are Tuesday and Thursday, 8 to 10 a.m. To reach Building Official Ronald Espalin, P.E. by phone, call 909-386-0204.

Hiring a contractor

City Hall encourages residents to check whether the contractor they are hiring has a Canyon Lake business license. If the job exceeds $500, also ask to see a contractor’s license.

Only rain in the drain

Disposing of pollutants into the street, gutters, storm drains or Lake is prohibited by law and can result in stiff penalties. Storm drains are not connected to sanitary sewer systems and treatment plants. The primary purpose of storm drains is to carry rainwater away from developed areas to prevent flooding.

Pollutants discharged to the storm drains are transported directly into the Lake. Capture and dispose of wastewater and chemicals properly. Remember, storm drains are for receiving rainwater runoff only.

For more information or to report illegal discharges, call Canyon Lake Code Enforcement at 746-7978.

View Municipal Code

Canyon Lakers can go to cityofcanyonlake.com to view the Canyon Lake Code of Ordinances. On the home page, click on “Departments” and select “City Clerk.” On the far right column there is a list of links that includes the “Canyon Lake Code of Ordinances.”

Dial 211 for info

The City of Canyon Lake entered into an annual service agreement with 211 Riverside County, a nonprofit agency, to provide residents with toll-free local information and referrals to social services.

Canyon Lake residents in need of a link to social services can dial 2-1-1 free of charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The 211 operators provide callers with contact information and referrals to local nonprofit agencies and programs best matching the caller’s needs.