The Friday Flyer • February 5, 2016

CANYON LAKEʼS NEWSPAPER • FEBRUARY 5, 2016
Main Gate entry monument soon will be history Pg. A5
Terri Ireland took this photo after last Sunday's storm from her front yard on Old Wrangler.
AFV provides guide for Canyon Lake pet owners Pg. A7
Dinosaurs are subject of recent Preschool Craft and Story Time Pg. A15
Judge rules against CL in lake lease litigation
BY SHARON RICE
&EDITOR, THE FRIDAY FLYER
Many residents have indicated that the one thing they fear most about any loss in the lake lease litigation between the Canyon Lake Property Owners Association and the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District is the loss of recreational privileges on the lake. That fear is unfounded, according to CLPOA Corporate Counsel Scott Levine.
In this community, the lake is the figurative “pot of gold” at the end of the rainbow, and anything that seems to threaten it is cause for alarm. That’s why Levine was quick to clarify the As- sociation’s position after the CLPOA vs. EVMWD court loss on Monday, Febru- ary 1, when he stated,
“Today’s ruling was not unexpected
as we have always anticipated that the complicated Constitutional issues raised by our case would eventually need to be reviewed by a higher court. In fact, the judge noted there is no existing case law to support or negate our position, and he also said that we have teed up our case perfectly for the Court of Appeal, which typically decides complex Constitution- al interpretations.”
Levine continued, “I will be meeting with the CLPOA Board of Directors to discuss our legal options, including ap- pealing the case, to meet the goal of se- curing a long-term lease that is fair and reasonable for all CLPOA members. It’s important to note that today’s ruling has no impact on the existing lease, which remains valid through December 31, 2022 – and the CLPOA still has the right
In this community, the lake is the gurative 'pot of gold' at the end of the rainbow, and anything that seems to threaten it is cause for alarm.
to unilaterally extend the terms of that lease for another 44 years through 2066, if it so chooses.”
At Tuesday’s POA Board meeting, Levine further explained what took place at Monday’s court hearing and said that a transcript of the hearing will be posted on the POA website as soon as it’s available.
He opened his comments on the lake lease litigation by saying, “While I want- ed and tried very hard to win this motion, we lost. I didn’t lose; Canyon Lake lost.”
But he explained that he knew from the beginning – and sought to explain to members – that this Constitutional is- sue wasn’t likely to be decided in a trial court. If Canyon Lake won the motion, EVMWD would have taken it to the Court of Appeal, he said.
He cited the example of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Foundation, whose re- quest was denied in both the trial court and appeals court but passed by the
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PHOTO BY TERRI IRELAND