City Connection

Interim City Manager

Mike Borja was appointed by City Council to interim city manager for the City of Canyon Lake on Jan. 10. The city decided to not renew City Manager Aaron Palmer’s contract, which is due to expire on Mar. 1.

Palmer was put on administrative leave and will remain a city employee until the end of his contract. Borja will serve as interim city manager until a replacement for Palmer is found.

City Seeks City Manager

The city is currently seeking an experienced leader for the position of city manager. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with major course work in public administration, business, finance, or related field is required, together with at least five years of progressively responsible experience in municipal management as a city manager, assistant city manager, department director or equivalent are preferred.

The annual compensation for this position is $120,000 to $138,000. To view the complete job description or to apply for this position, visit cityofcanyonlake.org/job_opportunities.

City Hall Hours

Canyon Lake City Hall is located in the Towne Center. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Building and Safety Department hours are Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Sandbags

The city would like to remind residents that free sand and sandbags are available behind Canyon Lake Fire Station 60 on Vacation Drive. Residents should bring their own shovel.

Crime Tips

The Riverside Sheriff’s Department provides the opportunity for citizens to report crime tips anonymously online. The reporter’s name and contact information are only required if the reporter wishes to receive a response back. The online Crime Tips form can be found at riversidesheriff.org/crimetips. The form is not monitored 24 hours a day and should not be used to report crimes in progress or other suspicious activity that requires an immediate law enforcement response. For emergencies, call 911. For non-emergencies, call 1-808-950-2444.

CodeRED

The city has an emergency notification system called CodeRED, which will alert each resident by phone or e-mail in the event of an emergency.

The ultra high-speed telephone communication service allows the city to telephone all or targeted areas in case of an emergency, such as drinking water contamination, utility outage, evacuation notice, missing person, road closures, fires, floods, law enforcement activities that may impact the city, chemical spills and gas leaks where rapid and accurate notification is essential for public safety. The system is capable of calling home and cell phones and sending out emails.

City officials urge residents to take a few minutes and sign up for the service online on the city’s website at cityofcanyonlake.com. Once on the website, click on the Emergency Notification tab. Those who previously signed up and haven’t made changes to their contact information don’t need to sign up again.

City Council Meetings

City Council meetings are held on the first Wednesday in the Council Chamber at City Hall. Closed Sessions start at 5:30 p.m.; Open Sessions start at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are televised.

The Canyon Lake City Council is the elected body of City Government that consist of a five-member, non-partisan board elected at large from the citizens of Canyon Lake. They are responsible for formulating the policies for the city and approving the major actions through which the municipal functions are conducted.

Business Licenses

All businesses operating in the City of Canyon Lake are required to have a business license, this includes businesses which operate from home. A contractor or subcontractor doing business in Canyon Lake on any job also must have a license.

Event Permit

Any special event that will have 50 or more people requires a Special Event Permit. Permits should be submitted at least 28 days in advance. The city will either approve or deny the application within 14 calendar days. Applications are available at city hall and online at cityofcanyonlake.org.

Animal Control

The city contracts with the Animal Friends of the Valleys for Animal Control services. Animal Control officers are empowered by state law to enforce regulations concerning the safety of Canyon Lake residents and their pets. For more information, contact Animal Friends of the Valleys at 951-674-0618. For after hours emergencies, call 951-506-5069. License applications are available at city hall and on the Animal Friends of the Valleys website.

Bulky Item Collection

Items that can’t be handled by one CR&R driver or fit in the automated containers are considered “bulky items.” Each residential customer is entitled to two bulky item pick-ups free of charge per calendar year. To make arrangements for a bulky item pick up contact CR&R at 800-826-9677.

Public Records

The City of Canyon Lake encourages public participation in the governing process and provides reasonable accessibility to all public records, except those documents exempt from disclosure by express provisions of law or considered confidential or privileged under law. The City, in accordance with Government Code Section 6253, has 10 days to respond to any request for public documents by indicating whether or not the documents exist and will be made available. Actual production of the documents may take somewhat longer depending upon their ease of availability and staff workload. To assist the city in providing a timely response to your request, complete the Public Records Request Form indicating the specific record/document you wish to review.

Room Rental

The Multipurpose Room, also known as the Council Chamber, is available for meetings, gatherings, parties and business purposes. The room is 1,400 square feet. Non-profit organizations and Canyon Lake Clubs and organizations may qualify for discounted rates. The room can be booked through City Hall at 951-244-2955. The application is available online at cityofcanyonlake.com.

Connect with City

Information about the city can be found on the city’s website at cityofcanyonlake.org and on Facebook at facebook.com/canyonlakeca.

Emergency Preparedness

The Canyon Lake Emergency Preparedness Committee (CLEPC) meets monthly on the first Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber at city hall. The CLEPC is made up of community volunteers who are committed to preparing and educating the community for emergencies, medical and shelter services, providing assessment and assisting in recovery after a disaster. For more information, contact city hall at 951-244-2955.

Public Safety Meeting

Residents are invited to attend the meetings of the city’s Public Safety Committee where they will hear reports on police, fire, code enforcement, special enforcement, emergency preparedness and animal services. Meetings are held in the Council Chamber at City Hall at 9:30 a.m. on the Tuesday before the monthly City Council Meeting, The meeting provides an opportunity for residents to express safety concerns to all safety officials in one place.

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. Storm drains are for receiving rainwater runoff only. For more information or to report illegal discharges, contact Canyon Lake Code Enforcement at 951-746-7978.

Unscheduled Power Outages

Residents who experience outages can check SCE’s Outage Center at sce.com to learn what time they can expect power to be restored. Residents who experience unscheduled power outages are encouraged to SCE’s 24-hour emergency hotline at 800-611-1911 to report the outage so crews can be deployed.

Veteran Bricks

Residents who wish to honor a loved one who is a veteran or is currently serving in a branch of the military can do so by purchasing a commemorative brick from the city. The cost is $50 per brick and includes installation at the Veterans Memorial Park in the Towne Center. Order forms are available at City Hall and Pack Wrap and Post in the Towne Center.

Library

The City of Canyon Lake contracts with the Riverside County Library System to provide library services. The library, located in the city hall building, offers free books, large print books, free internet access, reading programs and more. All programs at the library are free to the public and do not require library membership. Membership is required to check out materials. Library hours are Mondays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The library is closed Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. For more information, call 951-244-9181.