City issues stricter stay home order

Chris Mann, City Manager

The City of Canyon Lake released on Tuesday an Emergency Regulation that limits who can gather and where, as well as putting some teeth into the enforcement of the enhanced COVID-19 stay at home directive, which includes what the state and city had released earlier.

City Manager Chris Mann clarified the differences in the new Emergency Regulation he sent out to city residents from what already had been distributed by the city and state. In issuing the Emergency Regulation, he was acting as the Director of Emergency Services, under authority granted during a time of local emergency.

“The major difference is that people need to avoid gathering with anyone who does not live in the home with them,” Chris said. “We need to prevent cross-contamination.”

That “gathering” includes inside vehicles as they travel inside the city. Listed in the document are exemptions that pretty well mirror the exemptions issued in late March by Gavin Newsom, the governor of the state of California. (See sidebar for the complete list.)

“People can still go to the grocery store, to pick up food at a restaurant, to a medical appointment, on a walk, on a bike ride, on their boats, etc.,” Chris said. “However, they can only do those things by themselves or with people who live with them. They cannot, for example, go fishing with their neighbor, or have extended family gather at their home.”

The regulation is now enforceable by threat of misdemeanor citation.

“The other big change is that City Enforcement Department Officers, along with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, are authorized to enforce these orders and issue criminal citations, if necessary,” Chris said. “The City will not take a punitive approach. Rather, we want to help people to understand the orders and how to comply. We will provide copies of the orders and give people every opportunity to come into compliance. However, should someone become defiant by refusing to comply or by repeating an offense, they may be issued a notice to appear in court to answer to misdemeanor charges.”

Chris said the city became more and more concerned about the spread within the City of Canyon Lake when both the first case was reported early in the week and by “mounting reports” that many in the community were not abiding by the statewide regulations in place. Those two factors could result in a rapid expansion of the COVID-19 virus throughout the community.

“These orders will help the city respond to mounting reports that many in the community are not abiding by orders issued by the Governor, the State Public Health Officer, the County Public Health Officer, the City and the Canyon Lake Property Owners Association,” the city manager said. “Examples of unacceptable behavior have included house parties, groups congregating in parks and utilizing playground equipment, golfing, boating in groups, teenagers wandering in groups, non-essential businesses continuing to operate, etc.”

Chris recognizes in the regulation that the vast majority of those living in Canyon Lake have embraced social distancing best practices and aggressive hygienic precaution, not just to protect themselves, but to protect others. He said the governor-issued orders to stay home have been followed with “a willing and generous spirit” by those in the city.

However, with the virus continuing to spread, he said he felt the city needed to adopt additional emergency measures to further limit the spread of COVID-19. The Canyon Lake City Council just last week passed a city state of emergency, which gives Chris, acting as the city’s Director of Emergency Services, the authority to issue orders intended to protect the health, safety and property of members of the community. From this authority came the Emergency Regulation.

Most of the regulation mirrors that of the state executive order. However, the City of Canyon Lake regulation takes a few things a step further. First and foremost is the enforcement piece.

The police can issue misdemeanor citations for those who do not abide by the order. “Failure to comply with this Emergency Regulation,” Chris states in the order, “shall constitute a misdemeanor subject to fines and imprisonment pursuant to Canyon Lake Municipal Code Section 2.28.100. I hereby urge the Sheriff’s Department, which serves as the law enforcement agency for the City of Canyon Lake, and the City Attorney to vigorously enforce this Emergency Regulation.”

The Canyon Lake Property Owners Association security force cannot issue these citations.
The regulation also differs from the state mandate by not allowing anybody but household members to gather anywhere, including in Canyon Lake homes. Hence, extended family members and friends cannot enter homes in which they do not live. Likewise, only members of a household can travel anywhere and that travel needs to be to conduct essential household business, such as going to the grocery store, to pick up food at a restaurant or to go to a doctor’s appointment. Those who are employed by an essential business or service can also travel to conduct their work.
These household members are the only ones, other than exempt individuals, who can gather anywhere…and those gathering places are limited (outdoor walking, hiking, cycling, etc.). Household members can drive to a place where these outdoor activities can take place, as long as they maintain social distancing while there.

The emergency regulation contains pages of exemptions…all of which are similar to those adopted by the state mandate. Those individuals and businesses who were exempt before, are still exempt, including grocery stores, restaurants providing pickup, newspapers, service and repair stations, banks, hardware stores, etc. Basically, the same list as before.

“We urge Canyon Lake residents to take this pandemic seriously,” Chris said, “and to abide by these orders.”

The City of Canyon Lake Emergency Regulation went into effect at midnight Wednesday morning and will be in place until at least May 6. The document states it can be extended by Chris and/or the City Council prior to that date.

Here is a link to the copy of the document. https://www.dropbox.com/s/9kigoxn7lb7toq6/CL_Regulation.pdf?dl=0