Mayor updates city on COVID-19 efforts

Jordan Ehrenkranz Mayor, City of Canyon Lake

My fellow Canyon Lakers,

I wanted to take a moment to convey my heartfelt appreciation to our community. We have never in our lifetimes faced a pandemic of this magnitude. Our institutions, both public and private, are being tested like never before in this crisis. Yet, Canyon Lakers have truly risen to the challenge. Neighbors are helping neighbors, businesses are sacrificing to comply with regulations in order to keep us safe, City staff are working long hours to coordinate emergency response efforts with the State and the County, and we are all doing our part to stay at home, wear masks when we have to go out, and practice social distancing.

A recent heartwarming example of the love and kindness that exist in our exceptional City is the #KeepCanyonLakeCovered effort, which has provided free homemade masks to Canyon Lakers who needed them. Dozens of volunteers stepped up to turn material provided by the City into face masks and deliver them to doorsteps all around town. This was a community driven project, and a brilliant example of what can be accomplished when caring volunteers join with local government to provide for the needs of their neighbors.

As I look to the future, I know that we have many challenges still ahead of us. The City will be working with State and County officials to determine when and how we can go about reopening businesses, City and POA offices and facilities, and local amenities. Even once restrictions are lifted, the long-term economic impacts are largely unknown at this point and could be quite severe. The City will continue to track Federal, State and County programs that provide assistance to local businesses and individuals impacted by COVID-19, and will share those programs with the community.

With all that is going on during this crisis, the City Council and staff remain determined to continue providing quality municipal services to residents. It is more important than ever that we are able to ensure the delivery of critical police and fire services, building department and code enforcement services to protect health and safety, economic development initiatives that will provide for long-term fiscal health, and the list goes on. I know that some will be critical of the City for moving forward with new programs such as EMS Subscription, the amended agreement with CR&R for trash collection, and the Residential Rental Registration Program, during this difficult time. However, we see these programs as imperative. They will help to ensure that the City is able to provide much-needed services to the community in the months and years ahead.

It is common these days to hear the line, “We’re in this together.” While we recognize that this crisis impacts each individual, each business, and each family differently, I could not be more pleased with how our community has come together in support of one another. As we have journeyed through these dark days, I have been so uplifted and inspired by the compassion of residents who have come together to ask if neighbors are in need of food, supplies, or transportation to receive medical care. Generosity, kindness and community spirit are certainly defining characteristics of Canyon Lakers.

This is why I am confident we will get through this tribulation and come out the other end stronger than ever before. I have never been more proud to call Canyon Lake home.