Mayor speaks at State of City dinner

BY Dawn Rankins

Over 100 Canyon Lakers and other government dignitaries from local communities gathered at the 2nd Annual Canyon Lake State of the City last week in the Holiday Bay Room at the Canyon Lake Lodge.

In addition to the State of the City address by Mayor Jeremy Smith, the Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce installed its officers and annual city awards were presented.

City Manager Chris Mann began the evening with a special thanks to the mayor and the city council for all their hard work.

“I have so much respect for this council,” Chris said. “It is such a cohesive group and they work so well together.”

Chris then welcomed new councilmember Mark Terry who was recently appointed to fill the seat of departing councilmember Larry Green who is relocating to Montana this month.

Jeremy took the microphone to thank everyone for coming to the State of the City and he thanked his fellow councilmembers. He gave a special thank you to the Murrieta Fire Department for its role in helping make the new Canyon Lake Fire Department possible.

The mayor spent much of his time talking about the accomplishments of the City of Canyon Lake and how proud he is to be mayor. He thanked the councilmembers for their hard work and talked about each of the member’s roles in the city and the work they’ve done collectively to make Canyon Lake a great place to live. Jeremy reiterated to the audience, “Canyon Lake is a unique place to live.”

Jeremy said the hard work and dedication of the city council has kept the city’s budget in balance and said that the City of Canyon Lake now runs with a budget surplus.

Fire Chief Jeff LaTendresse presented Fire Captain/Paramedic Brennain Gorter with the inaugural Firefighter of the Year Award and Pieter Koopman with the Reserve Firefighter of the Year Award. He thanked the entire department for its hard work alongside the two firefighters receiving the awards. The final award presented was the Jordan Ehrenkranz Spirit Award which was presented posthumously to Karen Bevans.

“This person helped place flags around the city just days before entering the hospital where she would pass a short time later,” Jeremy said. “Karen was a woman who dedicated so much to the City of Canyon Lake.”

Brandi Lynn Nakakihara, Karen’s daughter, accepted the award on her late mother’s behalf.

“She would have been thrilled to receive this award,” Brandi said. Brandi talked about her late mother’s dedication to the city and the community. She thanked the city for the award on behalf of her late mother.

City of Canyon Lake Mayor Jeremy Smith.

Brandi Lynn Nakakihar accepts the Jordan Ehrenkranz Spirit Award on behalf of her mother, Karen Bevans, who passed away recently. Photo by Dawn Rankins.

Fire Chief Jeff LaTendresse presents Brennain Gorter, Fire Captain/Paramedic, with the inaugural Canyon Lake Firefighter of the Year Award. Photo by Dawn Rankins.

Pieter Koopman receives the Reserve Firefighter of the Year Award. Photo by Dawn Rankins.