City initiates study to explore public safety services

By Cory Gorham,
City of Canyon Lake Management Analyst.

This month, the City of Canyon Lake is kicking off a comprehensive law enforcement services study that will encompass a wide spectrum of service models to better understand public safety solutions and challenges for the City of Canyon Lake.

On June 27, the city entered into a consulting agreement with Jacob Green & Associates, Inc., a California based local government consulting firm, to manage the project. The study will look at the feasibility of two models related to law enforcement services; a municipal police department structure and a hybrid model used in cities like Sunnyvale and Rohnert Park.

“We have been receiving many questions and concerns from residents about our law enforcement service options, and this study will help us find the answers,” City of Canyon Lake Mayor Jeremy Smith said. “Canyon Lake is unlike any other city, and we believe this presents a unique opportunity to explore innovative approaches that may address public safety needs for our community.”

The city’s newly-formed Public Safety Committee kicked off efforts on the study late last week. The study should be completed by the end of the calendar year. According to the agreement, the city is not constrained by any traditional approaches to law enforcement services and desires an “out of the box” approach to public safety delivery, if feasible.

“Our number one job as elected representatives on the City Council is to ensure our residents have the highest quality public safety services,” Council Member Mark Terry said. “Our residents deserve the best services possible, and this study will help us better understand how we can do that.”

In January 2023, the City Council adopted its goals for the year. Its top goal was to bolster public safety. A considerable number of interviews and research among key stakeholders, local leaders, the Canyon Lake Property Owners Association and a variety of outside public safety leaders are proposed as part of the study.

While the study will look at various law enforcement models, it will also consider the existing services provided by the city and the potential benefits of leveraging additional resources from the Riverside County Sheriff‘s Office.

“It is crucial to note that no decisions have been made at this stage,” Jeremy said. “Rather, we aim to take a strategic and deliberate approach to actively address the questions and concerns raised by the community by doing the research for future consideration, if any.”

Anticipating the release of the study‘s findings early next year, the Public Safety Committee will evaluate the results before recommending any additional measures for discussion or decision by the City Council.

Funding for the study came from the city’s allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act, The City Council voted and adopted updated ARPA expenditures at its meeting in June, which mentioned these forthcoming efforts.

The City Council established a Public Safety Ad Hoc Committee in March and appointed Jeremy and Mark to serve on the committee. The purpose of the committee is to explore and discuss public safety related initiatives and opportunities within the City of Canyon Lake as needed.

Areas of discussion include fire services, law enforcement, animal control, building and safety codes, and other related programs and projects.