Edition:
September 3, 2010
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Reporter, The Friday Flyer
Mayor Nancy Horton shared some good news with residents who showed up for the “Coffee with the Mayor” meeting at Surfer Bean Café Tuesday.
Among the items of discussion was a helmet safety ordinance pertaining to minors. The ordinance, which will apply to the streets and public areas inside the private gated community, is compatible with a state law requiring the use of helmets for children under the age of 18 riding bicycles, non-motorized scooters, skateboards, roller-blades and roller-skates.
The City Council passed the ordinance at its regular meeting Wednesday, September 1. It will apply to riders both inside and outside the gates of Canyon Lake. Ordinance signs will be posted at the gates, which will include language stating that “Any violation is punishable by a fine and/or any other penalty imposed by the court.”
In other news, Nancy announced a matching gift of $10,000 that Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone pledged he would donate for a veterans monument in Canyon Lake. The amount will help cover the cost of the monument and a patio area in the Towne Center, along with five benches – one for each branch of the military – that will be designated with plaques.
Plans are in the works by the Veteran’s Day Committee for raising the additional $10,000 through sales of bricks in honor of a veteran, and through other efforts and donations. The committee plans to have the completed project unveiled on November 11, 2011. Plans also are being made to create five leather-bound books with names and information about local veterans – one for each branch – to be placed in the Library.
Nancy says the committee is accepting the names of additional veterans who were not recognized previously to add to their current list so flags can be placed in all veterans’ yards for Veterans Day. She says those who were previously recognized are already on the list and don’t need to resubmit their names.
Another item of good news Nancy shared was the removal of abandoned vehicles that were located on BLM land behind the North Ski Area on the west side of the banks. Through a coordinated effort organized by Special Enforcement Supervisor Pat Colleary, a plan was implemented to remove three abandoned vehicles on August 31. Specialized equipment, including a bulldozer and winches, was brought in and the vehicles were removed with the assistance of Steve’s Towing, Riverside County Fire Department and the Sheriff’s Department.
According to City Manager Lori Moss, the vehicle owners or their insurance companies will be billed the cost of removal. She also says Pat has been patrolling the area adjacent to Canyon Lake in a police vehicle as well as on a bike and has been instrumental in deterring illegal activity, including the launching of jet skis into the North Ski Area.
Other good news for Canyon Lake and its water quality was the approval of a $74,000 bid submitted by Pace Engineering to the Lake Elsinore San Jacinto Watersheds Authority (LESJWA) for a preliminary design for an oxygenation system in the deeper levels of the Lake that would help to reduce levels of nutrients (pollutants) in the water. Nancy says once the design is complete the City can request grants through Prop 84 and Prop 13 to implement an oxygenation system.
Maintaining an acceptable level of water quality in Canyon Lake was a key topic of discussion between Nancy and residents. She explained the complex problems and issues that contribute to contamination of Canyon Lake waters by runoff from the San Jacinto River, Salt Creek and Quail Valley, particularly when there are heavy rains. Of particular concern is the fact that Canyon Lake is a drinking water reservoir and provides 10 percent of EVMWD’s potable water. By reducing contamination that enters Canyon Lake, it also will help to reduce contaminated water that flows into Lake Elsinore.
Nancy says Canyon Lake is tested regularly at various locations to monitor contaminates. By law the city must meet TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) requirements by 2020; otherwise, it could incur stiff fines from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Residents are encouraged to contact the City immediately if a sewer line is broken, or if they are aware of other contamination occurring.
There also was discussion about progress on the Railroad Canyon Rd. widening project and the eastbound left-hand turn lane into Canyon Lake. Lori confirmed the turn pocket, which is currently 350 feet long, will be extended by 100 feet for a total pocket of 450 feet, which allows stacking for six more cars.
Other topics of discussion at Coffee with the Mayor included the Salt Creek Bridge, foreclosures, BLM land and undeveloped land in Canyon Lake.
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