WeTip’s Anonymous Crime Hotline is a way for citizens to get involved in establishing a safer community.  Residents are often afraid to report crime information because they fear reprisal from the person they are reporting.  WeTip gives community members an opportunity to give information without fear.

When you call the WeTip hotline, the first words you will hear from the operator will be,   “This is the WeTip crimeline, please do not give your name.”  The operator will then ask a series of questions, designed by law enforcement, to obtain the maximum amount of information about the reported crime.

WeTip information is immediately conveyed to the appropriate police, fire, and sheriff’s agencies.

After the information is taken, if the informant requests a reward, a code name and number are assigned to the informant.  The caller always remains absolutely anonymous (not just confidential).

Cash rewards of up to $1000 are given upon verified reports from law enforcement that WeTip information was received prior to arrest and that the information was helpful in the arrest and conviction.

The reward drop is made at a designated postal location, using the assigned code names and case numbers.  No personal contact is ever made with the informant.

You can call this number 24 hours a day and Report your concerns to us.

No one will ask your name, you will remain anonymous.
(800) 78-CRIME
(800)-782-7463

Reclaimed water and drought-tolerant landscaping on Railroad Canyon Road.

Two years ago the City of Canyon Lake hired Sunshine Nursery to analyze the condition of the landscape median and parkways on Railroad Canyon Road.  The landscape contractor recommended that the irrigation system be upgraded and the median replanted with drought-tolerant plants. As part of a multi-year project, the city’s contractor continues to clear out the dead plants; and has replanted portions of the median planter each year and installed water-stingy drip irrigation.

In addition, the city repaired a pumping station that was supplying the parkways and median irrigation system with reclaimed water taken from a retention basin adjacent to the Canyon Lake Country Club. The pump at the station was repaired and a heavy-duty self-dumping filter was installed to prevent the irrigation system from clogging.  In the past, the irrigation system emitter heads became clogged with debris from the basin and were no longer effective.
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So far, the improvements to the Railroad Canyon Road median irrigation system and use of reclaimed water has resulted in both water and cost savings. The City, like the Property Owners Association, receives reclaimed water from Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District.   Recently the City’s landscape contractor trimmed trees and bushes in the parkways and median and recycled the trimmings for wood chips that were placed in the median as mulch. With spring upon us and warm weather approaching, I hope all our residents and visitors will take a few moments to enjoy the drive up Railroad Canyon Road and all the new greenery in the median.
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City Hall Flush with Improvements

The City recently retrofitted all of the traditional toilets in City Hall with pressure tanks to cut back on the amount of water that is literally being flushed down the drain.

Pressurized flush system units were installed in all restrooms converting toilets from water tanks to non-water tank units.
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The pressurized black box uses very little water with each flush. This is just one of many ways the City is looking to reduce water and electricity usage. Speaking of electricity savings, senor light switches were installed in all City Hall restrooms and the multipurpose room, this week, in an effort to save electricity.  Stay tuned for updates on our continued efforts to conserve.

Over Watering Creates Downstream Problems

There is probably no place else on this planet where the garbage-in, garbage out theory works so well. Whatever goes into the storm drains in Canyon Lake eventually shows up in the lake itself.  There is often confusion as to the function of a storm drain system.  Not in Canyon Lake.  The formula is simple:

Everything that goes into the street drains goes straight to the Lake because all drains in Canyon Lake lead right to the Lake.  

To make sure everyone gets the message, the City is redoubling its efforts to get the word out about runoff and lake quality.  Canyon Lake, like other cities, must abide by National Pollution Discharge Elimination Standards (NPDES).  The city has enforcement officers to make sure the standards are enforced and will issue citations to offenders. But the city would prefer to avoid the heavy- handed approach and instead rely on education to let residents know about what they can do to insure the lake stays pristine.

As we enter a period of mandatory rationing and prohibitions on over watering, it’s even more important to remember the delicate balance between runoff and water quality.  The dryer the season, the more debris that builds up on streets, sidewalks and in our gutters. Over watering wastes water. It also moves chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides and litter down the drain system into the lake.

To help reduce storm drain pollution keep and our lake clean, it’s paramount that residents:

• Dispose of litter properly and recycle recyclables.
• Keep storm drain inlets clear from debris, dirt, sand, silt and wastes.
• Keep vehicles in tip top shape to prevent fluid leaks
• Don’t over-water lawn or garden areas. This can cause an algal bloom and create   contaminated wastewater that enters the storm drain and ultimately the lake.

The history of water runs deep in City of Canyon Lake, which is named after the lake it surrounds, also known as Railroad Canyon Reservoir.   The reservoir, created in 1928 with the construction of the Railroad Canyon Dam, has a storage capacity of 11,900 acre-feet and is owned and operated by the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District.

The reservoir is supplied by storm water runoff from the San Jacinto River and Salt Creek. Water from the reservoir feeds the Canyon Lake Water Treatment Plant, which provides approximately 10 percent of the domestic water supply in the Lake Elsinore/Canyon Lake area.

As always if you have any questions on what the City is doing to reduce water usage or City operations in general please feel free to email me at lmoss@cityofcanyonlake.com

“From protecting our residents to safeguarding the community’s lake and providing popular amenities, the City of Canyon Lake is committed to preserving our community’s treasured quality of life.”

Following through on recommendations from a strategic planning session held last year, the City of Canyon Lake has updated guidelines for the City Council to ensure it continues to conduct its business in an orderly, consistent and fair manner.

The updated rules are designed to facilitate public participation in city council and committee proceedings, assure procedural fairness during meetings and hearings, and satisfy the requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act, which was enacted in 1953 by the California Legislature in an effort to safeguard the public’s ability to obtain access to and participate in local government meetings and deliberations.

The new resolution by the Canyon Lake City Council updates a document that was first created in 1992. In the words of City Attorney Elizabeth Martyn, it should have been freshened up a long time ago.

“It contained a lot of obsolete references,” she explained. “It was just time to update it.”

Throughout California’s history, local legislative bodies have played a vital role in bringing participatory democracy to the citizens of the state. Local legislative bodies - such as boards, councils and commissions - are created in recognition of the fact that several minds are better than one, and that
through debate and discussion, the best ideas will emerge.

The Brown Act was first enacted in response to mounting public concerns over informal, undisclosed meetings held by local elected officials.

The law which guarantees the public’s right to attend and participate in meetings of local legislative bodies, also recognizes the need, under limited circumstances, for these bodies to meet in private in order to carry out their responsibilities in the best interests of the public.

Over the years, the original 686-word statute has expanded to reflect changing situations and society.

The latest revisions in Canyon Lake reflect the reality of current law and recommendations that came out of a city strategic planning session held in December 2008, Martyn said.

The new guidelines forbid elected officials in Canyon Lake from using city property. i.e. seals and logo, or title for personal gain and creating the appearance of supporting a position not held by the entire council.  The guidelines also prohibit a council member from requesting city staff to prepare a “significant” study or report without the approval of the city council.

Among other things, city council members felt it was important to follow parliamentary procedure, communicate openly, be transparent, give the public access to what is going on and adhere to the Brown Act.

In keeping with the consensus council recommendations, the revised resolution not only meets state standards but, in some cases, exceeds them. For example, meeting rules typically allow three minutes for public comments and three minutes for public hearings. But in Canyon Lake speakers have five minutes to make their point known.

The revised rules also reflect the addition of new committees within the city and, for the first time, include rules governing use of city stationery and business cards, the city logo and seals and how council members represent themselves.

The Brown Act has changed dramatically over the last 56 years, said Peter Scheer, executive director of the California First Amendment Coalition, a non-profit group   that protects freedom of expression and the people’s right to know.

His group recommends  that a city’s meeting  and conduct rules be reviewed every couple of years to make sure they reflect what is really going on and to avoid any challenges.

If you have questions or comments please contact me at lmoss@cityofcanyonlake.com

• With more rain in the forecast, Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District Director, Ben Wicke, advises residents to turn off their sprinklers for at least seven days.  This action will help to conserve water.  Read more about EVMWD’s “Call for customers to reduce water usage”.

•  The City’s next Water Subcommittee meeting of the City Council is scheduled for Monday, March 2 at 2:30 p.m.  For more information on the meeting please visit the City’s web site.  The committee is made up of Mayor Pro Tem Nancy Horton and Councilmember Barry Talbot with expert advisors from both the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District and Eastern Municipal Water District.  This meeting is open to the public.

• On a separate note, Mayor Pro Tem Nancy Horton wants to the let the Community know that she will be holding regular office hours at City Hall.  To obtain her schedule or to set up a meeting with Mrs. Horton please call city hall at 951-244-2955.

• For more information on how to conserve water inside and outside your home please visit Be Water Wise.

Please contact me with questions or comments at lmoss@cityofcanyonlake.com.

• Beginning with the January 7, 2009 Council agenda residents can now go to the City Clerk’s web page and download the complete City Council agenda with all of the staff reports attached.
• 4 Your Information . . . after each regular City Council meeting you can go to the City Clerk’s web page and view the full council meeting.  Just go and click on “Council Video”.
• Effective February 4, 2009 you can watch the Canyon Lake City Council meetings live on your computer.  Just go to the City’s web page the evening of the meeting and click on the web-cast.  We welcome you either in person or on line to our Council meetings.
• Finally, just a reminder to read the weekly “City Connection” page in the Friday Flyer.  The Page is located on the next to the last page of the A section. 

Feel free to contact me with questions or comments by emailing me at lmoss@cityofcanyonlake.com.

“If you’re big enough for your dream, your dream isn’t big enough for you.”  Erwin Raphael McManus