City Manager Chris Mann described the scene at Canyon Lake beaches over the past two days as “out of control” with large groups not social distancing or wearing masks. The egregious violations forced the city to close the beaches until state and county emergency orders have been lifted.The City of Canyon Lake ordered all public and private beaches closed until state and county emergency orders prohibiting gatherings and requiring social distancing are lifted.
“Unfortunately, it has become clear that far too many Canyon Lake residents are no longer taking the COVID-19 threat seriously, nor are they abiding by state, county, and city orders not to gather, to wear masks, and to practice social distancing,” said City Manager Chris Mann.
“Yesterday and today we witnessed violations at a level perhaps never before seen in Canyon Lake. These violations occurred on the BLM land, on the lake, at the country club, and in homes. However, by far the most egregious and the most dangerous of these violations took place on the various beaches throughout the city.”
Mann described the scene at Canyon Lake beaches over the past two days as “out of control.” “Large groups numbering in the dozens were packed into small areas on crowded beaches. Most were not wearing masks” he said.
Efforts by City Enforcement Department staff to remind people of the emergency orders prohibiting gatherings and requiring masks and social distancing were met with push back and, in some cases, hostility. “At one point Enforcement Department staff felt the need to call the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for backup. The backup never arrived,” Mann said.
As a result of the events of yesterday and today, and given the responsibility to protect city staff and to provide for the health and safety of the community in this time of crisis, Mann said he feels the city’s only option is to order all beaches in the city closed until the state and county emergency orders have been lifted.
Section 5(ii)(e) of the amended orders addresses the beach closures, and reads as follows:
All public and private beaches (“Beach”) shall be closed for all purposes. All persons are prohibited from the use of any public or private beach.
(1) The owner or operator of any Beach shall regularly patrol the Beach during daylight hours to ensure compliance with (5)(ii)(e) above.
(2) The owner or operator of any Beach shall immediately expel any person found violating (5)(ii)(e) above.
(3) The owner or operator of any Beach shall post warning signs describing the prohibition of (5)(ii)(e) above and the consequences for violation at prominent locations throughout the Beach.
(4) The failure of any owner or operator of a Beach to follow the requirements of (5)(ii)(e)(1)-(3) above shall be punishable in the manner described by Section 7 below, as well as civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation per day, injunctive relief, and attorneys fees.
(5) The prohibition stated above in (5)(e) and the requirements of (5)(ii)(e)(1)-(4) above shall not be applicable to any residential property with a private beach that is not open to either: (1) the public or (2) persons other than members of the household that reside at the residence.
