Incorporated on December 1, 1990, Canyon Lake officially became the 22nd city in Riverside County. The Canyon Lake Incorporation Committee set a record, with approval from the Riverside Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) granted in just three minutes and 22 seconds.
Residents gathered at the Canyon Lake Country Club flagpole to witness history as Congressman Al McCandless swore in the new city’s first charter city council members: Alfred “Bill” Trembly, Annabelle Bates, Gene Bourbonnais, John Giardinelli, and Jack Wamsley.
Fred Christensen, who played a pivotal role in guiding Canyon Lake through its incorporation process and served as interim city manager, read a resolution from the council acknowledging Wamsley and the Incorporation Committee and Vick Knight and the Home Owners Club for their efforts.
The Home Owners Club was praised for a successful voter registration drive that added 460 voters to Canyon Lake’s rolls. This effort increased the city’s annual tax base by more than $74,520, providing a substantial financial boost during its formative years.
To commemorate the day, Riverside County Supervisor Norton Younglove presented the new city with a plaque, a POW/MIA flag, and a small piece of the Berlin Wall he had brought back from his trip to Germany.
Wamsley, a key figure in the incorporation process who still resides in Canyon Lake, said it was a great day for him. “There are few times in life when we’re able to develop something we know will last for hundreds of years,” Wamsley said. “I’m proud that I’ve had the opportunity to do that.”
During the inaugural city council meeting, Trembly was appointed mayor, Bates was appointed mayor pro-tem, Christensen was formally appointed interim city manager, and Pat Wallace was appointed interim city clerk.
Key decisions made at the first meeting included authorizing existing county ordinances to remain in effect as city ordinances, establishing a city bank account, and designating the California Highway Patrol to provide traffic enforcement. The council also agreed to apply for the city’s share of public funds from the state and to ban smoking during meetings.
Until city offices could be secured, council meetings were held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 7 p.m. at the Canyon Lake Country Club.
In May 1991, the city council appointed Jeff Butzlaff as Canyon Lake’s first permanent city manager. One of his primary tasks was to develop an annual budget for the newly incorporated city, setting the foundation for its fiscal management.
That same year, a community-wide contest was held to design Canyon Lake’s official city logo, drawing 73 creative submissions. The winning design was created by commercial artist Carl Blomquist, who had been a Canyon Lake resident for two years at the time. James Cook of Moreno Valley earned second place, while Justin Spitz of Canyon Lake secured third place. The new logo was unveiled during the annual Fiesta Day celebration on May 25, 1991.
Nearly 10 years after incorporation, on April 1, 2000, the city placed a time capsule in the cornerstone at the base of the flag pole in front of City Hall to help future generations understand and learn about the city’s early years.
Included in the time capsule is a history of Canyon Lake written by Canyon Lake pioneer Chuck Bishop, a tape of “Canyon Lake Then and Now” by Don and Elinor Martin, a list of the 2000 city council members and city staff, photographs of City Hall, a penny, dime, nickel and new golden dollar minted in 2000, an advertisement for the original Canyon Lake sub-division, and the front page of the first copy of The Friday Flyer printed in the new millennium.
The time capsule is scheduled to be opened in 2100, a century after its burial, ensuring that the spirit and history of Canyon Lake endure for generations to come.
In May 2016, nearly 26 years after Canyon Lake was incorporated, the “City Fathers” were honored as grand marshals of Canyon Lake’s iconic Fiesta Day Parade. With the theme “Flashback Fiesta,” the 2016 Fiesta Day celebrated the 50s, 60s, and 70s, and recognized the formation of the city by honoring charter city council members Giardinelli and Wamsley and Incorporation Committee member Warren Kelsey. All three men also served on the Canyon Lake Property Owners Association Board and have been instrumental in the growth of Canyon Lake.
In February 2021, after decades of contracting fire services with the Riverside County Fire Department, the city hired Fire Chief Jeff LaTendresse as a consultant/interim fire chief to help form the city’s own fire department.
LaTendresse was officially sworn in as the department’s new fire chief on November 3, 2021, two months prior to the city launching its own fire department. The new fire department, launch on January 1, 2022, consisted of 11 sworn personnel, 15 reserve firefighters, an administrative assistant/analyst, one Type 1 fire engine, one Type 6 wildland fire engine, two command vehicles, one reserve engine, and three shifts comprised of a fire captain, fire engineer, and firefighter/paramedic. Station 60 was renamed Station 1.
In December 2023, the city purchased the fire station property from the POA for $1,390,000.
Canyon Lake’s incorporation marked the beginning of a new chapter, solidifying its place as a vibrant and self-governed community. Today, Canyon Lake is a thriving city with a staff of more than 25, its own fire department, and a 2024/25 fiscal budget of more than $10 million.
