This pandemic emergency has affected everyone. We understand the feelings of fear and uncertainty for our future that everyone is experiencing right now. Please know that Mayor Tisdale, Mayor Pro Tem Magee, and Council Members Johnson, Manos, and Sheridan are actively engaged in this emergency and are providing outstanding leadership behind the scenes. The City’s role in a pandemic emergency is to adhere to and support the decisions of Riverside County’s Public Health Officer. I also want you to know that Mayor Tisdale is working tirelessly in his full-time job as an Emergency Planner for Riverside County. In fact, the first time I met Mayor Tisdale was in 1997 when we conducted a pandemic planning exercise. I mention this to assure you that we have been preparing for an emergency like this for years. Please rest assured that your local leadership is doing everything we can today and every day to help get us through this difficult time, while also planning for future recovery efforts.
We want you to know that while City Hall is currently closed to the public, we continue to conduct all City business with requisite precautions, including social distancing and increased reliance on technology. We will continue to provide the service you have come to expect at City Hall and work hard to provide you with information that is relevant and timely. Please utilize the City’s website, www.lake-elsinore.org/coronavirus, for information as we are linked directly to Riverside County’s Department of Public Health and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Their websites are www.rivcoph.gov/coronavirus and www.cdc.gov, respectively. We have opened a Citizen Self Service Portal (virtual City Hall) and a Virtual Recreation Portal to help keep Lake Elsinore residents active during these stay at home orders. Please call or email us with your service requests and we will continue to do our best to meet your needs. Also, don’t forget to download the Alert LE Mobile App to report your concerns to be shared and tracked by your field teams.
As we face the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, the strength of our community is measured by many factors. One measure of how a community is doing during an emergency is crime statistics. For the first two months of this year, crime is down overall 8% and when we compare the most serious crimes from March of 2019 to March 2020, crime is down 22%. Also, please know the Fire Department continues to provide the highest quality service during this emergency. Finally, as we focus on the personal health of our community members, I also want to report that our Lake level is the highest it has been in years and with the coming rain next week, we are hoping to add more water to our most precious natural resource – the Lake.
We urge you to continue to adhere to the message of staying home while utilizing social distancing and wearing masks when you leave your home for essential services and activities. In closing, please take care of one another, be respectful, patient and kind, and stay connected with us for future updates.
Sincerely,
Grant Yates
City Manager