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Canyon Lake council votes to pursue creation of municipal police department, authorizes consultant work
Summary
The Canyon Lake City Council voted unanimously to direct staff to notify Riverside County of the city’s intent to establish a municipal police department and to authorize up to $200,000 for consulting work to plan a transition from the county contract by Aug. 31, 2026.
The Canyon Lake City Council on a 5-0 vote Monday directed the city manager to notify Riverside County of the city’s intent to form a municipal police department and authorized up to $200,000 for consulting and planning work toward that goal.
The council’s resolution (No. 2025-1515) directs staff to pursue a cooperative agreement with Riverside County, begin negotiations for transition logistics, and notify the county of the intent to discontinue the current law-enforcement contract with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office if the city proceeds. The council set an internal planning target of Aug. 31, 2026, as the date to complete the transition if feasible.
Why it matters: Council members said the move responds to rising contract costs and a desire for local control and more tailored law enforcement for the gated city. Mayor Pro Tem Casey Castillo, who co-chairs the city’s Public Safety ad hoc subcommittee, said the city must examine “what we are getting for the amount that we pay.” Council member Jeremy Smith said the decision begins a process, not an immediate break with the county.
City staff and the subcommittee presented a range of reasons the city could consider a municipal department: the ability to prioritize local issues (for example, e-bikes and golf-cart crossings), the option to assign dedicated personnel inside the gates, and potential cost control. Castillo said the city could take advantage of the PARS retirement option to recruit experienced, recently retired officers who might be willing to serve part time or semi-retired, which she said could improve experience levels without matching larger regional pay scales.
Staff offered preliminary fiscal context during the presentation. A consultant summary cited in the presentation estimated potential operational savings on the order of about $90,000 per year after an initial startup cost “around $1,000,000,” though council members repeatedly noted those figures are preliminary and will require detailed feasibility work.
Council members stressed the limits of local authority and the continuing role of county and regional mutual-aid resources. City Manager Aaron (first name used in meeting) and the city attorney confirmed that specialized investigations, force-investigation detail and high‑level mutual-aid responses would remain available through county or regional arrangements (the council was told this is typically handled through established county and interagency protocols). The city attorney also advised the council the process and required notices are governed by the Brown Act and existing contract deadlines with the county.
During public outreach leading into the vote, residents and community groups raised both support and concerns. Supporters emphasized closer community policing and familiarity with local issues; skeptics and some speakers warned of underestimating startup costs, staffing challenges and unanticipated liabilities. The council’s action authorizes the manager to negotiate consultant services and proceed only after further, specific feasibility work.
What the vote did: The motion adopted the staff recommendation and authorizes the city manager to negotiate and enter into a professional consulting agreement not to exceed $200,000 to advise on establishing a municipal police department. The roll-call vote was recorded as Mayor (presiding): aye; Mayor Pro Tem Casey Castillo: aye; Councilmember Jeremy Smith: aye; Councilmember Steber: aye; Councilmember Welty: aye.
Next steps: City staff will hire consulting help, collect more detailed cost estimates, and return to council with periodic updates. Council members said the process will include public forums and additional reporting and that the city could stop the project if a later phase reveals an insurmountable legal, operational or fiscal barrier.
Ending: The council and staff framed Monday’s action as a formal start to planning rather than a final decision to end the county contract; council members repeatedly emphasized the timeline and budget numbers are subject to revision as the consultant work and follow-up analysis proceed.
