Darcy Burke, Canyon Lake’s director of water, told the council the city launched a voluntary Community Assistance Program on Jan. 1 to let residents donate to a set-aside fund that can offset water and wastewater bills for neighbors facing hardship.

Burke said the program is strictly voluntary, will not add fees to ratepayers and is intended for cases where households face sudden financial distress such as an unexpected death, job loss or unaffordable funeral expenses. ‘‘We have the rare program that is an ongoing program that helps those that have income eligible options…this is a way that we found legally that we could do that without setting up a whole another entity,’’ she said.

Burke also previewed substantial wastewater capital work coming to the region: staff will consider about $65 million in wastewater capital improvement projects, including additional trunk-line capacity on Mission Trail and funding for septic-to-sewer conversions. She said some work will use microtunneling techniques and that paving on the 74 will continue; grant funding opportunities will be used where available.

Burke invited residents to attend a free, fire‑proofing landscaping workshop on Feb. 5 hosted by the Elsinore Valley Water District and noted the water district’s website for registration.

Council members asked clarifying questions about program eligibility and cohort invitations for the water leadership program; Burke said eligibility for the assistance program may align with income-eligible utility programs and that separate trainings are being planned.