Lake Elsinore council updates: motorsports park closure, homelessness outreach and ballot measure impacts

Councilmembers used their reports to cover multiple community matters, including a private closure of the motorsports park, homelessness outreach results, regional transit business and a discussion of state ballot measures.

Councilmember McGee reported that lake monitoring continues below advisory levels and water clarity is improving. On the motorsports park, McGee said the property owner — who is in escrow to sell the site — terminated the operator's lease and canceled the historic Lake Elsinore Grand Prix; he characterized the closures as private business decisions: "The closure of the park and the cancellation of the race were both private sector business decisions that did not involve city staff or the city council," McGee said, and he encouraged anyone interested in reviving the event to contact council or staff once the new owner is introduced.

Councilwoman Johnson gave a homeless task‑force update and described outreach results for October: "82 contacts made in our street outreach. Anchor made 92... We provided 6 referrals to mental health services, and street exits were 16," Johnson said, adding those numbers bring the year‑to‑date total to 159 people who accepted assistance. She praised the outreach team's persistence and noted partnerships (Anchor crisis stabilization, RSO support, CHP and Cal Fire) used for placements and for the annual Cops for Kids toy drive.

Councilmember Sheridan summarized RTA (regional transit) activity, including acceptance of the fiscal year 2024 audit at the highest level, a purchase order to Clever Devices for fleet operations software and upcoming Winterfest and trolley activities. Mayor Pro Tem Tisdale highlighted a Western Riverside COG zoning action for Bundy Canyon Road and described the city's one‑year Climate Action and Adaptation Plan development process, inviting public participation.

Mayor Manos discussed statewide conversations about replacing the gas tax with vehicle‑miles‑traveled charges, raised privacy and equity questions about implementation, and announced Winterfest on Dec. 7. He also discussed Proposition 36, saying the measure will allow cities to be more aggressive on certain theft and open‑drug offenses and could expand use of drug courts and potential jail time for repeat offenders.

The council did not take additional formal policy actions during these oral reports; members encouraged community engagement and said staff would follow up on ongoing matters.