REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
To:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From:Jason Simpson, City Manager
Prepared by:Rick De Santiago, Public Works Manager
Date:December 9, 2025
Subject:Resolution Requesting a Grant from the California State Parks Department of Boating and Waterways to Install Three Floating Restrooms
Recommendation
Adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE,
CALIFORNIA, IN SUPPORT OF A GRANT FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
DEPARTMENT OF BOATING AND WATERWAYS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THREE FLOATING RESTROOMS BY THE CITY AT LAKE ELSINORE.
Background
Lake Elsinore is located on the southwest side of the City of Lake Elsinore, with a population of 72,472 in Riverside County. It is Southern California's largest natural freshwater lake, with 3,000 surface acres and over 14 miles of shoreline. The Lake accommodates a variety of recreational activities, including fishing, boating, jet skiing, water skiing, wakeboarding, kayaking, paddleboarding, windsurfing, bird watching, and swimming. Public amenities include beaches with picnic and shade features, easy-access parking, and a four-mile levee for hiking and nature watching. Although the Lake has numerous private boat launches, the city owns and operates a public boat launch at the Launch Pointe Recreation Destination and RV Resort (Launch Pointe).
A population of over 1.5 million is within a 30-minute drive of the Lake, and the city sells approximately 10,000 lake-use passes per year (on average) for motorized vessels.
Discussion
The City of Lake Elsinore, Department of Public Works, requests three (3) floating restrooms from the California State Parks – Division of Boating and Waterways Grant Program for the Lake Elsinore recreational area. The Lake has two existing restrooms, which were installed in 2013 and paid for by the Floating Restroom Grant. Due to their age and condition from cumulative wear and tear, neither restroom is functioning as needed, and both restrooms are minimally functional.
Floating Restrooms
For the past few years, the city has been taking parts from one of the restrooms to extend the life of both restrooms and keep them functional. Both restrooms are heavily vandalized and are past their useful life (11 years old). Due to their age, parts are no longer readily available.
Lake Elsinore is one of Southern California's fastest-growing cities. Between 2000 and 2023, the population grew by 144% (Nielsburg Insights). The average growth rate for the last ten years has been approximately 2.45% yearly. In response to population growth and increased demand for recreational opportunities, the city has invested heavily in developing numerous amenities at the Lake over the past decade. Population growth and the draw of these amenities have strained the existing floating restrooms. As such, the city aims to replace both existing restrooms and add a third to accommodate the growing demand and use of the Lake by residents and local and regional visitors. A grant award from the Department of Boating and Waterways will allow the city to install three fully functioning floating restrooms at this heavily trafficked and popular Lake.
Fiscal Impact
If awarded, the City will receive a floating restroom from the California State Parks Department of Boating and Waterways at no cost.
Attachments
Attachment 1- Resolution
Public Works