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Lake Elsinore council approves consent items, welcomes new battalion chief; updates on I-15 design RFQ and community programs
Summary
At a brief Lake Elsinore City Council meeting, members unanimously approved the consent calendars, reported no reportable closed-session action, introduced a new battalion chief for Battalion 2, and shared regional and local updates including an RFQ for I-15 design work and several community events.
Lake Elsinore City Council members unanimously approved the city and successor agency consent calendars and welcomed a new battalion chief during a brief meeting where most business was handled on consent.
The council heard a closed-session report that it had met earlier to discuss a public employee performance evaluation and labor negotiations under California Government Code sections 54957(b) and 54957.6; the city attorney reported there was no reportable action. Council approval of the 13-item city consent calendar passed on a 5-0 vote after a motion by Councilmember Manos and a second by Mayor Pro Tem McGee. The successor agency consent calendar likewise passed 5-0 on a motion by agency member Johnson and a second by Chair McGee.
Those procedural items completed, the council received a personnel introduction: Dustin Reed, southwest division chief for the regional fire authority, introduced the new battalion chief for Battalion 2, who comes from Temecula and has roughly 10 years' experience as a captain and substantial wildland experience. "We're very fortunate to have him," Reed said. The new battalion chief said, "I just wanna say, excited to be here. Looking forward to work here and be a part of the city."
Mayor Pro Tem McGee and other council members used their reports to relay regional updates. McGee said Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration approved a request that allowed staff to issue a request for qualifications to begin design work for additional lanes on Interstate 15 between Lake Elsinore and Corona; staff issued the RFQ the following Monday. McGee called the RFQ a first step in a long process to add lanes along the corridor.
Councilmembers also shared local announcements: Riverside University Health System will hold a free vaccine clinic Friday, March 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lake Elsinore Senior Activity Center (420 East Lakeshore Drive), with walk-ins welcome. The Ophelia Theatre Group is running an "acting gym" every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Senior Activity Center; organizers plan to promote the class on the city website. Councilwoman Johnson urged eligible high school students to apply for the Carl Graves Scholarship, an endowed four-year award with annual amounts ranging roughly from $4,000 to $6,000; the application deadline was listed as April 9.
Councilmember Sheridan said Regional Transit Authority meetings were upcoming and noted a pair of Sports Car Club of America events at Storm Stadium across two weekends, including a "Test and Tune" day and point races. Councilmember Manos reported on the Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency (RCHCA), noting the Stephens' kangaroo rat has been downlisted from endangered to threatened and that no reportable impacts to Lake Elsinore were identified.
On local infrastructure, the mayor reported that most Main Street lanes are open following a Feb. 22 slurry seal and that remaining crosswalks were expected to reopen in March; Decker developments will be added later. The mayor also thanked Riverside County Supervisor Spiegel and Congressman Ken Calvert for recent coordination and federal assistance on city projects.
The council had no public comments during the meeting and indicated the agenda was light, with no public hearings or major business items on the calendar. With routine items completed and introductory remarks finished, the council adjourned after council comments.
