Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Recognition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council recognizes students and deputy, proclaims drowning-prevention season and Public Works Week
Summary
The council honored two Robinson Elementary students and an Orange County deputy, and issued proclamations declaring May–August as drowning-prevention season and May 18–24 as National Public Works Week; OCFA urged community water-safety steps and staff thanked longtime PV Maintenance partners.
The Rancho Santa Margarita City Council used its May 14 meeting to recognize local achievements and public-safety initiatives.
The council presented certificates of recognition to two Robinson Elementary students, Cameron Cortez and Solana Cuenca, for academic achievement and character. The school principal, Susie McMasters, praised the students for modeling respect, accountability and empathy.
The council also honored Deputy Brian Burtzlaff as the Orange County Sheriff’s Department 2024 Deputy of the Year, highlighting his role as a field-training officer, his more than 1,200 training hours mentoring new deputies, and his work on special enforcement and community-outreach teams.
Council issued a proclamation designating May through August as drowning prevention and awareness season and invited Orange County Fire Authority representatives to speak. The division chief emphasized three prevention measures — active adult supervision, barriers (including functioning pool fences) and swim/CPR classes — and cited local statistics: 89 total drownings in Orange County in 2024 with 45 fatalities, and 8 drownings (6 fatal) already recorded in 2025 as the summer season approaches. “Children drown without a sound,” the chief said, urging families to assign a watcher and take classes.
The council also proclaimed National Public Works Week (May 18–24), thanked PV Maintenance for 25 years of service as the city’s maintenance contractor and invited public works staff forward for recognition and photos.
These items were presented during the meeting’s recognition and proclamation portion; no formal council action was required.
