Lake Elsinore council affirms local emergency after "airport fire"

The Lake Elsinore City Council unanimously confirmed a city manager proclamation of a local emergency on Thursday, Sept. 12, after a wildfire that began Sept. 9 near Tributo Canyon and has been called the "airport fire." City Clerk Alvarez read the staff report and the text of a written county communication into the record before the council voted.

The staff report said the fire began Sept. 9 in the vicinity of Tributo Canyon and that the city manager declared a local emergency on Sept. 10. "So as you all know, on September 9, a fire broke out in the vicinity of Tributo Canyon, and has been since named the airport fire," City Clerk Alvarez said. The report noted city municipal code requires the council to confirm a local emergency within seven days to keep the proclamation in effect.

The confirmation allows the city to maintain the emergency proclamation and the administrative authority that flows from it while response and recovery continue. City Clerk Alvarez also read a brief written communication from Riverside County Supervisor Karen Speegle, who wrote that she had toured the fire area with the county fire chief and "wants to thank everybody for their great, community cooperation during this challenging time." The communication was entered into the record by the clerk.

Councilmember Johnson moved to confirm the proclamation; Mayor Pro Tem Tisdale seconded the motion, and the council voted unanimously to approve it. Mayor Manos said the council would recess into closed session afterward to consider a separate legal matter.

The meeting went into closed session to consider one potential case of anticipated litigation under Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2) tied to a letter alleging Brown Act violations. After the closed session, City Attorney Leobold reported: "There's no reportable action this evening and that concludes my report."

Votes at a glance

- Successor agency consent calendar (two items): motion to approve moved by Councilmember Johnson, seconded by Councilmember Sheridan; motion passed unanimously. - Confirmation of city manager's proclamation of a local emergency related to the airport fire: motion to confirm moved by Councilmember Johnson, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Tisdale; motion passed unanimously.

The council announced its next regular meeting for Sept. 24, 2024, and adjourned the special meeting at about 5:30 p.m.