City Council Meeting
SPECIAL MEETING - 092926.PDF
Special City Council Meeting Agenda
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA PACKET - 092926.PDF
1. Documents:
1.I.
Documents:
COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
Tim Hepburn, Mayor
Wendy Lau, Council Member
Steven Frank Johnson, Council Member
Rick Crosby, Council Member
Meshal "Kash" Kashifalghita, Mayor Pro Tem
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Special Meeting at 6:00 PM
La Verne Community Center
3680 D Street, La Verne, CA 91750
In compliance with the American Disabilities Act, any person with a disability who requires a modification or accommodation to participate in a meeting should contact the City Clerk’s Office at (909) 596-8726 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Regular Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month.
Individuals can email their comments to the City Clerk's Office at [email protected] up to noon on the day of the meeting. Those comments will be shared with City Council in advance of the City Council meeting and included as part of the permanent record. Please be advised that public comments submitted by emails or any other format to the City are public records that will be made available for public viewing.
Individuals who wish to share their comments with Council during the meeting may do so in a variety of ways:
• Attend the City Council Meeting in person and fill out a comment card or raise your hand to request to comment on the current agenda item(s).
• Participate via Zoom, by visiting www.LaVerneCA.gov/zoom where you will be automatically redirected to the meeting or call into the meeting via phone 1-669-900-6833 and enter ID 863 9472 4114 when prompted. Public comments via Zoom may be accepted for all items on the City Council meeting agenda. Zoom participants who violate decorum protocols will be called to order by the presiding officer and if a violation continues, will be muted by direction of the presiding officer. • Once items are considered by the City Council, no further public comment on that matter will be accepted. A time limit of 3-minutes is set for all public comments, unless otherwise determined by the presiding officer.
Council Meeting Decorum: Per the City’s Rules for Decorum, all Speakers and Members of the Audience are to conduct themselves with decorum and not engage in willful conduct which interrupts the meeting or with the orderly conduct of the meeting.
Online Service Disruption: In the event there is a service disruption that prevents remote access to the meeting, the City shall recess open session to restore service. The City Council meeting may only reconvene open session after service is restored or, following an hour of attempting to restore service, the City Council identifies by roll-call vote that the continuation of the meeting outweighs the need for remote access.
CALL TO ORDER
AGENDA City Council 9/29/2026 Page 2
ROLL CALL Council Member Steven F. Johnson, Council Member Wendy Lau, Council Member Rick Crosby, Mayor Pro Tem Meshal “Kash” Kashifalghita, and Mayor Tim Hepburn.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ACTION ITEMS
1. Resolution Ratifying Proclamation No. 26-01 Declaring the Existence of a Local Emergency. On September 25, 2026, the City Manager issued a proclamation for a local emergency based on the existence of conditions of disaster at the Wheeler/Metropolitan Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Fire Incident. Per La Verne Municipal Code Section 2.56.050 A.1., the City Council shall take action to ratify the proclamation within seven days thereafter or the proclamation shall have no further force or effect.
2. Update on Wheeler/Metropolitan Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Fire Incident. On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the Metropolitan Water District's (MWD) Weymouth Treatment Facility failed, resulting in a lithium battery fire and prolonged emergency incident. This presentation will serve as an update on the incident based on the latest information from the La Verne Fire Department, Police Department, and regional partners responding to the incident.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
ADJOURNMENT
Posting Statement: A true copy of this Agenda was posted on September 28, 2026, on the bulletin board at La Verne City Hall, 3660 D Street, La Verne, and on the City’s website at www.LaVerneCA.gov.
COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
Tim Hepburn, Mayor
Wendy Lau, Council Member
Steven Frank Johnson, Council Member
Rick Crosby, Council Member
Meshal "Kash" Kashifalghita, Mayor Pro Tem
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Special Meeting at 6:00 PM
La Verne Community Center
3680 D Street, La Verne, CA 91750
In compliance with the American Disabilities Act, any person with a disability who requires a modification or accommodation to participate in a meeting should contact the City Clerk’s Office at (909) 596-8726 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Regular Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month.
Individuals can email their comments to the City Clerk's Office at [email protected] up to noon on the day of the meeting. Those comments will be shared with City Council in advance of the City Council meeting and included as part of the permanent record. Please be advised that public comments submitted by emails or any other format to the City are public records that will be made available for public viewing.
Individuals who wish to share their comments with Council during the meeting may do so in a variety of ways:
• Attend the City Council Meeting in person and fill out a comment card or raise your hand to request to comment on the current agenda item(s).
• Participate via Zoom, by visiting www.LaVerneCA.gov/zoom where you will be automatically redirected to the meeting or call into the meeting via phone 1-669-900-6833 and enter ID 863 9472 4114 when prompted. Public comments via Zoom may be accepted for all items on the City Council meeting agenda. Zoom participants who violate decorum protocols will be called to order by the presiding officer and if a violation continues, will be muted by direction of the presiding officer. • Once items are considered by the City Council, no further public comment on that matter will be accepted. A time limit of 3-minutes is set for all public comments, unless otherwise determined by the presiding officer.
Council Meeting Decorum: Per the City’s Rules for Decorum, all Speakers and Members of the Audience are to conduct themselves with decorum and not engage in willful conduct which interrupts the meeting or with the orderly conduct of the meeting.
Online Service Disruption: In the event there is a service disruption that prevents remote access to the meeting, the City shall recess open session to restore service. The City Council meeting may only reconvene open session after service is restored or, following an hour of attempting to restore service, the City Council identifies by roll-call vote that the continuation of the meeting outweighs the need for remote access.
CALL TO ORDER
AGENDA City Council 9/29/2026 Page 2
ROLL CALL Council Member Steven F. Johnson, Council Member Wendy Lau, Council Member Rick Crosby, Mayor Pro Tem Meshal “Kash” Kashifalghita, and Mayor Tim Hepburn.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ACTION ITEMS
1. Resolution Ratifying Proclamation No. 26-01 Declaring the Existence of a Local Emergency. On September 25, 2026, the City Manager issued a proclamation for a local emergency based on the existence of conditions of disaster at the Wheeler/Metropolitan Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Fire Incident. Per La Verne Municipal Code Section 2.56.050 A.1., the City Council shall take action to ratify the proclamation within seven days thereafter or the proclamation shall have no further force or effect.
2. Update on Wheeler/Metropolitan Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Fire Incident. On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the Metropolitan Water District's (MWD) Weymouth Treatment Facility failed, resulting in a lithium battery fire and prolonged emergency incident. This presentation will serve as an update on the incident based on the latest information from the La Verne Fire Department, Police Department, and regional partners responding to the incident.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
ADJOURNMENT
Posting Statement: A true copy of this Agenda was posted on September 28, 2026, on the bulletin board at La Verne City Hall, 3660 D Street, La Verne, and on the City’s website at www.LaVerneCA.gov.
City of La Verne,City Council
Agenda Report
DATE: September 29, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Ken Domer, City Manager
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION RATIFYING PROCLAMATION NO. 26-01 DECLARING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY.
SUMMARY
On September 25, 2026, the City Manager issued proclamation for a local emergency based on the existence of conditions of disaster by the Wheeler/Metropolitan Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Fire Incident. Per La Verne Municipal Code Section 2.56.050 A.1., the City Council shall take action to ratify the proclamation within seven days thereafter or the proclamation shall have no further force or effect.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council adopt a Resolution entitled, "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE, CALIFORNIA, RATIFYING PROCLAMATION NO. 26-01 DECLARING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY."
DISCUSSION
The Wheeler/Metropolitan Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Fire Incident started on September 22, 2026, at approximately 11:40 am at the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) Weymouth Filtration Facility. The La Verne Fire Department and County of Los Angeles Fire Department and Health/Hazardous Materials quickly formed a joint incident command system along with MWD. The City Manager, under his authority from La Verne Municipal Code section
2.56.050, and acting as the Director of Emergency Services, declared the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency on September 25, 2026.
The City Council is required to review and ratify this proclamation within 7 days as required by state law, and if ratified, shall continue to exist until the City Council proclaims the termination of this local emergency. The City Council shall review the need for continuing the local emergency as required by state law until it terminates the local emergency and shall terminate the local emergency at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant.
The attached Resolution ratifies this proclamation.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Ratifying the Proclamation of a Local Emergency will allow the City to better assist local businesses and residents with potential claims as a result of this incident.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
Not applicable.
Resolution Ratifying Proclamation No. 26-01 Declaring the Existence of a Local Emergency., Page 2
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved of this report.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution Ratifying Declaration of Local Emergency.9.29
2. Proclamation No. 2026-01
Coordinated with:
Kimberly Hall Barlow, City Attorney
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-__
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE, CALIFORNIA, RATIFYING PROCLAMATION NO. 2026-01 DECLARING THE EXISTENCE OF A
LOCAL EMERGENCY
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, La Verne Municipal Code section 2.56.050 empowers the City Manager, as the Director of Emergency Services, to declare the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency when the City is affected or likely to be affected by a public calamity; and
WHEREAS, Government Code section 8550, et seq., including section 8558(c), authorize the City Council to proclaim a local emergency when the City is threatened by conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the City that are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City; and
WHEREAS, WHEREAS, on September 22, 2026 at approximately 11:40 a.m., a fire incident occurred at the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) property located at 3201 Wheeler Avenue, La Verne, California, in the lithium ion Battery Energy Storage System (BESS); and
WHEREAS, due to the difficulty of suppressing this type of fire and the potential for release of toxic materials, mandatory evacuation orders and heightened emergency response were required; and
WHEREAS, Grace Miller Elementary School was required to cancel classes for the duration of the emergency, impacting the Bonita Unified School District, residents and area businesses; and
WHEREAS, approximately 500 residences were under emergency evacuation orders due to their proximity to the fire incident; and WHEREAS, approximately 28 businesses were closed or affected by the fire incident and the mandatory evacuations; and
WHEREAS, City employees are mandated Disaster Service Workers and the fire incident necessitated diversion of city employees to provide emergency services relating to suppression of the fire, prevention of further fire, road closures, evacuations and provision of emergency shelter and other resident services and WHEREAS, addressing the fire and associated evacuations and closures were, or were likely to be, beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City of La Verne; and required the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat; and
WHEREAS, there was an imminent threat to the City of La Verne which could have lead to extreme peril to life and property in the City of La Verne; and WHEREAS, the mobilization of local resources, ability to coordinate interagency response, accelerate procurement of vital supplies, use mutual aid, and allow for future reimbursement by the state and federal governments was critical to successfully respond to the fire incident; and
WHEREAS, on September 25, 2026, the City Manager, as the City’s Director of Emergency Services, declared a local emergency as authorized by Government Code section 8630 and La Verne Municipal Code section 2.56.050. A true and correct copy of Proclamation No. 2026-01 is attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference; and
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED by the City Council of the City of La Verne as follows:
A. The City Manager’s Proclamation of Local Emergency No. 2026-01 dated September 25, 2026, is hereby ratified.
B. As contemplated in the Emergency Services Act contained in Government Code section 8550, et seq., including section 8558(c), and Chapter 2.56 of Title 2 of the La Verne Municipal Code, a local emergency commenced on September 22, 2026 at 11:40 a.m. creating conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property caused by the lithium ion battery fire at MWD property, as detailed in the recitals set forth above.
C. The area of the City which is endangered/imperiled is the greater extent of those portions of the City requiring evacuation.
D. During the existence of this local emergency, the powers, functions, and duties of the emergency organization of this City were those prescribed by state law and by ordinances, resolutions, and orders of this City, including but not limited to the City of La Verne Multi-Hazard Functional Emergency Plan.
E. This local emergency continues to exist until the City Council proclaims the termination of this local emergency.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 29th day of September, 2026.
_______________________________
Tim Hepburn, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________ _____________________________ Debra Fritz, Deputy City Clerk Kimberly Hall Barlow, City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss
CITY OF LA VERNE )
I, DEBRA FRITZ, Deputy City Clerk of the City of La Verne, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the above and foregoing is the original of Resolution No. 2026-__ and was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of La Verne at an special meeting held on the 29th day of September, 2026, by the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereby set my hand and affixed the seal of the City of La Verne this ____ day of _______________, 2026. _______________________________
DEBRA FRITZ, DEPUTY CITY CLERK (SEAL)
PROCLAMATION NO. 2026-01
A PROCLAMATION BY THE CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE,
CALIFORNIA, ACTING AS THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES,
DECLARING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, La Verne Municipal Code section 2.56.050 empowers the City Manager, acting as the Director of Emergency Services, to declare the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency when the City is affected or likely to be affected by a public calamity; and
WHEREAS, Government Code section 8550, et seq., including section 8558(c), authorize the City Manager to proclaim a local emergency when the City is threatened by conditions ofdisaster or extreme perilto the safety of persons and property within the City that are likely to be beyond the controlofthe services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City; and
WHEREAS, on September 22, 2026 at approximately l1:40 a.m., a fire incident occurred at the Metropolitan Water Dislrict property located at 320'l \Meeler Avenue, La Verne, California, in the lithium ion Battery Energy Storage System (BESS); and WHEREAS, due to the difficulty of suppressing this type of fire and the potential for release of toxic materials, mandatory evacuation orders and heightened emergency response are required; and
WHEREAS, due to the incident, over 500 residences and 28 businesses were subject to mandatory evacuation orders, with the businesses being forced to shut their doors, send employees home, and suffer losses from inventory and sales; and WHEREAS, during the entire evacuation time, over an abundance of caution one elementary school was closed for three days reducing the educational opportunity and requiring parents to miss work or otherwise arrange for childcare services; and WHEREAS, City employees are mandated Disaster Service Workers and the fire incident necessitated diversion of city employees to provide emergency services relating to suppression of the fire, prevention of further fire, road closures, evacuations and provision of emergency shelter and other resident services and WHEREAS, addressing the fire and associated evacuations and closures are, or are likely to be, beyond the control ofthe services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of Proclamation No. 2026-01 Page 1 of 3
the City of La Verne; and require the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat; and
WHEREAS, the City of La Verne has the power to impose measures to address incidents which threaten the health and safety of residents and the property of residents and business owners; and
WHEREAS, the mobilization of local resources, ability to coordinate interagency response, accelerate procurement of vital supplies, use mutual aid, and allow for future reimbursement by the state and federal governments will be critical to successfully responding to the fire incident; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager, as the City's Director of Emergency Services, has the power to declare a local emergency as authorized by Government Code section 8630 and La Verne Municipal Code section 2.56.050.
NOW, THEREFORE, lT lS PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED by the City Manager of the City of La Verne as follows:
A. As contemplated in the Emergency Services Act contained in Government Code section 8550, et seq., including section 8558(c), and Chapter 2.56 of Title 2 of the La Verne Municipal Code, a local emergency exists based on the existence of conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property caused by a lithium ion battery fire, as detailed in the recitals set forth above, and has existed since September 22,2026 at 11:40 a.m. a. During the existence of this local emergency, the powers, functions, and duties of the emergency organization of this City shall be those prescribed by state law and by ordinances, resolutions, and orders of this City, including but not limited to the City of La Verne Multi-Hazard Functional Emergency Plan.
c. The City Council shall review and ratify this proclamation within 7 days as required by state law, and if ratified, shall continue to exist until the City Council proclaims the termination of this local emergency. The City Council shall review the need for continuing the local emergency as required by state law until it terminates the local emergency and shall terminate the local emergency at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant.
Proclamation No. 2026-01 Page 2 of 3
PROCLAIMED this 25th day of September,2O26.
n neth Domer, City Manager all rlow, City Attorney
ATTEST:
Debra Fritz, Deputy Clerk
Proclamation No. 2026-01 Page 3 of 3
City of La Verne,City Council
Agenda Report
DATE: September 29, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Ken Domer, City Manager
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON WHEELER/METROPOLITAN BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (BESS) FIRE INCIDENT.
SUMMARY
On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the Metropolitan Water District's (MWD) Weymouth Treatment Facility failed, resulting in a lithium battery fire and prolonged emergency incident. All evacuation orders for this incident were lifted as of Friday, September 25, 2026, at 8 am with the Fire Department and lithium battery experts having successfully reduced the threat posed by this incident.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council hear from responders, residents, and businesses regarding the incident.
DISCUSSION
The Wheeler/Metropolitan Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Fire Incident, or BESS Fire Incident, while not concluded, entered a new phase at 6 AM on Friday, September 25, 2026, with the lifting of evacuation orders for over 500 residences and approximately 30 businesses along Foothill Boulevard. The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing and expected to be a lengthy and thorough process, but at this time the City would like to provide an update to the Community with the opportunity to hear from members of our community regarding this event.
The City, through its Fire Department, will update and inform the community on the operational details of the incident with participation from external partners to provide as much information as available on environmental concerns. Additionally, participation from Metropolitan Water District staff will provide information on the solar and BESS system as well as communtiy and business assistance arising from the incident.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Not applicable.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
Not applicable.
LEGAL REVIEW
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Update on Wheeler/Metropolitan Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Fire Incident., Page 2 None