AGENDA
ITEM
8 CITY COUNCIL
CALEXICO
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
DATE: May 17, 2023
TO: Mayor and City Council
PREPARED BY: Gilberto Manzanarez, Council Member
SUBJECT: Approval of Letter to the Imperial County Board of Supervisors Requesting Key Considerations for the Development of a Framework for Lithium Tax Revenue
Recommendation
Approval of Letter to the Imperial County Board of Supervisors Requesting Key Considerations for the Development of a Framework for Lithium Tax Revenue.
Background:
In our supermajority Latino County, low-income and other marginalized visions and voices are continuing to lack representation in the priorities of County leadership. For most of Imperial County's history, wealthy landowners reigned over County level politics to defend interests adjacent to agriculture and other industries leaving out the voices of the farm and industrial workers who make those very industries possible. Deep inequalities have hindered political representation for most of Imperial County's history. While some recent changes in County level administration reflect progress, structures of representation have not healed from its grim history. As such, priorities driven by community needs due to existing inequities must be included in any future iterations of the lithium tax revenue framework.
The reality is evident over the discussions with stakeholders over the past two years where concerns about existing environmental injustices like the Salton Sea, New River, air quality, and the importance of project labor agreements to support local sustainable jobs with high- quality labor practices, among other issue areas that must be prioritized in the lithium tax framework.
AGENDA
Discussion and Analysis: ITEM
On behalf of our constituents, there is a need to request that the Board of Supervisors enact a transparent decision-making process for lithium tax allocations and that priorities are responsive to the existing community concerns that have resulted from the deep inequalities that have hindered political representation for most of Imperial County's history and to ensure the interests of our constituents are considered throughout lithium development.
The attached letter points out the key considerations for the development of a framework for the lithium tax revenue as established by SB 125. As a city in support of SB 797, in support of state intervention to tacilitate oversight over potential revenue of the Extraction Lithium Tax, we support spending priorities that address existing and structural disparities identified by the residents of Imperial County. Some known priorities that have been voiced throughout the years are in the areas of higher education, affordable housing, workforce development, among others.
Fiscal Impact:
None.
Coordinated With:
City Manager.
Attachments):
1. Draft Letter to Imperial County Board of Supervisors. 2 CAL
City of Calexico
COUNT 608 HEBER AVENUE CALEXICO, CA 92231 (760) 768-2110 May 3, 2023
Ryan E. Kelley, Chairman of the Board
Imperial County Board of Supervisors
940 Main Street, Suite 208
El Centro, CA 92243
Re: County of Imperial Lithium Tax Revenue
Honorable Chairman Kelley,
On behalf of the City of Calexico, the border city of Imperial County, I write to communicate key considerations for the development of a framework for the lithium tax revenue as established by SB 125. As a city in support of SB 797, in support of state intervention to facilitate oversight over potential revenue of the Extraction Lithium Tax, we support spending priorities that address existing and structural disparities identified by the residents of Imperial County. Some known priorities that have been voiced throughout the years are in the areas of higher education, affordable housing, workforce development, among others.
In our supermajority Latino County, low-income and other marginalized visions and voices are continuing to lack representation in the priorities of County leadership. For most of Imperial County's history, wealthy landowners reigned over County level politics to defend interests adjacent to agriculture and other industries leaving out the voices of the farm and industrial workers who make those very industries possible. Deep inequalities have hindered political representation for most of Imperial County's history. While some recent changes in County level administration reflect progress, structures of representation have not healed from its grim history.
As such, priorities driven by community needs due to existing inequities must be included in any future iterations of the lithium tax revenue framework.
The reality is evident over the discussions with stakeholders over the past two years where concerns about existing environmental injustices like the Salton Sea, New River, air quality, and the importance of project labor agreements to support local sustainable jobs with high-quality labor practices, among other issue areas that must be prioritized in the lithium tax framework.
On behalf of my constituents, I ask this Board to enact a transparent decision-making process for lithium tax allocations and that priorities are responsive to the existing community concerns that have resulted from the deep inequalities that have hindered political representation for most of Imperial County's history. We look forward to the County's continued engagement with the City of Calexico to ensure the interests of our constituents are considered throughout lithium development.
Sincerely,
CITY OF CALEXICO
Raul Ureña
Mayor
CC: Gloria Romo, Mayor Pro Tem
Camilo Garcia, Council Member
Gilberto Manzanarez, Council Member
Javier Moreno, Council Member
Esperanza Colio Warren, City Manager