THE CITY COUNCIL/CALEXICO COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
SUCCESSOR AGENCY/CALEXICO FINANCING AUTHORITY MET IN REGULAR SESSION ON THE 6' DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2023 AT 5:30 PM AT THE FERNANDO "NENE" TORRES COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 608 HEBER AVENUE, CALEXICO, CALIFORNIA. THE DATE, HOUR AND PLACE DULY ESTABLISHED FOR THE HOLDING OF SAID MEETING.
CLOSED SESSION - 5:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Pro Tem Romo called the closed session portion of the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Mayor Pro Tem: Gloria Romo
Council Member: Camilo Garcia
Council Member: Gilberto Manzanarez
Council Member: Javier Moreno
ABSENT:
Mayor: Raul Ureña
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
The following person(s) provided comments) to the City Council: Luis Casillas.
ADJOURN TO CLOSE SESSION
City Council adjourn to closed session at 5:39 p.m. to discuss the following:
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) Vertical Bridge Development, LLC v.
City of Calexico, et al. USDC, Southern District of California, Case No. 3:21-cv-02097-L-DEB.
2. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency Representatives: Esperanza Colio Warren, City Manager, Carlos Campos, City Attorney, Employee Organizations: Calexico Fire Association, Certified Operators Association/SEIU Local 221, Calexico, Police Officers Association, Calexico Municipal Employee Association, Calexico Management Association, CPOA Dispatchers
3. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Title: City Attorney
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES PAGE 2 SEPTEMBER 6, 2023
The City Council reconvened from close session at 6:46 p.m.
CALEXICO CITY COUNCIL/CALEXICO REDEVELOPMENT
SUCCESOR AGENCY /CALEXICO FINANCE AUTHORITY
OPEN SESSION - 6:30 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ureña called the open session portion of the special meeting to order at 6:48 p.m.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Mayor: Raul Ureña
Mayor Pro Tem: Gloria Romo
Council Member: Camilo Garcia
Council Member: Gilberto Manzanarez
Council Member: Javier Moreno
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
A member from the public led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
MISSION STATEMENT PLEDGE
Mayor Ureña led those present in reciting the Mission Statement Pledge.
INVOCATION
Catholic Father Hilario led those present in prayer.
CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Attorney Carlos Campos reported there were no reportable actions.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
City Manager Colio Warren requested Item No.7 & Item No.8 to be pulled from the consent agenda. A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Romo to approve the consent agenda and was seconded by Council Member Moreno. The motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND PUBLIC APPEARANCES.
The following person(s) provided public comments) to the City Council: Blanca Morales, Elba Quezada, Luis Casillas, Jesus Solano, Oscar Pesqueira, Jesus Manuel Solano, Joseph Guilin, Jose Garcia, Jacob Rosales, Jordana Selwick, Javier Gonzalez, Christine Wong, Luis Castro, Diana CITY COUNCIL MINUTES PAGE | 3 SEPTEMBER 6, 2023
Nuricumbo, Robert Gronich, Patricia Ureña, Isabel Ureña, Jordana Selwick requested another minute, Maritza Hurtado, Gonzalo Gerardo, Diana Daniels, Andy Padulo and Ester Sevellano.
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED
Mayor Pro Tem Romo congratulated Mexico on their 213" Anniversary of Mexican Independence and welcomed the new catholic priest Carlos Rojas to Calexico and wished all students, teachers, and school staff an excellent beginning of the school year.
Council Member Manzanarez expressed that he is glad to see youth in the council meeting, and also considers that the fundamental problem in Calexico is the loss of staff ,Council Member Manzanarez mentioned that residents must know that in 2010 the City of Calexico had 268 employees working while El Centro had 250, in 2017 the city lost 124 employees, and the City of El Centro in that same year only lost 3 employees. Today, in 2023, the city has 172 employees, and El Centro has 270 employees. Council member Manzanarez stated that Public Works, Police and Fire Departments are the ones with the most losses. Council Member Manzanarez also stated that by creating revenue, we can replenish the 124 employees the city lost, which is 46% of the workforce.
Council Member Moreno stated that this will be the 3° time he has asked to reopen Rockwood Avenue in the downtown area, and he would like to put it on the next agenda.
Councilmember Garcia gave thanks to the Police Department traffic staff for managing the fire emergencies that the city had in the last couple of days. Council Member Garcia stated the city needs to develop a strategy to help businesses, and to make sure that we respond on time to businesses.
Mayor Ureña spoke both in English and Spanish about the inherited problems that are affecting the city today. Also, about the importance of having young people in the City Council meetings so they can be well informed. Mayor Ureña also made comments about funding for parks so they can be finished.
CONSENT AGENDA
Public comments were received by Maritza Hurtado.
Motion was made by Council Member Moreno, seconded by Council member Garcia and approve the consent agenda consisting of the following items: Warrants from June 17, 2023 to June 30, 2023 and City Salaries from June 17, 2023 to June 30, 2023; Warrants from July 1, 2023 to July 14, 2023 and City Salaries from July 1, 2023 to July 14, 2023; Warrants from July 15, 2023 to July 27, 2023 and City Salaries from July 15, 2023 to July 27, 2023; Adopt a Resolution by the City Council of the City of Calexico Authorizing the City Manager or Her Designee to Endorse the Master Agreement, Program Supplement Agreement, Fund Exchange Agreements, Fund Transfer Agreements and Any Amendments Entitled "Administering Agency - Federal and/or State Funded Project" for Project No. STPL-5168(035) - Cole Boulevard between M.L. King Avenue & Bowker Road; Approve a Resolution to Adopt and Ratify the Memorandum of Understanding (M.O.U.) CITY COUNCIL MINUTES PAGE 4 SEPTEMBER 6, 2023
between the City of Calexico and the Calexico Police Officers Association (C.P.O.A.) from the Term Beginning July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024; Authorize City Manager to Sign Notice of Completion for the Calexico International Airport Taxiway a Rehabilitation FAA AIP No. 3-06- 0034-018-2020; 3-06-0034-021-2021. The motion passed unanimously.
ITEM NO. 7. ADPOT A PROCLAMATION FOR LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UP MONTH. (LIBRARY MANAGER)
Proclamation read by Council Member Manzanarez. A motion was made by Council Member Garcia to approve the proclamation and was seconded by Council Member Manzanarez. The motion passed unanimously.
Council Member Moreno motioned to continue with the Council Meeting past 9:30 p.m. and was seconded by Council Member Garcia. The motion passed unanimously.
ITEM NO. 8. DISCUSSION AND POTENCIAL ACTION REGARDING
RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION FOR
THE ADOPTION OF UTILITY BOX ART PROJECT CYCLE II FORMS AND GUIDELINES. (RECREATION MANAGER).
Presentation by Norma Gerardo from Utility Box Project, and public comments were received by Rossana Pacheco and Patricia Ureña.
Motion was made by Council Member Garcia to approve with option number 2 and seconded by Council Member Moreno. The motion passed unanimously.
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTIONS
ITEM NO. 12. ADOPT A BUDGET AMENDMENT RESOLUTION FOR FUND NO. 255 - AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000 FOR PARK IMPROVEMENTS AT BORDER FRIENDSHIP PARK (GENARO "TECO" MONROY),
RODRIGUEZ BASEBALL FIELD AND COMMUNITY CENTER PARK (MAYOR PRO
TEM ROMO)
The following persons provided public comments to the City Council: Patricia Ureña, Hortencia Armendariz, Luis Castro, Christopher Palafox, Armando Real, Jesus Solano, Ismael Arvizu, Cristine Wong, Victoria Montes, David Vargas, and Carmen Estrada.
Council Member Moreno motioned to table Item No.12 and bring it back with a Comprehensive Plan and was seconded by Garcia. The motion failed with the following vote to wit:
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES PAGE | 5 SEPTEMBER 6, 2023
AYES: Garcia, Moreno
NOES: Ureña, Romo, Manzanarez
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Council Member Manzanarez motioned to approve Item 12 seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Romo, with tunds allocated as follows: $300,000 for Friendship Park, $154,000 for Rodriguez Baseball Field, $50,000 for Calexico Community Center, $20,000 for soccer goal post and nets. Motion passed by the following vote to wit:
AYES: Ureña, Romo, Manzanarez
NOES: Garcia, Moreno
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ITEM NO. 13. APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING:
A.- APPROVE ADRIAN C. CORDOVA MEMORIAL PARK ILLUSTRATIVE PLAN.
B.- APPROVE ADRIAN C. CORDOVA MEMORIAL PARK ILLUSTRATIVE PLAN -
PHASE I
C.- ADOPT A BUDGET AMENDMENT RESOLUTION FUND NO. 255- AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) IN THE AMOUNT OF $465,000 FOR ADRIAN C.
CORDOVA MEMORIAL PARK - PHASE I (PUBLIC WORKS MANAGER)
Presentation by Liliana Falomir, Public Works Manager.
The following person(s) provided public comments) to the City Council: Jesus Solano, Carmen Estrada, Christine Wong, and Patricia Ureña.
City Manager Colio addressed the need for a city engineer to be in charge of plans and designs of the parks.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Romo to approve Item 13, the motion was seconded by Council Member Manzanarez. The motion passed unanimously.
ITEM NO. 14. APPOINTMENT OF GENERAL COMMISSIONER TO THE HOUSING
AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF CALEXICO (INTERIM CITY CLERK)
No public comments. No comments or recommendations from Council Members or City Management.
A motion was made by Council Member Moreno to approve the Appointment of Ismael Lopez as General Commissioner to the City Housing Authority Board, motion was seconded by Council Member Garcia. The motion passed unanimously.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES PAGE | 6 SEPTEMBER 6, 2023
ITEM NO. 15 DISCUSSION/ACCION RATIFICATION OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS
RELEIF PROGRAM GUIDELINES, FUNDED WITH AMERICAN-RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA). (CITY MANAGER)
Explanation by City Manager Colio Warren gave a brief discussion regarding the application process, the number of applications received, and the applications received from county employees, Calexico Unified School District, Border Patrol, and other government agencies, which is a concern to her, due to the fact that those employees already received $7,000 in the past.
She is making a recommendation to exclude county employees and to make sure that when applicants submit proof of rent payments, the city verifies with bank statements that the money was deducted from a bank account.
The following person(s) provided public comments) to the City Council: Christine Wong, Hortencia Armendariz, Diana Nuricumbo, Jesus Solano, Jazmine Guilin Two items to change from the original program guidelines:
1.- Extend the date to receive applications to September 20th
2.- To exclude all non-governmental employees with the exception of C.U.S.D. and I.H.S.S.
A motion was made to approve by Mayor Ureña and seconded by Council Member Moreno. The motion passed by the following vote to wit:
AYES: Ureña, Romo, Manzanarez., Moreno
NOES: Garcia
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ITEM NO. 16. RECOMMEND AND APPROVE CANCELLATION OF REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR SEPTEMBER 20, 2023.
The following person(s) provided public comments) to the City Council: Diana Nuricumbo, Jesus Solano, and Christine Wong.
Motion was made by Mayor Ureña to approve the cancellation of the regularly scheduled City Council meeting for September 20, 2023, and seconded by Council Member Garcia. The motion passed by the following vote to wit:
AYES: Ureña, Romo, Garcia, Manzanarez
NOES: Moreno
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES PAGE 7 SEPTEMBER 6, 2023
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, a motion to adjourn the special meeting was made by Council Member Manzanarez and seconded by Council Member Garcia. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 12:27 a.m. on September 6, 2023.
Sal Cae
Raul Ureña, Mayor
ATTEST:
Veronia L. Alvarado, Interim City Clerk