AGENDA
ITEM
10 OF CALENCO
AGENDA
CALEXICO California ITEM
WHERE CALIFORNIA AND MEXICO MEET
CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
DATE: December 6, 2023
TO: Mayor and City Council
APPROVED BY: Esperanza Colio Waren, City Manager Cum
PREPARED BY: Esperanza Colio Warren, City Manager
SUBJECT: Discussion/Action on Appointment of a Member to LAFCO Advisory Panel on County Wide Health Care District
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Recommendation
Appointment of a Member to LAFCO Advisory Panel on County Wide Health Care District.
Background:
The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) has been tasked to consider forming a county wide health care district. This process started with the filing of an application by the Pioneer's Memorial Health Care District.
Concurrently with that, an assembly bill sponsored by Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia (AB 918) was introduced to the state legislature and is now going through hearings. That bill also requires the formation of a county wide health care district. (LAFCO) is in the process of evaluating the formation of a County Wide Health Care District. At this time, they are asking for the City's support by nominating or appointing someone from your community (area to an "advisory" panel that will assist LAFCO staff in processing the project.
Discussion and Analysis:
LACO expects to receive public input on the formation of the panel. They hope the panel, which will represent the various areas of the county, to provide guidance, information, and public opinion to LAFCO staff. At the same time, they expect the panel to inform their respective councils and staff of the direction on progress as we go through the LAFCO process. The primary goal is to form one county wide health care district that would provide hospital and other medical services which could possibility unite the two current hospitals under one governance structure. Since ECRMC is not a special district LAFCO cannot mandate that ECRMC become part of this new district and can only offer or allow ECRMC to become a part on a voluntary basis.
Ultimately if LAFCO approves such a formation this matter will be subject to a vote as it may include an assessment, however, whether there will be an assessment has yet to be determined. As a consequence, LAFCO is currently, through an independent consultant, performing a financial/fiscal evaluation.
As noted above there are two concurrent/parallel actions in progress at this time. The one is the LAFCO process currently well on its way and the other is AB 918. AB 918 as currently written would automatically form the new district but would still require LAFCO to follow a process in the formation of this new district.
It is LAFCO's intent to collaborate with all stakeholders and interested parties in going through this process and obtain as much information as possible. Therefore, they are requesting the City's support by appointing a member of the community/area to this advisory panel.
Fiscal Impact:
None.
Coordinated With:
None.
Attachments):
1. Letter from LAFCO - June 12, 2023.
LACE
Executive Officer
LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION Jurg Heuberger, CEP
June 12, 2023
City of Calexico
Attn: Raul Urena, Mayor
608 Heber Avenue
Calexico, CA 92231
RE: Appointment to LAFCO advisory panel on County Wide Health Care District Dear Mayor Urena:
The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) is in the process of evaluating the formation of a County Wide Health Care District. At this time, we are asking your support by nominating or appointing someone from your community (area to an "advisory" panel that will assist LAFCO staff in processing the project.
It is expected that this panel will meet at least once and possibly twice per month for the next four to five months. The meetings will be held at the LAFCO offices in El Centro and will not be held virtually.
The Project:
LAFCO has been asked to consider forming a county wide health care district. This process started with the filing of an application by the Pioneer's Memorial Health Care District.
Concurrently with that an assembly bill sponsored by Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia (AB 918) was introduced to the state legislature and is now going through hearings. That bill also requires the formation of a county wide health care district.
So, to be clear the two actions are not in contradiction and are in fact attempting to meet the same objective and that is to create a county wide district to provide better health care services and opportunities for the Imperial Valley.
By way of background, we currently have two health care districts. We have the Pioneer's Memorial Health Care District which covers a substantial part of the northern part of the county.
We then also have the Heffernan Memorial Health Care District which covers an area along the international boundary with Mexico including Calexico. Pioneer's operates a Hospital while Heffernan does not.
In addition, we have the El Centro Regional Medical Center, which is a City owned hospital and not a Special District such as Pioneer or Heffernan. It is however another operational Hospital.
The intent of this action and AB 918 is to create a County Wide Health Care District. The goal of course is to provide medical and health care services that can survive the economic realities 1122 STATE STREET, SUITE D, EL CENTRO, CA 92243 (760)-353-4115 www.iclafco.com e-mail: [email protected] An equal opportunity employer of health care providers and to assure the residents of Imperial Valley to have a viable and affordable health care system.
Expectations of the Panel:
It is our desire to have public input on the formation of this county wide district. We hope to have this panel representing the various areas of the county to provide guidance, information, and public opinion to LAFCO staff. At the same time, we expect this panel to inform their respective councils and staff of the direction on progress as we go through the LAFCO process.
Target Goal:
The primary goal is to form one county wide health care district that would provide hospital and other medical services. That could possibility unite the two current hospitals under one governance structure. Since ECRMC is not a special district LAFCO cannot mandate that ECRMC become part of this new district and can only offer or allow ECRMC to become a part on a voluntary basis.
Ultimately if the Commission approves such a formation this matter will be subject to a vote as it may include an assessment. Whether there will be an assessment has yet to be determined. As a consequence, LAFCO is currently, through an independent consultant, performing a financial/fiscal evaluation.
As noted above there are two concurrent/parallel actions in progress at this time. The one is the LAFCO process currently well on its way and the other is AB 918. AB 918 as currently written would automatically form the new district but would still require LAFCO to follow a process in the formation of this new district.
It is the intent of the Commission to work with all stakeholders and interested parties in going through this process and to obtain as much information as possible.
We therefore ask for your support by appointing a member of your community/area to this advisory panel.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact Jurg Heuberger at [email protected] or Paula Graf at [email protected].
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Paula s
Jurg Heüberger Paula Graf
Executive Officer Assistant Executive Officer & Sr. Analyst