THE CITY COUNCIL/CALEXICO COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY SUCCESSOR AGENCY/CALEXICO FINANCING AUTHORITY MET IN REGULAR SESSION ON THE 19TH DAY OF MARCH 2025 AT 5:30 P.M. 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 PM
CALL TO ORDER
City Council did not participate in closed session.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
No public comment received.
ADJOURN TO CLOSE SESSION
1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency Representatives: Rick Daniels, Interim City Manager, Carlos Campos, City Attorney Employee Organizations: Certified Operators Association/SEIU Local 221
CALEXICO CITY COUNCIL/CALEXICO REDEVELOPMENT
SUCCESOR AGENCY /CALEXICO FINANCE AUTHORITY
OPEN SESSION - 6:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Nuricumbo called the open session portion of the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Mayor: Diana Nuricumbo
Mayor Pro Tem: Victor Legaspi
Council Member: Lisa Tylenda
Council Member: Adriana Marquez
Council Member: Lorenzo Calderon
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
MISSION STATEMENT
Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi led those present in the Mission Statement.
INVOCATION
Pastor Cecena led those present in prayer.
CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Attorney Carlos Campos reported council did not partake in closed session.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
City Attorney Campos stated that staff's recommendation was to remove Item No. 8 and bring back at a future date.
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Motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi, seconded by Council Member Calderon to approve the agenda and remove Item No. 8 and bring back at a future meeting. Motion passed unanimously.
PRESENTATIONS
4. Recognition: Juan Contreras, Acting City Manager.
Mayor Nuricumbo presented a plaque to former Acting City Manager Juan Contreras.
5. Recognition: CPAA - Calexico Dynamo - Calexico Earthquakes - Calexico Soccer - SoCal Boys Team - SoCal Girls Team 11yr-12yr.
Mayor Nuricumbo presented recognition certificates to the soccer teams. CPAA presented recognition plaques to Park Supervisor Jose Saldana and Acting City Manager Juan Contreras.
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND PUBLIC APPEARANCES
Motion was made by Council Member Calderon, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi to move Item 11 right after public comments. Motion passed unanimously.
The following persons provided public comments to council: Jesus Solano, Jessica Perez, Leslie Ayala, Erika Castro, Alejandra Guerrero, Yolanda Cunningham, Joong Kim, Jacob Rosales, Maryanne Hinojosa, Jose Hinojosa, Annette Leon, Eugenio Ramos, Christine Wong Ramirez and Mr. Medina.
ITEM 11 PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION DENYING UNIFORM APPLICATION NO. 2023-03 FOR A ZONE CHANGE FROM R1 (RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY) TO
RA (RESIDENTIAL APARTMENT) AND A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT FROM LDR (LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL) TO HDR (HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL) AT 947 HEBER AVENUE.
Mayor Nuricumbo opened the public hearing at 7:58 pm.
Planning & Building Director Coyne provided a brief presentation.
The following persons provided public comments to council: Natalia Jimenez, Lupe Jimenez, Gerardo Jimenez., George Woo, Chris Mayne, Daniel Ramirez, Mark Holloway, Annette Leon, and Julio Rocha.
Mayor Nuricumbo closed the public hearing at 8:39 p.m.
Motion was made by Mayor Nuricumbo, seconded by Council Member Calderon to approve Item 11. Motion passed unanimously.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Interim City Manager Daniels reported on the following items: thanked City staff for their hard work; goals the City wants to achieve in the next months; Finance Department's recalculation of pension contributions; the need to start the process of unfreezing grant money from the State; filling key positions; having safe facilities and minimize the risk of being liable; insurance on Fire Station No. 2; water and wastewater plants need to be updated and replaced; the possibility of auctioning old city equipment once a year; Police Department's community engagement on the downtown parking meters was a success; the need to have better parks for the community; will be working closely with the Police Chief regarding graffiti; and the City needs to update the Housing Element to promote housing projects.
Motion was made by Mayor Nuricumbo, seconded by Council Member Calderon to continue meeting past 9:30 p.m.
Motion passed unanimously.
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED
Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi reported on the following items: met with Mayor, Ricardo Ortega and Cindi Alba regarding the Camping on Public and Private Property Ordinance; spoke with Teri Nave from the Housing Authority and they do not have housing for homeless at this time; attended the State of the County Address; attended the SDSU Wellness CITY COUNCIL MINUTES PAGE | 3 MARCH 19, 2025
Center Grand Opening; interviewed potential commissioners; met with CalTrans regarding future road highway constructions; attended the presentation on artificial intelligence at the Calexico Library Technology Center; attended the Woman in Arts Exhibit at the Cultural Arts Center; attended the town hall regarding parking meters.
Council Member Tylenda reported on the following items: reached out to downtown business owners regarding parking meters item; will be meeting with Senator Padilla this coming Friday; stated she witnessed firsthand the disturbing situation that happened at the intersection of Cole Boulevard and Meadows Drive between Hearthstone residents and construction workers.
Council Member Marquez reported on the following items: attended the Read Across America Event at the Camarena Memorial Library; attended the town hall regarding parking meters; attended a meeting with the School Board regarding impact fees and other projects; attended the Babe Ruth Baseball League's first game at Rodriguez Park.
Council Member Calderon reported on the following items: congratulated former Acting City Manager Contreras and thanked him for his hard work and dedication; congratulated all the athletes that were recognized earlier; visited the Recreation Department at the Community Center and the Senior Center as well; stated that hopefully the items that were ordered for Rodriguez Park will be installed as soon as they are received.
Mayor Nuricumbo reported on the following items: attended several events previously mentioned by council members; stated that Council Member Calderon attended a meeting with IID regarding valves for the Reisin Field basin.
CONSENT AGENDA
The following persons provided public comments to council: Ricardo Ortega, Daniela Vega, Alondra Avitia, Joong Kim, Gael Garcia, Daniela Flores, Kathia Lara, Jesus Solano, Karla Ibarra, Eugenio Ramos, Julia Gomez, Kayla Murgia, and Christine Wong Ramirez.
City Attorney Campos stated that the City received a letter from the ACLU and is being reviewed.
Motion was made by Council Member Tylenda, seconded by Mayor Nuricumbo to approve the consent agenda consisting of the following items: Approval of City Council/Calexico Community Redevelopment Agency Successor Agency/Calexico Finance Authority Minutes for Meeting of March 5, 2025; City Warrants Report from February 1, 2025 to February 28, 2025; City Salaries Report from February 1, 2025 to February 28, 2025; Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Regulating Camping on Public or Private Property. Motion passed unanimously.
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS
ITEM NO. 8 DISCUSS AND REVIEW PROPOSED EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS) TRANSPORTATION & OPTIMIZATION STUDY - CALEXICO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Item No. 8 was removed and to be brought back at a future meeting.
ITEM NO. 9 APPOINTMENT OF GENERAL COMMISSIONER TO THE CALEXICO HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD.
Motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi to nominate Guadalupe Zamudio, motion fails due to lack of second.
Motion was made by Mayor Nuricumbo to nominate Alberto Ramirez, seconded by Council Member Tylenda.
Motion passed with the following vote to wit:
AYES: Nuricumbo, Tylenda, Marquez
NOES: Legaspi, Calderon
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
ITEM NO. 10 FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CALEXICO MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 10.28 REGARDING PARKING METERS.
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Motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi, seconded by Council Member Marquez to approve Item No. 10.
Motion passed unanimously.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi requested the following items: would like for City Manager to work with both Chiefs on having a Coffee with a First Responder; requested from Chief Orozco to work on conducting a Neighborhood Watcl rogram along with a Business Watch Program; requested to look into the matter with the construction workers and residents that occurred on Cole Boulevard and Meadows Drive; requested to amend Policy regarding the request of ceremonial documents from 45 days to 30 days prior to the event.
Council Member Tylenda requested the following items: requested an update on the CFD's and the foreclosure process of property at La Jolla Palms subdivision and include the other CFD's as to where we are at and would like the original plan for Cordova Park to be reviewed as to what those CFD's monies were supposed to pay for and how the changes came about; she stated that it's very difficult to change CFD's that are tied to a bond; requested an update on the trash cans in the downtown area where trash cans were removed.
Council Member Marquez requested the following items: requested for the remaining trash cans in the downtown area to be removed; regarding Cordova Park would like to know what the legality of it has been and why the layout has been changed; would like to know what we are going to do regarding the water plant, need to know where we're standing and need to bring that up.
Council Member Calderon requested the following items: stated he asked for some items at the last meeting, one was cannabis and two others and hopes they come through; bring an item regarding the feral cat situation; and a presentation by Susan Meyer; thanked Mr. Daniels for being candid with us because the public needs to know where we stand.
Mayor Nuricumbo requested the following items: item regarding the feral cat situation; remaining trash cans in the downtown area be removed; requested that City Manager look into the business signage ordinance in downtown and start enforcing it; would like to see on the next agenda the MOU with the intergovernmental agency that is going to assist with Heber Park; look into the legality of Cordova Park and collect the history of the changes to the design; start having conversations with IID regarding what it takes to underground the Beach Canal and the possibility of building the entrance the Hearthstone community needs.
Council Member Calderon requested for the record clarification if the trash cans were being removed permanently from the downtown area. Mayor Nuricumbo stated that yes, they will be painted and put in the parks. Council Member Calderon also stated that the construction company that was working on Cole Bld. and Meadows Dr. should have been working at night when there is less traffic.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi, seconded by Council Member Calderon to adjourn meeting. Motion passed unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 10:50 p.m.
Diana Nuricumbo, Mayor
ATTEST:
Veronica L. Alvarado, City Clerk