THE CITY COUNCIL/CALEXICO COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY SUCCESSOR
AGENCY/CALEXICO FINANCING AUTHORITY/PLANNING COMMISSION MET IN REGULAR SESSION ON THE 2D DAY OF APRIL 2025 AT 6:30 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.
CALEXICO CITY COUNCIL/CALEXICO REDEVELOPMENT SUCCESOR
AGENCY /CALEXICO FINANCE AUTHORITY/PLANNING COMMISSION
OPEN SESSION - 6:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Nuricumbo called the open session portion of the meeting to order at 6:38 p.m.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Mayor: Diana Nuricumbo
Mayor Pro Tem: Victor Legaspi
Council Member: Adriana Marquez
Council Member: Lorenzo Calderon
ABSENT
Council Member: Lisa Tylenda
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
MISSION STATEMENT
Council Member Calderon led those present in the Mission Statement.
Mayor Nuricumbo expressed their sincere condolences for the passing of Isabel Perrone and Levy Duran, two distinguished members of the community
INVOCATION
Pastor Frank Zazueta led those present in prayer.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
City Attorney Campos stated that staff's recommendation was to move Item No. 4 up to Item No. 1 and table Item No. 3 and bring back at a future date. Mayor Nuricumbo stated that both recipients were not present and therefore Items No. 3 & 4 needed to be tabled. Motion was made Council Member Calderon, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi to approve the agenda and table Items No. 3 and No. 4. Motion passed with the following vote to wit:
AYES: Nuricumbo, Legaspi, Marquez, Calderon
NOES: None
ABSENT: Tylenda
ABSTAIN: None
PRESENTATIONS
1. Proclamation Declaring April 7-11, 2025 as National Library Week.
Proclamation was presented to Library Manager Legaspi.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES PAGE 12 APRIL. 2, 2025
2. Proclamation Declaring April 2, 2025 as World Autism Acceptance Day and the Month of April as Autism Acceptance Month.
Proclamation was presented to Ms. Gloria Brambila.
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND PUBLIC APPEARANCES
The following persons provided public comments to council: Lewis Pacheco, Jesus Solano, Blanca Yurel Munoz Perez, Victor Rocha, Miguel Guereña, Yolanda Cunningham, Jesus Iniguez, Astrid Calderas, Alfredo Figueroa.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
By request of Interim City Manager Daniels, Police Chief Orozco reported on the following significant issues: officers detained a stolen vehicle suspect; the detective bureau apprehended an attempted homicide suspect in the City of Brawley with joint cooperation of Brawley P.D., El Centro P.D. and the U.S. Border Patrol; detained an extortionist at the Port of Entry in downtown; the department is celebrating the month of April as Autism Awareness by wearing specially designed patches; two (2) officers have been nominated for the MADD Award (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) for exceeding more than thirty (30) DUI arrests in the city.
Interim City Manager Daniels reported on the following items: Council Members will receive a calendar with holidays and dates that City Hall is closed and it will be posted on the city's website; PERS errors have been corrected by the Finance Director; grant close outs will be completed within the next two weeks; FEMA grants and CalOES grants four of the five have been resolved and the fifth one will be closed out within the week; transportation grants will be submitted for the 2nd Street Bridge and Beach Canal Crossing, working with Imperial County regarding additional funding for the New River Project; looking into repaving of Encinas Avenue from Hwy 98 to 5'h Street; IID will provide valves for retention basins; announced that the City has several vacant positions and is currently recruiting; is reviewing the Republic Services contract; construction bids for Scaroni Road will be opened on April 9, 2025 and bids will be awarded for the Enrique Camarena Memorial Library, Community Center and Police Department Parking Lot Rehabilitation Projects; the Economic Development Department is working on getting the final plans for Chick- Fil-A; a proposal to convert the old Safeway into a Ross Dress for Lees Store; the Library Department has participated in Career Days at the elementary schools; carpenters union will be volunteering to assist in painting the interior of the library; the mural project awardee, Mia Salinas has begun painting the library container; in the Recreation Department there is the 117" Anniversary of the City and will consist of a week full of events; has begun an audit of all CDF's including Cordova Park, is working with the Finance Director and will be reporting the findings to Council at a future date and is recommending that instead of a CFD commission appoint an oversight committee; stated that any written comments received prior to posting agenda will be included in the agenda packets, any comments received after that will be provided to all council members and asked the council not to require the City Clerk to read them out loud as those are not her words, information might not be accurate and might be biased.
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED
Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi reported on the following items: walked the downtown area and talked to business owners; met with citizens for coffee at Jack in the Box; attended the Calexico Fire Department's grant announcement; attended the first Little League Game for the eight year old kids; met with FEMA regarding monetary recovery from Covid era; continued with commissioner's interviews.
Council Member Marquez reported on the following items: attended the Twilight Concert at the Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Center; attended the first Little League game; met with City Clerk, Building & Planning Director and City Manager regarding certain procedures and questions from members of the community.
Council Member Calderon reported on the following items: attended the Twilight Concert at the Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Center; attended the T-Mobile Grant presentation at Fire Station No. 1; toured the downtown area and talked to merchants and also noticed there were a lot of phone vendors throughout the city and hopes that the code enforcers are out checking business licenses; also noticed that some businesses entryway is filthy and hopes that merchants are listening to him to please clean their entrance; businesses were not in compliance with signage; attended CITY COUNCIL MINUTES PAGE |3 APRIL 2, 2025
the Imperial County Transportation Commission meeting where several projects in the Imperial Valley were discussed; Calexico Eastport Interval Transportation Center will be built at the East Port of Calexico which will integrate various modes of transportation including public buses; Second Street and Anza Road Bridge Rehabilitation Project - ICTC and CalTrans are working to develop an approach towards proceeding with the development of the required environmental engineering phases to rehabilitate this bridge.
Mayor Nuricumbo reported on the following items: met with Council Member Tylenda and Senator Steve Padilla regarding Heber Park, Anza Bridge and New River projects; met with CalTrans staff to review the proposals for the redirection of the border traffic; attended a leadership seminar with Interim City Manager provided by the Institute of Local Governments.
CONSENT AGENDA
The following persons provided public comments to council: Victor Rocha.
Motion was made by Council Member Calderon, seconded by Mayor Nuricumbo to pull Item No. 8 for discussion and 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 19, 2025; Approval of Application for Alcoholic Beverage License for 7 ELEVEN 23409, 904 Imperial Avenue, Calexico, CA 92231; Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Calexico Municipal Code Chapter 10.28 Regarding Parking Meters and Zones; Authorize Interim City Manager to Sign Deductive Change Order No. 9 with Mountain Cascade, Inc. in the Amount of $216,924.43 (Credit to City) for the New River Improvement Project - Calexico Reach; Authorize Interim City Manager to Purchase and Install Two Johnston Short Coupled Vertical Turbine with Motor Pumps (Water Distribution Pumps) for the Water Treatment Plant in the Amount of $298,250.52 from Brax Company, Inc.; Approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between the City of Calexico and the Institute of Local Government for Technical Assistance Under the BOOST Program and Authorize the City Manager to Execute the MOU. Motion passed with the following vote to wit:
AYES: Nuricumbo, Marquez, Calderon
NOES: None
ABSENT: Tylenda
ABSTAIN: Legaspi
ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT FOR DISCUSSION
Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi recused himself from Item No. 8 and left the chambers at 8:14 p.m.
TEM NO. 8 APPROVAL OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN THE
CITY OF CALEXICO AND THE CALEXICO CITY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1, 2019 TO JUNE 30, 2023, TO ADDRESS AND ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH AN INTERNAL AUDIT FINDING IDENTIFIED BY CALPERS OFFICE OF AUDIT SERVICES.
Motion was made by Council Member Calderon, seconded by Council Member Marquez to approve Item No. 8.
Motion passed with the following vote to wit
AYES: Nuricumbo, Marquez, Calderon
NOES: None
ABSENT: Tylenda
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSED: Legaspi
Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi returned to chambers at 8:22 p.m.
ITEM NO. 12 APPOINTMENT BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS TO THE FOLLOWING COMMISSIONS/BOARDS/COMMITTEES:
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A. COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION
B. POLICE ADVISORY, TRAFFIC & CODE ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION C. BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID)
D. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/FINANCIAL ADVISORY BOARD
E. LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
F. COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT COMMISSION
G. PERSONNEL COMMISSION
H. SALES TAX CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE (MEASURE H)
Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi appointed the following commissioners:
• Jesus E. Solano to the Community Services Commission
• Angela Moreno to the Police Advisory, Traffic & Code Enforcement Commission • Mario Sotomayor to the Economic Development/Financial Advisory Board Council member Adriana Marquez appointed the following commissioners:
• Patricia Ureña to the Community Services Commission
• Chris Lopez to the Police Advisory, Traffic & Code Enforcement Commission • Bertha Carreno to Personnel Commission
Council Member Calderon appointed the following commissioners:
• Antonio Garcia to the Community Services Commission
• Enrique Alejandro Alvarado to the Police Advisory, Traffic & Code Enforcement Commission • Blanca Morales to the Business Improvement District
• Karen Yepes to the Library Board of Trustees
• Julio Rocha to the Economic Development/Financial Advisory Board Mayor Nuricumbo appointed the following commissioners:
• Eugenio Ramos to the Community Services Commission
• Ethan Marquez to the Police Advisory, Traffic & Code Enforcement Commission • Jose L. Yepes Jr. to the Business Improvement District
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTS
The following persons provided public comments to council: Alejandra Guerrero, Carmen Estrada, Jessica Perez and Francisco Ramirez, Rosa Cruz, Alejandra Ayala, Ricardo, Ruben Cruz, Julia Benitez, Morris Reisin, Guillermo Villaverde, Carolina Virgen, Monica Valdivia and Maritza Hurtado.
INFORMATIONAL ITEM NO. 13 COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL STREET SWEEPING SCHEDULE AND MAP.
Interim City Manager Rick Daniels provided the schedule.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi requested the following items: update on the Chamber of Commerce building; look into the phone companies that have sidewalk sales regarding business licenses, enforce penalties; need to enforce the ordinance regarding vandalized or abandoned properties so the owners can get them cleaned up; enforce the ordinance regarding the banners to be removed in the downtown area; requested to work on fixing Rodriguez and Nosotros Parks and see when they can be completed; set up a meeting with stakeholders regarding Rodriguez and Nosotros Parks to see when this can be completed; the Police Department started the Neighborhood Watch Program.
Council Member Marquez requested the following items: thanked Recreation Manager Gerardo and Jimmy Duron for allowing them to have the Twilight Concert Event; thanked Public Works Manager Falomir for removing the trash CITY COUNCIL MINUTES PAGE 5 APRIL 2, 2025
cans in the downtown area; follow up on the City's website so that information is uploaded for the residents; expressed that the closure of City Hall every other Friday is a disservice for the community and requested that the City stay open.
Council Member Calderon requested the following items: a presentation from Susan Meyer regarding the budget, focusing on the city's fiscal stability for the next 3-4 years, which he has been asking since he was elected; requested last month a presentation from Water and Wastewater departments to be scheduled for May 7, 2025 council meeting; Ms. Leticia Plancarte from the Imperial Valley Behavior Health Department would like to provide a presentation on May 7, 2025 regarding the services they provide to the homeless population in Calexico; there are no restrooms in the downtown area, spoke with Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi and hopefully we can get porter potties until the City can find a way to provide restrooms; thanked Karen Eugenio for all the hard work in getting the valves.
Mayor Nuricumbo requested the following items: suggested fixing the restrooms at the Border Park instead of porter potties for the downtown area; agreed with Council Member Marquez that the City should be open every Friday and requested to find a way to have a skeleton crew; requested to start looking at a date and location for the State of the City or it could be moved to another month; look into the possibility of an App where residents can report issues such as graffiti or trash on public ways; if possible by next meeting would like to have a date on the installation of the valves donated by IID.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Council Member Calderon, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi to adjourn meeting. Motion passed with the following vote to wit:
AYES: Nuricumbo, Legaspi, Marquez, Calderon
NOES: None
ABSENT: Tylenda
ABSTAIN: None
Meeting adjourned at 9:04 p.m.
Diana Nuticuntbo, Mayor
ATTEST:
Veronica L. Alvarado, City Clerk