THE CITY COUNCIL/CALEXICO COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY SUCCESSOR
AGENCY/CALEXICO FINANCING AUTHORITY/PLANNING COMMISSION MET IN REGULAR SESSION ON THE 3" DAY OF SEPTEMBER 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
Mayor Nuricumbo called the closed session portion of the meeting to order at 5:34 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
PUBLIC COMMENTS: No public comments.
ADJOURN TO CLOSE SESSION
City Council adjourned to closed session at 5:34 p.m. to discuss the following:
1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency Representatives: Benjamin A. Martinez, City Manager, Carlos Campos, City Attorney Employee Organizations: Calexico Municipal Employees Association, Calexico Firefighters Association, Certified Operators Association/SEIU Local 221, Calexico Police Officers Association, Supervisors Association, Calexico City Management Association.
2. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency Representatives: Benjamin A. Martinez, City Manager, Carlos Campos, City Attorney Unrepresented Employee: City Clerk
3. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT
Title: City Attorney
4. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Property: 352 1st Street (Former Orthopedic Clinic) Parking Lot, APN: 058-535-001 Agency Negotiator: Benjamin A. Martinez, City Manager and Carlos Campos, City Attorney Negotiating Parties: Michael Choutka, Hensel Phelps
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms
5. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Property: Border Friendship Park, APN's: 058-510-004 and 058-521-006 Agency Negotiator: Benjamin A. Martinez, City Manager and Carlos Campos, City Attorney Negotiating Parties: Michael Choutka, Hensel Phelps
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms
The City Council reconvened from close session at 6:30 p.m.
CALEXICO CITY COUNCIL/CALEXICO REDEVELOPMENT
SUCCESOR AGENCY /CALEXICO FINANCE AUTHORITY
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES PAGE | 3 SEPTEMBER 3, 2025
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Mayor Nuricumbo requested that Public Works Director/City Engineer Villegas and Police Chief Orozco respond to some of the concerns that were expressed by the residents during the general public comment section.
Public Works Director/City Engineer Villegas provided the following updates: 1) Riverwalk - will instruct the parks division to start an assessment; 2) Scaroni Road - the restoration of a portion of the road has already started but is on hold as manhole improvements need council approval and are part of tonight's agenda; and will be working on improving the second half in the near future.
Chief Orozco addressed the following: 1) bug problem - asked the resident to come by the station so Code Enforcement can address the issue; 2) parking on Birch - anything the police department does is based on complaints received, and complaints are always backed up with an ordinance or something that says parking is not allowed on Birch Street.
Road. The actual complaint was there were some oil stains on the dirt, and it needed to be addressed, apologized to the residents for not being notified but is currently working on a solution. Chief Orozco invited residents to go over to the station with any concerns or complaints.
Chief Orozco provided a report on behalf of the City Manager regarding the following items: City Manager sent his apologies for not being present due to illness; conducting weekly meetings with executive staff, reviewing workloads, project updates and emerging challenges; working on the priority workshop that will be held with the city council in late September; has had one-on-one meetings with all directors and certified municipal officers, supervised managers and has met with approximately 50% of city employees, hoping to meet with all employees in the next couple of months; is reaching out to regional entities such as ICTC, IVEDC and the IVFTZ Federal Trade Zone; has conducted several tours of the city to familiarize himself with ongoing challenges and opportunity; and welcomed Mr. Villegas to the City.
COMMISSIONER'S REPORT
Javier Gonzalez, Police Advisory, Traffic and Code Enforcement Commission, reported they met last week and elected a Chair Person and a Vice Chair Person; received information regarding programs; the commission approved an Ad-Hoc Committee; invited the public to attend the commission meetings.
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED
Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi attended the following meetings: swear-in ceremonies at City Hall; the SDSU opening of their STEM Science and Engineering Laboratory facility in Brawley; a presentation on CalFresh nutrition and summer reading program hosted by the Library; a stakeholders meeting, including the Mayor, regarding the Chamber of Commerce building; the Binational Committee meeting with Council Member Calderon; met with different unions regarding their concerns with Council Member Marquez; met with staff and Council Member Calderon regarding truck route issues on Cole Road; met with staff and Council Member Marquez regarding the Heber Park expansion.
Council Member Tylenda reported on the following items: welcomed the new staff members; attended the Mexican Independence Celebration hosted by the Recreation Department.
Council Member Marquez reported on the following items: attended the swear-in ceremony for the City Manager; met with union members to hear their concerns with Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi; attended the Back to School celebration at the Library with Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi; conducted interviews with Council Member Calderon and attended last week's Police Advisory, Traffic and Code Enforcement Commission meeting; met with staff and Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi regarding Cole Road, Heber Park and the water treatment plant.
Council Member Calderon reported on the following items: attended meetings with Council Member Marquez and Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi; met with Mexican Customs officials regarding traffic flow going south.
Mayor Nuricumbo reported on the following items: met with Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi and members of the Greater Calexico Chamber of Commerce to discuss a plan on renovating the old Chamber of Commerce building and will be conducting monthly meetings; conducted interviews for candidates seeking appointment to the Calexico Housing Authority with Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi; traveled with Council Member Tylenda and Fire Chief Contreras to the Chula Vista Fire Department and met with executive staff regarding their ambulance service operations program and will CITY COUNCIL MINUTES PAGE | 5 SEPTEMBER 3, 2025
Motion was made by Council Member Marquez, seconded by Council Member Calderon to approve Item No. 15.
Motion passed unanimously.
ITEM NO. 16 AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN CHANGE ORDER NO. 1 WITH ROVE ENGINEERING, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $88,776.00 FOR SCARONI ROAD PAVEMENT REHABILITATION STATE PROJECT NO. LPPSBIL-5168(034).
Motion was made by Council Member Calderon, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi to approve Item No. 16.
Motion passed unanimously.
ITEM NO. 18 REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF CURRENT APPOINTEE TO THE POLICE
ADVISORY, TRAFFIC & CODE ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION WITH A NEW APPOINTEE TO THE SAME COMMISSION BY MAYOR NURICUMBO.
The following person(s) provided public comment to council: Javier Gonzalez Mayor Nuricumbo removed current appointee and appointed Angela Moreno.
ITEM NO. 19 APPOINTMENT BY MAYOR PRO TEM LEGASPI TO THE POLICE ADVISORY, TRAFFIC & CODE ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION.
Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi appointed Alexis Rangel.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
ITEM NO. 20. RECEIVE AND FILE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION MINUTES FOR SPECIAL MEETING OF JUNE 9, 2025.
ITEM NO. 21. RECEIVE AND FILE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MINUTES FOR MEETING OF JUNE 2, 2025.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi requested the following items: 1) will be conducting lots of follow-ups, especially with the Chamber of Commerce building, the truck route issues on Cole Road and Heber Park expansion.
Council Member Tylenda requested the following items: 1) regarding the Police Advisory, Traffic & Code Enforcement Commission would like for the City Attorney, Police Chief and City Manager to work on a proposal, policy process and/or rules and regulations as to what this commission can and cannot do, so residents are informed; 2) update regarding the RFP's received for the forensic audit; 3) update regarding the school fees as an informational item for the next city council meeting; 4) potential ordinance, rules and regulations for electric bikes and electric scooters from the Police Chief.
Council Member Marquez requested the following items: 1) maintenance schedule for downtown area and for our parks; 2) report regarding the balance that still exists for the improvements of both Rodriguez and Nosotros Parks; 3) would like to know if the restrooms at Rodriguez Park have been installed and if not, would like a status report.
Council Member Calderon requested the following items: 1) update on Heber Park; 2) update on cannabis program; 3) grant status report from Grant's Manager.
Mayor Nuricumbo requested the following items: 1) Capital Improvement workshop scheduled within the next 30 days; 2) Zero Based Budget Policy; 3) start having conversations regarding the airport, which has been in a deficit for the past three years and the FAA has just awarded the City of Calexico $78,850.00 to reseal the runway; 4) RFP for Cordova Park; 5) report or update regarding the parking meters.