THE CITY COUNCIL/CALEXICO COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY SUCCESSOR
AGENCY/CALEXICO FINANCING AUTHORITY/PLANNING COMMISSION MET IN REGULAR SESSION ON THE 19" DAY OF NOVEMBER 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 5:33 p.m.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Mayor: Diana Nuricumbo
Mayor Pro Tem: Victor Legaspi
Council Member: Lisa Tylenda - via Remotely
Council Member: Adriana Marquez
Council Member: Lorenzo Calderon
City Attorney stated that Council Member Tylenda is attending remotely due to illness and needs council action.
Motion was made by Mayor Nuricumbo, seconded by Council Member Calderon to approve and allow Council Member Tylenda attend remotely. Motion passed unanimously.
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, Best Best & Krieger LLP 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. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Title: City Manager
3. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Property: 2441 Scaroni Avenue, Calexico, CA 92231
Agency Negotiators: Benjamin A. Martinez, City Manager, Best Best & Krieger LLP Negotiating Parties: Metropolitan Calexico 10 Theatres
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms
The City Council reconvened from close session at 6:34 p.m.
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 6:37 p.m.
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ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Mayor: Diana Nuricumbo
Mayor Pro Tem: Victor Legaspi
Council Member: Lisa Tylenda - via Remotely - left at 7:27 p.m.
Council Member: Adriana Marquez
Council Member: Lorenzo Calderon
City Attorney stated that Council Member Tylenda is attending remotely due to illness and needs council action.
Motion was made by Mayor Nuricumbo, seconded by Council Member Calderon to approve and allow Council Member Tylenda attend remotely. Motion passed unanimously.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
INVOCATION
Pastor Ceceña led those present in prayer.
CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Attorney stated no reportable action.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
City Attorney stated that there was a request to move Item No. 11 as the first action item, right before Item No. 9 and Mayor Legaspi requested to remove Item No. 4.
Motion was made by Council Member Calderon, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi to approve the agenda with the requested changes. Motion passed unanimously.
ANNOUNCEMENTS - None
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND PUBLIC APPEARANCES
The following person(s) provided public comments to council: Carmen Estrada, Juan Moran, Maria Calleros, Ronnie Platero, Marco A. Marquez, Luis Casillas and Jonathan Rangel.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Martinez reported on the following: parking meter installation, Chief Orozco stated the meters are scheduled to be installed on Sunday and should be up and running by Wednesday; Chief Contreras provided a brief update on the surplus items they are working on; is working on a solution regarding the replacement of the Veteran's plaques; Public Works Director/City Engineer Villegas commented about the possibility of installing security cameras throughout the city especially the parks and provided brief update on the truck routes, COMMISSIONER'S REPORT - None
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED
Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi reported on the following items: attended the National Night Out hosted by the Calexico Police Department and Police Commissioner Ad-Hoc Committee and thanked everyone involved; met with Council Member Marquez and Fire Chief regarding future ideas in bringing in better equipment and ways to hire more personnel; met with City Manager, Council Member Marquez and Carmen Estrada and will be taking a trip to San Diego and visit one of their soccer fields; attended the Veteran's Memorial Event and thanked Public Works Director/City Engineer for the outstanding work and making this event possible.
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Council Member Tylenda reported on the following items: gave a shout out to the National Night Out event and thanked the Police Department for putting it together; met with Council Member Calderon and ICTC staff, David Aguirre and city staff to discuss road projects and actually have a timeline; would like an update as to what is going on with the police department as soon as possible.
Council Member Marquez reported on the following items: attended the city's wellness program that was organized by the HR Department; attended the National Night Out event and thanked the Police Department and community groups who made it happen; met with the soccer league community; attended the Veteran's Memorial event and thanked Public Works Director/City Engineer for his hard work and thanked staff; and met with traffic control.
Council Member Calderon reported on the following items: attended the Veteran's Memorial Event, thanked the Baja Runners for the breakfast and memorial service; thanked Pat Ureña and family for also having a memorial service here at City Hall and thanked everyone who helped with this event; would like to see that the citizens that came up and spoke about the issues they are having with their housing is addressed; participated in the turkey giveaway with the Fire Department which was a collaboration with the school district; wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
Mayor Nuricumbo reported on the following item: thanked all the volunteers and commissioners that participated in the last events which were the city cleanup, the Veteran's Memorial, and the National Night Out; met with the Chairman of the State Water Board and Deputy Finance Director, IID, County Supervisor, City Manager and Public Works staff regarding Prop 4 funding, having to do with New River improvements; would like to ensure that the citizens that came up and spoke about the issues they are having with their housing is addressed and would like to see an update by the next council meeting; the issue that the Calexico Police Officers' Association bought up needs to be resolved.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by Council Member Calderon, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi, approve the consent agenda consisting of the following items: Approval of City Council/Calexico Community Redevelopment Agency Successor Agency/Calexico Finance Authority/Planning Commission Minutes for Meeting of October 1, 2025; City Salaries Report from October 1, 2025 thru October 31, 2025; City Warrants Report from October 1, 2025 thru October 31, 2025; Authorize the City Manager to Sign the Services Agreement Renewal for Administration of General Liability Claims with TRISTAR Claims Management Services, Inc. for the Term Beginning September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026. Motion passed unanimously.
ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS
ITEM NO. 11. APPOINTMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER TYLENDA TO THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID).
Council Member Tylenda appointed Carlos Fonseca to the Business Improvement District (BID).
ITEM NO. 9. AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO E-SIGN THE PLEDGE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF
CALEXICO TO COMMIT TO MEETING THE CRITERIA FOR BECOMING A DESIGNATED CLEAN CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.
Motion was made by Council Member Calderon, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi to approve Item No. 9. Motion passed unanimously.
Council Member Tylenda left the meeting at 7:27 p.m.
ITEM NO. 10. REVIEW AND APPROVE THE MASTER CALENDAR OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2026.
Motion was made by Council Member Calderon, seconded by Council Member Marquez to approve Item No. 10.
Motion passed unanimously.
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ITEM NO. 12. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN THE LOAN
REPAYMENT AND MODIFICATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CALEXICO AND DE
ANZA HOTEL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP FOR THE DE ANZA HOTEL AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT.
Motion was made by Council Member Marquez, seconded by Council Member Calderon to approve Item No. 12.
Motion passed unanimously.
ITEM NO. 13. 46** ANNUAL FARMWORKER APPRECIATION BREAKFAST. a) APPROVAL OF $2,366.09 FROM FUND NO. 111 - GENERAL FUND AND FUND NO. 231 - STREETS FOR CITY STAFF IN-KIND SERVICES.
The following person(s) provided public comments to council: Elvira Anaya Motion was made by Mayor Nuricumbo to approve to sponsor $2,366.09 from Fund No. 111 - General Fund and Fund No. 231 - Streets for City Staff In-Kind Services for the 46t Annual Farmworker Appreciation Breakfast.
Motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi but on the reference to the TUP, would like to know if we have ever charged $135 before? Planning & Building Director Coyne responded that he checked with staff and for the past five years, the fee of $135 has been waived
Mayor Nuricumbo stated that would be considered as a sponsorship as well by the city, the full amount and so the motion is to sponsor the entire amount that is needed for their event to happen.
Motion passed with the following vote to wit:
AYES: Nuricumbo, Legaspi, Marquez
NOES: Calderon
ABSENT: Tylenda
ABSTAIN: None
ITEM NO. 14. 2024-25 YEAR-END AND 2025-26 1ST QUARTER BUDGET STATUS REPORT AND RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE 2024-25 AND 2025-26 BUDGETS.
Motion was made by Mayor Nuricumbo, seconded by Council Member Calderon to modify the Budget Amendment Resolution to make the change to the $760,000 that staff was proposing to go to local capital fund to be instead sent to the General Fund but earmarked to pay in priority the police officers and fire whatever back pay they are owed and anything left over we can have the discussion later, either for worker's comp or hiring an assistant city manager.
Motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING
ITEM NO. 15. AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CALEXICO,
CALIFORNIA, EXTENDING A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON NEW APPLICATIONS AND NEW
PERMIT RENEWAL APPLICATIONS FOR COMMERCIAL CANNABIS BUSINESSES FOR AN ADDITIONAL PERIOD OF 22 MONTHS AND 15 DAYS.
Mayor Nuricumbo opened the public hearing at 8:14 p.m.
Planning and Building Director Coyne provided a brief overview.
There being no public comments, Mayor Nuricumbo closed the public hearing at 8:15 p.m.
Motion was made by Council Member Calderon, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi, to approve Item No. 15.
Motion passed unanimously.
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ITEM NO. 16. INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING BY TITLE ONLY OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CALEXICO, CALIFORNIA, REPEALING CHAPTERS 5.84 AND 5.88 AND ADDING CHAPTER 5.86 TO THE CITY OF CALEXICO MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING MOBILE VENDING REGULATIONS.
Mayor Nuricumbo opened the public hearing at 8:16 p.m.
Planning and Building Director Coyne provided an overview of the item and discussion was held.
There being no public comments, Mayor Nuricumbo closed the public hearing at 8:36 p.m.
Motion was made by Council Member Calderon, seconded by Council Member Marquez, to approve Item No. 16.
Motion passed unanimously.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
ITEM NO. 17. STATUS UPDATE ON REMAINING PROJECTS FUNDED WITH AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) ALLOCATIONS.
Finance Director Chaparro provided a brief overview of the item.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi requested the following items: (1) explore options to secure the fencing in response to numerous complaints about odors and unsanitary conditions in the alleyways-particularly around Rockwood Avenue and First Street and identify solutions to improve alleyway cleanliness; (2) review residential and commercial abandoned or fire-damaged buildings to ensure they meet code requirements and avoid the risk of future fires; (3) provide an updated report on the fee study, including whether a comprehensive, citywide fee study can be conducted across all departments; how the City might adjust its fees; whether current fees are appropriate; and how they compare to those in surrounding cities, including permit costs and related charges.
Council Member Tylenda requested the following items: Absent Council Member Marquez requested the following items: (1) take care of the pressing payroll issue with the police and fire departments; (2) look into receivership properties, as we have had abandoned properties for years.
Council Member Calderon requested the following items: (1) initiate an Employee of the Month program and place the item on the next regular meeting agenda; (2) although not intended for a future agenda item, he requested that the City Manager provide regular updates biweekly or monthly-to keep the Council informed of ongoing city matters; (3) invite the Vincent Memorial Ladies' team, recent CIF champions, to the next Council meeting for recognition; (4) clarification on Agenda Item No. 13: clarified that he is not opposed to the donation itself but to the rewording of the item; he expressed full support for the funding and for the event.
Mayor Nuricumbo requested the following items: (1) contact the homeowners who spoke at the meeting, gather additional information regarding their concerns, and determine whether the issues fall within the City's authority to address; (2) prioritize the public safety payroll issues and provide bi-weekly progress reports; (3) review options related to receivership and abandoned properties and address issues involving abandoned properties, ensuring the City takes appropriate action within its legal authority.
Council Member Marquez reported that during a recent visit to the downtown area, she observed several vendors setting up small foldable tables to sell items such as fruit and cell phones. She stated that downtown should be monitored daily. The City Manager responded that this is a code enforcement matter and will be assigned to the Police Department.
Council Member Calderon asked whether the City could identify funding to support Recreation Department programs for seniors. Council Member Marquez asked who approves these programs. Recreation Manager Norma Gerardo explained that the Department typically does not offer programs during Thanksgiving week or the two weeks covering Christmas and New Year's due to low participation. She noted that the closure during the first two weeks of December CITY COUNCIL MINUTES PAGE | 6 NOVEMBER 19, 2025
is unusual and is due to budget constraints, as the hourly rate for temporary employees is increasing and the Department had not budgeted for that increase. Council Member Marquez stated that December is when these programs are needed most, as children are out of school for two weeks during the holiday break, and asked the City Manager to ensure the City can continue providing these services.
Mayor Nuricumbo asked Recreation Manager Gerardo whether the wage increase had been budgeted; she replied that it had not. She then asked who authorized the increase. Ms. Gerardo stated that the change would take effect the Mayor Nuricumbo asked if this was authorized by the council and City Manager Martinez stated that the City had not been following the basic hourly rate that should have been applied and is now correcting that. He asked Human Resources/Risk Management Manager Maribel Castro to elaborate.
HR/Risk Manager Castro explained that temporary employees have historically been paid at Step 1 of the salary schedule for the equivalent City position. Each time the salary schedule increased, temporary employees' rates were adjusted. However, after July 1st of the previous year, when it was increased to $19.11, the adjustment that should have occurred in August did not happen. After reviewing the issue with Finance and the City Manager, it was determined that the rates needed to be corrected. Council Member Calderon wanted clarification that these were not city employees, they were temps. She confirmed that temporary employees are not City employees but stated that the City has consistently followed this pay practice.
Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi expressed concern that some full-time employees are not receiving the pay they should, yet this temporary employee rate issue is being corrected. HR Manager Castro stated that regular employees are being paid correctly. Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi questioned why the matter had not been brought to the Council. are stipulated in a contract and whether the City is bound by an agreement. HR Manager Castro stated that the agencies charge a set rate and the issue at hand is the hourly wage for the workers.
Mayor Nuricumbo requested that this matter be discussed in closed session before any rate increases are approved or paid. City Manager Martinez stated that the item will be brought back at the next meeting. Mayor Nuricumbo stated that this would pause the rate increase for now. Council Member Calderon stated that as a result of this issue, children and senior citizens are losing access to programs, and emphasized the need for the City Manager to keep the Council informed so they can make decisions, especially during this time as there are ongoing labor negotiations.
Mayor Nuricumbo requested that staff determine whether, without the unapproved wage increase, the City can keep the programs open for an additional week or two.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Council Member Calderon, seconded Mayor Pro Tem Legaspi, to adjourn meeting. passed unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Shit
Diana Nuricumbo, Mayor
ATTEST:
Veronica Luna-Alvarado, City Clerk