THE CITY COUNCIL/CALEXICO COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY SUCCESSOR
AGENCY/CALEXICO FINANCING AUTHORITY/PLANNING COMMISSION MET IN REGULAR SESSION ON THE 3RD DAY OF JUNE 2026 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 Legaspi called the closed session portion of the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Mayor: Victor Legaspi
Mayor Pro Tem: Lorenzo Calderon
Council Member: Lisa Tylenda
Council Member: Diana Nuricumbo
ABSENT:
Council Member: Adriana Marquez
PUBLIC COMMENTS: CMEA representative Martha Gomez.
ADJOURN TO CLOSE SESSION
City Council adjourned to closed session at 5:33 p.m. to discuss the following:
1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATIORS
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency Representatives: Benjamin A. Martinez, City Manager, City Attorney Employee Organizations: Calexico Municipal Employees Association, Calexico Firefighters Association, Certified Operators Association/SETU Local 221, Calexico Police Officers Association, Supervisors Association, Calexico Management Association.
2. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Title: City Manager
The City Council reconvened from close session at 6:25 p.m.
CALEXICO CITY COUNCIL/CALEXICO REDEVELOPMENT
SUCCESOR AGENCY /CALEXICO FINANCE AUTHORITY
OPEN SESSION - 6:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Legaspi called the open session portion of the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Mayor: Victor Legaspi
Mayor Pro Tem: Lorenzo Calderon
Council Member: Lisa Tylenda - left at 6:53 p.m. - returned at 7:14 p.m.
Council Member: Diana Nuricumbo
ABSENT:
Council Member: Adriana Marquez.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES PAGE |2 JUNE 3, 2026
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Pro Tem Calderon led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
INVOCATION
Pastor Cesena led those present in prayer.
CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Attorney Mitchell A. Driskill stated no reportable action.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Council Member Nuricumbo requested to pull Item No. 12 for discussion.
Motion by Council Member Nuricumbo, seconded by Council Member Tylenda to pull Item No. 12 for discussion.
Motion passed, with the vote recorded as follows:
AYES: Legaspi, Calderon, Tylenda, Nuricumbo
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Marquez
PRESENTATIONS
3. Proclamation Declaring the Month of June as Men's Mental Health Month.
The following person(s) provided public comments to council: Johanna Espinoza
4. Presentation by Chief Orozco regarding the Citizen Reporting Application.
Council Member Tylenda left the meeting at 6:53 p.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS - None
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND PUBLIC APPEARANCES
The following person(s) provided public comments to council: Carolina Munoz, Rocio Vazquez Alvarado, Carmen Estrada, Michelle Diaz., Juan Moran, Joong Kim, Astrid Calderas, Joanna Espinosa, Ismael Arvizu, Ricardo Romero, Arturo Medina, Hector Meza, Lewis Pacheco, and Norma Aguilar.
Council Member Tylenda returned to the dais at 7:14 p.m.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Martinez reported on the following: requested a special budget session for Wednesday, June 10th at 5:00 p.m.; Applebee's will close on June 16, 2026, due to high California operating costs and slow lunchtime business; Denny's ownership plans a year-long reconstruction to build an expanded restaurant; TJ Maxx is confirmed to open a new location at the Gran Plaza Outlets; the Gran Plaza Outlets plans to enclose its open-air facility to enhance the shopping experience and intends to reinstate its border crossing shuttle service, with details forthcoming; the city is working on installing directional banners on light posts along Cesar Chavez Boulevard; and finally, regarding city infrastructure, a left-turn lane is now operational at Cesar Chavez Boulevard and Second Street with active peak-hour COMMISSIONER'S REPORT - None
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES PAGE | 3 JUNE 3, 2026
Council Member Nuricumbo reported on the following: she addressed public comments regarding council communication styles, defending the First Amendment rights of elected officials to engage with constituents; noted that while perspectives vary, many residents appreciate their direct communication approach; and addressed regional miscommunications and false statements targeting council members, asserting their right to clarify facts and advising dissatisfied individuals to refrain from visiting their page.
Council Member Tylenda reported on the following items: she has been actively working on the special tax proposal and participating in several related meetings; highlighted the importance of tonight's agenda items, specifically noting the discussion regarding both the moratorium and the special tax; and encouraged the public to remain in attendance Mayor Pro Tem Calderon reported on the following items: clarified that the financial troubles of two recently closed local businesses began years before the current council took office; met with Mayor Legaspi and Gran Plaza staff to discuss a left-turn lane on Second Street for traffic coming from Mexicali and the return of the outlet shuttle service from the Port of Entry; attended the Memorial Day service at the cemetery, thanking the Baja Runners; participated in a Calexico Soccer Program awards ceremony with Council Member Marquez, thanking Carmen Estrada for her service; attended an ad-hoc committee meeting regarding the proposed public safety tax measure; met with the Salvation Army to discuss opening a local office; met with the Mayor, two commissioners, Grants Manager and City Manager to discuss possible grants for our city; met with County staff, IID, and ICTC to coordinate on regional infrastructure, including Gran Plaza roads, the Anza Bridge, illegal trucking on Cole Road, county paving, New River maintenance, Las Casitas light poles, park lights, and available IID grants; attended the ICTC meeting, he highlighted a planned $12 million transportation center at the East Port of Entry to connect cross-border travelers to the downtown hub, and noted that the Second Street Anza Road Bridge project has advanced to a $2 million design and environmental stage; he stated that upcoming taxes could fund local infrastructure, with a June 26th deadline shared with city staff, and concluded with an update on a Calexico West pedestrian visibility study exploring pathways and biometric facial recognition to expedite security processes.
Mayor Legaspi reported on the following items: noted his attendance at several events previously highlighted by Mayor Pro Tem Calderon; attended a binational soccer program organized by Mexican Consul Rocio Alvarez alongside Council Member Marquez, addressed public speculation surrounding the closures of the local movie theater and Applebee's, clarified that the council was not responsible for these business decisions, stated the closures resulted from a lack of patronage and strongly urged the public to shop locally to support Calexico businesses.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Calderon, seconded by Council Member Nuricumbo to approve the consent agenda consisting of the following items: Approval of City Council/Calexico Community Redevelopment Agency Successor Agency/Calexico Financing Authority/Planning Commission Minutes for the Meeting of April 1, 2026; Authorize City Manager to Sign and File Notice of Completion for Community Center and Senior Hall Kitchen Upgrade Project No. 2025-600; Authorize Public Works Director/City Engineer to Sign and File Notice of Completion for Scaroni Road Pavement Rehabilitation State Project No. LPPSBIL-5168(034); A Ratification of Grant Application Submittals and Acceptance of Imperial Irrigation District (IID) GLOW Grant Funds for Park Lighting Replacement Projects; Authorization to Apply for Funding Through the California Active Transportation Program (ATP), Authorization to Accept Awarded Funds, and Authorization for the City Manager to Execute Grant Agreements and m taperal in are i is rogers and its rise on de
to Baker Distributing Company for HVAC Equipment at Camarena Memorial Library in the Amount of $35,631.03.
Motion passed, with the vote recorded as follows:
AYES: Legaspi, Calderon, Tylenda, Nuricumbo
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Marquez
ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES PAGE |4 JUNE 3, 2026
ITEM NO. 12. ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CALEXICO ADOPTING A LIST OF PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 FUNDED BY SB:1 THE ROAD REPAIR AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017.
Explanation was provided by Public Works Director/City Engineer Villegas and discussion was held by council.
Motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Calderon, seconded by Council Member Nuricumbo to approve Item No. 12.
Motion passed, with the vote recorded as follows:
AYES: Legaspi, Calderon, Tylenda, Nuricumbo
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Marquez
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS
ITEM NO. 13. AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PROSECUTE DESIGNATED MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATIONS.
Council Member Marquez arrived at 8:07 p.m.
Motion by Council Member Nuricumbo, seconded by Council Member Tylenda to approve Item No. 13 and bring back for discussion within sixty (60) days. Motion passed, with the vote recorded as follows:
AYES: Legaspi, Calderon, Tylenda, Nuricumbo
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: Marquez
ABSENT: None
ITEM NO. 14. PROPOSE MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTERS.
The following person(s) provided public comments to council: Joong Kim, Alejandro Romero, Janette Gonzalez, Kristian Salgado, Juan Moran, Astrid Calderas, Julio Fernandez, Rene Felix, Hector Mesa, Johanna Espinosa, Bertha Carreno, Ricardo Romero, Ismael Arvizu, Daniela Flores, Christina Rojas, and Gilberto Manzanarez.
Motion by Council Member Nuricumbo, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Calderon to approve Item No. 14 and with staff recommendation to bring back on July 1, 2026. Motion passed unanimously.
ITEM NO. 15. POTENTIAL ORDINANCE FOR COUNCIL TO ANNUALLY ALLOCATE 58% OF UNRESTRICTED GENERAL FUNDS TO THE POLICE (30%) AND FIRE (28% DEPARTMENTS THROUGH THE YEAR 2047(20 YEARS).
The following person(s) provided public comments to council: Luz Villanueva.
Motion by Council Member Nuricumbo, seconded by Council Member Tylenda to approve to bring Item No. 15 back for discussion. Motion passed, with the vote recorded as follows:
AYES: Legaspi, Tylenda, Nuricumbo
NOES: Calderon, Marquez
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
City Manager recommended this item be brought back for initial discussion on July 3rd.
ITEM NO. 16 HEARTHSTONE COMMUNITY - DISCUSSION REGARDING POTENTIAL SECOND ROAD ENTRANCE.
The following person(s) provided public comments to council: Alejandra Segura.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES PAGE | 5 JUNE 3, 2026
Motion by Mayor Legaspi, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Calderon to extend the meeting past 9:30 p.m. for another hour. Motion passed unanimously.
Motion by Mayor Legaspi, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Calderon to approve Item No. 16 and bring back for discussion on July 1, 2026. Motion passed unanimously.
ITEM NO. 17. ADOPT A BUDGET AMENDMENT RESOLUTION TO REALLOCATE FUND NO. 255 - AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (ARPA) IN THE AMOUNT OF $349,279.00 AND FUND NO. 111 - GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $19,000.00 FOR THE PURCHASE OF THERMOPLASTIC STRIPING
EQUIPMENT, ASPHALT CRACK SEALING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING FOR TEMPORARY PART-TIME EMPLOYEES FOR VARIOUS STREET MAINTENANCE PROJECTS.
The following person(s) provided public comments to council: Ricardo Romero, and Ismael Arvizu.
Motion by Mayor Legaspi, seconded by Council Member Tylenda to table Item No. 17 and bring back on June 17, 2026. Motion passed unanimously.
ITEM NO. 18. WEAKLEY STREET IMPROVEMENT FEDERAL-AID PROJECT NO. CML-5168(032):
A. AWARD BID PROPOSAL AND AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CALEXICO AND ROVE ENGINEERING, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $645,279.80 (BASE BID PLUS ALTERNATE BID) FOR WEAKLEY STREET IMPROVEMENT FEDERAL-AID PROJECT NO. CMIL-5168(032).
B. AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE ANY FUTURE CHANGE ORDERS NOT-TO- EXCEED $96,791.97 (15% OF ROVE ENGINEERING, INC. BASE BID PLUS ALTERNATE BID AS PER CITY ORDINANCE NO. 1218.
Motion by Mayor Legaspi, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Calderon to approve Item No. 18. Motion passed unanimously.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
ITEM NO. 19. RECEIVE AND FILE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MINUTE FOR SPECIAL MEETING ON APRIL 13, 2026.
ITEM NO. 20 RECEIVE AND FILE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION MINUTES FOR REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 8, 2026.
ITEM NO. 21. DRAFT BUDGET PRIORITIZATION PLAN FY 2026-27.
Mayor Legaspi acknowledged receipt of Informational Item No. 19, 20 and 21.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Calderon, seconded by Council Member Nuricumbo to adjourn meeting. Motion passed unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 10:25 p.m.
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Victor Legaspi, Mayor
ATTEST:
Veronica Luna-Alvarado, City Clerk