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REGULAR MEETING
EL CENTRO CITY COUNCIL
CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1275 MAIN STREET, EL CENTRO, CA
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2024, 11:30 A.M.
The El Centro City Council met in a regular session on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 11:32 a.m. in Conference Room “A”, El Centro City Hall, 1275 Main Street, El Centro, California for the purpose of closed session.
PRESENT: Council: Cardenas-Singh, Oliva, Marroquin, Garcia, Carter City Clerk Wyles, City Manager Ceseña, City Attorney Martyn Evans
CLOSED SESSION PUBLIC COMMENT
None
CITY COUNCIL CLOSED SESSION
Moved by Cardenas-Singh, second by Carter, to adjourn into closed session for:
POSSIBLE LITIGATION:
A point has been reached where, in the opinion of the City Council upon the advice of its legal counsel, and based upon existing facts and circumstances, there is a significant possibility that there will be litigation initiated against the City under Govt. Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) – 1 case regarding use of City facilities; 1 case regarding real estate.
Motion unanimously carried.
Closed Session concluded at 1:30 p.m. (Council Member Carter left the meeting at 1:00 p.m.) City Council recessed to 6:00 p.m.
OPEN SESSION
The El Centro City Council met in a joint regular session on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 6:02 p.m. in Council Chambers, El Centro City Hall, 1275 Main Street, El Centro, California.
PRESENT: Council: Cardenas-Singh, Oliva, Marroquin, Garcia, Carter City Clerk Wyles, City Manager Ceseña, City Attorney Martyn Evans Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America was led by Mayor Pro-Tem Garcia and Invocation was given by Council Member Carter.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
No reportable action from closed session.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
No public comments were received.
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PRESENTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS BY MAYOR
1. National Engineers Week – February 18-24, 2024. Received by Abraham Campos, PE, Public Works Director/City Engineer.
CONSENT AGENDA (ITEMS 2-7)
Moved by Garcia, second by Oliva, approving consent items # 2-7.
2. Approval of Warrant Registers for the Month of January 2024.
3. Approval of Payroll Registers for the Month of January 2024.
4. Approval of Treasurer’s Report for the Month of January 2024.
5. Approval of City Council Minutes of February 6, 2024.
6. 2nd Reading and Adoption of Ordinance 24-01, AN UNCODIFIED ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL CENTRO, CALIFORNIA, PROVIDING FOR THE
CONTINUING DEFERRAL OF PAYMENT OF CERTAIN DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES, waived reading and adopted by title only.
7. Adopted appropriate funding as presented to allow staff issuance of Task Order No. 3 for the Dogwood Road Alignment Study
AYES: Cardenas-Singh, Oliva, Marroquin, Garcia, Carter
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
8. This was the date and time set for a public hearing to discuss approval of an amendment to the Permanent Local Housing Allocation Five-Year Plans and Resolutions Authorizing Amendments. Presentation by Adriana Nava, Community Services Director.
Mayor Marroquin declared the public hearing opened and asked if anyone wished to speak in favor or opposition to come forward. Seeing no one wishing to speak, the public hearing was closed. Council member Oliva asked is this item was an amendment and Ms. Nava confirmed it was. Council member Cardenas-Singh asked how many citizens were going to be helped to buy a home. Ms. Nava confirmed that they are hoping to help at least one citizen with accessibilities in their homes.
Moved by Oliva, second by Cardenas-Singh, adoption of Resolution No. 24-06, RESOLUTION OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL CENTRO, CALIFORNIA AUTHORIZING THE
APPLICATION AND AMENDING THE PERMANENT LOCAL HOUSING ALLOCATION (PLHA) PLAN FOR THE PLHA PROGRAM.
AND
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Moved by Oliva, second by Cardenas-Singh, Adoption of Resolution No. 24-07, RESOLUTION OF
TRHE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL CENTRO, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE
APPLICATION AND AMENDING THE PERMANENT LOCAL HOUSING ALLOCATION (PLHA) PLAN FOR THE PLHA PROGRAM (COLONIAS).
AYES: Cardenas-Singh, Oliva, Marroquin, Garcia, Carter
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
9. This was the date and time set for a public hearing for an amendment to the City of El Centro’s Community Development Block Grant Citizen Participation Plan. Presentation by Adriana Nava, Community Services Director.
Mayor Marroquin declared the public hearing opened and asked if anyone wished to speak in favor or opposition to come forward. Seeing no one wishing to speak, the public hearing was closed. Council Member Oliva and Council Member Cardenas-Singh asked why this change is being done to the review period. Ms. Nava commented that the City has never received feedback for the CDBG Participation Plan and to accommodate the days when we do not have City Council meetings.
Moved by Cardenas-Singh, second by Carter, approving the amendment to the City of El Centro’s Community Development Block Grant Citizen Participation Plan.
AYES: Cardenas-Singh, Marroquin, Garcia, Carter
NOES: Oliva
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
10. This was the date and time set for a public hearing to discuss an amendment to the 2023-2024 Annual Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and reallocation of Measure P funding from sidewalk improvements to Downtown Façade Improvements. Presentation by Adriana Nava, Community Services Director.
Mayor Marroquin declared the public hearing opened and asked if anyone wished to speak in favor or opposition to come forward. Seeing no one wishing to speak, the public hearing was closed.
Moved by Oliva, second by Carter, approval of an Amendment to the 2023-2024 Annual Action Plan subject to the 30 day public review period, and authorize City Manager to submit letter to HUD to request authorization for the amendments. Also approve re-allocation of Measure P funding in the amount $134,955 from sidewalk improvements to the Façade Improvement Program.
AYES: Cardenas-Singh, Oliva, Marroquin, Garcia, Carter
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
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NEW BUSINESS
11. Discussion and any necessary action regarding the granting of an easements to Imperial Irrigation District for the Jacaranda Apartments Project. Item was removed from the agenda by our City Attorney Ms. Martyn. Item will be continued on the March 5, 2024 agenda as a Successor Agency of the Redevelopment Agency item.
12. Presentation by Adriana Nava, Community Services Director, discussion and any necessary action regarding the Award of Bid and authorizing the execution of a contract for the Buena Vista Project and allocating Measure P funds for the project. Council members had questions regarding the cost of building the Buena Vista Park and finishing the construction of the Swarthout Park project. Ms. Nava confirmed that both projects will be built.
Moved by Carter, second by Oliva, adoption of Resolution No. 24-08, RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL CETNRO AWARDING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE
EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT FOR THE BUENA VISTA PARK PROJECT AYES: Cardenas-Singh, Oliva, Marroquin, Garcia, Carter
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
Moved by Carter, second by Oliva, to re-allocate $1,200,000 from the Swarthout Field Lighting Project and an additional $150,000 in Measure P funds to cover project shortfalls this fiscal year 2023/2024 and $150,000 for next fiscal year 2024/2025 to complete the projects.
AYES: Cardenas-Singh, Oliva, Marroquin, Garcia, Carter
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
13. Presentation by Adriana Nava, Community Services Director, approval of an agreement for reoccurring services with Catholic Charities for their Navigation Center (Day Center) and Working Hands Workforce Development Program. Mayor Marroquin explained what this program is all about and how it will work. Council Member Cardenas-Singh asked several questions regarding this program and asked if the specialty care would be from Catholic Charites and not the City.
Moved by Marroquin, second by Oliva, adoption of Resolution No. 24-09, RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL CENTRO, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AN
AGREEMENT FOR REOCURRING SERVICES WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES TO PROVIDE A WORKING HANDS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
AYES: Cardenas-Singh, Oliva, Marroquin, Garcia, Carter
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
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14 Motion by Garcia, second by Cardenas-Singh, to ratify a Letter of Support in collaboration with ICOE through the Education for Homeless Children and Youth Grant Application.
AYES: Cardenas-Singh, Oliva, Marroquin, Garcia, Carter
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
15. Motion by Cardenas-Singh, second by Garcia, to ratify a letter of Support for Imperial Regional Alliance for the Imperial Valley Business Resource Center (IVBRC) requested by the USDA Rural Development Office.
AYES: Cardenas-Singh, Oliva, Marroquin, Garcia, Carter
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
16. Motion by Carter, second by Oliva, to ratify Letter of Support – Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) Establishment Act requested by the Office of U.S. Senator Alex Padilla.
AYES: Cardenas-Singh, Oliva, Marroquin, Garcia, Carter
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
LEGISLATIVE
None
TASK FORCE AND MAYOR & COUNCIL MEMBERS REPORTS
Mayor and Council Members reported on their activities since last City Council meeting and upcoming events.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
Reported on activities.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 7:42 p.m. __________________________
Norma Wyles, City Clerk
APPROVED BY:
________________________________
Sylvia Marroquin, Mayor