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SPECIAL MEETING
EL CENTRO CITY COUNCIL
CITY HALL, CONFERENCE ROOM A
1275 MAIN STREET, EL CENTRO, CA
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2025, 5:30 P.M.
OPEN SESSION
The El Centro City Council met in a special meeting on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, El Centro City Hall, 1275 Main Street, El Centro, California.
PRESENT: Council: Ellett, Carter, Marroquin, Camarena
City Clerk Wyles, Interim City Manager Paramo, City Attorney Martyn Evans Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America was led by Council Member Marroquin and Invocation was given by Council Member Ellett.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Speaker: Frances Beope.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Appointment Process to fill a City Council Vacancy was introduced and explained by Interim City Manager Daniel Paramo.
2. Conduct interviews of the City Council Candidate. Each candidate will be given three (3) minutes to provide his/her own statement or presentation.
Each City Council member asked the same question to the candidates. The questions were the following:
Mayor Pro-Tem Carter: What are the most pressing issues facing our city, and how would you approach them?
Council Member Camarena: The City of El Centro is a charter city operating under a councilCity Manager form of government, with the city council acting as the legislative body of the city. The City Council is the visionary policy maker and staff is responsible for the implementation of the council policies. What is your understanding of the Council – City Manager form of government and how would you ensure the roles are maintained and respected?
Sylvia Marroquin: City Council members often have to make difficult decisions that may not always be popular. How would you handle disagreements with constituents, fellow council members, or city staff? Marty Ellett: As a potential City Council member, how do you approach tough moral or ethical decisions? When you’re faced with competing interests or difficult choices, how do you decide what’s truly the right thing to do for the community?
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Mayor Pro-Tem announced that the candidates were terminated by drawing lots.
The candidates interviewed were: Michael Crankshaw
Raymond Loera
Carlos Ramirez
Edgard Garcia
Richard Lopez
David Dhillon
Jason Jackson
Mayor Pro-Tem thanked all the candidates, the city clerk, city attorney and city manager for all the work that it took to prepare for today’s meeting/interviews.
Mayor Pro-Tem Carter asked if anyone had a public comment and there were none.
City Council recessed at 7:18 pm and reconvened at 7:40 pm with all Council Members present.
Mayor Pro-Tem Carter asked all Council members who was their top candidate. Council member Marroquin top candidate was Raymond Loera. Council Members Camarena top choice was Richard Lopez. Council Member Ellett top choice was Michael Crankshaw. Mayor Pro-Tem Carter’s top choice was Michael Crankshaw.
Council members deliberated regarding their top candidates and discussed why the candidate was their top choice.
MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT:
Motion by Ellett, second by Camarena, to appoint Michael Crankshaw as a City Council member.
AYES: Ellett, Carter, Marroquin, Camarena
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ASTAINED: None
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 7:58 p.m. ____________________________
Norma Wyles, City Clerk
APPROVED BY:
_________________________
Sonia Carter, Mayor Pro-Tem