Book 37
REGULAR MEETING
EL CENTRO CITY COUNCIL
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1275 MAIN STREET, EL CENTRO, CA
TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2026, 3:30 P.M.
OPEN SESSION
The El Centro City Council met in a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 3:34 p.m. in Conference Room A, El Centro City Hall, 1275 W. Main Street, El Centro, California for the purpose of closed session.
PRESENT: Council: Carter, Camarena, Crankshaw, Ellett, Marroquin City Clerk Wyles, City Manager Sawyer, City Attorney Hoff ABSENT: None
CLOSED SESSION PUBLIC COMMENT
None
CITY COUNCIL CLOSED SESSION
Moved by Camarena, second by Ellett, to adjourn into closed session for:
CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8
Property:
Properties within El Centro, CA 92243 at the following addresses:
El Centro Regional Medical Center, 1415 Ross Ave.
ECRMC Medical Office Building, 1274 Ross Ave.
El Centro Outpatient Clinic, 385 W. Main St.
1204 Poplar Dr.
1258 Poplar Dr.
1295 Poplar Dr.
1455 Pepper Dr.
1215 Ross Ave.
1225 Ross Ave.
1243 Ross Ave.
1251 Ross Ave.
1271 Ross Ave.
135 S. 4th St.
Agency Negotiators: Sheppard Mullin (Eric Newsom, Megan Rooney, Christina Nguyen) Negotiating Parties: Imperial Valley Healthcare District (IVHD) Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency Designated Representative: Patrick Clark
Employee Organizations: Firefighters Association, General Employees Unit and Supervisor, Professional, and Technical Employees Unit
Book 37
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency Designated Representative: Robert Sawyer
Unrepresented Employees:
Human Resource Staff Assistant
Management Assistant
Human Resources Analyst (2)
City Clerk Staff Assistant
Staff Assistant
Human Resource Analyst II
Public Information Officer
Multimedia Content Creator
Battalion Chief (3)
Police Lieutenant (3)
Police Commander I
Economic Development Manager
Project Manager Civil
Principal Engineer
Information Technology Administrator
City Clerk
Chief of Fire
Director of Public Works
Assistant Director of Community Development
Director of Finance
Director of Human Resource
Director of Community Services
Director of Community Development
Chief of Police
Director of Library
Motion carried unanimously.
Closed Session concluded at 6:00 p.m. (All present)
City Council recessed to 6:00 p.m.
OPEN SESSION
The El Centro City Council met in a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 6:11 p.m. in Council Chambers, El Centro City Hall, 1275 Main Street, El Centro, California.
PRESENT: Council: Carter, Camarena, Crankshaw, Ellett, Marroquin City Clerk Wyles, City Attorney Hoff
ABSENT: City Manager Sawyer
Invocation was given by Council Member Ellett and Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America was led by Council Member Carter.
Book 37
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
No reportable action.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Public comment was received by Sky Ainsworth and Branden Brown.
PRESENTATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS BY MAYOR:
1. Proclamation – National Public Works Week, May 17-23, 2026. **MOTION TO REMOVE ITEM #13 FROM NEW BUSINESS:
Motion by Crankshaw, second by Marroquin to remove item #13 and bring it back to City Council at a later date.
AYES: Carter, Camarena, Crankshaw, Ellett, Marroquin
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
CONSENT AGENDA:
Moved by Marroquin, second by Carter, approving consent items # 2-8.
2. Approval of Warrant Registers for the Month of April 2026.
3. Approval of Payroll Registers for the Month of April 2026.
4. Approval of Treasurer’s Report for the Month of April 2026.
5. Approval of the City Council meeting minutes for the meeting of April 14, 2026, April 16, 2026 (1:00 pm), and April 16, 2026 (5:00 pm).
6. 2nd Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 26-02, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL CENTRO, CALIFORNIA AMENDING CHAPTER 29 OF THE EL CENTRO MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING RESIDENTIAL ZONE USE REGULATIONS, waive reading and adopt by title only.
7. Adopt Resolution No. 26-46, RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL CENTRO,
CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT FOR THE EL CENTRO
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 OPERATION STONEGARDEN.
8. Approve the 2026-2027 Monthly Scheduled Maintenance Agreement between Knorr Systems International and the City of El Centro.
AYES: Carter, Camarena, Crankshaw, Ellett, Marroquin
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
Book 37
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
9. Presentation by Adriana Nava, Community Services Director, discussion and necessary action regarding Communications Site Lease Agreement with Vero Fiber.
Mayor Pro-Tem Camarena had a few questions regarding the term of the lease and the rent amount. Ms. Nava addressed all the questions. Council members agreed that the agreement with Vero Fiber is a step on the right direction for the whole community.
Moved by Marroquin, second by Crankshaw, approval of a Land Lease Agreement with Vero Broadband, LLC for the lease of a portion of a city-owned property located at 1350 South 8th Street. The agreement allows Vero Broadband to install and operate telecommunications infrastructure to provide broadband internet services to the El Centro community.
AYES: Carter, Crankshaw, Ellett, Marroquin
NOES: Camarena
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
NEW BUSINESS:
10. Motion by Camarena, second by Marroquin, adoption of Resolution No. 26-47, RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL CENTRO, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING COUNCIL POLICY 117, DISRUPTION OF MEETINGS.
AYES: Carter, Camarena, Crankshaw, Ellett, Marroquin
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
11. Presentation by Elizabeth Fuchen, Finance Director, taxicab rate adjustment – cost of living and operational cost update.
Mr. Froylan Medina, taxi cab driver, spoke on behalf of the taxi cab drivers and explained how hard it has been to afford all the costs to drive a taxi.
Mayor Crankshaw asked Mr. Medina a few questions regarding the services the taxi drivers offer to the public in order to understand their concerns. Council member Ellett asked what is the percentage of seniors that use the taxi services everyday and said it was approximately 50%.
Motion by Crankshaw, second by Carter, to approve the following fares:
Regular Fare - $ 10.00 – per trip
Senior Citizen Fare - $ 5.00 – per trip
Wait Time/Not to Exceed $ .60 cents per minute/ Not to exceed $35.00 per hour AYES: Carter, Camarena, Crankshaw, Ellett, Marroquin
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
Book 37
12. Motion by Camarena, second by Marroquin, approve contract amendment No. 3 to Balfour Beatty Construction Management Services.
AYES: Carter, Camarena, Crankshaw, Ellett, Marroquin
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
13. **Item was pulled by Mayor Crankshaw to return at a later meeting.
Motion by Crankshaw, second by Marroquin to remove item #13 and bring it back to City Council at a later date.
AYES: Carter, Camarena, Crankshaw, Ellett, Marroquin
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
None
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
None
TASK FORCE AND MAYOR & COUNCIL MEMBERS REPORTS
Council Members provided updates on their activities since the last City Council meeting and shared information on upcoming events.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
Reported on recent activities.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to come before City Council, the regular meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m. ____________________________
Norma Wyles, City Clerk
APPROVED BY:
_________________________
Michael Crankshaw, Mayor