[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[2:27] All that's made in order at 720 roll call, please. Council member Amparano. Council member Bernworth. Mayor Proto Mendoza. Mayor Ovis Martinez. And Council member Tucker is absent for the record. Okay, everyone, please stand for the pleasure of allegiance.
[3:15] So, with respect to adjustments, I understand that there is an item on your consent due to
[3:25] So that would be your code that needs to be moved to the V section.
[3:29] Okay.
[3:30] So it would be either 8-5, 8-5, 8-5.
[3:39] 8-5 is V-5, it's about it.
[3:41] V-6.
[3:42] V-6, actually, yes.
[3:44] V-6.
[3:45] Any other adjustments?
[3:49] Any other attorney report?
[3:51] We will be continuing, reconvening into close session after the open session.
[3:56] But as of this time there is no reportable action if there is reportable action at the conclusion of the closed session after the regular meeting we will come back and report that out at that time.
[4:06] Thank you.
[4:07] Moving on to public comment, if you wish to address the City Council concerning any item within the City Council jurisdiction please raise your hand and be acknowledged by the mayor.
[4:16] At that time please state your name and address for the record.
[4:19] The mayor reserves the right to place a limit of three minutes on these persons presentation.
[4:24] and we will start off with Mr. Isaiah.
[4:37] Isaiah, with all of the 315 butterfield back again.
[4:42] That city employee that still has the stuff
[4:44] there's three meetings in our, I believe this is,
[4:47] that I'm bringing it up.
[4:48] So personal stuff on city property
[4:52] that Janelle made such a big deal about when I did it.
[4:55] For when my car broke down at the shop,
[4:57] so somebody could look into that still.
[4:59] Still sitting there.
[5:01] Back to the two-way accountability consistency.
[5:07] When Janelle had promoted one of her puppets when I became the inspector for the Aiden Road Project,
[5:14] instead of just doing like when they want to follow the MOU and they don't want to follow the MOU,
[5:20] they could have given them a 5% out of class pay like the MOU stays,
[5:24] but she gave them two hours of a standby for those eight months, which came out to
[5:31] 434 hours during that time period. So there's no consistency at all. It's a favorite, so he got the
[5:39] he got the standby. So that instead of being a 5% it ended up being a like a 25% raise once you do
[5:46] the math. And then when he got promoted into my old position that she was going to do the entire time
[5:52] anyways he didn't start at step one. Everybody else I got promoted to 85s, they
[5:57] started at step one. Cody Birch, Cody Cole, Ivan, and another person, but she
[6:04] started her puppet at step two, but no justifications at all, other than just
[6:09] being somebody that will puppet time. So you guys need to look into that stuff
[6:15] because the consistency is wild, and then when I go and let Dennis know, hey, like
[6:20] This is kind of frustrating. He didn't know about the, he didn't know it was a dentist.
[6:24] You didn't know about the standby time. He was unaware. So when you have mid-level
[6:30] management making decisions at the city manager doesn't even know about, there's a problem.
[6:36] And there's the Gallagher stuff too. I got a minute. I probably have time for that. So the
[6:40] Gallagher study, you have your building inspector at a range 75 and a 77, but you have your engineering
[6:49] engineering technician at a range set 67 and 74.
[6:54] So as an engineering technician too, at a 74,
[6:57] you're still a step below building inspector one,
[7:03] that just basically you don't need any specials
[7:06] you just show up with the pulse.
[7:08] So there's no consistency there,
[7:10] but you paid a Gallagher according to Facebook $145,000
[7:14] to not complete that report or to give an inconsistent report
[7:17] and report, because two or three of you out there should know that engineering should
[7:23] always be a step above like building, or tone knows it, hectare knows it, everybody
[7:28] in or tone's department understands it, but it never got fixed or addressed.
[7:33] So building technician or building a Spectre 1, a range 75, the other one, range 67, there's
[7:42] a problem.
[7:43] Thank you.
[7:46] Moving on to Mr. Michael Lincford.
[7:59] Michael Lincford, 399 East Aurora. Good evening.
[8:03] I'm back here again. I will keep coming back until the EEOC calls her out of here.
[8:08] Not here. Her office in handcuffs.
[8:11] You guys are doing nothing about it.
[8:13] About the illegal activity that she fired before.
[8:16] She lied on the report.
[8:19] You guys know it. I mean it's...
[8:21] But you guys are nothing about it. You guys are not above the law.
[8:25] I believe you think you are, but EOC will come in here, something will have to happen because it's wrong and you guys are all playing, you know, her part.
[8:34] You guys are just believing her, whatever, nobody's questioned anything about it. And it's one of so many things that are wrong.
[8:41] I don't even know why we're up here talking because you guys aren't going to do anything about it.
[8:45] So basically hopefully the public sees, public can understand, I know there's a lot of
[8:50] comments and concerns about the way this is being handled, all of it, you guys got a
[8:54] packed house, so apparently you're doing something, right?
[8:57] But yeah, I would just say that we would probably be more trustworthy if we had Dr. Fauci on
[9:06] this side instead of the doctor we have and the people that we have because you guys are
[9:09] We're doing nothing for the people, and you should be, let's all.
[9:13] Thank you.
[9:14] Mr. Flavio Gritava.
[9:29] Good evening.
[9:31] Good evening.
[9:31] Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council,
[9:33] my name is Flavio Gritava, Jr.
[9:34] I'm the business agent for Team Shr's Local 542.
[9:37] I did leave a letter with you guys.
[9:38] You guys minds a certain version, obviously,
[9:40] but I'm here tonight because of the direction
[9:43] of these negotiations affects not just our members.
[9:46] It affects the entire City of Imperial.
[9:48] I want to speak plainly,
[9:50] For the employees who keep this city running every day, this fight is personal.
[9:55] It's about their livelihoods, their families, and the services they provide to the residents of Imperial.
[9:59] Currently, the city is being asked to approve a three year employment agreement for the city manager.
[10:06] That contract shows the city absolutely has the ability to provide stability and fairness when it chooses to.
[10:11] It includes a $285,000 salary, guaranteed 5 percent annual merit increases, cost of
[10:17] living increases, six months of severance, 80 hours of administrative leave, and protections
[10:22] ensuring his salary and benefits cannot be reduced.
[10:25] These aren't signs of a city that cannot afford fair terms.
[10:29] These are signs of a city that values stability when it chooses to.
[10:33] Yet, at the bargaining table, the city is telling its workforce the opposite.
[10:37] it, they are proposing harmful language changes, resisting reasonable increases, and claiming
[10:42] financial limitations that do not match the commitments made in the city manager's contract.
[10:47] And now, instead of continuing the long-standing practice of negotiating directly with the
[10:52] Union, a practice that has produced fair, responsible agreements for years, the city has handed
[10:57] negotiations to a private consultant.
[11:00] A consultant whose documented history shows a pattern of conflict, escalation, and breakdowns
[11:04] in multiple agencies.
[11:05] policies.
[11:06] One public document states he was forced out by his own members after years of division
[11:10] and mistrust.
[11:11] Another report he was placed on leave while leading contra cost is the largest public
[11:15] employee union, and internal Nevada records describe the meetings filled with chaos, yelling
[11:21] and threats.
[11:22] These aren't rumors.
[11:23] They're publicly accessible documents, and now the City of Imperial is paying this consultant
[11:28] with public funds to drag out negotiations, push conflict, and attempt to force negative
[11:33] of contractual language onto the very employees who make this city operational.
[11:38] Every hour of delay is more billable hours.
[11:41] Every step towards impasse is more cost of taxpayers.
[11:44] Every conflict means more money to spend on a consultant instead of the workforce.
[11:49] This is not leadership, this is not transparency, this is not accountability.
[11:53] The union has always bargained in good faith.
[11:56] We have reached agreements with the city before.
[11:58] Agreements that were fair are responsible and supported by both sides.
[12:01] We can do that again, but we can't do it under strategy built on conflict, delay and outside influence.
[12:09] We're asking the council to evaluate the current negotiating strategy, the cost to taxpayers and the impact of city services.
[12:16] We ask you to save money, direct your city team to negotiate directly in good faith with real authority and with a focus on reaching an agreement that works for everyone.
[12:27] The city, the employees, and the residents all deserve this.
[12:33] Public funds should serve the public, not private agendas.
[12:37] Thank you.
[12:38] Thank you.
[12:48] Mark, is it Janus?
[13:03] I'm Mark Janus, president of the Imperial Police Officers Association.
[13:08] Knights agenda gives the city manager a total compensation of 285,000.
[13:12] Directors get nearly a 14-hour pay bump from the old pay scale to the proposed pay scale.
[13:17] Some already paid earlier this year.
[13:20] Meanwhile, the city revenue is flat,
[13:22] and the rest of us need our pay seal adjusted.
[13:25] Since December the city paid a labor negotiator 98,000,
[13:28] the Gallagher compensation study approximately 120,000.
[13:33] That's over 218,000 spent on outside consultants,
[13:37] and what it bought was a divided workforce and a collapse in trust.
[13:41] Not every leader chose this path,
[13:42] but those who did and those who sat through it got exactly what they paid for.
[13:46] Overcharge services, condescending tone, and a bad taste in the mouths of the people who
[13:52] actually deliver city services.
[13:54] This council was either complicit in those decisions or you were ill informed.
[13:58] When executives get disproportionate raises while the rest of us are told the budget is tight,
[14:04] employees hear that some positions are worth investing and others aren't.
[14:09] That message plus the bargaining table tactics damaged morale more than any dollar figure.
[14:16] We're not asking you to ignore market realities.
[14:19] We're asking you for one standard of fairness for every employee group.
[14:23] If revenue is truly flat, examine every proposed increase against that claim.
[14:28] The city managers and the directors.
[14:30] If the city could find 285,000 for one position and 218,000 for consultants
[14:35] who left us divided rather than strengthening our partnership, the remaining employees and
[14:41] taxpayers deserve a transparent explanation as to why the city hired an outside consultant
[14:46] instead of doing the work itself and saving taxpayers money. We expect leadership that treats
[14:51] us as partners, not as a cost to be managed. Rebuilding trust starts with consistency.
[14:56] The same fiscal story for everyone, and negotiating a
[15:00] Approach that doesn't leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth. So I'm asking you tonight to do the right thing. Pause items, B2 and B5 until there's a prayer solution for the employees who are at impasse. Measurement should not skip the line while the rest of the workforce is on hold. If you could find 400,000 over three years for management, a three-year city manager deal at the cost of 877,000, you could wait long enough for the employees at impasse with the same sense of urgency.
[15:28] keeping everyone status quo until then cost the council nothing but patients approving this
[15:34] proportion it raises tonight before taking care of city workers and police officers will cost you
[15:40] trust you will not buy back with another consultant thank you
[15:52] miss Kelly Jordan excuse me mayor for
[15:57] the record I would just like to confirm that council member Tucker is present at 731 thank you
[16:05] Good evening, Kelly Jordan, 1056, 18th Street.
[16:10] Good evening, Madam Mayor, members of City Council.
[16:14] The last time I was here, it was to thank you for your leadership during the data center
[16:21] development in our region, and tonight I'm happy to return to celebrate what happens when
[16:28] government listens to its people and acts with courage.
[16:32] That tentative court ruling is a major victory for us and everyone who believed that our
[16:42] community deserved a voice.
[16:44] So tonight, let me recap what happened.
[16:47] We spoke up, we researched, organized, attended meetings, asked questions, dug our heels in,
[16:54] and refused to accept a hopeless outcome.
[16:57] And during all of that, this council listened, and under Mayor Ida's responsive leadership, the city acted.
[17:07] And the city of Imperial stood up for its residents, challenged a powerful outside interest and defended the community's right to a lawful and transparent process.
[17:18] And sometimes, yes, it takes a woman to get the job done.
[17:22] And this is what happens when government works with us.
[17:26] Participation becomes meaningful.
[17:29] We become partners with our leadership and trust begins to grow again.
[17:33] So Madam Mayor, thank you for showing that listening is not weakness.
[17:38] Caution is not obstruction and that protecting the public is responsible governance.
[17:44] And I'm incredibly proud that I will have the opportunity to vote for you for State Assembly.
[17:49] So tonight I celebrate a community that found its voice, a city that stood up and the women
[17:55] who deserve to be recognized for helping get the job done.
[17:58] Thank you.
[18:03] Mr. Jake Tyson?
[18:13] Yeah.
[18:14] Good evening, Mayor and Imperial City Council.
[18:19] I'm Jake Tyson.
[18:20] I actually live in El Centro, but I just want to come and say thank you and to talk about what
[18:27] what happened on Monday because it seems like every week has been just a massive ball
[18:36] of information that kind of has been an avalanche, a weekly avalanche on us.
[18:43] But I kind of wanted to say, I just wanted to back up with Kelly who was saying, but also
[18:48] with gratitude, being gratitude to be here at this moment and to be part of this and to
[18:55] help people out and fight for people and to be, you know, have that gratitude and that
[18:59] thankfulness that this community came together, right, on a daily deal. People, you know,
[19:08] the citizens of the, here they lost sleep at night. Children were scared. You know, I
[19:15] saw it at the school board, right, they were showing up and they were talking about how
[19:21] They were afraid to move. They didn't want to move. They didn't want to leave their friends, right?
[19:26] I mean, there was a lot going on because of that.
[19:30] But growing up here, you know, growing up here in the Imperial Valley, I always known that like when you come to a party and you bring a friend,
[19:39] and that person starts to get out of hand, it is your job to escort them out.
[19:45] Okay, is your duty? That's the way the rule was down here. Okay, and so, you know, we have
[19:52] some people in Brawley that brought in this guy. Okay, they brought in this guy, and
[19:59] I told them that you need to get him out of here. Well, now the judge said, hey, you're not
[20:04] welcome here to do what you want. You need to do it the way you're supposed to do it. And,
[20:07] you know, so I'm just wondering if Mr. Tim Kelly is going to take him out of here.
[20:14] You
[20:14] You bring in this person into this home, into this place, and they act up, you need to get them out of here.
[20:21] And so I think we're all waiting for that.
[20:24] We want to see the final closure on this stuff.
[20:30] But, you know, at the end of the day, it's gratitude.
[20:33] Right? Everything's a gift.
[20:36] Mr. Ruchi was a gift to us.
[20:37] Because of him, I know all these people right here.
[20:40] I know you guys.
[20:41] Right?
[20:43] and that's the greatest gift of all that we have each other and we could work
[20:47] through our problems, whatever the problems that come next because that was a
[20:51] big one. You know that was a big threat. So thank you. Appreciate your health.
[21:00] Mr. Christopher Spurs.
[21:07] Hey good evening everybody. Madam Mayor I want to echo
[21:11] what my friends Mr. Jordan and Mr. Tyson had to say and express my same
[21:18] gratitude. I live in Imperial 244 Samantha Court. My house is particularly close to the proposed
[21:27] data center site and lost a lot of sleep over these last nine months. So congratulations on a
[21:35] pretty on the intensive victory so far. I'm looking forward to that intensive victory being
[21:40] a complete victory, and even sleeping better.
[21:46] I, 12 months ago, about a year ago, I was not involved in advocacy or NIMB, or I didn't
[21:57] understand local government, county-wide, city-wide, I didn't, I was pretty ignorant, locally speaking.
[22:03] And during this time, I've learned how dysfunctional government can be seeing it firsthand every day.
[22:16] Taking time off work, taking time away from my family.
[22:21] And we're seeing that this thing,
[22:26] we're going to see some crazy stuff unfold.
[22:30] I don't think I'm allowed to say what I know, but anyway.
[22:33] So I want to thank the city government here for being functional and I know you got
[22:41] a little bit of heat tonight from people who may disagree with me and that's the beauty
[22:46] of being in America and having free speeches they get to say it but as far as I'm concerned
[22:51] in the people that I've associated with during this whole data center fiasco is that you guys
[22:58] are functional and you're doing what's right for the people. I can't say that
[23:03] at the county and like my friend Mr. Tyson suggested, can't say that about
[23:08] Brawley. So anyway, see you at the next football game, Tiger Pride.
[23:29] Thank you.
[23:32] Council, I want to thank you for buying my heart for your leadership.
[23:39] You took
[23:39] book I read about. Everyone by great, Mike Raven, is about, if you want to change the
[23:46] world, you have to send up to the believes of the world. You've got to get people hope.
[23:52] And you've got to open up. You hold the line against a guy, and people from Brawley and
[23:59] Mr. Rincey, we try to develop something that should never be introduced to our county.
[24:06] I took courage. I took leadership. And yes, they were saying you're going to lose. I heard
[24:12] the noise too. I was there when that day we had one of the citizens arrested. It was
[24:19] next to me. And now I know what he did. And thank God the tribes have never gone forward.
[24:24] But they were making threats. The board, the supervisors, to members of the public. And I'm
[24:30] I'm sure there was other emails being exchanged, but you so tall, you always had this look
[24:39] of standing strong.
[24:42] All of you.
[24:43] It takes a team effort.
[24:46] Not individuals.
[24:47] And these friends and friends are family.
[24:50] They're no longer friends.
[24:52] They're family.
[24:53] I'm closer to them than I am to my large extended family of over 800.
[24:59] And it means a lot when you say that.
[25:02] I was there with Jake's freedom of speech was being challenged from Mr. Roosey.
[25:06] And he got it back in court.
[25:08] That's how they were trying to push us.
[25:11] And Tim Kelly, when he called me the village idiot in the board of civilizer,
[25:14] we'll guess who's looking like one right now.
[25:18] We'll show this him.
[25:19] He's right now it's talking to the board.
[25:21] The board, having his double scotch.
[25:24] And like I said before in the board room, we have better intel than the CIA.
[25:29] Thank you again for your leadership, and I do see the future being attempted to be
[25:36] the full role in your favor and the hell with the Kelly Foundation.
[25:46] Ms. Gina Snow,
[25:56] good morning, Councilor, good morning, good evening, sorry, this middle
[26:00] of the week.
[26:00] I don't have my coffee.
[26:02] Before I get started, I did want to echo some of the sentiments that some others mentioned.
[26:07] And it has been really challenging, as you know, being a resident and dealing with everything
[26:11] that we have.
[26:12] But I think most of us here in the room that are here to thank you would acknowledge
[26:15] that we weren't involved in advocacy prior to this or maybe to the extent that this project
[26:21] has encouraged us to be.
[26:23] So if we do look at the silver lining, many of us are empowered because of this project
[26:27] because we were forced to learn things about our government, forced to learn about how
[26:30] projects might affect us.
[26:32] and I do appreciate that being something that we have gotten to experience
[26:37] and being able to engage with people.
[26:40] But I did want to say that I am really simply here to say thank you.
[26:45] For months, many of us who live near the proposed data center
[26:49] have stood at podiums, attended meetings, written emails,
[26:52] asked questions, protested, and fought to make our voices heard.
[26:56] And somewhere along the way, something that should have been incredibly simple
[26:59] became a fight. We asked that a massive project propose next to our homes, our
[27:05] neighborhoods and our children, be fully studied before it was allowed to move
[27:08] forward. That was it. And we wanted to know what it could mean for our water, our
[27:14] power, our air, the noise we would live with, our emergency services, our health,
[27:19] our future, and ultimately the community we all call home. And when our
[27:24] concerns were being dismissed by the county board, you listened. You didn't have to
[27:29] carry this fight, but you did choose to. You chose to ask the questions that needed to
[27:34] be asked. You chose to challenge a process you believe deserved greater scrutiny. And
[27:39] because you did, CEQA review will now be required tentatively. I don't think I can adequately
[27:46] explain what that means to not just those of us who live next to the proposed project, but
[27:50] also county residents. You have set a precedent. Because when we have been fighting something
[27:56] being this big against people with more money, more resources, and more power than we have.
[28:03] There were moments when we wondered whether ordinary people actually had a chance.
[28:07] You reminded us that we do.
[28:09] And we know this doesn't mean the conversation about this project is over.
[28:12] It means that conversations finally get to happen with transparency, environmental review,
[28:16] and public accountability that a project of this magnitude ultimately deserves.
[28:20] So tonight, I just wanted Judy here directly from one of the residents who's home, you
[28:25] help protect. Thank you for listening when we felt unheard. Thank you for standing up when it
[28:30] would have been easier not to and thank you for reminding this community that our home and our
[28:35] voice voices are worth fighting for. Thank you very much.
[28:44] Mr. Robert Palfe.
[28:54] Madam Mayor,
[28:55] Honourable Council, Mr. Rita, City Leaders. It's a happy night. We've been put through a lot
[29:03] Since last November, first of all I want to remind you all that you're the ones that sounded the alarm.
[29:10] You could have sat back, you could have sat on your hands, you could have taken the easy route.
[29:14] But instead you guys chose to be courageous, you chose to look after the health and well-being of your citizens,
[29:21] and you chose to stand by us.
[29:23] And I know that some of you have paid a personal price for that, and I'm sorry that that happened to you,
[29:28] But this is the essence of public service.
[29:32] You all, we all owe you a great debt of gratitude and really appreciate what you did.
[29:39] It's hard to really put into words how we're all feeling about you guys.
[29:45] I think we learned some lessons here, though.
[29:48] One thing we learned is, you know, when you're in a position of governance,
[29:53] don't lose the trust of your constituents.
[29:55] This County Board of Supervisors basically
[30:00] The almost all of them have shown their unworthiness for the positions they're in and they show that they can't be trusted and it's really going to affect the rest of their terms. So I think that's a good lesson that we should all take with us and that you should keep in mind as you move forward here. But this is the most courageous thing that I have ever seen a city government do. The most courageous thing. It's really an incredible gesture. We appreciate it. Thank you so, so much.
[30:29] And if we're successful in recalling Peggy Price, we're going to need a candidate.
[30:35] So, you guys might consider that.
[30:37] I'm sure that the lessons we've learned here could be of use county-wide, and just
[30:43] the last thing I want to say is I too will have the pleasure of voting for you, Ida, and
[30:49] the upcoming election, and any of you else they're running.
[30:52] I don't even know how many of you are up for a election, but you can count on me.
[30:56] Let me know if I can help you.
[30:57] And let's dance a dance tonight. It's a happy night. Thank you. Thank you all.
[31:05] Ms. Michelle Hollanger.
[31:18] Good evening Madam Mayor and Imperial Council.
[31:22] I'm honored to be here today. I really am.
[31:28] And you've given me back hope.
[31:33] You've given me my home, my business.
[31:38] and I thank you for your partnership. It's been a ride, but one that I will journey with
[31:46] you on any time. Madam Mayor, if I could have you set forward, I'd like to present this
[31:54] to you. I think it'd be for all our council members.
[31:58] Yes, so all. Yeah, sure.
[32:10] On behalf of the Torrey Homes, I would
[32:12] I would just like to award this to you guys to the city of Imperial for being the best city in California.
[32:21] The award for excellence in safety, community, and quality of life. I appreciate you.
[32:59] Thank you.
[33:05] We'll be moving on to consent agenda.
[33:07] If you excuse me, items appearing in the consent agenda will be acted upon by the City Council
[33:12] with one motion without discussion.
[33:15] Should any council member or other person requests?
[33:17] Yeah, I'll put you up right now, sir.
[33:19] The item can be considered separately, that item may be taken up at the time as determined
[33:23] by the mayor.
[33:24] And we do have a public comment by Mr. Raufsch regarding a three.
[33:30] A three, yes.
[33:32] Honourable mayor, members of the City Council.
[33:35] So I've heard some wonderful things about you tonight, and I think that you can keep
[33:41] it going because you're going to look at an item here on your consent calendar to give
[33:48] $40,000 to an entity called Imperial Braton.
[33:53] The city has no agreement with Imperial Braton.
[33:56] It had an agreement in 2005, I'm talking about the neighborhood that's called CFD 2004-3.
[34:05] This is the location that's north of Aiton and to that east of Clark, just north of the
[34:12] proposed data center.
[34:14] Everybody in that neighborhood pays mellow roofs or CFD taxes and those taxes were being
[34:22] used to reimburse the developer for costs that the developer expended.
[34:28] The developers were called Rilington Imperial LLC and Paseo del Sol LLC.
[34:35] These two entities entered into a contract with the city and the CFD to be reimbursed $3.6
[34:42] million for the work they did in creating public infrastructure.
[34:47] that money was paid out in 2005, 2006, and 2007. The reason we know that is we've done
[34:57] three public record act requests and asked for all the backup documentation as to the expenditures
[35:04] made by that CFD. They were fully reimbursed. After 2007, the developers, Rylington and
[35:15] and Paseo del Sol stopped paying any Meloroo's assessments in the district.
[35:20] They became delinquent, and they failed to pay the CFD over $396,000 from the period
[35:31] from 2007 to 2018.
[35:36] This, everybody else that lives in the north of Atene, has to pay CFD taxes, but the developers
[35:44] did not because the city did not enforce the payments that they had to pay. By 2018 the city agreed
[35:53] to go after the successor and the successor was called Gazette Ranch. That's that big piece of
[36:00] property that's across from Cross Elementary School. And Bratton Imperial Bratton LLC did not have a
[36:10] contract did not have an agreement and for some reason the City Council in 2018 approved
[36:20] paying Imperial Bratton $1.6 million for the same work that had already been reimbursed
[36:32] to Rylington and.
[36:42] So we have some adjustments to the consent agenda. We're moving A5 to B6. Can we get a motion?
[36:51] So moved.
[36:52] I have a second.
[36:54] Second.
[36:55] Thank you, James.
[36:57] One second.
[37:17] Motion carries 5-0.
[37:19] Thank you.
[37:19] Regarding action items, V1 award construction contract for the City Department Door Replacement
[37:25] and bid number 2026-07 by Mr. Garcia.
[37:29] Thank you, Madam Mayor and Councilmembers.
[37:32] The next item on your agenda is for the door replacement
[37:36] of our apartments on 12th and 8th Street.
[37:39] This would replace the front and rear exterior doors
[37:44] for a total of 20 doors.
[37:46] Earlier last month we put out the invitation a bid
[37:51] and we received two response of bids back.
[37:55] The awarding of lowest bid was a desert building in design,
[38:00] local firm out of Calexico, and so we were asking
[38:04] that the contract be awarded to desert building in design
[38:08] for 25,000 with a 10% contingency for 27.5.
[38:13] Just some basic history on our apartments, as you know,
[38:17] back in 22, 23.
[38:19] the roof was completed. At that time, six of the 10 air condition units were also replaced.
[38:27] Since then, we last year using PLHA funding. We replaced all the windows around all the apartments.
[38:38] And starting next week, we will begin the remodeling of kitchens and bathrooms that the council also awarded that contract last month.
[38:48] And so to date, we've spent or committed 389,000 of the 400,000 that we PLHFUNs that we have.
[38:58] So once this, if the Council approves this award, there's about 60,000 left in those funds.
[39:07] And we have some, I identified some other projects that need to be looked at, including the remaining
[39:13] for air conditioning units that weren't replaced in 22, 23, and then some minor
[39:20] painting and upgrades to the apartments. So with that, if the council so chooses, we can
[39:28] level forward with this project and it'll align with our road modeling and start
[39:33] next week too. So these doors are in pretty bad shape. Some of the tenants have
[39:39] have pointed out that their broken doors were replaced with other broken doors.
[39:44] Some of those doors are actually being created or not exterior doors, so they need to be upgraded.
[39:50] Any questions, comments?
[39:52] Well, real quick question on this contract, but the last contract, how was that going?
[39:57] I know they had one of the residents come up to me and asked me that there was issues happening with scheduling planning and all that going on.
[40:05] So the contractor for that project, we're going to be doing two apartments at a time.
[40:11] So the first four apartments have been scheduled and will be relocating them to a local hotel.
[40:21] And so we're starting that scheduling with those first four apartments that we're starting with.
[40:26] And we notified all of them that the project is moving forward.
[40:29] Those four have been given confirmation dates as to when their apartments will start.
[40:35] But we do need to kind of walk it through because it's remodeling.
[40:39] So the contractor is anticipating about five to seven days for each apartment to be completed.
[40:46] So that's two apartments at a time, five to seven days.
[40:49] But again, remodeling, if they run into any issues and it's extended,
[40:54] we'll have to push back the other apartments.
[40:55] and the re-locating is PLHA funding.
[41:01] That and we also have rental receipts also.
[41:06] So it's all out of the, to any apartment funding,
[41:10] either PLHA or the rental receipts.
[41:13] And like I said, we do have a nice cushion right now,
[41:15] 62,000 for the PLHA funds.
[41:21] Any questions?
[41:23] I'll either chain a motion.
[41:26] Make a motion to it.
[41:27] Second.
[41:28] We have first and second by Robert.
[41:39] Thank you.
[41:41] Moving on to be three, approval of departmental, departmental reorganization, merging community
[41:46] development and public services into local development and operations department, adoption
[41:50] of job descriptions associated personality classifications.
[41:53] Do I miss one?
[41:59] They jumped.
[42:01] My bad.
[42:02] They have their mislabeled on here.
[42:06] They were.
[42:10] My bad.
[42:16] Move it on B2.
[42:18] The doc resolution 2026-58 establishes in terms related to compensation and benefits for
[42:24] Management Supervisory, Professional Confidential, MSPC, Unrepresented Employees, and Approved
[42:31] Related Charges to the Cities, Salary Schedules, Presented by Ms. Smith.
[42:37] Thank you. Good evening. Item B2 is a recommendation to approve Resolution 202658 for MSPC and
[42:48] represented employees to update terms and compensation in benefits and related salary schedules.
[42:57] The resolution implements the 2026 total compensation study at 95% of the market median retroactively
[43:06] to July of 2026 compensation provisions also include one time $1,500 lump sum payment eligibility
[43:15] for merit increases in 2627, and then followed by a 2.5% COLA for fiscal year 2728 with a merit freeze for that year, and then in fiscal year 2829, employees would receive a 2.5% increase, and then a merit step would be contingent upon the city achieving a general fund surplus of at least $1.1 million.
[43:44] dollars at the end of fiscal year 2728 to trigger those merit increases. Additional
[43:52] key benefits outlined in the resolution include 100% city-paid employee coverage through
[43:58] 2027 and transitioning to a flat $1,000 monthly cap on January 1st, 2028 and continuing 50%
[44:09] dependent coverage and a $700 SIMSA allowance for our Mexico insurance plan.
[44:18] Additional employee wellness and protection benefits also include the city paid reach
[44:24] emergency helicopter transport services, fully funded life insurance for employees and
[44:29] their dependents and monthly gym or fitness class reimbursement of up to $50.
[44:36] The resolution does add a one-time limited floating holiday to increase holidays to 15
[44:43] observed holidays through June 30th, 2029, at which time that additional floating holiday
[44:50] would sunset.
[44:51] And it renames Columbus Day to Indigenous People's Day, updates bereavement leave to more closely
[44:57] align with a beef 1949.
[45:00] And provides 80 hours of annual administratively for exempt staff with a new mid-year pro-ration for new hires or promotions. And then it also allows an annual cash, a vacation cashout of up to 80 hours, but phases out comp, comp time off for non-exempt employees.
[45:23] They would be able to use that comp time, any banks that they do have until by June of 2027.
[45:29] at which point any remaining time in their comp would be paid out to them.
[45:35] For non-sword staff, it also expands eligible certifications for up to $75 per pay period,
[45:44] increasing annual safety boot vouchers to $425 and keeps tuition reimbursement at $2,000 annually.
[45:53] And for sworn staff, it maintains a $1,500 annual uniform stipend and continues non-stackable
[46:01] post-certification stipends for intermediate and advanced levels.
[46:05] Additionally, it increases degree pay for $100 biweekly for bachelor's degrees and $175 biweekly
[46:14] for master's degrees, while incorporated new WASC accreditation requirements for qualifying
[46:21] degrees.
[46:21] The financial impact over the three years is $401,132.45, with fiscal year 2627 impact
[46:32] being $215,955, and year 2,2728, $91,404, $45,000, and then for the third year,
[46:45] year, fiscal year, $28.29, $93,731. We recommend approval of Resolution 2026-58 and
[46:57] related salary schedules, and I'm happy to answer any questions that you may have.
[47:03] Any questions or comments?
[47:07] So you come to the union? That's who you negotiate this with, right?
[47:14] So, for MSPC unrepresented, it is not a process of going through negotiations for unrepresented.
[47:23] There is not a late representative that we meet with.
[47:28] And so, this is the administration's recommendations to you and for their benefits.
[47:36] There's not any negotiation with unrepresented employees.
[47:40] However, these do mirror the proposals that we have with our labor unions.
[47:51] How many employees became why rated under MSPC?
[47:57] There's one why rated employee under MSPC.
[48:06] So you know that's been like a big issue.
[48:10] I know
[48:15] there's concerns and we're here to support all our staff.
[48:21] And I've heard, I've heard the negotiator wasn't,
[48:27] how can I say this, there was issues,
[48:30] right?
[48:33] And I can't backtrack what that does, but I could move forward and make sure that we're hearing everybody
[48:38] and making sure that we are making sure we're good representatives of you as well.
[48:42] And so, you know, this isn't perfect. I know there's a lot still to be done. I know there's a lot of talks still to do.
[48:54] Any comments?
[48:58] Yeah.
[48:59] No, this was on a four-year being in.
[49:01] Mm-hmm.
[49:02] No, this was none.
[49:04] Yeah.
[49:09] Make motion for anybody?
[49:13] Oh, I have a change of motion.
[49:16] I'll make the motion.
[49:17] I'll make the motion.
[49:18] Please.
[49:19] I'll make the motion.
[49:19] I'm going forward.
[49:21] I have a second.
[49:28] Any other questions?
[49:30] What is going on?
[49:33] A second.
[49:36] I have a first and a second.
[49:46] I came in two, two.
[49:51] So we are at a stillmate.
[49:53] I just...
[49:53] Yeah.
[49:53] We are at a stillmate.
[49:54] there's a flop and comes back. This motion does not go forward. I don't have to come back.
[50:06] All right. Moving on to the relevant B3.
[50:16] Yes.
[50:17] Okay.
[50:23] Drop, Ronald.
[50:24] You're up next, sir.
[50:28] Madam Mayor, if I can suggest to the extent you didn't take action with respect to MSPC
[50:36] to the extent that the item related to me basically sets forth the same terms as MSPC, I would
[50:44] ask that you also defer that matter.
[50:46] So, before it would be tabled in, I want to say I believe that was kind of our direction
[50:52] as well.
[50:53] Yeah.
[50:54] You get tabled.
[50:55] Sorry.
[50:58] All right.
[50:58] Moving on to V3.
[50:59] Approval in departmental, re-organization, re-organization, merging community development, and
[51:05] public services to the local development operations department, adoption of job descriptions,
[51:09] associated personnel, reclassifications, and related budget amendments, Ms. Kristen.
[51:15] So, this one is, it does have contingencies upon the MSPC resolution moving forward as far
[51:24] as the compensation salaries and ranges, so we will need to table this and bring it back
[51:30] as well.
[51:32] Can we approve part of it, or do we have to approve the whole thing?
[51:35] Can we or no? Can we approve the reorg like and make it so they report to each
[51:44] other and then bring back the cloud. You could make a motion that divided it out.
[51:49] I have to look at how these resolution straps are just going to be a moment.
[51:57] And then we have a public comment as well. Yeah. Yeah. You could break it up
[52:06] up, but I would defer to staff to make sure that they don't have any concerns without that
[52:11] might impact one another.
[52:15] Councillor Gauvin, you have three minutes.
[52:17] No, I just wanted to ask if that, because we're talking about public services and if that
[52:21] was positions that also govern within teamsters, because I don't remember seeing an email that
[52:26] I might have missed it.
[52:28] I just don't remember seeing it and considering that we are in the middle of negotiations, that's
[52:31] something I would say probably would have to go through us.
[52:33] So I would be asking the city council to table this as well or we get clarification on that.
[52:39] Okay, and so I can clarify that.
[52:41] So the reorg it only affects the director and manager positions.
[52:45] It does not affect any teamsters related positions.
[52:49] Thank you. That's what we want to get clarification on.
[52:50] Okay, so would it be okay?
[52:52] Would you be okay with just the reorg for that?
[52:55] And then on the management.
[52:57] It's just the director and the manager.
[53:00] Yeah, we don't have to use this on that site for management.
[53:03] I was in the first and there for a second.
[53:05] It was our Bar Union members and if it was definitely.
[53:08] Absolutely.
[53:10] Do we have a stat recommendation from staff to bring it back or what?
[53:14] So my recommendation is to let us go back to review and adjust appropriately so we can bring back the correct items for you next week.
[53:23] Okay. Okay.
[53:28] So B3 is tabled as well as B2. We need a vote before. Do we need a vote?
[53:34] You should take action on both B3 and B4. You can do it in one action, though.
[53:42] I'll make a motion to table. B2, 3 and 4. Yeah, to table item B. No. B3 and 4.
[53:53] Yeah, it'd be three, four, and five.
[53:56] Sorry, you threw the interrupt, but we will have to also table the code of interest because
[54:01] it's got the new job titles and MB6, yeah, all of it.
[54:06] Okay, now she doesn't want me messed up because can we do authorize the point of designating
[54:11] building official?
[54:13] I just don't need to go back, I need to go back as well, I'm sorry, all right, so I'll make
[54:20] motion to approve table items B 3 before B5 and B6 okay and I'm going to do
[54:31] we'll call out on all the items. Do we have a second or no? I'll second. Okay we have a first and a
[54:39] second. Thank you. Okay so Council member Amparano. Yes. Council member Vernor. Yes.
[54:50] Council member
[54:50] Yes. Motion carries. 5-0 to table item B3, B4, B5, and B6.
[55:06] Thank you. Moving on to department reports. Mr. Mora.
[55:12] I have nothing to add tonight. Thank you. Thank you, sir.
[55:15] Mr. Chanel. Nothing to report. Thank you, Mr. Lopez.
[55:19] I do really quick. Sorry, I know. We'll talk to you later.
[55:22] No, we'll talk to you later. Go ahead, Tony.
[55:23] So we will be closing, just remind you guys
[55:27] and the public will be closing your park,
[55:29] starting the eighth, we'll be advertising
[55:31] on social media, putting the renderings out
[55:34] for the new playground that's gonna be installed
[55:37] here in the next few months.
[55:39] I wanted you guys to start putting your mind,
[55:41] your availability for the week of the following council meet
[55:44] so we can do like a groundbreaking.
[55:47] I'll be setting a slurry of calendar
[55:50] and I'll see you guys for a number of things.
[55:52] We want to do a groundbreaking behind that before we start full-blown construction, so just look out for that.
[55:59] We'll push it out to your personal emails through the City Manager's Office as well.
[56:04] That's all I have.
[56:05] Thank you.
[56:05] Thank you.
[56:07] Mr. Alejandro.
[56:08] I had nothing to add.
[56:09] Thank you.
[56:11] Chief Rill.
[56:12] So I do want to talk about one thing.
[56:14] The incident that happened last Friday, there's some clarification that needs to happen for the public.
[56:20] and this is a good form to get it out because I think we can all attest to the fact that social
[56:25] media is a great way to miscommunicate. The incident that happened at the high school involving
[56:30] this tabbing had zero nexus to the school absent location. There wasn't, there's no direct correlation
[56:38] with the game, there's no direct correlation with students that we have at this information
[56:43] and we are not currently concerned about any additional threats to public safety. I think it's
[56:48] important information gets out and clarifies some of the concern because there were some moments
[56:53] of panic and some additional phone calls that took place after the notification and I
[56:59] think it was right to put the information out but even local news outlets or misreporting
[57:05] the information as delivered to them so it's important that we clarify that as a law enforcement
[57:10] agency.
[57:11] And then I just have a question on was there there's an incident as well with the ammunition
[57:16] on the school was not all the same incident because I think the press release just did talk about part of it and I've gotten like panic parents about both.
[57:27] So there's really I want to assuage any concerns that the public would have about continued public safety concerns.
[57:36] The incident involving the high capacity magazine was not a student. He was from another school in another city.
[57:43] He drew the attention of school staff who summoned the police officers that were on scene
[57:48] and he was arrested on campus.
[57:51] We have nothing to indicate that there was any threat to the school and any threat to
[57:55] the people that were attending the football game that were anomaly.
[57:59] He just basically contacted at the wrong time in possession of something that he probably
[58:05] should have been possession of.
[58:07] Okay.
[58:07] So it was two separate incidents.
[58:09] Separate incidents.
[58:10] Okay.
[58:10] It's kind of like a law-related, I mean, social media and everybody else with wondering.
[58:15] People were pushing it all together, yeah, so, no, thank you.
[58:18] Yeah, so that information did bleed over in the social media we saw it, and luckily
[58:23] we have a pretty open line of communications with the superintendent and the schools.
[58:27] So they were on board, the school board has been notified, and then hopefully that information
[58:32] starts to trickle down from and to the parents and to the students.
[58:36] Since I have as a parent I have not seen something come through as a parent
[58:40] I haven't seen something come through yet. So I'll be on the look at it part of the school from the school
[58:44] Okay, yeah, not from you guys from the school. Okay
[58:48] But other than I have nothing. Thank you. All right. Thank you
[58:51] No chief so Mr
[58:54] Report tonight. Thank you
[58:57] Nothing to report tonight
[59:01] I have nothing to report to me.
[59:02] It is a super happy here.
[59:04] City Manager.
[59:05] Nothing for me to say.
[59:06] Thank you.
[59:08] Robert.
[59:10] Just got a little update.
[59:12] I was able to attend the ICTC last week.
[59:16] We do have another scoping meeting coming up tomorrow at the central library.
[59:22] I think at 5.30 we're taking public input on the new transfer.
[59:28] transit facility that we're building to house our buses and every absolutely
[59:33] everything. So this is a chance for the public to come out and you know give
[59:38] your idea, thoughts, input, all that good stuff, what works, what doesn't work
[59:43] right now. We do have a contractor on with design and that we can mark up the
[59:50] design and add your wish list on there. So that is tomorrow. And then Pender
[59:57] last call the day after and uh...
[1:00:00] Just a couple of things coming up. The pipeline come, you know, some service area plans that are needing updating and all that good stuff. So other than that, just, you know, stay cool. I know we have a storm coming in. So make sure we're ready. Your families are ready. Have everything you need. Just in case it does hit us. So with that, thank you for all your hard work. Appreciate you.
[1:00:26] Speaking of storms where we have sandbags available with the public need them, thank you.
[1:00:32] Miss Queen. Nothing.
[1:00:34] Mr. James.
[1:00:35] No, only thing.
[1:00:37] I think our firecrubs getting closer to being in the service.
[1:00:40] I love it.
[1:00:41] What's they see? Nothing.
[1:00:42] Is it a click? Nothing.
[1:00:45] It's Cristina.
[1:00:46] Anybody else in public?
[1:00:47] Nope. Nothing.
[1:00:48] I have nothing to report.
[1:00:49] Thank you.
[1:00:49] We're going to end this meeting at 18.
[1:00:51] We're going back in the close.
[1:00:52] Oh, shoot.
[1:00:52] Like I'm a, yeah, I'm a liar.
[1:00:55] We're going back into close.
[1:00:57] Thank you, everybody.