Minutes | December 14, 2023 @ 8:30 am
El Centro City Council Chambers | 1275 Main Street, El Centro, CA 92243
Commissioners
City
Alternate
County
Alternate
Public
Alternate
Staff
Executive Officer
Legal Counsel
Sr. Analyst
Accountant
Clerk / Analyst
SUMMARY OF THE LAFCO HEARING
December 14, 2023
8:30 a.m.
El Centro City Council Chambers
1275 Main Street, El Centro, CA
VOTING COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Maria Nava-Froelich - Chair, Javier Moreno - ViceChair, Michael W. Kelley, David West
ALTERNATE COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: NONE
ABSENT: Ryan E. Kelley
STAFF PRESENT: Jurg Heuberger - Executive Officer, Julie Carter - Accountant, Paula Graf - Sr. Analyst / Assistant Executive Officer, Lori Zinn - Clerk/Analyst
REGULAR SESSION OF THE LAFCO CALLED TO ORDER AT 8:30 A.M.
1. Roll Call
2. Pledge of Allegiance
CONSENT ITEMS
3. Approval of Consent Items:
3A. Minutes from November 16, 2023
3B. Project Report update
Motion by Commissioner West to approve the Consent Items
MOTION: WEST
AYES: FROELICH, WEST, MORENO, MICHAEL KELLEY
ANO: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: RYAN E. KELLEY
4. Approval of a Resolution appointing Paula Graf as an authorized signatory and removing Jurg Heuberger as an authorized signatory, effective January 1, 2024.
Motion by Commissioner Michael Kelley to approve the Resolution appointing Paula Graf as an authorized signatory and removing Jurg Heuberger, effective January 1, 2024
MOTION: MICHAEL KELLEY
AYES: FROELICH, WEST, MORENO, MICHAEL KELLEY
ANO: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: RYAN E. KELLEY
PUBLIC COMMENTS
5. Public Comments:
Executive Officer Jurg Heuberger introduced the Southern LAFCO Executive Officers that were in the audience: Carolyn Emery from Orange County, Gary Thompson from Riverside County with his assistant Crystal Craig, Keene Simonds from San Diego County, Samuel Martinez from San Bernardino County, Paul Novak from Los Angeles County, and retired George Spilliotis from Riverside County. He thanked them all for their camaraderie and support. He also introduced his wife Joanne.
Commissioner Michael Kelley thanked the Southern LAFCO Executive Officers for coming to the Imperial County to recognize Mr. Heuberger and to wish him farewell. He wished them all safe travels back home.
Commissioner Froelich welcomed the Southern LAFCO Executive Officers to the Imperial County, as well as thanked them for coming.
Executive Officer Keene Simonds from the San Diego LAFCO spoke on behalf of all of the Executive Officers that were in the audience. He presented Mr. Heuberger with a signed proclamation recognizing his service by all of the Southern LAFCO Executive Officers. He mentioned that this is the first time this has ever been done, because they think so highly of Mr. Heuberger. He thanked and congratulated Mr. Heuberger on his retirement.
Executive Officer Jurg Heuberger thanked Mr. Simonds for his comments. He thanked the Southern LAFCO Executive Officer group for coming all this way, and for always being there to assist when help was needed. He let them know that it has been a pleasure working with them all and that he is looking forward to their future retirements.
The Commissioners and Legal Counsel Steve Walker made comments for Mr. Heuberger, congratulated him on his retirement, and wished him well.
Commissioner West let everyone know that this was going to be his last Commission meeting for LAFCO. He let everyone know that he has appreciated seeing and working with everyone.
Commissioner Froelich made comments for Mr. West and wished him well in his retirement from LAFCO.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
6A. Announcements by the Commissioners.
Commissioner Froelich announced that the City of Calipatria on Tuesday night appointed Sylvia Chavez as the new mayor and Michael Luellen as the new mayor pro-tem for the City of Calipatria.
6B. Announcements by the Executive Officer.
Executive Officer Jurg Heuberger thanked the Commission for all the support that they have given to him and staff, and trusts that they will give the same support to Paula going forward.
DISCUSSION/ACTION/DIRECTION ITEM(S)
7. Discussion/Action/Presentation of the Alternative Governance and Electricity Services Study on the Imperial Irrigation District.
Executive Officer Jurg Heuberger gave a brief history and summary of the work done on the Alternative Governance and Electricity Services Study on the Imperial Irrigation District.
Senior Consultant Jason Pivovaroff from Dopudja & Wells Consulting presented a PowerPoint presentation on the Alternative Governance and Electricity Services Study.
Commissioner Froelich asked Mr. Pivovaroff what the next steps would be. He replied saying that CVEC and CVAG are collaborating on the next process.
Motion by Commissioner Michael Kelley to accept the Alternative Governance and Electricity Services Study on the Imperial Irrigation District
MOTION: MICHAEL KELLEY
AYES: FROELICH, WEST, MORENO, MICHAEL KELLEY
ANO: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: RYAN E. KELLEY
8. Discussion/Action/Direction regarding Zoom meetings.
Sr. Analyst / Assistant Executive Officer Paula Graf reminded the Commission of why the Imperial LAFCO added Zoom for Commission meetings, which was due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and that since the Covid-19 pandemic state of emergency has ended, staff is asking the Commission to discontinue using Zoom for Commission meetings, effective January 1, 2024.
The Commission discussed this item, and the following action was taken.
Motion by Commissioner Michael Kelley to discontinue using Zoom for Commission meetings, effective January 1, 2024
MOTION: MICHAEL KELLEY
AYES: WEST, MORENO, MICHAEL KELLEY
ANO: FROELICH
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: RYAN E. KELLEY
9. Discussion/Action/Adoption of the revised Guide to the Policies, Standards, and Procedures to Implement the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000.
This item was pulled from being discussed.
EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM(S)
10. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation (Gov. Code § 54956.9) Name of Case: City of El Centro v. Imperial LAFCO case #ECU002984
Legal Counsel Steve Walker reported that this item was discussed, but no action was taken.