Minutes | November 16, 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
November 16, 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 - Vice Chair, Michael W. Kelley, Ryan E. Kelley, David West
ALTERNATE COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
STAFF PRESENT: Jurg Heuberger - Executive Officer, Julie Carter - Accountant, Paula Graf - Sr. Analyst, Lori Zinn - Clerk/Analyst
REGULAR SESSION OF THE LAFCO CALLED TO ORDER AT 8:30 A.M.
1. Roll Call
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Approval of Consent Items:
A. Minutes from October 4, 2023
B. Project Report update
Motion by Commissioner West to approve the Consent Items
MOTION: WEST
AYES: FROELICH, WEST, MORENO, MICHAEL KELLEY, RYAN E. KELLEY
ANO: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
4. Public Comments:
Executive Director Eric Reyes of Los Amigos de la Comunidad, Inc. was allowed to make a public comment on item 9 / PMHD since he needed to leave. He said that he respects the PMHD process, understands it and what the goals are, but it is time to come together to make this work for all in Imperial County.
EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM(S)
5. 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 taken.
6. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation (Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(2).): (1 matter).
Legal Counsel Steve Walker reported that this item was discussed, and that by a unanimous vote motioned by Commissioner Michael Kelley, that they agree to compromise in a settlement agreement with the Salton Community Services District, placing the district on a 3-year probation with certain terms & conditions, recognizing that they have made some substantial progress.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
7A. Announcements by the Commissioners.
i. CALAFCO Annual Conference
No announcements were made.
7B. Announcements by the Executive Officer.
No announcements were made.
PUBLIC HEARING ITEM(S)
8. [9:00] a.m. Public Hearing and related action to consider the Dissolution of the Salton Community Services District.
One SCSD resident in person and four SCSD residents on Zoom made comments in support of dissolving the Salton Community Services District.
The Commission discussed the item, and the following action was taken.
Motion by Commissioner Moreno to approve option #1 of the Executive Officer’s report to accept the Service Area Plan / Municipal Service Review and to conditionally rescind the notice of intent to dissolve the Salton Community Services District issued on August 25, 2022, according to partial compliance with Resolution #2022-06
MOTION: MORENO
AYES: FROELICH, WEST, MORENO, MICHAEL KELLEY
ANO: RYAN E. KELLEY
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
9. [9:30] a.m. Public Hearing and related action to consider the adoption of a Negative Declaration of Environmental Impacts (ND), to consider and adopt a fiscal impact study to determine a proposed county wide tax amount, and the approval/denial for the expansion of the Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District (PMHD) to expand its current boundary to cover the entire County of Imperial, or a substantial portion thereof, to include, concurrent therewith, the dissolution of the Heffernan Memorial Healthcare District. Also, to include directions to the Board of Supervisors to schedule during the next regular election a measure to add a tax to all parcels of land within the County that are allowed to be taxed.
In person, a member of the newly formed Imperial Valley Coalition for Sustainable Healthcare Facilities spoke about the coalition and their goals. He spoke about three actions that need to be taken, gave two recommendations, as well as the coalition’s mission & vision for the Imperial Valley. He thanked LAFCO for the work done so far and expressed the coalition’s commitment to be of service to LAFCO and our community.
In person, the following made comments in support of approving the expansion of the Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District: two Brawley residents, one local retired physician, 4 board members of PMHD, general counsel of PMHD, and chief financial officer of PMHD.
In person, a Brawley resident read a letter from a local physician making comments in support of approving the expansion of the Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District.
In person, the following made comments in opposition of approving the expansion of the Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District: one Brawley resident, one Calexico resident, one El Centro resident, City of El Centro manager & attorney, three members of Comite Civico Del Valle, one member of Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition, Senator Padilla’s district representative, and Assemblyman Garcia’s field representative.
On Zoom, one Brawley resident made comments in opposition of approving the expansion of the Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District.
In person, a board member from the Heffernan Memorial Healthcare District expressed that we all need to come together and work together for what is best for our community.
The Commission discussed the item, and the following action was taken.
Motion by Commissioner Michael Kelley to continue the public hearing to March 28, 2024
MOTION: MICHAEL KELLEY
AYES: FROELICH, WEST, MORENO, MICHAEL KELLEY
ANO: NONE
RECUSED: RYAN E. KELLEY
ABSTAIN: NONE
DISCUSSION/ACTION/DIRECTION ITEM(S)
10. Discussion/Action/Direction regarding an update on Assembly Bill 918.
This item was pulled from being discussed.
11. Discussion/Action/Adoption of a Policy regarding Zoom Meetings.
This item was pulled from being discussed.
12. Discussion/Action/Adoption of the 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.