[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6629148,"mediaKeyId","2707469-329d54bca3b954720b760b51401d0df3","parentId",2707469,"title","El Centro council approves warrant register after member seeks consultant-fee and loan details","audioSeconds",531,"startMs",328000,"endMs",859000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2707469-329d54bca3b954720b760b51401d0df3&start=328&end=859","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2707469-329d54bca3b954720b760b51401d0df3/thumbnail_328000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6629148/El-Centro/Imperial-County/California/El-Centro-council-approves-warrant-register-after-member-seeks-consultant-fee-and-loan-details","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629148-c9aa4ef921f02f476ba1c68b0009330f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202810&Signature=Zn4F0~05e0B3Tsb3NBqpsjd9JjZkmZ1RyPBFfY54ViRkLmFbwdtZzM6Y3dgio5zwVClbBrodjVqwh1nhdSeVlgkODJFwISSDpFEuzph1J7yKDRVfju0p6BXpY1wsbUg14bkHfpIZX6FNI2pNVBhWptLXFLe8DmKSQl9HtOI6yIgAoQUugAgdmKsp5C3o8xKBUt0tQnPBF6pbB0Uq7jpxgK5dk5UiBSCgcwWvMU8kqCWYanTETw0JZuP41dquGWJhBR8FipjnYKJG1gG0wOAMV9TEoPvyBvDSze~joxsPIz-zL0K62Wl5bibpcYQ9MgW9S2hedN-pWlsFI-v6n3b3Gg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-19T14:28:50Z","article","The El Centro City Council approved the consent agenda, including the warrant register, after Council member Camarena pulled item 1 to ask staff for a breakdown of \"professional fees/other\" charges and clarification on outstanding loan payments.

Camarena said she had highlighted entries she believed to be consultant or professional fees and asked for a more detailed accounting and the context for two loans on the warrants. \"I'm reviewing all of our warrants,\" she said, asking whether the first payment for the loan referenced as beginning in November 2024 had been made and whether a second payment should proceed.

Staff responded that the payment referenced for a local business (identified in the packet as Chelsea) was funded through permanent local housing allocation funds and was not part of the general fund. They said the Chelsea loan and related documents — including a loan agreement and a promissory note/deed of trust — had been reviewed and signed by the city manager and city attorney. Staff also explained the city uses Amerinat, a loan-servicing provider, to manage multiple loans from a COVID Economic Development Administration revolving loan fund originally awarded at about $550,000; recipients who repay create resources for additional revolving loans. Staff said the recipient referenced had been making payments on time and that a portion of an earlier business capital loan was used for payroll and start-up working capital.

After the clarification, Council moved and seconded approval of the warrant register and the remainder of the consent agenda. The motion passed 4-0.

Council member Camarena said she will continue to request detailed backup in future packets so she can review expenditures before votes; staff indicated they would provide the requested breakdowns and additional documentation outside the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of El Centro Council Meeting :: March 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City Council approved the warrant register and consent items after Council member Camarena pulled the item to request more detail on professional/consultant fees and loans; staff said loan to a business was part of previously approved housing or revolving loan programs and payments were current.","taxTitle","El Centro, Imperial County, California","taxId",3830,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6629154,"El Centro council adopts schedule and application rules to fill council vacancy",1933,2023000,3956000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2707469-329d54bca3b954720b760b51401d0df3&start=2023&end=3956","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2707469-329d54bca3b954720b760b51401d0df3/thumbnail_2023000.jpg","/articles/6629154/El-Centro/Imperial-County/California/El-Centro-council-adopts-schedule-and-application-rules-to-fill-council-vacancy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629154-268e482ccb4b2a858d18c23af2067ed2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202810&Signature=iPT11VEr~j2Y635aP1gm8aXWykyop89inNl6SRragS5kRsPs2HNCARIUZGBIStslsMqnzgsrmttDMTnymfYNHv0BghumfG2n~L7cS2YTJUY-uHukXLNH5rH24UzCXdRNYMke5q7dqSEXNssGMK90cWmthXLKjgQqDMlmm~kRLY~T1mCJlWQ1CXNcRF33EgvoczMpIwwT2Il6-zei7xTWoWFPtmJKNy~QypK8h9do67qp6pmsRkHhQjj721qr1p14v9Yyme30G00ASOM4NmAwyyG9ssFemTAxF-QUIP9GmMFhr5~eBr~8d7TWzFprFukB6mW8EWb8prFbYkbq0PhdUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The El Centro City Council voted 4-0 to move forward with a public appointment process to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former Mayor Tomas Oliva, approving a notice of vacancy, application form and a two-step review schedule presented by city staff.

City Attorney Elizabeth Martin reviewed the legal steps for filling the seat and told the council: \"The council is not required to take applications or conduct interviews, but you may wish to do so. The process of discussing and any interviews as well as appointments must be conducted in open session.\" The council approved publishing a notice and using a public application and interview process.

Under the schedule the council approved, the notice will be published in the Ivy Press on the upcoming Saturday; applications will be available from the city clerk and may be submitted by email or by dropping off a hard copy. The city clerk said the application period will be 15 days after publication and that staff will accept applications until April 6 at 5:00 p.m. The council asked staff to add education and employment questions to the application and to include the amount of the council stipend so applicants understand compensation is a stipend, not a salary.

Council members agreed to a public review meeting on April 8 at 5:30 p.m. to rank applications and narrow the field to five candidates, followed by in-person interviews on April 16 at 5:30 p.m. The council scheduled a special meeting on April 21 at 10:00 a.m. to announce and swear in the selected appointee. City staff said interviews will be conducted in open session, may be streamed, and the city will provide a room for waiting candidates so interviews can proceed orderly.

Public comment on the item included remarks from resident Pete Rodriguez, who told the council he wants a \"fair, transparent\" process and said, \"I don't want any more clown shows,\" during an extended public comment. Council members debated whether to provide interview questions to candidates in advance; some members and staff suggested preparing sample questions for the council to review and potentially circulate, while others said on-the-spot answers are important to evaluate candidates' abilities.

The council authorized staff to publish the notice, open the application period and proceed as outlined. The motion to adopt the process passed 4-0.","The council voted 4-0 to publish a notice of vacancy, open an applications period and follow a public review and interview schedule to fill the seat left vacant by Tomas Oliva's resignation.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6629158,"El Centro council accepts 2024 general plan annual progress report",1181,839000,2020000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2707469-329d54bca3b954720b760b51401d0df3&start=839&end=2020","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2707469-329d54bca3b954720b760b51401d0df3/thumbnail_839000.jpg","/articles/6629158/El-Centro/Imperial-County/California/El-Centro-council-accepts-2024-general-plan-annual-progress-report","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629158-30d8849c9cc6d658f69282e21d7a5d2a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202810&Signature=jZq~qvXB12njtDy2xjr88~xAnFnzkt8s67Ckjst4jAOPGTkra3Max5LAArQWx5u6JNt5O7rxipgcwI4jI1T~XA2KanigpBsl-jEUCwd7bMFyFyxTFO7y9RA~SfzlLLhnHUlGras1j-8e-MX5JNeUajVqwHZgqg3dN29b19HtDZTTFJySymgrFhHcn6RkJL8XBnrN90cuH3G8KIlA4o9ktKw9NObcRObuZMEoyjZ0nSxyFkdlr8b1e33c9JAdQVK2xrxuckdX7a0EKq6lxqmLjiX-ki9r-sKmZANI6lMz9xTdgtPZG0YkovzyGljeWL7EaB2syyekchT6XF5VZBBaLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The El Centro City Council voted 4-0 to accept the city's 2024 general plan annual progress report and directed staff to submit the document to the governor's office of land use and climate innovations and the California Department of Housing and Community Development following a presentation by Community Development Director Angel Hernandez.

Hernandez told the council the general plan is the city's guiding document for development decisions and covers required elements such as land use, housing, mobility, open space and safety. \"I'm here before you to provide you an overview of the 2024 annual progress report regarding the city's general plan,\" Hernandez said during his presentation.

The report, required to be provided to state offices, summarizes implementation work over the prior 12 months and identifies items staff believes should be tracked or considered for future updates. Hernandez noted the city completed a zoning code update in September 2024 that revised development center standards to encourage medium-density infill housing (duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes), modernized business categories, and updated parking and temporary use permit standards. The presentation also highlighted public-art and downtown gateway-signage work associated with the MBSA central project and active-transportation projects funded with roughly $2,000,000 in grants that are in design or construction.

On housing, staff reported the city issued 165 housing-unit permits in the last year: 10 single-family units, 45 accessory dwelling units and 110 multifamily units. Hernandez described steps to increase housing readiness, including making a map of sites available for housing and offering permit-ready ADU plans. He also said the city updated its housing condition survey and continued work on a fair-housing action plan; he said the housing element must be updated again by 2029.

Hernandez described other work in the report: an Imperial Avenue complete-streets plan, roughly $5,800,000 in grant funding for urban green projects, coordination with the county on airport noise and land-use compatibility, and safety-element work tied to extreme-heat and localized flooding concerns. He told the council the safety, noise and certain other elements were last comprehensively updated in 2004 and should be considered for revision.

Council members asked clarifying questions about program outreach and available grant programs. One council member noted the California residential mitigation program that can provide small grants to retrofit older homes; Hernandez said city staff already shares information about housing programs when they encounter distressed properties.

The council approved the staff recommendation to accept the annual progress report and submit it to the named state offices. No ordinance changes or immediate policy amendments were adopted as part of the vote.","The City Council voted 4-0 to accept the 2024 General Plan annual progress report and direct staff to submit the report to state agencies after a presentation by Community Development Director Angel Hernandez.","actionData","errors"]

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El Centro council approves warrant register after member seeks consultant-fee and loan details

El Centro council adopts schedule and application rules to fill council vacancy

El Centro council accepts 2024 general plan annual progress report