[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6135444,"mediaKeyId","5674424-89eccd38ddfe8f2316dc5f28e1a4006e","parentId",5674424,"title","Council adopts salary schedule updates, 2% cost-of-living adjustments and personnel changes","audioSeconds",471,"startMs",10241000,"endMs",10712000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5674424-89eccd38ddfe8f2316dc5f28e1a4006e&start=10241&end=10712","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5674424-89eccd38ddfe8f2316dc5f28e1a4006e/thumbnail_10241000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6135444/Imperial-Beach/San-Diego-County/California/Council-adopts-salary-schedule-updates-2-cost-of-living-adjustments-and-personnel-changes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6135444-a820f02898db31705c4bc46eaf7a7c55/orig.mp4?Expires=1777727896&Signature=nXITgorFpKBsYy3hoaFN6MciyVAJCYP~PRX7NsD6M-3JRc0YRTZOLNu5h4zUV0gjgEdYRBaXFbj27FsDqOB9XuTRn~ZF9lCYuBQKteXtXTgXzv2kMmgflVwoZSgQQIz7Cc4f2GGpkXvTxjsKusjdCJnTmhH46EsRQS69zJ5LIPAyqKVSC0f~~-V4NhlRa~ATF0v3UF5n4J12o7il1I3i291Ap9XH9ajCv2ngYMldv~WaAE9M0hlkGXbjWtTS-SwFypmJrHvFSavKZG6dogA5WXD0EeIL4xtlSVmCWbFEW78wBS1UeW5Nwqj6YOyOyCv2C8ZEe1olWvOvGpYDvhzPfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Imperial Beach, CA","date","2025-08-20T00:00:00Z","article","The Imperial Beach City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-043 on Aug. 20 to update the city’s fiscal-year salary schedule, to apply a 2% cost-of-living adjustment retroactive to July 1, 2025 for management and confidential employees, and to implement several job-classification and benefit changes.
Human Resources Director Nadia Smith presented the proposal, which included a July 1, 2025 2% COLA for mid-management, management and confidential employees; an additional salary step for confidential classifications; a further 2% COLA effective July 1, 2026; a $50 increase in the safety-shoe allowance for field classifications; paid-leave changes for part-time employees; and adjustments to cafeteria allotments and administrative leave for certain unrepresented positions. Smith also said the item included a proposed CalPERS retirement contract amendment to add a 2% employee cost-sharing component, and that the salary-schedule updates incorporate tentative agreements with represented units adopted earlier.
During public comment a resident criticized the raise as too small and asked for more transparency about total payroll impacts. Councilmembers responded that the changes were included in the approved budget cycle, that the adjustments are part of ongoing labor negotiations and retention efforts, and that staff had prepared the required documents and job descriptions for council approval.
Councilmember Fisher moved for adoption; the motion passed unanimously. The resolution approves the fiscal-year 2025–27 salary schedule, the appointments/management and confidential benefits summary, and the personnel changes presented by staff.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Regular Meeting Wednesday, August 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council on Aug. 20 adopted Resolution No. 2025-043 to approve a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for management and confidential employees, add a salary step for confidential classifications, update select job classifications, and ratify related personnel changes and benefits language.","taxTitle","Imperial Beach, San Diego County, California","taxId",71854,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6135449,"Council approves special-event permits for IB Athletic Club and San Diego Air‑Cooled Fiesta; one councilmember recuses from IBAC vote",738,8904000,9642000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5674424-89eccd38ddfe8f2316dc5f28e1a4006e&start=8904&end=9642","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5674424-89eccd38ddfe8f2316dc5f28e1a4006e/thumbnail_8904000.jpg","/articles/6135449/Imperial-Beach/San-Diego-County/California/Council-approves-special-event-permits-for-IB-Athletic-Club-and-San-Diego-AirCooled-Fiesta-one-councilmember-recuses-from-IBAC-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6135449-72bcdfb0cee291b1a01e135b11394e68/orig.mp4?Expires=1777727896&Signature=h8HwbCPjElDYkkLey-8fygqP0Qavt5RjYqptzNN3oPmpK7oWgYmUu4LFwQLH0Ra0tlfQlZ1O9icL2zhHPRHKW03s9VY5A9bGGNSUW6sh4ghN4YhJbO4zjHu~CdiXJPsjMvBCV9~8gnH1Akql0QSzww2myYejo4egHVnhd~5ianRy3o7dhc-GsCP0wgA7zaTOTbt1qrwqRQCU0p0t2wNdRcHg1e5OAGHKEItoGo93X22l6IxgQi1X8F1AEVbznovjZSGBtBoYA6GiUxTUQTwrNM6bPPvV6t4fHZUz9fcrGMwDRG~S34vkflKDGWfSh5wukwWXvoEoVg6aGW7VB0Z4Mw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Imperial Beach City Council on Aug. 20 approved special-event permits and associated sound-amplification requests for two community events: the Imperial Beach Athletic Club (IBAC) summer series and the San Diego Air‑Cooled Fiesta and La Playa car show.
CAO Cortez Martinez summarized the IBAC application and said the nonprofit requested fee waivers totaling $19.80 (as listed on the staff report). The council approved the permit and fee-waiver request; Councilmember Leyba Gonzales recused herself from the IBAC vote because she is an IBAC member. Marty Mattis, speaking for IBAC, described the organization as a local nonprofit that reinvests proceeds into community programs and asked for the waiver to preserve the group’s ability to run family events.
City staff also presented the San Diego Air‑Cooled Fiesta request to close Seacoast Drive, use Pier Plaza and the pier, and run live music; organizers said the show typically fills the pier and brings clubs and visitors, including Mexican car clubs, to Imperial Beach. The council approved that permit and associated conditions; staff noted the event organizers must also coordinate Port of San Diego permits for activities on the pier.
Both approvals included the standard conditions in the staff reports: insurance and indemnity, non-disparagement/waiver clauses, traffic control and public-safety plans, and a post-event report on attendance and economic impact. The IBAC permit included a staff recommendation to require a post-event financial report within 60 days stating attendance and beneficiary funds. Council votes on both permits carried without opposition from members present, except the noted recusal on the IBAC item.","The council approved permits and sound-amplification requests for the Imperial Beach Athletic Club summer series and the San Diego Air‑Cooled Fiesta and La Playa car show, granted fee-waiver requests consistent with city policy, and noted a recusal for one vote due to membership conflict.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6135454,"Flagship Cruises says $15.27M CARB grant will fund two battery-electric passenger ferries serving San Diego waterfront",154,1760000,1914000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5674424-89eccd38ddfe8f2316dc5f28e1a4006e&start=1760&end=1914","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5674424-89eccd38ddfe8f2316dc5f28e1a4006e/thumbnail_1760000.jpg","/articles/6135454/Imperial-Beach/San-Diego-County/California/Flagship-Cruises-says-1527M-CARB-grant-will-fund-two-battery-electric-passenger-ferries-serving-San-Diego-waterfront","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6135454-1c408b4719ec2fdfdb439f20bf879138/orig.mp4?Expires=1777727896&Signature=mL-crs-wCxzhOczaPlhh~t60fs0dgJVUfZVrmbGKUheWSSTgrLkNm9C-qmTq4rANoyjU746~EDo8iHa4y18dfe6wmlAZeNSE9dYrW~rPxzT977W2~v0J2SeZgDzgkdkNtfPfI1eRW0zx~plQLsvjBSQ6eBT-QQV2Bo~L3Cp7wWlCRvdrNFXRVbQii87sNFCnTBUxv3EYEgjH0GS1xYEU0v-nFV8susdQqKqrDbXpE-M0bG6vGaWGJMsmARWrUu8OV2ofxgZffu0GNFztT7Ua4HIDFNCuBpDVOXndJe0g8FBnAU155n6vi-md3rUnNekyaj28cxYD8xbHY1keGBserg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of Flagship Cruises and Events told the Imperial Beach City Council on Aug. 20 that the company and partners have won a state grant to build two battery-electric passenger ferries for San Diego’s waterfront.
Corso Worsham, public relations and communications manager for Flagship, said the project is being supported by a $15,270,000 grant from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) under the Sustainable Heavy-Duty Technologies program, and that Flagship will provide a $5,500,000 match, creating a total projected investment of roughly $21,000,000. He described the ferries as California’s first newly built battery-electric passenger vessels, each able to carry up to about 275 passengers, fully ADA accessible, and configured for bikes and strollers.
Worsham said the award was coordinated with the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District and other regional partners, and that construction is expected to begin in late 2025 with the first electric ferry launching in 2026. He framed the project as advancing clean-air goals and creating local maritime workforce opportunities.
No formal council action was required or taken on the announcement; Flagship’s representatives asked for and received the council’s thanks and said they look forward to working with Port and regional partners as the procurement and permitting work proceeds.","Flagship Cruises and partners told the Imperial Beach council the company secured a $15,270,000 grant from the California Air Resources Board and will match with $5,500,000 to build two battery-electric passenger ferries, with construction starting in late 2025 and first launch expected in 2026.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6135459,"Advocates urge San Diego board to require independent testing as trustees consider IBWC cease-and-desist request",182,1290000,1472000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5674424-89eccd38ddfe8f2316dc5f28e1a4006e&start=1290&end=1472","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5674424-89eccd38ddfe8f2316dc5f28e1a4006e/thumbnail_1290000.jpg","/articles/6135459/Imperial-Beach/San-Diego-County/California/Advocates-urge-San-Diego-board-to-require-independent-testing-as-trustees-consider-IBWC-cease-and-desist-request","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6135459-faaa3dba8dd700acc43421a5ae4f5049/orig.mp4?Expires=1777727896&Signature=Zwdg-7dKcIzpuaLmLzwyMZ2mJINFddqwSCVEwDLCgFMHvVCxnlBylyonzhHNPx0No1Te2WBuHauXEIGjEQ~sR9gUHAH40-2oiL0huq1XdFw9-cn88ACTJPUot-OHmFRq7~Ibho3e150B295kNp7Y-9aGqWW81v8TilvbCuzAvIb4iJCKfPezGev8ZrZpkMwIwNRo1EktcrBopxkHXCl~gEKcwBA438q62WbaqS9YXezZ~UHI8FWKsJh~gHwQX5PUvG0G7ct6nogfRXAtjpKnpAnCzwREIlA6AAd4z3FBoqg-T4JEjKfIo7TMuIpwcKOw4KXmcms~3Rro-e1rzfJXPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Speakers at the Aug. 20 Imperial Beach City Council meeting urged city officials and the public to weigh in on an Aug. 27 hearing before the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board that could approve a permit amendment to increase treated discharge to the Imperial Beach outfall.
Leon Benham, president and executive director of Citizens for Coastal Conservancy, told the council the regional board will “consider a cease and desist order against the IBWC” and that the proposal includes adding 10 million gallons per day to the city’s outfall. Benham asked the council to request “rigorous testing, independent testing,” and to use a high-sensitivity method he described as “the new ddPCR test” to measure changes in solids and pathogen indicators if the proposed discharge increases.
Benham outlined the numerical impacts he attributes to the proposal and framed them as hypotheses for monitoring: he said the current processed volume to Imperial Beach is about 40 million gallons per day, that the proposed increase of 10 million gallons would be treated only to primary levels removing roughly 60% of solids, and that, by his calculation, the volume of detectable solids discharged could therefore increase sharply. He asked the council to urge the regional board to require daily ddPCR monitoring at the outfall and at receptor sites to produce a scientific baseline and measure change over time.
City staff did not take formal action at the Aug. 20 meeting on this item. Benham and others urged attendees to comment directly to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board at its Aug. 27 meeting and to request independent baseline testing to detect any change if discharge volumes increase.
The council did not adopt a motion on the IBWC matter during the Aug. 20 session; speakers were notified of the Aug. 27 hearing and encouraged to provide written or oral comments to the regional board ahead of that date.","At the Aug. 20 meeting speakers warned the San Diego Regional Water Quality Board’s Aug. 27 agenda includes a cease-and-desist order affecting the Imperial Beach Water Company (IBWC) and urged independent, rigorous testing of the outfall if the board considers an increased discharge.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6135464,"City Council appoints Mitch McKay as mayor; council approves application process to fill District 3 vacancy",6775,1921000,8696000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5674424-89eccd38ddfe8f2316dc5f28e1a4006e&start=1921&end=8696","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5674424-89eccd38ddfe8f2316dc5f28e1a4006e/thumbnail_1921000.jpg","/articles/6135464/Imperial-Beach/San-Diego-County/California/City-Council-appoints-Mitch-McKay-as-mayor-council-approves-application-process-to-fill-District-3-vacancy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6135464-0439ae874ca0568e6be8f8124868d0e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1777727896&Signature=nQg1f03z~lMvLZE1gC~EgCjyRhRpi5BGXshh1m5aGMWzLuR12pakmCB1uGOAjuRWdamh2GREiMgTR5qVDnpLn5O30P4Qsqu62WDUPVLbPQrAaEvgSPc7Qe2faasikFe2kOX-yYmUmikXASokg4dLBV0CNKw-mFoosyAkZhEJ8bxJ0Gn5lZBi8PekcPnTpx5BgR~dJPkz3Exywgetmc3B51ZOaYzdxCxw~zN8M0pd8q7P4M4joN4JsJn399Mpll4yUTbIHWDqOE4t2BM9P-cULRkqJ47NLb~zImaHIfIRtobyntPnj5313MEz7N7l1kAYsroVX7eSfYkTqu~YSRNZug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Imperial Beach City Council on Aug. 20 appointed Councilmember Mitchell D. McKay as mayor to serve the remainder of the term left vacant when Paloma Aguirre resigned after being sworn in as a San Diego County supervisor. The council adopted Resolution No. 2025-044 and the oath of office was administered to McKay that evening.
City Clerk Kelly told the council, “Pursuant to California government code section 34902, the city council by majority vote selected council member Mitch McKay to fill the vacant seat of the mayor.” The motion to appoint McKay was made and carried with three ayes and one no: Councilmembers McKay (voting as a member before taking the oath), Fisher and Mayor Pro Tem Seaberry voted yes; Councilmember Leyba Gonzales voted no.
The appointment created a vacancy in District 3. City Manager Tyler Fultz reviewed state law on vacancies and told the council the body has 60 days to fill the seat by appointment or call a special election, citing Government Code section 36512. The council directed staff to implement an application-and-interview appointment process and returned a timeline that would keep the appointment inside the state-mandated window.
McKay, sworn in at the dais, told the council and attendees, “We’ve got some real work to do,” and said he would “hit the ground running” during the roughly 15 months left in the term. Several speakers during public comment urged transparency and a district-centered process for replacing the District 3 member. Resident Lynn Fisher asked the council to limit vetting questions to Council and District 3 residents and urged earlier notice of last-minute agenda materials; another speaker urged the new vacancy be advertised so District 3 residents can apply.
Council discussion produced a multi-step plan: advertise the vacancy, host an applicant information forum in early September, set a firm application deadline (council direction set it to 5 p.m. on Sept. 10), hold an initial public meeting on Sept. 17 to hear applicants, then narrow candidates and hold final interviews at the Oct. 1 meeting with an oath of office on Oct. 15 if an appointee is chosen. The council voted unanimously to direct staff to prepare that process.
The council also reviewed the special-election option and staff’s cost estimate; the registrar of voters provided a preliminary range of about $125,000–$250,000 to run a special election, and the next available established election date would have been April 14, 2026. Council members said the estimated cost and short remaining term weighed in favor of appointment via application and interview.
The council’s actions: adoption of Resolution No. 2025-044 to appoint McKay; a separate unanimous motion directing staff to implement an advertised application/interview appointment process for the District 3 vacancy, with a schedule to meet the Oct. 19 statutory deadline.
What happens next: staff will post the application, host a candidate information session the week of Sept. 1–3, accept and vet in-person applications through Sept. 10 at 5 p.m., present qualified applicants at the Sept. 17 council meeting, and hold follow-up interviews and a final appointment vote on Oct. 1 if the council chooses to proceed that way.","The Imperial Beach City Council voted 3–1 to appoint Councilmember Mitchell D. McKay to fill the vacant mayoralty and unanimously directed staff to run an application-and-interview process to fill the resulting District 3 council seat before the October 19 deadline under state law.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council adopts salary schedule updates, 2% cost-of-living adjustments and personnel changes

Council approves special-event permits for IB Athletic Club and San Diego Air‑Cooled Fiesta; one councilmember recuses from IBAC vote

Flagship Cruises says $15.27M CARB grant will fund two battery-electric passenger ferries serving San Diego waterfront

Advocates urge San Diego board to require independent testing as trustees consider IBWC cease-and-desist request

City Council appoints Mitch McKay as mayor; council approves application process to fill District 3 vacancy