The Imperial City Council adopted Resolution 2025‑45, approving the City’s 2025 Service Area Plan (SAP) after a presentation from planner Yvonne Cordero and a motion from council members. The motion passed unanimously, 5‑0.

Cordero told the council the SAP covers a 20‑year planning horizon to 2045 and assesses the city’s capacity to serve growth inside city limits and in its sphere of influence. The plan projects the city population rising from about 22,853 to 43,061 by 2045, with a full buildout population of about 70,224.

The nut of the plan: Cordero summarized service‑area shortfalls and priorities. At the time of the SAP’s data collection the city faced an 8,754‑square‑foot shortfall in administrative space; a shortfall of four sworn police officers and a 3,322‑square‑foot deficit in police facilities; and an existing parkland deficit of about five acres, rising to about 129.2 acres needed at full buildout. The wastewater treatment plant is projected to reach capacity by 2045, and water supply will require upgrades as growth occurs.

Fiscal context and LAFCO review: staff presented a fiscal snapshot (audit year 2022–23) and identified several funding tools for infrastructure expansion — impact fees, community facilities districts, user rates and grants. Cordero said Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) had held a public session on June 26, 2025, accepted the SAP’s determinations under the Cortese‑Knox‑Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000, and recommended conditioning future annexations on demonstrated service capacity and fiscal sustainability. LAFCO also indicated the planning report was exempt from further CEQA review.

Council action: after discussion and a motion to adopt Resolution 2025‑45, the council voted 5‑0 to approve the plan and staff was directed to continue coordination with LAFCO and relevant departments for annexation and financing steps.

Ending: The plan will guide annexation phasing, capital investment prioritization and future public engagement efforts as the city prepares for projected population growth through 2045.