City of Imperial council approves special-tax levy reading, grants, public-safety policies and event permits

The City of Imperial City Council on Jan. 15 opened and closed a public hearing and approved the introduction and first reading of an ordinance authorizing a special tax for Community Facilities District (CFD) 2024-1 for the Morningstar subdivision, and unanimously approved multiple staff recommendations including public-safety policies, grant agreements and event permits.

The actions are intended to provide a local funding mechanism for park and open-space maintenance in Morningstar and to formalize city staffing and safety programs. Council members voted 5-0 on the ordinance first reading and on each of the other items acted on during the meeting.

Among the items approved were: the Sun Runners Car Club permit and partial street closures for the March 22 car show at Eagle Park; formal appointment and a 5% stipend for the cross-connection control program coordinator to meet State Water Resources Control Board requirements; authorization for the city manager to appoint the city engineer; adoption of a naloxone policy and related procedures with initial implementation at the Imperial Public Library; adoption of an updated Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP); adoption of a Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan; renewal of a Stone Garden grant memorandum of understanding that provides operational overtime and equipment funds for police operations; donation of older police historical records to the Pioneers Museum; renewal of the Imperial Police DepartmentMOU with the Imperial County Narcotics Task Force; donation of surplus controlled firearms to the Blythe Police Department under ATF transfer procedures; and the purchase of two Dell PowerEdge servers for the cityGIS enterprise system.

Council members and staff said the items had been reviewed by departments and, where relevant, by labor representatives. For the Stone Garden grant the council approved acceptance of $80,050 for operational overtime and $17,500 for equipment including optics and thermal imaging.

Votes at a glance (all motions passed 5-0): - Ordinance (first reading): Authorize levy of special tax for Morningstar CFD 2024-1 — motion carried 5-0. - D1: Authorize Sun Runners Car Club 39th annual Carnesada Run at Eagle Park and partial street closures (March 22) — approved 5-0. - D2: Appoint cross-connection control program coordinator and grant a 5% stipend — approved 5-0. - D3: Authorize city manager to appoint the city engineer (resolution 202502) — approved 5-0. - D4: Adopt naloxone policy and procedures (initial implementation at Imperial Public Library) — approved 5-0. - D5: Adopt updated Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) for city employees — approved 5-0. - D6: Adopt Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan for city employees — approved 5-0. - D7: Approve renewal of Stone Garden grant MOU (operational overtime $80,050; equipment $17,500) — approved 5-0. - D8: Donate historic police department records (jail and citation books) to the Pioneers Museum — approved 5-0. - D9: Renew MOU with the Imperial County Narcotics Task Force — approved 5-0. - D10: Authorize donation of surplus controlled firearms to Blythe Police Department and complete ATF transfer paperwork — approved 5-0. - D11: Authorize purchase of two Dell PowerEdge servers for GIS enterprise, $47,731.19 (funds split between GIS fund and service revenues) — approved 5-0.

Council members characterized most items as routine or required by state law and departmental programs. Several items noted required follow-up steps: the Stone Garden MOU will require acceptance of funds and ATF paperwork is needed before the firearm donation is finalized. Staff said public notices and traffic plans will be issued where road closures are authorized.

The council completed the consent agenda and moved on to the action items listed above. No substantive public comment was received on the bulk of the action items during their consideration.

The meeting continued with department reports and ended with the mayor adjourning to the next regular meeting on Feb. 5, 2025.