El Centro council approves downtown Clean California design, park project plans and several landscaping-district levies

The El Centro City Council on June 3 approved design plans for a downtown revitalization funded by a Caltrans Clean California grant, authorized plans and specifications for Fraser Field improvements so the project can be bid, and approved engineer—iles and fiscal-year levies for four landscaping and lighting districts.

The council also accepted a staffing-vacancies report required under Assembly Bill 2561, heard a presentation from the Medical Treatment Center (a methadone clinic at 200 South Fish Street), authorized a public vehicle auction resolution and appointed members to the city—ivil Personnel Appeals Board.

The Clean California project, funded through the California Department of Transportation, will rework the Town Square and adjacent Main Street with new trash and recycling receptacles, benches, lighting and storm-drain protections, refreshed paving and signage and space reconfiguration to better host food trucks and downtown events. Adriana Nava, El Centro—ommunity services director, told the council the award followed years of downtown planning and community outreach; Core Design Group project manager Chris McMurray presented renderings showing entry gateways, refurbished surfaces, and new furnishings aimed at reducing litter and improving safety and nighttime visibility.

Nava said the city included non-infrastructure elements in the grant scope: three murals, a 12-month post-construction security-services allocation and funding for downtown events to encourage regular use. The council voted 5-0 to approve the design and direct staff to proceed with the project schedule presented by Core Design Group.

The council also approved plans and specifications for the Fraser Field Improvement Project and authorized staff to solicit bids. Community services staff said the project addresses accessibility and safety at the multi-field ballpark used by local Little League teams and will add a six-foot walkway to the rear fields, new dugouts, two batting cages, new scoreboards and spectator amenities. Staff presented an estimated total project cost of $660,000 and told the council the project is proposed to be funded with Measure P funds and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money; staff did not provide a detailed line-item breakdown during the presentation. The Fraser Field plans were approved by a 5-0 vote.

In a single package of largely technical public‑hearing items, the council opened and closed hearings and approved engineer—iles and fiscal-year assessment levies for four landscaping and lighting districts: Buena Vista, Legacy Ranch, El Centro Town Center and Lotus Ranch. Interim finance director Liz (surname on file) told the council the levies are collected via property tax assessments, that each district covers maintenance tasks such as irrigation, tree trimming and park upkeep, and that proposed levies reflect changes in services or newly added park maintenance. Each of those four district levy actions carried on unanimous 5-0 votes.

On personnel and staffing, Human Resources Director Dulce (surname on file) presented the AB 2561 annual staffing-and-vacancies report required to improve transparency about recruitment and retention. Dulce said AB 2561 took effect Jan. 1, 2025, and requires agencies to hold a public hearing on vacancies at least once per fiscal year before budget adoption. The presentation listed bargaining-unit totals as of May 15, 2025: 32 water/wastewater/distribution positions with 3 vacancies (9.38% vacancy rate); 102 general-employee positions with 8 vacancies (7.84%); 36 firefighter positions with 0 vacancies; 59 police positions with 6 vacancies (10.17%); and 15 supervisory/professional/technical positions with 0 vacancies. The council moved to accept the report and associated recommendations and voted 5-0.

The council also adopted a resolution authorizing a city vehicle and equipment auction and a contract process to dispose of surplus vehicles and equipment. Fleet manager Abraham (surname on file) presented the list of vehicles and said the city will use a public online auction vendor; the council adopted the resolution 5-0.

Appointments to the Personnel Appeals Board were also decided. Two incumbents asked to be reappointed and two external applicants applied for the remaining vacancy. The council voted 4-0 to reappoint one incumbent (Lizette Carrenas, as listed in the application materials) and to appoint Rosalind Guerrero and Gerard Sweet to fill the other openings. (The vote was recorded as 4-0 in the minutes.)

Public comment and presentations: Daniel Placentia, clinic manager at Medical Treatment Center in El Centro, and Dr. Rita Sterek, medical director, addressed the council after a petition circulated at a local Circle K raised community concerns about the clinic. Placentia told the council the clinic provides medication-assisted treatment, that it "does not have and have never had a needle exchange program," and that the site is audited by federal, state and county regulators. He said many people loitering near the clinic are not clinic patients and that the center works with law enforcement and posted no‑loitering signage; he invited council members to tour the facility. Acting city manager Sawyer said staff will meet with the clinic and schedule regular meetings between clinic staff and community development staff.

Separately, Michael Lewellen (identified in his remarks as mayor of Calipatria) used public comment to summarize outreach to the governor nd federal representatives about rumors involving Calipatria State Prison; he asked El Centro to consider signing a joint letter of support. Council members said staff will coordinate on any letter.

What the council voted on (at a glance): - Motion to approve consent agenda items 3-5: approved, vote recorded as 5-0. - Acceptance of AB 2561 vacancies and recruitment/retention status report: approved, 5-0. - Buena Vista Landscaping & Lighting District engineer—ile and FY 2025-26 levy: approved, 5-0. - Legacy Ranch Landscaping & Lighting District engineer—ile and FY 2025-26 levy: approved, 5-0. - El Centro Town Center Landscaping & Lighting District engineer—ile and FY 2025-26 levy: approved, 5-0. - Lotus Ranch Landscaping & Lighting District engineer—ile and FY 2025-26 levy (proposed at the maximum levy shown in the engineer—ile): approved, 5-0. - Resolution authorizing surplus vehicle/equipment auction (Resolution No. 25- To38 listed in packet): approved, 5-0. - Approval of plans and specifications for Fraser Field Improvement Project and authorization to solicit bids: approved, 5-0. - Approval of Clean California Town Square design by Core Design Group and authorization to proceed: approved, 5-0. - Appointments to Personnel Appeals Board (reappointment of incumbent and appointments of Rosalind Guerrero and Gerard Sweet): approved, recorded vote 4-0.

Why it matters: The Clean California work will reshape how Main Street and the Town Square handle waste, lighting, and public events and is intended to reduce litter and increase downtown use. The Fraser Field improvements aim to improve safety and ADA access at a heavily used youth sports facility. The landscaping and lighting levies fund ongoing local maintenance; their approval authorizes collections for FY2025-26. The AB 2561 report and acceptance creates a regular public record intended to track the city—ffort to recruit and retain staff.

Council members directed staff to follow up on several items: schedule a clinic tour and recurring meetings between clinic staff and community development; provide additional levy detail to residents who requested expenditure breakdowns for the landscaping districts; and continue public outreach associated with the Clean California implementation. No new ordinances or zoning changes were adopted at the meeting.

Council meetings are recorded in the city clerk genda and minutes; residents may contact the city clerk for supporting documents, engineer—iles and the complete list of assets proposed for auction.