El Centro ratifies letters backing guaranteed‑income pilot for older Californians and SB 534 Salton Sea empowerment zone

The El Centro City Council on Tuesday ratified two letters of support that staff had previously submitted: one favoring a guaranteed‑income pilot targeting older Californians and a separate letter supporting state Senate Bill 534 to create a Salton Sea Region Green Empowerment Zone.

City staff said the guaranteed‑income pilot, being administered through the California Department of Social Services, would provide a monthly stipend to qualifying low‑income older residents. The staff memo noted the pilot’s draft stipend figure as $750.50 per month in the program description and that CDSS will convene listening sessions before awarding grants. The council ratified the letter that staff had sent to the Institute for Local Government and CCV, which requested inclusion in early planning and outreach to ensure local needs were considered.

The second ratification concerned SB 534, a legislative proposal to establish a coordinated empowerment zone across Imperial County, the eastern Coachella Valley and Palo Verde Valley modeled on other state green empowerment zones. Staff said the bill seeks to improve regional capacity to attract investment tied to projects such as Lithium Valley and other green‑economy efforts. City staff submitted the letter ahead of the bill’s administrative deadline and asked the council to ratify that prior transmittal.

Both ratifications were approved by roll call, 5‑0. Council members also requested that staff forward council comments and concerns raised at the meeting to the ILG and the state as part of the ongoing outreach.