Speaker 1 opened El Centro’s year-in-review presentation by framing the city as “a city built by its people,” and then outlined a range of department accomplishments across housing, infrastructure, public safety and community services.

The presentation said the City adopted a balanced fiscal year 2025–26 budget and is current on external audits, with healthy reserves in both the General Fund and Measure P. Speaker 5 noted Measure P supports library and police debt service, recreation programs and park maintenance.

Citywide priorities described included community development work such as the finalization of the Imperial Avenue Complete Streets Plan and more than $200,000 in funding secured to develop a Downtown and Civic Center Master Plan. “We also secured more than $200,000 in funding to craft the Downtown and Civic Center Master Plan,” Speaker 3 said.

Public safety and infrastructure investments were highlighted alongside service expansions. The city reported the new police headquarters is complete and the fire department adopted a three-year strategic plan; the fire department also acquired a Rosenbauer Viper 109-foot ladder truck to improve multi-story responses. IT upgrades included new camera systems at water and wastewater plants, phishing awareness training for staff and a new cyber incident response plan.

The presentation emphasized staffing and organizational changes: implementation of NEOGOV Insight for recruitment, transition of 21 temporary employees to full-time positions, 122 new hires and eight retirements, and the planned rollout of NEOGOV Perform for employee evaluations.

Speaker 1 closed by stressing that these efforts are rooted in community participation and service. The address also noted launch of a mass notification system intended to give residents faster emergency and event information and introduced the city’s new city manager as leading ongoing initiatives.

The presentation did not record formal votes or motions; it functioned as an annual status report and roadmap for upcoming projects and programs.