Council approves easement sale to IID for transmission‑pole maintenance; city to retain fee ownership

The El Centro City Council on Tuesday approved an easement purchase and sale agreement with the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) that grants IID additional easement width adjacent to the city wastewater treatment plant to accommodate taller steel transmission poles and maintenance equipment. The council vote was 5‑0.

City staff member Abraham said IID replaced wood poles with taller steel poles and requires more maintenance and staging space to install and service the new equipment. Staff said the easement would be a strip along the northern boundary of the city wastewater treatment property; the city would retain fee ownership while granting IID access and limitations on permanent structures within the easement area.

Abraham said staff reviewed the site and determined the easement location would not affect plant operations; he said existing fences and the geometry of the parcel make the requested easement largely outside the treatment‑plant’s operational footprint.

On compensation, staff said IID provided market comparables and that the amount presented on the agenda was listed as 38,375; during council discussion Abraham referenced $38,275 as the replace‑for‑fee number. Councilmembers asked whether the city should seek an independent appraisal; staff said the comparables were reasonable but that council could direct staff to obtain a formal appraisal if it preferred. Council approved the agreement without such a direction by a 5‑0 vote.

Council members asked about the easement’s linear extent and practical impact; staff said the strip spans roughly 1,500 linear feet along the northern edge and is a narrow band (about 50–60 feet south of the boundary), so the easement would be a thin strip rather than a large parcel.

Votes at a glance: Motion to approve easement purchase and sale agreement with IID for additional easement at wastewater treatment plant — Passed 5‑0.