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Imperial reviews draft environmental-justice report after northern tract hits state threshold
Summary
City consultants told the Imperial City Council that a northern census tract scored 76 on CalEnviroScreen (threshold 75) and flagged air quality, groundwater contamination and extreme heat as local concerns; councilors pressed for local data and engagement before designating disadvantaged areas.
City consultants presented a draft environmental justice (EJ) existing-conditions report to the Imperial City Council and told members that one northern census tract in the city scored 76 on CalEnviroScreen, one point above California’s disadvantaged-community threshold of 75.
"The northern part of the city does have an indicator score of 76 in Cal EnviroScreen, which is above the threshold for a disadvantaged community," said Matt Geldman of Ascent Environmental, who said the team used state indicators and additional local data to prepare the report. Hannah Stomakovich of the Institute for Local Government said the process pairs statewide metrics with local outreach, including a 13-person advisory committee and follow-up surveys.
The presentation explained that CalEnviroScreen’s census-tract scores aggregate multiple environmental and social indicators. Geldman said factors elevating the northern tract’s score include registered cleanup sites, impaired water bodies and groundwater threats, while the team also identified pesticide use and air-quality measures as contributors. "One of the highest things that increased that score was impaired water bodies," he said.
Council members pressed the consultants on apparent contradictions: several members said the southern part of Imperial includes a fuel farm, an old fertilizer plant and cleanup sites yet scored lower (about 62). Geldman and Stomakovich responded that census tracts extend beyond city boundaries and that statewide metrics therefore sometimes under- or over-count local exposure; they urged the council to use local data and community knowledge to refine any designation.
The consultants described next steps including additional advisory meetings, surveys, one-on-one interviews and public-comment opportunities as the city moves from the existing-conditions report toward an actual EJ element for the general plan. The consultants reiterated that the EJ element can be a standalone general-plan element or integrated into existing elements and that the state’s guidance (implemented after Senate Bill 1000) encourages local customization.
The council did not take action to designate any areas at the meeting; members asked staff to provide more localized factor breakdowns and to return with additional analysis and outreach plans.
What’s next: staff will work with the consultants to incorporate local indicators and community feedback and bring updated findings back for council consideration.
