Imperial County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Imperial County, California public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
New Chief Public Defender appointed
Daniel Rosenberg was introduced as the county's new public defender, taking over from Ben Solorio, who won election as a judge — one of only 32 chief public defenders statewide.
Duplicate mail ballots ahead of November 3 election
The registrar mailed 160 duplicate ballots by mistake, and is scrambling with FAQs, PSAs and vote centers. Also, a new state law (SB 884) could delay results past 8 p.m. if any polling place in California stays open late.
Storm response and deferred facility maintenance
With a very strong El Niño expected to peak in December, the board declared a local emergency so fire and OES can pre-position flood-fight materials and run regional briefings.
Tropical Storm Rachel emergency response
Flash floods triggered swiftwater rescues, stranded travelers, a 100-foot canal breach, and roughly 1,500 flooded acres. The board made the emergency official so state recovery funding can flow.
Recall effort against Chairwoman Price
A former Imperial councilmember formally noticed intent to recall District 3 Supervisor Peggy Price, citing storm response, airport funding, fire staffing, and transparency failures. Recall efforts hinge on signature gathering and an eventual election.
Nyland fire and public safety response
The county finished rebuilding five homes destroyed in the Nyland fire using $2.28 million of a $2.5 million CDBG grant, returning the leftover $336,919 to the state.
Voter outreach and low election turnout
A resident revealed that a $50,000 outreach allocation for low-propensity and limited-English voters was never actually delivered to the Registrar of Voters due to a motion mix-up — and the county now has the state's lowest voter turnout at 22%.
Adult Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment Facility Phase 2
Imperial County is building its first residential substance use treatment facility, so residents won't have to leave the valley for care. The Board approved the $14.1 million Phase 2 construction agreement, with groundbreaking April 30 at 1319 South Clark Road.
Fire department staffing crisis and overtime costs
Firefighters thanked the board for recent progress but pushed back on a supervisor's comment about closing stations, saying it tells Palo Verde residents their lives matter less. The board and union pledged continued collaboration on a long-term staffing fix.
CalAIM jail reentry services
The Sheriff's Office reported $6.1 million in state grants to enroll incarcerated people in Medi-Cal before release, aiming to cut overdoses, homelessness, and repeat bookings.
Catalytic converter theft enforcement ordinance
A repeat advocate urged the board to adopt an ordinance making possession of even one catalytic converter without proof of ownership a jailable offense, noting most other Southern California counties have already acted and state law leaves deputies powerless below eight converters.
North End cooling centers and extreme heat
Residents from Niland, Slab City, and Calipatria blasted the county because North End cooling centers won't open until July 1 while triple-digit heat already kills — more than ten neighbors died of heat illness last year. Staff said staffing delays were the cause and promised to explore opening earlier next year.
Humane Society mobile spay and neuter clinic
The county is giving $636,000 to fund a mobile spay-and-neuter clinic that will travel to underserved communities like Salton City, Niland, and Winterhaven monthly, reducing stray populations and shelter euthanasia.
Brawley seismic swarm
Over 400 earthquakes up to magnitude 4.7 hit the Brawley area over the weekend. Brawley opened its emergency center; the county checked its facilities and found no significant damage so far.
Veterinarian shortage in Imperial County
With no large-animal vet locally and residents traveling to Indio, Yuma or Mexicali, the county is crafting a $375,000 recruitment program — but it goes to the Community Benefit Committee first for review.
Seville 4 and Seville 5 solar and battery projects
A resident cited San Diego's 17-day Gateway battery fire, urging the county to stop amending its general plan and zoning to allow battery storage everywhere until emergency response capacity is proven, including larger setbacks.
Sonrisa retirement community closure
All 86 residents of the Sonrisa facility were relocated by April 3, but the county lost its only facility that accepts residents dependent on Medical and Social Security — a gap officials say they'll lobby state representatives to fix.
Sheriff's Office first-quarter operations
The Sheriff reported big first-quarter numbers: over 1,290 pounds of drugs seized including fentanyl and meth, 29 firearms taken, and a costly Tierra del Sol weekend operation. The department also runs extensive youth and community outreach.
Possible closure of Son Risa assisted living facility
Supervisor Hawk reported the only assisted living facility in Imperial County, Son Risa in Heber (Holtville area), may close, which would force residents to relocate out of the county. County staff and agencies are working on placements and possible solutions.
Candidate campaign sign enforcement
The Registrar of Voters reported early sign violations, reminded candidates county signs may go up April 3, and warned of $75 per sign per day penalties — with removal costs charged to non-compliant candidates.
Autism and developmental disabilities awareness and services
The Board proclaimed March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and April as Autism Acceptance Month. A volunteer-run mobile autism evaluation unit has completed 14 evaluations since last year, with a goal of 125-150 more by 2028, helping shorten long wait lists — especially for Spanish-speaking families who face roughly 18-month waits.
DA staffing and prosecution capacity
DA George Marquez is rebuilding attorney ranks through a post-bar program and new paralegals, saying understaffing has made plea offers more lenient; he expects full staffing by December.
Updated workplace harassment and EEO policies
The county swapped its 1998 sexual harassment policy for a modern one and created a standalone EEO complaint process under County Counsel — with one resident noting the real test will be enforcement.
Behavioral health campus expansion
The county is turning its empty Brawley building into a one-stop behavioral health campus funded by a state BHCIP grant. Residents from the north end — many in recovery themselves — said the two-hour bus ride to El Centro keeps people from getting help, and the Board approved the budget amendment to move forward.
Firearm violence reduction initiative
The DA's office and Sheriff presented a $1.2 million state grant program that gets guns away from people prohibited from having them — 51 firearms turned in during the first year, plus a new gun violence tip line.
Public comment rules and signage ban
A resident criticized a proposed change to limit signs and posters in the chambers, calling it silencing of public expression, and urged the Board to reconsider.