Imperial County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Imperial County, California public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Hudson Ranch Power assessment appeal procedure
The Board of Equalization won't let Hudson Ranch's New York-based corporate witness testify by video at the Nov. 9 appeal — the witness must appear in person so the county can cross-examine him live.
SMARA mining oversight and abandoned Picacho mine
The county has 30+ mine sites; consultants track reclamation bonds and inspections. The abandoned Picacho gold mine is entering a bond forfeiture process with roughly $85,000 available for partial cleanup.
Border Traffic and Healthcare
Calexico leaders didn’t tackle the brutal border traffic at their latest meeting, even though it’s a daily headache for commuters and cross-border workers. Meanwhile, a major ECRMC healthcare acquisition is moving ahead to improve local medical access. So healthcare is getting attention, but the border gridlock still isn’t.
Employee health premiums for Plan Year 2027
Healthcare costs jumped over 12%, but the county is picking up the entire $6.1 million increase, so employees and retirees pay the same premiums next year.
Closed session litigation and property negotiations
The board met behind closed doors on one matter with significant exposure to litigation and labor negotiations covering fourteen county bargaining units. Direction was given to staff, but no final action was announced.
Bowker Road shoulder safety fix
A $797,897 contract will rehab about a mile of Bowker Road between Jasper and Fawcett roads — part of the county's ongoing push to fix its road network.
450 W. Aten Road warehouse lease
The only qualifying bid to lease the county's 65,000-square-foot warehouse was $1,000 a month — about 1.5 cents per square foot. Supervisors rejected it as far below market and will re-solicit bids.
County procurement and local business access
A local disabled-veteran business owner said manufacturer project registration blocked him from competitive pricing on a county furniture bid; the Board directed staff to review the process and local bidding preferences.
Social services building maintenance
The county proposed awarding a construction contract of up to $385,197 to build new interview rooms at the Department of Social Services office in El Centro.
Veterans Services Priorities
American Legion leaders presented four priorities from a new Imperial County Veteran Voices event: expand veteran forums, revive the Calexico memorial, create veteran housing, and improve local health care.
Winterhaven Roads and Code Enforcement
A 45-year Winterhaven resident pleaded for help clearing an alleyway of debris after 18 months of unanswered letters, and noted no county road staff live in the area anymore for emergency response.
SB 675 — Imperial County air district restructuring
The air district urged a veto of SB 675, calling it an unfunded mandate that would force an 11-member board, new staff and costs onto small businesses and farms. Supervisors Hawk and Kelley backed the veto; Cardenas-Singh said she couldn't support it without seeing the cost analysis.
Community benefit grants to local organizations
The board approved $2,550 total for three community events: Heber's Easter Egg Hunt, the Calexico Host Lions Club Little League tournament, and Holtville's Easter in the Park. It's small-dollar county support for neighborhood recreation and holiday events.
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.
state housing law lawsuit against Calexico
California is suing Calexico for allegedly failing to follow state housing law, and the case is now drawing attention to Imperial County too. It’s a local-control vs. state-housing-mandate fight, so it could affect how housing rules get enforced across the region.
ICERS retirement board appointment
The Board appointed Michael Abraham to the county retirement board after a resident challenged the appointment over his alleged role in data center approvals; staff explained he was unopposed in the employee election.
New county permitting software
The Planning Department launches a new online permitting system June 15 — residents will be able to apply, pay, track permits, and schedule inspections online instead of driving to El Centro.
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.
U.S. Gypsum Plaster City expansion
A nearly century-old plant employing about 290 people has waited 20+ years for a state streambed permit. The Board sent a support letter to push the state to finish.
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.
Niland wastewater rate increase
The colonia's $30-a-month sewer rate hasn't kept up with over $200,000 in annual costs. The board chose gradual $10 yearly increases to $80 over five years, though even that leaves a deficit the general fund will have to cover.
Cell tower appeal delays (Vertical Bridge and Sky Towers)
Neighbors opposed a proposed 130-foot T-Mobile tower near Holtville over property values, lights, and health fears; the Board couldn't reach agreement and continued the hearing to March 3 while staff and the applicant work on a smaller design.
RFQ #26-0067 asphalt supply bid dispute
A months-long bid protest between two local aggregate companies delayed the county's road repair materials supply since June. The board finally awarded the contract to Aggregate Products, Inc., with Pyramid's hauler contract continuing to serve deliveries.
Assessment appeals process needs an overhaul
Assessor Robert Menville told the board its hearings are happening at the wrong time of year, notices are vague, and procedures need brushing up — he wants the old assessor/counsel/clerk working group revived.
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.
Extended emergency declarations for airport and bridges
Emergency declarations were extended for the Imperial County Airport, the Picacho Road and Drew Road bridges, and the sheriff's detention facility fuel tank project — signs of ongoing infrastructure vulnerabilities.
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.
Niland Wastewater Treatment Plant completion
Supervisor Kelley reported the decade-in-planning Niland sewer project is done, and five of 22 homes destroyed in the 2022 fire have been rebuilt.
LVN nursing mentorship program continuation
The county will seek contractors to keep running its LVN mentorship program, which has helped nearly 200 nursing students finish school with paid testing and support — a pipeline for healthcare jobs in a county that needs them.
Sales tax benefit requirements for large developments
A proposed ordinance would require any non-residential project worth $5 million or more to route its construction sales tax to the county — standardizing deals the county has cut piecemeal with solar developers. A second reading and vote comes later.
Utility shutoff policy for county special districts
Four county-run districts can now cut and cap water or sewer service to customers more than 30 days delinquent — with required hardship payment plans under state law — to stop paying residents from subsidizing non-payers.
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.
Auditor-Controller office remediation
The CEO shared early findings from the CLA audit of the troubled Auditor-Controller's office: almost no staff training, outdated paper processes, and poor record visibility. Fixes include a new training program and outreach to bond rating agencies to protect the county's credit standing.
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.
Geothermal permitting authority letter to CEC
The county ratified a corrected letter asking the California Energy Commission to let it permit larger geothermal plants locally. Critics said the county is trying to bypass state environmental review and that no other county has gotten this exemption.
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.
Gateway of Americas economic development
Developers showed off the industrial park near Calexico East Port — 100 companies, 2,500 jobs, $4.5M a year in property taxes — and asked the county for a fire station and a fix for truck gridlock at the border. A board tour is set for February 2.
Spanish-language agenda translation requirement
Imperial County and other local governments now have to post meeting agendas in Spanish as well as English under a new state law. In a majority-Latino county, that’s a big access win for Spanish speakers—but it also means agencies have to figure out the cost and staffing to do it consistently.