Officials welcome public input
CALEXICO — Economic development, beautification, public service and infrastructure improvements, traffic concerns and feral cats topped the list of topics discussed Wednesday during the city’s first open session meeting.
The debut meeting lasted about an hour and drew a small enough crowd where those present were able to express their concerns at length and elicit immediate responses from city officials.
Despite some sharp criticism, the input received was well appreciated and should help city officials build a greater consensus and understanding of its revitalization efforts, said Mayor Lewis Pacheco.
“I like to see the cup half full,” Pacheco said. “We’re building toward that future.”
Such open session meetings had been held in the past by different mayors and council members, but in recent years had taken an extended hiatus.
Pacheco was instrumental in their revival, as were the persistent requests of Tony Tirado, former council member and county supervisor.
Tirado provided a mixture of suggestions and praise for the city officials in attendance, which aside from Pacheco included Mayor Pro Tem Jesus Eduardo Escobar, City Manager David Dale and economic and financial advisory commission member Ben Horton.
Tirado praised city officials for heeding the citizenry’s opposition to the recently proposed water and sewer rate hikes, which for the moment are being reviewed by a fact-finding committee that includes members of the public.
Tirado also thanked officials for deciding to retain the city’s Police Department, which had been considered for replacement with county Sheriff’s Office personnel as a possible cost-saving measure.
Yet, Tirado said he was troubled by the number of shuttered businesses throughout the city’s commercial core and the corresponding losses in sales tax revenues.
He suggested the city look into more business-friendly policies to help promote additional economic development.
“That’s something that needs to be done,” Tirado said.
Though it may not be evident to the general public, city officials are currently working behind the scenes to attract and sustain economic development, said Dale.
After years of inactivity, the partially developed 130-acre Towncenter Plaza is steadily moving toward potential development.
“We have a lot of interest in the Towncenter right now,” Dale said.
The public should also be aware that the city’s economic doldrums are closely related to evolving retail opportunities in Mexicali, Escobar said. The addition of several big box stores in Mexicali in recent years has resulted in fewer consumers crossing into Calexico to do their shopping.
The city should take a cue from other Southern California cities’ revitalization efforts, he said, and consider novel ideas.
“It would be a good time for us to start exploring the possibility of a public-private partnership for downtown,” Escobar said.
When it came her time to speak, resident Susana Tapia anxiously asked what could be done about a neighbor of hers who is constantly feeding feral cats in the area, and contributing to their growing population and nuisance.
The feral cats have a tendency to congregate and breed at Tapia’s home, while the neighbor appears to not be impacted in any way.
“What can you do to stop those people who feed the cats?” Tapia asked.
In response, Dale told Tapia the city will examine the legality of adopting an ordinance that prohibits residents from feeding feral cats.
The city was considering working with an animal advocacy organization to implement a trap and neuter program, but currently does not have the funds to support the estimated $100,000 annual cost.
“At this point, we have not been doing anything,” Dale said.
Retired city employee Victor Rodriguez suggested city officials visit the city’s senior citizen housing to obtain input the next time the city is proposing adopting any policy that will likely prove controversial.
Rodriguez also extended an open invitation to the city’s elected officials to take a tour of the city’s water and sewer treatment plants, which recently had been considered for privatization of its operations by a third party.
The city of Calexico plans to continue to host open session hearings the last Wednesday of every month starting a 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. The public is highly encouraged to attend to express any questions or concerns.