Calexico looks to revamp commissions
CALEXICO — Longstanding concerns about the absence of any regularly convened Business Improvement District committee meetings prompted city o cials on Wednesday to propose its possible merger with another city commission.
Already, the legality of the possible merger has been reviewed and deemed to be permissible, said Assistant City Manager Miguel Figueroa during Wednesday’s regular City Council meeting.
“That is an option that we’re putting on the table for the council,” Figueroa said.
Should the council direct city sta to undertake such a merger, the BID committee would be joined with the city’s economic development and financial advisory commission.
The proposed merger would require an amendment to the BID’s bylaws to ensure its role and responsibilities remain clear, Figueroa said.
The city’s BID encompasses much of its downtown area as well as an adjacent portion of Imperial Avenue.
Its members are typically assessed an annual $100 fee to help fund promotional activities and events, but that fee has not been collected as of late as a result of the BID committee’s inactivity, o cials said.
Figueroa’s remarks appeared to have been prompted by statements made by Ben Horton, a member of the city’s economic development and financial advisory commission, during the council meeting’s public comment portion.
Horton had reminded city o cials that some BID members might be owed a refund of the district’s $100 annual assessment that was waived this year on account of the BID committee’s inactivity.
Horton also said it was not fair for the city to collect the assessment if BID members were not being provided with anything in return.
“The BID is not doing anything,” Horton said.
Councilwoman Maritza Hurtado, who also owns a business in the city’s downtown area, said any potential BID committee merger would have to safeguard the distinct role and financial reserves the BID committee currently maintains.
She had also asked whether such a merger could take place without the input and approval of the businesses that are located within the BID.
Councilman Bill Hodge also expressed similar dissatisfaction on Wednesday with the lack of BID committee meetings, and the lack of meetings among the majority of the city’s other commissions as well.
On Thursday, Hodge said he is working closely with Mayor Pro Tem Jesus Eduardo Escobar to try to revamp the commissions, many of which do not have enough appointed members to meet quorum.
Changes may also be in store to the provisions that require a city administrator be present in order for such commission meetings to take place.
That requirement has placed an added burden on city administrators who are arguably spread thin as it is, Hodge said.
Further consideration is also being given to defining and enhancing the role a council member can have on a commission, officials said.
“The commissions have fallen on hard times,” Hodge said Thursday.
The city currently has eight established commissions, which advise city officials on a number of matters, including building and planning, personnel matters, libraries and the arts, as well as parks and recreation, to name some.
The commissions have the potential to greatly benefit the city, especially when comprised of community members whose respective skills and experience contribute to sound recommendations, Hodge said.
“If done right, they can have significant impact,” he said.