Calipatria council approves 1st reading of water ordinance
CALIPATRIA — A proposed ordinance to conserve water passed with a vote of 3-1 following its first reading during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
City Manager Rom Medina informed the council the city needs to comply with state water regulations.
“California Code of Regulations 14 18989.2 which is Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), and it’s required,” Medina said.
The city could face fines for not enforcing the model, he added.
Mayor Javier Amezcua voted against the ordinance because he said the city already has the permit process in place to ensure Calipatria and its residents follow established landscaping guidelines.
“Why would we be fined if we’re already in compliance?” Amezcua said.
Medina said the city has no “enforcement ability” without the ordinance.
“If it’s not in a docketed ordinance,” he said. “How can we apply it?”
The ordinance needs to pass a second time at the next council meeting to become law.
The council also passed a resolution approving a letter of intent to become an assignee of a type VI fire engine.
Fire Chief Jesse Llanas said the truck will come stocked with battery-operated jaws, spreaders, cutters and supplies for the strike team.
The 250-gallon water tank vehicle can be used as backup support or as a rescue squad, Llanas added.
In other business, the Calipatria council was presented with a final draft of a letter stating the city supports the Imperial Valley Economic Opportunity Investment Plan.
An additional letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom was written to secure a “fair development of an industry” that is set to “improve the economic future of Calipatria residents for generations to come.”
The letter requests complementary efforts to improve air quality, infrastructure funding for State Highway 111, funding assistance for education along with acquisition of water, sewer, public safety and services for the “redlined” communities of Calipatria and Niland.
“We’re looking for something that will actually provide those mitigation dollars that go directly to the local impacted area,” Medina said.
During public comments, local resident Marcela Beltran said she is concerned about the numbers of stray cats in the city.
Beltran said she is helping control the population by trapping them and having them spayed or neutered at a clinic to help control their population.
“I have lots and lots of cats,” she said. “We have to get something started as soon as possible.”