Calexico council gives city manager a raise By VICTOR MORALES, Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 9, 2008 11:17 PM PST
CALEXICO City Manager Ralph Velez received a $22,900 raise and six months worth of salary if terminated by the City Council.
Council members voted Tuesday to amend his original contract approved 14 months ago, which had stipulated the council could terminate Velez “without cause” and cited no severance pay.
The new contract increases his salary from $125,000 to $147,909 annually, according to a copy of the agreement.
The amended agreement also stipulates no severance will be paid to Velez if he is found to have committed immoral acts or of personal gain to himself.
WATER PROJECTS FUNDED
The City Council voted to fund two water infrastructure projects worth $49,700. An agreement worth $39,400 was approved with an engineering firm to provide services associated with upgrades to its water treatment plant. Freedom Automation Inc. of Oceanside will conduct tests to upgrade the city’s raw water reservoir.
Also, the council approved to pay Cora Constructors Inc. of Palm Desert an additional $10,347 for demolishing and constructing new facilities at the reservoir.
The addition will increase the Cora’s bill to $4,929,389.
Calexico Director of Utility Services Luis Estrada said the Cora project was still within budget.
HEARING VOIDS CM RANCH PROJECT
The city held a public hearing and approved an ordinance that voids all conditions of approval relating to the CM Ranch multi-use project.
CM Ranch, a city-approved, 660-acre development, went through annexation into Calexico, a condition of approval.
Under the ordinance, CM Ranch is “required” to the pay the city all outstanding fees and costs to the city associated with the project. Those fees can be up to $150,000 to $250,000, said Armando Villa, Calexico’s director of development. The full adoption of the ordinance goes into effect after the next council meeting Jan. 22.
NEW COP SWORN IN
The city swore in the newest addition to the Calexico Police Department.
Officer Alfonso Martinez, a graduate of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Academy, is the department’s 47th officer.
Martinez is from El Centro.
City manager salaries for selected Imperial County cities
" Looks like the gal in Holtville needs to get with the program - she's grossly underpaid... "
delgado wrote on Jan 10, 2008 1:39 PM:
" WOW! It looks like that the City of Calexico has a lot of money to spend, shame on you "Politicos" and this also includes spending $14,000 in a rip-off "Winter Wonderland Event." Where do I line up to get some money from the city? "
clxboy wrote on Jan 10, 2008 10:21 AM:
" yeah and city employees cant get the raise he promised! good job there velez. "
1285P&F wrote on Jan 10, 2008 7:13 AM:
" How many other people get anywhere near a $23,000 raise in salary? It seems way over the top when so much needs to be spent on the city. "
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SonOfABeach wrote on Jan 10, 2008 5:21 PM: