Public comment corpus

Board of Supervisors

April 7, 2026 · Road vacation / lot merger / data-center proposal · 59 spoken public comments

Unofficial transcript from the official recording, speaker-tagged and checked against official minutes where available. The official record is the video and minutes. Timestamps mark the start of each comment in the recording.

Speaker	Time	Comment (verbatim)
Peter Rodriguez	0:13:02	Mr. Peter Rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez, just to confirm, this is a regular public comment? For the record, absolutely. Thank you. [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 3x, 795-797s] Good morning, members of the board and audience, especially for those union members from Nantifense County. Thank you for coming down to our county. I'd like to state you're welcome to eat at any of our establishments, restaurants out there. I'm here to speak about decorum. As you know, in our special meeting, decorum was broken by taking the gavel from Madam Chair. I followed the chain of command. She was elected. She was appointed as Madam Chair. And it was disrupting to the whole meeting. It was unsportsmanlike conduct. It was a football game. I respect the board members. I may not agree with you. And definitely we have strong disagreements. But you are appointed leaders that took an oath. That meeting, you found your voice. I hope you found your voice today. Courage isn't shown every day. It's shown in the moments of crisis. Courage right now is over 150 people of different faiths praying for our community right now. Praying. They started with five and ended with over 100. And there's probably more people praying. That's from people like my mother who's 85 years old and her friends who reach out to the community. I stand here that we must honor our and hear out. Think about our environment. Think about our community. Were we happy Easter? Absolutely. If you got among family, you were very happy. But I do know something. And this is really bothers me. I look at Mr. Hawk's 700 and for some reason your farms aren't there no more. That's disturbing to me as a member, as a registered voter. I will state this. That there are people here who are not happy. There are people here who are not union members who are wearing vests supporting the data centers. Those who stood in line with me, that discussed with me, that do there, I recognize your membership. Mr. Rodriguez, please are you addressing the board? I'm sorry. Thank you. I was just pointing to them. Sorry, Madam Chair. But they are union members. Those who are wearing the support of a data center, those are non-union members. And I want you to understand the difference. Just because it's colored orange, they're not the same team. They're a different team. And that makes a difference. I know they want to show numbers. But numbers do matter when they're real and they were in line with me this morning. Gentlemen, thank you for those who shook my hands. For the one we had a disagreement, so be it. And for the one I bonded with, thank you for being a real man. Thank you.
Jake Tison	0:16:14	Next speaker, Jake Tyson. Mr. Tyson, is this a general public comment? Yes. Thank you. Mr. Tyson. Okay. Madam Price. Supervisors. I'm Jake Tyson. Good morning, audience. I have a couple things to say. And it won't take long. Number one, the IVDCPA, the Imperial Valley Data Center Prohibition Act, this was submitted last Thursday. It will be on the November ballot. And when this passes, it will ban all data centers in the Imperial Valley, including that horrible project proposed in Imperial. It will restart. And I will be back in the community once and for all. Oddly enough, the next day, I was sued for protecting this community by the developer of the same dumb data center project in Imperial. Number three, I want to say that I have a multi-agency packet prepared regarding the developer of this project, including emails, communication, and meetings with this agency. Including the executive staff and the planning commission and their efforts to push this project forward behind public view. This will be submitted to the DA, the Attorney General, the FPPC, the California State Auditor, and the Imperial County Civil Grand Jury, and various news agencies like the New York Times, The Guardian, LA Times, and others, which I'm friends with. And also, the last thing I want to say. Chairwoman Price, I want to be the first to inform you that a recall position for your public service is now official. And the signature campaign is underway. I think my old friend Carla Moore would be proud of me. She would. Totally. Thank you. And you guys have the day you deserve.
Christopher Scurries	0:18:37	Next speaker, Christopher Sturris. Good morning, Board. Chair Price, my name is Christopher Sturris. I live in Imperial. I wanted to take a moment and address our Woman of the Year. Ms. Price, a lot is at stake today. I want to ask you if this award for Woman of the Year you received, ironically given by a man of all people, was awarded to you for all your great work you have done, or is it a hollow trinket for your obedience to men like Assembly Gonzalez, the Hawks, the Kellys of the world, the Ruchys? For those that don't know me, and despite some recent untrue claims about me circulating, I'm just a music teacher. I run the biggest and I run the baddest marching band program in the county. Many of my section leaders are young women, Ms. Price, and in fact, both of my drum majors next year will be young women in leadership. I want to be able to point to that banner that you have hanging in our stadium under those Friday night lights next year, and I want to tell them, be like Ms. Price. She leads with integrity. She has guts. She does the right thing even when the wrong thing is more convenient. And then there's my two-year-old daughter. She's too young to understand what her father and her mother are going through. And I hope someday we can peacefully play in our backyard together, and I can tell her the redemption arc of Chairwoman Peggy Price, someone who showed true courage in the face of adversity and preserved our home and way of life. Ms. Price, my daughter is too young. Sorry. My daughter and all the young men and women I serve in my role as a teacher, they need good role models. And regardless of what is being fed to you, by your colleagues and your political allies, you can still be that role model. You have a choice and the capacity to do the right thing. I hope you understand that. Thank you.
Michelle Hollinger	0:21:00	Next speaker, Michelle Hollinger. [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 3x, 1260-1295s] Good morning, Chair. Good morning, Supervisors. Michelle Hollinger with Victoria Homes. I've been here several times before and had talked about good development here at Imperial. We've been here for 35 years. We've built almost 3,500 homes. We have a good reputation here. And we're staying here. We have 394 homes more to build. We have 20 acres of commercial land to build. We have multifamily to build. This proposed project has hurt my reputation, my sales. This. We have to build all of this. Without this, this school is not going to get built. There won't be any fees to pay. . . . . . So, I hope you can all all of you, I encourage you to come look. I encourage you to take the business cards I gave you, call me up. I will gladly give you a tour of the water tank, of the transmission lines, of the families that live here. Thank you for your time. ... All right, we are just about to say our goodbyes. So, I'm just going to get the next man to..
Lorena Minor Montes	0:23:42	Next speaker, Lorena Minor Montes. Good morning, board, Madam Chair, community present, and those watching online. My name is Lorena Minor Montes, and I am a resident of District 5. Over the past several months, our community and local homeowners have consistently sought reassurances from this board, reassurances that their children and grandchildren will remain safe and protected if this data center is built. Presently, our county lacks a hospital capable of adequately caring for our residents, shipping out our loved ones to seek medical attention in neighboring regions, such as Yuma, Pompano, and San Diego. Given these circumstances, it is both appropriate and necessary for this board to take careful and inclusive action. I respectfully request the formation of an ad hoc committee that includes representation from community residents before any critical decisions are made. Such a committee would provide a structured forum for open dialogue and careful consideration of the concerns that have been repeatedly raised. The committee will then present the discussion to the board. It would be prudent for two supervisors to meet with representatives holding different perspectives in order to collaborate and develop thoroughly and balanced solutions. These discussions should occur prior to the adoption of any decisions, ensuring that the community input is meaningly incorporated. At this time, our community asks only for measured responses. your presence, your accessibility, and your commitment to those you serve. Keep in mind that you have a developer who has been following the rules for over 30 years in our county, from south to north, giving back to our community consistently and currently lives amongst us in our county. Thank you for your time.
John Hernandez	0:26:00	Next speaker, John Hernandez. Thank you, everyone. [unclear @26:17] I was kicked out, so I'm here. Good morning. John Hernandez, Brawley, California. Why am I here? Because I can be. I was at a POWMIA ceremony over the weekend, and I reflected on the Constitution, of where I lost and still missing a great-uncle, where I lost a neighbor and still missing in the Korean War. And the Constitution, which entails, you guys are all aware of it, no doubt, the First Amendment, my right to speak, my right to assemble, my right to address my concerns to my elected officials, and that's all that I try to do. The Constitutional right, the Fifth Amendment, right? You guys all know what that is. And then the 14th. So equal protection for a community that does not want something that perhaps they're not aware that may have an impact on their health. I've been here almost 77 years. And by God, I've worked in government for 34 of those. I've worked in community for 20 of those. And I understand the process. And I'm still engaging and trying to make it better for those that are coming afterwards. You know, as I watch this, I came an hour early today and still couldn't get in. I came last time and I couldn't get in. And I went to go to the hospital. I went to go watch The Next Generation, my grandkid at a literary game. And by God, I'm still smeared, guilt by association, because I'm not afraid to show my face. I'm not afraid to learn to speak about the concerns and what this community has gone through. Yes, there's been high unemployment for years and years and it's hovered around. You know, it went from 40 to 30 to 20 to 18 to 15 to 22. Again, and here we are. And yes, we want jobs, but we also want healthy people that can work those jobs and not people dying at 40, 50, or 60 years of age because they've developed one of the big four in our community, which is high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, and then now at my age, dementia. So who knows when I'll get dementia? But in the meantime, I'm here to assert my right to speak, to ensure that those that ask me for assistance to know how to redress their concerns are given those avenues and to hold elected officials accountable. And so I hope that the information that you gather to make your decisions will be protected. You know, that's why we established the Environmental Protection Act. Even Ronald Reagan did it. And the way we have the California Environmental Protection Act. Thank you, guys. Thank you, Mr. Hernandez. Thank you.
Ashley Contreras	0:30:29	Next speaker, Ashley Contreras. Thank you, everyone. We have a little time. go to the next one, actually, Ahe. I just want to say a little something. [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 3x, 1857-1857s] My name is Ashley Contreras. I am the Executive Director of Access to Thrive. And I have a question. I would like to know who made the decision to close the overflow room? If you guys are aware that people want to engage and be heard, why would you close those rooms? We are all aware that this is a sensitive and concerning issue for our community and people want to be involved and heard. Today I see a room full of individuals that are not long lived residents of the Imperial Valley and follow work all around. Today they're here, next month they're somewhere else in a different county. This union is from Bakersfield from what I've heard. And if you want to create jobs, and that's your excuse for bringing development, then actually create jobs for your local residents. The people that are at home trying to really find a job and not just people that come here and then leave. Listen to the people that live here and plan to stay here. Ms. Cardenas and Ms. Price, as a woman, as a mother, as an advocate, I speak to you directly because I look up to you. I respect you both. And I am proud to see a woman like you in those positions of power. Please don't let us down. And remember that our children are already very sick, double the state average. Our working age individuals with disabilities are at 10%, including children and elders. We are at 15%, also the highest in the state. Yet our community lacks inadequate specialists. Madam Chair, you represent inner care, one of the worst healthcare systems that I've seen or experienced myself. Let's invest in making our families healthy and not just keeping them surviving, especially our children if we want them to grow up to be able to take on jobs. And I think that's what we need to do. I'm so sorry. I know I'm an old man, you're in a lot of pain, you're in a lot of pain, you're in a lot of pain, [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 6x, 1983-1989s]
Hector Meza	0:33:29	Good morning, Board. My name is Hector Meza. My whole life I've been an Imperial Tiger, but for the past eight years I made it probably my home. I am not here to speak in favor nor against data centers. I am here to speak on the lack of project labor agreements and local hire agreements for these projects. If data centers get built, we need to make sure that local workforce benefits from it. Developers and contractors like to bring workforce from outside to build our county. With PLAs and local hire agreements, we can make sure to put a percentage clause that will require how many of the local tradesmen have to be local. I mean, this helps the tradesmen build their own home. Open opportunities. For residents of all ages to join state accredited apprenticeships, earn a living, a great living, healthcare benefits and a pension as tradesmen. Yes, construction is temporary, but construction never stops. There's always the next building, the next school, the next store, the next geothermal, etc. We must have PLAs, local hire agreements and local agreements to grow our valley and stop thinking that tradesmen are just ground workers. We are operators, pipefitters, ironworkers, cement masons, bricklayers, electricians, etc. In the Imperial Valley, we have local residents in over 20 trades. Let's start looking forward. Again, I'm not here in favor nor against data centers. I'm here to remind that we have to protect the local workforce and open opportunities for our local residents. I'm tired of the developers forgetting about skilled tradesmen we have here locally. Thank you.
Jake Tison	0:42:31	Next speaker, Jake Tyson. I don't have much to say. Hi, I'm Jake Tyson again and again and again. And so I'm not going to talk too much about it. But from what I know, the owner of this road has recently passed away. There's somebody actually owns the road and their siblings and their siblings that that are now in mourning of this person that passed away. Am I right? I think I'm correct, right? That the person that actually owns the road just passed away. I mean, like, personally, I think it would be appropriate to wait at least three or four months until the family gets over the grieving part. Instead of trying to push. I think that's a good point. Some sort of lot merger. I think, you know, I could be wrong. I don't know if I'm wrong. Maybe ask this gentleman here that works with the that pushed it right now. I don't know. Am I wrong? I'm trying to figure it out. Am I wrong? Does a woman own that or the person that owned that? Did she die? So because I can't imagine their, you know, what they're feeling here in this, you know, so soon after the death. And, you know, if there's multiple children. They're going to have to agree on that. But other than that, you know, when you when you think about the project or this lot or I'm sorry, this this road, this road leads to a bigger project. Right. And we all know what that project is. I mean, let's not kid ourselves. But there's sequel guidelines. You know, the lot, the lot merger, for instance, later on this road. OK. That grading permit that was already given. Those are all separate pieces. And the state of California calls it piecemeal. And it's against the law. And they're going to come in and shut this down. They will come in and shut it down. And all this will be a waste. A waste of government funds. All of it. So. So the sequel code, you know, 15378 project means the whole of an action which has the potential of resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or reasonable. I'm sorry. Reasonably. Feasible and direct physical change in the environment. So, you know, also, like, what's what's the story? What's the potential if the road remained? You know, what are we removing if the road of the road remains? What's going to be there? You know, what? What's the possibilities there? We don't know. We're going to just take it out for this one project that does nothing for the community. Zero for the community. No reason to do it. Thanks.
Christopher Scurries	0:45:48	Next speaker, Christopher. Scarce. Good morning again, board. Chip Rice. My name is Christopher scurries. Lime grouper road. This is a simple vacating of an old road. That hasn't been all that active in a very long time. But by vacating it under these conditions, you are so clearly piecemealing this project along. If it weren't already obvious enough. The timing of this vote to vacate is is head scratching. Your ordinance says all parcels of land for a lot merger, which is coming up later, are required to be contiguous. And yet you haven't been bothered to place the one thing preventing that continuity until today. The day of that lot merger. Why didn't you do this after the first failed lot merger? Why couldn't you? Instead of following your own ordinance, you initially allowed a condition in which the road would be vacated prior to recordation. That's not because the law allows it be because all over this data center project, you have been skipping vital steps. And this is just one of many. By vacating this road in a more legitimate timeframe, you would have sounded the alarm that a data center was coming to town long before we were actually informed of it. By having this vote today. Is it a tacit admission that you were? In fact, we're going to have to go back to the data center. Wrong to even entertain the planning commission hearing back in December. Or is that just another one of those times where we're all just misinformed? Mr. Hawk, the irony should not be lost on anybody in this room that a man who campaigned on fixing our roads is about to vote to vacate one that will open the door for a destructive and dangerous AI hyperscale data center campus. Meanwhile, we all still drive on cracked streets and bypass broken bridges. I'm moving on. I don't care about this road. I'm moving on. And when discussion on this item begins, you'll all probably say something to the effect of is it's just a crusty old road. The same way the lot merger is just a lot merger. But a yes vote makes the community all the closer to the bulldozers pulling up next to our homes, kicking up the toxic dust onto our neighborhood, the very dust that has not been analyzed by the DTSC. Please vote no on this road. Not because it's necessary. But because you understand. And I know I can do that. [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 18x, 2889-2905s] Good morning again Madam Chair and Supervisors. Michelle Hollinger, Victoria Homes. You cannot order the vacation of a road right away section of Lime Gerber Road because the parcel 044220045 is located to the west and it is contaminated. Sorry I do not have a bigger picture here but highlighted in pink is the road. This is the parcel that is contaminated by the Department of Toxic Substances Control. Parcel number 044220045. Has hazardous substances which are also considered hazardous materials as defined in health and safety code section 24260. Remain at the property above levels acceptable for unrestricted land use. As a result of the present of soils contaminated, contaminating high pH levels, soluble copper at 32.5 milligrams per liter. And soluble cronium of 5.2 milligrams per liter at the property. I'm not sure if you all knew this. The department has concluded that it is reasonably necessary to restrict the use of the property. Again this is by the Department of Toxic Substances. It is restricted in order to protect the property. It is not to protect the presence of future human health or safety or the environment. And this covenant is required as part of the department approval remedy for the property. So if you go ahead and vacate, it also means that you're going to have to take the road out at some point. Doing any kind of construction there with a toxic substance is going to harm us. Right? Okay. And it's illegal. You need it in writing that you can touch that parcel from the Department of Toxic Substances. I probably don't have the rest to say, but thank you for your time. Next speaker, Ricardo Pacheco. There's a Brian Vega. [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 3x, 3099-3107s] Brian Vega's here. [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 3x, 3114-3120s] I need two more. This is yours. Sorry, there was a computing system out there.
Brian Vega	0:52:17	Chair, supervisors, my name is Brian Vega, and I come before you today as the chair of the Imperial County Democratic Party. But I also come to you as the son of farm workers and the grandson of Bracero farm workers. For generations, families like mine... This land is not disposable. It is not an experiment. It is a responsibility. The item before you today, a lot merger, may seem procedural. But we all know it is not. Mr. Vega, this is on street vacation. This was supposed to be the public comment for the... I have your slip for road... Oh, it's supposed to be for the... So then you don't want to do road... No, yeah. I'm sorry. This is part of the greater confusion outside. Okay, so I... I will be back. Thank you, Mr. Vega.
Aileen Tabor	1:11:05	Chairwoman Price and members of the board, my name is Aileen Tabor, and I represent the City of Imperial. Yesterday, I submitted a comprehensive letter to you on behalf of the city, and I would request that it be made part of the record. I'm not going to go through all the points in that letter. I'm just going to hit a couple of high points. The first thing is really to ask the board to consider, is this the right location? According to the applicant, this is the right location for the city of Imperial. This is the largest data center that's going to be built in California. This data center is right adjacent to residence, within 200 feet. These data centers are notoriously very noisy. There's a constant and incessant humming, vibration, that exceeds the levels that you have set forth in your ordinances and in your general plan. Now, the applicant had proposed this giant berm. That's really nice. I'm not a solution. That's not necessarily going to deal with the noise. And what about the other issues that that might solve for the residents, for example, shadows and not getting any light in your home as a result of being next to that berm. And then there's the issues of air pollution. We have 132 natural gas generators. This is a small power plant that's going to be built next to these homes. The second thing I would ask you to consider is the fact that there are, I'm not a big fan of the fact that we have a lot of people, other more suitable locations that should be evaluated. You have a lot of other manufacturing zone properties. We attach to our comment letters zoning maps 09A, 11, 12A, 13, 14, and 15 that identifies manufacturing properties that are not next to residents and schools that should be evaluated and assessed. They may be much better locations for this use. Third point I want to raise is why is this data center not meeting the standards that the board is developing in the Lithium Valley specific plan? For example, one of the requirements is that the data centers have to be powered on the average by 30% or more for renewable energy sources and achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. Ms. Tabor, excuse me. I'm sorry. This needs to be about the actual lot merger. The comments are being made for that. Yes. I'm addressing the lot merger. This, as we know, the lot merger is really going to be facilitating the development of the data center. That's what this lot, you wouldn't be even considering this lot merger if it wasn't for that fact. The fourth point is if you're going to be considering a data center at this location, then why is the data center not meeting the standards? And I'm not going to go into the detail. I'm just going to go on a little bit of a long way. I'm not going to go up to the top. I'm not going to go that high. I'm not going to go I'm not going to go I'm not going to go [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 9x, 4458-4470s] that considers all aspects of this project. The lot merger is one part of this project. And CEQA provides that framework for having a vigorous analysis that would understand what the impacts are, that would identify how to mitigate risk, and ensure that decisions are based on credible, meaningful evidence. Really, the residents and the board, when you're making a decision, you need to know the full impacts of this entire project. And there needs to be an opportunity for meaningful input based on the CEQA analysis. My fifth point is, why doesn't the board's package contain a thorough disclosure of the impacts that are going to be caused by this lot merger? You've had a little bit of discussion about the DTSC land use covenant. You have no requirement in your resolution, not one condition, that requires that this land use covenant be retained. And so there's concern that the county is facilitating the developer's removal of this land use covenant. I want to point out that your actual ordinance, 90808.00, states that mergers can only be considered, that's the term that's in there, where, and then all those conditions that Mr. Minnick identified. So, it's not a situation where you can have conditions that resolve all of the conflicts with your lot merger ordinance, after the fact. You're not even supposed to be considering, that's the only language from the ordinance, lot mergers that don't meet those requirements. And why is this DTSC covenant so important? Well, it prohibits the disturbance of contaminated soil, and this lot merger is a good mean to know the walk-in of the public. And to go in the is going to facilitate all of this grading that's going to take place, which has the potential to create airborne toxic clouds of dust that are going to be right next to people's homes. There's also a new study that just came out, 2026, by the University of Cambridge, that says that data centers of these sizes create localized heat islands, and in some cases they've recorded increases in temperature by more than 16 degrees Fahrenheit. And that's a significant concern. So the city is asking you to do three things. One is to pause this process. There needs to be better analysis. There needs to be consideration of other alternatives. Secondly, not to approve the lot merger, but to deny it. And then to consider alternative locations. Okay. I'd be happy to answer any questions that any of you have.
Robert Halston	1:20:35	record. Our first speaker is Robert Halston. Yes. Robert Halston. Hello. If you could turn on the microphone, sir, and the button right there on the bottom of the face. Thank you. Anyway, I want to just thank everybody in the Board of Supervisors for taking the time and attention to hear all the public comment. I was listening online outside with a group that's waiting. I appreciate everybody outside, inside, and where it's on. There may be a hundred people outside of the building right now that want to be heard on the issue of land use and this land merger specifically. The land merger really is just a way to circumvent all of what we have to protect the public, the procedures, all the things that the county has departments that oversee the use of land in our county. That's... This merger circumvents so much. And it also paves the way for other data centers or similar industrial development here in the county. This is not the... Hey, if this goes in and we've, you know, kind of did an end run on the procedures and the rules to protect Imperial County residents, there'll be others. They'll get the same, you know, accommodations. And these plants use a massive amount of land. And they're not going to be able to get the same amount of water and electricity. Almost... It could be a million gallons a day. More than the entire... Mr. Holzman, can you... What's that? Mr. Holzman, please stick to the item at hand, please. Not the project. Well, the merger of land. I mean, that's allowing... I'm saying the merger of land sets a precedent and opens up the county land for development that without the oversight that the county has at its disposal. I mean, you've got... I'm not... [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 13x, 4970-4996s] and a really specific mitigations and absolutely not at the corner of 8th and Road and 8th Street. They, all the development, all the resident, by the time this thing goes in, they'll be surrounded by homes. They're adjacent to this property and be adjacent to this project. Anyway, thanks for your time. I appreciate all the people out here. Thank you.
Claudia Contreras-Harrington	1:23:48	Next speaker, Claudia Contreras-Harrington. Madam Chair, if I may, the speakers standing up will be the first to speak and then we will move into the room. Good morning, board members. My name is Claudia Contreras-Harrington and I am a resident of the city of Emperio and the Victoria Ranch community. I'm here to respectfully, but urgently, ask you to deny the proposed data center and the associated lot merger. In my neighborhood, I see children, playing, family spending time together and a community growing with hope. This is not just land, this is where families live and futures are built. This decision is about more than development, it is about whether the strain on our water and air is a cost you are willing to place on our families. It is also about the number of people you are going to have. moving forward without a clear and comprehensive safety plan in place. Across the country communities are already experiencing the impacts of projects like this and it is happening more and more. For us this is not abstract. It directly affects our health, our family, and our daily lives. My husband said something that has stayed with me. As a parent your responsibility is to protect your family. That responsibility does not change in positions of leadership. The decisions you make here impact families just like your own. So I ask you to reflect. Would you feel comfortable placing this project next to your home without a clear safety plan? Would you feel confident explaining that decision to your children and grandchildren? We are asking you to protect our community, to protect our water, our air, and the families who depend on them. When decisions like this are made the impact will be on you. And the impact cannot easily be undone. Please listen to the families you serve. Please act with conscience and with the long-term safety of our community in mind. Please deny this project and the lot merger. Thank you.
Unknown speaker (unidentified in ASR)	1:26:07	Good afternoon. This is the first domino in a change in the world. A lot of what you have said in the last three years is a chain of procedural piecemealing to subvert necessary CEQA environmental impact reviews and hazard mitigation analysis because this lot merger and road vacation earlier mentioned isn't without context. We're here today because a prior vote for a lot merger back in December would have been illegal due to the subdivision map act and county ordinance 90808.00. Both strictly mandate that parcels must be contiguous for lot mergers. Further, the lot merger back in December wasn't without context either. It's for a multitude of Tesla batteries and natural gas mechanical generators. All this for the whole project of a data center, which you are now actively engaged in the piecemealing of, a violation of CEQA guidelines section 1537.8 and 15003H. This road is a public road which requires a discretionary judgment from the board. It is not something you do ministerially. Under the streets and highways code section 8324, the board must find that the road is quote unnecessary for present or prospective public use end quote to approve a vacation. Such findings wouldn't be a clear cut decision from the board. It would require subjective judgment from the board. Which negates it as a ministerial policy and makes it discretionary. You have to explain why this public road should be the private property of an ex-drug rehab strip club owner. My question for you is, why are you actively trying to follow the same loopholes in the set that used the language to pass a road vacation and now this lot merger in the same manner that the developer attempted in December when he tried to trick the economic planning commission to vote for an illegal lot merger? This road vacation isn't for small alterations to the land. It's for methane spewing generators and hazardous Tesla batteries. You guys are being very sloppy. And you're being incompetent. But I don't think your past misdeadlines and negligence should mean the valley becomes a breeding ground for financial parasitism backed by big data. Back in December I thought maybe common sense and logic won. And that's why the lot merger didn't pass. But it seems that Aruchi and you with him, unless proven otherwise, are in this together to piecemeal this hazardous, cancerous and vile project right next to our homes and schools. Because right next to homes and schools there happens to be land that we failed to account for. Failed to place preventative measures against. Against snakes, oil, salesmen, promoting extraction, describes as community benefit. You have the full power right now to prove your Christian devotion to truth and justice right now. The ball is and always has been in your court. This issue can and should be tabled at the very minimum. And we need a moratorium on all data centers until binding and enforceable rules exist for them. Thank you.
Brian Vega	1:28:31	Next speaker, Brian Vega. Once again, good morning, Chair, Supervisors. My name is Brian Vega. And I come before you today to speak about the ! question is, what is the real consequence for our water, our air, our infrastructure, and our people? We don't have to look far for lessons about what happens when decisions are made without fully considering the long-term impacts. Right here in our backyard, the Salton Sea stands as a reminder. What was once seen as an opportunity, driven by agriculture and water management decisions, has become an ongoing environmental and public health crisis that our community is still paying the price for today. Those decisions may have seemed small or technical at the time. But over time, they have become more and more important. And over time, they compounded. And that is exactly what is before us today. We have a responsibility to be good stewards of this land, not just for today, but for the generations that will come after us. I urge you to listen. Truly listen to your community. Many people here took time off of work, arranged childcare, and showed up because they cared about what happens next. And that should mean something to you. Do not create a deeper divide in our community by forcing through a decision that so many feel excluded from. Imperial County is not alone in this. We are a laboratory for experimentation. And we will not stand by while our community is treated as an uncontrolled experiment. We deserve transparency. We deserve inclusion. And we deserve developments that puts people first, not profits. I ask you to engage and to make a decision that reflects the will and the well-being of the community you were elected to serve. The community wants to trust you. But trust is built and is measured by your actions today. For the good of all and harm to none. Thank you.
Kelly Jordan	1:30:43	Next speaker, Kelly Jordan. Good morning. I want to first commend the gentleman that you put outside the door. He's doing a great job. So let me begin by saying even if this board proceeds with approval today, the record should reflect that the issues raised by the public were clear and unmistakable. And this action cannot be treated as isolated. The record shows that this lot merger is directly tied to a proposed 950,000 square foot, 330 megawatt hyperscale AI data center adjacent to homes and schools. And that connection is relevant to this decision because it raises a fundamental question. Whether this merger is truly ministerial or part of a larger discretionary project requiring environmental review. And you just need to ask yourself. Without the proposed data center, would this lot merger even be before you today? The record does not demonstrate that public issues have been evaluated through a comprehensive environmental review. Specifically, there is no evidence in the record showing emergency response systems are staffed and equipped for large scale lithium ion battery incidents. No evidence that evacuation impacts to nearby residents. Schools and roadways have been analyzed. No evidence that noise impacts meet the county's general plan noise element under worst case conditions. And no evidence that cumulative impacts have been assessed alongside other projects. And these are not separate issues. They go directly to whether this board has a duty to treat this as a discretionary action. You've heard our concerns. You have received public input. This community has shown up consistently and communicated clearly to you all. So if this board approves the merger, let the record reflect that you did so with full notice. That unresolved concerns remain regarding safety, environmental review, emergency preparedness and cumulative impact. A yes vote is not merely administrative in effect. It's an affirmative action. That advances a process. It's a project with unresolved and unaddressed risks. And let the record reflect. Every yes vote today will make your position and who you serve unmistakably clear.
Mayra Garcia	1:33:30	Next speaker, Mayra Garcia. Good morning. My name is Mayra Garcia. I'm the director of the National Center for Environmental and Environmental Health. I have been a lifelong resident of Brawley. And I took time out of my day, out of my work, like many of us here, to come and talk to you because that's how urgent this is for you to vote no on this lot merger. This lot merger may seem, you know, no biggie, no big deal. We're just processing through. But we know what it's going to lead to. To the biggest data center in the whole nation, California, I mean, that's a lot for people living right next door. And this is happening in Manpeer. Right? Not necessarily my backyard, but as a lifelong resident of the Imperial County, we know that we are stronger together. And anything that happens in one of our towns can and will happen to the rest of us. So we urge you, I urge you as a voter, a taxpayer, as somebody who clearly cares about this community and has stayed here this whole time and wants to see it grow, who has family here, that you don't allow it to be taken over or taken advantage of. More than we all know. We already have. That's all I really have. Again, I urge you to vote no on this lot merger. Thank you all for your time.
Martha Garcia	1:34:50	Next speaker, Martha Garcia. Good morning, board members. My name is Martha Garcia. I am a lifelong resident also of Raleigh, California. I'm a former resident of the Imperial County. I'm here because I stand with our neighbors, Imperial, because if this should happen to us, we can have people backing us up. And also I'm asking you to say no on the lot merger because think of our children's futures and our grandchildren's futures. Think of their health. And remember, we have long memories. And as old as I am, I still have a good memory. And whenever any of you come up for election or reelection, we will not forget. We will remember. And we will not vote for you. Thank you.
Robert Garcia	1:35:57	Next speaker, Robert Garcia. Hello. Okay. I'm Robert Garcia. Hello, board. My name is Robert Garcia. That was my mother that just spoke. I'm also a lifelong resident of Imperial County. I'm urging you guys just to vote no on the slot merger. I really want you guys to put yourselves in the positions of the people that live directly behind this proposed data center as well as Ms. Hollinger who has a business. Just in seeing this whole thing through, I've it's I just can't believe how this whole, you know, this whole data center thing has played out. I really wish that instead of doing this the way that you guys had, that you guys would have maybe provided us with more of an opportunity to give public feedback. I also had a request time off of work in order to be here to urge you guys to deny this lot merger. Especially when I found out that there was portions of the lot that are like really polluted. And from what I'm understanding that people aren't supposed to be vacating that part of the lot. Well, what happens when these union workers start to go to do that work? You know? They're going to be provided with their health. I know that they're going to be provided with the proper PPE. But like I've said before, I work in a position where I've seen people get injured with the proper PPE. So I really urge you guys to vote no on the slot merger until a proper sequel analysis can be done just to see what could be done with people's health. I think one of the biggest things we can do is take care of our future constituents. Which means like our kids, people that are going to college. And also by being a proponent of the slot merger and AI. You're also wiping out a bunch of jobs that are in the private sector and the government sector. So I'm really urging you guys please to vote no on the slot merger until a proper sequel analysis can be done. Thank you.
Susan Faradis	1:37:54	Next speaker, Susan Faradis. Hello, Board. I hope you're having a good day. I am just speaking to the board about the ! I have a report from 2014 that says it runs with the land if it's sold, this report stays. The board has chosen to not do a CEQA. We get that. My request is we have vast amount of land in this valley. We need this income. The county needs this income. Let's look at this. Okay. So the next thing I'm going to do is I'm going to have a start. that I can do. I can do the people. [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 17x, 5954-5972s] that hasn't already been said? What more requests are there to be made? So I'm going to appeal because when I'm in crisis in my personal life, I go to the Lord. And I'm going to ask each of you that I know have faith that you go to the Lord and you pray about it individually and collectively with earnest because you're stewards. You are appointed in this position by God, whether you realize it or not. You're stewards of our county. You're stewards of our money. And we need you. All I can do is throw God a Hail Mary and pray for a miracle and ask our spiritual leaders in this county or anyone of faith to do the same collectively. We're passionate. To Mr. Rucci, choose a different site because we would support you. We're a great community, and we would get behind you. So. That is my two cents. I do have one other thing, and I'm going to ask that you take this to heart. If you are a local 1184-569-542, could you stand? Ms. Susan? My husband's a local union. None of these people live here, and they're taking our seats. And that is not okay. Thank you. They're paid to be here.
Sheila Edwards	1:41:00	Next speaker, Sheila Edwards. I'm not paid to be here. You're in a hurry. Oh, yeah. Thank you. Sorry. OK. Hello. My name is Sheila Edwards. I live here in Old Central. I am against this lot merger, and I urge you all to vote against it. I would say majority here with me feel the same, but as you can see in this room, majority are not from here. A lot of us were not even allowed in. Some that have been here since 8 AM, they're outside. But there are a lot in this valley that are against this merger and what it leads to. A lot of mergers often call for CEQA, and when it leads to something massive like the data center or full environmental review. Mr. Tyson and many others brought up CEQA as well and per California.gov. The first step in determining whether a public agency action is subject to the provisions of CEQA is to determine whether the actions is a project. And that's what we're doing. As you find by CEQA, PRC section 21065 and CEQA guidelines section 15378, the guidelines you find a project as the whole of an action which has a potential for resulting in either direct physical change in the environment or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical And clearly, the lot merger, the data center, that would lead to two such things. Also, a quote from the next speaker, a quote by Representative AOC. It says if leaders and those in charge of decision making view us people as an endless untapped market to be manipulated and exploited. They will sell us out if they can turn it a profit. Please represent us and don't let us be used for profit. Thank you.
Christian Salgado	1:42:55	Next speaker, Christian Salgado. All righty. So good afternoon, chair, members of the board. I have returned once again. I want to talk about and asking you to deny the lot merger for the AI data center. On its surface, the lot merger may seem like a routine administrative step, but in this case, it clearly is not. This merger is directly connected to a project of massive scale and impact, one that this community repeatedly raised serious concerns about. So I have a few questions. And I believe they deserve clear answers before approval is considered. How can this lot merger be treated as a standalone action, what is clearly enabling a much larger industrial project? Has the county evaluated whether approving this merger now is effectively segmenting the project to avoid full environmental review under CEQA? What analysis has been done on the accumulative impact, water use, power demand, emissions, and proximity to homes and schools before moving forward? Have all relevant agencies, including DTSC, APCD, IID, been fully consulted and documented in the records before this decision? And most importantly, how does approving this lot merger today protect the residents who will be living next to this project tomorrow? Because from the outside, it looks like this process is moving forward piece by piece without giving the public a full picture of the fair opportunities to evaluate the true impact. This community is not alone. We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for transparency, for proper process, and for the decisions to put people first. Avoiding this lot merger now would send the message, sorry, approving this lot merger now would send the message that the county is willing to move forward without fully addressing the risk and unanswered questions tied to these projects. So I close with this. Until there is a complete, transparent, and legal sound review of full projects and its impact, I respectfully urge you do not approve the lot merger. So motion to deny the lot merger. And then vote on that. Motions, once it is approved, then you can move forward. And then I just, for my last statements, I've been coming here time and time again. I am, I swear, like I see so many people now and they're like, oh, the data center. And I come today kind of disheartened. And it's because what is the alternative our county has? So I believe today you guys will approve this lot merger. I have no doubt about that. And the only alternative is the county will probably get sued. If you don't approve it, you're going to get sued. This is also a trend happening in other data centers and cities and counties where developers are using the same strategy. So today when you approve the merger, you guys are going to approve the merger. I have no doubt about that. And it's really discouraging to all the residents that have been coming for five months and made our stance very clear. Thank you.
Tomas Oliva	1:45:52	Next speaker, Tomas Oliva. All right. Thank you. Good morning, Madam Chair, members of the Board of Supervisors. My name is Tomas Oliva. I'm a resident of the city of El Centro. Unlike the previous speaker, I still have hope that you're listening to the voices of the residents and that you do vote no on the lot merger and further place a moratorium on data centers until CEQA review is required. Madam Chair and members, this proposed data center is very controversial, as you well know. But it's controversial because it lacks transparency and it seems to dismiss the public's concerns. The county has been ignoring the public request for CEQA review on this project, and I think the community deserves better. It is deeply concerning that the health and safety of our residents appear to be secondary to potential financial gains as the county saw fit to conduct a fiscal impact study but not an environmental one. The residents would very likely see the project as a failure. They would likely see their energy rates increase to subsidize this project's energy demand. There are no current reclaimed water service agreements with any utility provider, and this project's impact to our water supply, our air quality, our electric grid infrastructure, surrounding ambient temperature, noise pollution, and overall health impacts are unknown. This lot merger is not independent from this project. It has been agendized from your planning commission to the Board of Supervisors that this lot merger is specifically for the purpose of this project. And so that is why these concerns about the future of the data center are tied to the item before you today. So I strongly ask you to please vote no on the lot merger agenda item that's before you, and I ask that you take up a moratorium on data centers in Imperial County until you're able to vote no. And I also ask that you take up a moratorium on the resolution of the data center. Thank you. Good morning.
Manuel Sandoval	1:48:27	My name is Manuel Sandoval. I'm a retired correction officer for 30 years. I'm here today to speak on the opposition of the proposed data center being built near our homes and our schools. Let me be clear. This is not about being against progress or technology. We understand that data centers are part of our... Mr. Sandoval, I'm sorry. This is on a lot merger. Are your comments on the lot merger? I didn't get a chance to speak last week. I was here, and you guys put us in the reserve room over there in the back. Can you keep your comments specific to a lot merger? This is not about a project. It's about the lot merger. No, it's about the lot. So freedom of speech, I'm not going to be able to say what I have to say as a citizen that's been living there for 20 years in Victoria homes. Not on this area, but you can keep it to your regular public comment that we will continue after the board meeting. As you can see, Imperial, you guys are residents here. Just remember the people you vote for, that when they run a get for something, another board may do. Mr. Sandoval. I'm done. I'm just... I've been in the house for 20 years. I'm here. The next speaker. Okay, is that the one you're going to recall? What is the lot merger? So, I just don't have a lot in the list. I just like the lot of your example, I like the lot. [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 4x, 6594-6594s] I'm going to speak from the heart. I don't have a written statement. I grew up in this area. I grew up at 1900 El Dorado Avenue. My dad bought an acre of land near what's now the El Centro Town Center, built his own house, raised nine kids. My mother still lives in that house. She's 93 years old. That's about a half a mile from where this lot merger is going to occur. And so I oppose this lot merger because I can see that people are anxious to start breaking ground and start doing whatever development they want and start employing maybe some of these folks here. But I would ask that a moratorium be considered, mainly because of SB 1520. SB 1520 requires the Public Utility Commission to examine the impact of any data center that is built at that location. And also Senate Bill 886, which is moving through the legislature now to require a study to basically protect California rate payers from potential increased costs related to data centers. And we all know. That this lot merger has to do with proposed data center that they plan to build. So thank you. I have to document this. I'm not moving. I'll just keep the camera rolling. Next speaker. We got the one best, man. The one best ain't even from here. Those that are out of order can leave the room. What do you do? I have no idea. What the hell do you do? You don't even do anything. Kick out the people that aren't from here. How about that? Who's that? Speaker order. Yeah. Who's the next speaker?
Sergio Pesqueira	1:52:10	Next speaker is Dr. Sergio Pesqueda. Who is she? We are a long The first is the first. [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 19x, 6741-6755s] you're not from you you're not from you you're not from you you're not from you Thank you. [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 11x, 6808-7005s] Next speaker, Gilberto Manzanares. Just turn on your microphone, please. Ready? Good afternoon.
Gilberto Manzanares	1:57:04	My name is Gilberto Manzanares. I'm coming here to oppose the lot merger, which will clear the path for California's largest data center to essentially start getting built without any proper environmental review. It is astounding to think that splash pads built in this county for little kids require CEQA, but not this data center. Mr. Escolar, you mentioned a few months ago, anyone who opposes proper ethical economic development was an enemy of this board. Do we look like enemies to you? I think that because of this lot merger that will allow the data center to be built, we're simply asking for what you told us, proper ethical economic development. I am quite sure six months ago, quite a few of you did not know what a data center is, and yet you refused to table this item, which is in your legal authority. Let's not pretend that you guys' hands are tied. I understand. this lot merger, you will get sued. We've been throwing around words about holding hostage, green mailing, whatnot. You're getting held hostage right now by the developer himself, not by us. None of us are getting paid. I'm not getting paid despite what all the lies that are making up. I've taken days off work to be here each and every time. So once again, all we are asking, and it is within your power, to table this item, because that is the original motion that the Planning Commission told us. In December 18th, the Planning Commission made a motion to approve, which failed. The second motion, table this item until we get what? Do you guys know? Proper town halls, including IID, City of El Centro, City of Imperial. Not one of those has happened. And yet, one day after the one meeting, the propaganda session that this county had, immediately you guys announce this meeting to approve it or to put on the agenda to approve. So I ask once again, what happened to that original motion? Do not lie to the people and tell them that you legally have to approve this because you know, as well as I do, that you can legally table this and put in place a moratorium to protect us all until we all, us and you, understand what this data center can do for our communities. Thank you.
Stephanie Sanders	1:59:37	Next speaker, Stephanie Sanders. Good afternoon, Board of Supervisors. My name is Stephanie Sanders. I am a lifelong resident of Imperial County and a local business owner. I am always concerned about the economic health of our valley. I am in favor of projects that promote the financial success of Imperial County. For this reason, I am in support of the lot merger. I am one of the property owners for this proposed project. We have been in possession of this property for over 20 years. It has been zoned for industrial use the entire time. If residential development was later approved adjacent to our property, that decision was made through a separate process and it did not remove our lawful rights as property owners of an industrial property. We did not create the zoning and we did not choose where future residential growth would occur. But we have always had the right to sell, to lease, or develop our land consistent with the zoning that exists. I ask that you would evaluate this project and the lot merger based on the facts, the zoning, and what is legally allowed on this site. I respectfully encourage you to judge this project and this lot merger based on its compliance with the code. In closing, I am in support of this project and the lot merger because it will promote the financial success and economic growth of the Imperial Valley. Thank you.
Jocelyn Garcia	2:01:25	Next speaker, Jocelyn Garcia. I'm a political scientist. I can't see the question. [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 20x, 7300-7323s] from you guys. I don't feel the respect from you guys to our community. So that's what I'm here to say today is like, yes, this lot merger, if you guys pass it, you're not doing your due diligence. You guys have to do your due diligence to this community. That is your duty, right? And for you guys to just come in and try to pass this under our nose is kind of like a slap in the face. That's how it feels for a lot of us. I'm here standing for three hours trying to make my comment. I feel shaky because I haven't had breakfast because I've been here for three hours, right? Like a lot of my friends, a lot of people longer than here. And then he gets the respect of being able to walk in at 11 a.m. when we've already been here for two hours. So he's getting a lot of respect, but the community is not. I have been to many meetings. I've never seen this kind of unorganized meetings for not to have a separate room inside when it's a hot day. It's ridiculous. It's disrespectful. And you guys really need to do your due diligence and actually give some respect to the community because I am not feeling respected. I am feeling very disrespected by the board today because of this. I feel like you guys are allowing them to, you know, play dress up in their party city costumes. Can you keep your comments to the lot merger? Yes. Thank you. It's about the lot merger meeting and the lot merger. So they go hand in hand. The way you guys are doing your job, it goes into the lot merger as well. So even, yes, I have still a minute to make my comments. There's a lot of people here, right? And we love that. And you guys knew there was going to be a lot of people here. So this is negligence on your behalf, saying that we are understaffed. Why not having a bigger venue? You guys knew people were going to show up and you guys purposely didn't have a separate room, didn't have staff. But there's 50 sheriffs, right? But we're understaffed. So that's how it feels. This feels super unorganized when you guys know that we're understaffed. So I'm going to give you a little bit of a break. And then we'll get back to you. So if you guys knew that this was going to be packed, have it at a different venue. Have it at a bigger venue. People care. And you guys are showing us that you don't care about us. You don't care that people care. And that's how it feels. Thank you.
Jennifer Luna	2:04:17	Next speaker, Jennifer Luna. Hello, Board of Supervisors. I had to take a couple deep breaths. I'm going to take a couple deep breaths. Because I have to make sure I stay on topic today. So I am here to urge you all to vote against the lot merger. I came to the last meeting. I am here again today, even though I had work. And I'm just here to tell you that I took a hell of a lot of my time this morning, just like my friend said. We've been here since 830 in the morning. There's elderly people out there with children in the sun because we were told to wait in the sun to speak. And we've been here for about three hours. Mr. Rucci here got a lot of work done. And I'm here to tell you that we are not going to let you in. We are going to let you in. Ms. Luna, can you please keep your It's on topic. We're talking about the meeting and about the lot merger. If it's supposed to be fair, and it's supposed to be about the people and what's good for us, then how come the developer gets to come in here and tap one of the landowners in the shoulder and say, we'll see you in there? That's not about us. It's been said over and over again that we don't want it here. They've given you facts. They've told you that we want an actual environmental study. And we're going to let you in. And I just don't know that the guys in the question that I was about to put in the question, I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I just don't know. I My dad actually moved here because of construction job opportunities. About 20 years ago or so, we came over here. And I just don't really think it's fair that this room is full of people that I've never seen in my life at the store here. I've never seen them in the community because they're not from here. We don't have a union here. So why are they the ones that get to decide what gets built in our community? Ms. Luna, you are opposed to the lot merger. I am opposed to the lot merger because the people that are in the union are the ones that are trying to influence you. Or the developer is trying to influence you. And he's not from the community. So if you're trying to actually listen to the community, I actually implore you. Mr. Hawk, I've seen your posters around town. And it says it's our county. It is our county. And I don't understand why you're letting them do whatever they want with our county. Yes. Lot merger, please. Why are you going to vote yes on the lot merger? The lot merger, when the people here in our county don't want it. Okay? Like, I'm really imploring. And I'm so glad that I get to be right in front of you here to tell you how much this matters. I chose to do my career here. I chose to stay here. And I never wanted to leave because I actually love it here as a community. And I want to tell you that I work with children with autism. And we really see a future here to support that community. And if you build that lot and you approve it, that's just going to be a lot. can affect all of us. That's it. Thank you.
Celeste Villegas	2:07:35	Next speaker, Celeste Villegas. Hello, my name is Celeste Villegas. I'm a resident of Imperial, and I'm here to oppose the lot merger. I have three children. I'm worried about their health or what potential or what this data center is going to bring to our community, water contamination. Just on Tuesday, Amazon is paying out $20 million for water contamination, which is going to happen here in the Valley as well. I'm sticking with the lot merger. The air pollution, these generators are going to release so much diesel pollution into our air. The noise pollution that we're going to hear inside our house is going to disrupt our . Ms. Villegas, are you opposed to the lot merger? I said in the beginning I'm opposed to the lot merger. All right. Can you stick to the lot merger and not a project? This is about a lot merger. And I'm talking about how that's going to affect us for our community. I live nearby, and I know that a lot of us are going to move away if this happens. So I'm opposed to it. And I hope that you guys listen to us, because we don't want to hear either. Thank you.
Bernadette Mata	2:08:49	Next speaker, Bernadette Mata. Good morning. My name is Bernadette Mata. And my story is a little bit different. But to get to the point, yes, I'm opposed to the lot merger. I was born and raised here in the Imperial Valley. And thanks to the scholarships of local businesses, I was able to go to school. Without them, I would not have been able to go to school. My parents were migrant workers. I promised when I received those scholarships I would come back and invest that money back in the Valley. I went and got my bachelor's. My master's, other degrees, got hired to teach in China, then got hired by the Department of Defense to teach in Japan. I started my own business and decided to come back to the Valley, because this is where my heart is. I mean that. I have an 100% remote online business that serves one million people per month. You can look me up. And I host an event here in the Imperial Valley every year where I invite people to come and visit. I'm planning the fifth annual one for next year. It's almost sold. [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 3x, 7790-7792s] I have an Imperial Valley guide, and I take people that have come from Belgium, the Netherlands, Japan, Brussels, just all over the world, and come and fall in love with the Imperial Valley. So I speak from someone who comes with a lot of Valley pride. When I was in university, I ran for office and won. And I thought, one day I'll bring that leadership to the Valley. I am opposed to the lot merger, because I see what is happening in other communities where it has been approved for a lot merger to come together, and then for a data center to come after. We've seen that there are football teams that are having injuries because the data center is next to their practice field. It's only a matter of time. Proverbs 3.29 says, do not plot against your neighbors, for they trust you. You were elected. You are trusted. And you are loved by many. Right now, we are upset, but we love this community. I love this community. But as someone who owns a business that is 100% online, I can move. I don't want to. But if something like this is approved, I find myself in that position. And it's wild to me, because I used to live in a little trailer home on Cloak and Cole. It's still there, but nobody lives there. And now I have a country home on the west side, on four acres, with a huge shed where I host events. And people come from all over. And they love it here. They come in the end of January. And some people come from the east coast. And they say it's a respite from the winter. I would love to continue being part of the Imperial Valley, just like you are. You love the Valley. Think about that when you're voting today. Please. Proverbs 22 says, choose a good reputation over great riches, for being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold. How you vote today. Is your reputation. Thank you so much for listening. I'd like to request to speak, Madam Chair. Supervisor Singh, I understand you're concerned about the elderly, that there may be elderly outside in the heat. Mr. Rebular, is that the case? Okay. You report back to us, please. Thank you. Can you tell us how many people are outside as well, please? Unbelievable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . And just so everyone knows, they did have an option, Mr. Rebular, right? They do have an option to watch this online. We're trying to accommodate everyone. They can also make their comments online. So, you know, unfortunately, it's very – I am speaking. Thank you. I am speaking. That room would be open if it was available. Correct. It's not available. Find a room. It's been four hours. It was that whole last time that you guys didn't open over. You guys could lunch in there. It's hot. Chair, before we go on, can I just say something real quick? Sure, absolutely. I would suggest that we take a 10-minute break, and I would also suggest that we look into a specific room, and I'm trying to facilitate public health where we have the extra space, and if that space is not available to make it available, let's make it available. I think we need to do that, and if we take a 10- or 15-minute break to make that available for everybody, and then we can bring it. We can bring people that are willing to speak and wanting to speak from that facility over here. It's going to provide a much more calm and tranquil environment for everybody to participate. Agreed. But I think we have some processes set up, so Mr. Rebular, if you can kind of orchestrate that outside so it's organized in a better manner. Thank you. Okay. [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 5x, 8085-8089s] We all take a 10- or 15-minute break to make sure that that facility is available, get the people in there out of the heat, and for everybody to calm down a little bit. And... They can stay in their seats. If you want to do 10, we can do 10. No. Mr. Rebular, how long will it take to assess the conditions outside? I'll follow up. There's a WCO down there. We'll follow up right now. Thank you. All right. You want to take five minutes? Okay. We're going to take five minutes to assess the conditions outside to find space for those that are standing and waiting. So feel free if you need to stand up and stretch. But we still need to get you out of the way. So I know you can't do that. So I just don't have the time. And I just will be there. I just can't. I can't. [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 12x, 8152-8160s] Thank you. Okay. Just to give a little bit of information out for the public, we did clear out a room for the overflow of all of the public outside waiting. Six people chose to wait inside our overflow room. The rest chose to remain outside. The order that we will take the speakers are those that are standing, so standing inside or standing outside. Thereafter, we'll take those that are in the overflow room, and then we'll get to the speakers that are here in the chamber. So we're going to be here for a while, so at some point we probably will take another break this afternoon, and we'll let you know when that's going to happen. So we're ready to get started again. Thank you. John Espinosa, our next speaker. She has to leave because the break happened. Okay. Ismael Arvizo. Good afternoon, everyone. No lot merger. I am against this lot merging, a.k.a. no data center, even if you get mad. This lot merger is for the data center. If we don't talk about this whole thing as a whole, we're kind of choosing what to talk about, choosing what not to say. Good thing that people know what's happening, right? I collected a couple of quotes from the people say no, resisting data centers in the south. This is my quote. Lot merging isn't beneficial to the community, but only to the corporate elite. I'll give you a quote from Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI. One said, AI will probably... will lead to the end of the world, but in the meantime, there'll be great companies. So yeah, this is one of the great companies that's coming to our county, but it's great for business for them, but not for us. This community is not willing to be a sacrificial land to fatten billionaires' pockets because we know it's Google's biggest hyperscale data center in California. Thank you.
Arvizo	2:19:45	In this age of unchecked capitalistic corporate projects, communities of color have always been in the front line organizing to protect themselves because no one else will. Data centers, developers are historically known to plan... Mr. Arvizo. ...in low voter... Lower your voice a little bit. Thank you. Sounds like you're yelling. Thank you. I want to yell. Believe me. Data centers, developers are historically known to plan in low voter turnout communities. You really thought you'd pass this project without the community fighting back? Mr. Arvizo, are you addressing the board? Yes. You're addressing the board. Thank you. Yeah. It's really hard to see you guys. I'm not going to lie. Data centers, this lot merger is the starting point of you guys forcing the community to fight back even harder. In the US, Microsoft, Alphabet, Google, Amazon, and Meta spent nearly $400 billion in 2025 alone on data centers. In what has been described as a real estate boom in relation to data center growth, clusters of data centers are being built where there's cheap land, cheap energy, and major tax incentives. This lot merger will bring dirty money to our valley. Tax breaks given to the developers can amount over time to more than $2 million for every permanent full-time job at an operating data center. Fundamental to how data centers are being built at a rapid pace, despite the harms of outweighing the benefits, are the opaque processes that push them forward. Local politicians make backdoor deals. With tech companies before the public has a chance to be fully informed of the harms and have a say in the data centers entering their communities. This lot merger will be the downfall of your political careers, of people's health, and the trust in this government. I hate this. I hate that we have to be here. You force people to come out here to fight them, and then you don't even let them in, and then you cry that you don't have space for them.
Michelle Williams	2:21:46	Next speaker, Michelle Williams. Hello, Madam Chair and members of the Board. I request the time of framework to come here and ask that you deny lot merger number 00191 that will result in the future development of a data center complex. The lot merger which references the hyperscale AI data center project is more than just redrawing lines on a map and moving dirt. Mr. Jim Minnick's determination that the project exist from the California Environmental Quality Act states that it's not only the project that's being built, but also the project itself. The project itself is a project that needs to be reexamined and corrected as it is erroneous. It is piecemealing the development of the largest AI data center in California. I live in Miss Price's jurisdiction and would like to note that I received no notice from the county regarding this meeting, even though I live less than 1,000 feet from the affected site. None of my neighbors received notice, so I'm not an isolated incident. I reached out to Luis Valenzuela about this on April 1st and April 2nd. I've cc'd two board members. I've contacted the clerk and the assistant clerk and received no resolution. I was, however, given an incorrect email address that I could reach out to. That resulted in my email bouncing back as undeliverable. So, for those of us who live in the immediate affected area, I want to say that it is incredibly condescending that the developer and Tom Dubose keep repeating that those who bought homes in the area should have known better because of the zoning. Well, my home was built in 2014, but the data centers were not added to the zoning ordinance until 2017. So, please tell me how we should have known that they would be added. You are voting on a lot merger approval that will result in the largest AI data center in California being built in the middle of hundreds of homes. Less than a mile from three elementary schools and numerous parks. Do you know the effects data centers and their 24-7 noise have on children, adults, veterans with PTSD, or how about those with autism? The HUM not only causes sleep and focus issues, but has been proven to be especially distressing to those with autism, causing headaches, anxiety, and physical discomfort. By the way, isn't April Autism Awareness Month? How can you vote yes on this merger in good faith, knowing the end result is detrimental to those with autism? The data center facility that this law merged in, is the HUM. The HUM is the largest HUM that has ever been built in California. It has over 3,000 residents, and it has over 3,000 The last thing I'd like to point out is that we keep hearing this is the only place it can be built. And that's why these laws need to be merged. Yet, multiple news sources have quoted the developer as stating this isn't the only one coming to Imperial County. A few weeks ago, Sean Wilcock actually boasted about touring a data center developer in Heber. To wrap up, if a location complete with best battery storage, generators, electrical systems, and a wastewater treatment plant can be built right next to schools, parks, and homes, when there has been so much public opposition, and with all of that, it can be deemed, except from CEQA, that that's a dangerous precedent, are we going to become the next Ludum County, or are we just going to be another sacrifice zone? Thank you.
Shant	2:24:55	Next speaker is Shant. Good afternoon. My name is Shant, and I am representing Neurium, which is a community organization that is doing a workforce development project. We are a development grant that is going to use AI skills to develop environmental careers in the Valley. That's what it's attempting to explore. And with that said, I'm here to ask the board to deny this lot merger, and I want to be direct about why. This lot merger is not an administrative formality. It is the foundational step to unlock this construction of this data center. One of the largest. And the developer knows that. And the records show that they have structured the approval process to deliberately avoid the CEQA review. Which means that they can advance the project in pieces so that no single step is triggering the full environmental impact. That's not a technicality. That's a strategy. And I don't want this board to be the pawns or the instrument of that strategy. The City of Imperial already has a board. The City has filed a suit saying that the CEQA has violations. Saying that there's CEQA violations. And the community development director stated publicly that this project is being advanced without a full view of its potential impacts. And approving this lot merger, the next piece in this strategy, would compound both legal exposure and ethical failure. And we know what happens when commissions approve these mergers and permits without full review. We've seen it across the country. Just recently in Vineland, New Jersey, a lot merger and permit approvals enabled a 350 megawatt AI data center to be built next to homes and farms where residents didn't know what was happening. What they didn't know and weren't told is that hyperscale data centers generate continuous infrasound. Low frequency sound below 20 hertz from cooling systems and generators that passes straight through walls, berms, and earplugs. The WHO recognizes that infrasound-induced vertigo is a clinical condition. Studies link it to hypertension, disrupted sleep, chronic stress, and it affects 20 to 30 percent of nearby populations. Vineland residents found this out by living it. And a nearby farmer lost 50,000. Elected officials have already attempted to approve tax exemptions for the developer. Chandler, Arizona, same thing. A decade of residents. They experienced this and now the city is finally doing noise regulations. Same in Prince George County, Maryland. Same in Virginia, Culpeper County. The pattern is always the same. Lot mergers are approved. Permits are fragmented. Review is minimized and the residents are left to fight for protections after the concrete is poured. Imperial Valley is watching the same playbook. Your minutes are up. So I approve, I ask you to deny this so that the same pattern doesn't happen to this community. Thank you. Your minutes are up.
Cesar Tide	2:28:23	Next speaker, Cesar Tide. I'm sorry. It's okay. Can you hear me? So I need to take this off. No, you're, can you hear? Can you hear me? Okay. Hi, I'm Cesar Tide. I'm from the Bombay Beach community. One of the disinvested communities of Imperial Valley. I've been trying to follow this lot merger. I started off at the planning and development meeting too. And I heard the people say that they were going to do multiple meetings to inform the public. The only one I heard about was on the 26th of last month. I'm not sure if that was the only one or if there were more. But that's the only one I heard about. Despite, yeah, following everything. It's really confusing to understand what is allowed and what is humane with enough money here. It has been my understanding that this has been in the planning, the lot merger, off the books for over two years now with the push for warehousing to be a priority in the county. And from my understanding, it's still not a priority of the people. It's a priority of business. Which makes sense. But like Bombay Beach and other communities, we have had plenty of people that have been involved in the planning. We have had plans to improve the communities and health and resilience. But without funding and the opportunity to bypass critical environmental reports like this lot merger is being able to do, nothing long-term has happened for the communities to prosper or for job creation. This lot merger makes no sense long-term unless the rest of the county will be allowed the same privileges and support to protect the communities. So we are going to continue to work with the actual communities that want to benefit the people. Thank you. .
Leonardo Mendez	2:30:16	Next speaker, Leonardo Mendez. Hello, hello. Hi. My name is Leonardo Mendez. I am a resident of Heber, California. A little small town in between Calexico and El Centro. I was made aware of this project through Instagram. And at first I did not believe it. I'm like, well, what kind of construction plan would build an entire large industrial plant, AI data center, right next to residentials? It does not make sense. Zoning-wise at least. And seeing how this is being pushed to approve is disgusting. It is reckless to the people that live near this project site. It will cause air pollution, health risk to these residents. And honestly, whether or not this was fully realized, I do not know. And the fact that it is being reviewed by environmental reports is just questionable. Because if it was, it should not be approved. It is right next to residentials. It cannot be in a worse place than that. It is concerning and it is a lot of information I'm trying to keep up with it myself. And that's why I'm here today. To protest this. And to say no to this lot merger. I'm not very into a lot of these politics. That's just my own business. We just talk about it with my friends. But the fact that I am here, and a lot of ordinary people are here too, that don't do this on a daily basis or don't do this on regular meetings, should speak volume. These are the people of Imperial Valley telling you that this is not a good thing. This is not a good idea. That this should not pass. They are not just saying no because what they are told online. They are saying no because it affects the residents nearby. Not only that too, but I remember at the time, we couldn't water specifically our plants. And we couldn't even have car washes because of a severe drought that was occurring in the Imperial Valley. I still remember that time. So if this lot merger is approved, and this data center is approved as well, right? It will consume a lot of water. It will consume a lot of electricity. The largest data center in California. So I highly recommend and the people of Imperial Valley recommend that this should not be approved. And if you guys really represent us, do not approve. Mr. Mayor, your three minutes are up. Alright.
Belen Sanchez	2:33:34	Next speaker, Belen Sanchez. Hello. Hi, my name is Belen Sanchez. And I live in El Centro. And I am against the lot merger. We all know what's coming after that, which is the data center, AI data center. And it's pretty bad. I think if you guys actually care about the people of Imperial Valley, you guys will really listen to them. And yeah, that's about it. That's all I have to say. Thank you.
Jen Marie	2:34:21	Next speaker, Jen Marie. And her name is Cruz. Hello. I am here because I am against the lot merger. I live in Hever by the trailer park that's next to the train tracks. And I can say very proudly, well, maybe not proudly, but my whole life has been defined by the lack of money. By poverty, in fact. And if someone gave me the opportunity right now to make enough money to pay off my family's medical bills, to pay off my student loans, I'd probably take it in a heartbeat. However, I don't think I'd ever take that if I knew I was doing an entire community to generations' worth of health problems and environmental risks. I understand that there are a lot of short-term rewards for those involved in this project. However, I don't know if there's any amount of money that can justify what's being decided here. And I don't know if any future generation will ever be able to forgive if this ever goes through. And I don't think the community will ever be able to vote for anybody who is allowing this to happen. And that is all.
Damian Aguilar	2:35:36	Next speaker, Damian Aguilar. Thank you. [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 5x, 9339-9346s] Hello. My name is Damian Aguilar. And I am against the lot merger, as we all know what it leads to. I believe what comes from this lot merger will destroy the Imperial Valley. It will destroy jobs and it will take resources away from the communities. And that will be it.
Samuel Crettencourt	2:36:21	Next speaker, Samuel Crettencourt. Hello. Can you hear me? Yes. Hi. Good afternoon, honorable board of supervisors. My name is Samuel Crettencourt. I am against this lot merger. I just want to open it up. I'm not a lawyer. I'm not an environmentalist. Honestly, I'm totally out of my depth here. I'm just a concerned homeowner. And, you know, I figured I would do the manly thing and I would talk about my feelings. And the way I feel right now is incensed and bewildered because this thing has just been moving so fast. There is so much stuff against it. And I get that we are talking about the lot merger. But my understanding is if this thing gets approved, construction is starting. So I'm going to talk about all that stuff. And so it happened so fast. I hardly had any notice. There is so much emerging science showing, you know, oh, yeah, 16 degree, you know, temperature raises. My AC can't handle that. That thing is just going to burn up. And I'm about 900 feet away from it. And I just feel ignored, honestly. Last time you guys had that workshop and thank you for that. I did feel hurt there. But now I'm here. And now, like I said previously, this lot merger gets approved. It's going through. Well, all the questions from that meeting have not been answered. Right? This thing is moving at a super fast pace from a developer that I don't know much about but I keep hearing how shady he is. And honestly, you guys were there. It looked like he was purposely angering everyone in the room during that meeting. All this, the planning commission asked for, right, was a public workshop from that developer to talk to the public. And what is his response? To immediately appeal it. Because he does not want to hear it. He doesn't want to talk to us. He wants this thing to go through as fast as possible. And there is, again, so much data showing that this is not something that you should just do willy-nilly. Right? Now, again, I don't know the law. You guys are the experts or you have access to the experts. I'm imploring you, please do not approve this lot merger on any grounds you can find. Thank you. . Next speaker. Arianna Sweet. . Hello, board.
Arianna Sweet	2:38:45	My name is Arianna Sweet. I'm a mother of a little boy. His name is Aiden. He has autism. And I know that if this lot merger is approved, then that would be kind of the go-ahead to start going on this data center. And I know one other person brought it up as well. But we do have a high population of people with autism here. And something like that noise pollution is really going to be a hindrance to them and their quality of life as well as just everybody else's. And just as far as the grid strain that it would cause, we're not considering the people who need home health services and who need medical equipment in their homes. People who are already. Can you please keep this focused to a lot merger? Sure. Well, we know that the lot merger is not going to bring these jobs that we've talked about as far as the data center. And I know everyone in here is not everyone in here, but there's a couple people in here that aren't from here. So when we talk about jobs and we talk about bringing in jobs, we need to look at the people who are actually from the valley. Just that itself. If you guys approve the lot merger, then we know where your interest lies. And that's not with people who live here. So I just want to encourage you to consider that and consider your future political career as well. Because the people are not going to support you in your endeavors if this is approved. Thank you. Next speaker please.
Ramon Chavoya	2:40:26	Next speaker, Ramon Chavoya. Hi, my name is Ramon Chavoya. I'm also opposed for the lot merger. And why I'm opposed to the lot merger is because we all know that this lot is going to be used for the data center. And this lot merger and that data center are not going to bring jobs. And so, you know, Ruchi, he claims to care so much about our community. That's why he's bringing jobs and opportunities here. So why isn't he following the law and having a CEQA review done? You know, this CEQA review is fundamental to every single environmental impact project in California. And so I'm just trying to understand why this data center is being allowed to bypass CEQA, when so many other projects in Imperial County have been required to go through that same process. Projects like the Imperial Sun Project, the Dogwood Geothermal Project, and the Solar Panel Project all underwent CEQA review. But why not this one? And this lot merger will allow them to bypass CEQA and get closer to building the data center. So why is this project being treated any differently? Imperial County already faces environmental and public health challenges. Including poor air quality and environmental burdens that disproportionately affect our communities. CEQA exists to protect us. And bypassing that process raises serious questions about transparency, fairness, and environmental protection. And I urge you to hold this project to the same standards that you held other projects. And we deserve the same protections as every other community in California. And Peggy Price, we have the signatures right here to recall you. And for the other four supervisors. Sorry, this is for a lot merger. The other four supervisors, there will be more recalls for the four of you. So Peggy Price, I'd count your days. Woo!
Ida O'Birden	2:42:42	Next speaker, Ida O'Birden. Okay, nice to be back. Woo! Okay, this merger, this parcel merger, I moved here 45 years ago, right? Thank you. [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 34x, 9832-9976s] speaker is Anthony Ralphs. Good afternoon. Good afternoon County Board of
Anthony Ralphs	2:46:33	Supervisors. My name is Anthony Ralphs. I am the vice chair of the Boulevard Planning Group. I'm here from the town next door just up the mountain. We are a small town of only 400 people and as a vice chair, as a fellow elected official, I stand before you understanding the complexity and the challenge of the decisions that y'all have to make. I understand that y'all are wedged in an incredibly difficult position between wanting what's best economically for the town and also wanting to respect the environmental concerns of everybody in this town. And I understand that this parcel merger is at the heart of a very contentious issue. What I want to say is that the community has spoken and the community has made it abundantly clear that they are in opposition to this merger of the parcels. And I am in support of these people that are here today to be against this parcel merger. That is to say that I am also against this parcel merger. And I want to reiterate what our duty is as public officials is to serve the people in front of us. And the people in front of us are telling us that they don't believe that this parcel merger will lead to an economic benefit for them. As a member of the IWW, I understand the role that labor plays and in economic development and giving people jobs, and it's a very powerful statement when we have members of unions here today saying they don't want this type of economic development, that they're afraid of this type of quote-unquote economic development, and that it is a very bad thing. And I'm not just doing that. I'm also development because ultimately this merger leads to bigger consequences of greater technologies that they're opposed to, namely of this data center, and they're concerned that these issues have been piecemealed out as they're saying. And so I just want to remind everyone on this County Board of Supervisors that we have a duty to the public, that we are elected officials here to serve the public interest, not the interest of businesses and special interests. And so I appreciate that the job that y'all are doing. I appreciate y'all considering this issue fully within the full context and and I remind y'all and encourage y'all to please listen to your constituents that are in opposition to this parcel merger. Thank you for your time. Madam Chair, we are done with the speakers. Standing up. Thank you. Chair, with your permission I'd like to read a statement. All attendees who were in line have provided their public comment. Those who have seats in the chambers are waiting to provide public comment as part of this public hearing, so no new attendees will be allowed to enter the chambers during the recess. If open seats are available after the recess, staff will allow individuals in line to fill those seats based on the order of those in line. As mentioned, prior the Imperial County Public Health Training Center is also available for viewing if there are any individuals waiting outside who would like a space to sit. Additionally, the meeting is available virtually for viewing as well as for public comment on this item. Thank you. How many speakers do we have from Public Health or the overflow? None? Okay. So the next speaker is from the Public Health Center. The next speakers in line are the ones that are present here. That's correct, Madam Chair. All right. Let me, how are you guys feeling about a break? Ready for a break or just keep going? All right, let's keep going. All right, we're going to keep going. If you could just allow me to, we need to pick up the slips to continue. I just ask everyone to just. Okay. Hand your comments slips to our staff that is walking around and we'll ensure that you are brought up for public comment. This is a very important time. So the first one the first one to this is a great talk. And I just want to say that I just don't have a lot of time. I can't do that. [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 4x, 10296-10297s] I don't care. I could start if you'd like. I have some answers. Mr. Peter Rodriguez. Can you in the audience please be quiet? Thank you. It's my time. I'm against the lot merger for several specific reasons. One, your own planning commission that you guys, as elected board of supervisors, appointed when they had the meeting did not approve this lot merger, and that's for the record. It's just a reminder that your appointees had a meeting, heard public comment, and did not approve this lot merger. The second reason I believe that, for me, the lot merger should not be approved is soil samples for each lot, records of each lot. There have been no construction work done for a while. No one here, I don't want to blame your point fingers, truly knows what's in the soil samples. I'm not a soil expert, but I know before you build something, a house, you got to have a soil analysis. This is a big project. What kind of contaminated soil is there? X is not known. An algebra problem that we all had. You cannot tell me that that soil is clean. This is environmental only. Okay? You want to merge them, but you got to merge them with CEQA approval and a soil analysis to merge them together. So you have a clean slate, clean conscience for the community. They've expressed environmental concerns thousands of times over and over again. They've expressed CEQA. Over and over again. This has to be done by the law, by your own ordinance. By voting to approve of this, you're in violation of your own ordinance. I was in court when Judge Underholt denied the TRO from the city of Imperial. But he said let them vote because they'd be violating their own ordinance. It was written story, his quote, not mine. So if you vote for it, you're violating your own ordinance that you swore to uphold when you took your oath. And that still means a lot to me. What kind of voter, I mean, what kind of leader, politically elected, are you going to be? One that violates your own laws or one that's going to just do it because I need some money in our economy? Well, the money will come one day, but not with this project because it's not environmentally safe. Thank you.
Christopher Scurries	2:54:57	Next speaker, Christopher Scurries, I'm sorry. All right. Hello again, Board and Chair Price. There's a whole list of reasons why this law merger should not be approved today. And I wasn't planning on boring anybody with the details of why. But I do want to refute something that Mr. DuBose mentioned earlier. And I'm quoting. I'm quoting Aileen Tabor's appeal to this. And so I'm just quoting her. And there's absolutely no authorization to keep four different zones onto this one parcel under an owner-initiated lot merger except for A2, A3 traffic corridor. It's not a part of this merger. An exception does not apply to this property and the lot merger, should not be approved with different zones. This does not authorize an exception to the many rules listed above. And again, I'm just quoting her. I want to ask by asking if you guys read the appeal. Because there's a lot. I read it. I took the time. Did you? If you did, you would know that one, the legal implications associated with this approval will open this county up to even more litigation than it currently has. And two, by approving this merger, you're inviting the heavy machinery, the heavy machinery, just beyond our backyards to kick up toxic dust. And I mentioned this earlier about Lime Groover Road. Now, I've, there are these laws and procedures in place to protect people. And instead of following them, you like to kick it over to the applicant who likes to leave comments on Facebook for us instead of just going through the process. And you guys have this tendency to believe him instead of this lot merger process. Along the way, he and his team, his team say really insulting things about why we shouldn't have bought that land in the first place. And then there are the lies. He openly lied on record about securing water contracts. Let's not forget the influence he's trying to have on our local election by bankrolling an absolute buffoon. Mr. Scurries, Mr. Scurries, please stick to the lot merger. You got it. I just wanted to talk about the person who, who you're influencing this lot merger for. So, I just will leave it at that. I'm against the slot merger. You know that. I've been around here a lot lately. I didn't know who any of you were six months ago. Had no clue. Mr. Hawk, I had to call you. Do you remember that phone call? Yeah. I called Ms. Price. I thought she was my, my representative. We had a spirited back and forth over the phone on my lunch break. And here we are. the ! Here we are once again. Don't do this. Stop. This is insane. Just read, read the appeal if you haven't. And vote no on this. Thank you.
Guillermo Hernandez	2:58:19	Next speaker, Guillermo Hernandez. Good afternoon, Madam Chair, Madam Vice Chair, members of the public. My name is Guillermo Hernandez and I serve as a district representative with the office of California State Senator Steve Padilla. I have a statement that he asked I share on his behalf. And I'll read it verbatim. As this board prepares to vote on this item, a step on the way to advancing this data center, I want to be direct. While I understand the need for jobs and economic development in our community, this project is not the way to do it. Instead of investment that supports and uplifts our community, this project could bring environmental damage and hardship to an already overburdened region. For months, my office has heard from constituents asking real questions about the likely impacts this data center would have on their already poor air quality, their precious resources, their energy bills, and their health. In response to their concerns and issues, we have seen with data centers across the country, I introduced Senate bills 886 and 887, two bills designed to protect rate payers from having to pay for the costly infrastructure around these projects and incentivizing big tech to build these developments to the highest environmental standards. This project is a perfect demonstration of why these protections are so necessary. Data center developers have an opportunity to build these projects. They have the opportunity to be good neighbors, propose projects that support California's grid and the communities in which they are built. Respectfully, I don't take the community's concerns lightly and neither should this board. And I'm calling on the board to let those concerns drive this decision, to slow down, to respect the voices of our community, and to get this right. My office will remain closely engaged in this process and we will continue to advocate for the County of Imperial every step of the way. Thank you. [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 5x, 10826-10832s]
Carolina Paez	3:00:33	Next speaker, Carolina Paez. Good morning, well, good afternoon, board members. My name is Carolina Paez. I live in Victoria Ranch. And my home is one of the houses that will be located close to the love marriage. First of all, I feel insulted by everything that has been said during all the meetings that I have been attending. Specifically, such irrelevant information as that we will receive $25 in our property taxes or the assertion that the data center will generate noise comparable to that of the refugees. I am a ! I am a! [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 21x, 10906-10945s] Stop Data Center. Thank you. Mike Da.
Mike Da	3:02:37	Good afternoon. My name is Mike Da. Sorry if you could turn on your microphone please. . Does that work? Good afternoon. My name is Mike Da. I'm the business manager of Labor's Local 1184 here in El Centro on Broadway. I'm here today in support of the merger because the merger matters. We live in a region with some of the highest unemployment rates in the state. Jobs have dried up. Families are feeling it. And too many of our people are being forced to leave and work somewhere else. But this merger gives us a chance, a chance for our residents, a chance for our members to work local. This isn't just another item on an agenda. This merger is an opportunity to create hundreds of jobs. Hundreds of good paying jobs right here in the valley. And just as important, this merger moves forward a project on land already set aside for industrial use. The merger allows the plan. The community put it in place years ago. It's been coming to the Imperial Valley. I've been coming to this Imperial Valley for over 31 years. Wow. That's a long time. I've worked here. I've built relationships here. I've seen what happens when workers are not working. Work disappears. People leave. Families struggle. Communities fall behind. At times we had 400 to 500 laborers here working on solar and renewable energy projects. That work supported hundreds and thousands of families. It kept people here. It gave the community momentum. And we need that again. We need renewable work back in the valley, putting our people back to work. Because right now the jobs are gone. And the unemployment is some of the highest in the state. The merger is about bringing that work back. Local hire. Local jobs. And most of all, local contractors will have the opportunity to work under a project labor agreement that I have been personally involved in negotiating over the weekend that will be on this project. The merger means, puts our residents in a position to work. It brings our members and their families to work. It grows this economy from within, not from the outside. My brothers. They live and work in these communities. They're here because they care about these communities. This merger will give them and their families an opportunity. We urge the approval of this merger. We urge that we put local people to work. Local businesses thrive. And local families that will receive benefits. Mr. D. In addition. Mr. D. I'm sorry. If everyone could please sit. This merger will allow good people to work in the valley through apprenticeship, health and welfare, and retirement. Thank you very much.
Jose Garcia	3:05:53	Next speaker, Jose Garcia. You want to kick me out because I'm clapping and I say vote no. I'm not leaving. Yeah, only because Peggy walked up, told the dude, get him out, and he's clapping, so vote no. He needs to go. Yes. Okay. Who's the next speaker? Jose Garcia is right here on the podium. Okay, thank you. All right. If I feel threatened, you will be asked to leave the room. I'm not threatening you for clapping. And if you feel threatened by community speaking, what do they feel? And we've already warned you as well. We are asking for decorum in the room. So you can leave as well and watch online if you need to. You are asked to leave the room. What did I do wrong?
Jose Garcia	3:06:58	My name is Jose Garcia. I'm a lifelong member of LIUNA, the Laborers International Union of North America. The life of a construction worker has truly changed. Before, we would just be sent out to jobs and go do a job. There's no other trade that has to come before boards to beg for work. Beg. Okay? Every person behind me in orange represents a family. Whether they're a brother, a sister, a mom, a dad, we have the same responsibility as everybody else in this community to provide for our family. We chose construction. I follow a great path. I'm proud to be a construction worker because Jesus was a construction worker. He was a carpenter. But on the second day, he became a laborer because he went everywhere and did everything for the good of the people. I love everybody. And we, and first and foremost, I am fully support of the lot merger. And I want you to know that we put our families in danger without even knowing. I, I'm going to update myself. I come from the brick phones. And when the brick phones came out, they said if we were going to use phones, we were going to have cancer this big. We hand tablets to our children. We hand it to them. In the car, stay quiet. at home here the electric scooter no helmets out there and we don't even think about it twice that's so dangerous but to stay on track this will provide many of families you see everybody's saying I took a day off for work you think they didn't miss payroll today everybody missed payroll today because we're look mr. Garcia I'm sorry we're gonna have to have you hold for a moment while we clear the room of one person we would like to continue we would like to continue with our meeting please leave the room please leave the room we would like to continue with our meeting please leave the room to continue our meeting we would like to continue our meeting you need to leave the room you need okay thank you now you need to leave the room and you can leave as well okay we don't need okay make sure everyone knows and you can't have a new person in the number and you can't have a new person in the next one you can't have a new person in the next one [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 13x, 11396-11412s] I'm sorry, Mr. Garcia. It's okay. We can take a breath. You can take the time you need to speak again. I just, we're not second. What's that? Okay. Reset. When you're ready, Mr. Garcia. Thank you. I just feel we're being treated like second-class citizens here. We provide everything for this community. Infrastructure, roads, schools. That's what we do. We build. We build America. And America's not going to stop for anybody. Okay. And so with this going on, you know, we always have to come fight for a project. So I am fighting for this project. I am fighting for this lot merger. And I just hope that everybody understands we're moving forward. We can't go backwards. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Next speaker. Alberto. On the one. Yeah. [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 10x, 11503-11526s] Hello again.
Michelle Hollinger	3:12:26	I'm Michelle Hollinger, Victoria Homes. So let's talk about the lot merger. So I'm going to hold up the sign again. As a developer, I'm against this lot merger being A2, okay? Once the A2 gets merged in this lot merger, it gets passed, that becomes a precedence. This is the central canal to the south of me. All the land south is zoned A2. It will give the developer a chance. Sorry, I can't really see you with my glasses on. It will give the developer a chance to use that county land to continue this proposed project. Please do not. Okay. Let that happen. Now down to business. The planning commission made a motion on December 18, 2025 to hold workshops, meet with the city of El Centro, city of Imperial and the community before it got back to them, this project. The planning commission did not approve the lot merger. They still need to take action. Okay. So the plan that I just made, the plan of the plan to get the school to be on the derogatory list, the plan to get the school to be on the derogatory list, the plan to get the school that if the Board of Supervisors hears the appeal and skips receiving a recommendation or discussion from the Planning Commission, the discussion is null and void. Period. That's your ordinance. I didn't just bring this up out of thin air. Next, I respectfully ask if this does go back to the Planning Commission like it should, that Commissioner Russell Rovin be accused from voting. He is directly linked to Ray Rovin, my competition, and also Duggan's Construction that would be a company that would be able to build this project. And lastly, I'm not sure Mr. Hawk why you would come up to me and say that you're not angry with me. Commissioner Hollinger, your three minutes are up. Thank you for your time.
Nick Gumbleton	3:15:34	Next speaker, Nick Gumbleton. Good afternoon, Madam Chair, Supervisors. My name is Nick Gumbleton. I'm with LIUNA. I'm a business agent, Laborers Local 1184. We have an opportunity for Imperial County to invest in its people, its workforce, and its future. Far too long, our members here in Imperial County have gone without steady work. Mr. Gumbleton, just going to pause for a second. You can stand and then we'll take note and then please sit because we don't want to obstruct the view from the public behind you. Thank you though. Thank you. Far too long, our members here in Imperial have gone without steady work. Too many skilled union men and women have been forced to travel out of the county, spend time away from their families and sit on the books waiting for the next opportunity. I'm not going to be a That's why this merger is so important. With the project labor in place, this project creates a clear pathway to make sure the work is done right, done safely, and done with a highly trained union workforce that is ready to go to work now. There's a commitment to local hire. The people of Imperial County deserve to benefit directly from the development happening in their own backyard. Our apprentices, journeymen, and local members are ready to step up and deliver this project with pride. These are good-paying careers to support families, strengthen our community, and keep dollars circulating right here in the Imperial County. This project can help put our members back to work, create opportunities for the next generation through apprenticeship, and show that union labor can accomplish when they have the chance. We need this project. Our community needs this project. The union is here, trained, prepared, and ready to go to work. Let's stop being the valley of no. Thank you.
Juan Serrato	3:17:18	Next speaker, Juan Serrato. Hello. Good afternoon, Chair and members of the board. My name is Juan Serrato, and I'm here with the Laborers International Union of North America. We showed up today because this item matters to us. When you see a room like this, it's because working people from this community are paying attention. I want to be clear. I'm here to support the slot merger. This is about setting the stage for future growth. Let me say that again. This is about setting the stage for future growth, not just one project. This community needs jobs, and we are part of this community. We live here, we raise our families here, and we deserve the opportunity to work here too. Approving this slot merger helps create the conditions for future growth, future investments, and much-needed revenue for this county. We're simply asking for the opportunity to keep moving forward, so please approve this slot merger. Thank you.
Jason Baez	3:18:32	Next speaker, Jason Baez. Honorable Board, thank you so much for the opportunity to speak today. My name is Jason Baez, and I'm a proud member of Laborers International Union of North America. And we are here in full support of the lot mergers approval. Honorable Board, since 1946, we have not seen a steady economic surge in this county since the establishment of the Naval Air Base. And upon its construction, the same concerns that are based around the lot merger were present at that time. But upon its completion and years into its operations, none of those concerns held serious value. The It has been a long-term goal to build a solid air base to this very day. And with that said, instead, the air base has always been seen as an essential and very important part of our community that brings much prosperity, just as the lot merger will. It also brought career opportunities for stellar military long-term careers as well as local careers. with administration, logistics, service technicians, and of course maintenance, just as a lot merger will. Basically all the same factors are lined out to be produced from the lot merger as the naval base, only with a lot less concerns. We literally have an opportunity to double our city coffers, to bring us into a new day of economic prosperity with this opportunity. It has been 80 years since we've seen steady economic growth, and the course that we're going on, if we continue, the utilities and infrastructure will slowly decay, and we will not be able to repair it economically. Once we hit that point, a whole trickle... of bad tidings will start coming in. This is the course we are on. So your decision today is not just important, it's critical. So please, I know that you have a lot of weight under you, over you with this, but please think of the long-term effect it's gonna have on Imperial County. Will we get another opportunity like this? Tech is the key. It is the future that we're living in today. If we don't take advantage of these opportunities, right down the way, someone else will, and their community will benefit. Please consider all these factors. Thank you so much. Have a blessed day.
Frank Zavala	3:21:48	Next speaker, Frank Zavala. Good afternoon, everyone. Frank Zavala with California State Building Trades. I'm here on behalf of Chris Hannon, the president of the State Building Trades. We support this project. It's good jobs, union jobs, good 116 members that will join local union, local trades, apprentices coming from the community. I heard both sides, and I'm hearing it, and I'm very concerned that there's a misuse of the representation of unions here. I'm not a great speaker, but let me tell you, I speak from the heart. I had a brain aneurysm. It affects me, but guess what? I'm here because I represent 11 unions, and I respect them. I'm here because of them, but also want to reach out to the community. This lot is needed. Just like gentlemen, I just spoke right now. It's not what we can do. It's how we can do it now. But please, we need your vote, and I ask the committee, come and see us. Women, men, we don't care. We want you to work in your community, and I mean that. Thank you. [ASR loop artifact: phrase repeats 4x, 12200-12207s]
Timothy Kelly	3:23:28	Next speaker, Timothy Kelly. Honorable supervisors, county CEO, chairman of the board of supervisors, I'd like to thank you all for having this time for us to speak, everybody that's opposed and everybody that's in favor of this in a way that we can be all treated equally. I want to thank the sheriffs that are here and the police, fire department that's here that are assisting also. I am in support of this lot merger. Not only in support of our proponent, but also in support of the landowners that are adjacent to this property. Much of the property in Imperial Valley was subdivided many years ago, and in areas such as the Gateway to the Americas, there's a limitation on the size of the buildings that could be built. On the parcels that were there. And that limit was 30,000 square feet. Why 30,000 square feet? Because at the time, 25,000 they thought was the best size of property. Since then, things have changed. And what we're seeing is that the need for land and the size of buildings has increased to over 100 to 250,000 square feet. Additionally, that a study done by Global Site Legitimacy, and the National Logistics, is that the average site being looked at in the United States is over 500,000 square feet. This is going to require that we have lot mergers on several of our properties and in industrial parks in the Imperial County if we expect to attract development to this region. If we don't, they will go elsewhere. Lot mergers will need to take place, and roads will need to be abandoned. We know that. Because we need to keep up with the times. Since I've been in economic development, we've seen that change of the size of buildings that are needed for us to attract investment. This item has been reviewed by the county staff and has been recommended for support. The abandonment of Landburger Road and the lot merger has been supported because they followed the law. It's that simple. The owners of the adjacent property support the abandonment of the road, and they support the land merger, because it's going to increase the value of their property so they can attract investment, which is going to benefit the county in taxes, create jobs, and support us all. I know there's a lot of misinformation that's been out there, and you've heard the comparisons to water and energy. We've gone through that, and we've taken out a piece of paper and drawn out exactly how much water, how much energy, how many jobs. The proponent is just following the law and identified a location. Which has all the necessary requirements. Thank you very much.
Sean Wilcock	3:27:03	Next speaker, Sean Wilcock. Good afternoon, Madam Chair, members of the board. My name is Sean Wilcock from Raleigh, California. I am the director of the I do live here. This merger is to occur on industrial land, land that's been industrial since the railroad was installed, I don't know, 40, 50, 60 years ago. This lot merger is needed to facilitate a project that will significantly improve our roads, infrastructure, health care systems, community services, and much more. Those kind of services don't just come about. We don't print money. Those services are paid for by private investment that comes back into our tax base. These are the kind of things that this county needs to improve quality of life here. The examples given earlier of bad data center developments, none of those were in California. We live in a highly regulated state, and those regulations will protect the community of noise, pollution, everything that is of concern to this community. And Tim is right. There's a lot of complete misinformation going around about examples of the project that are not going to happen here because of this regulatory environment. Let's advocate for the greater good and approve this lot merger today so that we can improve on the quality of life for Imperial County and all its residents. Thank you very much.
Cruz Morales	3:29:01	Next speaker, Cruz Morales. Hi. There we go. Good afternoon, board members. My name is Cruz Morales. I'm 28 years old from Westmoreland, California, ex-foster youth. That being said, growing up, I don't have lifelong friends. I don't have lifelong connections. I don't have family I've known for too long. And I have an amazing background, background in fire, construction, in the kitchen. I mean, the thing about the Valley is, I don't know why I'm shaking for it, the thing about the Valley is there's no jobs here. And that's really, for me, that's what it comes down to. There's no jobs here. I mean, no one here is going to give me a job, but then you're telling me there's a group of people coming down, they want to give you a job, and I got told the numbers. It's amazing numbers. I mean, I got a 7-year-old daughter who has autism at home. I've got to feed her. I have other family I've got to look out for. It's not just my daughter. I'm the man of the house. My grandma's getting elderly. No one else is looking to help her. It's going to have to be me. So when I see this data center, when I hear about the lot merger, why? Why? Why even argue it? Because it's like this. I mean, I talk to my dad now. I didn't always talk to him now. He makes things very simple. It's like this. You've got a person who owns the land. You've got a person who wants to buy the land. Why get in the middle of two people who want to do the same thing? It just doesn't make sense to me. And I used to be against the data center. And when I talk about the data center, of course, it goes back to the lot merger. I used to be against the data center. That's because, you know, there's a lot of bandwagoning going on on social media. I'm pretty sure you guys are aware of that. Everybody here is aware of that. But, you know, when you look into deeper research, when you see changes in the plans, and I've seen the plans that they presented in the beginning. Maybe they weren't the best. Now they're changing them. Now it's looking pretty dang good. And I'm just a student going to school trying to get into trade. And I'm 28 years now. I could have done this earlier. But I was always told, you need experience. You need background and things to get a job. Well, here I am, 10 years of experience in different things.

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