San Benito — The San Benito Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and the San Benito City Commission on April 22 approved resolutions marking National Community Development Week and proclaiming April as Fair Housing Month, authorized an EDC-side master service agreement for online public-information request software, reviewed the EDC’s first-quarter financials, and agreed to pay half of the San Benito Chamber of Commerce’s membership renewal pending a joint workshop to define future cooperation.

The EDC and the city approved a resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and said staff will publish a short video and pamphlet and host an outreach event at the fire station to share CDBG and subrecipient information. The body also adopted a resolution affirming the jurisdiction’s commitment to the Fair Housing Act and proclaiming April as Fair Housing Month.

EDC staff presented the corporation’s first-quarter financial report (October–December 2024). The packet showed total assets of approximately $6.64 million compared with $5.75 million the prior year and an ending fund balance in the current presentation near $5.87 million. Staff said revenues to date trailed expenses for the quarter, producing a year-to-date deficit in the operational fund while overall asset totals were higher than the prior year. The EDC also reported sales-tax receipts for the lagged reporting period that were roughly flat compared with the prior year.

On procurement and governance items, the board took the following actions: the EDC approved an amendment to its corporate filings and authorized mirroring the city’s contract for an online public-information and public-records request management system with NCCI LLC, to match the city’s recent purchase. The EDC declined to take action on an item to designate depository bank services after legal advised no action; the city likewise took no action on an engineering contract with Solorio Inc. that had not been included correctly on the EDC agenda and will return the item later.

The board considered a purchase of two laptops and other equipment and, after discussion about device type and cost, voted to table the purchase and asked staff to return with IT recommendations and pricing.

A joint request from the San Benito Chamber of Commerce to renew its annual membership and sponsorships was discussed at length. Tony Crane, chairman of the San Benito Chamber of Commerce, described the chamber’s activities and sponsorship packages and urged closer cooperation among the city, EDC and chamber. Crane said, “The Chamber is the cheerleaders for the City and the EDC,” and proposed deeper programmatic coordination and a memorandum of understanding or workshop to improve joint outreach and services for businesses.

Board members said they supported the chamber’s work but sought firmer commitments on communication and measurable returns. The EDC moved to pay half of the requested renewal amount immediately and to withhold the second half until a workshop or schedule for joint cooperation is set; that motion passed. The city commission adopted the same half-payment motion for the city’s share.

Near the end of the meeting commissioners moved to "proceed as discussed in executive session" on matters that had been considered in closed session; both the city commission and the EDC adopted motions to move forward consistent with the executive-session discussion. The clerical omission on the engineering contract will be handled by returning the item on a future agenda.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution recognizing National Community Development Week / CDBG anniversary: motion by Commissioner Goodman; second by Commissioner Morales; passed.
- Resolution affirming commitment to the Fair Housing Act / proclaiming April as Fair Housing Month: motion by Commissioner Navarro; second by Commissioner Goodman; passed.
- Resolution amending EDC corporate filings: motion by Mr. Goodman; second not specified in the transcript; passed.
- Master Service Agreement with NCCI LLC (public-records / TPIA request software): motion by Mr. Goodman; second by Mr. Gomez; passed.
- Purchase of additional computers and equipment: motion to table; second; passed.
- Ratify change of meeting date (move to May 29 at 5:30 p.m.): motion by Mr. Goodman; second by Mr. Gomez; passed.
- Chamber membership/sponsorship renewal: motion to pay half now and withhold the second half pending a scheduled workshop; motion by Mr. Galvan (EDC) / Mr. Goodman (EDC vote recorded as mover later in transcript); second by Mr. Cortez (EDC); passed by both EDC and city (city motion by Commissioner Quinnman; second by Mayor Pauline Dalan).
- Engineering contract with Solorio Inc.: no action taken (clerical omission; item to be returned).
- Motion to proceed as discussed in executive session (applies to both EDC and city): motion carried for both bodies.

The meeting included public announcements about upcoming community-development events and a community workshop on the city’s master park plan. No members of the public registered comments during the public-comment portion of the joint session.

The EDC packet and motions referenced specific resolution numbers and an NCCI LLC master service agreement; when a file or agenda item was missing from the packet staff said it would return the item at a later meeting. The bodies scheduled a follow-up joint session and asked staff to propose dates and an agenda for the recommended workshop with the chamber.

The meeting closed with scheduling and administrative items; the EDC and city will carry several items forward to the next meeting for final action.