-Editorial
The El Centro City Council has approved the plans and specifications for the Valley Center Point Plaza demolition project and authorized city staff to release the project for public bidding. The project is funded with $3.5 million from Measure P in Fiscal Year 2026, and city officials say there will be no impact on the general fund. The engineer’s estimate for the base bid is $3,232,789.
The demolition project targets three City-owned buildings identified in a 2017 condition assessment report as being in poor condition and economically unfeasible to repair. The buildings slated for removal include the former Mervyn’s building (65,000 square feet), Miller’s Outpost (20,000 square feet), and a 35,000-square-foot shop building. The former Sears building, which currently houses Imagine School and the temporary City Library, will remain on the site.
Additive bids will include independent utility connections for the former library site, including sewer, water, electricity, mechanical systems, fire suppression, and communications infrastructure. These upgrades are intended to allow the building to be reused in line with the City’s 2019 Master Plan, which outlined redevelopment opportunities for office or municipal space.
The Valley Center Point Plaza project is part of the City’s 2022–2027 Strategic Planning Program, focusing on environmental sustainability and infrastructure improvements. City staff said final plans and specifications have been completed, and the project is now ready for public bidding.
The anticipated project schedule includes council approval of the bid package, release for public bidding, a mandatory pre-bid meeting, awarding to the lowest responsible bidder, and issuance of a notice to proceed. All bid documents, including technical specifications and project plans, are available at the City Clerk’s Office.
City officials say the project will improve safety and site conditions while preserving the Sears building for continued educational and library use.
In other news, the El Centro Kiwanis Club made a presentation to the El Centro City Council about the launching of its Flag of Honor Program, a new community initiative to display American flags along Imperial Avenue during patriotic holidays, including Veterans Day, Presidents’ Day, Flag Day, Memorial Day, and the Fourth of July. The program is designed to promote civic pride while raising funds to support programs that benefit local children.
Through the initiative, residents, businesses, and organizations can sponsor flags for a modest donation. Each flag may be dedicated to a loved one, a military veteran, or a local hero. Sponsorship proceeds will support Kiwanis Club programs such as school supply drives, scholarships for graduating high school seniors, youth leadership workshops, early literacy initiatives, and afterschool programs.
Volunteers will place hundreds of flags along the city’s main thoroughfare during key holidays, transforming Imperial Avenue into a corridor of red, white, and blue. The display is intended to be a visible reminder of the community’s patriotism, unity, and commitment to service.
The Flag of Honor Program builds on Kiwanis International’s long-standing mission to improve the lives of children and families. For more than a century, Kiwanis members have organized service projects that foster leadership skills, promote literacy, and support healthy development in youth. The El Centro chapter continues this tradition with projects that extend from annual holiday events to hands-on programs in schools and neighborhoods.
City residents are encouraged to participate by sponsoring flags, spreading awareness of the program, and supporting local initiatives. The Kiwanis Club says every dollar raised goes directly toward programs that provide children with opportunities for growth, learning, and leadership.
