CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
Regular Meeting
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
5:30 PM
City Council Chambers
68-700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero
Cathedral City, CA 92234
• CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 PM by Mayor Rita Lamb. • PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Nancy Ross led the Pledge of Allegiance.
• INVOCATION (MOMENT OF REFLECTION)
Councilmember Raymond Gregory offered the moment of reflection. • ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Rita Lamb Mayor Present 5:30 PM
Mark Carnevale Mayor Pro Tem Present 5:30 PM
Nancy Ross Councilmember Present 5:30 PM
Raymond Gregory Councilmember Present 5:30 PM
Ernesto Gutierrez Councilmember Present 5:30 PM
• AGENDA FINALIZATION
There were no changes to the agenda.
1. PUBLIC COMMENT
Corwin Deveas ex pressed his concern with the Police Department Administration and the separation of a volunteer.
2. COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Raymond Gregory reported on the following:
• CVAG Public Safety Committee Meeting
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• Past and upcoming Special City Council meetings
• Rainbow Crossing Repainting
• Brothers of the Desert Fundraiser and Proclamation
• Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic Softball Tournament
• LGBT Days
Mayor Pro Tem Mark Carnevale reported on the following:
• Special City Council meeting held on February 15, 2023 • Invitation by Sunshine Herrera to visit Mumawet Hill
• Resident concerns
• Police and Fire Department informational event at Date Palm County Club • Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic Softball Tournament
Councilmember Nancy Ross reported on the following:
• Residents applying for the sidewalk grant program
• Walk Your Kids to School Day and the participation of the Police Department • Resident issues/concerns she assisted with
• Lunch meeting with Francis Barraza, Chief of Staff for Assemblyman Wallis • Her attendance at the February 21, 2023 Historic Preservation Committee meeting
Councilmember Ernesto Gutierrez reported on the following:
• Valentine’s Day
• President’s Day
• CVAG Conservation Committee meeting
• CVAG Homeless Committee meeting
• Past Special City Council meeting
• Resident issues/concerns he assisted with
• His personal tour of the City to make note and evaluate issues • Meeting with Assistant City Manager Anne Ambrose
• Meeting with City Manager Charles McClendon
• Meeting related to the new Escena Development Project
Mayor Rita Lamb reported on the following:
• Riverside County Date Festival
• Firebirds hockey clinics that were provided to the Boys and Girls Club • Meeting with Communications and Events Manager Ryan Hunt • Yoga Program in the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater • Meeting with Assistant City Manager Anne Ambrose and Economic Development Director Stone James
• Chuperosa Lane Project
• Senior Inspiration Awards Committee meeting
• Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic Softball Tournament
• Mayor’s message: Embrace Diversity
• LGBT Days
3. CONSENT AGENDA
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A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Carnevale and seconded by Councilmember Gregory to approve the following Consent Agenda items:
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Mark Carnevale, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Raymond Gregory, Councilmember
AYES: Lamb, Carnevale, Ross, Gregory, Gutierrez
A. Waive Full Reading of Ordinances on Agenda
M.O. 2023-24
B. Minutes Approval
M.O. 2023-25
1. City Council - Study Session - Feb 8, 2023 3:00 PM
2. City Council - Regular Meeting - Feb 8, 2023 5:30 PM C. Receive and File Payment of Claims and Demands for January 2023 Recommendation: The City Council acting in its capacity for the City, the Successor Agency to the former Redevelopment Agency,
the Housing Successor Agency and the Cathedral City
Public Finance Authority receive and file payment of claims and demands in the aggregate sum of $7,438,022.47 for the month of January 2023.
M.O. 2023-26
D. Ratify the nomination of Angel Herrera by Mayor Pro Tem Mark Carnevale to serve on the Parks and Community Events Commission to fill an unexpired term continuing through June 30, 2023 and ratify the nomination of Antonio Baciu by Councilmember Raymond Gregory to serve on the Parks and Community Events Commission and appoint him to fill the unexpired term continuing through June 30, 2024.
Recommendation: To ratify the nomination of Angel Herrera by Mayor Pro Tem Mark Carnevale to serve on the Parks and Community
Events Commission to fill an unexpired term continuing
through June 30, 2023 and ratify the nomination of Antonio Baciu by Councilmember Raymond Gregory to serve on the
Parks and Community Events Commission and appoint him
to fill the unexpired term continuing through June 30, 2024.
M.O. 2023-27
4. ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
6. LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
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A. Accept a gift in the amount of $45,000 from Grizzly Entertainment for a drone light show from Grizzly Entertainment for a drone light show at Cathedral City LGBT Days.
Recommendation: To accept a gift in the amount of $45,000 from Grizzly Entertainment for a drone light show at Cathedral City LGBT Days.
M.O. 2023-28
A motion was made by Councilman Gutierrez and seconded by Councilmember Ross to accept a gift in the a mount of $45,000 from Grizzly Entertainment for a drone light show at Cathedral City LGBT Days.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Ernesto Gutierrez, Councilmember
SECONDER: Nancy Ross, Councilmember
AYES: Lamb, Carnevale, Ross, Gregory, Gutierrez
B. Resolution Establishing Historic Preservation Ordinance Application Fees
Recommendation: To approve a resolution establishing the Historic Preservation Ordinance application fees.
Reso 2023-02
A motion was made by Councilmember Gregory and se conded by Councilmember Ross to approve a resolution establishing the Historic Preservation Ordinance application fees.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Raymond Gregory, Councilmember
SECONDER: Nancy Ross, Councilmember
AYES: Lamb, Carnevale, Ross, Gregory, Gutierrez
C. Approve a General Fund budget amendment in the amount of $172,000 for FY 2022/2023 to complete the approved contract with MAAS Companies for the completion of Phase I of the Facilities Services & Master Plan.
Recommendation: To approve a General Fund budget amendment in the amount of $172,000 for FY 2022/2023 to complete the
previously approved contract with MAAS Companies to
complete Phase I of the Facilities Services & Master Plan.
M.O. 2023-29
A motion was made by Cou ncilman Gutierrez and seconded by Mayor Lamb to approve a General Fund budget amendment in the amount of $172,000 for FY 2022/2023 to complete the previously approved contract with MAAS Companies to complete Phase I of the Facilities Services & Master Plan.
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RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Ernesto Gutierrez, Councilmember
SECONDER: Rita Lamb, Mayor
AYES: Lamb, Carnevale, Ross, Gregory, Gutierrez
D. Cannabis Industry Analysis and Taxation Modification Recommendation: To adopt a resolution reducing the cannabis dispensary tax rate to 5% of gross proceeds, the cultivation rate to $10.00 per square foot, and the manufacturing per piece tax rate to $0.05 cents.
Kenneth Churchill, West Coast Cannabis Club, expressed his support of lowering the cannabis retail tax rate to 5% and urged the Council to approve staff's recommendation.
Scott Rusczyk, Chairman of the Legislative Subcommittee of the Coachella Valley Cannabis Alliance Network (CVCAN), expressed their support of the proposed tax reductions and feels it will be a strong step in the right direction.
Armando Perez, Representative for the cannabis cultivation industry, expressed his appreciation for the actions that the city is taking. He understands the concerns related to the loss of revenue, but feels it will be a gain for the city if the businesses stay in business.
Reso 2023-03
A motion was made by Councilman Gutierrez and seconded by Councilmember Ross to adopt a resolution reducing the cannabis dispensary tax rate to 5% of gross pro ceeds, the cultivation rate to $10.00 per s quare foot, and the manufacturing per piece tax rate to $0.05 cents.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Ernesto Gutierrez, Councilmember
SECONDER: Nancy Ross, Councilmember
AYES: Lamb, Carnevale, Ross, Gregory, Gutierrez
7. DISCUSSION ON FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Ross would like to agendize a future item to discuss banning mylar balloons in Cathedral City.
After discussion, there was not a consensus of the City Council to agendize an item to discuss banning mylar balloons.
8. CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Eric Vail reported that the City Council met in Closed Session during the Study Session meeting of February 22, 2023, and there was no reportable action taken.
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ADJOURN
Mayor Rita Lamb adjourned the Regular City Council meeting at 7:15 p.m.
Mayor, City of Cathedral City City Clerk, City of Cathedral City