CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
Study Session
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
3:00 PM
City Council Chambers
68-700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero
Cathedral City, CA 92234
• CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 3:00 PM by Mayor Rita Lamb. • ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Rita Lamb Mayor Present 3:00 PM
Mark Carnevale Mayor Pro Tem Absent
Nancy Ross Councilmember Present 3:00 PM
Raymond Gregory Councilmember Absent
Ernesto Gutierrez Councilmember Present 3:00 PM
• AGENDA FINALIZATION
City Manager McClendon indicated that the Council will be hearing item 2B. prior to 2A.
1. PUBLIC COMMENT
Anne Bedrick, Perez Road Art District, provided a brief overview of the Perez Road Art District and asked the Council for their support and to spread the word.
2. STUDY SESSION
A. Presentation - Salton Sea Management Program Update
Recommendation: This is a presentation only. There is no formal action required.
Miguel Hernandez, Public Information Officer with SSMP, presented an update on the Salton Sea Management Program. The following points were presented:
• Salton Sea Challenges
• 10 -Year Plan
Cathedral City P a g e 2 Printed on 11/02/2023
• Salton Sea Long-Range Plan
• Feasibility Study
• Salton Sea Management Plan Overview
o Project in Process
o Planning Phases of Future Projects
The City Council provided comments and asked clarifying questions, which were responded to by the presenter.
Chuck Parker, expressed the need to do something with the declining water issue of the Salton Sea . He indicated that his group would be glad to make their own presentation if that is the desire of the City Council.
Feliz Nunez, expressed her concern with the air quality related to the declining water of the Salton Sea and feels that something needs to be done.
Terry Applegate, expressed her concern with the plan that was presented and feels that it is terribly inadequate.
This item was for information and discussion only, there was no formal action taken by the City Council.
B. Chuperosa Lane: Elevating a Cathedral City Icon
Recommendation: This agenda item is for review and discussion only.
Stone James, provided an overview on the proposed transformation of Chuperosa Lane into a regional attraction. The following points were presented:
• Background of the project
• Location
• Site Conditions
• Goals
• Design Thinking
• Ideas
• Potential Plans
• Costs
• Moving the project forward
The members of the City Council provided comments, asked clarifying questions and received responses from staff. After discussion, it was the direction of the City Council to direct staff to conduct weed removal and routine maintenance and compacting uneven terrain, which will be handled by the Public Works Department. There will be future discussions on when and how to move forward with the conceptual plan.
This item was for information and discussion only, there was no formal action taken by the City Council.
C. Council Salary Comparison Data
Cathedral City P a g e 3 Printed on 11/02/2023
Recommendation: This item is presented for information, discussion and direction only.
City Manager Charles McClendon provided an overview of Council Salary Comparison Data. He presented the following talking points:
• Salaries are set by the City Charter
• Council Salary History
• Regional Council Salaries
• Regional Benefit Data
• Option to tie certain benefits to the non-represented employee group • Legal process to change salaries
The council provided comments and asked clarifying questions, which were responded to by staff. There was direction given to staff to include language in the Non-Rep Rules and Regulations, when they are updated, that would align the following City Council Member’s benefits with the non -represented employee group:
• 3.18 Car Allowance
• 11.1 Group Insurance
• 11.2 PERS
• 11.5 Enrollment in Group Insurance Plans upon Retirement • 11.6 Wellness Program
• 11.7 Life Insurance
• 11.8 Deferred Compensation
The Non -Rep Rules and Regulations will be presented to the Council for consideration and approval. At that time , the Council can discuss , as a group , and provide further direction related to how they want to proceed with changing the Council’s compensation.
This item was for information and discussion only, there was no formal action taken by the City Council.
ADJOURN
Mayor Rita Lamb adjourned the Study Session meeting at 4:50 p.m.
Mayor, City of Cathedral City City Clerk, City of Cathedral City