Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 3.I
Meeting Date: May 27, 2026
From: John A. Corella - Director of Public Works
Title: Approval of corrected Resolution to Summarily Vacate unused five-foot- wide public utility easements (PUEs) on Lots 66 and 67 and a portion of Lot 68 of Desert Retreat Estates, and on Lots 56 and 57 of Cathy Estates, located north of Dinah Shore Drive, between Cathedral Canyon Drive and Wishing Well Trail, and rescinding incorrect Resolution 2026-01, (Vacation 2025-01).
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council adopt a corrected Resolution to summarily vacate unused five-foot wide public utility easements on certain lots in Desert Retreat Estates and Cathy Estates, and rescind Resolution 2026-01, adopted on January 14, 2026, due to incorrect lot descriptions and measurements contained in the original resolution.
BACKGROUND:
At the January 14, 2026, City Council meeting, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-01 to summarily vacate unused five-foot-wide public utility easements affecting five lots located north of Dinah Shore Drive, between Cathedral Canyon Drive and Wishing Well Drive. The action was requested by the property owner to remove the easements prior to development of the site for use as a Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) water well facility.
DISCUSSION:
Resolution No. 2026-01 was subsequently recorded on February 6, 2026. Thereafter, the title company handling the properties discovered that the recorded Resolution contained incorrect lot numbers and several inaccurate measurements. Upon review by staff, it was determined that the sketch and legal description originally used in preparation of the Resolution had been superseded by a revised version, which was inadvertently overlooked.
As a result, the Resolution proceeded through the approval process and was recorded with incorrect information. A copy of the recorded Resolution identifying the incorrect information is attached for reference.
A corrected Resolution has since been prepared for City Council consideration. The new Resolution corrects the lot numbers and measurements contained in the original document and rescinds Resolution No. 2026-01. The corrected Resolution expressly states that it is intended to replace the previously adopted and recorded version.
The body of the original Resolution and the accompanying City Council agenda report accurately described the purpose of the summary vacation and the general location and nature of the affected lots. Accordingly, no substantive changes are proposed other than correction of the erroneous lot numbers and measurements.
The City Council is therefore requested to adopt the corrected Resolution of Summary Vacation, rescind Resolution No. 2026-01, and direct the City Clerk to record the corrected Resolution following its adoption.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
GOAL C- FISCAL STABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
C-6: Implement a private development entitlement and plan review system which is predictable, streamlines internal intake and review processes, and creates applicant experiences which are facilitative vs regulatory.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution 2026-01 with redlined errors
2. City Council Staff Report January 14, 2026
3. Sketch of Vacated Public Utility Easements
4. Corrected Resolution of Summary Vacation