1 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, December 15, 2022
1:30 p.m.
Council Chamber and Remotely through Zoom in compliance with Government Code Section 54953(e) (AB 361)
44950 Eldorado Drive, Indian Wells
Present: Mayor Reed
Mayor Pro Tem Griffith
Council Member Sanders
Council Member Balocco
Council Member Bernheimer
_____________________________________________________________________ A.CONVENE THE INDIAN WELLS CITY COUNCIL, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Reed convened the City Council Meeting at 1:30 p.m. on December 15, 2022, in the City Hall Council Chamber.
B.APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
A motion was made by Council Member Sanders seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Griffith to Approve the Agenda as Submitted. The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5 - Balocco, Bernheimer, Griffith, Reed, Sanders NOES: 0 -
C.ROTATION OF MAYOR AND PRESENTATIONS
C.1 Rotation of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem - Oath of Office Mr. Donald Griffith administered the Oath of Office to Mayor Donna Griffith. Mr. Bryce Griffith presented a gavel to new Mayor Griffith.
2 Mrs. Terry Sanders administered the Oath of Office to Mayor Pro Tem Greg Sanders.
Mayor Griffith thanked her husband Donald Griffith, son Bryce Griffith, Mother Jean Harris, friends, and City Manager Christohper Freeland for their support. Mayor Pro Tem Greg Sanders thanked his wife Terry Sanders for her support.
C.2 Presentation to Dana Reed for his service as Mayor
The Mayor and Council thanked outgoing Mayor Reed for his year of service as Mayor.
D.RESULTS OF GENERAL AND SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION HELD ON NOVEMBER 8, 2022
It was determined to ADOPT Resolution No. 2022-47 to read as follows:
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-47
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF INDIAN WELLS,
CALIFORNIA, RECITING THE FACTS OF THE CONSOLIDATED GENERAL
AND SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION HELD IN THE CITY OF INDIAN WELLS NOVEMBER 8, 2022, DECLARING THE RESULTS THEREOF, AND SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS ARE PROVIDED BY LAW.
A motion was made by Council Member Sanders seconded by Council Member Balocco to Approve this Recommendation The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5 - Balocco, Bernheimer, Griffith, Reed, Sanders NOES: 0 -
E.REORGANIZATION OF CITY COUNCIL
E.1 Presentation Honoring Council Member Richard Balocco and Council Member Rob Bernheimer
The Mayor and Council thanked outgoing Council Member Balocco and Council Member Bernheimer. Council Member Bernheimer thanked the Council for the opportunity to serve the Community and the City.
Councilmember Balocco thanked the Mayor, City Council, City staff and the community.
3 E.2 Oaths of Office for Council Member Elects Ty Peabody, Bruce Whitman, and Dana Reed
City Clerk Angelica Avila administered the Oath of Office to Council Member Ty Peabody and Council Member Dana Reed. Mr. Jake Whitman administered the Oath of Office to Council Member Bruce Whitman.
E.3 Remarks and Introduction of Guests by Newly Elected Council Members
Council Member Peabody thanked outgoing Council Member Balocco and Council Member Bernheimer. Mr. Peabody thanked wife Valerie Peabody for her support over the years, outlined some of his goals for the upcoming year, and clarified information relating to an article in the Desert Sun.
Council Member Whitman thanked the community, wife Ginny Whitman, son Jake Whitman, daughter in-law Grace Whitman, and Andrew Whitman.
Mr. Whitman thanked Mayor Griffith and community friends for their support during the election campaign and looks forward to working with the Council to accomplish City goals. Mr. Whitman further thanked outgoing Council Member Balocco and Council Member Bernheimer.
Council Member Dana Reed thanked residents, the Council, and partner Ms. Nevine Kutz.
F.RECESS CITY COUNCIL FOR 10 MINUTES
Mayor Griffith reconvened the meeting of the City Council in the City Hall Council Chamber.
G.RECONVENE REORGANIZED CITY COUNCIL AND ROLL CALL
Present 5 - Mayor Griffith, Mayor Pro Tem Sanders, Council Member Peabody, Council Member Whitman, Council Member Reed
H.PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mr. Bruce Underwood, resident, recommended the Council consider holding meetings remotely through zoom, provided suggestions on proposed park, and suggested a development of a wellness program for the community.
I.CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS
The City Manager Christopher Freeland reported the Indian Wells Golf Resort Winterfest Holiday Event is open until January 1, 2023, and encouraged the community to book reservations. Mr. Freeland reported new technology Top Tracer at the Indian Wells Golf Resort has reported a successful turn out and the
4 Golf Resort is hosting a New Year’s Eve Winter Carnival Event. Mr. Freeland thanked the Community for participating in Resident Survey as it assists Community Activities Committee to help plan upcoming events and expand resident benefits. Mr. Freeland reported Strategic Planning Session will be held on February 1, 2023, at the Indian Wells Golf Resort Celebrity Ballroom.
J.CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS AND COMMENTS
City Attorney Todd Leishman congratulated new Mayor and City Council.
K.CONSENT CALENDAR
K.1 Ordinance Amending Chapter 21.31 by Modifying Section 21.34.040 to Establish Temporary Uses Including Unpaved Parking Lots, Agricultural Uses, Sod Farms and Similar Facilities as Conditionally Permitted Uses in the Resort Commercial Zone
It was determined to ADOPT Ordinance No. to read as follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 749
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF INDIAN
WELLS, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 21.34 OF THE INDIAN WELLS MUNICIPAL CODE BY MODIFYING SECTION 21.34.040 TO
ESTABLISH TEMPORARY USES INCLUDING UNPAVED PARKING
LOTS, AGRICULTURAL USES, SOD FARMS AND SIMILAR FACILITIES
AS CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED USES IN THE RESORT
COMMERCIAL ZONE; FOR WHICH AN INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED
NEGATIVE DECLARATION WAS PREPARED FOR CEQA.
A motion was made by Council Member Reed seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Sanders to Approve this Recommendation The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5 - Griffith, Peabody, Reed, Sanders, Whitman NOES: 0 -
K.2 2023 City Council Meeting Schedule
It was determined to ADOPT the 2023 City Council meeting schedule as presented.
A motion was made by Council Member Reed seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Sanders to Approve this Recommendation
5 The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5 - Griffith, Peabody, Reed, Sanders, Whitman NOES: 0 -
K.3 City Council Members Attendance at 2023 Events
It was determined to APPROVE the attendance of Council Member/s at 2023 events identified in the staff report; and
AUTHORIZE any normal and reasonable reimbursement of expenses incurred by any Council Member for the events identified in the staff report.
A motion was made by Council Member Reed seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Sanders to Approve this Recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5 - Griffith, Peabody, Reed, Sanders, Whitman NOES: 0 -
L. PUBLIC HEARINGS
No public hearings.
M. GENERAL BUSINESS
M.1 2023 Council “Draft” of Assignments to Various Internal and External Committees
The Council began the selection process with each Council Member choosing one selection from a pool available Committee, Commission, and Board assignments in the following rotation which is based on seniority:
Dana Reed, Donna Griffith, Greg Sanders, Ty Peabody, and Bruce Whitman.
The selections made by Council Member Reed were as follows: California JPIA, Riverside County Transportation Commission, Southern California Association of Governments, Coachella Valley Animal Campus Alternate, CVAG Conservation Commission & Energy Alternate, CVAG
Transportation, Sunline Transit Agency Alternate.
6 The selections made by Mayor Griffith were as follows: CVAG Conservation Commission & Energy, CVAG Executive Committee, CVAG Homelessness, CVAG Public Safety Alternate, Community Activities, Golf Resort Advisory Committee, Grants In Aid Committee, Finance & Legal Oversight Committee, Indian Wells Personnel Committee, Indian Wells Tee Committee.
The selections made by Mayor Pro Tem Sanders were as follows: Cove Communities, Coachella Valley Economic Partnership, CVAG Homelessness Alternate, Desert Sands Unified School District, Community Activities Committee Alternate, Grants In Aid Committee Alternate, Finance & Legal Oversight Committee, Indian Wells Personnel Committee, Indian Wells Public Safety Committee, Indian Wells Tee Committee.
The selections made by Council Member Peabody were as follows: Cove Communities, Coachella Valley Animal Campus, CVAG Transportation Alternate, Sunline Transit Agency, Visit Greater Palm Springs Alternate, Golf Resort Advisory Committee, Indian Wells Marketing Committee.
The selections made by Council Member Whitman were as follows:
Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, Riverside County Transportation Commission Alternate, Desert Sands Unified School District, Visit Greater Palm Springs, Indian Wells Marketing Committee, Indian Wells Public Safety Committee.
It was the CONSENSUS of the Council to Approve the Recommendation.
N. COUNCIL MEMBERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
N.1 COUNCIL MEMBER REED
No report.
N.2 COUNCIL MEMBER WHITMAN
No report.
N.3 COUNCIL MEMBER PEABODY
No report.
7 N.4 MAYOR PRO TEM SANDERS
Mayor Pro Tem Sanders reported Visit Greater Palm Springs selected Don Prince as the new Indian Wells Director of Tourism.
N.5 MAYOR GRIFFITH
Mayor Griffith reported CVAG Executive Committee is completing project on Interstate-10 overpass on Monroe St in Indio. She reported Coachella Valley Association of governments is working on synchronization project throughout the Valley. She reported Community Activities Committee conducted a resident survey to gather information on community interest in benefits and thanked staff.
O.ADJOURNMENT
At 3:03 p.m., Mayor Griffith ADJOURNED the City Council meeting to a regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council to be held at 1:30 p.m. on January 5, 2023 in the City Hall Council Chamber.
Respectfully Submitted,
_________________________
Angelica Avila, CMC
City Clerk