1 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, January 5, 2023
1:30 p.m.
City Hall Council Chamber
44950 Eldorado Drive, Indian Wells, CA 92210
Present: Mayor Griffith
Mayor Pro Tem Sanders
Council Member Peabody
Council Member Whitman
Council Member Reed
_____________________________________________________________________ A.CONVENE THE INDIAN WELLS CITY COUNCIL, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Griffith convened the City Council of the City of Indian Wells at 1:30 p.m. on January 5, 2023, in the City Hall Council Chamber.
B.APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
A motion was made by Council Member Reed, seconded by Council Member Whitman to Approve the Agenda as Submitted. The motion carried by the following votes:
AYES: 5 - Griffith, Peabody, Reed, Sanders, Whitman NOES: 0 -
C.PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
C.1 Proclamation Recognizing March 1, 2023, as Coachella Valley Giving Day
Mayor Griffith presented proclamation recognizing Coachella Valley Giving day on March 1, 2023. Mr. Dick Oliphant provided a background of the
2 Giving Day Program. Mr. Guillermo Becerra thanked the Council and community for their support.
C.2 Introduction of New Director of Indian Wells Tourism Don Prince City Manager Christopher Freeland introduced new Indian Wells Tourism Director Don Prince. Mr. Don Prince thanked the City for the opportunity and looks forward to working with the City.
C.3 Riverside County Fire Update by Battalion Chief Matthew Kotz Riverside County Fire Chief Mike Beverlin provided a 2022 breakdown of fire service calls, a comparison of previous years, and a 2022 fire department year in review. Mr. Beverlin reported a need of fire personnel and encouraged the community if interested to visit the website for training and employment opportunities. There was discussion on future equipment replacements and clarification on hotel service calls.
C.4 Riverside County Sheriff Update by Lieutenant David Wright Indian Wells Lieutenant David Wright provided a quarterly update on service calls, end year statistics, and update on traffic enforcement operations.
Lieutenant Wright reported grant opportunities for supplemental enforcement efforts and assistance relating to code enforcement violations.
Lieutenant Wright reported meeting with the Homeowner Associations throughout the community. There was clarification and discussion relating to crime opportunity in the community.
C.5 Southern California Edison Update by Aaron Thomas
Southern California Edison Government Relations Manager Aaron Thomas introduced himself as the City’s representative. Mr. Thomas provided information relating to available $50,000 scholarship through Edison for high school students. There was discussion and clarification relating to transformer failure and solar reimbursement opportunities.
D.PUBLIC COMMENTS
No public comments.
E.CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS
City Manager Christopher Freeland reported a City Strategic Planning Session is scheduled on February 1, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in the Indian Wells Golf Resort Celebrity Ballroom and stated various discussion topics would be discussed during the session. Mr. Freeland stated the Indian Wells Golf Resort Strategic Planning
3 Session will be scheduled in March. Mr. Freeland reported record breaking occupancy stay in November by hotel partners and the City received $1 million in transient occupancy tax. Mr. Freeland reported Frontier is working on fiber optic placement in the City outside of gated communities. Mr. Freeland further reported Burrtec is working with staff on organic waste recycling program to be fully implemented by May and stated educational material and meetings would be provided to the community.
F. CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS AND COMMENTS
City Attorney Todd Leishman reported California State legislation has remained focused on housing laws and the City Attorney office is working with the City's Housing Element consultant to address new requirements. Mr. Leishman noted there is a of bill that would allow school districts to build affordable housing in school districts property for their employees.
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
G.1 City Treasurer’s Report for November 2022
It was determined to RECEIVE and FILE the City Treasurer’s Report for November 2022.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Sanders, seconded by Council Member Peabody. A motion was made by the following vote:
AYES: 4 - Griffith, Peabody, Reed, Sanders
NOES: 0 -
ABSTAIN 1 - Whitman
G.2 October 6, 2022, City Council Meeting Minutes
It was determined to APPROVE the October 6, 2022, City Council Meeting Minutes.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Sanders, seconded by Council Member Peabody. A motion was made by the following vote:
AYES: 4 - Griffith, Peabody, Reed, Sanders
NOES: 0 -
ABSTAIN 1 - Whitman
4 G.3 October 14, 2022, Special Council Meeting Minutes It was determined to APPROVE the October 14, 2022, Special Council Meeting Minutes.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Sanders, seconded by Council Member Peabody. A motion was made by the following vote:
AYES: 4 - Griffith, Peabody, Reed, Sanders
NOES: 0 -
ABSTAIN 1 - Whitman
G.4 November 28, 2022, Special Closed-Session Meeting Minutes It was determined to APPROVE the November 28, 2022, Special Closed- Session Meeting Minutes.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Sanders, seconded by Council Member Peabody. A motion was made by the following vote:
AYES: 4 - Griffith, Peabody, Reed, Sanders
NOES: 0 -
ABSTAIN 1 - Whitman
G.5 November 28, 2022, Special Council Meeting Minutes
It was determined to APPROVE the November 28, 2022, Special Council Meeting Minutes.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Sanders, seconded by Council Member Peabody. A motion was made by the following vote:
AYES: 4 - Griffith, Peabody, Reed, Sanders
NOES: 0 -
ABSTAIN 1 - Whitman
H. PUBLIC HEARINGS
No public hearings.
I. GENERAL BUSINESS
I.1 Annual Review of FPPC Gift Restrictions, City Ticket Distribution Policy, and City Campaign Contribution Reporting Requirement
5 City Attorney Todd Leishman provided an overview of the ticket distribution policy, Fair Political Practices Commission gift restrictions, campaign reporting's, and contribution reporting requirements.
It was the CONSENSUS of the City Council to Receive and File information report.
J. COUNCIL MEMBERS' REPORTS
J.1 Request to Place on a Future Agenda Discussion on Possible Changes to the Recreational Vehicle Permit Process
Mayor Pro Tem Sanders stated changes to the recreational vehicles permit process was brought before the Council by former Council Member Bernheimer and recommends reviewing the process for possible changes.
It was determined to DIRECT City Attorney to draft changes to the recreational vehicle parking ordinance to eliminate the permit process for Council consideration.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Sanders, seconded by Council Member Peabody to Approve the Recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5 - Griffith, Peabody, Reed, Sanders, Whitman NOES: 0 -
J.2 Request to Place on a Future Agenda Discussion relating to the Indian Wells Golf Resort Management Agreement
Council Member Peabody recommended the Council consider request for proposal for the Golf Resort Management.
It was determined delay the request for proposal discussion and direction until the Golf Resort Strategic Planning in March.
A motion was made by Council Member Whitman, seconded by Council Member Reed to Approve the Recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5 - Griffith, Peabody, Reed, Sanders, Whitman
NOES: 0 –
6 It was determined to DIRECT staff draft a staff report for Golf Resort Strategic Planning to include request proposal qualifications and provide a timeline of the process.
A motion was made by Council Member Whitman, seconded by Council Member Peabody to Approve the Recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4 - Griffith, Peabody, Reed, Whitman
NOES: 1 - Sanders
J.3 Request to Place on a Future Agenda Discussion Regarding Request for Proposals for City Attorney Services
Council Member Peabody recommended the Council consider request for proposal for Legal Services.
There was discussion to conduct review of legal services during Attorney review in May and decide at that time based on performance if there is a need to move forward with request for proposal. There was recommendation to add request for proposal for legal services to the discussion during City’s Strategic Planning Session.
A motion was made by Council Member Whitman to add request for proposal discussion for legal services to the City' Strategic Planning Session on February 1, 2023. The Motion failed due to lack of second.
K. COUNCIL MEMBERS' COMMENTS
K.1 COUNCIL MEMBER REED
No report.
K.2 COUNCIL MEMBER WHITMAN
Council Member Whitman thanked the community for the opportunity to serve the City. He reported meeting with City Management and other agency representatives.
K.3 COUNCIL MEMBER PEABODY
No report.
K.4 MAYOR PRO TEM SANDERS
Mayor Pro Tem Sanders reported attending the swearing of Sheriff Chad Bianco.
7 K.5 MAYOR GRIFFITH
Mayor Griffith reported Indian Wells Preservation Foundation has elected new board members consisting of five-members and the board is in the process of remodeling the structure and operations. She encouraged the Council and community to get involved, understand the mission of preserving the history of the City. She reported further discussion of the Foundation would be conducted at the City's Strategic Planning Session.
L.ADJOURNMENT
At 2:45 p.m., Mayor Griffith ADJOURNED the City Council meeting to a scheduled Strategic Planning Session to be held at 9:00 a.m. on Februar y 1, 2023, in the Indian Wells Golf Res ort Celebrity Ballroom.
Respectfully Submitted,
_________________________
Angelica Avila, CMC
City Clerk