City of Indio
City Council / Indio Water Authority Minutes
Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Mayor Lupe Ramos Amith called to order the closed session meeting of the City Council for the City of Indio and the Indio Water Authority, at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber located at 150 Civic Center Mall, Indio, California.
CLOSED SESSION - 4 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Present:
Mayor Lupe Ramos Amith
Mayor Pro Tem Glenn Miller
Councilmember Elaine Holmes
Councilmember Oscar Ortiz
Absent:
Councilmember Waymond Fermon
2. PUBLIC COMMENT None
3. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION TO CONSIDER:
3.1 Conference with Labor Negotiator, Government Code Section 54957.6; City Negotiator: Bryan H. Montgomery; Employee Organizations: POA & PCU
3.2 Conference with Real Property Negotiators, Government Code Section 54956.8; for APNs 611- 164- 011, 013, 014, 015, Indio, City of Indio Negotiator: Bryan H.
Montgomery, City Manager; Negotiating Party: Versed Development Group, LLC; Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment
**Councilmember Holmes recused herself from Closed Session at 4:05pm for Item 3.2, as she owns property within 500ft.
REGULAR SESSION - 5 PM
Mayor Oscar Ortiz called to order the regular joint meeting of the City Council for the City of Indio, Indio Water Authority, and Successor Agency at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber located at 150 Civic Center Mall, Indio, California.
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Present:
Mayor Lupe Ramos Amith
Mayor Pro Tem Glenn Miller
Councilmember Elaine Holmes
Councilmember Waymond Fermon *arrived at 5:15p
Councilmember Oscar Ortiz
City Staff Present:
Minutes for City Council meeting of December 20, 2023 (Sabdi Sanchez, Ci... Page 9 of 1555 City Council / Indio Water Authority
December 20, 2023
Bryan H. Montgomery, City Manager, Rob Rockwell, Asst. City Manager & Dir. Of Finance, Kevin H. Snyder, Dir. Of Community Development, Carl S. Morgan, Dir. Of Economic Development, Sabdi Sanchez, City Clerk Administrator, Ian Cozens, Director of Information Technology, Brian Tully, Assistant Chief of Police, Reymundo Trejo, P.E., IWA General Manager, and Steven Graham, City Attorney
2. INVOCATION led by Rabbi Mendi Sassonkin of the Jewish Community
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Camille Klomhaus, Dr. Carreron Elementary
4. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Steven Graham reported Council met in Closed Session to discuss the items listed therein and there were no reportable items.
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 Proclamation - Retirement of Jesus Gomez, Housing and Neighborhood Services Manager
Mayor Lupe Ramos Amith presented a proclamation to Jesus Gomez, Housing and Neighborhood Services Manager on his retirement after 17.5 years of service to the City of Indio.
6. YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (YAC)
Youth Advisory Council member Isabel Duarte shared their gratitude and success of the Firebirds hockey ticket sales and attendance on December 16 and annual blanket drive; they also volunteered at the Desert Recreation Center for the "Santa Hotline".
7. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND INFORMATION
City Manager Montgomery reminded the community of administration closures for City Hall and Indio Water Authority between December 25 - January 1, 2024. Bonds were sold for the Indio Electric Finance Authority and a $10,000,000 payment was made to Imperial Irrigation District for the much-needed infrastructure for the community.
8. REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL EXTERNAL/INTERNAL BOARDS, COMMISSIONS
AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND REPORT ON MEETINGS ATTENDED PER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 53232.3(D)
Councilmember Holmes had no report on committees.
Councilmember Fermon had no report on committees.
Councilmember Ortiz reported on Imperial Irrigation District meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Miller had no report on committees.
Mayor Ramos Amith had no report on committees.
9. APPOINTMENTS
9.1 Appointment of Delegate and Alternate for 2024 SCAG Annual General Assembly, May 2, 2024, in Palm Desert
Minutes for City Council meeting of December 20, 2023 (Sabdi Sanchez, Ci... Page 10 of 1555 City Council / Indio Water Authority
December 20, 2023
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Glenn Miller, seconded by Mayor Lupe Ramos Amith to appoint Councilmember Oscar Ortiz and Councilmember Waymond Fermon as representatives for the 2024 SCAG Annual General Assembly, May 2, 2024. Carried Unanimously.
9.2 Appointment of Councilmember Elaine Holmes as Delegate and Mayor Lupe Ramos Amith as Alternate to the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Glenn Miller, seconded by Councilmember Waymond Fermon to appoint Councilmember Elaine Holmes as Delegate and Mayor Lupe Ramos Amith as Alternate to the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy. Carried Unanimously.
10. CONSENT CALENDAR
10.1 Minutes for City Council meeting of December 6, 2023
10.2 City Warrants from 12.01.23 thru 12.15.23
10.3 IWA Warrants from 11.17.2023 thru 12.06.2023
10.4 Approval of Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Tilden-Coil Constructors for Construction Management and PM-10 Management for the City Hall and Library Project for an amount not to exceed $4,799,000
10.5 Approval of the pre-purchase of certain electrical equipment for the City Hall and Library project from Schneider Electric for an amount of $307,680.09
10.6 Resolution No. 10411 condemning the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel, calling for a peaceful resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict; and condemning any and all acts of anti-Semitism
10.7 Resolution No. 10412 reaffirming the City's commitment to safeguard the civil rights, safety, and dignity of all community members
10.8 Approval of a Five-Year Law Enforcement Services Agreement Between the City of Indio and Desert Sands Unified School District for the Provision of Police Services in an estimated amount of $3,848,000
10.9 Resolution No. 10410 Designating the City Manager and Public Works Director as the City of Indio’s Authorized Agents for Non-State Agencies as required by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
10.10 Successor Agency Resolution Nos. 2023-45 and 2023-46 approving the Recognized Obligations Payment Schedule (ROPS24-25) and the related Administrative Budgets for the fiscal year period of July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025
10.11 Amendment No. 2 to the Building Lease Agreement between the City of Indio and Gabino's Creperie for an additional Tenant Improvement Allowance of $60,000
10.12 Sign services proposal with Best Signs, Inc. for twenty-seven (27) Downtown Wayfinding Signs inclusive of purchase, fabrication and installation at various locations throughout the City in the not to exceed amount of $397,714.88 and
Minutes for City Council meeting of December 20, 2023 (Sabdi Sanchez, Ci... Page 11 of 1555 City Council / Indio Water Authority
December 20, 2023
authorizing the use of funds from Capital Improvement Program ST2409 (Downtown Wayfinding Signs) and ST2306 (Downtown Gateway Signs)
10.13 Second Reading of Ordinance No. 1802, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Indio, California, Approving a Zoning Ordinance Amendment Amending the Zoning Designation for Land Northeast of Avenue 42 and Jackson Street
10.14 Deaccession of Dr. Carreon Mosaic Mural: Approve the deaccession of the Mosaic Mural located within Dr. Carreon Park, pursuant to the City’s Deaccession Policy
Councilmember Elaine Holmes abstained from Items 10.11 & 10.12 as she owns property within 500ft - 1000ft.
Councilmember Oscar Ortiz pulled Item 10.6 to allow public comment.
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Glenn Miller, seconded by Councilmember Waymond Fermon to approve Consent Calendar Items 10.1 thru 10.5, and 10.7 thru 10.14. Motion Carried with Councilmember Elaine Holmes recusing on Items 10.11 & 10.12 as she owns property within 500ft – 1000ft.
Mayor Ramos Amith opened the following public comments for Item 10.6 (limit of 30mins)
1. Salam Abdelhalim
2. Josh Dunn
3. Lupita Lua
4. Lana Alkiswani
5. L. Bright
6. Alice McDermott
7. Sulaiman
8. Jazmin Angulo
9. Ivette Zamora Cruz
10.Reem Abdelhalim
Councilmember Oscar Ortiz and Councilmember Waymond Fermon provided comment on Item 10.6
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Glenn Miller, seconded by Councilmember Elaine Holmes to approve Consent Calendar Item 10.6. Carried Unanimously. *Mayor Lupe Ramos Amith called a Recess for Public Safety to clear the chamber due crowd disruption at 6:00 p.m.
*Mayor Lupe Ramos Amith called to reconvene at 6:14 p.m.
11. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
Minutes for City Council meeting of December 20, 2023 (Sabdi Sanchez, Ci... Page 12 of 1555 City Council / Indio Water Authority
December 20, 2023
11.1 Award twenty-two contracts to the individual contractors listed in each bid category for the amounts listed therein for the City Hall and Library Project in the total aggregate amount of $39,713,008
Bryan H. Montgomery, City Manager presented the staff report.
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Glenn Miller, seconded by Councilmember Oscar Ortiz to approve Administrative Item 11.1, awarding twenty-two contracts to the individual contractors listed in each bid category for the amounts listed therein for the City Hall and Library Project in the total aggregate amount of $39,713,008. Carried Unanimously.
11.2 Ordinance No. 1803: Request by Versed Development Group, LLC for a One (1) Year Extension of Design Review Approval for the Oasis and Bliss Mixed Use Project also known as Skyline (City of Indio Case File No. DR 20-08-477) located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Oasis Street and Bliss Avenue comprised of Assessor Parcel Numbers 611-164-011, 611-164-013, 611-164-014, AND 611-164-015
Councilmember Elaine Holmes recused herself from the dais as she owns property within 1000ft.
Kevin Snyder, Director of Community Development presented the Powerpoint Presentation.
Oscar Lua, Versed Development Group, LLC representative provided comment.
Motion made by Councilmember Waymond Fermon, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Glenn Miller to approve Administrative Item 11.2, Introduction of Ordinance No. 1803 for a One (1) Year Extension of Design Review Approval for the Oasis and Bliss Mixed Use Project also known as Skyline, and waive full reading.
Carried 4-0-1. Councilmember Elaine Holmes abstained.
11.3 Ordinance No. 1804: Request by Indio M.O.B., LLC for a One (1) Year Extension of Design Review Approval for the Indio Medical Office Building Project (City of Indio Case File No. DR 20-02-471) located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Cheyenne Street and Buffalo Trail comprised of Assessor Parcel Number 616-160-036
Kevin Snyder, Director of Community Development presented the Powerpoint Presentation.
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Glenn Miller, seconded by Councilmember Elaine Holmes to approve Administrative Item 11.3, Introduction of Ordinance No. 1804 for a One (1) Year Extension of Design Review Approval for the Indio Medical Office Building Project, and waive full reading. Carried Unanimously.
12. PUBLIC HEARINGS
Minutes for City Council meeting of December 20, 2023 (Sabdi Sanchez, Ci... Page 13 of 1555 City Council / Indio Water Authority
December 20, 2023
12.1 Developer mitigation fee reporting requirements pursuant to government code section 66006
Rob Rockwell, Assistant City Manager and Director Finance introduced Item
12.1. Samantha Lopez, Finance Manager presented the Staff Report.
Mayor Lupe Ramos Amith opened and closed the Public Hearing at 6:27 p.m. with no comments.
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Glenn Miller, seconded by Councilmember Waymond Fermon to approve Public Hearing Item 12.1, receive and file AB1600 reports. Carried Unanimously.
12.2 Acceptance of Fiscal Year 2023 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) in the amount of $38,629 to purchase public safety equipment, approval of the JAG grant Interlocal Agreement; and budget adjustments Brian Tully, Assistant Chief of Police presented the Staff Report.
Mayor Lupe Ramos Amith opened and closed the Public Hearing at 6:29 p.m. with no comments.
Motion made by Councilmember Waymond Fermon, seconded by Councilmember Oscar Ortiz to approve Public Hearing Item 12.2, acceptance of Fiscal Year 2023 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) in the amount of $38,629. Carried Unanimously.
13. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
None
14. ADJOURN
There being no further business to discuss Mayor Ramos Amith adjourned the regular joint meeting at 6:31 p.m.
SABDI SANCHEZ, CMC, CITY CLERK
ADMINISTRATOR
Minutes for City Council meeting of December 20, 2023 (Sabdi Sanchez, Ci... Page 14 of 1555