City of Indio
City Council / Indio Water Authority Minutes
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
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 Drive, 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 Waymond Fermon
Councilmember Oscar Ortiz
2. PUBLIC COMMENT None
3. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION TO CONSIDER:
3.1 Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation; Significant Exposure to Litigation; Pursuant to Paragraph (2) of Subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9; Number of Cases (1)
3.2 Conference with Real Property Negotiators, Government Code Section 54956.8; for 45250 Smurr Street, Indio, City of Indio Negotiator: Bryan H.
Montgomery, City Manager; Negotiating Party: Indio Distilling, Co; 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 1,000ft.
REGULAR SESSION - 5 PM
Mayor Lupe Ramos Amith called to order the regular joint meeting of the City Council for the City of Indio, Indio Water Authority 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
Councilmember Oscar Ortiz
Minutes for City Council meeting of March 20, 2024 (Sabdi Sanchez, City ... Page 7 of 225 City Council / Indio Water Authority
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City Staff Present:
Bryan H. Montgomery, City Manager, Rob Rockwell, Assistant City Manager, Kevin Snyder, Dir. Of Community Development, Carl S. Morgan, Dir. Of Economic Development, Ian Cozens, Director of Information Technology, Brian Tully, Asst. Chief of Police, Reymundo Trejo, P.E., IWA General Manager, Ruby D. Walla, Dir. of Finance, Sabdi Sanchez, City Clerk Administrator, and Steven Graham, City Attorney
2. INVOCATION led by Pastor Alex Hebert ~ Garden Fellowship Church
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Valerie Aceves ~ Fifth Grader at Oliphant Elementary
4. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Steven Graham reported Council met in Closed Session to discuss the items listed therein with settlement direction by consensus for Item 3.1, with no other reportable action for Item 3.2.
5. YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (YAC)
YAC representative Valeria Diaz shared many upcoming events to include the Mobius Conference to take place on April 17th where they will be hosting an afternoon session highlighting art, political and cultural awareness in the valley, and the 2nd Annual Mental Health Hike taking place at Badlands Trails on May 5th at 7am.
6. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND INFORMATION
City Manager Montgomery reminded the community of the free sendoff concert for Indio resident and American Idol contestant, Abi Carter, to be held on Saturday March 23rd at 6pm on Towne and Bliss Street, and made brief introductions for Ruby Wall, Director of Finance and Jennifer Mizrahi, Assistant City Attorney.
6.1 Review of Sports Complex
Timothy T. Wassil, Director of Public Works presented a PowerPoint Presentation for Phase I of Indio Sports Park project on Market Street.
7. REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL EXTERNAL/INTERNAL BOARDS, COMMISSIONS
AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND REPORT ON MEETINGS ATTENDED PER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 53232.3(D)
Councilmember Fermon reported on Coachella Valley Association of Governments Energy Commission.
Councilmember Ortiz reported on Southern California Association of Governments Joint Policy Committee.
Councilmember Holmes reported on Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy Commission.
Mayor Pro Tem Miller had no report on committees.
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Mayor Ramos Amith had no report on committees.
*Councilmember Holmes recommended 'Pat Laughlin' to be considered for naming building/street/park.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
8.1 Minutes for City Council meeting of March 6, 2024
8.2 City Warrants from 03.01.24 thru 03.14.24
8.3 Approve a five-year agreement with The Pun Group in the amount of $489,018 to audit financial statements for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2024 through June, 2028
8.4 IWA Warrants from 02.21.2024 thru 03.05.2024
8.5 Amendment No. 1 to increase for a not-to-exceed amount of $150,000 for Fiscal Year 23/24 and Fiscal Year 24/25 to the PSA with McDonald Electric, Inc. for electrical services on a “as-needed basis" at Indio Water Authority facilities
8.6 Indio Electric Finance Authority Item: Purchase by the Indio Electric Finance Authority of two electrical transformers from Delta Star, Inc. for a total of $4,160,765
8.7 Authorization of Contract Change Order No. 1: In the amount of $338,941.00 for the Indio Badlands Trailhead Parking Lot Project with Three Peaks Corp.
New work entails the removal of current conditions, including chain link fence, plastic header, existing signs, and the implementation of new construction features such as paved roads, parking spaces, curbs, gutters, tubular fence, walkways, etc. The allocation covers the costs associated with the added Indio Badlands Trailhead Parking Lot Project, City Project No. PK2405
8.8 2023 Housing Element Annual Progress Report for submittal to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) prior to April 1, 2024
8.9 2023 General Plan Annual Progress Report for submittal to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research State Clearinghouse and Planning Unit
8.10 Construction Contract with Three Peaks Corp., in an amount not-to-exceed $11,832,256.16, for the Indio Sports Park Improvement Project (City Project No. PK2203), and budget adjustments
8.11 Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement with West Coast Arborists in an amount not-to-exceed $200,000 for citywide tree maintenance services for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2023/24
8.12 Maintenance Agreement with Sunny Air Conditioning Plumbing & Electrical in an amount not-to-exceed $149,823.74 for HVAC preventative maintenance of Fire Station 3, Fire Station 4, Fire Station 5, Museum Buildings, IPAC, Indio Police Department, City Hall, Council Chambers, EOC, Senior Center, Teen Center, Corporate Yard, and IWA Well sites
Councilmember Oscar Ortiz pulled Consent Calendar Item 8.8 for a brief Staff
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presentation.
Kevin Snyder, Director of Community Development presented the Staff Report.
Motion made by Councilmember Waymond Fermon, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Glenn Miller to approve the Consent Calendar Items 8.1 thru 8.12. Carried Unanimously.
9. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
9.1 Indio Mural # 16 Project Finalist Selection: The City Council select the finalist for the Indio Mural # 16 Project
*Administrative Item 9.1 pulled by Staff - no consideration by City Council.
9.2 Receiving a presentation and consider approval of certain amendments to the Joint Powers Authority Agreement of Visit Greater Palm Springs (VGPS):
approving the membership of the City of Coachella, expanding the territorial limits to include the City of Coachella, approving an amendment to the purpose of the Joint Powers Authority, and creating a 501(c)(6) entity Bryan H. Montgomery, City Manager introduced the Staff Report.
Colleen Pace, Chief Marketing Officer at Visiting Greater Palm Springs presented the PowerPoint Presentation.
Discussion ensued.
Council consensus to continue Item 9.2 to a future date for further discussion.
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS
10.1 Resolution No. 10429, Request for Conditional Approval of Tentative Tract Map No. 38680 to subdivide three existing contiguous parcels (APN 610-030- 015, 610-070-052, and 610-070-053) totaling 25.45 acres into 16 parcels located south of Interstate 10 and the Whitewater River Storm Channel, and north of Indio Boulevard and certifying that the project’s Final Initial Study with Negative Declaration is in Compliance with Section 15074 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Kendra Reif, Principal Planner presented the PowerPoint Presentation.
Mayor Ramos Amith opened and closed the Public Hearing at 6:18 p.m. with no public comments.
David I'Anson of CV Vector Control District, applicant representative provided comment.
Discussion of Council ensued.
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Glenn Miller, seconded by Councilmember Waymond Fermon to approve Public Hearing Item 10.1, Resolution No.
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10429 conditional approval of Tentative Tract Map No. 38680 to subdivide three existing contiguous parcels (APN 610-030-015, 610-070-052, and 610- 070-053). Carried Unanimously.
10.2 Resolution No. 10430, Request for Conditional Approval of Tentative Parcel Map No. 38791 to subdivide a 2.0151-acre parcel of land into two separate parcels of land located at 50825 Los Palos Road (Assessor’s Parcel Number 779-100-030) and determining that the proposed Project is Categorically Exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines
Kevin Snyder, Director of Community Development introduced the Staff Report Kendra Reif, Principal Planner presented the PowerPoint Presentation. *Mayor Ramos Amith called for a recess at 6:24 p.m. and resumed at 6:27p.m.
Mayor Ramos Amith opened the Public Hearing at 6:27 p.m. with the following comments:
1. Rod Harries
2. Armando Magana (Applicant Representative)
Mayor Ramos Amith closed the Public Hearing at 6:30 p.m.
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Glenn Miller, seconded by Councilmember Oscar Ortiz to approve Public Hearing Item 10.2 Resolution No. 10430 approval of Tentative Parcel Map No. 38791 to subdivide a 2.0151-acre parcel of land into two separate parcels of land located at 50825 Los Palos Road (Assessor’s Parcel Number 779-100-030). Carried Unanimously.
10.3 Resolution No. 10431 approving Specific Plan Amendment PLAN-SP-23-0002 to remove Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) 619-510-018 from the Gateway Specific Plan and determining that the proposed project is categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15061 (B)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Kendra Reif, Principal Planner presented the PowerPoint Presentation.
Mayor Ramos Amith opened the Public Hearing at 6:40 p.m. and closed the Public Hearing at 6:43 p.m. with no public comments.
Marty Coyne, applicant, provided comment.
Discussion of Council ensued.
Motion made by Councilmember Elaine Holmes, seconded by Councilmember Waymond Fermon to approve Public Hearing Item 10.3, Resolution No. 10431 approving Specific Plan Amendment PLAN-SP-23-0002 to remove Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) 619-510-018 from the Gateway Specific
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Plan. Carried Unanimously.
10.4 Public hearing to approve the conduction of a special election, adopt Resolution No. 10432 Determining the Validity of Prior Proceedings, adopt Resolution No. 10433 Calling a Special Election, adopt Resolution No. 10434 Canvassing the Results of the Election, and approve a budget adjustment relating to the annexation of Annexation Area No. 84 to CFD No. 2004-1 (Parcels 1, 2, and 3 of Parcel Map No. 38473, Pulte Home Company, LLC, located on the northwest corner of Madison Street and Avenue 40) Juan Raya, City Engineer presented the Staff Report.
Mayor Ramos Amith opened and closed the Public Hearing at 6:46 p.m. with no public comments.
Motion made by Councilmember Waymond Fermon, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Miller to approve Resolution No. 10432 Determining the Validity of Prior Proceedings and Resolution No. 10433 Calling a Special Election. Carried Unanimously.
Motion made by Councilmember Oscar Ortiz, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Glenn Miller to approve Resolution No. 10434 Canvassing the Results of the Election, and approve a budget adjustment relating to the annexation of Annexation Area No. 84 to CFD No. 2004-1 (Parcels 1, 2, and 3 of Parcel Map No. 38473, Pulte Home Company, LLC, located on the northwest corner of Madison Street and Avenue 40). Carried Unanimously.
11. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Public Comments provided by the following:
1. Mike Wales (STUP 82605 Zenda Approval)
2. Tammy Weiner (STUP 82605 Zenda Approval)
3. Daryl Terrell (Moreno Valley Planning Commissioner - Catalytic Converter Ordinance AB641)
4. April Sanders (STUP 82605 Zenda Approval)
12. ADJOURN
There being no further business to discuss Mayor Ramos Amith adjourned the regular joint meeting at 7:07 p.m.
SABDI SANCHEZ, CMC
CITY CLERK ADMINISTRATOR
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