City of Indio
City Council / Indio Water Authority Minutes
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Mayor Glenn Miller called to order the closed session meeting of the City Council for the City of Indio and the Indio Water Authority, at 4:02 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 Glenn Miller
Mayor Pro Tem Elaine Holmes
Councilmember Waymond Fermon
Councilmember Oscar Ortiz
Absent:
Councilmember Benjamin Guitron IV
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
Megan Scarborough-Eckel (Mosquito issues)
Robert Gaona (Mosquito issues)
3. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION TO CONSIDER:
3.1 CONFERENCE WITH AGENCY PERSONNEL REGARDING SECURITY OF
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(a)(1)(B)
Agency Personnel: City Manager, Chief of Police
3.2 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Section 54956.9 One Claim – Polo Club Maintenance Association
REGULAR SESSION - 5 PM
Mayor Glenn Miller called to order the regular joint meeting of the City Council for the City of Indio, Indio Water authority at 5:02 p.m. in the Council Chamber located at 150 Civic Center Mall, Indio, California.
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Present:
Mayor Glenn Miller
Mayor Pro Tem Elaine Holmes
Councilmember Waymond Fermon
Councilmember Oscar Ortiz
Councilmember Benjamin Guitron IV
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March 19, 2025
City Staff Present:
Bryan H. Montgomery, City Manager, Jon Nicks, Asst. City Manager, Brian Tully, Chief of Police, Steven Graham, City Attorney, Andrew Ansoorian, Dir. of Human Resources, Ruby Walla, Dir. of Finance, Miguel Ramirez-Cornejo, Dir. of Economic Development, Ian Cozens, Dir. of IT, Timothy T. Wassil, Dir. of Public Works, Rey Trejo, IWA General Manager, Sabdi Sanchez, Dir. of City Clerk Services, Brian Halvorson, Dir. Of Community Development
2. INVOCATION led by Pastor Paula Conant ~ Destiny Church
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Gabriella Smith ~ Jackson 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 3.2, with no other reportable action for item 3.1.
5. YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (YAC)
YAC member Danica Rodriguez reported on the Youth Town Hall attended by YAC members on March 4. She also announced that members will be traveling to Running Springs to attend the Riverside County Friday Night Live Active Youth Conference.
6. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND INFORMATION
City Manager Montgomery reported on Movie Night at Center Stage on Thursday, March 20, and highlighted public participation in the Strategic Plan in person and virtual community forums.
7. CITY COUNCIL CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE
Mayor Pro Tem Elaine Holmes disclosed a recusal on Administrative Item 10.1
8. CITY COUNCIL REPORT ON MEETINGS ATTENDED PER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 53232.3(D)
Councilmember Guitron had no report on committees.
Councilmember Ortiz had no report on committees.
Councilmember Fermon had no report on committees.
Mayor Pro Tem Holmes had no report on committees.
Mayor Miller had no report on committees.
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March 19, 2025
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
9.1 Minutes for City Council and Indio Water Authority meeting of March 5, 2025
9.2 City Warrants from 02.22.2025 to 03.07.2025
9.3 IWA Warrants 02.22.2025 to 03.07.2025
9.4 Approval of Final Tract Map No. 38470-2 for Pulte Home Company, LLC, (Del Webb Desert Retreat), generally located on the northwest corner of Avenue 40 and Madison Street
9.5 Resolution No. 10479, a Resolution of Intent to Adjust Water Rates for the Indio Water Authority and Establish a Public Hearing Pursuant to Proposition 218
9.6 Receive and accept the 2024 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, 2025,
9.7 Receive and Accept the 2024 General Plan Annual Progress Report for submission to the Governor's Office of Planning and Research State Clearinghouse and Planning Unit
Councilmember Ortiz pulled items 9.5-9.7 for further clarification.
Rey Trejo, IWA General Manager, provided a brief presentation on the Resolution of Intent to Adjust Water Rates for the Indio Water Authority.
Brian Halvorson, Dir. Community Development provided a brief presentation on the General Plan Annual Progress Report.
David Razo, Senior Management Analyst, provided a brief presentation on the 2024 Housing Element Progress Report.
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Holmes, seconded by Councilmember Fermon to approve Consent Calendar Items 9.1 thru 9.7. Carried Unanimously.
10. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
At 5:54 p.m., Mayor Miller moved to item 10.2
10.1 Select the finalist for the Indio Center Stage Project and authorize the City Manager and City Attorney to negotiate the contract terms with the selected artist, with a total budget not to exceed $50,000 Mayor Pro Tem Holmes recused herself from the dais due to owing property within 1000ft.
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Miguel Ramirez-Cornejo, Dir. Of Economic Development, presented the PowerPoint presentation.
Discussion ensued
Motion made by Councilmember Guitron, seconded by Councilmember Ortiz to Select Artist Juan Cuevas for the Indio Center Stage Project and authorize the City Manager and City Attorney to negotiate the contract terms with the selected artist, with a total budget not to exceed $50,000.
Motion carried 4-0-1.
10.2 The Ad-Hoc Committee, staff, and consultants will provide an update on the progress of the Police Department Headquarters Building project Jonathan Nicks, Asst. City Manager, presented the PowerPoint Presentation.
Discussion ensued.
Public comment provided by:
1. Gil Marrujo
Motion made by Councilmember Guitron, seconded by Councilmember Fermon to approve the plan for the development of the new Police Headquarters facility as outlined in the report from staff and confirm location of the 9/11 memorial, currently planned for the northeast corner of Jackson St. and Dr. Carreon Blvd., which is near the proposed entrance of the new Police Headquarters or direction on an alternate location. Motion carried unanimously.
11. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Public comments provided by the following:
1. Phillip Bettencourt – Coachella Valley Energy Commission/IID/Desert Feed Bag
2. Idania Hernandez – National Crime Victim’s Rights Week Vigil
12. ADJOURN
There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Miller adjourned at 6:40 p.m. in memory of Deputy Sheriff Hector Cuevas Jr.
SABDI SANCHEZ, MMC
DIRECTOR OF CITY CLERK SERVICES
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