City of Indio
City Council / Indio Water Authority Minutes
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Mayor Glenn Miller called to order the closed session for the City of Indio 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 Glenn Miller
Mayor Pro Tem Elaine Holmes
Councilmember Waymond Fermon
Councilmember Oscar Ortiz
Councilmember Benjamin Guitron IV
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
None
3. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION TO CONSIDER:
3.1 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – Existing Litigation - Pursuant to Paragraph (1) of Subdivision (2) of Section 54956.9; Zenda Estate, LLC v.
Polo Club Maintenance Association; Riverside Superior Court Case No.
CVPS2407985
3.2 CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR - Government Code § 54957.6; City Negotiator: Bryan H. Montgomery, City Manager; Employee Organizations: MCU
3.3 CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS - Pursuant to Government Code § 54956.8; 45096 & 45130 Deglet Noor Street (APN 611-163-001); Negotiating Parties: City of Indio, Bryan H. Montgomery, City Manager, and Shepphird Associates; Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment.
3.4 CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS - Pursuant to Government Code § 54956.8; for 45149 Smurr St. Unit B, Indio, City of Indio Negotiator: Bryan H. Montgomery, City Manager; Negotiating Party:
Power Yoga Indio; Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment REGULAR SESSION - 5 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Present:
Mayor Glenn Miller
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Mayor Pro Tem Elaine Holmes
Councilmember Waymond Fermon
Councilmember Oscar Ortiz
Councilmember Benjamin Guitron
City Staff Present:
Bryan H. Montgomery, City Manager, Jon Nicks, Asst. City Manager, Steven Graham Pacifico, City Attorney, Brian Tully, Chief of Police, Andrew Ansoorian, Dir. of Human Resources, Ruby Walla, Dir. of Finance, Miguel Ramirez-Cornejo, Dir. of Economic Development, Brian Halvorson, Dir. of Community 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.
2. INVOCATION
led by Pastor Tony Williams ~ Love of Christ Community Church
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
led by Kristina Aldaz ~ Fifth grader at Dr. Carreon Academy *Mayor Pro Tem Holmes disclosed a recusal for closed session item 3.3
4. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Steven Graham reported that the City Council gave litigation direction on item 3.1 by consensus with no other reportable action.
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 New Employee Presentations
City Manager Montgomery introduced and welcomed new members of Team Indio:
1. Andrew Arrieta, Graffiti Control Worker
2. Adrian Beltran, IWA Utility Worker
3. Aaron Ponce, Assistant Police Chief
4. Mayra Hernandez, HR Analyst
5. Luke Fannin, Planning Technician
6. Tamara Eses, Economic Development Coordinator
7. Roel Sanchez, Water Utility Worker I
8. Maria Corona Cazarez, Code Enforcement Officer I
9. Jazmin Aceves, Information Technology Technician
10. Chrystal Torres, Code Enforcement Officer I
11. Vanessa Guadron, Code Enforcement Technician (Not Present)
12. Charo Chan, Code Enforcement Officer I (Not Present)
13. Justino Lopez-Gonzalez, IWA Intern (Engineering)
14. Itzel Alvarado, IWA (Customer Service)
15. Maylena DeRenard, Planning Fellow
5.2 Hunger Action Month, presentation by FIND Food Bank President & CEO
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Debbie Espinosa
Debbie Espinosa, FIND Food Bank President & CEO provided a presentation on Hunger Action Month to the City Council.
6. YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (YAC)
Viviana Terriquez, YAC Mayor, reported on the success of the Viva Indio event.
She also introduced the new YAC members for the 2025-2026 school year.
7. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND INFORMATION
City Manager Montgomery reported on the success of the Movie Night and Viva Indio events held on September 11 and 13. He thanked the community for their strong participation and noted that these events contributed to the ongoing revitalization of the downtown area.
8. CITY COUNCIL CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE
Mayor Pro Tem Holmes disclosed a conflict of interest on Consent Calendar items
11.7 and 11.8 due to the fact that she owns property in the downtown area; therefore, she has a financial conflict of interest.
9. CITY COUNCIL REPORT ON MEETINGS ATTENDED PER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 53232.3(D)
Councilmember Guitron had no report on Committees.
Councilmember Ortiz reported on the Energy and Sustainability Commission meeting.
Councilmember Fermon reported on the CVAG Homelessness Committee meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Holmes had no report on Committees.
Mayor Miller had no report on Committees.
10. APPOINTMENTS
10.1 Appointment of Kelly Garcia to the Community Services Commission, nominated by Councilmember Waymond Fermon
Motion made by Councilmember Fermon, seconded by Councilmember Ortiz
to accept the nomination of Councilmember Waymond Fermon and ratify the appointment of Kelly Garcia to the Community Services Commission to fill one (1) vacancy consisting of an unexpired term through December 2028. Carried unanimously.
10.2 Designation of Voting & Alternate Delegates for League of California Cities Annual Conference October 8-10, 2025
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Motion made by consensus to designate Councilmember Fermon as the Voting Delegate and Councilmember Ortiz as the Alternate Delegate for the League of California Cities Annual Conference October 8-10, 2025. Carried Unanimously.
11. CONSENT CALENDAR
11.1 Waive Reading of Title and Text of All Ordinances included in the agenda
11.2 Minutes for the City Council, Indio Water Authority, Electric Finance Authority, Public Finance Authority regular joint meeting of August 20, 2025
11.3 City Warrants from 08-09-2025 to 09-05-2025
11.4 IWA Warrants from 08-09-2025 to 09-05-2025
11.5 Second Reading of Ordinance No. 1821, approving a Development Agreement for the Pulte Desert Retreat housing development encompassing up to 1,500 homes
11.6 Award of a Professional Services Agreement to Blais & Associates, Inc. in a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $175,000 per Fiscal Year for Citywide Grant Research, Writing, and Post-Award Support for Fiscal Years 2026–2027, 2027–2028, and 2028–2029, with Two Optional One-Year Extensions Staff recommends that the City Council award a Professional Services Agreement to Blais & Associates, Inc. for citywide grant research, grant writing, and post-award support services in a not-to-exceed amount of $175,000 per fiscal year for FY 2026–27, FY 2027-28 and FY 2028–29, with two optional one-year extensions, and authorize the City Manager or his/her designee to execute the agreement and any amendments within the approved not-to-exceed amounts.
11.7 Commercial Lease Agreement with FFA Touring, LLC dba The Desert Rat located at 82707 Miles Ave
11.8 License Agreement between the City of Indio and Brenda Beltran for the use of City Property Downtown for the curation of 'Mercado Indio', a vendor market experience with a not-to-exceed amount of $12,000
11.9 Purchase of two (2) Police motorcycles from Long Beach BMW Motorcycles in the amount of $95,155.38
11.10 Approval of $23,845 Increase to Axon Contract for the Purchase of 5 Taser Devices and 15 Additional User Licenses
11.11 Approval of a Three-Year Law Enforcement Services Agreement Between the City of Indio and Desert Sands Unified School District for the Provision of Police Services
11.12 Resolution No. 10515 of the City Council/Indio Water Authority to authorize and designate the Executive Director as the agency authorized representative to sign and file, for and on behalf of Indio Water Authority, a Financial Assistance Application for a financing agreement from the State Water Resources Control Board for the planning, design, and construction of the Carver Tract Water Systems Consolidation (Project)
11.13 Resolution No. 10516, authorizing participation in the FY2024, FY2025, and FY2026 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) and
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State Homeland Security Program (SHSP); authorizing the City’s applications, acceptance of funds, negotiation and execution of all related documents, and designation of authorized agents
11.14 Resolution No. 10517, fixing the employer contribution under the Public Employees' Medical and Hospital Care Act (PEMHCA) at an equal amount for employees and annuitants, and making a determination that the action is exempt from further environmental review pursuant to Section 15324 (Regulations of Working Conditions) of the California Environmental Quality Act
11.15 Resolution No. 10518, fixing the employer contribution under the Public Employees' Medical and Hospital Care Act (PEMHCA) at an equal amount for employees and annuitants, and making a determination that the action is exempt from further environmental review pursuant to Section 15324 (Regulations of Working Conditions) of the California Environmental Quality Act
11.16 Implementation of amended changes to the Compensation and Benefits Plan for Management, Confidential, and Unrepresented Employees, and authorization for the City Manager to execute amendments to the current plan
11.17 Change Order No. 4 with Three Peaks Corp. in the amount of $312,716.15 for additional work for the Indio Sports Park Project, City Project No. PK2203
Mayor Pro Tem Holmes disclosed a conflict of interest on 11.7 and 11.8 due to financial interest as she owns property in the downtown area.
Councilmember Guitron pulled item 11.9 and 11.12 for further clarification.
Chief Tully introduced Lieutenant Andrew Leyva who provided further clarification on item 11.9.
Reymundo Trejo, IWA General Manager, provided further clarification on item 11.12.
Motion made by Councilmember Fermon, seconded by Councilmember Guitron, to approve consent calendar items 11.1 through 11.17. Items
11.1 through 11.6 and 11.9 through 11.17 carried unanimously. Items
11.7 and 11.8 carried 4-0-1, with Mayor Pro Tem Holmes recused.
12. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
12.1 Introduction of Ordinance No. 1822, adding Chapter 107 (“Smoke-Free Areas”) to Title IX of the Indio Municipal Code; repealing Section 96.30; and establishing smoke-free outdoor and multi-unit residential areas to protect public health and the environment
Jose Ramirez, Principal Management Analyst, presented the Staff Report.
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Discussion ensued.
Motion made by Councilmember Fermon, seconded by Councilmember Ortiz to introduce first reading of Ordinance No. 1822, adding Chapter 107 (“Smoke-Free Areas”) to Title IX of the Indio Municipal Code; repealing Section 96.30; and establishing smoke-free outdoor and multi-unit residential areas to protect public health and the environment with amended language (exception to special/private events). Carried Unanimously.
12.2 Introduction of Ordinance No. 1823, adding Sections 33.300–33.316 to Chapter 33 of the Indio Municipal Code and repealing Section 33.123, to establish uniform procedures for the disposal of surplus City real and personal property
Jose Ramirez, Principal Management Analyst, presented the Staff Report Discussion ensued
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Holmes, seconded by Councilmember Fermon to introduce first reading of Ordinance No. 1823, adding Sections
33.300–33.316 to Chapter 33 of the Indio Municipal Code and repealing Section 33.123, to establish uniform procedures for the disposal of surplus City real and personal property. Carried Unanimously.
12.3 Draft Sustainability Plan and Work Plan 2025
Item was postponed to the next City Council meeting of October 1 or October 15, 2025. No action taken.
12.4 Review and approve the Indio Public Arts Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2025/2026 ("the Plan"), as recommended by the Public Arts Commission Miguel Ramirez-Cornejo, Dir. Of Economic Development, presented the PowerPoint presentation.
Discussion ensued
Motion made by Councilmember Fermon, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Holmes to review and approve the Indio Public Arts Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2025/2026, as recommended by the Public Arts Commission, and appropriate a total of $209,000 for its implementation.
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13. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
1. Juvenal Gonzalez – Parking signage on Hwy 111 corridor
14. ADJOURN
There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Miller adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
SABDI SANCHEZ, MMC
DIR. OF CITY CLERK SERVICES
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