City of Indio
City Council / Indio Water Authority Minutes
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Mayor Miller called to order the closed session for the City of Indio at 4:09 p.m. in the Council Chamber located at 100 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 LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Initiation of Litigation Pursuant to Paragraph (4) of Subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9
Number of Cases (2)
REGULAR SESSION - 5 PM
Mayor Miller called to order the regular joint meeting of the City Council for the City of Indio, Indio Water Authority at 5:11 p.m. in the Council Chamber located at 100 Civic Center Drive, 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
City Staff Present:
Bryan H. Montgomery, City Manager, Jon Nicks, Asst. City Manager, Steven G.
Pacifico, Brian Tully, Chief of Police, Andrew Ansoorian, Dir. of Human Resources,
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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, 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 Natalie Cruz ~ Third Grader at Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary School
4. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Steven Graham Pacifico reported that the Council met in Closed Session to discuss the items listed therein and there was no reportable action.
5. REORGANIZATION OF CITY COUNCIL
5.1 Transition of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem
Mayor Glenn Miller passed the gavel to incoming Mayor Elaine Holmes, and Councilmember Waymond Fermon rotated in as Mayor Pro Tem.
5.2 Presentation Honoring Glenn Miller for service as Mayor Newly incoming Mayor Elaine Holmes along with Councilmembers, presented a ceremonial gavel to Glenn Miller for his service as Mayor for 2024-2025.
10-MINUTE RECESS
6. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Elaine Holmes
Mayor Pro Tem Waymond Fermon
Councilmember Oscar Ortiz
Councilmember Benjamin Guitron IV
Councilmember Glenn Miller
7. PRESENTATIONS
7.1 New Employee Introductions
City Manager Montgomery introduced and welcomed new members of Team Indio:
1. Rebecca McKeown, Plans Examiner
2. Justino Lopez-Gonzales, IWA Junior Engineer
3. Kimberly H. Hernandez, Community Program Aide (Not Present)
4. Kalien Hernandez, Community Program Aide (Not Present)
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5. Hugo Flores, Community Program Aide (Not Present)
8. YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (YAC)
Julissa Cornejo reported on the Teen Center’s 17th Annual Thanksgiving Feast.
She also announced that YAC is hosting a blanket drive through December 12, with donations being collected at the Teen Center.
9. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND INFORMATION
City Manager Montgomery welcomed the community to the new City Hall and Council Chamber and reported on the December 5 Tree Lighting Ceremony and the Tamale Festival taking place December 6–7.
10. CITY COUNCIL CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE None.
11. CITY COUNCIL REPORT ON MEETINGS ATTENDED PER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 53232.3(D)
Councilmember Miller reported on the SunLine Transit Agency Committee and CVAG Executive Committee meetings.
Councilmember Guitron had no report on Committees.
Councilmember Ortiz had no report on Committees.
Mayor Pro Tem Fermon reported on the Coachella Valley Power Agency meeting and the CVAG Homelessness Committee meeting.
Mayor Holmes had no report on Committees.
12. APPOINTMENTS
12.1 Mayoral Assignments to Committees, Commissions, and Boards Motion made by consensus to approve the Mayoral appointments to External and Internal Committees, Commissions, and Boards, with the following update: Kim Hardee is appointed as the second representative to the Coachella Valley Animal Campus Commission. Motion carried unanimously.
13. CONSENT CALENDAR
13.1 Waive Reading of Title and Text of All Ordinances included in the agenda
13.2 Minutes for the City Council, Indio Water Authority regular joint meeting of November 19, 2025
13.3 Second Reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 1827, amending Title 3 (Administration) Chapter 1 (City Council) Division 3 (Meetings) Section 1.30 (Regular Meetings) of the Indio Municipal Code
13.4 City Warrants from 11-07-2025 to 11-20-2025
13.5 IWA Warrants from 11-07-2025 to 11-20-2025
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13.6 Commercial Lease Agreement with Flix North America, Inc. (dba Greyhound) for 83100 Indio Boulevard (APN 611-340-063)
13.7 Resolution No. 10529 - Authorizing the City Manager to Establish Rates and Fees for Public Use of City-Owned Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations
13.8 Authorization for continued month-to-month rental of temporary clubhouse units with Mobile Modular at The Lights @ Indio Golf Course
13.9 A Professional Services Agreement (PSA) between the City of Indio and Winbourne Consulting for $177,862 for consulting services for the selection and implementation of a computer-aided dispatch and records management system (CAD/RMS)
13.10 An agreement between the City of Indio and Alpha Omega Wireless, Inc. for the replacement of the Indio Water Authority Point to Multipoint wireless network in the amount of $289,037.65
13.11 Resolution No. 10530, adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Avenue 50 Widening Project from Jefferson Street to Botella Place, City Project No. ST2004
13.12 Accept the Bond Release for Indian Palms 32
Motion made by Councilmember Miller, seconded by Councilmember Ortiz to approve Consent Calendar items 13.1 through 13.12. Motion carried unanimously.
14. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
14.1 Presentation regarding progress within the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (“ENA”) between the City of Indio and HCL Indio Land Development, LLC , concerning the potential disposition and development of City-owned property located behind the former Indio Fashion Mall (APN# 614-650-001 through 006), and provide any further direction City Manager Montgomery presented the Staff Report.
Public comments provided by:
1. Donald Kelley, CFO Haagen Company
2. Jeff Morris, Community Member
3. Al Meza, Community Member
4. Julie Dill, Chair Indio Chamber of Commerce
This is a receive and file item. No action required.
14.2 Request that the City Council send a request to the Department of Homeland Security under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to provide information about any resident of Indio having been taken into custody by the Department due to immigration status
Councilmember Ortiz presented the item.
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Public Comments provided by:
1. Jonathan Becerra, Local Resident
2. Jackie Lopez, Local Resident
3. Luz Gallegos, TODEC Non-Profit
4. Alice Moran, Local Resident
5. Jose Garduno, Local Resident (Spanish-speaker)
6. Al Meza, Local Resident
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Fermon, seconded by Councilmember Ortiz, to direct the City Attorney to submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request on behalf of the City Council to the Department of Homeland Security for information regarding any Indio resident taken into custody by the Department due to immigration status for the year 2025.
Motion carried 3-2.
15. PUBLIC HEARINGS
15.1 Urgency Ordinance 1828 for a 45-day Interim Gas Station Moratorium Brian Halvorson, Dir. Of Community Development presented the PowerPoint Presentation.
Discussion ensued.
Mayor Holmes opened the public hearing at 7:49 p.m. with public comments from:
1. Jonathan Becerra, Community Member
2. Jackie Lopez, Community Member
3. Toni Merrihew, CFO Chandi Group
Mayor Holmes closed the public hearing at 8:00 p.m.
Discussion ensued
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Fermon, seconded by Councilmember Ortiz to approve Urgency Ordinance No. 1828 imposing a moratorium on gas stations
Staff recommends that the City Council introduce the first reading of Ordinance No. 1828, to consider a 45-day Interim Gas Station Urgency Moratorium. Motion carried unanimously.
16. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
1. Mike Wales – TUP’s
2. Melanie Fesmire – Downtown Revitalization
3. Al Meza – Tamale Festival
4. George Williams – Downtown Revitalization/Signage
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17. ADJOURN
There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Holmes adjourned at 8:24 p.m.
SABDI SANCHEZ, MMC
DIRECTOR OF CITY CLERK SERVICES
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