City of Indio
City Council Minutes
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Mayor Holmes called to order the closed session meeting of the City Council for the City of Indio at 3 p.m. in the Council Chamber located at 100 Civic Center Drive, Indio, California.
CLOSED SESSION - 3 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Present:
Mayor Elaine Holmes
Mayor Pro Tem Waymond Fermon
Councilmember Oscar Ortiz
Councilmember Benjamin Guitron IV
Councilmember Glenn Miller
2. PUBLIC COMMENT None.
3. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION TO CONSIDER:
3.1 Conference with Real Property Negotiators, Government Code Section 54956.8. Property: 49506 Jackson St, Indio, CA 92201, 612-260-008 Negotiating Parties: City of Indio; Bryan H. Montgomery, City Manager; Jennifer Goralski, Right-of-Way Agent for Monument, and Ana Maria Trimble, owner. Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment
3.2 Public Employee Appointment pursuant to Government Code Section 54957; Title: City Manager
REGULAR SESSION - 4 PM
Mayor Holmes called to order the regular meeting of the City Council for the City of Indio at 4:52 p.m. in the Council Chamber located at 100 Civic Center Drive, Indio, California.
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Present:
Mayor Elaine Holmes
Mayor Pro Tem Waymond Fermon
Councilmember Oscar Ortiz
Councilmember Benjamin Guitron IV
Councilmember Glenn Miller
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April 15, 2026
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, Miguel Pena, Dir. of Water Utility & Maintenance, IWA General Manager, Sabdi Sanchez, Dir. of City Clerk Services.
2. INVOCATION
Led by Councilmember Guitron
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Ximena Aguayo ~ Fifth Grader at Dr. Carreon Academy
4. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
Steven Graham Pacifico, City Attorney, reported that, following Closed Session, the City Council unanimously approved a motion made by MPT Fermon and seconded by Mayor Holmes to extend a conditional offer of employment to Jonathan Nicks to serve as the next City Manager for the City of Indio upon the retirement of current City Manager Bryan H. Montgomery. The employment agreement will be negotiated under the direction of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem and will be presented to the City Council for consideration during a future open session.
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 Presentation by Elks Lodge - 2026 Pancake Breakfast K9 Fundraiser Ron Sweatte and Elks Lodge members presented a check to the Indio Police Department K9 Program.
5.2 Presentation of Certificate of Recognition to Artist Hervey Garcia for Completion of Kinetic Murals
Mayor Holmes introduced Artist Hervey Garcia who provided insight on his new mural in the City of Indio. Mayor Holmes along with the Councilmembers presented the Artist with a certificate of recognition.
6. YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (YAC)
YAC Member Gillian Garcia reported on YAC’s recent street clean-up along Avenue 46 and the care packages being prepared for senior citizens. She also highlighted YAC’s volunteer efforts during the Echo Lounge event. Ms. Garcia announced that YAC will host its annual mental health hike on May 2, which is open to the community. She also thanked Jose Vasquez in the Public Works Department for sponsoring a dog waste station at Shields Park.
7. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND INFORMATION
City Manager Montgomery expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as
Minutes for the City Council regular meeting of April 15, 2026 (Sabdi Sa... Page 9 of 360 City Council Minutes
April 15, 2026
City Manager over the past five years. He also invited the community to attend the Chella taking place at Center Stage immediately following the City Council meeting.
8. CITY COUNCIL CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE None.
9. CITY COUNCIL REPORT ON MEETINGS ATTENDED PER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 53232.3(D)
Councilmember Miller had no report on Committees.
Councilmember Guitron had no report on Committees.
Councilmember Ortiz reported on the CVAG Energy & Sustainability Committee meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Fermon had no report on Committees.
Mayor Holmes reported on the Coachella Valley Conservation Committee meeting.
10. CONSENT CALENDAR
10.1 Minutes for the City Council, Indio Water Authority regular joint meeting of April 1, 2026
10.2 City Warrants from 03-21-2026 to 04-03-2026
10.3 IWA Warrants from 03-21-2026 to 04-03-2026
10.4 Accept the street and survey monument improvements and authorize release of the surety for The HH Trust, Parcel Map No. 38335 (Indio Boulevard Storage), generally located on the southeast corner of Indio Boulevard and Madison Street
10.5 Approval of Final Tract Map No. 38470-3 for Pulte Home Company, LLC, (Del Webb Desert Retreat), generally located on the northwest corner of Avenue 40 and Madison Street
10.6 Approval of the water improvement agreement and acceptance of the performance and payment bonds from Indio Avenue 44 Pacific Associates A CLP, for the Avenue 44 Apartments
10.7 Indio Subbasin Annual Report for Water Year 2024-2025 in accordance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) of 2014
10.8 Approval of Design & Production of Veteran's Memorial at Miles Avenue Park in the amount of not-to-exceed $500,000
10.9 Approve Budget Adjustment for Special Events Budget Line in the amount of $55,937.69
10.10 Authorization to purchase four (4) utility vehicles and approve upfitting services by Johnson for a total of $860,817.05
10.11 Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement with Infosend, Inc. to increase compensation by an additional $100,000 per FY for a revised total not-toexceed $375,000 for the term of the agreement, including optional extensions
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10.12 Award contract to LandMark Consultants, Inc. for Construction Testing Services for the Indio Police Department project for $294,305
10.13 Resolution No. 10599 Confirming the Regular Meeting Day and Time of the City Council
Councilmember Guitron pulled item 10.8 for further clarification to which Miguel Ramirez-Cornejo, Dir. of Economic Development provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Motion made by Councilmember Guitron, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Fermon to approve consent calendar items 10.1 through 10.13. Carried unanimously.
11. PUBLIC HEARINGS
11.1 Introduction of Ordinance No. 1832 (“City of Indio Electrical Infrastructure Adequacy and Development Standards Ordinance”) as Chapter 164 of the Indio Municipal Code; and, Adoption of Resolution No. 10560 Establishing Fees pursuant to the Ordinance.
Bryan H. Montgomery, City Manager, in conjunction with Steven G.
Pacifico, City Attorney provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Mayor Holmes opened the public hearing at 5:50 p.m. with public comments from:
1. Tung Tran
Mayor Holmes closed the public hearing at 5:57 p.m.
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Fermon, seconded by Councilmember Miller to introduce by Title Only for First Reading Ordinance No. 1832, adding Chapter 164 (Electrical Infrastructure and Development) to the Indio Municipal Code to establish mandatory infrastructure adequacy standards and a voluntary In-Lieu Fee program; and adopt Resolution No. 10560, establishing the In-Lieu Capacity Fee at $233.97 per kVA and providing for administrative implementation. Carried unanimously.
11.2 Approval of the Annual Action Plan FY 2026-2027 for the Fiscal Year 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation in the amount of $750,000, reprogramming of unspent prior year CDBG Funds, and authorization of a budget adjustment for receipt and utilization of the Fiscal Year 2026 allocation and unspent prior year CDBG Funds
David Razo, Senior Management Analyst, provided the PowerPoint presentation.
Mayor Holmes opened and closed the public hearing at 6:09 p.m. with no public comments.
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Motion made by Councilmember Ortiz, seconded by Councilmember Miller to approve the Annual Action Plan FY 2026-2027 for the Program Year 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation in the amount of $750,000 and reprogramming of unspent prior year CDBG Funds and Authorize the Finance Director to make any necessary budget adjustments for the receipt and utilization of the Fiscal Year 2026 allocation and unspent prior year CDBG Funds. Carried unanimously.
12. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
1. Jonathan Becerra – Festival Season Branding Opportunities
2. Sonia Chavez – STR Permit Process
13. ADJOURN
There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Holmes adjourned at 6:14 p.m.
SABDI SANCHEZ, MMC
DIRECTOR OF CITY CLERK SERVICES
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