WRITTEN
PUBLIC
COMMENTS
CITY COUNCIL
MEETING
OCTOBER 1, 2024
1 From: Kelly Baucom <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 1, 2024 11:48 AM
To: City Clerk Mail
Cc: Kelly Baucom
Subject: WRITTEN COMMENTS - SPECIAL EVENTS IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS Kelly Baucom
46500 Cameo Palms Drive
Please include this written comment for today's city council meeting:
This is in response to City of La Quinta Council member Kathleen Fitzpatrick's comment on a recent post (see her comment below) regarding Special Events in Residential Neighborhoods. Kathleen, you stated, “I am disappointed that the residents who brought the concern up are not engaged in helping try to find a long term solution that benefits all the residents or La Quinta.” Are you serious? Shortly after my family moved into our home in the Highland Palms neighborhood, we discovered that the large property across the street was a nuisance and prevented us from the “quiet enjoyment of our property;” the owners were and continue to host large events with hundreds of guests and rarely follow the rules. We quickly met other neighbors who were experiencing the same issues, including one who had been dealing with this problem since 2016. As I educated myself by watching ALL of the City of La Quinta council meetings dating back to 2016 (specifically 4/19/16), I felt ill. After watching this particular meeting, where several neighbors were pleading with the city to help them and knowing that nothing had changed in all of these years, I was determined to find a long term solution.
For almost 3 years, my neighbors and I have engaged tirelessly with the city to resolve this issue. We have attended and spoken at numerous city council and planning commission meetings. When we were unable to attend, we always watched the recorded meeting online the next day. We have sent written comments to these meetings. We have met privately with City Manager Jon McMillan on too many occasions to count. Two of my neighbors met privately with you earlier this year. We have sent many, many, many emails to the city regarding this problem. We have each reported violations at this property multiple times providing indisputable video evidence and each time, the city has done nothing. This includes an incident last September where a young woman ran to the safety of my door at 3am. The owner of this property was chasing her and attempting to stop her from reporting a crime by dragging her away from the safety of my house (all on my security cameras). I shared these videos with the city and implored them to remove their license to protect other unsuspecting guests. Again, the city did nothing. Out of desperation, we have engaged the media to try to bring attention to our plight and two of my neighbors participated in a peaceful protest of a wedding event at this property last March. One neighbor is going to trial this Thursday, October 3, for a "disturbing the peace" charge; she was peacefully protesting from her own property, below the allowable noise decibels. My other neighbor was arraigned yesterday for a misdemeanor charge for her participation in this protest.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING - OCTOBER 1, 2024 - WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT KELLY BAUCOM
MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - COMMENTS REGARDING SPECIAL EVENTS IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS 2 After almost 3 years of trying to work with the city to resolve this issue, nothing has been done. One of my neighbors is currently renting out their house, at a loss, and moved to another city in order to escape our hostile neighborhood. Another neighbor, who has attempted to resolve this issue with the city for over 8 years, finally gave up and sold her house this month for a considerable loss, as she had to disclose the nuisance located next door. I know of at least three other neighbors who sold and moved because of this nuisance and the city’s refusal to enforce its rules regarding violations at this property. Last week, the owner of this nuisance property, hostilely threatened another neighbor, “Two down, two to go.” Referring to that neighbor and my family ("two to go"), and the fact that she has caused two of my neighbors ("two down") to move already. So, forgive me, if I laugh out loud at your statement claiming that “WE are not engaged in helping to find a long term solution.” WE are extremely disappointed in the city’s refusal to enforce their rules fairly. WE are exhausted. WE are exasperated. WE feel defeated. WE just want to live in peace.
KATHLEEN FITZPATRICK'S COMMENT - I just want the record to show Melissa that the city has held 2 public meetings to discuss amending our municipal code to directly address changes that would in fact govern the issuance of future “special event permits”. None of the residents appeared to discuss future amendments at either the study session the Council held or the public meeting the Planning Commission held last month. This will come before Council again in the near future to discuss recommendations from the Planning Commission. Since the matter will be before Council again I can’t really engage in discussion on my opinions on the matter until it is in fact before the Council. But, I would suggest that anyone can access the Council meeting where the study session was held and/or the last Planning Commission meeting by watching the videos of the meetings on the City website. The matter of special event permits at either existing or future “large lots” in the city is important to the Council and like the STVR ordinance is a subject we all take seriously. I am disappointed that the residents who brought the concern up are not engaged in helping try to find a long term solution that benefits all the residents or La Quinta. So while I can’t engage in discussion I would say that I am open to anyone at any time emailing me their concerns on this matter, or any other , at kfitzpatrick@ laquintaca.gov. I am more than willing to bring those concerns up during discussion at Council. Working together is how we managed to accomplish an STVR ordinance that is working well. Working together is how we will get an ordinance that governs special events in the City too.