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Thursday, December12, 2024
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council
of the City of Palm Springs
CALL TO ORDER:
A Regular Meeting of the Palm Springs City Council was called to order by Mayor Bernsteinon Thursday, December12, 2024, at 5:35 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Bernsteinled thePledgeof Allegiance.
ROLL CALL:
Present: CouncilmembersChristy Holstege, Grace Elena Garner, and Lisa Middleton; Mayor ProTemRondeHarte; andMayor JeffreyBernstein.
Absent: None.
City Staff Present: ScottStiles, City Manager; TeresaGallavan, AssistantCity Manager; Flinn Fagg, DeputyCity Manager; JeremyHammond, DeputyCity Manager; JeffBallinger, City Attorney; AndrewMills, Chiefof Police; andBrendaPree, City Clerkwerepresent at Roll Call. Otherstaff memberspresentedreportsor respondedto questionsas indicatedin theminutes.
PRESENTATIONS:
City ManagerStilesintroducedtheCity’s newParksandRecreationDirector, Nick Gonzalez.
PROCLAMATIONS:
Mayor Bernsteinannouncedtheissuanceof thefollowing proclamations:
Dr. Les Zendle was honoredon November26, 2024, for his eight yearsof dedicatedservicein promotingequitableaccessto healthand wellnessservicesfor residentsof the easternCoachella Valley.
Dr. CarminaZavalawashonoredon November26, 2024, for herfour yearsof serviceon theBoard of theDesertHealthcareDistrict andtheFoundationBoard. Hercontributionshavebeeninstrumental in raisingawarenessandfacilitatingdiscussionson behavioralhealthchallengeswithin theCoachella Valley.
CharlesSuppleDay wasofficially proclaimedon December6, 2024. Mr. Supplewasawardedthe 472ndstaronthePalmSpringsWalk of theStars. Thishonoracknowledgeshissteadfastcommitment to accessible, innovative, andcompassionatehealthcare, aswell ashispioneeringwork in developing City CouncilMinutes December12, 2024
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new healthcaremodelsfor SouthernCalifornia andelevatingthe PalmSpringsMedicalCenterto a standardof excellence.
The75thAnniversaryof theDesertArt CenterwascommemoratedonDecember6, 2024. Foundedin 1950, the DesertArt Center holds the distinction of being the oldest non-profit, volunteer arts organizationin theCoachellaValley.
MicheleCirone-Collier washonoredon December9, 2024, for herremarkable35 yearsof dedicated serviceto theCity of PalmSprings. Throughouthertenure, shehasbeenavital andesteemedmember of theDesertRecreationDivision, adeptlysupervisinganddevelopinga wide rangeof activitiesand programs.
ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA:
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MIDDLETON, SECONDBY MAYOR BERNSTEIN, CARRIED 5-0, to accepttheagenda.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY:
LaurenWolfer, Kathy Weremiuk, Geoff Kors, JohnPavelak, Ginny Foat, David Vignolo, andAbraham Ishaqprovidedoral testimony.
1. CONSENT CALENDAR:
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER HOLSTEGE, SECONDBY MAYOR PROTEM DEHARTE, CARRIED 5-0, to approvetheConsentCalendar.
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER HOLSTEGE, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM DEHARTE, CARRIED 5-0, to approvethe City Council ClosedSessionMeetingMinutes of November14, 2024, theCity CouncilRegularMeetingMinutesof November14, 2024, andthe City CouncilSpecialMeetingMinutesof November21, 2024.
B. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE NOVEMBER 5, 2024, GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER HOLSTEGE, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM DEHARTE, CARRIED 5-0, to adoptResolution No. 25262entitled, “A RESOLUTIONOF
THE CITY COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OFPALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, RECITINGTHE FACT OF THE REGULAR MUNICIPAL ELECTION HELD ON NOVEMBER 5, 2024,
DECLARING THE RESULT AND SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS ARE PROVIDED BY LAW.”
C. ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYSIS AND CONFORMITY REPORT FOR AGUA
CALIENTE FUEL PALM SPRINGS, AN AUTOMOBILE SERVICE STATION, WHICH INCLUDES AN 8,600-SF CONVENIENCE STORE WITH A 2,637-SF GAMING AREA, A 585-SF GAS ATTENDANT BUILDING, A 23-FOOT-HIGH CANOPY, PARKING, AND NEW LANDSCAPE ON A 3.6-ACRE TRIBAL TRUST PROPERTY LOCATED AT 999LAWRENCE CROSSLEY ROAD, ZONE M-1, SECTION 20 (CASE CR-2024-0001).
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MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER HOLSTEGE, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM DEHARTE, CARRIED 5-0, to adoptResolution No. 25263entitled, “A RESOLUTIONOF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, APPROVINGA
CONFORMITY REPORTFOR AGUA CALIENTE FUEL PALM SPRINGSON TRIBAL TRUST LAND LOCATED AT 999 LAWRENCE CROSSLEYROAD (APN: 680-564-002; 014; 017 & 018); DIRECTING STAFF TO TRANSMIT THE REPORTTO THE TRIBAL COUNCIL OF THE AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS; AND WAIVING
THE JOINTMEETING BETWEENTHE CITY COUNCIL AND TRIBAL COUNCIL (CASE CR-2024-0001).”
D. REAL PROPERTY DONATION AND DENSITY TRANSFER AGREEMENT
BETWEEN CITY OF PALM SPRINGSAND WATERMARKE VENTURES LLC, AND
DETERMINING SUCH ACTION TO EXEMPT FROM FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL
REVIEW PURSUANT TO THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT CEQA)
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER HOLSTEGE, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM DEHARTE, CARRIED 5-0, to approvetheaccompanyingRealPropertyDonationandDensity TransferAgreement.
E. APPROVE MASTER SERVICE AGREEMENT NO. 24S377WITH FLOCK GROUP
INC, FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE CITYWIDE PUBLIC SAFETY CAMERA SYSTEM
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER HOLSTEGE, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM DEHARTE, CARRIED 5-0, to:
1. ApproveMasterServiceAgreementNo. 24S377for $899,982with Flock GroupInc. for the replacementof thecitywidepublic safetycamerasystemutilizing theBSCCgrantfundsfor a termof threeyears.
2. AuthorizetheCity Manageror designeeto executeall necessarydocuments.
F. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER HOLSTEGE, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM DEHARTE, CARRIED 5-0, to grantthe HumanRightsCommissionthe ability to resumethe considerationof newbusinesseffectiveimmediately.
EXCLUDED CONSENT CALENDAR: None.
2. OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS
CouncilmemberHolstege and CouncilmemberMiddleton provided outgoing councilmember remarks.
TheCity Councilmeetingwasrecessedat 6:19 p.m., duringwhichtimeCouncilmembersHolstegeand Middletonvacatedtheir seats. Themeetingreconvenedat 6:33p.m.
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3. ADMINISTER OATH OF OFFICE TO NEWLY ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS BrendanSteidleadministeredtheOathof Office to Councilmember-electNaomiSoto, representing District 4. Following the swearing-in ceremony, CouncilmemberSotoassumedher positionon the dais.
Lisa Middleton administeredthe Oath of Office to Councilmember-elect David H. Ready, representingDistrict 5. Following the swearing-in ceremony, CouncilmemberReadyassumedhis positionon thedais.
4. INCOMING COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
CouncilmembersSotoandReadydeliveredincomingcouncilmemberremarks.
5. APPOINTMENT OF THE MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEM
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBERBERNSTEIN, SECONDBY COUNCILMEMBERGARNER, CARRIED 5-0, to appointRondeHarteto thepositionof Mayor for a one-yearterm commencing uponappointment.
SupervisorV. ManuelPerezadministeredMayorRondeHarte’s Oathof Office.
ThemeetingwaspresidedoverbythenewlyappointedMayor, RondeHarte.
MOTION BY MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBERGARNER, SECONDBY COUNCILMEMBER BERNSTEIN, CARRIED 5-0, to appointNaomiSototo thepositionof Mayor Pro Tem for a one- yeartermcommencinguponappointment.
6. OUTGOING AND INCOMING MAYOR COMMENTS
CouncilmemberBernsteindeliveredoutgoingMayor remarks. Mayor deHartedeliveredincoming Mayor remarks.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
David Feltman, JohnPavelak, AbrahamIshaq, MichaelPitkin, DanGore, andChristyHolstegeprovided non-agendaoral testimony.
CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER COMMENTS, REPORTS, & AGENDA DEVELOPMENT:
City ManagerStilesandtheCity Councildiscussedthetentativeupcomingmeetingscheduleandagenda items. CouncilmembersBernsteinandReadyprovidedcomments.
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ADJOURNMENT:
TheCity Counciladjournedtheregularmeetingof Thursday, December12, 2024, at 7:38p.m.
Respectfullysubmitted,
BrendaPree, MMC, CERA
City Clerk
DRAFTMINUTESPRESENTEDTOCITYCOUNCIL: 1/9/2025