01/20/2022 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 5
CITY COUNCIL,
LIBRARY AND OBSERVATORY BOARD,
HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD,
AND THE CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTING
THE REDEVELOPMENT SUCCESSOR AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022
1:00 P.M.
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER – 1:00 P.M.
a) Flag Salute: Led by Jeremy Gleim, Director of Development Services. b) Roll Call: Downs, Kite, Smotrich, Townsend, Weill. – All present (Smotrich via telecommunication)
PRESENTATIONS
Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Presentation - Recognition of Lieutenant Willison and Introduction of Lieutenant Myers.
Isaiah Hagerman (via telecommunication), City Manager, thanked Lt. Willison for his dedication to the City of Rancho Mirage and announced that Lt. Myers would be replacing Lt. Willison as the City’s new Lieutenant.
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At Meeting Location
City of Rancho Mirage
City Hall - Council Chamber
69-825 Highway 111
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
Pursuant to Assembly Bill No. 361 (Effective September 16, 2021), there will be the ability to teleconference into the meeting and the public may observe the meeting and offer public comment as follows:
SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIRED FOR THE PUBLIC IF ATTENDING IN PERSON
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Mayor Weill thanked Lt. Willison for his service to the City and welcomed Lt. Myers back to the City of Rancho Mirage.
Lt. Willison thanked the City Council for their support.
Council Member Smotrich thanked Lt. Willison for his service and wished him well in his new endeavors.
Lt. Myers commented that he was happy to be back with the City of Rancho Mirage and was looking forward to progressing the City’s relationship with the Sheriff’s Department.
Riverside County Fire Department/CalFire Presentation – Introduction of Battalion Chief Kotz and Battalion Chief Tierney; Presentation of Ladder Truck.
Chief Beverlin introduced Chief Kotz and Chief Tierney as the City’s new Battalion Chiefs.
Chief Kotz and Chief Tierney introduced themselves, expressing their delight in being selected to serve the City of Rancho Mirage.
Mayor Weill thanked CalFire for their diligent efforts and dedication to the community.
Chief Kotz provided a presentation highlighting the uses and features of the City’s new ladder truck.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS
Brad Anderson (via telecommunication), Rancho Mirage resident, spoke in favor of the Frank Sinatra bridge project being discontinued.
Katie Stice (via telecommunication), President/CEO of the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce, welcomed Council Member Downs as a new Council Member, thanked Lit. Willison for his service to the City, and welcomed the City’s new emergency services officials. (Note: Due to technical difficulties, Ms. Stice’s comments were provided following Council/Board Member Comments)
COUNCIL/BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS/REPORTS
Council Member Smotrich noted the opening of In-N-Out Burger in Rancho Mirage.
Mayor Pro Tem Townsend announced upcoming events to be hosted at the City’s amphitheater, provided in partnership with the City of Rancho Mirage and Desert Theatricals.
Council Member Kite provided a status update on the Wolfson Park expansion and presented a list of hiking trails.
Council Member Downs commented that there was no way to replace former Council Member Hobart, however, he would try his best to live up to Mr. Hobart’s legacy. He spoke to the importance of reducing the spread of COVID-19. Council Member Downs also noted the smooth operation of the In-N-Out Burger drive-through.
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Mayor Weill noted an upcoming Holocaust remembrance event to be held at Palm Desert Civic Center Park and encouraging members of the public to attend.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, thanked City staff for their diligent efforts in keeping the City operating during the pandemic. He also recognized Jason Jaurigue, Information Services Director, who was awarded Info-Tech Research Group’s 2021 CIA Award for the Small Business Division.
MINUTES December 16, 2021 Regular Meeting.
Public Comments – None.
MOVED/SECONDED BY KITE/TOWNSEND TO APPROVE THE DECEMBER 16, 2021 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. A ROLL CALL VOTE WAS TAKEN AND MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, presented the following Consent Calendar items:
1. Waive Full Reading of All Ordinances Introduced or Adopted Pursuant to this Agenda.
2. Adopt Ordinance No. 1192, 2nd Reading, Levying Special Taxes within City of Rancho Mirage Community Facilities District No. 5 (Section 31) and the Improvement Areas Thereof.
3. Adopt Joint Resolution No. (Next-in-Order), Making Findings Pursuant to Government Code Section 54953, as Amended by Assembly Bill 361, and Authorizing Continued Remote Teleconference Meetings of the City Council and Affiliated Agencies and All Other City-Affiliated Brown Act Bodies, in Accordance with AB 361 During the Current State of Emergency Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
4. Adopt Resolution No. 2022-(Next-in-Order), Authorizing the Submittal of Application(s) for All CalRecycle Payment Programs and Related Authorizations for which the City of Rancho Mirage is Eligible.
5. Final Acceptance of Tamarisk Neighborhood Pavement Rehabilitation - City Project CP 19-348.
6. Receive and File the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the Year Ended June 30, 2021, and Other Related Audit Reports.
7. Contracts.
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8. Demands.
Public Comments:
Brad Anderson (via telecommunication), Rancho Mirage resident, spoke in opposition to Item No. 3, noting he was opposed to elected officials not being physically available to the public.
MOVED/SECONDED BY TOWNSEND/SMOTRICH TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED. A ROLL CALL VOTE WAS TAKEN AND MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
ACTION CALENDAR
9. Resolution No. 2022-(Next-in-Order) Summarily Vacating Approximately 9,230 Square Feet of Excess Right-of-Way, Located Approximately 300 Feet North of Halco Dunes and Vista Dunes Intersection, and Running Approximately 315 Feet Westward of Vista Dunes.
Ryan Stendell, Director of Public Works, presented the staff report.
Public Comment - None.
MOVED/SECONDED BY TOWNSEND/DOWNS TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2022-03 SUMMARILY VACATING APPROXIMATELY 9,230 SQUARE FEET OF EXCESS RIGHT-OF- WAY, LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET NORTH OF HALCO DUNES AND VISTA DUNES INTERSECTION, AND RUNNING APPROXIMATELY 315 FEET WESTWARD OF VISTA DUNES. A ROLL CALL VOTE WAS TAKEN AND MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
10. Consideration of a Memorandum of Understanding with Curative for COVID-19 Testing.
Gabe Codding, Director of Marketing, presented the staff report.
Public Comments:
Brad Anderson (via telecommunication), Rancho Mirage resident, spoke in opposition to opening another COVID-19 testing site.
A discussion ensued regarding whether an additional testing site was needed in the Coachella Valley at this time.
Mayor Weill proposed tabling the item, considering at home tests are being mailed to each household from the United States Postal Service, and noted the item could be revisited at a future meeting.
MOVED/SECONDED BY TOWNSEND/KITE TO TABLE AGENDA ITEM NO. 10. A ROLL CALL VOTE WAS TAKEN AND MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
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11. Appointment of a City Council Member to the Rancho Mirage Writers Festival Board.
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, presented the staff report.
Public Comments – None.
MOVED/SECONDED BY TOWNSEND/SMOTRICH TO NOMINATE AND APPOINT A MAYOR TED WEILL TO THE RANCHO MIRAGE WRITERS FESTIVAL BOARD. A ROLL CALL VOTE WAS TAKEN AND MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
CLOSED SESSION
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1).
Case Name: Vacation Rental Owners and Neighbors of Rancho Mirage; RM Vacation Rentals LLC, et al. v. City of Rancho Mirage, et al.
Case No.: CVRI2100368
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - POTENTIAL INITIATION OF LITIGATION Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4). (1 Potential Case).
Steven Quintanilla, City Attorney, reported that the City Council would recess into closed session to discuss Vacation Rental Owners and Neighbors of Rancho Mirage; RM Vacation Rentals LLC, et al. v. City of Rancho Mirage and one potential initiation of litigation case.
Public Comments - None.
The City Council, Library and Observatory Board, Housing Authority Board, and the City Council representing the Redevelopment Successor Agency recessed into Closed Session at 2:17 P.M.
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, reconvened the meeting at 3:30 P.M. and announced that no reportable action was taken during Closed Session.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to consider, the meeting of the City Council, Library and Observatory Board, Housing Authority Board, and the City Council representing the Redevelopment Successor Agency was adjourned at 3:30 P.M.
Prepared by: Kristie Ramos, City Clerk
Date Approved by City Council: February 3rd, 2022