03/17/2022 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, MARCH 17, 2022
1:00 P.M.
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER – 1:00 P.M.
a) Flag Salute: Led by Steve Quintanilla, City Attorney. b) Roll Call: Downs, Kite, Smotrich, Townsend, Weill – All present (Council Member Downs via telecommunication)
PRESENTATIONS
Introduction of Station 50 Fire Captain Matthew Gotta.
Chief Kotz introduced Captain Gotta.
Captain Gotta described his experience and expressed his excitement to serve the City of Rancho Mirage.
Mayor Weill thanked Captain Gotta for his service and emphasized the superb quality of the Rancho Mirage Fire Department.
Access Remotely iii
Zoom Link:
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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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NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS
Patrick Lowry, Rancho Mirage resident, thanked staff members Gabe Codding and Pilar Lopez for their recent assistance and commended the Fire Department. He requested the City do more to express support for Black History Month, International Women’s Day, and Ukraine. He also commented on crime rates.
Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, expressed concern with City Council Members serving as ex-officio members of City boards and commissions.
COUNCIL/BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS/REPORTS
Mayor Weill noted Council Member Kite’s involvement with the Bighorn Institute, including the construction of the fence that was created along the City’s mountain range to prevent the bighorn sheep from wandering onto Highway 111.
Council Member Kite provided an update regarding the local bighorn, noting their population increased since the construction of the containment fence. He also announced an upcoming fundraiser for the Bighorn Institute.
Mayor Weill provided an update regarding the Wolfson Park expansion, noting new features to be provided and the preliminary construction timeline.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS - None.
MINUTES March 3, 2022 Regular Meeting.
Public Comments - None.
MOVED/SECONDED BY KITE/TOWNSEND TO APPROVE THE MARCH 3, 2022 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AS PRESENTED. A ROLL CALL VOTE WAS TAKEN AND MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, presented the following Consent Calendar items:
1. Adopt Joint Resolution No. 2022-(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.
2. Receive and File Annual Board/Commission Reports.
03/17/2022 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5
3. Special Assistance Funds (SAF) Awards.
4. Contracts.
5. Demands.
Public Comments:
Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, spoke in opposition to Consent Calendar Item No. 1, commenting that elected and appointed officials should be 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.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
6. Resolution No. 2022-(Next-in-Order), Adjusting Electric Generation Rate Schedule for Rancho Mirage Energy Authority (RMEA).
Jessica Pulliam, Senior Management Analyst, presented the staff report.
Public Comments - None.
Mayor Weill thanked Ms. Pulliam for her diligent efforts in assisting the public with their energy bills.
MOVED/SECONDED BY SMOTRICH/TOWNSEND TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2022-11,
ADJUSTING ELECTRIC GENERATION RATE SCHEDULE FOR RANCHO MIRAGE ENERGY AUTHORITY. A ROLL CALL VOTE WAS TAKEN AND MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
ACTION CALENDAR
7. Resolution No. 2022-(Next-in-Order), in Support of Net Energy Metering to Support Sustainable Continued Growth of Customer-Sited Solar Energy Installations.
Jessica Pulliam, Senior Management Analyst, presented the staff report.
Public Comments - None.
Mayor Weill emphasized the City’s support for sustainable energy.
MOVED/SECONDED BY SMOTRICH/TOWNSEND TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2022-12,
IN SUPPORT OF NET ENERGY METERING TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE CONTINUED GROWTH OF CUSTOMER-SITED SOLAR ENERGY INSTALLATIONS. A ROLL CALL VOTE WAS TAKEN AND MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
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8. Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage Spa Suites Lease Extension and Operating Covenant Amendment.
Kofi Antobam, Director of Administrative Services, presented the staff report.
Public Comments - None.
Council Member Kite spoke of the historical significance of the program for the Ritz-Carlton and expressed support for the item.
Mayor Weill highlighted the partnership the City shared with the Ritz-Carlton.
MOVED/SECONDED BY TOWNSEND/SMOTRICH TO:
A. APPROVE THE SIXTH AMENDMENT TO THE FIRST AMENDED AND FULLY
RESTATED OPERATING COVENANT BETWEEN THE CITY OF RANCHO
MIRAGE AND NEWAGE RANCHO MIRAGE, LLC; AND
B. APPROVE FOUR RESIDENTIAL LEASE EXTENSION AGREEMENTS BETWEEN
THE CITY OF RANCHO MIRAGE AND NEWAGE RANCHO MIRAGE, LLC, FOR LEASE EXTENSION OF SPA SUITES HAVING UNIT NUMBERS 4226, 4227, 4229, AND 4230, FOR AN ADDITIONAL FIVE YEARS.
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 v. City of Rancho Mirage
Case No.: CVPS2200167
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.
Public Comments:
Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, requested the City conclude the vacation rentals case or provide residents with an update on the matter.
The City Council, Library and Observatory Board, Housing Authority Board, and the City Council representing the Redevelopment Successor Agency recessed into Closed Session at 1:42 P.M.
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, reconvened the meeting at 2:11 P.M. and announced that no reportable action was taken during Closed Session.
03/17/2022 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5
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 2:11 P.M.
Prepared by: Kristie Ramos, City Clerk
Date Approved by City Council: April 7th, 2022