04/21/2022 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, APRIL 21, 2022
1:00 P.M.
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER – 1:00 P.M.
a) Flag Salute: Led by Majna Dukic, Director of Development Services. b) Roll Call: Downs, Kite, Smotrich, Townsend, Weill - All present.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS
Delaney Henry, member of the public, announced that the Rancho Mirage Farmers Market moved to The River shopping center and presented a video highlighting the many goods and services provided at the market.
Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, commented that the City’s audio/video equipment was not available for his use during the non-agenda public comment section of meetings and expressed concern with the remote accessibility of Cove Commission meetings.
Access Remotely iii
Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87982185920?pwd=enBFbGpLUm
1qejJMVkVSa3htR0ZNdz09
Passcode: 414852
Webinar ID: 879 8218 5920
Zoom Call-In Nos.: 1 (669) 900-9128 (Carrier charges may apply) 1 (888) 475-4499 (Toll Free)
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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Susan St. Louis, Rancho Mirage resident, spoke of the proposed solutions for restoring the Salton Sea and urged the City Council to consider adopting the most recent resolution supporting a long-term solution for the Salton Sea, of which she provided a copy.
Herb Rothman, Rancho Mirage resident, expressed concern with the Section 31 development, citing overcrowding, high density housing, and roadway traffic. Mr. Rothman requested reflectors or flashing lights be added to the stop sign at Country Club Drive and Morningside Drive due to it being difficult to see at night. He also requested that some form of traffic control be added to Morningside Drive, between Frank Sinatra Drive and Country Club Drive, to break up the speed.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Weill provided a recap of his year as Mayor, highlighting the many successful projects and programs occurring during the past year; Section 31 Cotino Storyliving, Porcupine Creek Resort, Del Webb’s continued development, two new Jessup dealerships, new businesses at the Rancho Las Palmas Shopping Center, the Betty Ford Center expansion, Wolfson Park expansion, the Children’s Discovery Museum redesign and reopening, the City’s new golf program, the Great Plates Delivered Program, and the many business support programs during the pandemic. Mayor Weill concluded his comments by recognizing former Mayors and City Council Members from the City of Rancho Mirage.
Mayor Pro Tem Townsend thanked Mayor Weill for his service as Mayor and announced that the City made a donation in Mayor Weill’s honor to the United Cerebral Palsy of the Inland Empire. Mayor Pro Tem Townsend presented Mayor Weill with a plaque commemorating the donation and his term as Mayor.
Mayor Weill expressed appreciation and highlighted how important the United Cerebral Palsy of the Inland Empire is to his family and himself.
APPOINTMENT OF MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEM
Kristie Ramos, City Clerk, presented the staff report.
Public Comments:
Katie Stice, President and CEO of the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce, expressed thanks to Mayor Weill for his support of the Chamber during his term as Mayor. She also welcomed Mayor Pro Tem Townsend as the new Mayor and Council Member Kite as the new Mayor Pro Tem.
Cindy Burreson, Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert, thanked Mayor Weill for his diligent public service as Mayor of the Rancho Mirage and expressed her excitement to continue working with Mayor Pro Tem Townsend and Council Member Kite.
Scott Robinson, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Cathedral City, thanked Ms. Stice and Ms. Burreson for their support of the Boys & Girls Club, noting how impactful their dedication to the children of the Coachella Valley was. Mr. Robinson also thanked the Rancho Mirage City Council for their support for Ms. Stice’s and Ms. Burreson’s organizations.
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MOVED/SECONDED BY WEILL/SMOTRICH TO APPOINT CHARLES TOWNSEND TO SERVE AS MAYOR AND RICHARD W. KITE TO SERVE AS MAYOR PRO TEM. A ROLL CALL VOTE WAS TAKEN AND MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
Mayor Townsend commented on the many successes of Council Member Weill’s term as Mayor and expressed his hope to continue to build upon those successes.
Mayor Pro Tem Kite congratulated Council Member Weill for his successful term as Mayor and thanked him for his service.
Council Member Downs thanked Council Member Weill for his service and expressed satisfaction in serving with his fellow City Council Members.
Council Member Smotrich congratulated Council Member Weill for his successful term as Mayor and expressed appreciation for City staff. She also expressing support for Mayor Townsend in his new leadership role.
Mr. Hagerman thanked Council Member Weill for his support over the past year and emphasized his excitement to continue working with Mayor Townsend as the City’s newly appointed Mayor.
COUNCIL/BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS/REPORTS – None.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS – None.
MINUTES April 7, 2022 Regular Meeting.
Public Comments - None.
MOVED/SECONDED BY WEILL/DOWNS TO APPROVE THE APRIL 7, 2022 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Isiah 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. 1193, 2nd Reading, Approving the Amended and Restated Statutory Development Agreement by and between the City of Rancho Mirage and SH 9 Rancho Mirage, LLC.
3. 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.
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4. Approve Power Charge Indifference Adjustment Voluntary Allocation of Long-Term Renewable Energy Portfolio from Southern California Edison and Authorization to Execute the Voluntary Allocation Agreement on Behalf of Rancho Mirage Energy Authority.
5. Approve Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Rent Levels for Parkview Villas, San Jacinto Villas, Santa Rosa Villas, and Whispering Waters Age-Restricted Residential Complexes.
6. Contracts.
7. Demands.
Public Comments:
Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, spoke in opposition to Item No. 3, expressing appointed and elected officials should be physically available to the public during public meetings.
MOVED/SECONDED BY KITE/DOWNS TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
8. Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory Update.
Deanne Dekle, Senior Librarian, provided an update on the library, noting upcoming events and programming.
Eric McLaughlin, Astronomer, provided an update on the observatory, including the addition of telescopes that may be checked out by Library and Observatory patrons.
Public Comments - None.
ACTION CALENDAR
9. Award of Contract to Three Peaks Corporation in the Amount of $1,323,729.50 for the Wolfson Park Expansion Project (CP 20-364).
Ryan Stendell (via telecommunication), Director of Public Works, provided the staff report.
Public Comments:
Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, expressed concern with the cost of the project and parking availability.
Mayor Pro Tem Kite inquired about the construction timeline for the project.
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Mr. Stendell noted the project was expected to be concluded by Thanksgiving.
MOVED/SECONDED BY WEILL/KITE TO AWARD THE CONTRACT FOR THE WOLFSON PARK EXPANSION PROJECT (CP 20-364) TO THREE PEAKS CORPORATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,323,729.50, WITH NO CONTINGENCY ALLOWANCE. MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
10. Appointment of a Representative to Serve on the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control Board of Trustees.
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, presented the staff report.
Public Comments:
Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, expressed concern with the City’s appointed representative stepping down and with Council Member Downs being appointed to fill the vacancy. He commented that the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control Board of Trustees did not have a high degree of accountability or transparency.
MOVED/SECONDED BY SMOTRICH/TOWNSEND TO APPOINT COUNCIL MEMBER
STEVE DOWNS TO SERVE ON THE COACHELLA VALLEY MOSQUITO AND VECTOR
CONTROL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CURRENT TERM, WHICH EXPIRES JANUARY 6, 2025. MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
Mr. Hagerman congratulated Council Member Downs on his appointment to the Board and commended the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District for their diligent operations.
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 2:26 P.M.
Prepared by: Kristie Ramos, City Clerk
Date Approved by City Council: May 5th, 2022