05/19/2022 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 9
CITY COUNCIL,
LIBRARY AND OBSERVATORY BOARD,
HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD,
AND THE CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTING
THE REDEVELOPMENT SUCCESSOR AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2022
1:00 P.M.
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER – 1:02 P.M.
a) Flag Salute: Led by Council Member Smotrich
b) Roll Call: Downs, Smotrich, Weill, Kite, Townsend – All present
PRESENTATIONS
Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan Annual Report.
Peter Satin, Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) Regional Planner, summarized the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan Annual Report.
Mayor Pro Tem Kite provided an overview of the history behind the formation of various conservation groups and described their purpose and mission statements.
Council Member Weill noted the importance of conservation.
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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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In response to an inquiry by Council Member Downs, Mr. Satin reported that the Coachella Valley Conservation Commission acquired an average of 2,000 acres per year.
Council Member Smotrich thanked Mr. Satin for his diligent efforts.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS
Deborah McGarrey, Southern California Gas and Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce representative, emphasized the Chamber would lobby against “job killing bills” in Sacramento.
Todd Hooks, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce representative, provided an overview of the Chamber’s new businesses ribbon- cutting events and other Chamber initiatives.
Denise Welch, member of the public, proposed opening a healing garden in the City of Rancho Mirage, noting the various traumas people had experienced over the past two years during the pandemic.
Tom Swann, Rancho Mirage resident, recommended the City designate a peace pole at Rancho Mirage Community Park, emphasizing that the City should promote peace for the nation.
Wally Melendez, member of the public, spoke to the importance of electric vehicles and the need for clean energy infrastructure.
Patrick Lowry, Rancho Mirage resident, spoke in support of a woman’s rights to choose, recommended the City donate funds to support Ukraine, and expressed disappointment with the amount of police presence in the community.
Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, commented that there should be more public participation at CVAG meetings. He noted he believed the City’s administrative citation process was being misused. Mr. Anderson also commented he hoped the City Council seats up for election were occupied by new Council Members after November.
Dorian Whitney (via telecommunication), member of the public, requested the City become more environmentally friendly and also increase safety measures for pedestrians. Mr. Whitney spoke in favor of increasing housing density.
COUNCIL/BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS/REPORTS
Council Member Smotrich encouraged members of the public to adopt pets instead of purchasing them. She introduced Jackie Schart, Riverside County Animal Services representative.
Ms. Schart, while holding two kittens, emphasized the County’s need for foster care, adoptions, and nursing at County animal shelters.
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Council Member Smotrich played a video highlighting the needs of the County’s shelters and noted the availability of the City’s pet adoption program. She also emphasized the positive mental health implications of adopting pets.
Council Member Downs emphasized the need for animal adoption, noting County facilities were at or near capacity.
Council Member Weill noted the Rancho Mirage Resident Night Power Baseball Game would be held on June 10th, at 7pm, at the Palm Springs Stadium. He also highlighted services provided by Desert Arc, including mobile shredding, recycling, and landscape maintenance.
Mayor Pro Tem Kite noted the schedule for upcoming Rancho Mirage blood drives, to be held at the City’s Library and Observatory, and presented a video highlighted blood drive operations.
Mayor Townsend provided an overview of the Library and Observatory’s new telescope lending program, which was made possible thanks to a generous donation from the Smaby Family Foundation. He also presented a video highlighting the program.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, requested that Item No. 9 be pulled from the agenda in light of new information received by staff.
Item No. 9 was pulled from the agenda with no objection from the City Council.
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. Approve California Choice Energy Authority Entering into a Long-Term Resource Adequacy Agreement with Santa Paula Energy Storage, LLC on behalf of Rancho Mirage Energy Authority (RMEA).
3. Approve May 5, 2022 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
4. Approve Special Assistance Fund (SAF) Award.
5. Contracts.
6. Demands.
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Public Comments:
Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, spoke in opposition to Item No. 1, emphasizing elected and appointed officials should be physically available to the public.
MOVED/SECONDED BY DOWNS/WEILL TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
ACTION CALENDAR
7. Annual Appointments to City Boards/Commissions.
Kristie Ramos, City Clerk, presented the staff report and listed the following nominations:
Nominations for the Architectural Review Board:
Mayor Townsend: John Milander
Mayor Townsend: Sean Lockyer
Mayor Townsend: John Greenwood
Director of Development Services: Tom Doczi
Director of Development Services: Lance O’Donnell
Director of Development Services: Allen Sanborn
Director of Development Services: Narendra Patel
Director of Development Services: Paul Sturwold
Nominations for the Community Cultural Commission:
Mayor Townsend: Donna Malouf
Mayor Pro Tem Kite: Michael O’Keefe
Council Member Downs: Kayla Pressman
Council Member Smotrich: Sally Traidman
Council Member Weill: Frank Furino
Nominations for the Community Emergency Preparedness Commission:
Mayor Townsend: David Richardson
Mayor Pro Tem Kite: Mary Levine
Council Member Downs: Robert Brown
Council Member Smotrich: Kirk Dandridge
Council Member Weill: Mary Lou Suter
Mayor Townsend: Katie Stice (Technical Advisor)
Mayor Townsend: Ed Thomas (Technical Advisor)
Nominations for the Community Parks and Trails Commission:
Mayor Townsend: Ehrick Wright
Mayor Pro Tem Kite: Dennis Constant
Council Member Downs: Celeste Weisheit
Council Member Smotrich: Eddy McLachlan
Council Member Weill: Fred Stroock
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Nominations for the Historic Preservation Commission:
Mayor Townsend: Craig Traupane
Mayor Pro Tem Kite: Frank Lopez
Council Member Downs: Carol Leibowitz
Council Member Smotrich: Christian Braun
Council Member Weill: Ray Keller
Nominations for the Housing Commission:
Mayor Pro Tem Kite: Rob Bergstein
Council Member Downs: Barbara Barrett
Council Member Smotrich: Scott Newton
Council Member Weill: Darrell Mulvihill
At-Large (Project Tenant): Mary Bundy
At-Large (Project Tenant): Velma Coombs
Nominations for the Library & Observatory Advisory Commission:
Mayor Townsend: Lois Reese
Mayor Pro Tem Kite: Frank Brightwell
Council Member Downs: Ron Treat
Council Member Smotrich: Dom Summa
Council Member Weill: Steve Ezer
Library Director/Astronomer Patrick Lambright (Technical Advisor)
Nominations for the Library & Observatory Foundation Board:
Mayor Townsend: Robert Moon
Mayor Townsend: James Sowa
Mayor Pro Tem Kite: Christine Hughes
Mayor Pro Tem Kite: Leslie Usow
Council Member Downs Alison Soltysiak
Council Member Downs: Lucy Tagmyer
Council Member Smotrich: Patrice Merritt
Council Member Weill: Claudette Pais
Current Mayor Serves: Mayor Townsend
Nominations for the Mobilehome Fair Practices Commission:
Mayor Townsend: Gary Jones
Mayor Pro Tem Kite: Mike Renner
Council Member Downs: Marlene Marie Cassetta
Council Member Weill: Diane Lynn
At-Large (Mobilehome Park Manager): Stan Markowitz
Nominations for the Planning Commission:
Mayor Townsend: Pamela Chanter
Mayor Pro Tem Kite: David Grey
Council Member Downs: Murray Bryant
Council Member Smotrich: Bill Maxwell
Council Member Weill: Jassen Agostini
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Nominations for the Speaker Series Commission:
Mayor Townsend: Robert Berg
Mayor Pro Tem Kite: Lynn Mallotto
Council Member Downs: Charles Barrett
Council Member Smotrich: Candy Glickman
Council Member Weill: Mary Willis
Nominations for the Traffic Safety Commission:
Mayor Pro Tem Kite: Michael Ziskind
Council Member Downs: Sidney Burks
Council Member Smotrich: Steven Shuey
Council Member Weill: Del Smith
Sheriff’s Department Representative: Sheriff’s Sergeant Don Olson Citizens on Patrol Representative: COPS Captain Alfonso Carpenter
Mayor Pro Tem Kite expressed satisfaction with the list of applicants, noting the appointees consisted of a wide array of highly qualified individuals.
Public Comments - None
MOVED/SECONDED BY WEILL/SMOTRICH TO RATIFY THE NOMINATIONS OF MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE CITY’S VARIOUS BOARDS/COMMISSIONS FOR THE ONE-YEAR TERM BEGINNING JUNE 1, 2022, AND WAIVE ANY APPLICABLE TERM LIMITS. MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
Council Member Weill congratulated the new commissioners on their appointment.
8. Resolution No. 2022-(Next-in-Order), Declaring the Continued Support for the Comprehensive Analysis of All Water Import Alternatives and a Request that the Independent Review Panel Have Potential Carbon Emissions Considered During the Comprehensive Feasibility Analysis as Part of the Long-Term Solution for the Restoration of the Salton Sea.
Jessica L. Pulliam, Senior Management Analyst, presented the staff report.
Public Comments
Feliz Nunez, member of the public, described the negative health implications caused by the Salton Sea.
Chuck Parker, member of the public, thanked the City for preparing the staff report and the resolution, emphasizing the City cared about the environment, even outside the confines of the City.
Tom Swann, Rancho Mirage resident, expressed support for the resolution and for protecting the environment.
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Susan St Louis, Rancho Mirage resident, commented that the City and nation needed to address climate change, noting the Salton Sea could become an even larger problem if not treated quickly.
In response to an inquiry by Mayor Pro Tem Kite, Ms. Pulliam explained that the current resolution specifically requested that the State’s review panel consider greenhouse gas emissions in their analysis of the Salton Sea.
Council Member Downs emphasized the urgency of the Salton Sea matter.
Council Members Smotrich and Downs commended the members of the public for their diligent efforts in regarding Salton Sea restoration.
MOVED/SECONDED BY WEILL/SMOTRICH TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2022-16,
DECLARING THE CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF ALL
WATER IMPORT ALTERNATIVES AND A REQUEST THAT THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW
PANEL HAVE POTENTIAL CARBON EMISSIONS CONSIDERED DURING THE
COMPREHENSIVE FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS AS PART OF THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE SALTON SEA. MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
9. Agreement with FIND Food Bank for the Purpose of Meeting Senate Bill 1383 Regulatory Requirements and Providing Support to the Rancho Mirage Edible Food Recovery Program.
Note: Item No. 9 was pulled from consideration, with no objection from the City Council, during the City Manager Comments section of the agenda.
10. Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Levy of Assessments for Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance District No. 87-01:
A. Resolution No. 2022-(Next-in-Order), Initiating Proceedings for the Annual Levy of Assessments for the Rancho Mirage Consolidated Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance Assessment District No. 87-01, for Fiscal Year 2022/2023;
B. Resolution No. 2022-(Next-in-Order), Declaring Intention to Levy Annual Assessments for the Rancho Mirage Consolidated Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance Assessment District No. 87-01, for Fiscal Year 2022/2023; and
C. Resolution No. 2022-(Next-in-Order), for Preliminary Approval of the Engineer's Annual Levy Report for the Rancho Mirage Consolidated Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance Assessment District No. 87-01, for Fiscal Year 2022/2023.
Justin Ruberg, Streets and Fleet Manager, presented the staff report.
Public Comments - None
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MOVED/SECONDED BY SMOTRICH/KITE TO:
A. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2022–17, INITIATING PROCEEDINGS FOR THE
ANNUAL LEVY OF ASSESSMENTS FOR THE RANCHO MIRAGE
CONSOLIDATED LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING MAINTENANCE
ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 87-01, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022/23; B. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2022–18, DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO LEVY
ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS FOR THE RANCHO MIRAGE CONSOLIDATED
LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 87-01, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022/23; AND
C. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2022-19, FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF THE ENGINEER’S ANNUAL LEVY REPORT FOR THE RANCHO MIRAGE
CONSOLIDATED LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING MAINTENANCE
ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 87-01, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022/23.
MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
11. Resolution No. 2022-(Next-in-Order), Approving the Project List to be Funded by the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program, in Accordance with Senate Bill 1, the “Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.”
Ryan Stendell, Director of Public Works, presented the staff report.
Public Comments - None
MOVED/SECONDED BY KITE/DOWNS TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2022-20,
APPROVING THE PROJECT LIST TO BE FUNDED BY THE ROAD MAINTENANCE AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SENATE BILL 1, THE “ROAD REPAIR AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017.” MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
CLOSED SESSION
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2). (2 Potential Cases)
Steven Quintanilla, City Attorney, reported that the City Council would recess into closed session to confer with legal counsel regarding two anticipated litigation items; one related to a former resident of a former mobilehome park and the other related to a City Charter issue.
Council Member Weill saluted the nation’s Veterans in observance of the upcoming Memorial Day holiday.
The City Council, Library and Observatory Board, Housing Authority Board, and the City Council representing the Redevelopment Successor Agency recessed into Closed Session at 2:47 P.M.
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Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, reconvened the meeting at 4:05 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 4:05 P.M.
Prepared by: Kristie Ramos, City Clerk
Date Approved by City Council: June 2nd, 2022