DRAFT 08/16/2022 Special City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 2
SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL,
LIBRARY AND OBSERVATORY BOARD,
HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD,
AND THE CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTING
THE REDEVELOPMENT SUCCESSOR AGENCY
TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2022 - 11:00 A.M.
DRAFT MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER – 11:04 A.M.
a) Flag Salute: Led by Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager.
b)Roll Call: Downs, Smotrich, Weill, Kite, Townsend – All present.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Dan Poppers, Rancho Mirage resident, spoke in favor of the City Council continuing to fund the Turf Rebate Program.
ACTION CALENDAR
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.
Kristie Ramos, City Clerk, presented the staff report.
Access Remotely iii
Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83506155247?pwd=bldxVndwQm
dWUVhnUDN4K2IzdnAwdz09
Passcode: 233820
Webinar ID: 835 0615 5247
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 2-1
DRAFT 08/16/2022 Special City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 2
MOVED/SECONDED BY TOWNSEND/SMOTRICH TO ADOPT JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 2022-41, 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 AFFILIATES AGENCIES AND ALL OTHER CITY-AFFILIATED BROWN ACT BODIES. MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
2. Consider Allocating Additional Funds to the Turf Rebate Program in Partnership with Coachella Valley Water District.
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, presented the staff report.
Victoria Llort, Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) Government and Regional Affairs Coordinator, thanked the City Council for their partnership on the Turf Rebate Program and for considering appropriating additional program funds. She described the significant impact the program has had on encouraging turf conversion and described the application process.
Mr. Hagerman noted that turf conversions done prior to the implementation of the rebate program were not eligible for the rebate.
Council Member Smotrich asked if there was an application deadline.
Mr. Hagerman explained that applications would be accepted until funds were depleted.
Council Member Weill noted the City’s reserve funds provided the opportunity for beneficial programs like the Great Plates Program and the Turf Rebate Program.
Mayor Pro Tem Kite inquired about the number of applications received and average square footage requested per applicant.
Mr. Hagerman reported that 28 HOA/commercial applications and 88 residential applications were received. He added that the amount of turf being removed at residential properties ranged from 300 to 10,000 square feet.
Ms. Llort described additional rebate programs offered by CVWD.
Council Member Downs spoke in favor of approving the additional funding and spoke to the importance of conservation.
MOVED/SECONDED BY DOWNS/WEILL TO APPROVE A MODIFICATION TO THE
RANCHO MIRAGE TURF REBATE PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COACHELLA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT AND APPROVAL OF AN ADDITIONAL $750,000 FOR A TOTAL OF $2,000,000 ALLOCATION TO THE PROGRAM AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER,
OR DESIGNEE, TO TAKE ALL FURTHER ACTIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE SAME,
INCLUDING APPROVING AND EXECUTING ALL ASSOCIATED AGREEMENT(S), APPROVED AS TO FORM BY THE CITY ATTORNEY. MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
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DRAFT 08/16/2022 Special City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 2
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 11:36 A.M.
Prepared by: Kristie Ramos, City Clerk
Date Approved by City Council:
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