DRAFT 06/15/2023 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 6
CITY COUNCIL,
LIBRARY AND OBSERVATORY BOARD,
HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD,
AND THE CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTING
THE REDEVELOPMENT SUCCESSOR AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2023
1:00 P.M.
DRAFT MINUTES
Meeting Location:
City of Rancho Mirage
City Hall - Council Chamber
69-825 Highway 111
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
CALL TO ORDER – 1:00 P.M
a) Flag Salute – Led by Council Member Marker.
b) Roll Call: Mallotto, Marker, Weill, Downs, Kite – All Present.
PRESENTATIONS
Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District Update.
Jeremy Wittie, General Manager of the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, provided an update on mosquito abatement to be conducted in Rancho Mirage throughout the summer.
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, thanked Mr. Wittie and his staff for their work in protecting public health.
Mayor Pro Tem Downs expressed gratitude to Mr. Wittie and his staff for ensuring public safety and being present to highlight their work.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS
Wally Melendez, member of the public, spoke regarding mosquitoes as well as the need for higher education in Rancho Mirage.
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Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, spoke of fearmongering by the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District and mentioned residents could opt out of the aerial spray on their property.
Scott Talon, Rancho Mirage resident, complimented the Wolfson Park renovation and noted the public benefits of the Cotino development. He suggested staff look into coordinating with local businesses and country clubs to have City flags flown at those locations. He also commended the Council on the affordable housing properties offered and provided ideas on how to improve the waiting list process for those properties.
COUNCIL/BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS/REPORTS
Mayor Pro Tem Downs provided an update on the license plate readers in the City, sharing a list of instances they had assisted law enforcement in solving cases.
Council Member Mallotto congratulated the Rancho Mirage Mobile Home Park for hosting their first emergency preparedness meeting.
Council Member Weill commented that he enjoyed the recent Rancho Mirage Night at the Ball Park, noting it was a great way to spend an evening. He announced the 110th anniversary celebration of the City of Hope, noting that Bill Marx prepared the overture. Lastly, he congratulated Council Member Marker for hosting Wine Down Wednesdays, benefiting a different charity each week.
Council Member Marker announced the City’s partnership with Agua Caliente Resort for a 4th of July fireworks show and encouraged residents to attend the festivities.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS - None.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, presented the below-listed Consent Calendar items:
1. Approve June 1, 2023, Regular Meeting Minutes.
2. Approve Final Tract Map No. 38291 (Cotino).
3. Receive and File the 2022 General Plan Annual Progress Report.
4. Approve Contracts.
5. Approve Demands.
Public Comments – None.
MOVED/SECONDED BY WEILL/DOWNS TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
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PUBLIC HEARINGS
6. Consider Resolution No. 2023-(Next-in-Order), Establishing Solid Waste and Recycling Collection and Disposal Rates for All Classes of Customers within the Jurisdiction of the City of Rancho Mirage, Effective July 1, 2023.
Jessica L. Pulliam, Senior Management Analyst, presented the staff report.
Public Testimony
Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, spoke in opposition to the resolution, commenting that the contract was poorly negotiated, and submitted a written protest.
Council Member Weill mentioned he was a fan of Burrtec. He reported receiving calls and letters from residents questioning whether twice weekly garbage collection was necessary.
Mayor Pro Tem Downs inquired as to how three barrels would be collected with only one weekly pickup.
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, noted that dual bin trucks were used for collection and explained how routes and rates were structured. He reported that reducing service would not reduce costs.
Mayor Pro Tem Downs inquired about temporary holds on garbage collection.
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, responded that staff analyzed the seasonal hold process and decided to eliminate the option, as it was determined to be unfair to full-time residents.
Mayor Pro Tem Downs noted the City had subsidized rates for the past year for residents, but could not continue to do so.
Council Member Mallotto asked who determined the frequency of garbage collection for gated communities.
Jessica L. Pulliam, Senior Management Analyst, responded that HOAs decided whether garbage was collected once or twice weekly in their communities.
MOVED/SECONDED BY MALLOTTO/DOWNS TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2023-27
ESTABLISHING SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL RATES
FOR ALL CLASSES OF CUSTOMERS WITHIN THE CITY OF RANCHO MIRAGE EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2023. MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
7. Consider Resolution No. 2023-(Next-in-Order), Adjusting the Electric Generation Rate Schedule for the Rancho Mirage Energy Authority Community Choice Aggregation Program.
Jessica L. Pulliam, Senior Management Analyst, presented the staff report.
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Public Testimony
Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, spoke in opposition to the rate adjustment and mentioned Southern California Edison accounts being hijacked.
Council Member Weill commented that rate adjustments were necessary because Southern California Edison’s exit fees had been rising over time. He noted that, even after rate adjustments, the Rancho Mirage Energy Authority (RMEA) still provided savings. He added that RMEA had offered excellent service since being established and other cities had adopted the same model.
MOVED/SECONDED BY WEILL/MARKER TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2023-28,
ADJUSTING THE ELECTRIC GENERATION RATE SCHEDULE FOR THE RANCHO MIRAGE ENERGY AUTHORITY COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION PROGRAM.
MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
ACTION CALENDAR
8. Consider Donating to The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens for General Support and Programming.
Jessica L. Pulliam, Senior Management Analyst, presented the staff report.
Public Comments
Jan Hawkins, Director of Development at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, introduced staff in attendance and provided an update on the zoo including statistics, upcoming construction projects, and new animals. She thanked the City Council for their support.
Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, spoke in favor of the City making a donation to the zoo, noting it was beneficial to all.
Council Member Weill commended Jan Hawkins for her fundraising efforts and thanked zoo staff for being present. He mentioned serving on the zoo’s advisory board for many years and expressed support for the donation.
Mayor Pro Tem Downs commented he couldn’t think of a more deserving way to spend the subject funds.
Council Member Marker spoke in favor of the donation and mentioned the many programs offered by the zoo. She noted the donation would be reviewed annually along with the City budget. She also suggested providing Rancho Mirage residents with four passes per household or a day at the zoo.
Mayor Kite commented he was a strong supporter of the zoo and hoped the City would be able to contribute more in the future.
Council Member Weill congratulated zoo staff in the audience. He also commented that Council Member Marker’s suggestion was excellent and zoo staff might give thought to a Rancho Mirage Day at the Zoo for Rancho Mirage residents. He added he thought it would be deeply appreciated and go a long way toward furthering what they all wanted to accomplish.
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MOVED/SECONDED BY WEILL/MALLOTTO TO AUTHORIZE A $100,000 DONATION TO
THE LIVING DESERT ZOO AND GARDENS FOR GENERAL SUPPORT AND PROGRAMING AND AUTHORIZE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ANNUAL $100,000 DONATION, WITH THE GOAL OF DONATING A CUMULATIVE $500,000 OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, ONLY OUT OF BUDGET SURPLUS, IF AVAILABLE. MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
CLOSED SESSION AGENDA
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 et al. v. City of Rancho Mirage et al.
Case No.: CVRI2100368
2. 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
3. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1).
Case Name: Wendy Hope Heckman v. City of Rancho Mirage
Case No.: 5:22-cv-2031 (Central District of California)
4. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1).
Case Name: Unspecified since disclosure would jeopardize pending settlement negotiations.
5. 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 confer with legal counsel regarding Vacation Rental Owners and Neighbors of Rancho Mirage et al. v. City of Rancho Mirage et al, Vacation Rental Owners and Neighbors of Rancho Mirage v. City of Rancho Mirage, Wendy Hope Heckman v. City of Rancho Mirage, an unspecified existing litigation item, and one potential initiation of litigation item.
Public Comments
Brad Anderson, a Rancho Mirage resident, expressed concern regarding the closed session agenda staying the same, a lack of transparency, and an existing litigation item not being mentioned.
He commented that the Heckman case was an overreach by the City and he hoped the City reconsidered the related ordinance. He urged the City Council to address topics quickly.
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
The City Council, Library and Observatory Board, Housing Authority Board, and the City Council representing the Redevelopment Successor Agency recessed into Closed Session at 2:09 P.M.
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RECONVENE OPEN SESSION
Mayor Kite reconvened the meeting at 2:42 P.M.
CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENTS
Steve Quintanilla, City Attorney, reported there was no reportable action 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 2:43 P.M.
Date Approved by City Council:
___________________________
Kristie Ramos, City Clerk
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