Y CITY OF RANCHO MIRAGE
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
RANCHO MIRAGE CITY COUNCIL
THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2023-2:30 P.M.
RANCHO MIRAGE CITY HALL -COUNCIL CHAMBER
69-825 HIGHWAY 111, RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIFORNIA
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER-2.30 P.M.
a) Flag Salute-Led by Council Member Lynn Mallotto.
b) Roll Call: Mallotto, Marker, Weill, Downs, Kite -All Present.
PUBLIC COMMENTS (Limited to only those items appearing on the special meeting agenda.) Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage Resident, spoke in opposition to the proclamation of a local state of emergency and noted he submitted written comments concerning the matter. He added that he felt the City had the resources and capacity to clean up after the storm.
ACTION CALENDAR
1. Consider Proclamation of a Local State of Emergency for the City of Rancho Mirage by the City Manager of the City of Rancho Mirage as Authorized by Ordinance No. 1050. (Tropical Storm Hilary)
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, reported that he proclaimed a local state of emergency on August 20, 2023, due to the impacts of Tropical Storm Hilary on the City of Rancho Mirage.
He acknowledged the great job done by the City's public works staff, who were working 18-20 hours per day due to the storm. He explained that, when a local emergency was declared by the City Manager, the City Council had an obligation to hold a public meeting to ratify the proclamation within seven days, which was the purpose of the special meeting. He added that emergency proclamations were necessary in reporting impacts to the County and State.
Council Member Weill recognized the incredible job public works staff did in relation to the emergency. He congratulated Ryan Stendell, Public Works Director, and his team, and thanked them for their hard work.
Mayor Pro Tern Downs asked Mr. Stendell to deliver the City Council's thanks to the public works team for the wonderful job they did during the storm. He added that he witnessed residents out helping one another, particularly at the sandbag filling station at the library.
Council Member Mallotto commended public works and marketing staff for their efforts related to the storm. She added that efforts were not only reactionary, but also included storm preparation and guidance to the public. She noted the long hours worked by the public works team, without complaint, going beyond the expectations of public service.
Council Member Marker commented that the City was fortunate to have Mr. Stendell and his team, who worked around the clock during the storm. She noted the importance of keeping streets passable, especially with first responders needing to reach the local hospital.
Mayor Kite commended the public works team for going above and beyond expectations .
Steve Quintanilla, City Attorney, explained that declaring a local state of emergency made the City eligible for certain State aid; the costs of extraordinary services related to obligations under mutual aid get billed to the State. He added the City would also receive disaster liability immunity .
MOVED/SECONDED BY WEILL/DOWNS TO RATIFY AND APPROVE THE LOCAL STATE
OF EMERGENCY ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER BECAUSE OF TROPICAL STORM
HILARY AND THE CITY COUNCIL WILL REVIEW THE NECESSITY FOR THE LOCAL
STATE OF EMERGENCY AT THE NEXT REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2023.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to consider, the meeting of the City Council was adjourned at 2:39 P.M .
APPROVED 08/24/2023 Special City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 2