01/18/2024 DRAFT Regular 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, JANUARY 18, 2024
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 – 1:03 P.M.
a) Flag Salute: Led by Council Member Marker.
b)Roll Call: Mallotto, Marker, O’Keefe, Weill.
c) Absent: Downs.
MOVED/SECONDED BY MALLOTTO/MARKER TO EXCUSE THE ABSENCE OF MAYOR DOWNS. MOTION CARRIED 4/0.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS
Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, expressed concern regarding the Mayor’s absence and the appointment process for the new Council Member. He noted his attendance at a recent Cove Commission meeting and expressed concern regarding automated license plate readers.
Melissa Riche, Preservation Mirage Founder, announced that Modernism Week would begin on February 15th and thanked the City Council for sponsoring the event.
Michael Pearce, Rancho Mirage resident, noted he had been a proud resident of Rancho Mirage for 30 years and was a homeowner at Rancho Las Palmas Country Club. He complimented the library and its programs. He also requested support and assistance from the City Council in dealing with Rancho Las Palmas’ management company, Omni, regarding resident concerns about loss of revenue, a wasteland golf course, and negative public reviews. 1-1
01/18/2024 DRAFT Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5 Patty Ottoson, Rancho Las Palmas Country Club resident, expressed concerns about the appearance and quality of life at Rancho Las Palmas. She commented that the country club was falling apart, and management was not doing anything to keep it in good condition.
Susan Gillman, Rancho Las Palmas Country Club resident, noted she was on the landscape committee at Rancho Las Palmas and provided photos of current country club landscaping. She voiced concern about the present management and the numerous citations they had received.
Christopher Knauss, Rancho Las Palmas Country Club resident, commented on his experience attending quarterly meetings with Omni management and revealed that the club did not receive much assistance with upkeep or improvements. He requested assistance from the City and invited the City Council to tour the country club.
Wally Melendez, member of the public, spoke regarding the concept of affordable housing, suggesting residents of affordable housing developments be provided an opportunity to purchase the units, so their funds were not wasted. He also expressed a concern of big brother surveillance throughout the City and at the library.
COUNCIL/BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS/REPORTS
Council Member O’Keefe announced that a fundraiser benefitting the Childrens Discovery Museum of the Desert would be held at Las Casuelas Nuevas on January 23rd. He also announced that the City’s Community Cultural Commission would host a presentation by Melissa Riche regarding the history of Rancho Mirage on February 8th at the library.
Mayor Pro Tem Weill announced that REI, a store specializing in outdoor activities, was now located at The River at Rancho Mirage. He noted it would be a great asset to the area, along with Dave & Buster’s. He also reported his attendance at a recent groundbreaking for the new cardiac center at Eisenhower Health.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, thanked the residents of Rancho Las Palmas Country Club for making the City aware of their concerns and requested they share relevant information with the Director of Development Services.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, presented the following Consent Calendar Items:
1. Approve December 21, 2023, Regular Meeting Minutes.
2. Approve Appointment of Guido Portante to the Rancho Mirage Community Cultural Commission.
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3. Approve Appointment of Mary Willis-Yoshioka to the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory Foundation Board.
4. Approve Extension of Completion Date for Tract Map 36809-5 (Del Webb Rancho Mirage).
5.Adopt Resolution No. 2024-01, Dissolving the Speakers Series Commission.
6. Receive and File Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the Year Ended June 30, 2023, and Other Related Audit Reports.
7. Approve Contracts.
8. Approve Demands.
Mr. Hagerman requested that Item No. 4 be pulled and tabled.
Public Comments
Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, requested an explanation as to why the Speakers Series Commission was being dissolved.
MOVED/SECONDED BY MALLOTTO/MARKER TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS NOS. 1,2,3,5,6,7, AND 8, AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 4/0.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
9.Consider Adopting Resolution No. 2024-(Next-in-Order), Calling an Election on Levying a Special Tax within the Area Proposed to be Annexed to Community Facilities District No. 1 (Annexation No. 191), Declaring the Election Results, Approving the Annexation of the Territory and Directing the Recordation of the Amendment of the Notice of Special Tax Lien. (In Connection with Tentative Parcel Map No. TPM38152 – Bushnaq) Kofi Antobam, Director of Administrative Services, presented the staff report.
Public Testimony - None.
Kristie Ramos, City Clerk, declared the election results as follows: the ballot for the 4 eligible votes was received on January 10, 2024, and was in favor; therefore, votes cast in favor equal 100% of total votes cast.
MOVED/SECONDED BY MARKER/O’KEEFE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2024-02, CALLING
AN ELECTION ON LEVYING A SPECIAL TAX WITHIN THE AREA PROPOSED TO BE ANNEXED TO COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT NO. 1 (ANNEXATION NO. 191), DECLARING
THE ELECTION RESULTS, APPROVING THE ANNEXATION OF THE TERRITORY AND
DIRECTING THE RECORDATION OF THE AMENDMENT OF THE NOTICE OF SPECIAL TAX LIEN. (IN CONNECTION WITH TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP NO. TPM38152 - BUSHNAQ).
MOTION CARRIED 4/0.
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10.Consider Adopting Resolution No. 2024-(Next-in-Order), Designating the Residential Home Located at 40941 Thunderbird Road, Rancho Mirage, California (Assessor Parcel Number 690-171-003) a Historic Resource.
Ben Torres, Planning Manager, presented the staff report.
Public Testimony - None.
MOVED/SECONDED BY MALLOTTO/MARKER TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2024-03, DESIGNATING THE RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 40941 THUNDERBIRD ROAD, RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIFORNIA (ASSESSOR PARCEL NUMBER 690-171-003) A HISTORIC RESOURCE (PURSUANT TO RANCHO MIRAGE MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 15.27).
MOTION CARRIED 4/0.
ACTION CALENDAR
11.Consider Adopting Resolution No. 2024-(Next-in-Order), Approving a Funding Contribution to the Palm Springs Air Museum Expansion.
Colin Kirkpatrick, City Attorney, announced that Council Member Marker would recuse herself from consideration of Item No. 11, due to her business relationship with the museum, and Council Member Marker left the Council Chamber.
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, presented the staff report.
Fred Bell, Palm Springs Air Museum Vice-Chair, shared details of scientific and educational advancements for children within their technical degree programs. He noted their capacity issues, with 5,000 children currently attending, and their aspirations to serve on a larger scale. Mr. Bell expressed gratitude to the City Council for their support and announced an upcoming gala benefit their program.
Mayor Pro Tem Weill complimented the Palm Springs Air Museum, noting it was an asset to the Valley.
Council Member Mallotto thanked Mr. Bell for providing her with a tour of the museum, noting she observed children and teenagers excited to learn about aviation. She spoke of the importance of the museum offering an additional layer of information, beyond the school district’s curriculum, so future generations would recognize and honor the numerous sacrifices made by those who served.
Council Member O’Keefe also thanked Mr. Bell for providing a museum tour, noting it was exciting to see things up close and was touching to hear the stories that went along with them. He expressed support for educational programs for children of all ages.
Public Comments
Bill Riesen, Rancho Mirage resident, noted he previously served as the City’s representative on the Palm Springs International Airport Commission and expressed support for providing funding to the air museum. He also shared that he was an active member of the museum. 1-4
01/18/2024 DRAFT Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5 MOVED/SECONDED BY MALLOTTO/O’KEEFE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2024-04,
APPROVING A FUNDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE PALM SPRINGS AIR MUSEUM EXPANSION ($150,000 SPLIT INTO TWO SEPARATE $75,000 CONTRIBUTIONS, CONTINGENT UPON THE CITY HAVING A $75,000 BUDGETARY SURPLUS FOR EACH OF THE FISCAL YEARS (2023/2024 AND 2024/2025)). MOTION CARRIED 3/0 (MARKER RECUSED).
Council Member Marker returned to the Council Chamber.
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.
Colin Kirkpatrick, 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.
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 2:00 P.M.
RECONVENE OPEN SESSION
Mayor Pro Tem Weill reconvened the meeting at 2:23 P.M.
CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENTS
Colin Kirkpatrick, City Attorney, reported that 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 2:24 P.M.
Date Approved by City Council:
_______________________________
Kristie Ramos, City Clerk
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