July 18, 2024
City of Rancho Mirage
City Council / City Hall
69825 Hwy 111
Rancho Mirage, CA. 92270
Attn: Clerk of the Board
Re: Written letter to be entered in the Public record and made available for public Inspection for the July 18, 2024 (1:PM) City of Rancho Mirage Council meeting - Agenda Item: 2 (Installing Ordinance No. 1219 to change current City regulation(s)/municipal code(s)) Dear current City Council members,
Please review my written statement listed below prior to the consideration of each agenda Items as listed. Each Item that is listed below will have a short explanation of the reason for opposition. If a Item is not listed please bear in mind that the exclusion of an Item doesn't demonstrated that the excluded Item is acceptable and without opposition of implementation.
Prior to the May 30, 2024 City of Rancho Mirage Planning Commission meeting their was a written public comment submitted (email) detailing that the Zoning text amendment case No. ZTA24-0002 was not written in an easily understandable fashion that could be understood by an average person.
It's reasonable to consider that after reviewing the City of Rancho Mirage "amendments" to zoning texts - it's crystal clear that many proposed "amendments" strengthen local governmental restrictions and greatly reduces the city's residents ability for fair and reasonable control over private property. Please be aware that the Citys written "amendments" were assembled with additional unnecessary Exhibits that could potentially confused reader(s).
1) Section 6.
Opposed to the amending of section: 6.60.010 (Animal Nuisance Defined) A.4 "Attacks or threatens other animals"
The above listed violation is not defined appropriately — its clear that other Items would cover uncontrolled animals that are not restricted to private property. Any animal that is in control of its keeper (on private property and potentially other encounters) would not be subjected to such a vaguely written Item (A.4)
2) Section 7.
Opposed to the amending of section: 8.12.170 (Self -Hauler Requirements) B. New language would remove: Self -haulers "that are commercial businesses (Including multifamily premises)" shall keep a weekly record -.
It's clear that the above change would include any and ail individual properties that choses to Self - haul. Having such language would targeted City of Rancho Mirage residents that don't partake in the Citys monopoly with a private sector business, and would impose burdensome regulations (record keeping and reporting) on residents that self -haul. 3) Section 11.
Opposed to the unnecessary harmful act of adding section 14.60.550 (Wasteful Landscape Irrigation and Vector Control) to Chapter 14.60 (Public Nuisances) It's very noticeable that the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District (CVMVCD) and potentially the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC) and possibly other governmental agencies (Special Interests) have hijacked the "Public Health" narrative to enrich their organizations at the costs of California taxpayer's. Other long established California best practices protocols (policies/laws) are already in place and effective in having an avenue to encourage compliance and enforcement if needed for Vector Control measures.
The newly established goal of the CVMVCD organization is to reduced water collecting in mostly governmental agency properties (City drainage/retention-detention areas) with using misguided narratives of targeting private properties with the possibility of having local City govet nrnenls impose fines and potential (real) property liens to secure financial resources under the narrative of protecting "Public Health". Common sense should dictate, that the complete elimination of water run-off is potentially impossible. Stagnant water sources will exist (most catch basins are deigned to retain water) — having the possibility of "new" water added to standing water would help to cause dilution of that water column and have stagnant water vacated (the movement of the water column has a high likelihood of disruptive action to prevent insect habitat from being established..) It's remarkably clear that the CVMVCD organization has been working outside their mission and expected field of work by impeding on the duties of other government agencies missions. The Coachella Valley Resources Conservative District (CVRCD) mission is to conserve natural resources (Water). That special district works with farmers and Home owners associations to avoid unnecessary water run-off from Irrigation systems.
The wordings of "excess overspray" is subjective and undefined, Irrigation systems are designed for over -spray to "wet/cool" adjacent areas to minimize exclusive heat (burning of vegetation). The unreasonable limitations place on irrigation repairs or other nonessential required provisions of "48 hours" limit for responding to a potential uneducated determination of an issue that may nor exist is difficult to digest from a common sense approached to private property management.
Of course the language that applies this new code "retroactively" to any landscape Irrigation system in the city. Appears to be written to "target" selected Individuals within City boundary for intense pressure to comply and or receive financial penalties or required to perform specific modifications to private property landscaping for the sole approval of city officials (and or their special interests) This additional code modification is a gross overreach of the City of Rancho Mirage and should be stricken from being considered.
4) Section 17.
Opposed to section: 17.30.030 (Animal keeping)
B. "Not more than (3) dogs or (3) cats or any combination of (3) dogs and cats" shall be kept or maintain at any (1) place of residence.
By limiting the animal keeping definition to include unregistered "cats" to the Citys code restrictions could have a negative effect on that animal population. there's no sensible avenue to monitor and or restrict city Residents to such a nonsensical restriction. It's clear that Cats would suffer from such a radical maneuvers to restrict their "legal" exsists within city boundaries. The act of restricting animals (dogs and mostly cats) could potentially accommodate animal neglect and or increased animal homelessness.
Please consider the Public good over the willingness of this city to gain financial resources and additional power over it's current residents.
Sincerely,
Brad Anderson 1 37043 Ferber Dr. Rancho Mirage, CA. 92270