Mayor Mallotto
Mayor Pro Tem O'Keefe
Council Member Downs
Council Member Fromberg Edelstein
Council Member Weill
REGULAR MEETING OF THE RANCHO MIRAGE CITY COUNCIL
AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT, ENERGY AUTHORITY,
HOUSING AUTHORITY, JOINT POWERS FINANCE AUTHORITY, LIBRARY
AND OBSERVATORY, AND REDEVELOPMENT SUCCESSOR AGENCY BOARDS 69-825 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
Thursday, May 7, 2026, 1:00 PM
MINUTES
1. GENERAL
1.A. Call to Order
Mayor Pro Tem O'Keefe called the meeting to order at 1:00 P.M.
1.B. Flag Salute
Council Member Downs led the flag salute.
1.C. Roll Call: Downs, Fromberg Edelstein, Weill, O'Keefe, Mallotto
Present: Downs, Fromberg Edelstein, Weill, O'Keefe.
Absent: Mallotto.
MOVED/SECONDED BY DOWNS/WEILL TO EXCUSE THE ABSENCE OF MAYOR MALLOTTO. MOTION CARRIED 4/0.
2. COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS/REPORTS
Council Member Weill highlighted an upcoming Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce Signature Speaker Series event and noted that the Rancho Mirage Certified Farmers Market would conclude at the end of May.
Council Member Fromberg Edelstein commended the Mira Vista, Lake Mirage, and Del Webb communities for the invitations to provide city updates at their respective HOA meetings. She noted that common concerns raised were related to traffic and encouraged everyone to remain mindful and cautious while driving. She also spoke regarding the rising temperatures within the community.
Council Member Downs spoke regarding the groundbreaking ceremony for the Braille Institute in Rancho Mirage and highlighted the institute's programs and services.
Mayor Pro Tem O'Keefe thanked City and Library staff for their efforts in making the 2nd Annual Earth Day Celebration a success. He recognized John Lacombe for organizing the Earth Day community cleanup. He also reported that he and Mayor Mallotto participated in the FIND Food Bank Telethon, which raised approximately $300,000, and attended the National Crime Victims Candlelight Vigil.
3. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS/REPORTS
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, spoke regarding a recent single-vehicle accident on Highway 111 that caused damage to nearby infrastructure and commended first responders and Public Works staff for their extended efforts to restore the street to full functionality.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR (A-E)
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, presented the Consent Calendar items.
The following individual provided public comments: Brad Anderson.
MOVED/SECONDED BY WEILL/DOWNS TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 4/0.
4.A. April 16, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting Minutes — RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve the April 16, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting Minutes as presented.
4.B. Additional Annual Board and Commission Appointments — RECOMMENDED ACTION: 1) Appoint Marcella Ruble to serve on the Library and Observatory Foundation Board for the one-year term beginning June 1, 2026; 2) Appoint Lois Reese to serve on the Library and Observatory Advisory Commission for the one-year term beginning June 1, 2026, waiving the applicable term limit.
4.C. Quarterly Treasurer ’s Report for the Quarter Ending March 31, 2026 — RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive and File the March 31, 2026, Quarterly Treasurer ’s Report.
4.D. Contracts
— RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve the terms of the contracts as presented and authorize the City Manager to execute the subject contracts.
4.E. Demands
— RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve the demands as presented.
5. ACTION CALENDAR
5.A. Consider Implementing Rancho Mirage Lawn Equipment Incentive Programs — RECOMMENDED ACTION: 1) Approve Implementation of Electrify Rancho Mirage RMEA Residential Lawn Equipment Incentive Program (for eligible Rancho Mirage Energy Authority customers within the Southern California Edison service territory); 2) Approve Implementation of Electrify Rancho Mirage IID Residential Lawn Equipment Incentive Program (for eligible customers within the Imperial Irrigation District service territory); and 3) Authorize the City Manager or designee to take all necessary actions to implement the programs, program budget, including the approval and execution of associated guidelines, forms, or agreements, subject to the approval of the City Attorney.
Jessica Pulliam, Deputy of Sustainability, presented the staff report.
The following individual provided public comments: Brad Anderson.
A discussion ensued.
MOVED/SECONDED BY FROMBERG EDELSTEIN/DOWNS TO: 1) APPROVE IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTRIFY
RANCHO MIRAGE RMEA RESIDENTIAL LAWN EQUIPMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM (FOR ELIGIBLE RANCHO
MIRAGE ENERGY AUTHORITY CUSTOMERS WITHIN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON SERVICE TERRITORY); 2) APPROVE IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTRIFY RANCHO MIRAGE IID RESIDENTIAL LAWN
EQUIPMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM (FOR ELIGIBLE CUSTOMERS WITHIN THE IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT SERVICE TERRITORY); AND 3) AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY
ACTIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAMS, PROGRAM BUDGET, INCLUDING THE APPROVAL AND EXECUTION
OF ASSOCIATED GUIDELINES, FORMS, OR AGREEMENTS, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY ATTORNEY. MOTION CARRIED 4/0.
5.B. Shop Local Rancho Mirage Gift Card Program Proposed Bonus Campaign for Visit Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week
— RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve a new Shop Local Rancho Mirage Gift Card Bonus Campaign to coincide with Visit Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week from May 29 – June 19, 2026, utilizing a $30,000 bonus fund with a 50% match incentive.
Alexandria Sanchez, Digital Marketing Coordinator, presented the staff report.
The following individual provided public comments: Brad Anderson.
MOVED/SECONDED BY WEILL/DOWNS TO APPROVE A NEW SHOP LOCAL RANCHO MIRAGE GIFT CARD BONUS CAMPAIGN TO COINCIDE WITH VISIT GREATER PALM SPRINGS RESTAURANT WEEK FROM MAY 29 – JUNE 19, 2026, UTILIZING A $30,000 BONUS FUND WITH A 50% MATCH INCENTIVE. MOTION CARRIED 4/0.
5.C. Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Rent Levels for Housing Authority Residential Complexes — RECOMMENDED ACTION: : Approve the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027) rent levels for Parkview Villas, San Jacinto Villas, Santa Rosa Villas, and Whispering Waters age-restricted residential complexes.
Marcus Aleman, Housing Manager, presented the staff report.
The following individual provided public comments: Brad Anderson.
MOVED/SECONDED BY DOWNS/FROMBERG EDELSTEIN TO APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 (JULY 1, 2026 TO JUNE 30, 2027) RENT LEVELS FOR PARKVIEW VILLAS, SAN JACINTO VILLAS, SANTA ROSA VILLAS, AND WHISPERING WATERS AGE-RESTRICTED RESIDENTIAL COMPLEXES. MOTION CARRIED 4/0.
5.D. Fiscal Year 2026/2027 Levy of Assessments for Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance District No. 87-01 — RECOMMENDED ACTION: 1) Adopt Resolution No. 2026-(Next-in-Order), Initiating Proceedings for the Annual Levy of Assessments for the Rancho Mirage Consolidated Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance Assessment District No. 87-01, for Fiscal Year 2026/2027; 2) Adopt Resolution No. 2026-(Next-in-Order), Declaring its Intention to Levy Annual Assessments for the Rancho Mirage Consolidated Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance Assessment District No. 87-01, for Fiscal Year 2026/2027; and 3) Adopt Resolution No. 2026-(Next-in-Order), for Preliminary Approval of the Engineer ’s Annual Levy Report for the Rancho Mirage Consolidated Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance Assessment District No. 87-01, for Fiscal Year 2026/2027.
Ian Lasley, Assistant Director of Public Works, presented the staff report.
The following individual provided public comments: Brad Anderson.
MOVED/SECONDED BY FROMBERG EDELSTEIN/WEILL TO: 1) ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2026-20, INITIATING
PROCEEDINGS FOR THE ANNUAL LEVY OF ASSESSMENTS FOR THE RANCHO MIRAGE CONSOLIDATED LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 87-01, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026/2027; 2) ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2026-21, DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO LEVY ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS
FOR THE RANCHO MIRAGE CONSOLIDATED LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 87-01, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026/2027; AND 3) ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2026-22, FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF THE ENGINEER’S ANNUAL LEVY REPORT FOR THE RANCHO MIRAGE
CONSOLIDATED LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 87-01, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026/2027. MOTION CARRIED 4/0.
6. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS
The following individuals provided non-agenda public comments: John Montoya, Patrick Lowry, Brad Anderson, Wally Melendez, and Susan Ragsdale.
7. CLOSED SESSION
7.A. Closed Session Agenda
— 1) CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - POTENTIAL INITIATION OF LITIGATION Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4). One Potential Case.
The following individual provided public comments: Brad Anderson.
Colin Kirkpatrick, City Attorney, announced that the City Council would recess to Closed Session to confer with legal counsel regarding one potential initiation item, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4).
7.B. Recess to Closed Session
Mayor Pro Tem O'Keefe recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 1:59 P.M.
7.C. Reconvene Open Session
Mayor Pro Tem reconvened the meeting at 2:53 P.M.
7.D. Closed Session Announcements
Colin Kirkpatrick, City Attorney, announced that no reportable action was taken during Closed Session.
8. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pro Tem O'Keefe adjourned the meeting at 2:53 P.M.
Date Approved by City Council: 05/21/2026