2017 02 23 CC Minutes - Joint CC & B/C Special MtgSPECIAL JOINT MEETING 1 FEBRUARY 23, 2017
CITY COUNCIL, CITY BOARDS, AND CITY COMMISSIONS
SPECIAL JOINT COUNCIL AND CITY BOARDS
AND COMMISSIONS MEETING MINUTES
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017
A special meeting of the La Quinta City Council and City Boards, Commissions and
Committees was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Mayor Evans at the La Quinta Library,
78275 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA.
PRESENT: Councilmembers Fitzpatrick, Peña, Radi, Sanchez, Mayor Evans
ALSO PRESENT:
PLANNING COMMISSIONERS:
Philip Bettencourt Frank Blum
Mary Caldwell John Hansen
Kevin McCune Robert Wright
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSIONERS:
Felice Chiapperini Mark Johnson
Paula Simonds
HOUSING COMMISSIONER:
Howard Long
INVESTMENT ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS:
George Batavick Jane Johnson
Sherwyn Turbow Steven Rosen
IID ENERGY CONSUMERS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (La Quinta Representative):
George Christopher
CVAG TRAILS MANAGEMENT SUBCOMMITTEE (La Quinta Representative):
Jeff Smith
Mayor Evans led the audience in the pledge of allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON AGENDA - None
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING 2 FEBRUARY 23, 2017
CITY COUNCIL, CITY BOARDS, AND CITY COMMISSIONS
STUDY SESSION
1. UPDATES ON CITY PROJECTS AND DISCUSSION OF CITY-RELATED MATTERS
OFMUTUAL INTEREST
A. REVENUE PROJECTIONS
Finance Director Campos explained the City’s Projections by Fiscal Year.
[spreadsheet handout available in the City Clerk’s Office]
B. SILVERROCK DEVELOPMENT
City Manager Spevacek provided an update on the SilverRock development
project.
C. MEETING RULES AND PROCEDURES
City Clerk Maysels provided a summary of the City’s Rules of Procedure for
public meetings, and City Attorney Ihrke provided a summary of the Fair
Political Practices Commission conflict of interest regulations. [Rules handout
available in the City Clerk’s Office]
Mayor Evans explained that this item was added to the agenda to assist the
new Members and Chairpersons appointed this year. She said that the Council
appreciates Members’ willingness to get more involved in the City but with that
comes expectations. For those not familiar with the Brown Act, Mayor Evans
suggested meeting with the City Clerk for a review of the procedures.
The Mayor said that Council has some expectations of Members which includes:
Being prepared to discuss and vote on all matters on the meeting agenda;
Contacting your staff liaison in advance of the meeting with questions not
answered by staff reports;
Reaching out to the City Clerk or City Manager if additional information is
needed;
Respecting staff’s time;
Being a positive representative of the City and feeling free to contact the
Mayor or any Councilmember if a Member feels matters are not moving in
the right direction;
Taking advantage of La Quinta’s transparency by using the resources on the
website to search for additional information on an item;
Realizing that you were chosen by Council and are now part of the team,
that along with Council, is charged with making the best, and often tough
decisions to move the City forward, not to rubber-stamp matters placed on
your agendas;
Realizing the difference between raising informed concerns as opposed to
personal agendas, personal interests, and personal endeavors;
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING 3 FEBRUARY 23, 2017
CITY COUNCIL, CITY BOARDS, AND CITY COMMISSIONS
Alerting your staff liaison when you intend to contact a developer or other
outside party to discuss a City matter within your jurisdiction so that word
does not get back to staff and Council that people are out in the community
representing themselves as Commission/Board Members asking for access
to information that may, or may not, be appropriate; and
Respecting the role of Chairperson and realizing that s/he needs to maintain
control of the meeting which can mean enforcing Speaker time limits.
Councilmembers added that they are each available individually and welcome
contact from any Members; they count on Members’ recommendations
to make decisions; Council wants to insure the integrity of the process; and
that Councilmembers listen to the audio recordings of Board/Commission
meetings if a contentious topic is discussed or a passionate debate occurs,
hence Council requires only “action” minutes from their Boards/Commissions.
D. QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
City Manager Spevacek and Staff answered Board and Commission Members’
questions regarding:
The status of recommendations made by the citizen’s Advisory Committee;
Spending plans for the additional 1% sales tax revenue from Measure G;
Measure G oversight committee formation;
Summary of the top five capital improvements projects for next five years;
Projected five year police expenses and options to minimize increases;
Population growth expectations in the Valley and City;
Economic development plans for 2017;
Prospects for new businesses opening in City in 2017;
Efforts to assist with leasing/purchase of vacant big-box retail buildings;
Parking for hikers at the top of the cove;
Big Horn Sheep fence alternatives;
Animal Control checks on compliance with dog leash laws on public lands;
Police patrol in north La Quinta;
Landscape improvement project timeline in north La Quinta;
Accessory dwelling units zoning ordinance;
CV-link status; and
Citywide traffic flow evaluation.
Mayor Evans and Councilmembers each provided closing comments which included
thanking all Commissioners/Board Members for their time, diligence and input;
acknowledging the assistance Boards/Commissions provide to Council with their
recommendations, and; each Councilmember’s willingness to meet individually with
any resident.
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING 4 FEBRUARY 23, 2017
CITY COUNCIL, CITY BOARDS, AND CITY COMMISSIONS
Mayor Evans concluded the meeting by announcing upcoming events and thanked all
residents for passing Measure G last November which she said was a critical step to
accomplishing many improvements on the community’s wish list.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by
Councilmembers Radi/Fitzpatrick to adjourn at 8:08 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
SUSAN MAYSELS, City Clerk