2017 07 18 CC Minutes - Joint BoardsSPECIAL JOINT MEETING MINUTES JULY 18, 2017
CITY COUNCIL, CITY BOARDS, AND CITY COMMISSIONS Page 1 of 5
SPECIAL JOINT COUNCIL AND CITY BOARDS
AND COMMISSIONS MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
A Special Joint Meeting of the La Quinta City Council and City Boards, Commissions,
and Committees called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Evans at the La Quinta Library,
78275 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA.
ROLL CALL COUNCIL:
Present: Councilmembers Fitzpatrick, Peña, Radi, Sanchez, Mayor Evans
Absent: None
ROLL CALL FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMISSION:
Present: Commissioners Johnson, Lopez, Mills, Rosen, Turbow, Twohey, and
Chairperson Batavick
Absent: None
ROLL CALL PLANNING COMMISSION:
Present: Commissioners Currie, McCune, Proctor, Quill, Wright, and Chairperson
Bettencourt
Absent: Commissioner Caldwell
ROLL CALL CONSTRUCTIO APPEALS BOARD:
Present: Board Members Edward, Morris, and Venuti
Absent: Board Members Leonhard and Wolff
ROLL CALL HOUSING COMMISSION:
Present: Commissioners Johnson, Long, McDonough, and Chairperson Rogers
Absent: Commissioner Harland
ROLL CALL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION:
Present: Commissioners Chiapperini, Marley, Van Horn, and Chairperson Simond
Absent: Commissioner Quill
ROLL CALL COACHELLA VALLEY MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL DISTRICT BOARD:
Present: Board Member Hassett
Absent: None
ROLL CALL IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT ENERGY CONSUMERS ADVISORY
COMMITTEE:
Present: Committee Member Christopher
Absent: None
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ROLL CALL CVAG COACHELLA VALLEY CONSERVATION COMMISSION:
Present: Commissioner Smith
Absent: Commissioner Novak
PLEDGE OF ALEGIANCE
Councilmember Sanchez led the audience in the pledge of allegiance.
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA – Confirmed
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA – Moved after Study Session
MAYOR EVANS RECOGNIZED COUNCILMEMBER FITZPATRICK AND MAYOR PRO TEM
RADI AS IT WAS THEIR BIRTHDAY, AND ASKED BOARD MEMBER HASSETT TO LEAD
THE AUDIENCE IN A HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONG TO CONGRATULATE THEM.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, PRESENTATIONS AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
1. SILVERROCK DEVELOPMENT COMPANY’S GOLF COURSE REALIGNMENT –
PROJECT UPDATE
Facilities Director Howlett presented a video detailing the SilverRock Development
Company’s Golf Course realignment progress.
2. NEW ADDITIONS TO THE LA QUINTA LIBRARY
Community Resources Manager Larson and Library Branch Manager Sue Duran
presented the new additions to the La Quinta Library, which included a new T-Rex
dinosaur replica in the Library’s backyard garden, which has yet to be named by the
Library’s patrons through an ongoing naming contest; “Patent Pending” – an art
exhibit featuring Edison by Ed Myers; the 19th Hole Block Party Art Battle exhibit; the
new book sale and information counter; and the plans for La Quinta’s Makerspace – a
place where people, with shared interests, can gather to work on projects while
sharing ideas, equipment, and knowledge.
STUDY SESSION
Council expressed their gratitude and commended all Board and Commission
Members for their dedication and willingness to give up their time and participate in
shaping the future of the local community; and emphasized that this type of bi-annual
joint meetings are an opportunity for the advisory bodies to interact with each other
and ask questions to gain a new understanding, belonging, and engagement of the
different responsibilities they all have been tasked with on behalf of the City based on
the foundation set by Council. Council explained this foundation was primarily set
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CITY COUNCIL, CITY BOARDS, AND CITY COMMISSIONS Page 3 of 5
based on comments received at the annual interactive Community Workshop the City
holds, which promotes team-building, and helps recognize and identify the
community’s priorities and the City’s current challenges.
Council gave a brief update on the progress of the priorities identified at last
Community Workshop, which largely coincided with the top priorities identified for
Measure G Funds and other advisory report. These priorities were included: 1) public
safety funds and the City’s ability to balance maintaining the same service levels with
the constantly increasing police and fire service costs; 2) expanding the Top of the
Cove parking area; 3) drainage challenges at Washington Street and Lake La Quinta
Drive; 4) drainage challenges Washington Street and Avenue 50; 5) drainage of
Eisenhower Drive; and 6) North La Quinta Parkway perimeter and median landscaping
improvements along the non-gated residential areas.
Council’s overall priorities included maintaining fiscal management and transparency;
public safety – balancing the service and cost; SilverRock development – the golf
course improvements, and the Montage and Pendry hotels; the parkways in North La
Quinta; flood control improvement; and rebranding efforts.
Council’s overall 2017/18 initiatives included the SilverRock development; fiscal
management and accountability; economic development; public safety – police and
fire cost increases; repurposing the highway 111 corridor; capital improvement
projects – North La Quinta Parkways, flood control, X-Park; and ensuring the City’s
organizational strength and stability through staff succession planning.
1. PRESENTATIONS BY CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMISSION (FAC)
Chairperson Battavick praised the experience and expertise of the FAC’s members; and
commended the FAC’s staff liaisons – Finance Director Campos, Financial Services
Analyst Hallick, and Management Assistant Delgado for their guidance and support.
Chariperson Battavick spoke of the former Investment Advisory Board transformation
into the FAC; the FAC’s increase in membership from five to seven members due to
additional responsibilities which included oversight of City investments, financial
reports, and the Measure G sales tax revenue and expenses; the FAC’s
accomplishments for fiscal year (FY) 2016/17; and the FAC’s priorities and meeting
schedule for FY 2017/18.
PLANNING COMMISSION (PC)
Chairperson Bettencourt praised the experience and expertise of the PC’s members;
and commended the PC’s staff liaisons – Planning Manager Perez and Executive
Assistant Wise-Latta for their guidance and support. Chairperson Bettencourt spoke
of the PC consolidation with the former Architectural and Landscaping Review Board
due to the City’s efforts to improve and streamline development review and approval
processes; the PC’s increase in membership from five to seven members due to the
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consolidation and increased scope of responsibility which included architectural and
landscape design; the PC’s specific membership qualification criteria; the PC’s
accomplishments and major development projects considered in FY 2016/17; and the
PC’s priorities for FY 2017/18.
CONSTRUCTION APPEALS BOARD (CAB)
Board Member Morris explained the CAB consists of five members; the CAB’s
membership qualification requirements; the CAB is not very active, last time it met
was in 2006; however, it’s expertise is valuable and required by state law, and it is
tasked with conducting hearings to determine suitability of alternate building
materials and methods of installation.
HOUSING COMMISSION (HC)
Chairperson Rogers praised the experience and expertise of the HC’s members; and
commended the HC’s staff liaisons – Management Analyst Villalpando and
Management Assistant Monreal for their guidance and support. Chairperson Rogers
explained the HC consists of five members; the HC’s membership qualification
requirements; the HC’s scope of purview is to review and consideration of affordable
housing projects; the HC’s efforts to increase tenant participation and involvement by
holding on-site meeting at Washington Street Apartments and additional public
engagement through community workshops; the HC’s accomplishments and items
considered in FY 2016/17; and the HC’s priorities and meeting schedule for FY 2017/18.
Mayor Evans explained the process of the City’s Redevelopment Agency dissolution;
Pena the expense for affordable housing;
COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMISSION (CSC)
Chairperson Simonds praised the experience and expertise of the CSC’s members; and
commended the CSC’s direct staff liaisons – Community Resources Director Chris
Escobedo and Administrative Technician Chaudhry; and additional staff – Facilities
Director Howlett, Community Resources Manager Larsen, Community Resources
Analyst Calderon; and Parks Superintendent Ambriz Jr. for their guidance and support.
Chairperson Simonds explained the CSC consists of five members; the allowed uses
and restrictions that govern Art in Public Places funds; the CSC is tasked to review and
make recommendations to Council regarding community needs for recreation and
social services, maintenance, development of City parks and playgrounds, and City
culture and art enrichment; the CSC’s works closely with other local agencies including
the Desert Recreation District, the Boys and Girls Club, the Family YMCA of the Desert,
the Wellness Center, etc. to ensure La Quinta offers the best opportunities and
avenues for its residents and the surrounding communities; the CSC’s efforts to
increase public participation and involvement; the CSC’s accomplishments and
projects considered in FY 2016/17, including ongoing efforts to engage La Quinta’s
youth in its local government and to create an Youth Advisory Commission to
represent the interests and challenges of their peers; and the CSC’s priorities and
meeting schedule for FY 2017/18.
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PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
COACHELLA VALLEY MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL DISTRICT BOARD
(CVMVC)
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Mr. Dough Hassett, CVMVC Board Member, La Quinta – introduced
himself and praised the dedication, experience, and expertise of the CVMVC staff.
Board Member Hassett explained he has served on the CVMVC since 2015; the
CVMVC’s mission is to provide effective and environmentally sound vector control and
disease prevention programs; the current mosquito-related threats in the Coachella
Valley; the invaluable protection the CVMVC provides to the residents of the Coachella
Valley; the importance of educating residents about the dangers of mosquitos and the
available methods of protection; and the multitude of recognition awards the CVMVC
has received for its stellar preventative efforts.
Council provided closing comments which included thanking all Board/Commission
Members for their time, diligence and input; acknowledging the assistance Boards and
Commissions provide to Council with their recommendations; encouraging
Board/Commission Members to attend and participate in public meetings held by their
peers and provide valuable comments; recapped the updates received on the
SilverRock development, Council’s priorities, the Library’s new additions, the affordable
housing project, the undergoing formation of the Youth Advisory Commission; the
importance of the residents’ support in passing Measure G to assist the City with
maintaining public safety, its infrastructure, drainage challenges; and the significance
of this support which shows that residents value and appreciate the quality of life La
Quinta, The Gem of the Desert, has to offer.
Council noted that each Board/Commission Member was provided with a copy of the
City’s Commissioners’ Handbook to use as a reference and guide on the City’s policies,
codes, and rules and procedures.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by
Councilmembers Fitzpatrick/Radi to adjourn at 8:26 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
MONIKA RADEVA, Deputy City Clerk
City of La Quinta, California