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2013 01 22 CC MinutesCITY COUNCIL MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2013 A special meeting of the La Quinta City Council was called to order at 5:00 P.M. by Mayor Adolph. PRESENT: Councilmembers: Evans, Franklin, Henderson, Osborne, Mayor Adolph Architecture & Landscaping Review Committee Members: Gray, McCune Building & Construction Appeals Board Member: Wolff Community Services Commissioners: Engel, Blakeley, Leidner, Lawrence Historic Preservation Commissioners: Maevers, Morris, Namvar, Puente, Redmon Housing Commissioners: LaRocca, Leidner, McDonough, Ryser Investment Advisory Board Members: Blum, Donais, Mortenson, Park, Spirtos Planning Commissioners: Alderson, Barrows, Weber, Wilkinson, Wright ABSENT: Councilmembers: none Architecture & Landscaping Review Committee Members: Rooker Building & Construction Appeals Board Members: Edwards, Hassett, Leonhard Community Services Commissioners: Fitzpatrick Historic Preservation Commissioners: none Housing Commissioners: none Investment Advisory Board Members: none Planning Commissioners: none Mayor Adolph led the audience in the pledge of allegiance. CLOSED SESSION - None PUBLIC COMMENT - None CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA - Confirmed PRESENTATIONS 1. PRESENTATION REGARDING CITY REVENUES, EXPENDITURES AND SERVICES, AND CITY COUNCIL, BOARD AND COMMISSION DISCUSSION REGARDING REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE OPTIONS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 1 JANUARY 22, 2013 City Manager Spevacek and Finance Director Bird presented the power point on city revenues and expenditures. Mayor Adolph welcomed and thanked all the Board and Commissions for their attendance and for the great job they do for the city. An 85- minute question- and - answer session follow with the City Council and City Staff answering questions posed by Commissioners /Board Members and audience members. 2. INTRODUCTION OF LA QUINTA'S NEW FIRE BATTALION CHIEF JODIE GRAY Riverside County Fire Division Chief Mike Marlow introduced newly- appointed Battalion Chief Jodie Gray. Ms. Gray comes to La Quinta with 21 years of service. Chief Gray thanked the audience and said her door is always open and she is excited to get to know residents. MAYOR ADOLPH RECESSED THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 6:28 P.M. FORA SHORT BREAK. MAYOR ADOLPH RECONVENED THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 6:40 P.M. WITH ALL COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS — None APPROVAL OF MINUTES - None CONSENT CALENDAR - None BUSINESS SESSION - None STUDY SESSION 1. ISSUES RE: GENERAL PLAN UPDATE Community Development Director Johnson presented the staff report, which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. In response to Councilmember Franklin, Director Johnson said that although many topics are mentioned elsewhere in the General Plan, they are addressed in greater depth in the Sustainable Community Element and many matters are unique to this Element. Director Johnson said that this Element is needed in the General Plan. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 2 JANUARY 22, 2013 Councilmember Evans said that Council has heard from many developers and residents who endorsed the General Plan update as presented to Council, but due to some concerns about perceived implications with regard to the United Nations AGENDA 21 program, Council withheld its approval. Ms. Evans said she does not think a massive grammar change to remove all the AGENDA 21 buzz words is necessary. Instead, she recommends including statements about La Quinta's guiding principles and its core values without using AGENDA 21 language. She suggested that staff consider replacing the word "sustainable" with "livable" and emphasize La Quinta's intent. Ms. Evans suggested that staff prepare summaries of these changes for Council to review, bless it and move on. Councilmember Henderson said it is so important to ensure personal property rights and it is Council's intent to do so. She suggested that the General Plan include a disclaimer similar to the Preamble statement in the handout dated January 19, 2013 from resident Neeta Quinn, and the Palm Springs Patriots Coalition /Desert Valley Tea Party. Councilmember Osborne agreed with both Councilmembers Evans and Henderson and added that he is concerned about the greenhouse gas aspect of the element and asks that it be toned down if possible while still being respectful of the state's mandates. Agriculture language should not discourage it in any way. Mr. Osborne does not like the wording "indirect pressure regarding agriculture." He said that the city needs to be economically sustainable and respectful of the environment. He also said that the General Plan is a dynamic document that will change as population and other factors change. Mayor Adolph thanked staff for all the work and all the changes staff made in response to citizen comments and concerns and Council direction. Mr. Mayor said it was important to understand that the General Plan is a guiding policy document. The city does not have to accomplish every item in the Plan and there is no mandate that future Councils abide by it. He agreed with changes suggested by Councilmember Osborne and said that it is a good plan that now needs to move forward. Public Speaker: Thomas Gottberg, La Quinta — Mr. Gottberg spoke in support of the General Plan update as submitted by staff and said that he could not fathom the delay over the word sustainable because to him, as a business owner, everyone's life should be sustainable. Public Speaker: Mario Sewell, La Quinta — Mr. Sewell spoke in support of the General Plan update as submitted by staff. He said that La Quinta has been in the forefront of conservation and as a result, it is a beautiful and beneficial place for adults and their children. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 3 JANUARY 22, 2013 Public Speaker: Kay Wolff, La Quinta - Ms. Wolff spoke in support of the General Plan Update as submitted by staff. She said it was unreasonable to say that a certain word or term cannot be used. All concerned have a common knowledge of what the word sustainability means. Ms. Wolff said time's -a- wasting and she would like to see closure on this. Public Speaker: Robert Righetti, Indio — Mr. Righetti said that the meaning of words change over time; current dictionaries have a different meaning for the word sustainability than those of the past. He expressed concern that this matter can come back to haunt La Quinta and asked Council to consider if the General Plan would look as it does without the influence of AGENDA 21. Public Speaker: Kurt Handshuh, La Quinta — Mr. Handshuh said he is a local real estate broker and asked Council to move the approval of the General Plan forward. Councilmember Osborne stated that this General Plan document contains no behavioral modification statement or demands of any kind. Councilmember Henderson stated that AGENDA 21 does exist, it is voluntary and La Quinta is not in any way incorporating it into this General Plan document. She said that it was important to take citizen concerns into consideration as Council has done. Major changes have recently occurred, and Sacramento is talking about more drastic changes so La Quinta does need to protect the General Plan document and have faith in it. Ms. Henderson believes in the disclaimer /preamble suggested in the handout and asked staff to refine it and include it in the General Plan. The phrase "behavior modification" must be removed. She thanked folks for bringing this issue to light and stated that staff now has clear direction to move forward. Councilmember Evans said that if key phrases are used, the document should reference examples specific to La Quinta so that anyone would have a clear understanding of La Quinta's direction and intent. She said it was important to examine this and not assume La Quinta will be protected. For example, it was thought that Proposition 22 protected La Quinta's Redevelopment Agency, yet it did not, so every battle must be fought to ensure that La Quinta can make its own decisions for as long as possible for its residents, for the best use of resources and land, and to ensure fiscal sustainability. Ms. Evans said that adding a frequent reminder of the city's guiding principles to the document is important. Councilmember Franklin concurred with Councilmembers' comments. She said that certain references to greenhouse gases can be removed and she would like to include a clear definition of the city's goals and direction. Mayor Adolph thanked Council, staff, Commissioners and the audience for attending. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 4 JANUARY 22, 2013 REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS - None - None MAYOR'S AND COUNCIL MEMBER'S ITEMS — None PUBLIC HEARINGS - None ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by Council Members Henderson /Evans to adjourn 7:15 P.M. Motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, 54A� SUSAN MAYSELS, Cit Clerk City of La Quinta, California CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 5 JANUARY 22, 2013