2015 02 11 CC MinutesSPECIAL CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2015
A special meeting of the La Quinta City Council was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by
Mayor Evans.
PRESENT: Councilmembers Franklin, Osborne, Pena, Radi, Mayor Evans
ABSENT: None
COMMISSIONERS AND BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Architectural and Landscaping Review Board
• Richard Gray
• Kevin McCune
Community Services Commission
• Heather Engel
• Mark Johnson
• Sharrell Blakeley
• Paula Simonds
Construction Appeals Board
• Bob Edwards
Historic Preservation Commission
• Kevin Maevers
• Linda Williams
Housing Commission
• Michele McDonough
• Sue Liedner
Investment Advisory Board
• Jennifer Donais
• Katherine Godbey
Planning Commission
• Frank Blum
• Kathleen Fitzpatrick
• Robert Wright
• Robert Wilkinson
• Philip Bettencourt
Mayor Evans led the audience in the pledge of allegiance.
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 1
February 11, 2015
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA — None
CLOSED SESSION — None
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA — Confirmed
PRESENTATIONS
1. PRESENTATION REGARDING CITY REVENUES, EXPENDITURES AND
SERVICES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES, AND CITY
COUNCIL, BOARD AND COMMISSION DISCUSSION
Mayor Evans stated that this meeting has become a tradition as well as an
opportunity for all the commissions/boards to get together.
City Manager Spevacek, along with Deputy City Manager Hylton, Community
Development Director Johnson, Public Works Director Jonasson, Finance Director
Conrad and Assistant to City Manager Escobedo, gave a brief presentation
designed to kick off the next phase of community dialogue and ideas. Copies are
available in the City Clerk's office or may be viewed on the City's website.
Presenters restated the "Big Rock Priorities" from the January 10, 2015 City
Council Workshop, which included:
Enhance Revenues; how can the City continue to enhance revenue; earn more and
be prudent with what it has
• Undesignated reserve disposition
• Police services; review service levels, delivery options; conduct survey, rising
cost
• Fees; new, increase, taxes
Economic Development; further promote economy in La Quinta
• Village; entitlements and development; a gem
• Silverrock Resort; precise plan, Palmer Course resident tee times,. clubhouse
funding
• La Quinta Art Festival; location, parking, maintain quality
• Development standards; reevaluate municipal code, code compliance
measures
• Brand refresh; brand expansion, marketing strategy; social media,
contemporary
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 2
February 11, 2015
Infrastructure and Facility Investments; how can City further refurbish and enhance
public facilities
• North communities; parkways and communities; low landscape pallets
• Storm water; retention, transmission capacity; higher standard
• Parks and recreation facilities; new, refurbish; needs assessment survey
City Manager Spevacek concluded the presentation by asking what role
participants want to play in these discussions - to be a bystander or an active
participant - and how to enlist more people into the discussion. He added that
Council and staff are interested, ready to listen and hope to gain everyone's input.
Discussion/comments from Commissioners and Board Members included:
Reach out efforts: engaging and involving young people by working with Desert
Sands Unified School District and going directly to La Quinta High School principals
to engage youth; tapping local colleges; expanding City's public works youth intern
program to all City departments to promote youth development; leadership -
developing a student intern program for all boards and commissions; develop City
Council youth mentoring program by forming special committees for a precise
purpose to identify their roles/mission i.e., north La Quinta; utilizing and expanding
social media to youth — flash mob with Facebook; placing selfie video kiosk at
different locations; utilizing survey monkey; contacting and making council
presentations to homeowners associations/management companies, service clubs,
church gatherings, youth sports leaders; engage voters; continue and promote
community relationship building; planning commission — strive to be development
friendly in review of projects/excited about development department changes;
economic standpoint — streamline processes — fast track options; noted that
California is difficult with California Environmental Quality Act and litigation; revive
energy commission and seek out/utilize community member assets — define
purpose, prioritize then "ask" for these individuals based on their skill set; business
mentoring — Coachella Valley Economic Partnership in the east valley; repurposing
buildings and certain areas; one million budget for Capital Improvement Projects
must be improved.
Must look at new revenue sources; sales tax increase and selling the need to the
community; City Council taking "show" on the road and tell the La Quinta story;
need to start discussion now on revenue measure; educate the voters; forming
committees with a specific role; revisit and engage north La Quinta residents to
help fund and generate revenue in some capacity; maintaining quality of life;
identifying what development standards are important to the City.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS — None
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 3
February 11, 2015
APPROVAL OF MINUTES — None
CONSENT CALENDAR — None
BUSINESS SESSION — None
STUDY SESSION — None
REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS — None
DEPARTMENT REPORTS — None
MAYOR'S AND COUNCIL MEMBER'S ITEMS
Councilmembers expressed appreciation
input and service to the City. There
meetings should be held more often.
to all participants for their involvement,
was a consensus that joint/discussion
Mayor Evans stated that the City is soliciting nominations for the Pillars of the
Community and that the nomination form is available on the City website. She
announced that the next Mayor and Council walk will be held on Saturday,
February 21 at 8:00 a.m., starting at La Quinta Park and added that over 500
memberships were sold for the.. Wellness Center. The Mayor also issued a reminder
that Black History month events will be at the Library and the La Quinta Arts
Festival will be held March 5-8, 2015.
PUBLIC HEARINGS — None
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by
Councilmembers Osborne/Pena to adjourn at 7:30 p.m. Motion passed
unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Teresa Thompson, Deputy City Clerk
City of La Quinta, California
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 4
February 11, 2015