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2020 03 25 CC Minutes Emergency MeetingCITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 1 of 4 MARCH 25, 2020 EMERGENCY MEETING EMERGENCY MEETING CITY COUNCIL MINUTES TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 CALL TO ORDER An emergency meeting of the La Quinta City Council was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Evans. The meeting was held by teleconference pursuant to Executive Orders N-25- 20, N-29-20, N-33-20, and N-35-20, executed by the Governor of California in response to the state of emergency relating to novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and enabling teleconferencing accommodations by suspending or waiving specified provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code § 54950 et seq.). PRESENT: Councilmembers Fitzpatrick, Peña, Radi, Sanchez, Mayor Evans ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Jon McMillen, City Clerk Monika Radeva, and City Attorney Bill Ihrke PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Evans led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA City Clerk Radeva said WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS were provided by Nate and Emily Smith related to short-term vacation rental operations; written comments were distributed to Council and incorporated into the agenda packet and public record of the meeting. CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA – Confirmed CLOSED SESSION 1. THREAT TO PUBLIC SERVICES OR FACILITIES, PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION (a) OF GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957. CONSULTATION WITH: ALEXANDER JOHNSTON, SENIOR CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 2 of 4 MARCH 25, 2020 EMERGENCY MEETING EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR; WILLIAM H. IHRKE, CITY ATTORNEY COUNCIL RECESSED THE OPEN SESSION PORTION OF THE MEETING AND MOVED INTO CLOSED SESSION AT 6:02 P.M. MAYOR EVANS RECONVENED THE OPEN SESSION PORTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 8:15 P.M. WITH ALL MEMBERS PRESENT REPORT ON ACTION(S) TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION: City Attorney Ihrke reported the following pursuant to Government Code section 54957.1 (Brown Act) – the City Council discussed the threat to public services and closure of facilities caused by the threat of the spread of COVID- 19, and the proclaimed local and statewide public health emergencies; and took the following action:  The City Council upheld Executive Order No. 4 ordering the closure of all golf courses and ancillary use areas;  MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Radi/Fitzpatrick to authorize the City Manager to issue an Executive Order closing shared swimming pools and spas in the City effective immediately. Motion passed unanimously;  MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Fitzpatrick/Radi to authorize the City Manager to issue an Executive Order restricting the use of short term, vacation, hotel, motel, time-share, and similar lodging rentals for 30 days or less in the City effective immediately; the restrictions will allow such facilities to be used only for COVID-19 shelters for essential workers, including public safety, provide lodging to protect the homeless population, until a current contract expires, provide lodging for persons who have been displaced and cannot return to their residence, and lodging to persons who need to isolate or quarantine; violations of this order may result in fines up to $5,000 and an immediate suspension of the short-term vacation rental license for a period of one year. Motion passed unanimously;  MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Fitzpatrick/Radi to authorize the City Manager to collaborate with Find Food Bank and spend up to $40,000 to provide food for La Quinta residents. Motion passed unanimously; CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 3 of 4 MARCH 25, 2020 EMERGENCY MEETING  MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Peña/Sanchez to authorize the City Manager to implement a program to prorate any short-term vacation rental license and permit to be continued and extended for the duration of the time period the local COVID-19 emergency is in place. Motion passed unanimously;  MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Peña/Sanchez to authorize the City Manager to implement a program to prorate any business licenses and permits for closed businesses to be continued and extended for the duration of the time period the local COVID-19 emergency is in place. Motion passed unanimously;  MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Radi/Sanchez to authorize the City Manager to appropriate up to $1.5 million dollars from the City’s emergency disaster fund, and bring back to the City Council for consideration a program offering micro-loans or similar relief to assist local businesses affected by the COVID-19 local emergency. Motion passed unanimously. MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS Mayor Evans said the City Council takes the current COVID-19 threat very seriously, and wants to ensure that La Quinta takes precautions as advised by the Riverside County Public Health Officer and state mandates, to flatten the curve and stop the spread of COVID-19. Councilmember Sanchez said we are all in this together, and he is happy that La Quinta is able to provide some resources and partner with Find Food Bank to assist those in need during these trying times. Mayor Pro Tem Peña said Council’s decisions are very much aligned with all guidance and directives provided by state, county, and public safety experts to ensure the overall health and safety of the community; encouraged residents to continue to provide comments; and noted the Council will meet as often as necessary to do everything possible to get through this difficult time. Councilmember Fitzpatrick said La Quinta is a strong, united community, and we will get through this together; and noted La Quinta has been fiscally conservative and is able to assist the community and its businesses during these trying times to persevere and be resilient. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 4 of 4 MARCH 25, 2020 EMERGENCY MEETING Councilmember Radi said this is a joint effort between the City and the community, and it is important that we follow the safety directives to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Mayor Evans commended the Council and Staff for their commitment in tracking the COVID-19 changing progression hour-by-hour throughout the nation; said “Frequently Asked Questions” guidelines were issued by the Riverside County Public Health Officer available at www.RivcoPH.org, and encouraged the community to read and follow the recommended safety precautions; Council has taken bold steps in line with the recommended mitigation measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, help save lives and the safety of the healthcare workers who are helping the community; the sooner we are able to flatten the curb, the sooner we can work together to rebuild our community. The following La Quinta residents provided WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS, which were distributed to Council and incorporated into the agenda packet and public record of the meeting, were received after 6:02 p.m., but prior to the adjournment of the meeting at 8:34 p.m.:  Spencer Wampole  Mandi Moran  Anthony Amini  Brian Kamenca  Gary Boyle  Shevy Akason  Natalie Boyle  Deonn  John Burns  Iris Mok  Austin and Nanette Young  Alise Bowman ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Radi/Sanchez to adjourn at 8:34 p.m. Motion passed – ayes (4), noes (0), abstain (0), absent (1 – due to video teleconference connection interruption, Mayor Pro Tem Peña was not present during this vote). Respectfully submitted, MONIKA RADEVA, City Clerk City of La Quinta, California