2020 05 11 CC Minutes Special MeetingCITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 1 of 4 MAY 11, 2020
SPECIAL MEETING STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY COVID-19
SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020
CALL TO ORDER
A special meeting of the La Quinta City Council was called to order at 7:01
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
The following La Quinta residents, listed in alphabetical order by last name,
provided WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS, which were distributed to Council, and
incorporated into the agenda packet and public record of the meeting, were
received by 7:09 p.m.:
Sylvia Benoit – in support of wearing facial coverings while in public
Elena Bonilla – in opposition of short-term vacation rental (STVR)
restrictions
Mindy Fiddler – in support of wearing facial coverings while in public
Chantel Foti – in opposition of STVR restrictions
Mary Ellen Hart – in support of wearing facial coverings while in public
Chris and Kristin Hermann – in opposition of STVR restrictions
Jack Powell – in support of wearing facial coverings while in public
Margaret Powell – in support of wearing facial coverings while in public
Brenda Rockwell – in support of wearing facial coverings while in public
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 2 of 4 MAY 11, 2020
SPECIAL MEETING STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY COVID-19
PUBLIC SPEAKER VIA TELEPHONIC ACCESSIBILITY: David Dinnel, La Quinta
– spoke in opposition of STVR restrictions imposed due to COVID-19.
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
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR; WILLIAM H. IHRKE,
CITY ATTORNEY
COUNCIL RECESSED THE OPEN SESSION PORTION OF THE MEETING
AND MOVED INTO CLOSED SESSION AT 7:10 P.M.
MAYOR EVANS RECONVENED THE OPEN SESSION PORTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 10:44 P.M. WITH ALL MEMBERS PRESENT
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
PUBLIC SPEAKER VIA TELEPHONIC ACCESSIBILITY: David Vazquez, La Quinta
– spoke in opposition of STVR restrictions imposed due to COVID-19.
Mayor Evans thanked the La Quinta community for providing comments, and
said Council continues to monitor health and safety updates provided by
federal, state, and county agencies, as well as La Quinta’s COVID-19 numbers,
and trends not only across the Coachella Valley, but throughout the state in
order to determine on how best to move forward and make decisions based
on facts and real data, which changes daily.
REPORT ON ACTION(S) TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION:
City Attorney Ihrke reported the following pursuant to Government Code
section 54950 et seq. (Brown Act) – the City Council discussed the threat to
public services and closure of facilities caused by the threat of the spread of
novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and the proclaimed local and
statewide public health emergencies; and took the following actions:
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers
Radi/Fitzpatrick directing the City Manager to amend the executive
orders related to golf and outdoor recreational activities and allow
private golf and tennis lessons, and use of golf driving ranges, as long
as social distancing is practiced. Motion passed unanimously.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 3 of 4 MAY 11, 2020
SPECIAL MEETING STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY COVID-19
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers
Radi/Fitzpatrick directing the City Manager to issue an executive order,
in light of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors decision last week,
for the following:
Require the continued use of face masks and social distancing at
grocery and drug stores in La Quinta, in line with the Governor of
California stay-at-home executive order; and
Strongly recommend the continued use of face masks and social
distancing at all other stores and businesses in La Quinta, and to
post notices to notify the public of the policies regarding the use
of face masks and social distancing; and
Stores and businesses shall follow the “COVID-19 Industry
Guidance” issued by the California Department of Public Health,
posted on the state’s website for respective industries, regarding
use of face masks and social distancing by employees, customers,
and clients.
Motion passed unanimously.
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers
Sanchez/Fitzpatrick directing the City Manager to amend Executive Order
No. 7 to:
Apply to short-term rentals for 30 days or less, instead of 60 days
or less; and
Require at least 24 hours to pass between a guest’s departure and
next guest’s arrival at the same rental; and
Requirements limiting the types of rentals, such as for essential
workers, are to remain in place as currently in the order; and
Pre-approval by City staff, shall remain in place as currently in the
order.
Motion passed unanimously.
City Council unanimously consented for the Mayor to sign, on behalf of La
Quinta, a letter from Riverside County and other cities to be sent to the
California Governor requesting and authorizing local and regional control
for re-opening businesses in the Coachella Valley.
City Council unanimously consented to support the League of California
Cities “Support Local Recovery” coalition, and authorized the Mayor to send
a notification letter to this effect.
Council thanked the community for their comments, involvement, and
patience, and for following the health and safety directives and restrictions
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 4 of 4 MAY 11, 2020
SPECIAL MEETING STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY COVID-19
over the last few weeks because collectively, we have flattened the curve and
prevented anticipated deaths in the Coachella Valley and Riverside County;
noted the move toward re-opening the economy and establishing a sense of
normality for the community must be done in a cautious and prudent manner
in order to sustain it; explained the City must follow the state’s restrictions on
short-term vacation rentals, which are currently still in place; said Council is
aware of the economic impacts COVID-19 has had on the community and is
trying to help in any way possible, including approving the launch of a ‘COVID-
19 Small Business Emergency Economic Relief Program’; said striking a
balance between maintaining the health and safety of the community and
opening the economy is difficult, and La Quinta continues to communicate with
agencies regionally to achieve a uniform approach.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by
Councilmembers Radi/Fitzpatrick to adjourn at 11:06 p.m. Motion passed
unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
MONIKA RADEVA, City Clerk
City of La Quinta, California