2020 12 09 CC Minutes Special Meeting
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 1 of 3 DECEMBER 9, 2020
SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
MINUTES
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020
CALL TO ORDER
A special meeting of the La Quinta City Council was called to order at 5:00
p.m. by Mayor Evans.
This meeting provided teleconference accessibility pursuant to Executive
Orders N-25-20, N-29-20, N-33-20, N-35-20, and N-60-20 executed by the
Governor of California, and the directives under the “Regional Stay At Home
Order” from the California Department of Public Health, 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 McMillen, City Attorney Ihrke, Finance Director
Romero, City Clerk Radeva, Assistant to the City Manager Villalpando, and
Community Resources Director Escobedo
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
City Manager McMillen led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
City Clerk Radeva said the following WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS, listed in
alphabetical order, were received as of 5:00 p.m., which were distributed to
Council and incorporated into the agenda packet and public records of this
meeting:
Jack Gilles, La Quinta – in support of Short-Term Vacation Rentals
(STVRs);
John Hastie, La Quinta – related to the recent “Regional Stay At Home
Order” issued on December 3, 2020, and requesting no further
restrictions be imposed on STVRs;
Janice Pratte, La Quinta – in opposition of STVRs; and
Michael Zieg, La Quinta – in support of STVRs.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 2 of 3 DECEMBER 9, 2020
SPECIAL MEETING
City Clerk Radeva said Staff will continue to review emails and share any
written public comments received and facilitate any requests for telephonic
public comments through the adjournment of this meeting.
PUBLIC SPEAKER VIA TELEPHONIC ACCESSIBILITY:
David Dinnel, La Quinta – said the airline industry is still operating; no
financial stimulus is available to STVR owners during the COVID-19
pandemic; the recent “Regional Stay At Home Order,” is going to
adversely affect STVR owners and the community; and requested that
no further restrictions be imposed on STVRs.
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 (Review Continued Need and Response to
Proclaimed State and Local Emergencies Caused by COVID-19)
COUNCIL RECESSED THE OPEN SESSION PORTION OF THE MEETING
AND MOVED INTO CLOSED SESSION AT 5:07 P.M.
MAYOR EVANS RECONVENED THE OPEN SESSION PORTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 7:25 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 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
COVID-19, and took the following actions:
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers
Radi/Peña to appropriate an additional $500,000 from the General Fund
Economic Disaster Reserve fund balance to the General Fund Economic
Development Fund to be used for the City’s Small Business Emergency
Economic Relief Program, and directed the City Manager and Staff to
bring proposals for implementing the distribution of this additional
funding at the next regular Council meeting of December 15, 2020.
Motion passed unanimously; and
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 3 of 3 DECEMBER 9, 2020
SPECIAL MEETING
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers
Fitzpatrick/Sanchez to appropriate $60,000 from the General Fund
Economic Disaster Reserve fund balance to establish a Contribution to
Other Agencies budget within the General Fund to be allocated to Find
Food Bank to fund current food distribution programs for La Quinta
residents. Motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
City Clerk Radeva said the following additional WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS,
listed in alphabetical order, were received after 5:00 p.m., which were
distributed to Council and incorporated into the agenda packet and public
records of this meeting:
Marie Thompson, La Quinta – requesting that the recent “Regional Stay
At Home Order” be upheld; and
Linda Van Pelt, La Quinta – in support of STVRs.
MAYOR’S AND COUNCIL MEMBERS’ ITEMS – None
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by
Councilmembers Peña/Fitzpatrick to adjourn at 7:34 p.m. Motion passed
unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
MONIKA RADEVA, City Clerk
City of La Quinta, California