2021 02 02 CC MinutesCITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 1 of 6 FEBRUARY 2, 2021
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the La Quinta City Council was called to order at 3:30
p.m. by Mayor Evans.
This meeting provided teleconferencing 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, 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 in 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, City Clerk
Radeva, Deputy City Clerk Romane, and Community Resources Manager
Calderon
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA – None
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)
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED
LITIGATION; SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION
PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OR (3) OF SUBDIVISION (d)
OF GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9 (NUMBER OF
POTENTIAL CASES: 1)
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 2 of 6 FEBRUARY 2, 2021
COUNCIL RECESSED THE OPEN SESSION PORTION OF THE MEETING
AND MOVED INTO CLOSED SESSION AT 3:32 P.M.
MAYOR EVANS RECONVENED THE OPEN SESSION PORTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 4:00 P.M. WITH ALL MEMBERS PRESENT
REPORT ON ACTION(S) TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION:
City Attorney Ihrke reported actions taken in Closed Session that require
reporting pursuant to Government Code section 54950 et seq. (Brown Act).
CLOSED SESSION ITEM NO. 1 – the City Council continued to discuss
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; continued
discussion relating to the adopted COVID-19 Small Business Emergency
Economic Relief Program; and took the following action:
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers
Fitzpatrick/Sanchez to defer the repayment on loans that were made to 51
recipients under Rounds I and II of the COVID-19 Small Business
Emergency Economic Relief Program as the initial recipients of the relief
program to be extended through the end of calendar year 2021
(12/31/2021), and to instruct the City Manager and Staff to notify those
recipients of this deferment. Motion passed unanimously.
CLOSED SESSION ITEM NO. 2 –Council will recess back to Closed
Session to consider this item, after the Open Session portion of the
meeting.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Pro Tem Radi led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS were provided by the citizens listed below in
alphabetical order, which were distributed to Council, made publicly
available, and incorporated into the agenda packet and public record of the
meeting:
Edward Armendarez, La Quinta – in opposition of Short-Term
Vacation Rentals (STVR); and
Sean McGrath, La Quinta – in support of STVRs.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 3 of 6 FEBRUARY 2, 2021
PUBLIC SPEAKER VIA TELEPHONIC ACCESSIBILITY: Richard (Dick) Mills,
La Quinta – was not available to speak at this time due to technical
difficulties.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, PRESENTATIONS AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
– None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING – ANNUAL
COMMUNITY WORKSHOP MINUTES OF JANUARY 16, 2021
2. APPROVE DEMAND REGISTERS DATED JANUARY 7, 15, AND
22, 2021
3. RECEIVE AND FILE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE REPORT
DATED NOVEMBER 30, 2020
4. ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 588 ON SECOND READING
AMENDING SEVERAL SECTIONS OF TITLE 9 ZONING OF THE
LA QUINTA MUNICIPAL CODE TO STREAMLINE DEVELOPMENT
PROCESSES AND STANDARDS; CEQA: EXEMPT FROM
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO
SECTION 15061(B)(3) REVIEW FOR EXEMPTIONS – COMMON
SENSE RULE; LOCATION: CITYWIDE [ORDINANCE NO. 588]
5. APPROVE PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS AND ENGINEER’S
ESTIMATE AND ADVERTISE FOR BID THE FIRE STATION 70
REVITALIZATION PROJECT NO. 2019-07 LOCATED ON THE
SOUTH WEST CORNER OF AVENUE 54 AND MADISON STREET
6. APPROVE AGREEMENT FOR CONTRACT SERVICES WITH
CLEARSOURCE FINANCIAL CONSULTING FOR SERVICES
RELATED TO THE CITY’S USER AND REGULATORY MASTER FEE
SCHEDULE AND FULL COST ALLOCATION PLAN UPDATES
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers
Fitzpatrick/Peña to approve the Consent Calendar as recommended, with
Item No. 4 adopting Ordinance No. 588. Motion passed unanimously.
BUSINESS SESSION
1. APPROVE SECOND ROUND COMMUNITY SERVICES GRANTS
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020/21
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 4 of 6 FEBRUARY 2, 2021
Community Resources Manager Calderon presented the staff report, which
is on file in the Clerk’s Office.
Council discussed the importance of the program; this grant was awarded
to the Riverside County Sheriff Explorer Post 503 in the past; appreciate
the work that the officers and trainees put into the program; plans for in-
person attendance proposed to be held during a summer session; and the
specifications and use of the Explorer Academy Training Program.
PUBLIC SPEAKER VIA TELECONFERENCE ACCESSIBILITY: Damian Ruiz,
Deputy of the Riverside County Sherriff’s Department - expressed his
appreciation of the grant program and Council’s award of the grant; the
number of cadets involved in the program currently and in the past; lack
of involvement with the community and other difficulties due to COVID 19;
and looking to improve recruitment as the state begins to re-open.
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers
Radi/Sanchez to approve second round Community Services Grants for
fiscal year 2020/21 to Riverside County Sheriff Explorer Post 503 in the
amount of $5,000. Motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA – Continued
PUBLIC SPEAKER VIA TELECONFERENCE ACCESSIBILITY: Richard (Dick)
Mills, La Quinta – thanked Staff, Council and the STVR Program Ad-Hoc
Committee for their service, time, recommendations, and extensive
discussion during the January 27, 2021 Special Council meeting; spoke
about STVR issues should be concentrated on resident’s quality of life,
City’s full cost recovery as well as leveraging compliance; discussions seem
limited to regulating activities that are a nuisance and degrade our
community; Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenue is important to the
City; expressed support of new rules and regulations even if it causes
revenue to decline; and encouraged Council to respect the resident’s
quality of life regardless of the effects to the financial consequences.
Mayor Evans thanked Mr. Mills for his service on the Financial Advisory
Commission; and spoke about his knowledge of the financial projections
and impacts of the City; and his important role in this decision-making
process.
STUDY SESSION – None
PUBLIC HEARINGS – None
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 5 of 6 FEBRUARY 2, 2021
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
All reports are on file in the City Clerk’s Office.
MAYOR’S AND COUNCIL MEMBERS’ ITEMS
Mayor Evans met with two boy scout troops for their camp weekend in
order to earn their citizenship badge which involved learning about the
roles of the Mayor and Councilmembers.
Mayor Pro Tem Radi reported out on his and Councilmember Peña’s
attendance at a meeting with La Quinta High School Goldfish Project
students who were awarded a grant to proceed with a project called “The
Humans of LQHS” to promote empathy and make connections with
students and faculty members.
REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
La Quinta’s representative for 2020, Mayor Evans reported on her
participation in the following organizations’ meetings:
GREATER PALM SPRINGS CONVENTION AND VISITORS
BUREAU
LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES DELEGATE
La Quinta’s representative for 2020, Councilmember Fitzpatrick reported
on her participation in the following organizations’ meetings:
COACHELLA VALLEY MOUNTAINS CONSERVANCY
CVAG TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE - on behalf of Mayor Pro
Tem Radi
La Quinta’s representative for 2020, Councilmember Peña reported on his
participation in the following organization’s meeting:
IID ENERGY CONSUMERS’ ADVISORY COMMITTEE
La Quinta’s representative for 2020, Councilmember Radi reported on his
participation in the following organization’s meeting:
SUNLINE TRANSIT AGENCY
COUNCIL RECESSED THE OPEN SESSION PORTION OF THE MEETING
AND MOVED INTO CLOSED SESSION AT 4:32 P.M.
MAYOR EVANS RECONVENED THE OPEN SESSION PORTION OF THE
MEETING AT 5:19 P.M. WITH ALL MEMBERS PRESENT
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 6 of 6 FEBRUARY 2, 2021
REPORT ON ACTION(S) TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION:
City Attorney Ihkre reported no actions were taken on Closed Session Item
No. 2 that require reporting pursuant to Government Code section 54950
et. seq. (Brown Act).
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by
Councilmembers Fitzpatrick/Peña to adjourn at 5:20 p.m. Motion passed
unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
NICHOLE ROMANE, Deputy City Clerk
City of La Quinta, California