2022 10 18 CC MinutesCITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2022
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the La Quinta City Council was called to order at 4:00
p.m. by Mayor Evans.
PRESENT: Councilmembers Fitzpatrick, Pena, Radi, Sanchez, Mayor Evans
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager McMillen, City Attorney Ihrke, City Clerk
Radeva, Deputy City Clerk McGinley, Director of Business Unit and Housing
Development Villalpando, Management Analyst Kinley, Management Specialist
Barkas, Marketing Manager Graham, Community Resource Manager Calderon,
Community Resource Analyst Calderon, Public Works Director/City Engineer
McKinney, Management Analyst Mignogna, Finance Director Martinez, Design
and Development Director Castro, Planning Manager Flores, and Public Safety
Manager Mendez.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Radi led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA
City Manager McMillen requested that Consent Calendar Item No. 6 be pulled
for a separate vote as Mayor Pro Tern Fitzpatrick will recuse herself from
discussion and vote on this item due to a potential conflict of interest
stemming from the proximity of real property to this project.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Jeff Fishbein, La Quinta Chamber Board Chair, representing
the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) - thanked the
City for some wonderful recent events, in particular the State -of -the -City held
on October 6, 2022, at the La Quinta Resort and Club; thanked the Council
for the City's continued collaboration with the Chamber; and noted the
monthly meeting between the Chamber and the City is scheduled for
Thursday, 10/20/2022, at 8:30 a.m., with Mayor Pro Tern Fitzpatrick
scheduled to attend.
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WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS were received from Executive Director Eevet
Edens on behalf of the Desert Cancer Foundation thanking Council for their
support and award of Community Grant Funding for fiscal year 2022/23; the
comments were distributed to Council, made public, published on the City's
website, and included in the public record of this meeting.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, PRESENTATIONS AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
- None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. AFFIRM RESOLUTION NO. 2021-035 FINDINGS RELATED TO THE
STATE OF EMERGENCY DUE TO COVID-19 AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO IMPLEMENT TELECONFERENCE
ACCESSIBILITY ONLY WHEN A PUBLIC MEETING OF THE
LEGISLATIVE BODY IS HELD VIRTUALLY PURSUANT TO
ASSEMBLY BILL 361 (STATS. 2021, CH. 165)
2. AUTHORIZE OVERNIGHT TRAVEL FOR DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC
AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING MANAGER TO
ATTEND 2022 MUSE CONFERENCE IN TUCSON, ARIZONA,
DECEMBER 5-8, 2022
3. ADOPT RESOLUTION TO ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF FISCAL
YEAR 2021/22 RIVERSIDE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT'S
ANNUAL INSPECTION REPORT PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTION 13146.4
[RESOLUTION NO. 2022-0381
4. ADOPT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE FINAL TRACT MAP AND
SUBDIVISION IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH
TRACT MAP NO. 38188, LOCATED NORTH OF AVENUE 60 AND
EAST OF MADISON STREET, WITHIN THE ANDALUSIA AT CORAL
MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT [RESOLUTION NO. 2022-0391
5. APPROVE PURCHASE OF SIX FLEET VEHICLES FROM PARADISE
CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP
6. pulled for a separate vote by Staff >>>
ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 603 ON SECOND READING APPROVING
ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 2022-0002 AND ZONE
CHANGE 2022-0003; CEQA: THE PROJECT IS EXEMPT FROM
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO SECTION 15061
(b)(3), COMMON SENSE EXEMPTION. LOCATION: CITY-WIDE
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 2 of 7 OCTOBER 18, 2022
7. RECEIVE AND FILE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE REPORT DATED
JULY 31, 2022
8. APPROVE DEMAND REGISTERS DATED SEPTEMBER 30 AND
OCTOBER 7, 2022
MOTION - A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Radi/Pena
to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1-5 and 7-8 as recommended, with
Item No. 1 reaffirming Resolution No. 2021-035, and Item Nos. 3 and 4
adopting Resolution Nos. 2022-038 and 2022-039, respectively.
Motion passed unanimously.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM NO. 6
MAYOR PRO TEM FITZPATRICK RECUSED HERSELF FROM DISCUSSION
AND VOTE ON THIS ITEM DUE TO A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST
STEMMING FROM THE PROXIMITY OF HER REAL PROPERTY TO THE
PROJECT LOCATIONS
MOTION - A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Radi/Pena
to approve Consent Calendar Item No. 6, adopting Ordinance No. 603 as
recommended. Motion passed - ayes 4, noes - 0, abstain - 1 (Fitzpatrick),
absent- 0.
BUSINESS SESSION
1. APPROVE CONCEPT FOR 40t" ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE
ART PIECE
Community Resources Analyst Calderon presented the staff report, which is
on file in the Clerk's Office.
Council discussed the beauty of the art concepts presented, but that they do
not fulfill Council's vision; perhaps a piece created by a collaboration of
multiple artists, possibly local artists, using multiple mediums that somehow
integrate the City's history; maybe a mural with a timeline and images;
dedicating the exhibit space first to help artists envision a piece that fits; a
mural may be appropriate at the Talus site; possibly an art piece from which
commemorative items can be made for individual keepsakes; an artistic
timeline can include the economic, agricultural and tourist aspects of the City's
history; starting by preselecting the sacred components of La Quinta's history;
confirmed the budget of $15,000 to $20,000; and preference is an outdoor
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location and a art piece that tells a story and provides education about La
Quinta.
MOTION - Council did not make a motion on this item.
Council directed staff to explore outdoor locations for the art piece, re -issue
the request to artists based on Council's comments, and include the
Community Services Commission in the process.
2. APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL MEASURE G AND UNASSIGNED
RESERVES IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,501,803; AWARD CONTRACT
TO ORTIZ ENTERPRISES, INC. FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE
DUNE PALMS ROAD BRIDGE PROJECT NO. 2011-05
Public Works Director McKinney and Management Analyst Mignogna presented
the staff report, which is on file in the Clerk's Office.
Council discussed funding for the project; CalTrans and Coachella Valley
Association of Governments (CVAG) contributions; the contractor's
responsibilities; bypass road access; keeping traffic flow in the area moving
smoothly; the project timeline and estimated completion; background on
contractor Ortiz Enterprises, Inc.; project reimbursement schedule; and the
staging location on Housing Authority property.
MOTION - A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Radi/
Fitzpatrick to appropriate additional unassigned reserves in the amount of
$4,501,803; award a contract to Ortiz Enterprises, Inc. to construct the Dune
Palms Road Bridge; and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract
upon approval by CalTrans and approve future change orders within the
project budget amount. Motion passed unanimously.
WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS were received from Richard Mills, in his capacity
as the Chair for the City's Financial Advisory Commission, regarding the
advanced funding source allocations for the Dune Palms Bridge project 2011-
05; the comments were distributed to Council, made public, published on the
City's website, and included in the public record of this meeting.
3. APPROVE AGREEMENT FOR CONTRACT SERVICES WITH RINCON
CONSULTANTS, INC. FOR GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
(GIS) PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Management Analyst Kinley and Rincon Consultants, Inc. Senior GIS Analyst
Tracy Popiel presented the staff report, which is on file in the Clerk's Office.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 4 of 7 OCTOBER 18, 2022
Council discussed the amount of data input required; sources of additional
data; making it work with the City's app and providing traffic alerts;
clarification that it will not collect or publish any personal data, only public
information; including historic maps and the City's capital improvement
program schedule; timeline for launching the GIS; inclusion of zoning info,
development restrictions, Municipal Code and links to other City resources;
filtering options; adding crime and fire statistics; entities authorized to add
data to the GIS; no additional hardware requirements; and cyber security
protection.
MOTION - A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Pena/
Sanchez to approve Agreement for Contract Services with Rincon Consultants,
Inc. for the purchase, implementation, and maintenance of Geographic
Information Systems software and provide annual support for a total not to
exceed amount of $285,000 for a five-year term; and authorize the City
Manager to execute the agreement. Motion passed unanimously.
MAYOR EVANS CALLED FOR A BRIEF BREAK AT 5:19 P.M.
MAYOR EVANS RECONVENED THE COUNCIL MEETING AT 5: 24 P.M.
WITH ALL MEMBERS PRESENT
STUDY SESSION
1. DISCUSS IMPLEMENTATION OF CITY FUNDED TURF REBATE
PROGRAM
Management Analyst Mignogna presented the staff report, which is on file in
the Clerk's Office.
Council discussed retroactive turf conversion rebates; focus on commercial
landscaping due to watering prohibitions; Coachella Valley Water District's
(CVWD) commendable water management and retention; State's blanket
approach to water conservation, and it being the State's responsibility to fund
rebate programs, not within the City's jurisdiction; inappropriate for the City's
public funds i.e., funds meant for the good of all residents, to be used for a
few hundred residents to convert their landscaping; data needed before policy
can be debated; any commercial or residential program should be need -
based; City has been converting its landscaping for years before any
conservation mandates were in place; need for CVWD's definition of
"recreational uses" where watering is permitted; State's water infrastructure
is broken causing cities to find solutions; the environmental benefits of grass
and trees for life in the desert; data on number of businesses and residents
being fined; if program covers businesses only, justification is needed;
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 5 of 7 OCTOBER 18, 2022
including a conversion program in the Highway
111 project;
program for
commercial
businesses unable to meet their
landscape
maintenance
obligations
based on city -required landscaping
per their
development
agreements;
City refraining from fining businesses for not
maintaining
landscaping;
and if rebates for water conservation
are considered, the same
for energy conservation may become an issue.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Victoria Llort, Government and Regional Affairs with CVWD
- said only the City of Rancho Mirage permitted retroactive rebates; provided
the average cost of removal, design, plant products and installation for a 5,000
square foot lot; cost to City of contributing to projects retroactively; CVWD
has systems in place to work with cities on any type of program desired; local
agencies' control of local conservation; and CVWD does not fund removal of
dead grass or plants.
Council reached a consensus and directed staff to (1) include a survey in the
GEM publication and on the City website to gather data on the number of
residents/businesses that have already converted to desert landscaping, (2)
develop need -based program options, and (3) collect data from CVWD on (a)
residents/businesses in the queue for rebates, (b) financial data on penalties
and high tier revenues collected from La Quinta properties, and (c) the
businesses that have already converted their landscaping.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Alena Callimanis, La Quinta - spoke about issues with
artificial turf; for the future, building pools at every house has to be
reconsidered; and important to think holistically.
WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS were received from George Batavick, La Quinta,
outlining several reasons opposing the implementation of a turf conversion
rebate program subsidized by the City, which were distributed to Council,
made public, published on the City's website, and included in the public record
of this meeting.
PUBLIC HEARINGS - None.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS - All reports are on file in the City Clerk's Office.
MAYOR'S AND COUNCIL MEMBERS' ITEMS
Councilmember Sanchez reported on his attendance at the Coachella Valley
Housing Coalition's 40-year celebration.
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Mayor Evans announced the organic waste workshop set for Saturday at 10:00
a.m. at City Hall; the X Park grand opening Saturday at 10:30 a.m.; the
Museum event on October 27t"; and, the economic summit on October 315t
REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
La Quinta's representative for 2022, Mayor Evans reported on her participation
in the following organization's meeting:
• CVAG ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
La Quinta's representative for 2022, Mayor Pro Tern Fitzpatrick reported on
her participation in the following organization's meeting:
• RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
La Quinta's representative for 2022, Councilmember Pena reported on his
participation in the following organization's meeting:
• IID ENERGY CONSUMERS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE
La Quinta's representative for 2022, Councilmember Radi reported on the
following organization's contract status with its membership:
• SUNLINE TRANSIT AGENCY
La Quinta's representative for 2022, Councilmember Sanchez reported on his
participation in the following organization's meeting:
• CANNABIS AD HOC COMMITTEE
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by
Councilmembers Radi/Sanchez to adjourn at 6:19 p.m. Motion passed
unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
-ft t r 14
MONIKA RADEVA, City Clerk
City of La Quinta, California
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