2023 02 15 CC Minutes Community Workshop Special MeetingCITY COUNCIL MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
ANNUAL COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
A special meeting of the La Quinta City Council was called to order at 5:10 p.m. by Mayor
Evans to conduct the City's Annual Community Workshop at the La Quinta Wellness Center,
located at 78450 Avenida La Fonda, La Quinta, CA 92253.
PRESENT: Councilmembers Fitzpatrick, McGarrey, Pena, Sanchez, and Mayor Evans
ABSENT: None
COMMUNITY MEMBERS SIGNED IN: 55
CITY STAFF PRESENT: 33
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA — Confirmed
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Evans led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance
ANNOUNCEMENTS, PRESENTATIONS, AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS — None.
STUDY SESSION
1. ANNUAL COMMUNITY WORKSHOP: "RECONNECT, REIMAGINE, AND
RECALIBRATE"
Mayor Evans welcomed all participants to the annual community workshop and explained
the purpose of the workshop.
City Manager McMillen introduced himself, welcomed all participants, provided an overview
of the workshop agenda and objectives, and affirmed La Quinta's sacred values set by the
community:
• Health and Wellness
• High Quality Aesthetics
• Vibrant and Safe Community
• Visually Beautiful City
• Cultural Diversity
Finance Director Martinez presented the City's current financial status and priorities.
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City Manager McMillen presented the City's initiatives and Big Rocks projects for fiscal year
2023/24:
• Strategic Plan — a document that outlines the direction of the organization; maps out
the vision for the City's growth, and lists a plan on how to get there.
• Undergrounding Utilities — voted No. 1 priority by the residents at the 2022
Community Workshop; feasibility study underway.
• Imperial Irrigation District— electrical services — challenges due to the current capacity
of a strained grid and the need to improve the existing infrastructure, which is at the
end of its useful life; collaboration with agencies within the affected areas and efforts
underway.
• Sphere of Influence — defines the area where the City can grow into in the future;
feasibility study is underway.
Management Analyst Kinley presented the City's plans to increase the number of affordable
housing units in La Quinta to meet the ever-increasing State Regional Housing Needs
Allocation assessment and requirements.
Community Resources Manager Christina Calderon spoke of the City's efforts to implement
upgrades to City parks, including additional shade structures and parking capacity.
Traffic Analyst Gunterson provided an overview of the City's Public Safety Camera System,
objectives, costs, and efforts to complete the Phase II implementation, which will include
additional areas to the system; details will be presented at the March 21, 2023, Council
meeting.
Community Resources Analyst Michael Calderon provided an update on the City's Concerts
in the Park series, including additional shows added over the last year, per residents' request
at the 2022 Community Workshop.
Management Analyst Hansen provided an update on the City's efforts to install additional
shade structures throughout City parks.
Community Resources Manager Christina Calderon provided an update that the Wellness
Center operating hours were expanded to include Saturdays, and future efforts to include
Sundays; and fitness center operations.
Design and Development Director Castro provided an update on the Highway 111 Corridor
revisioning plan.
City Clerk Radeva provided an overview of the Short -Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Program
characteristics, compliance status, and taxes, fees, and STVR Program costs for 2022, and
a comparison to 2021 calendar year.
Director of Business Unit and Housing Development Villalpando provided an update on the
City's efforts to comply with Senate Bill 1383 imposing organics recycling requirements
throughout the State.
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Community Resources Analyst Michael Calderon provided an update on the new X-Park
facility, its operations and use.
Marketing Manager Graham spoke of the design updates recently implemented to The Gem
local publication and the new Love La Quinta marketing campaign.
Taken out of Agenda order >>>
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Public comments were provided by several residents on the following subjects:
• Reducing speeding
• Police services contract
• Utilities undergrounding
• Talus development status update, including financing
• Street sweeping
• Cultural Campus design timeline
• Postal services for the Cove
PUBLIC SPEAKER: July Mickel, La Quinta — requested that additional pickleball courts be
installed in La Quinta.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Philip Bettencourt, La Quinta — expressed his gratitude and
appreciation to the La Quinta Historical Society.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Alena Callimanis, La Quinta — inquired about the City's postal services
and expressed concern about recent mail theft reportings.
STUDY SESSION — Continued
1. ANNUAL COMMUNITY WORKSHOP: "RECONNECT, REIMAGINE, AND
RECALIBRATE" — Continued
Staff presented the following five (5) projects to be voted on by residents:
• Fritz Burns Upgrades / Maintenance and Operations Yard
• Highway 111 Repaving (Jefferson St. to Washington St.) / Art Entry Monuments
• Village Parking enhancements
• Arts and Music Line Connector
• Drainage
Workshop participants were teamed by tables and asked to collaborate and come up with
one (1) write-in project per table to be voted on by all workshop participants. The write-in
projects below are listed in weighted ranking based on participants' votes:
1. Better Roads
2. Road Diet to Reduce/Improve Speeding in the Cove
3. Community Gardens
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4. Improving Historic Casita at Calle Tampico / Eisenhower Dr.
5. Traffic Barriers / More Bike Lanes
6. Bus Stop Shades
7. Additional Crosswalk Lights
8. Water Conservation / Turf Removal for Golf Courses
9. Art Commission
10. North La Quinta Community Center
The top five (5) write-in projects listed above were added to the five (5) projects presented
by the City, and participants were asked to vote on their top three (3) projects based on their
priority. The projects below are listed in weighted ranking order based on all participants'
votes:
1. Fritz Burns Upgrades / Maintenance and Operations Facility
2. Road Diet to Reduce/Improve Speeding in the Cove
3. Improving Historic Casita at Calle Tampico / Eisenhower Dr.
4. Better Roads
5. Village Parking enhancements
6. Traffic Barriers / More Bike Lanes
7. Arts and Music Line Connector
8. Community Gardens
9. Highway 111 Repaving (Jefferson St. to Washington St.) / Art Entry Monuments
10. Drainage
CLOSING COMMENTS
Mayor Evans and Councilmembers thanked the participants for their time and commitment
to La Quinta; and noted community input and engagement are vital in shaping our
community's future and vision of tomorrow.
MAYOR'S AND COUNCILMEMBERS' ITEMS — None.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers
Pena/McGarrey to adjourn at 7:44 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
V
MONIKA RADEVA, City Clerk
City of La Quinta, California
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