2023 08 23 CC Minutes Special Meeting - Hurricane Hilary Local EmergencyCALL TO ORDER
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2023
A special meeting of the La Quinta City Council was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by
Mayor Evans.
PRESENT: Councilmembers Fitzpatrick, McGarrey, Pena, Sanchez, and Mayor Evans
ABSENT: None
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Pro Tem Sanchez led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA — None
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA — Confirmed
BUSINESS SESSION
1. ADOPT RESOLUTION TO RATIFY THE PROCLAMATION OF THE EXISTENCE
OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY RELATED TO HURRICANE HILARY, AND TO
AUTHORIZE STAFF TO APPLY FOR AND RECEIVE FEDERAL AND STATE
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
City Clerk Radeva presented the staff report, which is on file in the Clerk's Office.
Council commended the Acting City Managers, and all staff for the excellent response to
the emergency; and discussed that appropriation of funds from emergency reserves was
not needed at this time.
MOTION — A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Fitzpatrick/McGarrey
to adopt Resolution No. 2023-032 as recommended:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA,
CALIFORNIA, RATIFYING THE ACTING CITY MANAGER'S PROCLAMATION
OF THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY RELATED TO HURRICANE
HILARY, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, ACTING CITY MANAGER,
AND CITY FINANCE DIRECTOR TO APPLY FOR AND RECEIVE FEDERAL
AND STATE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, AS SPECIFIED
Motion passed unanimously.
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SPECIAL MEETING
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MAYOR'S AND COUNCIL MEMBERS' ITEMS
Councilmember Pena thanked staff and community volunteers for their efforts in assisting
residents during the hurricane; and commended the public safety personnel who were
well-prepared, responsive and helpful. Councilmember Fitzpatrick echoed
Councilmember Pena's comments.
Councilmember McGarrey thanked Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP) for
donating thousands of free sandbags to Coachella Valley cities, and to staff for picking
up and distributing them to residents; and asked residents not to discard used sandbags,
but to store them for future use.
Mayor Evans noted that La Quinta supplied 80,000 bags and 400 tons of sand;
Assemblymember Greg Wallis called in daily to check on the City, and drove around to
check on roads; Congressman Calvert, who was out of the country, called Monday,
8/21/2023, to check-in and indicated that he was coordinating with the Federal
Emergency Management Association (FEMA) for possible emergency funding;
communications with the Desert Sands Unified School District (DSUSD) Superintendent
were ongoing to identify schools that would be appropriate for shelters if needed, and
possible school closure; proud of the collaboration, communication and teamwork that
occurred; and resident safety and first responder access are primary during any
emergency, and there were no problems with access during this emergency.
Councilmember Sanchez said it was amazing to see staff and residents helping each
other.
Councilmember Fitzpatrick added that the storm alerts were not hype, there were serious
consequences throughout the Coachella Valley; and there was no loss of life.
Council expressed surprise at the length of time of the Interstate 10 shutdown resulting
in parts of the Coachella Valley being an island; perfect example how much the Valley
needs to be prepared in case of an earthquake, flood, etc. to avoid devastation; the need
for a highway bypass during emergencies; and thanks to Riverside County Sheriff's
Department there were no problems with the 911 system.
Councilmember McGarrey stated that 10 to 15 feet of earth was washed to the
center/lowest point of the Valley during the storm; was impressed with the preparation
efforts of staff in placing barricades, etc. ready to be deployed to address safety concerns,
and the implementation of necessary road closures.
CLOSED SESSION
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION PURSUANT
TO PARAGRAPH (1) OF SUBDIVISION (d) OF SECTION 54956.9 OF THE
GOVERNMENT CODE. NAME OF CASE: REESE v. CITY OF LA QUINTA;
RIVERSIDE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT CASE NO. CVPS2302997
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2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL — EXISTING LITIGATION PURSUANT
TO PARAGRAPH (1) OF SUBDIVISION (d) OF SECTION 54956.9 OF THE
GOVERNMENT CODE. NAME OF CASE: BARBER v. CITY OF LA QUINTA;
RIVERSIDE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT CASE NO. CVPS2303039
COUNCIL RECESSED THE OPEN SESSION PORTION OF THE MEETING AND
MOVED INTO CLOSED SESSION AT 10:18 A.M.
MAYOR EVANS RECONVENED THE OPEN SESSION PORTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL MEETING AT 11:21 A.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):
CLOSED SESSION ITEM NO. 1 — Council did not take an official action, but Council
requested the following summary to be reported: this case involved a residential property
owner with a swimming pool, located in La Quinta; the City's Code Compliance Division
cited the property owner for failing to obtain a Short -Term Vacation Rental permit for
advertising short-term use of the pool on a website platform; the City filed a demur to the
complaint and prevailed in the lawsuit.
CLOSED SESSION ITEM NO. 2 — Council took the following action:
MOTION — A motion was made and seconded by Mayor Evans/Councilmember
Fitzpatrick authorizing the City Attorney's Office to seek appellate review of the decision
by the Superior Court special commissioner, reversing the independent hearing officer's
decision on administrative appeal, which overruled an administrative citation issued by
the City. The Adverse parties for the respective cases are identified on the Agenda, and
the substance of the litigation for both cases involves citations issued for violations of the
City's Short -Term Vacation Rental program regulations pursuant to Chapter 3.25 of the
La Quinta Municipal Code. Motion passed unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers
Pena/Sanchez to adjourn this meeting at 11:23 a.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
v6IB11
,
MONIKA RADEVA, City Clerk
City of La Quinta, California
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