2024 07 16 CC Minutesu " " MINUTES
TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2024
CITY COUNCIL
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the La Quinta City Council was called to order at 3:00 p.m. by Mayor
Evans.
PRESENT: Councilmembers Fitzpatrick, McGarrey, Pena, Sanchez, and Mayor Evans
ABSENT: None
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA — None
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA — Confirmed
Councilmember McGarrey requested that a status update on the Cultural Campus Project
No. 2019-01 be provided as comments under Consent Calendar Item No. 3. Council
concurred.
CLOSED SESSION
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL — ANTICIPATED LITIGATION;
INITIATION OF LITIGATION PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (4) OF
SUBDIVISION (d) OF GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9 (NUMBER OF
POTENTIAL CASES: 1)
COUNCIL RECESSED THE OPEN SESSION PORTION OF THE MEETING AND
MOVED INTO CLOSED SESSION AT 3:01 P.M.
MAYOR EVANS RECONVENED THE OPEN SESSION PORTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL MEETING AT 4:06 P.M. WITH ALL MEMBERS PRESENT
REPORT ON ACTION(S) TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION:
Mayor Evans said Council will reconvene Closed Session after the Open Session portion
of the meeting to continue consideration of Closed Session Item No. 1.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember McGarrey led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA — None
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ANNOUNCEMENTS, PRESENTATIONS AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
1. PROCLAMATION IN RECOGNITION OF OUTDOOR WORKER
APPRECIATION WEEK
Mayor Evans, on behalf of the Council presented a Proclamation in recognition of Outdoor
Worker Appreciation Week to Maintenance and Operations Superintendent Alfred
Berumen, representative of La Quinta's outdoor workers.
2. LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES — POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE UPDATE BY
RIVERSIDE COUNTY DIVISION REGIONAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER
JESSE RAMIREZ
Regional Public Affairs Manager Jesse Ramirez with the League of California Cities
(League) provided a brief overview on the League's mission and objectives; upcoming
events; legislation alerts; an update on the League's legislative policy, bills
supported/opposed; membership benefits; and meeting schedules.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JULY 2, 2024
2. ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 615 ON SECOND READING AMENDING CHAPTER
2.60 OF THE LA QUINTA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE CONFLIT OF
INTERES CODE
3. APPROVE AGREEMENT FOR CONTRACT SERVICES WITH HGA FOR FINAL
DESIGN SERVICES FOR CULTURAL CAMPUS PROJECT NO. 2019-01
4. EXECUSE ABSENCE OF COMMISSIONERS HERNANDEZ AND HUNDT
FROM THE JULY 9, 2024, PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
5. APPROVE DEMAND REGISTERS DATED JUNE 28 AND JULY 5, 2024
CONSENT CALENDAR — COMMENTS
Item No. 3 — Cultural Campus Project No. 2019-01 — City Manager McMillen provided a
detailed explanation of the services included in the HGA contract for final design services.
MOTION — A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Fitzpatrick/ Pena to
approve the Consent Calendar as presented, with Item No. 2 adopting Ordinance No.
615. Motion passed unanimously.
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BUSINESS SESSION
1. APPROVE CONVERTING RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC CAR OFFICER POSITION TO A MOTOR OFFICER POSITION
Public Safety Management Analyst Chastain introduced Riverside County Sheriff's
Department Sargent Mark Chlarson who presented the staff report, which is on file in the
Clerk's Office.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Alena Callimanis, La Quinta — asked if a hybrid plan has been
considered such as a motor for winter months, replaced with a car during the summer
months.
Council discussed options to motor officers during summer months; effectiveness of
motors to slow traffic speeding and collisions; and visibility of motor officers.
MOTION — A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Sanchez/McGarrey
to approve converting a Riverside County Sheriff's Department traffic car officer position
to a motor officer position; and authorize the Mayor to execute the amendment to Law
Enforcement contract as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
STUDY SESSION
1. DISCUSS EISENHOWER DRIVE ROAD DIET, SOUTH OF CALLE SINALOA
Public Works Director/City Engineer McKinney presented the staff report, which is on file
in the Clerk's Office with additional information presented by Consultant Traffic Engineer
Steve Liebring with TKE Engineering, Inc., and Riverside County Sheriff Sergeant
Chlarson.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Melissa Brown, La Quinta — in support of the road diet.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Lisa Moller, La Quinta — declined to speak when called upon.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Patrick Healy, La Quinta — in support of the road diet; and stated
trees in Eisenhower median need trimming as they scrape tall vehicles.
Mayor Evans said WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS were received from the residents
listed below, regarding the proposed Eisenhower Drive Road diet, south of Calle Sinaloa,
which were included as Attachment 4 to the published staff report for this item:
• Gretchen Willis, La Quinta — opposed
• Jon and Lisa Piatt, La Quinta — opposed
City Clerk Radeva said WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS were received from the
residents listed below, in alphabetical order, in support of the proposed Eisenhower Drive
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Road diet, south of Calle Sinaloa, which were distributed to Council, made public,
published on the City's website, and included in the public record of this meeting:
• Linda Gunnett, La Quinta — in support
• Paula Maietta, La Quinta — in support
• Wells Marvin, La Quinta — in support
Council discussed the recent speed survey; possible congestion if road is reduced to one
lane in each direction from the current two lanes; visibility issues; resident parking issues;
existing studies/analyses available from other locales; safety for golf carts and bicycles;
data on lane reduction on Avenida Bermudas; vehicle capacity of one lane; easy flow of
road diet on Adams Street; existing 81 miles of bike lanes in City and plans for 12 more
miles; downside of reducing Eisenhower Drive to one lane; desire to hear from more
residents on this matter; typical drop in speeds after road diets; before and after statistics
on tickets issued in areas with road diets; and road rules for bicycles.
Council reached a consensus and directed staff to stripe for two lanes for now; provide
cost of changing to one lane; provide additional information, including existing studies;
conduct monitoring; issue enforcement warnings; reconsider citywide golf cart and
consider golf carts on that portion of Eisenhower Drive, survey in winter months when
population increases and schools are back in session; return to Council in December or
January with this additional data; and encourage public input.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. ADOPT RESOLUTION TO UPDATE THE CITY'S USER AND REGULATORY
MASTER FEE SCHEDULE [RESOLUTION NO. 2024-031]
City Clerk Radeva introduced Terry Madsen, President with ClearSource Financial
Services, Inc. who presented the staff report, which is on file in the Clerk's Office.
Council discussed the percentage of Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase in 2022 and
2023; current percentage of cost recovery is not 100%, maybe about 77%; reasoning for
keeping fees below 100% cost recovery; and pros and cons of going up to 100% cost
recovery.
City Clerk Radeva said a WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT was received on July 15, 2024,
from Grechen Gutierrez, Chief Executive Officer with the Desert Valley Builders
Association (DVBA) in support of the proposed Master Fee Schedule update, which was
distributed to Council, made public, published on the City's website, and included in the
public record of this meeting.
COUNCILMEMBER MCGARREY ANNOUNCED THAT SHE SERVES ON THE
BOARD OF DVBA AS AN UNPAID VOLUNTEER AND HAD NO INVOLVEMENT
OR INPUT IN THE DVBA'S POSITION ON THIS MATTER
MAYOR EVANS DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN AT 6:02 P.M.
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PUBLIC SPEAKER: None
MAYOR EVANS DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 6:03 P.M.
MOTION — A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Sanchez/Fitzpatrick
to adopt Resolution No. 2024-031 as presented:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA,
CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING A REVISED MASTER FEE SCHEDULE OF VARIOUS
USER AND REGULATORY FEES
Motion passed unanimously.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS — None
MAYOR'S AND COUNCIL MEMBERS' ITEMS
Mayor Evans reported on her and other Councilmembers' attendance at the Para -Karate
event; and meeting with Living Desert staff regarding the turtles living in the Civic Center
Park lake.
Councilmember Sanchez extended thoughts and prayers for former President Trump in
light of the recent assassination attempt.
Council concurred that it would discuss the City's membership in the League of California
Cities after the upcoming League conference scheduled to be held in October 2024 in
Long Beach.
REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
La Quinta's representative for 2024, Councilmember Fitzpatrick reported on her
participation in the following organization's meeting:
• RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
La Quinta's representative for 2024, Councilmember McGarrey reported on her
participation in the following organizations' meetings:
• COACHELLA VALLEY MOUNTAINS CONSERVANCY
• LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES — EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, RIVERSIDE
COUNTY DIVISION
La Quinta's representative for 2024, Mayor Pro Tem Pena reported on his participation in
the following organization's meeting:
• CV MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES
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CLOSED SESSION — Continued
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL — ANTICIPATED LITIGATION;
INITIATION OF LITIGATION PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (4) OF
SUBDIVISION (d) OF GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9 (NUMBER OF
POTENTIAL CASES: 1)
COUNCIL RECESSED THE OPEN SESSION PORTION OF THE MEETING AND
MOVED INTO CLOSED SESSION AT 6:19 P.M.
MAYOR EVANS RECONVENED THE OPEN SESSION PORTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL MEETING AT 7:11 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 54957.1
(Brown Act):
• CLOSED SESSION ITEM NO. 1 — no new reportable action on this matter.
The authorization to initiate or intervene in litigation as reported out for Closed Session
Item No. 2 from the July 2, 2024, Council meeting remains in place, and no new action
was taken tonight for Closed Session Item No. 1 that requires additional reporting.
In accordance with Government Code section 54957.1, subdivision(a)(2), upon the formal
commencement of or intervening in any litigation, the action, name of the parties, and
other particulars of the litigation may be disclosed upon inquiry.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers
Fitzpatrick/Sanchez to adjourn at 7:12 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
MONIKA RADEVA, City Clerk
City of La Quinta, California
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