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2024 09 17 CC MinutesA., 4OF TO' CALL TO ORDER CITY COUNCIL MINUTES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 A regular meeting of the La Quinta City Council was called to order at 3:30 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 Councilmembers stated they would like to comment on Consent Calendar Item Nos. 10 through 15. Councilmember McGarrey said she will recuse herself and abstain from discussion and vote on Consent Calendar Item No. 22 due to a potential conflict of interest stemming from a business relationship, i.e., her employer, Southern California Gas Company, is listed on the Demand Register, and requested that the item be pulled for a separate vote. Council concurred. CLOSED SESSION 1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL — EXISTING LITIGATION; PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (1) OF SUBDIVISION (d) OF GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9; CASES NAMES AND NUMBERS — MULTIPLE (listed below, all in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware) CASE NAME: CASE NUMBER SilverRock Development Company, LLC 24-11647 SilverRock Lifestyle Residences, LLC 24-11648 SilverRock Lodging, LLC 24-11650 SilverRock Luxury Residences, LLC 24-11652 SilverRock Phase I, LLC 24-11654 RGC PA 789, LLC 24-11657 COUNCIL RECESSED THE OPEN SESSION PORTION OF THE MEETING AND MOVED INTO CLOSED SESSION AT 3:32 P.M. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 1 of 12 SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 MAYOR EVANS RECONVENED THE OPEN SESSION PORTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 4:07 P.M. WITH ALL MEMBERS PRESENT REPORT ON ACTION(S) TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION: City Attorney Ihrke reported no actions were taken on Closed Session Item No. 1 that require reporting pursuant to Government Code section 54957.1 (Brown Act). Council's authorization remains in place for the City Attorney, in coordination with the City Attorney's Office, to defend and protect the interests of the City in the multiple bankruptcy cases filed by SilverRock Development Company and its responsive affiliates as reported out for Closed Session Item No. 2 from the August 6, 2024 Council meeting. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Pro Tem Pena led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA PUBLIC SPEAKER: Alena Callimanis, La Quinta — spoke about the Read With Me volunteer program, which assists children from low income, limited English speaking environments to develop to their fullest potential by learning to read, comprehend, and speak English while understanding that people care about them as individuals, and noted what is required to become a volunteer, and the dates of volunteer recruitment events that will be held at the Wellness Center. PUBLIC SPEAKER: Jeff Fishbein, Chair of the La Quinta Chamber of Commerce, Coldwell Banker Realtor, and La Quinta resident — provided an update on Chamber events and activities, including the upcoming State -of -the -City event scheduled for September 19, 2024, at the La Quinta Resort & Club; noted awards for Business of the Year, Non -Profit of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, etc.; and announced new businesses. ANNOUNCEMENTS, PRESENTATIONS AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS • AUTISM CENTER CERTIFICATION — added announcement Mayor Evans said La Quinta is the third city in the Coachella Valley receiving the Certified Autism Center Recognition. 1. HUNGER ACTION MONTH — SEPTEMBER 2024 — PRESENTATION BY FIND FOOD BANK PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DEBBIE ESPINOSA AND DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER RACHEL ANDERSON Chief Executive Officer Espinosa with Find Food Bank spoke about the importance of aiding Hunger Action Month; the efforts and objectives; encouraged the community to join CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 2 of 12 SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 the movement to help end hunger this month by volunteering or donating; and the benefits of Senate Bill 1383, food recycling. 2. PROCLAMATION IN RECOGNITION OF CONSTITUTION WEEK — SEPTEMBER 16-22, 2024, COMMEMORATING THE SIGNING OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION Constitution Week Committee Chair Rhonda Fleming-Latkovic, representative of the Cahuilla Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), accompanied by a fellow NSDAR representative Rosemary Hallick, explained that this is a non-political organization formed in 1890, which promotes historical preservation, education, and patriotism; and spoke about the organization's membership and efforts to commemorate the US Constitution and emphasize its importance. Council presented the NSDAR representatives with a proclamation in recognition of Constitution Week celebrating the 237th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution in September 1787. 3. CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION HONORING LA QUINTA HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER FRANK CEJA AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE AIR AND SPACE FORCES ASSOCIATION 2024 TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD Mr. Ceja explained how he learned of his nomination; the parameters of the award; and thanked the Council for the recognition. Students of Mr. Ceja, Abigail Westland and Thomas Hensel, provided their experience of Mr. Ceja's talent as a teacher. Council presented Mr. Ceja with a Certificate of Recognition honoring him as the recipient of the Air and Space Forces Association 2024 Teacher of the Year award. 4. TALUS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (FORMERLY SILVERROCK) — STATUS UPDATE City Manager McMillen said on August 5, 2024, SilverRock Development Company LLC (SDC) and its affiliates petitioned for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware, which automatically put a hold on the foreclosure sale and plans to move forward with a new developer. Following Council's unanimous direction during its August 6, 2024, meeting, Mr. McMillen and City Attorney lhrke have coordinated for the defense and protection of La Quinta's interests in the bankruptcy case filed by SDC. These interests have included and will continue to include, among other items: • Ensuring the City's right to approve any developer of the project going forward. • Maintaining the City's oversight and approval rights for the development of the project. This includes phasing, schedules, and financing. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 3 of 12 SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 • Facilitating, through the bankruptcy court proceeding, an expeditious plan to protect and secure the site, update estimates and appraisals, and create a plan to identify new qualified development entity's that can fully fund and resume construction of the project as soon as possible. In a special meeting on September 9, 2024, Council unanimously voted to ratify and approve a professional services agreement with Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP to represent the City as special counsel and local Delaware counsel in connection with the bankruptcy. The City has been and will continue to be diligent in asserting its position and interest in the bankruptcy proceedings with the goal of resolving the case quickly and having the project move forward. City Manager McMillen asked the City Attorney to provide some additional detail regarding Bankruptcies in general as well as some specifics with respect to these current proceedings. City Attorney lhrke said bankruptcy proceedings are highly specialized in the litigation world; they are governed by Federal Law and have specific courts with specific jurisdiction for bankruptcy cases; they generally follow two tracks, either voluntary and involuntary bankruptcy petitions; in this case, SDC filed for voluntary bankruptcy under the U.S. bankruptcy code, and this is the proceeding in which the City and several other parties, also known as "creditors" are participating. As noted by City Manager McMillen, the filing of the bankruptcy case places an immediate "stay" or "freeze" on all other state and federal lawsuits, all property transfers or foreclosures, and performing under existing (or "executory") contracts. While the "stay" temporary protects the debtor (here being SDC) from having to pay certain obligations, the debtor must also get court approval in order to do any business. Therefore, it is important for the City to be very involved, and most importantly for a plan to emerge out of bankruptcy, the court must approved it. Mr. Ihrke noted bankruptcy cases move quickly, particularly at the beginning; to date there have already been three court hearings: a. "First Day Hearing" on August 13, 2024 — included perfunctory motions, such as to consolidate all of the bankruptcy petitions filed by the SDC entities. b. "Emergency Motion for `Debtor In Possession Financing," or "DIP Financing" on September 3, 2024 — brought by SDC and opposed by the City and several other creditors because, among other reasons, the proposed financing terms by an outside lender, who is not a current creditor in these proceedings or party to the lawsuit, were very expensive, severe, and not favorable to the existing creditors; and the court denied that motion. c. "Second Day Hearing" on September 11, 2024 — included a motion to appoint legal counsel to represent SDC, which was granted; as well as a motion to grant a one - CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 4 of 12 SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 week extension for SDC to file its financing statements and schedules required for a bankruptcy proceeding, to set forth the liabilities and the assets to move the proceeding forward, which was also granted by the court, and the statements are due to be filed with the court by midnight on September 18, 2024. d. The court temporarily allowed for the appointment of a "Chief Restructuring Officer" or "CRO" as allowed under the bankruptcy law, which acts as an independent "supervisor," (i.e., not the "debtor" SDC itself), to oversee payment of expenses while the bankruptcy case is pending (such as payments for security fencing) and coordinates with parties to the bankruptcy proceeding to facilitate and recommend to the court a plan to emerge out of bankruptcy. In this regard, the City Attorney Ihrke stated that he, the City Manager, and Special Counsel for the City have been significantly involved and communicating with the "CRO" in all aspects of these duties to ensure the Talus site does not fall into further disrepair, project construction can restart as soon as possible, and the City's right is preserved and exercised to approve the next developer to take over the project under the operative agreements, once the bankruptcy proceedings have been resolved. Another unique aspect of bankruptcy proceedings is that there is a U.S. Trustee's Office which participates in the case; City Attorney Ihrke explained this is a federal office, under the U.S. Department of Justice, and it participates like a party but also has certain obligations and duties as provided in bankruptcy law; one of those obligations includes "convening and presiding at a meeting of creditors," with the first meeting held on September 12, 2024; the court may not participate in this meeting, and this is not an official bankruptcy court proceeding; the U.S. Trustee was clear that the purpose of the meeting is for him to ask questions of the debtors, and in this case, the U.S. Trustee did ask questions of SDC representatives, including SDC's representatives Robert Green and Fred Schuster; the U.S. Trustee also made it clear that other parties may question witnesses, but they are not required to; and regardless of whether questions are asked or not, all objections and right to question witnesses are preserved for when the parties appear in open court; because the U.S. Bankruptcy Court granted SDC the one- week extension to file its financial statements, the U.S. Trustee continued the September 12, 2024, meeting of creditors, to a future date that has not yet been set, as he wanted to interview SDC after its financial statements and schedules were filed, and the U.S. Trustee had an opportunity to examine them. Mr. Ihrke noted regular updates will be provided continuously in future public meetings to keep the Council and the public informed on how the bankruptcy proceedings are progressing. Mayor Pro Tem Pena asked that a summary of the events to date on the bankruptcy proceedings be posted on the City's website to keep the public informed. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 5 of 12 SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 Councilmember Fitzpatrick asked why the court venue was not moved from Delaware to California. Mr. Ihrke explained the reason jurisdiction and venue in Delaware is appropriate for the bankruptcy proceedings is because SDC and its affiliates are registered LLCs in the State of Delaware; the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware has very experienced judges because many companies incorporate in Delaware, and bankruptcy proceedings end up prosecuted in Delaware frequently; after conducting due diligence, and conferring with the City Manager and the Special Counsel, it was decided that it made sense to keep the case in Delaware to avoid a delay in proceeding and to keep the case moving along. Mayor Evans acknowledged that the Talus development progress is an important topic of discussion for La Quinta; and said protecting the City's interests is imperative and a top priority, and the City is conducting its due diligence to see this through, knowing that this is not an easy process, but it is necessary; the City has complied with the Development Agreement, and it was the SDC's deficiencies that led up to these proceedings; the City has not lost hundreds of millions as my be stated or read on social media, and the securing of funding and finances is the developer's obligation, which is the reason there are creditors; the City is actively participating in the bankruptcy proceedings representing and protecting the City's best interests. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. APPROVE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES DATED AUGUST 6, 2024 2. APPROVE COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES DATED AUGUST 6, 2024 3. APPROVE COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES DATED SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 4. EXCUSE ABSENCES OF (1) COMMISSIONER HUNDT FROM THE AUGUST 13, 2024, PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, (2) COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ FROM THE SEPTEMBER 10, 2024, PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, AND (3) COMMISSIONERS LEE, MAST, AND WAY FROM THE AUGUST 14, 2024, FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING 5. AUTHORIZE OVERNIGHT TRAVEL FOR ONE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TECHNICIAN TO ATTEND THE INTERNATIONAL MUNICIPAL SIGNAL ASSOCIATION CERTIFICATION PROGRAM IN ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA, OCTOBER 7-10, 2024 6. ADOPT ORDINANCE NOS. 616 AND 617 ON SECOND READING APPROVING (1) ZONE CHANGE 2017-0002 AND (2) DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT 2021- 0001, RESPECTIVELY, FOR THE TRAVERTINE PROJECT CONSISTING OF 1,200 RESIDENTIAL UNITS, 45,000 SQUARE FOOT HOTEL WITH 100 VILLAS, SPA AND WELLNESS CENTER AND OTHER COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL USES; CEQA: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (EA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 6 of 12 SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 2017-0008, SCH # 2018011023) HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECT; LOCATION: SOUTH OF AVENUE 60, WEST OF MADISON STREET, AND NORTH OF AVENUE 64 7. ADOPT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE FINAL TARCT MAP AND SUBDIVISION IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH TRACT MAP NO. 38083, LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF AVENUE 54 BETWEEN MADISON AND MONROE STREETS [RESOLUTION NO. 2024-035] 8. ACCEPT ON-SITE IMPROVEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FLORESTA RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, TRACT MAP NO. 36762, LOCATED AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF AVENUE 52 AND JEFFERSON STREET 9. ACCEPT OFF-SITE AND ON-SITE IMPROVEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SOLTERRA RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, TRACT MAP NO. 37359, LOCATED ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF AUTO CENTRE DRIVE AND LA QUINTA DRIVE 10. ACCEPT LA QUINTA LANDSCAPE RENOVATION IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT NO. 2016-031, LOCATED AT THE CACTUS FLOWER DEVELOPMENT; AND REALLOCATE FUNDING TO CITYWIDE IRRIGATION UPGRADE PROJECT NO. 2024-15 11. ACCEPT DUNE PALMS ROAD PAVEMENT REHABILITATION PROJECT NO. 2021-01, LOCATED ON DUNE PALMS ROAD, FROM MILES AVENUE TO FRED WARING DRIVE 12. ACCEPT FISCAL YEAR 2022/23 PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN CITYWIDE SLURRY SEAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT NO. 2023-15, LOCATED IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS 13. AWARD CONTRACT TO ONYX PAVING COMPANY, INC. FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/25 PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN PROJECT NO. 2024-12 FOR FRED WARING DRIVE AND MISCELLANEOUS LOCATIONS 14. ALLOCATE FUNDING AND AWARD CONTRACT TO GRANITE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOR THE SILVERROCK TEMPORARY GOLF CART PATH PAVING PROJECT NO. 2024-13 15. RATIFY AND APPROVE AGREEMENT FOR CONTRACT SERVICES WITH VARIABLE SPEED SOLUTIONS, INC. FOR CIVIC CENTER LAKE PUMP REPLACEMENT PROJECT NO. 2024-16 16. APPROVE AMENDMENT NO.2 TO AGREEMENT FOR CONTRACT SERVICES WITH DESERT LIMNOLOGISTS DBA SOUTHWEST AQUATICS, INC. FOR LAKE MAINTENANCE SERVICES PROJECT NO. 2019-11; AND AUTHORIZE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 7 of 12 SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO UTILIZE THIS VENDOR AS SELECT SOURCE FOR EXTRA LAKE MAINTENANCE SERVICES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/25 17. APPROVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO AGREEMENT FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR SERVICES WITH COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPAR 18. AUTHORIZE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO UTILIZE TRI-STATE MATERIALS TO PURCHASE UP TO $250,000 OF MATERIALS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/25 19. RECEIVE AND FILE FOURTH QUARTER FISCAL YEAR 2023/24 TREASURY REPORTS FOR APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE 2024 20. APPROVE DEMAND REGISTERS DATED AUGUST 2, 9, AND 16, 2024 21. APPROVE DEMAND REGISTERS DATED AUGUST 23, 30, AND SEPTEMBER 6, 2024 22. APPROVE DEMAND REGISTERS FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY DATED JULY 5, AUGUST 9, AND SEPTEMBER 6, 2024 CONSENT CALENDAR — COMMENTS ITEM NO. 10: Councilmember Fitzpatrick said the landscape renovation improvements in the Cactus Flower development look beautiful and she was pleased to see them completed. Mayor Evans said in addition to the landscape renovation improvements at Cactus Flower, the City also added pickle ball courts and table tennis; this is also the 7th and final phase of the north La Quinta landscape renovation project the City has been working on for several years, which was completed ahead of schedule in 8 years instead of the anticipated 10 years, and required a substantial financial investment to complete these improvements which was made possible thanks to the residents voting to approve Measure G for additional sales tax in 2016. ITEM NO. 15: Council requested presentation of the staff reports. Maintenance and Operations Superintendent Hansen said the replacement pump for the Civic Center Campus lake, which operates the fountain, is currently in fabrication, staff has been servicing the lake more frequently while the pump is not operational to maintain the aquatic and wildlife, even though the lake was not intended to be an animal habitat. Councilmembers noted there is another pump which circulates the lake water and is operational while the fountain pump is in the process of replacement; the wildlife (turtles, CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 8 of 12 SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 fish, etc.) inhabiting the lake has been brought in by the public, not the City, and the ducks are being fed by the public as well, which is not best practices as it oftentimes makes them ill and results in excessive breeding and increased duck population; and the City has had to continuously care for the lake habitat, and has consulted with the Wildlife Conservation and the Living Desert; and explained that lake aeration systems are quite complex. ITEM NOS. 11, 12, and 13: Mayor Evans said the City continues to make substantial financial investments in pavement management, rehabilitation, and enhancements to ensure La Quinta's roads infrastructure is well maintained and improved. ITEM NO. 14: Councilmember Sanchez requested a summary of this project's scope related to the SilverRock temporary golf cart path paving. City Manager McMillen said this project is the most cost-effective way to properly mitigate the dust at the Talus (formerly SilverRock) development, and to protect the City's recent investment in a new golf cart fleet; it will provide a 3/4 of a mile, 10 -foot wide, double -lane temporary golf cart path through the Talus development, which will eventually change once it is built out. MOTION — A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Pena/Sanchez to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1-21 as presented, with Item No. 6 adopting Ordinance Nos. 616 and 617, and Item No. 7 adopting Resolution No. 2024-035. Motion passed unanimously. COUNCILMEMBER McGARREY RECUSED HERSELF, AND SAID SHE WILL ABSTAIN FROM THE DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM NO. 22 DUE TO A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST STEMMING FROM A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH HER EMPLOYER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY, WHICH IS A PAYEE ON THE DEMAND REGISTER MOTION — A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Fitzpatrick/Sanchez to approve Consent Calendar Item No. 22 as presented. Motion passed: ayes — 4, noes — 0, abstain — 1 (McGarrey), absent — 0. City Clerk Radeva said WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS were received from La Quinta resident Alena Callimanis on Consent Calendar Item No. 6, adopting Ordinance Nos. 616 and 617, approving a zone change and a development agreement, respectively, related to the Travertine project, which were distributed to Council, made public, published on the City's website, and included in the public record of this meeting. ITEM NO. 6: Mayor Evans noted that although she was not present for the first reading of these Ordinances, she is familiar with the project, and it is legally permitted for her to participate in the vote regarding the second reading and adoption of the Ordinances. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 9 of 12 SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 BUSINESS SESSION 1. ADOPT RESOLUTION ADOPTING FACILTIY NAMING POLICY Community Services Management Analyst Calderon presented the staff report, which is on file in the Clerk's Office. Council discussed clarifying requirements for consideration regarding "currently" being a full-time La Quinta resident for minimum of 10 years or "have been a full-time resident," if the individual has moved away at the time the nomination is received [page 454, Requirements for Consideration, item (i)]; the City's recently updated awards programs provide opportunities to recognize and acknowledge non-residents who have contributed greatly to the community; businesses rather than individuals that have contributed; future Councils may revoke name changes with a four-fifths supermajority vote; naming of public amenities is allowed under the Policy, as opposed to public buildings, which is prohibited; omitting from the Policy, the renaming of City streets due to its complexity, and there is a Street Name Change process already in place under the Planning Division; including city - owned fire stations in the Policy to be eligible for naming; referencing that monetary donations would be subject to the City's Sponsorship Policy, which is separate and apart from this Policy; clarify the language that the City cannot preclude a name also being used outside of La Quinta limits [page 454, item (e)]; regarding Qualifications clarify that the applicants do not make the "determination" to rename, but are rather making the "request" [page 453, item (d)]; regarding Criteria enumerating mountains, vistas, etc., clarify that only City -owned property is eligible [page 455, item (d)]; establish a framework and budgets for materials, design, and consistency of naming plaques; application fee; source of funding for renaming a facility; the existing Tree Memorial Program will remain as is and will not be merged under the umbrella of this Policy; clarify that all renaming proposals will be considered by Council as a Business Session Item [page 456, item (b)(iii)]; support for requirement for 100 supporting signatures; add a requirement for phone number and email of applicant to application; being flexible in the future to include non -full-time residents; and grandfather the Fred Wolff Preserve, Bear Creek Trail, and Wolff Waters by including them in the list of sacred facilities. Council reached a consensus to bring this item back as a Business Item for further consideration, after the inclusion of the recommendations and direction provided by Council in its discussion above, and after review by the Arts and Community Services Commission. MOTION — A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers McGarrey/Sanchez to continue this Facility Naming Policy to be revised per Council's comments provided in the discussion above, presented to the Arts and Community Services Commission for consideration and comments, and brought back to Council at a future meeting. Motion passed unanimously. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 10 of 12 SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 2. APPROVE DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN AWARD NOMINEE Community Services Management Analyst Calderon presented the staff report, which is on file in the Clerk's Office. Council noted that this award is a surprise to Mr. Donato. MOTION — A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Pena/Sanchez to approve the nomination of La Quinta resident Will Donato to be recognized with the Distinguished Citizen award. Motion passed unanimously. STUDY SESSION — None PUBLIC HEARINGS — None DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS — All reports are on file in the City Clerk's Office. Mayor Evans noted that the Police quarterly report indicated that response times have improved greatly, and invited Riverside County Sheriff's Department Lieutenant Velasco, La Quinta's Police Chief, to explain the factors behind the response improvement, as well as the citation numbers, which he did. Councilmember Fitzpatrick noted that the Fire Department response times have also improved. MAYOR'S AND COUNCIL MEMBERS' ITEMS Mayor Evans thanked staff for the 9/11 Candlelight Vigil and the August 26, 2024 vigil honoring the three-year anniversary of the death of Marine Corporal Hunter Lopez in Afghanistan; reported on her attendance at the All Valley Mayors and County and Tribal Chairpersons Luncheon held on September 13, 2024, at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells; meeting with Laura James and David Powell of Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP); her update on La Quinta at the Rotary dinner; and ribbon cutting at Fortune's Restaurant. Councilmember Sanchez said September 9th was California's 174th birthday; in 1850, California was the 31st state to join the United States. Councilmember McGarrey reported on her attendance at the Do The Right Thing event, and suggested that the student honored there be invited to, and honored at a La Quinta Council meeting. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 11 of 12 SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS La Quinta's representative for 2024, Mayor Evans reported on her participation in the following organizations' meetings: • CVAG COACHELLA VALLEY CONSERVATION COMMISSION • CVAG ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE La Quinta's representative for 2024, Councilmember Fitzpatrick reported on her participation in the following organizations' meetings: • CVAG TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE • DESERT RECREATION DISTRICT COMMITTEE (Fitzpatrick & McGarrey) • RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION La Quinta's representative for 2024, Councilmember McGarrey reported on her participation in the following organization's meeting: • IID ENERGY CONSUMERS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE 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 La Quinta's representative for 2024, Councilmember Sanchez reported on his participation in the following organizations' meetings: • ANIMAL CAMPUS COMMISSION • SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS REGIONAL COUNCIL ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Fitzpatrick/McGarry to adjourn at 6:14 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, / MONIKA RADEVA, City Clerk City of La Quinta, California CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 12 of 12 SEPTEMBER 17, 2024