2025 02 06 CC Minutes Sp Mtg Com Workshop
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 1 of 4 FEBRUARY 6, 2025
SPECIAL MEETING ANNUAL COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
ANNUAL COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
A special meeting of the La Quinta City Council was called to order at 5:17 p.m. by Mayor
Evans to conduct the City’s 2025 Annual Community Workshop at the La Quinta Wellness
Center, located at 78450 Avenida La Fonda, La Quinta, CA 92253.
PRESENT: Councilmembers Fitzpatrick, McGarrey, Peña, Sanchez, and Mayor Evans
ABSENT: None
COMMUNITY MEMBERS SIGNED IN: 48
CITY STAFF PRESENT: 39
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA – Confirmed
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Evans led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance
STUDY SESSION
1. ANNUAL COMMUNITY WORKSHOP: “ELEVATING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER”
Mayor Evans welcomed all participants to the annual community workshop; explained the
purpose of the workshop; and inquired about the length of time participants have resided
in La Quinta.
>>> Public Safety
La Quinta Battalion Chief Justin Karp with Riverside County Fire Department and
Lieutenant Francisco (Frank) Velasco with Riverside County Sheriff’s Department
provided a presentation on preparedness, logistics, response, and agencies collaboration
related to potential local hazards, including earthquake, flood, fire, extreme weather, and
terrorist acts; and useful tips and resources available to residents to assist them should
such situation arise.
>>> Strategic Plan
The Plan is designed to help the City achieve short- and long-term goals that reflect the
City’s Sacred Values and align with its Mission Statement.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 2 of 4 FEBRUARY 6, 2025
SPECIAL MEETING ANNUAL COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
Mission Statement: “As the ‘Gem of the Desert,’ the City of La Quinta is committed to
enhancing its unique natural surroundings for the benefit of its residents through support
for the arts and culture, public safety, affordable housing, sustainable fiscal and
environmental guidelines, multi-racial and multi-generational activities and events, and
preservation of its ancient and recent history.”
Sacred Values:
Fiscal Sustainability
Health and Wellness
Vibrant and Safe Community
Cultural Diversity
Visually Beautiful City
Director of Business Unit and Housing Development Villalpando provided a brief overview
of the City’s draft Strategic Plan (Plan) which consists of 13 Focus Areas identified by
staff, Council, and residents as important to La Quinta today and in the future. Focus
Areas vary from long-range “big rock” projects that may take 20 years or more to
complete, while others are short-range; with many not being “projects” but rather ongoing
priorities that are regularly examined and honed.
City Manager McMillen said the Plan serves as a road map to keep the City on track to
accomplish and refine projects and goals; and is a tool to monitor and evaluate the City’s
performance and progress.
A summary overview of the City’s completed projects and accomplishments over the last
year was presented via a video.
Participants were asked to vote on their top three (3) Focus Areas based on their priority.
Focus Areas (1) through (5) below are listed in weighted-ranking order based on all
participants’ votes, announced by Marketing Manager Graham, and Focus Areas (6)
through (13) are listed randomly without any priority given:
1) Address Imperial Irrigation District (IID) Lease and Equipment Needs
2) Continue to address Affordable Housing Needs*
3) Underground Utilities*
4) Economic Development
5) Preserve La Quinta’s History
6) Implement the Reenvision Highway 111 Plan
7) Be a Leader in Sustainability
8) Exemplary Public Safety
9) Expanding La Quinta’s Boundaries
10) Broaden Community Involvement
11) Marketing and Tourism
12) Enhance Health, Wellness and Recreation Amenities
13) Expand Art in Public Places
*Numbers (2) and (3) tied for second place.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 3 of 4 FEBRUARY 6, 2025
SPECIAL MEETING ANNUAL COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
MAYOR EVANS CALLED FOR A BRIEF RECESS AT 6:04 P.M.
MAYOR EVANS RECONVENED THE ANNUAL COMMUNITY WORKSHOP AT
6:18 PM WITH ALL MEMBERS PRESENT
>>> Finance Update
Finance Director Martinez presented the City’s past and current financial status and
priorities, including having a balanced budget, strong financial policies, financial stability
and robust reserves, strategic investments, implementing proactive pension management
and achieving fully funded pension status, receiving the Government Finance Officers
Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, and being
ranked No. 7 in fiscal strength out of 419 cities in California with reported data.
>>> Resident Resources Update
Community Services Deputy Director Calderon provided a brief overview of the
resources, services, and programs the City offers to La Quinta residents, including
SilverRock golf membership; Wellness Center services; meals distributions in partnership
with Find Food Bank; waste, recycling, composting, shredding, and hazardous waste
services through Burrtec Waste and Recycling; La Quinta Historical Society; Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT) trainings; and recognition awards and monuments.
>>> SilverRock (formerly Talus) Development Project – Status Update
City Manager McMillen provided a status update on the SilverRock development project,
including the voluntarily petitioned Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, on August 5, 2024, by
the former developer SilverRock Development Company, LLC and its affiliates (the
debtors) in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware; current project site clean-up, dust
mediation, and erosion control efforts by RD Olson Construction Company, which was
the primary contractor of the project; next steps include a stalking horse bidder to market
the project to a future developer; the Cumming Group, an independent consultant
retained by the Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO), who is a fiduciary of the debtors and
entirely controlled by the former bankruptcy Judge Christopher Sontchi, is preparing a
“Property Condition Report,” expected to be completed by mid-February 2025, to identify
the site condition and cost analysis to complete the project; Jones, Land, LaSalle
engaged by the City, following the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s approval of the Debtor-In-
Possession Financing, to market the project to secure a future developer toured the site
this morning; and the overall positive feedback being received by all parties involved with
the moving forward efforts to get the project back on track.
Prior announcements regarding the bankruptcy case are available on the City’s website
at www.laquintaca.gov/taluslq.
PUBLIC SPEAKERS: Staff answered questions regarding the SilverRock project and
potential traffic impacts on Avenue 52 as result of project build out, from the participants
listed below, in the order in which they spoke:
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 4 of 4 FEBRUARY 6, 2025
SPECIAL MEETING ANNUAL COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
Brian Anderson, La Quinta
Gayle Cady, Vista Santa Rosa (Avenue 54)
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Alena Callimanis, La Quinta – said she is the Program Coordinator
for 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; the program received a starter grant from the City to
open up the program in Truman Elementary School in La Quinta; the program was
advertised in The Gem, the City’s weekly newsletter, etc.; and encouraged participants
to volunteer and provided informational materials.
WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS for Study Session Item No. 1 were received from the La
Quinta residents listed below in alphabetical order, which were distributed to Council,
made public, published on the City’s website, and included in the public record of this
meeting:
Aneta Broady – various community project priorities.
Philip Bettencourt – energy capacity and electrical infrastructure.
Vanessa (no last name listed) – housing development; affordability; would like to
see more multi-family homes and higher density.
Vanessa (no last name listed) – Strategic Plan; broaden community involvement;
and leader in sustainability.
Mayor Evans provided a brief overview of upcoming City events, including La Quinta Full
Moon Hike, Night Sky Star Observations, Household Hazardous Waste, La Quinta Art
Celebration, Easter Eggstravanganza, and City’s 42 Birthday Celebration.
Mayor Evans, on behalf of the Council, thanked participants for their time and
commitment to La Quinta; and noted community input and engagement are vital for
“Elevating Our Future Together.”
MAYOR’S AND COUNCILMEMBERS’ ITEMS – None.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers
Sanchez/McGarrey to adjourn at 6:56 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
MONIKA RADEVA, City Clerk
City of La Quinta, California