z 2025-05-20 CC Staff Report - CVPA LQ Members AppointmentBUSINESS SESSION
1. APPOINT MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO SERVE AS CITY
REPRESENTATIVES ON THE NEWLY FORMED COACHELLA VALLEY
POWER AGENCY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
COUNCILMEMBER PENA RECUSED HIMSELF FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE
DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON BUSINESS SESSION ITEM NO. 1 DUE TO A
CONFLICT OF INTEREST STEMMING FROM A REASONABLE PROBABILITY
OF FUTURE INCOME AND/OR INVESTMENT INCOME FROM AN ELECTRIC
POWER COMPANY (SECURE ENERGY SOURCE), AS NOTED DURING
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA ABOVE; AND LEFT THE DAIS AT 5:42 P.M.
Council waived presentation of the staff report, which is on file in the Clerk's Office.
MOTION — A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Sanchez/Fitzpatrick
to appoint Mayor Evans and Councilmember Fitzpatrick to serve, respectively, as Director
and an alternate on the Coachella Valley Power Agency Board of Directors. Motion
passed: ayes — 4, noes — 0, abstain — 0, absent — 1 (Pena).
City Clerk Radeva said WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS were received from Rancho
Mirage resident Brad Anderson, opposing the newly formed Coachella Valley Power
Agency and related Joint Powers Agreement, which were distributed to Council, made
public, published on the City's website, and included in the public record of this meeting.
COUNCILMEMBER PENA RETURNED TO THE DAIS AT 5:44 P.M.
2. APPROVE LA QUINTA YOUTH COLLECTIVE (LQYC) PROGRAM
Management Analyst Calderon and Administrative Technician Elizalde presented the
staff report, which is on file in the Clerk's Office.
Council discussed timing for promoting the LQYC program; plans for engaging home -
schooled students; scholarship/grant funding to students or directly to schools;
documentation for use of grant funds; connecting students to resources and outside
organizations in their fields of interest; application to include participation in sports, clubs,
etc. — shows they are driven; means of selecting participants for well-rounded group;
grade make-up of participants for balance of maturity; and adding a due date to complete
the application.
MOTION — A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Fitzpatrick/McGarrey
to approve the La Quinta Youth Collective Program as presented. Motion passed
unanimously.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Page 6 of 10 MAY 20, 2025
City of La Quinta
CITY COUNCIL MEETINC May 20, 2025
STAFF REPORT
BUSINESS SESSION ITEM NO. 1
AGENDA TITLE: APPOINT MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO SERVE AS CITY
REPRESENTATIVES ON THE NEWLY FORMED COACHELLA VALLEY POWER
AGENCY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RECOMMENDATION
Appoint members of the City Council to serve as City representatives on the newly formed
Coachella Valley Power Agency Board of Directors.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• In March and April 2025, Council approved the Coachella Valley Power Agency
(CVPA) Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) and authorized La Quinta's membership.
• Council must appoint two of its members to serve on the CVPA Board of Directors
(Board) as Director and an alternate in accordance with the JPA.
FISCAL IMPACT — None.
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS
Addressing the unique and growing electrical infrastructure needs for the CV communities
served by the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) is a top priority for the region and the City. The
99-year Agreement of Compromise between the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD)
and IID, making IID the electrical service provider for La Quinta and the greater CV, expires
on December 31, 2032. The upcoming expiration of this agreement has raised questions
and concerns from local elected leaders and community stakeholders regarding
representation on electrical service matters, including meeting the current and future
electrical infrastructure needs of the communities served by IID.
The newly formed CVPA, established via the JPA, is an independent public agency for
Riverside County and the Coachella Valley (CV) to give stakeholders the authority they
have sought to address electrical infrastructure needs and services.
On March 18, Council approved the CVPA JPA; and on April 1, 2025, Council adopted
Resolution No. 2025-007 authorizing La Quinta's membership on the CVPA JPA.
On May 6 and 7, 2025, respectively, Riverside County and the City of Indio also approved
the CVPA JPA and authorized their memberships.
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The JPA represents a collaborative approach to addressing representation and electrical
infrastructure needs of the CV, and it includes input from various stakeholders. Each
member will have the ability to exercise powers to promote, develop conduct, operate, and
manage energy generation and distribution in the eastern CV toward achieving reliable,
cost-effective public power.
Pursuant to "Article 3: Governance and Internal Organization" of the JPA, the Board shall
consist of 1 Director appointed by each of the member parties, and Directors shall be
elected officials. Each member party may also appoint an alternate to serve in the absence
of its Director. If at any time a vacancy occurs on the Board, a replacement shall be
appointed by the affected member party to fill the position within 30 days.
Council must appoint two of its members to serve on the CVPA Board as Director and an
alternate who shall serve at the pleasure of the Council and may be removed and/or
replaced at any time.
ALTERNATIVES
There are no alternatives to the recommended action.
Prepared by:
Approved by:
Monika Radeva, City Clerk
Jon McMillen, City Manager
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