z 2025-04-01 CC Staff Report - CVPA JPA Membership Authorization RES 2025-007and operations, including pumps, biological filter, wildlife relocation and preservations, etc.,
and the upcoming draining of the lake, repairs, and anticipated schedule.
Council discussed quality of lake water going into the retention basin; toxicity of bottom
sediments/sludge going to the landfill; directed staff to recheck permits needed; re -homing
the fish and turtles that were not intended to live in the lake; management of the wildlife;
estimate cost; lower creek flow; membrane lining condition and repair method; plan, work
and communication schedule; frequency of water testing; community communication plan;
gallons draining and retention basin percolation rate; avoiding work during any upcoming
events; and directed staff to solicit public input before this item is scheduled for Council's
consideration as a Business Session.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Chris Beaty, Biologist, President of Southwest Aquatics — has been
maintaining the lake since 2018; explained other local lakes the company has drained;
described the condition of the lake, lining, filters, and pumps; health of fish during relocation
to upper lake; fencing plans; aeration system; additional pump cost; no disposal permits or
water quality analysis required, but will reconfirm that; will do a water quality sample test
before moving water into the retention basin; and doesn't anticipate the need to drain upper
lake.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 621 ON SECOND READING AMENDING TITLE 7
HISTORIC PRESERVATION BY ADDING SECTION 7.06.050 REGARDING DE -
DESIGNATION PROCEDURES OF LANDMARK PROPERTIES AND DISTRICTS
AND CHAPTER 7.09 REGARDING MILLS ACT CONTRACT; CEQA; THE
PROJECT IS EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO
SECTION 15061(B)(3) COMMON SENSE EXEMPTION; LOCATION: CITY-WIDE
2. »> Pulled for a separate vote by Councilmember Pena
ADOPT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF LA QUINTA AS A MEMBER
OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY POWER AGENCY, A JOINT EXERCISE OF
POWERS AGENCY [RESOLUTION NO. 2025-007]
3. APPROVE AGREEMENT FOR CONTRACT SERVICES WITH FIND FOOD BANK
TO PROVIDE MOBILE MARKET AND NON-PERISHABLE FOOD KITS TO
SENIORS AND LA QUINTA RESIDENTS
4. APPROVE AGREEMENT FOR CONTRACT SERVICES WITH NV5, INC. FOR
DESIGN SERVICES FOR WASHINGTON STREET SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS
AND AVENUE 50 SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT NOS. 2023-03 AND
2024-01
5. APPROVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO AGREEMENT FOR CONTRACT SERVICES
WITH WILLDAN FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC FOR ANNUAL LEVY
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FOR LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING
ASSESSMENT DISTRICT 89-1
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Page 4 of 9 APRIL 1, 2025
Mayor Pro Tem McGarrey reiterated that she serves on the Board of Directors for FIND
Food Bank, as announced during Confirmation of Agenda above, and as this is a volunteer
position and she does not receive compensation, there is no potential conflict of interest.
MOTION — A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Fitzpatrick/Sanchez to
approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1, 3 — 11 as presented, with Item No. 1 adopting
Ordinance 621. Motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Debbie Espinosa, FIND Food Bank President and Chief Executive
Officer — thanked La Quinta for their partnership; described the services provided; and
plans should the United States Department of Agriculture federal grant funding be reduced
or eliminated.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM NO. 2 — pulled for a separate vote
Mayor Evans said Mr. Bettencourt's comments provided under "Public Comments on
Matters Not on the Agenda" listed above were related to this item.
MOTION — A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Fitzpatrick/McGarrey
to approve Consent Calendar Item No. 2, adopting Resolution No. 2025-007 as presented.
Motion passed: ayes — 4, noes — 0, abstain — 1 (Pena), absent — 0.
BUSINESS SESSION
1. RECEIVE AND FILE FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 BUDGET UPDATE REPORT,
APPROVE THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS, ADOPT
RESOLUTION TO RECLASSIFY ONE PERMIT TECHNICIAN POSITION AND
TWO ADMINISTRATIVE TECHNICIAN POSITIONS TO RECORDS
TECHNICIANS, AND APPROVE ADDITIONAL DISCRETIONARY PAYMENT TO
PAY OUTSTANDING PENSION OBLIGATIONS [RESOLUTION NO. 2025-008]
Finance Director Martinez presented the staff report, which is on file in the Clerk's Office.
Council discussed additional public safety camera system maintenance above that
covered by the annual maintenance contract; unfunded pension liability payment, balance,
interest; Phase 3 of public safety camera system; commended staff for their competence
and prudence; thanked the Financial Advisory Commission (FAC); and noted the fiscal
health of the City.
MOTION — A motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Sanchez/Fitzpatrick to:
(A) Receive and file fiscal year 2024/25 Budget Update Report and approve the
recommended budget adjustments as presented.
(B) Adopt Resolution No. 2025-008 to update the Classification and Salary/Plan
Schedule for fiscal year 2024/25 and to reclassify one Permit Technician position
and two Administrative Technician positions to Records Technicians:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA,
CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE UPDATED CLASSIFICATION AND
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Page 6 of 9 APRIL 1, 2025
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM NO. 2
City of La Quinta
CITY COUNCIL MEETINC April 1, 2025
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA TITL- : ADOPT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF LA QUINTA AS
A MEMBER OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY POWER AGENCY, A JOINT EXERCISE
OF POWERS AGENCY
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City of La Quinta as a member of the Coachella Valley
Power Agency, a Joint Exercise of Powers Agency.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• The Coachella Valley Power Agency (CVPA) is a joint powers agency operating
under California's Joint Exercise of Powers Act, an independent public agency for
Riverside County and the Coachella Valley (CV) giving stakeholders the authority
to address electrical infrastructure needs and services currently provided by
Imperial Irrigation District (IID).
• On March 18, 2025, Council authorized La Quinta's membership in the CVPA, and
authorized the City Manager to execute the Joint Powers Agreement (JPA).
FISCAL IMPACT — None
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS
The 99-year Agreement of Compromise, which expires on December 31, 2032, between
IID and Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) made IID the primary electrical service
provider for the City and greater Coachella Valley. But the five -member IID Board of
Directors has always been limited to Imperial County residents, leaving Riverside County
residents ineligible to serve on the Board or elect its members. Today, the CV accounts
for approximately 65% of IID's energy revenues.
Addressing the growing electrical infrastructure needs of the CV communities served by
IID is a top priority for the region. At the 2025 Community Workshop, La Quinta residents
listed addressing the pending IID/CVWD Agreement of Compromise and electrical
equipment needs as their No. 1 priority.
Increasing population, new developments, electrical system reliability, aging
infrastructure, capacity limitations, occasional power service outages, and enabling the
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timely implementation of electric power capital improvements are issues, among others,
that have driven the need for CV stakeholders to provide oversight on electrical service
matters.
The CVPA represents a collaborative approach of various stakeholders to address
representation and electrical infrastructure needs of the CV area, currently served by IID,
and its members would have the ability to exercise powers to promote, develop, conduct,
operate, and manage energy generation and distribution in the eastern CV towards
achieving reliable, cost-effective public power. Eligible CVPA members listed in the JPA
include the Cities of La Quinta, Indio, Coachella, Indian Wells, Palm Desert and Rancho
Mirage, Riverside County, and specified local Native Tribes.
On December 3, 2024, Council expressed support for the JPA for the formation and
governance of a new joint exercise of powers agency, the CVPA, an independent public
agency to be formed and operated under the powers and obligations pursuant to the Joint
Exercise of Powers Act (California Government Code Section 6500 et seq.).
On March 18, 2025, Council approved the JPA for the CVPA, considered as Business
Session Item No. 3, and directed staff to bring back a resolution to memorialize the
authorization for the City to be a member of the CVPA.
The JPA sets forth various terms and conditions to govern the CVPA, including regular
quarterly meetings, procedures for requesting and approving weighted voting, and
adopting bylaws and other governing documents. Additionally, pursuant to the JPA, the
Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) is the entity that will administer
and manage the CVPA at the beginning of its formation while the CVPA works to hire its
own staff.
ALTERNATIVES
As Council approved the JPA and authorized La Quinta's membership in the CVPA at the
March 18, 2025, meeting staff does not propose an alternative.
Prepared by:
Approved by:
Sherry Barkas / Communications Specialist
Jon McMillen / City Manager
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