HomeMy Public PortalAboutCC02CITY CX RANCHO MIRAGE
CITY COUNCIL,
LIBRARY AND OBSERVATORY BOARD,
HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD,
AND THE CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTING
THE REDEVELOPMENT SUCCESSOR AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024
1:00 P.M.
DRAFT MINUTES
Meeting Location:
City of Rancho Mirage
City Hall - Council Chamber
69-825 Highway 111
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
CALL TO ORDER -1:00 P.M.
a) Flag Salute: Led by Kristie Ramos, City Clerk.
b) Roll Call: Mallotto, Marker, O'Keefe, Weill, Downs — All Present.
Mayor Downs spoke of the recent passing of Brian Nestande, a longtime Coachella Valley public
servant, and held a moment of silence honoring Mr. Nestande.
PRESENTATIONS
2024 Draft Traffic Relief Plan Presentation by Riverside County Transportation Commission.
Council Member Marker introduced David Knudson, Director of Public Affairs for the Riverside County
Transportation Commission (RCTC).
Mr. Knudson provided an overview of RCTC's draft traffic relief plan and answered questions posed
by Council Members.
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, provided feedback regarding the draft plan.
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NON -AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS
Melissa Riche, Preservation Mirage Founder, spoke of how Preservation Mirage came about and
thanked staff and Council for their years of support of historic preservation. She shared that she and
her husband would soon be moving back to England. She commended Ben Torres, Planning
Manager and Historic Preservation Commission staff liaison, and noted the numerous projects
completed by the commission. She also expressed gratitude to Gabe Codding, Marketing Director,
for his assistance in marketing Modernism Week. She concluded with a reminder that the City's
historic recourse survey was due for an update.
Susan Ragsdale, member of the public, spoke regarding her experience living at the Whispering
Waters property and her circumstances since moving from the property.
Wally Melendez, member of the public, spoke of dirty seats on public buses, transportation in general,
and the issue of vehicles being left on while parked. He also commended the RCTC representative
and the City Manager for their overviews of the draft traffic relief plan.
Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, spoke against additional taxes and commended the City
Manager for his detailed feedback of the draft traffic relieve plan. He also spoke regarding housing
issues.
Dominic Moonhart, member of the public, spoke regarding transportation issues with Metrolink Trains.
COUNCIL/BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS/REPORTS
Council Member O'Keefe congratulated all honorees at the recent Rammys Awards, noting he
had the honor of presenting the Barbara Sinatra Citizen Award to Jamie Kabler, Rancho Mirage
Writers Festival Founder. He also announced three upcoming events: Coffee with a Cop, a
ribbon cutting for the new pickleball courts at Rancho Mirage Community Park, and a
CV Symphony Frank Sinatra show. Lastly, Council Member O'Keefe mentioned it was Women's
History Month, noting he was honored to have been raised by strong women, and recognizing
the women he worked alongside.
Mayor Pro Tem Weill announced the 2024 Rammys honorees, noting there were 370 attendees
celebrating the strong leadership of local businesses and professionals. He mentioned that he
presented the Impact Award to the McCallum Theatre, a premiere arts venue serving the
Coachella Valley since 1988, with over 100 performances annually. He noted that the City and
the McCallum Theatre collaborated annually to provide programming and discounts to City
residents; as a result, a total of $1,100,000 had been contributed to the education of students
pursuing careers in the performing arts. Mayor Pro Tem Weill thanked the Rancho Mirage
Chamber for their outstanding work and presented a video highlighting the Rammys.
Mayor Downs displayed an American flag gifted to the City by Congressman Calvert. He shared
that the flag was flown over the capitol building in Washington, D.C. on the City's
50th anniversary. Additionally, he provided an update regarding the Visit Greater Palm Springs
(VGPS) economic development initiative. He reported that the City of Coachella had recently
become a VGPS member and that the Joint Powers Authority agreement had recently been
revised.
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CITY MANAGER COMMENTS — None.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, presented the following Consent Calendar items:
1. Approve February 15, 2024, Regular Meeting Minutes.
2. Adopt Resolution No. 2024 -(Next -in -Order), Approving the Updated Calendar Year 2024
Salary Schedule to Comply with California Public Employee's Retirement System
(CaIPERS) Statutory and Regulatory Requirements for Compensation Earnable and
Publicly Available Pay Schedules.
3. Approve Contracts.
4. Approve Demands.
Public Comments
Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, spoke regarding Consent Calendar Item No. 3, expressing
concern regarding contract cost.
MOVED/SECONDED BY WEILL/MALLOTTO TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
5. Consider Adopting Resolution No. 2024 -(Next -in -Order), Adjusting Electric Generation
Rate Schedule for Rancho Mirage Energy Authority (RMEA) Community Choice
Aggregation Program.
Jessica Pulliam, Senior Management Analyst, presented the staff report.
Public Comments
Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, expressed concern regarding decreased savings.
Mayor Pro Tem Weill asked if the rate adjustment was comparable to Southern California Edison's
(SCE) rates, to which Ms. Pulliam responded that it was.
Mayor Downs asked if it were true that SCE exit fees would eventually vanish over time.
Ms. Pulliam responded that there were only about four more years left of exit fees.
Council Member O'Keefe complimented Ms. Pulliam for her diligence in monitoring the program.
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MOVED/SECONDED BY O'KEEFE/WEILL TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2024-10,
ADJUSTING ELECTRIC GENERATION RATE SCHEDULE FOR RANCHO MIRAGE
ENERGY AUTHORITY COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION PROGRAM. MOTION
CARRIED 5/0.
6. Consider Adopting Resolution No. 2024 -HA -(Next -in -Order), Approving a Purchase and
Sale Agreement for the Disposition of Portions of APN Nos. 684-150-011 and 684-150-
025, as Amended by Lot Line Adjustment Case No. 23-06, Subject to Final Review and
Approval of the Executive Director and General Counsel, and Finding the Action Exempt
from the California Environmental Quality Act.
Ryan Stendell, Director of Public Works, presented the staff report.
Public Comments
Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, spoke of a lack of transparency regarding the item and
commented that the property should remain for public use.
MOVED/SECONDED BY MALLOTTO/MARKER TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2024 -HA -01
APPROVING A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT FOR THE DISPOSITION
OF PORTIONS OF APN NUMBERS 684-150-011 AND 684-150-025, AS AMENDED BY
LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT CASE NUMBER 23-06, SUBJECT TO FINAL REVIEW AND
APPROVAL OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND GENERAL COUNSEL AND FINDING
THE ACTION EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.
MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
ACTION CALENDAR
7. Consider Establishing a Proprietary Reserve Policy for Rancho Mirage Energy Authority
(RMEA).
Jessica Pulliam, Senior Management Analyst, presented the staff report.
Public Comments
Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, inquired about reserve funds and expressed concern
regarding tax allocations.
MOVED/SECONDED BY WEILL/MALLOTTO TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDED RESERVE
POLICY FOR RANCHO MIRAGE ENERGY AUTHORITY. MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
8. Consider Adopting Resolution No. 2024 -(Next -in -Order), Authorizing City Manager to
Make Certain Limited Adjustments to Customer Power Generation Rates for Rancho
Mirage Energy Authority (RMEA).
Jessica Pulliam, Senior Management Analyst, presented the staff report.
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Public Comments
Brad Anderson, Rancho Mirage resident, spoke in opposition of authorizing the City Manager to
approve rate adjustments.
MOVED/SECONDED BY MARKER/WEILL TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2024-11,
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE CERTAIN LIMITED ADJUSTMENTS TO
CUSTOMER POWER GENERATION RATES FOR RANCHO MIRAGE ENERGY AUTHORITY.
MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
9. Consider Adopting Resolution No. 2024 -(Next -in -Order), Approving and Adopting the
Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Mid -Year Budget Adjustments.
Joseph Carpenter, Assistant Director of Administrative Services, presented the staff report.
Public Comments — None.
Mayor Pro Tem Weill commented on how fortunate the City was to have $63 million in reserve funds.
MOVED/SECONDED BY WEILL/MALLOTTO TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2024-12,
AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 BUDGET. MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
CLOSED SESSION AGENDA
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1).
Case Name: Vacation Rental Owners and Neighbors of Rancho Mirage et al. v. City of
Rancho Mirage et al.
Case No.: CVR12100368.
2. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54957
Public Employee: City Manager/Executive Director
Colin Kirkpatrick, City Attorney, reported that the City Council would recess into closed session to
confer with legal counsel regarding Vacation Rental Owners and Neighbors of Rancho Mirage et al.
v. City of Rancho Mirage, and regarding a performance evaluation of the City Manager/Executive
Director.
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
The City Council, Library and Observatory Board, Housing Authority Board, and the City Council
representing the Redevelopment Successor Agency recessed into Closed Session at 2:48 P.M.
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RECONVENE OPEN SESSION
Mayor Downs reconvened the meeting at 3:21 P.M.
CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENTS
Colin Kirkpatrick, City Attorney, reported that there was no reportable action taken during closed
session.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to consider, the meeting of the City Council, Library and Observatory Board,
Housing Authority Board, and the City Council representing the Redevelopment Successor Agency
was adjourned at 3:22 P.M.
Date Approved by City Council:
Kristie Ramos, City Clerk
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