Rancho Mirage City Council Meeting, September 04, 2025

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AI transcript text.

[00:00:12] Good afternoon everyone.
[00:00:15] It is Thursday, September 4th,
[00:00:18] approximately 100 pm.
[00:00:20] This is the regular meeting of the
[00:00:22] Rancho Mirage City Council and Community
[00:00:26] Services District, Energy Authority,
[00:00:29] Housing Authority, Joint Powers, Finance
[00:00:33] Library and Observatory, and
[00:00:36] Redevelopment Successor agency boards.
[00:00:40] I would now ask you to join me in a
[00:00:43] salute to our wonderful country.
[00:00:50] >> Please repeat. I pledge allegiance to
[00:00:53] the flag of the United States of America
[00:00:56] and to the republic for which it stands.
[00:00:59] One nation under God, indivisible, with
[00:01:02] liberty and justice for all.
[00:01:08] May we have roll call, please.
[00:01:11] >> Council member DS.
[00:01:13] Council member Framberg Edelstein
[00:01:15] >> here.
[00:01:16] >> Council member O'keefee
[00:01:17] >> here.
[00:01:17] >> Mayor Prom Molatto
[00:01:19] >> here.
[00:01:19] >> Mayor while
[00:01:21] >> Thank you. Uh I will ask for a motion to
[00:01:24] excuse uh Council Member DS, please.
[00:01:29] >> I move to excuse me D. I'll
[00:01:32] >> second. It's a motion and a second.
[00:01:34] Please vote.
[00:01:40] Thank you.
[00:01:42] >> Motion carries 40.
[00:01:46] The um first
[00:01:49] item on our agenda is a presentation
[00:01:52] today
[00:01:54] uh by hidden by Hidden Harvest and
[00:01:59] Francisco Lenaris, executive director of
[00:02:02] Hidden Harvest will make the
[00:02:04] presentation.
[00:02:06] If you would, Francisco, welcome.
[00:02:19] My name is Francisco Linarees. I'm the
[00:02:21] new executive director. Uh when our
[00:02:24] founder, Christy Porter, retired last
[00:02:26] year, I was honored to step into the
[00:02:28] role. I've been with Hidden Harvest for
[00:02:31] the past 20 years. Um starting from the
[00:02:34] ground as an employee. In that time,
[00:02:37] I've seen the difference fresh, healthy
[00:02:39] food makes for our seniors and families
[00:02:41] across the Coachella Valley.
[00:02:44] About Hidden Harvest, Hidden Harvest
[00:02:47] exists to makes fresh produce free and
[00:02:50] accessible to our neighbors who need it
[00:02:51] most. Uh we have our senior markets. We
[00:02:54] have three programs. One of them is our
[00:02:56] senior markets, which we bring a pop-up
[00:02:59] farmers market style distribution
[00:03:01] directly to um affordable housing sites.
[00:03:05] uh senior centers across the Coachella
[00:03:07] Valley uh where seniors choose from
[00:03:09] seasonal fruits and vegetables always
[00:03:12] free, dignified, and easy to access.
[00:03:14] These markets stretched tight budgets
[00:03:16] and support better health food for our
[00:03:18] most vulnerable groups. Um we just we're
[00:03:22] starting next week a senior market here
[00:03:24] in Rancho Mirage. So, we wanted the
[00:03:27] community to know we're going to be out
[00:03:28] there and we're starting with Park Park
[00:03:31] View Villas and there's other neighbor
[00:03:34] um communities uh of housing there we
[00:03:39] want to try to get into. We just
[00:03:40] purchased a new refrigerator truck to be
[00:03:42] able to transport all this fresh produce
[00:03:45] uh to actually be fresh for them. Um the
[00:03:50] other community partners that we have is
[00:03:52] uh uh who we distribute produce to is
[00:03:57] Joselin Center fine food bank. Uh this
[00:04:00] is produce that we rescue from local
[00:04:02] packing houses here in the valley. Um
[00:04:05] any surplus that they have. We also have
[00:04:08] another program which is a small farmers
[00:04:10] program where we go and hire small
[00:04:14] farmers who have an acre or more and
[00:04:19] we tell them what we need for our
[00:04:20] seniors uh what kind of plants we buy
[00:04:23] the seed or or transplants for them.
[00:04:25] They put them on the ground and when
[00:04:27] it's time to harvest we pay them to
[00:04:29] harvest it and we buy it um uh
[00:04:34] market price. So donations that we get
[00:04:37] and everything stays here in the in the
[00:04:39] valley. Uh and our produce is actually
[00:04:42] grown here. So those are some of the
[00:04:44] programs that we have. Um
[00:04:49] with Ranch Mirage, we would like I would
[00:04:51] like to give you guys some an
[00:04:52] invitation. We are having a uh a lunchon
[00:04:57] uh in November the 20th which we would
[00:05:00] like if you guys we love to have you.
[00:05:02] It's it's a lunchon fashion show and
[00:05:05] silent auction in Awa Caliente.
[00:05:08] Um it's November 20th. It's it's a this
[00:05:13] event directly funds more produce for
[00:05:16] our seniors families. And if you could
[00:05:18] attend and sponsor a table or donate an
[00:05:21] auction item, you'll be putting fresh
[00:05:23] food into local kitchens right away. So,
[00:05:27] um, before I close, it's thank you for
[00:05:31] the opportunity and to introduce Hidden
[00:05:34] Harvest and thank you again.
[00:05:39] >> Well, thank you, Francisco.
[00:05:40] >> Any questions?
[00:05:41] >> Hidden Harvest does a great job.
[00:05:43] >> Thank you.
[00:05:44] >> And we appreciate you being here today.
[00:05:47] >> Thank you. Can I hand out these
[00:05:50] invitations to you?
[00:05:51] >> You can go ahead and give them leave
[00:05:52] them with me and I'll pass them out.
[00:05:53] Thank you.
[00:06:04] >> Okay. Uh we will now go to uh council
[00:06:07] member comments. I'll start on my right
[00:06:11] with Mayor Promotto.
[00:06:15] >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh very quickly, I
[00:06:18] hope everyone enjoyed a their summer.
[00:06:21] We're approaching the cooler months,
[00:06:23] which I'm most welcome. I know I will be
[00:06:25] most welcoming to um to all of our
[00:06:29] commissioners who have either joined or
[00:06:32] been uh reassigned to their commissions,
[00:06:36] thank you for uh volunteering your time.
[00:06:39] We have a busy season
[00:06:41] before us and uh we're just going to say
[00:06:44] thank you ahead of time. Um because we
[00:06:47] you'll be working you'll be working very
[00:06:49] hard and we look forward to having you
[00:06:51] working with us. Thank you.
[00:06:53] >> Thank you. Go to my left to eberstein.
[00:06:59] >> Thank you mayor. I just wanted to wish
[00:07:01] um all the students in our valley a good
[00:07:04] school year. We've actually I think been
[00:07:06] back in school for about a month already
[00:07:08] for most of us. But um I wish them a
[00:07:11] good and safe school year. And
[00:07:13] especially to those graduating this
[00:07:15] year, high school seniors, big deal. And
[00:07:18] um also to our sheriffs who had a busy
[00:07:21] week so far. Thank you for your service
[00:07:24] in the heat and the humidity. And Calire
[00:07:27] that was also busy I think up the
[00:07:29] mountain in the last few weeks. So thank
[00:07:31] you for your service.
[00:07:33] Thank you, Council Member O'Keefe.
[00:07:36] >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Good afternoon,
[00:07:38] everyone. Um, uh, I would just like to
[00:07:41] say I also hope everyone had a great
[00:07:43] summer. It's nice to be back. Um, but I
[00:07:45] just would like to say thank you to, uh,
[00:07:48] Hidden Harvest. I've received since some
[00:07:51] changes have been made and you've been
[00:07:52] involved with the community, I've had
[00:07:55] several people talk about how happy they
[00:07:57] are with the quality of the food, with
[00:07:59] the amount of the food. So, I'm excited
[00:08:03] uh that you're participating in our
[00:08:05] city. Uh thank you very much. Thanks,
[00:08:07] Mr. Mayor.
[00:08:08] >> Thank you. Um
[00:08:11] I have a couple of very brief comments.
[00:08:14] Um,
[00:08:15] September is um is National Read a Book
[00:08:21] Month and uh I would uh encourage anyone
[00:08:28] uh in our audience
[00:08:30] uh that is viewing this program to take
[00:08:33] advantage of our worldclass
[00:08:36] library and observatory.
[00:08:38] Uh get a library card. There is no
[00:08:42] charge. It's free and uh it's a
[00:08:46] wonderful opportunity. Uh reading is a
[00:08:50] great great joy. So we have this very
[00:08:53] brief uh video regarding uh uh the
[00:08:58] National Reader Book Day. If you would
[00:09:00] play that
[00:09:11] reading can change lives. My name is
[00:09:13] Deian Delel, senior librarian at the
[00:09:15] Rancher Mirage Library and Observatory.
[00:09:17] September 6, 2025 is National Read a
[00:09:20] Book Day, and we encourage everyone to
[00:09:22] pick up their favorite book, throw in
[00:09:24] their AirPods, and listen to an audio
[00:09:27] book, open their Kindle, read an ebook,
[00:09:29] any way you can. National Read a Book
[00:09:32] Day is important because it encourages
[00:09:34] book lovers of all ages to do their
[00:09:37] favorite activity, which is reading.
[00:09:39] >> Fantastic. You can see his eyes light up
[00:09:42] because he's starting to imagine things.
[00:09:43] So, he loves reading time
[00:09:45] >> and books. Reading is so important and
[00:09:48] books are too. It's just a fun way to
[00:09:51] get his imagination started.
[00:09:53] >> September is National Library Card
[00:09:55] Signup Month and we encourage everyone
[00:09:58] to come sign up and get a library card
[00:10:00] with the Rancher Mirage Library and
[00:10:01] Observatory. Library cards are free of
[00:10:04] charge to anyone with a valid California
[00:10:07] ID. You come to the library, you fill
[00:10:09] out a short application or you can start
[00:10:11] the application online. We get you set
[00:10:13] up. It takes just a couple minutes and
[00:10:15] then you have access to all of our books
[00:10:18] and DVDs, ebooks, online streaming
[00:10:21] opportunities, all for free. For more
[00:10:24] information about all of these events,
[00:10:26] go to rancho library.org. Both of these
[00:10:29] are a great opportunity to come explore
[00:10:32] your local library. We have something
[00:10:34] for everybody.
[00:10:40] As you know, uh the library in Rancher
[00:10:44] is literally worldclass
[00:10:46] and it has a
[00:10:48] variety of programs uh that are going on
[00:10:52] virtually daily for all age groups,
[00:10:56] whether it be children up through
[00:10:58] seniors. Uh it is an incredible asset
[00:11:02] that we have and we're most proud of it.
[00:11:05] I'd also like to commend uh the
[00:11:09] sheriff's department and uh uh initially
[00:11:14] for the amount of effort that they put
[00:11:16] out over uh they they do it every day,
[00:11:20] but in this case it was over uh the
[00:11:24] Labor Day holiday. the amount of
[00:11:28] visible vehicles you had out and uh
[00:11:33] frankly
[00:11:35] uh motorcycles was overwhelming. I have
[00:11:37] one friend that said, "What's going on?"
[00:11:40] Um he said, "Boy, am I careful as far as
[00:11:43] I driving is concerned. It is a
[00:11:47] challenging holiday as we know and uh
[00:11:53] constitutes
[00:11:54] sadly a number of DUIs and so therefore
[00:11:58] was in need of additional sheriffs out.
[00:12:01] So thank you and again Cal Fire thank
[00:12:05] you for standing by to the degree that
[00:12:07] you do uh for self helping so many
[00:12:11] people in need. uh we have a community
[00:12:15] uh where the dem demographics dictate uh
[00:12:18] that your services are needed uh
[00:12:22] regularly. So again, we thank you for
[00:12:24] your service uh beyond compare.
[00:12:28] Um
[00:12:30] that being said, we will now go to the
[00:12:32] city manager.
[00:12:33] >> Mr. Mayor, before we leave this item,
[00:12:35] there was a public speaker card uh
[00:12:37] presented for item number three.
[00:12:40] >> Okay. Brad Anderson.
[00:12:42] >> Go ahead.
[00:12:46] >> Thank you very much. Brad Anderson, City
[00:12:47] of An I'm delighted to be here and I
[00:12:50] wanted to speak on what you just spoke
[00:12:52] about uh uh the uh public services of
[00:12:55] police and fire and I agree uh they are
[00:12:58] outstanding in our city and I've seen
[00:13:00] them noticeably on Highway 111. uh
[00:13:03] hopefully not doing uh speed enforcement
[00:13:06] or radar type uh actions but just
[00:13:09] slowing traffic down by the mere
[00:13:11] presence uh is is delightful to know
[00:13:14] that they are uh I guess interacting
[00:13:18] with the public in that in that matter.
[00:13:20] So I'm with you. I I support our police
[00:13:23] and fire and I have no arguments of the
[00:13:26] uh the enforcement actions that they're
[00:13:28] doing in the city. Thank you.
[00:13:30] >> Thank you for your comments.
[00:13:32] We will now go to the city manager uh
[00:13:35] with his comments and report.
[00:13:37] >> Uh no comments today. So uh I'll go
[00:13:40] ahead and move on to our consent
[00:13:42] calendar agenda item number five. Uh the
[00:13:45] council has 12 items on the consent
[00:13:48] calendar for consideration. Items 5A
[00:13:52] through 5 L. Uh item 5 A is to wave the
[00:13:56] full reading of any ordinance introduced
[00:13:59] or adopted pursuant to this agenda. Item
[00:14:03] 5B is to uh adopt ordinance number 1225
[00:14:09] uh zoning text amendment case number
[00:14:12] ZTA25-00002
[00:14:17] uh amending chapter 17.30 30 section
[00:14:22] 17.30.27D
[00:14:25] penalty uh of the Ranch Mirage Municipal
[00:14:28] Code. Item 5 C are your July 17th, 2025
[00:14:34] regular city council meeting minutes.
[00:14:36] Item 5D
[00:14:38] is to appoint Mr. Hill to the Rancho
[00:14:42] Mirage Mobile Home Fair Practices
[00:14:44] Commission. Item 5E is to uh authorize
[00:14:49] uh opioid settlement agreements with
[00:14:52] Purdue Sackler and the approval and
[00:14:54] execution of future opioid settlement
[00:14:57] agreements. Item 5 is the approval of
[00:15:01] the Rancho Mirage Energy Authority 2024
[00:15:05] power source disclosure. Item 5 D G,
[00:15:09] excuse me, is authorization for the city
[00:15:12] manager to procure six level three DC
[00:15:17] fast charging units as part of the
[00:15:20] Southern California Edison charge ready
[00:15:22] funding grant program.
[00:15:25] Item 5 FH is uh amend uh approval of the
[00:15:29] amendment of the recognized obligation
[00:15:32] payment schedules for fiscal year 2025
[00:15:36] 2026.
[00:15:38] Item 5 I is to approve the updated
[00:15:42] calendar year 2025 salary schedule.
[00:15:46] Item 5J is the receive and file of the
[00:15:50] quarterly treasures report for the
[00:15:53] quarter ending June 30th, 2025.
[00:15:56] Item 5K are contracts. Uh item 5 L are
[00:16:02] demands. And before we go to council
[00:16:05] comments or questions, I'll ask the city
[00:16:07] clerk to take public comment on the con
[00:16:09] consent calendar.
[00:16:10] >> Thank you, Brad Anderson.
[00:16:15] Thank you again, Brad Anderson, City of
[00:16:17] Assad. I wanted to speak on a few items
[00:16:19] on the consent calendar, and I won't
[00:16:20] monopolize a meeting, so I'll be quick.
[00:16:22] Um, item 5 A, 5 B, 5 C, and 5F and 5 I
[00:16:26] is something I would like to to speak
[00:16:29] about momentarily.
[00:16:31] 5A is the first reading of these
[00:16:33] ordinance. I think that may be I did
[00:16:35] write some comments on some of them
[00:16:36] earlier uh uh for the public record. Uh
[00:16:40] but maybe in the future on certain
[00:16:43] selective items, maybe reading them
[00:16:46] aloud into the public record so the
[00:16:48] people at home uh that don't go through
[00:16:51] the thousands of pages normally of a
[00:16:53] city council agenda packet would know
[00:16:56] exactly what's going on. Uh and item 5B,
[00:16:59] this is a second reading of ordinance to
[00:17:02] uh really I guess pointed at short-term
[00:17:05] renders. Most people probably don't know
[00:17:06] that of a tier play system for penalties
[00:17:09] and fines and fines and and I did oppose
[00:17:13] that and I still do. And item 5C is the
[00:17:16] city minutes which I can go into detail
[00:17:19] but I won't. Uh the city has changed how
[00:17:22] they record the written minutes meaning
[00:17:24] they don't record like my minutes my my
[00:17:27] public comments won't be uh my won't be
[00:17:31] recorded uh accurately. Maybe just my
[00:17:34] name. Maybe that will be the only thing.
[00:17:36] And also that goes right back to the
[00:17:38] minutes. I believe um the last consent
[00:17:42] calendar that I spoke on, it was written
[00:17:44] down that was non-aggenda public
[00:17:45] comments. Again, it's just a
[00:17:47] technicality, but if we're going to do
[00:17:49] this, we might as well do it right and
[00:17:51] and maybe adjust that. And I'm going to
[00:17:54] go on to 5F. I believe
[00:17:58] it's 5F. And that's the power authority
[00:18:00] with the Southern California Anderson. I
[00:18:02] believe you're buying some juice from
[00:18:03] them. Meaning Paul, um I know the city
[00:18:07] manager, not to throw him under the bus,
[00:18:08] but he has said he's not a fan of sudden
[00:18:12] cover Anderson and and and we rely on
[00:18:15] them. Uh so I think maybe um keeping the
[00:18:19] well
[00:18:20] I guess u we need Southern California
[00:18:23] Anderson. So maybe we can uh uh look at
[00:18:27] them as peers and uh and act accordingly
[00:18:30] to that. and five I update this calendar
[00:18:34] year salary schedule. I think that all
[00:18:38] goes back to the city clerk. At the last
[00:18:40] meeting in July, I did write some public
[00:18:42] comments concerning this where there was
[00:18:45] agenda item after close session and uh I
[00:18:49] wasn't be I wasn't allowed to speak
[00:18:52] before the uh official report was read.
[00:18:55] Uh and and that's that's an issue.
[00:18:57] That's uh that's like silent not
[00:19:00] silencing but not letting the public
[00:19:02] comment or even know about agenda items.
[00:19:04] This has happened before. So I hopefully
[00:19:07] you can correct that and keep that from
[00:19:09] happening in the future. And that's all
[00:19:10] I have. Thank you.
[00:19:12] >> Thank you for your comment.
[00:19:14] >> That was the only speaker card. Is there
[00:19:16] anyone else who would like to speak on
[00:19:17] the consent calendar?
[00:19:19] >> That was the only speaker.
[00:19:20] >> Thank you. I'll ask are there any
[00:19:23] council comments regarding the consent
[00:19:25] calendar?
[00:19:27] Seeing none, I'll call for a motion,
[00:19:30] please.
[00:19:30] >> I move to approve the consent calendar.
[00:19:33] >> I'll second.
[00:19:35] >> There's a motion in a second. Please
[00:19:37] vote.
[00:19:45] Council member O'Keefe, can you try
[00:19:46] yours one more time? You may have to
[00:19:48] touch your screen. Okay. Thank you.
[00:19:51] Motion carries 40.
[00:19:53] >> Thank you. We'll now go to the public
[00:19:56] hearings and the first item
[00:19:59] is item 6A and it's a resolution
[00:20:02] amending the vehicle impound cost
[00:20:05] recovery fee and adopting a DUI vehicle
[00:20:10] impound cost recovery fee. Tyler Folks,
[00:20:14] our senior management analyst. Tyler, if
[00:20:17] you would, please.
[00:20:19] >> Thank you, Mayor. Good afternoon, mayor
[00:20:22] and members of the city council. The
[00:20:24] item before you today is a proposed
[00:20:26] amendment to the city's vehicle impound
[00:20:28] cost recovery fee and the adoption of a
[00:20:30] new DUI impound cost recovery fee.
[00:20:33] The vehicle impound cost recovery fee or
[00:20:36] vicer is a fee that the city charges
[00:20:38] when law enforcement impounds a vehicle.
[00:20:41] It covers the administrative costs of
[00:20:43] the impound such as deputy time,
[00:20:46] paperwork, coordinating with tow
[00:20:47] operators, and clerical processing.
[00:20:50] Importantly, it is not designated to
[00:20:53] generate revenue. It is only used to
[00:20:55] reimburse the city for actual costs
[00:20:57] incurred.
[00:20:59] The vicer fee for the city of
[00:21:00] Rancharrage was first established in
[00:21:02] 2001 at $75 and then raised once in 2010
[00:21:07] to $145.
[00:21:09] It has not been updated in over 15
[00:21:11] years, even though the costs for law
[00:21:13] enforcement services have risen
[00:21:15] significantly.
[00:21:17] State law allows cities to recover the
[00:21:20] actual costs of impoundments, but
[00:21:22] requires that such fees not exceed those
[00:21:24] costs. Staff's review shows that the
[00:21:27] current $145 fee no longer covers the
[00:21:30] city's expenses. Additionally, DUI
[00:21:33] related impounds require substantially
[00:21:35] more law enforcement time, testing, and
[00:21:38] reporting than a standard impound,
[00:21:40] necessitating its own fee structure.
[00:21:44] Considering this information, staff
[00:21:46] recommends a two-tier fee structure,
[00:21:48] which includes a base rate for all
[00:21:51] vehicle impounds increased from 145 to
[00:21:54] 229 and the establishment of a DUI DUI
[00:21:58] impound fee of 11.47.
[00:22:01] These figures are based directly on
[00:22:03] sheriff contract rates and actual staff
[00:22:06] time.
[00:22:08] This resolution also authorizes annual
[00:22:10] adjustments tied to the sheriff's
[00:22:12] contract rate increases. This ensures
[00:22:14] that the fee remains accurate without
[00:22:16] requiring repeated council action.
[00:22:19] Staff recommends adoption of resolution
[00:22:22] number 2025 next in order amending the
[00:22:25] vehicle impound cost recovery fee and
[00:22:27] adopting the new DUI vehicle impound
[00:22:29] cost recovery fee. This will ensure the
[00:22:31] city recovers its costs and complies
[00:22:33] with state regulations. Thank you. And
[00:22:35] staff are happy to answer any questions.
[00:22:38] >> Thank you, Tyler.
[00:22:40] Uh, are there any uh public comments?
[00:22:42] >> Yes, Brad Anderson.
[00:22:47] >> Hello again. Brad Anderson, city I
[00:22:49] currently live in the city of Ass for a
[00:22:51] little bit longer. Anyway, um, I wanted
[00:22:53] to speak on this public hearing item
[00:22:55] number 6A and concerning the staff
[00:22:59] report that was just mentioned. Uh I'm
[00:23:02] opposed to this mainly because of the
[00:23:04] extreme costs uh related to the DUI
[00:23:08] uh and other intraction policy. Uh I do
[00:23:12] read through the city
[00:23:16] I guess agenda packets quite often and
[00:23:18] there are a lot of DUI institutes uh
[00:23:21] related to the city expenses. I guess uh
[00:23:24] I don't know why uh why we're running a
[00:23:28] car for the sheriff's department and
[00:23:31] other aspects of the motorcycle or fleet
[00:23:34] and keeping them upgraded. Uh
[00:23:37] not that I'm anti- police, believe me,
[00:23:39] but uh I am concerned of those costs and
[00:23:42] and how the contract doesn't cover
[00:23:45] those. Uh so there are other
[00:23:47] administrative fees related to that with
[00:23:49] the city and maybe we should look at
[00:23:51] that. Uh and and again, this imposes uh
[00:23:57] that the contract with the uh with
[00:24:00] Riverside County Sheriff's Department
[00:24:02] oversees or adjust this adjust this u uh
[00:24:06] fee structure as time goes by and uh and
[00:24:11] it will just increase. I'm sure I I
[00:24:13] would like the city council to review
[00:24:16] this uh you know as as cost increase and
[00:24:20] not just give blanket authority to have
[00:24:23] it raise uh without mention to the city
[00:24:26] population that pays for a lot of that.
[00:24:29] So that's my qualms. Uh again, we're
[00:24:33] going from 145. Not that I'm a DUI
[00:24:36] supporter, believe me. Uh but uh I think
[00:24:40] a thousand some dollars uh in in city
[00:24:42] cost, I believe. Uh that's extreme. And
[00:24:45] I and maybe we need to monitor why
[00:24:47] that's so high. And that's all I have.
[00:24:50] Oh, I did write some public comments. I
[00:24:53] am concerned about how the public
[00:24:54] hearing items are being discussed and
[00:24:56] written comments are being demanded
[00:24:58] prior to the meeting. says if I if I
[00:25:01] submitted them now they will be seen and
[00:25:04] a public hearing I this is part of the
[00:25:06] public hearing is the testimony and if I
[00:25:09] did submit written comments they should
[00:25:10] be accepted and read and that's what I
[00:25:13] have. Thank you.
[00:25:14] >> Thank you for your comments.
[00:25:17] >> That was the only speaker card. Is there
[00:25:19] anyone else who would like to speak and
[00:25:21] provide testimony regarding public
[00:25:22] hearing item 6A? That was the only
[00:25:25] speaker.
[00:25:26] >> Thank you. I'll ask for uh council
[00:25:29] comments regarding this item.
[00:25:34] I guess the only comment I would make is
[00:25:36] the way to avoid the cost is don't drink
[00:25:39] and drive and uh and then there will be
[00:25:44] no no complaints. Um that being said, um
[00:25:50] I will call for a motion, please. I'll
[00:25:53] make the motion
[00:25:56] to adopt resolution 2025 next
[00:26:01] recovery fee and adopting the DUI
[00:26:04] vehicle in cost recovery
[00:26:06] >> and I'll second
[00:26:08] a lot anyway
[00:26:12] motion and second please vote.
[00:26:17] >> Motion carries 40.
[00:26:20] >> Thank you.
[00:26:21] The next item is u item se 7A
[00:26:27] and that's the annexation number 199 to
[00:26:32] community facilities district number
[00:26:34] one.
[00:26:36] Uh and that will be presented by Jacob
[00:26:38] de la Cruz our financial analyst. Jacob,
[00:26:41] if you would please.
[00:26:43] >> Thank you, mayor, and good afternoon,
[00:26:44] council. This item is the first step in
[00:26:46] the city's annexation process for
[00:26:48] developments within the city's
[00:26:49] jurisdiction. The second and final step
[00:26:51] is planned to be considered at the
[00:26:52] October 16th council meeting. The
[00:26:54] territory proposed for annexation is
[00:26:56] located on the northeast corner of the
[00:26:57] intersection of Bob Hope Drive and
[00:26:59] Gerald Ford Drive. It is comprised of
[00:27:01] two parcels totaling approximately 5.4
[00:27:03] acres and the project is slated to
[00:27:05] construct one a construct a one-story
[00:27:08] skilled nursing facility of
[00:27:09] approximately 42.5,000 square ft.
[00:27:12] Tenative parcel map 38844 was originally
[00:27:15] approved by the planning commission on
[00:27:16] April 27th, 2023 with condition of
[00:27:19] approval number 43 for the project
[00:27:21] requiring that the territory be annexed
[00:27:23] into community facilities district
[00:27:24] number one. In accordance with the
[00:27:26] condition of approval, the owner of the
[00:27:28] annex territory submitted a petition for
[00:27:30] annexation requesting that the city
[00:27:32] council initiate proceedings to annex
[00:27:34] the territory into CFD1 and provide for
[00:27:36] expedited approval of the annexation and
[00:27:38] the levy of the special tax. Upon
[00:27:40] approval of the resolution, the city
[00:27:41] will be able to accept the petition
[00:27:43] submitted by the owner for annexation,
[00:27:45] consent to the levy upon the annex
[00:27:47] territory, allow for the shortening of
[00:27:49] the time for the special election to
[00:27:50] expedite the annexation, accept and
[00:27:52] preliminarily approve the annexation
[00:27:54] map, and direct the city clerk to record
[00:27:56] the map, and finally establish the date
[00:27:58] and time of the public hearing on the
[00:27:59] annexation of the territory. That
[00:28:01] concludes my presentation. I'd be happy
[00:28:02] to answer any questions.
[00:28:03] >> Thank you, Jacob. Uh, are there any
[00:28:06] public comments?
[00:28:07] >> I did not receive any speaker cards. Is
[00:28:09] there anyone who would like to comment
[00:28:10] on item 7A?
[00:28:12] No speakers.
[00:28:14] >> Thank you. Are there any council
[00:28:16] comments regarding 7A?
[00:28:20] >> Seeing none, I'll ask for a motion on
[00:28:23] the item, please.
[00:28:24] >> I'll make the motion.
[00:28:26] The council adopt resolution number 2025
[00:28:30] next in order declaring the city's
[00:28:32] intention to annex territory to
[00:28:34] community facilities district number one
[00:28:36] and to levy a special tax therein for
[00:28:39] additional police and fire services
[00:28:41] preliminarily approve a map of the area
[00:28:44] proposed to be annexed and schedule a
[00:28:47] public hearing to consider the
[00:28:49] annexation and the levy of a special tax
[00:28:52] for annexation number 199. N
[00:28:57] >> second. There is a motion and a second.
[00:29:01] Please vote.
[00:29:04] >> Motion carries 40.
[00:29:07] >> Thank you. The next item will be item
[00:29:11] 7B, the annexation number 200 to
[00:29:15] community facilities district number
[00:29:17] one.
[00:29:19] uh also being presented by Jacob de la
[00:29:22] Cruz. Jacob, I'm hope you're comfortable
[00:29:25] in that seat and it's all yours again.
[00:29:29] >> Thank you again, Mayor. This item is the
[00:29:31] first step in the city's annexation
[00:29:32] process for developments within the
[00:29:34] city's jurisdiction. The second and
[00:29:35] final step is planned to be considered
[00:29:36] at the October 16th council meeting. The
[00:29:39] territory proposed for annexation is
[00:29:41] located in section 31 approximately 650
[00:29:44] ft south from the intersection of
[00:29:45] Monterey Avenue and Gerald Ford Drive on
[00:29:47] the west side of Monterey Avenue. It is
[00:29:49] comprised of six parcels totaling
[00:29:51] approximately 72.88 acres and the
[00:29:54] project is slated to subdivide the
[00:29:55] existing parcels into 23 parcels for
[00:29:57] various uses. Tenative tract map 38990
[00:30:00] was originally approved by the planning
[00:30:02] commission on March 13, 2025 with
[00:30:05] condition of approval number nine for
[00:30:06] the project requiring that the territory
[00:30:08] be annexed into community facilities
[00:30:09] district number one. In accordance with
[00:30:11] the condition of approval, the owner of
[00:30:13] the annex territory submitted a petition
[00:30:14] for annexation requesting that the city
[00:30:16] council initiate proceedings to annex
[00:30:18] the territory into CFD1 and provide for
[00:30:21] expedited approval of the annexation and
[00:30:22] the levy of the special tax. Upon
[00:30:25] approval of the resolution, the city
[00:30:26] will be able to accept the petition
[00:30:28] submitted by the owner for annexation,
[00:30:30] consent to the levy upon the annex
[00:30:31] territory, allow for the shortening of
[00:30:33] time for the special election to
[00:30:35] expedite the annexation, accept and
[00:30:37] preliminarily approve the annexation
[00:30:38] map, and direct the city clerk to record
[00:30:40] the map, and finally, establish the date
[00:30:42] and time of the public hearing on the
[00:30:43] annexation of the territory. That
[00:30:45] concludes my presentation. I'd be happy
[00:30:46] to answer any questions.
[00:30:48] >> Thank you, Jacob. Uh, are there any
[00:30:50] public comments regarding this?
[00:30:52] >> Yes, Brad Anderson.
[00:30:57] Hi, Brad Anderson, city ransom. I wanted
[00:31:00] to speak on item uh 7B. And again, this
[00:31:04] is staff report that uh this is session
[00:31:07] 31 and part of 31. I'm all in favor of
[00:31:12] setting a scheduled um public hearing.
[00:31:16] Hopefully, it'll be done correctly and
[00:31:18] people can give their public comment if
[00:31:20] they wish on on this. I have no qualms
[00:31:23] concerning this. Uh I believe the last
[00:31:26] city council was the one that uh
[00:31:28] increased everybody's taxes by roughly a
[00:31:32] million dollars a year and one of the
[00:31:35] city council members mentioned this by
[00:31:37] name being one of the reasons to do
[00:31:39] that. So uh now that uh 13 homes or
[00:31:43] whatever is built in there, maybe they
[00:31:44] can start paying for that added fire and
[00:31:46] police. Thank you.
[00:31:48] >> Thank you for your comments.
[00:31:50] >> That was the only speaker card. Is there
[00:31:52] anyone else who would like to speak on
[00:31:53] item 7B? And that was the only speaker.
[00:31:57] >> Thank you. Are there any council
[00:31:59] comments regarding item 7B?
[00:32:03] >> No.
[00:32:05] Okay. Uh that being said, I will ask for
[00:32:08] a motion, please. I'll move that the
[00:32:10] council adopt resolution number 2025
[00:32:13] next in order declaring the city's
[00:32:15] intention to annex territory community
[00:32:17] facilities district number one and to
[00:32:20] levy a special tax therein for
[00:32:22] additional police and fire services
[00:32:24] preliminarily approve a map of the area
[00:32:26] proposed to be annexed and schedule a
[00:32:29] public hearing to consider the
[00:32:30] annexation and the levy of the special
[00:32:32] tax for annexation number 200
[00:32:34] >> and I'll second
[00:32:36] >> there's a motion and a second please
[00:32:38] vote
[00:32:41] Motion carries 40.
[00:32:44] >> Thank you. We will now go to uh
[00:32:47] non-aggenda public comments. Uh
[00:32:51] are there speaker requested?
[00:32:54] >> Yes. The first speaker is Wally
[00:32:55] Melendez.
[00:33:25] Good afternoon. Um,
[00:33:28] uh, city council.
[00:33:33] I'd like to make, uh, some, uh,
[00:33:36] recommendations. And this
[00:33:37] recommendations are directed
[00:33:40] to the mayor. very well. by a while.
[00:33:49] It would be nice that when a
[00:33:53] member of the city council misses a
[00:33:55] meeting that uh the mayor would announce
[00:34:00] what is the reason that the uh member
[00:34:04] missed in order not to keep the um
[00:34:08] audience
[00:34:10] uh the people in the that the suspense
[00:34:17] And another
[00:34:25] re uh recommendation to the mayor, mayor
[00:34:27] while Mayor uh while
[00:34:31] is that when a meeting this happened a
[00:34:35] few months ago here when a meeting is
[00:34:39] rescheduled from the regular meetings
[00:34:43] what happened that time was that the
[00:34:45] meeting was held the uh uh on Wednesday
[00:34:51] instead of Thursday
[00:34:54] and I realized that that the that that
[00:34:57] the announcement is put on the uh board
[00:35:01] that that that's that's outside
[00:35:04] now who goes about checking boards
[00:35:09] for anything that I know of. So the
[00:35:13] meeting was held on Wednesday and the
[00:35:15] people that come regularly on Thursday
[00:35:17] missed that meeting and they didn't find
[00:35:20] about they didn't find out about it
[00:35:22] until it was too late.
[00:35:29] Excuse me.
[00:35:32] I have 45 seconds left of my
[00:35:37] uh
[00:35:40] Anyway,
[00:35:43] I'd like to say a few words about the
[00:35:45] state of the country.
[00:35:50] The state of the country is in bad
[00:35:53] shape.
[00:35:54] We have a President Donald Trump that
[00:35:58] has consistently
[00:36:00] for many many years saying that he wants
[00:36:03] to be a dictator
[00:36:05] and he is being a dictator and we are in
[00:36:10] bad shape.
[00:36:13] That has to stop.
[00:36:18] >> Thank you for your comment,
[00:36:21] >> Patrick Lori.
[00:36:31] Good afternoon. You can see that I'm all
[00:36:33] ready for hockey. So, we oldtime hockey
[00:36:36] players who still ache and everything
[00:36:37] over our lousy careers are happy to see
[00:36:40] it come around again. I want to speak to
[00:36:42] something and very bluntly so. Have you
[00:36:45] had a chance to see Loftess versus
[00:36:47] Eisenhower the judgment?
[00:36:51] Okay, look at it. It'll shake you up. I
[00:36:55] resent the fact that we gave $2 million
[00:36:58] to Eisenhower based on a letter that
[00:37:01] looks like those letters sixth graders
[00:37:02] write when they want a signature from
[00:37:05] the president.
[00:37:07] $2 million. Raise your own money. Do a
[00:37:10] bond. Ask for a loan from the city.
[00:37:12] Whatever you want to do. What we could
[00:37:14] do with $2 million for our residents is
[00:37:16] far beyond what Eisenhower is going to
[00:37:18] do with it for child care. Now, I want
[00:37:20] to read something. This is regard to
[00:37:22] their CEO, Meccelio. If I don't
[00:37:25] pronounce it right, frankly, I don't
[00:37:27] care.
[00:37:28] It defies logic that Mr. Miscellio, so
[00:37:32] fully in charge, could be so completely
[00:37:34] ignorant of the widespread problems
[00:37:36] caused by the person he selected as
[00:37:38] program director.
[00:37:41] In the judgment, he's called a liar.
[00:37:46] his HR person of all names. I think it's
[00:37:49] fickle.
[00:37:52] Okay. His testimony has been impeached.
[00:37:54] Reading this will tell you more about
[00:37:56] how Eisenhower operates and what its
[00:37:58] value needs to be and isn't for this
[00:38:01] community.
[00:38:03] Okay. No more ambivalent thoughts.
[00:38:05] They're going to get worse than
[00:38:06] ambivalent. Now, I'm sorry you don't
[00:38:07] have Mr. Dons here. Being a great
[00:38:09] supporter of police, I wanted to spend a
[00:38:11] few seconds of my time to educate him on
[00:38:14] statistics. I'll do that next time I see
[00:38:16] him. Crime is an important issue and you
[00:38:19] need to look at it properly.
[00:38:21] Okay? It doesn't mean you don't like
[00:38:23] sheriffs. Doesn't mean we don't support
[00:38:25] sheriffs. It just means, let's be
[00:38:27] practical, guys. Read the contract we
[00:38:29] have with the sheriff's department. 83
[00:38:31] hours a day, day in and day out. If you
[00:38:34] think you see them here, 83 hours a day,
[00:38:38] fine. I don't. My little group of people
[00:38:41] that were gathering up here to kind of
[00:38:43] do something of an impact on this city
[00:38:44] in the next election don't see it.
[00:38:48] Love cops.
[00:38:50] Get on our streets. Eisenhower. Guys,
[00:38:54] take a look at Loftess. That's costing
[00:38:56] them $1.6 million without punitive
[00:38:58] damages uh yet assessed. Next comes the
[00:39:02] person who says, "I got CO because of
[00:39:04] these characters at Eisenhower and now I
[00:39:06] want a class action." They're also
[00:39:09] paying out $880,000
[00:39:11] because of some data error that they
[00:39:14] made.
[00:39:15] I hope our $2 million isn't going to pay
[00:39:17] for any of this. Excuse my harshness,
[00:39:21] but this stuff really bothers me. There
[00:39:24] is no no Jesus Christ the way Mr. DS
[00:39:28] would like to pretend there is at
[00:39:30] Eisenhower.
[00:39:32] It's not a church. It's not a place to
[00:39:34] go to for for worship. Thank you very
[00:39:36] much for your time. Very much. Thank you
[00:39:38] for your comments
[00:39:38] >> and bless the police and go Firebirds.
[00:39:42] >> Brad Anderson.
[00:39:47] >> Hello again. Brad Anderson. Uh currently
[00:39:49] living in the city of Rance Mirage. I
[00:39:51] wanted to speak on three topics maybe
[00:39:53] maybe more. Um I kind of jotted some
[00:39:56] stuff down while people were speaking.
[00:39:57] Um
[00:39:59] I agree with one of the one of the
[00:40:01] previous speakers concerning
[00:40:04] uh excused absence. Uh
[00:40:08] I wasn't at the beginning of the meeting
[00:40:10] so I didn't know if it was or not but an
[00:40:13] explanation would be helpful especially
[00:40:15] when uh people are getting paid to be
[00:40:17] here and then not uh
[00:40:20] and I think uh the public has the right
[00:40:23] to know especially if it's an excused uh
[00:40:25] could be health related could be a
[00:40:27] number of things and and and and it's
[00:40:29] just uh public information uh and
[00:40:32] sharing that would be great. Uh there
[00:40:35] was talk about the DUI and maybe not uh
[00:40:38] doing that and not being proposed to a
[00:40:42] towing fee. I I totally agree with you,
[00:40:45] Mr. Mayo. Uh and I would say speeding
[00:40:48] would be just as bad. So we can't laugh
[00:40:52] off one infraction for another. So
[00:40:54] everything's serious when it comes to
[00:40:56] highways and safety. So uh maybe don't
[00:41:00] speed. That would help too. Uh, and uh,
[00:41:04] I wanted to speak. I know we got rid of
[00:41:06] a city department that more or less
[00:41:08] cleans the streets and sidewalks and so
[00:41:10] forth, and this city is in disrepair. I
[00:41:13] I've been walking a lot lately, and I
[00:41:16] can't say I can say I think this is the
[00:41:19] dirtiest, meaning unkempt streets,
[00:41:23] swept. I can't tell you how much garbage
[00:41:27] I picked up and including screws and
[00:41:30] nails on on the on the rightways and
[00:41:34] and maybe we can do a little better job.
[00:41:36] I know we have subcontractors and that's
[00:41:38] where the city's going with that
[00:41:39] apparently un unannounced to most
[00:41:42] people. Uh but maybe we can address that
[00:41:46] a little better. I know the city manager
[00:41:48] is doing the best he can. Uh and maybe
[00:41:51] um maybe uh maybe we can uh everybody
[00:41:55] can help him out, I guess. Um and
[00:41:57] another thing um Mr. DS is not here uh
[00:42:00] but at the last trial meeting he made
[00:42:02] some comments concerning close session
[00:42:04] items and and I think he was addressing
[00:42:07] me in those comments. Um, I suggested
[00:42:11] that we have minutes kept and that is a
[00:42:16] widely common practice in the state of
[00:42:19] California, not for me to read, just to
[00:42:22] have them uh for the safety of the
[00:42:25] counselor and and having other
[00:42:27] representatives possibly at those
[00:42:29] meetings, meaning fire chief or or a
[00:42:32] police captain, somebody trustworthy.
[00:42:36] uh and uh and that's all I wanted. Uh
[00:42:39] it's not that I can ask them questions.
[00:42:41] It's just something uh um transparency
[00:42:45] would be helpful. Thank you.
[00:42:48] >> Thank you for your comment,
[00:42:50] >> Susan Ragdale.
[00:43:09] Little bit steady with the rays here. I
[00:43:12] came all the way from the top of Desert
[00:43:14] Hot Springs. Two buses and a lot of
[00:43:17] walking. And I made a a stop at the
[00:43:20] library to print out my report for today
[00:43:24] because it's longer than three minutes.
[00:43:26] How are you doing? Happy September. I'm
[00:43:28] pleased to see you all. Yeah. So my
[00:43:33] comment is I printed it at the I text I
[00:43:37] text to my friend Christian Himenez and
[00:43:41] he forwards them as emails to you. I
[00:43:43] don't know who is reading them if
[00:43:44] anyone. You know what I mean? I hope
[00:43:47] Marcus Alimman is at least. Um
[00:43:51] I'm just worn out. It's the bus stops
[00:43:54] are too farart and I miss the bus at the
[00:43:58] library anyway.
[00:44:00] All right. This is a not a lawsuit. This
[00:44:04] uh however, it warrants one. Any
[00:44:06] reasonable person would feel the same.
[00:44:09] This is a police report.
[00:44:13] Um this report is a claim against the
[00:44:16] city of Rancho Mirage.
[00:44:18] I claim that since March 2019, the city
[00:44:21] of Rancho Mirage intention intentionally
[00:44:25] and seriously victimized and injured me
[00:44:27] in a case of long-term extreme elder
[00:44:31] abuse and two counts of fraud.
[00:44:35] In capital letters, I am innocent. How
[00:44:38] many times have I said it already?
[00:44:40] Since March 2019, the city of Rancho
[00:44:43] Mirage forced me into an extraordinary,
[00:44:46] cruel, and seriously unwelcome position.
[00:44:51] The city city's federal crimes against
[00:44:54] me catapulted me into a long-term
[00:44:56] desperate struggle in self-defense.
[00:45:00] Being victimized at all levels, from
[00:45:03] tenant bullies up to the mayor, the
[00:45:06] mayors, three mayors or so. It's been
[00:45:11] taxing and traumatic a life and death
[00:45:13] situation for me. The city defrauded me
[00:45:16] of my affordable head housing when I
[00:45:20] where I had lived since May 2018 when
[00:45:22] Mr. Hagermanerman started his position.
[00:45:25] However, I have been a citizen of the
[00:45:28] city of Rancho Mirage since 2009 and I
[00:45:31] consider it my home. Of course, the
[00:45:34] city's motive for ruthlessly persecuting
[00:45:38] me was unjustified and sadistic revenge.
[00:45:42] In October 2019, the city scapegoated me
[00:45:46] falsely, claiming I was an In-N-Out
[00:45:49] burger protester. Furthermore, the city
[00:45:52] resented my concerns about unhealthy
[00:45:55] unshielded lead lighting. The city
[00:45:57] didn't get it. They didn't even try.
[00:45:59] Okay, so I'm running out of time. I made
[00:46:02] four pages. I didn't put page numbers
[00:46:04] on, but I really would like you to take
[00:46:07] especially the housing commissioner
[00:46:10] lead. I do believe this is worthy of an
[00:46:13] investigation for sure. And I also need
[00:46:16] you to help me. Thank you.
[00:46:19] >> Thank you for your comment.
[00:46:21] >> That was the last speaker card. Is there
[00:46:22] anyone else who would like to speak on
[00:46:24] something that is not on today's agenda?
[00:46:27] And that was the last speaker.
[00:46:29] >> All right. Um,
[00:46:31] we will now be uh going into a recess
[00:46:35] for a close session. I will ask the city
[00:46:38] attorney to give us a uh briefing on the
[00:46:42] subject matter to be discussed.
[00:46:45] >> Thank you, mayor. We'll be convening
[00:46:47] convening in the close session for the
[00:46:48] item before you listed as 9A conference
[00:46:51] with legal counsel existing litigation
[00:46:53] pursuant to government code section
[00:46:54] 54956.9D1.
[00:46:59] Case name Ricky Martinez for City of
[00:47:01] Rancher Mirage. Case number CVPS
[00:47:04] 25503449.
[00:47:08] Thank you. We are now in recess.
[00:47:20] The city council is back in session from
[00:47:23] recess. I will ask the attorney to
[00:47:27] please review what was covered in the
[00:47:29] closed session.
[00:47:31] >> Thank you, mayor. There's no reportable
[00:47:33] action taken today.
[00:47:35] >> That being said, meeting adjourned.