Rancho Mirage City Council Meeting, October 16, 2025

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AI transcript text.

[00:00:13] Good afternoon everyone.
[00:00:16] It is Thursday, October 16th,
[00:00:19] 2025, approximately 100 p.m.
[00:00:24] This is the regular meeting of the
[00:00:26] Rancher Mirage City Council and
[00:00:28] Community Services District, Energy
[00:00:31] Authority, Housing Authority, Joint
[00:00:35] Powers Finance Authority,
[00:00:37] Library and Observatory, and
[00:00:40] Redevelopment Successor Agency board.
[00:00:44] I would ask you to please join me in a
[00:00:46] pledge of allegiance to our wonderful
[00:00:48] country.
[00:00:53] >> If you will, I pledge allegiance to the
[00:00:56] flag of the United States of America and
[00:00:59] to the republic for which it stands, one
[00:01:02] nation under God, indivisible, with
[00:01:05] liberty and justice for all.
[00:01:09] Any
[00:01:12] way of roll call, please.
[00:01:14] >> Council member DS,
[00:01:16] >> I'm here.
[00:01:16] >> Council member Framberg Edelstein
[00:01:18] >> here.
[00:01:19] >> Council member O'Keefe
[00:01:20] >> here.
[00:01:20] >> Mayor Prom Mulatto
[00:01:22] >> here.
[00:01:22] >> Mayor While
[00:01:23] >> here.
[00:01:26] The uh first order of business today is
[00:01:28] a presentation
[00:01:30] by the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce
[00:01:34] board members
[00:01:36] uh Nicole Kent
[00:01:39] uh of the Ritz Carlton and Ken Chavez
[00:01:42] from Sunnyland.
[00:01:44] And welcome to both of you.
[00:01:50] >> Thank you, Mayor Mayor Wild, ladies and
[00:01:52] gentlemen of the city council. city
[00:01:55] staff members and those also uh joining
[00:01:58] us in person and virtually. Uh we are
[00:02:01] honored to uh present to you today from
[00:02:03] the chamber of commerce. Uh we are uh
[00:02:05] representation of the board. Uh my name
[00:02:08] is Nicole Kent, the director of sales
[00:02:09] and marketing at the Ritz Carlton Ranch
[00:02:10] Mirage. Uh we are excited that the
[00:02:12] chamber is seeing fantastic growth for
[00:02:14] the month of September with 40 new
[00:02:16] members, which we're really uh excited
[00:02:18] to see. We also recently celebrated
[00:02:21] another soldout marketing summit that
[00:02:23] was focused on AI uh to really empower
[00:02:25] the local businesses and it was
[00:02:26] extremely well attended. Um thank you to
[00:02:28] the Ranch Mirage Library who really went
[00:02:30] above and beyond to make it a seamless
[00:02:32] event and also thank you to everyone
[00:02:34] involved. Uh the library also hosted the
[00:02:37] show your heart mixer. So thank you so
[00:02:39] much for all of you that attended. Um it
[00:02:41] was more than 200 guests and a wonderful
[00:02:43] evening. Um so thank you to all the
[00:02:45] council members that uh were in
[00:02:47] attendance to that. Um, at the Risk
[00:02:49] Carlton Ranch Mirage, we are thrilled
[00:02:50] that we should be um that we are
[00:02:52] breaking more records this year. Uh, we
[00:02:54] are projecting to be up almost 10% total
[00:02:57] revenue year-over-year, which we're
[00:02:59] really excited about. And, um, a lot of
[00:03:02] that growth is from the Edge Steakhouse,
[00:03:04] which is now open year round, and um,
[00:03:06] State Fair Bar and Kitchen. We're
[00:03:08] positioned well for 2026. Uh, so as
[00:03:11] we're as we're turning the corner, looks
[00:03:12] to be a strong year uh, even though the
[00:03:14] market is really stabilized. Um, so just
[00:03:17] want to share that. Um, also we'll be
[00:03:19] sharing um, soon with you a fantastic
[00:03:21] new Halo video uh, that also has a um, a
[00:03:25] visual of the Ranch Mirage Observatory.
[00:03:27] Um, so really pulling in the whole
[00:03:29] community. Uh, we are grateful for your
[00:03:31] uh, exemplary leadership and support and
[00:03:34] demonstrating the importance of a
[00:03:36] growthminded local government. So, thank
[00:03:38] you so much for your support.
[00:03:43] >> Good afternoon. My name is Ken Chavez.
[00:03:45] I'm director of media and community
[00:03:46] relations at Sunnylands and also a proud
[00:03:49] board member of the Ranch Mirage Chamber
[00:03:50] of Commerce board. I'm pleased to share
[00:03:53] a few chamber and community updates with
[00:03:55] you today. The chamber has recently
[00:03:57] moved to new offices just four doors
[00:03:59] down from its previous location. The new
[00:04:02] space allows each staff member to have
[00:04:04] his or her own office, which contributes
[00:04:07] to productivity and makes for more
[00:04:09] welcoming environment. We're going to
[00:04:11] have a ribbon cutting ceremony to
[00:04:13] celebrate the move on Friday, October
[00:04:15] 24th at 3 p.m. We invite each of you to
[00:04:18] join us. And uh we're still in the in
[00:04:21] the same location just across the
[00:04:22] parking lot from Ferguson Home and Lamps
[00:04:25] Plus on Highway 111 just a few doors
[00:04:27] down. Looking ahead, the chamber is
[00:04:30] adding a flagship event in spring 2026,
[00:04:33] the state of healthcare, an event that
[00:04:36] features Eisenhower Health and is
[00:04:38] supported by the city of Rancher Mirage.
[00:04:40] Uh the community event will spotlight
[00:04:42] health, wellness, technology, medical
[00:04:45] innovation, and and access, all brought
[00:04:47] to you for the community and by the
[00:04:49] community. As for Sunnylands, Sunnylands
[00:04:52] reopened for its 15th season on
[00:04:54] September 10th. Uh we have a new
[00:04:57] exhibition installed titled curating
[00:04:59] canopy trees at sunnylands. It features
[00:05:02] the photography of renowned photographer
[00:05:04] David Loftess and is an in it is
[00:05:07] inspired by the selection of trees that
[00:05:10] helps transform raw desert into the
[00:05:12] serene oasis that is sunny lands today.
[00:05:15] At the end of the month we'll be
[00:05:16] celebrating our annual Coachella Valley
[00:05:18] days of Los Muertos observations. From
[00:05:20] October 29th through November 2nd, the
[00:05:23] public is invited to the gardens to see
[00:05:25] ofas or altars or nichos, shadow boxes
[00:05:29] that honor loved ones who have passed.
[00:05:31] On November 2nd, we'll have a special
[00:05:33] screening of the movie Coco on the great
[00:05:35] lawn. A movie animated movie that tells
[00:05:39] the story of De Los Muertos. And lastly,
[00:05:42] our very popular wellness programs, yoga
[00:05:45] in the garden, taichi in the gardens, uh
[00:05:47] bird walks, all resumed that first week
[00:05:50] in November. All ages and experience
[00:05:52] levels are welcome.
[00:05:55] Uh and just a reminder that admission to
[00:05:56] the Sunland Center and Gardens is always
[00:05:58] free. Thank you for so much for your
[00:06:01] time and for your attention. Thank you.
[00:06:03] >> Well, thank you, Ken. Thank you, Nicole.
[00:06:06] Uh the chamber's just doing an
[00:06:09] outstanding job. I think there's
[00:06:11] somebody sitting in the audience might
[00:06:13] have something to do with that. Katie,
[00:06:16] why don't you wave to everybody back
[00:06:19] there? Uh Katie has been the power
[00:06:23] behind the chamber for many years. Uh
[00:06:27] you've had exceptional growth and u you
[00:06:31] are, you know, one of the engines that
[00:06:34] uh truly u keep small businesses
[00:06:37] running. So we thank you so much for
[00:06:40] your contribution every single day and
[00:06:44] welcome and thank you for being here.
[00:06:46] >> Thank you. Appreciate it.
[00:06:48] >> Thanks.
[00:06:50] The next item of business will be the
[00:06:54] uh presentation by five fine food bank
[00:06:58] Debbie Espinosa. if you would Debbie and
[00:07:02] welcome,
[00:07:12] mayor, city council members, Rancher
[00:07:15] Mirage community. Thank you all so much
[00:07:17] for having me here with you today to
[00:07:18] talk about food insecurity here in our
[00:07:20] Coachella Valley and specifically here
[00:07:22] in Rancho Mirage. It's important for me
[00:07:24] as the CEO of Fine Food Bank to make
[00:07:26] sure that we regularly give updates at
[00:07:28] least annually every year to make sure
[00:07:31] that all of us are working on making
[00:07:32] sure our communities are fed together.
[00:07:34] Fine food bank as the regional food
[00:07:36] bank, we do our best that we can 365
[00:07:39] days a year, but we definitely cannot do
[00:07:41] it without the support of all of the
[00:07:43] cities of the community members to make
[00:07:45] sure that we are all being taken care of
[00:07:47] for those that are wondering where their
[00:07:48] next meal is coming from. So today I
[00:07:51] just want to give you some facts and
[00:07:52] figures about what's happening here
[00:07:54] specifically in Rancho Mirage as your
[00:07:56] annual update, but then also
[00:07:59] uh answer any questions that you may
[00:08:01] have. There's a lot that's going on
[00:08:03] right now. A lot that's going on right
[00:08:06] now um with the government shutdown,
[00:08:08] with benefits not being deployed um in
[00:08:12] this past month and in possibly upcoming
[00:08:14] months. I know that there's been a lot
[00:08:16] of questions that people have been
[00:08:17] asking me whether it's from the
[00:08:19] community or other government officials
[00:08:21] at the state um federal, county, city
[00:08:25] level. We've been answering a lot of
[00:08:27] those and so I'm here to be able to
[00:08:28] answer those questions for you too as
[00:08:30] well. But let me start by just talking
[00:08:32] about what's been going on over this
[00:08:34] last year in Rancho Mirage specifically.
[00:08:37] Um we regularly collect data and um you
[00:08:40] know Rancho Mirage has been great. We
[00:08:42] have one direct mobile distribution
[00:08:44] sites along with um other agencies that
[00:08:48] we supply food to who distribute out to
[00:08:50] the community as well. In this past
[00:08:52] year, we have close to 50,000 pounds of
[00:08:55] food specifically here in Ranch Mirage
[00:08:57] that we've distributed to the community.
[00:09:00] And of those uh pounds of food, about
[00:09:02] 10,000 of pound 10,000 pounds goes out
[00:09:05] directly in our commodity supplemental
[00:09:08] food program, which are senior boxes
[00:09:11] designed specifically for senior
[00:09:13] feeding. Um food that's appropriate for
[00:09:17] seniors um because of various health
[00:09:20] concerns that they have. There are like
[00:09:22] no grapefruit juices in them. There are
[00:09:24] low sodium products that are in them.
[00:09:26] There's dairy. There's protein that's in
[00:09:29] them. and they get them on a monthly
[00:09:30] basis regularly from find we have a case
[00:09:33] load here specifically in Rancher Mirage
[00:09:35] amongst the 4,000 um community uh
[00:09:39] seniors that we have throughout the
[00:09:41] Coachella Valley. In addition to that,
[00:09:43] we provide case management services. We
[00:09:46] have a couple of homebound clients that
[00:09:47] we deliver directly to that are not able
[00:09:49] to get out to our distribution sites
[00:09:51] here in Rancher Mirage. Um and then on
[00:09:54] top of that we also have um ending
[00:09:57] hunger for a lifetime services that are
[00:09:59] specifically working on the root causes
[00:10:01] of hunger. Um and in fact there were two
[00:10:04] high school students from Rancho Mirage
[00:10:05] High School that participated in our
[00:10:07] youth advisory council um for their
[00:10:10] service as part of our youth advisory
[00:10:12] council. We did give them scholarships
[00:10:14] to be able to attain a higher education
[00:10:16] in the amounts of $2,000 a piece. So
[00:10:19] when it comes to ending hunger um we
[00:10:22] look at it not just with regards to the
[00:10:24] direct distribution of food um but we
[00:10:26] look at it from outreach services as
[00:10:28] well as the root causal work too as
[00:10:30] well. Um the city council um and the
[00:10:34] members here and staff have been
[00:10:36] supportive of our work for many many
[00:10:38] years and we absolutely appreciate that.
[00:10:40] I know that um Michael and Lynn and you
[00:10:44] you yourself, mayor, um and the other
[00:10:46] city council members have come out to
[00:10:48] find food bank in order to be able to
[00:10:50] support our events. And so for you to
[00:10:52] understand our work, to know um how you
[00:10:56] can support us and support the other
[00:10:58] agencies that are distributing food um
[00:11:01] is very very critical especially in
[00:11:03] moments like this where we are battling
[00:11:05] a lot of things right now to make sure
[00:11:07] that people can continue to know where
[00:11:10] their next meal is coming from. So, I'm
[00:11:12] going to pause there and give time to
[00:11:14] all of you to ask me questions because I
[00:11:16] know there's a lot of questions that are
[00:11:17] going on in the community day and I will
[00:11:19] do my best to be able to try to answer
[00:11:21] those um knowing that there's a lot of
[00:11:24] things I'm not able to predict right now
[00:11:26] um because we're in a very reactive
[00:11:28] state.
[00:11:32] Well, Debbie, let me say this that um
[00:11:36] you know, Rancho Mirage has a
[00:11:40] the image of being an upper income area
[00:11:44] and uh
[00:11:46] that doesn't mean that we don't have a
[00:11:48] certain populace uh that is in need of
[00:11:52] the fine food bank. uh there is a need
[00:11:55] and there are a certain number of
[00:11:58] seniors specifically that depend upon
[00:12:01] your services
[00:12:03] >> and so we thank you so much. Um, you can
[00:12:07] never take for granted your role in life
[00:12:10] or where you are because things can
[00:12:13] change dramatically. And so you are
[00:12:16] really that fallback position for so
[00:12:20] many people and so much uh of your good
[00:12:23] deeds are recognized. So we thank you so
[00:12:26] much for your continuous service.
[00:12:28] >> We appreciate that. Um, you know, the
[00:12:31] the statistic and I and I'm glad that
[00:12:33] you brought that up because there is a
[00:12:34] certain percentage. The food and
[00:12:36] security studies that Feeding America
[00:12:38] does every year, we look at it from a
[00:12:40] very granular level. We can isolate down
[00:12:42] to Census Bureau tracks. We can isolate
[00:12:44] down to zip codes. Um, for Rancho Mirage
[00:12:48] specifically, you're right at around 15%
[00:12:51] of a food insecurity rate currently um
[00:12:55] today. And so we look at that data and
[00:12:58] statistic to make sure that we have
[00:12:59] services that are being offered here in
[00:13:01] this area to be able to help accommodate
[00:13:03] that 15%.
[00:13:05] And when we look at food insecurity, a
[00:13:07] lot of the times people think that we're
[00:13:08] talking about homeless people. We're not
[00:13:10] talking about homeless people. Many of
[00:13:12] the people that are food insecure live
[00:13:14] in homes. Um but they're having a hard
[00:13:17] time making ends meet. And so many of
[00:13:20] the times they're sacrificing eating in
[00:13:23] order to be able to stay in their home,
[00:13:25] in order to be able to get their medical
[00:13:27] care, in order to be able to purchase
[00:13:29] their medicines and pay for those
[00:13:31] co-pays, in order to pay for their
[00:13:34] electricity and utility bills. So that's
[00:13:37] what we look at with regards to food
[00:13:39] insecurity or people that are trading
[00:13:41] things to make ends meet so that they're
[00:13:43] not getting regular meals every day and
[00:13:46] are sacrificing food to accommodate the
[00:13:50] other things. You have about 15% of the
[00:13:52] people on Rancho Mirage that are doing
[00:13:53] that based on the studies that we have
[00:13:56] um from Feeding America. So my uh from
[00:14:00] from our our research, many of those of
[00:14:03] the 15% are most likely fixed income
[00:14:06] seniors here that are in Rancho Mirage
[00:14:07] that are struggling through that.
[00:14:10] >> Mr. Mayor, I do have a question if I
[00:14:12] may.
[00:14:12] >> Yes, please.
[00:14:13] >> So, uh today is I think it's day 15 of
[00:14:15] the federal government shutdown. Uh by
[00:14:17] the way, uh the last time we had a
[00:14:19] government shutdown the city of Ranch
[00:14:20] was never. So, uh, I I would hope that
[00:14:23] maybe our representatives in Washington
[00:14:25] DC might might take might take an
[00:14:27] example of of, uh, of what the example
[00:14:29] that we set in this city. Question for
[00:14:31] you, the government shutdown, does it
[00:14:32] affect you? Does, uh, how is it
[00:14:34] affecting you and and are your revenues
[00:14:36] being affected because of the shutdown?
[00:14:38] >> Yeah, so the the it's when we look at
[00:14:41] government shutdown, there are a couple
[00:14:43] of things that we're looking at. one
[00:14:45] most primarily um the SNAP benefits or
[00:14:49] the Cal C calresh benefits that many of
[00:14:53] the people that are food insecure have
[00:14:55] to be able to support their purchasing
[00:14:57] efforts at the grocery store. So, it's
[00:14:59] the government aid that's given in the
[00:15:01] form of what's called an EBT card. Um
[00:15:05] kind of like a debit card that gets
[00:15:07] refilled at the beginning of every
[00:15:09] month. It can be anywhere from 50 to to
[00:15:14] $200 or $300 depending on family size
[00:15:17] and income level.
[00:15:20] They can use that to purchase grocery
[00:15:22] store products and then a lot of the
[00:15:24] times they'll supplement with, you know,
[00:15:26] food from a food bank in order to be
[00:15:29] able to help and make ends meet. If you
[00:15:30] can imagine the cost of food right now,
[00:15:32] grocery stores, it's fairly high. Um, so
[00:15:36] even if you have about $200 or $300 in
[00:15:38] benefit that's coming, but you have a
[00:15:39] family of five, just kind of think about
[00:15:41] that for a second. So they'll use a
[00:15:44] combination of things in order to be
[00:15:46] able to help make ends meet. When there
[00:15:48] is a government shutdown, those benefits
[00:15:52] do not get issued because there's
[00:15:54] technically no funding for them during
[00:15:57] the time of a government shutdown. The
[00:15:59] budget has not been approved yet. You
[00:16:01] can understand that as city council
[00:16:02] members, government budgets run fairly
[00:16:05] the same. The October benefits were
[00:16:08] issued at the beginning of October. Even
[00:16:11] though the government shut down at the
[00:16:13] beginning of October, those were already
[00:16:16] being funded by the end of September. We
[00:16:18] have 15 days right now. And as we speak,
[00:16:22] the federal government is stating to the
[00:16:24] states,
[00:16:26] do not load up those EBT cards at this
[00:16:29] point. which means that come the 1st of
[00:16:31] November, there are people that if if
[00:16:35] the government doesn't reopen, people
[00:16:37] that were depending on these dollars
[00:16:40] will not get funded, which means that
[00:16:42] they will draw down on the food bank
[00:16:45] services and our local food banks and
[00:16:47] local food pantries even more so than
[00:16:49] what they have before in the past.
[00:16:51] Additionally, there are a lot of federal
[00:16:54] workers that are not on CalFresh
[00:16:57] that are now starting to depend on the
[00:17:00] system because they are not getting
[00:17:01] their paychecks. Um, think about the TSA
[00:17:04] workers at um, Palm Springs. Um, think
[00:17:08] about the federal government workers
[00:17:10] that are here in our local area. So,
[00:17:12] they're not getting paychecks right now,
[00:17:13] but they're also not signed up for SNAP.
[00:17:16] So they wouldn't have gotten any SNAP
[00:17:17] benefits in October and they haven't
[00:17:19] received their paycheck for the last two
[00:17:21] weeks. So we are now serving those
[00:17:23] people as well.
[00:17:26] For us when it comes to funding from the
[00:17:28] government, you know, fine fine does
[00:17:31] really well with making sure that we are
[00:17:34] stable financially reserve funds because
[00:17:36] we are a disaster management food bank
[00:17:38] too as well. So, we can hold on for a
[00:17:41] little bit, but if it continues to go
[00:17:43] on, we'll start drawing down on those
[00:17:44] funds too as well. But for right now,
[00:17:47] our first um efforts and what we are
[00:17:50] focusing on is ensuring that we have
[00:17:52] access for all people and that we have
[00:17:55] the ability to try to keep up with the
[00:17:57] demand and the need for what is not
[00:18:00] being given on the government side right
[00:18:02] now that they were depending on.
[00:18:04] Hopefully that answered your question,
[00:18:08] >> Debbie. Thank you to you and your team
[00:18:11] for your ongoing support of the the
[00:18:14] working people and and and those that
[00:18:17] are in need of our valley. I appreciate
[00:18:19] all the time that you extended to both
[00:18:21] Council Member O'Keefe and myself. I
[00:18:24] think um the other before I make my
[00:18:27] point on one thing I'd like to highlight
[00:18:29] the fact and thank you for sharing that
[00:18:34] food supplementation is not just
[00:18:38] for those that are unemployed. They're
[00:18:41] they're trying to in a in a in a good on
[00:18:44] a good day trying to piece a livelihood
[00:18:47] together or make it make their social
[00:18:49] security check stretch a little bit
[00:18:52] longer. One of the things that I learned
[00:18:54] from you and and council member O'Keefe
[00:18:57] as well is that many of these people are
[00:19:00] individuals that have children
[00:19:03] >> and that are working 9 toive jobs,
[00:19:05] sometimes two and three jobs just to
[00:19:07] make the rent and the utilities during
[00:19:10] season, let alone trying to pay that
[00:19:12] electric bill over the summer. So, we
[00:19:14] appreciate all that you do. When council
[00:19:17] member O'Keeffe and I met with you, you
[00:19:19] had indicated with the new
[00:19:21] administration that had had come in um
[00:19:25] earlier in the year that you were facing
[00:19:27] a $1.8
[00:19:29] million loss from the federal
[00:19:31] government. Has that exceeded that? Has
[00:19:34] the amount exceeded since then?
[00:19:38] The it was interesting because when the
[00:19:40] new administration came in and when we
[00:19:42] were talking, we had suffered about 10
[00:19:45] truckloads of food um that was uh
[00:19:48] scheduled to arrive in order to be able
[00:19:50] to help us through the summertime and
[00:19:53] those 10 truckloads were then retracted
[00:19:55] by the federal government and it
[00:19:57] amounted to about $1.8 million in food.
[00:20:00] So there would be no way that we would
[00:20:02] be able to repurchase those items off of
[00:20:04] funding at, you know, that short of a
[00:20:06] time. So we were affected in that sense.
[00:20:10] Um there was some government aid, um a
[00:20:14] new program that was started to help
[00:20:16] kind of replenish that, but it
[00:20:17] definitely wasn't to the same degree of
[00:20:20] what was uh retracted back.
[00:20:24] those those uh food items that came to
[00:20:28] us through the summertime they have all
[00:20:30] been deployed right. So when you look at
[00:20:34] uh the way in which a regional food bank
[00:20:36] works is we are projecting out you know
[00:20:39] 6 to 12 months in advance in order to
[00:20:41] make sure that we have efficiencies and
[00:20:43] effectiveness with how we're monitoring
[00:20:45] and moving the food through
[00:20:48] with this government shutdown um which
[00:20:52] was not planned for we know and we've
[00:20:56] already are experiencing about 30%
[00:20:58] increases in our food lines and so when
[00:21:00] November hits, there will be an
[00:21:02] additional bump or additional increase.
[00:21:04] But because the government is shut down,
[00:21:07] there may not be an extra supply of food
[00:21:09] that's coming. And so we will look at
[00:21:11] rationing food in order to be able to
[00:21:13] make it through the long haul. What does
[00:21:15] that mean for people? It means that we
[00:21:19] are trying to sustain.
[00:21:21] And it's not necessarily that we're
[00:21:23] giving less food. it's that we have to
[00:21:25] be so monitored with the amount of food
[00:21:28] that we're given um and what we are
[00:21:30] deploying out to make sure that we can
[00:21:33] go for the long haul given the
[00:21:34] circumstances that they don't have extra
[00:21:36] income to be able to also purchase at
[00:21:39] the grocery store.
[00:21:42] >> And then in addition to that,
[00:21:44] those that distribute food,
[00:21:49] there was protein and dairy that was cut
[00:21:52] as well.
[00:21:52] >> Yes. So that was aside from the 1.8 then
[00:21:56] you had the additional cuts in in that
[00:21:58] direction. And what most people I I
[00:22:00] don't believe know is that you have a
[00:22:02] very strong partnership with our farmers
[00:22:05] down valley. So these cuts also affect
[00:22:09] our farmers as well. Yes. Yes. because
[00:22:13] many of the people many of the people
[00:22:15] that work in the service industries here
[00:22:17] in the Coachella Valley, whether it's in
[00:22:19] the um uh food and beverage industries,
[00:22:24] the agricultural communities, um many of
[00:22:27] them rely on the food bank to be able to
[00:22:30] help supplement um that which they need
[00:22:33] support with. And so there's a trickle
[00:22:35] down effect right with regards to not
[00:22:38] just it affecting the food bank supply
[00:22:40] but what is the effect on the community
[00:22:43] by which is struggling already to be
[00:22:45] able to receive food services and how
[00:22:47] does that affect them when it comes to
[00:22:50] going to work and their energy levels
[00:22:52] and their ability to be able to manage.
[00:22:54] They definitely want to make sure that
[00:22:55] they show up every day. But I mean, I
[00:22:57] think all of us have been, you know, in
[00:23:00] school at one point and maybe we missed
[00:23:03] having dinner and breakfast that night
[00:23:05] and they had to take a test. You had to
[00:23:07] take a test. Can you imagine what that
[00:23:09] was like taking a test while your
[00:23:11] stomach is rumbling um and you are, you
[00:23:14] know, kind of food deprived. Imagine
[00:23:17] what that's like trying to go to work
[00:23:18] every day. We have a strong and amazing
[00:23:21] community and our clients that we serve
[00:23:24] are uh strong and amazing as well. And
[00:23:27] so we know that they're going to make it
[00:23:29] through, but at what cost will it be for
[00:23:31] them to be able to make it through and
[00:23:32] keep their jobs? And that's why it's
[00:23:34] important for everybody to understand
[00:23:35] this because it's a it's a it's a
[00:23:38] communitywide effect in so many
[00:23:40] different ways.
[00:23:46] >> I have a question, Mr. Mayor. Debbie,
[00:23:49] thank you for being here. You know how I
[00:23:51] feel about the work that you do. Um,
[00:23:54] when you met with the mayor prom and me
[00:23:57] a few months ago, that 1.8 million stuck
[00:24:00] in my mind, too. And that was before, as
[00:24:03] you said, any kind of unexpected
[00:24:05] government shutdown.
[00:24:07] Is there a couple of questions? Are
[00:24:10] there categories now where you are in
[00:24:12] severe need that are more important than
[00:24:14] than others? and how can people help? Do
[00:24:18] you need cash donations or do you need
[00:24:21] commodity donations or what can people
[00:24:23] do?
[00:24:25] >> Fantastic question and thank you so
[00:24:27] much. Again, you've always been
[00:24:28] supportive of the work. You've been
[00:24:29] there since the day that you stepped on
[00:24:31] to the city council and have been by
[00:24:32] your side. So, we appreciate that. Um,
[00:24:36] there are three ways that food banks,
[00:24:39] regional food banks absolutely need
[00:24:40] help. The first way is is we need we
[00:24:43] call them the three Fs. So, the first
[00:24:44] one is friends. Um, volunteers are
[00:24:47] absolutely necessary in being able to
[00:24:50] repackage the items that come into our
[00:24:52] food banks and get them ready to go out
[00:24:53] to line. So, we have over 2,000
[00:24:55] registered volunteers, many of which
[00:24:57] come from Ranch and Mirage. So, you have
[00:24:59] a very healthy volunteerism out here. We
[00:25:01] can always use more. Um, we definitely
[00:25:04] could use food. Um, food right now will
[00:25:07] be very, very important. shelf stable
[00:25:09] foods and shelf stable proteins, canned
[00:25:12] chicken, canned tunas, those types of
[00:25:14] items um to be able to pull out very
[00:25:17] easily to the community. Those will be
[00:25:19] absolutely helpful and funds. Funds will
[00:25:23] be critical right now. Um a lot of the
[00:25:26] times funds and foods can be combined
[00:25:28] together because
[00:25:30] the food bank has the capability of
[00:25:33] buying foods at lower costs than what
[00:25:36] you can buy at retail. So, a lot of the
[00:25:38] times during times like this when we
[00:25:40] fund raise money, we will apply that
[00:25:42] money to actually buying food um because
[00:25:46] we can buy them in full I can buy a full
[00:25:48] truckload of tuna which will be at 40%
[00:25:52] less than what you can buy it at the
[00:25:54] retail store and so it maximizes donor's
[00:25:56] money when you think of economies of
[00:25:58] scale. So, that's where you can combine
[00:26:01] the food and the fundraising together.
[00:26:04] If the government shutdown continues to
[00:26:06] move forward for a longer period of
[00:26:08] time, you will most likely see fine food
[00:26:11] bank going to the community asking for
[00:26:13] financial contributions to be able to
[00:26:15] help support our food supply coming in
[00:26:17] to support the community. And we are we
[00:26:20] are getting ready for that now in order
[00:26:22] to make sure that we can be preemptive
[00:26:23] as opposed to reactive.
[00:26:26] Thank you for that question.
[00:26:28] >> I have a quick question. When you do a
[00:26:30] box, how do you balance fresh versus
[00:26:33] shelf stable? That's the first question.
[00:26:35] The second is how do you also bridge a
[00:26:38] cultural divide and sensitivity as to
[00:26:41] going into communities where let's say
[00:26:44] peanut butter doesn't work as a
[00:26:45] commodity for them.
[00:26:46] >> Beans may work better. I know that's a
[00:26:48] that's a disconnect for sometimes with
[00:26:51] food banks is making sure you're meeting
[00:26:53] the cultural needs,
[00:26:54] >> dietary needs and culinary needs of a
[00:26:56] community that doesn't eat what we would
[00:26:58] traditionally think of as those shelf
[00:27:00] stable foods.
[00:27:01] >> Yeah, it's a great question. Fine food
[00:27:04] bank always tries our best to make sure
[00:27:06] that we can distribute culturally what
[00:27:08] we call culturally appropriate foods. So
[00:27:10] the foods that people would
[00:27:11] traditionally use within their foods
[00:27:14] that they would cook. I'm Filipino,
[00:27:16] right? So, um, you know, the things that
[00:27:20] we can do with certain types of foods
[00:27:22] may seem odd or strange to other
[00:27:24] cultures, but we're so used to using
[00:27:26] them that we can make food very quickly.
[00:27:28] If you think about it, let's just say
[00:27:30] there's a mom and she's working three
[00:27:32] jobs. You can cook faster if you're
[00:27:34] cooking your native foods versus trying
[00:27:36] to apply something that doesn't
[00:27:38] necessarily work, right? There are times
[00:27:41] when we can't do that. There are times
[00:27:44] when we're looking at just making sure
[00:27:46] that people have food on their plate and
[00:27:48] we train and work with our clients by
[00:27:50] sending out recipes that can help them
[00:27:53] understand how do you replace this item
[00:27:56] for that item and still be able to cook
[00:27:58] culturally for your household. Um
[00:28:01] there's a balance between the two. A lot
[00:28:03] of the food that we get in we don't have
[00:28:05] any control over because it's donated
[00:28:07] product or it's commodity product that's
[00:28:09] coming in from the federal government.
[00:28:12] Our clients are creative. It's
[00:28:14] fascinating to go out to lines to be
[00:28:16] able to talk with them and we hear from
[00:28:18] them how they've turned peanut butter
[00:28:20] into something else to still be able to
[00:28:22] make the recipe, but we will do it if we
[00:28:24] can. We balance all of that with regards
[00:28:27] to fresh produce, right? So um we are a
[00:28:31] healthy regional food bank meaning that
[00:28:34] we strive for distributing close to 40
[00:28:37] to 50% of our total product in the form
[00:28:40] of fresh produce.
[00:28:42] We want to make sure that one of the um
[00:28:46] aspects of our food distribution doesn't
[00:28:49] contribute to type 2 diabetes and it
[00:28:51] doesn't contribute to childhood obesity
[00:28:53] which are both epidemics that happen in
[00:28:55] lower inome communities. One of the
[00:28:57] reasons why is because they don't have
[00:28:59] access to fresh and healthy produce. A
[00:29:02] lot of the access they have and what
[00:29:04] they can afford on their own are
[00:29:06] nutrient um deprived foods like a whole
[00:29:09] bunch of heavy carbs. They're eating
[00:29:11] pastas and they're eating bread all day
[00:29:13] long which means that they're getting
[00:29:15] food but it's not healthy food.
[00:29:18] So for us we try to balance it in that
[00:29:20] sense. So about 50% fresh produce and
[00:29:23] then a balance of proteins. um carbs and
[00:29:28] other items that are mixed along with
[00:29:30] that. Only about 5 to 10% of the food
[00:29:33] that we distribute would be considered
[00:29:36] um items that are a little bit more on
[00:29:40] the sweeter side. Um but everybody likes
[00:29:43] to have a birthday cake too as well. And
[00:29:45] we call ice cream mental health.
[00:29:48] That's a great
[00:29:54] ice cream.
[00:29:56] >> Debbie, if I may, um,
[00:30:00] will you be having food drives and if
[00:30:02] so, when would those food drives be
[00:30:05] occurring and how can the public help?
[00:30:08] Sure. Um, we we can be we can have food
[00:30:12] drives. Um, a lot of the times you'll
[00:30:14] see food barrels that could potentially
[00:30:16] be out at the stores, but what we have
[00:30:18] found is many of our country clubs and
[00:30:21] many of our homeowners associations
[00:30:24] because they understand that the cost of
[00:30:27] fuel and diesel right now is highly
[00:30:29] expensive for us to send a driver to go
[00:30:31] out and pick it up, they're doing food
[00:30:34] drives on their own within their
[00:30:35] respective communities, and they're
[00:30:37] getting volunteers to load up their SUVs
[00:30:39] and drive it over to the food bank
[00:30:41] instead. had our focus right now is
[00:30:44] making sure that our resources are being
[00:30:48] um uh uh focused on the deployment of
[00:30:52] food out into the community. So any help
[00:30:54] that the community can give us in order
[00:30:56] to be able to bring the food over to the
[00:30:58] food bank, that would be fantastic.
[00:31:01] Additionally, you can go on to the
[00:31:03] website and make monetary contributions
[00:31:06] in order to be able to help us purchase
[00:31:07] foods too as well. And again, that can
[00:31:10] also stretch the dollar. We do virtual
[00:31:12] food drives as well online as well as at
[00:31:15] different stores. So, you'll see QR
[00:31:17] codes where you can just easily scan it
[00:31:19] and contribute dollars that way.
[00:31:21] >> Terrific. Thank you so much. You bet,
[00:31:25] >> Debbie. Thank you so much. Your
[00:31:27] presentations are always
[00:31:30] extremely informative and um uh we
[00:31:34] appreciate that. it helps us better
[00:31:36] understand, you know, all of the things
[00:31:39] that you do and how we can assist you uh
[00:31:43] in furthering that cause. So, thanks
[00:31:46] again for coming in here, spending the
[00:31:49] time uh and educating us in the various
[00:31:52] things that you do. Absolutely
[00:31:54] appreciate it. Thank you.
[00:31:55] >> And thank you again all for your
[00:31:56] support. We really appreciate it and
[00:31:58] need it.
[00:32:00] >> Thank you.
[00:32:04] [Applause]
[00:32:06] We'll now go to um council member
[00:32:10] comments. Uh I'm going to start it
[00:32:13] today. Um this has been a very
[00:32:18] challenging period
[00:32:20] uh where we lost um a critical member of
[00:32:26] our community family um a pillar that
[00:32:30] has been with us for many years. And
[00:32:33] before I make my remarks, may I ask you
[00:32:37] to share a moment of silence
[00:32:41] uh in memory of uh Dana Hobart, please?
[00:33:01] Thank you.
[00:33:02] I'd like to um
[00:33:05] start off and and read my comments. I
[00:33:09] was asked uh by uh one member of the
[00:33:13] media uh to make my comments the day
[00:33:16] after Dana passed away, which would have
[00:33:19] been uh a week ago last Saturday.
[00:33:23] Uh it was a challenge for me. Um, and I
[00:33:28] told that individual that I wouldn't be
[00:33:30] able to do it that evening, that I was
[00:33:32] still, frankly,
[00:33:35] uh, emotionally spent, but I would try
[00:33:38] to get it done the next day. And so, I'd
[00:33:41] like to read to you what I did uh, send
[00:33:44] to the media, which they published,
[00:33:46] which reflects my feelings entirely.
[00:33:51] And it's to for a friend, mentor and
[00:33:54] civic leader.
[00:33:56] And I said yesterday we lost not just a
[00:33:59] statesman but a true friend. Dana Hobart
[00:34:03] was a pillar of Rancho Mirage, a man of
[00:34:06] vision, integrity, tireless dedication.
[00:34:10] His decades of public service left a
[00:34:13] lasting impact on our city through
[00:34:16] thoughtful leadership, bold action, and
[00:34:19] a genuine love for the community he
[00:34:22] served.
[00:34:24] from undergrounding utility lines to
[00:34:26] strengthening city finances and
[00:34:29] championing civic initiatives like the
[00:34:33] observatory and amphitheater and the
[00:34:36] rancher Mirage dog park. Dana shaped a
[00:34:40] better future for all of us. But to me,
[00:34:44] Dana was more than a leader. He was a
[00:34:47] mentor and a dear friend.
[00:34:51] Ours was a friendship built over many
[00:34:53] years through countless conversations,
[00:34:57] shared values, and a mutual commitment
[00:35:01] to public service.
[00:35:03] Dana saw something in me before I fully
[00:35:06] saw it in myself. He encouraged me
[00:35:11] persistently,
[00:35:12] sincerely to get involved in local p
[00:35:16] public government. He believed in
[00:35:19] thoughtful, dedicated leadership and
[00:35:22] believed I had what it took to serve.
[00:35:26] It was his unwavering support and quiet
[00:35:29] persuasion
[00:35:31] that inspired me to run for city council
[00:35:34] and ultimately serve as his colleague.
[00:35:38] Working alongside Dana was one of the
[00:35:41] greatest honors of my life. His passion
[00:35:44] was contagious, his intellect sharp, his
[00:35:49] principles never wavered, even in the
[00:35:51] most difficult decisions.
[00:35:54] Dana approached public service with
[00:35:56] humility and the conviction that
[00:35:59] government must always serve the people,
[00:36:03] not politics, not special interests, but
[00:36:07] the people. His legacy is etched into
[00:36:12] very fabric of our city, but his impact
[00:36:16] reaches even further in the leaders he
[00:36:19] inspired, the friendships he nurtured,
[00:36:22] and the example he set.
[00:36:25] Dana,
[00:36:27] thank you for believing in me, for your
[00:36:29] guidance, for your friendship, and for
[00:36:32] your lifelong commitment to the city we
[00:36:35] both love.
[00:36:37] Rancho Mirage is better because of you
[00:36:40] and I am better for having known you.
[00:36:44] You'll be missed more than words can
[00:36:46] say. Rest in peace, my friend.
[00:36:51] And I mean that sincerely.
[00:36:54] Uh and I know that a lot of you feel the
[00:36:56] same way. I can tell you that I shed a
[00:37:00] lot of tears
[00:37:02] uh over my computer and composing that.
[00:37:06] Dana was an irreplaceable force, but he
[00:37:11] left us with such significant and
[00:37:15] indelible memories. So, thank you very
[00:37:18] much for for listening and I know that
[00:37:22] many of you feel exactly the same way.
[00:37:25] With that, I'll go to
[00:37:28] my left and ask Council Member Eve Frin
[00:37:34] to reflect on any comments that she has.
[00:37:38] >> Number one, that was an incredible
[00:37:40] tribute and I'm sure that Dana
[00:37:44] appreciates those kind words and the
[00:37:46] comment on his incredible legacy for
[00:37:48] this city. So, thank you.
[00:37:50] >> Thank you. Um, on another note, this
[00:37:52] last week we were at the League of
[00:37:54] California Cities. It was my first time
[00:37:56] attending and more in my adventures as a
[00:37:58] new council person. Um, I had a great
[00:38:01] week in uh, Long Beach. Long Beach is a
[00:38:04] beautiful city. I had not really stayed
[00:38:05] there extensively like that and I was
[00:38:07] really impressed with their downtown
[00:38:09] area, their convention center, their
[00:38:11] port. It was a beautiful town, beautiful
[00:38:13] stay, great weather. Although we were
[00:38:16] having good weather here, so it's kind
[00:38:18] of sad to leave here and go there when
[00:38:19] it was cool here, too. Um, I had a great
[00:38:22] uh experience, but what I was um
[00:38:25] surprised by is number one, the number
[00:38:28] of small cities there are in the state
[00:38:30] of California that assembled their
[00:38:32] cities our size, a little smaller, a
[00:38:34] little bigger, but definitely felt like
[00:38:35] allies in the fight. Uh the other thing
[00:38:38] that was though most impressive to me
[00:38:39] was in going through the agendas for
[00:38:42] each day and the seminars and
[00:38:45] discussions that they were having is how
[00:38:48] much of what those cities were learning
[00:38:50] how to do this city is already doing.
[00:38:53] And I was extremely impressed as I am
[00:38:57] every day that I do this job with how
[00:38:59] advanced this city is. It's the little
[00:39:01] engine that could. It's impressive. Um,
[00:39:04] so things that are cutting edge for
[00:39:06] municipal development and municipal
[00:39:08] work, our city has either implemented or
[00:39:10] is in the process of implementing or is
[00:39:13] on the whiteboards of these offices
[00:39:16] getting getting planned to be
[00:39:17] implemented. And again, I just have to
[00:39:20] commend I'd love to say it's all city
[00:39:22] council. I probably should say that so
[00:39:24] my comrades in arms here feel honored,
[00:39:26] but I will tell you it is city staff,
[00:39:28] our department heads, the staff that
[00:39:31] support them. This is their work. This
[00:39:33] is their ingenuity. This is their uh
[00:39:36] embracing uh future trends for better
[00:39:39] and smarter run cities and this city in
[00:39:42] particular that this city for a long
[00:39:45] time got a wrap as not being an advanced
[00:39:47] city and I can tell you that's clearly
[00:39:49] not the case. Um it was a great week. I
[00:39:51] learned a lot, but I learned more
[00:39:54] sitting at tables, networking with other
[00:39:56] cities and our own city staff and
[00:39:58] members and members of my council about
[00:40:00] how much we do and we're working on
[00:40:02] doing. Um, and it starts with our
[00:40:05] obviously our city manager and works its
[00:40:06] way down, but it's the staff that's
[00:40:08] sitting in this room and in the offices
[00:40:10] behind me that really make it happen.
[00:40:11] So, thank you. I was impressed. I
[00:40:13] learned a lot. I had a great time and I
[00:40:15] look forward to participating next year
[00:40:17] as well. Thank you.
[00:40:19] >> Thank you, Eve. And I I can echo the
[00:40:22] many
[00:40:24] uh league meetings that I attended. Uh I
[00:40:27] came away with the the same feelings
[00:40:30] that um we're doing things pretty darn
[00:40:33] well and uh it reinforced so much of
[00:40:37] what we do. So I'm glad this being your
[00:40:40] first meeting uh that you came away with
[00:40:44] uh similar uh feelings.
[00:40:47] Uh, Council Member O'Keefe.
[00:40:50] >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, beautiful
[00:40:52] tribute to Dana Hobart.
[00:40:53] >> Thank you.
[00:40:54] >> Uh, good afternoon, everyone. Um, our
[00:40:57] city staff has been on a roll lately, so
[00:41:00] if you will indulge me for a couple of
[00:41:02] minutes, I'd like to make some
[00:41:04] recognitions today. First, to Assistant
[00:41:06] City Manager Ryan Stendel and his team,
[00:41:10] thank you for the remarkable job of
[00:41:12] repaving Highway 11 in one week. Uh the
[00:41:17] logistics were complicated, the daily
[00:41:19] progress was amazing to watch and the
[00:41:22] results are great. Uh one of the things
[00:41:24] that Ranch Mirage is famous for is the
[00:41:27] quality of our roadways and this is why.
[00:41:31] To our marketing director, Gabe Cotting
[00:41:33] and Haley Ty and the marketing team,
[00:41:36] congratulations on a fantastic National
[00:41:39] Night Out.
[00:41:40] Uh if you're someone who doesn't believe
[00:41:43] that our city's number one
[00:41:44] responsibility is public safety, then I
[00:41:47] invite you to attend the annual event at
[00:41:50] Community Park. Lieutenant Turnis and
[00:41:53] Chief Beverlin and their teams of
[00:41:55] dedicated servants officers were there.
[00:41:58] CSO Kyle Albanius was there.
[00:42:02] So was the brand new city ambulance, the
[00:42:05] sheriff's helicopter, the bomb squad
[00:42:08] with the robot, and our emergency
[00:42:11] preparedness commission, and the trauma
[00:42:13] intervention program, and the citizens
[00:42:15] on patrol. There was food and
[00:42:18] entertainment, and hundreds of residents
[00:42:21] who came to celebrate our city's
[00:42:23] commitment to public safety. It was a
[00:42:25] job well done.
[00:42:28] And kudos to Mina Dukage, our community
[00:42:31] development director, for being named
[00:42:33] one of the 40 under 40 by Palm Springs
[00:42:36] Life. This designation celebrates a new
[00:42:39] generation of community leaders making
[00:42:42] significant contributions uh in their
[00:42:44] communities. Mina has one of the most
[00:42:47] important jobs here at city hall and
[00:42:49] she's one of the busiest people I know.
[00:42:52] And I've never asked her a question that
[00:42:54] she didn't know the answer to. Uh all of
[00:42:57] our city's residents can be confident
[00:42:58] that our planning department and all of
[00:43:01] her programs are in good hands. So
[00:43:03] congratulations
[00:43:05] and congratulations to Erin Espinosa,
[00:43:08] the executive director of the world
[00:43:10] famous Ranch Mirage Library and
[00:43:13] Observatory, who was just elected as
[00:43:15] treasurer for the California Library
[00:43:17] Association.
[00:43:20] Aaron's expertise has made the library
[00:43:22] and observatory one of the premier
[00:43:25] attractions in this valley and he will
[00:43:27] undoubtedly
[00:43:29] make significant contributions to the
[00:43:31] state agency.
[00:43:34] And congratulations to our city
[00:43:36] videographer Kai Beachch for earning
[00:43:39] multiple accolades at this year's
[00:43:41] California public information video
[00:43:44] officers star awards. These awards honor
[00:43:48] excellence in government video
[00:43:49] programming across 40 plus categories.
[00:43:53] Kai wrote, directed, filmed, and edited
[00:43:57] each of the six finalist videos. And we
[00:44:01] all know that Kai's videos are fun to
[00:44:03] watch and they're informative to watch.
[00:44:06] But he is also doing something more
[00:44:08] important. He is chronicling events
[00:44:10] about our city that future historians
[00:44:12] will view. So, we're proud to celebrate
[00:44:15] his creativity and dedication.
[00:44:18] And finally, and sadly, I would also
[00:44:21] like to remember Dana Hobart.
[00:44:23] When I first came onto the city council
[00:44:25] two years ago, one of the first things I
[00:44:28] wanted to do was meet the legendary Dana
[00:44:31] Hobart. City manager, Mr. Hagermanerman,
[00:44:34] arranged a lunch for us, and Dana and I
[00:44:36] hit it off immediately.
[00:44:38] We continued to meet for lunch at least
[00:44:40] every month after that. He told me about
[00:44:43] his early career, how we both lived in
[00:44:46] Santa Monica at times, how he got
[00:44:48] involved with the city, his love of
[00:44:50] animals. We talked about his
[00:44:52] grandchildren and their sports teams. He
[00:44:54] told me about how he got involved with
[00:44:56] the city and the contributions that he
[00:44:59] made to our beautiful city. It's
[00:45:01] impossible to overstate what he did. I
[00:45:05] will miss our lunches and his stories. I
[00:45:08] will miss his opinions and his advice.
[00:45:10] And most of all, I will miss our
[00:45:12] friendship. So, my condolences to Vicki
[00:45:14] and the family. Rest in peace, Dana.
[00:45:17] Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
[00:45:18] >> Thank you, Michael.
[00:45:22] Council member DS.
[00:45:26] Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, uh this is our
[00:45:28] first council meeting since uh Dana
[00:45:30] Hobart passed on October 4th. Uh he was
[00:45:33] 93. Um he um he lived long and he lived
[00:45:38] a well-lived life. He was a great leader
[00:45:40] for our city and he'll always be
[00:45:41] remembered for uh the dedication and
[00:45:44] commitment that he had to our city that
[00:45:46] he loved. He served as mayor five
[00:45:48] different times during his two decades
[00:45:50] of public service. And uh it was Dana's
[00:45:53] um Dana's approach that developed our
[00:45:57] mayoral rotation. Uh he believed that
[00:45:59] the rotation system would stem political
[00:46:02] ranker on the council and he believed
[00:46:04] that it would help the council worked
[00:46:06] work more productively together. He was
[00:46:09] right for me. Um, I've got a special
[00:46:12] reverence for uh Dana. It was uh it was
[00:46:15] November of 2021 that Dana retired and
[00:46:19] stepped down from public service. And
[00:46:21] the next month in December of 2021, uh,
[00:46:24] this council appointed me to fill the
[00:46:27] remainder of Dana's term. And I'll
[00:46:29] always be mindful that I fill the seat
[00:46:33] that was once occupied by a rancher
[00:46:35] mirage legend. So after my appointment,
[00:46:38] uh Dana became a mentor for me and a
[00:46:40] guide to uh the ranch mirage history uh
[00:46:43] that would be important knowledge for me
[00:46:45] in my service to this city and I'll
[00:46:47] always be grateful uh for the time that
[00:46:49] he spent with me. Um last week Vicky
[00:46:52] Hobart gave me a couple of books. I'm
[00:46:53] going to show them to you and share them
[00:46:54] with you and tell you about them. This
[00:46:56] first book, it's a big heavy book, this
[00:46:58] big red book. This book contains the
[00:47:00] Ranch Mirage City Charter and the
[00:47:03] Municipal Code. Now, if you sit down to
[00:47:05] read this book, you're not going to have
[00:47:06] a really good time. It's kind of boring.
[00:47:09] It's not a beach read.
[00:47:12] But the importance about this book, this
[00:47:14] municipal code book, this was Dana's
[00:47:16] book. So, he used this book when he went
[00:47:19] through our city council meetings and
[00:47:21] figured out how he would vote on various
[00:47:23] issues. The book, you can't see it from
[00:47:25] the chamber there, but uh some of you
[00:47:26] can see it up here. It's annotated with
[00:47:28] uh with post-it notes, so it's dogeared
[00:47:31] throughout the book. Uh and then inside
[00:47:34] the book there are
[00:47:36] Kofi can see this, Lynn can see this.
[00:47:38] Look at all the notations that he made.
[00:47:39] So there's lots of uh yellow uh
[00:47:42] highlights that he made in various
[00:47:43] sections of the code. Then there are
[00:47:45] orange highlights. I wonder what the
[00:47:46] difference was. And there are some
[00:47:47] places where there are underlines. There
[00:47:49] are some places where there are circles.
[00:47:51] There are some places where all of these
[00:47:52] things exist. So I wonder what that
[00:47:54] meant to Dana. But in any event,
[00:47:57] >> yeah, I guess that's what that.
[00:48:00] So, this is Dana's code book and it's
[00:48:02] not very interesting reading, but I can
[00:48:04] tell you uh that this code book will
[00:48:06] occupy an important spot in my
[00:48:09] bookshelf. Um, one other book that uh
[00:48:13] that Dana left for me that Vicki gave to
[00:48:15] me last week, it's this little book. And
[00:48:18] when I tell you the uh the title of the
[00:48:20] book, uh you're all going to say, "Oh,
[00:48:21] that's a quintessential Dana Hobart
[00:48:24] gift." And just like the m municipal
[00:48:27] code book, it's got um it's got post-it
[00:48:30] notes throughout the book. It's
[00:48:31] underlined here and there. This is
[00:48:33] Robert's rules of order.
[00:48:35] >> Now,
[00:48:38] did he ever?
[00:48:39] >> So, um gifts are usually given for
[00:48:42] sentimental reasons. It's a birthday or
[00:48:44] it's a holiday, but sometimes gifts are
[00:48:47] given to send a message. And I couldn't
[00:48:49] help but wonder if the message that Dana
[00:48:52] might have been sending to me is that uh
[00:48:54] when I sit on this dis in these council
[00:48:56] meetings that maybe I should be a little
[00:48:58] bit more attentive to parliamentary
[00:49:00] procedure. I don't know if that was the
[00:49:02] message but it's always possible.
[00:49:05] Thank you Dana Hobart.
[00:49:08] Thank you for your mentorship. Thank you
[00:49:10] for your uh leadership and thank you for
[00:49:12] your friendship. Thank you Mr. Mayor.
[00:49:14] >> Thank you Steve. Nice comments. Mayor
[00:49:17] Promatto.
[00:49:19] >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, the first
[00:49:21] thing I'd like to comment on, um, you
[00:49:24] know, city council just it doesn't meet
[00:49:27] twice a month on the first and third
[00:49:29] Thursdays. Um, we have other duties. Uh
[00:49:33] we have several
[00:49:36] uh commissions or committees uh with
[00:49:38] outside agencies as delegates, direct
[00:49:41] delegates representing our city and five
[00:49:44] other agencies, four or five other
[00:49:46] agencies as alternates to fill in for
[00:49:49] our uh colleagues if they couldn't if
[00:49:52] they can't make it to those meetings.
[00:49:55] One of the uh agencies that I sit on is
[00:49:58] Sunline Transit.
[00:50:01] Sunlight Transit has been working
[00:50:03] diligently and feverishly for the last
[00:50:06] uh two three years to not only expand
[00:50:09] its service but their fuel choice um or
[00:50:13] their fuel usage is hydrogen and that
[00:50:17] hydrogen fuel source is not in sync with
[00:50:20] the administration's preferences. So,
[00:50:24] um,
[00:50:26] the board has has been working with
[00:50:29] lobbyists and working with our elected
[00:50:32] officials, specifically
[00:50:34] uh, Congressman Ken Calbertt. And
[00:50:36] Congressman Calbertt um, has been
[00:50:41] a tremendous resource here for the city
[00:50:44] of Ranch Mirage. You may or may not
[00:50:46] agree with this politics, but the one
[00:50:48] thing I will say about Congressman
[00:50:51] Calvert and his legislative aid, uh,
[00:50:54] Mayor Glenn Miller, when it comes to
[00:50:56] this valley,
[00:50:58] they are ardent supporters and they will
[00:51:00] fight for our, um, our our cities and
[00:51:04] our residents in the valley. And
[00:51:06] Congressman Calbertt helped to get some
[00:51:09] financing to help Sunline reach its
[00:51:12] goals. It wasn't enough, though. We
[00:51:14] still had additional funding
[00:51:17] applications in in the pipeline uh for
[00:51:20] appropriations to u back in Washington
[00:51:23] to approve. We our um board members were
[00:51:28] scheduled to meet with lobbyists and to
[00:51:31] meet with those officials back in
[00:51:34] Washington and the government shutdown
[00:51:37] has had its effects. Often we watch the
[00:51:40] news and say, "Well, that's happening
[00:51:42] back in Washington. and it doesn't
[00:51:43] affect us. You've heard now two agencies
[00:51:48] um that have been directly affected. You
[00:51:50] heard about fine food bank and like uh
[00:51:54] resources and then now uh Sunline. I
[00:51:57] want to thank my fellow uh board members
[00:52:00] uh that I sit with as chair on on
[00:52:03] Sunline for their work that specifically
[00:52:06] the staff. The staff is phenomenal over
[00:52:08] at Sunline and uh I will tell you that
[00:52:10] they are continuing continuingly
[00:52:14] um working to expand those resources,
[00:52:17] expand its writership. I know here in
[00:52:19] ranch we don't have the roots yet that
[00:52:22] we prefer but the CEO has given that
[00:52:25] order to figure out how we can keep
[00:52:28] moving residents across valley and
[00:52:30] through um ranch.
[00:52:38] forgive me for my emotion.
[00:52:44] Um,
[00:52:46] as you've heard the wonderful comments
[00:52:49] about Dana Hobart,
[00:52:51] I've had a really difficult time over
[00:52:54] the last um, two weeks.
[00:52:58] In fact, I haven't even been able to see
[00:53:01] his uh wife Vicki because I'm a bundle
[00:53:04] of emotions.
[00:53:08] I used to work for the city of Cathedral
[00:53:10] City and often is the case, cities cross
[00:53:16] over and we have the pleasure as city
[00:53:20] employees to work with our fellow
[00:53:22] colleagues in neighboring cities. And
[00:53:24] that was certainly my experience as a
[00:53:28] and as a 23-year employee with the city
[00:53:30] of Cathedral and often was the case. I I
[00:53:33] worked with city of Rancher Mirage
[00:53:37] and had the opportunity to encounter
[00:53:40] then council member uh Dana Hobart.
[00:53:43] And um when I first moved to the desert,
[00:53:46] I was a rancher mirage resident. And
[00:53:48] when I went to work for city of
[00:53:50] Cathedral City, I moved into this uh
[00:53:52] Cathedral City. And at the end of my
[00:53:56] tenure at Ranch at Cathedral City, I
[00:53:59] returned to uh Rancher Mirage on
[00:54:02] Palmdale Road.
[00:54:05] He must have heard that I um had moved
[00:54:08] back into the city. Uh because there was
[00:54:10] a knock on my door and he says, "What is
[00:54:12] a Cathedral City person doing?" Well,
[00:54:15] you have some nerve moving back to
[00:54:16] Rancher Mirage and not being an employee
[00:54:18] with the city. He was always so much fun
[00:54:21] and such a personal gentleman. And I
[00:54:24] moved back to the city in 2003.
[00:54:28] He came to tease me because I had boxes
[00:54:31] standing up uh for pickup uh for Berek.
[00:54:34] And uh I I he was walking his dogs down
[00:54:37] the street as he did every day, twice a
[00:54:40] day, which gave us an opportunity to
[00:54:42] converse, but I'd only been in the house
[00:54:44] for less than 24 hours. I got the mail
[00:54:46] and there was an envelope from the city
[00:54:48] of Rancharrage, and I thought, "Oh my
[00:54:50] gosh." And it said I thought, "My boxes
[00:54:53] are stacked up, but they're not
[00:54:54] completely broken down yet. I'm getting
[00:54:56] a violation from code enforcement." That
[00:54:58] was not the case. To my pleasurable
[00:55:01] surprise, it was an announcement, a
[00:55:04] letter that was going out to all of the
[00:55:06] residents in our city that they were
[00:55:09] putting the utilities underground.
[00:55:13] Something that is just a a tremendous
[00:55:16] expense.
[00:55:17] So, one, I dodged a bullet, and two, I
[00:55:20] had then council member um Dana Hobart
[00:55:24] welcoming me to the neighborhood and
[00:55:26] teasing me because I thought I was in
[00:55:28] trouble.
[00:55:31] Dana and I would see each other. We had
[00:55:32] our timing down. He knew when I was
[00:55:34] getting home from work uh from Cathedral
[00:55:37] City and he'd stop by and say hello.
[00:55:39] We'd have discussions about uh politics
[00:55:43] across the valley. I learned so much
[00:55:45] from this fine gentleman. He was an
[00:55:49] ardent supporter of democracy and the
[00:55:52] constitution the last 10 years. He
[00:55:55] struggled. He struggled. He was he's he
[00:55:58] was very concerned and worried about our
[00:56:00] citizenry and how in what changes could
[00:56:04] be taking place
[00:56:09] above all the politics whether it was CV
[00:56:12] link or
[00:56:15] maybe something that ranch mirage didn't
[00:56:17] agree with and we all saw the articles
[00:56:21] in the desert sun
[00:56:23] maybe there were disagreements with his
[00:56:25] fellow colleagues on the as but the one
[00:56:28] thing I could tell you is he fought for
[00:56:31] his residents. He fought for the issues
[00:56:34] that were so so paramount for the city
[00:56:38] of Rancher Mirage.
[00:56:41] Um he always teased me and said one day
[00:56:43] I'm going to get you back over at Ranch
[00:56:44] Mrage. And indeed he did. I was a
[00:56:47] commissioner with the speaker series
[00:56:49] which was so important to him that
[00:56:51] particular commission and it was my
[00:56:53] pleasure to serve as a commissioner for
[00:56:55] over 10 years on that commission.
[00:56:58] And then when I decided to run for
[00:57:01] council, this gentleman ran down the
[00:57:04] street and said, "I hear you're pulling
[00:57:07] papers." And he said, "Yes." And he
[00:57:10] says, "If you need me, I'm here."
[00:57:13] There were I did seek his counsel.
[00:57:17] Um were there times that we always
[00:57:19] agreed? No. But he always respected my
[00:57:23] perspective. Um and he always treated me
[00:57:26] with grace and dignity
[00:57:28] and in full transparency as I shared
[00:57:30] with a member of the media. He helped to
[00:57:33] change my perspective
[00:57:35] on certain issues and certain things.
[00:57:38] And when you're in public service, you
[00:57:40] learn the number one goal is to listen
[00:57:43] to your constituents. Whether you,
[00:57:47] it doesn't matter what capacity you
[00:57:49] serve in, whether it's as an employee
[00:57:51] with city government or sitting on this
[00:57:53] deis,
[00:57:55] the public is number one. And often the
[00:57:59] public has heard me say that the
[00:58:01] councils of the past um
[00:58:05] have operated with measured and
[00:58:07] thoughtful decisions. And that's why we
[00:58:09] have the quality of life that we do in
[00:58:12] Rancher Mirage. And Dana was very very
[00:58:16] much a part of that.
[00:58:21] He was a mentor. He was
[00:58:25] a dear supporter of this of this city
[00:58:28] and he was a friend to all of us.
[00:58:31] And it really came he always came from a
[00:58:33] place of contribution. And you may not
[00:58:35] agree with him, but he always came from
[00:58:36] a a place of contribution. I will miss
[00:58:39] this gentleman because he had such a
[00:58:41] pivotal role in very aspects of my life.
[00:58:45] And my apologies for my emotions. It's
[00:58:48] very raw.
[00:58:50] And uh to his wife Vicki who was an
[00:58:55] ardent supporter of his and the city and
[00:58:57] continues to be in his family. We thank
[00:59:00] you for sharing. Dana Hobart,
[00:59:03] council member, mayor and civic leader
[00:59:06] with for the decades of service. Thank
[00:59:10] you, Mr. Mayor.
[00:59:12] >> Thank you, Mayor Prom. Those are
[00:59:13] wonderful words.
[00:59:15] Certainly emotionfilled.
[00:59:18] Um,
[00:59:20] you know, you express your feelings and
[00:59:22] I think it reflects to a larger degree
[00:59:26] how we all feel. So, thank you for
[00:59:29] sharing your emotions with all of us.
[00:59:33] That being said, the next item will be
[00:59:37] the city manager comments and if he has
[00:59:41] any, he will address them. If not, he
[00:59:44] will then lead us into the consent
[00:59:47] calendar if you will, please.
[00:59:50] >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, uh, members of the
[00:59:51] council, uh, Ryan Stindell, the
[00:59:54] assistant city manager, myself, and the
[00:59:56] city council, with the exception of the
[00:59:58] mayor, attended the annual, uh,
[01:00:01] conference by Cal Cities in Long Beach
[01:00:02] last week. Uh, it's been talked about by
[01:00:05] several council members, but the, uh,
[01:00:06] topics covered various issues. Uh and it
[01:00:09] was great to network with some of our
[01:00:12] other California cities that are similar
[01:00:14] to our size and hear from them and see
[01:00:16] how they're doing and uh dealing with
[01:00:18] some of the challenges that we're all
[01:00:20] facing right now. Uh there was one
[01:00:22] session that I thought was really
[01:00:23] interesting. Uh it was the importance of
[01:00:26] communities focusing on bringing child
[01:00:29] care into their communities. Uh so this
[01:00:33] city obviously supported the Eisenhower
[01:00:35] Health's child care center uh largest
[01:00:38] employer in the valley, largest provider
[01:00:39] of healthcare. Uh and that just
[01:00:41] reinforced some of the things that this
[01:00:43] council uh has done. Uh but the uh
[01:00:46] conference overall was very informative.
[01:00:49] Uh I do uh just want to uh take a moment
[01:00:52] to thank Dana for everything that he did
[01:00:55] for this city. Uh and me uh personally
[01:00:59] uh I had the pleasure of uh working for
[01:01:01] Dana in a couple capacities. Uh but we
[01:01:04] spent a lot of time together. Uh Dana
[01:01:06] was uh the smartest man that I have ever
[01:01:09] encountered. Um he had vision. Um he
[01:01:12] could uh see uh a topic and understand
[01:01:17] it. Um as council members, you get a lot
[01:01:20] thrown at you, not just from the city,
[01:01:22] but from all the other boards and
[01:01:23] commissions that you guys sit on. And it
[01:01:25] is a ton of information. Uh Dana had
[01:01:27] this unique ability to kind of pick
[01:01:29] through all that stuff and pick up on
[01:01:31] the things that uh maybe some people
[01:01:33] would miss which made him very good at
[01:01:35] his job. Uh two funny stories that I
[01:01:38] want to share about Dana. Um
[01:01:41] the undergrounding of utilities. He
[01:01:44] loved telling that story and it's
[01:01:46] actually kind of funny uh now being city
[01:01:48] manager because it makes me chuckle. Um,
[01:01:51] but you know, you saw his uh, council
[01:01:53] member DS showed his book and he went
[01:01:55] through every agenda like that and uh,
[01:01:58] he was meticulous when it came to his
[01:02:00] review and uh, preparation. Uh, like any
[01:02:04] good attorney, right? He knew where he
[01:02:06] wanted to be and he would lead people
[01:02:07] down a line of questioning and then he
[01:02:09] would drop the hammer on them sometimes.
[01:02:12] Uh so he felt like the city staff at the
[01:02:14] time was kind of dragging their feet on
[01:02:16] the utility undergrounding and he was
[01:02:18] right and uh he kind of just kept on
[01:02:20] getting shined on and we all know Dana,
[01:02:22] he don't take that very well. Uh so uh
[01:02:25] he went and wrote the staff report
[01:02:27] himself. So uh you know kind of just uh
[01:02:31] Dana's attitude is okay fine. You don't
[01:02:33] want to do your job, I'll do it for you
[01:02:35] and I'm going to put this on the agenda.
[01:02:36] And obviously we all understand uh what
[01:02:39] a benefit that is today. uh and just one
[01:02:42] of those things that makes our community
[01:02:44] uh very unique and he did it at a time
[01:02:46] when the city had available funding for
[01:02:48] it that uh we don't have today. So if it
[01:02:51] didn't happen back then then uh we would
[01:02:53] look like most other communities uh when
[01:02:55] you see all those wires uh up and it's
[01:02:58] when you leave Ranch Mirage it's
[01:02:59] actually kind of shocking sometimes. Uh
[01:03:01] the other funny part about Dana was uh
[01:03:04] you know we uh working so closely
[01:03:07] together uh we were very comfortable
[01:03:08] with each other and sometimes we entered
[01:03:10] healthy debates uh about certain topics
[01:03:13] and uh so we were in the middle of this
[01:03:15] healthy debate and uh you know I was
[01:03:17] explaining to Dana you know why we
[01:03:20] shouldn't do a certain thing and what
[01:03:21] the consequence of that would be and uh
[01:03:23] Dana just looks at me and he says well
[01:03:26] Isaiah my job is not to make your job
[01:03:28] easier do
[01:03:32] So Dana, thanks for uh all all the good
[01:03:35] times and just the many things that you
[01:03:37] taught me. Uh I will treasure them uh
[01:03:40] for my life. So thank you for all you
[01:03:42] did for our city. Uh with that, I will
[01:03:45] move to the uh consent calendar.
[01:03:47] >> Well, they taught you well.
[01:03:50] >> Uh so the council has five items on your
[01:03:53] consent calendar for consideration. Item
[01:03:55] 5 A through 5e. Item 5 A is the approval
[01:03:59] of the September 18th, 2025 regular city
[01:04:02] council meeting minutes. Item 5B is
[01:04:05] final track map number 38990
[01:04:08] Cotino Town Center. Item 5 C is to
[01:04:12] approve the closure of the library and
[01:04:13] observatory for the 2026 Ranch Mirage
[01:04:16] Writers Festival. Item 5D are the
[01:04:19] contracts and 5E are the demands. Before
[01:04:22] we go to any council comments or
[01:04:24] questions, I'll ask the city clerk to
[01:04:26] take public comment on the consent
[01:04:28] calendar.
[01:04:29] >> Thank you. I received uh speaker cards
[01:04:31] for two items on consent from Brad
[01:04:33] Anderson.
[01:04:35] >> Is he still here?
[01:04:39] Doesn't look like it. And those were the
[01:04:41] only ones. Is there anyone else in the
[01:04:43] audience who would like to speak on
[01:04:44] something on the consent calendar today?
[01:04:47] No speakers.
[01:04:50] >> Thank you. Are there any uh council
[01:04:52] comments regarding the consent calendar?
[01:04:57] If not, I'll entertain a motion to
[01:04:59] approve the consent calendar.
[01:05:00] >> Move to approve the consent calendar.
[01:05:03] >> I'll second.
[01:05:04] >> There's a motion in a second. Please
[01:05:06] vote.
[01:05:10] >> Motion carries. 5-0.
[01:05:13] >> Thank you. We'll now go to public
[01:05:15] hearings
[01:05:17] and the first item will be the
[01:05:19] annexation of number
[01:05:22] 199 to the community facility community
[01:05:26] facilities district number one and
[01:05:29] that'll be presented by Jacob de la de
[01:05:32] la Cruz excuse me financial analyst.
[01:05:35] Jacob Jacob if you would.
[01:05:37] >> Thank you mayor and good afternoon
[01:05:38] council. This item is to hold a public
[01:05:40] hearing for annexation 199 into
[01:05:42] community community facilities district
[01:05:44] number one. This is the second and final
[01:05:46] step in the city's annexation process
[01:05:47] for developments within the city's
[01:05:48] jurisdiction. The first step was
[01:05:50] considered and approved at the September
[01:05:52] 4th council meeting. The territory
[01:05:53] proposed for annexation is located on
[01:05:55] the northeast corner of the intersection
[01:05:57] of Bob Hope Drive and Gerald Ford Drive.
[01:05:59] It is comprised of two parcels totaling
[01:06:01] approximately 5.4 acres and the project
[01:06:03] is slated to construct a one-story
[01:06:05] skilled nursing facility of
[01:06:06] approximately 42.5,000 square ft. At the
[01:06:09] conclusion of today's public hearing,
[01:06:10] provided written protests have not been
[01:06:12] filed in the absence of a majority
[01:06:13] protest, city council may consider
[01:06:15] adoption of the attached resolution
[01:06:17] calling a special election, declaring
[01:06:19] the results of the election, determining
[01:06:21] the validity of prior proceedings,
[01:06:23] approving the annexation of the
[01:06:24] territory, and directing the recording
[01:06:25] of the amendment of an amendment to the
[01:06:27] notice of special tax lean. Uh, staff
[01:06:30] recommends approval, and that concludes
[01:06:31] my presentation.
[01:06:33] >> Thank you, Jacob. Uh, are there any
[01:06:35] public comments?
[01:06:37] >> I did not receive any speaker cards. Is
[01:06:38] there anyone in the audience who would
[01:06:40] like to provide public testimony on
[01:06:41] public hearing item number 6A?
[01:06:45] No speakers. And I can go ahead and read
[01:06:47] the election results if you'd like.
[01:06:49] >> Please.
[01:06:50] >> The ballot for the six eligible votes
[01:06:52] was received on October 16th, 2025 and
[01:06:56] was in favor. Therefore, votes cast in
[01:06:58] favor equal 100% of total votes cast.
[01:07:01] >> Thank you. Are there any um council
[01:07:04] comments regarding item 6A?
[01:07:10] Seeing none, I'll ask for a motion,
[01:07:12] please.
[01:07:14] >> I'll make the motion that we adopt the
[01:07:16] resolution number 2025 next in order
[01:07:20] calling an election on levying a special
[01:07:22] tax
[01:07:24] within the area proposed to be annexed
[01:07:26] to community facilities district number
[01:07:28] one. Annexation number 199 declaring the
[01:07:31] election results approving the
[01:07:33] annexation of the territory and
[01:07:35] directing the recordation of the
[01:07:37] amendment of the notice of special tax
[01:07:39] lane.
[01:07:40] >> Second. There is a motion and a second.
[01:07:43] Please vote.
[01:07:47] >> Motion carries 5.
[01:07:49] >> Thank you. The next item will be 6B.
[01:07:55] Uh again, Jacob de la Cruz will handle
[01:07:58] this and that's the annexation number
[01:08:01] 200 to community facilities district
[01:08:04] number one. Uh Jacob, if you would
[01:08:07] please.
[01:08:08] >> Thank you again, mayor. This item is to
[01:08:11] hold a public hearing for annexation
[01:08:12] number 200 into community facilities
[01:08:14] district number one. This is the second
[01:08:16] and final step in the city's annexation
[01:08:17] process for developments within the
[01:08:19] city's jurisdiction. The first step was
[01:08:21] considered and approved at the September
[01:08:22] 4th council meeting. The territory
[01:08:24] proposed for annexation is located in
[01:08:25] section 31 approximately 650 ft south
[01:08:28] from the intersection of Monterey Avenue
[01:08:30] and Gerald Ford Drive on the east side,
[01:08:32] excuse me, on the west side of Monterey
[01:08:34] Avenue. It is comprised of six parcels
[01:08:37] totaling 72.88 acres and the project is
[01:08:40] slated to subdivide the existing parcels
[01:08:42] into 23 parcels for various uses. At the
[01:08:45] conclusion of today's public hearing,
[01:08:46] provided written protests have not been
[01:08:48] filed and in the absence of majority
[01:08:49] protest, the city council may consider
[01:08:51] adoption of the attached resolution
[01:08:53] calling an special election, declaring
[01:08:55] the results of the election, determining
[01:08:57] the validity of prior proceedings,
[01:08:59] approving the annexation of the
[01:09:01] territory, and directing the recording
[01:09:02] of an amendment to the notice of special
[01:09:04] tax lean. Staff recommends approval. And
[01:09:06] that concludes my presentation.
[01:09:08] >> Thank you, Jacob. Any public comments?
[01:09:11] >> Again, I did not receive any speaker
[01:09:13] cards. Is there anyone in the audience
[01:09:14] who would like to provide public
[01:09:16] testimony on public hearing item 6B?
[01:09:20] No speakers. And I can go ahead and
[01:09:22] state the election results,
[01:09:23] >> please.
[01:09:24] >> The ballot for the 73 eligible votes was
[01:09:26] received on October 6, 2025 and was in
[01:09:29] favor. Therefore, votes cast in favor
[01:09:32] equal 100% of total votes cast.
[01:09:34] >> Thank you. Are there any council
[01:09:37] comments regarding item 6B?
[01:09:40] >> I do, Mr. Mayor, if I may.
[01:09:41] >> Yes. So, uh, the end property
[01:09:43] information here in the memo, uh, it
[01:09:46] states that, uh, this property is
[01:09:48] located in section 31, approximately 650
[01:09:52] ft south, uh, from the intersection of
[01:09:54] Monterey Avenue and Gerald Ford Drive
[01:09:56] and on the west side of Monterey Avenue.
[01:09:58] I think it's pretty important to make
[01:09:59] sure that everybody in this city knows
[01:10:02] that we are voting on an issue that
[01:10:04] relates to Cotino, one of the premier
[01:10:06] the premier development in the city as
[01:10:08] of today. and I'm gonna be proud to vote
[01:10:10] yes on on this item today, Mr. Mayor.
[01:10:13] >> Thank you. Any other comments?
[01:10:19] All right. Uh, may I hear a motion,
[01:10:21] please? I'll make the motion that
[01:10:23] council adopt a resolution number 2025
[01:10:25] next in order calling an election on
[01:10:28] levying a special tax within the area
[01:10:30] proposed to be annexed to community
[01:10:31] facilities district number one
[01:10:34] annexation number 200 declaring the
[01:10:36] election results approving the
[01:10:38] annexation of the territory and
[01:10:40] directing the recordation
[01:10:42] of the amendment of the notice of
[01:10:44] special tax lean.
[01:10:46] I'll second.
[01:10:48] >> There is a motion and and a second.
[01:10:51] Please vote.
[01:10:53] >> Motion carries. 5-0.
[01:10:55] >> Thank you.
[01:10:58] The um
[01:11:01] Jacob, this is your day.
[01:11:05] Uh the next item will be by uh Jacob
[01:11:08] Taylor Cruz. Again, this is involves the
[01:11:12] annexation item 7A annexation at number
[01:11:17] 202 to community facilities district
[01:11:20] number one. Jacob, if you would please.
[01:11:23] >> Thank you once again, mayor. And this is
[01:11:25] my last one.
[01:11:27] This item is the first step in the
[01:11:29] city's annexation process for
[01:11:30] developments within the city's
[01:11:31] jurisdiction. The second and final step
[01:11:33] is planned to be considered at the
[01:11:34] November 20th council meeting. The
[01:11:36] territory proposed for annexation is
[01:11:38] located south of Vavail, west of
[01:11:40] Monterey Avenue and east of the Ranch
[01:11:41] Marsh dog park. It is comprised of one
[01:11:43] parcel totaling approximately 10 acres.
[01:11:46] Preliminary development plan case number
[01:11:48] PDP24-00002
[01:11:50] was originally approved by the council
[01:11:52] on July 18th, 2024 with a condition of
[01:11:55] approval number 47 of the project
[01:11:56] requiring that the territory be annexed
[01:11:58] into community facilities district
[01:11:59] number one. In accordance with the
[01:12:01] condition of approval, the owner of the
[01:12:02] annex territory submitted a petition for
[01:12:04] annexation, requesting that the city
[01:12:06] council initiate proceedings to annex a
[01:12:07] territory into CFD1 and provide for
[01:12:10] expedited approval of the annexation and
[01:12:11] levy of the special tax. Upon approval
[01:12:14] of the resolution, the city will be able
[01:12:15] to accept the petition submitted by the
[01:12:17] owner for annexation, consent to the
[01:12:19] levy upon the annex territory, allow for
[01:12:21] the shortening of the time for the
[01:12:22] special election to expedite the
[01:12:24] annexation, accept and preliminarily
[01:12:26] approve the annexation map, and direct
[01:12:27] the city clerk to accord to record the
[01:12:29] map, and establish the date and time of
[01:12:31] the public hearing on the annexation of
[01:12:33] the territory. That concludes my
[01:12:34] presentation. I'd be happy to answer any
[01:12:36] questions.
[01:12:37] >> All right, coach. Jacob,
[01:12:40] any public comments?
[01:12:41] >> I did not receive any speaker cards. Is
[01:12:43] there anyone in the audience who would
[01:12:44] like to speak regarding item 7A?
[01:12:47] No speakers.
[01:12:49] >> Thank you. Are there any council
[01:12:52] comments regarding item 7A?
[01:12:55] >> I have a comment again, Mr. Mayor, if I
[01:12:57] may.
[01:12:58] >> And
[01:12:58] >> so again, I think it's critically
[01:13:01] important that the public is aware uh as
[01:13:04] to where this parcel is located and what
[01:13:06] we're doing here with uh this particular
[01:13:08] action item. This is one of the parcels
[01:13:12] that will be part of the affordable
[01:13:14] housing um initiative that this council
[01:13:17] undertook several years ago. Uh and um
[01:13:20] the projects that we have approved so
[01:13:23] far uh almost 3 years into uh our 8-year
[01:13:27] uh housing element represent uh
[01:13:30] something like 75 or 80% of the total
[01:13:33] number of uh incomerestricted affordable
[01:13:36] housing units that this council uh must
[01:13:39] find a way to try to approve uh over the
[01:13:41] remaining uh five-ish years of our
[01:13:44] housing element. So that's what this is
[01:13:46] about. This is about affordable housing
[01:13:47] for this city and I think it's important
[01:13:49] for everyone to know that that's what we
[01:13:51] are voting on today. Thank you, Mr.
[01:13:52] Mayor.
[01:13:53] >> Thank you, Steve. I think um uh we have
[01:13:58] acknowledged that we fortunately appear
[01:14:00] to be ahead of the curve as far as the
[01:14:03] number that has been mandated by the
[01:14:06] state uh for approval. And uh as uh
[01:14:12] Council Member DS points out, this is
[01:14:14] one of those critical areas that's
[01:14:16] extremely important that uh we get
[01:14:20] underway and completed. Um are there any
[01:14:24] other council comments?
[01:14:27] >> Mr. Mayor, I would just like to say that
[01:14:28] I was over there yesterday and we are
[01:14:32] well on the way of building this
[01:14:35] affordable housing. The grounds are
[01:14:37] being graded. There's a lot of activity.
[01:14:39] So, this is all good news.
[01:14:41] >> No question about that. Uh, we are
[01:14:46] Any other comments?
[01:14:48] >> If there are none, I'll entertain a
[01:14:50] motion, please.
[01:14:50] >> I'll make the motion to adopt resolution
[01:14:53] number 2025 next in order declaring the
[01:14:55] city's intention to annex territory to
[01:14:58] community facilities district number one
[01:14:59] and to levy a special tax therein for
[01:15:02] additional police and fire services.
[01:15:03] Preliminarily approve a map of the area
[01:15:06] proposed to be annexed and schedule a
[01:15:07] public hearing to consider the
[01:15:08] annexation and the levy of the special
[01:15:10] tax for annexation number 202.
[01:15:13] >> Second. There is a motion and a second.
[01:15:15] Please vote.
[01:15:20] >> Motion carries 5.
[01:15:22] >> Okay.
[01:15:24] Uh sorry, Jacob, this isn't yours.
[01:15:27] Um
[01:15:29] the next item will be the uh uh special
[01:15:33] event permit case number SE25-000027
[01:15:40] firework display at the Thunderberg
[01:15:43] Country Club. Leslie Perez, assistant
[01:15:47] planner. If you would, Leslie.
[01:15:50] >> Thank you, Mayor. Good afternoon, mayor
[01:15:52] and council members. I have for your
[01:15:54] consideration special event
[01:15:58] [Music]
[01:15:59] City Attorney, where are you?
[01:16:01] >> I apologize.
[01:16:03] Uh, council member from Brigettlestein
[01:16:06] uh will be recusing herself due to
[01:16:08] potential conflict of interest due to
[01:16:09] location of her residence at Thunderbird
[01:16:11] Estates. So, she will be uh she will
[01:16:14] leave the dis in the room and we will
[01:16:16] get her at the uh conclusion of the
[01:16:17] vote. Thank you. Thank you for the
[01:16:19] reminder.
[01:16:20] >> I'm glad we found you.
[01:16:27] can't embarrass the uh city attorney
[01:16:30] very often.
[01:16:34] All right, I'll go ahead and proceed. I
[01:16:36] have for your consideration special
[01:16:38] event permit case number SE25-000027,
[01:16:42] a request for a 5-minute fireworks
[01:16:44] display at the Thunderbird Country Club
[01:16:46] located at 70737
[01:16:49] Country Club Drive.
[01:16:52] Per the city requirements, an
[01:16:54] application for a fireworks display may
[01:16:56] be permitted if approved by the fire
[01:16:57] marshall, city manager, and city
[01:16:59] council. The fireworks display
[01:17:01] application requires four items which
[01:17:03] includes a site plan showing the
[01:17:05] location of the fireworks display, a
[01:17:07] certificate of insurance for $1 million
[01:17:09] naming the city as an additional
[01:17:11] insured, a mailing notice to all
[01:17:13] property owners within a onem radius
[01:17:15] from the proposed event, and a written
[01:17:17] acknowledgement that salute or any other
[01:17:19] similar class of concussion style
[01:17:21] fireworks will not be used.
[01:17:24] The fireworks display at the Thunderbird
[01:17:26] Country Club is scheduled for 9:15 p.m.
[01:17:28] on Saturday, November 8th to celebrate
[01:17:30] the club's 75th anniversary during their
[01:17:32] annual opening party. The fireworks
[01:17:35] firing site will be located
[01:17:36] approximately 570 ft southeast of the
[01:17:39] clubhouse within the golf course area.
[01:17:41] The firing site is surrounded by a 175
[01:17:45] ft radius, which is the maximum
[01:17:47] fireworks fallout zone. Fire Station 50
[01:17:49] is located across the street and the
[01:17:51] fire marshall will be present during the
[01:17:53] event.
[01:17:54] Mailing notices were sent out to all
[01:17:56] property owners within a 1m radius on
[01:17:58] October 1st, 2025. Staff has received
[01:18:02] three emails, one in support and two in
[01:18:04] opposition. Staff recommends to the city
[01:18:06] council to approve a 5minute fireworks
[01:18:07] display at the Thunderbird Country Club
[01:18:09] on Saturday, November 8th, 2025 at 9:15
[01:18:13] p.m. This concludes my presentation and
[01:18:15] I would be happy to answer any
[01:18:16] questions.
[01:18:17] Thank you, Leslie. Any public comments
[01:18:20] here?
[01:18:21] >> I do have one speaker card from Brad
[01:18:23] Anderson. I'm not sure if he's returned.
[01:18:26] >> It doesn't look like it. Is there anyone
[01:18:27] else who would like to speak on 7B?
[01:18:30] >> Okay. Please step to the podium and
[01:18:32] state your name.
[01:18:39] >> Thank you. This is Mark Bessman. I am a
[01:18:41] resident of Rancho Mirage for several
[01:18:43] years and an active member of the
[01:18:46] business community. I have several
[01:18:49] comments that are objections and in my
[01:18:53] business practice when I work with
[01:18:55] people I say don't come to me with
[01:18:56] problems come to me with solutions.
[01:18:59] So at the end of my problems I will list
[01:19:01] a solution. So the problems are the uh
[01:19:07] the noise, the risk to fire and I
[01:19:11] understand the fire marshall will be
[01:19:12] there. So that appears to be taken care
[01:19:14] of. Um disturbance for wildlife
[01:19:20] including our potential mascots who are
[01:19:23] in the hills. Uh dogs and pets who are
[01:19:27] definitely traumatized by such noises.
[01:19:31] people who have uh dementia who are
[01:19:33] residents who may be disturbed.
[01:19:37] People who have PTSD
[01:19:39] including veterans can also be disturbed
[01:19:42] by such uh practices and generally the
[01:19:46] elderly and we have plenty of those.
[01:19:49] As for solutions, I have personally seen
[01:19:53] and maybe you have as well, the use of
[01:19:57] drones for light display to create
[01:20:01] amazing fireworks displays without the
[01:20:05] and uh those are coste effective and I
[01:20:09] would urge that these be undertaken here
[01:20:11] as an option. Thank you.
[01:20:14] >> Thank you for your comments.
[01:20:16] >> That was the only speaker car. Is there
[01:20:18] anyone else who would like to speak on
[01:20:19] this item?
[01:20:21] That was the only speaker.
[01:20:24] >> Okay. Are there any council comments
[01:20:27] regarding this item?
[01:20:30] >> If I may, Mr. Mayor, um yes, the risk of
[01:20:32] fires is resolved with with our fire
[01:20:36] department. as for um
[01:20:40] dogs and pets as we would for maybe
[01:20:44] fireworks shows uh during Fourth of
[01:20:46] July, maybe there we could do a press
[01:20:49] release and have our media resources
[01:20:52] make an announcement that Thunderbird
[01:20:55] Country Club will be celebrating its
[01:20:57] 75th anniversary with a fireworks show.
[01:21:00] So that way if there are individuals
[01:21:02] that do need to leave their residents if
[01:21:04] they live in the close proximity or they
[01:21:06] feel they need to remove their pets,
[01:21:09] they have ample time to do that. I don't
[01:21:13] have a solution for the wildlife.
[01:21:16] >> But thank you.
[01:21:17] >> Thank you. Any other council comments?
[01:21:21] >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Um I do
[01:21:23] respect all the concerns that that you
[01:21:25] raised. Um however we do allow this for
[01:21:29] the tribe and the 4th of July uh would
[01:21:32] be a little hypocritical I think if we
[01:21:34] didn't allow people to celebrate. 75
[01:21:37] years is a big accomplishment. So with
[01:21:39] all the uh considerations that the mayor
[01:21:42] prom mentioned I hope that we could have
[01:21:45] five minutes and not disturb too many
[01:21:48] people. Uh so I will vote so to support
[01:21:51] this.
[01:21:53] >> Any other comments?
[01:21:54] >> I do Mr. Mayor. So um uh it certainly is
[01:21:57] the case that any of us on this dis
[01:22:01] authorizing a fireworks display and we
[01:22:04] are uh I would suggest that uh that I
[01:22:07] appreciated the um mapping as to where
[01:22:11] this display will be located uh in
[01:22:14] pretty much the center of uh Thunderbird
[01:22:16] Country Club uh and pretty much as far
[01:22:19] away uh from other residential areas as
[01:22:22] possible. So, uh, in general, the folks
[01:22:25] that, uh, will primarily be disturbed,
[01:22:28] if any, are disturbed by this fireworks
[01:22:30] display will be those who have asked for
[01:22:32] it to be done, the folks in Thunderbird
[01:22:34] Country Club, uh, this is, um, one of
[01:22:37] the most historic uh, communities in our
[01:22:40] city. Uh, and uh, while as I say, I
[01:22:43] think we should all be concerned and
[01:22:44] careful about approving fireworks
[01:22:46] displays like this, um, this is one that
[01:22:50] I I think is appropriate for a 5-minute
[01:22:53] display to celebrate their 75th
[01:22:55] anniversary. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
[01:22:57] >> Thank you. And I I will you know I
[01:23:00] reflect upon
[01:23:02] uh the time that Dana Hobart sat on this
[01:23:06] DAS
[01:23:07] and uh he generally was very much
[01:23:11] against fireworks
[01:23:13] because he was as we all know a
[01:23:16] consumate dog lover and he was concerned
[01:23:20] about the animals being disturbed.
[01:23:24] Um and yet he
[01:23:27] uh was farsighted enough to allow
[01:23:30] uh certain events to take place uh if
[01:23:34] they were monitored properly. In this
[01:23:37] case, I think it is being monitored by
[01:23:39] the fire department carefully and the
[01:23:44] time of the fireworks is limited. So
[01:23:48] it's not a a very long um event. Uh
[01:23:53] however again uh I understand the
[01:23:57] concerns expressed and uh those are
[01:24:02] taken into consideration
[01:24:05] uh in any deliberation that we have.
[01:24:08] That being said, are there any other
[01:24:11] council comments?
[01:24:13] If not, I'll entertain a motion.
[01:24:17] I'll make the motion that we approve a
[01:24:19] 5minute fireworks display at Thunderbird
[01:24:21] Country Club on Saturday, November 8th,
[01:24:24] 2025 at 9:15 p.m.
[01:24:29] Second. There is a motion and a second.
[01:24:32] Please vote.
[01:24:47] Motion passes 40 with council member
[01:24:49] Framberg Edelstein recused.
[01:24:52] Okay, we'll wait for council member
[01:24:58] from Berg Edelstein to return. And she
[01:25:00] is making her way back to her coveted
[01:25:04] seat,
[01:25:07] having contributed greatly to the
[01:25:09] embarrassment of the city attorney.
[01:25:15] >> Always my pleasure to embarrass the
[01:25:16] city.
[01:25:17] >> Exactly.
[01:25:19] Uh the next item is um item 7 C fiscal
[01:25:22] year
[01:25:24] uh 2024 2025 financial summary and
[01:25:30] year-end budget adjustments. Joseph
[01:25:32] Carpenter, our assistant director of
[01:25:35] administrative services. Joseph,
[01:25:38] welcome.
[01:25:38] >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and good
[01:25:40] afternoon, members of the city council.
[01:25:42] Today's presentation will focus on a
[01:25:44] review of the general fund operating and
[01:25:46] non-operating or capital budget versus
[01:25:49] actual results for the fiscal year 2024
[01:25:51] 2025. The action the council takes this
[01:25:54] afternoon to amend the budget as
[01:25:56] requested in the staff report will serve
[01:25:58] as the mechanism to comply with the
[01:26:00] city's budgeting policy for financial
[01:26:02] reporting purposes.
[01:26:04] The general fund summary provides a
[01:26:06] highle summary of the operating and
[01:26:08] non-operating revenues and expenditures
[01:26:10] of the general fund. The table currently
[01:26:12] shown on your screen displays the fiscal
[01:26:14] year 2425 budget unodudited year and
[01:26:18] actuals and the calculated difference
[01:26:20] between the two. If you focus your
[01:26:22] attention on the operating section
[01:26:24] shaded in green on your screen, you'll
[01:26:26] find for the fiscal year, the general
[01:26:28] fund had operating revenues of $38.5
[01:26:31] million and expenditures of $33 million
[01:26:34] for an operating surplus of
[01:26:35] approximately $5.5 million.
[01:26:38] The operating surplus for the fiscal
[01:26:40] year was $3.7 million higher than
[01:26:43] budgeted as revenues came in just about
[01:26:45] 10% higher and expenditures came in
[01:26:47] about 1% lower than expected. With this
[01:26:50] in mind, on the next few few slides,
[01:26:52] I'll provide a summary of the
[01:26:53] differences in budgeted and actual
[01:26:55] operating revenues and expenditures that
[01:26:57] contributed to this difference.
[01:27:01] Actual operating revenues were $3.4
[01:27:03] million higher than budgeted. As shown
[01:27:06] on the table, actual revenue exceeded
[01:27:08] budgeted revenue by approximately
[01:27:10] $861,000
[01:27:11] for interest, $713,000 for transit
[01:27:15] occupancy tax or TOT or bed tax,
[01:27:19] $544,000 for property tax, $485,000
[01:27:24] for the transfer from CFD number one,
[01:27:27] $395,000
[01:27:28] for reimbursements from other funds, and
[01:27:30] the remaining 30 plus revenue sources
[01:27:32] experienced a combined increase just
[01:27:34] over 400 $153,000.
[01:27:38] Adding to the $3.4 million increase in
[01:27:41] operating revenue is a reduction of
[01:27:43] about $35,000 in operating expenditures.
[01:27:47] General fund operating expenditures are
[01:27:49] broken down into three object groups,
[01:27:51] personnel, which includes salaries and
[01:27:53] benefits, operations and maintenance,
[01:27:55] and department equipment. At an object
[01:27:58] level, personnel was $120,000 under
[01:28:00] budget, which can be attributed to the
[01:28:02] timing of filling vacant positions.
[01:28:05] Operations and maintenance was $165,000
[01:28:08] under budget, and department equipment
[01:28:10] items were under budget by about
[01:28:12] $19,000.
[01:28:14] All three a groups for the general fund
[01:28:16] were under budget, but the current
[01:28:17] budgeting policy still requires budget
[01:28:20] adjustments for financial reporting
[01:28:21] purposes. Expenditures that exceeded
[01:28:24] their budget for the fiscal year and
[01:28:25] require amendments to the budget can be
[01:28:27] found in attachment two of the staff
[01:28:29] report.
[01:28:31] The non-operating or capital budget
[01:28:33] provides information about infrequent or
[01:28:35] one-time revenues in addition in
[01:28:38] addition to capital projects and
[01:28:39] one-time programs that fund that invest
[01:28:42] funds into the community. The general
[01:28:44] fund had non-operating revenues of about
[01:28:47] $831,000,
[01:28:49] which includes $371,000 for partial
[01:28:52] reimbursement of tropical tropical storm
[01:28:55] Hillary cleanup expenses and capital
[01:28:58] expenditures of roughly $7 million for
[01:29:00] total capital spending of approximately
[01:29:02] $6.2 million.
[01:29:05] The timing of these infrequent or
[01:29:07] one-time revenues and expenditures can
[01:29:09] lead to variances between what was
[01:29:10] budgeted and what is received.
[01:29:13] Grant revenues often depend on project
[01:29:15] milestones and funding requests are
[01:29:17] subject to reviews by the various
[01:29:19] federal and state agencies involved in
[01:29:21] the funding program and the timing of
[01:29:23] major capital projects can cause the
[01:29:25] budget to be spread out across multiple
[01:29:27] fiscal years causing fluctuations in
[01:29:29] actual spending when compared to the
[01:29:30] budget. Significant one-time pro
[01:29:33] programs and capital projects that
[01:29:35] occurred during the fiscal year include
[01:29:37] a $2 million grant to the Eisenhower
[01:29:39] Health Foundation for a workforce
[01:29:40] development program of a new child care
[01:29:43] center, approximately $2.6 million in
[01:29:46] expenses for land and land improvements
[01:29:48] related to parking expansion at the
[01:29:51] Ranch Mirage Community Park, electrical
[01:29:53] upgrades at city hall for EV charging
[01:29:56] infrastructure, and class 2 bike lane
[01:29:58] extensions.
[01:30:01] As discussed earlier, for fiscal year
[01:30:03] 2425, the city had a $5.5 million
[01:30:06] operating surplus
[01:30:08] and non-operating spending of $6.2
[01:30:11] million for total net use of reserves of
[01:30:14] approximately $660,000.
[01:30:17] The next slide in this presentation will
[01:30:18] show how this reserve spending impacted
[01:30:20] the city's general fund reserves.
[01:30:23] In the first column along the bottom of
[01:30:25] the screen, you'll see the city started
[01:30:26] the fiscal year with approximately $61.7
[01:30:29] million in general fund reserves. And
[01:30:31] after accounting for spending of
[01:30:33] $660,000,
[01:30:34] the city will end the fiscal year with
[01:30:36] approximately $61.1 million in reserves.
[01:30:40] It should be noted unassigned fund
[01:30:41] balance is money that has not been
[01:30:43] committed for a specific use and is
[01:30:45] available for any purpose while funds in
[01:30:48] the city's six remaining accounts have a
[01:30:50] specific commitment and can only be used
[01:30:52] for that purpose unless modified by the
[01:30:53] city council.
[01:30:55] To recap, the city achieved an operating
[01:30:58] surplus of $5.5 million, reflecting
[01:31:00] higher than expected revenues and
[01:31:02] efficient expenditure management. The
[01:31:04] city invested approximately $6.2 $2
[01:31:07] million into the community through its
[01:31:08] non-operating budget, utilizing just
[01:31:11] $660,000 in reserves. For the fiscal
[01:31:14] year ended June 30, 2025, Ranch Mirage
[01:31:17] remained in a solid financial position,
[01:31:19] revealed no structural operational
[01:31:21] issues, and ended the fiscal year with
[01:31:23] approximately $61.1 million in general
[01:31:25] fund reserves. This concludes my
[01:31:28] presentation. Thank you for your time
[01:31:29] and consideration this afternoon. Staff
[01:31:31] is available for any questions.
[01:31:33] >> Thank you, Joseph. Excellent report. Um,
[01:31:37] are there any public comments?
[01:31:39] >> I did not receive any speaker cards. Is
[01:31:41] there anyone in the audience who would
[01:31:42] like to speak on item 7 C? No speakers.
[01:31:46] >> Thank you. Uh, council comments
[01:31:50] regarding the
[01:31:52] the updated budget.
[01:31:54] >> I do have a couple of comments if I may,
[01:31:56] Mr. Mayor. So uh first I think it's
[01:31:58] important to note uh that as far as uh
[01:32:01] our uh operating budget is concerned
[01:32:04] there was a significant surplus of 5 or
[01:32:07] the un unedited actual is a surplus of
[01:32:10] about $5.5 million. Pretty uh pretty
[01:32:12] impressive. Now the reason that uh we um
[01:32:17] have a budget deficit of 659 uh 659,000
[01:32:22] uh is as um uh as is pointed out by
[01:32:25] Joseph. There are two primary reasons
[01:32:28] and both of both of them uh are issues
[01:32:31] that this council unanimously approved
[01:32:34] during the course of the year. One was
[01:32:36] the $2 million grant to Eisenhower uh
[01:32:39] for workforce development child
[01:32:41] workforce development child child care
[01:32:42] center which I think is uh important to
[01:32:45] make sure that we help Eisenhower retain
[01:32:48] uh as many uh qualified employees as
[01:32:51] possible uh and makes it easier for them
[01:32:54] to recruit employees. So I think that
[01:32:55] was money uh that is well spent. And
[01:32:58] secondly, um there was um how much was
[01:33:01] it that we spent on uh the uh properties
[01:33:04] that we acquired about 2 point 1.7
[01:33:07] million I guess it was
[01:33:08] >> uh 2.6 million this year or
[01:33:10] >> 2.6 million I'm sorry that was on the
[01:33:11] properties that we acquired and the work
[01:33:13] that's being done correct
[01:33:14] >> around the amphitheater. I think that's
[01:33:16] critically important. Here's I think an
[01:33:18] an issue that we're all well aware of.
[01:33:20] So many of us on this dis regularly
[01:33:22] attend um events in the evening at our
[01:33:25] amphitheater and we're all I think well
[01:33:27] aware uh that we can do a better job of
[01:33:30] um making sure that our public is safe
[01:33:32] as they go to and from events at the
[01:33:34] amphitheater especially after dark. Uh
[01:33:37] and this expenditure will help to open
[01:33:41] up lighting to open up parking and to
[01:33:43] make uh the attendance at the
[01:33:44] amphitheater for our public so much
[01:33:46] better. So, uh, there are some very,
[01:33:48] very good reasons, uh, why we ended up
[01:33:50] with a, u deficit of almost $700,000.
[01:33:54] Uh, but it's also important to note that
[01:33:56] we began this year with reserves of just
[01:33:58] over $61 million and even with a deficit
[01:34:02] of 700 thou, close to 700,000. We will
[01:34:04] still end this fiscal year with a
[01:34:06] reserve amount of a little over $61
[01:34:09] million. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
[01:34:12] >> Thank you. Well, Steve, I think it is a
[01:34:14] uh a very very solid report. As you
[01:34:18] point out, the acquisitions
[01:34:21] around the um the amphitheater
[01:34:24] amphitheater are critically important.
[01:34:27] Uh that area is uh not safe walking at
[01:34:31] night. uh the additional parking will be
[01:34:35] critical to the area uh and contribute
[01:34:38] greatly to the safety of our uh
[01:34:41] residents and visitors. Uh so it's a job
[01:34:45] well done. Uh any other council
[01:34:48] comments?
[01:34:51] Uh I will entertain a motion, please.
[01:34:54] I'm happy to make the motion adopt the
[01:34:56] resolutions identified as resolutions 1
[01:34:59] through 4 amending the fiscal year 2024
[01:35:02] 2025 budgets for each respective entity.
[01:35:06] Number one, resolution 2025 next in
[01:35:09] order amending the fiscal year 2024 2025
[01:35:12] city budget.
[01:35:14] Item two, resolution number 2025 CSD,
[01:35:18] next in order, amending the fiscal year
[01:35:21] 2024 2025 community service district
[01:35:24] budget.
[01:35:26] Item number three, resolution number
[01:35:28] 2025 HA. Next in order, amending the
[01:35:32] fiscal year 2024 2025 housing authority
[01:35:36] budget. And finally, item four,
[01:35:40] resolution number 2025
[01:35:43] LB. Next in order amending the fiscal
[01:35:46] year 2024 2025 library and observatory
[01:35:50] budget.
[01:35:51] >> I'll second.
[01:35:52] >> There is a motion and a second. Please
[01:35:55] vote.
[01:35:58] >> Motion carries 5-0.
[01:36:00] >> Thank you. We will now go to non-aggenda
[01:36:04] public comments.
[01:36:06] This is an opportunity for the public to
[01:36:09] speak on issues not on the agenda for a
[01:36:13] maximum of three minutes per speaker.
[01:36:17] Uh if you approach three minutes, I will
[01:36:19] ask you to conclude your comments. Are
[01:36:23] there any requests for non-aggenda
[01:36:26] public comments?
[01:36:27] >> Yes. The first speaker is Susan
[01:36:28] Ragsdale.
[01:36:36] Good afternoon, city council. I'm
[01:36:39] terribly sorry about the loss of your
[01:36:41] dear friend Dana Hobart. He was a very
[01:36:43] lovely man. I had the opportunity to get
[01:36:46] to know him slightly.
[01:36:48] I have a long history with the city
[01:36:50] council which is very strange to me and
[01:36:54] Dana was part of it. I first started
[01:36:57] coming to the city council meetings
[01:36:58] because I got hired by hireer to be the
[01:37:01] proper part-time property manager for
[01:37:04] Santa Rosa Villis and I was going to
[01:37:06] move there and then
[01:37:10] Marcus Alimon because they were focusing
[01:37:13] on the budget they felt they needed a
[01:37:15] property manager who knew the laws you
[01:37:18] know somebody with experience in that
[01:37:20] field and although I had many fantastic
[01:37:24] qualifications
[01:37:25] s I hadn't done property management for
[01:37:29] a city. Um
[01:37:31] anyway, later I came here because I was
[01:37:34] concerned about unshielded LED lighting
[01:37:38] and it was really something I felt very
[01:37:42] very worried about concern for the city.
[01:37:45] Dana was sitting here and after my
[01:37:48] comment he said surprising everyone I
[01:37:52] think we should take a 15minute meeting
[01:37:54] with her so she can present this and I'm
[01:37:57] sure Mr. Hegererman remembers what
[01:38:00] happened to me when I came for my
[01:38:02] meeting. It's a bunch of baloney.
[01:38:06] Anyway, um
[01:38:08] uh I really want to apologize for
[01:38:11] writing so many emails. I've already
[01:38:14] over the past three days have been
[01:38:15] putting together my binder for the
[01:38:17] women's club, the Rancho Mirage Women's
[01:38:19] Club. And I realized, oh my gosh, I've
[01:38:23] repeated myself like a hundred times. I
[01:38:26] you know I have extreme traumatic stress
[01:38:30] and I'm not myself and I've been begging
[01:38:33] for you to please help me and save my
[01:38:35] life ever since the it was I got a
[01:38:38] fraudulent termination of tenency with
[01:38:41] 14 false allegations when I was the
[01:38:44] victim sandwiched between two very very
[01:38:48] hostile misogynist
[01:38:51] tenants or teams and I have it all right
[01:38:55] here. It shouldn't have been necessary
[01:38:58] for me to make a 12 by18 $27 posters for
[01:39:02] all of you to see this picture of what I
[01:39:05] was dealing with. And then I had these
[01:39:08] people the you know I complained about
[01:39:10] the property manager in a 105page report
[01:39:14] called Incompetence and Cruelty. Mrs.
[01:39:16] Cabrera allowed the Dagustinos to move
[01:39:19] in without checking their background
[01:39:21] where in Palm Springs they had a list of
[01:39:25] complaints.
[01:39:26] This time goes by so quickly. I really
[01:39:28] need an hour and I'm really sorry. I
[01:39:31] have made it's a sevenpage document for
[01:39:34] the women's club. I made copies for
[01:39:36] everyone. Really, what I should do is to
[01:39:39] show the city council this book, this
[01:39:42] binder. This is all the pictures of all
[01:39:44] the hostile environment harassment. I'm
[01:39:47] sorry to take a little longer than I'm
[01:39:49] supposed to.
[01:39:50] >> Thank you for your comments.
[01:39:52] >> Thank you. Thank you.
[01:39:53] >> Are there any other public comments?
[01:39:56] >> Yes, Wally Melendez.
[01:40:19] Uh, good afternoon everybody.
[01:40:26] The lady from the
[01:40:29] food bank
[01:40:34] dictated my uh subject for today.
[01:40:38] And thanks to the Brown Act
[01:40:42] that uh gives us the uh gives the people
[01:40:46] the opportunity to
[01:40:48] uh speak to
[01:40:50] uh uh uh the government.
[01:40:55] Nobody mentions
[01:41:00] that the lady from the food bank
[01:41:04] is being strangled
[01:41:06] by
[01:41:08] Donald uh Trump,
[01:41:11] by the Speaker of the House, Mike uh
[01:41:15] Johnson,
[01:41:18] that deliberately shut down the
[01:41:21] government.
[01:41:23] one
[01:41:25] so that they can pu uh postpone
[01:41:30] evidence of the Epson files
[01:41:38] and
[01:41:43] also
[01:41:47] they deliberately
[01:41:50] want the power that they have of the
[01:41:53] federal government which affects
[01:41:57] everybody.
[01:41:59] Everybody here the lady from the food
[01:42:01] bank children going hungry. Let me tell
[01:42:03] you about children going hungry. They go
[01:42:06] hungry from from one
[01:42:08] children
[01:42:11] uh
[01:42:12] if they go hungry from one day
[01:42:16] that is extremely detrimental for them.
[01:42:20] They grow up in one day and they will be
[01:42:23] deformed if they don't have the proper
[01:42:25] food for one day.
[01:42:30] And Trump,
[01:42:33] he's also taking uh the food from uh
[01:42:36] that the uh that the United States is
[01:42:40] giving overseas and they're starving to
[01:42:43] death right now.
[01:42:49] So, uh, I know that we were doing all
[01:42:52] those annexations and so forth and
[01:42:54] running the city and so on, but
[01:42:57] everybody,
[01:43:00] including you all, need to focus more on
[01:43:05] national politics.
[01:43:14] Thank you.
[01:43:16] Thank you for your comments.
[01:43:18] >> The last speaker card I have is from
[01:43:19] Brad Anderson. It does not appear he's
[01:43:21] returned. Is there anyone else who would
[01:43:23] like to speak on something that is not
[01:43:25] on today's agenda? That was the last
[01:43:28] speaker.
[01:43:29] >> We have someone in front.
[01:43:31] >> Oh, I'm sorry.
[01:43:33] >> Please step to the podium and state your
[01:43:34] name.
[01:43:40] [Music]
[01:43:47] My name is Ernie Demba and I've been a
[01:43:51] property owner. My wife and I, Marsha,
[01:43:53] been a property owner in Rancher Mirage
[01:43:55] for probably 30, 35 years. And this is
[01:43:59] my first time here seeing how the
[01:44:01] sausage is made. And I'd like to thank
[01:44:04] you for your uh participation
[01:44:07] and your activities here in Rancho
[01:44:10] Mirage. And this is my first time being
[01:44:13] here at a council meeting. And it went
[01:44:17] very well. Thank you very much for your
[01:44:20] activities and I'm just here to thank
[01:44:24] you. And I thought it went very well and
[01:44:29] there was no arguments, there was no
[01:44:31] disagreements, there was no controversy
[01:44:35] and I never met the gentleman.
[01:44:38] But obviously he was appreciated was a
[01:44:42] founding uh
[01:44:44] member of the society and without him we
[01:44:48] wouldn't have done very well and I'm
[01:44:51] sorry I missed him. And that's it. And
[01:44:55] I've got a minute and 55
[01:44:58] uh seconds to go sit down. So, thank you
[01:45:02] very much.
[01:45:04] >> Take your time and walk in.
[01:45:06] >> Mr. Mayor,
[01:45:07] >> thank you for not including the city
[01:45:09] attorney in those kind words,
[01:45:11] >> Mr. Mayor. Yes.
[01:45:12] >> Maybe a couple of us could get into an
[01:45:13] argument to sat to satisfy our speaker.
[01:45:18] >> I wish you'd be quiet.
[01:45:21] >> How's that? Any
[01:45:25] uh any other comments?
[01:45:27] All right, seeing none, uh we will now
[01:45:30] be uh going into a uh a recess uh before
[01:45:35] we enter close session and uh the city
[01:45:38] attorney will go over uh those items to
[01:45:42] be covered in the in the close session.
[01:45:46] >> Thank you, mayor. And before I do, I
[01:45:47] just wanted to one share one story about
[01:45:50] Dana. Uh Dana was one of the first
[01:45:52] council members I had the pleasure to to
[01:45:53] sort of get to know better. Uh I started
[01:45:56] my career here as a city attorney with
[01:45:57] the city and um he he'd come in the
[01:46:00] office and share his war stories which
[01:46:02] um young attorneys love and he had
[01:46:05] really good war stories. Um you could
[01:46:07] always tell he was the smartest guy in
[01:46:09] just about any room he was in, but he
[01:46:11] also had a soft side. um uh a former the
[01:46:14] former city manager had a habit of
[01:46:16] initiating new members by asking them to
[01:46:20] tell an embarrassing story of
[01:46:21] themselves. I somehow missed that at one
[01:46:24] of the um weekly meetings, but the the
[01:46:26] city manager, not Isaiah, the former
[01:46:28] one, Randy Binder, took the opportunity
[01:46:30] at a holiday party in front of the
[01:46:32] entire staff to ask me to stand up and
[01:46:34] give share my embarrassing story. Um I I
[01:46:37] might have overshared and uh Council
[01:46:41] Member Dana Hobart uh came up to me and
[01:46:43] he was the first one to sort of
[01:46:45] commiserate with me and uh and say he
[01:46:47] had a similar experience um as a young
[01:46:50] child as well that that embarrassed him
[01:46:52] as well. So uh he he tried to comfort me
[01:46:54] and he was a very sweet soul and I
[01:46:56] appreciate that. Um with the way before
[01:47:00] you continue to give us the uh items to
[01:47:03] be covered um I will mention about Dana
[01:47:07] and of course uh we all exel extol his
[01:47:14] brightness which is an understatement.
[01:47:17] Uh but um let it be known that Dana is
[01:47:21] one of the few people that we will meet
[01:47:26] who literally argued a successfully
[01:47:31] before the United States Supreme Court.
[01:47:34] Not a lot of attorneys can make that
[01:47:35] claim. Not only having never presented a
[01:47:39] case to the United States Supreme Court,
[01:47:42] but ending up winning it. So that that
[01:47:45] of course is a speaks to his
[01:47:48] credentials. With that, if you will, Mr.
[01:47:50] Turner.
[01:47:51] >> Thank you. We'll be convening into close
[01:47:54] session for the item before you listed
[01:47:55] as 9A conference with legal counsel
[01:47:58] existing litigation pursuant to
[01:47:59] government code section 54956.9D1.
[01:48:04] Case name unspecified since disclosure
[01:48:06] may jeopardize existing settlement
[01:48:08] negotiations.
[01:48:10] >> Thank you. We will now recess to close
[01:48:12] session.
[01:48:23] We are back in session. I will ask the
[01:48:26] city attorney to review anything that
[01:48:28] was closed during close session.
[01:48:30] >> Thank you, mayor. No reportable action
[01:48:32] taken today.
[01:48:34] >> That concludes the
[01:48:37] the meeting today. Meeting is now
[01:48:39] adjourned.