Rancho Mirage City Council Meeting, December 18, 2025

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AI transcript text.

[00:00:09] Good afternoon everyone.
[00:00:12] Welcome to the regular meeting of the
[00:00:15] Rancharrage City Council and Community
[00:00:17] Services District, Energy Authority,
[00:00:20] Housing Authority, Joint Powers, Finance
[00:00:23] Authority, Library and Observatory, and
[00:00:25] Redevelopment Successor Agency boards.
[00:00:28] It is Thursday, December 18th. It is now
[00:00:30] 10:01 p.m. I'm calling this meeting to
[00:00:33] order, please.
[00:00:37] I'd like to ask our colorful city
[00:00:40] manager
[00:00:43] to do the flag salute, please.
[00:00:48] >> Wow.
[00:00:52] >> Ready? Begin. Allegian to the flag of
[00:00:56] the United States of America and to the
[00:00:58] republic for which it stands. One nation
[00:01:01] under God, indivisible with liberty and
[00:01:04] justice for all.
[00:01:10] >> Thank you. Madame clerk, would you take
[00:01:12] the role, please?
[00:01:13] >> Certainly. Council member DS,
[00:01:15] >> I am here.
[00:01:16] >> Council member Framberg Edin,
[00:01:18] >> here.
[00:01:18] >> Council member While
[00:01:19] >> here.
[00:01:20] >> Mayor Prom O'Keefe
[00:01:21] >> here. Mayor Molatto,
[00:01:23] >> I am here.
[00:01:25] >> Next item on the agenda is
[00:01:27] presentations. We'd like to welcome the
[00:01:29] Ranch Mirage Chamber of Commerce to
[00:01:31] provide their business update.
[00:01:36] Do we have someone here from the
[00:01:39] chamber?
[00:01:41] Nicole
[00:01:44] and David.
[00:01:50] Good afternoon. I'm Mayor Matto and
[00:01:52] ladies and gentlemen of the city
[00:01:53] council. Uh my name is Nicole Kent. I am
[00:01:56] on the board of the Chamber of Commerce
[00:01:58] for the Ritz Ritz Carlton Ranch Mirage.
[00:02:00] Um so we've been having a really
[00:02:02] successful year. We have grown uh in
[00:02:04] terms of our membership. We have some
[00:02:05] new business members that joined just in
[00:02:07] the last month and we had an extremely
[00:02:09] uh successful fundraiser just last
[00:02:11] Friday um at Desert Willow uh I'm sorry
[00:02:14] at Mission Hills. Uh and we just look
[00:02:16] forward to having a really successful
[00:02:18] 2026. Um we're already engaging in the
[00:02:21] ramsies in the awards for our local uh
[00:02:23] business members and celebrating uh all
[00:02:26] of the next generation in 2026.
[00:02:29] >> Thank you.
[00:02:30] >> Sorry. Thank you and your board for all
[00:02:33] that you do. All your members because
[00:02:35] it's uh making Ranch Mirage an even
[00:02:38] bigger and brighter community. And we
[00:02:41] have another member to the chamber right
[00:02:43] here. Thank you. Thank you.
[00:02:46] >> Thank you, Nicole.
[00:02:48] Good afternoon, Mayor Mulatto, Mayor
[00:02:50] Prom O'Keeffe,
[00:02:53] uh Mr. Hagermanerman. Great holiday
[00:02:56] spirit there. City staffing guests, my
[00:02:59] name is David Kowalsik and I serve as a
[00:03:02] uh proud board member of the Ranch
[00:03:04] Mirage Chamber of Commerce and as the VP
[00:03:07] of human resources for Eisenhower
[00:03:09] Health. I'd like to begin with a brief
[00:03:12] chamber update on behalf of President
[00:03:14] and Katie uh CEO Katie Slimco. Today,
[00:03:18] chamber staff are hosting their annual
[00:03:20] holiday open house and cookie drive for
[00:03:23] Eisenhower Health. Nurses at the chamber
[00:03:26] offices, which is why they're unable to
[00:03:28] be here. Each year, the chamber delivers
[00:03:31] hundreds of cookies to nurses working
[00:03:33] both day and night shifts. What began
[00:03:36] during the pandemic has now continued
[00:03:38] for 5 years and uh reflects the strong
[00:03:41] partnership between the chamber and
[00:03:43] Eisenhower health. With that, I'd like
[00:03:46] to transition into a brief business
[00:03:48] update from Eisenhower Health. First of
[00:03:50] all, I'd like to thank uh the city
[00:03:52] council for your overwhelmingly um
[00:03:55] support of Eisenhower each and every
[00:03:57] day. We continue to see strong volumes
[00:04:00] in both in and outpatient care settings
[00:04:03] and now have over a 100 outpatient
[00:04:05] clinics across the valley. Our main
[00:04:08] focus remains on delivering high quality
[00:04:10] and safety. Patient safety is the
[00:04:13] foundation of everything we do.
[00:04:15] Recently, we announced that Eisenhower
[00:04:17] again achieved an Agrade in Leapfrog's
[00:04:21] hospital safety survey. Eisenhower
[00:04:24] earned the only Agrade in the Coachella
[00:04:26] Valley. As you know, we've been a
[00:04:28] teaching hospital for a number of years,
[00:04:31] and that program keeps growing. We now
[00:04:33] have more than 140 residents and fellows
[00:04:36] with two new residency programs in
[00:04:39] psychiatry and general surgery in the
[00:04:43] next two years. That will take us to
[00:04:44] approximately 200 residents and fellows.
[00:04:48] We're also progressing on our trauma
[00:04:50] program and should have three trauma
[00:04:52] surgeons on board in January with the
[00:04:55] fourth surgeon in the spring filling our
[00:04:57] trauma surgeon panel. I'm also happy to
[00:05:01] announce that we're approaching the
[00:05:03] 5,200th
[00:05:05] newborn uh since we opened our birthing
[00:05:08] center. Our cardiovascular capital
[00:05:11] campaign is going great. We've already
[00:05:13] raised $250 million of the $270 million
[00:05:17] needed for this campaign. Construction,
[00:05:20] as you've no doubt seen, is underway for
[00:05:22] the first building.
[00:05:24] And again, we sincerely thank the city
[00:05:27] of Rancho Mirage for their donation to
[00:05:29] that campaign. Today, Eisenhower's
[00:05:32] future is bright and strong. With a
[00:05:35] five-star quality, we've grown to a$1.3
[00:05:38] billion dollar in revenue, more
[00:05:41] than1,100
[00:05:43] annual visits, and over 5,000 employees,
[00:05:46] making us still the largest private
[00:05:48] employer in the valley. Thank you very
[00:05:50] much for this time, and I just want to
[00:05:52] wish all of you a very happy holiday
[00:05:54] season.
[00:05:55] >> And to you as well.
[00:05:56] >> Thank you so much.
[00:05:57] >> Thank you.
[00:05:59] Item number three on the council agenda,
[00:06:01] council member comments. I would like to
[00:06:04] start with council member E. Fromberg
[00:06:06] Edelstein.
[00:06:08] >> Thank you, mayor. Um,
[00:06:11] we I'm sure a there'll be a lot of
[00:06:13] council members speaking about it, but
[00:06:14] we all had the pleasure of attending two
[00:06:16] minora lightings on Sunday for the start
[00:06:18] of Hanukkah. Um, which were both lovely.
[00:06:21] One from the Jewish Federation, another
[00:06:23] with Habad Ranch Mirage at the river.
[00:06:25] Both were beautiful. Um, and the timing
[00:06:28] of those was so poignant and important
[00:06:32] with the attacks that occurred in
[00:06:34] Australia, uh, for what would be the
[00:06:37] timing of their first night of Hanukkah.
[00:06:39] Um,
[00:06:41] it is such a difficult time for so many
[00:06:45] reasons,
[00:06:47] but none are an excuse for physical
[00:06:49] violence towards any one person or
[00:06:52] peoples, especially at a time when
[00:06:54] they're celebrating something so deeply
[00:06:56] steeped in tradition and love. Um, I
[00:07:00] really don't have words for what those
[00:07:02] communities in Bondi Beach are
[00:07:04] experiencing right now, but I am glad
[00:07:06] that we were able to have peaceful,
[00:07:08] beautiful Jewish celebrations where
[00:07:10] people from all backgrounds came and
[00:07:12] celebrated that beautiful tradition of
[00:07:14] lighting the manora. The first night our
[00:07:16] mayor lit the monora at the river and
[00:07:19] did a pretty good job on a ladder. It
[00:07:20] was not easy, so I appreciate her doing
[00:07:22] that and in heels because she's madam
[00:07:25] mayor. But um I just want to say to
[00:07:28] everyone in the Jewish community, happy
[00:07:30] Hanukkah. To everybody else, merry
[00:07:31] Christmas, happy holidays for whatever
[00:07:33] you celebrate and wishing everyone a
[00:07:36] healthy and peaceful 2026 because if we
[00:07:40] need it anytime, we need it now. So,
[00:07:42] thank you.
[00:07:43] >> Thank you, Council Member Ted While.
[00:07:46] >> Thank you.
[00:07:48] And uh, Council Member Framberg, uh, I
[00:07:52] think that you can acknowledge your
[00:07:55] wonderful mom being in the audience
[00:07:57] today. Uh, and wish her a happy holiday.
[00:08:01] We're delighted to see her.
[00:08:03] >> Please don't spoil her.
[00:08:04] >> Well, I
[00:08:05] >> She's already hard enough to
[00:08:06] >> I want to spoil her.
[00:08:08] >> And my mother, Mary, who made all the
[00:08:10] beautiful Christmas necklaces and does
[00:08:11] it every year. She made 300 of them by
[00:08:14] herself with her little two hands, which
[00:08:16] kept her busy for about 15 minutes. And
[00:08:19] I love you, Mom. And happy holidays.
[00:08:22] Thank you, Mom.
[00:08:24] Uh, I'd like to take uh also this
[00:08:28] opportunity to extend my sincere
[00:08:31] appreciation to the Ritz Carlton, the
[00:08:34] river at Rancho Mirage, and the Rancher
[00:08:37] Mirage Chamber for their exceptional
[00:08:40] contributions to our community through a
[00:08:43] series of distinguished
[00:08:45] civic and holiday events.
[00:08:49] I especially want to recognize the
[00:08:51] chamber for hosting the state of the
[00:08:54] city address, an important civic
[00:08:56] occasion that brought together
[00:08:59] residents, business priorities, and
[00:09:02] community partners to reflect on our
[00:09:05] city's accomplishments
[00:09:07] and vision for the future
[00:09:10] while strengthening civic engagement and
[00:09:13] community collaboration.
[00:09:17] I want to acknowledge the beautifully
[00:09:19] presented holiday treelighting
[00:09:21] celebrations at the Ritz Carlton,
[00:09:25] the river, which created memorable
[00:09:28] experiences for families and visitors
[00:09:31] and exemplified the spirit of the season
[00:09:34] through Rancho Mirage.
[00:09:37] As my colleague just mentioned, there
[00:09:39] was also a wonderful manora lighting at
[00:09:43] the river which most of us attended.
[00:09:48] I extend my appreciation to the chamber
[00:09:50] for its leadership and hosting the
[00:09:53] holiday cookie toy and blood drive
[00:09:56] today. a meaningful initiative that
[00:09:59] reflected the generosity,
[00:10:02] compassion, and serviceminded
[00:10:06] community that we live in.
[00:10:09] Thank you to all who contributed to
[00:10:11] these events for your dedication,
[00:10:14] professionalism, and commitment to
[00:10:17] enhancing the quality of life in the
[00:10:19] city of Rancho Mirage. Together, these
[00:10:22] efforts exemplify the unity, generosity,
[00:10:26] and civic pride that define our city. I
[00:10:30] personally have lived here over 25
[00:10:33] years, and I can tell you that I am
[00:10:36] appreciative every single day that I
[00:10:40] chose to make this area the home for
[00:10:43] myself and my family.
[00:10:46] I want to wish everyone a happy Hanukkah
[00:10:49] and a joyful merry Christmas. Most
[00:10:52] importantly,
[00:10:54] stay safe and be careful. Hug your loved
[00:10:58] ones and hold them close. Thank you,
[00:11:02] Mayor.
[00:11:03] >> Thank you, Council Member D.
[00:11:07] >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Two things uh
[00:11:09] to speak to today. One has to do with
[00:11:11] our neighboring city, Palm Desert, and
[00:11:13] another has to do with the holidays. So,
[00:11:15] about Palm Desert, many of you know uh
[00:11:17] about the news items and the social
[00:11:19] media comment uh in Palm Desert over the
[00:11:21] past week or so. For those of you who
[00:11:22] might have missed the news, a week ago
[00:11:24] today, a member of the Palm Desert City
[00:11:26] Council suggested that they do away with
[00:11:29] recognition of uh Pride Month and the
[00:11:31] Pride Banner on the outside of Palm
[00:11:34] Desert City Hall. They did call a
[00:11:36] special meeting to discuss it and
[00:11:37] determine whether or not they were going
[00:11:38] to take that suggestion. And they had
[00:11:40] that meeting on Tuesday afternoon. It
[00:11:42] was heavily attended. their uh chamber
[00:11:45] was overflowing and uh there were 3
[00:11:47] hours or more of uh comment from the
[00:11:49] public. At the end they did the right
[00:11:51] thing by a 4 to1 vote. They voted to
[00:11:53] continue to support Pride Month with
[00:11:56] that banner. It's important for every
[00:11:58] one of our residents in this city to
[00:12:00] know that at this city hall we are proud
[00:12:03] to celebrate Pride. And the way we do
[00:12:05] that every year during Pride Month is at
[00:12:07] our library with uh with books and and
[00:12:10] with education and with inspiration for
[00:12:12] our LGBTQ community. And we intend to do
[00:12:15] exactly that. Now for the holidays, a
[00:12:18] better subject. So um uh as some of my
[00:12:22] colleagues had mentioned, there have
[00:12:24] been a couple of really important
[00:12:26] celebrations that we attended uh over
[00:12:28] the weekend. So on Sunday, let's do that
[00:12:31] first photo. On Sunday, many of us
[00:12:33] attended the manura lighting at the
[00:12:34] river. There I am with a couple of
[00:12:36] youngsters dressed as drreidles and the
[00:12:38] u the rabbi gave us all these
[00:12:41] illuminated drreidles to uh to wear. I'm
[00:12:44] wearing mine now. I'm going to wear it
[00:12:45] throughout the rest of the uh the uh
[00:12:46] session today. Uh it was a great
[00:12:49] celebration. Lot keys. Uh there was uh
[00:12:52] there was hot cocoa. There was a drop of
[00:12:54] uh of chocolate coins. Uh there was lots
[00:12:58] of song and lots of dancing. It was a
[00:13:00] great great great celebration. And then
[00:13:02] the day before on uh sun Saturday night
[00:13:05] uh we had our home from the holidays
[00:13:07] celebration at our amphitheater and they
[00:13:09] did take me up on stage, dress me up as
[00:13:11] as Santa. So I'm demonstrating in that
[00:13:14] photo two of the skills that are
[00:13:16] important for council members. It's
[00:13:18] important to have a sense of humor and
[00:13:20] it's important to be a good sport. Uh
[00:13:22] and about a year ago, many of us
[00:13:24] remember that uh there was a u a concert
[00:13:27] at the community room at our library
[00:13:29] when Ted was mayor and u a Marilyn
[00:13:32] Monroe impersonator brought him up on
[00:13:34] stage uh and near the and I think she
[00:13:36] sang what was it? I think she sang um
[00:13:40] >> happy birthday Mr. President. I think
[00:13:41] that was the song she sang. And uh at
[00:13:44] the end of of her performance, she
[00:13:45] planted a great big red kiss right on
[00:13:48] his forehead. and I couldn't resist at
[00:13:50] the next meeting putting that photo up
[00:13:51] of Ted. So Ted certainly displayed those
[00:13:53] two skill sets as well. He certainly had
[00:13:55] a sense of humor about it and certainly
[00:13:57] was a good sport. Um so two things I'm
[00:14:00] wearing. One is the um uh the holiday uh
[00:14:04] gift, the ornament uh that Eve's mother
[00:14:07] Mary gave to all of us today. Thank you
[00:14:09] Mary. I'm wearing mine. I will wear it
[00:14:11] uh during the uh during the meeting
[00:14:13] today. And also, as I mentioned before,
[00:14:14] the uh the manora uh that I'm wear I'm
[00:14:17] sorry, the um the drrele that I'm
[00:14:19] wearing. Happy holidays, everybody.
[00:14:25] >> Council member, I'm sorry, Mayor Pro
[00:14:27] Tim. My apologies. O'Keefe. Thank you.
[00:14:30] >> Thank you, Madame Mayor, and good
[00:14:31] afternoon, everyone. Um I feel a little
[00:14:34] underdressed considering he dressed as
[00:14:36] Santa
[00:14:38] and Mr. Hagermanerman is dressed as
[00:14:40] something. Um,
[00:14:44] I am happy to announce that the
[00:14:46] Coachella Valley Animal Shelter is
[00:14:48] having a free adoption event uh
[00:14:50] beginning today through Christmas Day.
[00:14:53] And you know that the shelter has been
[00:14:54] overcrowded for the past year. So there
[00:14:57] are many adorable adoptable dogs,
[00:15:00] puppies, cats, kittens, and they're
[00:15:02] available. So uh we have free adoption
[00:15:05] and that also includes free
[00:15:07] vaccinations, free microchipping. So now
[00:15:09] is a great time to go to the animal
[00:15:11] shelter. Um they're having some great
[00:15:14] events this week and everyone's
[00:15:16] mentioned them and it was really been a
[00:15:18] pleasure to attend them. Uh but uh in
[00:15:21] light of the news this week about LGBT
[00:15:24] disability, um I'd like to end this year
[00:15:27] with an observation.
[00:15:29] I am a gay man. Uh, I want to remind
[00:15:32] everyone that Ranch Mirage is a
[00:15:34] welcoming city to all regardless of age,
[00:15:38] race, sex, religion, or sexual
[00:15:42] orientation.
[00:15:44] Uh, we are an inclusive community for
[00:15:46] LGBT individuals.
[00:15:49] The city embraces diversity and offers a
[00:15:52] supportive environment where everyone
[00:15:54] can feel safe and accepted. We celebrate
[00:15:58] equality and we support organizations
[00:16:01] that help LGBT folks 365 days a year. We
[00:16:06] participate in pride and we offer LGBT
[00:16:10] programs at our library.
[00:16:13] We are committed to inclusivity which is
[00:16:15] why we consistently receive the highest
[00:16:18] ratings on the Human Rights Commission
[00:16:21] Municipal Equality Index. Ranch of
[00:16:24] Mirage is a great place for LGTB people
[00:16:28] to live and to thrive. My husband and I
[00:16:32] are proud to call Ranch Mirage our home,
[00:16:35] and it is an honor to serve on this city
[00:16:38] council and represent all the residents
[00:16:40] of our city. So, this holiday season, I
[00:16:45] am grateful to serve and I'm grateful
[00:16:47] for the friendships and allies that we
[00:16:49] have in this city. Uh there are lots of
[00:16:51] events and parties, but I want to
[00:16:54] celebrate the things that make life
[00:16:56] truly worth living. Friendship,
[00:16:59] community,
[00:17:01] family, empathy, generosity,
[00:17:06] civility,
[00:17:07] understanding,
[00:17:09] belonging,
[00:17:11] personal growth,
[00:17:13] laughter,
[00:17:14] music,
[00:17:16] art, nature. My wish for each of you is
[00:17:21] to have these things not only this
[00:17:23] season but forever
[00:17:25] and I wish all of you a very happy,
[00:17:27] healthy and a prosperous new year. Thank
[00:17:29] you, Madame Mayor.
[00:17:31] >> Thank you.
[00:17:32] It's hard to follow that. Um, beautiful
[00:17:36] words from all my colleagues in Rancher
[00:17:39] Mirage in the city of Rancher Mirage.
[00:17:41] We've enjoyed many decades of um a
[00:17:46] wonderful community celebrating our
[00:17:49] residents
[00:17:51] um on many many different levels. But we
[00:17:53] don't celebrate just on occasions.
[00:17:56] We celebrate and we care for our
[00:17:58] residents 247 365.
[00:18:03] Some will cite an ordinance or a
[00:18:05] resolution, maybe a flag, maybe it's a
[00:18:07] parade,
[00:18:09] but and those are all important,
[00:18:14] but we also support our residents
[00:18:17] through a quality of life
[00:18:19] by supporting
[00:18:21] medical institutions that provide
[00:18:23] excellent care, whether it be
[00:18:25] Eisenhower,
[00:18:27] whether it be Desert AIDS Project,
[00:18:30] the Center,
[00:18:33] or even our Coachella Valley Animal
[00:18:35] Campus because even four-legged citizens
[00:18:38] deserve care as well.
[00:18:44] We have much to celebrate. We have much
[00:18:46] to be grateful for.
[00:18:50] It puts it all into perspective, doesn't
[00:18:52] it? Especially during this holiday
[00:18:54] season when we have those that are close
[00:18:56] to us that aren't always close, maybe
[00:18:59] geographically.
[00:19:01] reach out to someone.
[00:19:04] Maybe you agree with their position and
[00:19:06] maybe they maybe you don't, but maybe
[00:19:08] that's also an opportunity to provide
[00:19:11] mutual education and then find some
[00:19:14] maybe some common ground. We're all
[00:19:16] better human beings for that effort.
[00:19:21] I love living in Rancho Mirage. That's
[00:19:23] why I've been here for almost 40 years.
[00:19:26] coming here before the city was even
[00:19:28] incorporated.
[00:19:30] There was a gentleman that lived in our
[00:19:33] city, Frank Sinatra,
[00:19:36] who said in October of 1974
[00:19:40] from the stage at Madison Square Garden.
[00:19:43] You know,
[00:19:44] this is a land of a free, a dream land,
[00:19:49] and a land for people to dream.
[00:19:52] Are we perfect? Absolutely not.
[00:19:55] Is there division? Absolutely.
[00:19:59] But if we were if we weren't if we were
[00:20:01] perfect, then it wouldn't be any fun
[00:20:03] trying to fix it. And I agree with those
[00:20:06] words. It's a very very special place
[00:20:09] that we live. And it is incumbent upon
[00:20:11] all of us, even in the smallest of
[00:20:15] efforts,
[00:20:16] to help make it a wonderful place to
[00:20:20] live. And thank you all for being here.
[00:20:22] By the way, it's wonderful to have
[00:20:25] public discourse and to have attendance
[00:20:27] here in the council chamber. It's
[00:20:29] important and we do appreciate you. I
[00:20:32] wish every one of you and my colleagues,
[00:20:35] our public safety, everyone that's here
[00:20:38] a very special holiday and a wonderful
[00:20:40] 2026.
[00:20:42] We have to continue business now.
[00:20:46] Next item on the agenda is city manager
[00:20:49] comments and reports.
[00:20:51] Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um, before I
[00:20:54] summarize the consent calendar, I just
[00:20:55] wanted to uh take a moment to thank the
[00:20:58] city staff uh for this last year. Uh,
[00:21:01] there's been uh many projects and many
[00:21:03] items done uh over this last year, and
[00:21:06] it's thanks to the hard work that they
[00:21:08] bring every day, and the city would not
[00:21:10] be what it is without uh their
[00:21:12] dedication and care uh for this
[00:21:14] community. So, thank you to the city
[00:21:16] staff. I also wanted to just take a
[00:21:18] moment to thank our public safety
[00:21:20] partners, Cal Fire and the Riverside
[00:21:22] County Sheriff's Department. Uh thank
[00:21:24] you guys for protecting us 24/7. And
[00:21:27] when I'm enjoying Christmas with my
[00:21:29] family, uh I know that there are men and
[00:21:31] women that are missing those
[00:21:33] opportunities because they're being of
[00:21:35] service to our community. So, thank you
[00:21:37] guys for what you do every day. With
[00:21:40] that, I'll uh move to the uh consent
[00:21:42] calendar.
[00:21:44] There are seven items on the consent
[00:21:46] calendar for consideration. Uh items 5A
[00:21:49] through 5G. Item 5A is to wave the full
[00:21:52] reading of any ordinance introduced or
[00:21:55] adopted pursuant to this agenda. Item 5B
[00:21:58] are the uh December 4th, 2025 regular
[00:22:02] city council meeting minutes. Item 5 C
[00:22:05] is the 2025 building code update uh as
[00:22:10] presented on the agenda. Item 5D is the
[00:22:14] final parcel map number 38844
[00:22:18] for a skilled nursing facility. Item 5E
[00:22:22] is the extension of a completion date
[00:22:24] for parcel map number 38315 for four
[00:22:27] residential lots. Item 5 F are contracts
[00:22:31] and 5G are demands. And before we go to
[00:22:34] council comments or questions, I'll ask
[00:22:36] the city clerk to take any public
[00:22:37] comment on the consent calendar.
[00:22:39] >> Thank you. I did not receive any speaker
[00:22:41] cards on the consent calendar. Is there
[00:22:43] anyone in the audience who would like to
[00:22:44] speak on something that is on the
[00:22:45] consent calendar today? No speakers.
[00:22:50] Are there any council comments with
[00:22:52] regards to the consent calendar?
[00:22:54] >> I'll move to approve the consent
[00:22:55] calendar.
[00:22:56] >> I'll second that.
[00:22:57] >> Please vote.
[00:23:05] >> Motion carries 5.
[00:23:08] Thank you, madame clerk.
[00:23:13] Next item on the agenda is public
[00:23:15] hearings number six. And this is with
[00:23:19] regard to the environmental assessment
[00:23:21] case number EA21-00002
[00:23:26] general planning zoning map amendment
[00:23:28] case number GPZMA21-00001
[00:23:34] development agreement amendment. It's
[00:23:36] the Ritz Carlton
[00:23:38] project
[00:23:40] and Ben Torres,
[00:23:42] our planning manager, will report on
[00:23:44] this item.
[00:23:46] >> Good afternoon, mayor and city council
[00:23:48] members. Um the um project site is
[00:23:52] located next to the existing Ritz
[00:23:53] Carlton Resort along Frank Sinatra
[00:23:55] Drive. Uh the project is broken up into
[00:23:58] two main areas. Uh the residence portion
[00:24:01] and the Sky Mesa Recreational Area. The
[00:24:03] image to the right shows these areas. Uh
[00:24:05] the image to the left uh shows the Ritz
[00:24:08] property.
[00:24:10] Uh to provide some background on the
[00:24:12] current major modification request,
[00:24:14] there was a prior project approved by
[00:24:15] the city council on August 3rd, 2006 for
[00:24:19] a hotel expansion with multiple
[00:24:20] components uh which included tennis
[00:24:23] villas on the other side of Frank
[00:24:24] Sinatra. Note changes to the tennis
[00:24:26] villas are proposed as part of the
[00:24:28] subject request. Uh the area shown in
[00:24:31] red
[00:24:32] um includes the development of a T-wing
[00:24:35] building and various uh hotel villas.
[00:24:38] The hotel villas are similar in nature
[00:24:41] and concept to the proposed B buildings
[00:24:42] of the current project. Um they were
[00:24:45] also set back a minimum of 50 ft from
[00:24:46] the exterior property lines. Uh they
[00:24:48] were also two stories and contained a
[00:24:51] total of 111 units um within the T
[00:24:54] building as well. Um the current project
[00:24:57] is proposing a total of 106 units for
[00:24:59] reference. So this is a reduction.
[00:25:02] Um this is the proposed site plan for
[00:25:04] the current major modification request
[00:25:06] which is modifying the prior
[00:25:08] entitlements uh to add 23,800 ft of
[00:25:12] event space, adding a 381 stall
[00:25:15] subterranean parking structure, reducing
[00:25:17] the units from 111 to 106 as I
[00:25:20] previously mentioned. modifying the B
[00:25:22] buildings with updated architecture and
[00:25:24] incorporating garages and adding a
[00:25:27] 6,200T Sky Mesa restaurant and
[00:25:29] recreational area.
[00:25:32] Uh building A1 will consist of 48 condo
[00:25:35] hotel units. Uh the venue which will be
[00:25:37] the event space and the subterranean
[00:25:40] parking. Uh buildings B1 through B15
[00:25:43] will have 58 condo hotel units and a
[00:25:46] 5,500 ft lounge area is also proposed.
[00:25:50] uh colors and materials for the venue.
[00:25:52] Building A1 residences and um building
[00:25:55] B1 through 15 will consist of a main
[00:25:58] stuckle color of Benjamin Moore and
[00:26:00] Bleecker Beggy in a smooth finish with
[00:26:03] an accent of Sherman Williams backdrop
[00:26:05] integral. Also in a smooth finish
[00:26:07] masonary veneer in a Timberwolf color
[00:26:09] will add interest to the architecture. A
[00:26:12] roofing will consist of a concrete tile
[00:26:14] and a California mission blend color and
[00:26:16] a variety of other trims and finishes um
[00:26:19] will complement the primary materials
[00:26:20] that are proposed for the um fascias and
[00:26:23] metal elements of the building. The
[00:26:25] architectural style for the project is
[00:26:27] best described as contemporary desert
[00:26:29] architecture compatible with the
[00:26:30] existing hotel. Um these are the venue
[00:26:34] elevations. The venue will be a
[00:26:35] one-story building and the background
[00:26:37] are the condo hotel units of the A1 uh
[00:26:39] building. Uh from this vantage point,
[00:26:41] the condo hotel portion of the project
[00:26:43] site uh ranges from 35 ft to 47 uh feet
[00:26:47] tall. Uh but please be aware that the
[00:26:49] the venue is at a lower elevation than
[00:26:51] the condo hotel units in the background.
[00:26:53] And this will u be screened to the north
[00:26:55] by the existing three-story uh Ritz
[00:26:57] Carlton Hotel. Uh the venue plan
[00:26:59] contains a large 11,000t main event
[00:27:01] space with additional areas for kitchen
[00:27:04] and pre-unction space.
[00:27:09] Um the west elevation shows a good
[00:27:11] perspective of the changes in elevation
[00:27:13] from the venue to the residential uh
[00:27:15] units of building A1. Uh the venue will
[00:27:17] have a maximum height of 39 ft 3 in. Uh
[00:27:21] the residential portion for reference on
[00:27:23] the west elevation will have a maximum
[00:27:24] height of 25 ft 5 in from the higher
[00:27:27] grade portion.
[00:27:30] A majority of building A1 um will have a
[00:27:33] maximum height of 25 ft 5 in from the
[00:27:36] north elevation. You can see from the
[00:27:38] entrance of the subterranean um garage
[00:27:41] here. Um the building A1 condo hotel
[00:27:44] units will consist of three plan types
[00:27:46] which range in size from 1,63 ft² to
[00:27:50] 1,92 ft². They will consist of 26
[00:27:53] one-bedroom one bath units, 12
[00:27:55] two-bedroom, two bath units, and 10
[00:27:58] two-bedroom, three bath units. Uh these
[00:28:01] are the south elevations which will
[00:28:02] primarily have a height of around 25 ft.
[00:28:05] Um this rendering shows the one-story
[00:28:07] venue building.
[00:28:10] Renderings of building A1 shown um
[00:28:13] showing the various walkway bays and
[00:28:14] landscaping and buildings are shown here
[00:28:17] as well.
[00:28:19] Um the residential buildings B1 through
[00:28:21] B15 consist of various sizes. Uh these
[00:28:24] elevations shows uh the fiveplex version
[00:28:27] which is most common along the southern
[00:28:29] property lines uh with a maximum height
[00:28:31] of 32't 4 in.
[00:28:34] Uh this is a rendering of the project's
[00:28:36] main entrance uh showing a B building in
[00:28:39] the background.
[00:28:42] Um this is a rendering of the lounge
[00:28:43] which will provide amenities and space
[00:28:45] to the new development.
[00:28:48] A tenative parcel map is also proposed
[00:28:50] as part of u the project for condominium
[00:28:52] purposes to establish three separate
[00:28:54] parcels uh for a portion of the project
[00:28:56] site. Parcel 3 will contain the 106 cond
[00:28:59] hotel units. Uh the yellow boxes uh
[00:29:02] shown below show the finished floor
[00:29:04] heights of some of the proposed
[00:29:05] buildings at the closest point to Marada
[00:29:08] Estates. Uh the orange boxes show either
[00:29:10] the finished floor or pad elevation
[00:29:12] heights for some of the homes within
[00:29:14] Marada Estates uh closest to the project
[00:29:16] site. Uh the project u building closest
[00:29:20] to Frank Sinatra Drive has about an 8ft
[00:29:22] height difference between the closest
[00:29:24] home within Marada Estates and the grade
[00:29:26] difference increases going east along
[00:29:28] the project site. For instance, um,
[00:29:31] building B6 within the project has a 34
[00:29:34] foot elevation difference between the
[00:29:35] closest home within Marada Estates to
[00:29:37] the south.
[00:29:39] Uh, this is a site section showing how
[00:29:41] the parking uh, venue and building A1
[00:29:44] buildings will be situated on the
[00:29:45] property. And the red dash line shows
[00:29:48] the existing natural grade.
[00:29:51] Uh this uh line of sight study shows how
[00:29:53] the tallest portion of building A1 and
[00:29:55] the closer building uh B6 uh look when
[00:29:59] viewing from Marada Estates um from a
[00:30:02] residence to the south. Uh the vantage
[00:30:04] point uh located at the center of the
[00:30:06] project from a vantage point located at
[00:30:08] the center of the project site. Uh the
[00:30:10] home here has a pad elevation uh which
[00:30:13] is 34 feet higher than the finished
[00:30:15] floor of uh bu building B6 uh which has
[00:30:18] a maximum height of 32 ft. The elevation
[00:30:21] difference between Marada and the
[00:30:22] project site um buildings along the
[00:30:24] southern property line is again reduced
[00:30:27] uh the closer to Frankston Drive a
[00:30:28] particular building is measured from
[00:30:31] from the southern uh property line.
[00:30:33] Building A1 shown here is set back
[00:30:35] approximately 300 ft away and has a
[00:30:37] maximum height of 25 ft 6 in. Um there
[00:30:40] is a small dash line coming from the
[00:30:42] nearest home which represents what a
[00:30:44] homeowner would see looking past
[00:30:46] building B6 to building uh A1 which is
[00:30:49] at a slightly higher elevation. Uh the
[00:30:51] red dash line um which goes across this
[00:30:53] exhibit shows the existing natural grade
[00:30:55] from um this central location on the
[00:30:58] project site.
[00:31:00] Uh the Sky Messia recreational area was
[00:31:02] not a part of the 2006 entitlements and
[00:31:04] includes a restaurant in addition to
[00:31:07] recreational amenities. Um a 50ft
[00:31:10] minimum setback is also proposed for
[00:31:12] this area.
[00:31:15] Um the uh Sky Mesa Recreational Area is
[00:31:18] located on 3.88 acres of mountain
[00:31:20] reserve zone land. um within the project
[00:31:23] site. Uh uses within the mountain
[00:31:25] reserve zone are limited to recreational
[00:31:27] activities such as hiking. As part of
[00:31:29] the proposed project, the applicant is
[00:31:31] proposing an amendment to the city's
[00:31:32] general plan zoning map that would
[00:31:34] expand the resort hotel designation to
[00:31:36] encompass the Sky Mesa portion of the
[00:31:38] site, which has been privately owned and
[00:31:40] not public land. In addition,
[00:31:42] development within the Sky Mesa
[00:31:43] Recreational Area is limited to 6,966
[00:31:47] ft, which includes a um restaurant um
[00:31:51] built into the mountain to minimize
[00:31:52] visual impacts and a separate restroom
[00:31:55] building. In total, the buildings within
[00:31:57] the Sky Mesa Recreational Area make up
[00:31:59] less than 4% of the 3.88 acres allocated
[00:32:03] to this area. Um the majority of the
[00:32:05] area, 96% will be dedicated to
[00:32:08] recreational uses and open space which
[00:32:10] is compatible with the mountain preserve
[00:32:11] zone.
[00:32:13] Uh these are the north and east
[00:32:15] elevations which provide a good
[00:32:16] viewpoint of the restaurant design and
[00:32:18] show how it is incorporated within the
[00:32:20] natural environment.
[00:32:22] The restaurant elevation utilizes a good
[00:32:24] amount of floor to ceiling glass to take
[00:32:26] advantage of the spectacular views from
[00:32:28] that location. Uh the site uh section
[00:32:30] provides a good view to understand how
[00:32:32] the restaurant will be situated within
[00:32:34] the natural environment.
[00:32:37] Uh the product site will be lushly
[00:32:39] landscaped with a variety of trees and
[00:32:40] shrubs. Trees proposed include mulga,
[00:32:42] sweet acacia, desert willow, blue polo
[00:32:44] verde and a variety of other others in
[00:32:47] 36in box sizes. A variety of date palms
[00:32:50] and California fan palms and a variety
[00:32:52] of sizes are also proposed.
[00:32:54] Shrubs like desert milkweed, brittle
[00:32:57] bush, and um variety of others uh
[00:32:59] provide color and interest. Along the
[00:33:02] southern property line next to Maretta
[00:33:03] Estates, palm trees and trees will be
[00:33:05] spaced approximately 15 ft to further
[00:33:08] screen the proposed um buildings and
[00:33:09] project from adjacent residences.
[00:33:13] Uh the Sky Mesa area uh will um
[00:33:15] incorporate many of the same landscaping
[00:33:17] choices like Polaro Varity and various
[00:33:20] state and California fan palms. Um
[00:33:25] uh the project also includes a
[00:33:26] development agreement amendment. The
[00:33:27] 10th amendment to the development
[00:33:29] agreement updates terms for the project
[00:33:31] site and incorporates um the proposed
[00:33:34] modifications to previously approved
[00:33:36] entitlements um that are part of the
[00:33:38] subject request. It also allows owner
[00:33:41] occupancy for a period of uh 6 months um
[00:33:44] consecutive or non-consecutive.
[00:33:46] Additional personal occupancy provisions
[00:33:48] are included and the Ritz will manage
[00:33:50] the condo hotel rentals and it sets a
[00:33:52] 10-year term for the project site.
[00:33:55] I wanted to elaborate on some of the
[00:33:57] public comments received that have not
[00:33:59] already already been discussed in my
[00:34:00] presentation. Um there is currently an
[00:34:03] emergency access road shown here in
[00:34:05] yellow highlight that serves the Ritz
[00:34:07] Carlton and Marada states. Um this
[00:34:10] roadway was not designed for typical
[00:34:12] two-way traffic or for construction
[00:34:13] traffic which at minimum requires a 24
[00:34:16] ft width. Um this road is currently 20
[00:34:18] ft in width and uh this emergency access
[00:34:21] road is built on mountain terrain which
[00:34:24] has steep elevation changes and sharp
[00:34:26] turns. There is also an existing
[00:34:28] drainage channel on the east side of the
[00:34:31] access road and the big horn uh sheep uh
[00:34:34] chain link fence which protects uh the
[00:34:36] sheep from grazing on developed lands on
[00:34:39] the west side of this road. So it cannot
[00:34:41] be expanded. Uh from an environmental
[00:34:43] perspective, this road was also not
[00:34:44] studied in the project's traffic study
[00:34:46] and is within sensitive mountain uh
[00:34:49] reserve zone land. The project is also
[00:34:52] already conditioned per condition
[00:34:54] approval number 32 to prepare a traffic
[00:34:56] control plan for traffic routing during
[00:34:58] construction. Uh the product will u also
[00:35:01] comply with the mitigation measures
[00:35:02] contained within the environmental
[00:35:04] document uh which help um mitigate
[00:35:07] construction impacts by restricting
[00:35:08] large trucks that are greater than
[00:35:10] 80,000 lbs within 50 ft uh from the
[00:35:13] southern property line u to reduce
[00:35:15] vibration impacts and requires the use
[00:35:17] of California air resource board
[00:35:20] certified four tier engines for
[00:35:21] equipment that is 75 horsepower or
[00:35:23] greater. Another item that was brought
[00:35:26] up were sidewalks um along Frank Sinatra
[00:35:29] Drive um which um have been deemed to be
[00:35:32] infeasible to install along the full
[00:35:34] length of Frank Sinatra Drive between
[00:35:36] Highway 11 and Marada states for a
[00:35:38] number of reasons uh which include um
[00:35:40] that they will not be compatible with
[00:35:41] the American with Disabilities Act due
[00:35:44] to the steep slopes um in some areas of
[00:35:46] 10%. Um there are a variety of u utility
[00:35:51] equipment boxes and underground
[00:35:52] equipment next to the curb within these
[00:35:55] areas where the sidewalks would
[00:35:57] typically be placed. This includes high
[00:35:59] voltage Southern California Edison
[00:36:00] lines. Existing landscaping will need to
[00:36:03] be removed to accommodate the sidewalk
[00:36:05] and then retaining walls um existing
[00:36:08] mountain area and decorative guards will
[00:36:10] need to be removed and surrounding area
[00:36:12] stabilized. Given the infeasibility and
[00:36:15] constraints of a sidewalk, an
[00:36:16] alternative the city has looked into is
[00:36:18] a shared use path within the existing
[00:36:20] roadway to accommodate pedestrian and
[00:36:22] bicycle use.
[00:36:24] Uh various points have also been brought
[00:36:26] up related to noise and noise
[00:36:27] measurement locations and the project's
[00:36:29] noise study. The project study noise
[00:36:31] impacts using current uh best practices
[00:36:34] and methodologies. Noise measurement
[00:36:36] locations were chosen by the uh noise
[00:36:38] consultant using CALR and federal
[00:36:40] transit administration guidance and six
[00:36:42] receiver locations were studied using
[00:36:44] predictive noise levels south of the
[00:36:47] product site within Marada states. Noise
[00:36:50] impacts were determined to be less than
[00:36:51] significant with the mitigation measures
[00:36:53] of requiring that large vehicles greater
[00:36:54] than 80,000 lbs not be used within 50 ft
[00:36:57] from the southern property line.
[00:37:01] Uh staff would like to add the following
[00:37:02] additional conditions of approval to the
[00:37:04] project. One, that construction hours be
[00:37:06] limited to 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. And uh
[00:37:09] two, that the developer shall reimburse
[00:37:12] uh the city an amount to be determined
[00:37:14] appropriate not to exceed 50% total cost
[00:37:17] share of project for the design and
[00:37:19] installation of a buffered shared use
[00:37:21] path along the downward side of Frank
[00:37:23] Sinatra Drive from Morata Estates to
[00:37:25] Highway 111 to accommodate pedestrian
[00:37:27] and bicycle use. Subject to city
[00:37:29] engineer and public works director
[00:37:31] approval.
[00:37:33] A mitigated negative declaration based
[00:37:35] on environmental assessment case number
[00:37:37] EA21-00002
[00:37:40] was prepared. Mitigation measures were
[00:37:42] recommended for air quality, biological
[00:37:43] resources, cultural resources, noise,
[00:37:46] transportation, traffic, and tribal
[00:37:48] cultural resources. A notice of intent
[00:37:50] to adopt a mitigated negative
[00:37:52] declaration was first distributed for a
[00:37:53] 30-day comment period which began on
[00:37:55] March 11th um 2024 um to April 9th,
[00:38:00] 2024. Based on comments received,
[00:38:03] revisions were made to the document and
[00:38:05] it was recirculated for another 30-day
[00:38:07] review period from July 22nd, 2024 to
[00:38:10] August 20th, 2024. Responses to the
[00:38:13] comments were incorporated in the
[00:38:14] environmental document.
[00:38:17] Uh the planning commission conducted a
[00:38:19] public hearing on January 9th, 2025 and
[00:38:21] recommended the project to the city
[00:38:23] council. Staff recommends that the city
[00:38:25] council take the following actions shown
[00:38:26] on the screen with the incorporation of
[00:38:28] the additional conditions of approval
[00:38:30] recommended by staff and um also various
[00:38:35] public comments were received which were
[00:38:37] distributed to the city council prior to
[00:38:38] the meeting. Um that concludes staff's
[00:38:41] presentation and staff and the applicant
[00:38:42] are available for any questions. Thank
[00:38:44] you.
[00:38:47] I'd like to call on our city manager,
[00:38:49] Isaiah Heggerman.
[00:38:51] >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Uh, so thank
[00:38:53] you, Ben, for that presentation. Um, I
[00:38:56] just want to kind of go back and and
[00:38:57] maybe retouch on some of the points that
[00:38:59] Ben made. Uh, so we're all aware of um
[00:39:03] some of the concerns that were raised by
[00:39:05] the neighbors. And so, state city staff
[00:39:08] uh did get that letter um from several
[00:39:11] residents. And there were kind of four
[00:39:14] main topics uh brought up within that
[00:39:16] letter. So uh I know we have some of
[00:39:18] those residents here. Uh so I would like
[00:39:21] to it'll be a repeat of what Ben said,
[00:39:23] but I would like to just try to
[00:39:25] rehighlight that one more time. Uh
[00:39:27] obviously when it comes to uh concerns
[00:39:30] from neighbors and residents, the city
[00:39:33] does uh want to be sensitive to those
[00:39:35] things. Uh so I'd like to quickly just
[00:39:38] summarize what Ben said in relation to
[00:39:40] some of those comments or concerns. Uh
[00:39:43] so uh the first one uh uh that I'll
[00:39:46] address is um within that um letter uh
[00:39:51] from the residents or neighbors um they
[00:39:54] were requesting a modification to the
[00:39:56] construction start time. So that was one
[00:39:58] of the conditions that Ben read at the
[00:40:00] end. So, uh, we are, um, bringing in
[00:40:04] with a condition the construction times
[00:40:06] that the residents were requesting, uh,
[00:40:09] which was 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., uh,
[00:40:12] which is a little bit different than our
[00:40:13] standard from 7:00 a.m. to, uh, 7:00
[00:40:16] p.m. We thought that was a very
[00:40:19] reasonable accommodation that, uh, we
[00:40:22] could make uh, since this project is,
[00:40:25] uh, adjacent to residential uses. Uh the
[00:40:29] other one was um there was a request in
[00:40:32] that letter to route the construction
[00:40:35] traffic through that fire access road.
[00:40:37] So Ben, will you bring up your
[00:40:38] presentation with kind of what that road
[00:40:41] looks like? Unfortunately, this was one
[00:40:43] of those uh ones that we felt like it
[00:40:46] wasn't safe. Uh and so uh the point of
[00:40:50] uh kind of staff did go out. We drove
[00:40:53] the road uh or the emergency access road
[00:40:57] and it's just simply not wide enough and
[00:41:00] it's very steep, has some very tight
[00:41:02] turns and it's just not a safe place to
[00:41:06] route construction traffic. And so this
[00:41:08] was one of those comments that we did
[00:41:10] analyze, but unfortunately uh given the
[00:41:13] conditions out there, staff uh didn't
[00:41:15] feel it was appropriate to make that a
[00:41:17] condition because of some of these
[00:41:18] safety issues. So, that was one
[00:41:20] unfortunately that we kind of felt like
[00:41:22] wasn't a viable option for us. Um, the
[00:41:25] other comment uh that was in there was
[00:41:29] um pedestrians walking on the roadway
[00:41:32] and so obviously uh being on Frank
[00:41:34] Sinatra uh we have seen that as well and
[00:41:38] there is uh due to various reasons but
[00:41:41] just um you know a lack of um active
[00:41:46] transportation infrastructure in this
[00:41:47] area. And so when we analyze this
[00:41:51] roadway, it it would be, you know,
[00:41:54] probably impossible to do an ADA
[00:41:57] compliance sidewalk. And then in
[00:41:59] addition, Ben, will you bring back up
[00:42:01] some of those pictures? Uh there's would
[00:42:04] be some very significant challenges with
[00:42:07] some of the utility uh boxes that you
[00:42:10] see there and access and then uh kind of
[00:42:13] the area on the bottom. it gets very
[00:42:15] narrow and that sidewalk would have to
[00:42:17] get very narrow and you'd be destroying
[00:42:18] all the landscaping in this area.
[00:42:21] However, uh maybe a compromise uh
[00:42:24] solution came out of our staff and so
[00:42:27] that led to the other condition that Ben
[00:42:30] led is in measuring Frank Sinatra, there
[00:42:33] is enough width to add a um a bike lane,
[00:42:38] a 5ft wide bike lane uh on one side of
[00:42:42] the roadway. And so what that would
[00:42:43] entail is uh essentially restriping the
[00:42:46] whole roadway to accommodate that new 5-
[00:42:49] foot wide bike lane. Now obviously uh
[00:42:52] you know part of the condition is when
[00:42:54] you when you look at the length of that
[00:42:57] um you know most of it is not adjacent
[00:43:00] to um the project that we're talking
[00:43:04] about today. and staff felt like there
[00:43:07] was value to the city in making this um
[00:43:12] change to the roadway as well just for
[00:43:14] pedestrian and bicycle safety. And so
[00:43:17] the point of the condition is uh the
[00:43:19] city would be in the lead uh so that our
[00:43:22] city engineer and our traffic teams can
[00:43:24] make sure that uh it's appropriately
[00:43:26] designed and then the applicant uh would
[00:43:29] be required to re reimburse the city uh
[00:43:32] not to exceed 50% of uh that cost. So
[00:43:36] our city engineer did put together some
[00:43:38] rough estimates uh of of what restriping
[00:43:41] the roadway uh would cost. And so due
[00:43:45] to, you know, I think just the benefits
[00:43:47] to the city as well, uh staff felt like
[00:43:50] it made sense to have us kind of drive
[00:43:52] that portion of it so that we could
[00:43:54] design it appropriately. But we do
[00:43:56] recognize the need for some pedestrian
[00:43:58] and bicycle safety out there. So within
[00:44:00] the constraints that we have within the
[00:44:02] natural roadway and the topography of
[00:44:04] this area, um we couldn't, you know,
[00:44:08] kind of say, yeah, sidewalk would work.
[00:44:10] However, we felt like this was maybe a
[00:44:12] compromised solution to help make it a
[00:44:14] little bit safer for the drivers uh and
[00:44:17] the people that are um out there
[00:44:19] exercising. And so that was the
[00:44:21] origination of that second condition uh
[00:44:24] for the city to add in that buffered uh
[00:44:27] bike lane. And then the last uh comment
[00:44:30] that was at the end of the letter was on
[00:44:33] the views. And I know that we received
[00:44:35] uh another email uh from a property
[00:44:37] owner in uh Marada uh about concerns
[00:44:41] about view. So um Ben, can you bring up
[00:44:44] slide 18 again?
[00:44:55] So Ben did a good job summarizing this
[00:44:59] slide. Uh but I just you know when when
[00:45:01] somebody wants to talk about um concerns
[00:45:05] about view very appropriate questions um
[00:45:07] you know very natural that we see
[00:45:09] through pretty much any development
[00:45:10] process. Um, you know, obviously legally
[00:45:13] the city doesn't protect view corridors,
[00:45:16] but you know, obviously we're going to
[00:45:18] be smart and analyze a project and say,
[00:45:20] "Hey, we don't want somebody living
[00:45:22] behind a wall, right, and completely,
[00:45:25] you know, destroying, um, you know,
[00:45:28] their views." And so, uh, I kind of went
[00:45:31] back to this and went through this with
[00:45:32] our staff. And to me, this was maybe a
[00:45:35] nice summary of of what's going on.
[00:45:38] Obviously, this site has been planned
[00:45:41] for uh development for a very long time.
[00:45:44] Uh what you're seeing today is slightly
[00:45:46] different than historical versions of
[00:45:48] it. Actually, less uh less dense. Uh but
[00:45:52] to me, this slide, you know, gives us a
[00:45:54] good picture of kind of what's going on.
[00:45:56] So, you know, it's kind of hard to read
[00:45:58] because the font's really small small,
[00:46:00] but you know, off on the right you you
[00:46:03] see
[00:46:05] the nearest home.
[00:46:07] Oh, it's over there.
[00:46:10] Uh, you see the nearest home, right? And
[00:46:12] then you see this red dotted line go
[00:46:14] out. And as Ben noted, that is the um
[00:46:20] uh elevation of the dirt as it exists
[00:46:23] today, right? Well, where this project
[00:46:26] is going is much lower than that, right?
[00:46:28] So, they're digging out dirt. So,
[00:46:30] they're bringing the pad level of these
[00:46:31] buildings below existing grade. So, you
[00:46:35] know what is there today is that red
[00:46:37] dotted line and you can kind of see
[00:46:39] where they're digging down to lower the
[00:46:41] visual impact for their neighbors and
[00:46:43] bring this pad level down. And then
[00:46:46] there's that black dotted line that goes
[00:46:48] out from uh that home. And that's meant
[00:46:52] to illustrate um you know from that
[00:46:55] nearest home. Again, this is one
[00:46:57] perspective of one home, but from that
[00:46:59] nearest home, uh, when you're standing
[00:47:02] and you're just looking out, what are
[00:47:04] you viewing? So, that black dotted line
[00:47:07] is about 5 ft, right? So, if a person is
[00:47:10] just standing out there and they're
[00:47:12] looking straight, what are they looking
[00:47:14] out? So, about 300 ft away, uh, you have
[00:47:17] that A1 building and they would be about
[00:47:20] at that roof line. Now, you know,
[00:47:23] obviously with uh the distance there,
[00:47:26] right, that's a pretty substantial uh
[00:47:28] distance between that home and where
[00:47:31] that building's at. So, you know, I
[00:47:33] thought this was uh a nice slide to kind
[00:47:37] of summarize to say, hey, you know, if
[00:47:39] if you were concerned about your view,
[00:47:42] you know, this is set from the nearest
[00:47:44] home and gives you some idea of how are
[00:47:47] they changing the elevation uh and where
[00:47:50] are the pad heights going to be compared
[00:47:52] to uh where that nearest home is going
[00:47:56] to be. Uh obviously like like anything
[00:47:59] when if you look out Yeah. you're going
[00:48:01] to see buildings. Um
[00:48:04] when it comes to the view corridor, you
[00:48:07] know, this seems to be like the
[00:48:10] applicant um you know did a reasonable
[00:48:13] job of trying to limit um those
[00:48:16] interferences with the view corridors of
[00:48:18] the neighbors by lowering those pad
[00:48:20] levels and then creating some distance
[00:48:22] by that A1 building that does have the
[00:48:25] most height out there. So, I thought
[00:48:28] this was a nice slide to kind of show uh
[00:48:31] the council and uh some of the residents
[00:48:33] that were in the room that this is uh
[00:48:36] you know,
[00:48:38] shows you how the site is today with
[00:48:40] that red dotted line compared to where
[00:48:41] they're taking it and then some of the
[00:48:43] distances out there. And so, you know,
[00:48:46] we did try to where we could um
[00:48:49] accommodate the requests. Uh so we are
[00:48:52] um uh making uh two recommendations to
[00:48:56] modify uh and then also the addition of
[00:49:00] uh that buffered uh bike lane should
[00:49:02] help with some of the pedestrian and uh
[00:49:04] bicycle traffic out there and cars and
[00:49:06] just general safety of the roadway. So
[00:49:08] thank you.
[00:49:10] >> Before we take uh council comments, we'd
[00:49:12] like to open it to public comments,
[00:49:14] please.
[00:49:15] >> Thank you. Uh now's the appropriate time
[00:49:18] for public testimony on this public
[00:49:19] hearing item. First speaker is Bruce
[00:49:21] Bower.
[00:49:35] Good afternoon, Madame Mayor, Mayor
[00:49:37] Protem O'Keefe, honorable council
[00:49:40] members, city manager, city attorney,
[00:49:42] and city staff. Thank you for uh
[00:49:44] considering my letter of December 12th
[00:49:46] and the concerns that I raised. My name
[00:49:48] is Bruce Bower and I'm the attorney
[00:49:50] representing Marada Custom Law
[00:49:52] Association, otherwise known as Marada
[00:49:54] Estates.
[00:49:56] Marada Estates, the residents of Marada
[00:49:58] Estates selected this property in that
[00:50:00] neighborhood because of the solitude
[00:50:02] that existed in the area. Before I
[00:50:05] address the concerns that I raised in my
[00:50:06] letter, I want to make it clear that the
[00:50:08] residents of the Marauder Estates don't
[00:50:11] oppose this project. Ritz Carlton has
[00:50:13] been a good neighbor to them, but they
[00:50:16] have some serious concerns. some of
[00:50:18] which I understand are now being
[00:50:19] addressed which we appreciate.
[00:50:22] The first issue we have is with respect
[00:50:25] to the construction phase of the
[00:50:27] project. The increased construction
[00:50:28] activity in this project will rise
[00:50:31] because of the construction necessary to
[00:50:33] bring about this enormous proposed
[00:50:35] project into fruition. Since Frank
[00:50:38] Sinatra Drive will be the main arterial
[00:50:40] road for construction traffic into the
[00:50:42] proposed project, traffic will be
[00:50:44] enormously and negatively impacted in
[00:50:47] the area. This thorough fair is crucial
[00:50:50] for daily commutes and more importantly
[00:50:52] for emergency vehicles.
[00:50:54] Many residents in the Marada states are
[00:50:56] elderly and rely on prompt emergency
[00:50:58] services. Obstruction of delays in this
[00:51:01] route could have serious consequences.
[00:51:04] To address that issue, we have urged
[00:51:06] that the city proposed that the paved
[00:51:09] service road located behind the Ritz
[00:51:11] Carlton be expanded and utilized for all
[00:51:14] the construction related activities.
[00:51:16] This makes sense. I understand that
[00:51:18] there's concerns that that's narrow. I
[00:51:20] think those issues can be addressed.
[00:51:23] There's obviously safety concerns if
[00:51:25] they go out Frank Sinatra versus the
[00:51:28] utilizing the uh service road. So
[00:51:33] weighing the issues and the concerns
[00:51:35] about safety on Frank Sinatra versus the
[00:51:37] issues of safety on that uh paved
[00:51:39] service road. We urge that it be
[00:51:41] utilized. We have second concern is the
[00:51:44] the traffic coming up Frank Sinatra. I
[00:51:47] understand what the city is now saying
[00:51:49] that they would have a buffered bike
[00:51:51] lane. I don't understand what that
[00:51:53] buffered bike lane will look like. We'd
[00:51:55] like some more understanding. Will that
[00:51:56] be segregated so cars can't interact
[00:51:59] with that by bumpers? uh similar to the
[00:52:03] ones they use on CV Link. Uh we urge
[00:52:07] that a protected pedestrian sidewalk be
[00:52:10] constructed on both sides of Frank
[00:52:12] Sinatra Drive.
[00:52:15] The third issue was construction noise
[00:52:16] and we appreciate the city's concession
[00:52:18] on those issues. The final issue was the
[00:52:21] one of uh views and we urge that
[00:52:24] developer make those impacts clear with
[00:52:26] a virtual 3D survey depicting the
[00:52:29] project as completed so it makes it
[00:52:30] clear how it would impinge the neighbors
[00:52:34] uh in Marada states along Marada Circle
[00:52:37] and the Grand View Court.
[00:52:40] With that, the residents uh of Marada
[00:52:44] State urged the city not to recommend
[00:52:45] the approval of the project proposed
[00:52:48] project at this time until the problems
[00:52:50] and impacts discussed are properly
[00:52:52] addressed and fully mitigated. Thank
[00:52:54] you.
[00:52:57] >> The next speaker is Halil Neli.
[00:53:10] Well, good afternoon, Mayor Muloto and
[00:53:13] council members. My name is Salinasi,
[00:53:15] director of operations at the Risk
[00:53:17] Carton Ranch and nice to see you again
[00:53:20] and thank you for the opportunity to
[00:53:22] speak today and for the continued
[00:53:24] support at the Risk Carton Ranch Mirage.
[00:53:27] I would like to briefly talk about the
[00:53:29] the expansion, what expansion means to
[00:53:31] us. And we currently have over 352
[00:53:36] ladies and gentlemen employed at the the
[00:53:38] resort. And what another 106 rooms and
[00:53:42] ballroom ballroom means us uh means to
[00:53:45] us is growing our family and giving
[00:53:48] opportunity to the next generation.
[00:53:51] Whether the with extensive tenure in our
[00:53:54] beautiful desert or launching pet to
[00:53:57] work in the exotic
[00:54:00] exotic destinations to our uh brand
[00:54:02] reaches. We are also grateful to have
[00:54:05] Cam Sang who invests continuously and
[00:54:09] has long-term vision for the the
[00:54:11] property. their investment in
[00:54:14] remastering in 2003 23 and 2024 has
[00:54:19] improved the experience for our guest
[00:54:21] and I know that our director of sales
[00:54:24] and marketing Nicole K she's going to
[00:54:26] more talk about the impact and the
[00:54:28] future opportunities as well but thank
[00:54:30] you for your time today and your
[00:54:33] exemplary leadership and supporting the
[00:54:35] growth of the second largest industry in
[00:54:38] the valley. Thank you,
[00:54:42] >> Nicole Kent.
[00:54:52] >> Good afternoon again, uh, Mayor Matto
[00:54:55] and ladies and gentlemen of the city
[00:54:56] council. Uh, I just wanted to also thank
[00:54:59] you for your time today. Uh I was
[00:55:01] thinking about the last week at the Ritz
[00:55:03] Carlton Ranch of Mirage and uh we
[00:55:06] started on Sunday with a holiday brunch
[00:55:08] for our ladies and gentlemen and as we
[00:55:10] were greeting the tables I could talk to
[00:55:12] one of the ladies that was working I
[00:55:14] found out that her mom had worked for
[00:55:15] Marriott for 30 years in the valley and
[00:55:18] two of her kids her son and daughter
[00:55:20] have wor both work at the Ritz Carlton
[00:55:22] Rancher Mirage and as we were talking
[00:55:24] they were like we want to work here for
[00:55:26] 30 more years. Uh I also was speaking
[00:55:29] with another lady that works with us. Um
[00:55:31] her sister used to work at State Fair
[00:55:32] Bar and Kitchen and her sister who no
[00:55:35] longer work works at the resort told me
[00:55:37] that she's always been interested in in
[00:55:39] wellness and she was actually able to
[00:55:41] get an excellent job at one of the uh
[00:55:43] wellness clinics in Rancho Mirage and
[00:55:46] they were so thrilled to have someone
[00:55:47] that had been trained at the Ritz
[00:55:48] Carlton. And so, um, when I think about
[00:55:51] the expansion, I think about how many
[00:55:53] more stories like that that we'd be able
[00:55:55] to see and how many more, um,
[00:55:56] intergenerational families and brothers
[00:55:58] and sisters, um, in the community would
[00:56:00] be able to be employed. Uh, another area
[00:56:03] that I just I think of and just this
[00:56:05] last week is um, community footprints.
[00:56:09] Community footprints is really uh, key
[00:56:11] and in the DNA of the Ritz Carlton
[00:56:13] brand. Um, in the past week, we have uh
[00:56:17] done um trash pickup in some of the
[00:56:19] areas of the Big Horn uh that they
[00:56:21] frequent to make sure it's safe for
[00:56:23] them. We donated towels to an
[00:56:25] organization called Overflow. They
[00:56:27] provide towels to the unsheltered in the
[00:56:29] valley. We also were able to provide um
[00:56:31] linens, gently used linens, uh to animal
[00:56:34] shelters in the area. And tomorrow, a
[00:56:36] lot of our ladies and gentlemen are
[00:56:38] going to support Fine Food Bank in
[00:56:40] boxing up food um in preparation of the
[00:56:43] families that are in need as we go into
[00:56:44] this holiday season. Um so those are
[00:56:46] just a couple of things that I think
[00:56:48] about and think about what more stories
[00:56:50] and what more impact we could have if we
[00:56:52] had this additional 100 rooms and
[00:56:54] another ballroom. we'd be be able to
[00:56:56] compete more and and share more with the
[00:56:59] Ritz Carlton Naples, the Ritz Carlton
[00:57:01] Lagoon and Niguel as they rotate
[00:57:03] business and rotate groups that go and
[00:57:05] frequent those resorts and go east coast
[00:57:07] to west coast. Um and uh and continue to
[00:57:11] be a key destination for our leisure
[00:57:13] guests. Um so those are just some of the
[00:57:16] things that I wanted to share as well as
[00:57:17] just recognize that Cam Sang and the
[00:57:19] Lamb family, they're an extension of our
[00:57:21] family. Um the I've worked for many
[00:57:23] different owners and the fact that they
[00:57:25] have that long-term vision that they're
[00:57:27] invested in the valley, they love the
[00:57:28] valley, they come and they they stay out
[00:57:30] here personally. Uh that to um to
[00:57:33] consider the ex expansion under their
[00:57:36] their guidance and in your partnership
[00:57:37] would just be um just tremendous for us
[00:57:40] to see. So um thank you and thank you
[00:57:42] for all the comments and um and the
[00:57:44] Marada residents we also consider an
[00:57:46] extension of of our family as well.
[00:57:49] Thank you.
[00:57:52] Sal Amosita.
[00:58:10] Uh, good evening, mayor, staff, uh,
[00:58:13] council members. My name is Salvadora
[00:58:15] Meskita. I am a member of the Western
[00:58:17] States Regional Council of Carpenters.
[00:58:20] Um, so I I live in the area. I golf in
[00:58:24] Rancho Mirage. I shop in Rancho Mirage.
[00:58:26] My wife and my my son, they both work
[00:58:29] and attend school in Rancho Mirage. Um,
[00:58:32] so I wanted to come here because I
[00:58:34] believe that the environmental impact of
[00:58:36] this project will impact me and my
[00:58:38] family. But, uh, the city should require
[00:58:40] the project to be built with contractors
[00:58:42] that hire locally. they uh they pay the
[00:58:45] prevailing wage and utilize apprentices
[00:58:47] from a state apprentichip training
[00:58:48] program. Uh workforce requirements like
[00:58:51] this reduce construction related
[00:58:53] environmental impacts while benefiting
[00:58:55] the local economy and uh developing the
[00:58:59] workforce in the area. Uh, in a recent
[00:59:02] 2020 report titled Putting California on
[00:59:04] the High Road, a job and climate action
[00:59:06] plan for 2030, the California Workforce
[00:59:09] Development Board concluded that
[00:59:11] investment in growing, diversifying, and
[00:59:14] upskilling California's workforce can
[00:59:16] positively affect returns on climate
[00:59:18] mitigation efforts. And uh recent
[00:59:22] recently the state of California
[00:59:23] reiterated its commitment towards
[00:59:25] encouraging workforce development and
[00:59:27] housing affordability through the
[00:59:29] affordable housing and high roads act of
[00:59:31] 2022 otherwise known as Assembly Bill
[00:59:35] 2011
[00:59:37] um which requires projects to pay
[00:59:38] workers prevailing wage and hire from a
[00:59:40] state certified apprenticeship program
[00:59:42] for projects meeting the um
[00:59:45] affordability and development standards.
[00:59:48] Uh thanks very much. Uh, happy holidays
[00:59:50] and we hope to see you back soon.
[00:59:54] >> Richard Zaki.
[01:00:04] >> Good afternoon, mayor, city council, and
[01:00:06] staff. Um, thank you for the opportunity
[01:00:08] to talk to you. Um, I'm a resident of
[01:00:11] Marada states. I've lived here full-time
[01:00:13] for about six years.
[01:00:16] I think the Ritz Carlton is a good
[01:00:17] corporate citizen, a good neighbor. I'm
[01:00:20] prodevelopment. I think all kinds of
[01:00:22] good things with the project, but I do
[01:00:24] have four concerns. One of them I feel
[01:00:27] is mitigated by the noise situation
[01:00:30] where you've reduced the hours of
[01:00:32] construction. So, I think that is
[01:00:33] helpful. But probably the most important
[01:00:36] is the sidewalk. And I know staff thinks
[01:00:41] they've done something to improve that.
[01:00:43] In my mind, I think it's a copout. The
[01:00:46] road's going to get narrower. I drive
[01:00:48] that road many times a day. At night,
[01:00:51] when it's dark, you can't see people
[01:00:53] very well. Um, when the sun's shining,
[01:00:57] I'm putting my hand in front of my eyes
[01:00:58] to follow the road and make sure I don't
[01:01:01] hit anybody.
[01:01:03] And to come up and say there's
[01:01:05] improvements that we have to move and
[01:01:06] there's things we have to do to put in a
[01:01:08] proper sidewalk. I think that's a
[01:01:11] copout. Almost every main street in
[01:01:14] Rancho Mirage has a sidewalk. The
[01:01:17] developers normally have to pay for it
[01:01:19] to get their plan approved. Uh to go in
[01:01:22] and say it's costly. I just don't buy
[01:01:24] it. I think it needs to be done
[01:01:26] properly. If we don't do it now, it'll
[01:01:28] never get done and it will be a major
[01:01:30] problem. I think it's a huge liability
[01:01:33] for the city and I don't think just a 5-
[01:01:37] foot bike walkway for going both
[01:01:40] directions enough to handle it. Um the
[01:01:44] construction traffic's a concern and I
[01:01:47] think it's mostly vehicles going up the
[01:01:49] hill. I I'm behind cars all the time.
[01:01:51] They're going very slow. their um
[01:01:54] maintenance people, uh gardeners, pool
[01:01:57] people, and then we're putting all these
[01:01:59] construction trucks going up there. I
[01:02:01] know you mentioned the emergency access
[01:02:03] road is narrow, it's 20 foot, it's
[01:02:06] difficult for two-way traffic. Well, the
[01:02:08] vehicles that are going the slowest are
[01:02:10] the ones going up the hill. Why don't
[01:02:12] you look at using the emergency road for
[01:02:15] traffic coming into the development, the
[01:02:18] construction site, and let them come
[01:02:20] down the hill where it's a little easier
[01:02:22] to maintain your speed and it will cut
[01:02:24] down half the traffic. That might be a
[01:02:26] nice compromise that it's, you know,
[01:02:29] helps fix the problem.
[01:02:31] um the view shell um shed. I'm a little
[01:02:35] concerned mostly with the three-story
[01:02:37] buildings and I'm thinking uh I don't
[01:02:39] know exactly what you call it, a
[01:02:40] elevation survey or something where it's
[01:02:43] staked. I've seen it on a lot of
[01:02:44] construction sites and you can actually
[01:02:46] see the height of the building.
[01:02:48] Hopefully, it's not a problem or there
[01:02:49] might be a few buildings that it is a
[01:02:52] problem and there could be some
[01:02:53] modifications ahead of time. Uh with the
[01:02:56] view shelter, um you talked about
[01:02:58] planting the palm trees. That's right.
[01:03:00] We basically don't allow any more palm
[01:03:02] trees in our development because we
[01:03:04] don't want to block views of neighbors.
[01:03:06] It sounded like it would be on the
[01:03:07] property line between our development
[01:03:09] and the Rich Carlton. Palm trees will
[01:03:11] grow and if they're planted every 15 ft,
[01:03:14] I'm thinking there might just be a wall
[01:03:15] of palm trees blocking the view. I know
[01:03:17] I ran out of time. Thank you very much
[01:03:19] for your consideration and have a good
[01:03:21] afternoon and happy holidays.
[01:03:23] >> Andy Goldstein.
[01:03:35] Good afternoon. Uh thank you for
[01:03:38] allowing us having this time. Um as
[01:03:40] Richard was saying, we have a number of
[01:03:43] issues that we're concerned about.
[01:03:44] People don't buy in Marada uh
[01:03:48] for not having views. The the name
[01:03:51] Marada means the glance. people really
[01:03:55] really love living there because of the
[01:03:56] views. So, we are blocking some views
[01:03:59] and for those homeowners, uh it it's
[01:04:03] very unfortunate. As far as the sidewalk
[01:04:06] goes, um I'm in 100% agreement with
[01:04:08] Richard. Um we're going to have an
[01:04:11] accident. There's going to be a death.
[01:04:13] There's going to be somebody hurt on
[01:04:15] Frank Sinatra Drive. People walk up and
[01:04:17] down it. They're given maps by the Ritz
[01:04:20] Carlton. and it's okay to walk on Frank
[01:04:22] Sinatra and it really isn't. It's very
[01:04:24] dangerous. Um what's the cost versus a
[01:04:29] death? What what's going to happen when
[01:04:31] somebody gets hit by a car there? And
[01:04:33] it's going to happen. People walk three
[01:04:35] and four a breast. I don't think a bike
[01:04:38] lane will will suffice.
[01:04:41] I think we're we're looking
[01:04:45] towards the future. I I don't want to be
[01:04:47] sitting somewhere saying, "Why didn't we
[01:04:48] do something before something happened?"
[01:04:50] And I think that's the problem with the
[01:04:52] the walking up and down Frank Sinatra.
[01:04:55] It's just not going to work having a a
[01:04:57] small bike lane. Um and I understand
[01:05:00] there be a lot of expense with moving
[01:05:03] utilities and so forth. That's the price
[01:05:06] of development. Um, and I don't want to
[01:05:09] be looking at a family saying, "I'm
[01:05:11] sorry you lost your father, your mother,
[01:05:12] your kids, uh, because they got hit by a
[01:05:15] car." Which, by the way, our,
[01:05:18] uh, different dealerships use Frank
[01:05:21] Sinatra as a test track
[01:05:24] >> for testing out the cars they want to
[01:05:27] buy. And you see them all the time
[01:05:28] zooming up and zooming down. They don't
[01:05:30] know the tur the curves. Uh, people walk
[01:05:33] late at night on Frank Sinatra and it's
[01:05:35] dark and they're wearing dark clothes.
[01:05:37] It's just an accident waiting to happen
[01:05:39] and it's going to happen and it's going
[01:05:41] to be a huge lawsuit and somebody's
[01:05:43] going to be hit with a huge bill. Last
[01:05:45] but not least, I think they need to put
[01:05:47] a camera light uh for traffic at 111 in
[01:05:52] Frank Sinatra. Uh people every day we
[01:05:56] see people making right turns on reds.
[01:05:58] Even you have five different areas that
[01:06:00] say no right turn on red, they do it
[01:06:03] anyway. And people are coming around on
[01:06:05] 111 at 65 70 miles an hour. There's
[01:06:08] going to be another accident there. One
[01:06:10] gentleman was already killed, a bike
[01:06:12] rider, I believe, which is tragic. It's
[01:06:16] going to happen again because people
[01:06:18] just totally ignore that that
[01:06:20] intersection. So, I implore the the city
[01:06:23] council to look at the possibilities of
[01:06:24] how to mitigate that and make it safer.
[01:06:28] We we're just trying to save lives, I
[01:06:30] guess, is the bottom line. And we have
[01:06:32] two areas that I think are going to be
[01:06:33] really, really bad if we don't do
[01:06:36] something. Thank you all for your time.
[01:06:39] >> Michael Harrington.
[01:06:49] >> Good afternoon. Michael Harrington. I'm
[01:06:51] a longtime resident of Ranch Mirage and
[01:06:53] live nearby Frank Sinatra and Dval. I
[01:06:56] did bring a visual with me and I did
[01:06:59] submit written comments and I don't want
[01:07:01] to be repetitive of what has already
[01:07:02] been said about the traffic concerns
[01:07:04] which I I do share. It's dangerous to
[01:07:06] walk around that area and I stopped but
[01:07:10] actually I did at night. I don't walk
[01:07:12] around there anymore. But this area is a
[01:07:14] sensitive area and what you have here is
[01:07:16] one of the many pictures I've taken of
[01:07:18] our big horn sheep. Um, and just as a
[01:07:22] visual reminder that this is a
[01:07:24] beautiful, pristine area that keeps
[01:07:27] getting encroached on. And even if the
[01:07:29] physical development isn't necessarily
[01:07:32] physically encroaching, you're only
[01:07:34] looking at the map, you have to consider
[01:07:37] the human activity, the noise, all of
[01:07:40] the disturbances that we continue and
[01:07:42] continue to encroach in our beautiful,
[01:07:45] pristine areas. We're so lucky to live
[01:07:47] here. And many people moved here from
[01:07:49] places like LA, like myself, to be in
[01:07:52] such a beautiful area. And now you want
[01:07:54] to make it like the place we left, you
[01:07:57] know. So that's what what we're doing.
[01:08:00] I'm not anti- um development. In fact,
[01:08:03] my father was um a developer. However,
[01:08:06] he built homes and I think uh Council
[01:08:09] Member Wild might relate to this. He
[01:08:12] built homes during a time when it was
[01:08:13] the housing boom for homes for people to
[01:08:16] live. many returned from service
[01:08:18] overseas in World War II and they needed
[01:08:21] homes and it was a place we could do
[01:08:22] homes. So sure, we need development, but
[01:08:25] why are we going into these beautiful
[01:08:27] areas that should that really belong to
[01:08:29] all of us to enjoy as well as our
[01:08:31] wildlife and our sheep who can't come
[01:08:33] here and talk to you, but here they are
[01:08:36] there. I I was very close when I took
[01:08:38] this picture. They came up to me.
[01:08:40] They're they're real living animals and
[01:08:42] it's part of an ecosystem of many other
[01:08:44] animals.
[01:08:45] And we're affecting that ecosystem every
[01:08:48] time we encroach with more and more
[01:08:51] development and machinery and activity
[01:08:53] for okay money. But look, I'm a
[01:08:56] capitalist. We all want to make money,
[01:08:58] but let's do it responsibly and respect
[01:09:01] uh our land that we have and the people
[01:09:03] that that live here and call it home.
[01:09:07] So, thank you for listening to me and
[01:09:09] and to my comments. Um and again, keep
[01:09:11] this in mind. they can't be here. But
[01:09:14] think of all the animals that are being
[01:09:16] uh threatened and I would ask for a full
[01:09:18] sec review and and no approval until the
[01:09:22] full seeker review is done of this
[01:09:25] project and to come back then. That
[01:09:27] hasn't been done. I believe it's
[01:09:28] required because it's mountain reserve
[01:09:30] being changed to a resort. I believe
[01:09:32] it's required you do a full sequa. Stop
[01:09:35] cutting corners and playing word games
[01:09:37] in this report, this ridiculous report
[01:09:40] that the staff wrote. Okay. Thank you.
[01:09:45] That was the last speaker card. Is there
[01:09:47] anyone else in the audience who would
[01:09:48] like to provide public testimony? Okay.
[01:09:52] Um I think this gentleman raised his
[01:09:53] hand first. No. Okay. Go ahead. Please
[01:09:56] step to the podium and state your name.
[01:09:58] Okay.
[01:10:04] My name is Ronnie Lamb. I'm actually the
[01:10:07] applicants and also the hotel owner for
[01:10:10] uh since the hotel has been open. So,
[01:10:13] good afternoon uh mayors and all of the
[01:10:17] city council. Um I'd like to say that
[01:10:20] this project actually has been approved
[01:10:24] it about more than 20 years ago. So I
[01:10:27] still remember 12 years ago when I step
[01:10:29] in to the city and and and take over
[01:10:32] this fail projects and I still remember
[01:10:35] two of the city council at that time is
[01:10:37] Mr. Dana Cobber and Mr. Richards uh
[01:10:41] which is the um the special committee
[01:10:44] that oversee the project. So first thing
[01:10:46] he asked me is Ronnie you sure that you
[01:10:48] want to take over? Uh it's not an easy
[01:10:51] project to do. I said yeah I commit to
[01:10:54] do it. So in the year one, Bill Marriott
[01:10:57] came over and looked at me and said,
[01:10:58] "Ronnie,
[01:11:00] you know it's it's it would be a hot
[01:11:02] summer night at that day." And then he
[01:11:05] asked me, "How come nobody work?" I
[01:11:06] said, "It's because 120 degree, no air
[01:11:09] condition on a hotel." I really tough to
[01:11:12] find worker here. So it's it's not easy
[01:11:14] to find worker here that we can build
[01:11:17] it. So I know that one concern about a
[01:11:19] gentleman talk about worker, right? So
[01:11:22] it's really not easy to get worker in in
[01:11:24] in this desert area. So we finally
[01:11:28] um get the project open and finally open
[01:11:31] in 2014.
[01:11:34] We stand here today to ask the council
[01:11:37] to approve the second phase. Actually
[01:11:40] the second phase was approved 20 years
[01:11:42] ago. We were actually if we were not a
[01:11:47] conscious and good developer and good
[01:11:49] owner, we would just build the second
[01:11:51] phase after the hotel open. But we are
[01:11:54] not. We take time even though we put
[01:11:56] money in. Many people would say, "Oh, I
[01:11:59] put money in. I need the return of those
[01:12:02] money." But instead of doing that, we
[01:12:04] let the hotel open for three years and
[01:12:08] see what we can improve to the project.
[01:12:11] So after that and that's why we come in
[01:12:13] today we did the modification
[01:12:16] if we were not be a good developer we
[01:12:20] would just build it but we instead of
[01:12:22] that we enhance the project we know that
[01:12:25] the project need more parking space so
[01:12:28] we enhance by changed it so every home
[01:12:32] in the future would at least they have
[01:12:34] one parking space instead of everybody
[01:12:37] jammed it to the valley parking we built
[01:12:39] additional pool
[01:12:41] experience is because we finding out the
[01:12:44] pool is not big enough to hold all of
[01:12:46] the guests. We put more meeting spaces
[01:12:49] because we like to enhance the project
[01:12:53] that we have another ballroom which not
[01:12:56] only we can take all the all the groups
[01:13:00] that want to coming in to become
[01:13:02] generated
[01:13:04] to put this hotel generated to become
[01:13:06] another level of revenue. So without the
[01:13:10] ballroom we basically all the time have
[01:13:12] to reserve the ballroom for the groups
[01:13:15] but not for the wedding. We miss almost
[01:13:18] at least about 20 rating big wedding per
[01:13:21] year that generated a lot of sale tax
[01:13:24] and trust transit occupant tax for the
[01:13:27] hotel. So that's why I'm I'm I'm I'm
[01:13:30] thinking you know we coming in today is
[01:13:33] because we try to enhance the project to
[01:13:36] be better. It's not a project that is
[01:13:38] supposed can be builded almost like
[01:13:40] seven years ago but instead we took all
[01:13:43] these seven years to get a better
[01:13:45] project. When we hotel open almost half
[01:13:50] of the resident is not open yet they
[01:13:53] still building it. When our guest is all
[01:13:55] sometime complain about noise and
[01:13:58] complain about the site complain about
[01:13:59] anything. We never say anything. We were
[01:14:02] just okay because people are doing
[01:14:04] temporary construction it only takes two
[01:14:07] years by the time they finish it the
[01:14:10] noise is gone right. So when city
[01:14:14] approved the project more than 20 years
[01:14:16] ago the road is being done already.
[01:14:18] Today of course something that nobody
[01:14:22] think about you know today people may be
[01:14:24] driving fast and people may be hurt
[01:14:26] about when people are traffic we
[01:14:28] understand that but I think it's not
[01:14:31] only us being penalized because we are
[01:14:34] the last one to build a unit now to
[01:14:38] enhance a better unit now and then we
[01:14:40] forced to trying to put an expensive
[01:14:43] project back to building a road for
[01:14:46] everybody. I think it's the community
[01:14:49] relationship that you know right up on
[01:14:53] the drive venture mar drive every
[01:14:56] property owner should contribute to make
[01:14:59] some contribution to enhance to trying
[01:15:01] to do the role we have no problem to
[01:15:04] doing that or we have no problem to what
[01:15:07] the city manager just suggest and the
[01:15:09] planning comm suggested you know we pave
[01:15:13] the road we doing all this we share all
[01:15:16] the cost but in order to do a better one
[01:15:20] I may agree I think everybody have to
[01:15:22] agree from the community that that was a
[01:15:24] share from all the property owner that
[01:15:27] uh you know up the hill so the last
[01:15:30] thing to say uh I mean appreciate that
[01:15:36] everybody's time appreciate that it took
[01:15:38] such years to get it done but I'm sure
[01:15:41] that uh we as a riskton I think we We we
[01:15:46] did do our best to make sure we serve
[01:15:49] the community the best we can. Thank you
[01:15:52] very much.
[01:15:54] >> Sir, would you still like to speak?
[01:15:56] >> Thank you.
[01:15:59] >> Please state your name.
[01:16:00] >> Sure. Tom Richards.
[01:16:02] >> Good afternoon, mayors, city council
[01:16:05] members. Um if you could pop that map up
[01:16:07] possibly. I'm at the 674 elevation
[01:16:11] location 31 Marada.
[01:16:14] that's possible at all.
[01:16:19] >> Okay.
[01:16:23] >> Sure. Well, I'll keep speaking. So, my
[01:16:26] request is fairly simple. I'll make it
[01:16:28] quick. Um, we're losing basically two
[01:16:31] site elevations from my examination.
[01:16:34] Both the building plans and the
[01:16:37] landscaping plans. Now, we're right at
[01:16:40] right where that 674 is. So, in all
[01:16:44] respect, uh, city manager Heggerman says
[01:16:47] we don't lose a sight for 300 ft. It
[01:16:50] looks like we lose a sight in like less
[01:16:52] than 100 ft. That's number one.
[01:16:56] We can absorb maybe losing the sights,
[01:17:00] our our view, um,
[01:17:03] our valley view, but the mountain view,
[01:17:06] and you can't really see it on this map,
[01:17:08] we have a curve. and based on the
[01:17:10] landscaping plans and the palm fan palms
[01:17:14] that are put on there, we might lose our
[01:17:16] mountain view as well. So, what my quick
[01:17:20] proposal is is that they put some story
[01:17:22] pole. Now, if you're not familiar with a
[01:17:24] story pole, it's a pole. It's a wood or
[01:17:26] metal pole put up with a flag that
[01:17:28] depicts the height of the top of the
[01:17:31] trees that are going to be there and the
[01:17:34] top of the building. That way everyone
[01:17:35] in Marada states can see what are you
[01:17:38] actually losing. It's hard to depict it
[01:17:40] on on an actual site plan to see what
[01:17:43] you're going to lose. But that's my
[01:17:45] proposal is that uh you request that the
[01:17:49] developer respectfully puts a few um
[01:17:53] story poles both on that curve uh which
[01:17:57] is just under our house and then a and
[01:18:00] then at that 300 ft level which is 300
[01:18:05] ft out. But I I believe it's going to be
[01:18:07] like 100 feet for the the first
[01:18:09] building. That's my that's my simple
[01:18:11] request. Does anybody have any questions
[01:18:13] on that?
[01:18:17] >> You can't comment.
[01:18:18] >> Can't respond public comments, but thank
[01:18:20] you for your time. We're most grateful
[01:18:21] that you share them with us.
[01:18:23] >> Thank you.
[01:18:25] >> Is there anyone else who would like to
[01:18:26] provide Okay, please step up and state
[01:18:28] your name.
[01:18:33] >> Hello, my name is Claudia Panella. I'm
[01:18:35] representing the uh
[01:18:39] uh Villas of Marada. We are concerned
[01:18:42] with everything that's been brought up.
[01:18:44] Everyone's really done a good job in
[01:18:47] stating what their issues are. These are
[01:18:50] not just one off. I believe that all of
[01:18:53] us are feeling this. My group at Villas
[01:18:56] of Marada, well, they can't be here
[01:18:59] because many of them work and 1:00 in
[01:19:02] the afternoon is just not going to cut
[01:19:05] it for them. And we were given very late
[01:19:07] notice. So, I have been implored to come
[01:19:11] and talk with you about the traffic on
[01:19:14] Frank Sinatra. One in, one out. Having
[01:19:18] just left the Palisades on Friday when
[01:19:21] you have one access road in and out, I
[01:19:25] saw what happened. If any of you drive
[01:19:28] Frank Sinatra in the morning and you see
[01:19:30] three people walking a breast and the
[01:19:32] sun is in your eyes, it's not a good
[01:19:35] deal. So, we have got concerns about the
[01:19:39] traffic on Frank Sinatra. Big concerns.
[01:19:43] We have concerns about the use of the
[01:19:46] road with heavy vehicles. Our people in
[01:19:49] our area are not as concerned about the
[01:19:52] noise. We are not as concerned about the
[01:19:55] views. However, I understand what
[01:19:58] everyone has said before me. We come
[01:20:00] here for the views and the weather.
[01:20:03] Coming from Minnesota, I have no views.
[01:20:06] I have weather, but it's not pretty
[01:20:08] right now. 5 in of snow and 10°. We are
[01:20:11] here for two things. And walking Frank
[01:20:14] Sinatra and not being able to feel safe
[01:20:17] and having vehicles up and down for 2
[01:20:20] years. We've had building across from us
[01:20:23] on several roads and villas of Marada.
[01:20:26] The building has taken three years to
[01:20:28] put up three houses.
[01:20:30] Nothing goes as smoothly. And in a day
[01:20:34] of in this age, I think that this
[01:20:38] gentleman could do a 3D rendering and
[01:20:41] put the height that we could see
[01:20:44] actually what this is going to look
[01:20:46] like, how the views are going to be
[01:20:49] impacted by the trees, by the buildings.
[01:20:52] A 3D rendering. The things that you
[01:20:55] showed here today, we are not engineers.
[01:20:58] We're not architects. were not builders.
[01:21:00] I think for the common people, all of us
[01:21:03] that have houses in that area, a 3D
[01:21:06] rendering with the trees and the height
[01:21:09] in proportion to the houses would be an
[01:21:12] excellent way to show what is going to
[01:21:15] happen. The way you're stating it now,
[01:21:18] you have to be an engineer or an
[01:21:21] architect to understand the things that
[01:21:24] you put up. And you spoke very very
[01:21:27] quickly. We don't understand a lot of
[01:21:29] the terms. I think we need to see
[01:21:31] something a little bit easier to
[01:21:34] understand for the common individual.
[01:21:36] Thank you.
[01:21:38] >> Thank you.
[01:21:39] >> Any further testimony? Okay. Please step
[01:21:41] up and state your name.
[01:21:50] >> Uh good afternoon. My name is John Hicks
[01:21:52] Camsang Company. I'm a project manager
[01:21:54] uh for Cam. been with them for 21 years
[01:21:57] now and and normally I sit back and I
[01:22:00] wait for questions from council and
[01:22:02] planning commissions, but I didn't know
[01:22:04] if that opportunity was going to come.
[01:22:06] So, I thought I'd just speak to a couple
[01:22:07] of the concerns that were expressed. Uh,
[01:22:10] and as Mr. Lamb has already uh
[01:22:12] mentioned, number one, we are not
[01:22:14] proposing a new project.
[01:22:16] This project was a part of an original
[01:22:18] master plan that dates back to at least
[01:22:21] 2005 where I know where this project
[01:22:23] actually being familiar with Rancho
[01:22:25] Mirage had the mass excavation that was
[01:22:28] completed. The project that we're
[01:22:30] proposing today one started with phase
[01:22:33] one of a renovation to a roots Carlton
[01:22:35] that existed was completely shut down
[01:22:38] and with that renovation it had a
[01:22:40] certain height limit requirement that
[01:22:43] was imposed on that existing structure.
[01:22:45] That project was expanded. We now have
[01:22:47] multiple wings that have several names.
[01:22:49] We have the uh spa building which is a
[01:22:51] detached building to the east as well as
[01:22:54] the uh residence which is 16 units as a
[01:22:57] detached building as well that all
[01:22:59] maintain the height restriction. Now, we
[01:23:02] show our portion of the project that
[01:23:04] runs anywhere from a minimum of 50 feet
[01:23:07] from our neighbors to the south, Marada
[01:23:09] Estates, and then goes back to 300 ft to
[01:23:13] show that where our roof line aligns
[01:23:15] with the adjacent property
[01:23:18] as a result and a response to the view
[01:23:20] challenges that occurred. What they
[01:23:22] don't show is that we also have the
[01:23:24] existing Rick Charlton structure which
[01:23:26] is a three-story structure with a
[01:23:29] pitched roof that is currently on site
[01:23:31] that is even further north
[01:23:34] of where our existing with our existing
[01:23:38] or proposed structure is going to be. So
[01:23:40] now we have several structures that we
[01:23:42] are in filling in alignment with the
[01:23:44] existing project that was fully entitled
[01:23:47] had gone through a design process went
[01:23:49] through the sequent process as a master
[01:23:51] plan community when we acquired the
[01:23:54] project I remember it was pretty
[01:23:56] incredible when we first visited the
[01:23:58] site in late right around 2012 it was
[01:24:01] only 50% complete and there were many as
[01:24:04] many animals living in the building as
[01:24:06] out of it so it was pretty interesting
[01:24:07] walking in and to see what it became am
[01:24:10] and what uh our contractors did with
[01:24:12] that project uh is pretty astounding
[01:24:14] that uh we were able to get the Ritz
[01:24:16] Carlton open operational extremely
[01:24:17] successful and now going back to the
[01:24:21] council that was in place at the time a
[01:24:24] follow through on a commitment that we
[01:24:26] made to the city of Rancho Mirage as the
[01:24:28] developer and that commitment was is
[01:24:30] that I remember the very first question
[01:24:32] we've had other developers up here who
[01:24:34] weren't did not possess the ability to
[01:24:37] complete Mr. Glam John, what was going
[01:24:40] to what makes you think that you're
[01:24:41] going to be able to complete it? We
[01:24:43] brought out our resume, our experience,
[01:24:45] what we've done and uh to achieve what
[01:24:48] we've accomplished to this date and we
[01:24:50] were able to successfully complete and
[01:24:52] open up that ranch, the the Ritz Carlton
[01:24:54] phase one with a commitment that we had
[01:24:58] been asked would we complete the project
[01:24:59] or would we leave the land as a scar,
[01:25:03] right? And the scar being right now if
[01:25:06] you go up to the site you look to the
[01:25:08] south of our property if rant in the
[01:25:09] marada a lot of people who have the view
[01:25:11] right now you're looking at land that
[01:25:13] was graded we didn't grade it was
[01:25:15] already graded when we arrived so it is
[01:25:17] white in nature this really soft white
[01:25:20] gray tones where the existing terrain
[01:25:23] has been removed even as far as the sky
[01:25:26] messa that also was pre-graded so we're
[01:25:29] looking at a rough grade pad that we
[01:25:32] have managed to not only work with
[01:25:35] actually our architectural team did a
[01:25:36] terrific job of actually one considering
[01:25:39] the neighbors. We actually uh decreased
[01:25:43] the impact of the project, making it a
[01:25:45] little bit smaller, not much, but we did
[01:25:47] decrease the impact of the initial
[01:25:49] project that was proposed to be built by
[01:25:52] reducing the unit count and and then you
[01:25:54] know looking at enhancement of landscape
[01:25:57] based on our knowledge of the existing
[01:26:00] landscape, how it works in the desert,
[01:26:01] what is more drought tolerant and
[01:26:03] drought friendly. That's what our
[01:26:04] landscape architect has done. So we're
[01:26:06] working within with plant types and
[01:26:08] species that are currently working
[01:26:10] within Rancho Mirage and the Coachella
[01:26:13] Valley as a whole. That was one of the
[01:26:15] criterias that were set. As far as the U
[01:26:18] view corridors, we are extremely
[01:26:20] careful. If you look at the orientation
[01:26:22] of the existing residences which exists
[01:26:23] on the site plan, we worked in and
[01:26:26] around minimizing our impact to the
[01:26:28] neighbors to try to maintain a good
[01:26:29] neighbor. And then as far as uh I heard
[01:26:32] that uh you know what is it you know
[01:26:34] local label local labor the importance
[01:26:36] of that and and it's always exciting
[01:26:40] when we uh uh I since I was a part of
[01:26:42] the project in the beginning and I'll
[01:26:44] try and make this real brief uh I saw
[01:26:46] the the young ladies and gentlemen that
[01:26:49] uh came to the hotel to gain employment
[01:26:52] seek employment there was a hiring uh
[01:26:56] effort that went on with the hotel and
[01:27:00] the excitement and enthusiasm for a
[01:27:02] project that is coming into the city of
[01:27:04] Rancho Mirage and the type of employment
[01:27:07] that the Rancho Mirage provides. These
[01:27:10] are skilled jobs that are provided just
[01:27:12] in the operation of the hotel. I was
[01:27:14] always impressed with the fact that when
[01:27:16] we opened the hotel, 45 to 60 days prior
[01:27:20] to opening, there's a level of staff
[01:27:21] that had to come in and go through an
[01:27:23] extensive training uh uh effort that is
[01:27:28] controlled by the Ritz Carlton and all
[01:27:31] the ladies and gentlemen that come in,
[01:27:32] whether you're a new hireer today or
[01:27:34] when we open that property, this 45
[01:27:36] days, they spend 8 to 10 hours in a
[01:27:38] conference room every day for that
[01:27:41] period before the hotel opens so they
[01:27:42] can be appropriately trained.
[01:27:44] In addition to that, when we look at
[01:27:46] construction, uh there are contractor, a
[01:27:49] particular contractor that weighs in
[01:27:51] mind who started out as an employee on
[01:27:53] the construction site. He now has a
[01:27:55] successful mechanical business. Uh he is
[01:27:58] an owner of a business and he started as
[01:28:01] an employee in the construction phase.
[01:28:04] Uh so not only have we contributed to
[01:28:08] the local economy,
[01:28:10] people who have participated in the
[01:28:11] construction of the Rich McCart with the
[01:28:14] Coachella Valley as a whole and Rancho
[01:28:15] Mirage and now have made it their
[01:28:17] permanent residence, establish the
[01:28:19] businesses inside. I know we've had a uh
[01:28:22] an executive baker as part of her SLA.
[01:28:25] She decided to go open a bakery up in
[01:28:27] the Coachella Valley. And then on top of
[01:28:30] that, um, we had a, uh, security guard.
[01:28:33] Started out as our job site security
[01:28:34] guard. He's now the director of security
[01:28:37] for the, uh, Rancho Mrage and his family
[01:28:41] and the members of his family have opted
[01:28:43] to move to the valley as a result of his
[01:28:46] relationship and the experience that he
[01:28:47] had. So, we really pay attention to
[01:28:49] local employment as a whole, as a
[01:28:52] developer. So, with that, thank you.
[01:28:56] >> Thank you. Mhm.
[01:28:58] >> Any additional public testimony from
[01:29:00] members of the public?
[01:29:03] >> Please state your name.
[01:29:08] >> Good afternoon, mayor, council members,
[01:29:10] and staff. My name is Omar Cobian.
[01:29:13] Um I'm a representative of the
[01:29:14] Carpenters Union representing about 58
[01:29:17] members that live in Riverside County
[01:29:19] and hundreds that live in Coachella
[01:29:20] Valley. You know, sitting back
[01:29:22] listening, I wasn't going to make any
[01:29:24] statement tonight.
[01:29:25] I listened to uh number one the owner
[01:29:27] that owns one of the crown jewels right
[01:29:30] here in Ranch Mirage stating that it's
[01:29:32] sometimes difficult to find workers to
[01:29:34] do construction 120° weather. I beg to
[01:29:37] differ. I've been a carpenter for 25
[01:29:39] years. I built countless projects out
[01:29:42] here. Most of your casinos in that
[01:29:45] degree weather. Um hospitals is was what
[01:29:48] I built most of my career off of. And
[01:29:51] for the project manager stating that,
[01:29:53] you know, they've built u created owners
[01:29:55] out of mechanical companies and so on,
[01:29:57] that's that's great. But I challenge any
[01:30:00] council member to walk onto a
[01:30:01] construction site and ask a worker
[01:30:03] there, does your employer provide
[01:30:05] healthcare? Number one. Second question,
[01:30:08] does your employer provide a pension?
[01:30:12] And I would bet a check that they will
[01:30:14] say 99% of the time, no. So being good
[01:30:19] stewards of this city, we have to ask a
[01:30:22] crown jewel like Rich Carlton, you would
[01:30:25] think that to make sure that the
[01:30:27] building of such construction site would
[01:30:29] hire contractors that that provide those
[01:30:33] kind of good wages, a living wage
[01:30:36] because right now this recent
[01:30:38] administration has cut 110 billion
[01:30:41] dollars of projects, energy projects,
[01:30:44] union projects just of recent
[01:30:47] Not to mention what's coming down the
[01:30:49] pipeline with cancelling our project
[01:30:51] labor agreements for such said
[01:30:53] infrastructure coming up. So, not only
[01:30:56] are we under attack by this federal
[01:30:58] administration and countless, but we are
[01:31:00] constantly fighting for our livelihood
[01:31:03] from private contractors that refuse to
[01:31:05] pay a good living wage with a pension, a
[01:31:08] straight a state accredited
[01:31:10] apprenticeship. I mean, that's a whole
[01:31:12] another subject. What are we doing for
[01:31:13] the youth of the Coachella Valley?
[01:31:16] Are we providing those job
[01:31:18] opportunities? Because if you're talking
[01:31:20] about a construction site that pays cash
[01:31:22] pay or doesn't provide health care or a
[01:31:25] pension or a living wage,
[01:31:29] where are they going to rely on that
[01:31:30] healthcare? Subsidized by us, the
[01:31:33] taxpayer. So when you talk about these
[01:31:35] crown jewels, let's ask them what kind
[01:31:37] of uh community benefits are providing
[01:31:40] the city and the area of Coachella. For
[01:31:42] that, I rest my case. Thank you.
[01:31:46] Any additional public testimony by
[01:31:47] members of the public?
[01:31:50] That was the last speaker.
[01:31:54] >> Thank you very much. We'll now go to
[01:31:56] council comments and I'll start to my
[01:31:57] right. Council member DS.
[01:32:00] >> Nothing now. Thank you, Madame Mayor.
[01:32:04] >> Mayor Prom.
[01:32:07] >> Um I'm sympathetic to the issues that
[01:32:10] you raised here today. Um,
[01:32:13] but I also believe that this is a good
[01:32:15] project. Uh, so I'm going to reserve my
[01:32:18] comments till later.
[01:32:23] >> Council member Wild.
[01:32:26] >> Thank you, Mayor.
[01:32:27] Um, being the longest serving member of
[01:32:31] this council,
[01:32:34] uh, I can reflect back to the time that
[01:32:37] this project was closed.
[01:32:41] It was a dead horse.
[01:32:47] Mr. Lamb made reference to coming before
[01:32:50] the council making a presentation
[01:32:54] and talked about improving
[01:32:58] this particular closed project and
[01:33:02] making it into a first class operation.
[01:33:08] Obviously, there was a degree of
[01:33:12] skepticism
[01:33:15] because the project had already failed.
[01:33:19] Would he be capable of delivering what
[01:33:22] he was representing?
[01:33:26] I can tell you that I've known
[01:33:30] both Mr. the lamb and his family since
[01:33:33] they took ownership
[01:33:35] and they have fulfilled all of their
[01:33:38] obligations
[01:33:40] entirely.
[01:33:44] I feel confident that
[01:33:47] the addition to the existing project
[01:33:51] will enhance what is already a
[01:33:54] successful operation
[01:33:58] as has been referenced today. This
[01:34:01] essentially was previously approved a
[01:34:05] number of years ago.
[01:34:09] The additions that are being asked for
[01:34:14] are essentially
[01:34:16] not only condo, hotels,
[01:34:20] a an additional kitchen,
[01:34:25] banquet facilities,
[01:34:28] and it will attract
[01:34:30] what is one of the most profitable parts
[01:34:33] of any hotel operation, whether at
[01:34:36] rancher or marrage or somewhere else and
[01:34:39] that's convention business and that's
[01:34:42] what this particular addition will do.
[01:34:46] So my from my standpoint I think it's an
[01:34:50] outstanding addition. I think it will
[01:34:53] enhance
[01:34:55] a asset that is already producing
[01:35:00] a great deal of success
[01:35:04] and revenue for the city. It's employing
[01:35:07] a lot of people here in the valley
[01:35:12] and I look forward to the opportunity
[01:35:15] to be able to
[01:35:18] make a motion to approve this project.
[01:35:21] Thank you, Mayor
[01:35:22] >> Council Member Framber Eden.
[01:35:27] I recognize the sensitivity of this area
[01:35:31] for the residents and property owners
[01:35:34] that reside there and also for a
[01:35:37] commercial business to exist in such a
[01:35:39] sensitive area. Uh, I believe the city
[01:35:42] staff has done a remarkable job
[01:35:44] addressing
[01:35:46] concerns that were brought to us via the
[01:35:48] letters and
[01:35:52] I
[01:35:53] respect the opinions of those living up
[01:35:56] there and what it would mean in terms of
[01:35:58] the quiet solitude that you enjoy now.
[01:36:01] but the weight of the importance of what
[01:36:04] the expansion of the Ritz Carlton would
[01:36:06] mean to the entire city. Um, you have to
[01:36:09] look at the costbenefit analysis of both
[01:36:11] and that's what I'm considering. So,
[01:36:13] thank you
[01:36:16] >> Madame Mayor. I do have a couple of
[01:36:18] thoughts now.
[01:36:18] >> Sure.
[01:36:19] >> So, uh, with respect to a couple of
[01:36:22] issues that, uh, the residents asked
[01:36:23] for, we are very sensitive to your your
[01:36:25] concerns and I wish we could grant all
[01:36:27] of your concerns, but I do want to talk
[01:36:29] about a couple of them. One is the uh
[01:36:31] the road and is it possible to use that
[01:36:33] uh that emergency road? Uh it's uh and
[01:36:36] that's what it is. It's an emergency
[01:36:37] road. If I felt comfortable requiring
[01:36:41] this project to use that road, I would
[01:36:44] do so. I'm not comfortable doing so. I
[01:36:46] can't do it. And here's the reasons why.
[01:36:48] Uh we now know that uh it it must be a
[01:36:52] 24 foot wide road to accommodate uh
[01:36:55] construction traffic. And it's not. It's
[01:36:56] a 20ft road. it's not possible to expand
[01:37:00] that road based on the photos that all
[01:37:02] of us saw here at this presentation
[01:37:04] today. It's also the case that um that's
[01:37:07] a the primary use of that road would be
[01:37:09] for emergency vehicles, fire vehicles
[01:37:11] for example. And if we were to take the
[01:37:13] chance to use that road and if something
[01:37:15] were to happen and we lost lives up
[01:37:17] there, I'm pretty sure that we'd have a
[01:37:19] different kind of a problem on our
[01:37:20] hands. So if I could, I would require
[01:37:24] use of that road, but I can't. I don't
[01:37:26] believe it's the right thing to do. I do
[01:37:28] believe the right thing to do is to uh
[01:37:29] as staff has suggested to limit the
[01:37:32] hours uh for uh construction vehicles
[01:37:35] and for uh for construction activity uh
[01:37:38] to 8 to6 as opposed to 7 to 7. And I do
[01:37:41] believe that we should engage in a study
[01:37:43] to determine how to uh uh handle
[01:37:45] pedestrian traffic up and down Frank
[01:37:47] Sinatra. Um so um those are the things
[01:37:50] that I think that we should do. I think
[01:37:52] we should uh accept the staff's re
[01:37:54] recommendation about those two items and
[01:37:56] I think that we should approve this
[01:37:58] based on those based on the inclusion of
[01:38:00] those two staff recommendations. With
[01:38:02] respect to uh the um this project, it
[01:38:05] certainly is a crown jewel in Ranch
[01:38:07] Mirage. Uh and it certainly will um
[01:38:10] improve uh the Ritz. It certainly will
[01:38:12] improvement for this city. So I'm
[01:38:15] looking forward to that. I wish we could
[01:38:17] find a way to give all of you exactly
[01:38:20] what you want. Um, sometimes we can't we
[01:38:23] have to weigh the um the benefits uh
[01:38:27] with uh with the issues that you bring
[01:38:28] to us. Um I'm prepared to vote yes on
[01:38:31] this today and I'm prepared to vote yes
[01:38:32] on this uh with u with those two
[01:38:35] provisions added to the conditions of
[01:38:37] approval. Thank you, Madame Mayor.
[01:38:39] >> Thank you, Mayor Prom. Do you have
[01:38:42] anything at this time?
[01:38:44] >> Okay. Um, thank you to all of you who
[01:38:50] sent letters, phone calls, emails. We
[01:38:54] love the public discourse. It's
[01:38:56] important.
[01:38:59] Um,
[01:39:00] I'm old enough to know from way back
[01:39:04] when
[01:39:07] when the proposal for the Ritz Carlton
[01:39:09] came to the city of Rancher Mirage.
[01:39:13] Oh my goodness.
[01:39:15] You would have thought that this that we
[01:39:17] were just raping the citizens of their
[01:39:20] stars, their skyline.
[01:39:22] I'm talking the original Ritz Carlton
[01:39:25] that came here in the 1980s.
[01:39:28] Everything that they feared was of not.
[01:39:33] Many people enjoy the Ritz today. Many
[01:39:35] of unfortunately are no longer here in
[01:39:37] the community. And the Ritz Carlton did
[01:39:39] become the crown jewel. It later became
[01:39:42] the lodge
[01:39:46] during the Great Recession and
[01:39:48] unfortunately had to close.
[01:39:51] We were fortunate to have the
[01:39:53] opportunity to reopen those doors again.
[01:39:57] And that's why the Ritz is succeeding as
[01:40:00] it is today. But I also remember when
[01:40:04] the homes
[01:40:06] residents throughout the community said,
[01:40:08] "Well, you've built the hotel, but
[01:40:10] please don't build the homes."
[01:40:13] All those fears
[01:40:15] were laid aside and we have residents
[01:40:18] that are enjoying those homes and they
[01:40:20] are stunning
[01:40:23] and they are a welcome to our community.
[01:40:27] I'm glad that staff was able to mitigate
[01:40:30] some suggestions on some concerns, the
[01:40:33] traffic up and down, especially at that
[01:40:36] signal at Sinatra yesterday as I was
[01:40:39] exiting
[01:40:41] the parking lot around 4:30. I don't
[01:40:43] know if it's an employee or a resident
[01:40:45] or I've seen the the car before whip
[01:40:49] through our parking lot to avoid the
[01:40:51] signal. A white Lexus. I'm hoping that
[01:40:55] we can mitigate something like that
[01:40:57] because they almost hurt themselves just
[01:40:59] jettting out onto 111 when they didn't
[01:41:02] even stop
[01:41:04] from our driveway. So, that is a concern
[01:41:07] and we'll continue to look at that.
[01:41:12] Many of you have said today you're not
[01:41:14] opposed to the project and we're trying
[01:41:17] to mitigate the concerns that are there.
[01:41:19] This is good for Rancher Mirage. As it's
[01:41:22] been said, this was approved two decades
[01:41:25] ago. We're just moving forward
[01:41:30] and thank you all for coming here today.
[01:41:34] We really appreciate it. With that, I'll
[01:41:36] ask for a motion. Oh, I'm sorry. Go
[01:41:39] ahead, Council Member.
[01:41:40] >> I was going to make the motion when
[01:41:42] you're ready, mayor.
[01:41:43] >> I'm ready.
[01:41:44] Uh, I'd like to uh make a motion that
[01:41:47] the city council adopt resolution number
[01:41:50] 2025
[01:41:52] next in order approving the mitigation
[01:41:56] monitoring and reporting program and
[01:41:59] medicated
[01:42:01] negative declaration
[01:42:03] number 202403
[01:42:08] 0267
[01:42:10] for the proposed project based on envir
[01:42:13] environment AL
[01:42:15] assessment case number EA21-
[01:42:20] triple02
[01:42:22] and two adopt resolution number 2025
[01:42:27] next in order approving general plan
[01:42:30] zoning map amendment GPZ MA
[01:42:35] 21-01
[01:42:39] tenative parcel map case number TPM23
[01:42:43] 3-02
[01:42:47] and major modification case number MOD
[01:42:52] 21-04
[01:42:56] and three introduce ordinance number
[01:43:00] next in order first reading approving
[01:43:03] development agreement amendment DA21-
[01:43:08] triple02
[01:43:11] >> uh winner may I suggest that we add uh
[01:43:14] two items to u uh to council member
[01:43:17] Wild's uh motion. Those two items being
[01:43:20] that we accept staff's recommendation
[01:43:23] with respect to mitigating the hours of
[01:43:25] construction uh from 7 to 7 to 8 to 6
[01:43:29] and that we also instruct staff to u
[01:43:33] study how we go about putting or placing
[01:43:36] a u uh a bike path a pedestrian and bike
[01:43:39] path up uh Frank Sinatra
[01:43:42] >> and those amendments are acceptable.
[01:43:46] I'll second.
[01:43:48] >> No, we were That was it.
[01:43:57] Motion carries. 5 0.
[01:44:11] >> The next item
[01:44:13] next is our action calendar number
[01:44:16] seven. The intention to annex territory
[01:44:18] compromising I'm sorry not compromising
[01:44:20] comprising of 5.04 04 acres
[01:44:24] to community facilities district number
[01:44:26] one connection with tenative track map
[01:44:29] number TTM38447
[01:44:32] location is southwest corner of Via
[01:44:34] Florenia and Via Hosphina Jacob de la
[01:44:37] Cruz our financial analyst will be
[01:44:39] reporting on this. Thank you mayor and
[01:44:42] good afternoon council. This item is the
[01:44:44] first step in the city's annexation
[01:44:45] process for developments within the
[01:44:47] city's jurisdiction. The second and
[01:44:48] final step is planned to be considered
[01:44:50] at the February 5th, 2026 council
[01:44:52] meeting. The territory proposed for
[01:44:54] annexation is located on the southwest
[01:44:56] corner of Via Florencia and Via
[01:44:57] Hosaphina and is comprised of one parcel
[01:44:59] totaling approximately 5.04 acres.
[01:45:02] Tenative track map TTM 38447 was
[01:45:05] originally approved by the council on
[01:45:07] September 5th, 2024 with condition of
[01:45:09] approval number 20 requiring that the
[01:45:11] territory be annexed into community
[01:45:12] facilities district number one. In
[01:45:14] accordance with the condition of
[01:45:15] approval, the owner of the annex
[01:45:16] territory submitted a petition for
[01:45:18] annexation requesting that the city
[01:45:20] council initiate proceedings to annex
[01:45:21] the territory into CFD1 and provide for
[01:45:24] expedited approval of the annexation and
[01:45:25] the levy of the special tax. Upon
[01:45:28] approval of the resolution, the city
[01:45:29] will be able to accept the petition
[01:45:31] submitted by the owner for annexation,
[01:45:32] consent to the levy upon the annex
[01:45:34] territory, allow for the shortening of
[01:45:36] the time for the special election to
[01:45:37] expedite the annexation, accept and
[01:45:39] preliminarily approve the annexation
[01:45:41] map, and direct the city clerk to record
[01:45:43] the map, and establish the date and time
[01:45:45] of the public hearing on the annexation
[01:45:46] of the territory. That concludes my
[01:45:48] presentation. I'd be happy to answer any
[01:45:49] questions.
[01:45:52] >> And I did not receive any speaker cards
[01:45:53] on this item. Is there anyone in the
[01:45:55] audience who would like to speak?
[01:45:57] No speakers.
[01:45:59] >> Are there any council comments at this
[01:46:00] time?
[01:46:03] >> With that, I'll entertain a motion.
[01:46:04] >> I'll make the motion. Adopt resolution
[01:46:07] number 2025 next in order declaring the
[01:46:09] city's intention to annex territory to
[01:46:11] community facilities district map number
[01:46:13] one and to levy a special tax therein
[01:46:15] for additional police and fire services.
[01:46:17] Preliminarily approve a map of the area
[01:46:20] proposed to be annexed and schedule a
[01:46:22] public hearing to consider the
[01:46:23] annexation and the levy of the special
[01:46:24] tax for annexation number 203.
[01:46:29] >> Do I have a second?
[01:46:30] >> I'll second.
[01:46:32] >> Please vote.
[01:46:36] >> Motion carries 5.
[01:46:40] Now it's time to open
[01:46:44] non-aggenda public comments. At this
[01:46:46] time, it's an opportunity for the public
[01:46:49] to speak on issues not on the agenda for
[01:46:51] a maximum of three minutes per speaker.
[01:46:55] >> And the first speaker is Susan Ragsdale.
[01:47:01] >> Did she step out?
[01:47:04] >> Okay. Wally Melendez.
[01:47:30] Yeah. Good afternoon, uh, everybody.
[01:47:36] I never knew that existed up up there,
[01:47:40] but but, uh,
[01:47:43] if I had to vote, I'd vote no. Well,
[01:47:45] anyway, uh what we really need is um
[01:47:49] university
[01:47:52] see um
[01:47:55] uh
[01:47:57] what I can uh
[01:48:01] what I notice out here is there that
[01:48:06] there's an im in im in
[01:48:09] balance imbalance
[01:48:13] um I'm unre I'm reminded
[01:48:16] of the oligarchs of uh Russia.
[01:48:22] They're ultra ultra uh rich
[01:48:26] uh billionaires. We we in the U US also
[01:48:32] have uh billionaires.
[01:48:34] So this is the first time I heard about
[01:48:37] this project up up the road here right
[01:48:40] right beside us. And and the first thing
[01:48:44] and one of the things that popped into
[01:48:46] my mind was
[01:48:49] uh what what is the name of the company
[01:48:53] that's trying to build up there houses?
[01:49:01] It doesn't seem right. It's it's it's
[01:49:04] too difficult. It's up in the mountains.
[01:49:07] It's full of rocks. So, so, so the
[01:49:10] company that's doing this, the trend is
[01:49:13] they must be multi multi-billionaires
[01:49:18] even building
[01:49:21] in in the that the sand like like like
[01:49:27] is done in this uh in this area.
[01:49:30] building on the sand is is uh is extra
[01:49:37] that um expensive.
[01:49:41] Uh so so
[01:49:44] this is the first time I hear about
[01:49:45] that. But but instead of houses, let me
[01:49:48] tell you something.
[01:49:51] As I saw it, there's an imbalance.
[01:49:55] The people with a lot of money, they are
[01:49:59] very educated.
[01:50:02] The people that don't have money
[01:50:08] are not educated.
[01:50:10] So that's why my main
[01:50:14] point today is instead of building
[01:50:17] houses up there, you should build a
[01:50:20] university.
[01:50:23] And I still have uh 9 seconds.
[01:50:26] So uh
[01:50:29] so I want to uh re remind the uh mayor
[01:50:33] that it's her responsibility to keep
[01:50:36] everybody to three minutes. Thank you.
[01:50:40] >> Susan Ragsdale.
[01:50:48] >> Hello
[01:50:52] Usually I have a plan. I have something
[01:50:54] written. I didn't even I can't even
[01:50:57] think about what I want to say. But what
[01:50:59] I need to say is extremely important.
[01:51:03] 74 years ago on this day I was born.
[01:51:06] This is my 74th birthday.
[01:51:10] What a bummer.
[01:51:14] Ever since I got the fraudulent
[01:51:15] termination of tenency, my daughter
[01:51:17] turned her back on me. It was a terrible
[01:51:19] reaction. It wasn't appropriate, but you
[01:51:22] know, she couldn't handle it. And
[01:51:26] because of that, I have not seen my
[01:51:28] granddaughter for four years. I remember
[01:51:30] a year ago, Ted While was talking about
[01:51:33] you wanting to have a grandchild. I
[01:51:35] don't know what happened. I don't know
[01:51:37] any of you personally,
[01:51:39] but it has ruined my life and my
[01:51:42] granddaughter's life for sure. I mean,
[01:51:45] my fondest memories are of my maternal
[01:51:47] grandparents. And speaking of that, I'm
[01:51:50] a sixth generation Californian. My
[01:51:52] ancestors came here in 1851.
[01:51:56] It's a terrible feeling, number one, to
[01:51:59] have someone who is my daughter's age
[01:52:02] like the city manager treat me with such
[01:52:05] disdain and contempt and to actually be
[01:52:07] my what I call my slow motion murderer.
[01:52:11] It's not an exaggeration to say that.
[01:52:14] I'm nothing compared to what I used to
[01:52:16] be before this terri these terrible
[01:52:19] crimes
[01:52:20] happened. And I didn't do anything wrong
[01:52:23] at all. But first complained to the
[01:52:25] property manager that I had very very
[01:52:29] aggressive drunks next door to me on the
[01:52:31] other side. And then she allowed the
[01:52:33] really insane people to move in on the
[01:52:35] other side without checking their
[01:52:37] background.
[01:52:39] And I couldn't even come to city hall
[01:52:41] and talk about it because nobody would
[01:52:43] pay attention to me because they think
[01:52:45] I'm this crazy lady. You know, I'd have
[01:52:48] to be really crazy to keep coming back
[01:52:50] here all these years to to beg for
[01:52:52] decency. I won't stand up and do the
[01:52:54] flag salute with any of you because it's
[01:52:56] so hypocritical.
[01:52:58] Very hypocritical. And you won't even
[01:53:01] have a conversation with me. Although
[01:53:02] I've tried and I've tried to have
[01:53:04] conversations with Mr. Hagermanerman,
[01:53:06] too.
[01:53:08] this doesn't seem like a democratic
[01:53:10] institution to me at all.
[01:53:13] And I, you know, I lost my iMac because
[01:53:16] I was living in my car and I was taking
[01:53:18] it in and out and going to the library
[01:53:20] every day with it and it dropped. And I
[01:53:22] was just at the start of trying to
[01:53:24] promote my mid-century modern cats and
[01:53:26] everything. I can't work without my
[01:53:29] computer. I mean, I'm just nothing
[01:53:31] compared to what I was. No family,
[01:53:34] nothing. And I didn't do anything wrong
[01:53:36] at all. And I know some of you are very
[01:53:38] much aware of this. I've proven it. I'm
[01:53:42] sorry. I hate to be so negative, but
[01:53:44] please take care of me. I'm not asking
[01:53:46] for much. I've tried to offer my very
[01:53:48] best to you, and it's unfortunate that I
[01:53:51] ever stepped in this room. Thank you.
[01:53:54] >> Is there anyone else who would like to
[01:53:55] speak on something that is not on
[01:53:57] today's agenda?
[01:53:59] >> That was the last speaker.
[01:54:01] >> Thank you. It's now time for close
[01:54:03] session.
[01:54:06] Thank you, mayor.
[01:54:08] We'll be convening into close session
[01:54:09] for the item listed before you on the
[01:54:10] agenda as 9A. Conference with legal
[01:54:13] counsel existing litigation pursuant to
[01:54:15] government code section 54956.9D1.
[01:54:20] Case name unspecified since disclosure
[01:54:22] may jeopardize existing settlement
[01:54:24] negotiations.
[01:54:29] >> We'll now adjourn to close session.
[01:54:31] Thank you.
[01:54:40] We've now returned from close session.
[01:54:42] We'll reconvene to open session and ask
[01:54:44] the uh city attorney to report.
[01:54:48] >> Thank you, mayor. No reportable action
[01:54:50] taken at close session today.
[01:54:53] >> Thank you. We'll adjourn. Happy
[01:54:55] holidays, everyone.