Rancho Mirage City Council Meeting, January 15, 2026

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AI transcript text.

[00:00:11] Good afternoon and welcome.
[00:00:16] Today is the regular meeting of the
[00:00:18] Rancher Mirage City Council and
[00:00:19] Community Services District, Energy
[00:00:21] Authority, Housing Authority, Joint
[00:00:24] Powers, Finance Authority, Library and
[00:00:27] Observatory, and Redevelopment Successor
[00:00:30] Agency boards.
[00:00:34] I'd like to call the meeting to order.
[00:00:36] I'm now asking for a flag salute.
[00:00:39] Council member E from
[00:00:41] Eline,
[00:00:43] could you please? Got it.
[00:00:46] >> First first meeting back from the
[00:00:47] holidays.
[00:00:50] >> Ready? Begin. I al to the flag of the
[00:00:54] United States of America and to the
[00:00:57] republic for which it stands, one nation
[00:01:00] under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[00:01:02] justice for all.
[00:01:06] [clears throat]
[00:01:09] >> Madame clerk, may we have roll call,
[00:01:11] please?
[00:01:12] >> Of course. Council member DS
[00:01:14] >> I am here.
[00:01:15] >> Council member Framberg Edelstein
[00:01:17] >> here.
[00:01:18] >> Council member While
[00:01:19] >> here.
[00:01:20] >> Mayor Prom O'Keefe
[00:01:21] >> here.
[00:01:21] >> And Mayor Mulatto,
[00:01:22] >> I am here. Thank you. Next item on the
[00:01:26] agenda is presentations.
[00:01:29] And we are recognizing life-saving
[00:01:32] actions by the Ritz Carlton Rancher
[00:01:34] Mirage staff. Um, we have the privilege
[00:01:38] of recognizing an outstanding example of
[00:01:41] preparedness, teamwork, and quick
[00:01:43] thinking demonstrated at the Ritz
[00:01:45] Carlton Rancher Mirage. On Tuesday,
[00:01:48] December 9th, a staff member experienced
[00:01:50] a serious medical emergency while at
[00:01:53] work. Before emergency responders could
[00:01:56] arrive, fellow employees immediately
[00:01:58] stepped in to provide care and stabilize
[00:02:00] their colleague.
[00:02:02] Executive Chef Bruno Lopez quickly
[00:02:04] contacted safety and security department
[00:02:07] to ensure help was on the way. Safety
[00:02:10] and security officer Eric Silva
[00:02:12] responded immediately with medical
[00:02:14] equipment, secured the area, contacted
[00:02:17] 911, and remained with his colleague
[00:02:19] until the emergency personnel arrived
[00:02:21] and assumed care.
[00:02:24] As we all know, emergencies do not wait.
[00:02:27] and the actions taken in the first few
[00:02:29] minutes can be critical.
[00:02:31] To speak about why training and
[00:02:34] preparedness
[00:02:37] matter so much in moments like this, I
[00:02:39] would like to take the opportunity to
[00:02:41] invite uh Battalion Fire Chief Whitaker
[00:02:44] to share a few words. If you would
[00:02:46] please, Chief
[00:02:58] Good afternoon. Thank you, Mayor Motto,
[00:03:01] members of the council. Pleasure to be
[00:03:04] here today. I'd like to take this
[00:03:06] opportunity uh just to speak to you
[00:03:08] about a few things. You know, every day
[00:03:11] emergencies happen before first
[00:03:12] responders arrive. And in those critical
[00:03:15] moments, a citizen trained in CPR and
[00:03:19] first aid can absolutely make the
[00:03:21] difference between life and death.
[00:03:24] CPR and first aid training gives you the
[00:03:26] confidence and the skills to act quickly
[00:03:29] and care for a loved one, a neighbor,
[00:03:32] and a stranger to help stabilize that
[00:03:35] situation until help arrives.
[00:03:38] one trained person
[00:03:41] and that person could be you could save
[00:03:43] that life.
[00:03:45] That's exactly what happened on December
[00:03:46] 9th when members of the Ritz Carlton
[00:03:49] team responded immediately to their
[00:03:51] colleagues medical needs.
[00:03:54] We'd like to thank the Ritz Carlton team
[00:03:56] for their swift action in embodying
[00:03:59] everyday heroes.
[00:04:01] We would also like to take this moment
[00:04:03] to encourage all community members to
[00:04:05] consider becoming CPR and first aid
[00:04:08] trained.
[00:04:09] Together, we can build a safer, stronger
[00:04:12] community where everyone is prepared to
[00:04:14] help when it matters the most. Thank
[00:04:17] you.
[00:04:18] >> Thank you, Chief. Before we present
[00:04:20] today's recognitions, I would like to uh
[00:04:23] note that this is not the first time the
[00:04:25] city of Ranch Mirage has had the
[00:04:27] opportunity to recognize life-saving
[00:04:30] actions and skills by the Ritz Carlton
[00:04:32] team. About 10 years ago, the
[00:04:35] organization was honored for a similar
[00:04:37] response. Uh though we would prefer not
[00:04:41] to make this a habit unless uh these are
[00:04:44] very positive uh outcomes. Um, we will
[00:04:48] continue signing and sealing
[00:04:50] certificates of appreciation for
[00:04:52] people's efforts. This afternoon, the
[00:04:55] city of Rancher Mirage is proud to
[00:04:56] present three certificates of
[00:04:58] recognition. First and foremost, to the
[00:05:01] Ritz Carlton Rancher Mirage staff. Your
[00:05:04] culture of training, preparedness, and
[00:05:06] teamwork made swift action possible.
[00:05:11] Thank you for looking out not only for
[00:05:12] one another but your guests and for
[00:05:15] setting an example for our community.
[00:05:18] The second certificate will be
[00:05:20] presenting to Chef Chef Bruno Lopez, our
[00:05:23] executive chef. Your immediate response
[00:05:26] and leadership ensured that help was
[00:05:29] activated without delay. Thank you for
[00:05:31] your professionalism and commitment to
[00:05:34] the safety of the team. Now, it's my
[00:05:36] understanding Chef Bruno will not be
[00:05:38] joining us because he's probably up
[00:05:40] cooking and serving meals up at the
[00:05:42] hotel doing what he does best. And
[00:05:45] finally, to Eric Silva, our the uh
[00:05:48] security and safety officer, your
[00:05:50] calmness, knowledgeable, and prepared
[00:05:52] response reflects the importance of
[00:05:54] training and readiness. Because of your
[00:05:56] actions, a life was protected, a life
[00:05:59] was saved, and we are grateful for your
[00:06:01] service. Before we conclude, and we're
[00:06:04] hoping she'll be able to arrive shortly,
[00:06:08] um we would like to recognize uh this
[00:06:11] afternoon the newly appointed general
[00:06:13] manager for of the Ritz Carlton Rancher
[00:06:16] Ranch, I'm sorry, Ritz Carlton Ranch,
[00:06:18] Sheila Bushman.
[00:06:21] Uh Sheila, we want to extend a very
[00:06:24] extend a very warm welcome to you. You
[00:06:26] are taking the helm of a exceptional
[00:06:29] team, one of that clearly values
[00:06:32] preparation, professionalism, and care
[00:06:34] for one another. We are grateful for the
[00:06:36] partnership we share with the Ritz
[00:06:38] Carlton and look forward to continuing
[00:06:40] that relationship under your leadership.
[00:06:44] Um, at this point in time, we'd like to
[00:06:47] present these certificates with the Ritz
[00:06:50] Carlton team, all the members that are
[00:06:52] here, if you wouldn't mind.
[00:07:10] Let's do a photo real quick.
[00:07:20] >> Thank you so very very much to all of
[00:07:22] you. This is wonderful. Nicole, I'm
[00:07:25] going to tap on you to make comments
[00:07:26] here in in just a moment. What we'd like
[00:07:29] to do, uh, Chef is not here, so would
[00:07:31] you like to accept for Chef Lopez?
[00:07:33] >> Uh, yes.
[00:07:34] >> Okay, perfect. Thank you.
[00:07:36] >> Actually have a family emergency, so
[00:07:38] he's in France.
[00:07:39] >> He's in France.
[00:07:40] >> Wanted to be here, but yeah,
[00:07:41] >> I would choose France, too, other than
[00:07:43] [laughter]
[00:07:45] >> Absolutely.
[00:07:47] And then who would like to accept for
[00:07:48] the Ritz Carlton team? All the
[00:07:51] employees.
[00:07:52] >> Absolutely. There you go. Wonderful. And
[00:07:55] to Mr. Silva, hello. Thank you for your
[00:07:59] quick actions.
[00:08:01] Could we have all of you please come to
[00:08:03] the front? This is all about you.
[00:08:07] >> I guess I'm included.
[00:08:08] >> Yeah. [laughter]
[00:08:11] [clears throat]
[00:08:17] >> Thank you. [applause]
[00:08:26] Thank you so much, Mayor Mulatto. It's
[00:08:28] such an honor and uh it's an honor also
[00:08:31] to be recognized by a city that values
[00:08:33] our safety and security so much. And so
[00:08:35] it's just that much more meaningful that
[00:08:37] you would honor us with this award. Um
[00:08:39] but it would be remiss if I didn't pass
[00:08:40] it over to my amazing colleague and
[00:08:42] director of safety and security, Daniel
[00:08:44] Rodriguez, to say a few words.
[00:08:47] >> Thank you. Thank you, ladies and
[00:08:48] gentlemen. Good afternoon. My name is
[00:08:50] Dana Garcia, director of safety and
[00:08:51] security at the Ritz Carlton Rancher
[00:08:53] Mirage. I have the pleasure of here
[00:08:55] honoring Eric Silva, our safety and
[00:08:57] security officer, which with his
[00:08:59] quicktinking, responsive decisionm quite
[00:09:03] literally saved a life. Eric,
[00:09:07] in a in a moment of crisis where there's
[00:09:09] no scripts, you jumped into action with
[00:09:12] compassion, courage, and clarity.
[00:09:15] Because of that, Chef Wallen's family
[00:09:17] received the greatest gift of all. And
[00:09:19] right before Christmas, they they are
[00:09:22] able to celebrate more life, more
[00:09:24] laughter, more shared meals, and more
[00:09:26] memories.
[00:09:27] Eric, again, thank you for enlivening
[00:09:30] Marriott's principle of PE putting
[00:09:32] people's first, the Ritz Carlton
[00:09:34] standards of taking care of each other.
[00:09:36] On behalf of Marriott International, the
[00:09:38] Ritz Carlton Rancher Mirage, and this
[00:09:41] entire community, we are proud of you,
[00:09:43] Eric. Thank you so much for reminding us
[00:09:46] that service is not what we do, but it's
[00:09:48] who we are. Again, thank you so much,
[00:09:50] Eric. I'm proud to be your colleague.
[00:09:54] [applause]
[00:10:00] >> Thank you so much for all that you do,
[00:10:02] not only in this instance, but what you
[00:10:04] give 365 to the community of Rancher
[00:10:07] Mirage. Thank you.
[00:10:09] >> Thank you.
[00:10:11] >> [applause]
[00:10:35] >> And now we'll move on to council member
[00:10:37] comments and reports. and I will start
[00:10:41] to my left with council member Eve
[00:10:44] Framberg Edelstein.
[00:10:46] >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I'd like to speak
[00:10:49] about a phenomenon called the third
[00:10:51] shift in relation to modern female
[00:10:53] caregivers. The third shift is a
[00:10:56] sociological term describing the
[00:10:58] invisible and ongoing mental and
[00:10:59] emotional labor that women, especially
[00:11:02] caregivers, perform outside of work and
[00:11:04] household chores.
[00:11:05] The third shift is the constant
[00:11:07] cognitive and emotional work of
[00:11:09] anticipating needs, planning,
[00:11:11] organizing, and remembering everything,
[00:11:13] managing emotions, their own and others,
[00:11:16] and being the default problem solver and
[00:11:18] safety net for their homes. It happens
[00:11:21] after the first shift, which is your
[00:11:23] paid work that a person does, and the
[00:11:25] second shift, referring to household and
[00:11:27] caregiving labor that often never fully
[00:11:29] stops. And due to its unrelenting
[00:11:32] demand, this work extends into a third
[00:11:34] shift. In regard to female caregivers,
[00:11:37] examples include keeping mental lists of
[00:11:39] appointments, medications, and school
[00:11:41] deadlines, remembering birthdays,
[00:11:43] doctor's visits, permission slips, and
[00:11:45] supplies, monitoring monitoring
[00:11:48] children's or elders emotional sta
[00:11:50] states, planning meals, contingencies,
[00:11:52] and backups, worrying about whatif
[00:11:54] scenarios late at night, and
[00:11:56] coordinating care even when others are
[00:11:58] helping. Importantly, the third shift is
[00:12:01] largely unseen and unpaid. Yet, it is
[00:12:04] mentally and physically exhausting.
[00:12:07] It disproportionately affects women
[00:12:09] because women are often socially
[00:12:11] assigned the roles of default caregiver
[00:12:12] and manager. Even in dual income
[00:12:14] households, women car tend to carry more
[00:12:17] of a mental load. Caregiving
[00:12:19] expectations persist regardless of
[00:12:21] employment status. And emotional labor
[00:12:24] is culturally feminized and undervalued.
[00:12:26] And why it matters is because it
[00:12:30] and calling it the third shift and
[00:12:32] acknowledging it is because it makes
[00:12:34] invisible labor visible. Explains
[00:12:37] chronic fatigue and burnout that isn't
[00:12:39] tied to doing nothing. Helps reframe the
[00:12:42] issue as structural and not as personal
[00:12:44] failure.
[00:12:46] For modern female caregivers, the third
[00:12:48] shift is the relentless mental and
[00:12:50] emotional labor of managing lives,
[00:12:52] relationships, and responsibilities
[00:12:54] performed continually beyond paid work
[00:12:56] and physical caregiving demands.
[00:12:59] Well, one city has decided to take the
[00:13:01] unpaid emotional and caregiving labor
[00:13:03] women do outside their jobs seriously.
[00:13:05] And in Bogota, about half of the city's
[00:13:07] 8 million residents, specifically women,
[00:13:10] do some form of unpaid care work. And
[00:13:12] about a quarter of them spend more than
[00:13:14] 10 hours a day on it. This is typically
[00:13:17] on top of paid work, which for many
[00:13:19] women involves caring for others. That's
[00:13:21] why the city created care blocks. These
[00:13:24] physical city blocks and mobile buses
[00:13:26] offer essential services for women,
[00:13:28] ranging from laundry services and job
[00:13:30] skills training to rest and relaxation.
[00:13:33] Meanwhile, train staffed and teachers
[00:13:35] looked after children and elderly
[00:13:36] parents. The goal is simple but radical
[00:13:39] to give women back time. What it means
[00:13:42] the the city has essentially built
[00:13:43] infrastructure for survival. Care blocks
[00:13:45] are operating in Mexico City and
[00:13:47] Santiago, Chile. Two, and organizers and
[00:13:50] public health officials want to expand
[00:13:51] to other cities globally, including one
[00:13:53] in the US, location unknown, by the end
[00:13:56] of the year. The results could bring
[00:13:58] some needed relief and acknowledgement
[00:14:00] to people caring for loved ones, many of
[00:14:02] whom also work. The ethos is this. You
[00:14:05] shouldn't have to be doing this so much.
[00:14:08] You deserve a full life beyond caring
[00:14:10] for kids, for aging relatives, and for
[00:14:12] your partner. And I say amen to that.
[00:14:15] I shared this not because I am directly
[00:14:17] proposing that Rancharrage engage in the
[00:14:19] development of a care block, but to
[00:14:21] raise awareness about caregiver
[00:14:23] exhaustion and the need for support. We
[00:14:25] do reside in a community that is
[00:14:27] supported by caregivers both paid and
[00:14:29] unpaid. Even for the paid givers, while
[00:14:32] their work is to take care of someone,
[00:14:34] they most likely have a family at home
[00:14:36] they also care for on their off time. I
[00:14:39] thought the concept of support for the
[00:14:41] unpaid work carried by females should be
[00:14:43] highlighted in this new year. I also
[00:14:46] believe that our city does a great job
[00:14:48] supporting endeavors that help provide
[00:14:51] help to that provide help to those women
[00:14:53] both directly and indirectly. Our work
[00:14:55] and continued efforts towards creating
[00:14:57] more affordable healthy housing options,
[00:15:00] funding health care and daytime memory
[00:15:02] care facilities, library programming for
[00:15:05] families and children are a version of a
[00:15:07] sustainable care block that promotes
[00:15:09] quality of life for all its residents.
[00:15:11] And I just wanted to highlight that
[00:15:13] cities do more than we recognize. And I
[00:15:16] think these are the kinds of things that
[00:15:18] lift people in ways that not everyone
[00:15:20] gets to always see. So those are my
[00:15:23] comments for today. And those are
[00:15:25] wonderful comments. Thank you very very
[00:15:26] much, Council Member Steve Dans.
[00:15:32] >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Good afternoon,
[00:15:33] everyone. So, this is our first meeting
[00:15:35] of the new year, and so I think it's uh
[00:15:38] it's a good time for us to talk about
[00:15:40] council priorities for 2026. So, I want
[00:15:43] to list those priorities as I see them.
[00:15:46] First is public safety, which includes
[00:15:48] law enforcement, fire safety, and
[00:15:49] emergency medical services. This is
[00:15:51] council's most important priority. So
[00:15:53] before I talk about goals for 2026,
[00:15:56] let's talk for a moment about um the
[00:15:58] results that we've achieved in 20 2024
[00:16:01] and 2025. During the years 2021 through
[00:16:04] 2024, property crime was reduced in this
[00:16:07] city by 54% a cumulative rate of 54%.
[00:16:12] And for the first four months of 2025,
[00:16:15] the property crime rate was down 37%
[00:16:18] versus the same period in 2024. So,
[00:16:20] we've done a great job in in law
[00:16:22] enforcement services in this city in
[00:16:23] recent years. For our Cal Fire team, the
[00:16:26] insurance services office, the ISO
[00:16:27] rating for this city places us in the
[00:16:29] top 6 and 12% nationwide for structural
[00:16:33] fire protection. So, we've done a good
[00:16:34] job in the last couple of years. What do
[00:16:36] we need to do in 2026? Well, first is an
[00:16:39] issue. The issue is that uh our ability
[00:16:42] to provide public safety for this city
[00:16:45] uh are the cost for us to provide for
[00:16:47] public safety in this city has risen by
[00:16:50] doubledigit numbers more than 10% each
[00:16:52] year for the last several years.
[00:16:53] However, revenues in this city continue
[00:16:56] to increase at a low singledigit rate.
[00:17:00] So we have a revenue imbalance. So
[00:17:02] what's our goal for 2026 is twofold.
[00:17:04] First, we need to make sure that we keep
[00:17:07] all of you just as safe in 2026 as we
[00:17:10] did in 2025 and 2024. We need to deliver
[00:17:13] the same level of public safety services
[00:17:15] in the future as we've delivered in the
[00:17:17] past. But second, we need to find a way
[00:17:19] to do that within the constraints of the
[00:17:22] budget and balance that I just
[00:17:24] described. So that's our public safety
[00:17:26] goal in my mind for 2026. Next is
[00:17:28] affordable housing. So again, let's take
[00:17:31] a look at the past and then I'll te talk
[00:17:33] about 2026. So the state of California
[00:17:36] requires cities to update the housing
[00:17:38] element of our general plan once every 8
[00:17:40] years. We are 3 years into the current
[00:17:43] 8-year cycle of the current housing
[00:17:45] element. Now the state requires us to
[00:17:48] include an affordable housing compon
[00:17:50] component in our housing element. For
[00:17:53] us, we must entitle at least 1,00
[00:17:55] incomerestricted affordable housing
[00:17:57] units during the 8-year cycle of the
[00:17:59] plan. Now, what have we done during the
[00:18:01] first year, first first three years?
[00:18:03] We've done a great job. We've entitled
[00:18:05] 850 of those 1100 units, about 80%. And
[00:18:09] many of them are under construction
[00:18:10] today. So, we've done a great job. But
[00:18:12] here's what we need to do in 2026. We
[00:18:14] can't take our eye off the ball. And the
[00:18:16] reason is we still have 250 affordable
[00:18:19] housing units that we must entitle over
[00:18:21] the remaining 5-year cycle of the
[00:18:23] housing element of our general plan. So
[00:18:25] let's not let's revel in what we've done
[00:18:28] in the past, but let's not take our eye
[00:18:30] off the ball about what we need to do in
[00:18:32] the uh in the future. Now um the the
[00:18:36] next uh uh the next issue that we need
[00:18:38] to take care of are several plans that
[00:18:42] uh that we've instituted in this city.
[00:18:43] First is the economic development master
[00:18:45] plan. So last year we hired a consultant
[00:18:47] to help develop a master plan, an
[00:18:49] economic development master plan for the
[00:18:50] city. The master plan needs to address
[00:18:52] sustainable economic development and
[00:18:54] prosperity. It needs to support local
[00:18:56] businesses. It needs to diversify our
[00:18:57] economy and it needs to enhance the
[00:18:59] quality of life for our residents. We
[00:19:01] developed we started developing that
[00:19:03] plan last year. The plan should be uh
[00:19:05] finalized sometime in the first few
[00:19:07] months of 2026. And what we need to do
[00:19:09] with the rem remainder of 20 26 is doing
[00:19:12] do an effective job of implementing that
[00:19:14] economic development master plan. Next
[00:19:16] is the wireless master plan. So many of
[00:19:18] you know I'm sure you all know that
[00:19:20] there are spots in this city where
[00:19:21] wireless uh communication is difficult.
[00:19:23] So what we did last year is we hired a
[00:19:26] consultant to help improve that problem.
[00:19:28] And we have now instituted a wireless
[00:19:31] master plan. We know where we need to
[00:19:32] build towers. We know the company that
[00:19:34] we need to work with to get them built.
[00:19:36] And what we need to do now for the
[00:19:37] remainder of 2026 is to implement that
[00:19:39] wireless master plan. Next is an
[00:19:42] amphitheater master plan. So we have a
[00:19:44] great cultural um resource in this city
[00:19:47] or amphitheater uh off of Highway 111.
[00:19:50] That amphitheater we've never developed
[00:19:53] a master plan for use of that
[00:19:54] amphitheater. Well, we did hire a
[00:19:55] consultant last year and during the
[00:19:57] first couple of months of 2026, we
[00:19:59] should have a plan in place and we need
[00:20:01] to implement that plan during the during
[00:20:02] the remainder of 2026. Next is the
[00:20:05] highway 111 specific plan. So highway
[00:20:07] 111 is the key economic corridor in our
[00:20:10] city and we need a comprehens
[00:20:12] comprehensive effort to modernize land
[00:20:15] use design and economic development for
[00:20:17] that corridor. Next are three things
[00:20:20] that we need to do with outside
[00:20:22] agencies. One is the Coachella Valley
[00:20:24] Association of Government. So as many of
[00:20:25] you might know uh last year we did
[00:20:28] partner up with CAVAG in doing signal
[00:20:31] synchronization in the city. Now, most
[00:20:33] of the city is already synchronized, but
[00:20:35] some of it is not. And CAVAC is going to
[00:20:37] partner with us to finish up that
[00:20:39] remaining signal synchronization
[00:20:40] program. So, at towards the end of last
[00:20:43] year, there was an $8 million grant that
[00:20:45] SEAG and the Riverside County
[00:20:47] Transportation Commission approved. So,
[00:20:49] that 8 million will come in over the
[00:20:50] course of the next year or two, and we
[00:20:52] need to use those funds in cooperation
[00:20:54] with SEAG to signal synchronize the
[00:20:56] entire city of Ranch Mirage. Next is a
[00:20:59] project that we need to complete in
[00:21:00] conjunction with CVWD, our water
[00:21:03] department. It has to do with the ped
[00:21:05] pedestrian crossing at Frank Sinatra
[00:21:07] over the Whitewater wash. We have had
[00:21:09] many complaints over the years about how
[00:21:11] unsafe that crossing is. We need to fix
[00:21:13] it. Well, public works is in is working
[00:21:16] with CEAG to I'm sorry, the CVWD to
[00:21:19] develop a plan that will work for that
[00:21:21] pedestrian crossing. We need to get that
[00:21:23] plan implemented or determined during
[00:21:26] the course of this year and finally
[00:21:27] imple implemented. And last is a uh is a
[00:21:30] uh a plan in cooperation with another
[00:21:32] outside agency, the Imperial Irrigation
[00:21:34] District. So there is a portion of our
[00:21:36] city in the northwest quadrant of our
[00:21:38] city where power is delivered by the
[00:21:40] IID. Well, the IID can't deliver any
[00:21:42] more power unless there's a new
[00:21:44] substation built. Guess who has to build
[00:21:45] it? We have to build it. Well, we've
[00:21:47] we've engaged in uh in a cooperative
[00:21:50] agreement with Palm Desert, with the
[00:21:51] county, with the Burger Foundation, and
[00:21:52] with IID to share the cost in building
[00:21:54] that uh that substation. We need to make
[00:21:57] sure that plan is fully implemented this
[00:21:58] year and that substation gets built over
[00:22:00] the coming years. Now, we need to do all
[00:22:02] of that and we need to keep our eye on
[00:22:04] the ball in several other things. First
[00:22:05] is fiscal responsibility. We've been
[00:22:07] known for fiscal responsibility in this
[00:22:09] city for years. We need to do all of
[00:22:11] these projects and still maintain the
[00:22:13] same reserves that we've retained in the
[00:22:15] past. We need to make sure that we
[00:22:16] deliver the same level of service to our
[00:22:18] residents that we have in the past. We
[00:22:20] need to make sure that we maintain the
[00:22:21] same level of relationship with our um
[00:22:24] chamber of commerce and our business
[00:22:25] community that we have in the past. So
[00:22:27] those are the um the issues as I see
[00:22:29] them for 2026. And madame mayor, I look
[00:22:32] forward to rolling up my sleeves with
[00:22:33] you, with Eve, with Ted, with Michael
[00:22:35] and going to work on those projects in
[00:22:37] 2026. Thank you, Madam Mayor.
[00:22:39] >> Thank you very much. And just for
[00:22:40] clarification, for affordable housing,
[00:22:43] it's affordable housing for seniors.
[00:22:45] It's affordable housing for veterans and
[00:22:49] workforce housing for those that work in
[00:22:52] our hospitality industry as well as our
[00:22:55] hospitals, both our largest employers
[00:22:58] here in the city of Ranch Mirage. Many
[00:23:00] of those employees having to drive 30 to
[00:23:03] 40 miles to come and work in our fair
[00:23:05] city.
[00:23:06] >> [snorts]
[00:23:06] >> So, we think this is a valuable
[00:23:08] investment
[00:23:10] um and part of our economic development
[00:23:12] uh plan. Next, I'd like to call on uh
[00:23:16] Council Member Ted While.
[00:23:18] >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh
[00:23:21] and I welcome everyone. This is was said
[00:23:24] this was our first meeting basically of
[00:23:26] the new year and I hope you've all had a
[00:23:30] wonderful
[00:23:32] Christmas holiday and New Year's.
[00:23:35] uh may the coming year bring everyone
[00:23:39] good health uh peace and prosperity.
[00:23:43] We're off to a roaring start as far as
[00:23:45] the city is concerned. Uh we have a lot
[00:23:49] of things in the works, some of which
[00:23:51] you've already heard about. I'd like to
[00:23:54] bring you up to date on a few things
[00:23:56] that you can make a note about attending
[00:23:59] that will be both enjoyable and
[00:24:02] informative.
[00:24:04] On Saturday, January 24th at 300 p.m.,
[00:24:09] the Rancho Mirage Amphitheater welcomes
[00:24:11] back the Coachella Valley Symphony's
[00:24:14] best of stage and screen.
[00:24:18] This incredible lineup of the most
[00:24:21] memorable scores from both stage and
[00:24:24] screen with unforgettable music from
[00:24:27] Broadway and the big screen will fill
[00:24:30] you with nostalgia and leave you wanting
[00:24:34] more. This performance is free. Let me
[00:24:39] emphasize that this is free. So take
[00:24:42] advantage of it uh to the public. So
[00:24:45] visit cvsynmphony.com
[00:24:49] to reserve your two complimentary
[00:24:52] tickets. I guarantee you the place will
[00:24:55] be jammed and it will be a most
[00:24:58] enjoyable uh day for you. The other we
[00:25:04] hold periodically which is something to
[00:25:07] take advantage of. We've talked about
[00:25:10] public service, which in my opinion, and
[00:25:13] I believe my colleagues feel likewise,
[00:25:16] is our single greatest obligation being
[00:25:20] on the city council. [snorts]
[00:25:23] I want you to join us for coffee with a
[00:25:26] cop at Cheers Coffee.
[00:25:30] For those of you who have not been to
[00:25:32] Cheers yet, Cheers is a coffee shop at
[00:25:36] the river that formerly was occupied by
[00:25:40] Starbucks some years ago. Cheers is a
[00:25:45] just a delightful spot and we're so
[00:25:49] pleased to be able to welcome them uh
[00:25:52] with having coffee with the cop. This is
[00:25:55] a great opportunity to ask questions,
[00:25:59] voice concerns, and get to know the
[00:26:01] deputies who serve your neighborhood.
[00:26:05] We do this periodically. We try to
[00:26:08] rotate among various local in the city
[00:26:12] and this is the first time it will be
[00:26:14] held at Cheers. And so again, I
[00:26:17] encourage you to join us on February 4th
[00:26:21] [snorts] between 9 and 11 a.m.
[00:26:26] And lastly,
[00:26:28] one of the highlights of our year and
[00:26:32] what has become an international
[00:26:36] event is the Rancher Mirage Writers
[00:26:40] Festival which takes place January 28th
[00:26:44] through January 30th.
[00:26:48] The 26 Ranch Barrage Festival will be
[00:26:51] and this this is the important part will
[00:26:54] be livereamed
[00:26:56] on the RMF YouTube channel at Ranch of
[00:27:00] Barrage Writers Festival. Now we hear
[00:27:04] immediately each year that wow I I
[00:27:07] wasn't able to get a ticket. Uh it was
[00:27:10] sold out immediately and indeed it is.
[00:27:13] It is sold out literally and I'm not
[00:27:16] exaggerating. It is sold out within
[00:27:18] minutes of when they go on sale. But now
[00:27:22] it will be livereamed every single
[00:27:25] event. And not only will it be live
[00:27:27] streamed as far as the current programs
[00:27:31] are concerned, but you can go to the
[00:27:34] YouTube Rancho Mirage site and pull up
[00:27:38] every one of the prior Rancho Mirage
[00:27:43] Writers Festival events. It is a
[00:27:46] incredible event. It is internationally
[00:27:50] recognized and we're just very very
[00:27:55] excited to welcome it again uh January
[00:27:58] 28th to January 30th. Thank you, Mayor.
[00:28:04] >> Thank you. Comments, please, from Mayor
[00:28:07] Prom O'Keefe.
[00:28:09] >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Uh hello,
[00:28:11] everyone. Uh, I hope you had a great
[00:28:13] holiday season and I hope you're off to
[00:28:15] a good start for this new year. Um, a
[00:28:18] couple of things today. Some of you have
[00:28:20] asked me about changes in your
[00:28:22] electricity bill. So, I wanted to get
[00:28:25] you a little bit of information about it
[00:28:27] and I talked to our deputy of
[00:28:29] sustainability, Jessica Pium, who's like
[00:28:32] an encyclopedia when it comes to
[00:28:34] electrical issues and power issues. and
[00:28:37] she explained to me that the California
[00:28:39] law changed which required electrical
[00:28:42] utilities to change how residential
[00:28:45] electric bills are structured. So
[00:28:47] instead of collecting most grid and
[00:28:49] costs uh based on how much you use, the
[00:28:53] bills now include a base services
[00:28:56] charge. This is a flat monthly amount
[00:28:59] that helps pay for maintaining poles and
[00:29:02] wires, substations, and other grid
[00:29:04] infrastructure things that keep every
[00:29:06] home connected to the system. So now
[00:29:09] that is an automatic charge on your
[00:29:10] bill. At the same time, however, uh the
[00:29:14] per kilowatt hour delivery rate was
[00:29:17] actually reduced. So customers who use
[00:29:20] more electricity may see lower energy
[00:29:23] rates even if your bill's a little
[00:29:25] higher. And while lower use customers
[00:29:28] shouldn't see too much of an increase,
[00:29:30] uh or it should stay about the same, um
[00:29:34] there are monthly base service charges
[00:29:36] based on income levels. And if you're
[00:29:39] eligible for some of those programs, you
[00:29:41] should apply. And if you have any
[00:29:43] questions about your Ranch Mirage Energy
[00:29:46] Authority or your SCE bills, I'm happy
[00:29:49] to tell you that the team here at city
[00:29:52] hall happily takes one-on-one meetings
[00:29:55] with you. you can bring your bill in and
[00:29:57] get it explained. So, if you're
[00:29:58] interested in that, call the city hall
[00:30:01] and make an appointment. Um, as most of
[00:30:04] you know, the holiday season is very
[00:30:06] busy. But in the desert, actually, right
[00:30:09] now is even busier. Um, so in addition
[00:30:12] to the great events that uh, Councilman
[00:30:16] Wy mentioned, I'd also like to mention a
[00:30:19] couple of others. Um this Sunday,
[00:30:21] January 18th, is Martin Luther King Day
[00:30:24] celebration in Palm Springs. Um the
[00:30:27] symphony again on the 24th is great. And
[00:30:30] of course the Ranch Mirage Writers
[00:30:32] Festival, which has been called the best
[00:30:33] writers festival in the country, it's a
[00:30:37] if you don't take advantage of seeing
[00:30:38] this on YouTube, you're missing out. You
[00:30:40] won't see this combination of folks
[00:30:42] together anywhere else in the world.
[00:30:45] And then finally, after you've done all
[00:30:47] this, we close out January with
[00:30:50] Passion for Pino. Uh this is a nice
[00:30:54] break after how busy you'll be at the
[00:30:56] writers festival. Um it's on Saturday,
[00:30:59] January 31st for a day devoted to
[00:31:02] exceptional pino noir uh and everything
[00:31:06] that goes with it. You will have more
[00:31:08] than 200 wines. You will have uh guests
[00:31:11] that are wine makers, gourmet pairings,
[00:31:14] and there will be live entertainment
[00:31:16] throughout the day. Uh it's hosted at
[00:31:18] the Omni Los Palmus Resort and Spa. And
[00:31:22] Rancho Mirage residents receive $15 off
[00:31:26] early entry tickets with a promotional
[00:31:28] code of RM26
[00:31:31] that gives you early access to tastings
[00:31:33] and a more leisurely way to enjoy the
[00:31:35] experience. There's also a silent online
[00:31:38] auction right now consisting of wine,
[00:31:42] restaurants, gift cards, services, and
[00:31:44] more. And 100% all of it, 100% of the
[00:31:48] auction pro proceeds go to Fresh Eddie
[00:31:51] Futures, which is a nonprofit
[00:31:53] organization that promotes the study and
[00:31:56] manufacturing of wine and helps future
[00:31:59] wine makers get a start in their
[00:32:01] industry.
[00:32:03] It's a busy January. Thank you, Mayor
[00:32:07] Thank you, Mayor Prom. Well, my
[00:32:09] colleagues covered all my bases already,
[00:32:11] so I have two brief uh comments. One,
[00:32:14] please do check in with the Ranch Mirage
[00:32:17] Library. They're celebrating their 30th
[00:32:19] anniversary and they have a calendar of
[00:32:23] programs and events. That's just
[00:32:25] extraordinary. Um, a little more than
[00:32:28] usual being extraordinary. Um, it's
[00:32:30] pretty it's pretty special this gem that
[00:32:33] we call our Ranch Mirage Library. And
[00:32:35] secondly, I'll finish off. I noticed
[00:32:37] that our new GM for the Ritz Carlton
[00:32:40] snuck through the council chamber,
[00:32:43] Sheayla um Bushman, welcome.
[00:32:47] >> We're thrilled that you're here and you
[00:32:49] have a phenomenal team. Thank you so
[00:32:51] much. All right, with with that, we'll
[00:32:55] move forward
[00:32:57] to city manager comments and reports.
[00:33:02] >> Uh none today, Madame Mayor. So, I'll
[00:33:03] move right into the consent calendar.
[00:33:05] Uh, the council has six items on the
[00:33:08] consent calendar for consideration.
[00:33:11] Items 5A through 5F. 5A is to wave the
[00:33:15] full reading of any ordinance introduced
[00:33:18] or adopted pursuant to this agenda. Item
[00:33:21] 5B is the development agreement
[00:33:24] amendment number
[00:33:26] DA21-00002
[00:33:29] for the Ritz Carlton Residences Project.
[00:33:32] located at 68900
[00:33:36] Frank Sinatra Drive.
[00:33:38] Adopt ordinance number 1233, second
[00:33:41] reading, approving the 10th amendment to
[00:33:43] the statutory development agreement buy
[00:33:45] and between the city of Ranch Mirage and
[00:33:47] New Age Rancher Mirage LLC.
[00:33:50] Item 5 C is to approve the December
[00:33:55] 18th, 2025 regular city council meeting
[00:33:58] minutes. Item 5D is to adopt resolution
[00:34:02] number 2026. Next in order, approving
[00:34:06] the updated calendar year 2026 salary
[00:34:09] schedule to comply with the California
[00:34:11] Public Employees Retirement System
[00:34:14] statutory and regulatory requirements
[00:34:16] for compensation earnable and publicly
[00:34:19] available pay schedules.
[00:34:21] Item 5E are to approve the contracts and
[00:34:25] 5F are to approve the demands. Before we
[00:34:28] go to council comments or questions,
[00:34:30] I'll ask the city clerk to take any
[00:34:32] public comment on the consent calendar.
[00:34:35] >> Thank you. I received one speaker card
[00:34:37] from Michael Harrington.
[00:34:44] >> Good afternoon. Good afternoon, Michael
[00:34:46] Harrington. Um my resident Mirage near
[00:34:50] Dval and Frank Sinatra close to city
[00:34:52] hall. So, I want to briefly note for the
[00:34:55] record that I submitted uh written
[00:34:58] public comments. Um, so I won't repeat
[00:35:00] those. Um, but I included what I
[00:35:04] obtained was a September 19th, 2025
[00:35:07] compliance letter from the California
[00:35:10] Department of Fishing Game and the US
[00:35:13] Fish and Wildlife Service. A joint
[00:35:15] compliance letter sent to the city. So,
[00:35:18] I obtained that from SEAG. I was not
[00:35:21] able to get it from the city in ahead of
[00:35:23] this meeting, but I did get it from
[00:35:25] another source. Um, so for the record, I
[00:35:30] oppose the approval of the development
[00:35:32] agreement in its present form because it
[00:35:35] does not incorporate enforcable wildlife
[00:35:39] compliance measures identified by both
[00:35:42] state and federal agencies. And the
[00:35:46] development agreement in its present
[00:35:47] form would unnecessarily shift legal
[00:35:51] risk to the city and consequently
[00:35:55] taxpayers such as myself.
[00:35:59] My request is simply that the
[00:36:01] development agreement include enforcable
[00:36:04] agency consistent wildlife protections
[00:36:07] so the city does not inadvert
[00:36:09] inadvertently assume compliance risk. I
[00:36:12] am not asking the council to relitigate
[00:36:14] or rehash prior approvals. I'm focusing
[00:36:17] on the development agreement.
[00:36:20] Uh thank you for considering the written
[00:36:22] materials I already submitted.
[00:36:26] >> Is there anyone else who would like to
[00:36:28] speak on something that is on the
[00:36:29] consent calendar?
[00:36:32] That was the only speaker.
[00:36:33] >> Are there any council comments?
[00:36:36] >> No comments, but I'll move to approve
[00:36:37] the consent calendar.
[00:36:38] >> I'll second that.
[00:36:40] >> Very good.
[00:36:52] How do I get back into the agenda?
[00:36:56] Hold on one moment.
[00:37:01] This is why we shouldn't take off for
[00:37:03] the holidays.
[00:37:05] >> It's uh
[00:37:06] >> There we go. Okay. Thank you. Sorry
[00:37:08] about that.
[00:37:13] And motion carries 5-0. Thank you.
[00:37:18] Next item on the agenda is public
[00:37:20] hearings. The first item 6A, historic
[00:37:23] resources survey update. We have Ben
[00:37:25] Torres, our planning manager that'll
[00:37:27] report on this item. Thank you, Ben.
[00:37:29] >> Good afternoon, Madame Mayor and members
[00:37:31] of the city council.
[00:37:33] In uh 2003, the city of Ranch Mirage
[00:37:36] completed its first intensive level
[00:37:37] survey of historic resources uh to serve
[00:37:40] as the backbone of the newly established
[00:37:42] historic preservation program. Most of
[00:37:44] the currently designated properties were
[00:37:46] part of this 2003 historic resources
[00:37:48] survey.
[00:37:50] On July 18th um 2024, the city council
[00:37:54] awarded a professional services
[00:37:56] agreement with Urbana Preservation and
[00:37:57] Planning LLC to complete the historic
[00:38:00] resources survey update.
[00:38:03] As part of the survey update, a total of
[00:38:05] 125 properties were evaluated, which
[00:38:08] included 50 newly recorded properties,
[00:38:10] five new historic districts, 58
[00:38:13] previously recorded properties that have
[00:38:14] not been designated from the 2003
[00:38:16] survey,
[00:38:18] and 12 properties that are designated as
[00:38:20] historic resources, but were missing
[00:38:21] adequate documentation. Uh, properties
[00:38:24] listed on the survey update range in
[00:38:25] year built from 1934 to 1986 and are
[00:38:29] primarily residential. Uh but as part of
[00:38:31] the survey update, additional commercial
[00:38:33] properties were also included like the
[00:38:34] BCA Ranch Mirage Animal Hospital,
[00:38:36] Provident Bank, and Lord Fletchers to
[00:38:39] name a few.
[00:38:41] Over the course of the survey update,
[00:38:43] Erbana, the city's historic preservation
[00:38:45] consultant, utilized contextual and
[00:38:46] property specific research to develop an
[00:38:49] updated and expanded historic context
[00:38:51] statement. This context statement
[00:38:53] outlined the historical development of
[00:38:55] the city and contains information about
[00:38:57] historical trends and properties. It is
[00:38:59] organized by important themes with
[00:39:01] corresponding time frames. Uh the
[00:39:03] updated historic context statement
[00:39:04] utilized the 2003 historic resources
[00:39:07] survey context as a basis to expand on
[00:39:09] existing themes from that report and
[00:39:11] introduce new themes as well as property
[00:39:14] type descriptions, significance
[00:39:16] thresholds and integrity considerations
[00:39:18] to provide parameters for the
[00:39:19] identification of significant
[00:39:21] properties. In total, eight themes were
[00:39:23] identified as part of the updated
[00:39:25] context effort.
[00:39:27] Uh the Historic Preservation Commission
[00:39:29] reviewed the survey update on November
[00:39:30] 19th, 2025 and additionally on December
[00:39:34] 17th, 2025 and recommended approval of
[00:39:37] the survey update. Uh one additional
[00:39:39] public comment for this item was
[00:39:41] received after the posting of this
[00:39:42] agenda item which was distributed to the
[00:39:45] city council. Therefore, staff
[00:39:47] recommends that the city council take
[00:39:48] the following actions on the screen in
[00:39:50] addition to authorizing staff to making
[00:39:52] minor revisions to the historic
[00:39:53] resources survey update based on the
[00:39:55] comments received. That concludes
[00:39:57] staff's presentation and I or Wendy from
[00:40:00] Urbana Preservation are available to
[00:40:01] answer any questions. Thank you.
[00:40:07] >> Are there any council comments?
[00:40:12] >> I did not receive any speaker cards. Is
[00:40:14] there anyone who would like to provide
[00:40:15] public testimony on public hearing item
[00:40:18] 6A?
[00:40:19] >> No speakers.
[00:40:20] >> Thank you. Any council comments at this
[00:40:23] point? No. May I have a motion, please?
[00:40:27] I'll make the motion.
[00:40:29] >> I move to adopt resolution number 2026
[00:40:31] next in order approving the historic
[00:40:33] resources survey update.
[00:40:36] >> Would it be possible to also add a
[00:40:37] modification to authorize staff to make
[00:40:40] minor um amendments to finalize the
[00:40:42] document?
[00:40:44] >> Can I I'd like to add that to the
[00:40:46] motion.
[00:40:47] We go second.
[00:40:49] >> Very good.
[00:40:57] Please vote.
[00:40:59] Motion carries 5-0.
[00:41:03] We have some historical fans in
[00:41:06] [laughter]
[00:41:06] in the audience. Thank you.
[00:41:09] [clears throat]
[00:41:11] Uh the next item 6B, historic
[00:41:13] preservation case number HP25-00006,
[00:41:18] consideration to designate the
[00:41:20] residential home located at 70641
[00:41:23] Tamar's Lane as a historical resource.
[00:41:26] And again, Ben Torres, our planning
[00:41:29] manager, will report on this item.
[00:41:31] >> So, good afternoon again. Uh so the
[00:41:34] property owners uh James Bennett and
[00:41:35] David Cohen uh submitted a historic
[00:41:38] designation request for the home. Um the
[00:41:40] subject of 5,416T
[00:41:43] residence is situated on a 44 acre
[00:41:46] parcel on the south side of Tamaris Lane
[00:41:49] with the home's backyard facing the
[00:41:50] Tamaris Country Club Golf Course as
[00:41:52] shown here in red. Uh the late modern
[00:41:55] ranch um residence was built in 1974 and
[00:41:58] was designed by architect Stan Allen
[00:41:59] Sackley. Uh this is the only known
[00:42:02] original house designed by Sackle and
[00:42:04] Rancher Mirage.
[00:42:07] Uh the house has a flat roof design with
[00:42:09] a central portion over the living areas
[00:42:11] at a higher elevation than the two
[00:42:12] adjacent wings. Uh the main entry is
[00:42:14] flanked by horizontal bands of pink
[00:42:16] granite um inset into the stuckle wall
[00:42:19] finish. Uh this is repeated on the walls
[00:42:21] of the garage and the exteriors are p
[00:42:24] primarily clad in white painted stucco.
[00:42:26] These are some photographs of the front
[00:42:28] of the home here. And then uh deep
[00:42:30] cantal livered overhangs and blade walls
[00:42:32] provide ample shading along the rear
[00:42:34] elevation. In addition, the side
[00:42:36] elevations continue the blade walls have
[00:42:38] a glass block elements and showcase
[00:42:40] periodic openings within the roof
[00:42:42] design.
[00:42:44] The historic designation request is
[00:42:46] based on the following categories. Uh
[00:42:48] one that the subject structure site is
[00:42:50] representative of a particular
[00:42:51] architectural style or reflects special
[00:42:53] elements of a historical period type
[00:42:56] style or way of life important to the
[00:42:58] city. Uh two that the subject structure
[00:43:00] or site represents the work of a master
[00:43:02] builder, engineer, designer, artist or
[00:43:04] architect whose individual genius
[00:43:06] influence and era and three that the
[00:43:08] subject structure site embodies elements
[00:43:10] of outstanding or innovation attention
[00:43:12] to architectural or engineering design,
[00:43:15] detail, craftsmanship or use of
[00:43:17] materials.
[00:43:19] Uh the historic preservation commission
[00:43:21] reviewed this request on November 19th,
[00:43:23] 2025. Uh the commission unanimously
[00:43:25] agreed that the residents met the
[00:43:27] requirements for designation based on
[00:43:29] the home being a representative example
[00:43:31] of a late modern residence built by
[00:43:32] architect Stan Ellen Sackley. Um
[00:43:35] therefore staff recommends that the city
[00:43:37] council um take the following actions uh
[00:43:39] shown on the screen. That concludes
[00:43:41] staff's presentation and I'm available
[00:43:43] to answer any questions. Thank you.
[00:43:45] >> Thank you Ben.
[00:43:46] >> Thank you. I did not receive any speaker
[00:43:48] cards. Is there anyone in the audience
[00:43:49] who would like to provide public
[00:43:51] testimony on public hearing item 6B?
[00:43:54] No speakers. Are there any council
[00:43:56] comments?
[00:43:58] >> Madame Mayor, the only comment that I
[00:43:59] have is I did attend the um historical
[00:44:02] preservation uh committee um when this
[00:44:05] property was presented. It's a wonderful
[00:44:07] property and I'm going be h happy to yes
[00:44:08] on it. This is a great property and uh I
[00:44:11] I appreciate the look of the property
[00:44:13] and the feel of the property. I'm vote
[00:44:15] yes. It's one of many treasures,
[00:44:17] architectural treasures that we have in
[00:44:19] the city of Ranch Mirage. And we're so
[00:44:21] thrilled that we have u a historical
[00:44:24] preservation committee. We have
[00:44:26] preservation mirage, our planning
[00:44:28] department,
[00:44:30] another fan, and um we we love the fact
[00:44:34] that the collaborative efforts to
[00:44:36] recognize these properties are here. May
[00:44:38] I have a motion? Do we have a second?
[00:44:40] >> Sure. I'll make a motion, mayor, that
[00:44:42] the city council adopt resolution number
[00:44:47] uh 2026 next in order designating the
[00:44:52] residential home located at 70 641
[00:44:56] Tamarisk Lane, Rancher Mirage,
[00:44:59] California, APN 674-260-
[00:45:07] 05.
[00:45:08] A historic resarch resource pursuant to
[00:45:12] Rancho Mirage Municipal Code Chapter
[00:45:15] 15.27.
[00:45:20] Second,
[00:45:22] >> please vote.
[00:45:27] Motion carries 5.
[00:45:34] Next item on the agenda, 6C,
[00:45:37] environmental assessment case number
[00:45:39] EA25-00003
[00:45:42] and preliminary development plan case
[00:45:44] number PDP25-00003,
[00:45:49] Global Wildlife Discovery Museum.
[00:45:52] And we'll have Leslie Perez, assistant
[00:45:55] planner, reporting on this item.
[00:45:59] Thank you, Mayor, and good afternoon,
[00:46:00] city council. For today's consideration,
[00:46:02] we have the proposed Global Wildlife
[00:46:04] Discovery Museum.
[00:46:07] The project site is located south of the
[00:46:09] Atum Shopping Center, which is bounded
[00:46:11] by Highway 111 to the west and Mirage
[00:46:13] Cove Drive to the south. The subject
[00:46:15] site had been previously developed for
[00:46:17] the Chart House Restaurant built in
[00:46:19] 1978, which was demolished in 2013 due
[00:46:22] to fire damage. Since the fire, the site
[00:46:25] has remained vacant. Although the
[00:46:26] restaurant was demolished, the parking
[00:46:28] lot remains and will be reconfigured for
[00:46:30] the proposed project.
[00:46:34] The project proposes construction of a
[00:46:36] one-story 21,967
[00:46:39] square ft museum building, which will
[00:46:41] require the removal of a small portion
[00:46:43] of the adjoining hillside. The project
[00:46:45] proposes a front setback of
[00:46:47] approximately 80 ft and a side setback
[00:46:49] of approximately 64 ft, which exceeds
[00:46:52] the setback requirements. Access to the
[00:46:54] proposed development will use the
[00:46:56] existing 33 foot wide driveway off
[00:46:58] Highway 111. A secondary signalized
[00:47:01] driveway is located off atriumway which
[00:47:03] is approximately 320 ft north of the
[00:47:06] main driveway.
[00:47:10] A [snorts] new turn pocket will be
[00:47:11] provided for the existing driveway along
[00:47:13] Highway 111 that is near the front
[00:47:15] outdoor plaza. An 8ft sidewalk shown in
[00:47:19] green and a new driveway will be added
[00:47:21] along Mirage Cove Drive. Pedestrians
[00:47:23] will be able to reach the overflow
[00:47:25] parking lot using either the sidewalk or
[00:47:27] a proposed nature pathway shown in
[00:47:29] purple.
[00:47:31] [snorts] The floor plan depicts several
[00:47:32] exhibit spaces. No live animals will be
[00:47:35] included in the exhibits and the
[00:47:36] exhibits will showcase replicas of the
[00:47:38] animals environment. The museum will
[00:47:40] feature a lobby, flexible event space,
[00:47:43] wildlife exhibits, a gift shop, a coffee
[00:47:45] kiosk, and administrative areas.
[00:47:49] The museum's finished floor slopes
[00:47:52] gradually from south to north which
[00:47:53] follows the natural exterior grade and
[00:47:55] meets the lower elevation. At the south
[00:47:58] end near the front entrance, the cantal
[00:47:59] levered roof line reaches a maximum
[00:48:01] height of 34 ft. Clear story windows
[00:48:04] will be strategically placed throughout
[00:48:05] the building to frame the views of the
[00:48:07] ridge line and bring natural light into
[00:48:09] the interior. The windows and door
[00:48:11] frames will be crafted from dark bronze
[00:48:13] anodized metal. The building's design
[00:48:15] will incorporate
[00:48:17] [clears throat]
[00:48:18] various wall heights, creating dynamic
[00:48:20] vertical and horizontal planes. The
[00:48:22] layered facade will include warm stone
[00:48:24] veneer, laser cut aluminum accents, gray
[00:48:27] plaster, porcelain tile [clears throat]
[00:48:29] with a maple brown wood finish, and
[00:48:32] rusted iron fox metal panels.
[00:48:35] The east portion of the building will be
[00:48:37] tucked into the adjoining mountain
[00:48:39] hillside. Similar to the front entrance,
[00:48:41] the back of the building will contain
[00:48:42] dark bronze anodized metal windows and a
[00:48:45] fox metal roof line in a rusted iron
[00:48:47] color.
[00:48:49] The south elevation will blend in with
[00:48:51] the mountain slope and will not be
[00:48:52] visible from Mirage Cove Drive. This
[00:48:55] facade features window glazing, the
[00:48:56] rusted iron roof line, and laser cut
[00:48:59] aluminum accents. On the north side, a
[00:49:01] dedicated service area is attached to
[00:49:03] the museum, which is screened by a 14t
[00:49:06] high warm beige cement plaster wall.
[00:49:08] Additional accent materials include a
[00:49:11] rusted iron plaster wall, warm and dark
[00:49:13] gray plaster walls, and a rusted laser
[00:49:16] cut aluminum wall.
[00:49:19] These are some of the renderings of the
[00:49:20] site. The top rendering is looking east
[00:49:23] from Highway 111, and the bottom
[00:49:24] rendering is the view from the front
[00:49:26] outdoor plaza.
[00:49:30] One artificial bobab tree will be placed
[00:49:32] near the front outdoor plaza, which is
[00:49:34] anticipated to be approximately 25 ft
[00:49:37] tall. The covered ground will be Indiana
[00:49:39] gold crushed rock 38 in in size and the
[00:49:42] meandering nature pathway will be made
[00:49:44] of decomposed granite. Accent materials
[00:49:47] along the pathway will include 4 to 8 in
[00:49:50] Baja crust of rubble, glass and flag
[00:49:52] stone pieces along Highway 111. 42 new
[00:49:55] trees are proposed and 18 existing
[00:49:57] filera palms will remain for a total of
[00:50:00] 60 trees. Per condition number 43.
[00:50:03] Additional palm trees were required to
[00:50:05] be incorporated to match the surrounding
[00:50:06] area. Staff originally required
[00:50:09] additional date palms along Highway 111.
[00:50:11] However, it has been brought to our
[00:50:12] attention that a different species may
[00:50:14] better fit the surrounding area. As a
[00:50:17] result, staff recommends revising this
[00:50:18] condition of approval to review and
[00:50:20] select the palm tree species as part of
[00:50:22] the final development plan.
[00:50:26] Along the eastern property line next to
[00:50:28] the bus parking spaces, there will be
[00:50:30] seven 48inch box desert museum polyverde
[00:50:32] trees and five 36inch box tipple trees.
[00:50:36] As conditioned, one of the bus parking
[00:50:38] spaces will be removed and the landscape
[00:50:40] buffer will be increased from 10 1/2 ft
[00:50:43] to 20 ft. An updated exhibit on the
[00:50:46] right side is provided to show the
[00:50:48] modifications. A new 6 foot high block
[00:50:51] wall and rod iron fence will be added to
[00:50:53] prevent trespassing and enclose the back
[00:50:55] of mountain area. Per condition number
[00:50:57] 40, the applicant shall also provide a
[00:51:00] security and maintenance plan. In
[00:51:02] addition, condition number 42, the
[00:51:05] overflow parking lot adjacent to Mirage
[00:51:07] Cove Drive shall provide a 30in to 36in
[00:51:11] high landscape screen across the entire
[00:51:13] parking frontage except for driveways.
[00:51:18] The project was evaluated under SQA and
[00:51:20] a mitigated negative declaration was
[00:51:22] determined to be the appropriate level
[00:51:24] of environmental review. The public
[00:51:26] period was from October 13 to November
[00:51:29] 12, 2025. All environmental impacts were
[00:51:32] found to be less than significant with
[00:51:34] incorporation of mitigation measures.
[00:51:38] [snorts] The planning commission
[00:51:40] reviewed the project and recommended
[00:51:41] approval on December 11th, 2025. Public
[00:51:45] hearing notices for this meeting were
[00:51:47] distributed on December 30th, 2025.
[00:51:50] Additional public comments received
[00:51:52] after the agenda posting have been
[00:51:53] distributed to the city council. Staff
[00:51:56] recommends that the city council take
[00:51:57] the actions shown on the screen,
[00:51:59] including authorizing staff to revise
[00:52:01] condition of approval number 43.
[00:52:05] This concludes my presentation, and I
[00:52:07] will now invite the project team to make
[00:52:09] any project related statements.
[00:52:15] Welcome.
[00:52:17] [snorts]
[00:52:20] >> Hello, Mayor. Uh, Madame Mayor, council
[00:52:22] members, city staff, guests here in the
[00:52:25] room and online. My name is Paul Omat,
[00:52:27] and I represent the Global Wildlife
[00:52:29] Discovery Museum and the RSH Foundation.
[00:52:32] We are here today to introduce ourselves
[00:52:33] and answer any questions that you may
[00:52:35] have. I will introduce the team. I'll
[00:52:37] have our architect come up and kind of
[00:52:39] give a presentation and run through of
[00:52:40] the exterior of the building. and then
[00:52:42] we'll have our interior team come and
[00:52:44] talk through what you'll see as you go
[00:52:45] through the museum. So, if I may, I'll
[00:52:47] introduce the team and then I'll have
[00:52:48] our architect come up. Uh, with me today
[00:52:51] is our museum architects, the firm of
[00:52:54] Press VC Vukick in Greenwood. Uh, and
[00:52:56] John Luke will be up here next to do
[00:52:58] that. Our attorney is here, Mr. Rob
[00:53:00] Gilland, who's a well-known land use
[00:53:03] attorney who's handled all our land use
[00:53:04] materials for us. Our team from ORE
[00:53:06] builders is here. I I know many of you
[00:53:08] are familiar with or builders, but the
[00:53:10] ORE team is here. Brian and David and
[00:53:12] Bruce May are here in the audience
[00:53:13] watching and here to answer any
[00:53:15] questions you may have. Our landscape
[00:53:17] architecture team is here as well. Chuck
[00:53:19] Shepardson from SHA Design. We have
[00:53:22] Nicole Christie from Pteranova, our
[00:53:24] environmental engineer, here if anybody
[00:53:26] has any questions on that. James Bazuza
[00:53:28] from Ultimate Group, our civil engineer
[00:53:30] is here as well. And Ralph Reya with R7,
[00:53:33] our electrical engineer is here as well.
[00:53:35] So, we've brought the entire team here
[00:53:36] today if there's any questions that
[00:53:39] people may have specific to the project,
[00:53:40] the building, anything like that. But
[00:53:42] what I'd like to do is invite up John
[00:53:44] Muk to kind of walk you through the
[00:53:46] design and the impact that will have
[00:53:48] into the mountain.
[00:53:49] >> Please.
[00:53:57] >> Good afternoon, Madame Mayor, members of
[00:53:59] the council. Um I'm John Vukick uh with
[00:54:02] Preston Vuk Greenwood Architects and um
[00:54:06] our firm has designed uh lots and lots
[00:54:09] of buildings in the Coachella Valley
[00:54:11] over the last 30 years and and worked
[00:54:13] with um a lot of really great
[00:54:15] organizations
[00:54:16] and um we're honored to be part of of
[00:54:19] this team, this ownership and and this
[00:54:23] team of professionals uh to uh to work
[00:54:27] on this exciting project. and we've been
[00:54:29] given the opportunity
[00:54:31] uh to design a very elegant um high-end
[00:54:35] building on this site. Um which I I
[00:54:39] think is appropriate for this site. We
[00:54:40] were we were really excited when this
[00:54:43] location was chosen. Uh, and as I
[00:54:46] mentioned to planning commission,
[00:54:49] um, this is one of only two places I I'm
[00:54:52] aware of, and I'm pretty sure I'm right,
[00:54:54] where the mountain actually pops up on
[00:54:57] the other side of Highway 111. Um, and
[00:55:00] and we have the ability to use that as
[00:55:03] part of our design. And we we uh gained
[00:55:08] a lot of inspiration from the mountain.
[00:55:10] We nestled the building into it um with
[00:55:13] windows on the back side much the way
[00:55:15] the chart house did so you can look up
[00:55:17] from the building up at the mountain and
[00:55:19] we actually have the mountain coming
[00:55:20] down into the building inside the
[00:55:23] building. Um also our our roof line is
[00:55:27] inspired by by this little mountain um
[00:55:31] that has a natural saddle that we've
[00:55:33] actually repeated down below with our
[00:55:36] our thin elegant roof line. Um the
[00:55:39] building is um uh contemporary in
[00:55:41] design. Um it has a a lot of uh glass.
[00:55:46] Um it has um rich materials, stones and
[00:55:50] and laser cut metals as Leslie mentioned
[00:55:54] and different earth tones and the
[00:55:56] plaster colors. Um a wonderful outdoor
[00:56:00] plaza space um with with a water feature
[00:56:04] and and artwork uh that we're working
[00:56:06] on. some significant sculpture work um
[00:56:10] that we'll be bringing forth in the
[00:56:11] future. Um and um we're here to answer
[00:56:15] any any questions that you might have
[00:56:17] and as well as the rest of our team. And
[00:56:20] with that um I'd like to bring up uh Mr.
[00:56:23] Steve Finley with Museum Arts
[00:56:25] Incorporated, who I have to say I I've
[00:56:28] been just thrilled um to work with with
[00:56:31] Steve and and and his firm on on the
[00:56:34] interior of the museum because um these
[00:56:37] guys are really really top of their
[00:56:39] field and and I'll let him explain more
[00:56:41] of it to you, but I'm just really
[00:56:43] excited about about that. So, uh with
[00:56:45] that, Steve Finley.
[00:56:47] >> Thank you.
[00:56:50] Good afternoon, Madame Mayor, members of
[00:56:53] the council, city staff, guests.
[00:56:55] Appreciate you all having us in. And and
[00:56:58] really what John said, I just want to
[00:56:59] kind of echo what we what what we think
[00:57:02] about this project. We we've been in
[00:57:04] this business of museum design and build
[00:57:06] for over 50 years. We're based in in in
[00:57:09] Dallas, Texas, but we work all over the
[00:57:10] country, north and south, east and west.
[00:57:13] And we've had the opportunity to work on
[00:57:14] some really unique, impactful um uh
[00:57:18] projects throughout the course of of of
[00:57:20] our of our 50 plus years. Uh what's
[00:57:22] special about this project in particular
[00:57:25] is the fact that that you're getting an
[00:57:27] opportunity that a lot of folks don't
[00:57:29] get. you're getting an opportunity to to
[00:57:32] take a beautiful building, a beautiful
[00:57:33] space, and our role is to help take that
[00:57:36] space and from the inside start to tell
[00:57:38] those stories, those messages. Really,
[00:57:40] what we're what we're really gifted at
[00:57:42] from a kind of overarching is is really
[00:57:45] identifying the story and helping to
[00:57:47] educate and and uh educate the audiences
[00:57:50] and and talk about conservation of of
[00:57:53] what's going on. So, we really want to
[00:57:55] come alongside and help take those
[00:57:56] people on a journey. So, as you come
[00:57:58] into that beautiful building, what we're
[00:58:00] doing is we're taking the inside and
[00:58:01] we're building the exhibits. And those
[00:58:03] exhibits are north and south, they're
[00:58:05] east and west, they're they're different
[00:58:07] um biodiverse areas, different
[00:58:10] continents. Uh you're going to see
[00:58:12] different everything's kind of like a
[00:58:13] journey around the corner and there's
[00:58:15] different experiences and it's a it's a
[00:58:16] unique way to get to bring your your
[00:58:18] your your kids and the people of this
[00:58:20] community and and beyond, by the way,
[00:58:22] and educate them on things that they're
[00:58:24] not going to see in a lot of places.
[00:58:25] This is an educational opportunity um an
[00:58:28] opportunity to bring something to your
[00:58:30] area that's unique and again we've been
[00:58:32] doing this uh for a very very long time
[00:58:34] and we just really honored to be a part
[00:58:36] of the team. I'm here to answer any
[00:58:38] questions that that you all have from
[00:58:40] from the creative elements and aspects
[00:58:42] to how we come up with our stories and
[00:58:43] messages and outlines to how we lay out
[00:58:45] them, how we lay out the space and and
[00:58:48] some of our mantras as far as kind of
[00:58:50] making sure that that's a worldclass
[00:58:51] museum, a destination, not, you know,
[00:58:54] not a not a grandma's attic type thing.
[00:58:56] More of a more of an an educational
[00:58:58] opportunity. So, thrilled to be a part
[00:59:00] of it. Thrilled to be a part of this
[00:59:01] team. Um, and here to answer any
[00:59:03] questions y'all may have as as uh as we
[00:59:05] move forward.
[00:59:10] Is there anyone else from the team that
[00:59:12] has some remarks? Okay, we'll ask for
[00:59:14] public comment on this.
[00:59:16] >> Thank you. I did not receive any speaker
[00:59:18] cards. Is there anyone who would like to
[00:59:19] provide public testimony on public
[00:59:21] hearing item 6C?
[00:59:24] No speakers. Are there any council
[00:59:26] comments?
[00:59:30] >> I do. Thank you, Madame Mayor. So, I'll
[00:59:34] begin by saying that uh I like
[00:59:36] everything I see about this building. I
[00:59:38] like everything I see about this
[00:59:40] concept. Uh I want to be in a position
[00:59:42] to vote yes on on this project today. Um
[00:59:46] I also think that this adds a unique
[00:59:50] element to the cultural experience in
[00:59:52] the city of Ranch Mirage. So, we start
[00:59:54] at u uh at farther down Highway 111 with
[00:59:58] our amphitheater that provides um
[01:00:01] important entertainment for the
[01:00:03] residents of Rancher Marise. We move on
[01:00:04] down Highway 111. We have our library
[01:00:07] and our beautiful observatory. And this
[01:00:08] would be a remarkable addition to that
[01:00:10] cultural stretch of Highway 111. So, I
[01:00:12] like everything that I see here today.
[01:00:15] But, I've got some questions. Uh, and
[01:00:17] I'd like to feel comfortable about a
[01:00:19] couple of things. About a couple of
[01:00:20] things that I normally would not ask
[01:00:23] about. I normally would not be concerned
[01:00:25] about um the operation of a business.
[01:00:28] Uh, as long as um as long as everything
[01:00:32] you want to do here with uh building of
[01:00:34] this museum, constructing of it um meets
[01:00:38] code uh and does what you say it's going
[01:00:40] to do uh as long as it's architecturally
[01:00:44] right for the community. And you've done
[01:00:45] a great job. It's a beautiful building.
[01:00:46] I appreciate that. But in this case,
[01:00:50] this is a very unique parcel of
[01:00:52] property. Uh we've waited for years,
[01:00:55] more than a decade for something to come
[01:00:57] along on this parcel. It's also in on
[01:01:01] rather highway 111 part of that highway
[01:01:04] 111 specific project that I talked about
[01:01:06] earlier today. So it's important for us
[01:01:09] to know
[01:01:11] that you really have the right idea in
[01:01:14] place with respect to curation and
[01:01:16] operation and the exhibits in this
[01:01:17] museum. I want [snorts] to know more
[01:01:19] about that and I want you to tell me
[01:01:20] whatever you can tell me to make me feel
[01:01:21] comfortable about that. And the next
[01:01:23] thing that I want to know is again
[01:01:24] something that I generally would not be
[01:01:25] concerned about which is it's up to you
[01:01:28] to figure out how to operate your
[01:01:29] business. As long as we approve it, it's
[01:01:31] up to you to figure out how to get
[01:01:32] financing. You might not get financing.
[01:01:33] I sus suspect you may but you might not.
[01:01:36] you might not have the endowment to
[01:01:37] operate this uh this museum into the
[01:01:39] future. This is a critically important
[01:01:41] part of this city. We want to make sure
[01:01:43] that you have the ability to operate
[01:01:45] this facility for decades to come. I
[01:01:49] would like Paul Om, I'd like you to come
[01:01:51] to this podium and I'd like you to tell
[01:01:52] me how I can feel comfortable about your
[01:01:55] curation and operation of this museum
[01:01:57] and make me feel comfortable that you've
[01:01:58] got number one the finances available to
[01:02:01] build this building and the finances
[01:02:03] available to make it operational for
[01:02:05] years to come. I want you to tell me
[01:02:07] that because I want you to make me feel
[01:02:09] comfortable so that I can vote yes. As
[01:02:10] of right now, I don't feel comfortable.
[01:02:13] Help me feel comfortable.
[01:02:16] Yes.
[01:02:21] Madame Mayor, council members, staff,
[01:02:23] and guests. Uh, let me let me offer two
[01:02:25] things. So, let me start. But if I could
[01:02:27] submit something to the clerk, uh, for
[01:02:29] the record, if I may. Uh,
[01:02:32] >> I did bring copies.
[01:02:36] Uh while she's passing that, let me talk
[01:02:38] about the curation of the museum and the
[01:02:41] work that we'll do with museum arts to
[01:02:42] make this some an attraction not just
[01:02:44] for today but for tomorrow and future
[01:02:46] generations to come. Uh this is a
[01:02:48] privately held collection that's been
[01:02:50] collected by an individual that's a
[01:02:52] lifelong resident of the Coachella
[01:02:54] Valley. It includes over 10,000
[01:02:56] specimens from around the world. And so
[01:02:58] you think about all creatures, great and
[01:03:00] small, from something as small as a
[01:03:02] ladybug to something as big as a bear,
[01:03:05] you know, things like that, everything
[01:03:06] in between from all around the world.
[01:03:08] It's a really unique, special kind of
[01:03:11] curation of of a museum. The museum will
[01:03:14] contain signature pieces. These are
[01:03:16] pieces that you'll see kind of an
[01:03:18] ongoing basis as most museums have a
[01:03:20] signature piece that they are known for.
[01:03:22] And we will also be bringing in pieces
[01:03:24] over the years from other things because
[01:03:27] there's other collectors out there that
[01:03:29] want to show off what they have too and
[01:03:30] we want to share what we have with other
[01:03:32] museums around the world. So you
[01:03:34] consider this a living breathing kind of
[01:03:36] exchange site for animals around the
[01:03:39] world for people to see them in their in
[01:03:40] their natural environment.
[01:03:42] What Steve was underselling for museum
[01:03:44] arts was the ability that around every
[01:03:46] corner of the museum design as you walk
[01:03:49] through it on this journey there'll be a
[01:03:51] new sense of wonder and wow. There's no
[01:03:53] straight lines in the museum. You
[01:03:54] actually kind of wind through it on a
[01:03:56] pathway. You can either do a guided tour
[01:03:58] or you can do a self-guided tour.
[01:04:00] Whatever works for you best to kind of
[01:04:02] experience it and you'll be seeing
[01:04:03] something kind of new and taking in
[01:04:05] something different every time because
[01:04:06] of the contrast of all the different
[01:04:08] type of species that we'll have in it.
[01:04:10] We know to keep it fresh and new and
[01:04:12] keep people coming in that we have to
[01:04:14] bring in rotating exhibits. We have to
[01:04:16] bring in educational things. We
[01:04:18] anticipate once we hire and again
[01:04:20] pending your approval here. Our next
[01:04:22] step would be to hire a museum director
[01:04:24] who can come in and say yes this will be
[01:04:26] our educational program for this month
[01:04:29] this next and the next. So we hope to
[01:04:31] have and we will have ongoing
[01:04:32] educational programs. We've built the
[01:04:35] space into the museum both as some
[01:04:37] outdoor space and some indoor space for
[01:04:38] education. So we think that element it's
[01:04:41] going to drive as well. The more people
[01:04:44] in the museum community and the animal
[01:04:45] community talk, the more people come to
[01:04:47] us and say, "Hey, can we show off this
[01:04:49] at some point?" So we feel very
[01:04:51] confident that not only will what you
[01:04:53] see on the first visit be fresh, but
[01:04:55] subsequent visits will also be fresh.
[01:04:58] Um, I don't want you to think of a
[01:04:59] boring kind of I think he called it
[01:05:01] grandma's attic. I want you to think of
[01:05:03] this as something that's more of a
[01:05:04] destination and a journey that you go
[01:05:06] through. There'll be some transition
[01:05:08] zones within this that are really kind
[01:05:10] of eye popping. So you might think of a
[01:05:12] doorway as a doorway, but our doorway is
[01:05:14] actually the back end of a jeep that
[01:05:15] you'd see on an African safari and you
[01:05:17] kind of go through that into a new
[01:05:18] experience. So we've really kind of put
[01:05:20] some visual things in it that are
[01:05:22] different than you'll see in other types
[01:05:23] of museums. It's a more modern approach
[01:05:25] to museums in terms of what you see,
[01:05:27] what you feel, what you experience. Not
[01:05:30] only that, but we'll have displays that
[01:05:32] are nighttime displays and daytime
[01:05:34] displays because different animals come
[01:05:35] out in different environments and we
[01:05:37] want to reflect that within the museum.
[01:05:39] So, you'll see our our specimens at
[01:05:43] different eye levels, high, medium, and
[01:05:45] low. Some will come down from the
[01:05:46] ceiling. It's going to be a real wide
[01:05:48] mix of curation in terms of the
[01:05:51] experience that you see. Uh, we know
[01:05:53] that we've got to keep it new and fresh.
[01:05:55] And you know, once we can start
[01:05:56] marketing what we have, we will build
[01:05:58] out a drip campaign, marketing campaign
[01:06:00] ahead of this so people can start to see
[01:06:02] what what they can see when they come
[01:06:04] here. We think it'll be on par with any
[01:06:06] other natural history museum here in the
[01:06:08] United States and possibly around the
[01:06:10] world as well. We're pretty confident in
[01:06:12] what we are able to deliver. If that
[01:06:15] answers your question, I can go further
[01:06:16] on that, but that's that's
[01:06:18] >> where is the uh collection located now?
[01:06:20] >> It's uh it's held in a warehouse here in
[01:06:22] the Coachella Valley. The majority of it
[01:06:24] is here and and in the individual's home
[01:06:26] as well.
[01:06:26] >> Is that pretty much the entire
[01:06:27] collection that you intend to populate
[01:06:29] the museum with? It's already here.
[01:06:31] >> Yeah. So, there's a couple things. So,
[01:06:32] most of the collection, again, think
[01:06:34] 10,000 pieces, and think things small.
[01:06:36] Think everything from ladybugs to small
[01:06:39] turtles to uh butterflies to, you know,
[01:06:42] every mammal you can think of, snakes
[01:06:44] that you've never seen and heard before,
[01:06:46] you know, every Sorry, mayor. Didn't
[01:06:47] mean to scare you. [laughter]
[01:06:52] um every type of animal, reptile,
[01:06:55] amphibian, everything that you can think
[01:06:56] of, right? And so there, yes, there are
[01:06:58] 10,000 different specimens here and we
[01:07:00] are going through the process of making
[01:07:01] sure that they're all cleaned and
[01:07:02] certified and all that type of stuff uh
[01:07:04] currently. Now, again, we don't want to
[01:07:06] get too far out over our skis uh pending
[01:07:08] your approval. We'll probably accelerate
[01:07:10] that work, but our warehouse is is set
[01:07:12] up to do that cleaning and stuff like
[01:07:15] that. and at a certain time if this is
[01:07:16] approved, I'd love to take you through
[01:07:18] it and kind of show you that on a sneak
[01:07:20] peek if that's something the council
[01:07:21] would be wanting to do. Um, so that
[01:07:23] would be that aspect of it. Did did that
[01:07:25] answer your question, council member?
[01:07:26] >> Uh, yeah, please move on to what you
[01:07:29] just gave us to talk talk to us about uh
[01:07:32] construction financing or is the money
[01:07:34] already set aside to build it? Talk to
[01:07:36] us about uh money set aside for
[01:07:37] endowment to operate this museum into
[01:07:39] the future.
[01:07:40] >> Perfect. Thank you, sir. Um so what I
[01:07:42] passed out to the council here is a
[01:07:43] letter from Rob Shine. Uh Rob Shine if I
[01:07:46] I believe many of you know Rob Shine and
[01:07:48] High Tower Shine Lankshine a firm. They
[01:07:51] are well-known money managers here in
[01:07:53] the valley for over 50 years. Uh Rob is
[01:07:56] the financial adviser for the
[01:07:58] foundation. Uh he has sent a letter
[01:08:00] forward so that the public can know
[01:08:01] about this. Uh that signifies that the
[01:08:04] museum intends to pay cash for the
[01:08:07] building of the building and the land
[01:08:08] acquisition. So, there's those two
[01:08:10] components. We anticipate spending about
[01:08:12] $16 million on the museum shell outside
[01:08:15] of it. There's land acquisition costs
[01:08:17] and there'll be several million dollars
[01:08:19] for the interior of the museum after
[01:08:21] that. And that will all be just funded
[01:08:23] with what we have kind of cash going
[01:08:25] forward. The next part of what Mr. Shine
[01:08:28] lays out is that he is confident in the
[01:08:31] ability of the endowment portion of
[01:08:33] this, your investment portion of this to
[01:08:35] be able to run the museum ongoing basis
[01:08:37] for decades to come. We are confident in
[01:08:40] that assessment. There are certain laws
[01:08:42] that kind of bar us from talking about
[01:08:44] an individual person's uh net worths and
[01:08:46] financial strategies. But I am
[01:08:48] comfortable saying uh council member
[01:08:50] that there are tens of millions of
[01:08:51] dollars under our control that we can
[01:08:54] control for this both for the land
[01:08:55] purchase and the ongoing uh maintenance
[01:08:58] and running of of the museum.
[01:09:00] >> Okay. And it's more than you telling us
[01:09:02] that you're presenting us with a letter
[01:09:03] correct from a well-known local finance
[01:09:05] professional who is representing to us
[01:09:07] that there's already money set aside to
[01:09:09] build this. And he's telling us that
[01:09:11] with respect to operating this museum
[01:09:13] into the future that he has control over
[01:09:16] funds that will allow you to do that.
[01:09:17] >> Yes, sir. That's correct.
[01:09:19] >> Okay. So, we can go after him if he's
[01:09:20] wrong. [laughter]
[01:09:21] >> Let's hope. Yeah. We'll send snakes
[01:09:23] after him, sir.
[01:09:24] >> Okay. Well, we know him. Commit his his
[01:09:27] company.
[01:09:27] >> Yeah. Did that answer your questions?
[01:09:29] >> Yes. I appreciate that. Thank you, Paul.
[01:09:31] >> Thank you.
[01:09:31] >> Are there any other questions or
[01:09:34] comments? [clears throat]
[01:09:34] >> Yes, mayor. Um,
[01:09:37] first of all, the mayor would like uh
[01:09:39] the opportunity to um feel touch uh one
[01:09:44] of the large snakes. Um
[01:09:47] that uh that's her her passion. On the
[01:09:51] serious side,
[01:09:53] um the building is beautiful. I think it
[01:09:57] architecturally
[01:09:59] u fits into the environment beautifully.
[01:10:04] you've you've as a developer
[01:10:07] uh I recognize how you've incorporated
[01:10:11] uh the mountain as part of the you know
[01:10:14] the edifice
[01:10:17] uh and I think it looks great and as far
[01:10:20] as the financial aspects are concerned I
[01:10:24] do have uh prior experience dealing with
[01:10:29] uh fairly significant
[01:10:32] uh donor ers who want to maintain their
[01:10:37] anonymity. I can understand that. Um
[01:10:42] this is not unusual. Uh there's a lot of
[01:10:46] people that are interested in doing good
[01:10:50] things but don't want the notoriety.
[01:10:53] And I think that that evidently is the
[01:10:56] case here
[01:10:58] [clears throat] based upon your
[01:10:59] representation
[01:11:01] of what you've said today and what
[01:11:03] you've handed us today
[01:11:06] is essentially you're saying that
[01:11:10] the acquisition of the land and the
[01:11:13] development of the property
[01:11:17] and the operations
[01:11:20] is self-funded
[01:11:22] and In addition, you have the resources
[01:11:26] available now in order to carry this
[01:11:30] out. It's not a situation that you're
[01:11:32] going into and saying we have an
[01:11:35] attractive product here and we feel we
[01:11:38] can attract donors. That is not what
[01:11:41] I've heard and that's what I'm pleased
[01:11:43] about. I think it's a a great
[01:11:46] opportunity. I think it's a benefit to
[01:11:49] the community. Uh I think that it will
[01:11:54] enhance a lot of the activities
[01:11:58] and the things that make Rancho Mirage
[01:12:01] unique and I think this will be one of
[01:12:04] them. So I look forward to voting in
[01:12:07] favor of it and I applaud uh the details
[01:12:11] that you've gone through to bring it up
[01:12:13] to this point. Thank you. Thank you,
[01:12:15] Mayor.
[01:12:17] >> Is there anyone else?
[01:12:18] >> I do have more questions now. Now that
[01:12:19] the big question is out of the way. Um,
[01:12:22] so I did note that there were a number
[01:12:25] of comments, including uh comments from
[01:12:28] a member of our planning commission
[01:12:30] about the overflow parking. Tell us more
[01:12:32] about where that overflow parking is
[01:12:33] located. Uh, and tell us more about uh
[01:12:37] is there some mitigation that we've done
[01:12:39] with respect to these comments from the
[01:12:40] public about the location and the view
[01:12:42] and the look of that overflow parking.
[01:12:44] >> Yeah, we did. Leslie, will you uh bring
[01:12:46] that slide back up?
[01:12:49] Sure.
[01:12:53] Can we pull up the slides?
[01:13:17] Sure. So we have the overflow parking
[01:13:19] here. Um there is a landscape plan that
[01:13:22] is proposing uh 7 48 in box uh desert
[01:13:26] museum polar verde trees and there are
[01:13:28] also some existing filera palms. Uh due
[01:13:31] to the comments received in planning
[01:13:33] commissioner's input. Um there is a
[01:13:35] condition of approval to uh increase
[01:13:38] that landscape buffer from 10 and a half
[01:13:40] feet to a 20 foot setback. Uh, and we
[01:13:43] will also be providing a new six- foot
[01:13:46] tall uh, block wall along with the new
[01:13:49] rod iron vents to enclose the back of
[01:13:51] uh, mountain area. And the bus parking
[01:13:54] spaces will also be reduced from four
[01:13:57] parking spaces to three bus parking
[01:13:59] spaces.
[01:14:00] >> Okay. And I'm trying to get a sense for
[01:14:03] exactly where that's located. So, it's a
[01:14:04] corner of Highway 111 and Mirage Cove
[01:14:07] Drive. So, it looks like it's a walk
[01:14:09] around the edge of that mountain to get
[01:14:11] to the to the building. Am I correct
[01:14:13] about that?
[01:14:14] >> Yes, I hope so. Okay, thanks. That's
[01:14:16] what I needed to see.
[01:14:18] >> Over here on this side.
[01:14:21] >> Okay. All right. Did uh did staff uh did
[01:14:25] you have any conversations with any of
[01:14:26] the authors of these letters? And are
[01:14:28] they now more comfortable with the uh uh
[01:14:31] with these additional conditions?
[01:14:33] >> Given the timing of when the letters
[01:14:34] were submitted, staff has not had a
[01:14:36] chance to reach out directly to them. Uh
[01:14:38] but we had previously included and had
[01:14:40] been working on some of these um
[01:14:42] additional conditions since some of the
[01:14:44] comments were raised during the planning
[01:14:46] commission hearing.
[01:14:46] >> Got it. Okay. Thank you. That those are
[01:14:48] all the questions I have. Thank you.
[01:14:51] >> I have some questions. Um I've worked
[01:14:54] with uh first of all, welcome and the
[01:14:56] building is beautiful and I enjoyed our
[01:14:58] conversation yesterday about uh the
[01:15:00] curation. Uh I've worked with uh several
[01:15:04] museums for almost 30 years and included
[01:15:08] the Palm Springs Art Museum which up
[01:15:11] until 2005 was known as the Palm Springs
[01:15:15] Desert Museum. And during that time half
[01:15:18] of the museum was fine art, the other
[01:15:20] half was natural history that included a
[01:15:23] lot of exhibitions featuring animals.
[01:15:26] And these exhibits were extremely
[01:15:29] popular. So now we have this proposal
[01:15:32] for the Global Wildlife Discovery Museum
[01:15:35] featuring animals not only from our
[01:15:37] local area but from around the world. Uh
[01:15:40] I'm confident that it's going to be a
[01:15:42] great and popular attraction in our
[01:15:44] city. What's more important to me is
[01:15:47] that Ranch Mirage is as our colleagues
[01:15:49] have stated unique. We have a group of
[01:15:52] organiz educational organizations right
[01:15:55] here in our small town. Ranch Mirage,
[01:15:58] the world famous Ranch Mirage Library
[01:16:00] with its own observatory. And in the
[01:16:03] library includes the Robertson Mineral
[01:16:06] Collection along with the President
[01:16:08] Gerald Ford and Betty Ford collection.
[01:16:11] Um and its partnership with TED X. Um
[01:16:15] there's Sunnylands with its collections
[01:16:17] and architecture and history. Uh the
[01:16:20] Children's Discovery Museum has hands-on
[01:16:23] exhibits and programs. The Tolerance
[01:16:26] Education Center teaches historical and
[01:16:29] educational programs that are crucial to
[01:16:31] today's society.
[01:16:34] We have our beautiful amphitheater.
[01:16:36] There's the musical theater program at
[01:16:38] the high school. We have our wonderful
[01:16:40] parks and trails. So, our city is loaded
[01:16:44] per capita with educational institution
[01:16:47] experiences that are unlike any other
[01:16:50] city. So the global wildlife discovery
[01:16:53] museum I'm confident will add to that. I
[01:16:56] also know enough about museums to I know
[01:16:59] that funding is always a concern. Uh no
[01:17:03] museum anywhere can survive on
[01:17:05] admissions alone. You have to have
[01:17:07] grants and you have to have donations
[01:17:09] and the community has to support its
[01:17:11] museums. Uh I also know that most
[01:17:14] museums work for years and if they're
[01:17:17] lucky they try to get an endowment of
[01:17:19] some sort. So yet here we are with this
[01:17:22] applicant who not only has the plans for
[01:17:24] a beautiful building and a vast
[01:17:28] collection
[01:17:29] but also a tremendous endowment. So I
[01:17:32] believe we on the council treat everyone
[01:17:35] equally
[01:17:36] that includes business applications
[01:17:38] which require a rigorous process
[01:17:41] including the posting of bonds and
[01:17:43] verification of funding. this
[01:17:46] application uh applicant needs to be
[01:17:48] given the same opportunity.
[01:17:51] So, I'm excited about this new addition
[01:17:53] to the city and especially right here on
[01:17:55] Highway 111. I think to your point that
[01:17:58] this kind of project perfectly fits in
[01:18:01] to our economic development strategy for
[01:18:03] the city and I'm going to vote yes.
[01:18:06] Thank you, Madame Mayor.
[01:18:08] >> Are there any other comments?
[01:18:13] At one time you had and you had
[01:18:14] mentioned the chart house. It was a
[01:18:16] unique building and I think half the
[01:18:19] time people went to the chart house just
[01:18:23] to explore the restaurant as it fit into
[01:18:26] the mountain.
[01:18:28] When the travesty of uh the loss of that
[01:18:32] building occurred, there were many
[01:18:34] people that came to city hall and to
[01:18:36] council prior to my time advocating that
[01:18:40] we try to preserve that unique building.
[01:18:43] It couldn't be done. So, you've come to
[01:18:47] us with this beautiful plan and it is
[01:18:49] stunning.
[01:18:51] Um
[01:18:53] it's very measured. It's very thoughtful
[01:18:57] which
[01:18:58] works with how this city works and what
[01:19:02] we have a legacy of is measured in
[01:19:04] thoughtful decisions which is why we
[01:19:06] have a terrific quality of life. I think
[01:19:08] as uh the mayor prom was stating all the
[01:19:12] different opportunities that are
[01:19:13] available here in ranch whether it be uh
[01:19:16] the library the amphitheater sunnylands
[01:19:19] we can go on and on. I think sometimes
[01:19:22] we forget that we provide all this to
[01:19:26] the public for a city that's under
[01:19:28] 22,000 people. We're pretty unique and
[01:19:32] now you're coming to us with this
[01:19:35] opportunity. Thank you for choosing
[01:19:37] Ranch Mirage. I think it's beautiful and
[01:19:39] I think as you mentioned it's an
[01:19:41] educational opportunity
[01:19:43] uh not only for children but children of
[01:19:46] all ages and we appreciate the fact that
[01:19:49] you considered the city and that
[01:19:53] um we might have a wonderful opportunity
[01:19:56] here. Okay, with that I would say this.
[01:20:00] I had worked at the chart house and it
[01:20:02] did have live snakes at times. So, um,
[01:20:05] and nobody ever enjoyed them as much as
[01:20:08] they may enjoy the not live snakes. Um,
[01:20:11] but good luck to you with that.
[01:20:12] [laughter]
[01:20:13] For the record, I was bit by a baby
[01:20:15] rattlesnake when I was 11, and I've
[01:20:17] never gotten over it. When my son was in
[01:20:20] the first grade, he went to a petting
[01:20:21] zoo, a petting zoo, went to a school at
[01:20:23] St. Teresa's, and he greeted me with
[01:20:25] this snake around his neck and tried to
[01:20:28] hug me, and he almost became an orphan
[01:20:30] because I was about ready to to die.
[01:20:32] With that, may I have a motion, please?
[01:20:35] >> I'd like to make the motion. I move that
[01:20:37] we adopt resolution number 2026, next in
[01:20:40] order, adopting and approving the
[01:20:42] mitigation, monitoring, and reporting
[01:20:44] program and mitigated negative
[01:20:46] declaration number 20251000436
[01:20:51] for the proposed project based on
[01:20:53] environmental assessment case number
[01:20:55] EA25-00003.
[01:20:58] and two, adopt resolution 2026 next to
[01:21:02] an order approving preliminary
[01:21:04] development plan case number PDP25-00003
[01:21:09] regarding the proposed Global Wildlife
[01:21:11] Discovery Museum.
[01:21:13] >> I'll second that.
[01:21:14] >> Would it I'm sorry to interrupt. Mayor
[01:21:15] Prom, would it be possible to add the
[01:21:17] modification uh to allow staff to revise
[01:21:20] condition of approval number 43?
[01:21:22] >> Absolutely. And to include that
[01:21:23] provision.
[01:21:26] And we have a second.
[01:21:28] >> I'll second it.
[01:21:29] >> Very good. Please vote.
[01:21:36] >> Motion carries. 5-0. Thank you.
[01:21:39] Congratulations.
[01:21:42] [applause]
[01:21:46] Next item on the agenda, it's the action
[01:21:48] calendar. Uh item number 7A, intention
[01:21:52] to annex territory comprising 6.76 acres
[01:21:56] to community facilities district number
[01:21:58] one in connection with preliminary
[01:22:00] development planned case number
[01:22:01] PDP25-00003
[01:22:06] Global Wildlife Discovery Museum. Jacob
[01:22:09] de la Cruz, our financial analyst, will
[01:22:12] report on this. Thank you, Jacob.
[01:22:14] >> Thank you, mayor, and good afternoon,
[01:22:16] council. This item is the first step in
[01:22:18] the city's annexation process for
[01:22:19] developments within the city's within
[01:22:20] the city's jurisdiction. The second and
[01:22:22] final step is planned to be considered
[01:22:23] at the February 19th council meeting.
[01:22:26] The territory proposed for annexation is
[01:22:27] located on Highway 111 south of the
[01:22:29] Atrium Shopping Center. Condition of
[01:22:31] approval number 39 of preliminary
[01:22:33] development plan case number PDP25-00003
[01:22:38] requires that the territory be annexed
[01:22:40] into community facilities district
[01:22:41] number one. In accordance with the
[01:22:43] condition of approval, the owners of the
[01:22:44] annex territory submitted a petition for
[01:22:46] annexation requesting that the city
[01:22:47] council initiate proceedings to annex
[01:22:49] the territory into CFD1 and provide for
[01:22:51] expedited approval of the annexation and
[01:22:53] the levy of the special tax. Upon
[01:22:56] approval of the resolution, the city
[01:22:57] will be able to accept the petition
[01:22:58] submitted by the owner for annexation,
[01:23:00] consent to the levy upon the annex
[01:23:02] territory, allow for the shortening of
[01:23:04] the time for the special election to
[01:23:05] expedite the annexation, accept and
[01:23:08] preliminarily approve the annexation
[01:23:09] map, and direct city clerk to record the
[01:23:11] map, and finally, establish the date and
[01:23:13] time of the public hearing on the
[01:23:14] annexation of the territory. That
[01:23:16] concludes my presentation. I'd be happy
[01:23:17] to answer any questions.
[01:23:20] >> Madam clerk, do we have comments from
[01:23:23] the public? I did not receive any
[01:23:24] speaker cards for this item. Is there
[01:23:26] anyone in the audience who would like to
[01:23:27] comment on this item?
[01:23:29] >> No speakers.
[01:23:30] >> Are there any council member comments?
[01:23:34] >> I'll make the motion. Please make the
[01:23:36] motion. I move to adopt resolution
[01:23:39] number 2026 next in order declaring the
[01:23:41] city's intention to annex territory to
[01:23:43] community facilities district number one
[01:23:45] and to levy a special tax therein for
[01:23:48] additional police and fire services.
[01:23:50] preliminarily approve a map of the area
[01:23:52] proposed to be annexed and schedule a
[01:23:54] public hearing to consider the
[01:23:55] annexation on the levy of special tax
[01:23:58] for annexation number 204. Very good. Do
[01:24:01] I have a second?
[01:24:03] >> Second.
[01:24:04] >> Please vote.
[01:24:11] >> Motion carries 5.
[01:24:14] Thank you.
[01:24:18] Next item on the action calendar, 7B,
[01:24:20] award of contract related to roadway and
[01:24:22] sand fence improvements near Bob Hope
[01:24:24] Drive and Raone Road. Ryan Standel, our
[01:24:27] assistant city manager, will be
[01:24:28] reporting on this item.
[01:24:30] >> Thank you, honorable mayor and council
[01:24:31] members. While we wait the present for
[01:24:34] the presentation to come up, I'm here to
[01:24:36] present a project to you that generally
[01:24:37] occurs along Bob Hope Drive uh at Raone
[01:24:40] Road.
[01:24:43] By way of vicinity
[01:24:45] again on the screen at the top you're
[01:24:47] seeing Raone Road uh in an east west
[01:24:49] direction. Towards the the bottom of the
[01:24:51] screen we have Dinosaur Drive and
[01:24:53] circuitously connecting them is Bob Hope
[01:24:56] um in the center of the screen. As I
[01:24:59] mentioned large largely the improvements
[01:25:01] occur at the intersection. However, we
[01:25:03] do have some ancillary improvements.
[01:25:04] curbon gutter, um slight roadway
[01:25:07] widening, and a triple layer of sand
[01:25:10] fencing will occur along Raone Road and
[01:25:12] also along Dinosaur Drive.
[01:25:15] [clears throat]
[01:25:16] So, by way of background, uh this is a
[01:25:19] federally funded grant program, the
[01:25:21] Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Fund,
[01:25:23] uh sometimes referred to as CMAC. CMAC
[01:25:26] funds aim to reduce um uh particulate
[01:25:30] matter in the air quality through
[01:25:32] improvements to roadway safety and any
[01:25:34] way that you can attack um either what's
[01:25:38] coming out of our automobiles or sand in
[01:25:40] the air. In 2014, the city was awarded
[01:25:44] an 800 just south of $800,000 in
[01:25:46] aggregate uh to accomplish this project.
[01:25:49] And I'll get into kind of what's taken
[01:25:50] so long in a minute.
[01:25:52] the project scope uh largely at Bob Hope
[01:25:55] and Raone. We have a slight widening of
[01:25:57] westbound Raone Road. We have about 3/4
[01:26:00] of a mile of installation of curb and
[01:26:02] gutter that's currently uh not there.
[01:26:05] And an installation of a dedicated free
[01:26:07] right uh turn lane from southbound Bob
[01:26:10] Hope essentially exiting the freeway
[01:26:12] making the turn the right-hand turn onto
[01:26:14] Raone Road often referred to as a pork
[01:26:17] chop island. Uh again on the sand
[01:26:20] fencing front we have along Ramon Road
[01:26:23] again the same approximately 3/4 of a
[01:26:25] mile of triple row of sand fencing and
[01:26:28] on Dina Shore Drive we have
[01:26:30] approximately 1,600 ft of sand fencing
[01:26:32] that will be installed there as well.
[01:26:36] uh from the plan set. It's kind of hard
[01:26:38] to see, but what we have is let's see if
[01:26:41] I get right here. You'll see the free
[01:26:43] right turn. Whereas, if you're coming
[01:26:45] down from the freeway, you'll be able to
[01:26:47] use the slip lane and just uh not have
[01:26:50] to stop as you uh head westbound towards
[01:26:52] Cathedral City.
[01:26:55] And just uh a simple detail of a 4ft
[01:26:58] high sand fence, which will also be
[01:27:00] installed.
[01:27:04] So our current status is uh right-of-way
[01:27:06] is what took the large portion of time
[01:27:08] on this project. The right ofway
[01:27:10] acquisition on the dinosaur portion
[01:27:12] included a large parcel with something
[01:27:14] like 12 or 16 trustees. Um and it took a
[01:27:18] very long time to negotiate that deal.
[01:27:20] But at this point our rightway phase has
[01:27:22] been completed. Calrans has issued us
[01:27:24] our E76 which is a critical document.
[01:27:27] It's basically means you're construction
[01:27:28] ready. We bid the project first in the
[01:27:31] summer of 2025, but the federal
[01:27:33] government almost immediately changed
[01:27:36] their requirements for this grant fund.
[01:27:38] So, we had to go rebid it again. Uh the
[01:27:40] changes were largely required uh as it
[01:27:42] relates to the disadvantaged business
[01:27:44] enterprises and we were required to
[01:27:46] strip those out of the bid document and
[01:27:49] rebid. That actually did lead to a
[01:27:51] bigger uh larger bidding pool. We had
[01:27:54] four biders as opposed to two in the
[01:27:56] first. albeit although the the dollars
[01:27:59] were approximately the same.
[01:28:01] So on December 11th of 2025, we opened
[01:28:04] uh public bids for this project with the
[01:28:07] low bidder being Granite Construction at
[01:28:09] just under $1.7 million. Uh the good
[01:28:12] news is all uh u all the bids including
[01:28:16] the low was um lower than our $2 million
[01:28:19] engineers estimate and as noted in the
[01:28:21] staff report, staff is recommending that
[01:28:22] we award to Granite Construction as the
[01:28:24] lowest responsive bidder on this
[01:28:26] project. and I certainly would be happy
[01:28:28] to answer any questions the council may
[01:28:30] have on this. Thank you.
[01:28:33] >> Are there any questions? Do we have any
[01:28:35] public comments?
[01:28:37] >> I did not receive any speaker cards. Is
[01:28:38] there anyone in the audience who would
[01:28:40] like to speak on this item?
[01:28:42] >> No speakers. And do we have council
[01:28:44] comments?
[01:28:46] >> I do. I would just like to say that as
[01:28:48] someone who drives this area every day,
[01:28:50] if I could vote yes twice, I will.
[01:28:53] [laughter]
[01:28:55] Well, I would vote for it three times.
[01:28:58] >> Yes. Any anyone else? May I have a
[01:29:01] motion?
[01:29:02] >> Why don't you make a motion?
[01:29:04] >> Yeah.
[01:29:07] >> One motion. And you can't second it. So,
[01:29:10] [laughter]
[01:29:12] >> uh, I'll move that we award the contract
[01:29:13] for congestion mitigation and sand fence
[01:29:16] installation
[01:29:17] CC project 5412
[01:29:20] uh, 016 to granite construction in the
[01:29:23] amount of 1,677,520.
[01:29:27] >> I'll second, but I'll only do it once.
[01:29:30] >> Please vote.
[01:29:34] >> Motion carries 5. Wonderful.
[01:29:39] Council member D has requested a
[01:29:41] fiveinut recess. We see a lot of our
[01:29:44] residents here. We want to hear from all
[01:29:46] of you that wish to speak. So, I'm going
[01:29:48] to grant a a fivem minute recess. Please
[01:29:50] be patient with us. We'll be back
[01:29:51] momentarily. Thank you.
[01:30:07] Thank you everyone. Could I ask that you
[01:30:09] take your seats please? We'll reconvene.
[01:30:27] As the council members make their way
[01:30:29] back to the deis, I'd like to thank our
[01:30:30] audience for your patience.
[01:30:38] And I have committed that when this
[01:30:40] building goes up and it's completed, I
[01:30:42] will stand next to a snake as long as
[01:30:43] it's not moving.
[01:30:45] >> Don't try to get the snake vote now.
[01:30:47] >> No, I won't.
[01:30:50] >> All right. Are we set? Everybody's in
[01:30:53] place. Great. The next item on the
[01:30:55] agenda, non-aggenda public comments.
[01:30:57] I'll defer to our city clerk.
[01:31:01] >> Thank you. Uh, now is the time for any
[01:31:04] comments on something that is not on
[01:31:06] today's agenda. And our first speaker is
[01:31:08] Ben Weaver.
[01:31:13] [clears throat]
[01:31:18] >> Uh, hi, my name is Ben Weaver. Uh my
[01:31:20] wife and I live at Rancho Las Palmus
[01:31:23] Country Club and uh we've lived there
[01:31:25] for um 11 years. We have a rental condo
[01:31:29] as well there and um just for full
[01:31:32] disclosure, I am a member of the HOA
[01:31:35] board of directors, but today I'm
[01:31:37] speaking strictly as a homeowner. Um
[01:31:41] we bought here 11 years ago and we're
[01:31:43] thrilled to be in Rancho Mirage. We were
[01:31:46] excited to have a home on a lovely
[01:31:48] 27hole regulation length golf course.
[01:31:51] There were tennis courts and a thriving
[01:31:52] golf course community. In recent years,
[01:31:55] flooding in the wash damaged part of the
[01:31:57] golf course, but Omni always cleaned it
[01:32:00] up and got it back into shape. But in
[01:32:02] the past 3 years, Omni abandoned part of
[01:32:05] the course, saying they didn't want to
[01:32:07] keep paying for the cleanup. That left
[01:32:09] us with an 18hole golf course, plus six
[01:32:13] more holes. Now, Omni's proposed
[01:32:15] renovation will remove two more holes
[01:32:20] that are never affected by flooding and
[01:32:22] jam a 9-hole short course into four
[01:32:25] existing holes. Again, that leaves just
[01:32:28] one 18-hole regulation course. This is
[01:32:31] not what we and other homeowners
[01:32:33] purchased. A court-ordered settlement
[01:32:36] agreement requires us 874 homeowners to
[01:32:40] pay proprietary fees of more than
[01:32:42] $890,000
[01:32:44] a year. Money that goes directly to
[01:32:46] Omni. Omni also receives more than
[01:32:49] $4,000 for every home that is sold at
[01:32:53] Rental Palmus. Plus, golfers pay up to
[01:32:56] $8,500 a year for a a country club
[01:32:59] membership. In addition, Omni has
[01:33:02] converted some of the 25 tennis courts
[01:33:05] into pickleball courts without
[01:33:07] permission required by the court
[01:33:09] settlement. We have been virtually
[01:33:11] begging Omni to listen to our needs and
[01:33:13] interest as homeowners who pay a lot to
[01:33:16] live in Rancho Palmus. We have sent
[01:33:19] emails to Omni. We have called the board
[01:33:22] and the HOA compliance committee have
[01:33:25] met with Omni to try to get information
[01:33:27] about the golf course changes. As of
[01:33:29] today, everything we know about the
[01:33:31] renovation plans has come through our
[01:33:34] trips to city hall to see the plans,
[01:33:37] open record requests, and meetings with
[01:33:39] the city staff.
[01:33:42] Omni has not presented anything to the
[01:33:45] homeowners at large.
[01:33:48] Omni's failure to communicate with us
[01:33:51] resulting in homeowners, some
[01:33:52] homeowners, selling their condos and
[01:33:54] moving to other valley cities out of the
[01:33:57] area. Renters have canled, hurting
[01:34:00] homeowners with income properties and
[01:34:02] club members are leaving to join outside
[01:34:04] of Rancho Mirage. We are not against
[01:34:07] change.
[01:34:09] We are not against progress. Today, we
[01:34:11] are asking you, the city council
[01:34:13] members, to use your influence with Omni
[01:34:16] to be good neighbors to us, to have an
[01:34:18] open and respectful conversation, to
[01:34:20] listen to our interests and concerns,
[01:34:22] and a willingness to find common ground
[01:34:25] on this issue. We are asking for a full
[01:34:27] 27 hole well-maintained golf course. It
[01:34:30] is what we paid for. It is what we were
[01:34:33] promised. And if I may ask, I know the
[01:34:36] city is limited in what they can do with
[01:34:37] private corporations, but if they could
[01:34:40] delay the permitting process
[01:34:44] for this renovation that Omni is
[01:34:46] planning, um they seem to already be
[01:34:51] moving ahead and equipment is being
[01:34:53] moved in and everything. And it's our
[01:34:54] understanding as of this morning those
[01:34:58] permits have not been permitted yet.
[01:35:00] >> Thank you sir.
[01:35:01] >> Thank you.
[01:35:04] >> Next speaker is Patty Addison.
[01:35:09] >> As a reminder you have three minute
[01:35:11] timeline to make your case. Thank you so
[01:35:13] much.
[01:35:14] >> Good afternoon madame mayor, city
[01:35:16] council members and staff. My name is
[01:35:18] Patty. I live at Rancho Los Palmus
[01:35:21] Country Club and I want to thank each of
[01:35:23] you for serving on the city council and
[01:35:25] your dedication in protecting our
[01:35:28] quality of life and our safety. The
[01:35:30] Omni, a multi-billion dollar company,
[01:35:33] are the current owners of the hotel,
[01:35:35] seven holes of golf, 27hole golf course,
[01:35:39] 25 tennis courts, and the country club
[01:35:42] facilities. We're here today because
[01:35:44] many residents, as you can see in Rancho
[01:35:46] Las Palmus, strongly believe that the
[01:35:49] decisions and actions of the Omni have
[01:35:52] slowly eroded the conditions in our
[01:35:54] community over the last 5 years in
[01:35:56] particular.
[01:35:58] The their current proposal for what they
[01:36:00] call minor renovations to their golf
[01:36:02] course uh are of particular concern.
[01:36:06] Even though they stated in March 2025
[01:36:09] that they would share the this plan,
[01:36:11] they have not done so yet. Not one
[01:36:13] thing. So when home owners found out
[01:36:16] that they had submitted plans to the
[01:36:18] city for approval, the homeowners came
[01:36:21] here and asked the city to see what
[01:36:24] those plans were. It was quite
[01:36:26] disturbing to discover that Omni had no
[01:36:29] plans to restore the three holes damaged
[01:36:32] by the flooding in August 2023.
[01:36:35] We understand that decision. But what is
[01:36:38] so egregious at this point is that Omni
[01:36:41] is going to remove an additional two
[01:36:43] holes of golf right adjacent to their
[01:36:46] hotel. Take it away from the golf course
[01:36:49] and then squeeze what there are now five
[01:36:52] holes of golf into the area that that
[01:36:55] was previously uh four holes. That is
[01:36:58] now four holes. So, we have four holes
[01:37:00] that we're going to be left with, and
[01:37:01] they're going to turn that into a 9-hole
[01:37:05] pitch and putt course. And the distance
[01:37:07] of that is going from what we previously
[01:37:10] had 3,000
[01:37:12] yard uh nine holes is now going to be
[01:37:15] 1,60
[01:37:17] yards. And all of these these holes are
[01:37:21] adjacent within the community, really
[01:37:24] close to our condos. Um, homeowners and
[01:37:28] members will no longer have the 27-hole
[01:37:30] regulation golf course, which is the
[01:37:32] amenity that they had when they
[01:37:34] purchased their homes. My husband and I
[01:37:37] retired 17 years ago, purchased a
[01:37:39] beautiful condo on a fairway. Now, that
[01:37:42] fairway, one hole, will be four holes.
[01:37:45] There'll be a four tea boxes, four um
[01:37:50] greens, and at any time there could be
[01:37:52] 16 golf carts and 32 golfers golfing in
[01:37:57] that small area. So, our beautiful,
[01:38:00] quiet neighborhood will be no longer.
[01:38:03] Um, we understand that the city does not
[01:38:06] have the power over what Omni is doing
[01:38:08] because they're not violating city
[01:38:09] ordinances. However, we believe that
[01:38:11] Omni is operating in bad faith by
[01:38:15] refusing to negotiate or even speak with
[01:38:17] us about their plans.
[01:38:19] >> Please wrap up your comments if you
[01:38:20] >> They need to work with us towards a plan
[01:38:22] that will benefit our community and not
[01:38:24] only their hotel business. Thank you.
[01:38:27] >> Thank you, Don Datco.
[01:38:36] [clears throat]
[01:38:36] >> Good afternoon, Madame Mayor and U.
[01:38:39] Council members, thank you for listening
[01:38:41] to us. Um, I my wife and I moved to
[01:38:44] Rancho Las about nine years ago. Um, I'm
[01:38:49] the chairman of the architectural
[01:38:51] committee. Kind of everyone that's here
[01:38:53] today is is like you. We're service
[01:38:55] people. We want to uh we make we want to
[01:38:58] see our lives be better and improve our
[01:39:01] neighbors lives and keep keep us all
[01:39:03] safe and happy. Um, today was the first
[01:39:06] day I had the opportunity to see the
[01:39:08] plan because I went through the process.
[01:39:11] I came down to planning and looked at
[01:39:12] the plan. And the thing that jumped out
[01:39:15] uh to me the most was the fact that when
[01:39:18] you put in a short course like this,
[01:39:21] you're going to increase the amount of
[01:39:23] players because it's only going to take
[01:39:25] an hour and 15 minutes to play those
[01:39:27] nine holes. That means you're going to
[01:39:29] double the amount of traffic which we
[01:39:32] have to control. We're the we're in a
[01:39:34] gated community. So they when they come
[01:39:36] to the gate, they say they're going to
[01:39:38] golf, right? So they go to the clubhouse
[01:39:40] and now we have all these people um now
[01:39:44] on the golf course and in the community.
[01:39:47] So I'm concerned about parking for one
[01:39:50] thing. We don't have a whole lot of
[01:39:52] parking down at the clubhouse. So are
[01:39:55] where are they going to park because we
[01:39:57] have all these extra people coming in.
[01:39:59] Right? That was my first question. My
[01:40:02] second question is uh the safety of our
[01:40:04] community in general. When you have new
[01:40:06] people coming in, who's going to control
[01:40:08] the the speed uh of the traffic going
[01:40:11] through? There's stop signs there.
[01:40:13] They're in a hurry. They want to get
[01:40:14] their tea time. Um the clubhouse is
[01:40:17] pretty far. Ammy doesn't marshall. Ammy
[01:40:21] doesn't take care of the security. We
[01:40:23] pay for that. Our homeowners do. So, um,
[01:40:27] and we have a lot of elderly people that
[01:40:29] are on fixed incomes and they're they're
[01:40:32] concerned about their safety. Um, we've
[01:40:35] had
[01:40:36] golf carts stole in the last couple
[01:40:38] years, uh, breakins in the last couple
[01:40:40] years and this is just going to add to
[01:40:43] that population of possibilities of
[01:40:46] crime. And so, that was that's what
[01:40:48] jumped out to me. And um I I know
[01:40:52] there's uh we have a lot of people here
[01:40:54] that want to say other things about
[01:40:55] what's going on, but I do oppose this
[01:40:57] project. I think it's a bad idea. Also,
[01:41:00] the the two uh holes that they're um
[01:41:04] abandoning
[01:41:06] four, six and five, five is where
[01:41:08] they'll put on venues for weddings and
[01:41:11] whatnot.
[01:41:12] And then they have music playing until
[01:41:14] 10:00 at night and it's really loud. The
[01:41:17] speakers are outside and they just
[01:41:18] blast. And I'm a block and a half away
[01:41:21] from that. I can hear it. We have to sh
[01:41:23] close our windows. U of course they're
[01:41:26] closed in the summer but not in this
[01:41:27] time of year they're open. Anyway, thank
[01:41:29] you for your time. I hope you consider
[01:41:32] um delaying the process until they can
[01:41:35] convince you that it's going to be a
[01:41:39] safe place to be. Thank you. Thank
[01:41:41] >> you. Theodore
[01:41:52] >> [clears throat]
[01:42:00] >> Madame Mayor and uh members of the
[01:42:02] council, certainly privileged to be here
[01:42:04] today. Um I moved here in 1977. The only
[01:42:09] reason I'm speaking today is I'm the
[01:42:11] last living member who worked on the
[01:42:13] judgment that we now hold against the
[01:42:16] hotel owner, whoever it might be
[01:42:18] originally. It was Marriott. And um I
[01:42:23] should have probably been here because
[01:42:25] what you're missing is that I was
[01:42:27] shocked when I heard that the hotel had
[01:42:30] put in uh for a
[01:42:34] to to to build some new
[01:42:38] They do not have the right to change
[01:42:40] anything without the permission of our
[01:42:44] homeowners association are 11 or 800 and
[01:42:47] some proprietary members
[01:42:50] and uh the we do have a committee that
[01:42:53] meets with them every month a two member
[01:42:57] committee so I'm going to go back and
[01:42:59] just tell you uh the opening what
[01:43:02] happened to this
[01:43:04] in [clears throat] October 1977 we
[01:43:06] opened
[01:43:07] Uh this was a bone uh private country
[01:43:11] club
[01:43:13] uh operation and operated very well for
[01:43:16] 5 years. And one morning I got up and
[01:43:19] came home over here and there was a
[01:43:21] Marriott hotel. Now we were very happy
[01:43:23] because Marriott's a great hotel and we
[01:43:25] were been the only people in the valley
[01:43:27] that had a private country club with a
[01:43:31] four-star hotel next to it. However, it
[01:43:34] didn't work out as well and we had to go
[01:43:36] to court and sue them. Um, if you want
[01:43:40] to know what the in this was in uh
[01:43:44] this was the judgment in the Riverside
[01:43:47] Superior Court. The judge at that time
[01:43:50] was Charles Hughes. I worked with him on
[01:43:52] it because I was at that time still in
[01:43:54] business and I had 10 lawyers reporting
[01:43:56] to me every day. So, I helped him on the
[01:43:59] the thing. But if you want to write down
[01:44:02] the the judgment, the judgment is India
[01:44:06] 32106.
[01:44:08] Now if you read that judgment, you will
[01:44:10] find that nowhere does the owner of the
[01:44:13] hotel have any ability to change the
[01:44:16] course with our permission.
[01:44:19] Okay. Now, um I'm not going I'm trying
[01:44:23] to get this down to a few seconds. Uh we
[01:44:26] set up a rules committee and put in
[01:44:29] rules and regulations that would uh be
[01:44:32] controlled both for Marriott and
[01:44:35] ourselves. Nothing in those rules
[01:44:38] committee will show that they have the
[01:44:40] ability to
[01:44:43] make any changes in the course without
[01:44:46] our permission. So I have to leave it.
[01:44:48] We got 13 seconds left. I wouldn't have
[01:44:50] had my afternoon nap if I was going to
[01:44:52] be this long.
[01:44:55] Anyway, [laughter]
[01:44:55] anyway, I'm very proud
[01:44:57] >> those documents.
[01:44:58] >> I'm very proud to actually live in
[01:45:00] Mansion Mirage. It's not my only home,
[01:45:02] but that's my tax base home, and I'm
[01:45:06] very proud of the people who run this
[01:45:08] because you're a debt-free organization.
[01:45:10] >> Thank you, sir.
[01:45:11] >> Thank you.
[01:45:13] [applause]
[01:45:15] >> The next speaker is Jim Paps.
[01:45:27] Madame Mayor and members of the city
[01:45:29] council, it's a pleasure to be here in
[01:45:30] front of you today. Everybody said
[01:45:32] almost everything I was going to say.
[01:45:33] The only thing I would uh indicate to
[01:45:36] you is that uh being in real estate for
[01:45:38] the last 22 years, uh actually almost 30
[01:45:41] years. Um I noticed that our property uh
[01:45:45] values everywhere has has gone down. But
[01:45:47] in Rancho Los Palmus, not only has it
[01:45:50] gone down with everybody else, we've had
[01:45:52] a problem with
[01:45:54] people going through and looking at the
[01:45:56] property. I think uh currently our uh
[01:46:00] golf course in Rancho Los Palmus is
[01:46:02] rated one of the lowest in the desert,
[01:46:04] if not the lowest. And I think that has
[01:46:06] a lot to do with it. So, we're not
[01:46:08] getting the observation of of the
[01:46:10] property as much as we used to. We're
[01:46:12] not getting uh sales like we used to.
[01:46:14] Currently, we have 19 properties for
[01:46:15] sale in Ranch of Los Palmus and only one
[01:46:18] in escrow. Um, that's a little unusual
[01:46:21] for us, but I think the market is is
[01:46:24] close to that everywhere else, but ours
[01:46:25] seems to be a little worse. And I think
[01:46:27] the golf course has everything to do
[01:46:29] with that. Uh, as far as the the cost
[01:46:33] factor that someone mentioned, u the,
[01:46:36] uh, hotel gets all of that $85 a month
[01:46:39] from every member uh, that owns in the
[01:46:42] property. In addition, every time one
[01:46:44] sells, they get four to five four to
[01:46:46] $4,500 for every sale in the property.
[01:46:49] So for that, we're close to a million
[01:46:51] dollars or a little over a million
[01:46:52] dollars. And I don't think we're getting
[01:46:54] the service from the hotel that we're
[01:46:56] paying for. That doesn't even include
[01:46:58] the the memberships that uh that we pay
[01:47:01] for those that are members and the golf
[01:47:05] uh tennis and pickle ball that we as
[01:47:08] homeowners all uh go to and contribute
[01:47:12] to. So, I think they're making money off
[01:47:14] of us, but they're not considering us
[01:47:16] the way they should be. Thank you very
[01:47:18] much.
[01:47:18] >> Thank you,
[01:47:21] >> Al Sutherland.
[01:47:36] uh madame mayor and council and staff,
[01:47:39] thank you uh for this uh
[01:47:42] minute in time for me to express my
[01:47:44] concerns about this uh proposal that
[01:47:47] Omni is presenting. Uh a few of the
[01:47:50] issues I was going to raise have been uh
[01:47:52] already addressed. parking was one of
[01:47:54] them. And I think that uh that's kind of
[01:47:56] part partial
[01:47:59] a part of the infrastructure
[01:48:01] uh that this proposal is dealing with.
[01:48:04] And I think that uh Omni is kind of uh
[01:48:07] misrepresenting
[01:48:09] uh the extent and the impact that uh
[01:48:12] this change in uh um the golf course is
[01:48:16] going to have on the uh first of all the
[01:48:19] HOA but then also on the city of Ranch
[01:48:22] Mirage. I think the as I say the parking
[01:48:25] uh is going to be an issue. I think that
[01:48:27] uh the plans that uh Omni has presented
[01:48:30] to uh um Ranch Mirage for uh approval
[01:48:36] also uh doesn't fully uh outline how
[01:48:41] they're going to deal with uh the um the
[01:48:45] start. They're going to need a starter
[01:48:46] shack or some way to monitor uh the
[01:48:50] golfers that uh start on the first hole,
[01:48:53] proceed through the nine holes because
[01:48:56] the way they've outlined the uh the
[01:48:59] executive course, it's going to start,
[01:49:02] which is currently the fourth hole, it's
[01:49:04] going to start there, but there is no
[01:49:06] facility for uh them to monitor uh who's
[01:49:11] going to start there and how they're
[01:49:13] going to proceed through the nine holes.
[01:49:15] So unless they're going to revamp
[01:49:17] somehow during the uh development
[01:49:21] process and maybe change the uh layout
[01:49:25] of the nine holes. I don't know how
[01:49:27] they're going to uh start without any
[01:49:30] control over who's going to play, how
[01:49:33] they take tea times, how they take uh
[01:49:35] funding or how they take uh um green
[01:49:38] fees and then where they finish. So uh
[01:49:42] and then the third I guess the other uh
[01:49:45] issue uh that I uh was concerned about
[01:49:48] is for so the HOA was founded in 77 as I
[01:49:54] understand at the hotel uh came into
[01:49:56] existence 4 years later. So the golf
[01:49:59] course was already in place. the uh wash
[01:50:03] uh when the hotel uh started the wash
[01:50:06] was um uh I think it was four involved
[01:50:11] four holes
[01:50:13] uh and uh it was remained a golf c golf
[01:50:17] holes with a beautiful setting green
[01:50:20] space etc for the homes overlooking uh
[01:50:23] the wash and the hotel overlooking the
[01:50:26] wash uh for some 40
[01:50:30] 45 or 47 years and then arbitrarily
[01:50:34] um Omni decided that they didn't uh want
[01:50:37] to deal with the uh um maintenance of
[01:50:40] those three holes which was to my way of
[01:50:43] thinking part of their obligation when
[01:50:45] they bought the hotel. So that's my
[01:50:48] that's my those are my arguments. Thank
[01:50:50] you.
[01:50:50] >> Thank you. Thank you
[01:50:52] >> Dan Gibson.
[01:51:03] Madame Mayor and Councilman, I
[01:51:04] appreciate the time to coming up and
[01:51:06] talking to you. I want to direct
[01:51:08] something to Mr. DS over there that made
[01:51:10] a comment earlier about the revenue of
[01:51:12] Rancher Mirage. We know it's very well
[01:51:14] profitable. It's very, very, very
[01:51:17] wellrun. You'll notice too if they put
[01:51:20] the uh if the Omni does what they're
[01:51:22] going to do to the uh pitching putts, I
[01:51:25] think it it it affects approximately 300
[01:51:29] owners of condos in our in our
[01:51:31] environment. Now, if that in if that
[01:51:34] affects these owners, their house value
[01:51:36] or their condo value is going to go
[01:51:38] down.
[01:51:40] Let's say their taxes go down by $1,000.
[01:51:45] [snorts] That is a big impact.
[01:51:47] Not a big impact, but a good strong
[01:51:49] impact to Rancher Mirage because you
[01:51:51] will lose that revenue by the impact of
[01:51:54] what Omni is going to do with our homes
[01:51:57] in the golf course. So, our proposal is
[01:52:00] a couple of things. We would like to
[01:52:02] have them not do that and negotiate with
[01:52:05] us so we can make a proper presentation
[01:52:08] and come to some joint agreement.
[01:52:11] And I guess finally, one of the things
[01:52:12] that the city should be concerned about,
[01:52:14] and I'm sure you are, even though it may
[01:52:16] not be your privy is I don't think they
[01:52:19] put forth any environmental studies to
[01:52:22] support the things that they want to do
[01:52:24] at this time. I know it's a big
[01:52:26] corporation and they tend to kind of run
[01:52:28] over us and not pay attention to
[01:52:31] anything um uh that we do or we ask. We
[01:52:34] just simply ask a nudge from the astute
[01:52:38] council members and the astute city, the
[01:52:40] wonderful city of Ranchomise to assist
[01:52:42] us as we go forward. Thank you very
[01:52:44] much.
[01:52:45] >> Thank you.
[01:52:47] >> Is there anyone else who would like to
[01:52:48] speak on the ranch of Los Palmus golf
[01:52:50] course issue? Okay, please step to the
[01:52:53] podium and state your name.
[01:52:58] [clears throat]
[01:53:03] >> Good afternoon. My name is Robert Amsa
[01:53:05] and thank you for this opportunity. Um
[01:53:07] I'm probably the youngest and newest
[01:53:09] member of Ranchel Los Palmus. I've been
[01:53:11] coming there for nine years full-time
[01:53:13] for four years. My opinion that Omni
[01:53:16] treats these people with total disregard
[01:53:18] and disrespect. They have given their
[01:53:20] hearts and souls in the HOA and the
[01:53:23] compliance committee and they benefit
[01:53:26] nothing from [clears throat] Omni. Omni
[01:53:28] has walked out on meetings on them, have
[01:53:30] told them to their face. They don't have
[01:53:32] time for them. And it's people live
[01:53:35] there their entire lives and put their
[01:53:37] heart and soul into this community and
[01:53:38] the clubhouse and the organization. They
[01:53:41] support it 100% with events that bring
[01:53:44] money into the clubhouse. And yet Omni
[01:53:47] will not give them anything they asked
[01:53:50] for. And I think they've treated you
[01:53:52] with disrespect also. And it's obvious.
[01:53:55] We hear nothing from them but rumors.
[01:53:57] And the rumors turn out to be false.
[01:53:59] nothing but lie after lie after lie.
[01:54:02] You're going to have full notification
[01:54:05] of everything that's going on this
[01:54:06] month, next month, down the road, down
[01:54:09] the always down the road. Omni does not
[01:54:11] treat these people with the respect they
[01:54:14] deserve. And Ted Cummings, the oldest
[01:54:16] member, he has gone heart and soul into
[01:54:20] this place every day of his life, and
[01:54:22] they treat him like a worn out shoe. So
[01:54:26] that's my opinion on Omni. Thank you.
[01:54:31] >> Are there any [applause]
[01:54:33] any additional speakers on this specific
[01:54:35] topic?
[01:54:39] >> Uh Madame Mayor, if if I may, obviously
[01:54:42] this isn't agendaized, so we can't get
[01:54:44] into a lengthy discussion, but uh just
[01:54:46] some of the things uh that we heard
[01:54:48] today. Uh and I appreciate the meeting
[01:54:50] that staff had uh with some of you that
[01:54:53] are out there today and for coming here
[01:54:54] today to share um your thoughts and
[01:54:57] opinions with us. Uh from a staff
[01:55:00] perspective, uh we did hold a meeting uh
[01:55:02] with some of the board members and uh
[01:55:05] residents of this country club. Uh there
[01:55:08] have been no permits issued. Uh staff is
[01:55:11] still analyzing uh the applicants
[01:55:14] proposed changes. uh independently, I
[01:55:16] would probably agree with the opinion
[01:55:18] that the Omni has not been a good
[01:55:20] partner. Um when it comes to uh the
[01:55:24] speaker that referenced that uh the Omni
[01:55:26] will host um events and have very loud
[01:55:29] music, uh the city would be happy to
[01:55:31] enforce our noise regulations. So, if a
[01:55:34] property owner would like to contact the
[01:55:36] city, I would be happy to have a code
[01:55:37] officer out there with a decimal reader
[01:55:40] and issuing citations to them. uh we
[01:55:42] just have to be invited onto your
[01:55:44] property. Uh when it comes to their
[01:55:46] settlement agreement, uh as I noted with
[01:55:49] a group that we met with, uh that
[01:55:51] probably puts them in a stronger
[01:55:52] position than us as the city. Uh and so
[01:55:56] because that is uh a third party
[01:55:58] agreement. That's not something that the
[01:55:59] city can enforce. Uh but they have their
[01:56:02] own remedies uh that they can go to
[01:56:04] since the homeowners are a party to that
[01:56:06] agreement. At the end of the day, uh
[01:56:09] staff is still analyzing the project and
[01:56:12] uh so far it is not moving forward
[01:56:14] because the omni uh application team has
[01:56:17] not um given us the information
[01:56:20] necessary to move that forward. So thank
[01:56:23] you.
[01:56:25] >> Can we give these residents a phone
[01:56:27] number that they can call on the
[01:56:28] weekends? [laughter]
[01:56:31] >> No. Well, no, that's
[01:56:32] >> so so on our city website, uh, our code
[01:56:35] enforcement, uh, we have a whole page
[01:56:37] dedicated. You can email, you can call,
[01:56:41] um, so we would be happy to enforce our
[01:56:44] noise ordinance uh, for their events.
[01:56:49] >> Okay.
[01:56:50] >> Okay. And madame mayor, we do have
[01:56:51] additional public comments.
[01:56:52] >> Terrific. If I can just make a comment.
[01:56:54] Thank you to all of you for coming,
[01:56:56] taking the time out of your day. It's
[01:56:58] clear that you're passionate about this.
[01:56:59] What the city, whatever the city can do,
[01:57:02] we will do. Our staff is working very
[01:57:05] hard and we understand where you're
[01:57:07] coming from. And please don't hesitate
[01:57:10] to come back again. You're always
[01:57:12] welcome in this uh council chamber.
[01:57:15] Thank you.
[01:57:16] >> Can I make one more comment? You
[01:57:18] >> want me to do that?
[01:57:20] >> It's up to you. It's up to the mayor.
[01:57:22] >> Yes, sir. Mr. Cummings, you're the
[01:57:23] longest
[01:57:25] >> resident.
[01:57:28] What you don't realize is that
[01:57:31] >> sir sir with with all due respect could
[01:57:34] you come to the podium so all of the
[01:57:35] council members can hear you.
[01:57:38] >> What you don't realize is this is edging
[01:57:40] toward a class action suit. Now a class
[01:57:44] action suit could involve you if you
[01:57:46] approve permits that are illegal. Okay?
[01:57:51] And uh the we will be suing if we sue
[01:57:54] under class action all of the original
[01:57:57] people we sued right through from from
[01:58:01] uh the Marriott through they have to
[01:58:04] then prove that they're not in the
[01:58:06] lawsuit. But I think you should look
[01:58:09] very closely at what you're deciding
[01:58:11] before you jump into it. Okay.
[01:58:14] >> Thank you, sir.
[01:58:17] >> Madame clerk.
[01:58:18] >> Yes. Our next speaker is Susan Ragsdale.
[01:58:24] >> Hello, city council. It's good to see
[01:58:26] you. Happy New Year. I wish you all the
[01:58:28] best.
[01:58:30] Um, when I was going to UC Santa Barbara
[01:58:34] and I was 19 years old in my second
[01:58:36] year, I took philosophy 101 and
[01:58:40] everybody had to write their philosophy
[01:58:41] of life over the 10-week period. And
[01:58:44] mine was love, a creative response to
[01:58:48] life. And this has been my philosophy of
[01:58:53] life ever since honestly since I was a
[01:58:56] young child. And I I'm moving. So I
[01:59:00] found this this beautiful I mean I'm
[01:59:02] very nostalgic and I just find it
[01:59:05] amazing that I was a teenager and I was
[01:59:07] so into this. Um, in October 2019,
[01:59:15] unfortunately, I had terrible timing
[01:59:17] when they had the In-N-Out Burger
[01:59:19] protest that I had nothing to do with.
[01:59:21] And fortunately, Marcus Aliman warned
[01:59:24] me, "Don't go to that meeting because
[01:59:26] there's going to be a lot of people." So
[01:59:28] I waited two weeks and I and I came to
[01:59:30] present my very deep concerns about uh
[01:59:35] light pollution in Rancho Mirage and the
[01:59:37] fact that LED lights which are
[01:59:40] completely unnatural and very harmful
[01:59:43] causing macular degeneration not only to
[01:59:46] humans but any animal or insect that has
[01:59:50] eyes. And because of this, the body
[01:59:54] responds with anxiety, a flight or fight
[01:59:57] response. And so if there are what's
[02:00:01] called glare bombs, then people feel
[02:00:04] anxious. They don't really know why, but
[02:00:07] they're having that I got to get out of
[02:00:09] here. Like it seems like you have some
[02:00:10] new lights here, and I'm finding them
[02:00:12] very painful to my eyes. Uh in my move I
[02:00:16] dug up my this is like a 54 page report
[02:00:21] and this is what uh Dana Hobart was very
[02:00:25] much interested in having me having a
[02:00:28] 15minute meeting which he arranged with
[02:00:31] Mr. Haggererman
[02:00:33] back then. And what I want to say is
[02:00:37] the I want I'm I would love it if you
[02:00:40] could stop Cino in their tracks from
[02:00:42] creating an environmental disaster
[02:00:45] regarding the lights. Fortunately, after
[02:00:48] a f I'm going to run out of time. It's
[02:00:50] just so frustrating. I have so many
[02:00:52] things to say.
[02:00:54] There was a precedent setting case after
[02:00:56] a five five-year court case in the UK
[02:01:00] that they finally agreed that these
[02:01:02] lights are extremely dangerous. This is
[02:01:04] the kind of lighting I would encourage
[02:01:07] Cino to put in where they could make it
[02:01:09] a beautiful like artistic experience
[02:01:13] rather than glare bombs hurting people
[02:01:16] and making them repelled. So, I'm
[02:01:19] leaving this with you. I I wish I had
[02:01:22] more time. I always want to talk to you
[02:01:24] a lot. I know you think I
[02:01:25] overcommunicate, but I ask you, what
[02:01:27] would you do if you were me? I mean, I
[02:01:29] was illegally evicted and it's just
[02:01:31] terrible. Thank you very much,
[02:01:34] >> Zachary Katana.
[02:01:46] >> All right. Uh, good afternoon, Mayor,
[02:01:48] Madame Mayor, speakers, um, and fellow
[02:01:51] community members. Um, I'm a longtime
[02:01:53] valley visitor, uh, first- time speaker
[02:01:55] here. Um, my request, if black, for lack
[02:01:58] of appropriate word, um, is simple. Um,
[02:02:00] my family and I, we are currently
[02:02:02] property owners at, uh, outside of
[02:02:04] Wilshire Palms, um, development off of
[02:02:07] Country Club. And we are some rare
[02:02:11] breeds that like to actually walk for
[02:02:12] exercise, um, you know, around here when
[02:02:15] the weather permits. And when we like to
[02:02:18] especially walk to the local businesses
[02:02:20] um and so where the development's
[02:02:23] located, it's on the north side of
[02:02:25] Country Club Drive. Um the only sidewalk
[02:02:27] to walk on is on the other side of the
[02:02:29] street. So that means that when we come
[02:02:33] in and out of the development, we have
[02:02:34] to try to cross country club drive with,
[02:02:38] you know, tons of vehicles and cars that
[02:02:41] go up to like 60 mph. And um one of my
[02:02:45] general frustrations with uh society as
[02:02:47] a whole is it seems like it's more
[02:02:49] reactive than proactive. And essentially
[02:02:52] what we would like to see is a stop
[02:02:55] ideally an intersection a stoplight and
[02:02:58] crosswalk put in at least a crosswalk
[02:03:01] though cuz it feels like a disaster
[02:03:02] waiting to happen. Um so crossing back
[02:03:06] and forth that way you know cars can um
[02:03:09] be more regulated in terms of speed and
[02:03:12] stopping, people can come and go. Uh
[02:03:14] this is especially important given how
[02:03:16] the valley is growing in population with
[02:03:18] more developments um coming, more people
[02:03:21] renting. It just feels like that would
[02:03:23] be uh to everyone's interest to have
[02:03:26] more traffic mitigation. Um so at least
[02:03:29] a crosswalk but ideally a light and a
[02:03:32] crosswalk as well. So, thank you for
[02:03:34] your time.
[02:03:34] >> Thank you for your comments.
[02:03:37] >> Wally Melendez.
[02:04:00] Good afternoon.
[02:04:02] >> [clears throat]
[02:04:02] >> Uh, good afternoon everybody.
[02:04:05] I'm William Mendes.
[02:04:11] So,
[02:04:15] the ex executive branch of the federal
[02:04:20] government
[02:04:23] is way under is way out of control.
[02:04:32] uh in the leadership of
[02:04:36] convicted felon Donald uh that Trump
[02:04:46] that that that woman that lady
[02:04:50] [clears throat]
[02:04:51] was murdered by ICE
[02:04:54] in Minneapolis,
[02:04:56] Minnesota. I don't know why Ice picks on
[02:05:03] Maybe because
[02:05:06] Mr. Walls is a good candidate to beat
[02:05:09] him this November or rather
[02:05:14] to be elected as president.
[02:05:20] I want to tell you
[02:05:22] a here's something funny.
[02:05:27] A guy in a border patrol uniform
[02:05:33] is harassing in Minneapolis
[02:05:37] is harassing an African-American
[02:05:40] that's working in yuber. You know, you
[02:05:43] all know what yuber is.
[02:05:46] and in a border patrol uniform and he's
[02:05:49] harassing this African-American man
[02:05:52] asking him
[02:05:55] where he was born and and so on and so
[02:05:58] forth. And here's the funny part. The
[02:06:02] African-American guy retorts to the guy
[02:06:05] and says, "You have a border patrol
[02:06:08] uniform. Aren't you kind of far from the
[02:06:10] border?"
[02:06:12] That is really really funny to me. I
[02:06:16] Hey, by the way, I'm from the border
[02:06:19] [laughter]
[02:06:19] brown. That's my That's where I That's
[02:06:22] where I originated.
[02:06:28] They are threatening
[02:06:32] Trump. He's threatening or somebody up
[02:06:34] there in his cabinet, his clown cabinet
[02:06:39] are threatening that they are going to
[02:06:41] bring in Elon Musk back
[02:06:45] to the Oval Office.
[02:06:48] Elon Musk was the one that had Trump
[02:06:51] elected
[02:06:53] president
[02:06:56] last year.
[02:07:00] Thank you.
[02:07:01] >> Thank you.
[02:07:02] That was the last speaker card. Is there
[02:07:04] anyone else in the audience who
[02:07:05] [clears throat] would like to speak on
[02:07:06] something that is not on today's agenda?
[02:07:10] That was the last speaker.
[02:07:14] Thank you everyone for being here. The
[02:07:15] city council will recess to close
[02:07:17] session.
[02:07:20] Thank you, mayor. We'll be convening
[02:07:22] into close session for the item before
[02:07:24] you on the listed on the agenda 9A1
[02:07:26] conference with legal counsel existing
[02:07:29] litigation pursuant to government code
[02:07:31] section 54956.9D1
[02:07:36] case name unspecified since disclosure
[02:07:38] may jeopardize existing settlement
[02:07:40] negotiations.
[02:07:44] [clears throat]
[02:07:54] We are reconvening after close session.
[02:07:56] I'd like the city attorney to report out
[02:07:58] any reportable actions.
[02:08:00] >> Thank you, mayor. No reportable action
[02:08:01] taken today.
[02:08:03] >> Very good. We will adjourn the meeting
[02:08:05] at 4:08 p.m.
[02:08:09] >> Great job.