CITY OF DESERT HOT SPRINGS
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
And the City Council Serving as the Successor Agency to the
Redevelopment Agency Board
ACTION MINUTES
March 3, 2020
5:30 P.M. – CLOSED SESSION
6:00 P.M. – REGULAR SESSION
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Carl May Community Center
11711 West Drive, Desert Hot Springs, California
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Mayor Matas called the Closed Session to order at 5:31 P.M. |
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Present: Council Members: Russell Betts, Gary Gardner, Jan Pye Mayor: Scott Matas
Absent: Mayor Pro Tem: Robert Griffith |
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None. |
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1. |
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—EXISTING LITIGATION (Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9) Name of case: City of Desert Hot Springs v. Irene Valenti, et. al.; PSC1802698 |
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2. |
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9: One Potential Case |
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Mayor Matas called the Regular Session to order at 6:00 P.M. |
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Present: Council Members: Russell Betts, Gary Gardner, Jan Pye Mayor: Scott Matas
Absent: Mayor Pro Tem: Robert Griffith |
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Elder John Tinker gave the Invocation. |
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Council Member Pye led the Pledge of Allegiance. |
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Jennifer Mizrahi, City Attorney, advised that there was no reportable action. |
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Action: Betts moved to approve the March 3, 2020 Regular Meeting agenda; and approve the Consent Calendar in its entirety, motion seconded by Gardner, motion carried 4/0 by the following vote: |
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Vote: AYES: 4 - Betts, Matas, Pye, Gardner Passed NOES: 0 - (None) ABSENT: 1 - Griffith |
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Russ Martin announced that Mission Springs Water District was voted "best water in the world" at the 30th Annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting event. |
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James Fields expressed the need for street lighting on a portion of Cuando Way. |
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Ted Mayrhofen, Public Safety Commissioner, requested Brown Act training. |
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Sheila Thornton and Sandy Lyons, OneFuture Coachella Valley, expressed thanks for the City's funding contribution. |
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Doria Wilms, Assistant City Manager, provided an update regarding COVID-19. |
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Luke Rainey, Deputy City Manager, provided an update regarding the City's statewide park grant application. |
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Doria Wilms, Assistant City Manager, provided an update regarding the Palm Drive re-paving project. |
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Daniel Porras, Public Works Director, provided an update regarding Phase II of the Palm Drive Lighting and Safety Improvements project; and the traffic signal projects. |
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Luke Rainey, Deputy City Manager, announced that there would be a ground-breaking ceremony for the new Library. |
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Doria Wilms, Assistant City Manager, announced the Senior Resource Fair event. |
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Council Member Pye reported on the various meetings and events she attended. |
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Council Member Betts reported on the various meetings and events he attended. |
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Council Member Gardner reported on the various meetings and events he attended. |
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Mayor Matas reported on the various meetings and events he attended. |
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3. |
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Deputy City Manager, Luke Rainey |
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Recommendation: |
Authorize the City Manager to execute an Agreement between the City of Desert Hot Springs and the California Choice Energy Authority for an amount not to exceed $73,000 to provide a Community Choice Aggregation feasibility study. |
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Luke Rainey, Deputy City Manager, presented the Staff report and introduced Barbara Boswell from the California Choice Energy Authority. |
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Barbara Boswell provided an overview of the feasibility study and responded to questions. |
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Katie Barrows, Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), gave an update regarding the Desert Community Energy Community Choice Aggregation (CCA). |
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A discussion ensued. |
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Action: Pye moved to approve staff recommendation, motion seconded by Gardner, motion carried 4/0 by the following vote: |
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Vote: AYES: 4 - Betts, Matas, Pye, Gardner Passed NOES: 0 - (None) ABSENT: 1 - Griffith |
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Item 6 was considered at this time. |
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4. |
Resolution to Forgive the $15,126,594 Loan Originally to the Desert Hot Springs Investment Fund, LLC to Finance the Construction of the City's Health and Wellness Center |
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Finance Director, Geoffrey Buchheim |
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Recommendation: |
Adopt a resolution of the City Council forgiving the $15,126,594 Loan from the City of Desert Hot Springs originally to the Desert Hot Springs Investment Fund, LLC to finance the construction of the Health and Wellness Center. |
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Geoffrey Buchheim, Finance Director, presented the staff report. |
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A discussion ensued. |
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Action: Betts moved to approve staff recommendation and adopt Resolution No. 2020-005, motion seconded by Pye, motion carried 4/0 by the following vote: |
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Vote: AYES: 4 - Betts, Matas, Pye, Gardner Passed NOES: 0 - (None) ABSENT: 1 - Griffith |
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5. |
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Community Development Director, Rebecca Deming |
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Recommendation: |
Approve the 2019 Annual Housing Element Progress Report and Direct Staff to Submit the Report to the Governor's Office of Planning and Research. |
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Rebecca Deming, Community Development Director, presented the staff report. |
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Action: Pye moved to approve staff recommendation, motion seconded by Gardner, motion carried 4/0 by the following vote: |
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Vote: AYES: 4 - Betts, Matas, Pye, Gardner Passed NOES: 0 - (None) ABSENT: 1 - Griffith |
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6. |
Discussion Item: Consideration of a Letter of Support for the Inland Empire Regional Energy Network (I-REN) |
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Mayor Pro Tem, Robert Griffith; and Council Member, Gary Gardner |
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Recommendation: |
Consider whether to place an item regarding "consideration of a letter of support for the Inland Empire Regional Energy Network (I-REN)" on a future agenda for action. |
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Item 6 was considered following Item 3. |
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Council Member Gardner presented the report. |
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A discussion ensued. |
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Action: Betts moved to approve placement on March 17, 2020 agenda, motion seconded by Gardner, motion carried 4/0 by the following vote: |
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Vote: AYES: 4 - Betts, Matas, Pye, Gardner Passed NOES: 0 - (None) ABSENT: 1 - Griffith |
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7. |
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City Clerk, Jerryl Soriano, CMC |
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Recommendation: |
Approve the Minutes as presented; or as corrected. |
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8. |
County Service Area 152 (CSA 152) Budget and Proposed Assessment For Fiscal Year 2020-19 |
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Public Works Director, Daniel Porras |
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Recommendation: |
1) Review the budget and assessment for County Service Area 152; and 2) Adopt a Resolution of the City Council making its findings and establishing the rates for County Service Area 152 to fund the City's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit. |
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Resolution No. 2020-006 |
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9. |
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Geoffrey Buchheim, Finance Director |
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Recommendation: |
Receive and file. |
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None. |
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Mayor Matas adjourned the meeting at 7:09 P.M. |
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Jerryl Soriano, CMC, City Clerk