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Home My WebLink About17A Public Comment1 Niamh M. Ortega From:Lorraine Salas <keebler91711@aim.com> Sent:Thursday, January 27, 2022 11:53 AM To:City Hall Mail Subject:Jan. 27 public comment Honorable Mayor & members of the Palm Desert City Council: It appears that the Palm Desert City Council is ready to pass a motion today to let the voters decide (by way of a ballot measure) if they want to expand the present voting system from 2 to 5 districts to go into effect for the 2024 election cycle if passed by the voters. Several Palm Desert residents would prefer the City Council pass a motion today to move (without a ballot measure) toward a five district system of electing Council members to go into effect for the November 2022 election cycle. However, there is room for a compromise motion; namely, a motion to have the voters decide the issue by putting a ballot measure on the June 2022 mid‐term election and if passed, go into effect for the November 2022 election cycle. Lorraine Salas Palm Desert resident 1 Niamh M. Ortega From:Lindsey L Harris <desertlindsey@gmail.com> Sent:Wednesday, January 26, 2022 12:05 PM To:Niamh M. Ortega Subject:Comments on Agenda Items for City Council Meeting Jan 27 Hi Niamh, If you don’t mind, would you please share this email with the entire City Council prior to the upcoming City Council Meeting. Thank you so much for your assistance with this. Lindsey Harris (760) 799‐7175 43754 Fairhaven Drive, Palm Desert 92260 Dear Mayor Harnik, and Honorable Council Members, The purpose of this email is to express my thoughts briefly, regarding a couple of the agenda items listed for the January 27th City Council Meeting. Regarding Action Calendar Item 17. ‐ REQUEST FOR DIRECTION on consideration of future City Council adoption of a resolution calling for a ballot measure on five districts I am in complete support of the Council proceeding with a Council‐initiated ballot measure, and for the City Council to adopt a resolution calling for a ballot measure prior to June 2022. It seems apparent that the City of Palm Desert has grown in size and diversity enough to necessitate five voting districts and this is the time to make that change. Regarding Action Calendar Item 18. ‐ REQUEST FOR DIRECTION regarding Portola Avenue / I‐10 Interchange improvements (Project No. 637‐02) I am in support of all of the recommendations of the City Manager. Especially directing the City Manager or designee to work with Coachella Valley Association of Governments to return the remaining City bond funds on deposit. Thank you for you kind and thoughtful attention to my comments. Sincerely, ‐Lindsey Harris 1 Niamh M. Ortega From:Ellen Gard <eigard@outlook.com> Sent:Thursday, January 27, 2022 11:01 AM To:City Hall Mail Subject:2-5 voting districts I support the effort whether by vote of the public or by your own motion. thx. Ellen Gard 1 Niamh M. Ortega From:Paulette Quaid <pdgquaids@gmail.com> Sent:Thursday, January 27, 2022 8:24 AM To:City Hall Mail Subject:Pass A Motion Today for a 5 District System! Honorable Mayor & members of the Palm Desert City Council: It appears that the Palm Desert City Council is ready to pass a motion today to let the voters decide (by way of a ballot measure) if they want to expand the present voting system from 2 to 5 districts to go into effect for the 2024 election cycle if passed by the voters. Several Palm Desert residents would prefer the City Council pass a motion today to move (without a ballot measure) toward a five district system of electing Council members to go into effect for the November 2022 election cycle. However, there is room for a compromise motion; namely, a motion to have the voters decide the issue by putting a ballot measure on the June 2022 mid‐term election and if passed, go into effect for the November 2022 election cycle. Paulette Quaid, resident Palm Desert 1 Niamh M. Ortega From:KATHTHE FENDER <fenderoa@aol.com> Sent:Thursday, January 27, 2022 10:15 AM To:City Hall Mail Subject:The redistricting vote Let the voters decide if they want a five district voting system Mister Mayor and the Palm Desert City Council: I and many other residents of Palm Desert want to see 5‐way redistricting. I do not feel represented properly if only 2 districts are representative of Palm Desert's diversity As you know there are socioeconomic extremes in our mighty city. There is a large population of absentee homeowners, and in‐between we break down along party lines and further on the spectrum there are workaday residents paying your salary. Several Palm Desert residents would prefer the City Council pass a motion today to move (without a ballot measure) toward a five district system of electing Council members to go into effect for the November 2022 election cycle. There is room for compromise; namely, a motion to have the voters decide the issue by putting a ballot measure on the June 2022 mid‐term election and if passed, go into effect for the November 2022 election cycle. Kathleen Fender 92260 Resident for 38 years 2 Sheila R. Goldner Cathedral City, CA 92234 January 27, 2022 Mayor Jan Harnik Mayor Pro Tem Sabby Jonathan Council Member Gina Nestande Council Member Karina Quintanilla Council Member Kathleen Kelly 73510 Fred Waring Dr. Palm Desert, CA 922 Subject: a compromise motion that lets the voters decide if they want a five district voting system Honorable Mayor and Members of the Palm Desert City Council: It appears that the Palm Desert City Council is ready to pass a motion today to let the voters decide (by way of a ballot measure) if they want to expand the present voting system from two to five districts to go into effect for the 2024 election cycle if passed by the voters. Several Palm Desert residents would prefer the City Council pass a motion today to move (without a ballot measure) toward a five district system of electing Council members to go into effect for the November 2022 election cycle. However, there is room for a compromise motion; namely, a motion to have the voters decide the issue by putting a ballot measure on the June 2022 mid-term election and if passed, go into effect for the November 2022 election cycle. Sincerely yours, Sheila R. Goldner, Rresident Cathedral City 1 Niamh M. Ortega From:Carol Pollard <carol@pollardresearch.com> Sent:Thursday, January 27, 2022 10:23 AM To:City Hall Mail Subject:Five district voting system To the Palm Desert Mayor and City Council Members, I understand that the Palm Desert City Council is ready to pass a motion today to let the voters decide (by way of a ballot measure) if they want to expand the present voting system from 2 to 5 districts. This would not go into effect until the 2024 election cycle – which I think is too long to keep the status quo. I am a Palm Desert residents and would prefer the City Council pass a motion today to move toward a five district system of electing Council members. This would go into effect for the November 2022 election cycle. As always, there is room for a compromise motion. This motion would allow the voters to decide the issue by putting a ballot measure on the June 2022 mid‐term election. If passed, this would go into effect for the November 2022 election cycle. The City of Palm Desert needs to move to 5 districts as soon as possible so that all residents are equally represented. Thank you for your consideration. Carol Pollard Palm Desert resident. 1 Niamh M. Ortega From:Sheila Goldner <sgoldner8435@twc.com> Sent:Wednesday, January 26, 2022 4:44 PM To:City Hall Mail Subject:Five districts Voters want a choice, so set up district voting for the 2022 election cycle. Very truly yours, Sheila Goldner ‐‐ This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://protect‐us.mimecast.com/s/2aV2CW6zvriwOZWc6dI6z From:Jann Buller To:Jan Harnik; Sabby Jonathan; Kathleen Kelly; Gina Nestande; Karina Quintanilla; Niamh M. Ortega Subject:Comments on districts Date:Thursday, January 27, 2022 11:58:31 AM Honorable Mayor and City Council Members: A lawsuit compelled Palm Desert to abandon its long-standing practice of giving every citizen the opportunity to select five candidates from across the city for council membership. That right to elect five candidates also enabled residents to hold all five people accountable, collectively and individually, for council decisions and actions. Today we are hearing demands for moving to 5 districts immediately for “equal representation”, with the intention of giving each of us a single vote and the ability to hold only one member accountable. This is not enhanced democracy, but a reduction in government by the people, for the people and of the people. Please don’t rush to lead Palm Desert in this direction. Jann Buller Palm Desert Item 17A