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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD Resident Card Policy- DWGC 110 IP 41 I. ,4% 4,4 1 °=97N, INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM CITY OF PALM DESERT DATE: AUGUST 28, 1997 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER FROM: JOHN M. WOHLMUTH, ACM/DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES SUBJECT: PALM DESERT RESIDENT CARD POLICY RECOMMENDATION By minute motion,approve a modification to the Palm Desert Resident Card Policy requiring four(4) months proof of residency. BACKGROUND The current Palm Desert Resident Card Policy requires proof of residency as an owner or renter for a minimum of thirty-one (31) days. Staff believes this minimum residency requirement has created an opportunity for obvious nonresidents to play golf at Desert Willow at the discounted resident rate. Attached please find the current Palm Desert Resident Card Policy (Exhibit"A"). In early 1997,the City Council approved a Palm Desert Resident Card Policy for the Desert Willow opening on February 26, 1997. On March 27, 1997, staff updated the City Council with an information item. This information item outlined problems and concerns staff has experienced in implementing the Resident Card Policy. Council directed staff to bring back recommendations during the summer to resolve outstanding resident card issues. On July 14, 1997, staff prepared a report for the Golf Course Committee. Staff prepared several proof of residency options for the Golf Course Committee and recommended the four-month residency option. -; 01) PALM DESERT RESIDENT CARD POLICY AUGUST 28, 1997 PAGE 2 The current Palm Desert Resident Cards are valid through 1997. Each card holder must renew his/her card for 1998 at a cost of$3.00. The Coachella Valley Recreation and Park District has issued over 4,000 Palm Desert Resident Cards as of June 1, 1997. The percentage of the total number of rounds Palm Desert residents have played at Desert Willow has been: March 40% April 49% May 43% June 37% The Cities of Palm Springs and Indian Wells have resident rates at their city golf courses. Their residents have limitations on tee-times on City courses, far more limitations than residents playing at Desert Willow. The resident card policies in Palm Springs and Indian Wells are also more restrictive than the Palm Desert Resident Card Policy. Indian Wells utilizes an assessor parcel information software. One must be a residential property owner to receive a card; each property is only granted two resident cards regardless of the number of owners. No renters are issued resident cards. New property owners can show a grant deed. Palm Springs requires that a resident show a California driver's license with a Palm Springs address or a voter registration card. No substitutes. (The vehicle code requires drivers to obtain a new license when their primary resident changes. Residency is where you live and work. Retirees could maintain an out-of-state license and be within the law. Therefore, Palm Desert owners living in Palm Desert for over half of a year would be required to apply for a California driver's license or a voter's registration card.) Problems Experience With Palm Desert Policy: The Palm Desert Resident Card Policy requires two forms of information; a picture identification and street address verification. The problems with proof of residency originates from citizens attempting to prove residency with documents verifying a Palm Desert street address. The Coachella Valley Recreation& Park District and the City require either current utility bill, current assistance receipt, a recent property tax bill, a rental receipt, or a rental agreement. The City has experienced the following problems with street address verification: • 1111 di/ w • . PALM DESERT RESIDENT CARD POLICY AUGUST 28, 1997 PAGE 3 1. The City requires a current utility bill; renters could live in Palm Desert for 31 days and receive a resident card. 2. By showing a property tax bill, one does not prove residency, rather shows ownership. 3. Many visitors rent condominiums or homes for 31 days utilizing a rental agreement. This proof will allow a visitor to obtain a resident card. Potentially many renters of the same unit can obtain a resident card. 4. Many businesses own condominiums or homes, and the offices of the businesses want resident cards. In some cases we may have issued as many as five resident cards for one home, given they prove they live in the company owned home for 31 days. 5. Emerald Desert is a travel park in Palm Desert. The renters have obtained resident cards with proof of 31 day stay or greater. 6. Staff has received many objections from Palm Desert business owners unable to obtain Palm Desert Resident Cards. Business owners claim their monetary contribution to the City is more substantial than a resident's contribution. Staff reemphasizes that resident cards are for residents only. Staff recommends that the City Council maintain the current Palm Desert Card Policy with the exception of requiring proof of residency of four(4) months. Respectfully submitted Reviewed and Concur, CM J HN M. WOHLMUTH RAMON A. DIAZ CM/DIRECTOR OF ADMIN. SERVICES CITY MANAGER CITY COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED x* DENIED RECEIVED OTHER liEETING DATE 8/28/97 I AYES: RENSnjL CRTTES. SNYDER. SPIEGEL( KELLY NOES: • SHEILA R. GILLIGAN "ABSENT: NONE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY FFAIRSISTAIN:NONE CITY CLERK VERIFIED BY: SRG/rdk Original on File with City Clerk's Office *By Minute Motion, approve the four months proof of residency modification in concept and direct staff to work out the details of what constitutes proof of residency and to also come back to the Council in about three months after the policy is put into effect and report on the amount and kind of opposition that has come about as a result of the policy.