HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01-18 CEC Regular Meeting Minutes
City of Palm Desert Page 1
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE
CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the Civic Engagement Committee was called to order by Chair Vogt on
Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. held in the Administrative Conference Room, City
Hall, located at 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, California.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Committee Members Jon Holan, Franchon-Marie Siddiq, Robin Stewart, Vice
Chair Gregg Akkerman, and Chair Emily Vogt.
Absent: Committee Member Brooke Beare Stjerne
Liaison(s)
Present: Kathleen Kelly, City Council Liaison
Staff
Present: Ryland Penta, Community Relations Supervisor; Vanessa Mager, Management
Analyst II; and Monique Lomeli, Recording Secretary.
3. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER SIDDIQ, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER
STEWART, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the Civic Engagement Committee Regular Meeting
minutes of October 19, 2023.
Thursday
January 18, 2024
11:00 a.m.
Regular Meeting
Civic Engagement Committee Minutes January 18, 2024
City of Palm Desert Page 2
5. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. UPDATE ON COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Community Relations Supervisor Penta provided an update on the addition of a
Community Relations division to the City organization; introduced Management Analyst II
Vanessa Mager; and responded to Committee inquiries.
B. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE WORK PLAN DISCUSSION
Community Relations Supervisor Penta provided information regarding the development
of a committee workplan and encouraged members to consider and contribute additional
goals to be discussed and prioritized at the next meeting.
C. CIVIC ACADEMY PARTICIPANT SELECTION CRITERIA & PROCESS
Community Relations Supervisor Penta provided information regarding the upcoming
Spring Civic Academy and requested feedback regarding the selection criteria and
process.
Individual Committee Members offered commentary as follows. The below points do not
necessarily reflect a consensus:
• Consider making Civic Academy attendance a requirement for volunteers and City
Council candidates.
• Solicit interest through community events and utilize existing Committee Members
to recruit new participants.
• Prioritize residents, employees, and students with connections to Palm Desert
communities.
• Consider limiting the number of participants.
• Add to Facebook as a shareable event.
D. PALM DESERT SPEAKER SERIES
Community Relations Supervisor Penta provided information regarding the potential for a
speaker series and requested Committee feedback.
Individual Committee Members offered commentary as follows. The below suggestions
do not necessarily reflect a consensus:
• Coachella Valley Water District
• Burrtec
• Vector Control
• Higher Learning
• Utilities and other regional groups and partner organizations (water, air quality,
solar, etc.).
• Implications of climate changes
• CERT representatives or other options focused on public safety and preparation.
• Law Enforcement
• Desert Recreation District
• The Living Desert
Civic Engagement Committee Minutes January 18, 2024
City of Palm Desert Page 3
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & COMMENTS
A. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS
No requests for action.
B. CITY COUNTIL LIAISON
Mayor Quintanilla provided a welcome message via YouTube recording.
Councilmember Kelly acknowledged the need to better promote the City Council’s active
presence in various organizations that influence grants and funding opportunities;
reported the City recently secured $8M grant through Southern California Association of
Governments to enhance flood control particularly along the mid valley channel and north
end of the city.
C. CITY STAFF
Community Relations Supervisor Penta provided information regarding upcoming events
and community engagements.
Recording Secretary Monique Lomeli announced Committee Member Warmuth’s
resignation.
D. ATTENDANCE REPORT
Report provided; no action taken on this item.
6. ADJOURNMENT
The Civic Engagement Committee adjourned at 12:07 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Michelle Nance, Deputy Clerk
Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
Ryland Penta, Community Relations Supervisor
Staff Liaison
APPROVED BY THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE: __/__/2024.