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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-11-16MINUTES —ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017 CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBER 73510 FRED WARING DRIVE, PALM DESERT, CA 92260 I. CALL TO ORDER - 3:00 P.M. Chair Harnik convened the meeting at 3:01 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Vice Chair Sabby Jonathan Director Kathleen Kelly Director Gina Nestande Director Susan Marie Weber Chair Jan C. Harnik Also Present: Lauri Aylaian, Executive Director Robert W. Hargreaves, City Attorney Rachelle D. Klassen, Secretary Lori Carney, Director of Administrative Services Russell Grance, Director of Building & Safety Ryan Stendell, Director of Community Development Martin Alvarez, Director of Economic Development Janet M. Moore, Director of Finance/City Treasurer Mark Greenwood, Director of Public Works Frankie Riddle, Director of Special Programs Stephen Y. Aryan, Risk Manager Dan Talbot, Deputy Chief, County Fire Department/Cal Fire Lt. Coby Webb, Asst. Chief, Palm Desert Police/Riverside Co. Sheriffs Dept. Grace L. Rocha, Deputy City Clerk III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - A (CLOSED SESSION ITEMS) None MINUTES —ADJOURNED REGULAR SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING— NOVEMBER 16, 2017 IV. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION Request for Closed Session: None With Successor Agency Board concurrence, Chair Harnik adjourned the meeting to Closed Session of the City Council at 3:03 p.m. She reconvened the meeting at 4:04 p.m. V. RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING - 4:00 P.M. A. REPORT ON ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION. None VI. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - Palm Desert Youth Committee Vice Chair Tacie Johnson VII. INVOCATION - Councilmember/Director Kathleen Kelly Mayor/Chair Harnik stated many in the audience were here for the Short -Term Rental item that's on the agenda, and Council anticipates getting to that item after the dinner break, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. VIII. AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS A. PRESENTATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON PALM DESERT YOUTH COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES BY VICE CHAIR TACIE JOHNSON. Ms. Johnson noted she was the Vice Chair of the Palm Desert Youth Committee. She reported Committee Members have volunteered at the Golf Cart Parade, the Senior Technology Day at the Joslyn Center, which went very well, and they have been invited to go back on December 6. The Committee is also holding a Holiday Party for students at Lincoln Elementary on December 8, and on November 29, they will have an Anti -bullying Workshop to help spread awareness. 2 MINUTES —ADJOURNED REGULAR SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING— NOVEMBER 16, 2017 B. PRESENTATION TO RECOGNIZE CAPTAIN SAUL ROISENTUL FOR HIS 12 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO THE PALM DESERT CITIZENS ON PATROL PROGRAM, 2005 - 2017. On behalf of the Successor Agency/City Council, Mayor/Chair Harnik presented Captain Saul Roisentul with an engraved crystal plaque, honoring his 12 years of service to the Palm Desert Citizens on Patrol Program. She said Saul is always seen helping at large events or at unfortunate traffic occurrences. She said the COPS are always there and they make a tremendous difference in the community. Mr. Roisentul stated he and Director of Special Programs Frankie Riddle have kept the Program going for 15 years, making it better and better, and he hopes it will continue. C. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION DECLARING SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017, AS "SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY" IN THE CITY OF PALM DESERT. On behalf of the Successor Agency/City Council, Mayor/Chair Harnik presented the proclamation to Ms. Laurie Baldwin, CEO of the Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce, and she reminded everyone to support small businesses and merchants on "Small Business Saturday" and throughout the year. Ms. Baldwin thanked everyone and encouraged everyone to shop locally. D. PRESENTATION BY THE COACHELLA VALLEY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS AND DESERT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT TO RECOGNIZE THE CITY OF PALM DESERT'S SUPPORT OF THE HOUSING FIRST HOMELESSNESS PROGRAM. Ms. Donna Craig, Senior Program Officer with the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation stated that Coachella Valley Association of Governments and the District established a $2 million Collective Fund, stating every city that puts in $103,000 into CVAG's West Navigation Program, which is now called CV Housing First, the District matches the contribution. Today's check in the amount of $103,000 was acknowledging the City's contribution to the Homelessness Initiative and the District's match. Ms. Cheryl) Dahlin Management Analyst for CVAG with the Homelessness Committee, extended her appreciation to the City of Palm Desert for supporting the CV Housing First Program, specifically, Mayor Pro Tem Jonathan for his leadership, adding he is the Chair of the Homelessness Committee and has been reappointed as the Chair for Fiscal Year 3 MINUTES —ADJOURNED REGULAR SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING— NOVEMBER 16, 2017 2017/2018. The Program has received matching funds for the cities of Palm Springs and Cathedral City, and for the first time, the cities of Coachella and Desert Hot Springs have contributed the full amount of $103,000 respectively, and Agua Caliente Casino will be contributing $30,000 for their first time. Mayor Pro TemNice Chair Jonathan stated this was a situation where it took a lot of stakeholders, care providers, and caring individuals that for various reasons want to alleviate homelessness, and they came together in a way that's never been done before. They are now able to implement a regional approach to fighting homelessness, which the Committee believes will be more effective than what has been done in the past. The entire Valley is working together, contracting with Path of Life Ministries for a housing first type model that has proven success, but the Valley has not done that before, and to boot, thanks to the County the program now has a mental health facility by using Roy's Resource Center, which is being re -purposed. He asked everyone to keep their fingers crossed, because they are hoping for success. E. PRESENTATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL BY THE COACHELLA VALLEY MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL DISTRICT REGARDING INVASIVE MOSQUITO SPECIES IDENTIFIED IN PALM DESERT. Mr. Doug Walker stated he was the City's Liaison on the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District Board. He introduced Jeremy Wittie, General Manager for the District, adding he has been on the professional staff at the District for nine years, and six of those years he served as the Scientific Operations Manager, and for the past two years as the General Manager. Unfortunately, there has been an invasive mosquito that has moved into our area and Mr. Wittie will provide an update and current status on that mosquito. Mr. Wittie stated that since 2011, the State of California has had several invasive Aedes mosquitos moving across California throughout the Central Valley, and now unfortunately, in Riverside County. The Aedes Aegypti, commonly known for Yellow Fever Mosquito, was detected in the City of Coachella last year in May. Since that time, it has been discovered in seven of the Coachella Valley cities, including Mecca. Unlike urban mosquitoes native to the Valley, this one is black and white, it loves to bite people, adding it originated in the jungles biting primates. It also lays its eggs in containers, which is their primary place, and the eggs are desiccant resistant, meaning they don't dry out. He said you can have eggs at the bottom of a container and someone can move that container from Palm Desert to Palm Springs and fill it with water, and its like sea monkeys, you can have instant mosquitos; it's a worldwide challenge to control. In the City of Palm Desert, 4 MINUTES -ADJOURNED REGULAR SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING- NOVEMBER 16, 2017 there is an extensive grid of surveillance traps across the Valley from Desert Hot Springs to the Salton Sea. On December 20, the District detected this mosquito off Parkview Drive between Monterey Avenue and Highway 111. The District began their door-to-door inspections, which involved technicians inspecting front and back yards, eliminating standing water sources, providing treatments, and educating the residents. Currently, the District has conducted 750 door-to-door inspections in Palm Desert, and they have been setting up surveillance traps. He displayed a map of the two areas they are focused where they detected the mosquitos, which is Parkview near College of the Desert and the Portola Avenue area. These new surveillance traps are not fancy, but they are designed to catch this type of mosquito. He shared pictures of what the traps looked like, because they can be mistaken for a bomb, so they have been working with law enforcement to educate them about the traps and the labeling on them. He said this was a nasty mosquito, and it's a mammal biter and day biter. He said it's a mosquito that can transmit life threatening viruses including Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika, and Yellow Fever, which have globally impacted much suffering, including fatalities. Unlike the West Nile Virus which is transmitted between birds and mosquito, this mosquito is a human mosquito cycle. People who travel a lot to South America and Asia can bring those viruses back with them. The District will be providing additional educational information for those that travel on the things they can do to prevent them from being bitten by mosquitos, and when they do return, keep using repellant to make sure they are not being bitten by mosquitoes that could potentially pick up that virus. Again, these are aggressive day biters, so the residents can help by eliminating containers that hold standing water under potted plants, in bird baths, pet bowls, discarded tires, etc., stating they are all potential places where this mosquito can breed. He is calling on the public to do their part for the next two or three years as they tackle this mosquito to keep it contained and potentially eliminated. The City has been working with the District in getting information out, which he appreciated. The District has a history of working with Public Works on catch basins, which they will continue to monitor. He said the public can call the District at 760-342-8287 for additional information or go online at www.cvmvcd.ora Councilmember/Director Nestande asked why mosquitos chose those two areas in Palm Desert to breed. Mr. Wittie responded it most likely had to do with standing water in containers. However, based on detections, they are showing up along major thoroughfares throughout the Valley at locations where people from all areas come together. For example, El Paseo, the mall, and highly traffic intersections. He said females mosquitoes can jump in a car and go for a ride into other locations, adding that was his rationale for why they may be in specific areas. 5 MINUTES —ADJOURNED REGULAR SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING— NOVEMBER 16, 2017 IX. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - B MR. CHARLES RIGGS, Board Chair for the Sister Cities Foundation, announced this was the 35th Anniversary of their partnership with Gisborne, New Zealand, where the City of Palm Desert sent a Mayoral Citation and some beautiful photography that was mounted on metal plates, suitable for handing, to the Sister City in Gisborne. Now, he received a package from them, it's a beautiful Jade status symbol from the indigenous people of New Zealand and a Mayoral Citation, which states that Jade symbolizes strength, leadership, unity, and pride. He hoped it can be showcased in the lobby area of City Hall. The gift was in commemoration of the 35-year relationship. MR. DOUG GALLOWAY, Palm Desert Youth Sports Association, the Association is the baseball league for children ages 5 through 14, and they play most of their games at Civic Center Park. He said the condition of the baseball fields have always been good, but currently, they are in stellar condition, the grass is a deep emerald green. He thanked staff because the fields are in their finest condition. Additionally, the Association was approached to possibly combine the Opening Day Event, which draws up to 2,000+ people each March, with the City's Health Expo and Safety Preparedness Event. They have had two very fruitful meetings, and he believed there will be an item before the City Council to consider regarding the Opening Day Event. Mayor/Chair Harnik added it was one of the most wonderful community events the City has annually, and she encouraged the public to attend. Mayor Pro TemNice Chair Jonathan said he has similarly noticed the condition of the parks, thanking Landscape Supervisor Randy Chavez and crew for an outstanding job. He said Palm Desert parks are a place of gathering for children, seniors, and families, and they are utilized for playing, running, pickleball, baseball, and soccer. He added the parks and medians are as good as he's ever seen them. X. MAYOR/CHAIR ANDCOUNCILMEMBER/DIRECTOR REPORTS & REMARKS TO THE COMMUNITY A. Mayor Pro TemNice Chair Sabbv Jonathan Committee Reports and General Comments. 1. Shredding Event for Palm Desert Residents - Mayor Pro Tem/Director Jonathan noted the Shredding Event was this Friday and Saturday, November 17 and 18, from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m., in the parking lot at City Hall. 6 MINUTES —ADJOURNED REGULAR SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING— NOVEMBER 16, 2017 B. Councilmember/Director Kathleen Kelly Committee Reports and General Comments. 1. Sister City Foundation - she noted she serves as Council Liaison to the Sister City Foundation for which Mr. Riggs presides, and they recently hosted an event for Sister City governing bodies throughout Southern California. If anyone was interested in international understanding, serving on the Sister City Board was a great place to facilitate direct person -to -person communication with people abroad. If that kind of service interests anyone, please contact her through City Hall. C. Councilmember/Director Gina Nestande Committee Reports and General Comments. None D. Councilmember/Director Susan Marie Weber Meeting Summaries Report for the Period of October 15 - November 4, 2017. With Successor Agency/City Council concurrence, the Meeting Summaries Report was received and filed. 1. Rick Espinoza Distinguished Service Awards Dinner - she attended the event to honor Officer Alicia Lopez who donated one of her kidneys to a fellow police officer's child. She said El Paseo Jewelers was the host for this annual event. She expressed her gratitude to police officials for stepping up and holding this dinner. 2. Bob Pitchford Funeral - she attended the funeral services for Bob Pitchford who served on the Cultural Resource Preservation Committee, stating he was a long-standing member. She added that earlier this evening, Sal Roisentul who served on the Citizens on Patrol Program for many years was recognized, and she reminded everyone that participating in your city by serving on a committee or commission is very much appreciated and highly valued. E. Mavor/Chair Jan C. Harnik Committee Reports and General Comments. 1. Larkspur Lane - she announced that the street was reopened. The street was closed for a long time, but this morning she noticed it was open. 7 MINUTES —ADJOURNED REGULAR SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING— NOVEMBER 16, 2017 2. Golf Cart Parade and Pride Parade - she noted the City has always participated in the Golf Cart Parade, and this year they included the Pride Parade. It was met with really wonderful reviews, stating it was good to receive comments from the residents that they were so proud of their City for participating. 3. Habitat for Humanity - she said the City took part in giving away a house to a very deserving family. This family with three children moved into a home they helped paint and build. The City has two Habitat for Humanity homes that are almost completed, and they are being built for veterans. 4. Miracle on El Paseo Event - she announced the event was for Saturday, November 18, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. She said the event will have a Ferris wheel, a zip line, and food; the event will kick off the holiday season. F. City Council/Successor Agency Requests for Action. None G. City Council/Successor Agency Consideration of Travel Requests/Reports. None XI. STAFF REPORTS AND REMARKS A. City Manager/Executive Director 1. City Manager's/Executive Director's Meeting Summaries Report for the Period of October 16 - November 3, 2017. With Successor Agency/City Council concurrence, the Meeting Summaries Report was received and filed. 2. Personnel Announcement - Ms. Aylaian announced and welcomed Mr. Nick Melloni as the new Assistant Planner in the Planning Department. 3. Committee/Commission Recruitment - she said the City is always looking for residents to apply and get engaged and apply to be on one of its seventeen (17) committees/commissions, which serve as advisory bodies to the City Council. These committees/commissions range from public art, audit and finance, to parks and recreation, adding there are all kinds of subject matters, so if anyone is 8 MINUTES -ADJOURNED REGULAR SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING- NOVEMBER 16, 2017 interested, please apply by going online to the City's website where you can find the application. The City recruits year-round, but it only holds interviews once a year, which is coming up in December or January. The application provides a brief description of each committee/commission and when and where it meets. 4. Celebrate the Season - this event will be held at The Gardens on El Paseo, Friday, December 1, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. She added that someone who wears a red suit and takes pictures with children will also be there. The event will include carolers, hot cocoa, and a vintage 50's band. 5. "Take Me Home Huey" at Freedom Park - the public is invited to a mixed -media artwork at Freedom Park, involving a 47-foot-long sculpture helicopter accompanied by a commissioned song and a documentary film. The artwork is on Display at Freedom Park December 1 - 3. The Saturday event will include the documentary from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Freedom Park. 6. Shout -out to the Citv's Parks Crew - She said this group seldom gets recognition for the wonderful work, but it includes Director of Public Works Mark Greenwood, Landscape Inspectors Sheila McGrew, Brad Chuck, and Miguel Garcia, and Landscape Specialist Diane Hollinger. She thanked them for doing a great job and they are shining this year. B. City Attorney/Agency Counsel None C. City Clerk/Agency Secretary None D. Public Safety 1. Fire Department None 9 MINUTES —ADJOURNED REGULAR SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING— NOVEMBER 16, 2017 2. Police Department Lt. Coby Webb invited the City Council to the Blue Light Ceremony, which is hosted by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department to honor all peace officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The blue light is symbolic in remembrance of those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and it also honors those officers who continue to work today. The event is on December 4 at 6:00 p.m., in the City of Palm Desert Council Chamber. XII. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the October 26, 2017, Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Successor Agency to the Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency Rec: Approve as presented. B. CLAIMS AND DEMANDS AGAINST SUCCESSOR AGENCY TREASURY - Warrants Dated 10/6/2017, 10/20/2017, and 11/3/2017. Rec: Approve as presented. Upon motion by Jonathan, second by Nestande, and 5-0 vote of the Board of Director of the Successor Agency (AYES: Jonathan, Kelly, Nestande, Weber, and Harnik; NOES: None), the Consent Calendar was approved as presented. XIII. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None XIV. RESOLUTIONS None 10 MINUTES —ADJOURNED REGULAR SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING— NOVEMBER 16, 2017 XV. NEW BUSINESS None XVI. CONTINUED BUSINESS None XVII. OLD BUSINESS None XVIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS None XIX. ADJOURNMENT With Successor Agency Board concurrence, Chair Harnik adjourned the meeting at 12:29 p.m. ATTEST: RACHELLE D. KLASSEN'SECRETARY SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY N C. HARNIK, CHAIR 11