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[1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL]
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.THIS IS INDIA WATER AUTHORITY.
>> EVERY DECISION THAT WILL BE MADE WILL BE BASED WE ALSO THANK YOU FOR OUR SAFETY AND OUR OUR PROTECTION AND OUR HEALTH THAT DURING THIS PANDEMIC WE THINK YOU, LORD DPOD THAT WE ARE SAFE, WE ARE PROTECTED.
WE ARE FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES.
AND WE PRAY FOR BLESSING FOR 2021.
YOU'LL BLESS THE DECISIONS MADE AT THIS MEETING.
YOU'LL GIVE DISCERNMENT ON HOW TO EXECUTE IN A TIMELY MATTER THE THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN WHEN THEY NEED TO HAPPEN.
THAT EVERY DECISION AND PLAN WILL BE FRUITFUL.
AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS MEETING, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO STRATEGIZE AND FOCUS ON ACHIEVING GREAT RESULTS.
SO WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR A GREAT MEETING TONIGHT.
AND WE GIVE YOU ALL THE PRAISE, GLORY, AND HONOR IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER ORTIZ, WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> CITY CLERK, YOU KNOW WHAT I WOULD LIKE, I WOULD LIKE THE NAMES FOR PEOPLE WHO DO THE INVOCATIONS SO I COULD SEND THEM THANK YOU NOTES.
>> CITY ATTORNEY REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION.
[4. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION]
>> YES, THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR.
>> WE WILL BE RETURNING AFTER THIS MEETING ADJOURNING BACK INTO CLOSED SESSION.
IF YOU WOULD DO THAT, THAT WOULD BE TERRIFIC.
I HAVE PROCLAMATION AND A RECOGNITION.
[5.a. Proclamation - Fire Captain Scott Visyak (Mayor Holmes)]
WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN ME COUNCILMEMBER MILLER FOR THE PROCLAMATION.>> I LOVE THESE PRESENTATIONS BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS RECOGNIZING SOMEONE.
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY OF INDIO FIRE DEPARTMENT, CAPTAIN SCOTT VISIAC CHOSE DECEMBERÂ 30TH, 2020 AS HIS DATE OF RETIREMENT.
WHEREAS CAPTAIN VISIAC JOINED WITH THE CITY OF FIRE DEPARTMENT AS A FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC AND THEREAFTER TRANSITIONED WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN 1997 TO THE
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RIVERSIDE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND AFTER SERVING IN A MULTITUDE OF ROLES FOR THE DEPARTMENT, HE PROMOTED THROUGH THE RANKS AND IN 2006 JOINED THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES BUREAU WHERE HE HAS SINCE SERVED AS CAPTAIN PARAMEDIC.WHEREAS THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER CAPTAIN VISIAC HAS PROVIDED EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP PROVIDING TEAM WORK AND COLLEAGUES AND TEAM AND ASSISTING MULTIPLE FIRE STATIONS AND MAINTAINING THEIR PIXUS AUTOMATED.
INVOL VALUABLE AND WILL FOREVER LEAVE A LASTING IMPRESSION.
WHEREAS CAPTAIN VISIAC WILL FINISH HIS CAREER WHERE HE STARTED.
HE LOOKS FORWARD TO SPENDING 134 TIME WITH HIS FAMILY AND WILL FINALLY LOOK BACK ON THE DAILY INTERACTIONS AND WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIPS HE FOSTERED OVER THE COURSE OF HIS MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN SERVICE.
I ELAINE HOLMES THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF INDIO, DID FOR HIS PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP IN THE FIELD OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND FIRE PROTECTION, AND WISH HIM A VERY HAPPY RETIREMENT.
ON THIS 3RD DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2021.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE YEARS OF SERVICE AND DEDICATION.
AND I WISH YOU THE BEST IN YOUR RETIREMENT.
AND WE HAVE ANOTHER PROCLAMATION FOR YOU.
>> I THINK WE'RE LOOKING THIS WAY IF I'M NOT MISTAKING I BELIEVE.
>> SCOTT, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALONG WITH YOUR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE NOT ONLY TO THE CITY OF INDIO, BUT THROUGH ALL OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY, YOU'VE HELPED RAISE THE RANKS OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, CAL FIRE AND THE CITY OF INDIO.
ON BEHALF OF SENATOR MELISSA MELENDEZ AND THE CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE AND HONOR YOU WITH THE STATE SENATE AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RECOGNIZING YOUR MANY YEARS, BUT ALSO YOU AS A PERSON AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT GETS IN THE RECORD IN THE STATE CAPITAL.
WE'RE HOPING YOU ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT.
AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE.
>> MAYOR, HE'S ACTUALLY ON ZOOM.
>> THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND.
>> MADAM MAYOR, COUNCIL, MR. MILLER.
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF NOT ONLY INDIO, BUT THE COACHELLA VALLEY.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO RETIRING OUT HERE AND CONTINUING TO BE A RESIDENT OF THIS FINE CITY OF INDIO.
WE'LL MAKE SURE THESE GET OVER TO YOU.
[5.b. Recognition - Christopher Young for 16 years of service to the Community Services Commission (Mayor Holmes)]
THE NEXT THING I HAVE IS YEARS OF RECOGNITION PLAQUE FOR OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSIONER CHRIS YOUNG.YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMEONE JOINS OR BECOMES A PART OF CITY COMMISSION, THEY REALLY PUT THEIR HEART AND SOUL INTO IT.
THAT REALLY EMBRACES, THAT TELLS US THEY ARE REALLY EMBRACING THEIR COMMUNITY.
TO THAT END, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, CHRIS, FOR 16 YEARS.
16 YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THE CITY OF INDIO.
AND I WILL THEN HAND IT OVER TO THE SENATE, AND THEN TO COUNCILMEMBER AMEET TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
>> CHRIS, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF GUIDANCE AND AS A SERVICE MEMBER.
WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR CITY, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR YOUTH AND OUR SENIORS.
YOU'RE AN INSPIRATION TO MANY, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF DEDICATION TO OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU'LL ALWAYS BE A PART OF THE INDIO FAMILY.
>> AND COUNCILMEMBER AMEET, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS?
>> CHRIS IS MORE THAN A COMMISSIONER IN INDIO, HE'S A FRIEND OF THE YOUTH OF INDIO.
WHEN I FIRST MET CHRIS, I HAD JUST BEEN ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
HE HAPPENED TO MENTION HOW HE HAD BEEN IF A COMMISSIONER IN THE BEACH
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AREA.I THINK HUNTINGTON BEACH OR SOMETHING.
HE SAID HOW MUCH HE LOVED THE YOUTH AND HOW HE WANTED TO MAKE INDIO A BETTER PLACE SO THAT OUR YOUTH COULD GROW UP TO BE GREAT ROLE MODELS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
I KNEW IT WAS SOMEONE I NEEDED TO GET IN THE COMMUNITY AND GET HIM WORKING FOR US.
CHRIS HAS BEEN DEDICATED ALL 15 YEARS THROUGH THE GROWTH.
STARTING OUT AS A PARKS AND REC COMMISSION.
AND THEN WE TRANSITIONED TO COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMISSION.
HE WAS THERE THROUGH THE WHOLE GROWTH PERIOD.
HELPED US SHAPE THE DIRECTION WE WERE GOING TO GO WITH THE COMMISSION.
AND REALLY GAVE HIS WHOLE HEART TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND HE'S STILL GOING TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
BUT I REALLY WANT TO THANK HIM AND APPRECIATE HIM FOR ALL THE YEARS OF SERVICE THAT HE'S SERVED AS MY COMMISSIONER.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF INDIO.
I WAS THE CITY COMMISSIONER OF REDONDO BEACH, AND I RAN INTO LUPE AT A PARTY AND SHE WOULD NOT LET ME SAY NO.
SHE DRAGGED ME IN AND I CAN'T THANK HER ENOUGH.
YOU KNOW, WE DID SO MUCH WONDERFUL STUFF WITH LUPE AND ALL THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND BUILDING SEVEN BEAUTIFUL PARKS AND INCREDIBLE TEEN CENTER, INCREDIBLE SENIOR CENTER.
SO PROUD FOR EVERYTHING WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED.
THE ONE THING I WILL TELL EVERYBODY IS WHEN I WAS SENT TO SACRAMENTO LIKE 15 YEARS AGO, AND I HAD THIS HEAD THINKING WELL I'M A COMMISSIONER FROM BEACH CITIES, IT'S AFFLUENT.
WHEN I WENT TO SACRAMENTO, ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FROM ALL THE OTHER CITIES IN CALIFORNIA WERE COMING UP AND, LIKE, SHAKING MY HAND AND SAYING, OH MY GOD, INDIO HAS DONE SO MUCH.
THEN I KNEW I WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
I THINK LUPE, WHO I SERVED UNDER FOR 16 YEARS, SHE'S A FRIEND.
SHE'S BEEN WONDERFUL FOR THE CITY AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, I CAN GO DOWN THE LINE OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME AND GONE.
I KNOW YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A FOUR YEAR TERM.
SO WE ALWAYS HAD TO KEEP KINDA GOING.
EVERYBODY IS LIKE, I GUESS I GOTTA KEEP GOING.
FINALLY WHEN MIDGE SAID SHE WAS GOING TO RETIRE.
I THOUGHT, WELL I'D RATHER RETIRE WHEN THERE'S NO COVID.
I THOUGHT MAYBE IT'S A GOOD TIME.
SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A GOOD GROUP OF YOUNG COMMISSIONERS COMING IN.
BUT IF YOU GUYS EVER NEED HELP WHATSOEVER, I LOVE THE CITY OF INDIO AND I'M HERE FOR YOU GUYS.
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA PROBABLY MY FAVORITE, IS ITEM NUMBER SIX, YOUTH
[6. YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (YAC) REPORT]
ADVISORY COUNCIL REPORT.YAC BY ROSAL V VA CAMPOS, OUR ADVISER.
YAC IS BRAINSTORMING IDEAS ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES.
MOVIE NIGHT SOCIAL AS A CELEBRATION OF GALLENTINE'S DAY.
IT'S A CELEBRATION OF FEMALE FRIENDSHIP.
HOPEFULLY YOU HANG ON AND STAY WITH US FOR A WHILE.
IT'S A SHORT MEETING, I PROMISE.
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL
[7. REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL EXTERNAL/INTERNAL BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND REPORT ON MEETINGS ATTENDED PER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 53232.3(d)]
BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, ET CETERA.I'D LIKE TO START WITH YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MILLER.
THREE OF MY COMMITTEES THAT WERE ACTIVE.
ONE WAS BUS DOING GREAT STUFF, SUNLINE IS.
THEY STREAMLINED THEIR ROUTES AND MADE SURE THEY WOULD BE MORE UTILIZED.
ESPECIALLY UNDER COVID, THEY'RE STILL CONTINUING TO RUN.
THEY'VE NOW BRANCHED OUT TO SOME OF THE AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE AS MUCH SERVICE SO YOU CAN CALL.
AND THE TAXIS ARE BASED OUT OF INDIO, COACHELLA AND A COUPLE OF OTHER LOCATIONS IN
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EAST VALLEY THAT WILL THEN TAKE YOU TO A BUS STOP THAT WILL BE ABLE TO CATCH A BUS IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO GET TO IT.WE HAVE A NEW PROGRAM IN PLACE FOR REFUELING THAT'S COMING UP WITH HYDROGEN CELL FUEL THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH SOUTHERN CAL GAS ON.
RIGHT NOW THE FUELING STATIONS WILL BE THAT, THEY WANT TO PUT TAXIS IN TO A JPIA.
HOW WE CAN DO THAT AND LEAVE THE FUELING STATION BY ITSELF.
AND THEN LASTLY ON IT, WE WERE LOOKING AT A MOBILE HUB THAT THEY APPROVED WHICH IS GOING TO BE IN THE CITY OF COACHELLA.
WHICH WILL BE A COMBINATION OF HOUSING.
AND THEN THE SUNLINE WILL BE THE ANCHOR FOR TRANSPORTATION.
SO THEY GOT A LITTLE OVER I BELIEVE IT'S $10Â MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT TO BE ABLE TO BUILD A HOUSING TRACK THERE THAT WILL BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE HUB AT THE SAME TIME.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT HOW TO DO THAT IN OTHER CITIES AND FORM OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THE HOUSING MONEY WILL COME IN AND PROVIDE THE TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT.
LAUREN AND HER TEAM AT SUNLINE IS DOING A GREAT JOB.
WE ALSO HAVE A GROUP, SMALL GROUP OF US GOT TOGETHER IN TERMS OF A SMALL GROUP FOR RAIL.
WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT THE RCTC IN THE CVEG IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE GETTING TRANSPORTATION OUT HERE.
THEY'RE HOPING TO BRING IT TO INDIO, A RAIL LINE, THEY'RE LOOKING AT A THIRD SET OF TRACKS.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE.
BUT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE COST THAT IT IS PER LANE PER MILE.
TO PUT ANOTHER LANE IN WOULD PROBABLY BE ALMOST THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY.
THEY'RE HOPING IF THEY CAN GET INDIO, THEN MAYBE THEY CAN BRING THOSE TRACKS TO PHOENIX OR SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS AND EXPAND OUT.
IF YOU GO TO INDIO, YOU CAN GO TO SAN BERNARDINO, L.A.
I'M SURE MR. FURMAN BEING THE RCT REPRESENTATIVE.
CVEG IS THE PART THAT RUNS THE RAIL.
THE LAST ONE IS ECAC WHICH IS THE COALITION THAT WE HAVE FOR THE EAST VALLEY FOR OUR ID.
I'M GOING TO PASS ON THIS ONE.
I'M GOING TO LET OUR NEWEST MEMBER, MR. MARK SCOTT WHO I NOTICED WAS ON OUR CALL, ZOOM CALL WITH ECAC.
I WAS WATCHING HIM AS HE WAS SITTING ON THE ZOOM CALL.
HE WAS LIKE ABSORBING EVERY MINUTE OF THAT.
IT LOOKS LIKE OUR COVID NUMBERS ARE COMING DOWN.
WE DO HAVE THE VACCINATION HERE AT THE FAIRGROUNDS HERE IN INDIO.
BUT WE STILL NEED TO FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES.
WE FINALLY GOT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES TO SLOWLY OPEN UP.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN REACH OUT AND GET MORE OPENINGS UP.
AS YOU SAW ALSO THE COACHELLA FEST AND STAGECOACH MUSIC FESTIVALS WERE POSTPONED.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A SURPRISE TO ANYBODY BEING SO LATE IN THE SEASON.
OCEAN LINER THAT WE'RE TRYING TO TURN AROUND AND WE COULDN'T.
WE'LL SEE WHAT OUR FRIENDS AT THE GOLDEN BOYS CAN DO TO BRING A CONCERT BACK TO US AS SOON AS WE CAN.
CITY OF INDIO IS GOOD FINANCIALLY.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE SERVICES WE NEED.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.
ALL OF MY COMMISSIONS WERE DARK THESE TWO WEEKS.
I DO WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE TO PLEASE STAY CAUTIOUS AS OUR RESTAURANTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES ARE STARTING TO OPEN UP AGAIN.
WE'RE GLAD TO SEE THEM BACK IN BUSINESS, IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM IN BUSINESS, WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR NUMBERS DOWN.
WE KNOW THE MAIN FACTOR IN OUR REGION HAS BEEN HOME GATHERINGS.
PLEASE DO YOUR BEST TO MINIMIZE HOME GATHERINGS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND BUSINESSES.
I DO WANT TO BRING UP TO COUNCIL TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME CONSENSUS.
WE HAVEN'T GIVEN A CLEAR DIRECTION ON CANNABIS.
COACHELLA RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED THEIR SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM AND AWARDED FOUR LICENSES TO LOCAL OWNERS.
THEY WILL NOW BE DISTRIBUTING $500,000 TO THOSE LOCAL OWNERS TO HELP THEM START THEIR BUSINESSES.
PALM SPRINGS IS ALSO BEGINNING THEIR SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE MISSING OUT ON REVENUE BEING GENERATED IN SURROUNDING CITIES.
I WOULD LIKE US TO RETURN TO THE TOPIC AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
IT'S CLEAR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NEEDED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR MANY OF OUR
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FAMILIES.I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN INVITE THE COACHELLA HOUSING COMMISSION TO DO A PRESENTATION FOR US ON HOW THEY CAN HELP US GET STARTED ON MEETING OUR HOUSING GOALS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY, MAYOR.
LET ME PUT IT UP TO THE COUNCIL.
LET'S START WITH THE PRESENTATION.
THIS IS ALL PERFECT TIMING WITH RESPECT TO THE CONVERSATION WE HAD.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH BRINGING THE COACHELLA HOUSING COALITION IN FOR A PRESENTATION?
>> I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH BRINGING THEM IN.
I JUST DON'T THINK THAT ONE AGENCY CAN SOLVE OUR PROBLEM.
I THINK THAT IT'S A BIGGER ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO REALLY DIVE IN TO.
AND I AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER ORTIZ.
IN LIGHT OF OUR DISCUSSION JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE REALLY NEED TO BE KIND OF THE MOVER AND SHAKER BEHIND CHANGING THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT WE DO HAVE THESE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE SPOKE OF.
FIRST TIME HOME BUYER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BUY A $400,000 HOME.
AND I KNOW THAT STAFF'S WORKING ON ZONING ORDINANCES THAT MIGHT HELP THAT.
I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST PASSED A GENERAL PLAN.
BUT I FEEL LIKE WE REALLY NEED TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S ON A FAST TRACK SO THAT WE CAN CREATE OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CITY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THESE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THERE, YOU KNOW.
IN THE PAST, WE USED TO ALLOW SPECIFIC PLANS AND DEVELOPERS WOULD COME IN AND PROPOSE DIFFERENT THINGS THAN WE HAD PLANNED FOR.
THAT'S HOW WE KINDA GOT TO WHERE WE WERE.
BUT WHERE WE'RE AT NOW, I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET WHERE WE WANT TO BE.
I THINK WE ALL AGREED TWO WEEKS AGO THAT IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE WE WANT TO BE WITH RESPECT TO HOUSING.
WE WANT TO HAVE A GREATER DIVERSITY, MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MORE DENSITY, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THERE TODAY, TOMORROW, OR THE NEXT DAY.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S FAR FROM OUR HANDS AT THIS MOMENT.
I THINK I DIDN'T HEAR ANY OPPOSITION TO BRINGING COACHELLA VALLEY HOUSING COALITION.
AND THEY'RE A GREAT ORGANIZATION.
THAT'S JUST ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.
TO YOUR END, COUNCILMEMBER AMEET, I WANT TO SORT OF INVITE COUNCIL TO JUMP IN.
BUT I'M LOOKING AT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE SPENT REALLY LABORING OVER THIS WONDERFUL 2040 GENERAL PLAN.
BUT IN THE YEARS THAT IT TOOK FOR US TO GET TO ITS COMPLETION, IT ALMOST DOESN'T FEEL AS THOUGH IT REFLECTS THE LEVEL OF HOUSING, DIVERSITY, AND AFFORDABILITY THAT IT NEEDS TO NOW.
WHEN WE STARTED THE GENERAL PLAN QUITE A FEW SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE WORLD WAS DIFFERENT.
AND SO I'M WONDERING IF WELL I'M GOING TO SAY, HOW DO WE GET THERE? DO WE NEED TO CONSIDER DOING AN OVERALL AMENDMENT TO THE GENERAL PLAN THAT ALLOWS FOR SOME OF THE ELEMENTS WE TALKED ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO? I'M GOING TO THROW THAT OUT TO THE REST OF COUNCIL AND TO OUR CITY MANAGER.
>> WELL I THINK THESE ARE GREAT TOPICS.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO BRING IN COACHELLA VALLEY HOUSING.
THE GENERAL THE HOUSING ELEMENT IS AN ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN.
SO THAT'S THE PERFECT MECHANISM TO FURTHER THE GOALS OF THE GENERAL PLAN AND CLARIFY ANY GOALS AS THEY RELATE TO HOUSING.
I THINK WE'RE RIGHT ON TRACK WITH THAT.
WHAT I REALLY THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL IS FOR COACHELLA VALLEY, WHICH IS A GREAT GROUP.
THEY'RE A GREAT GROUP TO WORK WITH.
AND THEY'VE GOT SOME IDEAS ON SOME PROJECTS THEY WANT TO MOVE ON FAIRLY SOON.
BUT WHAT WE ALL NEED TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT BIG HOUSING PROJECTS IS THAT WHAT THEY WILL ALL DO WE'RE TALKING RIGHT NOW WITH COACHELLA VALLEY HOUSING COALITION.
WE'VE GOT THE ONE APPROVED PROJECT ON JEFFERSON.
WE'VE GOT MR. HORN, WHO IS A LOCAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER WHO IS INTERESTED IN DOING A PROJECT HERE.
WE'VE GOT CENTURY HOUSING WHO IS TALKING TO US ABOUT DOING ONE OVER CVRM.
I KNOW THAT NATIONAL CORE IS INTERESTED IN INDIO.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF REPUTABLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING GROUPS THAT WANT TO COME IN.
THE CHALLENGE IS THAT THEY NEED TO GET PROJECTS APPROVED SO THAT THEY CAN THEN GET IN LINE IN QUEUE FOR THE KIND OF FUNDING THAT THEY HAVE TO GET.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ESPECIALLY VERY AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOESN'T HAPPEN
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WITHOUT SUBSIDY AND WITHOUT RDA TYPE MONEY.WE'VE GOT ENOUGH MONEY IN OUR FUND TO DO ABOUT 10 UNITS.
I'M BEING A LITTLE SARCASTIC BUT NOT MUCH.
SO THEY ALL NEED TO GET IN LINE FOR THAT MONEY AT THE STATE OR THROUGH HUD.
AND THEY CAN'T DO THAT UNTIL THEY GET APPROVED PROJECTS.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO COME NEXT.
IF WE'RE REALLY GOING TO GET AGGRESSIVE ABOUT THAT.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE CAN WORK ON SMALLER PROJECTS.
BUT WE NEED TO GET HELP THESE DEVELOPERS GET THEIR PROJECTS READY SO THAT THEY CAN GET IN QUEUE AND GET THE FUNDING, WHICH I THINK WILL COME.
SO I'M ALL FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS, YOU KNOW, OSCAR BROUGHT UP CANNABIS.
AND US CONSIDERING MOVING FORWARD IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.
WHAT INFORMATION I MEAN, HOW WOULD WE BRING THIS FORWARD?
>> I CAN PICK UP FROM WHERE WE WERE.
I THINK IT WAS LAST YEAR IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY WE DID THE WORKSHOP ON THAT.
THE COUNCIL STUDY SESSION ON THAT.
AND AS YOU WILL RECALL, YOU GAVE ME A LIST OF FOLLOW UP ISSUES THAT I TOLD YOU AT THE TIME WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME TO RESPOND TO ALL OF THEM.
AND THEN COVID HIT AND WE HAVEN'T DONE MUCH OF ANYTHING ON THAT.
THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT COACHELLA, CATHEDRAL CITY, DESERT HOT SPRINGS, AND PALM SPRINGS ARE LIGHT YEARS AHEAD IN TERMS OF APPROVING THE USE OR THE SALE OF CANNABIS OR MANUFACTURE OR DISTRIBUTION.
THEY'RE MUCH FURTHER ALONG IN THEIR PROCESS BECAUSE THEIR CITIES HAD ENDORSED THAT EARLY ON.
IF THE CITY OF INDIO IS AT A POINT WHERE WE WANT TO NOW OPEN THAT UP, I CAN THIS WEEK GIVE YOU A COPY OF THE LIST OF FOLLOW UP ISSUES THAT THE COUNCIL ASKED US TO COME BACK AND REPORT ON.
MAYBE SOME OF THEM ARE NOT THE SAME ISSUE THEY WERE A YEAR OR TWO AGO.
BUT WE CAN, AS MR. ORTIZ SAYS, WE CAN PUT THAT BACK ON AS A DISCUSSION TOPIC.
AND THE COUNCIL CAN GIVE US DIRECTION ON WHAT YOU WANT CHAND WE CAN GIVE YOU A TIME FRAME ON WHEN WE THINK WE CAN GIVE IT BACK TO YOU.
>> IS EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE COUNCIL OKAY WITH THAT OR NOT?
YES >> I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION.
>> SO I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE IT AND DECIDE IF WE'RE GOING TO BRING FORWARD, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING FORWARD, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW.
AS PART OF THE GENERAL PLAN THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE HAVE TO ADD IN ANYWAYS.
IF I CAN SAY SOMETHING ON THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY WHEN WE'RE DONE.
>> LET ME BRING THE QUESTION ABOUT CANNABIS BACK.
THE HOUSING COALITION IS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HOUSING CREDITS.
PALM COMMUNITIES, HE'S TALKING ABOUT MR. HORNE.
YOU HAVE THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.
SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL OF THEM.
I THINK BRINGING IN COACHELLA VALLEY COALITION, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BRING IN OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE.
LET THEM PITCH THEIR PROJECT OVER EVERYBODY ELSE YOU'VE GOT OTHER PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE CITY.
AND I ALSO THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT MANUFACTURED HOMES AND MOBILE HOMES, TOO.
BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THESE OTHER HOUSES IS THAT IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO PUT STAKES IN THE GROUND.
AND MANUFACTURED HOMES, IF YOU BUY THEM IN VOLUME AND YOU HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO COME OUT HERE, YOU CAN BUY THEM FOR $60,000, $70,000, AND $80,000 AND HAVE A STARTER HOME.
I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LOOKING AT OTHER HOMES.
WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT OTHER THINGS BESIDES THOSE GROUPS.
BECAUSE WE HAVE A SERIOUS HOUSING SHORTAGE.
AND ONE GROUP IS NOT GOING TO HELP US.
AND ONE HOUSING IS NOT GOING TO HELP US.
HOW DO WE HAVE THAT BROADER CONVERSATION, CITY MANAGER?
>> PART OF MY SUGGESTION FOR COACHELLA VALLEY COALITION IS THEY DO A GOOD EDUCATIONAL PORTION OF IT.
THEY CAN EXPLAIN HOW THE FUNDING WORKS AND WHO QUALIFIES AND ALL THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON WHY AFFORDABLE HOUSING WOULD WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY.
NOT NECESSARILY TO GET INTO SPECIFIC PROJECTS.
BUT MORE JUST SO WE KNOW HOW TO JUST GET A BIGGER PERSPECTIVE ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT BRINGING IN.
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THE LIFT TO RISE GROUP IS INVOLVED WITH AN EFFORT TO WORK ON A HOUSING CATALYST FUND.I THINK YOU ALL HAVE PROBABLY HEARD ABOUT THIS.
A VERY LARGE CATALYST FUND FOR FUNDING.
AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO COME IN AT SOME POINT VERY SOON AND DESCRIBE THAT TO THE CITY COUNCIL IN HOPES THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD SIGN ON NOT AS A CONTRIBUTOR TO THE FUND, BUT AS A SUPPORTER OF THE CONCEPT OF THE FUND.
I'D LIKE TO SCHEDULE THAT AS WELL BEFORE LONG, IF WE COULD.
>> I WOULD THINK THAT'S OUTSTANDING.
IF THAT'S OKAY WITH EVERYONE ELSE.
WE NEED TO EMBRACE THIS AND BEGIN WORKING ON THINGS.
COUNCILMEMBER ORTIZ, ANYTHING ELSE? ANY FINAL COMMENTS? YOU'RE GOOD.
ALL OF MY COMMITTEES WERE DARK THESE PAST TWO WEEKS.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT COVID VACCINATION IS STILL GOING ON AT THE FAIRGROUNDS.
IF YOU'RE 65 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A COVID VACCINE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THROUGH TO GET AN APPOINTMENT, THERE ARE VARIOUS WAYS TO HAVE ASSISTANCE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT.
YOU CAN EITHER CALL 211, WHERE THEY HAVE LIVE OPERATORS.
YOU CAN CALL THE OFFICE ON AGING IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY.
THEY WILL ASSIST YOU IN PREPARING AN APPOINTMENT.
THE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH SITE HAS APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
I MEAN, SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT HAVE TO DRIVE TO HEMET, BUT YOU COULD GET A NEXT DAY APPOINTMENT.
I HEARD TODAY THAT RAUFL'S AND ALBERTSON DRUG STORES ARE STARTING.
SO IF ANYBODY IS OUT THERE WHO NEEDS ONE AND WANTS ONE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ANY OF THE AGENCIES I JUST MENTIONED.
WELL I DID HAVE ONE BOARD THAT I HAD THIS MONTH.
IT WAS THE GREATER PALM SPRINGS CONVENTION AND BUREAU, CVB.
INITIALLY I HAD AN INTRODUCTORY MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT SCOTT WOLF, WHICH WENT GREAT.
KIND OF OUTLINING THE GOAL AND OBJECTIVE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE BOARD.
SO I WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND CARRYING ON INTO OUR MEETING, I WAS SO EXCITED I BEGAN TO SPEAK OUT OF TURN BECAUSE WE HAD A GREAT PRESENTATION BY A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF PAUL,I MIGHT HEARD HIS LAST NAME BUT KWEMIT.
IT WAS OUTLINING A LOT OF THE AMENITIES WE HAVE FROM COACHELLA TO PALM SPRINGS.
SOME OF THE TOURIST ATTRACTIONS.
THE NEW AMENITIES THAT'S COME ONLINE A COUPLE OF YEARS.
OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE HERE IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY BEING THAT WE'RE IN THIS PANDEMIC AND WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO ENCOURAGE A LOT MORE OUTDOOR ACTIVITY.
SO IT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION.
I URGE ANYONE ACTUALLY, I URGE EVERYONE TO GO ON TO THEIR WEBSITE.
AND THE PRESENTATION IS AVAILABLE.
IT WAS REALLY GOOD, PUT TOGETHER.
LIKE I SAID, I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN HE BEGAN TO TALK ABOUT CAPABILITIES OF INTERNET AND WORKING TOGETHER IN OUR COMMUNITY TO BRING SOME MORE AMENITIES TO OUR VALLEY, AND ATTRACT MORE TOURISM TO THE COACHELLA VALLEY.
SO I WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE ALSO HAD AN UPDATE ON THE VMP TENNIS TOURNAMENT.
IT DOES HAVE A TENTATIVE DATE FOR OCTOBER.
IT'S STILL NOT ETCHED IN STONE, BUT IT'S TENTATIVE.
THEY'RE STILL LOOKING TO KEEP THE DATE FOR APRIL OF 2022 ONLINE.
SO OCTOBER, THEY HAVE A TENTATIVE DATE IN OCTOBER.
AND AS COUNCILMEMBER MILLER MENTIONED EARLIER, COACHELLA AND SPACE COACH ARE POSTPONED.
STAGECOACH THERE'S NO SURPRISE THERE WITH THE PANDEMIC.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE TIME TO GET OUR CONCERTS AND FESTIVALS.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL OF THEM RETURNING.
I KNOW OUR STAFF HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GIVING THEM SOME MORE WORK.
[00:35:04]
AND I WANT TO CONCLUDE BY WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH.I JUST REALLY WANT TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SOME GREAT THINGS HERE IN THE CITY.
AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS ABOUT COMMEMORATING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY WHO HAVE LEFT A MARK ON OUR COMMUNITIES.
IN SPECIFIC, I REALLY WANT TO JUST BRING UP JOHNA MIRANDA NOBLES.
WE ALL KNOW THE SITUATION THAT HAPPENED YEARS AGO.
BUT THE CITY HAS REALLY BEEN MOVING FORWARD AND BRINGING A POSITIVE LIGHT AND CHANGING THE STORY OF THAT.
WORKING ALONG WITH SOME OF THE COMMUNITY, MYSELF, CITY MANAGER, THE MAYOR.
WE HAVE MEETING WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS REALLY TRYING TO BRING A POSITIVE LIGHT TO THIS.
AND SO ALSO I REALLY WANT TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT OUR PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION AND WORKING ON THE DR. CARION PARK AND BRINGING THAT ART STRUCTURE TO THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S GOING TO AID IN REVIOLATIONIZATION OF THAT AREA MOVING FORWARD WITH THE GRAND MARKET PLACE.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYMENT FOR OUR COLLEGE STUDENTS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET.
IT'S REALLY GOING TO BRING A SYNERGY TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE WORKING ON SOME GREAT THINGS.
I REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE WE'RE TURNING THE CHAPTER ON SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE.
AND I WAS GOING TO WAIT ON THIS REQUEST BY THE COUNCIL, BUT BEING THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING THE POSSIBLE DIRECTION OF CITY OF INDIO GRANTS.
I WANT TO ASK THE COUNCIL WOULD THEY SUPPORT STARTING A COLLEGE FUND IN THE NAME OF JOHNA MIRANDA NOBLES FOR TWO AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS AND WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN NOMINATING TWO STUDENTS EVERY YEAR.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT WOULD CONCLUDE MY REPORT, MADAM MAYOR.
THAT CBV BOARD IS OUTSTANDING.
>> I WAS SO ENERGETIC, I JUST JUMPED RIGHT IN THERE AND STARTED TALKING.
MAYOR OF COURSE HAD TO BACK ME OFF A LITTLE BIT.
I'M JUST ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE.
I KNOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF HARD WORK COMING OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC.
IT'S GOING TO BE THINKING OUT OF THE BOX.
IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY COLLABORATING WITH PARTNERSHIPS ON ALL ASPECTS FROM HOUSING ALL THE WAY TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I'M JUST REALLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THAT.
SO THIS BOARD KIND OF REALLY SUITS ME.
I THINK YOU MENTIONED THAT TO ME.
I APPRECIATE BEING ON THIS BOARD.
AND THEN LET ME GO THROUGH MY COMMENTS AND WE'LL CIRCLE BACK AROUND WITH THE SCHOLARSHIP QUESTION.
SO I HAD ONE COMMISSION AND JUST A COUPLE OF SEVERAL THINGS I WAS INVOLVED WITH.
EDUCATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY THING.
MAKING SURE THE QUICKEST PATH TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TO REALLY A POSITIVE WORKFORCE IN A CITY WITH AN EDUCATED YOUTH IS MAKING SURE OUR YOUTH IS EDUCATED.
SO I WAS ON A CALL CALLED DESTINATION TALENT COACHELLA VALLEY.
MY GOODNESS, DR. KINNEIMAN WAS ON THERE.
DR. THOMAS WAS ON THERE FROM CSU SB.
DR. JAKE ZU FROM CSU SB AS WELL.
REALLY LOOKING AT WAYS TO ENSURE OUR KIDS AND OUR YOUTH HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE EDUCATED.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS OF COURSE THERE'S THE FAFSA, WHICH IS ALWAYS SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS SUPPORTED.
WHEN KIDS GO TO COLLEGE, THAT THEY CAN COMPLETE THE SCHOOL WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, WHICH IS SIX YEARS AND LESS.
WE DON'T WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE KIDS TO GO TO SCHOOL AND 10 YEARS LATER, THEY'RE STILL IN SCHOOL.
WE REALLY WANT TO CREATE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM THAT ALLOWS THEM TO GO TO SCHOOL AND GET THAT DEGREE SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN THEIR LIFE.
I LEARNED SOMETHING INTERESTING.
AND HOPEFULLY I GET THESE NUMBERS COMPLETELY CORRECT.
BUT 80,000 OR LESS, AND THAT MAY NOT BE THE RIGHT NUMBER.
THEY WILL PAY TUITION AND FEES IF YOUR FAMILY INCOME IS LESS THAN $80,000 A YEAR.
NOT LIVING EXPENSES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
BUT TUITION AND FEES WILL BE PAID FOR.
THAT CAME OUT OF DR. WILCOX FROM UC RIVERSIDE.
THERE'S JUST A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS AVAILABLE SO WE CAN ENSURE OUR KIDS GET THE EDUCATION THEY NEED SO THAT THEY CAN GET THE JOBS AND THE CAREERS THAT THEY ASPIRE TO.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS A VERY GOOD CALL.
IT WAS ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF.
THERE ARE A FEW CHALLENGES UP THERE.
TREMENDOUS JOB WITH MANAGING AND DEALING WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES.
WE MET WITH THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION MANAGER UP THERE REGARDING EVERYTHING FROM LOITERING AND ILLEGAL DUMPING.
IT USED TO BE AN OLD GUN RANGE.
AND SOME PEOPLE THINK IT STILL IS.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THE DIFFERENCE IS NIGHT AND DAY THANKS TO INDIO PD.
YES, VACCINES SOMETIMES A LITTLE CHALLENGING TO WRAP YOUR ARMS AROUND.
[00:40:12]
BUT THEY ARE OUT THERE.IF ANYONE IS HAVING PROBLEMS, IF THERE'S SENIORS IN OUR COMMUNITY IN PARTICULARLY THAT ARE HAVING A TOUGH TIME GETTING ONLINE, WE NEED TO HELP THEM.
I KNOW THERE ARE MANY HELPING OUR SENIORS TO HELP THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN GET ONLINE AND GET THAT APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED.
I DID HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION.
JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS OF NOTE.
SIGNAL SYNCHRONIZATION PHASE 1 WHICH COVERS HIGHWAY 11, RAMON AND WASHINGTON IS ABOUT TO KICK OFF.
I'VE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH TO WHERE YOU STARTED ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE VALLEY AND WANTED TO COME EAST, YOU PRETTY MUCH HIT EVERY SIGNAL EVERY TIME.
AND WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE RACING THROUGH OUR CITIES.
BUT THERE'S A CERTAIN SYNERGY TO HAVING THE SIGNALS WORKING SO PEOPLE CAN GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B.
THIS MUST HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR 20 YEARS, LONG BEFORE I GOT HERE.
AND IT'S FINALLY COMING TO FRUITION.
RANCHO MIRAGE CHOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE WITH THE CVAG.
SOMETHING NOT IN OUR CITY, BUT AGAIN, JUST ANOTHER WAY TO KEEP TRAFFIC FLOW GOING.
THE FRANK SINATRA DRIVE BRIDGE REIMBURSEMENT BETWEEN DUVALL AND HIGHWAY 11.
IT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE AREAS WHERE IF YOU DRIVE THROUGH AND IT RAINS, YOU FLOAT.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT BRIDGE UP AND BUILT SO WE CAN HAVE NO FLOODING ISSUES OR FEWER FLOODING ISSUES AND MAKE SURE TRAFFIC IS MOVING.
I WANT TO GO BACK TO MAYOR PRO TEM FURMAN WHO BROUGHT UP THE QUESTION OR THE DESIRE FOR TWO SCHOLARSHIPS, AFRICAN AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIPS.
AND THEN I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS FOR HOW WE MIGHT GO ABOUT DOING THAT.
SO I WILL FIRST START WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
>> TO BRING THE ITEM BACK FOR CONSENSUS.
>> BECAUSE THIS IS NOT AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS OF HOW WE MIGHT GET THERE.
BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE IF MY COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS.
>> I THINK ALL THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS ANY FOUNDATION WOULD APPLY FOR COMMUNITY GRANTS AS A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE.
THERE'S REALLY NO ADDITIONAL PROCESS.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT LATER TODAY, I THINK.
>> WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT LATER TODAY?
>> AS PART OF THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT LATER TODAY.
>> WHAT I WAS MEANING NOT NECESSARILY ANY ORGANIZATION COMING IN DOING THE GRANT.
I THINK IT COMING FROM THE CITY TO ESTABLISH A FUND IN THE NAME OF JOHN BRANDON NOEBLS.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S IN DIRECT CORRELATION WITH THE CITY, THE GRANTS.
IT'S SOMETHING I'M ASKING TO COME BACK AND MAYBE DISCUSS AT A LATER DATE.
>> WAMAN, I THINK THERE'S A CHALLENGE WITH THAT.
BECAUSE THEN WE'LL HAVE THE MEXICAN AMERICAN ASKING FOR A SCHOLARSHIP, THE ASIAN ASKING FOR A SCHOLARSHIP.
AND I THINK IT'S BEST TO LEAVE THAT TYPE OF WORK TO CHARITIES.
SO WE CERTAINLY WOULD SUPPORT SOMEONE APPLYING FOR THOSE FUNDS.
BUT FOR THE CITY TO STRICTLY SET UP A FUND FOR ONE PARTICULAR RACE, IT'S INEQUITABLE.
>> NO, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
I SPOKE BRIEFLY WITH CITY ATTORNEY ON MAYBE OTHER WAYS HOW WE COULD DO THIS.
THE REASON WHY I SAY FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN BECAUSE WITH THE ISSUE OF INTIMATE
[00:45:01]
DOMAIN AFRICAN AMERICAN UPWARDS OF 80 FAMILIES.NOT TO SAY THAT IT WOULD BE EXCLUSIVE FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE A START WHERE SOMETHING WE COULD AWARD TWO STUDENTS IN THE NAME OF JOHN BRANDON NOBEL.
IT'S PART OF SHOWING THE COMMUNITY THAT WE RECOGNIZE OUR PAST, BUT WE WANT TO HEAD TO THE FUTURE IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION.
>> I'M NOT SURE THIS IS THE PLACE FOR US TO DISCUSS THIS.
YOU'RE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHEN MY GREAT CHINESE GRANDMOTHER WAS EVICTED FROM THE UNITED STATES.
SHE LIVED HERE IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY.
THAT WAS A GREAT INJUSTICE DURING THE WAR.
SO YOU KNOW, THE JOHN NOBELS COMMUNITY IS NOT THE ONLY COMMUNITY THAT HAS SUFFERED.
I'M REALLY NOT SURE THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR US TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
CITY MANAGER, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH AN APPROACH BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE UNFAIR TO ANYONE.
AND I THINK THE QUESTION IS CAN WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION? CAN WE SCHEDULE THAT CONVERSATION FOR FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD.
I THINK WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS MY COUNCILMEMBERS TO SAY SUPPORT OR NOT, AS THE CASE MAY BE, FUTURE DISCUSSION.
I'M LOOKING FOR CONSENSUS ON THE PART OF OUR COUNCILMEMBERS >> OSCAR.
>> I'M OPEN FOR THE DISCUSSION.
>> I'M OPEN FOR THE DISCUSSION AS LONG AS IT'S OPEN TO EVERYONE.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM NAMING IT SOMEBODY.
BUT I'D LIKE TO BE OPEN TO ALL IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.
>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF BITS AND PIECES AND PARTS TO THIS.
I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE ONGOING DISCUSSION AND THE FORMALITY THEREOF.
THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM FURMAN.
OKAY, NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
[8. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND INFORMATION]
CITY MANAGER.I HAD TWO ITEMS. AND NOW THANKS TO MR. MILLER, I HAVE THREE.
THE ECAC MEETING THE OTHER NIGHT, I LEARNED ONE LITTLE TRICK AND THAT'S THAT YOU DON'T TURN THE VIDEO ON.
LIKE MOST OF THE MEMBERS THAT ARE ON THE ZOOM CALL, YOU DON'T TURN THE VIDEO ON SO THEN YOU CAN'T BE SEEN SITTING AT YOUR DESK DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I WAS CERTAINLY WORKING HARD TO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON.
IN MY FIRST ECAC MEETING, I FOUND MYSELF LOOKING CONSTANTLY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ACRONYMS WERE THAT PEOPLE WERE THROWING AROUND.
IT WASN'T THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL MEETING THAT THE GROUP WILL HAVE.
BUT THEY HAD SEVERAL CAPITAL PROJECT APPROVALS.
AND THEY DID INTRODUCE OR REINTRODUCE A PROGRAM TO HELP SUBSIDIZE LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS ON REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO POST ON OUR WEBSITE SO THAT WE SHARE THAT INFORMATION.
THEY DID THE PREVIOUS MEETING BEFORE I WAS OFFICIALLY A MEMBER, THEY TALKED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT THEY'VE HAD WITH THE DELINQUENCIES ON BILLS.
THEY HAD GOTTEN $11Â MILLION BEHIND ON PAYMENTS BECAUSE PEOPLE FAILING TO MAKE THEIR UTILITY PAYMENTS.
FOR ALL THE SAME REASONS WE HAVE WITH WATER BILLS.
IT'S JUST THEIR NUMBER WAS MONUMENTAL.
SO THEY HAD A SPECIAL MEETING AND TALKED ABOUT THAT AND HAVE RESOLVED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME PROGRAMS TO HELP PEOPLE CREATE PAYMENT SCHEDULES AND SEE IF THEY CAN'T GET THAT NUMBER REDUCED.
THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A VERY, VERY LARGE NUMBER.
THE MOST INTERESTING THING THAT'S HAPPENED TO ME SO FAR IN THE ECAC WAS THE ORIENTATION MEETING THAT I DID THE WEEK BEFORE.
AND DURING THAT MEETING, I ASKED A QUESTION AND WAS TOLD BY STAFF THAT THERE IS A VERY POSITIVE PERCEPTION AMONG THEM AS TO HOW THE CITY OF INDIO IS APPROACHING THIS QUESTION OF WHAT HAPPENS IN 2033.
AND THAT THEY ARE AWARE THAT WE'RE MAKING THIS EVALUATION JOINTLY WITH THEIR STAFF.
THEIR BOARD HAS ENDORSED WLA WE'RE DOING.
AND WE'LL KEEP DOING THAT ON THAT LEVEL UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE'RE READY TO MAKE SOME KIND OF PUBLIC EVALUATION OR PUBLIC PRESENTATION.
BUT IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO HEAR THAT THERE'S A LEVEL OF TRUST IN TERMS OF WHAT IT IS
[00:50:05]
WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE UNDERSTAND OUR OPTIONS THERE.SO THAT WAS MY ORIENTATION SO FAR WITH ECAC.
THE TWO ITEMS THAT I HAVE ON THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT THAT I WANT TO COVER.
WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR.
AND WE BUDGET I THINK AS YOU KNOW, WE BUDGET $45,000 A YEAR AND WE PUT IT OUT USUALLY I THINK END OF AUGUST SEPTEMBER TIME FRAME.
AND WE USUALLY GET 40ISH OF OUR NON PROFITS THAT APPLY, AND A NUMBER OF THE SCHOOL GROUPS THAT APPLY.
THIS YEAR WE DIDN'T GET VERY MANY APPLICATIONS.
THREE OF WHICH ARE STUDENT GROUPS.
AND SOME OF THE OTHER REMAINING 15 MAY NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.
BUT SO WE DIDN'T GET VERY MANY.
IN MAKING CALLS TO FIND OUT WHY SOME OF THE GROUPS DIDN'T APPLY, WE WERE TOLD, GEE, WE THOUGHT ALL THE CITIES WERE NOT GOING TO HAVE MONEY THIS YEAR.
THAT WAS ONE REASON WHY PEOPLE DIDN'T LOOK FOR THE PROGRAM.
SECONDLY, WE DID IT A MONTH OR TWO LATER THAN NORMAL.
AND SO THEY WEREN'T LOOKING FOR IT.
AND THEN THIRDLY, SOME OF THE GROUPS EITHER AREN'T OPERATING OR OPERATING SHORT STAFFED AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY DO THE APPLICATION.
WE HAVE, RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT THESE GROUPS THAT HAVE APPLIED.
I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE FUND THEM RIGHT AWAY.
OUR TYPICAL FUNDING HAS BEEN THOUSAND, $1,500.
THERE WERE A COUPLE OF GROUPS IN THE PAST THAT WE FUNDED AT $2,500.
ALTHOUGH THEY DIDN'T APPLY THIS TIME.
AND THEN THE STUDENT GROUPS AT $500.
SO I WOULD SUGGEST WE GO FORWARD WITH THE THREE STUDENT GROUPS.
AND THE OTHER GROUPS AT THE LEVEL OF $1,500.
AND THEN WE GIVE UNLESS THE COUNCIL WOULD RATHER MOVE THE MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE.
THAT THE MONEY WE GIVE OTHER GROUPS THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY IN THE SECOND ROUND.
I THINK A LOT OF THEM MISSED OUT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE DOING IT.
IF THE COUNCIL IS COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, WE CAN DO IT.
IF YOU'VE GOT OTHER IDEAS ON HOW TO USE THE MONEY, WE CAN DO THAT.
SO I'M LOOKING FOR COUNCIL FEEDBACK ON THAT.
I THINK WE FUND THE ONES THAT ARE THERE.
AND THE REST OF THE MONEY WE LEAVE THERE.
BECAUSE WE ALWAYS HAVE A REQUEST THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND GIVE A SECOND OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE ELSE.
WHATEVER IS LEFT OVER AFTER THAT, I'M SURE WE'LL USE.
IF NOT, WE'LL ROLL IT OVER TO NEXT YEAR.
>> MR. SCOTT, DO FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS QUALIFY?
>> WE HAVE NOT HAD I THINK THAT HAS NOT BEEN AN ELIGIBLE WELL IF THEY HAVE A SOCIAL PROGRAM.
IF THEY HAVE A SOCIAL PROGRAM, THEY CAN APPLY FOR THAT.
I CERTAINLY THINK WE SHOULD GIVE OUT THE DOLLARS WE HAVE.
BUT I THINK EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO RECONNECT WITH PEOPLE AND DO A SECOND ROUND FOR FOLKS.
IT'S JUST KIND OF ANOTHER ODD YEAR AND MORE THAN EVER WE NEED TO SUPPORT FOLKS AS MUCH AS WE CAN FINANCIALLY.
>> IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GO FORWARD ON THAT.
THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT, AND THIS WILL BE I HOPE IT'S BRIEF.
SO YOU MAY NOT HAVE SEEN IT OR EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.
I SENT OUT A DRAFT OF THE APPLICATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA WE'RE PROPOSING FOR THE BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM.
AND I'M SORRY IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SEE IT YET.
THERE WERE TWO QUESTIONS I HAD AFTER REVIEWING THE MATERIAL THAT STAFF HAS PREPARED.
NOW IF I CAN REMEMBER WHAT THE ISSUES WERE FROM MY EMAIL.
>> PRIORITIZATION OF APPLICATIONS AND ELIGIBILITY.
THERE WAS SOME QUESTION AMONG THE STAFF WHETHER THE COUNCIL'S DIRECTION THE OTHER NIGHT WAS TO PRIORITIZE BUSINESSES THAT HAD NOT HAD PREVIOUS
[00:55:08]
GOVERNMENT FUNDING COVID RELATED GOVERNMENT FUNDING.I THOUGHT, PERSONALLY I THOUGHT THAT WHEN THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO DO FIRST COME FIRST SERVED, THAT WE WERE JUST DOING IT STRAIGHT ON THAT BASIS AND THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO BE SEPARATING IT OUT BY THOSE WHO HAVE AND THOSE WHO HAVEN'T.
THOSE WHO HAVE MIGHT BE IN A SECONDARY POOL THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO QUALIFY ANY WAY BECAUSE THERE WILL BE TOO MANY OF THEM IN THE OTHER GROUP.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF THE COUNCIL WANTED US TO BE PRIORITIZING THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVED OTHER COVID FUNDING LIKE THE PPP PROGRAM, OR THE COUNTY PROGRAM, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE APPLICATIONS DIFFERENTLY.
OTHERWISE, WE'RE GOING TO GO STRAIGHT FIRST COME FIRST SERVE.
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.
BECAUSE IT WAS TOO DIFFICULT TO TRY AND DO IT.
AND A LOT OF THOSE BUSINESSES MIGHT HAVE TO PAY BACK THOSE PPP.
IT WAS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE.
BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE POLICING PEOPLE AND IT'S AN HONOR SYSTEM.
IT'S INDIO BUSINESSES, PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
>> YEAH, I AGREE THAT WE WERE ON THAT TERM OF FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED AS WELL.
I KNOW IT WAS BROUGHT UP, IF WE CAN DO THAT, I UNDERSTAND WHY.
IT'S JUST TOO COMPLEX FOR TO START VETTING FOLKS OUT.
>> I'M OBSTAINING ON THIS PROGRAM.
I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH IT AT ALL.
I THINK I WAS THE ONE WHO MENTIONED IF YOU HADN'T RECEIVED ONE OF THE OTHER LOANS OR GRANTS.
BUT I MADE THAT COMMENT WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING REALLY THE STRENUOUS DETAIL INVOLVED IN PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.
SO I THINK FIRST COME FIRST SERVE IS PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO ADMINISTER THIS.
MY SECOND QUESTION WAS >> BUSINESS LICENSES.
WE HAVE A CONDITION IN THE DRAFT PLAN THAT SAYS ONLY BUSINESSES THAT HAD A BEVERLY HILLS HOW MANY YEARS HAS IT BEEN SINCE I'VE BEEN IN BEVERLY? PEOPLE ALWAYS LAUGH WHEN YOU SAY BEVERLY HILLS BY MISTAKE.
THEY DON'T LAUGH IF YOU SAY FRESNO.
AT LEAST I SAID BEVERLY HILLS.
THE APPLICATION SAYS THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE HAD A CITY OF INDIO BUSINESS LICENSE SINCE MARCH OF 2020.
WHICH MEANS WE WOULD BE ELIMINATING ANYBODY WHO HAS TAKEN OUT A BUSINESS LICENSE SINCE THEN.
I THINK YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE THINKING.
BUT THEN ON THE OTHER HAND, I'M NOT SURE BEING THAT STRICT IS WHAT WAS NECESSARILY ON THE COUNCIL'S MIND.
SO I WANT TO GET CLARIFICATION ON THAT.
>> FIRST, WE DID MAKE THE EXCEPTION FOR THE CHILD CARE SERVICES, RIGHT?
>> I THINK IT'S JUST ANY BUSINESS THAT COMES IN TO INDIO, I DON'T THINK YOU PUT THEM INTO ANYTHING.
IF THEY'RE NOT, THERE ARE SOME BUSINESSES THAT DON'T HAVE TO HAVE BUSINESS LICENSE IN THE CITY.
THEY SHOULD BE EXEMPTED FROM THAT.
BUT YES, THEY SHOULD HAVE AN INDIO BUSINESS LICENSE.
>> WE HAVE TO HAVE A DATE BECAUSE OTHERWISE I COULD PULL A BUSINESS LICENSE TOMORROW AND APPLY.
>> NO, I MEAN >> ONCE I HEAR ABOUT THE PROGRAM.
>> WE WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE TO HAVE A DATE.
>> BUT THE DATE COULD BE DECEMBERÂ 2020.
HERE'S THE THING AND I'M FINE WITH MARCH.
IF IT'S WHAT THE COUNCIL IS EXPECTING.
BUT I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION FROM TIME TO TIME THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE OUT OF WORK STARTED NEW BUSINESSES.
AND THEY STARTED THE NEW BUSINESSES IN ORDER TO MAKE A LIVING DURING THE COVID CRISIS.
AND SHOULD THOSE PEOPLE BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS KIND OF HELP? AND IF THE ANSWER IS WE CAN ONLY SERVE SO MANY, SO WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A DATE.
SO LET'S ESTABLISH MARCHÂ 2020.
[01:00:01]
I'M FINE WITH THAT.>> I PERSONALLY THINK IT SHOULD BE DECEMBERÂ 2020.
I MEAN, THEY CAN'T PULL A BUSINESS LICENSE BACKWARDS.
WE STARTED AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
LET THEM DO THE END OF THE YEAR.
>> I'M LOOKING AT BUSINESSES THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH A LONGER TERM OF, AND ARE MORE CHALLENGED.
>> BUT THERE ARE ALSO BUSINESSES THAT WERE STARTED THAT WERE SHUTDOWN BY THE GOVERNOR THAT DIDN'T THINK THEY WOULD BE SHUTDOWN.
THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF YOUR BUSINESS IS A TOUGH TIME.
>> IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD A BUSINESS LICENSE IN MARCH.
THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING IS MARCH IS OKAY WITH ME.
>> PARTICULARLY AS A FIRST ROUND.
IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE AND THERE'S EXTRA FUNDING, THEN THAT'S FINE.
I THINK THE MARCH BUSINESS LICENSE INDICATES SOMEONE >> HOW LONG WHAT WAS THE IDEA BETWEEN MARCH? THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, BASICALLY?
>> WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK WE'LL PUT OUT THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND THE APPLICATION SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT INFORMATION THEY NEED TO COMPILE IN ORDER TO APPLY.
WHEN THE DAY COMES THAT WE START THE APPLICATION PROCESS, PEOPLE WILL GO ONLINE AND THEY WILL APPLY ONLINE.
AND THAT WAY WHEN WE RECEIVE APPLICATIONS, THEY WILL COME DATE AND TIME STAMPED AUTOMATICALLY BY THE COMPUTER.
AND THE STAFF IS PREPARING THE SYSTEM WE CERTAINLY HOPE THAT WON'T GO DOWN WHEN EVERYBODY GOES ONLINE AT THE SAME TIME.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING ON TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE APPLICATIONS AT THE DOOR.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE APPLICATIONS THROUGH THE MAIL.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE DONE THROUGH THE COMPUTER ONLINE.
BUT HOPEFULLY IT'S SIMPLE ENOUGH THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE DO THAT.
ITEM NUMBER 9, PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT SENT IN COMMENTS VIA EMAIL.
NUMBER 10, THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
DOES ANYBODY WISH TO PULL ANYTHING OR DO I HEAR A MOTION?
[10. CONSENT CALENDAR]
>> I WOULD LIKE TO GET A REPORT ON THE STATUS OF ITEM 10E.
ANYBODY WISH TO PULL ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT.
I'LL ASK THE CITY MANAGER IF YOU CAN GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THAT.
OR SOMEONE CAN >> LET ME SEE IF SOMEONE IS AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW.
I'M ERIC WECK FROM PUBLIC WORKS.
THE STATUS OF THE AVENUE 44 BRIDGE IS THAT THE PLANS ARE ABOUT 95% COMPLETE.
THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH SEVERAL PLAN CHECKS.
WE'RE CLOSING THE LOOP WITH CBWD IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THEIR COMMENTS AND THEIR CONDITIONS.
AND WE ESTIMATE THAT THE CONSTRUCTION COST FOR THE BRIDGE WILL BE BETWEEN 17 TO $22Â MILLION.
AND WE EXPECT THAT CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN NEXT YEAR IN 2022.
>> I'LL BE CONSERVATIVE AND SAY A YEAR.
COUNCILMEMBER ORTIZ OR ANYONE, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS SFL.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR PRESENTED FROM A E.
I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MILLER, DO I HAVE A SECOND.
>> SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM FURMAN.
>> INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019 2020.
>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'LL JUST BE HANDLING THIS ITEM BRIEFLY AND PASSING IT ON TO BRIAN GRUBER FROM THE ACCOUNTING FIRM.
BRIAN SHOULD BE ON THE ZOOM CALL AND JOINING US SHORTLY FOR A PRESENTATION.
I ALSO WANT TO REITERATE THAT THIS IS AN ANNUAL PRESENTATION.
[11.a. Independent auditor’s report and the City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for fiscal year 2019-20 (Rob Rockwell, Assistant City Manager and Director of Finance) Recommendation: Receive & File]
BASICALLY THE REPORT CARD ON HOW ACCURATE THE CITY STATEMENTS ARE.THIS YEAR'S REPORT IS SPECIFIC TO THE FISCAL YEAR STARTING JULYÂ 1ST, 2019,
[01:05:01]
ENDING JUNEÂ 30, 2020.IF BRIAN IS HERE, HE CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT AWAY.
MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, MY NAME IS BRIAN GRUBER.
THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR ENGAGED BY THE CITY TO CONDUCT A FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT FOR THE YEAR END JUNEÂ 30, 2020.
I HAVE A PRESENTATION TO GO THROUGH AND HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF POINTS FROM THE AUDIT.
SO LSL HAS BEEN ENGAGED BY THE CITY TO CONDUCT A FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNEÂ 30, 2020.
AND A SYSTEM PREPARING THE ANNUAL AUDIT STATEMENTS OR THE CAFR.
THE INTENT IS TO DESIGN AN AUDIT TO ATTAIN REASONABLE ASSURANCE THAT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO YOU TODAY HAVE BEEN PROPERLY STATED IN ALL MATERIAL RESPECTS.
AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES.
OUR PROCESS FOLLOWS PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FROM THE AICPA, ATTAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CITY'S INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING.
THE PROCESS INCLUDES A FEW DIFFERENT PHASES.
THE FIRST PHASE IS WHAT WE REFER TO AS OUR INTERIM AUDIT.
WHICH OCCURRED THIS YEAR IN THE MONTH OF JUNE OF 2020.
BEFORE THE CITY HAD CLOSED ITS YEAR IN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
WE PERFORM A SERIES OF PLANNING PROCEDURES, INTERVIEWS WITH CITY STAFF THROUGH VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
ATTAINING AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONTROLS AND PROCESSES THAT ARE IN PLACE OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING.
AND CONDUCTING A RISK ASSESSMENT TO HELP PLAN AND CONDUCT OUR AUDIT ACCORDINGLY.
THE FINAL PHASE OF OUR AUDIT OCCURRED THIS YEAR IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.
IN WHICH AFTER THE CITY HAD TIME TO CLOSE ITS ANNUAL BOOKS FROM JUNEÂ 30TH, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE READY TO BE AUDITED.
WE PERFORM A SERIES OF ACCOUNT ANALYSIS VERIFYING THAT THE AMOUNTS AND THE DISCLOSURES IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE PROPERLY STATED.
WE DO THIS THROUGH A SERIES OF STEPS AND PROCEDURES, WHICH INVOLVE THINGS LIKE CONFIRMATIONS TO OUTSIDE PARTIES, INCLUDING FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND OTHERS THAT THE AMOUNTS ON THE CITY'S BOOKS AGREE ACCORDINGLY.
WE ALSO DO A CUT OFF PROCEDURE MAKING SURE THAT TRANSACTIONS ARE REPORTED IN THE PROPER FISCAL YEAR.
THIS ALL COMES TOGETHER IN THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OR THE CAFR.
WHICH INCLUDES THREE MAJOR COMPONENTS.
THE FIRST IS THE INTRODUCTORY SECTION, WHICH PROVIDES AN INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION ON THE CITY OF INDIO.
FOLLOWED BY THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT SECTION WHICH INCLUDES THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AND THE NOTES AND THE DISCLOSURES.
AND LASTLY IS THE STATISTICAL SECTION WHICH INCLUDES 10 YEARS STATISTICAL TREND INFORMATION FOR THE CITY ON ITS FINANCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION FOR THE CITY.
ALL OF OUR WORK IS PERFORMED IN ORDER TO RENDER AN OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
THE CITY MANAGEMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT GOES INTO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
AND OUR OPINION OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR IS TO EXPRESS AN OPINION THAT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS PRESENTED BY MANAGEMENT ARE PROPERLY STATED AND ARE MATERIALLY ACCURATE.
WE EXPRESS WHAT'S REFERRED TO AS AN UNMODIFIED OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, WHICH IS THE OPINION THAT YOU WOULD LOOK TO RECEIVE IN A FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT.
AND ULTIMATELY MEANS THAT THE INFORMATION IS MATERIALLY ACCURATE AND CAN
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BE RELIED UPON.IN ADDITION TO THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT AND OUR AUDIT OPINION, WE PROVIDE A COUPLE OTHER AUDIT COMMUNICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENTAL AUDITING STANDARDS.
THE FIRST IS WE REFER TO THE STAFF 115 LETTER WHICH REQUIRE TO COMMUNICATE TO THE CITY COUNCIL ANY DEFICIENCIES OR INTERNAL CONTROL THAT RISE TO THE LEVEL OF WHAT'S REFERRED TO AS A MATERIAL WEAKNESS OR A SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY.
WE NOTED NO MATERIAL WEAKNESSES OR SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES.
WE'RE ALSO REQUIRED TO COMMUNICATE TO YOU IF WE IDENTIFY INSTANCES OF NON COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, REGULATIONS, GRANT AGREEMENTS, CONTRACTS, AND AWARDS.
WE NOTED NO INSTANCES OF NON COMPLIANCE.
A SECOND LETTER THAT WE PROVIDED TO YOU IS REFERRED TO AS OUR AUDITOR COMMUNICATION LETTER.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATED TO THE AUDIT THAT WE FEEL IS RELEVANT.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE HAVE DIFFICULTIES OR DISAGREEMENTS WITH THE CITY STAFF.
IF WE HAVE DIFFERENT CORRECTIONS THAT HAD TO BE MADE, WE WOULD COMMUNICATE THAT TO YOU HERE.
AND WE HAD NO ITEMS IN THAT AREA.
ALSO, WE COMMUNICATE TO YOU IF THERE'S BEEN CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE OR PROCEDURE RELATED TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
THERE WERE NO CHANGES THIS YEAR.
AND ACTUALLY, THE GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARDS DELAYED FOR FUTURE YEARS AS A RESULT FROM COVID.
ALSO PROVIDED IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET IS A SINGLE AUDIT WHICH IS A COMPLIANCE AUDIT ON THE FEDERAL AWARD PROGRAMS. WE CONDUCT A SERIES OF STEPS AND PROCEDURES IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL GUIDELINES TO MAKE SURE THE FUNDS ARE BEING SPENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GRANT PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNICATE ANY FINDINGS TO YOU.
WE FOUND NO DEFICIENCY IN INTERNAL CONTROL AND NO COMPLIANCE FINDINGS.
SO IN SUMMARY, LSL HAS BEEN ENGAGED BY THE CITY TO CONDUCT A FINANCIAL AUDIT.
THE FINANCIAL AUDIT RESULTED IN THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THE COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, AND AN UNMODIFIED OPINION WAS RENDERED ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
A COUPLE OF OTHER COMMUNICATION LETTERS WERE SASS 115 AND AUDITOR COMMUNICATION LETTER.
THOSE WERE INCLUDED IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET THIS EVENING.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
>> LET ME TURN MY MICROPHONE ON.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU.
AND ON THAT NOTE, JUST BEFORE WE CLOSE THE MEETING, I REALLY WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT.
IT SEEMS LIKE JUST YESTERDAY CHIEF FISH I'M SORRY, IT IS A RECEIVE AND FILE.
THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T DO THE ROLL CALL VOTE.
I'VE JUST BEEN IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY THAT CHIEF FISH CAME INTO OUR WORLD HERE AND YOU'VE BEEN PROMOTED.
SO GOSH, YOU'VE SPENT SOME TIME HERE AND THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE HERE.
BUT THE PROMOTION IS JUST AMAZING, EXCEPTIONAL AND OUTSTANDING.
I'M GOING TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO SAY A FEW THINGS AND OPEN IT UP TO THE REST OF COUNCIL.
>> I'LL JUST SAY SOMETHING VERY QUICKLY JUST SO SHOW HOW ROB ROCKWELL AND I HAVE SUCH IMPACT ON PEOPLE.
JUST LAST WEEK WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING WITH CHIEF WISER, WHO IS TAKING OVER OUR REGION.
AND IN THAT MEETING, WE STARTED OFF BY SAYING WE ASK ONE FAVOR AND ONE FAVOR ONLY, PLEASE DO NOT PROMOTE CHIEF FISH.
WE THINK HE DOES AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
AND IT WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO US THAT YOU TAKE HIM OUT OF THE LINE OF PROMOTION SO THAT WE CAN KEEP HIM HERE IN INDIO.
WHAT IS IT? THREE DAYS LATER, HE GETS PROMOTED.
SO FOR WHATEVER REASON, HE'S GOING TO LEAVE US.
BUT WE ALL THANK HIM FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEART.
HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB IN THIS ROLE.
ALTHOUGH WE'RE STILL IN HIS AREA OF SERVICE.
SO YOU CAN COME AND HANG OUT WITH US.
>> AND WE KNOW HIS PHONE NUMBER.
>> I JUST THINK HE DOES AN AMAZING JOB.
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CONGRATULATIONS ON THE PROMOTION.LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AT YOUR NEW CAPACITY.
YOU'VE GOT TO COME UP AND GIVE US A LITTLE WHAT YOU GOT GOING ON.
CAL FIRE IS A MAJOR OF ORGANIZATION.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS.
YOU KNOW, IF I TAKE YOU BACK A COUPLE OF YEARS, IT WAS ROB THAT WAS ACTUALLY ON MY INTERVIEW PANEL THAT HELPED SELECT ME FOR THE CITY.
I THINK ROB IS THE COMMON DENOMINATOR HERE.
>> CITY MANAGER OFFICER SHARED SOME VERY KIND WORDS THAT I'M SURE WERE VERY HELPFUL.
I DID PROMOTE SO I'LL NOW BE THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF EASTERN OPERATIONS, WHICH ESSENTIALLY WILL BE EVERYTHING FROM BANNING, BEAUMONT, ALL THE WAY TO BLOOITH.
I'M GETTING A LITTLE MORE RESPONSIBLIBILITY.
BUT I GET TO BE HERE IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY.
I'VE WORKED 26 27 YEARS IN THE VALLEY.
AND THE COMMUNITIES HERE MEAN A LOT TO ME.
OVER THE TWO YEARS FEEL LIKE IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS.
BUT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT WITH INCREASE IN STAFFING.
WE'VE GOT PLANS THAT THAT GUY IS GOING TO GET ME BUILT A FIRE STATION.
AND WE GOT A DISPATCH CENTER THAT'S HOPEFULLY COMING AS WELL.
THERE'S A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT ARE STILL IN THE WORKS THAT I WANT TO SEE THROUGH.
AND THE GOOD THING IS I GET TO HELP BE IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING THE PERSON WHO REPLACES ME.
I'LL ASK THE CITY TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS AS WELL.
BUT I THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE TO ACCOMPLISH A LOT TOGETHER.
WELL I HAVE JUST BEEN INFORMED BY MY CITY ATTORNEY THAT I NEED TO DO A VOTE ON 11A, THE INDEPENDENT AND I WONDER IF YOU COULD ASSIST ME IN A ROLL CALL VOTE FOR APPROVAL ON THE RECEIVE AND FILE FOR THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT AND CAFR.
WE WILL BE GOING BACK INTO CLOSED SESSION.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE DONE IT YET.
BUT I JUST WANT TO SEND GOOD WELL WISHES TO ERIC BURRSORO.
YOU KNOW, HE'S A CITY EMPLOYEE.
AND HE STARTED THE INDIO FOOD PARK.
BUT RECENTLY HE WAS A KIDNEY DONOR IN ORDER TO HELP HIS FATHER.
MAYBE CITY MANAGER CAN ELABORATE A LITTLE MORE WITH SOME FACTS.
BUT I WANTED TO SEND GOOD WELL WISHES TO ERIC.
IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO KNOW ERIC, HE'S A GREAT GUY.
HE HAS BIG, BIG THINGS IN FRONT OF HIM.
AND I WISH HIM WELL AND HIS FAMILY WELL.
HE SEEMS TO BE DOING QUITE WELL.
SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE TV NEWS NETWORKS YESTERDAY COVERED THE STORY.
WHAT ERIC DID I MEAN, WHAT A WORLD WE LIVE IN.
ERIC'S KIDNEY DIDN'T MATCH HIS FATHER'S KIDNEY.
ERIC SEEING THAT SOMEONE ELSE WAS GOING TO GIVE A KIDNEY TO BENEFIT HIS FATHER SAID WELL THEN I'M GIVING A KIDNEY TO BENEFIT SOMEONE ELSE.
I MEAN, THAT ALMOST BRINGS ME TO TEARS WHEN I SAY THAT.
HE'S SUCH AN INCREDIBLE YOUNG MAN AND WE'RE SO PROUD OF HIM.
HE'S GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE NEWS COVERAGE, WE BELIEVE ON THIS.
AND HE'S NOT LOOKING FOR NEWS COVERAGE.
BUT THE WORLD IS IMPRESSED WITH PEOPLE WHO STEP UP AND DO THESE THINGS.
SO WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE HIM HERE.
HE'S PART OF A GREAT BUILDING INSPECTION TEAM THAT WE HAVE HERE AND THEY'RE ALL PROUD OF HIM, TOO.
THANK YOU, MR. FURMAN, FOR GIVING ME THAT CHANCE.
THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE OF ERIC AND OTHERS LIKE HIM, ABSOLUTELY.
IT IS 28 MINUTES AFTER 6:00, AND THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED AS WE MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.