Nov 04, 2020 City Council

WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO NEXT, SIR?

MOVE ON TO MR. ORTIZ.

>> SURE, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

FIRST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO COUNCIL MEMBER RAMOS AMITH AND MILLER ON THEIR RE-ELECTION TO THE COUNCIL.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ANOTHER TWO YEARS.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS IN OTHER CITIES WHO WON LAST NIGHT.

THANK YOU TO ALL THE CANDIDATES FOR YOUR EF FORTS AND YOUR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

THIS MONDAY WE HAD OUR ENERGY CONSUMERS ADVISORY COMMISSION WITH I, D.

IID HAS SEEN A RISE IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

THEIR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT PROGRAM HAS SEEN A 20% RISE AND 16% RISE IN NEED.

[00:15:06]

SO THEY ARE ADDING $50,000 INTO THE BUDGET FOR EACH OF THOSE PROGRAMS AND IF YOU ARE SOMEBODY WHO IS IN NEED AT THE MOMENT, WHO NEEDS SOME HELP ON YOUR BILLS, FOR YOUR POWER, PLEASE SEE IID.COM.

THEY HAVE DIFFERENT PROGRAM FORCE ASSISTANCE RIGHT NOW FOR ANYBODY WHO NEEDS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THEIR BILLS.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY.

MISS AMITH? ANYTHING FOR US TODAY?

>> THANK YOU, MR. ORTIZ.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I HAVEN'T HAD ANY COMMITTEES THAT HAVE MET IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE INDIO RESIDENTS WHO GOT OUT AND VOTED THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

WE HAD RECORD TURNOUT, WHICH IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS PART OF THE PROCESS.

I WANT TO THANK THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE SO THAT OUR VOTERS COULD HAVE ACCESS TO BRINGING THEIR BALLOTS INTO A COMMUNITY FACILITY.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE, JUST FOR BEING PART OF THE PROCESS.

>> THANK YOU, MISS AMITH.

MAYOR PRO-TEM?

>> TURN THE MIC ON.

OKAY.

FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS, MAYOR AND COUNCIL WOMAN AMITH.

WE WILL BE ROCKING AND ROLLING FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU, MAYOR, ON THE STATE OF THE CITY.

HOW DIFFICULT? WE ARE USED TO A STAGE AND WE'RE USED TO PROPS AND EVERYTHING.

A LIVE AUDIENCE.

YOU HAD NONE OF THAT THIS YEAR.

THANK YOU TO THE CHAMBER.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED PUT TOGETHER A VERY SUCCESSFUL STATE OF THE CITY.

MAYOR, ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WERE PART OF IT.

I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC.

IT'S AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE, INDIO.ORG, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SEE THAT.

WHAT ELSE DO WE HAVE GOING ON? ATTENDED THE INVESTMENT COMMITTEE ALONG WITH THE MAYOR AS WELL.

GOOD TO KNOW WE'RE IN TKPWAO HANDS.

THINGS ARE STABLE FOR US IN TERMS OF THE INVESTMENTS AND THE MONIES.

IT'S BEEN A VERY CHALLENGING SEVERAL MONTHS AND EVEN WITH THAT, WE MANAGED TO KEEP THOSE FINANCES IN CHECK.

ATTENDED THE CBAG TRANSPORTATION MEETING.

THIS ADDRESSES ROAD PROJECTS, VARIOUS PROJECTS.

COUPLE WEEKS AGO I TALKED ABOUT CB LINK WHICH HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR $52 MILLION.

THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY DOWN TO INDIO OF BUILDING THAT PATH.

THIS PARTICULAR MEETING WASN'T QUITE AS UPBEAT.

THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT THERE WAS A PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION OF THE FINANCES AND WHERE THE MONIES COME TO FIX OUR ROADS OR BUILD OUR BRIDGES, ETC. NE OF THE COMPONENTS CBAG CONTRIBUTES TO IS NOT AS ROBUST AS IT HAS BEEN IN YEARS PAST.

SO A SUCH, WE'RE GOING TO NEED, OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS -- I THINK I HAVE MY NEXT MEETING AT THE END OF NOVEMBER TO GET A BETTER FEEL FOR THE FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND WHAT ROAD PROJECTS OR BRIDGE PROJECTS WE CAN WORK ON.

I KNOW CBAG WILL REACH OUT TO PUBLIC WORKS IN EACH OF THE CITIES, BUT RIGHT NOW WITH ALL OF THE DOLLARS, LOOKING AT AT LEAST, AT LEAST A $20 MILLION TO $30 MILLION REDUCTION AND PROBABLY A LOT MORE THAN THAT.

SO THAT MAY HAVE AN EFFECT ON SOME OF THE EFFORTS AND HOW QUICKLY SOME OF THE EFFORTS CAN TAKE OFF.

I'LL LET YOU KNOW AS I HAVE MORE INFORMATION.

LET'S SEE.

ATTENDED THE WOMEN'S CLUB MEETING ON ZOOM.

THAT WAS INTERESTING.

THERE'S NORMALLY ABOUT 60 OR 70 OF US THAT MEET AT HERITAGE PALMS. WE TRIED TO DO IT OVER ZOOM.

WE TALKED ABOUT -- ONE OF THE PRESENTERS TALKED ABOUT READING TO SOME OF THE ELEMENTARY KIDS, PARTICULARLY IN THE FAR EAST END OF THE VALLEY.

THE NEED FOR THESE KIDS TO READ, TO LEARN TO READ TORQUE HAVE PEOPLE WORK WITH THEM SO THEY CAN UPGRADE THEIR LEARNING SKILLS.

THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION WHICH I WILL GIVE TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND PERHAPS POST ON OUR WEBSITE SO THAT ANYBODY THAT IS INTERESTED CAN WORK WITH THESE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS FOR AN HOUR.

IT'S NOT MUCH.

IT'S AN HOUR A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK AND HELP THEM ENHANCE THEIR READING SKILLS.

WOMEN'S CLUB IS ALL INVOLVED WITH A LOT OF THING.

ONE OF WHICH IS A SENIOR CENTER.

THERE'S A THANKSGIVING PIE GIVE AWAY.

KEEP IN MIND, THE SENIOR CENTER IS REALLY VERY ACTIVE AND HUGELY SUPPORTIVE.

IT'S JUST A GREAT SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR OUR SENIORS.

USUALLY THERE IS A LUNCHEON JUST BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS.

TTHANKSGIVING BEING ONE OF THEM.

ABSENT THAT, BECAUSE IT' NOT OPEN, SENIOR CENTER IS GOING TO GIVE PIES AWAY TO

[00:20:03]

ALL OF THE SENIORS AND THEN SOME.

SO WE NEED PIES.

I THINK IT'S NOVEMBER 20TH.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A DROPOFF EITHER FOR ACTUAL PIES OR FOR DOLLARS SO THAT THEY CAN GO OUT AND BUY PIES SO THEY CAN MAKE SURE EACH OF THE 500 MEMBERS EACH GET A PIE FOR THANKSGIVING.

BEYOND THAT, SOMETHING EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR SENIORS AND MANY OF THEM EITHER LIVE ON THEIR OWN OR THEY'RE SOMEWHAT ISOLATED THAT WE NEED TO SHOW THEM A LITTLE LOVE.

WE'VE DONE THAT A COUPLE TIMES THIS YEAR.

I KNOW IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE, STARTING TO GET COOL.

MY GOSH, IT'S UNDER 100 DEGREES.

IT'S SLATED TO GET A LOT COOLER.

THEY'RE DOING A DRIVE FOR GLOVES, SCARVES, BLANKETS.

I THINK MORE THROW TYPE THINGS, TO GIVE TO OUR SENIORS.

WE'RE LOOK AT THAT 500 NUMBER.

ONE, SO THEY FEEL LOVED.

TWO, TO GIVE THEM SOME EXTRA ITEMS TO HELP KEEP THEM WARM.

THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE, MANY, ON A LIMITED BUDGET.

THOSE ARE THE TWO DRIVES COMING UP FOR THE SENIOR CENTER.

JUST A COUPLE MORE THING, MAYOR.

JUST HANG ON HERE.

THE MUSEUM.

EVERY YEAR AT THIS TIME WE HAVE THE DAY OF THE DEAD AND HAVE MUSIC AND TEQUILA TASTING AND ALL THAT WONDERFUL THINGS.

THERE'S USUALLY ABOUT 300 PEOPLE.

LAST YEAR THERE WERE 300 PEOPLE.

OF COURSE, WE COULDN'T DO THAT THIS YEAR.

THERE'S A VIRTUAL AND YOU CAN WATCH IT ONLINE.

SAME BAND IS GOING TO BE THERE.

IT WILL BE A LOT OF FUN.

SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN AT LEAST LISTEN TO.

LOT OF FUN.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST I WANTED THE COUNCIL'S APPROVAL ON SENDING A LETTER.

LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.

I SAT ON A CONVERSATION COMMISSION.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT -- LET ME GET A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND HERE.

BACK IN 2016 PRESIDENT OBAMA CREATED SOMETHING CALLED THE SAND TO SNOW NATIONAL MONUMENT.

IN THAT, THERE ARE NO VISITOR, FORMAL VISITOR FACILITIES FOR THAT NATIONAL MONUMENT.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN BUILT YET.

PART OF THAT, THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF THAT SAND TO SNOW MONUMENT BORDERS ON THE CITY OF DESERT HOT SPRINGS.

OF COURSE, DESERT HOT SPRINGS IS KNOWN FOR ITS OUTDOOR RECREATION, ITS MINERAL SPAS.

THERE ARE TREMENDOUS HIKING TRAILS UP THERE.

WHAT WE'RE ASKING TO DO IS ASKING CONGRESS TO DESIGNATE DESERT HOT SPRINGS AS A GATEWAY TO THE NATIONAL MONUMENT AND TO HAVE A VISITORS CENTERS THERE AS WELL AS IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY OUTSIDE OF BIG BEAR.

WE'RE ASKING THEM TO DESIGNATE TWO SITES FOR THIS.

I WOULD LIKE YOUR PERMISSION TO HAVE THE MAYOR SEND A LETTER.

WE ALREADY HAVE A DRAFT.

TO SUPPORT DESIGNATING THE CITY OF DESERT HOT SPRINGS AND THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OUTSIDE BIG BEAR AS THE OFFICIAL ENTRY POINTS FOR VISITOR SERVICES INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE VISITING THE SAND TO SNOW NATIONAL MONUMENT.

I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT.

>> I'M FINE WITH IT.

EVERYONE OKAY WITH SUPPORTING DESERT HOT SPRINGS?

>> BEFORE YOU START, I WANT A QUICK SECOND.

I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER AMITH.

I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR VICTORY.

SOMETIMES WHEN I GET CAFFEINE IN ME I START MOVING TOO FAST.

RUNNING CAMPAIGNS IS SUCH A HARD TASK.

WE'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH IT.

OUR MAYOR WAS SUCCESSFUL AND COUNCIL MEMBER AMITH WAS SUCCESSFUL.

AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND LET YOU KNOW WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK ON THESE GREAT PROJECTS STILL ON THE TABLE.

WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT IN TWO YEARS SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE.

WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT WE HAVE GOOD THINGS COMING.

I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND ALSO CONGRATULATE THE OTHER CANDIDATES IN THE COMMUNITY.

MY APOLOGIES FOR SKIPPING OVER THAT.

I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT BECAUSE WHEN I GOT ELECTED, THE TRANSFORMATION WASN'T THAT PLEASANT.

I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR GREAT PARTNERSHIP WORKING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU.

I'M SURE COUNCIL MEMBER AMITH APPRECIATES IT ALSO.

VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

THAT'S WHERE I'LL START.

I WANT TO THANK ALL THE RESIDENTS AND EVERYONE WHO VOTED.

CITY, STATE, COUNTY AND OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHERE THEY WENT OUT AND VOTED.

CAN'T BE ANYTHING STRONGER THAN YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE AND VOICE YOUR OPINION ON WHAT YOU THINK NEEDS TO COME FORWARD, SO WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE GOING

[00:25:02]

OUT.

APPRECIATE THE COUNTY.

WE HAD FOUR SITES IN THE CITY OF INDIO WHERE YOU COULD CAST YOUR BALLOTS AND IT WAS PACKED.

ALL FOUR HAD TO DO WITH THE CITY.

WE HAD OUR OLD POLICE STATION DOWN IN OLD TOWN.

WE HAD HERE AT THE LIBRARY.

WE HAD THE SEATTLE HILLS HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN ALSO HAD OVER AT THE TEEN CENTER.

I WANT TO THANK JIM CURTIS AND EVERYONE FOR THEIR SUPPORT MAKING SURE LONG LINES WENT THROUGH.

DIDN'T HEAR ANY COMPLAINTS.

IT WAS VERY NICE, VERY WELL DONE.

MY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE CANDIDATES THAT WON AND EVERYONE THAT PUT THEMSELVES OUT THERE TO BE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

IT' NOT AS EASY AS IT LOOKS SOMETIMES, AND TO BE ABLE TO PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE EVERYONE FOR THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND DO THAT AND THANK THEM.

WE DID HAVE OUR INVESTMENT COMMITTEE MEETING.

THAT'S WHERE WE LOOK AT OUR RESERVE FUNDS AND FUNDS PUT ASIDE THAT WE DEDICATE FOR RESERVES AND OTHER STUFF.

WE INVEST THAT TO GET DIVIDENDS.

I WANT TO THANK OUR CITY MANAGER AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER ALONG WITH LIBERTY TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT.

WE HAVE GREAT INVESTMENTS THAT THEY'VE CONTINUED TO INVEST.

THEY HAVE IT SPACED OUT IN DIFFERENT AREAS SO WE'RE GETTING THE BEST RETURNS AND AT THE SAME TIME ABLE TO UTILIZE OUR MONEY IN CASE WE NEED IT.

WANT TO THANK THEM FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

AND THEN SECONDLY, MY FIRST MEETING THAT I HAD FOR SUNLINE FOR OUR NEW AGENCY THAT WE HAD, OUR BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN IN TRAILERS FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS AND THEY FINALLY GOT THEIR LAST BUILDING FINISHED AFTER 25 YEARS OF BEING IN TRAILERS.

SO THEY NOW HAVE A FACILITY FOR EVERY ONE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.

WHEN YOU'RE THE LEADER IN THE HYDROGEN FUEL BUS LINES AND YOU'RE WORKING OUT OF TRAILERS FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN DOWN TO LOOK AT THE HYDROGEN CELL OR THEIR SCHOOLING BUS LINE WHERE THEY SHOW YOU HOW HYDROGEN CELL FUEL IS MADE, YOU NEED TO GO OVER AND GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A TOUR OF THE SUNLINE FACILITY.

THEN ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SUNLINE TRANSIT MEETING WAS THE MICROTRANSPORTATION.

THEY HAVE STARTED A PROGRAM NOW AND SOME OF THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS THAT HAVE VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC ON THE BUS LINES.

THEY HAVE TAXICABS NOW THAT WILL COME OUT AND PICK YOU UP WITHIN TEN MINUTES AND TAKE YOU TO A BUS STOP SO THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO CATCH THE BUS AND GO WHERE YOU'RE GOING.

IT IS A PILOT PROGRAM THAT THEY PUT IN PLACE.

IF YOU GET ON SUNLINE.ORG WEBSITE, YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENT AREAS.

IT IS A VERY VERY VERY LOW COST TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.

IT TAKES YOU TO THE NEAREST BUS STATION.

TRIES TO SET IT UP SO YOU'RE ABLE TO GET ON THE BUS QUICKLY AND GET GOING TO WHERE YOUR SITE IS.

THEY'RE USING IT AROUND THE COLLEGE.

THAT'S VERY EXCITING.

AS MR. ORTIZ SAID, ECAC FOR IID.

HE HIGHLIGHTED A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES COMING FORWARD.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT WAS THE BUDGET AND CAPITAL EXPENSE.

THE BUDGET FOR IID IS LITTLE OVER $532 MILLION THAT IS PART OF THEIR BUDGET FOR POWER AND WATER THROUGHOUT THEIR REGION.

SO WE APPROVED THE BUDGET AND THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES THAT WILL NOW GO TO THE MAIN IID BOARD WHICH THEY'LL VOTE ON.

GREAT TO SEE THE INVESTMENT THEY ARE LOOKING TO PUT BACK INTO OUR AREA AND OTHERS.

COUPLE MEETINGS I WAS AT, I WAS ABLE TO MEET WITH MR. JOSH FRIDAY.

HE'S THE CALIFORNIA CHIEF OFFICER FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

HE CAME DOWN TO THANK THE FINE FOOD BANK AND ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS THERE FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS THEY'VE BEEN AVERAGING 190,000 MEALS A MONTH.

THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT WITH NATIONAL GUARDS, CONSERVATION CORPS, BUT A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS.

NOW THAT THE NATIONAL GUARD HAS GONE OUT, VOLUNTEERS HAVE COME FROM CHURCHES, OTHER AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE COACHELLA VALLEY TO VOID THAT GAP WHEN THE NATIONAL GUARD LEFT.

THEY ARE CONTINUING TO FEED OVER 160,000 PEOPLE WITH VOLUNTEERS AND A VERY SMALL CREW.

HE WAS DOWN HERE TO THANK THEM FOR WHAT THEY DID ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNOR.

AND THEN THE LAST TWO THINGS, I WANT TO THANK THE STATE OF THE CITY.

IT REALLY SHOWED WHAT AN AMAZING CITY WE HAVE HERE AND WHAT GREAT RESIDENT,

[00:30:08]

STAFF AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE HERE.

WHAT I SAID THERE, I MEAN IT'S NOT THE CITY OF JUST FESTIVALS ANYMORE, IT IS THE CITY OF OPPORTUNITY.

THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES.

IF YOU LOOK REALLY DEEP IN A LOT OF THINGS, YOU'LL SEE THE WORK GOING ON NOT ONLY AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE BUSINESS, BUT OUR STAFF.

NEXT TIME YOU SEE SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS, FROM POLICE OFFICER, FIRE, TO ANY OF OUR OTHER AGENCIES FROM INDIO WATER AUTHORITY TO OUR FINANCE, THEY ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY ON A CONTINUAL BASIS TO MAKE THIS CITY WHAT IT IS TODAY.

I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THEY DID AND THE STATE OF THE CITY IS A TRIBUTE TO NOT ONLY THEM, BUT TO YOU.

THEN LASTLY ON THE GET TESTED, LOT OF US HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TESTED, EITHER AT THE FAIRGROUNDS.

SOME OF US DID AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

WE'RE STILL PUSHING TO GET TESTED.

IF WE WANT TO GET OUT OF THIS PURPLE ZONE THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS US IN, WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO GET OUR RESIDENTS THAT ARE FEELING HEALTHY, TOO, TO GET OUT AND GET TESTED.

WE WERE ALL TESTED.

WE ALL CAME BACK NEGATIVE.

WE WENT THROUGH THE TEST.

IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

YOU CAN EITHER DO IT AT THE FAIRGROUNDS, GET AN APPOINTMENT, GO THROUGH.

YOU CAN DO IT AT RITE AID, CVS.

IT'S NOT ONLY TO PROTECT YOU, IT'S TO PROTECT OTHER PEOPLE.

IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TESTED, PLEASE DO SO.

WE WANT TO GET OUR BUSINESSES OPEN EFFICIENTLY, QUICKLY, AND KEEP THEM OPEN.

THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THAT IS TO CONTINUE TO STOP THE SPREAD AND FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES THE GOVERNOR HAS SET DOWN FOR US, BECAUSE THAT IS THE ON WAY HE'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO GET OUT OF THE PURPLE.

WE NEED TO GET OUR SMALL BUSINESSES OPEN AND GET OUR PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

HOPEFULLY, VERY SOON GET OUR KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL.

WITH THAT, I'LL JUMP OFF THE SOAP BOX AND MOVE OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER, MR. MARK SCOTT.

WELCOME BACK.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK MR. ROCKWELL FOR DOING A GREAT JOB.

THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> YOU JUST TOOK MY FIRST ITEM.

I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR LETTING ME HAVE TIME TO DEAL WITH EXTENDED FAMILY ISSUES.

YOU WERE ALL SUPPORTIVE.

ESPECIALLY ROB, FOR DOING MY JOB AND HIS JOB DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

I DID ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR AND BROOKE, FOR ALL THE WORK ON THE STATE OF THE CITY WHICH YOU DID MUCH MORE ON YOUR OWN THAN ONE WOULD NORMALLY HAVE TO DO ALONG WITH BROOKE.

REALLY APPRECIATED THAT.

I HAVE GOT THREE THINGS TO COVER.

[8.a. Discussion and Possible Direction - Proposed Use of New CDBG funds]

TWO LISTED ON THE AGENDA.

FIRST ONE, IF I CAN ASK TO SHARE THE CDBG DOCUMENT.

AS CITY COUNCIL KNOWS WE HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED AN ADDITIONAL $755,000 PLUS THROUGH THE CDBG PROGRAM, FUNDED FROM THE CARES ACT.

THIS IS TO ALLOW US TO SPEND MORE MONEY IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR COVID RELATED PURPOSES.

WE ALLOCATED IT TO CITY COSTS FOR VARIOUS ACTIVITIES.

ACTUALLY, THAT'S NOT TRUE.

THAT WAS THE CARES ACT MONEY, WE ALLOCATED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

THE FIRST ALLOCATION OF CDBG MONEY YOU WILL RECALL WE ALLOCATED TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PURPOSES, BUYING PPE EQUIPMENT, FUNDING SOME OF THE LOCAL AGENCIES THAT PROVIDED SERVICES.

WE ALSO PUT SOME MONEY INTO SOME PROGRAMS TO HELP PEOPLE WITH RENTAL ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

SO WE NOW HAVE THIS ADDITIONAL SUM OF MONEY.

THIS MONEY, UNLIKE THE OTHER CARES ACT MONEY, DOES NOT HAVE TO BE SPENT BY DECEMBER 31ST.

THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE UP TO THREE YEARS, WHICH IS MUCH MORE THAN WE NEED.

TO SPEND THIS MONEY.

WE DID ASK JESUS GOMEZ, WORKING WITH KEVIN SNYDER, FOR SOME THOUGHTS ON HOW THIS MONEY COULD BE USED.

THEY CAME UP WITH AN EXAMPLE THAT WE'VE NOW PUT UP ON THE SCREEN OF ONE WAY THAT THE FUNDS COULD BE USED.

[00:35:01]

IT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE.

I HAVE TRIED TO SAY THAT IN A WEEKEND E-MAIL.

THERE'S ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THIS MONEY COULD BE SPENT.

THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW IT MIGHT BE DONE.

IT INCLUDES AN ADMINISTRATIVE COST ELEMENT.

WE DO NOT HAVE TO ASK FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF OUR ADMINISTRATIVE COST.

WE THINK IT'S A GOOD PRACTICE AND WE DID INCLUDE IT.

THAT'S THE MAXIMUM THAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO ALLOCATE TO ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

AND THEN THEY PROPOSED A PARTIAL PAYMENT OF UTILITY PAYMENTS FOR PEOPLE, PRESUMABLY FOR DELINQUENCIES.

WE DON'T HAVE TO BE SO BROAD IN SCOPE.

WE DON'T HAVE TO INCLUDE OTHER UTILITIES.

IT COULD JUST BE TARGETED TOWARD PEOPLE WITH DELINQUENIES.

A QUESTION CAME UP, COUNCIL MEMBER ORTIZ ASKED ME.

I THOUGHT CERTAINLY A GOOD QUESTION.

WHETHER OR NOT WE RUN INTO PROP 218 PROBLEMS IF WEIR SUBSIDIZING A UTILITY USER.

BUT THIS IS NOT UTILITY ENTERPRISE MONEY.

THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN USING FEES THAT ARE COLLECTED AS REVENUE IN THE ENTERPRISE VERSUS USING OTHER EXTERNAL FEES.

SO UNLESS THERE WAS A CDBG PROHIBITION TO IT, WE BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE COULD DO.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE NEAR $230,000 WORTH OF IWA DELINQUENCIES, ALTHOUGH IT'S GETTING TO BE A FAIRLY HEALTHY NUMBER.

MUST BE $50,000 TO $70,000 THAT PEOPLE ARE DELINQUENT.

WE HAVE NOT SHUT ANYONE'S WATER OFF.

THAT'S POLICY OF THE COUNCIL DURING THIS TIME.

THE LAST PART OF HIS PROPOSAL WAS TO SHOW THAT IF WE ALLOCATED THE REMAINING $500,000 TO A BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAM THAT, FOR INSTANCE, AND THAT'S ALL IT IS.

FOR INSTANCE, YOU COULD DO $35,000 GRANTS, $20,000, $10,000 GRANTS AND TEN, $15,000 GRANTS.

THE TRICK TO DOING A PROGRAM LIKE THIS IS BEING ABLE TO ADMINISTER IT.

ADMINISTERING IT MEANS YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH WHAT THE CRITERIA IS YOU'RE GOING TO USE.

I THINK WE'VE ALL ADMIRED THE FACT THAT SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT MONEY UP OUT OF THEIR RESERVE FUNDS TO DO BUSINESS SUPPORT AND WE'VE ADMIRED THAT, BUT WE DON'T SHARE THE RESERVE FUNDS THOSE OTHER CITIES DO.

ADDITIONALLY WE HAVE MORE BUSINESS THAN THOSE OTHER CITIES DO.

OUR FUNDS DON'T GO AS FAR OR WOULDN'T GO AS FAR.

BUT WE COULD ALLOCATE FUNDS HERE FOR BUSINESS SUPPORT.

AND THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE A GOOD PURPOSE, IF WE COULD FEEL LIKE WE CAME UP WITH AN EQUITABLE WAY TO DO IT.

WE LOOKED INTO WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S AN OPTION TO ALLOCATE PART OF THIS TO THE LIFT TO RISE, UNITED WAY RENT SUBSIDY PROGRAM THAT THE COUNTY FUNDED WITH CARES ACT MONEY.

THAT PROGRAM IS TERMINATED.

MR. SNYDER CHECKED WITH THEM AND FOUND OUT THE MONEY RAN OUT AND THEY TERMINATED THE PROGRAM AND THEY'RE NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN TAKING A NEW POT OF MONEY AND DOING THAT.

THAT PROGRAM WAS GOOD IN THE SENSE THAT IT NOT ONLY HELPED PEOPLE WHO WERE RENTERS, IT ALSO WAS PAID DIRECTLY TO LANDLORD, SO IT ALSO ASSISTED LANDLORDS WHO MAY BE SUFFERING.

BUT WE COULD COME UP WITH A PROGRAM OF THAT SORT.

IT'S JUST THAT IT WOULD BE MORE DIFFICULT TO ADMINISTER IF WE HAD TO DO IT OURSELVES.

THERE ARE CERTAINLY OTHER ISSUES THAT THIS KIND OF MONEY COULD BE SPENT ON.

MR. GOMEZ ALSO ATTACHED A COPY OF THE SCHEDULE IF WE HAD DIRECTION TONIGHT, WHICH I DON'T EXPECT.

BUT IF WE HAD DIRECTION TONIGHT, WE COULD -- THE SCHEDULE SHOWS THE TIME THAT'S INVOLVED IN GETTING IT ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED.

IT'S A HUD PROGRAM SO IT TAKES A WHILE TO GO THROUGH ALL THE HOOPS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS AND SUCH.

SO WE PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA SO THAT COUNCIL COULD GIVE US FEEDBACK ON THIS AND ANY INITIAL THOUGHTS THAT YOU'VE GOT, I'D BE INTERESTED IN HEARING THEM.

LUPE, WHY DON'T YOU START.

THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER AND STAFF.

, FOR MAKING AN EFFORT TO AT LEAST BRING SOMETHING FORWARD.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

WE'RE ENVIOUS OF THE OTHER CITIES THAT ARE ABLE TO HELP THEIR BUSINESSES.

BUT AS I HAVE SAID FROM THE BEGINNING THAT WE STARTED RECEIVING MONEY, IT DOESN'T

[00:40:04]

FEEL RIGHT TO PICK 10, 20, 30, 50 BUSINESSES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE HUNDREDS OF BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE.

IN A SENSE THAT PUTS US IN THE POSITION OF PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS.

I DON'T LIKE DOING THAT.

I WISH WE HAD MORE MONEY.

I WISH WE COULD DIRECTLY HELP THE BUSINESSES.

AS FAR AS UTILITY SUBSIDIES, I WILL MENTION SANITARY BILLS ARE ON OUR TAX ROLLS SO THEY'RE NOT BILLS THAT WOULDN'T BE CONSIDERED.

I WOULDN'T MIND SUBSIDIZING THE IID DELINQUENCIES.

IF THEY'RE DELINQUENT NOW, THEY WILL BE DELINQUENT SIX MONTHS FROM NOW.

I WOULD SUGGEST FOR CONSIDERATION THE BEST APPROACH TO TAKE IS TO HELP THE ECONOMY RECOVER.

GET BUSINESSES OPEN.

HELP PEOPLE GET BACK TO WORK.

AND THE BEST PATH TO DO THAT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY OF INDIO RESIDENTS ARE TESTED AND THAT THEY'RE TESTED REGULARLY SO THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR POSITIVITY RATE.

SO I WOULD PROPOSE THE BEST WAY TO HELP BUSINESSES, THE BEST WAY TO HELP ALL THOSE UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN GET THEIR JOBS BACK AND PAY THEIR BILLS IS TO TAKE THE COVID TESTING CAMPAIGN MOBILE TO EITHER FUND A MOBILE EFFORT THAT GOES NEIGHBORHOOD TO NEIGHBORHOOD OR FUND A MARKETING CAMPAIGN THAT RAISES THE LEVEL OF AWARENESS IN THE COMMUNITIE THAT WE NEED TO REACH THE MOST SO THAT INDIO CAN BE A LEADER IN RAISING THE POSITIVITY RATES INSTEAD OF HAVING THIS APATHETIC APPROACH THAT MOST RESIDENT HAVE BECAUSE THEY'VE RECEIVED MIXED MESSAGES.

IN THE BEGINNING, THE GOVERNOR SAID TO EVERYONE, YOU'RE ALL QUARANTINED, STAY HOME.

THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN OUR SUPERVISORS ARE TELLING ALL THE RESIDENTS, NO, NO, WE NEED YOU TO COME OUT AND GET TESTED.

OUR RESIDENTS DON'T KNOW WHO TO BELIEVE.

I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A STEP IN REACHING THEM, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT WE DO NEED THEM TO HELP US RAISE OUR POSITIVITY RATE.

THE WAY TO DO THAT IS FOR EVERYONE TO BE TESTED AND TESTED REGULARLY.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE TIME FRAME IS YOU SHOULD BE TESTED.

IS IT 30 DAY, 60 DAYS? I DON'T KNOW.

BUT UNTIL WE GET OUT OF THIS PURPLE ZONE, RED ZONE AND OUR ECONOMY IS BACK OPEN, WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE BEHIND THE EIGHTBALL.

OUR RESIDENTS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE DELINQUENT IN THEIR RENT, UTILITIES.

OUR BUSINESSES ARE ALWAYS GOING TO NEED SUBSIDY.

WE HAVE A FINITE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE TO THE COUNCIL AS ONE CONSIDERATION IS TO LET'S GET OUR POSITIVITY RATE BY TAKING THE COVID CAMPAIGN MOBILE AND MAKING AN EFFORT SO THE CITY OF INDIO LEADS THE COUNTY IN THE POSITIVITY RATE.

WE ARE THE BIGGEST CITY.

WE HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF DEATHS.

WE NEED TO BE THE FIRST CITY TO PUT SOME FUNDING INTO GETTING OUR POSITIVITY RATE UP.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU, MISS AMITH.

MR. FERMON, MR. ORTIZ, ONE OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO?

>> SURE.

I'LL WEIGH IN.

I REALLY WOULD LIKE IF CITY MANAGER AND STAFF COULD TALK TO OUR SISTER CITIES AND SEE WHAT KIND OF PROGRAM THEY INITIATED AND THE PARAMETERS THEY UTILIZE TO HELP THEIR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SOME OF OUR BUSINESSES TRY TO ADAPT TO OUR GUIDELINES WITH CREATING PATIOS AND OUTDOOR DINING.

WITHOUT THE REVENUE COMING IN, THEY'RE HAVING TO SPEND.

IT'S AFFECTING THEIR BUSINESS, THEIR EMPLOYEES.

I'D LIKE FOR OUR STAFF TO LOOK AT SOME OF OUR OTHER OPTIONS.

I ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER AMITH'S COMMENTS ON BEING INNOVATIVE WITH OUR TESTING AND GETTING OUT WITH OUR COMMUNITIES AND PUTTING IT IN FRONT OF THEM AN OFFERING IT TO THEM FOR TH SIMPLE FACT IS WE DO HAVE THE TESTING SITE AT THE FAIRGROUNDS, BUT IT'S EMPTY SOMETIMES.

THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.

WE REALLY NEED TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY SOMEHOW.

THAT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE MOST, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST WAYS WE CAN DO IT, IS GETTING OUT THERE.

SO I DO SUPPORT DOING A CAMPAIGN LIKE THAT AND GETTING OUT THERE AND

[00:45:04]

GETTING OUR POSITIVITY NUMBERS UP.

BECAUSE I REALLY BELIEVE IF WE DO THAT, SOME THINGS WILL CHANGE AND WE WILL STILL BE SAFE AND WORK WITHIN THE GUIDELINES, BUT WE NEED TO GET THOSE NUMBERS UP SO WE CAN STIMULATE THE ECONOMY.

I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN HELPING OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES OUT.

AS FAR AS SUBSIDIZING OUR UTILITIES, WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS WITH IWA? WHAT DOES THAT DEMOGRAPHIC LOOK LIKE? HOW CAN WE HELP IWA? I WOULD BE IN FAVOR AND ENTERTAINING LOOKING AT IWA AS FAR AS SUBSIDIES AND HELPING OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

BUT ULTIMATELY WE DO NEED TO BE INNOVATIVE WITH OUR TESTING, AS FAR AS THE CITY GOES.

WE DO HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBERS.

WE HAVE A HIGH RATE OF DEATHS.

COVID IS AFFECTING OUR DEMOGRAPHIC LARGELY WITH OUR COMMUNITIES WE HAVE HERE.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. MAYOR.

>> SO THE UTILITY PAYMENTS, I DO LIKE THAT IDEA.

MR. ORTIZ?

I CALLED A FEW ORGANIZATIONS FROM AROUND THE CITY.

SEEMS TO BE THE URGENCY IS THE RENT.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE TO HEAR THAT.

I KNOW COACHELLA VALLEY HOUSING DOES HAVE A PROGRAM FOR THEIR OWN FACILITIES AS WELL.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY OTHER WAY TO PROVIDE SOME RENT SUBSIDIES.

THAT SEEMS TO BE THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE FOR A LOT OF OUR FAMILIES.

I LIKE THE BUSINESS BRANCH.

I DO UNDERSTAND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP EVERYBODY, BUT IF WE CAN HELP 50, 60 BUSINESSES, IT WILL BE WORTH OUR MONEY.

ONE THING THAT I WOULD MAYBE LOOK INTO IS HOW MUCH ARE THE FEES FOR -- I REALLY WORRY ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GO TO WORK AND WHO ARE HAVING TO BE AT HOME WITH THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN WHO ARE AT SCHOOL.

I KNOW A LOT OF THOUGH PEOPLE ARE DOING THEIR HOME BUSINESSES, RIGHT? WE'VE ALREADY REDUCED SOME OF OUR LICENSING HERE, BY FEES HERE AT THE CITY, BUT ALSO, I KNOW SOME OF THE ONES THAT DO THE COOKING, WHICH THERE'S A LOT NOW, THAT DO COOKING AT HOME AND SELL FOOD.

WOULD WE BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO MAYBE REDUCE SOME OF THOUGH COSTS AND REDUCE THOSE BARRIERS AND THAT WAY START UP SOME NEW SMALL BUSINESSES AND GET PEOPLE GOING ON THEIR OWN BUSINESS? I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW.

>> THANK YOU, MR. ORTIZ.

MAYOR PRO-TEM?

>> COUNCIL MEMBER AMITH, YOU GOT ME THINKING.

THAT'S SORT OF A GRASS ROOTS.

IF WE HAVE SOME KIND OF MOBILE UNIT THAT CAN, ON A REGULAR BASIS, GO TO ALL THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND BE THERE AND BE AVAILABLE, THEN I WOULD ASSUME YOU WOULD HAVE PEOPLE MORE WILLING JUST BECAUSE IT'S'IER THAN CALLING UP AND MAKING AN APPOINTMENT.

BE MORE WILLING TO GET TESTED.

SO YOU DO THAT AN WE MOVE UP IN THE TIER OR DOWN, I DON'T KNOW, WHATEVER.

WE OPEN UP AT SOME LEVEL.

THAT HAS A PROFOUND EFFECT ON THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE.

I LIKE THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD COST OR WHAT A MOBILE UNIT WOULD LOOK LIKE, BUT I'D LIKE TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.

I ALSO LIKE THE BUSINESS ASSISTANCE.

I'M A SMALL BUSINESS SO $5,000 WOULD PAY TWO MONTHS WORTH OF UTILITIES OR SOMETHING.

WHILE I ALSO THINK GRASS ROOTS APPROACH REALLY HELPS THE ENTIRE SITUATION BECAUSE THE SOONER WE GET OPEN, AT SOME LEVEL, THE SOONER WE'LL ALL BE SUCCESSFUL.

AT THE SAME TIME, I'D LIKE TO SEE MAYBE JUST LEVEL ONE AND POSSIBLY LEVEL TWO, OR MAYBE JUST LEVEL ONE GRANTS GIVEN OUT WITH SOME CRITERIA TO SOME OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE OUT THERE.

MAYBE WE SET THE CRITERIA AS TO HOW LARGE A BUSINESS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT.

I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T LIKE PICKING THE LOSERS EITHER, BUT THERE'S A TREMENDOUS NEED OUT THERE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS.

ONE MONTH WORTH OF UTILITIES IS HUGE FOR A LOT OF BUSINESS.

RESTAURANT A COUPLE DOORS DOWN FROM ME IS CHALLENGE.

IT IS TAMALE SEASON AND IT'S A CHALLENGE.

TO RECAP, I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT WHAT A MOBILE UNIT, WHAT THAT WOULD COST AND ENTAIL, FREQUENCY.

ARE WE ALLOWED TO GET INTO SOME OF THE GATED COMMUNITIES? AND WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

BASED ON HOW MUCH THAT WOULD COST AND WHAT THE FREQUENCY OF THAT WOULD BE, I'D LIKE TO CONSIDER MAYBE LEVEL ONE GRANTS TO INDIO BUSINESSES, AS LONG AS THOSE GRANTS

[00:50:01]

REACH A DECENT NUMBER OF OUR BUSINESSES.

MAYOR?

THANKS TO STAFF FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

MISS AMITH I AGREE WITH YOU TO AN EXTENT.

WE HAVE THE MOST COVID CASES BECAUSE WE'RE THE LARGEST CITY.

WE'RE THE MOST ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

ONE LIFE IS TOO MANY.

WE'VE HAD TOO MANY.

THIS FALL, TO ME, ON THE COUNTY.

THEIR MOBILE UNIT THEY HAVE DOESN'T GO ANYWHERE.

I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT.

I THINK MISS AMITH IS RIGHT.

WE NEED TO TAKE THE LEAD ON THIS.

I THINK WE WORK WITH RITE AID OR CVS AND GO TO OUR HOA'S.

NOT A MOBILE LAB ITSELF.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE.

YOU'RE STARTING TO TALK ABOUT THE CITY GET INVOLVED WITH HEALTH AND OTHER STUFF.

WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO PARTNER HAVE SOMEBODY THAT HAS THE EXPERTISE, THAT HAS THE LICENSES, THAT HAS THE STUFF.

MAYBE WE NEED TO TALK TO SOME OF OUR DRUG STORE, CVS, AND SEE IF THEY WOULD MOBILELY TAKE THE PEOPLE, INSTEAD OF BEING IN THEIR CVS OR RITE AID, WOULD THEY GO TO SHADOW HILLS, HERITAGE PALMS, FOX STONE AND DO SOMETHING WITH THE CLUB HOUSE WHERE THEY ALREADY HAVE.

I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK OUT SIDE THE BOX AND PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY.

SAY WE'RE GOING TO BE PART OF YOUR SOLUTION, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO BE PART OF IT WITH THEM.

ON THE DOLLARS ITSELF FOR PAYING US BACK, JUST MAKES COMMON SENSE.

WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO COVER OUR COSTS.

IF NOT, WE'RE JUST TAKING IT FROM ONE POT, PUTTING IT IN THE OTHER.

BUSINESS LOANS, ABSOLUTELY.

WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS A WHILE AGO.

WE'RE NOT PICKING WINNERS OR LOSERS.

WE'RE PICKING PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP.

IT MEANS THE WORLD TO A LOT OF BUSINESSES THAT ARE BEING CLOSED DOWN BUT A OF NO ISSUES OF THEIR OWN OTHER THAN THEY ARE AFFECTED BECAUSE OF THE BUSINESS THEY'RE IN.

SO I THINK WE CAN FIND PLENTY OF BUSINESSES THAT WE CAN HELP AND SUPPORT THAT NEED US.

THERE'S A LOT OF BUSINESSES THAT DON'T NEED US.

WE HAVE THE GROCERY STORES, THE CONVENIENCE STORES.

LOT OF THESE OTHER ONES DON'T NEED OUR SUPPORT.

THEY ARE DOING FINE AND MAKING GOOD MONEY.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PICK THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ARE MOM AND POPS THAT ARE DEPENDENT UPON US IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THEM FROM THE CONCERTS, FROM PEOPLE GOING IN AND GOING OUT, TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DO THIS.

I'M BIG ON THE BUSINESS LOANS.

SUBSIDIES FOR PAYMENTS, IF YOU'RE HELPING THEM WITH RENT OR UTILITY, THAT'S ALL THE SAME.

THEY'RE GOING TO OWE IT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

HOW CAN WE WORK TO THAT? I SEE THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY.

I'M WILLING TO TAKE THAT MONEY, IF IT'S THERE, AND USE IT FOR TESTING, IF THAT GETS US OUT FURTHER.

IF YOU FEEL IT'S IN OUR BEST INTEREST, STAFF FEELS IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST, THAT $230,000 IS BEST WITH UTILITY PAYMENTS OR PUT IT BACK INTO THE POT FOR MORE BUSINESSES.

EVERY BUSINESS THAT STAYS OPEN, EVERY BUSINESS THAT'S BUSIER MEANS THEY HAVE MORE PEOPLE WORKING, MORE TAX DOLLARS COMING IN TO US AND AT THE SAME TIME HELPS THEM TO GET THROUGH WHATEVER THEY NEED.

HOWEVER YOU THINK THAT'S BEST.

LOT OF RESIDENTS WANT TO WORK.

THEY CAN'T WORK BECAUSE THEIR BY IS CLOSED.

SO WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT IT BOTH WAYS.

I LIKE THE PROPOSALS, BUT LITTLE FINE TUNE WOULD BE GOOD.

MISS AMITH IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WE NEED TO LEAD.

WE NEED TO GO AFTER AND HOLD THOSE PARTNERSHIPS WE HAVE.

THE TRIBE, IF YOU LOOK AT FANTASY SPRINGS, THEY TEST THEIR PEOPLE EVERY WEEK INSIDE THEIR CONVENTION CENTER.

WHAT ARE THEY DOING AND WHO ARE THEY GETTING TO HELP THEM DO IT? MAYBE THEY CAN HELP US.

>> THANK YOU, ALL.

I THINK WE'VE GOT ENOUGH INPUT HERE TO FOCUS ON THREE OR FOUR OF THESE IDEAS.

WE'LL FLUSH THEM OUT AND BRING THEM BACK.

THE COUNTY, I LIKE THE TESTING CONCEPT.

THE COUNTY DOES, AS YOU SAY, HAVE A MOBILE UNIT.

BARRY IS ACTUALLY WORKING WITH DENNIS DAY TO DO A PROGRAM HERE IN INDIO USING THE MOBILE UNIT.

SO WE'LL FIND OUT HOW THAT WORKS AND WHAT'S INVOLVED FROM A COST STANDPOINT.

I THINK ABSOLUTELY HAVING THEM PARTNER WITH SOMEONE WHO IS FROM THE MEDICAL FIELD THAT IS A PARTY TO THAT EFFORT MAKES MORE SENSE THAN THE CITY TO BE THE PRY SPONSOR OF A MEDICAL TREATMENT.

SO WE'LL PUT SOME DETAIL ON THIS.

THESE ARE GOOD IDEAS AND CREATIVE IDEAS.

LET ME SEE WHAT WE CAN COME UP WITH AND WE'LL BRING THIS ONE BACK.

>> I WANT TO THANK MR. DAY FOR HIS CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY.

MR. DAY, HE'S OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SERVICES EXPERT, I WANT TO CALL HIM.

HE HAS DONE AMAZING WORK WITH THE COUNTY, WITH THE CITY, WITH OUR COMMUNITY,

[00:55:03]

PROTECTING US ON A CONTINUAL BASIS.

HE DESERVES RECOGNITION.

>> HE'S AMAZINGLY DEDICATED.

I GIVE IT 50% CHANCE HE'S WATCHING THE MEETING.

WE'LL PASS THAT ON TO HIM FOR SURE.

NEXT ITEM THAT I HAVE ON HERE ACTUALLY IS A SIMPLE ITEM IN THE SENSE THAT IT

[8.b. Discussion and Possible Direction - Ocean water import as part of the Salton Sea Management Plan]

RELATES TO REQUEST THAT CAME THROUGH THE MAYOR FOR MR. PARKER, CHUCK PARKER, WHO COUNCIL WILL RECALL, HAS COME BEFORE US A COUPLE TIMES TALKING ABOUT THIS WATER IMPORT CONCEPT TO ADDRESS THE SALTON SEA.

WHAT'S ON THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT TODAY IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A DISCUSSION OF THE TOPIC.

IT WAS A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY COUNCIL WISHED TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA, ON THE NEXT MEETING FOR A DISCUSSION.

COUNCIL MEMBER RAMOS POINTED SOMETHING OUT TO ME THE OTHER DAY.

I THINK SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THIS HAS BEEN OUR PROTOCOL FOR A LONG TIME.

TO ASK THE COUNCIL'S AUTHORIZATION TO ADD ITEMS TO THE AGENDA, SO WHEN COUNCIL MEMBERS INITIATE A TOPIC, THAT WE ASK -- THEY ASK THEIR COLLEAGUES, DO YOU WANT TO PUT THIS ON THE NEXT AGENDA? COUNCIL SAYS YES.

WE PUT IT ON AND HAVE THE DISCUSSION.

BY PLACING THIS ON THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT, WHICH I DO IN THE SPIRIT OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT AT OUR MEETINGS WE DON'T GET OFF TRACK TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S ON OUR AGENDA.

IN THAT SPIRIT I HAVE BEEN PLACING THEM UNDER THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT NOT WITH ENOUGH DESCRIPTION AS TO WHAT OUR PURPOSE IS.

ON SOME TOPICS WE'VE BEEN GETTING CALLERS WHO WANT TO ACTUALLY ENGAGE IN THE DEBATE OF THE ISSUE BEFORE THE COUNCIL HAS EVEN ADDRESSED WHETHER OR NOT TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.

IT'S NOT EVEN FAIR TO THE PUBLIC TO PUT THEM IN THAT POSITION BECAUSE THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY AND WE SAY, IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.

I HAVE GOT TO COME UP WITH A BETTER WAY OF DOING THIS.

I'M LOOKING AT THE CITY ATTORNEY.

I DON'T THINK WE EVEN HAVE TO LIST SOMETHING AS A REQUEST FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE NEXT AGENDA AS LONG AS WE'RE ALL DISCIPLINED ABOUT NOT GETTING OFF INTO THE DETAILS ON THE TOPIC.

SO PERHAPS THE BETTER APPROACH IS TO JUST LET EACH OF YOU RAISE IT AT THE COUNCIL MEETING AND IF I KNOW IT'S COMING, I'LL GIV PEOPLE A HEADS UP THAT IT'S COMING.

THE QUESTION ON THIS ONE, WE'VE GOTTEN THIS RESOLUTION PROPOSED TO US FROM MR. PARKER AND WOULD THE CITY COUNCIL LIKE TO PLACE THIS ON THE AGENDA? WE DEALT WITH IT IN ANOTHER FORUM ABOUT A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

IT'S NOW COME BACK WITH A LITTLE MORE SPECIFICITY.

COUPLE OF THE OTHER CITIES IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY HAVE NOW ACTED ON IT.

THE QUESTION IS, WOULD THIS COUNCIL WANT TO PUT IT ON THE NOVEMBER 18TH AGENDA FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION?

>> LUPE?

>> I JUST WANT TO REMIND COUNCIL THAT THE MERE REQUEST OF PUTTING SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA DOESN'T MEAN PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.

IT MEANS STAFF TIME.

IT MEANS STAFF REPORT.

IT MEANS RESEARCH.

IN THIS CASE TO LOOK AT WHAT THE OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE, WHAT THEIR RESOLUTIONS HAVE DONE.

I ALWAYS CAUTION COUNCIL, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DEDICATE STAFF TIME TO SOMETHING, OUR VERY LIMITED STAFF, THAT TAKES AWAY TIME FROM ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT WE TOLD THEM WERE PRIORITIES WHEN WE HAD OUR LAST STRATEGIC SESSION.

SO WE OURSELVES HAVE TO BE DISCIPLINED AND STRATEGIC ABOUT WHAT WE ASK TO BE PUT ON THE AGENDA.

IS IT REALLY SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE POLICY WISE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF INDIO IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

IF WE HAVE EXTRA TIME OR EXTRA MONEY, WE TAKE A LOOK AT REGIONAL THINGS.

SO, AGAIN, I'M CAUTIONING COUNCIL, LET'S NOT JUST THROW THINGS ON THE AGENDA SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THEM.

LET'S REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS, AND THAT MEANS STAFF TIME, RESEARCH, STAFF REPORT AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE IN A POSITION TO EXPEND THAT ON THINGS THAT DON'T DIRECTLY AFFECT INDIO AT THIS TIME.

[01:00:02]

I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT COMMENT BEFORE EVERYONE STARTS SAYING, SURE, WE'LL DISCUSS IT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT GOING TO CONSIDER IT.

REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT BEFORE YOU SAY YES TO SOMETHING.

>> THANK YOU, MISS AMITH.

MAYOR PRO-TEM, LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE READY TO SAY SOMETHING.

>> I COMPLETELY AGREE.

WE CAN ALL EMBRACE SOMETHING AND BE ON THE ROAD AND COMPLETELY FORGET ABOUT THE PRIORITIES THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED AND SET.

BUT THINGS ALSO DO COME UP.

SO AS WE BECOME PASSIONATE ABOUT ONE TOPIC OR ANOTHER, CAN WE ASK STAFF TO GUIDE US? WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE TO SAY, CITY MANAGER, WHEN THESE REQUESTS COME UP, CAN WE ASK THE QUESTION SO THAT WE CAN REMEMBER THE PRIORITIES AND FIGURE OUT IF OUR REQUEST FALLS INTO THAT PRIORITY? WE COULD HAVE TWO OR THREE THINGS ADDED TO THE AGENDA EVERY WEEK WITH EVERYTHING WE'RE ALL INVOLVED WITH.

SOMETIMES I GET SO INVOLVED AND ENGAGED I FORGET ABOUT THE STAFF.

WHEN WE MAKE -- NOT FORGET ABOUT THE STAFF, BUT HOW BUSY THEY ARE.

I WOULD WELCOME THE IDEA OF, OKAY, IF STAFF IS DOING THIS, THE LATEST AND GREATEST FUNCTION THAT YOU DESIRE, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT THIS ON THE BACK BURNER.

I WOULD FIND THAT BENEFICIAL.

WE ALL GET SO INVOLVED AND ENGAGED THAT SOMETIMES WE FORGET OUR BIGGER PICTURE.

>> MR. ORTIZ, MR. FERMON, ANYTHING?

>> FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE INVOLVED AND JUST KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON SO WE CAN CONVEY THAT INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY.

BUT I DON'T THINK -- I THINK BEFORE WE WOULD INVEST ANY STAFF TIME, MAYBE IT WOULD BE BETTER TO HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM SOMEBODY.

THE ISSUE THERE, I'M GOING TO ALL THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS AND I'M GETTING DIFFERENT NARRATIVES FROM EVERYBODY SO I'M NOT SURE WHO WE WOULD HAVE DO A PRESENTATION.

I THINK A PRESENTATION WOULD BE BETTER FIRST, JUST TO CATCH UP WITH WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THOSE ISSUES AND THEN FROM THERE SEE IF WE WOULD LIKE TO ATKOP ANY RESOLUTION.

>> I AM REALLY SECONDED WITH WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING.

MR. FERMON, ANYTHING?

WE HAVE THIS LONG PRIORITY LIST OF THINGS WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

ESPECIALLY NOW.

WE HAVE SOME BIG THINGS COMING UP FOR OUR CITY.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR CITY MANAGER.

WE ARE COMING AFTER AN ELECTION YEAR.

WE HAVE THE PANDEMIC.

THERE'S THINGS THAT TAKE PRIORITY.

IT'S A GOOD POINT TO REALLY START LOOKING AT HOW WE FORM THESE AGENDAS AND PRIORITIZE SOME THINGS.

IS THE SALTON SEA IMPORTANT? YES.

DO WE SUPPORT FIXING THE SALTON SEA? YES.

IS IT A POSSIBILITY THAT WE COULD HAVE THIS ON THE AGENDA IN ANOTHER TWO WEEKS, FOUR WEEKS? PROBABLY, YES, BUT THERE'S PRIORITIES THAT WE DO HAVE.

I THINK OUR CITY MANAGER AND ROB AND STAFF HAVE BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB PUTTING OUR PRIORITIES IN FRONT OF US AND WORKING ON THOSE.

I THINK WE NEED TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE NEED TO HAVE NOW AND GET SOME WINS AND COUNCIL REMEMBER ORTIZ BROUGHT UP A GOOD.. WHO COULD PRESENT SOMETHING TO US SO WE COULD LOOK AT IT AND THEN WE CAN MOVE FROM THERE.

WE DO HAVE MAJOR PRIORITIES.

WE JUST TALKED ABOUT COVID TESTING.

THERE'S THINGS WE HAVE TO DO RIGHT NOW.

I WANT TO SAY MAYBE WE COULD -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY BACK BURNER, BUT REVISIT THIS AT A LATER TIME AND FOCUS ON SOME THINGS THAT MAY TAKE PRECEDENCE.

IT IS IMPORTANT.

I SAY THAT SOMBERLY, BUT I THINK WE HAVE SOME THINGS THAT TAKE PRIORITY RIGHT NOW BUT A STAFF IS SHORT.

YOU COME INTO CITY HALL, WE ARE -- IT'S STRATEGIC TO KEEP CERTAIN MEMBERS OUT OF CITY HALL.

WE ARE ONLY AS STRONG AS YOUR CITY STAFF.

THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD.

WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT, BUT IT IS BECAUSE OF OUR STAFF.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, MAYBE WE NEED TO REVISIT THIS AND UTILIZE OUR STAFF TIME MORE STRATEGIC.

I KIND OF CONCUR AND I DON'T AT THE SAME TIME.

OUR PRIORITIES ARE SET OFF A PERIOD OF TIME AND WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING THEM ALL RIGHT NOW ANYWAY.

BUT WHO DECIDES THEN WHEN SOMETHING COMES UP SO MR. FERMON, IF SOMEBODY THAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU OR SOMEBODY SENDS SOMETHING TO YOU UNLESS YOU GET CONCURRENCE FROM ALL OF US IT SITS ON THE BACK BURNER.

THIS IS WHAT THIS IS KIND OF ABOUT, WHEN PEOPLE SEND US STUFF.

[01:05:04]

IT ISN'T GLENN MILLER DECIDING WHAT'S GOING ON THE AGENDA.

WE BRING IT FORWARD TO TALK.

WE CAN DO IT AT THIS LEVEL, TOO.

WHEN WE HAVE DIFFERENT CONNECTIONS BASED ON OUR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT OR WHATEVER ELSE AND SOMEBODY SENDS SOMETHING TO ME AS THE MAYOR OR SENDS IT TO YOU AS A COUNCIL MEMBER OR YOU AS A TRANSPORTATION GUIDE, DO YOU NOT WANT TO BE ABLE TO BRING IT UP BECAUSE IT WASN'T PART OF OUR PRIORITY BEFORE AND WE JUST LET IT SIT THERE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T ALL AGREE TO IT? THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE WE HAVE TO BRING THESE THINGS UP.

THERE'S NO WAY TO SEND IT TO EVERYBODY AND SAY, OH, HEY, HOW DO WE BRING THIS UP? GLENN, DO YOU WANT TO DO THIS? THAT IS THE BROWNLEC VIOLATION.

THIS WAS SENT TO US BY OTHER GROUPS FROM THREE OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY SIGNED ON TO IT AND ARE SAYING, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE INVOLVED? THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT IT FORWARD.

IT'S NOT A LOT OF STAFF TIME.

IT'S SOMETHING WE PUT A STAMP TO, LOOK AT IT AND DOING.

MR. ORTIZ IS TALKING ABOUT A PRESENTATION.

FINE.

WHO DECIDES WHAT COMES FORWARD? IF IT'S NOT ON OUR AGENDA.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU OR SOMEBODY ELSE MAY BE SOMETHING THAT'S NOT PRIVY TO THE REST OF US.

THAT'S WHY I SAID THAT.

>> THAT'S FINE.

THERE'S DIFFERENT TIMES WHERE, SAY FOR INSTANCE, TONIGHT, IT'S AFTER A LONG NIGHT AND CITY MANAGER ADVISES US THAT, HEY, OUR AGENDA WILL BE LIGHT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A LONG NIGHT FOR FOLK.

THERE'S GOING TO BE INSTANCES WHERE WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THINGS.

FOLKS ARE GOING TO CONTACT US AND SAY, CAN YOU PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA.

SOMETIMES WE CAN'T DO IT.

SOMETIMES WE CAN.

THAT COMMUNICATION WITH FOLK, I THINK THEY UNDERSTAND.

WE'RE NOT SAYING WE CAN'T DO THIS.

IF CITY MANAGER SAYS, WE CAN BRING THIS BACK IN TWO WEEKS, BY ALL MEANS, LET'S DO IT, BECAUSE WE DO SUPPORT THE EFFORT.

THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT DO COME UP THAT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE TIME.

WE MAY HAVE TO ASK THE FOLKS, LOOK, WE SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT MAYBE WE COULD BRING THIS FORWARD NEXT MONTH? IT'S LIGHT NEXT MONTH.

SITUATIONS ARE DIFFERENT.

IT'S GOING TO DICTATE ITSELF.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WE DO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY.

WHEN FOLKS E-MAIL US AND SEND US THING, I'LL CC THE MAYOR.

WE DO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY.

SOMETIME WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BRING EVERYTHING FORWARD RIGHT AWAY BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T DO IT AT A LATER DATE.

>> I UNDERSTAND.

I DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONE DECIDING OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE IT.

IF THEY WOULD HAVE SAID GLENN MILLER DIDN'T BRING IT FORWARD AND YOU WERE INTERESTED, THE FIRST THING YOU WOULD BE ASKING ME IS, WHY ARE YOU DECIDING FOR THE REST OF US.

THAT'S A POINT.

NOT SAYING IT HAPPENS.

CITY MANAGER, WE CAN DO IT ANY WAY YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE REQUESTS TO GO FORWARD WHEN IT'S A REGIONAL THING.

LOT OF TIMES WE DO IT.

I WATCHED THE OTHER NIGHT PALM SPRINGS ENDED AT 1:00 A.M.

WE HAVE PRETTY TAME MEETINGS.

>> I WAS HOPING YOU WOULDEN REALIZE THAT OTHER CITIES MEET LONGER.

WHY IS IT SAYING I SHOULD UNMUTE?

>> YOU DON'T NEED.

YOU GOT YOUR MIC ON.

>> I DON'T THINK THE ISSUE HERE IS BRINGING THINGS UP AND ASKED TO COMMENT.

ONCE YOU'RE ASKED, THAT'S WHERE THE DISCIPLINE COMES THAT LUPE IS TALKING ABOUT.

ONCE ASKED, WE DON'T HAVE TO SAY YES TO EVERYTHING THAT COMES UP.

IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IF COUNCIL WANTED TO LISTEN TO THE SPEAKERS, WE CAN DO THAT.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WAS TRYING TO FIND OUT TONIGHT IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT US TO INVITE MR. PARKER OR ANYONE ELSE -- LAST TIME WE DID THIS, YOU'LL RECALL THAT SUPERVISOR PEREZ HAD A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE AND I REALLY REQUIRED LISTENING TO MORE THAN ONE PERSON IN ORDER TO GET THE WHOLE RANGE OF VIEWPOINTS.

IF WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THAT AGAIN, WE PROBABLY NEED TO INVITE MORE THAN JUST ONE VIEWPOINT.

>> GOOD ENOUGH.

>> THAT E-MAIL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A DIFFERENT E-MAIL, BUT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT A COMMITTEE THAT THEY HAVE.

THAT COMMITTEE MIGHT BE OPEN TO HAVING A CITY REPRESENTATIVE THERE SO THAT WE COULD LOOK INTO THAT.

MAYBE THAT WOULD BE A BETTER WAY TO DO IT.

WE SEND ONE OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS THERE AND REPORT BACK TO THE COUNCIL.

>> SURE.

THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING.

>> I'LL DO IT.

[01:10:02]

>> I THINK EVERYBODY SHOOK THEIR HEAD YES.

[Additional Item]

>> I TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD BEFORE ANYBODY CHANGES THEIR MIND.

I DID WANT TO BRING UP, AT THE LAST MEETING WHEN I HAVEN'T HERE, YOU TALKED ABOUT DOING A SPECIAL MEETING ON NOVEMBER 17TH.

THAT'S THE DAY BEFORE THE NEXT WEDNESDAY MEETING.

THE TOPIC WAS TO GET A PRESENTATION BOTH COUNCIL AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE INDIO MARKETPLACE PROJECT.

I LOVE THE IDEA.

IT'S A PROCESS THAT I LIKE USING.

EARLY IN PROJECT DEVELOPMENT, WHEN IT'S A BIG PROJECT, TO GET INPUT OUT EARLY ON.

NOT DECISIONS.

WHAT'S TRICKY IS THIS IS COVID TIME.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING THIS AS AN IN PERSON MEETING.

ARE WE AWARE OF THAT? DID WE ZAP THAT?

>> NOT AS AN IN PERSON MEETING BUT TO ALLOW THE DEVELOPER TO COME AS PART OF IT BECAUSE OF THE LARGE SIZE OF PLANS.

THE MEETING ITSELF STILL WOULD BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, BUT THEY WOULD BE OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.

I'M SORRY, THE IN PERSON MEETING WE ARE REFERRING TO HAVING ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMISSION.

>> UNLESS THEY CAN'T BE HERE, IN WHICH CASE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE.

IS THAT THE CONCEPT? OKAY.

ARE WE ALL OKAY WITH THAT?

>> WHAT ARE YOU ASKING US?

>> NUMBER ONE, IF EVERYBODY IS COMFORTABLE THAT THAT'S THE MEETING WE'RE DOING.

SECONDLY, I WANTED TO ASK IF WE COULD MOVE THAT UP TO 4 P.M.

FROM 5 P.M.

THEN PERHAPS I COULD DO THE BUDGET REVIEW FOLLOWING THE -- I THINK THIS ONE WILL TAKE ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF, THEN WE CAN DO THE BUDGET REVIEW THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR WEEKS.

IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, I WOULD PROPOSE TO DO BOTH ON THE SAME DAY.

>> I'M GOOD.

ARE YOU TALKING IN PERSON MEETING OR DEVELOPER WOULD BE IN PERSON AND THE REST OF US WOULD BE IN ZOOM OR KIND OF LIKE WE ARE NOW.

WEIR ALL IN PERSON.

>> ALL OF YOU UNLESS SOME OF YOU CAN'T BE HERE OR DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE.

>> I'M ALWAYS GOING TO BE ZOOM UNTIL WE GET OVER COVID.

>> WE CAN DO BOTH, CAN'T WE NOT?

>> WE'LL DO IT JOINT.

IF YOU WANT TO DO IT.

SAME THING.

>> WE WILL BE VERY WELL DISTANCED.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING IT IN THE EOC WHERE WE HAVE MORE ROOM AND CAN SPREAD OUT.

ARE WE GOOD WITH THE 17TH STARTING AT 4 P.M.? IS EVERYONE GOOD WITH THAT? OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER.

NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEMS NOT ON THE

[9. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA]

AGENDA.

YOU HAVE A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.

CITY CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO SPEAK?

>> YES, MAYOR.

I DO HAVE ONE E-MAIL THAT I WOULD LIKE TO READ INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.

ALSO I DO HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT CALENDAR FROM THE SAME PERSON.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO CONSENT CALENDAR LATER.

READ THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> COACHELLA365.

LET ME START FOR THIS ONE.

>> COULD YOU SPEAK UP A LITTLE BIT, TOO.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT ON NEWLY APPOINTED FOR HIS ARREST FOR DRUNK DRIVING.

THAT IS A TERRIBLE EXAMPLE TO SET TO THE PUBLIC.

IT WAS SELFLESS ACT COMMITTED THAT TAKES AWAY ALL CREDIBILITY.

COMMISSIONER -- LIGHT POLE YOU SMASHED INTO COULD HAVE BEEN A CHILD.

COULD HAVE BEEN A FAMILY.

COULD HAVE BEEN A SENIOR CITIZEN.

EVEN MORE DAUNTING IS THE POSSIBILITY IT COULD HAVE BEEN MY FAMILY OR SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE ON THE LINE BECAUSE YOU DECIDED TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL.

BEING AN APPOINTED MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL IS A GREAT HONOR AND GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.

I HOPE YOU GET THE HELP YOU NEED AND USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE HORRID EFFECTS OF DRUNK DRIVE.

WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS HAD WITH COUNCIL ORTIZ PICK, I THINK THE CITY CONSIDER A MORE SOLID VETTING PRICE.

IT IS TRUE SHAME THAT YOUR INEXPERIENCE FOR COUNCIL IS MAKING THE CITY LOSE ITS

[01:15:05]

INTEGRITY BY PUTTING THE INTEREST OF THOSE YOU BELIEVE WILL GIVE YOU A JOB ONLY GIVES -- EXCUSE ME.

GIVE YOU A JOB ONLY GIVES THEM WHAT THEY WANT, AN UNSTABLE INDIO.

YOU FURTHER TRIED TO WEAKEN INDIO ON THE VALLEY STAGE WITH ENDORSING TWO GROSSLY UNQUALIFIED CANDIDATES LIKE YOURSELF.

THANKFULLY THE PEOPLE OF INDIO WERE TOO SMART TO FALL FOR THAT TRAP.

IT IS UP FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO REMOVE AND REPLACE PROBLEMATIC COMMISSIONERS THAT LESSEN THE FABRIC OF SOCIETY WE LOVE IN INDIO ESPECIALLY FOR PLANNING COMMISSIONER.

HOW IS THAT COMMISSION SUPPOSED TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY WHEN EVERYTHING ABOUT THE POOR CHOICES OF THE PEOPLE THE COUNCIL APPOINTS.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

CONCERNED CITY OF INDIO RESIDENT.

>> ANYTHING ELSE, CITY CLERK, ON ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE READ IN THE RECORD?

>> NOT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, ITEM 10, CONTENT CALL TENDER.

[10. CONSENT CALENDAR]

WE HAVE ONE COMMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE READ INTO RECORD IF NOBODY WANTS TO PULL ANYTHING.

CAN YOU READ THE COMMENT INTO THE RECORD, PLEASE, AND FOR WHAT ITEM?

>> THE ITEM IS 10A.

I WOULD LIKE FOR THE COUNCIL TO NOT APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING AS MY COMMENTS WERE NOT SUMMARIZED AS A PEOPLE THAT ALSO PROVIDED PUBLIC COMMENT.

THIS IS A SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF THE POLICIES OF THE CITY.

A GROSS VIOLATION OF MY CIVIL RIGHTS AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC.

I ALSO COME ACROSS WITH THIS WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

JUST BECAUSE MY COMMENTS MAKE THE COUNCIL AND COMMISSION UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE I FAIL TO ACCEPT MEDIOCRATY DOES NOT MAKE MY COMMENTS LESS IN THE ICE OF THE PUBLIC RECORD.

I RESPECTFULLY ASK MINUTES BE AMENDED TO ADD MY COMMENTS.

DO NOT SENSOR ME BECAUSE I EXPOSE THE TRUTH OF THE COUNCIL POOR DECISIONS THAT APPOINTED A TROUBLED COMMISSIONER.

I MAY ALL ADD THAT I DO THINK IT'S A BAD PRECEDENT TO SET BY NOT CHALLENGING APPOINTMENT.

WHILE I RESPECT THE STRIVE FOR UNITY, THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHECKS AND BALANCE SYSTEM IS TO PREVENT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED HERE, AN UNQUALIFIED COMMISSIONER.

THIS COMMENT IS ALSO FROM COACHELLA365.

THAT SAUL I HAVE.

>> CITY ATTORNEY?

>> I JUST WANTED TO NOTE ALL THE PUBLIC SPEAKER'S NAME THAT THEY GAVE PUBLIC COMMENT WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL ARE LISTED ON THE AGENDA.

>> WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION -- MISS AMITH GO AHEAD.

>> I'M READY TO MAKE A MOTION.

WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE RESPOND TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT INDIVIDUAL AND LET THAT PERSON KNOW THAT WE RECORD SUMMARY MINUTES AND THAT WE'RE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE VERBATIM MINUTES JUST SO HE UNDERSTANDS THE LEGAL PROCESS.

>> WE WILL DO THAT.

>> DID YOU SAY SOMETHING?

>> I'M SORRY, YES.

WE WILL DO THAT.

WITH THAT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

>> I'LL SECOND IT.

>> ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER RAMOS AMITH?

>> COUNCIL MEMBER ORTIZ?

>> MAYOR MILLER?

>> MAYOR PROTEM MAYOR?

>> THIS ITEM THE CONSIDERS OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT.

I DID WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND JUST TALK ABOUT WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE

[11.a. Professional Services Agreement with Dudek for the Indio Housing Element Update Project funded by the California Department of Housing and Community Development Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) Grant]

HOUSING ELEMENT.

IT HAS BEEN OVER EIGHT YEARS SINCE THE CITY COUNCIL HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE HOUSING ELEMENT.

THE HOUSING ELEMENT IS SOMETHING THAT'S INTEGRAL TO THE CITY'S LONG TERM PLANNING PROCESSES.

IT'S A REQUIRED ELEMENT OF OUR GENERAL PLAN AN WE CURRENTLY HAVE A CERTIFIED HOUSING ELEMENT.

THAT IS SET TO EXPIRE.

PER STATE LAW, WE DO NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THE NEXT ROUND OF HOUSING ELEMENT CONSIDERATIONS.

IT WOULD ULTIMATELY BE CERTIFIED BY THE STATE OF HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT.

IT IS AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION.

I APOLOGIZE.

SEE IF I CAN IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY TO CONSIDER.

[01:20:10]

IT IS SOMETHING WE'RE BRINGING TO YOU IN TERMS OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT.

FOR SOME BACKGROUND I JUST WANTED TO ADD SOME MORE INFORMATION ITEMS FOR YOU.

YOU DO NOT HAVE A CERTIFIED HOUSING ELEMENT.

THAT HAS REPERCUSSIONS.

AND IT CAN BE A VARIETY OF THINGS, INCLUDING HAVING YOUR GENERAL PLAN DEEMED INADEQUATE AND INSRAD LID.

YOU CAN BE SUBJECT TO PRIVATE PARTY LAWSUITS.

IN SOME INSTANCES THE COURT IS GONNA GET INVOLVED IN HOW YOU APPROVE HOUSING IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE DON'T EVER WANT TO SEE IF OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING VERY HARD WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE COMMUNITY IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO LOOK AT OUR HOUSING ELEMENT.

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? WELL, THERE IS WHAT'S CALLED REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT.

IT IS A MANDATED PROCESS BY STATE HOUSING LAW.

IT REQUIRES THE PLANNING AGENCY, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS OR SCAG, TO DO AN ANALYSIS.

THEY REFER TO IT AND IT'S REFERRED TO THROUGHOUT THE STATE AS CYCLES.

THE LAST TIME WE DID THIS, WE WERE IN THE FIFTH CYCLE.

WE HAD NUMBERS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED FOR THE CITY AT THAT TIME.

WE ARE NOW IN THE SIXTH CYCLE WHICH WOULD RUN FROM 2021-2029.

I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR CITY.

IN THE FIFTH CYCLE, WE WERE OBLIGATED TO PLAN FOR 3025 HOUSING UNITS.

IN THIS NEW CYCLE WE'RE OBLIGATED TO PLAN FOR 7797 HOUSING UNITS IN THAT EIGHT YEAR PLANNING PERIOD.

THAT REPRESENTS A MORE THAN 150% INCREASE SINCE THE LAST CYCLE AND ABOUT 38% OF THOSE NUMBER, THAT 7793 NEED TO BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THAT IS HONESTLY AN AUDACIOUS NUMBER.

OUR CITY REGULARLY PROCESSES ANYWHERE FROM 250 TO 300 SINGLE FAMILY HOME PERMITS.

OTHERS WE PERMIT MULTIFAMILY BUT NOT EVERY YEAR.

THAT'S A LOT OF UNITS TO PLAN FOR.

WE WANT TO WORK WITH COUNCIL, COMMUNITY AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND OTHER STAKE HOLDERS TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW TO DO THAT.

WE HAVE IDENTIFIED, I BELIEVE, A GOOD TEAM THAT CAN HELP US DO THE WORK THAT I JUST DESCRIBED.

THIS TEAM IS LED BY DUDEK.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT ARENA.

THEY HAVE ASSEMBLED A TEAM THAT I THINK IS WELL ROUNDED FOR US.

WE HAVE LONDON MOTOR ADVISERS WHO WILL LOOK AT PRO HOUSING ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIES.

THAT WILL BE AN ELEMENT THAT WILL COME AFTER THE HOUSING ELEMENT BUT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE BECAUSE HOW DO WENT COURAGE, INCENTIVIZE OR OTHERWISE GET MORE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY? IF WE GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WE CAN GET A DESIGNATION FROM THE STATE THAT WILL HELP US BE MORE COMPETITIVE IN GOING AFTER GRANT FUNDS FOR HOUSING.

WE'LL ALSO BE WORKING WITH RRBG AIMI AND ASSOCIATES.

WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE VERONICA TAM AND ASSOCIATES.

THEY ARE VERY WELL RESPECTED FIRM THAT WORKS THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN HELPING TO WORK WITH HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATES AND HAS A VERY GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH ACD.

WE ARE ALSO FORTUNATE IN RECEIVING A STATE GRANT TO HELP US PAY FOR THE WORK THAT WE WILL BE DOING.

WE RECEIVED A $3,000LEAP GRANT.

LOCAL EARLY PLANNING ACTION GRANT.

WE WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY THAT MONEY TO DO THE MAJORITY OF WORK THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT THAT IS BEFORE YOU IS IN THE AMOUNT OF $290,010.

THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DO ALL THE WORK.

WE WILL RETAIN A LITTLE BIT OF THAT JUST TO HELP THE CITY DO SOME COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS.

REALLY, THERE ARE THREE COMPONENTS -- EXCUSE ME, FOUR COMPONENTS TO THE SCOPE OF WORK.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WILL BE A KEY.

[01:25:03]

THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

WE WILL BE DOING THE HOUSING UPDATE.

WE'LL HAVE TO DO DOCUMENTATION UNDER THE RULE WES WORK UNDER.

AND THOSE PRO HOUSING STRATEGIES.

THIS EVENING STAFF IS ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN APPROVING THE HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE PROJECT.

BEFORE I END I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO CITY ATTORNEY DIAZ HELPING ME WORK ON THIS.

HER GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE WAS INTEGRAL IN HELPING ME.

>> ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. SNYDER? OKAY.

NO.

KEVIN, I GOT ONE QUICK QUESTION.

THIS PROGRAM, WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN PLACE, IT RUNNING FOR MULTIPLE YEARS.

WILL THIS ALSO LOOK AT THE RANGE OF HOUSING WITH OUR NEW GENERAL PLAN? WE HAVEN'T USED IT LATELY, LIKE MODULAR HOMES.

WE HAVE CORONADO GARDENS, A COUPLE OTHER ONES.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT A VARIETY OF HOMES ASIDE FROM SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

WILL THIS BRING THIS ALL INTO PLAY? IT NEEDS TO BE STARTER HOME.

WE GOT APARTMENTS AND THAT PUBMED BUT STARTER HOME, FROM MOBILE HOMES, MODULAR HOMES, THEN TOWNHOUSES, CONDOMINIUMS. I HAVEN'T SEEN IT.

WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A LOT OF SINGLE FAMILY, NICE LARGE LOT HOMES FROM THE COUNTRY ESTATES ALL THE WAY UP BUT REALLY HAVEN'T SEEN TOO MANY STARTER HOMES.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO START TO LOOK IF WE'RE GOING TO GET PEOPLE TO AFFORD THE AMERICAN DREAM WHICH IS A HOME OF THEIR OWN, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, MAYOR.

THE ANSWER IS A VERY SIMPLE YES.

THE HOUSING STRATEGIES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW WE PROVIDE THE OPTIMAL HOUSING CHOICE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

NOT EVERYONE IS ABLE TO OR WANTS TO LIVE IN A LARGE LOT SINGLE FAMILY HOME.

NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO LIVE IN A MULTIFAMILY HOUSING SITUATION.

HAVING HOUSING DIVERSITY IN OUR COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE CHOICE AT THE VARIOUS INCOME LEVELS AND WANTS AND NEEDS OF HOUSING THAT FOLKS HAVE IS KEY.

THE ANSWER IS YES.

IT'S BECOME MORE IMPORTANT IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS WITH THE WAY HOUSING HAS COME TO DOMINATE THE LANDSCAPE, IF YOU WILL, OF CONVERSATION.

NOW WITH COVID, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S ELEVATED THAT HIGHER.

SO, YES, HOUSING CHOICE AND HOUSING DIVERSITY.

I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THIS.

YOU WILL GET AN EARLY BITE AT THE APPLE IN GIVING US FEED BACK.

WE HOPE TO COME TO YOU AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW CALENDAR YEAR, THE CONSULTANT TEAM AND STAFF AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH COUNCIL AND GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON ISSUES LIKE THE MAYOR JUST DESCRIBED TO SET US OFF ON A PATH.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS DONE UNLESS THE STATE DECIDES TO GRANT US AN EXTENSION.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS DONE BY OCTOBER 2021.

MR. SCOTT, ONE THING I WANT TO PUSH HERE HARD.

I THINK COUNCIL, WE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE.

I WANT MY $6 MILLION THAT THE STATE OWES ME FROM MY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY.

THEY CONTINUE TO TELL US TO MEET RHNA NUMBERS.

THEY HAVE $6 MILLION OF OUR MONEY THAT THEY'RE NOT GIVING US THAT WE COULD DO SOME NICE PROJECTS.

I THINK WE NEED TO WRITE THE STATE.

>> YEP.

>> ASK THEM, IF THEY WANT TO HELP US MAKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY GAVE US THE $6 MILLION THAT THEY OWE US FROM OUR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY SO WE CAN HELP SUPPORT THEIR CAUSE AND OURS.

WE LEAVE THAT ON THE BACK BURNER.

EVERY YEAR WE GET A NUGGET FOR $200,000 OR $300,000 WHILE THEY'RE TELLING US AT THE SAME TIME THEY WANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

GIVE US OUR MONEY AND WE'LL HELP BUILD IT.

>> THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

>> ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING ELSE? WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR MR. SNYDER? ONE OF YOU.

>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OF DUDEK FOR THE HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE PROJECT APPROVED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY MANAGER.

>> I'LL SECOND.

>> FIRST BY MR. ORTIZ, SECOND BY MR. FERMON.

CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE.

>> COUNCIL REMEMBER RAMOS AMITH?

>> MOVE ON.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER ORTIZ?

>> COUNCIL MEMBER FERMON?

>> MAYOR PROTEM HOLMES?

>> I.

[01:30:02]

>> MAYOR MILLER?

MISS AMITH WILL NOT BE JOINING US.

SHE HAS SIGNED OFF.

SO WE WILL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WITH THAT, MOVE ON TO ITEM 12, OUR LAST ITEM, PUBLIC HEARING ITEM.

[12.a. A public hearing to approve the request for Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for a Type 40 On-Sale Beer license for Joga Bonito Indoor Soccer Academy located at 82855 Market Street, Building J10, Suite 200, Indio, CA 92201]

IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO APPROVE, TO REQUEST A CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND ASSESS TO ALLOW THE SALE OF BEER CONSUMPTION ON OR OFF THE PREMISES WHERE SOLD TYPE 40 ON SALE BEER FOR HOGA, INDOOR SOCCER ACADEMY LOCATED 82855 MARKET STREET BUILDING J10 SUITE 200 INDIO CALIFORNIA 92201.

ARE YOU HANDLING THIS FOR US?

>> YES, I AM.

>> WELCOME.