CITY COUNCIL
Meeting Agenda

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City Hall Council Chamber
44950 Eldorado Drive, Indian Wells, CA 92210

 

Welcome to a meeting of the Indian Wells City Council.

 

Live Stream: Regular meetings held in the City Hall Council Chamber are streamed live. You can watch the meeting on any device or computer. Members of the public who wish to listen or watch the meeting may access the livestream during the regular meetings. LIVE STREAM CLICK HERE.

 

Public Comments: Members of the Public who wish to speak should fill out a blue slip and submit it to the City Clerk, comments are limited to three (3) minutes. In accordance with State Law, remarks during public comment are to be limited to subjects within the City's jurisdiction. If you are unable to provide comments during meeting, written comments on agenda or non-agenda items or both, may be submitted at [email protected]

 

Notification: If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable modification or accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) please contact the City Clerk at 760-346-2489, 48 hours prior to the meeting.

 

Please turn off all communication devices (phones) or put them on non-audible mode (vibrate) during Council proceedings. All documents for public review are available for public inspection at City Hall reception, 44-950 Eldorado Drive, Indian Wells during normal business hours. 

A.
CONVENE THE INDIAN WELLS CITY COUNCIL, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND ROLL CALL

  

MAYOR TOPER TAYLOR
MAYOR PRO TEM BRIAN PENNA
COUNCIL MEMBER GREG SANDERS
COUNCIL MEMBER DANA REED
COUNCIL MEMBER BRUCE WHITMAN

B.
APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA

  

C.
PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

  

D.
PUBLIC COMMENTS

  

Members of the public who wish to speak on Consent Calendar items or items not listed on the agenda may do so at this time. Public comments are limited to three (3) minutes per speaker. Speakers will be alerted when their time is up and are asked to promptly return to their seats. No further comments will be permitted after the allotted time.

Please note that while the City Council values public input, it cannot take action or engage in discussion on items not listed on the agenda. However, the Council may refer matters raised during public comment to staff for review, follow-up, as appropriate.

E.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS

  

The City Manager or Department Heads may make brief announcements, informal comments, or brief the Council on items of interest.

F.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS AND COMMENTS

  

G.
CONSENT CALENDAR

  

All matters listed on the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine and will be approved by one motion.  Reading of text of Ordinances is waived and Ordinances are adopted as second reading, by title only.  There will be no separate discussion of these items unless members of the Council request specific items be removed from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion and action.

G.1
Annual Review of FPPC Gift Restrictions, City Ticket Distribution Policy Reporting Requirement and Updates

This item has attachments.  
  • RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

    Council RECEIVES and FILES information report; and

    FINDS the action exempt from CEQA review under CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).

G.2
Update to the 2026 City Council Assignments

This item has attachments.  
  • RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

    Council RECIEVES and FILES report regarding the updated 2026 Council Committee Assignments; and

    FINDS the action to be exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15060.

G.3
City Council Member Annual Attendance at Events

This item has attachments.  
  • RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

    Council APPROVES the attendance of Council Members at the 2026 events identified in Attachment No. 1; and

    AUTHORIZES reimbursement for ordinary and necessary expenses incurred by Council Members in connection with the approved events, consistent with City policy; and

    FINDS the action exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review under CEQA guidelines section 15061(b)(3).

G.4
Request for Authorization to Proceed with Civil Design for the Eisenhower Walk of Honor Extension Project

This item has attachments.  
  • RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

    Council AUTHORIZES Staff to proceed with the civil design phase for the extension of the Eisenhower Walk of Honor project; and

    FINDS the project to be exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15311 (Class 11, Accessory Structures) as it includes construction of minor structures accessory to (appurtenant to) existing commercial facilities, including, but not limited to, (a) On-premise signs

G.5
Analysis of the Troon Access Loyalty Program and Request for Amendment to the Troon Management Agreement

This item has attachments.  
  • RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

    Council APPROVES the attached Amendment to the Troon Management Agreement authorizing participation in the Troon Access Program; and

    FINDS the project to be exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15378.

G.6
Review of Reimbursable Expenses Administered through the Fiscal Policy and Procedures Manual

This item has attachments.  
  • RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

    Council APPROVES the Finance Committee’s recommendation to increase the daily meal reimbursement allowance for Council Members to $170 per day, with no single meal exceeding $100 per day; and

    FINDS the project to be exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15378.

G.7
Adoption of Updated Resolution Authorizing Positions of City Warrant Signatures

This item has attachments.  
  • RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

    Council ADOPTS Resolution amending the Authorizing Positions of City Warrant Signatures; and

    FINDS the project to be exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15060.

G.8
City Treasurer’s Report for October 2025

This item has attachments.  
  • RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

    Council RECEIVES and FILES the City Treasurer’s Report for October 2025; and

    FINDS the project to be exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15060.

G.9
City Treasurer’s Report for November 2025

This item has attachments.  
  • RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

    Council RECEIVES and FILES the City Treasurer’s Report for November 2025; and

    FINDS the project to be exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15060.

H.
PUBLIC HEARINGS

  

For each item listed under Public Hearing Items, the public will have an opportunity to speak. Following the staff report, the Mayor will open the hearing. The applicant may present their case in up to five (5) minutes. Members of the public may speak for three (3) minutes each; if many wish to speak, the Mayor may reduce the time to two (2) minutes to accommodate more participants.

Council Members may ask questions during public testimony, which will not count against the speaker’s time. After all public comments, the applicant will have three (3) minutes to respond or provide rebuttal. The Mayor will then close the hearing, and the Council will deliberate and may take action.

H.1
Ordinance Amending Chapter 21.85 of the Indian Wells Municipal Code Relating to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units

This item has attachments.  
  • RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

    Council OPENS the public hearing, receive public testimony, close the public hearing; and

    INTRODUCES for first reading by title only an ordinance Amending Chapter 21.85 of the City of Indian Wells Municipal Code relating to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units to comply with recent changes in State Law; and

    FINDS that the adoption of the proposed ordinance is statutorily exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Public Resources Code § 21080.17.

I.
GENERAL BUSINESS

  

The Mayor will call upon the members of the public to address the Council regarding the agenda item being considered. After the public has provided comment, the item is closed to further comment and brought to the Council for discussion and action.

I.1
Governance Ad Hoc Committee Recommendation to Amend Municipal Code Section 2.12.010 to Clarify Planning Agency Authority

This item has attachments.  
  • RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

    Council APPROVES Governance Ad Hoc Committee recommendation to amend the Planning Agency ordinance for clarification purposes; and

    INTRODUCES Ordinance to be read by title only and further reading waived, amending Section 2.12.010 of the Municipal Code relating to Planning Agency; and

    FINDS the action to be exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15060.

I.2
Council Consideration of Two Separate Sponsorship Requests– Palm Springs Air Museum Annual Gala and the Palm Springs Film Awards Gala

This item has attachments.  
  • RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

    Council APPROVES Finance Committee Recommendations to attend the Palm Springs Air Museum Annual Gala and the Palm Springs Film Festival Gala; and

    FINDS the project to be exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15060.

I.3
Council Member Whitman Request for Consideration of Inclusion of a “Resident Impact Statement” to City Council Staff Reports

This item has attachments.  
  • RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

    Council DISCUSSES and PROVIDES direction on Council Member Whitman’s request to include a “Residential Impact Statement” for future City Council staff reports; and

    FINDS the project to be exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15378.

I.4
Comprehensive Overview and Discussion of Resident and Resident Guest Golf Rates at Indian Wells Golf Resort

This item has attachments.  
  • RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

    Council DISCUSSES Resident and Resident Guest Golf Rates; and

    PROVIDES direction to Staff, if any; and  

    FINDS the project to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) provision pursuant to Section 15060.

J.
COUNCIL MEMBER'S REPORTS AND COMMENTS

  

On their own initiative, Council Members may make a brief
announcement or a brief report on their own activities. Council Members may ask a question for clarification, make a referral to staff, or take action to have staff place a matter of business on a future agenda. The Council may take action on items listed on the Agenda.

J.1
COUNCIL MEMBER WHITMAN

  

California Joint Power Insurance Authority (JPIA)
Coachella Valley Children's Museum
CVAG Executive Committee
Cove Communities Services Commission
Desert Sands Unified School District
Indian Wells Golf Advisory Committee
Indian Wells Personnel Committee
Indian Wells Tee Committee
Sunline Transit Agency

J.2
COUNCIL MEMBER REED

  

CVAG Conservation Commission
CVAG Energy & Sustainability Committee
Desert Recreation District 
Governance Ad Hoc Committee
Indian Wells Marketing Committee
Indian Wells Finance & Legal Oversight Committee
Indian Wells Personnel Committee

J.3
COUNCIL MEMBER SANDERS

  

Coachella Valley Animal Campus
Coachella Valley Clean Air Ad Hoc Committee
Cove Communities Service Commission
Desert Sands Unified School District
Desert Recreation District 
Indian Wells 60th Anniversary Ad Hoc Committee
Indian Wells Marketing Committee
Indian Wells Finance & Legal Oversight Committee
Indian Wells Public Safety

J.4
MAYOR PRO TEM PENNA

  

Coachella Valley Mountain Conservancy
Indian Wells Preservation Foundation
Indian Wells 60th Anniversary Ad Hoc Committee
Visit Greater Palm Springs
Indian Wells Community Activities Committee
Indian Wells Grants In Aid Committee
Indian Wells Public Safety Committee

J.5
MAYOR TAYLOR

  

CVAG Homelessness Committee
CVAG Public Safety Committee
CVAG Transportation Committee
Coachella Valley Clean Air Ad Hoc Committee
Governance Ad Hoc Committee
Indian Wells Golf Resort Advisory Committee
Riverside County Transportation Commission
Southern California Association of Governments

K.
ADJOURNMENT

  

To a regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council to be held at 1:30 p.m. on February 5, 2026, in the City Hall Council Chamber.


 

Affidavit of Posting,

I, Angelica Avila, certify that on January 9, 2026,  I caused to be posted a notice of a City Council Meeting to be held on January 15, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber.
Notices were posted at Indian Wells Civic Center and City's Website [www.cityofindianwells.org]

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