SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL
Meeting Agenda

Wednesday, July 02, 2025

1:30 P.m. - 3:30 P.m.

City Hall Council Chamber

44950 Eldorado Drive, Indian Wells, CA 92210

Welcome to a special meeting of the Indian Wells City Council.

 

Live Stream: 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 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 an hour prior to the start of the meeting.

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. 

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A.

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

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

B.

APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA

C.

PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

C.1

Riverside County Fire Department Quarterly Update by Battalion Chief Matt Kotz

C.2

Riverside County Sheriff Quarterly Update by Special Enforcement Team Deputy Peter Prajin

C.3

Legislative Update from the Office of Senator Bogh Presented by District Representative Armando Martinez

C.4

Coachella Valley Rescue Mission Presentation by Development Director Scott Wolf

C.5

Palm Springs Navigation Center Presentation by Chief Operating Officer Rosa Verduzco

D.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Members of the Public who wish to speak on consent items OR items not listed on the agenda may do so at this time.  Public Comments are limited to three minutes. Speakers will be alerted when their time is up.

Please note that while the City Council values your comments, the Council cannot respond nor take action on matters not listed on the agenda until the matter may appear on the forthcoming agenda.

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

Ordinance Adopting the Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map Published by the Office of the State Fire Marshall in Compliance with California Fire Code and Government Code Section 51179

• RECOMMENDED ACTION:

  Council ADOPTS Ordinance No. 764 by title only and waives further reading adopting the Fire Hazard Severity Zones as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Government Code Section 51178; and
  
  FINDS the project not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15060, 15061(b)(3), and 15378.

G.2

Ordinance Requiring Emergency Access Preemption Systems on New and Existing Gated Community Access Points

• RECOMMENDED ACTION:

  Council ADOPTS Ordinance No. 765 by title only and waives further reading adding Chapter 9.50 to Tile 9 (Peace, Safety, and Morals) to require access by means of approved emergency vehicle preemption systems and vehicular gates; and
  
  FINDS the ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines sections 15060(c)(3) and 15061(b)(3).

G.3

Approval of Council Liaison to the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert Board

• RECOMMENDED ACTION:

  Council SELECTS and APPROVES Mayor Bruce Whitman to serve as the City’s non-voting liaison to the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert Board; and

   

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

G.4

Council Member Taylor Event Attendance

• RECOMMENDED ACTION:

  Council APPROVES Councilmember Taylor reimbursement for attendance at the Contact in the Desert on June 1, 2025; and
  
  FINDS the action exempt from CEQA review under CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).

G.5

Memorializing Eisenhower Walk of Honor Resident Eligibility Requirements

• RECOMMENDED ACTION:

  Council APPROVES eligibility requirements for the Eisenhower Walk of Honor inclusion; and
  
  FINDS the action exempt from CEQA review under CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).

G.6

Resolution Amending Sections in Chapter 3.03 of the City Council Policy Manual

• RECOMMENDED ACTION:

  Council ADOPTS Resolution amending Chapter 3.03 (Commissions, Committees and Boards) of the Indian Wells City Council Policy Manual; and
  
  FINDS the action exempt from CEQA review under CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).

G.7

Annual Update to Employee’s Salary Range Schedule and FY 2025-26 Approved Employee Positions

• RECOMMENDED ACTION:

  Council APPROVES the annual update to employees’ salary schedule as required by the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013; and 
  
  APPROVES the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Approved Positions List with Annual Salaries and Ranges; and
  
  DIRECTS staff to post the employee salary range schedule on the City’s website; and
  
  FINDS the action exempt from CEQA review under CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).

G.8

Approval of three-year Agreement with Riverside County Emergency Management Department for an Emergency Services Coordinator

• RECOMMENDED ACTION:

  Council APPROVES a three-year agreement for an Emergency Services Coordinator with the Riverside County Emergency Management Department for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028; and
  
  AUTHORIZES and DIRECTS the City Manager to execute the Agreement and future renewals for the same, except when a change in service level is required; and
  
  FINDS the action exempt from CEQA review under CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).

G.9

Extension of Exclusive Negotiation Agreements with Abode Communities and Summit Development for Affordable Housing Development in Indian Wells

• RECOMMENDED ACTION:

  Council AUTHORIZES and DIRECTS the City Attorney to prepare and the City Manager to execute a 180-day extension to the exclusive-negotiation agreements with Adobe Communities and Summit Developers regarding potential development of an affordable housing project in the City of Indian Wells; and
  
  FINDS the action is not a project within the meaning of Section 15378 of the State of California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Guidelines because it has no potential to result in physical change in the environment, directly or indirectly; and that the action is nonetheless exempt from the requirements of CEQA in that the activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. (14 CCR 15061(b)(3).)

G.10

City Treasurer’s Report for April 2025

• RECOMMENDED ACTION:

  Council RECEIVES and FILES the City Treasurer’s Report for April 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

No Public Hearings.

I.

GENERAL BUSINESS

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

I.1

Amendment to Sheriff Services Agreement and Supplemental Appropriation for Motorcycle Purchases

• RECOMMENDED ACTION:

  Council APPROVES an Amendment to the Sheriff Services Agreement with Riverside County; and
  
  AUTHORIZES the City Manager to execute the same; and
  
  AUTHORIZES staff to develop an agreement with the City of Rancho Mirage to share public safety services and for the City Manager to execute; and
  
  APPROVES a $100,000 Supplemental Appropriation for costs associated with the purchase of two (2) new, fully equipped motorcycles; and

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

I.2

Pilot Program-Temporary Installation of Speed Cushions Along Fairway Drive

• RECOMMENDED ACTION:

  Council DISCUSSES and provides DIRECTION to initiate a pilot program to install temporary speed cushions along Fairway Drive; and
  
  If appropriate, APPROVES a Supplemental Appropriation of $109,000 from the City’s General Fund to complete the pilot program as described in this report; and
  
  FINDS the project to be exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15060.

I.3

Stop Sign Warrant Study

• RECOMMENDED ACTION:

  Council RECEIVES and FILES the findings of the stop warrant studies conducted as part of the Safer Streets community discussions; and
  
  FINDS the action exempt from CEQA review under CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).

J.

COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS

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 Discussion of Future Agenda Item Relating to Councilmember Reimbursement Policy

• RECOMMENDED ACTION:

  Council CONSIDERS whether to place a discussion-and-action item on a future agenda regarding the City’s councilmember-reimbursement policy; and
  
  FINDS the project to be exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15060.

J.2

Review of Purpose and Function of the Indian Wells Golf Resort Advisory Committee

• RECOMMENDED ACTION:

  Council REVIEWS and DISCUSSES the purpose and function of the Indian Wells Golf Resort Advisory Committee; and  
  
  FINDS the action exempt from CEQA review under CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).

J.3

History of the Tee Committee

• RECOMMENDED ACTION:

  Council RECEIVES and FILES this informational report on the history of the Tee Committee; and
  
  FINDS the action is not a Project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15378(b)(5).

K.

COUNCIL MEMBER'S COMMENTS

On their own initiative, Council Members may make a brief announcement or a brief report on their own activities.

K.1

COUNCIL MEMBER SANDERS

Coachella Valley Animal Campus
Cove Communities Service Commission
Desert Sands Unified School District
Desert Recreation District
Indian Wells Marketing Committee
Indian Wells Finance & Legal Oversight Committee
Indian Wells Public Safety

K.2

COUNCIL MEMBER PENNA

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

K.3

COUNCIL MEMBER TAYLOR

CVAG Homelessness Committee
CVAG Public Safety Committee
CVAG Transportation Committee
Indian Wells Golf Resort Advisory Committee
Riverside County Transportation Commission
Southern California Association of Governments

K.4

MAYOR PRO TEM REED

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

K.5

MAYOR WHITMAN

California Joint Power Insurance Authority (JPIA)
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

L.

ADJOURNMENT

To a regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council to be held at 1:30 p.m. on September 4, 2025 in the City Hall Council Chamber.

 

 

 

Affidavit of Posting,

I, Angelica Avila, certify that on June 26, 2025 I caused to be posted a notice of a Special Council Meeting to be held on July 2, 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]