HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes 2021-11-30 44 CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
Cathedral City
Special Meeting
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
2:00 PM
Pursuant to AB 361 and Cathedral City Resolution 2021-33, this meeting was conducted by
videoconference.
• CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 2:00 PM by Mayor Raymond Gregory.
• ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Raymond Gregory Mayor Remote
Ernesto Gutierrez Mayor Pro Tem Remote
Mark Carnevale Councilmember Remote
Rita Lamb Councilmember Remote
Nancy Ross Councilmember Remote
• AGENDA FINALIZATION
1. AGENDA ITEMS
A. Review of the Shopping Cart Ordinance and Retrieval Program
Recommendation: The review of the Shopping Cart Ordinance and Retrieval
Program is presented for the City Council's information,
discussion and direction.
Deanna Pressgrove, Environmental Conservation and Public Works Manager,
indicated that at the January 30, 2021, City Council Goal Setting meeting,
Council directed staff to conduct a study session review of the Cathedral City
Municipal Code provisions related to shopping carts. At the September 8, 2021,
City Council Study Session meeting, staff provided information on the Municipal
Code, how the removal of abandoned shopping carts are handled, GoRequest
reporting, challenges, and the utility cart reuse program. At that meeting, the City
Council directed the City Attorney's office and Code Compliance to review the
current Cathedral City Municipal Code to determine if there is a need to revise
the Code to add additional provisions that require stores to implement a more
consistent shopping cart retrieval process. It was determined that it was not
necessary to amend the Code. They suggested that staff focus on verifying that
the Shopping Cart Containment and Retrieval Plan is in place and enforced.
Their plan should include which company they are contracting with for shopping
cart retrieval. She provided an overview of what staff will be doing, beginning
January 2022, to ensure the Code is adhered to related to the Code and
abandoned shopping carts.
This is a follow-up item. After discussion, it was the consensus of the Council to
support staff's enforcement plan and to revisit this topic in the future should the
abandoned shopping cart issue not improve.
B. Billboard Regulation & Amortization
Recommendation: It is recommended that the City Council receive the
presentation on existing billboards within the City and
provide direction on a possible amortization program.
Erica Vega, Assistant City Attorney, indicated that on August 18, 2021, the City
Council held a special study session on billboard regulation and amortization. At
that meeting, the Council directed staff to conduct a survey of all the billboards
within the City's jurisdiction. The Council also provided direction regarding future
updates to the billboard regulations in the Municipal Code. Assistant City
Attorney Vega provided a breakdown of the number of billboards based on
Council's prior direction and the survey that was completed by staff and
volunteers. She also provided options for reducing the number of billboards over
time. She stated that the Outdoor Advertising Act prohibits the City from
requiring the removal of any lawfully erected billboard without payment of just
compensation to both the landowner and the billboard owner unless an exception
to the rule applies. She indicated that there are no billboards in the City that
qualify for amortization.
Venessa Saunders, General Manager Lamar local office, stated that Lamar has
served the Coachella Valley for decades and Cathedral City for over twenty
years. They agree with staff on their analysis related to the monetary effects of
the removal of the billboards in the City. She believes that the removal of
billboards in the City will not only impact Lamar, but it will impact the landowners
and local businesses that utilize this medium to communicate and advertise their
businesses. They believe they offer affordable and effective advertising to local
businesses, and they will suffer with the removal of billboards. Lamar urges the
City Council to keep the status quo to help enhance local businesses.
Danielle Mead stated that she would like to ensure that if a non-digital billboard is
damaged, it can't be replaced with a digital billboard. She also stated that her
preference would be to not allow a non-conforming billboard to be replaced at all
if it is damaged. She indicated that she is familiar with marketing, and she
believes that billboards are the least measurable marketing tool. Though she
understands the historical value, she is not sure that there would be a
measurable impact on local businesses if they were removed.
After discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council to:
• Amend the Ordinance to prohibit billboards in the City, with the exception
of on the 1-10 Freeway, which will be capped at the number that exists
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today, this means all other existing billboards in the City today would be
legal non-conforming and could not be upgraded or replaced.
• Eliminate billboard contracts on City property.
• Explore the costs to buy out existing billboards and establish a priority list
for elimination.
• Amend the Ordinance to include Council's approval of the conversion of
billboards on the 1-10 Freeway.
C. Update on Panorama Dog Park and Design, Dog Ordinance Revisions,
Signage Related to Dogs, Dog Stations and Schedules
Recommendation: The update on Panorama Dog Park and design, dog
ordinance revisions, signage related to dogs, dog stations
and schedules for each are presented for the City Council's
review, discussion and direction.
John Corella, City Engineer, provided an update on the Panorama Dog Park and
Design, ordinance revisions related to dogs in the park, signage and dog stations
and the anticipated schedule, subject to material delivery that are out of staff's
control.
Danielle Mead expressed her excitement for the dog park. She questioned the
amount of proposed rock and gravel around the park. She also questioned if the
fence height will be high enough to prevent dogs from jumping out and
suggested that it be dark in color to prevent people from running into it at night or
at least some lighting. She suggested using bus shelters for seating and that a
water feature of some type be installed.
After discussion it was the consensus of the City Council to add language to the
Ordinance related to the exceptions for dogs being required to be spayed and
neutered dogs, allow dogs in City Parks with the exception of the amphitheater
and to bring the proposal to purchase dog stations to the Council for formal
action.
D. Hall of Flowers December 2021 Event Update
Recommendation: Staff is providing Council an update on the status of the Hall
of Flowers Event.
Stone James, Economic Development Director, provided an update of the Hall of
Flowers Event that will be held on December 8 - 9, 2021, which included some
changes in plans that occurred after the approval on August 11, 2021.
This is a presentation only, there is no direction or action required.
ADJOURN
Mayor Raymond Gregory adjourned the November 30, 2021, Special Council Meeting at
4:46 PM
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Mayor, City of Cathedral City City Clerk City of Cathedral C
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