REGULAR MEETING OF THE RANCHO MIRAGE CITY COUNCIL
AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT, ENERGY AUTHORITY,
HOUSING AUTHORITY, JOINT POWERS FINANCE AUTHORITY, LIBRARY
AND OBSERVATORY, AND REDEVELOPMENT SUCCESSOR AGENCY BOARDS
69-825 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 1:00 PM
MINUTES
1. GENERAL
1.A. Call to Order
Mayor Mallotto called the meeting to order at 1:01 P.M.
1.B. Flag Salute
Council Member Fromberg Edelstein led the flag salute.
1.C. Roll Call: Downs, Fromberg Edelstein, Weill, O'Keefe, Mallotto
All Council Members were present.
2. PRESENTATIONS
2.A. Recognition of Lifesaving Actions by Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage Staff
Mayor Mallotto shared that Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage staff recently assisted a staff member during a medical incident until medical personnel arrived.
Battalion Fire Chief Whitaker commended Ritz-Carlton staff and spoke about the importance of CPR training and being prepared to handle a medical emergency.
Mayor Mallotto commended Ritz-Carlton staff for their lifesaving efforts and announced that Sheila Buciuman was the newly appointed Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage General Manager. Mayor Mallotto then presented recognition awards to Executive Chef Bruno Lopez, Safety & Security Officer Eric Silva, and the entire Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage staff.
Director of Sales & Marketing Nicole Kent thanked the City for the recognition, and Director of Safety & Security Daniel Rodriguez commended Mr. Silva for his efforts during the medical incident.
3. COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS/REPORTS
Council Member Fromberg Edelstein spoke regarding "The Third Shift," noting the importance of recognizing modern female caregiving as exhausting and often invisible labor.
Council Member Downs spoke regarding the 2025 City Council accomplishments and the 2026 City Council goals related to public safety, affordable housing, the economic development master plan, the wireless master plan, partnerships with outside agencies, and fiscal responsibility.
Council Member Weill announced upcoming events including the Coachella Valley Symphony Best of Stage and Screen complimentary show, Coffee with a Cop, and the 2026 Rancho Mirage Writers Festival.
Mayor Pro Tem O'Keefe spoke regarding changes to electricity bills. He also announced an upcoming Martin Luther King Day celebration and Passion4Pinot event.
Mayor Mallotto recognized the Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory's 30th Anniversary programs and welcomed newly appointed Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage General Manager Sheila Buciuman.
4. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS/REPORTS
None.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR (A-F)
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, presented the Consent Calendar items.
The following individual provided public comments: Michael Harrington.
MOVED/SECONDED BY DOWNS/WEILL TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
5.A. Waive Full Reading of Any Ordinance Introduced or Adopted Pursuant to this Agenda
5.B. Development Agreement Amendment No. DA21-0002 for the Ritz Carlton Residences Project Located at 68900 Frank Sinatra Drive
— RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Ordinance No. 1233, 2nd Reading, Approving the Tenth Amendment to Statutory Development Agreement by and between the City of Rancho Mirage and Newage Rancho Mirage, LLC.
5.C. December 18, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
— RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve the December 18, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting Minutes as presented.
5.D. Calendar Year 2026 Salary Schedule
— RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Resolution No. 2026-(Next-in-Order), Approving the Updated Calendar Year 2026 Salary Schedule to Comply with California Public Employee’s Retirement System (CalPERS) Statutory and Regulatory Requirements for Compensation Earnable and Publicly Available Pay Schedules.
(Adopted Resolution No. 2026-01)
5.E. Contracts
— RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve the terms of the contracts as presented and authorize the City Manager to execute the subject contracts.
5.F. Demands
— RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve the demands as presented.
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS
6.A. Historic Resources Survey Update
— RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Resolution No. 2026-(Next-in-Order), Approving the Historic Resources Survey Update.
Ben Torres, Planning Manager, presented the staff report.
No public testimony was provided.
MOVED/SECONDED BY FROMBERG EDELSTEIN/DOWNS TO: 1) ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2026-02, APPROVING THE HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY UPDATE; AND 2) AUTHORIZE STAFF TO MAKE MINOR REVISIONS TO THE HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY UPDATE BASED ON COMMENTS RECEIVED. MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
6.B. Historic Preservation Case No. HP25-0006 – Consideration to Designate the Residential Home Located at 70641 Tamarisk Lane as a Historic Resource
— RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Resolution No. 2026-(Next-in-Order), Designating the Residential Home Located at 70641 Tamarisk Lane, Rancho Mirage, California (APN 674-260-005) a Historic Resource (Pursuant to Rancho Mirage Municipal Code Chapter 15.27).
Ben Torres, Planning Manager, presented the staff report.
No public testimony was provided.
A discussion ensued.
MOVED/SECONDED BY WEILL/O’KEEFE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2026-03, DESIGNATING THE RESIDENTIAL HOME LOCATED AT 70641 TAMARISK LANE, RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIFORNIA (APN 674-260-005) A HISTORIC RESOURCE (PURSUANT TO RANCHO MIRAGE MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 15.27). MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
6.C. Environmental Assessment Case No. EA25-0003 and Preliminary Development Plan Case No. PDP25-0003 – Global Wildlife Discovery Museum – Applicant: Prest Vuksic Greenwood Architects. Consideration of a Single-Story 21,967 Square Foot Museum on a 6.78 Acre Project Site. Location: 69934 Highway 111 (APNs: 689-040-023, -025, & -028)
— RECOMMENDED ACTION: 1) Adopt Resolution No. 2026-(Next-in-Order), Adopting and Approving the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program and Mitigated Negative Declaration (SCH#2025100436) for the Proposed Project Based on Environmental Assessment Case No. EA25-0003; and, 2) Adopt Resolution No. 2026-(Next-in-Order), Approving Preliminary Development Plan Case No. PDP25-0003 Regarding the Proposed Global Wildlife Discovery Museum.
Lezlee Perez, Assistant Planner, presented the staff report.
Paul Omodt, Owner Representative, introduced the project team.
John Vuksic, Principal & Architect at PVG Architects, spoke regarding the project design.
Steve Finley, Senior Vice President of Sales at Museum Arts, commented on the uniqueness of the project.
No public testimony was provided.
A discussion ensued.
MOVED/SECONDED BY O’KEEFE/WEILL TO: 1) ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2026-04, ADOPTING AND APPROVING THE MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM AND MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION (SCH#2025100436) FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECT BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT CASE NO. EA25-0003; 2) ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2026-05, APPROVING PRELIMINARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN CASE NO. PDP25-0003 REGARDING THE PROPOSED GLOBAL WILDLIFE DISCOVERY MUSEUM; AND 3) REVISE CONDITION OF APPROVAL NO. 43 TO READ, "PALM TREES SHALL BE PLANTED ALONG HIGHWAY 111. FINAL SPACING AND PLANTING FREQUENCY SHALL MATCH, TO THE BEST ABILITY, THE SURROUNDING STREETSCAPE. THE SPECIES SHALL BE DETERMINED WITH A FINAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN.” MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
7. ACTION CALENDAR
7.A. Intention to Annex Territory Comprising 6.76 Acres to Community Facilities District No. 1 in Connection with Preliminary Development Plan Case No. PDP25-0003 - Global Wildlife Discovery Museum (APNs: 689-040-023, -025, & -028)
— RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Resolution No. 2026-(Next-in-Order), Declaring the City’s Intention to Annex Territory to Community Facilities District No. 1 and to Levy a Special Tax therein for Additional Police and Fire Services, Preliminarily Approve a Map of the Area Proposed to be Annexed, and Schedule a Public Hearing to Consider the Annexation and the Levy of Special Tax for Annexation No. 204.
Jacob De La Cruz, Financial Analyst, presented the staff report.
MOVED/SECONDED BY FROMBERG EDELSTEIN/DOWNS TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2026-06, DECLARING THE CITY’S INTENTION TO ANNEX TERRITORY TO COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT NO. 1 AND TO LEVY A SPECIAL TAX THEREIN FOR ADDITIONAL POLICE AND FIRE SERVICES, PRELIMINARILY APPROVE A MAP OF THE AREA PROPOSED TO BE ANNEXED, AND SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE ANNEXATION AND THE LEVY OF SPECIAL TAX FOR ANNEXATION NO. 204. MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
7.B. Award of Contract Related to Roadway and Sand Fence Improvements Near Bob Hope Drive and Ramon Road
— RECOMMENDED ACTION: Award Contract for Congestion Mitigation and Sand Fence Installation, CMAQ Project 5412 (016), to Granite Construction in the amount of $1,677,520.00.
Ryan Stendell, Assistant City Manager, presented the staff report.
A discussion ensued.
Following the vote for Item No. 7B, Mayor Mallotto recessed the meeting for a break at 2:30 P.M. She reconvened the meeting at 2:35 P.M.
MOVED/SECONDED BY O’KEEFE/DOWNS TO AWARD CONTRACT FOR CONGESTION MITIGATION AND SAND FENCE INSTALLATION, CMAQ PROJECT 5412 (016), TO GRANITE CONSTRUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,677,520.00. MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
8. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS
The following individuals provided non-agenda public comments: Ben Weaver, Patty Ottoson, Don Dusatko, Theodore Cumming, Jim Papst, Al Southerland, Dan Gibson, Robert Anderson.
Isaiah Hagerman, City Manager, provided a brief update regarding the Omni Rancho Las Palmas.
The following individuals provided non-agenda public comments. Theodore Cumming, Susan Ragsdale, Zachary Katona, and Wally Melendez.
9. CLOSED SESSION
9.A. Closed Session Agenda
— 1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1). Case name unspecified since disclosure may jeopardize existing settlement negotiations.
Colin Kirkpatrick, City Attorney, announced that the City Council would recess to Closed Session to confer with legal counsel regarding one existing litigation item, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1), with the case name being unspecified since disclosure may jeopardize existing settlement negotiations.
9.B. Recess to Closed Session
Mayor Mallotto recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 3:13 P.M.
9.C. Reconvene Open Session
Mayor Mallotto reconvened the meeting at 4:07 P.M., with all Council Members present.
9.D. Closed Session Announcements
Colin Kirkpatrick, City Attorney, announced that no reportable action was taken during Closed Session.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Mallotto adjourned the meeting at 4:08 P.M.
Date Approved by City Council: 02/05/2026