Mike Fontana

Council Statements Regarding CV Link

In citing text from the meeting minutes, others' comment is not often included, and no ellipses are provided.

7 May 2015

The City Council met in regular session.

• "12. Consideration of Prohibition of the Route of CV Link Over Any Portion of Highway 111 or Bob Hope Drive, in the City of Rancho Mirage
• "Public Comment
• "Mike Fontana expressed his thanks to the City Council for taking a leadership role in reviewing this matter and determining the CV Link is not a good fit for Rancho Mirage. He thanked Mayor Hobart for his courage in presenting this to the CVAG Executive Committee meeting, noting that he attended the meeting and thanked Mayor Hobart for making the case for Rancho Mirage and getting them to look at the flaws in the CV Link. Mr. Fontana added that he has been to several CVAG presentations where they refer to the CV Link as a " path" or " trail." However, in reading the CVAG master plan, Mr. Fontana pointed out that it is referred to as a " transportation corridor like any other" and not a " trail." He concluded his comments by saying that he lives next to the Butler -Abrams Trail and feels it is a treasure that needs to be protected.
• "Another resident who did not provide his name commented that he is vehemently opposed to the CV Link and sees no advantage for Rancho Mirage. He cited other projects similar to the CV Link that have become a magnet for crime.
• "Mayor Hobart reported that he made a lengthy presentation to the CVAG Executive Committee two weeks ago followed by a meeting a few days later with the CVAG Executive Director where they discussed issues that remain to be resolved. Mayor Hobart noted that in his opinion, those in charge of development design of this project are continuing " full steam ahead." At the CVAG Executive Committee meeting, he asked them to slow down the process, reduce the cost of the project and concentrate on resolving important issues, including the operations and maintenance ( 0&M) expenses for the CV Link.
• "Mayor Hobart quoted CVAG` s projected 0&M expense of 1. 6 million dollars in the first year of full operation. He noted that the recommended method of funding 0&M was presented at a CVAG Transportation Committee meeting chaired by Mayor Pro Tem Weill, for final approval without it ever having been discussed except on March 30th when the Executive Director of CVAG met with the Rancho Mirage CV Link Subcommittee. Mayor Hobart stated that using the CVAG proposed formula, the City of Rancho Mirage Finance Director calculated that in year nine, Rancho Mirage would pay $ 313, 000 of TOT revenue. Further, it would fall upon five Coachella Valley cities - La Quinta, Indian Wells, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage and Palm Springs - to pay the majority of the 0&M expense into the future.
• "In addition to using a percentage of TOT revenue, CVAG is proposing that a third of the 0&M expense would be paid through Measure A funds, which are intended to repair and build new roads; essentially diverting them from already approved projects to the CV Link by designating it as an arterial roadway. Mayor Hobart reported that he suggested to the CVAG Executive Director that CVAG 1) obtain a legal opinion on this issue from an attorney not in this area, e. g. Los Angeles; and ( 2) get agreement from the Coachella Valley cities that Measure A funds should be used for this purpose.
• "Mayor Hobart indicated that CVAG is proceeding at a quick pace and continues to invest money in this project. He stated that he has a fiduciary responsibility to the residents of Rancho Mirage to fight for what is best for this City. He further stated that he is pushing for a joint meeting of all the cities so they can get the full picture and urged residents to speak out on this issue. 
• "Councilmember Smotrich thanked Mayor Hobart for his leadership on this issue and for bringing the City Council up to date.
• "Councilmember Kite thanked Mayor Hobart for his thorough status report. He added that Rancho Mirage is different from other cities involved in this project and to try and put the CV Link along Highway 111 would be disastrous for residents and businesses. Councilmember Kite agreed that the City Council should continue to convey to CVAG the need to develop an alternative plan and to resolve the 0&M expense issues.
• "Councilmember Townsend expressed his appreciation for Mayor Hobart' s dedication to this City and leadership role in this matter.
• "Mayor Pro Tem Weill commented that during the CVAG meetings he has attended, tranquil terms such as " path" and " trail" are frequently used; however, what is being proposed is not peaceful but a concrete, 30 foot wide street to accommodate electric vehicles, golf carts, runners, joggers, bikers, etc. He noted that this is secondary to how the CV Link would be paid for and pledged that the City Council cannot, and will not, obligate Rancho Mirage residents to a cost that is unknown now and into the future.
• "Councilmember Smotrich commented that far beyond the financial aspects of the CV Link are the safety issues. When motor vehicles are put together with runners, walkers and bicycles, she stated this presents a major safety hazard and is a catastrophe waiting to happen. Councilmember Smotrich will be addressing this issue at her CVAG meeting next week.
• "MOVED/ SECONDED BY HOBART/ KITE TO PROHIBIT THE ROUTE OF THE CV LINK TO EXTEND OVER ANY PORTION OF HIGHWAY 111 OR BOB HOPE DRIVE WITHIN THE CITY OF RANCHO MIRAGE. MOTION CARRIED 5/ 0."
  

COMMMENTARY

15 October 2015

The City Council met in regular session.

• "CITY COUNCIL/BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
• "Mayor Hobart commented that, regardless of how special interests try to paper over this 100 million purchase, an enlightened public will continue to demand a public vote. The newspaper's endorsement of taking $ 1 million annually out of Measure A roadway improvement funds is tacit recognition that CVAG has failed to solve the financial quagmire that CV Link is in. Support for annually withdrawing $ 1 million is misleading, since it will reach $ 2 million annually in 36 years.
• "Mayor Hobart said he believes the vast majority of Valley residents do not want our roadway improvement Measure A funds turned over to support the CV Link pathways for NEVs and LSEVs. He said the newspaper's support for avoiding a public vote shows little faith in the democratic process, but democracy is alive and well in Rancho Mirage.
• "Mayor Hobart thanked the community for their support.
• "12. Consideration of Resolutions, Ordinance and Ballot Measures to Protect the City of Rancho Mirage's Local Control of its Streets and Traffic and to Allow Rancho Mirage Residents to Voice their Opinions on Substantive Issues Pertaining to CVAG's Proposed CV Link Project and it's Cost to the Taxpayers.

1. "A. Adopt Resolution No. 2015- 107, that: ( a) prohibits neighborhood electric vehicles in certain areas and on certain streets within the jurisdiction of the City of Rancho Mirage; ( b) prohibits a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle Plan from including any area within the iurisdiction of the City of Rancho Mirage unless the area is approved first by an ordinance of the City of Rancho Mirage; and ( c) prohibits any portion of CV Link or similar pathway from including any area within the jurisdiction of the City of Rancho Mirage:
2. "B. Introduce Ordinance No. 1099, 1st Reading, that: ( a) prohibits neighborhood electric vehicles in certain areas and on certain streets within the iurisdiction of the City of Rancho Mirage: ( b) prohibits a Neiqhborhood Electric Vehicle Plan from including any area within the
3. iurisdiction of the City of Rancho Mirage unless the area is approved first by an ordinance of the City of Rancho Mirage; and ( c) prohibits any portion of CV Link or similar pathway from including any area within the jurisdiction of the City of Rancho Mirage:
4. "C. Adopt Resolution No. 2015- 108, that calls and notices the holding of an advisory election on the same date of the City's General Municipal Election, set for April 12, 2016, for the purpose of submitting to the City's qualified voters five advisory measures concerning the proposed CV Link proiect, which is a paved pathway proposed by the Coachella Valley Association of Governments ( CVAG) that will be approximately 50 miles long, accommodate pedestrians, bicycles and neighborhood vehicles that can travel up to 25 miles per hour;
5. "D. Adopt Resolution No. 2015- 109, placing a measure on the ballot of the City's General Municipal Election asking the voters: " Shall the voters of Rancho Mirage require that any amendment or repeal of Ordinance No. 1099 that prohibits Neighborhood Electric Vehicles ( NEVs) in certain areas and on certain streets within the iurisdiction of the City of Rancho Mirage require prior voter approval?"; and
6. "E. Designate the Mayor or his designee or designees on the Rancho Mirage City Council to prepare the Arguments in " Favor" of Measure 6 and the Arguments " Against Approval" of Advisory Measures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, on behalf of the Rancho Mirage City Council.

• "Mayor Hobart noted slight language modifications made to the proposed ordinance and resolutions following agenda distribution.
• "City Attorney Quintanilla explained NEV regulations and read the ballot measures, including revisions.
• "City Manager Bynder presented the staff report.
• "Public Comment
• "Michael Fontana, Rancho Mirage, thanked Council for their efforts and acknowledged the harassment they have endured. He said that residents of the Butler Abrams Trail neighborhood expressed concerns with CV Link nearly a year ago, but were never contacted by CVAG. However, the City Council heard their concerns and began addressing the issue. He suggested that ballot measure language be revised to reflect that CV Link is a roadway, not a pathway, and to include low -speed vehicles in addition to NEVs.
• "Councilmember Kite asked if Council should consider adding Butler Abrams Trail to Advisory Measure 5.
• "Michael Fontana said that on a personal level he had no objection to adding Butler Abrams Trail to Measure 5.
• "Mayor Hobart suggested revising the list of prohibited streets included in Items A and B by striking Ramon Road and adding Magnesia Falls Drive and Joshua Road.
• "A discussion ensued regarding the use of Ramon Road.
• "MOVED/SECONDED BY HOBART/WEILL TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2015- 107, PROHIBITING LOW -SPEED VEHICLES AND NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN CERTAIN AREAS AND ON CERTAIN STREETS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY OF RANCHO MIRAGE, AND REVISING THE LIST OF PROHIBITED STREETS BY STRIKING RAMON ROAD AND ADDING MAGNESIA FALLS DRIVE AND JOSHUA ROAD. MOTION CARRIED 5/0.
• "MOVED/SECONDED BY HOBART/WEILL TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NO. 1099, 1ST READING, PROHIBITING LOW -SPEED VEHICLES AND NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN CERTAIN AREAS AND ON CERTAIN STREETS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY OF RANCHO MIRAGE, AND REVISING THE LIST OF PROHIBITED STREETS BY STRIKING RAMON ROAD AND ADDING MAGNESIA FALLS DRIVE AND JOSHUA ROAD. MOTION CARRIED 5/ 0.
• "MOVED/SECONDED BY HOBART/SMOTRICH TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2015- 108, CALLING AND NOTICING THE HOLDING OF AN ADVISORY ELECTION ON THE SAME DATE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO MIRAGE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF ALLOWING THE VOTERS OF RANCHO MIRAGE TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS ON CERTAIN SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES PERTAINING TO CV LINK, INCLUDING STATED LANGUAGE MODIFICATIONS AND THE ADDITION OF BUTLER ABRAMS TRAIL TO ADVISORY MEASURE 5. MOTION CARRIED 5/ 0.
• "MOVED/SECONDED BY HOBART/TOWNSEND TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2015-109, PLACING A MEASURE ON THE BALLOT OF THE CITY OF RANCHO MIRAGE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION ASKING THE VOTERS: " SHALL THE VOTERS OF RANCHO MIRAGE REQUIRE THAT ANY AMENDMENT OR REPEAL OF ORDINANCE NO. 1099 THAT PROHIBITS NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES (NEVs) IN CERTAIN AREAS AND ON CERTAIN STREETS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY OF RANCHO MIRAGE REQUIRE PRIOR VOTER APPROVAL?" MOTION CARRIED 5/ 0.
• "MOVED/SECONDED BY HOBART/SMOTRICH TO DESIGNATE THE MAYOR OR HIS DESIGNEE OR DESIGNEES ON THE RANCHO MIRAGE CITY COUNCIL TO PREPARE THE ARGUMENTS IN " FAVOR" OF MEASURE 6 AND THE ARGUMENTS " AGAINST APPROVAL" OF ADVISORY MEASURES 1, 2, 3, 4 AND 5, ON BEHALF OF THE RANCHO MIRAGE CITY COUNCIL. MOTION CARRIED 5/ 0."
  

COMMMENTARY