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Mayor Linda Evans , Incumbent Candidate for Mayor
Introduction and Why I am Running for Office
I am honored to serve as La Quinta’s Mayor for the past ten years and be a LQ resident for 21; 8 years in the Cove. I am seeking re-election to continue the work and momentum underway in all aspects of the city: public safety, housing, infrastructure, development, environment, fiscal sustainability, and arts and culture. We have an amazing city, because of its residents, and I love working hard for our collective quality of life.
Affordable Housing
La Quinta has 1,352 units and is required to add an additional 1,530 units by 2029 per State mandate. We have acquired land (Hwy 111) that is zoned accordingly; however, financing housing developments is cost-prohibitive when the State reduces tax credits for developers. Our Council/City embraces adding units to provide options and diversity in our community to provide quality of life for our residents. Land is available in the Village area of the Cove. We need to identify builders and financing mechanisms that will foster development. CEQA reform would help reduce costs and timeliness of meeting the mandated unit count.
IID Contract for Services
Issues:
- Per IID, La Quinta is at capacity, prohibiting growth
- IID has low rates, but has failed to plan for their infrastructure, reliability,
replacements, and investments to meet the demand.
- Coachella Valley cities served by IID contribute 65% of IID’s revenue, but have no governance on IID Board decisions.
Solutions:
- As Vice Chair of the Coachella Valley Energy Commission, we are evaluating forming a JPA to govern, plan, fund and manage our cities/county.
- IID needs to invest to secure power for our growing population and to meet State energy mandates.
Undergrounding of Utilities in the Cove
Undergrounding of utilities was a high priority at our Annual Workshop. The City funded a study to explore options and costs to underground. For the Cove, there are 5,046 parcels with an approximate cost per parcel of between $23,242 (cash) and $38,818 (bonds & interest over 20 years). This does not include an additional $8k to $12k by the resident for hook-up and conversion costs. Identifying funding is the key, to include an IID contribution, bonds, and resident support to pay their share. The conversion will take years, but if desired, it will be beneficial for our residents and environment.
Prospect for Future Growth in La Quinta, Especially Reflecting the Challenges of Energy and Water Supplies
La Quinta has a controlled growth perspective. While we are near build-out, we do have a Sphere of Influence (SOI) area for possible annexation (eastern border). Several factors need to be considered and evaluated before expanding our Gem. Growth without revenue or resources (energy and water) to support the required infrastructure does not make sense. Analyzing potential tax revenues, complement of build and services, access to transportation and utilities, impact on residents, affordability, and environmental stewardship is critical in decision-making. Our General Plan, along with resident input and fiscal responsibility, helps guides our decision-making.
Robert Sylk, Candidate for Mayor
Introduction and Why I am Running for Office
I am running for office because I strongly believe our city needs a new beginning and a new city administration that remembers above all that the people’s good is the highest law over their own personal wants. Rarely do we find the current council leading or out in front of any issue. It’s not enough to promise the citizens a future when you can’t deliver one. You will like my new plan for La Quinta.
Affordable Housing
This is always going to be an issue. We are over 1000 units short of making our RHNA numbers that are mandated by the State. We have already saturated the Cove with more than their share of affordable housing. We have purchased property on Dune Palms, north of 111, but no developer has stepped up to build on it yet. We must get serious about annexing Vista Santa Rosa before those property prices skyrocket as well, as that would be an ideal location for affordable housing as there are schools, grocers, pharmacies and physicians already in nearby Thermal.
IID Contract for Services
I look forward to serving on the CVEC, Coachella Valley Energy Commission, as La Quinta's representative. IID's formation of this commission was a proactive step to address the future of our energy needs in anticipation of the expiration of the contract in 2032, and I applaud IID for that. As a consumer, and outside observer, I believe the IID board and staff are doing a good job in providing needed services to our communities and I would not look to reinventing the wheel; I would follow their lead and their expertise in this CVWD contract matter.
Undergrounding of Utilities in the Cove
Of course, this is a good idea, aesthetically and for safety reasons. However, at a cost of about $200MM, this will cost a minimum of $25k per parcel, maybe up to $50k if financed, plus the required costs of connection to the new lines, which each homeowner would have to undertake on their own, at a cost of more thousands of dollars. This is a 7-10 year project to completion. This all must be approved by 50% of the homeowners, preemptively. A straw poll, with all this cost information provided, might be a good place to start.
Prospect for Future Growth in La Quinta, Especially Reflecting the Challenges of Energy and Water Supplies
In terms of growth in the Cove area, I believe it is near capacity, with some area left in Old Town for commercial growth. We really have to get busy and push for annexation of Vista Santa Rosa. I know there is work being done with LAFCO but we need a sense of urgency about this if we are going to meet our affordable housing numbers. I have brought project ideas before the Council for development in that area but no action was taken. So I am anxious to get on the Council to move forward on this annexation issue.
Council Member Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Incumbent Candidate for City Council
Introduction and Why I am Running for Office
It has been a privilege to serve on Council. My time on Council has only increased my dedication to this community and I wish to continue to provide proactive and thoughtful leadership. I like a challenge and I think our challenges now are completing SilverRock, and unlocking the growth potential on the 111. corridor and in the Village. La Quinta needs both experience and vision to create and improve policies to spur future responsible growth.
Affordable Housing
Affordable housing is mandatory for economic health and growth. Our workforce must have homes within our community. It makes economic sense and environmental sense. Responsible growth can occur along the 111 corridor. I have advocated for a plan that creates mixed use zones that include housing, retail, and entertainment in a people friendly environment. The Village area will also provide an interesting mixed use environment of a different sort. Building our “Cultural Campus” will create an area that could expand to include more live/work housing with a different emphasis. I know we can add a broad range of housing creating a vital community.
IID Contract for Services
La Quinta has been at the vanguard of the push to resolve the future of power service to La Quinta. Council mandated the City Manager, 6 years ago, to engage with the other cities served by IID to move toward planning for the future. Asset management and new infrastructure must be planned to ensure the delivery of safe, reliable power to La Quinta. Planning how to pay for both current and future needs are in discussions now. Council will continue to push for fair resolution to meet our service needs.
Undergrounding of Utilities in the Cove
Council has heard the residents of the Cove. The under-grounding of utilities would be a terrific benefit for safety and reliability. But, there is huge cost to doing the work. The City cannot do it alone. To get it done there will need to be a grass roots neighborhood by neighborhood organized effort. A study has been done and with a concerted effort, between the city and the residents, Community Funding Districts, for each “neighborhood” could be developed and the project completed in many phases. Complicated, yes; costly to each residence, yes; doable, yes; a long range goal, yes.
Prospect for Future Growth in La Quinta, Especially Reflecting the Challenges of Energy and Water Supplies
I think the prospects for future growth, in a responsible manner, are good. Our city has good, environmentally sound design standards, to protect our water resources. CVWD is a good partner and a good steward of the water resources in the valley. They will guide growth in a sound manner. La Quinta must continue to work with other cities and IID to plan for the future. Long term asset management and increasing reliable, safe, power supplies are mandatory. A long term plan must be completed in order to continue to grow.
Council Member Steve Sanchez, Incumbent Candidate for City Council
Introduction and Why I am Running for Office
I’m a proud patriot and Marine Corps Veteran with overseas deployments, I’ve worked in telecommunications, government, advertising, and commercial real estate.
Over the last eight years, as your Councilmember, I’ve worked to balance our budget, improved our parks, streets, attracted new businesses, and supported law enforcement.
I’m proud of our city and the work we’ve done together. La Quinta is well-run, safe, and our residents and visitors enjoy its prosperity and quality of life.
Affordable Housing
This is a longer holistic answer, but in short, if the economy was better, and the cost to build, and the cost to borrow money wasn’t so high we’d have the housing inventory available to meet the demand.
Over the years, La Quinta has invested in our Very Low to Above Moderate housing as mandated by the State.
The answer isn’t building more affordable housing, the answer is having more housing that’s affordable. The only way this can happen is for the economy to rebound, the cost of goods and services to come down, which will increase individual spending power.
IID Contract for Services
Even prior to being elected to the City Council, I was bringing up the issue of the lack of representation on the IID board by Coachella Valley residents, who make up over 60% of IID’s customers and energy revenue, and the lack of existing and future infrastructure investments in the Coachella Valley.
We need board representation, or for the Eastern CV cities and County to create its own entity.
This is a complicated and extremely important issue residents need to pay attention to; it’s not as simple as “IID has low rates.” One hundred words isn’t enough for this question.
Undergrounding of Utilities in the Cove
The capacity demand is too much for our aging infrastructure. As everyone has more and more devices that need to be plugged in, the existing grid wasn’t designed to handle the load.
As we address the IID contract issue, the issue of new transmission lines, sub-stations, and current overhead power lines (poles) all need to be addressed.
Eventually, those overhead power lines will need to be replaced; undergrounding is easier for servicing, improves backyard views, and can increase property value.
If we had voting representation on the IID board, IID would have had the foresight to invest in our infrastructure.
Prospect for Future Growth in La Quinta, Especially Reflecting the Challenges of Energy and Water Supplies
The city council has expressed its willingness to allow businesses on the 111 corridor to expand by allowing mix-use development should the shopping centers have the ability and demand to do so.
The city is pretty much built out; we have very few areas left for commercial and/or residential development. This is one reason the city is considering annexing its sphere of influence; approximately East of Monroe St. to about Harrison St, in between avenue 52 and avenue 62.
The future growth for energy, technology, housing, jobs, tourism, and entertainment is to expand East.
Joe Johnson, Candidate for City Council
Introduction and Why I am Running for Office
I am running for City Council to represent our residents and not just developers. I want to help make Council more transparent and responsive to the needs of all, not just friends and favorites.
joejohnson4laquinta.com
Affordable Housing
We must be more aggressive establishing affordable housing. We are in danger of builders taking advantage of new California law that could allow development inconsistent with our General Plan unless we do more in this area.
We have a beautiful City. We need to share it with those who work here, some who want to raise a family.
We also need to serve those looking for a decent place to live on a fixed income.
Maintaining a home while on a fixed income becomes increasingly difficult. We can do more to help allow our most vulnerable citizens to keep their housing.
IID Contract for Services
IID is a valuable partner in providing power to our community. We need to maintain this relationship while increasing our voice to the Board.
New service generators will have to be built, but these costs should be born by the developers who need it to complete their projects.
Undergrounding of Utilities in the Cove
Underground utilities are great, but with a cost of around $30,000 per home can we really afford to do this now? How many people could lose their homes if they cannot pay? What about those who have walls and swimming pools between were power comes in now and the home? The extra cost on a homeowner could be staggering.
Prospect for Future Growth in La Quinta, Especially Reflecting the Challenges of Energy and Water Supplies
There must be and will be growth in our City. That does not mean it needs to be at the expense of current residents. Growth must be balanced between new revenue, increased services, strains on infrastructure and the overall well being of the community.