Votes at a glance: Rancho Mirage Council approves consent items, budget amendment, and wireless master plan (March 6)

The Rancho Mirage City Council took three recorded votes at its March 6 meeting. All motions passed by a 5–0 voice vote.

1) Consent calendar (4 items) — Approved 5–0. The consent calendar included approval of the Feb. 20, 2025 regular meeting minutes; adoption of a resolution vacating approximately 0.181 acres for an easement for a private road within the Cotino development (resolution number noted in the staff report); approval of listed contracts; and approval of demands. Resident Brad Anderson provided public comment urging more complete public-comment documentation in minutes but the council moved and approved the consent calendar without separate action.

2) Resolution amending fiscal year 2024–25 budget — Approved 5–0. After a staff presentation by Assistant Director Joseph Carpenter, the council adopted midyear adjustments that increase operating revenues by $215,000 and reduce operating expenditures by $239,000, altering nonoperating capital timing (including a $4 million reduction in amphitheater improvements and a $400,000 re-timing of the Ramon Road project) and producing an estimated net surplus of roughly $108,000 at year-end.

3) Wireless master plan — Approved 5–0. The council received and filed the Rancho Mirage wireless master plan prepared with Southland Technologies, and directed staff to implement a package of actions to improve cellular coverage. Directions included streamlining permitting, reviewing municipal code to reduce barriers to deployment, developing preapproved sites and opportunity zones, creating interactive maps for carriers and residents, encouraging small-cell installations, and considering a wireless service broker to coordinate carriers and property owners.

Recorded vote for each item was taken by voice; staff recorded each motion as carrying 5–0.