Council begins annexation proceedings for two Rancho Mirage sites to levy special tax for police and fire

The Rancho Mirage City Council on Sept. 4 moved to initiate annexation proceedings for two territories into Community Facilities District (CFD) No. 1 and to preliminarily approve maps and levy special taxes to fund additional police and fire services.

Jacob Veil La Cruz, the city's financial analyst, presented Annexation 199 as two parcels totaling approximately 5.4 acres at the northeast corner of Bob Hope Drive and Gerald Ford Drive. The project tied to that territory is a proposed one-story skilled nursing facility of about 42,500 square feet; the Planning Commission previously approved the tentative parcel map and conditioned the project on annexation into CFD No. 1. La Cruz said approving the resolution would allow the city to accept the owner's petition, consent to levy the special tax, expedite the election timeline and schedule a public hearing on Oct. 16, 2025.

La Cruz then presented Annexation 200: territory in Section 31 roughly 650 feet south of the Monterey Avenue/Gerald Ford Drive intersection comprising six parcels totaling about 72.88 acres that are proposed to be subdivided into 23 parcels for various uses. The same annexation steps were recommended: accept the petition, preliminarily approve the map, consent to levy a special tax for police and fire services and set the public hearing for Oct. 16, 2025.

There were no public speakers on Annexation 199. Brad Anderson spoke in favor of setting a public hearing for Annexation 200 and said new development could help pay for added services. The council moved, seconded and carried both intent resolutions 4-0, beginning the annexation process; the resolutions direct staff to record maps and schedule the October hearing, with final approvals expected to follow the statutorily required public-notice and election steps.