Coachella Eyes E-Bike Rules as Council Funds City's First Roundabout

Coachella's City Council spent its longest stretch of the Oct. 28, 2026, meeting on e-bikes: who rides them, where and how to keep young riders alive. No vote was taken, but the city manager said an e-bike ordinance could arrive as soon as November. Council members also unanimously awarded a $1.75M contract for a rebuilt Avenue 53 tot lot and the city's first roundabout.

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• E-bike ordinance could arrive in November or December, with a park ban floated and safety courses under study
• $1.75M Three Peaks Corp. contract approved 5-0 for the Avenue 53 tot lot and first roundabout
• Staff and outside counsel explain why code cleanups take so long, from inspection warrants to receivership
• Youth Advisory Commission seated 5-0, with two alternates added to protect quorum
• Council names six Hometown Heroes, three times staff's request, and El Tepeyac's owners as grand marshals

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E-Bikes Move From Nuisance to Policy

Why it matters: Injuries and deaths among young riders, plus conflicts in city parks, are pushing Coachella toward its own e-bike rules. The council is also weighing whether to pay for a safety education program.

The basics: California sorts e-bikes into classes by speed and how the motor engages. The presentation covered those classes, equipment limits and the Sheriff's Department campaign to admonish parents directly.

Where things stand: Corporal Tim Garfin of the Coachella Community Action Team walked the council through state law. Deputy Abrego, a motor deputy with the Palm Desert Sheriff's Station, pitched a training model similar to Huntington Beach's, in which parents must attend alongside their kids. He pointed to a Nov. 7 Palm Desert event as an example.

"So the biggest thing that I'm trying to do is get cities to work with their law enforcement," said Deputy Abrego.

Abrego also flagged the limits of current law. The only age restriction on buying an e-bike applies to the fastest category. "You have to be 16 and older for the Class 3 e-bikes," he said.

On enforcement, Abrego said deputies tow and cite Sur-Ron e-motorcycles. He added that e-scooters fall outside current definitions, a gap that complicates any local crackdown.

Funding is the catch: Abrego said courses would rely on city-sponsored training, with possible Office of Traffic Safety funding as a supplement. That makes the program a budget question for the council, not just a policing one.

The push for tougher rules: One councilmember asked staff to go further. "See if we can do an ordinance where we just ban them from parks, like completely," the councilmember said. The request covered both e-bikes and e-scooters. It also asked the city attorney and city manager to work with the Sheriff's Department on broader wording.

What's next: City Manager Gustavo Romo said staff are finishing an e-bike ordinance. "It's very likely that we might be able to have it to you on either the November meeting or the December meeting," Romo said. Staff will also study program costs and a possible partnership with the school district.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: No vote was taken. Parents of young riders could face mandatory training requirements. Park users could see e-bikes and scooters barred. The Sheriff's Department, which provides Coachella's law enforcement, would shoulder education and enforcement. The school district may become a partner on safety courses.

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First Roundabout Rolls Into Avenue 53

Why it matters: A neglected neighborhood park gets a full rebuild. The surrounding intersection gets traffic calming that staff tied to speeding problems.

Where things stand: Staff described the current tot lot as outdated. It has three pieces of play equipment, no fence and aging trees, and sits next to a wide intersection where drivers speed.

The rebuild adds:

• Six playground features and shade sails
• A perimeter fence, more benches and a walking loop
• A larger sewer main
• A roundabout at the intersection

"This is going to be the City of Coachella's first roundabout," said the staff presenter.

The money: Six bids came in. Three Peaks Corp. was the lowest responsive bidder at $1,750,914, plus a 10% contingency, for City Project P-29. The project draws on grants, including a tie-in to Strategic Growth Council funding through the TCC Prospera effort. It also requires an extra $214,000 from Measure A and $218,573 from the sewer fund. Staff cited two slightly different project totals during the presentation, so the staff report is the place to confirm the final figure.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The contract passed with no council questions and no public comment (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0; Martinez, Virgen, Delgado, Perez, Figueroa). Families near Avenue 53 gain a safer, shaded play space. Drivers will need to adjust to Coachella's first roundabout. Sewer ratepayer dollars help cover the main upgrade.

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Why Your Neighbor's Lot Stays Messy

Why it matters: Residents frustrated by slow cleanups got a step-by-step legal explanation. The council wants that explanation available to the public in English and Spanish.

Where things stand: Community Development Director Kendra Reif introduced the code enforcement team and its case priorities and described its response to homeless encampments. She cited a cleanup at Dillon and Avenue 48 that hauled away about four truckloads of debris.

"One thing that we're currently working on is updating our abandoned property registration and maintenance ordinance," said Reif. That ordinance is Municipal Code Section 8.6C.

The legal gauntlet: Andrew Lopez, an attorney with Best Best & Krieger who serves as city code enforcement counsel, laid out each required step:

• Investigation, constrained by Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches
• Inspection warrants
• Administrative notice and appeal
• Abatement authorization
• Cost recovery
• Receivership, in which a court-appointed receiver takes control of a property to fix violations

"A warrant issued only for inspection does not itself authorize cleanup," Lopez said. That separation is a key reason cases drag on.

What's next: Council members asked that the presentation be posted on the department webpage and translated into Spanish. One member asked to add it to the Resident Engagement Academy. Staff said a high-level version is already covered there and more detail can be added.

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Youth Commission Gets a Bench

Why it matters: Chronic attendance gaps have threatened quorum on the Coachella Youth Advisory Commission. Council built in backups this time.

Where things stand: Director of Economic Development Selena Jimenez outlined the commission's structure: 10 members, one-year terms and a six-member quorum. She flagged that one applicant had already served two prior terms and that some applicants live outside the city. City ordinance bars non-residents from membership.

Council debated whether to seat every applicant, add alternates or create honorary roles for non-residents. Members settled on a three-tier approach:

• Applicants 1 and 3 through 11 as commissioners
• Applicants 2 and 12 as alternates
• Applicants 13 through 18 as honorary participants

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The slate passed with no public comment (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0; Martinez, Virgen, Delgado, Perez, Figueroa). Every applicant gets a role. Non-resident students can still participate without voting membership.

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Six Heroes, One Grand Marshal

Where things stand: Staff presented nine nominees, including Laura Morales, who had been left out of the staff report. Youth coach Aaron Nasu drew 23 nominations. "He has actually shattered the record for the most nominations that anyone has ever received," said the staff presenter.

Mayor Frank Figueroa proposed that each member pick one honoree. The final list includes:

• Aaron Nasu
• Marnie Navarro
• Manuela Ramirez of Líderes Campesinas
• TODEC Coachella
• The founder of Desert Paws Sanctuary
• The late artist James Montenegro, honored posthumously

Staff noted that the report called for two honorees. Members said letting each of them highlight someone mattered more than keeping the program tight. Council also chose El Tepeyac's owners as grand marshals of the holiday parade.

Public commenter James Rodriguez backed the picks. He singled out the recognition of Montenegro, whom he said he attended school with.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The motion passed (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0; Martinez, Virgen, Delgado, Perez, Figueroa). Honorees will be recognized at the Dec. 2 tree lighting and the Dec. 4 holiday parade.

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Minor Items

• CVAG housing MOU delayed: A $322,500 agreement with CVAG for the CV Housing First Program was continued to Nov. 10 at staff's request. No reason was given. The amended agenda passed 3-0 among the members present at the time.
• Consent calendar: Oct. 14 minutes, first-quarter FY2026-27 reports and the July 31 investment report were approved (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0).
• Closed session: Council met on one potential litigation matter and on Coalition for Clean Air v. City of Coachella. The city attorney reported no reportable action.
• Measure I and festival requests: Members asked staff to bring back an itemized review of the 5% utility tax voters approved in 2010, including its possibly empty oversight commission. They also asked for a proposal to grow Tacos and Tequila into a sponsor-funded, state-themed "Sabores de México" festival.
• Public comment: James Rodriguez urged a council proclamation on immigration enforcement. "The city of Coachella can also make a proclamation to condemn the acts that are happening across the country," he said. He also cautioned that Indio's short-term rental debate could foreshadow problems in Coachella and proposed farm training for regenerative agriculture.

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Looking Ahead

The e-bike ordinance could reach the council in November or December, and the CVAG Housing First MOU returns Nov. 10. Upcoming community events:

• Reach Up Potluck: Nov. 13, 7 p.m.
• Run with Los Muertos 5K: Nov. 7
• Veterans Pancake Breakfast, Synergy Festival and a community cleanup: Nov. 14
• Tree lighting: Dec. 2
• Holiday parade: Dec. 4

Councilmember Stephanie Virgen also signaled a coming change on the dais. "I think I'm coming up to my last meetings," she said.