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HomeMy WebLinkAbout25 Direction on Lupine Lane STAFF REPORT CITY OF PALM DESERT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT MEETING DATE: May 13, 2021 PREPARED BY: Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner REQUEST: Request for direction on Lupine Plaza. Recommendation By Minute Motion: 1. Direct staff to seek professional services for design concepts to convert Lupine Lane into a permanent outdoor public gathering space. Or: 2. Direct staff to remove the furnishings and restore Lupine Lane, and return to a public street. Strategic Plan • Tourism and Marketing – Priority 1: “Improve access to Palm Desert and its attractions to enhance the ease of lifestyle.” • Transportation – Priority 1: “Create walkable neighborhoods and areas within Palm Desert that would include residential, retail, services and employment centers, and parks, recreation and open space to reduce the use of low occupancy vehicles.” Background At its meeting of September 10, 2020, the City Council directed staff to move forward in creating an outdoor dining area to create a safe open space to support restaurants on Lupine Lane and authorized the use of up to $70,000 from unobligated Economic Development Department reserve funds. At the beginning of October 2020, the City and Bright Event Rentals entered into an agreement from October 14, 2020, to June 1, 2021, to furnish the area to create an inviting new open-air dining destination – “Lupine Plaza.” The overall cost to rent and maintain the equipment for the eight months was $63,372. On October 14, 2020, Lupine Plaza was established with the additions of artificial grass, tables, chairs, colorful umbrellas, cabanas, string lights, and landscaping. The space afforded pedestrians and diners to May 13, 2021 - Staff Report Lupine Plaza Page 2 of 3 find a seat and enjoy takeout from any restaurant or order a drink from a restaurant pop- up bar inside the plaza. In October 2020, staff reached out to the business community through several different forums: letters, BrightSide, The Desert Sun newspaper, and walking the street. Staff also notified restaurants that they were invited to utilize Lupine Plaza by providing delivered or takeout meals. Staff also created a URL code that was placed on each table within the plaza where restaurants provided their menus and delivery options. Discussion Staff believes that the transformation of Lupine Lane into a public outdoor dining plaza was a huge success and a benefit to the merchants. The space was heavily used from October 2020 through February 2021, especially in the evening hours. During the months of March and April, the space was less utilized because many restaurants created dining decks and the State began lifted restrictions on indoor dining. Staff has held several meetings with the property owners for the adjacent El Paseo Square shopping center regarding the future of Lupine Plaza. The owners have been very supportive of Lupine Plaza and even installed a mural to add vibrancy and excitement to the space. The owners have also expressed interest in partnering with the City in creating a permanent outdoor gathering space along Lupine Lane. El Paseo Merchants Association Input On April 22, 2021, the El Paseo Merchants Association (EPMA) discussed Lupine Plaza. The EPMA was grateful that the City Council created the temporary outdoor dining plaza and stated they have received positive comments. The EPMA also discussed the future of Lupine Plaza, and supported the idea to explore design concepts to permanently create Lupine Plaza into an outdoor public gathering space. The group suggested a “living room” type of space for people to enjoy seating areas, misters, art sculptures, landscaping, and a water feature. Staff explained that the contract with Bright Event Rentals ends on June 1, 2021, and the plaza will be removed and restored, and returned to a public road. The EPMA stated that they are not in favor of removing the plaza because it has been such a success and once it is removed it may be hard to bring back. The EPMA recommended keeping the plaza and for the City to seek professional services for design concepts. Recommendation Staff believes that transforming this area into a permanent outdoor gathering/dining space will benefit the community and merchants. The overall goal for Lupine Lane is to create an outdoor space that is aesthetically pleasing and compatible with El Paseo including: May 13, 2021 - Staff Report Lupine Plaza Page 3 of 3 • Raise the street to be flush with the curb, and use a decorative treatment such as pavers or bricks • The use of shade trees and decorative landscape • Aesthetically pleasing furnishings • String lights • Water features • Misters • Art Sculptures • Program the space for special events (private or public) Should the City Council support staff's recommendation to establish Lupine Plaza as a permanent outdoor gathering space, staff will seek professional services for design concepts. Staff is also proposing to work with the EPMA as well. Depending on the ultimate design staff estimates that the permanent improvements could cost between $100,000 and $500,000. Total cost will be identified once a final design is settled. Fiscal Analvsis There is no identified budget for professional services for design concepts. The costs depend on many variables, including the street size, street layout, materials, and overall design. Depending on the direction from the City Council, a corresponding budget appropriation will be needed from either the unobligated Economic Development Reserve Fund or unobligated General Fund reserves. LEGAL REVIEW N/A DEPT. REVIEW e�uc G�eJa Robert W. Hargreaves Eric Ceja, Deputy Director of City Attorney Development Services L. Todd Hileman, City Manager: L. TOdd HiI.Ew�.Giv� FINANCIAL REVIEW ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER ac�.,,r�?'�i. N7ooxe Janet Moore Director of Finance t,l ll'Y COTJNCILhCTION APPROVEP� ✓ DF,NTTi1 RECE[VE1� OTHF,F f�O�h�DYI , � �K MEETINGDA b5-I?) -'-� C_�,=�-I AYES:����K.,�c�N1't��,N�.stce�rfP.,Giii+1+c2i�iIIC��f k_ell�_ NOCS• ��' - ABSEN'P: ..1��L�� ABSTAIN• N1�nP _ VCRIFIED BY• mriS Original on Fila with City Clcrk's Oftice �lnd� firestine Andy Firestine Assistant City Manaqer *Direct staff to seek professional services for design concepts to convert Lupine Lane into a permanent outdoor public gathering space.