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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Citizens' Sustainability Committee 01/28/2019l . � F CITY OF PALM DESERT CITIZENS' SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MINUTES MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2019 — 3:00 P.M. ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE ROOM 73-510 FRED WARING DRIVE, PALM DESERT, CA 92260 I. CALL TO ORDER Vice -Chair Gritters called the meeting to order at 3:33 p.m. Due to a lack of a quorum at 3:00 p.m., the meeting began with New Business, Item B, which did not require an action from the Committee. After the presentation, Vice - Chair Gritters called the meeting to order as noted above. II. ROLL CALL Present: Member Tommy Edwards Member Dennis Guinaw Member David O'Donnell arrived at 3:09 Vice -Chair Gregory Gritters Also Present: Absent: Member Jim Schmid Member Ralph Raya Chair Dean Gatons Councilmember Gina Nestande Lauri Aylaian, City Manager Ryan Stendell, Director of Community Development Tom Garcia, Director of Public Works Eric Ceja, Principal Planner Heather Horning, Senior Management Analyst Amy Lawrence, Management Analyst Christopher Gerry, Management Analyst Monica O'Reilly, Management Specialist II III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS MR. KIM FLOYD, Palm Desert, California, thanked the Committee for their efforts concerning sustainability. He suggested the Committee look into the issue concerning plastic. Secondly, he mentioned that Councilmember Jan Harnik recommended the City's Youth Committee work with the Citizens' Sustainability Committee on selected sustainability issues. MINUTES CITIZENS' SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE JANUARY 28, 2019 IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Citizens' Sustainability Committee meeting of October 15, 2018. Rec: Approve as presented. Management Specialist Monica O'Reilly noted two minor changes to the minutes. Upon a motion by Member Edwards, second by Member O'Donnell, and a 4-0 vote of the Citizens' Sustainability Committee, the Consent Calendar was approved as amended (AYES: Edwards, Gritters, Guinaw, and O'Donnell; NOES: None; ABSENT: Gatons, Raya, and Schmid). V. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None VI. NEW BUSINESS A. PRESENTATION on Saving the Salton Sea by Phil Rosentrater, Salton Sea Authority. With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, Mr. Phil Rosentrater presented information on revitalizing the Salton Sea. He gave the Committee a copy of the 2017 Revitalized Salton Sea Analysis of Potential Economic Benefits booklet and offered to answer any questions. Councilmember Gina Nestande inquired if there is a call for an action plan from the City of Palm Desert. Mr. Rosentrater responded that the current call for an action plan is for other entities risk if they do nothing or there is an opportunity for entities to work together. Therefore, entities need to endorse a memorandum of understanding (MOU), a cooperative land - use planning document between the counties. The MOU would need to go before the Palm Desert City Council for approval in support of the document. He mentioned that all the cities in the Imperial Valley and most cities in the Coachella Valley have signed on for cooperative planning at the Salton Sea. He expressed that together they could go to Washington D.C. and Sacramento and be heard. Vice -Chair Gritters commented that $280 million is needed and asked how much money they have now. Mr. Rosentrater informed the Committee that they are asking for $400 million and they have $280.5 million from the State of California. Member Tommy Edwards inquired if City staff could work with Mr. Rosentrater to put something together for the Committee. 2 G:\PlanningWonica OReilly\Sustamability Committee\2019\Minutes\1-28-19 min.docx MINUTES CITIZENS' SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE JANUARY 28, 2019 Management Analyst Amy Lawrence responded that staff is working with Mr. Rosentrater. Management Analyst Christopher Gerry added that if the Citizens' Sustainability Committee was interested in supporting the revitalization of the Salton Sea with the Salton Sea Authority, staff could prepare a resolution and present it to the City Council. He said staff would seek the Committee's recommendation for the resolution. Vice -Chair Gritters asked who the signatories to the MOU are. Mr. Rosentrater replied Imperial County and Riverside County. Member Edwards moved to, by Minute Motion, recommend that City staff prepare a resolution for the City Council to endorse an MOU to improve the Salton Sea. The motion was seconded by Member Guinaw and carried by a 4-0 vote (AYES: Edwards, Gritters, Guinaw, and O'Donnell; NOES: None; ABSENT: Gatons, Raya, and Schmid). B. PRESENTATION on the San Pablo Corridor Improvements by Principal Planner Eric Ceja. Principal Planner Eric Ceja presented the proposed San Pablo Avenue improvements. The updated General Plan identified San Pablo Avenue as a key area to change into a downtown/city center. Staff noted that construction of Phase 1 would take approximately one year. The approximate cost for the first phase is $7 million; to be determined by the bids received. C. PRESENTATION on a Shared Motorized Scooter Program by Management Analyst Christopher Gerry. Management Analyst Christopher Gerry provided a presentation about shared motorized scooters. He mentioned that a scooter provider dropped off 100 to 200 scooters in another Coachella Valley city without prior knowledge. Based on that event, the Palm Desert City Council issued an urgency ordinance to prohibit mobility sharing devices (electric bikes and scooters) at their December 13 Council meeting. At that meeting, the Council directed staff to provide additional information on best practices and include language within the ordinance that could allow a pilot program if the City Council chose to issue a program. On January 24, the Council reviewed the additional information, and they did not have any interest in having a pilot program at this time. Vice -Chair Gritters inquired if an operator has presented a proposal to the City. Mr. Gerry responded that he requested proposals and received five proposals. Councilmember Nestande commented that the City Council voted to receive and file the information. She believed that the City does not have the proper infrastructure to handle scooters at this time. However, she felt there could be a great pilot program once the CV Link is completed in Palm Desert. She voiced her concern in which the 3 GAPlanning\Monica OReilly\Sustatnability Oommatee\2019\Minutes\1-28-19 min.docx MINUTES CITIZENS' SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE JANUARY 28, 2019 scooters could be left anywhere. She preferred a company that would provide a docking station and bike lanes need improvement. The Committee agreed with the City Council's decision. Some of the members made the following comments: 1) transportation should accommodate disabled persons; 2) the City Council should continue considering shared mobility; and 3) bike lanes need to be improved. Member Dennis Guinaw commended Mr. Gerry for the work done on this matter. VII. CONTINUED BUSINESS None VIII. OLD BUSINESS None IX. REPORTS AND REMARKS Member Guinaw suggested the Committee continue to look into issues with plastics and polystyrene. Ms. Lawrence remarked that Councilmember Jan Harnik requested that the Sustainability Committee look into plastic recycling and awareness. She stated that staff would bring more information to the April meeting. Vice -Chair Gritters commented that he would also like to discuss the City's Sustainability Plan at the next meeting. He noted that the plan was issued in August 2015. He suggested discussion on any updated recommendations compared to what was done in 2015. The City of Berkley recently approved a comprehensive sustainable ordinance on plastics and other recyclables. It was suggested a copy of the ordinance is brought to the next meeting. Mr. Mike Veto, Burrtec Waste & Recycling, introduced himself and mentioned he would me back for the meeting in April to talk about what they are currently doing with education outreach and recycling. X. ADJOURNMENT With Committee concurrence, Vice -Chair Gritters adjourned the meeting at 4:30 p.m. Monica O'Reilly, Recording cretary 4 GAPlanningWonica ORedly\Sustainability Commit1ee\2019\Minutes\1-28-19 min.docx