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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCultural Resrce Preservtn Cmte - 9-27-2016 WOOTT407: :4, v... CITY OF PALM DESERT 31k -A 04 BUILDING & SAFETY DEPARTMENT Atir. 0 `a. 4/./.: a INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM • 4JF N�� • i973 To: Rachelle Klassen, City Clerk From: Suzanne£Cicchini, Administrative Secretary Date: January 31, 2017 Subject: Submission of Approved Minutes for the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee Meeting held on January 31, 2017 Attached is a copy of the September 27, 2016 Minutes of the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee Meeting approved by the Committee on January 31, 2017. Please include on the next City Council agenda. Thank you Attachment G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation Committee\Meeting Items\Memo-City Clerk-Minutes 1-31-17.doc CITY OF PALM DESERT r ��� _►►� , = CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Minutes September 27, 2016 Administrative Conference Room I. CALL TO ORDER Committee Chair Pam Williams called the meeting of the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee to order at 9:02 a.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Don Graybill Kim Housken K. Gary Olesen Bob Pitchford Pamela Williams (Absent: Thomas Mortensen) Also Present: Susan Marie Weber, Council Member Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety Suzanne Cicchini, Recording Secretary III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF FEBRUARY 23, 2016 Motion was made by Committee Member Don Graybill to accept the Minutes. Committee Member K. Gary Olesen seconded the Motion. Motion carried by 5-0, all accepted with Williams, Olesen, Graybill, Housken and Pitchford voting AYE; none dissenting. V. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None VI. NEW BUSINESS None CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 VII. CONTINUED BUSINESS None VIII. OLD BUSINESS A. Updates: Progress of Potential Designations Committee Chair Pam Williams received an email from Merilee Colton of the Historical Society of Palm Desert regarding a potential designation on Pinyon Street, which was Cliff Henderson's house. The current owner is interested in the Mills Act. Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety noted that the property has to be designated historic first. If designated, then the property owner can apply for the Mills Act. Everything is online. The property owner is more than welcome to stop by our office. Recording Secretary, Suzanne Cicchini contacted the property owner, and invited her to this meeting. She was unavailable but spoke with Mr. Graybill before. She encourages him to contact her again. Committee Member Don Graybill will stop by with an application. Committee Kim Housken inquired about the status of the Palm Tree located on property by the Saini Brothers. Discussion commenced about the tree. A letter was sent on March 8th and the certified return receipt card was signed and returned on March 16th. No action was taken by the property owner to move a designation forward. Committee Member Don Graybill wanted to know what the next step would be. Mr. Grance noted that the only other option would be to drop by the location, but that might be hit or miss. There was interest expressed by Committee Member Don Graybill about a possible designation for the Desert Torah Academy on Santa Rosa Way. More research is needed. IX. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. Presentation Measure T Ryan Stendell explained Measure T. Staff is providing the presentation for informational purposes only and are not advocating for the measure in any way. The proposed tax increase would affect hotel guests and short term rentals (less than 30 days,) only and would increase Transient Occupancy Tax from 9% to 11% if the voters pass the measure. It puts the tax burden where the need is generated and is a locally controlled source of money. City Council has a strong focus on saving for the future, stability and "leaving it better than you found it." This will help replace a small portion (approximately 2 Million) of the 40 Million Dollars of Redevelopment Agency revenue that was lost when the Agency was dissolved. If it passes, it will help pay for critical infrastructure and recreational facilities. G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation Committee\Minutes 2016\2016 09 27 Minutes.docx Page 2 CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 B. Discussion: Miles Bates House—73-697 Santa Rosa Way Committee Member Kim Housken explained that this property was owned by the City of Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency. It was purchased because the location was north of the Joslyn Center, located at 73750 Catalina Way. The idea was that someday the center would need to expand. The Joslyn Center even came up with a Master Plan. Architect, John Vuksic prepared architectural plans. There was interest in saving the little Miles Bates house on the very north of that long lot. This was incorporated into the plan. Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety noted that he thought there had been a lot line adjustment. Committee Member Kim Housken mentioned that the lot line adjustment was done more recently. The Center never had the money to proceed with their plans for the property. The Redevelopment Agency was dissolved. There were other properties owned by the Redevelopment Agency and the City of Palm Desert has the ability to make a case with the State of California Department of Finance about keeping them. For instance, the idea of property on Cook Street to be used for expansion the University. The Department of Finance can sign off and agree to that. Little oddball properties like this could be kept, but the City would have to buy the property again. There was discussion about the various properties. Council Member Susan Marie Weber explained that the City can choose who buys the property, but will not get the money from the sale. Committee Member Kim Housken mentioned that the appraisal came out very high, $395,000.00, considering highest and best use with a single family home and three apartments. Walter White's daughter had an interest in the property with the idea of rehabbing it, but the price was too high. Committee Member Kim Housken recalled reading about cities conditioning the sale of certain properties such as the historic Cork and Bottle liquor store in Palm Springs. There was also a case in the City of Redlands of an orange distributor packing house. The City amended their long range property management plan and committed to adaptive reuse. Ms. Housken met with the people who represent the former Redevelopment Agency and inquired whether this Committee could make a recommendation to City Council to condition the sale of Miles Bates house so the home will not be demolished. Their view was this property was not designated historic. However, this Committee has always wanted to designate it and just because something is not designated, doesn't mean it isn't historic. Committee Member Kim Housken would like to make a recommendation to the Successor Agency, which is our City Council, so they could make a recommendation to the Oversight Board to condition this sale on the preservation of this house. They could then make the recommendation to the Department of Finance. Ms. Housken was uncertain whether this could be done in Palm Desert, but it is being done in other cities. Committee Member Kim Housken discussed a Walter White house in Palm Springs that is probably already designated on the National Register. Application preparation can cost thousands of dollars and all applications are not automatically accepted for placement on the National Register. It's a very G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation Committee\Minutes 2016\2016 09 27 Minutes.docu Page 3 CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 big deal. There are not a lot of properties Valley wide which are on the National Register. Dr. Barbara Lamprecht, M. Arch., PhD, prepared the application for the Walter White house in Palm Springs. Dr. Lamprecht was even more impressed with the Miles Bates House. Ms. Housken believes the house is historic, special, unique and needs to be saved. She requested that the Committee Members brainstorm and come up with a plan. A benefactor with a vision for the property is needed. Ms. Housken met with a contractor and architect at the Miles Bates House. While there, she noticed a limited amount of parking. Mr. Grance agreed that if the apartments were rehabbed, viable, useable parking is an issue. There is no room for it. Discussion commenced about the parking and the site. Ms. Housken commented that a person of vision with resources is needed. Committee Member Don Graybill commented on how unique the wall is. Ms. Housken wants a plan for the house and believes the City does not need another burden that they have to pay for and maintain. Perhaps someone could be found that had an interest in preserving and maintaining the house. She urged Committee Members to talk with people about the house. Council Member Susan Marie Weber mentioned that it would have been nice if they could have gone along with the senior project because the house was included in their plan. Committee Member K. Gary Olesen inquired if this house would be on the (historic homes) tour? Ms. Housken commented that it was already on the tour. When she met with Economic Development Director, Martin Alvarez he noted that the house was never designated. The house is in the City Art and Architecture book. It's historic! Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety was asked by the current interim City Manager, as all Directors were, to provide a top ten list for our new City Manager and the number one bullet item was this very subject. When our new City Manager gets on board, this is one of the things that will be discussed. We will see what options that we may present to City Council. Ms Housken appreciated that and mentioned that the one thing she failed to ask is what their time frame is. She surmised that they will wait until the new City Manager rolls in and maybe they have ideas. City Council Member Susan Marie Weber thanked Ms. Housken for all her work. Ms. Housken thanked Mr. Grance for his efforts. Committee Member Bob Pitchford commented that Architects initially didn't recognize Walter White as an Architect, because he was a designer. They probably didn't appreciate that he was probably the finest designer in the Valley. He would have to put "not an Architect" on his plans. Committee Member Kim Housken commented that may have been why he flew under the radar. Mr. Pitchford recalled the American Institute of Architects library in Los Angeles that he used when he was in school. He thought the Miles Bates House would make a great AIA library. He said the one in Los Angeles was a tiny hole in the wall and they would use it for "scrap." Scrap files are research and wonderful books that could be checked out at no charge. It was supported by AIA members. There was only one branch in Los Angeles and there weren't many architects around. Committee Member Kim Housken inquired if Council Member Susan Marie Weber knew Bert Betanga, an advisor at College of the Desert. Ms. Housken wanted to be connected with him and G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation Committee\Minutes 2016\2016 09 27 Minutes.dooc Page 4 CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 thought he would be a good person to brainstorm with about the Miles Bates house. X. ADJOURNMENT The next meeting is scheduled for October 25, 2016. The Meeting was adjourned at 10:02 a.m. Suzanne Cicchini, Recording Secretary G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation Committee\Minutes 2016\2016 09 27 Minutes.docx Page 5