HomeMy WebLinkAboutAIPP Cmsn - 07-08-2015CITY OF PALM DESERT
ART IN PUBLIC PLACES COMMISSION
MINUTES
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Boren convened the meeting at 9:00 a.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Present
Maureen Boren
Norma Bussing
Donna Jean Darby
Katherine Hough
Lesley Miller
Megan Miller
Also Present
Absent
Maureen Thompson
Deborah Schwartz Glickman, Management Analyst
Debbie Thompson, Recording Secretary
Susan Marie Weber, Councilmember Liaison
Lauri Aylaian, Director of Community Development
Tony Bagato, Principle Planner
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
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Art in Public Places Minutes July 8, 2015
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR
Minutes of the regular meeting held on June 17, 2015.
Commissioner Hough moved to approve the Minutes of June
17, 2015. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Darby and carried
6-0 vote with Boren, Bussing, Darby, Hough, Lesley Miller, and
Megan Miller voting AYE, and Maureen Thompson ABSENT.
V. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. ORAL REVIEW OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION — Mayor
Susan Marie Weber
No report.
B. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT — Ken Stendell
Mr. Tony Bagato, Principle Planner, reported that at its June
16, 2015 meeting, the Planning Commission took action on
the following two items.
An applicant applied for a Conditional Use Permit for a
potential sober living facility on San Pablo Avenue and San
Gorgonio. Staff recommended denial of the project because
of the land use issue which would create a dead zone. The
City would prefer more office space in that area. The
Planning Commission denied the project, and the applicant
did not appeal it to City Council.
The hotel on Larkspur and El Paseo was approved and
should break ground soon.
C. ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION (ARC) REPORT
— John Vuksic
Mr. Vuksic reported that Angel View Thrift Store on San
Pablo and Highway 111 will be getting new awnings.
The design of Palm Desert Memory Care, including 31
rooms (double capacity) located on Larrea and San Luis
Rey, was preliminarily approved.
The construction plans for Legend Gardens on Catalina for
12 memory care beds and 15 assistant living units, were
preliminarily approved.
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Art in Public Places Minutes July 8, 2015
Two buildings in University Village were approved. The
buildings will be comprised of 35,000 square feet of office
space, but designed as such that can be converted into
retail.
D. GENERAL PLAN UPDATE — Lauri Aylaian
Ms. Aylaian presented, to the Commission members, the
General Plan that the City has been working on for the last
one and one half years. Ms. Aylaian stated that the state of
California requires that every city have a general plan that
must include seven mandatory elements. The mandatory
elements are safety, conservation, land use, circulation
(transportation), open space, housing, and noise. In
addition, the City can add its own elements according to
what is important to the community. Approximately two and
one half years ago the City developed a Strategic Plan as a
precursor to the General Plan. The feedback that was
derived from the Strategic Plan provided input for the
General Plan. Ms. Aylaian gave a power point presentation
of the General Plan. She included a map of the
unincorporated areas surrounding Palm Desert in which the
City may take interest in the future. Approximately 120
community members and staff participated in creating the
Strategic Plan and were appointed to subcommittees in the
areas of education, land use, housing, sustainability, and
arts among others. The information from the subcommittees
aided in the General Plan discussion of creating a city
center, the opportunities for the university and surrounding
area, maintaining the importance of the City's
competitiveness, and focusing attention on walking/bicycling
and less use of a vehicle. There was much discussion
regarding San Pablo Avenue as it will become a very
important connection for the community. Also, there are
many buildings on Highway 111 that are old and need to be
revamped, but the owners are not going to be in favor of
spending money to update their property. However, there
may be an opportunity for the City to offer a financial
incentive to the building owners to enhance the buildings.
Parking lots/structures and frontage roads will also be
focused on. Ms. Aylaian showed an image of San Pablo
with an overlay of the street having two lanes, wide
sidewalks, and a large median. Ms. Aylaian showed another
example of San Pablo with an overlay of a restaurant with
dining in the median of the street, similar to Tyler's
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Art in Public Places Minutes July 8, 2015
Restaurant in Palm Springs where the restaurant and
outside dining sits in the middle of the La Plaza parking lot.
There is potential to create an artists' colony in which the
space on the ground level of the building is used as gallery
workspace and the residential use is on the upper level. The
General Plan is scheduled to be completed in April.
VI. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER
None
VII. NEW BUSINESS
NONE
VIII. CONTINUED BUSINESS
NONE
IX. OLD BUSINESS
A. APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR MINUTES OF MAY 13,
2015.
Commissioner Bussing moved to approve the Minutes
of May 13, 2015. Motion was seconded by Commissioner
Miller and carried 6-4-2 with Boren, Bussing, Darby, and Lesley
Miller voting AYE, Hough and Megan Miller abstaining, and
Thompson ABSENT.
X. PROJECT STATUS REPORTS
A. Palm Desert Community Gallery
Ms. Glickman reported that the new exhibition, Observations
with artists Veronique Branger and Alejandro Olmo, has
been well received. The opening reception was Monday,
June 22, and was well attended.
Ms. Glickman announced that there will be a closing
reception for the next gallery exhibition instead of an
opening.
B. Carlos Ortega Villas Art Project
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Art in Public Places Minutes July 8, 2015
Ms. Glickman gave an update on the Carlos Ortega Villas
artwork. Showcase Mosaics is currently working on the
mural for the public art component of the Carlos Ortega
Villas project. Ms. Glickman is working with the construction
timeline to determine the exact dates for when the mural can
be installed and anticipates it to be installed by the end of
the year.
C. First Weekend
Ms. Glickman reported that two First Weekend events will be
on the July 9, 2015 City Council agenda. The promotion of
First Weekend will be pumped up once season starts. A
signature or featured event will be held each month working
in partnership with community organizations. Westfield is
planning a kickoff event called Street that will include
musicians, artists, and more that will take place on the third
level of one of Westfield's parking structures. A second
event, planned for February, will take place on El Paseo,
potentially partnering with Modernism Week. This event
would include a band, a stage set up for dance groups,
dance lessons, and a professional dance contest. There
would also be a beer garden, food, classic car show, fashion
show, and more.
XI. REPORTS AND REMARKS
A. STAFF
Ms. Glickman reported that another all Valley public art
forum meeting will be held on July 13. She is still seeking
additional committee members from more cities.
Ms. Glickman reminded the Commissioners that the Art in
Public Places Commission is dark in August. She added
that the Art in Public Places Commission meetings are
always held on the second Wednesday of the month unless
noted otherwise by staff.
B. COMMISSION REPORTS
Commissioner Hough announced that the Palm Springs Art
Museum in Palm Desert will exhibit Still Life: Capturing the
Moment beginning in August.
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A new director of education started at the Museum last
week.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Darby moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:20 a.m.
Motion was seconded by Commissioner Hough.
Respectfully submitted,
DEBBIE L. THOMPSON, RECORDING SECRETARY
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