HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-01-17 EPPBID Regular Meeting MinutesCITY OF PALM DESERT
EL PASEO PARKING & BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BOARD
MINUTES
THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2019 — 8:00 A.M.
ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE ROOM
73-510 FRED WARING DRIVE, PALM DESERT, CA 92260
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Klein called the meeting to order at 8:03 am.
II. ROLL CALL
Present:
Christine Stein
David Fletcher
Elyssa Goldberg
City of Palm Desert Staff Present:
Thomas Soule, Tourism and Marketing Manager
Deborah Schwartz Glickman, Business Advocate
Heather Chernicki, Recording Secretary
Christopher Gerry, City Manager's Office
Kevin Swartz, Planning Department
Also Present:
Councilmember Jan Harnik, City of Palm Desert
Jim Doyle, Palm Spring Life
Paulina Larson, Palm Springs Life
Amy Smith, Chartwell Properties
Jaclyn Scarlett, FG Creative
Stephanie Greene, FG Creative
Marsha Vinelette, PD Partners
Lindsay Dean, The Leaf
Paul Cotterell, The Leaf
Glenn Johnson, Thomas Johnson
Jim Tate, Tate Auctions
Jerry Martin, El Paseo Cruise Night
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Patrick Klein
Sonia Campbell
Susan Stauber
III. CONSENT ITEMS
A. Minutes of the El Paseo Parking & Business Improvement
District Meeting of November 15, 2018.
Rec: Approved
Mr. Klein asked for a motion to approve the minutes from the November 15, 2018
board meeting. A motion was made by Fletcher and seconded by Campbell to accept
and approve. Motion passed with a 6-0-0 vote; with Stein, Fletcher, Goldberg, Klein,
Campbell and Stauber voting in favor. None abstained. None absent.
B. Approval of the Financial Statements ending November 30 and December
31, 2018.
Rec: Approved
Thomas Soule commented on the $9,500 discrepancy due to Palm Springs Life
licensing fee for image use. This will be accounted for in the midyear adjustment. Mr.
Klein asked for a motion to approve the financial statements ending November 30 and
December 31, 2018. A motion was made by Fletcher and seconded by Campbell to
accept and approve. Motion passed with a 6-0-0 vote; with Stein, Fletcher, Goldberg,
Klein, Campbell and Stauber voting in favor. None abstained. None absent.
IV. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER
None
V. GUEST PRESENTATION
A. El Paseo Cruise Night. Presented by Jerry Martin, El Paseo Cruise Night
and Jim Tate, Tate Auctions.
Mr. Martin introduced his new partner in this year's Cruse Night, Jim Tate
of Tate Auctions. Friday February 8th is the Dr. George Charity Cruse on
El Paseo; last year over 300 cars participated in this portion of events. Last
year's events generated donations of $77K to Desert Cancer Foundation.
New to this year's event is the very first car auction. El Paseo Cruise Night
Auction is on February 6th 10am to 5pm at the Gardens upper level. They
are expecting to auction off 100 cars this year in conjunction with the event.
Sample auction ensued as presented by Jim Tate.
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B. Palm Springs Life. Presented by Jim Doyle and Paulina Larson, Palm
Springs Life.
Print Catalogue and Directory Reports — Mr. Doyle informed the board that
the Palm Spring Life catalog has been issued, the companion racks have
been rebrand and the website relaunch with new imagery resulting in a
uptick in public engagement. Mr. Doyle reviewed catalog and website
engagement reports with the Board. Mr. Doyle also stated that they were
very pleased to say that the Film Festival issue was widely distributed at a
high volume during the event.
Partnership Update — Ms. Larson presented the online impressions and
engagement traffic reports to the Board; 145K Impressions, 306 clicks and
0.21 % CTR overall as of the date and time of the meeting. A CTR of 0.21
is above the national average. She informed the Board of the individual
engagement reports available to each business that is participating in the
partnership and showed examples of how these individual reports could
be used to adapt campaigns and adjust engagement results accordingly
with the metrics trajectory. Ms. Larson stated there would be monthly
reports given to the Board ongoing. Ms. Larson explored the specifics of
geofencing with the Board as related to the District. Mr. Fletcher called for
a comparison of this new campaign to last year's campaign with Desert
Sun. It was put forth that these two campaigns were very different so a
comparison would not yield practicable data. Discussion ensued.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
None
VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. Election of Board Officers. Presented by Thomas Soule, City of Palm
Desert, Tourism and Marketing Manager.
Mr. Soule informed the Board that it was once again time for the annual
election of the Board Officers. A motion was put forth by the Board to
reelect Patrick Klein as Chairman and Christine Stein as Vice Chair. A
motion was made by Campbell and seconded by Stauber to accept and
approve. Motion passed with a 6-0-0 vote; with Stein, Fletcher, Goldberg,
Klein, Campbell and Stauber voting in favor. None abstained. None
absent.
Discussion regarding Paul Hietter's departure from Saks 5th Avenue, and
his resultant disqualification to serve on the EPPBID Board.
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B. FG Creative, Marketing Update. Presented by Stephanie Greene, FG
Creative.
November and December Marketing & Instagram Reports — Ms. Greene
presented the marketing and Instagram report that had been sent out to
the members prior to this meeting. Ms. Greene opened discussion for any
questions from the Board. No questions were forthcoming.
January Status Update — Ms. Greene presented the January status
update that had been sent out to the members prior to this meeting. She
also reminded the Board that social media consultant Dawn McCoy is
coming to Palm Desert in February, dates to be determined. Dawn McCoy
was hoping to do a second social media seminar open to all of the shops
on El Paseo and the general public in the City Council Chambers.
Discussion ensued regarding the particulars of the proposed event. Ms.
Greene verified Board interest is still strong on having the event. Swing-
N-Hops street closure and logistics discussed. Ms. Greene presented
possible new material for second planned production of Courtesy Cart car
spots on street.
Concierge Treasure Hunt Recap — Ms. Greene presented the results from
the event. They have been receiving hand written thank you notes from
the 27 Concierge that attended. Ms. Greene Stated that this year's event
was scattered, circulation patterns of the participants were changed as
the Board had planned and the event was well received by all partakers.
Red Jeep Tours was a great partner to the success of the event.
Discussion ensured on how to promote, expand and improve next year's
event and outreach.
Holiday Event Recap — Ms. Greene expanded on how the various holiday
events along the District were received. She stated that Christmas Walk
event led to confusion among the public. Many potential participants were
confused as to the location of the event; showing up at The Gardens
instead of The Shops. Discussion ensued on how clarification could take
place next year.
C. El Paseo Overlay. Presented by Kevin Swartz, City of Palm Desert,
Planning Department.
Mr. Swartz opened discussion to look for direction and field various
questions from the Board regarding the Gibbs Study informed and City
Council recommended introduction of business office tenants in ground
floor retail space thus creating an altered use for empty retail space along
the District. Two City codes currently govern this use: code 111, adopted
in 2017, which prohibits office space use in the El Paseo Business and
Parking Improvement District on the ground floor and El Paseo overlay
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which contradicts code 111 in one particular by stating that if the building
was built before 1987 then office use is acceptable. After presenting the
facts, Mr. Swartz opened the table for Board member discussion.
Discussion ensued.
Mr. Klein asked for a motion to recommend to City Council the approval
of a revision to code to allow use of ground floor space on El Paseo for
select business offices who have to go through City permitting to qualify,
clarifying the stipulations that such companies type of business would
complement the district as a whole, would not be allowed to exceed 20%
of the occupation of the street, would not be allowed in corner units or
next to another select business office and would not be concentrated on
either end or any part of the district. A motion was made by Klein and
seconded by Stein to accept and approve. Motion passed with a 6-0-0
vote; with Stein, Fletcher, Goldberg, Klein, Campbell and Stauber voting
in favor. None abstained. None absent.
D. El Paseo Balloon Ordinance. Presented by Christine Stein, Leeds and
Son.
Discussion was opened as to the particulars of the currently expired, but
still enforced, El Paseo Balloon Ordinance. Mr. Swartz asked for Board
recommendation of either ratification or alteration of the expired ordinance.
Discussion ensued among members of the Board as to what pieces of the
currently expired ordinance did not work for the District as a whole.
Mr. Klein asked for a motion to recommend to City Council the ratification
of the previously expired ordinance without the clause regarding the need
to get a permit to display balloons or the clause regarding the time limit for
their display. A motion was made by Stein and seconded by Campbell to
accept and approve. Motion passed with a 6-0-0 vote; with Stein, Fletcher,
Goldberg, Klein, Campbell and Stauber voting in favor. None abstained.
None absent.
E. AC3 EPPBID Honorary Membership. Presented by Thomas Soule, City of
Palm Desert, Tourism and Marketing Manager.
Mr. Soule presented the Memorandum of Understanding as drafted by the
City Attorney for the induction of AC3 as honorary, fee paying, but not
voting, members of the EPPBID for the promotion and inclusion of AC3 in
the District. This will present a non -binding precedent in future
circumstances meaning the Board will have vote to introduce any new
members in this same manor. Mr. Soule also stated that the Board will
have total right to terminate AC3's honorary membership at any time it
chooses. Clarification was put forth by Mr. Soule that the honorary
membership was being extended to AC3 and was not tied to the retail
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space that they currently occupy and therefore could not change hands
with the replacement of AC3.
Mr. Klein asked for a motion to accept AC3 as an honorary member of the
EPPBID, pending the payment of membership fees, under the
Memorandum of Understanding as presented to the Board. A motion was
made by Stein and seconded by Campbell to accept and approve. Motion
passed with a 6-0-0 vote; with Stein, Fletcher, Goldberg, Klein, Campbell
and Stauber voting in favor. None abstained. None absent.
F Palm Desert Scooter Trial Period. Presented by Christopher Gerry, City of
Palm Desert, Office of the City Manager.
Mr. Gerry presented detailed information regarding the introduction of
motorized scooters in Palm Desert and expanded on the potentials of
impact and inclusion of the El Paseo shopping district in the City wide
scooter trials to come. Discussion ensued among the Board members
regarding the pros and cons of allowing motorized scooters in the District.
Mr. Gerry asked for a motion to recommend to Council that the EPPBID
would like to participate in the motorized scooter trial and include the
District in the use of motorized scooter. A motion was made by Klein and
seconded by Stein to decline EPPBID participation in the trial and
disallow motorized scooters in the District. Motion to allow motorized
scooters in the District denied with a 0-6-0 vote; with Stein, Fletcher,
Goldberg, Klein, Campbell and Stauber voting against. None abstained.
None absent.
VIII. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
A. The Leaf — Introduction to the Board by General Manager Paul Cotterell
and Assistant Store Manager Lindsay Dean. General presentation that
The Leaf is very interested in being an active, progressive and respectful
new participant in the District. The Leaf was welcomed to the District by
the Board.
IX. REMARKS
A. City of Palm Desert.
Deborah Schwartz Glickman, Business Advocate — If any members on
the Board hear of new business please send them her way.
Kevin Swartz, Planning Department — Fielded Board member question
regarding 3 new midblock crossings, timeline etc. New designs will be
presented next week to City Manager. Jan Harnik mentioned a new table
type speed bump crossing that would comply with ADA guidelines and
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possibly meet funding requirements. The re -striping of crosswalks should
happen next month and signal change outs have already been done.
B. Board Members
None.
X. NEXT MEETING: Confirm February 21, 2019
Board Members confirmed that the next meeting will be held on February 21,
2019, 8:00 am at City Hall.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
With board member concurrence, the meeting was adjourned at 10:10 am.
Heather Chernicki, Recording Secretary
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