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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-07-19 RPEC Regular Meeting Minutes CITY OF PALM DESERT RESOURCE PRESERVATION & ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES MONDAY, July 19, 2021 – 3:00 P.M. ZOOM VIRTUAL MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Dean Gatons called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Dean Gatons Vice Chair James Henderson Member Berlinda Blackburn Member Dennis Guinaw Member Vincent Heuring Member David O’Donnell Member Mel Mason Member Evan Trubee Also Present: Jan C. Harnik, Mayor Pro Tem Eric Ceja, Deputy Director of Community Development Andy Ramirez, Deputy Director of Public Works Heather Horning, Environmental Services and Support Manager Ryan Gayler, Project Manager Mariana Rios, Management Specialist I III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Staff received public comment regarding agenda Item V-A- Presentation on Leaf Blowers, which was forward to all Commissioners for review. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. MINUTES of the Citizens’ Sustainability Committee meeting of April 19, 2021. Rec: Approve as presented. Upon a motion by Member Guinaw, seconded by Member Blackburn, and a 7-0- 0-1 vote of the Citizens’ Sustainability Committee, the minutes were approved as PRELIMINARY MINUTES RESOURCE PRESERVATION & ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE JULY 19, 2021 2 presented (AYES: Blackburn, Gatons, Henderson, Heuring, Mason, O’Donnell, and Trubee; NOES: None; ABSTAINED: Mason). V. NEW BUSINESS A. PRESENTATION on leaf blowers by City of Palm Springs, Office of Sustainability Manager, Patrick Tallarico. Rec: Presentation by Patrick Tallarico at the meeting. B. PRESENTATION on leaf blowers by Committee Member Vincent Heuring. Rec: Discussion on leaf blowers. VI. CONTINUED BUSINESS None VII. OLD BUSINESS None VIII. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. Staff 1. Review of General Plan (Chapter 11 and Chapter 12) Mr. Ceja provided a brief overview of Chapter 11 and Chapter 12. 2. Historical Society – Desert Cities Baptist Church Mr. Ceja was tasked with confirming if the Desert Cities Baptist Church qualified as a historic site/historic destination, and confirmed the Desert Cities Baptist Church was not assigned as a historic destination. If someone wanted to go through the process of assigning it a historic destination, it requires the property owner’s consent. Chair Gatons asked if the City of Palm Desert maintained the parking lot that leads up to the hiking trails. Mr. Ceja advised he was not sure who was responsible for maintenance, but confirmed the City of Palm Desert paid for a public parking easement, over the church’s parking lot. 3. Update on San Pablo Mr. Ceja stated the City of Palm Desert is close to completing Phase II of the project. The street was open for a short period of time, during 4th of July weekend. The street is currently closed as other improvements are being completed. PRELIMINARY MINUTES RESOURCE PRESERVATION & ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE JULY 19, 2021 3 4. Civic Center Photovoltaic Improvements Mr. Gayler stated that there has been interest in improving the portfolio that the City of Palm Desert has on alternative energy at Civic Center. Staff is working with ForeFront Power, an energy efficiency firm that was selected through a completive process from a joint powers authority. 5. Committee Meetings a. Upcoming meeting schedule b. In-person or virtual meetings Ms. Horning wanted to confirm that Staff would reach out to CVAG about Valley wide efforts with regards to leaf blowers, and provide an update at a future committee meeting, and staff will also do research on the State ban. Chair Gatons, confirmed that was correct. Ms. Horning briefly talked about upcoming meeting schedules, and proposed the committee move to bi-monthly (every other month) meetings. The next meeting was originally scheduled for October, and is now moved to September 20, 2021. Meetings will continue to be on Monday’s at 3:00 p.m. Ms. Horning advised that before the next meeting staff will review the Brown Act and current State regulations to determine if hybrid meetings are an option. B. Committee Members Member Trubee asked for clarification on what is expected of the committee with regards to leaf blowers. Ms. Horning will provide an informational update at the next meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Harnik stated that the committee’s new name came from significant damage done to the environment, instead of sustaining the damage, we want to preserve it and enhance it, which is why the Resource Preservation & Enhancement Committee (RPEC) name was created. IX. ADJOURNMENT With Committee concurrence, Chair Gatons adjourned the meeting at 4:27 p.m. Mariana Rios, Recording Secretary