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Home My WebLink About2023-05-05 CRPC Special Meeting Agenda Packet City of Palm Desert Page 1 CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA AGENDA (HYBRID MEETING) City Hall, Development Services Conference Room 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260 Pursuant to Assembly Bill 2449, this meeting will be conducted as a hybrid meeting. • To participate via Zoom, use the following link: https://palmdesert.zoom.us/j/82501489563 or call (213) 338-8477, Zoom Meeting ID: 825 0148 9563. • Written public comment may also be submitted to mlomeli@palmdesert.gov. Emails received by 8:00 a.m. prior to the meeting will be distributed to the Committee. Any correspondence received during or after the meeting will be distributed to the Committee as soon as practicable and retained for the official record. Emails will not be read aloud except as an ADA accommodation. 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. PUBLIC COMMENT: This time has been set aside for members of the public to address the Cultural Resources and Preservation Committee on items listed on the agenda for up to three (3) minutes. 4. ACTION CALENDAR A. CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE WORK PLAN PRIORITY RANKING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023/2024 5. ADJOURNMENT: The next Regular Meeting will be held on May 30, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. Friday May 5, 2023 9:00 a.m. Special Meeting CRPC Special Meeting Agenda-1 Cultural Resources Preservation Committee Agenda May 5, 2023 City of Palm Desert Page 2 AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING I hereby certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing agenda for the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee was posted on the City Hall bulletin board and City website not less than 24 hours prior to the meeting. /s/ Monique Lomeli Recording Secretary PUBLIC NOTICES Agenda Related Materials: Pursuant to Government Code §54957.5(b)(2) the designated office for inspection of records in connection with this meeting is the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert. Staff reports for all agenda items and documents provided to a majority of the legislative bodies are available for public inspection at City Hall and on the City’s website at www.palmdesert.gov. Americans with Disabilities Act: It is the intention of the City of Palm Desert to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in all respects. If, as an attendee or a participant at this meeting, or in meetings on a regular basis, you will need special assistance beyond what is normally provided, the City will attempt to accommodate you in every reasonable manner. Please contact the Office of the City Clerk, (760) 346-0611, at least 48 hours prior to the meeting to inform us of your needs and to determine if accommodation is feasible. CRPC Special Meeting Agenda-2 CITY OF PALM DESERT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Committee From: Nick Melloni, Principal Planner Date: May 5, 2023 – Special Meeting Subject: Cultural Resources Preservation Committee Work Plan Priority Ranking for Fiscal Year 2023/2024. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY At the regularly scheduled meeting of April 25, 2023, the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee (CRPC) voted to hold a Special Meeting on May 5, 2023. The purpose of the Special Meeting is to prioritize the CRPC’s goals and initiatives for the 2023/2024 fiscal year. The top five goals selected by the Committee will form the basis for a workplan that will be presented to the City Council. Each Committee member has ranked their top goals which are provided as Attachment 1 of this memorandum. Goals and themes raised by multiple committee members are listed below, with ranking and average: Rank (Avg) Priority Cost / Time / Next Steps 2.75 Establish a historic resources survey. • Cost: Estimated $60,000 • Time: 3 to 4 months • Prepare RFQ, review proposals, council award 2.8 Partner with the City of Palm Desert, or local Historical Society for 50th Anniversary events, City events, and Modernism Week. • Cost: Current budget allocation – City Sponsorship for Modernism week, additional cost for other measures • Time: Variable depending on event • Part of Budget 3.6 Recommend the City prepare a Citywide historic context statement. • Cost: • Time: 3 to 4 months • Prepare RFQ, review proposals, council award CRPC Special Meeting Agenda-3 Work Plan Priority Ranking Page 2 of 2 May 5, 2023 – Special Meeting 3.8 Update and maintain inventory of current historical landmarks and make them available on the City’s website. • Cost: Existing Resources • Time: Use of staff time to assemble approvals for each existing Landmark and prepare maps/list. 4 Continue to review Mills Act Contracts and consider requesting the City Council modify or remove the application limits established by Resolution No. 2011-1. • Cost: Staff time • Time: 2 months to prepare revised resolution and put in place • Council direction to staff to prepare updated resolution. Attachment: 1: Committee Members Work Plan Priority Ranking Sheets CRPC Special Meeting Agenda-4 Cultural Resource Preservation Committee – Work Plan Priority Ranking Attachment #1 Page 1 of 9 May 5, 2023 Committee Member Clark Ranking Priority Description Justification of Priority 1 Continue processing of applications for Certificate of Appropriateness as currently provided by Ordinance. While not many (currently none I am aware of) if such applications are submitted process according to current ordinance and application procedures unless changes approved by City Council. 2 Submit request and budget to City Council for historic resources survey which includes contextual significance levels performed by professional historian/consultant. Cultural Resources Preservation Committee to act as lead advisory group with appropriate city staff. Without a comprehensive and updated survey of existing inventory of historic buildings, objects, places, etc., the ability to judge applications which could alter or impact applications for certificates and CEQA impacts is gravely handicapped. Further actions seeking state, federal and major private funding would be similarly impaired. If GIS effort to be employed, without comprehensive survey such effort could be difficult. 3 Map or list historic resources for GIS. This should be included in any effort to conduct historic resources survey. 4 Continue Mills Act application processing and property inspections with effort to amend the seven new application annual limit. 5 Continue to explore and seek professional advice for a Certified Local Government application. 6 Update and establish a clear application and process for certificates of appropriateness. CRPC Special Meeting Agenda-5 Cultural Resource Preservation Committee – Work Plan Priority Ranking Attachment #1 Page 2 of 9 May 5, 2023 Committee Member Graybill Ranking Priority Description Justification of Priority 1 Clarify on city's present web- site: How the public can find up- to-date CRPC info. Formally found under 'Building & Safety.' 2 Partner with city on 50th events. 3 Facilitate the recognition of the very significant Desert Magazine building and Randall Henderson former apartment, adjacent to each other 4 Recognize the unique opportunity the whole valley has in the historic art of Mr. Ron Backer. 5 Recognize the unique role the Henderson family played in bringing Palm Desert from vision to reality in two generations. CRPC Special Meeting Agenda-6 Cultural Resource Preservation Committee – Work Plan Priority Ranking Attachment #1 Page 3 of 9 May 5, 2023 Vice-Chair Housken Ranking Priority Description Justification of Priority 1 Survey of cultural/historic resources in the city. The majority of our "purposes" and responsibilities require that we know what we have as far as historic buildings/sites. 2 Historic context statement. A context statement will explain how the city developed over time and allows us to evaluate/categorize properties as to their significance. Provides information to applicants and us in evaluating properties. We could look to Palm Springs context statement for an example. Is this something we could develop ourselves? Also, it sounded like we needed one to apply to be a CLG. 3 Partner with city on 50th Anniversary events. Work with the city to specifically promote our history as it pertains to businesses/buildings that were here in 1973......and much earlier. Goes directly to our purposes/responsibilities related to promoting/celebrating/educating about our historic/cultural resources. I believe staff is able to easily filter properties by 1973 and older to see the actual number buildings that are over 50 years old. Knowing that number can help guide us in finding a way to recognize them. 4 Partner with other city events.... concerts in park etc. Set up a table with historic photos of sites in the city to draw people over and have informational handouts to provide. Another form of education as mentioned previously. 5 Review and update the information about Cultural Resources on the city website. Take a hard look at the site and links on our city page. (I note it still says we are under Building and Safety) Yet another way to educate residents and visitors about the sites that have already been designated, and also provide information about Preservation and Applying for Historic Designation. CRPC Special Meeting Agenda-7 Cultural Resource Preservation Committee – Work Plan Priority Ranking Attachment #1 Page 4 of 9 May 5, 2023 Chair McCune Ranking Priority Description Justification of Priority 1 Review information on City’s CR site & update as needed Partner with the City/IT staff to review, prioritize & update information on the City of Palm Desert’s Cultural Resources page, determining what needs to be updated, possibly including but not limited to: • Update the Landmarks List • Update the 2007 Driving Tour • Update the “unofficial list” • Update the Landmarking Your Home tutorial to make it more “newbie” friendly • Consider creating a Guide to El Paseo Architecture that can be provided to people that ride the El Paseo Shuttle • Consider creating additional driving and/or walking tours of Palm Desert promoting our unique architecture and historic sites • Consider creating a user friendly Building Resources Guide for people considering restoring/rehabbing their property. If we focus on Palm Desert resources, we would be engaging local businesses. • Consider writing and publishing a “How to Do a House History” article to get folks interested in their property. Website:https://www.cityofpalmdesert.org/departments/ building-and-safety/cultural-resources The current CP page seems a little dated. Once updated, perhaps reviewing the CP page should become regularly scheduled activity (annual or bi- annual) by the committee so it stays “fresh” and relevant. 2 Research developing a Historic Districts program While PD has a historic site program, it doesn’t yet have a Historic Districts program. CR should investigate the pros/ cons of having such a program and make a recommendation about PD adopting a Historic District program. It is a vital part of a robust CR program and something we should consider and decide whether or not to do. CRPC Special Meeting Agenda-8 Cultural Resource Preservation Committee – Work Plan Priority Ranking Attachment #1 Page 5 of 9 May 5, 2023 3 Develop Existing Partnerships Review past partnerships and evaluate which ones should be deepened/developed, possibly including but not limited to: • Partner with the City on a 50th Anniversary event celebrating our architecture and other cultural resources • Celebrate buildings that 50yo+ (already built by the time the City was incorporated) • Work with Thomas Soule to add Cultural Resources content to city’s “PR” site. • Deepen partnership with HSPD & its A&D committee to celebrate Palm Desert’s architectural heritage • Explore working with Modernism Week & the City to sponsor/join/coordinate Modernism Week event(s) in Palm Desert • Explore hosting events and/or lectures with key partners Building we’ve had in the past partnerships will allow us to be more productive, successful and reach more people. 4 Miscellaneous Consider posting preservation & restoration resources on a website (HSPD, Engage PD, PD Heritage) • Consider posting “case study” articles on a website, find people who have restored/rehabbed PD properties and interview them • Consider posting house/building histories on a website • Consider creating PD version of Preservation Bingo and post on a website • Consider writing & publishing a “How to Do a House History” article to get people interested in the history of their property. Most of these items may/can be done with HSPD and/or Thomas Soule or be done next year. 5 Onboarding program for committee members Consider creating a framework (handbook) for institutional knowledge to be saved and passed on to new board members Having an onboarding process would allow members to get educated faster & be more productive. CRPC Special Meeting Agenda-9 Cultural Resource Preservation Committee – Work Plan Priority Ranking Attachment #1 Page 6 of 9 May 5, 2023 6 Explore New Partnerships Review potential new partnerships and evaluate which ones should be considered, possibly including but not limited to: • Palm Desert institutions that already put on events (HSPD takes its firetruck & a display table to events) - such as Golf Cart Parade, Art Walks, Concerts, Car Night and such. • Senior Centers/Schools/Parks to host “heritage” events. • Brainstorm on civic & neighborhood identity projects that could benefit everyone. Identify & cultivate potential partners: City of PD, Chamber of Commerce, Business Associations, “historic” developments, schools, country clubs • Consider partnering with Palm Springs’ Preservation Matters to promote Palm Desert’s architectural heritage. • Research PR sources to promote Palm Desert’s unique identity. For example, working with Steve Somali of NBC’s “Our Desert Past” to promote stories about Palm Desert. Building new partnership will allow unto be more productive and reach more people. Maybe consider doing next year, once our already existing partnerships are more solidified? 7 Request for Survey Submit a Request for Survey & Context to the city. Request drafted, researching funding. Waiting for CLG? Next year? CRPC Special Meeting Agenda-10 Cultural Resource Preservation Committee – Work Plan Priority Ranking Attachment #1 Page 7 of 9 May 5, 2023 Committee Member Mortensen Ranking Priority Description Justification of Priority 1 Update list of historical sites and places on our website Have names, addresses, and description of these sites Make so people can download this information and see these places 2 Create walking/driving tours of historic places City could sponsor these events every three months or more This would be important during Modernism Week 3 Modernism Week Work with Palm Springs and the Coachella historical committee People from all over the world come to Modernism Week. Palm Desert should be a part of this 4 Brainstorm on civic and Neighborhood identity projects such as Marrakesh country club Find places and sites that would qualify Seek out priorities before they are gone CRPC Special Meeting Agenda-11 Cultural Resource Preservation Committee – Work Plan Priority Ranking Attachment #1 Page 8 of 9 May 5, 2023 Committee Member Toltzmann Ranking Priority Description Justification of Priority 1 Pay to have a professional historical resource survey done. A professionally done survey is crucial in moving forward for the city’s preservation efforts. Having this done would give us a base mark and eliminate questions. 2 Consider publishing a “how to do a house history tour. Something easy to follow with examples, unlike what I had to work with on my property. 3 Sponsor modernism week events HSPD is doing some walking tours thru Modernism, more could happen. This builds our city’s visibility in the modernism world. 4 More mills act applications per year. With all the district designations these past years, 7 applications is not nearly enough. 5 Create walking and driving tours of PD neighborhood’s HSPD has some of these already which could be a base to work from. I led a walking tour of PD this year thru HSPD and our walkers are form all over the world and tour sold out in 2 days. There is a need. 6 Consider doing a postcard campaign to let people know where they live and work is historic/significant This could tie in with 50th anniversary. Yard signs? 7 Create a user-friendly building resource guide for people considering rehabbing their property Online and a brochure 8 Update the information on the main city of palm desert website: Have a cultural recourse page for Cultural resource preservation committee. CRPC Special Meeting Agenda-12 Cultural Resource Preservation Committee – Work Plan Priority Ranking Attachment #1 Page 9 of 9 May 5, 2023 9 Preservation of native plants on city property Example: Allowing smoke trees to germinate and thrive, instead of allowing PD contract gardeners to destroy them. Currently I have 60+ saved. I was working on this with Sabby Jonathan’s help for the past 5 years. With him gone its me against the city. 10 Consider making a very user-friendly Landmarking Your Home Tutorial. CRPC Special Meeting Agenda-13