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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-05-06MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL SITTING AS MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY PLANNING COMMITTEE (CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SAN BERNARDINO, PALM DESERT CAMPUS) (UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE, PALM DESERT CAMPUS) Friday, May 6, 2005 — 10:00 a.m. UCR Heckmann Center - Palm Desert I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Tschopp convened the meeting at 10:05 a.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Councilmember Jean M. Benson Mayor Pro Tem Jim Ferguson Councilman Richard S. Kelly Councilman Robert A. Spiegel Mayor Buford A. Crites David DeMauro, Vice President for Administration & Finance, CSUSB Pamela Langford, Director, Alumni Affairs, CSUSB Al Mariam, Interim Executive Assistant to the President, CSUSB Jenny Zom, Associate Provost, Academic Programs, CSUSB Fred Jandt, Dean, Palm Desert Campus, CSUSB C. Michael Webster, Vice Chancellor, Administration, UCR Terry Green, Director of Extemal Relations, UCR David Tschopp, Committee Chairman Also Present: Hamid Azhand, Director, Capital Planning, Design and Construction, CSUSB Ken Walters, Executive Director, Palm Desert Campus, UCR Jim Baker, Desert Programs, UCR Justin McCarthy, Assistant City Manager for Redevelopment Philip Drell, Director of Community Development David Yrigoyen, Director of Redevelopment & Housing Lauri Aylaian, Redevelopment Manager Steve Renew, Director of Maintenance & Operations, College of the Desert Rachelle D. Klassen, City Clerk III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL SITTING AS MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY PLANNING COMMITTEE IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. MINUTES of the Meeting of December 3, 2004. MAY 6, 2005 Upon a motion by Councilman Spiegel, second by Councilmember Benson, and unanimous vote of the Committee, the Minutes were approved as presented. V. NEW BUSINESS A. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. RIVERSIDE • Project Update — Heckmann Center Vice Chancellor Webster said UCR was proud to be hosting today's meeting in its Palm Desert facility and noted that Director Erik Rolland had put together an exceptional MBA program here. He went on to say that they were on the last 1 % of the "to-do" list and anticipate certification of the program next week. With regard to housing, Vice Chancellor Webster said the current plans do not include on -site housing. UCR does not provide housing to its graduate students but provides referrals by working with local property owners/representatives and with the hotels across the street; a certain level of security and other requirements are necessary to make the referral list. It is hoped that the list will be complete by mid -summer. He added that they also anticipate obtaining some housing in a future joint venture with CSU. Executive Director Ken Walters commented that he had been working closely with Director Rolland on the MBA program as well as the future MFA program, which will be the second for the campus. He said that professors from the Anderson School in Riverside are relocating to the Coachella Valley, and they have also recruited about 70 executives for the program, many of whom are either permanent or part-time Valley residents. Additionally, they have been recruiting for key staff positions, and it was typical to receive 100 applications from all over the United States for one position. Many staff members will also be relocating here. In closing, he noted that their web pages are now up and running: palmdesert.ucr.edu and heckmann.ucr.edu. Director Green reported that they'd been busy with research activities and pursuit of grants to work on projects, such as monitoring the GIS system for the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan, working with CVAG (Coachella Valley Association of Govemments), Congresswoman Mary Bono's and Senator Dianne Feinstein's Offices on issues of water and air quality, demographics and social issues to develop new models to help plan for growth. Research activities were expected to further spin off from Palm Desert. 2 MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL SITTING AS MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY PLANNING COMMITTEE B. CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY. SAN BERNARDINO MAY 6, 2005 • IWCEE Update Dean Jandt reported that the Indian Wells Center for Educational Excellence (IWCEE) was 99.9% complete and had held its first classes; the Annenberg Wing was dedicated in February, and the Indian Wells Theater was also operational now. Further, he said statues from the Palm Springs Desert Museum had been placed in the area between the buildings and in the Statue Garden. • Phase III Update Dean Jandt said that Vice President DeMauro, Dick Oliphant, Betty Barker, and he had already raised a considerable sum of money, which allowed CSU to hire the project architect for Phase III. He explained CSU's prescribed program for contracting with the System's approved architects, totaling 80, which were pared down to 10 firms that had worked in Allied Health projects. Five of those were interviewed, and HMC of Rancho Cucamonga, California, was selected. He reported on the firm's extensive history and reputation, noting that they had been particularly focused on educational facilities for 50 years and that they were also an approved firm with the UC System. Further, he reported that they were also doing the $8-million, 17,000-square-foot Nursing and Allied Health Facility for College of the Desert, with the same team assigned to the CSU project. The CSU facility will total about 23,000 square feet, 15,000 of them assignable with the following: a 60- and a 30-student classroom, 10 faculty offices, a science -biology lab with 24 stations and a science lab for chemistry, a nursing simulation lab with patient beds, and a nursing -health classroom with examination tables that will be very realistic and provide an experience similar to intemship. There will also be a Nursing Skills Lab Consultation Center complete with computer stations. He said they were working closely with the design team to incorporate every possible minute detail into the program. He went on to provide the following schedule for Phase III: — Presentation of Schematic to Chancellor's Office — September 2005 — Presentation to Board of Trustees — November 2005 — Final Plans — May 2006 — Begin Construction — October 2006 — Project Completion — February 2008 Cost for the project estimated at $11.2 million, and the continued escalation of prices is of concern. It was pointed out that the Mary Stuart Rogers Gateway Building and the IWCEE were 28,000 square feet; the Allied Health Building (Phase III) was smaller but more complex. Site of the new project will be south of the existing buildings, and designers will be conscious of the overall site relationship and access issues. Other design considerations will be shaded areas, outside spaces, climate control, natural light, geometric compatibility, and landscaping — joining new area with the existing, generous use of natural materials, and will continue working with City's Art In Public Places. Schematic design to be presented to the University Planning Committee at a later date. 3 MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL SITTING AS MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY PLANNING COMMITTEE MAY 6, 2005 Ms. Zom commented that the equipment for the new building will be significantly more sophisticated than what has been needed in the other facilities and will result in a greater cost for this component, but it will be very realistic. Vice President DeMauro added that the CSU program remains the same — after the capital has been raised to complete the physical project, the State will assume its operation. • CENIC Hub Site Update Vice President DeMauro went on to report that both CSU and UC are now connected to high-speed Internet 2, networked directly to Stanford, the other UCs and CSUs, most of the Community Colleges, and to USC. — CENIC (Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California) a non-profit organization established strictly for educational purposes — academic and administrative. Has the capability of 18,587 MB, enabling transmission of large files almost instantly and is highly secure. Will greatly benefit Distance Leaming Program, enables faculty to connect to one another and enables the virtual library, which can be inter -shared among institutions. Cost for this installation was over $3 million, with Dean Jandt credited with instrumental efforts to obtain capability for these campuses. C. CSUSB/UCR COOPERATIVE PROJECTS • View Corridor Landscape Plan Mr. Azhand presented the latest version of the View Corridor project by RGA Landscape Architects. It had been presented to the City's Landscape Committee last week and received a favorable response, with further discussion occurring on ways to expand the project and its phasing. It was felt that the comer should be a plaza related to the City; other areas can be related to the two campuses. The comer will have some hardscape and meandering sidewalk, noting that working with the slope of the property (45 to 50 feet) was challenging -- to meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements and for overall comfort, meandering walkway is necessary, and some other walkways of decomposed granite will also be incorporated, entirety of project to be xeriscaped. Contemplative areas for studying will be included. Amphitheater will include features for both casual and formal activities. Retention area near UCR side will also be incorporated into the landscaping. The urban plaza will include a substantial sculpture, and there will also be another smaller plaza at Berger Circle. He went on to share comments from the City's Landscape Beautification Committee as follows: — Trees at comer should be placed for optimum enhancement of the view (design will be adjusted accordingly). — Concern for overplanting of site, including cost considerations (reworking design). — Meandering hardscape should be manageable —no more than 7 or 8 feet wide. — Ensure connection between the campuses. Mr. Azhand said with work now beginning on Phase III of the campus buildings, they will be able to design the connection between the three. An educational theme is proposed for Phases II and III of the View Corridor and will incorporate local plants. In response to question about leaving an allowance in the design for signage, he said that had been taken into account. In answer to further comment/question about the types 4 MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL SITTING AS MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY PLANNING COMMITTEE MAY 6, 2005 of quiet areas that were being designed, he stated that the areas would have shade with some seating, some close to the sidewalk, others farther back from it for a quieter setting. Current cost for all three phases is estimated between $600,000 and $700,000, and it was noted that a normal landscaping budget was around $3.00 per square foot. Committee Members advised that it would be appropriate for CSU staff to review the costs again. A potential naming opportunity exists for contributor(s) to the View Corridor project. Mr. Azhand pointed out that RGA Landscape Architects was also working with UCR to ensure compatibility of landscape design between the two institutions. Mayor Crites asked that the Committee be able to look at the revised final View Corridor design and also be able to review UCR's landscape plan to help ensure compatibility between the two. He also asked for a topographic view of the plans with the proposed revisions. Further Committee discussion included how best to coordinate furtherance and completion of the View Corridor project between the two institutions and also about the completion of the connections to Berger Circle. It was noted that there was currently no funding for the final portion of Berger Circle at the traffic light, with UCR only able to connect to the parking lot; some estimates have been done on the amount needed to complete but still uncertain. Committee Members suggested approaching the Berger Foundation for such funding. It was also noted that the two Universities are currently working with Caltrans for identification signage. Upon a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Ferguson, second by Councilman Kelly, and unanimous vote of the Committee, agreed that Phase I of the View Corridor, (landscaping and related treatment for comer of Cook Street/Frank Sinatra Drive) be a priority project for CSU with completion of design, working cooperatively with UCR to ensure compatibility of landscaping between the sites and their endorsement of same, followed by the City's final design approval through City Council or its Landscape Beautification Committee, with an expectation that there will be such final design and/or commencement of the project by the time the Committee schedules its next meeting. Vice President DeMauro cautioned that to date, there were no funds available for this construction, as CSU was focusing attention on fundraising for its third building. Mayor Crites commented that a consideration for landscaping the site of the third building should be included as part of its overall budget. D. TOUR OF UCR HECKMANN CENTER Michael Webster Members were invited to take the tour following adjournment of the Committee Meeting. 5 MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL SITTING AS MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY PLANNING COMMITTEE VI. ADJOURNMENT MAY 6, 2005 With Committee concurrence, Chairman Tschopp adjoumed the meeting at 11:07 a.m. to the Walking Tour of the Heckmann Center, with the Committee agreeing that the next meeting should be scheduled for sometime in September or October for a presentation of the schematic drawings of CSU's Phase III. ATTEST: r/Y'\ RAELLE D. SSEN, CftY CLERK/SECRF 'ARY CITY OF PALM DESERT/ UNIVERSITY PLANNING COMMITTEE UAVID TSCHOPP, CHAIRM 6