HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-06-28MINUTES
PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1979
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
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CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Mullins called the meeting of the Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency
3 order at 9:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 28, 1979, in City Hall Council Chambers.
ROLL CALL
Present:
Member Noel J. Brush
Vice Chairman James E. McPherson
Member Alexis D. Newbrander
Member S. Roy Wilson
Chairman Edward D. Mullins
Also Present:
Martin J. Bouman, Executive Director
Les Pricer, Agency Consultant
Greg Stepanicich, Agency Counsel
:I. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. MINUTES of the Regular Meeting of the Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency
of June 14, 1979.
Rec: Approve as presented.
Member McPherson moved and Member Brush seconded to approve the Consent
alendar as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. REQUEST FROM MR. ROBERT M. ARAN, ATTORNEY AT LAW, FOR REVIEW OF
FRONTAGE ROAD CONVERSION DESIGN.
Mr. Bouman stated that the hearing was prompted by a letter of request
from Mr. Aran who represents a number of merchants in the Redevelopment
Area. After discussion with the Agency members, it was agreed to hold
this hearing, and Mr. Aran was so advised.
Mr. Les Pricer gave a detailed explanation with the use of maps of
exactly what the Conversion Project was designed to do, what streets
would be closed and why, and traffic circulation. He included in
his report a detailed summary of the adoption schedule of the Plan,
noting that numerous meetings had been held to receive input from
merchants prior to the Plan being adopted.
Mayor Mullins stated that many different entities had been involved
in the formation of this Plan including the State and County. It
was a long, involved process, and the Agency reviewed it very thoroughly.
Since Mr. Aran's letter was the initiation of the meeting, Mayor Mullins
declared the Public Hearing open and requested Mr. Aran's input.
MR. ROBERT M. ARAN, ATTORNEY AT LAW, 449 South Beverly Drive, Beverly
Hills, California 90212, addressed the Agency on behalf of his clients,
including A L W Rootbeer and Romeo's Restaurant. He stated that if
the Frontage Road Conversion Project were completed, his clients'
businesses would be jeopardized, and they might even be forced out
of business. He stated that the majority of these people had told
him that there had never been a time, even when the public hearings
were being held, that a full-scale map had ever been made available,
thus the reason for their delayed opposition.
kne 28, 1979
Page 1
IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS (Continued)
A. FRONTAGE ROAD CONVERSION DESIGN (Continued)
Mr. Aran stated that one of the things to be considered was whethe- :4
not in this instance there was a necessity before adopting the Pia"
to consider an EIR, specifically for this particular project. He
reviewed the various closing of intersections and how they would ^:.a
a negative impact on his clients. He stated that the plight of t'e
business people on both the north and south side of Highway 111 was
substantial in that the Plan would leave them with the inability :•
their customers to reach them. He said that when the Plan was
originally presented to the people, they were informed there was a
circuity of motion or method by which at least at the west end,
the traffic could come around at Alessandro and drive behind and
park in the rear. Now that particular phase of the project has bee'
deleted due to lack of funds. He asked the Agency to listen to
of the merchants present and to consider alternative plans.
The following individuals addressed the Agency in opposition to t":
Frontage Road Conversion Project and offering alternative solutions
such as lowering the speed limits to slow traffic, three-way light:.
making the frontage roads one-way without the closure of some stree::
and completing the Alessandro alley portion of the project:
Mr. Romeo Poluqi, 73-340 Highway 111, Palm Desert, Ca.
Mr. Jim Camstra, Lupine & Highway 111, Palm Desert, Ca.
Mr. Dave 0fstedahl, Fireside Pharmacy, Palm Desert, Ca.
Susan Hiltman, 73-707 Highway 111, Palm Desert, Cal.
Mr. Cleve Leonard, El Cafe de Mexico, Highway 111, Palm Desert, __.
Mr. Stan Euden, Easy Street, Highway 111, Palm Desert, Ca.
Mr. Ed Berkley, 73-195 Highway 111, Palm Desert, Ca.
Mr. Aran concluded by requesting the Agency to delay the project a-:
consider immediately creating some kind of committee consisting of
the business community, staff, and some Agency members to see if sc-e
alternative plan could not be devised that would be more feasible,
practical, and at the same time accomplish the purpose. He asked
that the alternatives suggested by some of the individuals who spo_
be considered such a three-way stop lights, one-way frontage roads
without intersection closure, and/or slower speed limits. He said
that he and his clients wanted to work things out without litigatic-.
Chairman Mullins responded to the statement that maps had not been
available, stating that they had been but possibly these people
had not been in attendance at the Committee meetings when they
were presented. These same maps had been publicized. Member
Brush pointed out that the Palm Desert Post had carried it once
on its front page.
Chairman Mullins asked the Agency Counsel regarding the EIR. Mr.
Stepanicich made reference to one specific provision of the State
Guidelines, Section 15061 (E), which states: "All public and priva::
activities or undertakings pursuant to or in furtherance of Redeve'::
ment Plans constitutes a single project which shall be deemed apprc.=
at the time of adoption of the Redevelopment Plan by the legislative
body". In short, he said that this means that if an EIR is prepare:
for the adoption of the Redevelopment Plan which was the case in the
present case, at that time that EIR serves as a basis for any proje::
that carry out that plan in the future. What we have in this case 's
a project that carries out the Redevelopment Plan. In fact, the El=
that was prepared for the Redevelopment Plan specifically addresses
itself to Highway 111, talks about the problem of cross streets and
frontage roads, and recommends as a mitigation measure the realign-
ment, street widenings, closing of streets, etc. be used by the
Agency to implement the Redevelopment Plan. So clearly, he felt
this particular project is really part of the larger project which
is the Redevelopment Plan which does provide an EIR.
Chairman Mullins declared the Public !tearing closed.
Mr. Bouman stated that he would like to make one comment in that he
had heard at least five or maybe six people come and say that the
solution to the problem is to put up lights and slow down the traff`:
That is not the solution. That would be the worst thing you could :o
He reminded everyone of the peak season and driving through Rancho
PUBLIC HEARINGS (Continued)
A. FRONTAGE ROAD CONVERSION DESIGN (Continued)
or Cathedral City and spending twenty minutes trying to get through
one little town. If we slow down traffic on Highway 111, we are
going to have congestion and traffic backed up to Indio in one
direction and Cathedral City in the other. You won't like it and
neither will the customers. They will stop coming here. Stop lights
and slowing down traffic is not the solution.
Member Wilson stated that there was a key question to all this and
that is what kind of escape clause is there. We are well into a
project; what outs do we have?
Chairman Mullins asked the Agency Counsel to investigate this and
relay the information to Mr. Bouman.
Chairman Mullins thanked everyone for their input and assured that the
Agency would review all alternative avenues. He advised Mr. Aran that
the Agency or its representatives would be in touch with him relative
to any decisions or future meetings on the matter.
RESOLUTIONS
A. RESOLUTION NO. 98 - A RESOLUTION OF THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING RESOLUTION
NO. 95.
Mr. Bouman advised that this was simply a resolution correcting a
typographical error in Resolution No. 95 which had been adopted
two weeks ago.
Member McPherson moved and Member Wilson seconded to waive further reading
:id adopt Resolution No. 98. Motion carried unanimously.
CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER - None
NEW BUSINESS - None
III. OLD BUSINESS - None
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None
REPORTS AND REMARKS
A. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - None
B. AGENCY COUNSEL - None
C. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE AGENCY None
ADJOURNMENT
Member McPherson moved and Member Newbrander seconded to adjourn the meeting;
.otion carried unanimously. Chairman Mullins aO-urned the meeting at 11:20 p.m.
EDM RD D. MULtINS, CHAIRMAN
:TTEST:
iHEILA R. GILLIGAN, SECTARY TO THE
'ALM DESERT REDEVELOPME'N't AGENCY