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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-02-11MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1988 CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBER : : I. CALL TO ORDER [I. ROLL CALL Present: Member Buford Member Walter Vice Chairman Chairman Jean A. H. S. M. Crites Snyder Roy Wilson Benson MEETING Excused Absence: Member Richard S. Kelly Also Present: Carlos L. Ortega, Executive Director Bruce A. Altman, City Manager Sheila R. Gilligan. Agency Secretary Richard J. Folkers, Director of Public Works Ramon A. Diaz, Director of Community Services Kirby J. Warner, Director of General Services Frank Allen, Director of Code Compliance III. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF JANUARY 14 AND JANUARY 28, 1988. Rec: Approve as presented. B. REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION to Proceed with Expansion of the Project Area Committee. - Rec: By Minute Motion, authorize staff to proceed with the expansion of the Project Area Committee as outlined in the staff report. Upon motion by Crites. second by Wilson. and unanimous vote c.F the Agency Board, the Consent Calendar was approved 35 presented. MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING FEBRUARY 11, 1988 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None V. RESOLUTIONS None VI. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None VII. NEW BUSINESS A. PRESENTATION OF EL PASEO URBAN DESIGN STUDY BY POD, INC., AND COMMERCIAL CORE PROJECT AREA COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION FOR FUTURE EL PASEO MANAGEMENT. Mr. Ortega reviewed the staff report dated January 28th and stated that staff would make a presentation to the Agency Board. Mr. Phil Drell, Associate Planner, stated that when this study was first being considered, it was felt the overall development of El Paseo as a high class commercial/retail center could be served by enhancement of the pedestrian environment, and the goal was to explore the ways in which space on El Paseo could be reorganized to achieve this. He said although the Project Area Committee had made a recommendation, it was really looking for direction from the Agency Board as to whether this was something it felt should be pursued. MR. BILL SCHULTZ from POD (Process Oriented Design), Inc., gave a 20-minute slide presentation showing different landscaping his firm had designed in the past. He said El Paseo needed to be very well identified, and he showed diagrams of ways the street could be changed. He offered to answer any questions. MR. LARRY GROTBECK, Cochairman of the El Paseo Business Association, read a prepared statement and said one of the goals of this study was to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of El Paseo. He said he felt it was critical to move quickly and implement the POD study. He said the under i v i nq problem with El Paseo was that it was auto friendly, not people friendly. He uraed the Board to approve the study. 2 MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING FEBRUARY 11, 1988 • • • • • • • • • * • • • • • • * • • • • • • • • MR. DAN EHRLER, Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce. read a letter dated February 1st which he had sent to the City in favor of the study (on file and of record in the City Clerk's Office). MR. HENRY HOYLE, a member of the Board of Directors for the El Paseo Business Association. asked that the Board continue with the P00 study. Member Crites asked if staff's recommendation would include referring the matter to staff (Public Works, Planning, Economic Development Committee, etc.) for its reaction to specific proposals of the study and whether it would be brought back to the Agency Board at a future time. Mr. Ortega responded that the program would not be brought to the Agency Board even at this level until after it had gone through Public Works, Planning, etc., for preliminary consideration of the proposals. He said this was basically to: 1) Let the Board know how the funds already appropriated had been spent; and, 2) To get ideas as to whether or not the Board l i kes it and if staff should go ahead with it. Member Crites said he would need more information from staff regarding items such as angled parking and street width. He added that in making El Paseo more pedestrian friendly, we need to make sure it is not made less usable for those who use it for other purposes, such as traveling to the Post Office, banks, grocery stores, etc. Member Wilson agreed and said a close look needs to oe taken before El Paseo is narrowed. He said a great dea. of the problems with Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs 1.43', because the street had become so gridlocked that peopi- cannot get through it, and narrowing El Paseo could have 3 disastrous effect. He added that he agreed El Pa=e- needed to be made more pedestrian friendly but felt m- staff study was needed. Member Snyder stated he was concerned that whatever done to El Paseo is done correctly from the beginning. 3 MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING FEBRUARY 11, 1988 a • • • a • • a • a • a • • • • a • • • • • • • • Member Snyder moved to. by Minute Motion: 1) Refer the recommendations included in the POD El Paseo Study for inclusion in the long-range fiscal plan; and 2) Refer the Project Area Committee's recommendation for a target market study for El Paseo •t6 the Economic Development Advisory Committee for its report and recommendation. Motion was seconded by Crites. Member Crites noted that there were more issues listed in this study with which the Board agreed than those on which it did not agree. He said the Board wanted to make sure that along with meeting the needs of the merchants, it also meets the needs of the citizens of Palm Desert in general. Chairman Benson agreed and said that the Board members not only appreciated what El Paseo has done for itself through the years to make the street look nice but wanted to make sure it is kept this way. Upon question by Member Wilson, Mr. Ortega responded that solutions to the parking situation would have to be looked at in the near future. Chairman Benson called for the vote. Motion carried by unanimous vote. Chairman Benson thanked everyone on El Paseo who had worked so hard on this project. She said that although it was to their economic benefit, they were also concerned about their city. VIII. CONTINUED BUSINESS None IX. OLD BUSINESS None X. REPORTS, REMARKS, AND AGENCY BOARD ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION A. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR None B. AGENCY COUNSEL Absent 4 MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING FEBRUARY II, 1988 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • C. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE AGENCY None XI. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Wilson, second by Crites, and unanimous vote of the Agency Board, Chairman Benson adjourned the meeting at 8:42 p.m. ATTEST: SHEILA R. G kLIGAi�./SECRETARY TO THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY /uf&(<2,0,,, N M. BENSON, CHAIRMAN 5