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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-09-24MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING — THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1998 CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBER * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Benson convened the meeting at 4:02 p.m. H. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Vice Chairman Robert A. Spiegel III. INVOCATION - Member Jim Ferguson IV. ROLL CALL Present: Member Buford A. Crites arrived at 4:15 p.m. Member Jim Ferguson Member Richard S. Kelly — Vice Chairman Robert A. Spiegel Chairman Jean M. Benson Also Present: Ramon A. Diaz, City Manager David J. Erwin, City Attorney Sheila R. Gilligan, Director of Community Affairs/City Clerk Carlos L. Ortega, RDA Executive Director Richard J. Folkers, ACM/Director of Public Works John M. Wohlmuth, ACM/Director of Administrative Services Phil Drell, Director of Community Development Paul S. Gibson, Director of Finance/City Treasurer Teresa LaRocca, Housing Manager Rachelle D. Klassen, Deputy City Clerk V. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS MR. GARY TRYON, 74-047 San Marino Circle, Palm Desert, expressed his very deep concern for several criminal incidents involving vehicles— break-ins, attempted thefts, vandalism, and two armed carjackings, all of which had occurred since May 4, 1998, in the parking lots behind his home. He stated that there were currently armed guards with bulletproof vests patrolling the area of his and his neighbors' backyards because of the irresponsible actions of the owners of the subject lots. He said MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 24, 1998 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * he and his neighbors found the situation intolerable and compared the present situation to that of a big city ghetto or the war zones in Beirut and Sarajevo. He said because of the severe criminal problem along with the flagrant and habitual violations of the use permit and the valet permit, he asked that the reason for the guns and guards be eliminated. He urged the Council to close the parking lots to nighttime use and use them as they were zoned, office professional, daytime use only. He said from April 7 to mid -July this year, he and his neighbor attended five or six Planning Commission meetings concerning these lots. He said after the last meeting, Mr. Drell was instructed to contact him and did so two weeks later to inform him that the complaint process would have to be done again and that he would be notified when this would occur. He said the only notification he received from Mr. Drell was a notice that the owners were again trying to compound the problem by enlarging the "circus" behind him. He felt a City employee had lied to him and treated him as a second class citizen. MR. RAY WINNER, 74-039 San Marino Circle, Palm Desert, stated he also resided adjacent to the north parking lot utilized by Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. He concurred with Mr. Tryon's previous statements and added that there had been a problem in that parking lot for quite some time, and he believed the problem would be compounded with the desired expansion of Ruth's Chris Steak House. He said he had lived at the present address for 13 years and knew there were some other problems with that parking lot-- the Palm Desert Commercial Core Plan, and quoted Mr. Drell's statement, "There was supposed to be a 36-foot greenbelt between commercial and residential." He said there was currently a three foot belt. He said the problems in the parking lot continued to mount, there seemed to be no management of it-- the neighbors had to be the watchdogs for it, and every time there was a change there, they were the ones affected. He hoped the Council would be open to working out something. Mayor Benson stated the City Manager would be in touch with both gentlemen. VI. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Regular Meeting of the Redevelopment Agency of September 10, 1998. Rec: Approve as presented. B. CLAIMS AND DEMANDS AGAINST THE AGENCY TREASURY - Warrant Nos. 15RDA, 16RDA, 15DR, and 15PDHA Rec: Approve as presented. C. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL of Desert Rose 1998/99 Amended Customer Service Budget. Rec: By Minute Motion, appropriate $15,100.00 to fund activities related to the closeout of Desert Rose and to provide customer services to home buyers during their one-year warranty period for approximately 70-75 homes. 2 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING SEPTEMBER 24, 1998 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * D. REQUEST FOR APPROVAI. of Desert Rose 1998/99 Amended Sales/Resale Budget. Rec: By Minute Motion, appropriate $147,000.00 to fund activities related to the sellout of Desert Rose and the closing of the last seven escrows, plus provide for activities to be generated by the resale of Desert Rose Lot #117 during the 1998/99 fiscal year from Unobligated Housing Funds. E. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL of Portola Palms 1998/99 Amended Budget. Rec: By Minute Motion, appropriate $105,326.00 for Portola Palms activities related to the payment of maintenance expenses, HOA fees, property taxes, sales and escrow costs from Unobligated Housing Fund Balance. F. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL of Lease of Public Land for Christmas Tree Lot (Paul Murphy, Applicant). Rec: By Minute Motion, approve the lease of the lot at the southeast corner of Portola Avenue and Highway 111 to Paul Murphy subject to conditions set forth in the staff report dated September 24, 1998. Upon a motion by Kelly, second by Spiegel and 4-0--1 vote of the Redevelopment Agency Board with Member Crites ABSENT, the Consent Calendar was approved as presented. VII. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None VIII. RESOLUTIONS None IX. NEW BUSINESS None X. CONTINUED BUSINESS None XI. OLD BUSINESS None 3 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING SEPTEMBER 24, 1998 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * XII. REPORTS, REMARKS, AND AGENCY BOARD ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION A. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Mr. Ortega noted the items listed for Closed Session consideration at an appropriate time. B. AGENCY COUNSEL Request for Closed Session. Conference with Real Property Negotiator pursuant to Section 54956.8: 1) Property: Land located in Section 4 - Desert Willow Negotiating Parties: Agency: Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency/Carlos L. Ortega, Executive Director Property Owner: Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency Under Negotiation: x Price x Terms of Payment Conference with Legal Counsel regarding existing litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(a): a) City of Palm Desert v. REFCO Capital Corporation, et al., United States District Court, Central District, Case No. CV92-7632 b) City of Orange, et al. v. Alabama Treasury Advisory Program, et al., Los Angeles Superior court Case No. BC106461 C. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE AGENCY None XIII. AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, AND APPOINTMENTS None Upon a motion by Spiegel, second by Kelly, and 4-0-1 vote of the Redevelopment Agency Board with Member Crites ABSENT, Chairman Benson adjourned the meeting to Closed Session at 4:10 p.m. She reconvened the meeting at 7:03 p.m. 4 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING SEPTEMBER 24, 1998 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * XIV. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. CONSIDERATION OF THE SALE OF MOBILE HOME LOT #123 LOCATED AT 43-155 PORTOLA (PORTOLA PALMS MOBILE HOME PARK) TO WILLIAM MONTGOMERY AT FAIR MARKET VALUE. (JOINT PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL). Ms. LaRocca stated the subject lot was one of 22 vacant spaces currently owned by the Redevelopment Agency and being marketed to members of the Portola Palms community who currently resided on those lots. She reported that Mr. Montgomery had made a full market value offer for the space and staff recommended approval of its acceptance. Chairman/Mayor Benson declared the public hearing wen and invited testimony in FAVOR of or OPPOSED to the matter. With no testimony received, she declared the public hearing clod. Vice Chairman/Mayor Pro-Tempore Spiegel moved to: 1) Waive further reading and adopt City Council Resolution No. 98- 111 authorizing the Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency to sell mobile home lot #123, APN: 662-351-123-9, located at 43-155 Portola Avenue (Portola Palms Mobile Home Park) to William Montgomery at fair market value of $22,500.00; 2) waive further reading and adopt Redevelopment Agency Resolution No. 361 making the finding that the sales price for the lot is not less than its fair market value in accordance with the highest and best use under the Redevelopment Plan for Project Area No. 1 Amended. Motion was seconded Ferguson and carried by unanimous vote. B. CONSIDERATION OF CONVEYANCE OF A SINGLE FAMILY LOT TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY, INC. AND APPROVAL OF A DISPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. (JOINT PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL). Ms. LaRocca stated that the City/Redevelopment Agency had been working with Habitat for Humanity for a number of years in a joint venture for the construction of a single family home through the program. She reported that the arrangement had finally been consummated and that Habitat for Humanity had been offered a lot. She noted that the address of the lot in the staff report was incorrect; the correct address was 43-935 Buena Circle, APN: 622-200-059-8. She noted that Mr. Boyd Sharp of Habitat for Humanity was in attendance to answer any questions. Chairman/Mayor Benson declared the public hearing open and invited testimony in FAVOR of or OPPOSED to the conveyance. MR. BOYD SHARP, 80-870 Highway 111, Indio, CA, of Habitat for Humanity, stated that his organization recently had some high visibility builds in the City of Cathedral City. He noted the subject build was going to be funded by a hotel chain, anticipating it would be the subject of much publicity, and when it came up, he was pleased to be able to offer some 5 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING SEPTEMBER 24, 1998 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * publicity to Palm Desert rather than all of it being concentrated in Cathedral City. He stated that he had spoken with Ms. LaRocca about the possibility of getting a lot, commenting she had done a remarkable job of making this happen at an accelerated pace for its consideration at this meeting. He reported that a young, low-income family with triplets had been selected for the lot upon which a four bedroom home would be built. He felt they would be good neighbors and their family an asset to the City. With no further testimony offered, Chairman/Mayor Benson declared the public hearing closed. Vice Chairman/Mayor Pro-Tempore Spiegel moved to: 1) Waive further reading and adopt City Council Resolution No. 98-112 approving the conveyance by the Redevelopment Agency of a single family residential lot known as APN: 622-200-059-8 and located at 43-935 Buena Circle, Palm Desert, California to Habitat for Humanity of the Coachella Valley, Inc. for the purpose of constructing a single family dwelling to be made available to a family of lower income and approve the Disposition and Development Agreement that will effectuate this plan; 2) approve a Disposition and Development Agreement between Habitat for Humanity of the Coachella Valley, Inc. and the Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency. Motion was seconded by Ferguson and carried by unanimous vote. XV. ADJOURNMENT Upon a motion by Spiegel, second by Ferguson, and unanimous vote of the Redevelopment Agency Board, Chairman Benson adjourned the meeting at 8:22 p.m. k-Z4-1 SHEILA R. GILLIGA1Nt CRETARY TO THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY EAN M. BENSON, CHAIRMAN 6