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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-03-08MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2001 CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBER * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Ferguson convened the meeting at 4:01 p.m. H. ROLL CALL Present: Member Jean M. Benson Member Buford A. Crites arrived at 4:05 p.m. Vice Chairman Richard S. Kelly Member Robert A. Spiegel Chairman Jim Ferguson Also Present: Carlos L. Ortega, City Manager/RDA Executive Director David J. Erwin, City Attorney Sheila R. Gilligan, Asst. City Manager for Community Services/City Clerk Richard J. Folkers, Asst. City Manager for Development Services Phil Drell, Director of Community Development Paul S. Gibson, Director of Finance/City Treasurer Rachelle D. Klassen, Deputy City Clerk M. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Regular Meeting of the Redevelopment Agency of February 22, 2001. Rec: .._._Approve as presented. B. CLAIMS AND DEMANDS AGAINST THE AGENCY TREASURY - Warrant Nos. 73RDA, 74RDA, 74HA, 73-Housing, and 74-Housing. Rec: Approve as presented. MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING MARCH 8, 2001 *****************************,*************************** C. AGENCY'S PORTFOLIO MASTER SUMMARY for the Month Ending January 31, 2001. Rec: Receive and file. Member Benson moved to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion was seconded by Spiegel and carried by unanimous vote. IV. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None V. RESOLUTIONS None VI. NEW BUSINESS None VH. CONTINUED BUSINESS A. PRESENTATION OF INFORMATIONAL STATUS REPORT FOR THE TWELVE -ACRE SITE MASTER PLAN (Continued from the meeting of February 8, 2001). Project Administrator Lauri Aylaian reviewed the staff report and offered to answer any questions. MR. REUEL A. YOUNG, President of Interactive Design Corporation, reviewed the conceptual plan, noting that the organizing principles were that there is one access off of Highway 111, one from El Paseo, and one from Painters' Path. He said the principles of the landscape design are that the guiding effort of Eric Johnson be present throughout the development and that this be devoted to landscape development. He noted that the buildings on their pads have an irregular shape, with was driven by the desire that it not appear as a common commercial development on the strip center. He said the key components to what they tried to do was to make the buildings integral with the landscape, to make the space between the buildings not a leftover space but an asset to the whole development, and to make accessible parking surrounding but not dominating the site. Member Spiegel stated that the staff report indicated approximately five acres would be left undeveloped, and he asked whether the committee had any thoughts about those five acres. Ms. Aylaian said the Committee's understanding was that the most recent direction and desire of the Council was to leave that area undeveloped for the time being, so the future use of that area had not been addressed. 2 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING MARCH 8, 2001 ************************************,******************** Member Crites said he would prefer to see the Chamber of Commerce and Visitors' Center be in Building A rather than the restaurants. He felt this would give a lot better access to the gardens area and would make this a superior site. With regard to parking, he felt something should be done to provide some parking close by for people who need it and to make it very inviting for people to go from the main parking area directly into that building. Vice Chairman Kelly agreed and said it was his understanding when this whole project started that the Chamber of Commerce and Visitors' Center would be the main elements, and the most choice location in the entire City (Building A) should not be used for restaurants. Chairman Ferguson clarified that the suggestion to move the Visitors' Information Center had only to do with convenience of visitors and access issues. It had nothing to do with trying to provide better pads for restaurants. Member Spiegel stated that Building A was the one on Highway 111, Building B was on El Paseo, and Building C was Painters' Path. Of those three buildings, he asked where Vice Chairman Kelly would prefer to see the Visitors' Center. Vice Chairman Kelly said he would prefer Building A, although it was currently shown as being in Building C. Member Benson stated that it had been moved to Building C because there was no parking around the other building, and it did not seem feasible to have a Visitors' Center where people could not park and walk in. Member Crites said he would like to see if some parking could be provided in the area of Building A in order to allow a small number of vehicles to park in that area so that people would have easier access to the Visitors' Center. Chairman Ferguson said he did feel people should be able to pull up, jump out of their vehicle, grab a map, and jump back in without having to negotiate their way in and out of the property. If the Visitors' Center is going in Building A, he felt something did need to be done as far as providing parking closer to that building, although he did not have a preference for which building should be used for the Visitors' Center. Member Crites suggested shifting Building C southerly toward Painters' Path to accommodate more parking, with Building A to be used for the Visitors' Center. Chairman Ferguson asked how the Visitor Information Center and Chamber of Commerce would be located within Building A. Member Crites suggested that the Visitor Information Center Manager and Chamber of Commerce officials be asked to provide input on this issue. 3 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING MARCH 8, 2001 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After additional discussion, Chairman Ferguson summarized the comments made by Agency Board Members and stated what he heard was the following: The Board would like to focus at least one more run with the architect on using Building A for the Visitors' Information Center and Chamber of Commerce. There is some thought to moving Building C southward slightly to accommodate more parking. He would like the Landscape Committee to better define what the Eric Johnson Garden is supposed to do within this framework. With those programming requirements, he said he felt the architect should come back with a revised drawing at the next meeting. He would like the Visitors' Information Center and Chamber of Commerce to be brought in to look at how the space within the building will be set up. Chairman Ferguson asked for comments from the audience. MR. JACK HOOVER, 1715 Sandpiper, said he was speaking on behalf of residents in Sandpiper. He said they were pleased that the City owned the property, and they had faith that the right thing will be done. He asked that the City provide as much landscaping as possible around the walls. He said they had never been in favor of an entrance or exit on Painters' Path. He expressed concern that there would be accidents, especially since five of the Sandpiper homes have garage access on Painters' Path, with the people backing out onto that street. He said they proposed a buffer road along this area so that people could back out without getting hit, and he submitted proposed plans for consideration. Councilman Spiegel moved to continue this matter to the meeting of March 22, 2001, with staff directed to make the following modifications to the conceptual plan, with appropriate latitude for placement: 1) Use Building A for Visitor Information Center and Chamber of Commerce; 2) move Building C southerly in the plan to accommodate more parking; 3) ask the Landscape Committee for additional direction relative to the Eric Johnson Garden element; 4) have Visitor Information Center Manager and Chamber ofCommerce officials provide input for allocation of space issues. Motion was seconded by Crites, with a comment that there was no intent to minimize the efforts of those who have worked so hard on this plan. Motion carried by unanimous vote. VIII. OLD BUSINESS None IX. AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, AND APPOINTMENTS None 4 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING MARCH 8, 2001 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * X. PUBLIC HEARINGS None XI. REPORTS, REMARKS, AND AGENCY BOARD ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION A. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR None B. AGENCY COUNSEL Mr. Erwin asked that the Agency Board consider adding the following items to the Closed Session Agenda: Reauest for Closed Session: Conference with Real Property Negotiator pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8: 1) Property: APN 653-370-006 Negotiating Parties: Agency: Dave Yrigoyen/Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency Property Owner: Edmund M. Brody Under Negotiation: x Price x Terms of Payment 2) Property: APN 653-370-020 Negotiating Parties: Agency: Dave Yrigoyen/Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency Property Owner: Moshe Pereg Under Negotiation: x Price x Terms of Payment 3) Property: APN 653-370-003/017 Negotiating Parties: Agency: Dave Yrigoyen Property Owner: Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency Under Negotiation: x Price x Terms of Payment Member Spiegel moved to add these items to the Closed Session Agenda. Motion was seconded by Crites and carried by unanimous vote. 5 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING MARCH 8, 2001 ******************************************************** C. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE AGENCY None XII. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None XIII. ADJOURNMENT Upon a motion by Member Spiegel, second by Member Crites, and unanimous vote of the Agency Board, Chairman Ferguson adjourned the meeting to Closed Session at 7:02 p.m. He reconvened the meeting at 7:45 p.m. and immediately adjourned with no action announced from Closed Session. ST: -/SHEILA R. GILLI /1 TARY TO THE PALM DESERT REDE L PMENT AGENCY 6