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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-09-25MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2003 CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBER I. CALL TO ORDER - 3:00 P.M. Chairman Benson convened the meeting at 3:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Councilman Buford A. Crites Councilman Richard S. Kelly Mayor Pro Tem Robert A. Spiegel Mayor Jean M. Benson Excused Absence: Councilman Jim Ferguson Also Present: Carlos L. Ortega, City Manager/RDA Executive Director David J. Erwin, City Attorney — Sheila R. Gilligan, ACM for Community Services Homer Croy, ACM for Development Services Justin McCarthy, ACM for Redevelopment Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building & Safety Paul S. Gibson, Director of Finance/City Treasurer Teresa L. La Rocca, Director of Housing David Yrigoyen, Director of Redevelopment Robert P. Kohn, Director of Special Programs Spencer Knight, Landscape Manager Steve Smith, Planning Manager III. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION Reauest for Closed Session: Conference with Real Property Negotiator pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8: 1) Property: APN 620-430-024 Negotiating Parties: Agency: Justin McCarthy/Dave Yrigoyen/ Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency Property Owner: Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency Under Negotiation: x Price x Terms of Payment MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING SEPTEMBER 25, 2003 With Agency Board concurrence, Chairman Benson adjourned the meeting to Closed Session at 3:02 p.m. She reconvened the meeting at 4:00 p.m. IV. RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING - 4:00 P.M. A. REPORT ON ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION. None V. AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, AND APPOINTMENTS None VI. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Regular Meeting of the Redevelopment Agency of September 11, 2003. Rec: Approve as presented. B. CLAIMS AND DEMANDS AGAINST THE AGENCY TREASURY - Warrant Nos. 56RDA, 61 RDA, 63RDA, 67RDA, 71 RDA, 54-Housing, 57-Housing, 61-Housing, 64-Housing, 68-Housing, 72-Housing, and 65HA. Rec: Approve as presented. C. ANNUAL REVIEW of the Statement of Investment Policy (Joint Consideration with the Palm Desert City Council, Palm Desert Housing Authority, and Palm Desert Financing Authority). Rec: By Minute Motion, approve the City of Palm Desert's "Statement of Investment Policy" for the Year 2004, as submitted by the City Treasurer. D. REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION to Change the Name of the Agency -owned 141-Unit Apartment Complex Known as "Country Club Estates" to "California Villas." Rec: By Minute Motion: 1) Authorize the name change of the Agency -owned 141-unit apartment complex known as "Country Club Estates" to "California Villas;" 2) authorize the City Clerk to post any required notices; 3) authorize the Executive Director to execute the documents required for such name change. 2 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING SEPTEMBER 25, 2003 E. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL of Change Order 'No. 2 to Contract No. R21170 — Provision of the Trees for Landscaping at the Entrada del Paseo Project. Rec: By Minute Motion: 1) Approve Change Order No. 2 in the amount of $15,750 to the subject contract with Randy G. Myers & Nurseries, Palm Desert, California, for correction of a recently discovered math error in the original bid submitted by contractor (correction of the bid error does not alter the fact Randy G. Myers & Nurseries was the low bidder); 2) authorize the Chairman to execute Change Order No. 2; 3) authorize the Director of Finance to transfer $4,581 from contingency to base for the project, the remaining monies necessary for the change order ($11,169) are available in the Capital Budget for the Entrada del Paseo project for the current fiscal year. Upon motion by Crites, second by Spiegel, the Consent Calendar was approved as presented by a 4-0 vote, with Member Ferguson ABSENT. VII. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None VIII. RESOLUTIONS None IX. NEW BUSINESS None X. CONTINUED BUSINESS A. RESOLUTION NO. 474 — A RESOLUTION OF THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, APPROVING A PROGRAM TO DISSEMINATE REDEVELOPMENT INFORMATION, INCLUDING THE ACQUISITION OF ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES TO ACCOMPLISH SAME (Continued from the meeting of August 28, 2003). Business Support Manager Ruth Ann Moore reviewed the staff report, noting that this was continued from the meeting of August 28th with direction to staff to clarify the difference between the Shopper Hopper program and the El Paseo Courtesy Cart program and how they can be funded. The matter was reviewed by Agency Counsel, which determined that the Shopper Hopper was a fixed route public transit service within the City of Palm Desert, while the El Paseo Courtesy Cart program was a simple loop system within the district of the El Paseo Business Improvement District. While 3 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING SEPTEMBER 25, 2003 Redevelopment law did not permit the Agency to pay for operation of public facilities (Shopper Hopper), the El Paseo Courtesy Cart program was first and foremost designed to promote the Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency and its commercial, industrial, and housing programs through information on the carts and displays at the future Visitors' and Information Center. Based on the findings by Agency Counsel, staff recommended adoption of Resolution No. 474. Mr. McCarthy noted that it was his understanding the shuttle was not intended to replace the Shopper Hopper. He said staff did have some recommendations with respect to some changes that could be made to the Shopper Hopper that might increase its ridership, and those recommendations were in a subsequent staff report. Member Crites moved to waive further reading and adopt Resolution No. 474. Member Kelly said he had concerns about this whole issue. One of the biggest complaints about the Shopper Hopper from his fellow Councilmembers was that ridership was not high enough, and now that service was going to be duplicated with the shuttles. He also expressed concern with how the Shopper Hopper route would be rearranged, and he felt it would be a mistake to cut it down to only one vehicle. He added that although he felt shuttles were wonderful on El Paseo, he would be voting no on this resolution. Chairman Benson said she had received telephone calls from people who were very happy that the City might have golf carts along El Paseo instead of the Shopper Hopper, that they felt intimated by getting on a big bus to only go a block and then have to walk back, etc. She said she felt there was a need for both programs and that this was another public service the City can provide along El Paseo. Upon question by Vice Chairman Spiegel, Ms. Moore said she had not discussed this matter with Westfield or Desert Crossing. Motion was seconded by Benson. With a 2-2 vote (Member Crites and Chairman Benson voting AYE; Vice Chairman Spiegel and Member Kelly voting NO), no action was taken on the motion. Member Crites moved to continue this matter to the meeting of October 9, 2003, with staff directed to provide additional analysis on the existing Shopper Hopper and its use. Motion was seconded by Spiegel and carried by a 3-1 vote, with Member Kelly voting NO and Member Ferguson ABSENT. 4 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING SEPTEMBER 25, 2003 B. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF THE EL PASEO COURTESY SHUTTLE — (EPCS) PROGRAM, INCLUDING APPROPRIATION OF FUNDING AND CONTRACTS (Continued from the meeting of August 28, 2003). Business Support Manager Ruth Ann Moore reviewed the staff report and offered to answer any questions. Upon question by Vice Chairman Spiegel as to why Monday and Tuesday would not be included in the vehicle operation and it would be limited to five days per week, Ms. Moore responded that this was the original recommendation because there would not be enough money without coming back to the Board for additional funds; however, now that the bid came in quite a bit lower than projected, Monday and Tuesday might be able to be included if the Board so desires. Member Kelly said he had several concerns: 1) that there would be no problem with ADA with those shuttles; 2) that the Agency will not be stuck with paying prevailing wages, since redevelopment funds are being used; 3) reducing the number of Shopper Hopper vehicles from two to one may have an effect on headway, which is already long. Upon question by Vice Chairman Spiegel, Ms. Moore responded that the total annual operation cost for five days per week would be just below $83,000. Vice Chairman Spiegel stated that although El Paseo was important to the City, so was Desert Crossing, Westfield, and other centers. He expressed concern that these other areas had not been told that this is being contemplated. He said he would like to see in writing the costs of both the Shopper Hopper and the shuttle service for the City on a seven day per week schedule. Councilman Crites moved to continue the matter to the meeting of October 9, 2003, with staff directed to provide a comparison of the costs involved for operation of the Shopper Hopper and the El Paseo Shuttle Service on a seven -day -a -week schedule. Motion was seconded by Benson and carried by a 4-0 vote, with Member Ferguson ABSENT. XI. OLD BUSINESS None MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING SEPTEMBER 25, 2003 XII. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF THE SALE OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 43-905 BLUEBERRY LANE (APN 634-062-033). Senior Management Analyst Janet Moore noted that this was the second public hearing for this matter because it was improperly noticed the last time. Chairman Benson declared the public hearing open and invited testimony in FAVOR of or in OPPOSITION to this matter. With no testimony offered, she declared the public hearing closed. Vice Chairman Spiegel moved to waive further reading and adopt Resolution No. 478, approving the sale of said property to a person or family of low or moderate income pursuant to the accompanying Purchase and Sale Agreement. Motion was seconded by Crites and carried by a 4-0 vote, with Member Ferguson ABSENT. B. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF THE SALE OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 75-339 KELSEY CIRCLE SOUTH (APN 634-241-008). Senior Management Analyst Janet Moore noted that this was also a repurchase. Chairman Benson declared the public hearing open and invited testimony in FAVOR of or in OPPOSITION to this matter. With no testimony offered, she declared the public hearing closed. Vice Chairman Spiegel moved to waive further reading and adopt Resolution No. 479, approving the sale of said property to a person or family of low or moderate income pursuant to the accompanying Purchase and Sale Agreement. Motion was seconded by Kelly and carried by a 4-0 vote, with Member Ferguson ABSENT. XIII. REPORTS, REMARKS, AND AGENCY BOARD ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION A. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR None B. AGENCY COUNSEL None C. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE AGENCY None 6 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING SEPTEMBER 25, 2003 XIV. ADJOURNMENT With Agency Board concurrence, Chairman Benson adjourned the meeting at 6:59 p.m. to a Joint Meeting of the City Council and Redevelopment Agency at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 9, 2003. ATTEST: RACHELLE D. KLASSEN, ECRETARY AN M. BENSON, CHAIRMAN PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY 7