The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2004-09-23MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2004 CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBER I. CALL TO ORDER - 3:00 P.M. Chairman Spiegel convened the meeting at 3:02 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Member Jean M. Benson Vice Chairman Buford A. Crites arrived at 3:04 p.m. Member Jim Ferguson Member Richard S. Kelly Chairman Robert A. Spiegel 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 Stephen Y. Aryan, Assistant to the City Manager Rachelle D. Klassen, City Clerk Mark D. Greenwood, City Engineer Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building & Safety Paul S. Gibson, Director of Finance/City Treasurer Michael J. Errante, Director of Public Works David Yrigoyen, Director of Redevelopment & Housing Robert P. Kohn, Director of Special Programs Duane K. Munson, Interim Director of Human Resources Stephen R. Smith, Planning Manager III. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION Request for Closed Session: Conference with Real Property Negotiator pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8: MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING SEPTEMBER 23, 2004 1) Property: APNs 653-390-065/66/67/68; 653-400-043/044/045/046 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 2) Property: APNs 620-370-001/019 Negotiating Parties: Agency: Justin McCarthy/Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency Property Owner: Chase O. Sanderson, Jr. Sanderson J. Ray Development Under Negotiation: x Price x Terms of Payment Upon motion by Kelly, second by Benson, and 4-0 vote of the City Council, with Crites ABSENT, Chairman Spiegel adjourned the meeting to Closed Session at 3:04 p.m. He reconvened the meeting at 4:05 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 Redevelopment Agency Meeting of September 9, 2004. Rec: Approve as presented. B. CLAIMS AND DEMANDS AGAINST THE AGENCY TREASURY - Warrant Nos. 51 RDA, 55RDA, 59RDA, 62RDA, 52-Housing, 56-Housing, 60-Housing, and 63-Housing. Rec: Approve as presented. 2 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING SEPTEMBER 23, 2004 C. REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION forAgency Counsel to Increase Services for Investigation of Legal and Financial Feasibility of Development of a Hotel — and Interval Ownership Resort Properties at Desert Willow. Rec: By Minute Motion: 1) Authorize an increase in the amount of $37,000 for fees plus $2,500 for expenses to Agency Counsel, Richards, Watson & Gershon, for additional services by hospitality consultant providing specialty advice related to the subject project; 2) appropriate $39,500 for said consulting service fees and incidental expenses from Unobligated Project Area No. 2 funds for same. D. REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION to Advertise and Call for Bids for Construction of a Community Room for Catalina Gardens and The Pueblos Apartments (Contract No. R23070). Rec: By Minute Motion, authorize the City Clerk to advertise and call for bids for the subject project. Upon motion by Kelly, second by Benson, the Consent Calendar was approved as presented by a 5-0 vote. VII. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None VIII. RESOLUTIONS None IX. NEW BUSINESS A. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT WITH COLLEGE OF THE DESERT (COD) FOR THE REHABILITATION AND OPERATION OF THE COD SWIMMING POOL FACILITY (CONTRACT NO. R23080). Mr. Ortega asked that the Agency Board not approve the recommendation as stated in the staff report. He noted that College of the Desert had recently sold the first share of its bond issue. Instead of having the Redevelopment Agency give them money to rehabilitate the pool to keep it operational for a few more years, they had decided they were going to proceed with ultimate construction of the pool, which would include a lot more than what the Agency was proposing to do. He said the plan, according to the staff report, had been to have the pool operational by next summer. That was not going to happen; however, one of the things he had discussed with the Director of Finance was the possibility of the College making the pool available to the 3 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING SEPTEMBER 23, 2004 public during the summers, weekends, and when they were not using it for their own purposes, including some public facilities. Member Ferguson asked whether the College was amenable to doing something like this on a joint basis. Mr. Ortega responded that this was something he thought of during negotiations, and he did not want to put that before them for consideration without first checking with the Agency Board. Member Ferguson said he would be totally in favor, and he volunteered to help Mr. Ortega in that effort. After additional discussion, Vice Chairman Crites moved to, by Minute Motion, continue the matter and authorize the Executive Director and Member Ferguson to negotiate with COD for community use of the swimming pool, with the Agency keeping the budget for this project set aside in order to offer a contribution to the construction of facilities that would provide for public use. Motion was seconded by Ferguson and carried by a 5-0 vote. X. CONTINUED BUSINESS None XI. OLD BUSINESS None XII. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF AN EXCHANGE AGREEMENT BETWEEN DESERT WELLS 237, LLC, AND THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (JOINT CONSIDERATION WITH THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL). Mayor/Chairman Spiegel declared the public hearing open and invited testimony in FAVOR of or OPPOSED to this request. No testimony was offered. Mayor Pro TemNice Chairman Crites moved to, by Minute Motion, continue this public hearing to a date uncertain. Motion was seconded by Ferguson and carried by a 5-0 vote. 4 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING SEPTEMBER 23, 2004 XIII. REPORTS, REMARKS, AND AGENCY BOARD ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION — A. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR None B. AGENCY COUNSEL None C. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE AGENCY Chairman Spiegel reported that he just returned from the League of California Cities Annual Conference in Long Beach. He noted that the Conference included a lot of discussion on Proposition 1A, and he particularly enjoyed the sessions on ethics, housing, and managing community growth. XIV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - C MR. HAL PARADIS, operator of a business at the corner of Highway 111 and Las Palmas, addressed the Agency Board on behalf of 30 businesses located on the north side of Highway 111, bounded by Las Palmas to San Marcos. He said they were aware the City was involved in a parking expansion program in that vicinity currently, and they wanted to request that it be expedited. They were struggling to expand customer and employee parking, which became more challenging every year. He presented property owners' letters of support to the Agency Board Members. Chairman Spiegel asked that Mr. Paradis provide the letters to Mr. McCarthy for follow up. He added that the property owners in the area were charged with bringing it up to standard before the City could proceed with its project. Agency Board Members appreciated learning of the property owners' support and asked staff for a project status report at the next meeting. 5 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING SEPTEMBER 23, 2004 XV. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Ferguson, second by Crites, and unanimous vote of the Agency Board, Chairman Spiegel adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m. ATTEST: RAG'HELLE D. KLASSEN, SECRETARY PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ROBERT A. SPIEGEIL! CHAIRMAN 6