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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-06-09MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2005 CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBER I. CALL TO ORDER - 3:00 P.M. Chairman Crites convened the meeting at 3:01 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Member Jean M. Benson Vice Chairman Jim Ferguson Member Richard S. Kelly Member Robert A. Spiegel Chairman Buford A. Crites Also Present: Carlos L. Ortega, City Manager/RDA Executive Director Robert W. Hargreaves, Deputy 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 Philip Drell, Director of Community Development 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 Walt Holloway, Battalion Chief, Palm Desert/Riverside County Fire Dept./CDF Steve Thetford, Asst. Chief, Palm Desert Police/Riverside Co. Sheriffs Dept. III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - A (CLOSED SESSION ITEMS) MR. MALCOLM RILEY, owner of the self -storage facility approved for Dinah Shore Drive, stated that with regard to the Study Session just concluded regarding traffic on Dinah Shore, he hoped the City would provide his project with the ability to move forward. He felt that they had done everything correctly with their project to date and that it has been a tremendous hardship since progress was halted due to the issue over the width of and traffic flow along Dinah Shore Drive. MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JUNE 9, 2005 IV. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION Reauest for Closed Session: Conference with Real Property Negotiator Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8: 1) Property: APNs 620-400-025, 620-400-003, 620-420-010 Negotiating Parties: Agency: Justin McCarthy/Lauri Aylaian/ Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency Property Owner: Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency Other Parties: Les Melcher/Woodbine Development Under Negotiation: x Price x Terms of Payment Upon a motion by Spiegel, second by Kelly, and 5-0 vote of the Agency Board, Chairman Crites adjourned the meeting to Closed Session at 3:06 p.m. He reconvened the meeting at 4:00 p.m. V. RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING - 4:00 P.M. A. REPORT ON ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION. None VI. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - Member Richard S. Kelly VII. INVOCATION - Member Jean M. Benson VIII. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - B MR. TED GIATAS, President/CEO of the McCallum Theatre for the Performing Arts, 73-000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, addressed the Agency Board to express appreciation for its action at a meeting four years ago this month where a $5 million contribution of Redevelopment Funds to the Theatre was approved. He reported on the significant accomplishments achieved by the Theatre since the Agency Board's action, most notably: 1) The Theatre has been debt -free since 2001; 2) it has had balanced budgets for the past three years; 3) the endowment fund has increased from $1.6 million to nearly $11 million, providing the operating fund an annual distribution of the earnings. Programming has been so successful that they had gone from an annual $600,000 deficit five years ago to a net positive of $1.3 million this season, and in a national survey, the McCallum placed in the top 20 theaters for the past three years — earning a ranking of #8 in the winter of 2004. 2 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JUNE 9, 2005 He provided a copy of his prepared statement, which is now on file in the City — Clerk's Office. Chairman Crites thanked Mr. Giatas for coming before the Agency Board to provide such a report, which he felt was remarkable testimony to Mr. Giatas, his staff, donors in the Valley, and all who supported the Theatre. Member Benson went on to express appreciation to Mr. Giatas for his leadership of the Theatre, which contributed greatly to its current success, and she said it was a true pleasure to represent the City on its Board. MR. DICK KNAPP, 73-800 Flagstone Lane, Palm Desert, commented on the sewer proposal on this agenda. He said it was the first he'd heard of it, after having been assured by both the City and Coachella Valley Water District two years ago that there were no plans to add sewers to their properties on Whitestone or Flagstone. He added that in addition to the easement that would be necessary from Shadow Mountain Golf Course, it would also be necessary from the Shadow Mountain Resort. He was very interested to learn what would result from the discussion about to occur. IX. AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, AND APPOINTMENTS A. PRESENTATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL/AGENCY BOARD BY THE — RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM (R.S.V.P.). Representatives from R.S.V.P. were unable to be present at this meeting. B. PRESENTATION TO RECOGNIZE CITY OF PALM DESERT/ PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY EMPLOYEES FOR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE — JUNE 2005. On behalf of the City Council, Mayor Crites and Mr. Ortega honored the following employees with a certificate of appreciation and a $100 gift certificate: Robert Becerra, Alfredo Contreras, Mark Diercks, Mark Greenwood, Debbie Thompson, Claudia Jaime, Brad Chuck, and James Bounds. X. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Regular Redevelopment Agency Meeting of May 26,2005. Rec: Approve as presented. 3 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JUNE 9, 2005 B. CLAIMS AND DEMANDS AGAINST THE AGENCY TREASURY - Warrant Nos. 244RDA, 246RDA, 238-Housing, 244-Housing, 247-Housing, and 248HA. Rec: Approve as presented. C. CITY'S AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY'S COMPLIANCE ANALYSIS and Investment Reports for the months of March 2005 and April 2005 (Joint Consideration with the Palm Desert City Council). Rec: Receive and file. Member Spiegel moved to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion was seconded by Ferguson and carried by a 5-0 vote. XI. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None XII. RESOLUTIONS None XIII. NEW BUSINESS A. CONSIDERATION OF INFORMATIONAL REPORT ON WHITESTONE LANE AND FLAGSTONE LANE SEWER PROJECT. Mr. Ortega noted that this report was the result of the Agency Board directing staff to look at this project. He noted the report in the Agenda packet and offered to answer any questions. He stated this was merely an informational report at this time. A concern raised by Mr. Knapp under Oral Communications at this meeting was lack of notification; if the Agency Board were to authorize staff to proceed with an assessment district, there would be sufficient notice of a public hearing. Upon question by Member Spiegel, Special Projects Administrator Pat Conlon stated that based on the City's most recent assessment district, Silver Spur Ranch, formation of an assessment district added approximately $426,000 to the cost of the project, which included the cost for financing, issuance of bonds, bond attorney, required engineer's reports, etc. He said the numbers in the report were preliminary at this time. He added that historically, formation of assessment districts added between 30% and 40% to a project. 4 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JUNE 9, 2005 Upon further question by Member Spiegel, Mr. Ortega responded that the process for assessment district formation could be started either by petition of the property owners or by City Council order. Responding to Member Benson's inquiry as to why these streets were not included when the City did the rest of the area many years ago, Mr. Conlon stated that when the sewer lines were put in on Portola and Grapevine, the Coachella Valley Water District tried to get them as deep as possible but could not get them deep enough to allow sewer lines on Flagstone and Whitestone because they dropped down so much onto the golf course. Member Kelly added that another reason sewers weren't installed in the subject area was also largely due to the strong opposition of one resident of the neighborhood at that time. In answer to Chairman Crites' question about the issue of water quality, Mr. Conlon said the neighborhood was low density, in addition to many of the homes being for seasonal use only. Member Benson moved to, by Minute Motion, receive and file the report. Motion was seconded by Kelly and carried by a 5-0 vote. — B. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF THE GRANTOR AND GRANTEE AGREEMENT REGARDING THE RIGHT OF REVERTER BETWEEN THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE. Mr. Ortega noted the staff report and recommendation in the packets. Member Spiegel moved to, by Minute Motion, authorize the Chairman to execute the subject agreement regarding the Right of Reverter. Motion was seconded by Ferguson and carried by a 5-0 vote. 5 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JUNE 9, 2005 C. REQUEST FOR ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS DECLARING THE INTENT TO ISSUE BONDS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS TO FINANCE THE INSTALLATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE PORTOLA AVENUE BRIDGE AT THE WHITEWATER CHANNEL (JOINT CONSIDERATION WITH THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL). Mr. Ortega reviewed the staff report and offered to answer any questions. Councilman/Member Spiegel moved to waive further reading and adopt: 1) City Council Resolution No. 05-40, declaring its intent to issue bonds or other obligations or cause bonds or other obligations to be issued to finance the installation and construction of the Portola Avenue Bridge and reimburse certain expenditures from the proceeds of the bonds; 2) Redevelopment Agency Resolution No. 502, declaring its intent to issue bonds or other obligations or cause bonds or other obligations to be issued to finance the installation and construction of the Portola Avenue Bridge and reimburse certain expenditures from the proceeds of the bonds. Motion was seconded by Benson and carried by a 5-0 vote. XIV. CONTINUED BUSINESS None XV. OLD BUSINESS None XVI. PUBLIC HEARINGS None XVII. 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 JUNE 9, 2005 XVIII. ADJOURNMENT With Agency Board concurrence, Chairman Crites adjourned the meeting at 5:49 p.m. ATTEST: B FO'.= . CRfTES, CHAIRMAN RACHELLE D. KLASSEN, SECRETARY PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY 7