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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-06-12MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2008 CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBER 73510 FRED WARING DRIVE, PALM DESERT, CA 92260 I. CALL TO ORDER - 3:00 P.M. Chairman Benson convened the meeting at 3:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Member Jim Ferguson Member Cindy Finerty Member Richard S. Kelly Vice Chairman Robert A. Spiegel Chairman Jean M. Benson 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 Bo Chen, City Engineer Russell Grance, Director of Building & Safety Lauri Aylaian, Director of Community Development Patrick Conlon, Director of the Office of Energy Management Paul S. Gibson, Director of Finance/City Treasurer Janet M. Moore, Director of Housing Doug Van Gelder, Director of Information Systems Steve Brooker, Battalion Chief, Palm Desert Fire/Riverside Co. Fire Dept./Cal Fire Frank Taylor, Asst. Chief, Palm Desert Police/Riverside Co. Sheriff's Dept. Grace L. Mendoza, Deputy City Clerk MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JUNE 12, 2008 III. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION Reauest for Closed Session: Conference with Real Property Negotiator pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8: 1) Property: APN 625-162-049 Negotiating Parties: Agency: Justin McCarthy/Janet Moore/Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency Property Owner: Hugh B. Thorson and Ronald G. Cornwell Other Party: Urban Housing Communities 00431 Palm Desert, L.P. Under Negotiation: x Price x Terms of Payment With Agency Board concurrence, Chairman Benson adjourned the meeting to Closed Session at 3:01 p.m. She reconvened the meeting at 4:01 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 May 22, 2008. Rec: Approve as presented. B. CLAIMS AND DEMANDS AGAINST THE AGENCY TREASURY - Warrant Nos. 256RDA, 259RDA, 261 RDA, 257-Housing, 259-Housing, 262-Housing, 258HA, and 263HA. Rec: Approve as presented. Upon motion by Ferguson, second by Spiegel, and 5-0 vote of the Agency Board, the Consent Calendar was approved as presented. 2 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JUNE 12, 2008 VII. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None VIII. RESOLUTIONS None IX. NEW BUSINESS A. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF CONTRIBUTION TO THE COACHELLA VALLEY ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP (CVEP) FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. Mr. Ortega stated this item was a White Paper item that Council requested be placed on the agenda for formal action. Member Ferguson moved to, by Minute Motion, that the Agency: 1) Approve funding in the amount of $50,000 yearly for the next two years, as an annual contribution for the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership; 2) appropriate an additional $50,000 to Fund 850-4430-422-3090. Member Kelly asked how would the Council be assured that other cities would participate. Vice Chairman Spiegel responded that supposedly the City of Desert Hot Springs had already agreed to contribute $50,000. MR. JOHN SOULLIERE, President of Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP), responded other cities had not voted on their budget, but the City Manager for Desert Hot Springs and two of their councilmembers had expressed support for the first year. Further responding, he said the rest of the cities were weighing things out, but CVEP would follow up with their representatives to confirm their intentions. At that time, some of the cities had tentatively indicated they would increase their annual contribution. He said he had commitments from Imperial Irrigation District for $100,000 and $50,000 from the University of Riverside; they liked what they heard from CVEP about their new and fresh ideas, direction and strategies being worked on and developed, and they want to support it. Responding to question about the original vote taken by CVAG's Board of Directors on the $50,000 amount, he said the Executive level voted 8-5, and it was unanimous that CVEP would seek $50,000 per city, because that's the kind of funding needed to cover the deficit and move forward. The Board subsequently met, and city representatives and city councilmembers expressed their uncertainty about being able to commit to such a level, but did offer to double their 3 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JUNE 12, 2008 original investment with an additional $5,000 towards a business plan. However, after that meeting, and after the finalization of the analysis of the budget, it was learned those amounts wouldn't take the organization very far. CVEP then crafted their request to target cities they hoped would contribute $50,000 but not less that $17,000. He said CVEP appreciated the Board's motion, but the real details of the budget weren't known at that time. Member Finerty asked if the Board had voted again now that the real details of the budget were known. MR. SOULLIERE replied it had not, because the next meeting was scheduled for the end of the month. However, CVEP moved forward by giving the cities the option based on its budget numbers; he believed more cities would get on board. Responding to question about the original vote and original investment, he confirmed the original investment was $6,000, which city representatives agreed to double to $12,000, plus the additional $5,000 that was offered for a total amount of $17,000. He said the $17,000 amount was earmarked for a business -type plan. Vice Chairman Spiegel seconded the motion with the condition that CVEP needed to succeed this year, because it wouldn't get his vote next year. Member Finerty pointed out the recommendation was $50,000 yearly for the next two years. Member Ferguson agreed to amend his motion, because he understood the contribution to be for one year and thought two years was probably too much to ask from any city at this point. Member Ferguson moved to, by Minute Motion: 1) Approve funding in the amount of $50,000 for one year, as annual contribution for the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership; 2) appropriate an additional $50,000 to Fund 850-4430-422-3090 for this purpose. Motion was seconded by Spiegel. Chairman Benson stated she would vote against the recommendation because CVEP was already in debt, and she didn't think $50,000 would save the organization. She thought each city's economic development department did a good job of promoting their city, and she hadn't seen anything CVEP had accomplished; it started out as a community event to draw businesses and it hadn't happened. Chairman Benson called for the vote, and the motion carried by a 3-2 vote, with Finerty and Benson voting NO. 4 MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JUNE 12, 2008 X. CONTINUED BUSINESS None XI. OLD BUSINESS None XII. PUBLIC HEARINGS None 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 XIV. ADJOURNMENT With Agency Board concurrence, Chairman Benson adjourned the meeting at 6:18 p.m. to Thursday, June 19, 2008, at 8:30 a.m. for a Joint Meeting of the City Council, Redevelopment Agency, and Housing Authority. ATTEST: RACHE LE D. KLASSEN, SECRETARY PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AN M. BENS P , CHAIRMAN 5