HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-01-11MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY
TO THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018
CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBER
73510 FRED WARING DRIVE, PALM DESERT, CA 92260
I. CALL TO ORDER - 3:00 P.M.
Chair Jonathan convened the meeting 3:04 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Present:
Director Jan C. Harnik
Director Kathleen Kelly
Director Gina Nestande
Vice Chair Susan Marie Weber
Chair Sabby Jonathan
Also Present:
Lauri Aylaian, Executive Director
Robert W. Hargreaves, City Attorney
Rachelle D. Klassen, Secretary
Lori Carney, Director of Administrative Services
Russell Grance, Director of Building & Safety
Ryan Stendell, Director of Community Development
Martin Alvarez, Director of Economic Development
Janet M. Moore, Director of Finance/City Treasurer
Tim Jonasson, Interim Director of Public Works
Frankie Riddle, Director of Special Programs
Bo Chen, City Engineer
Stephen Y. Aryan, Risk Manager
Dan Talbot, Deputy Chief, County Fire Department/Cal Fire
Jason Huskey, Chief, Palm Desert Police/Riverside Co. Sheriffs Department
Lt. Matt Martello, Asst. Chief, Palm Desert Police/Riverside Co. Sheriffs Dept.
Grace L. Rocha, Deputy City Clerk
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SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE
PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING
III. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
Reauest for Closed Session:
None
JANUARY 11, 2018
With Successor Agency concurrence, Chair Jonathan adjourned the meeting to Closed
Session of the City Council at 3:05 p.m. He 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 December 14 and December 28, 2017, Regular Meetings of the
Board of Directors of the Successor Agency to the Palm Desert Redevelopment
Agency.
Rec: Approve as presented.
B. CLAIMS AND DEMANDS AGAINST SUCCESSOR AGENCY TREASURY -
Warrants Dated 12/8/2017, 12/15/2017 - 2, and 12/22/2017.
Rec: Approve as presented.
C. REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION for Executive Director to Convey Lot 81 of Tract Map
19074-1 (APN 622-250-008) from the Successor Agency to the Palm Desert
Redevelopment Agency to the City of Palm Desert (Joint Consideration with the Palm
Desert City Council).
Rec: 1) Waive further reading and adopt the following, approving conveyance of
Lot 81 of Tract Map 19074-1 (APN 622-250-008) from the Successor
Agency to the Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency to the City of
Palm Desert by Quitclaim Deed via: a) Successor Agency Resolution
No. SA -RDA 067; b) City Council Resolution No. 2018 - 01.
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2) By Minute Motion, authorize the Executive Director to execute the
Quitclaim Deed on behalf of the Successor Agency and the Mayor to
accept the conveyance by Quitclaim Deed on behalf of the City.
Upon motion by Harnik, second by Weber, and 5-0 vote of the Board of Directors of the
Successor Agency (AYES: Harnik, Kelly, Nestande, Weber, and Jonathan; NOES: None), the
Consent Calendar was approved as presented.
VII. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER
None
VIII. RESOLUTIONS
A. RESOLUTION NO. SA -RDA 068 - A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE PALM DESERT
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, APPROVING PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE
BUDGETS FOR THE SIX-MONTH FISCAL PERIODS FROM JULY 1, 2018,
THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2018, AND FROM JANUARY 1, 2019, THROUGH
JUNE 30, 2019, AND TAKING CERTAIN RELATED ACTIONS.
Senior Management Analyst Veronica Tapia stated the Successor Agency to the
Palm Desert Redevelopment is required to request funding annually, and the
Administrative Budget has a maximum of 3% of the prior year of the prior year
Redevelopment Property Tax Trust Fund (RPTTF), and staff is requesting the
maximum for the 2018-2019 year. This request will go before the Oversight Board
on January 22, 2018. This will be the last Administrative Budget that goes to the
Palm Desert Oversight Board.
Vice Chair moved to waive further reading and adopt Resolution No. SA -RDA 068.
Motion was seconded by Weber and carried by a 5-0 vote (AYES: Harnik, Kelly, Nestande,
Weber, and Jonathan; NOES: None).
B. RESOLUTION NO. SA -RDA 069 - A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE PALM DESERT
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, APPROVING A RECOGNIZED OBLIGATION
PAYMENT SCHEDULE (ROPS) FOR THE FISCAL PERIOD FROM JULY 1,
2018, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2019, PURSUANT TO HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTION 34177, AND TAKING CERTAIN RELATED ACTIONS.
Senior Management Analyst Veronica Tapia reported the Successor Agency to the
Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency is required to request approval of it's
Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule (ROPS) for the next year. She said
expenses are condensed now to Tong -term debt, the City loan, the CAFER, and
other auxiliary expenses. The CAFER loan will almost be paid off with this next
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payment cycle, which means the City loan will begin to be paid in 2019-2020. This
item will go before the Oversight Board on January 22, 2018, but before it goes to
the Board, she will make a minor change to the report, in that she will list the City's
loan, the principal amount only and add the accrued interest. It doesn't change
the request, it's just an overall number adjustment.
Director Harnik moved to waive further reading and adopt Resolution No. SA -RDA 069.
Motion was seconded by Weber and carried by a 5-0 vote (AYES: Harnik, Kelly, Nestande,
Weber, and Jonathan; NOES: None).
IX. NEW BUSINESS
None
X. CONTINUED BUSINESS
None
XI. OLD BUSINESS
None
XII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF LANDMARK DESIGNATION FOR
73697 SANTA ROSA WAY (APN 627-102-024) (THE MILES BATES HOUSE) AS
A LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, Case No. CRPC 17-01(Successor Agency to
the Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency, Applicant) (JOINT CONSIDERATION
WITH THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL).
Mayor Pro TemNice Chair Weber recused herself from this item, stating she was
on the Board of the Historical Society of Palm Desert, and they have been working
on this issue as well and left the Council Chamber.
Mr. Grance stated the proposed Resolution is consideration for Historic Landmark
Designation for the Miles C. Bates House located at 73697 Santa Rosa Way,
which was designed by Walter S. White. Mr. White was an American modernist
architect in industrial design who worked in the Coachella Valley in the 1950's.
Walter S. White is considered by many to be Palm Desert's architect, having
designed more than 65 structures here, many of which are still in existence. He
is considered for his influence in early Palm Desert for his innovative roofing and
window systems. Although Mr. White patented the innovative roof system that
alternated the use of wooden dowels with complementary biconcave elements to
achieve the unique wave shape, the Bates house is believed to be the only home
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in existence that used this system. Additionally, it appears that Mr. White
considered the siting of the home in relation to the Santa Rosa Mountains in the
distance, as the rolling roofline follows the profile of those southern mountains.
It was important to note that the proposed landmark designation is for the Miles C.
Bates residence only and not the apartments located in the rear. With the
approval of the Landmark Designation, it comes with both benefits and restrictions.
The benefits would be that the future owner would be eligible to participate in the
Mills Act Program, which affords the owner some savings on property tax, and
those savings are earmarked for the preservation efforts that are monitored on an
annual basis. The restrictions are that any future owner would need to apply for
a Certificate of Appropriateness if they anticipate any alterations or additions to the
exterior of the building. In conclusion, he said the Miles C. Bates house is eligible
for Landmark Designation by meeting the following criteria of the Palm Desert
Municipal Code Section 29.40.010 C, D, and F. Subsection C embodies
distinctive characteristics, or is one of the few remaining examples of style, type,
period or method of construction or possesses high artistic value; subsection D
represents the work of a master builder, designer or architect; and subsection F
represents distinctive examples of community planning or significant development
patterns, including those associated with different eras of settlement and growth,
agriculture, or transportation. He offered to answer questions.
Councilmember/Director Kelly asked if the Landmark Designation applied to the
two rooms that were added to the main structure in 1973.
Mr. Grance replied it would, because staff didn't want the exterior of the building
altered in any way, but on the provision that if a future owner wishes to remove
them, the City would support it wholeheartedly to gain restoration.
Mayor/Chair Jonathan pointed out that the other consequence of the Landmark
Designation is that it prohibits a future owner from demolishing the property.
Mr. Grance agreed, but they could file to do so, however, they would have to
remove the designation first. Removal of the designation would be a process
that's outlined in the City's Ordinance, which requires going before the Historical
Preservation Committee in a public hearing, and the Committee will make a
recommendation that is forwarded to the City Council at another public hearing for
its consideration.
Mayor/Chair Jonathan noted staff forwarded an email to the City Council from
Poppy Woody, who is the daughter of Walter S. White, the architect, in support of
the Landmark Designation.
Councilmember/Director Harnik asked about the next step if the Resolution is
approved, because at Shadow Mountain it shows that it's a landmark.
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Mr. Grance replied the City will follow the same process as it has with the others,
in that it would mount a plaque on the residence at a predetermined location
selected by staff and Committee.
Mayor/Chair Jonathan declared the public hearing open and invited public testimony
FAVORING or OPPOSING the matter.
MS. MERILEE COLTON, Secretary to the Board of the Historical Society of Palm
Desert, urged the City Council to approve the proposed Resolution, stating they
strongly believe this is a very important landmark to the City. She added that
Walter S. White built more than 50+ buildings in Palm Desert that included a few
commercial buildings, adding that not all would qualify for this activity, but that it
enabled the Committee to recognize Mr. White as Palm Desert's architect, not only
in the 1950's but also in the 1940's.
MR. WAYNE LONGMAN, a Palm Desert resident for 17 years and a local real
estate broker, stated he and his partner Ralph Haverkate have specialized in Mid-
century Modern for 14 years, so this matter was of special interest to him. The
point he wished to bring forward is that the property rights of the future owner are
not inhibited by the designation. If for some reason, a person should find that
there is a higher use of the property, it meets the City's requirement, and the
economic situation they find themselves in, is unattainable, they will probably apply
for demolition of the property and the City is the last hope of resort for preserving
the property. Legally, he wasn't sure what types of conditions would established
for the City to deny it. He congratulated the City, staff, the committees, and Kim
Housken for her efforts, in that it took 15 years to establish this item on the
agenda, including Mr. Volker Welter from University of California, Santa Barbara
(UCSB), who has identified Walter S. White as home grown Palm Desert Mid-
century Modern Architect of the first rank. What needs to be done, in his view, is
for the buyer to be aware of the costs and obligations of owning a historic property,
and he didn't believe that work had been done to the extent needed. For example,
a real estate investor has access to the appraisal, which identifies it as a rental
property, and it suggests that with minimal repairs to make the home habitable, the
City will allow it with a question. Once it's done, the owner can say that for
economical reason he wasn't aware of the costs of rehabilitation or aware the City
was going to apply code compliance issues, etc., which are not covered in an
appraisal. He suggested the property be given an appraisal as a historic property
by an expert in the field who will identify the current value of the property as such,
including the repairs and upgrades that it will require. With this kind of information,
and perhaps a report, it would update the current appraisal, providing real costs
of bringing this property to bear. It would make purchasers more aware of the
costs and obligations, and the City won't be faced with a claim that it was sold
without the knowledge of what the problems are with the property. Additionally,
it will give those visitors coming to Palm Desert for Modernism Week a good
appreciation of what they are looking at, stating there will be thousands of people
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visiting the house, because people are extremely interested in Walter S. White.
However, with the information provided and with the timing of the auction, there
is no time to investigate it, and these people could be very good buyers.
With no further public testimony offered, Mayor/Chair Jonathan declared the public
hearing closed.
Councilmember/Director Harnik moved to waive further reading and adopt Resolution No.
2018 - 04, reaffirming action of the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee, designating
73697 Santa Rosa Way, Assessor's Parcel No. 627-102-024, with Landmark Designation, in
accordance with Palm Desert Municipal Code Section 29.40.010. Motion was seconded by Kelly
and carried by a 4-0 vote (AYES: Harnik, Kelly, Nestande, and Jonathan; NOES: None;
ABSENT: Weber).
XIII. REPORTS, REMARKS, SUCCESSOR AGENCY BOARD ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION
A. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
None
B. SUCCESSOR AGENCY COUNSEL
None
C. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY
None
XIV. ADJOURNMENT
With Successor Agency Board concurrence, G Air J q athan ad'ourned the meeting at
r �
5:31 p.m.
ATTEST:
RA HELLE D. KLASSENISECRETARY
SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE
PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
SAB
JONATHAN, CHAIR
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