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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Historic Preservation Committee 03-27-2006CITY OF PALM DESERT BUILDING & SAFETY DEPARTMENT INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM To: Rachelle Klassen, City Clerk From: Mary 7alr, irinistrative Secretary Date: April 26, 2006 Subject: Submission of Approved Minutes for the Historic Preservation Committee Meeting March 27, 2006 Attached is a copy of March 27, 2006 minutes of the Historic Preservation Committee approved by the Committee on April 24, 2006. Please include on the next City Council agenda. Thank you Attachment G:\BldgSftyWlary ClarklWord dataftstoric Preservation CommtteelMinutes\Men:o Minutes for City Council.dot CITY OF PALM DESERT HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 27, 2006 Administrative Conference Room CALL TO ORDER Chair Kent Routh called the meeting of the Historic Preservation Committee to order at 10:00 a.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Gale Broeker Jan Holmlund Kim Housken Bob Pitchford Kent Routh Jim West Absent: Bonnie Bowie Vera Handley (alternate) Also Present: Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety Hal Rover, President Historical Society Mary Clark, Recording Secretary III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Committee Member Jan Holmlund moved to accept the minutes of the February 27, 2006 meeting with a note that Alternate Committee Member Vera Handley was given permission by the Committee to speak to the Administrator or President of C.O.D. or California State University, San Bernardino. Committee Member Jim West seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved 6-0. IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS A. CHAIR REPORT — Chair Kent Routh indicated that if Committee members need to represent the Historic Preservation Committee at meetings or functions they should contact him. However because of time considerations, if he or another member is not available, he will support participation. B. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT 1. Committee Member Jim West indicated that the City of Palm Desert walking tour book is coming together, and he passed around copies of proposed pages for the book. 2. Committee Member Jim West said that the second showing of "Desert Utopia" was almost a complete sellout. He pointed out that Council GAB1dgSfty\Mary Clark\Word data\Historic Preservation Committee\Minutes\Minutes032706.doc 1 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Minutes MARCH 27, 2006 Members and Planning staff from the City of Palm Springs and Council Members from Cathedral City were in attendance, which is significant. Mr. West commented that he had discussed the possibility of a third showing in Palm Desert on a non -City Council day. There was discussion by the Committee Members about various locations in Palm Desert as possibilities for the showing i.e. Palme d'Or Theater, Palm Desert City Council Chambers, or California State Palm Desert Campus. Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety, indicated he would check to see if the Council Chambers could support the showing of this film prior to the Committee's workshop. This item will be discussed in more detail at the Historic Preservation Committee's April Workshop. 3. Committee Member Jim West said that in February 2005 the first top 10 list was established. At the July 25, 2005 meeting an updated top 10 list was provided. Mr. West said that a topic for the April Workshop should be submissions --deciding how many, which ones, and how they should be submitted. That will immediately dictate formalizing the passage. In addition, during the time before the ordinance update, how does the Committee deal with anyone who might come to the Committee with a property that wants to be recognized as a historic site. 4. Committee Member Jim West said he would like to make as a matter of record that 46311 Goldenrod was a house that was just added to the list for research purposes, and in January 2006 it was demolished. He does have a photograph of this property and it was on the list for a college tour. He pointed out that because a site is on the list does not protect it or ensure that there will be discussion. In addition, the Harry Cannon house at 72925 Shadow Mountain is for sale and is selected to be featured in the tour book. The Walter White house at 72705 Hedgehog. The Ritter house located at 73345 Juniper recently added a garage on the east side, and the house was painted brown. The Hopalong Cassidy home has changed realtors. Mr. West said the point is that even if it is on the list it can be vulnerable. 5. Committee Member Jan Holmlund said that tracking requests through the City and other City departments is another important topic to discuss at the April Workshop. C. INDIVIDUAL COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS 1. Committee Member Jan Holmlund, on behalf of Committee Member Vera Handley, indicated that Ms. Handley met with the Administrator of California State University San Bernardino, and she provided a list of concerns. Ms. Handley will provide a full report at the next regular meeting. 2. Committee Member Kim Housken pointed out that the City of Palm Desert Building Department had been nominated as the best Department in the GABldgSfty\Mary Clark\Word data\Historic Preservation Committee\Minutes\Minutes032706.doc. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Minutes MARCH 27, 2006 State, and she wondered the status of that nomination. Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety, said that we were the runner-up. The Committee congratulated the Department. 3. Committee Member Kim Housken asked for an update on the Palm Desert Lodge. Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety, said that the Committee's recommendation, along with an appeal from the owner, went to City Council on March 23, 2006. However, the attorney representing the owner requested that the item be continued to a future meeting because the Attorney Tom Slovak could not be present. This item will be heard at the April 27, 2006 City Council meeting. V. OLD BUSINESS A. Report on Request for Consultant — Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety said that he has met with Council and the City Attorney and they are in support of hiring a consultant. He has selected the prospective consultant and provided them with more information in order to obtain a final cost. Then a contract will be written and sent to the City Council for approval. In addition, he indicated he has asked the consultant to also consider working on the Mills Act and how it would relate to the ordinance. Mr. Hamidzadeh said he hoped to have it to the City Council within the next few weeks. B. College of the Desert Campus Changes — Committee Member Kim Housken indicated that she attended the meeting on March 21, 2006. She said they talked about replacing the gymnasium with a combination fitness center. Because it is in a later phase there may not be enough money for it and they may have to rely on donations. Ms. Housken said she would like to do further research on the gymnasium. The next meeting is April 18, 2006, in the Library Community Room. Chair Kent Routh said he might attend the April meeting. Committee Member Jim West asked if the City was interested in obtaining copies of the plans that are in the COD archives, as discussed at an earlier meeting. After discussion, Committee Members Kim Housken and Bob Pitchford will work on contacting the architect. Committee Member Jim West encouraged the Committee members to visit 45350 San Luis Rey, which is a good example of adaptive reuse. C. Joint Venture with Palm Desert Historical Society and Historic Preservation Committee regarding recognition for historic remodeling. Chair Kent Routh said that he has contacted San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Diego but he has not heard back from any of them. He does have information from Sonoma. It was determined that Tucson, AZ would be another good contact. Mr. Routh indicated that this would probably be a fall project. G:\BldgSfty\Mary Clark\Word data\Historic Preservation Committee\Minutes\Minutes032706.doc. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Minutes MARCH 27, 2006 VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Mills Act — Action Item Motion: Committee Member Jan Holmlund moved that the Mills Act be adopted by the City of Palm Desert. Committee Member Jim West seconded the motion. It was approved unanimously 6-0. Committee Member Jan Holmlund indicated that the City Council received a copy of the Mills Act at the Study Session, and Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety has recommended that the consultant identify the way the Mills Act can be integrated into the City Ordinance. Committee Member Jim West commented that the Mills Act does not solve all problems for all people, but it is one of many very good tools. B. Committee Member Jan Holmlund asked if the map that was given to the Committee Members could be mounted on a foam board and brought to each meeting because it is a good reference tool. C. Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety, said that the City Council recognized the amount of work that the Historic Preservation Committee does; however, a new position to support the Committee initially was not approved. Mr. Hamidzadeh indicated that he planned to discuss it one more time with the City Manager. Committee Member Kim Housken suggested that perhaps the position could be shared with the Planning Department. D. Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety, said that he is considering individual memberships to the California Preservation Foundation and National Trust for Historic Preservation; however, he wanted to make sure that it would be all right with each member to have them sent to their residences. The members agreed that sending them to their homes would be the best. Committee Member Jan Holmlund said that another Department membership to consider is the American Association for State and Local History. VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Hal Rover, President, City of Palm Desert Historical Society, said that the Ed Mullins picnic was good with a good turnout and a nice cross section of historical people, and firefighters were honored. Mr. Rover asked Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety, about the process regarding fagade enhancements and how they go to architectural review. Mr. Hamidzadeh indicated that these projects begin with the Redevelopment Agency, and ARC is part of Planning Department review. Building and Safety is the last stop for building permits. Mr. Rover said the three GAB1dgSfty\Mary ClarklWord data\Historic Preservation Committee\Minutes\Minutes032706.doc. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Minutes MARCH 27, 2006 facade enhancements that are going to ARC are: 73730 El Paseo, 74320 Highway 111, and 73280 Highway 111. X. CONFIRM NEXT MEETING DATE AND ADJOURN The Historic Preservation Committee's next workshop is Friday, April 21, 2006, 10:00 a.m., Council Chambers Conference Room The Historic Preservation Committee's next regular meeting is Monday, April 24, 2006, 10:00 a.m., Administrative Conference Room. Chair Kent Routh adjourned the meeting at 11:20 a.m. G:\BldgSfty\Mary Clark\Word data\Historic Preservation Committee\Minutes\Minutes032706.doc. 5