HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee - Historic Preservatiton Committee 02-27-2007 �'��-� CITY OF PALM DESERT
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BUILDING & SAFETY DEPARTMENT
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
To: Rachells Klassen, City Clerk
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From: Suzanne Cicchini, Administrative Secretary
Date: March 27, 2007
Subject: Submission oi Approved M{nutes for the Historic Preservation
Committee Meeting February 27, 2007
Attached is a copy of February 27, 2007 minutes of the Historic Preservation Committee
approved by the Committee on March 27, 2007. Please inc{ude on the next City
Council agenda.
Thank you
Attachment
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CITY OF PALM DESERT
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� � HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
MINUTES
FEBRUARY 27, 2007
Council Chambers Conference Room
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kim Housken called the meeting of the Historic Preservation Committee to
order at 10:08 a.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Present: Absent:
Bonnie Bowie None
Gale Broeker
Kim Housken
Jan Holmlund
Bob Pitchford
Kent Routh
Vera Handley
Don Graybill, Alternate
Also Present:
Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safery
Barbara Walker, Temporary Recording Secretary
Suzanne Cicchini, Recording Secretary
Hal Rover, President, Historical Society
K Kaufman, Reporter, The Desert Sun
Note: Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety introduced the new
permanent Administrative Secretary, Suzanne Cicchini. He announced that he
would be recommending the addition of another position for council to consider for
this committee. This person would also provide assistance in the Building and �
Safety Department.
111. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Committee Member Kent Routh moved to approve the minutes of the January 30,
2007 meeting with the typo correction noted for the spelling on Committee
Member pon Graybill's name. Committee Member, Vera Handley seconded the
motion. It received unanimous approval 8-0.
IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
A. CHAIR REPORT
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
Minutes FEBRUARY 27, 2007
1 . Chair Kim Housken reported on the upcoming CEQA Conference to be
held at the Palm Springs Art Museum on Friday, March 30, 2007.
Committee Member Kent Routh inquired whether the committee had a
membership. Kim responded that the membership is with the California
Preservation Foundation. Committee Members Kent Routh, Jan
Holmlund, Gale Broeker, and Bonnie Bowie expressed an interest in
attending.
2. Chair Kim Housken noted that two membership renewals were coming
up. The California Preservation Foundation and the National Trust for
Historic Preservation. The information was given to Barbara Walker and
Suzanne Cicchini to follow up on. Director of Building and Safety, Amir
Hamidzadeh inquired about group membership for these organizations,
that would include his staff. The committee was not sure if staff was
included. Suzanne Cicchini, new Administrative Secretary, Building
and Safety Department will give the organizations a call to find out.
3. Chair Kim Housken reported that the California Preservation
Conference is coming up May 3 — 6, 2007, in Hollywood. The subject of
this conference will be modernism. April 2, 2007 is the deadline for
early registration.
4. Chair Kim Housken reported to the committee that she spoke with
Rachelle Klaussen, Ciry Clerk and she confirmed that study sessions
are not considered meetings. Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building
and Safery said he had checked that with her also.
5. Chair Kim Housken noted that out of twelve meetings a year, two
meetings could be missed without any reason given. Committee
Member Vera Handley noted that the third missed meeting is
considered an absence. In extraordinary circumstances, such as
member hospitalization due to illness, serving on jury duty, military
service, or specified deaths in the family, the committee can seek City
Council approval exception. The committee cannot grant this exception.
6. Chair Kim Housken offered for consideration, the possibility that the
committee might consider reviewing the General Plan and how it applies
to the committee and the areas of focus, possibly during the next
workshop.
B. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
1. Committee Member Jan Holmiund gave copies of a draft letter for City
Council. She recommended the members read it and comment. The
Committee reviewed the letter. Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building
and Safety asked Barbara Walker to prepare the letter for delivery to
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HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
Minutes FEBRUARY 27, 2007
City Council. Hal Rover, President, Historical Society commented that
he thought it was a great letter and that other cities are addressing the
issue of saving artifacts and collecting things. Committee Member Jan
Holmlund's concern is the fact that there is no place to store artifacts. A
discussion regarding the status of the City of La Quinta's Cultural Center
commenced and Chair Kim Housken suggested the committee look into
what stage the project is in now.
2. Committee Member, Kent Routh reported on the status of the
homeowner letters. Casey Tibbet, LSA Consultants, provided a sample
mailer and materials from the City of Pomona. The City of Pomona was
considering recruiting local residents to see if they wanted a historical
district. The materials indicated the further steps needed. Resource
material information was included. Committee Member Kent Routh will
send for a book mentioned in the materials. He gave the materials to
Chair Kim Housken so she and other committee members could
determine whether or not this would provide a good model for the
committee. Committee Member Jan Holmlund suggested that a thank
you note should be sent to Casey Tibbet from the committee.
C. INDIVIDUAL COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORT
1. Colleqe of the Desert Campus Changes Uqdates - Chair Kim Housken
attended the meeting. Updates were provided. The ring road at the North
end is closed. The next meeting is Tuesday, March 20, 2007 in the North
Annex. It will not be located in the library.
2. 100-Year-Old Tree Uqdate - Committee Member Vera Handley provided
an update. College of the Desert no longer employs the person who used
to conduct a COD Foundation Landscaping Tour. The person she spoke
with did not know where the tree was located. He suggested that a
cottonwood tree on campus might be the one but Committee Member
Vera Handley said she would check that further. A discussion
commenced regarding whether a cottonwood tree was native to the
desert and Bob Pitchford commented that there are many trees that
exceed 100 years old.
V. OLD BUSINESS
A. Business Cards for Committee Members Uqdate — Amir Hamidzadeh ,
Director of Building and Safety, reported that Business Cards would
definitely not be provided for the committee members. It was his
understanding that cards generated by the members themselves would
not be allowed either. Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety,
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HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
Minutes FEBRUARY 27, 2007
indicated that only nametags would be allowed. He discussed badges
with Human Resources and they were against badges and also said no to
business cards. Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety
reported that no other committees are permitted to have or print their own
cards. Committee member, Jan Holmlund suggested that if the
committee is serious about this matter that they have a duty to officially
speak to Assistant City Manager for Community Services, Sheila Gilligan,
and see if she could speak to City Council about it. Amir Hamidzadeh,
Director of Building and Safety, will speak to Sheila Gilligan, Assistant City
Manager for Community Services about it.
B. Ordinance/Mills Act Uqdate — Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and
Safety prepared a draft revision of the Ordinance. Amir Hamidzadeh
emailed a copy of the draft revised Ordinance to Casey Tibbet of LSA
Associates. He told her not to act on it because the committee members
had not reviewed it. He asked that the committee members look at it and
respond with comments or questions. Phil Drell, the former Director of
Planning reviewed it with no comments, however, this ordinance has also
been forwarded to Steve Smith, Acting Planning Director. Amir
Hamizadeh, Director of Building and Safety definitely wanted The
Planning Department to have a chance to provide input on this draft.
Director of Building and Safery, Amir Hamidzadeh would like to invite
Casey Tibbet to help finalize this so it can go before City Council.
Committee Member Jan Holmlund inquired about how soon this matter
might come before the Council. Director of Building and Safety, Amir
Hamidzadeh stated that he would like to finalize this as soon possible.
Committee Member Jan Holmlund inquired about a copy of a
memorandum from the City Attorney under "Definitions" and wanted to
know it was included. Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safery
stated that it was. Discussion commenced regarding the possibility
whether Casey Tibbet could come to the workshop scheduled for March
16, 2007.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
A. Bus Tour - Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety stated that
he spoke with Wilma Michelson, Secretary to the City Council about some
tentative dates in March and into April. Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of
Building and Safety suggested about two hours for the tour and one and a
half hours for the movie, or four hours for both. Chair Kim Housken
inquired about the status of the movie, Desert Utopia. Amir Hamidzadeh
agreed to obtain the movie. Committee Member Jan Holmlund brought an
article about Candice Bergen from Architectural Digest, issue dated
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HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
Minutes FEBRUARY 27, 2007
October 19, 1999. She thought that perhaps Committee Member Kent
Routh might be able to contact the actress to tell her that the committee is
very interested in her childhood home and see if she would like to join us
on the tour. Committee Member, Kent Routh told the committee that he
would check into that. Chair Kim Housken suggested that the Historial
Society could conduct a phone interview. Committee Member Kent Routh
commented that he saw that Palm Springs had a bus tour last week and
the cost was $75.00. It was for Modernism Week. Committee Member
Jan Holmlund mentioned that Henry C. Trost, be considered as a noted
architect who may have done work in Palm Desert. Discussion
commenced about other noteworthy homes that might be considered for
the Bus Tour. Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety
Department suggested that a map could be done of the sites for the Bus
Tour. This would be given to Council so that they will know what sites are
on the tour. Committee Member Jan Holmlund inquired whether a city van
would be available if the 24-seat bus was inadequate. Amir Hamidzadeh,
Director of Building and Safety stated that this van could be available for
city staff and volunteers and the public could follow in their own vehicles.
VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Hal Rover, Historical Society reminded the committee about an exhibit being held
on the College of the Desert Campus. It's in the Marks Museum now through
March 30, 2007. Hal mentioned that there is a John Hilton painting at the
Historical Society. He also noted the passing of Iva Snook, 102-year-old,
longtime resident in Cahuilla Hills. Committee Member Jan Holmlund noted that
she had a copy of the obituary of the 102-year-old resident and offered it to the
committee. She noted that she also has John Hilton's daughter's name and
address. She noted that his daughter has further collections of John Hilton's work
and prints. She noted the painting at the Historical Society needs to be restored.
She noted that he was a remarkable man and his paintings are very worthwhile in
terms of early Coachella Valley history and suggested the idea of a future exhibit.
Chair Kim Housken asked if the committee could talk to Richard Twedt about an
agreement between the Historic Society and the City to restore the John Hilton
painting so it could be displayed publicly. Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building
and Safety thought that it would be a fantastic idea. Chair Kim Housken requested
that Hal Rover contact Richard Twedt about the idea. More discussion
commenced regarding art exhibits.
VIII. CONFIRM NEXT MEETING DATES AND ADJOURN
The Workshop Meeting was confirmed for Friday, March 16, 2007, 10:00 a.m. —
12:00 p.m., Council Chambers Conference Room.
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HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
Minutes FEBRUARY 27, 2007
The Regular Meeting is Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 9:00 a.m., Administrative
Conference Room.
Chair Kim Housken adjourned the meeting at 11:28 a.m.
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