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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHIST PRESV CMTE - 03/27/07 � `_'� j �'�'� CITY OF PALM DESERT � � BUILDING & SAFETY DEPARTMENT . INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM To: Rachelle Klassen, City Clerk �� From: Suzanne Cicchini, Administrative Secretary Date: April 24, 2007 Subject: Submission of Approved Minutes for the Historic Preservation Committee Meeting March 27, 2007 Attached is a copy of March 27, 2007 minutes of the Historic Preservation Committee approved by the Committee on April 24, 2007. Please include on the next City Council agenda. Thank you Attachment G:�&tlgSfty�Suzanne Cicchini�Word Files�Histonc Preservation Committee�MemaCity Clerk•Minutes.doc CITY OF PALM DESERT �-�---� � � HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMIITEE MINUTES MARCH 27, 2007 Administrative Conference Room I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Kim Housken called the meeting of the Historic Preservation Committee to order at 9:04 a.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Absent: Gale Broeker Bonnie Bowie Kim Housken Jan Holmlund - Arrived 9:54 a.m. Bob Pitchford Kent Routh Vera Handley Don Graybill, Alternate Also Present: Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety Hal Rover, President, Historical Society Suzanne Cicchini, Recording Secretary Stan Smith Greg Scrivens Elaine Schultz K Kaufman, Reporter, The Desert Sun Note: Committee Member, Vera Handley requested clarification on the pronunciation of Administrative Secretary, Suzanne Cicchini's last name. It is pronounced: Ch-kee-ney. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Committee Member Kent Routh moved to approve the minutes of the February 27, 2007, as written. Committee Member, Vera Handley seconded the motion. It received unanimous approval 7-0. IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Note: Chair, Kim Housken announced that there were two members of the public waiting to provide presentations to the Committee. With Committee concurrence, the presentations commenced ahead on the agenda before G:�BIdgSftylSuzanne CicchinilWord Files\Historic Preservation Committee\Minutes032707.doc 1 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Minutes MARCH 27, 2007 the Chair report. Please see Agenda Item Vil for information regarding these presentations. A. CHAIR REPORT 1. Chair Kim Housken announced that the CEQA Conference is this Friday March 30, 2007. Discussion commenced about the conference. There will be a reception at the Kaufmann house after the conference. 2. Chair Kim Housken reported that the California Preservation Conference is coming up May 3 — 6, 2007, in Hollywood. She emphasized the need to get the early registrations in by April 2, 2007. Discussion commenced regarding the conference. She was hoping that Committee members could attend different parts of it, specifically, Adaptive Reuse and Modernism. Committee Member Gale Broeker inquired if the City would pay for the registration and hotel for this conference. Director of Building and Safety Amir Hamidzadeh confirmed that these expenses would be paid by The City of Palm Desert. 3. Form 700, The Conflict of Interest form is due April 2, 2007. Please complete the forms and submit them to Rachelle Klassen, City Clerk. 4. Chair Kim Housken called Louise Neely with the La Quinta Historical Society and learned the City bought the lot surrounding their two-story building. The City is anticipating groundbreaking and expects to be in the building in about 14-15 months. She said it was her understanding that the Historical Society of Palm Desert has also sent a letter to the Council regarding a Cultural Center. B. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS 1. Chair Kim Housken announced that there is a Subcommittee Meeting today scheduled with Casey Tibbet, LSA Consultants, and Committee Members Gale Broeker, Jan Holmlund and Kent Routh to discuss the Mills Act. Committee Member Jan Holmlund requested that the ordinance be passed as quickly as possible because she felt that people were becoming frustrated. Chair Kim Housken concurred with that. 2. Committee Member Vera Handley commented that she spoke with Lisa May. She was ill all last year, which was the reason she didn't respond. She gave a lot of material to the Architectural Committee at The Universiry of California at Los Angeles. Committee Member Vera Handley will call and ask for Martin Phelps in that department to see if he can locate the material and if located, Committee Member Vera G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne CicchinlWord Files\Historic Preservation Committee\Minutes032707.doc. 2 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Minutes MARCH 27, 2007 Handley will request copies. Lisa May hopes that if we receive a copy, she would appreciate a copy as well. Lisa May now lives in Camarillo, California. Committee Member Vera Handley will report her findings to the Committee. If she is unavailable, Committee Member Kent Routh will assist her with this. Chair Kim Housken noted that there are no updates on houses at this time. C. INDIVIDUAL COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORT 1. Colleqe of the Desert Camqus Changes Updates - Committee Member Kent Routh attended the Bond Issue Master Plan Sequence Meeting and indicated that it didn't really have issues related to the Historic Preservation Committee. It was a monetary meeting. It didn't involve what they are tearing down or what they are building. The problem is that costs are running considerably higher each year than the original estimates. The next meeting is the third Tuesday of the month, April 16, 2007. Committee Member Kent Routh stated that he would cover that. The meeting location has changed from the Library to the North Annex. Parking is nearby. The meetings are kept to an hour. Committee Member Vera Handley commented that Jerry Patton complimented Committee Member Kent Routh on his attendance and diligence. Committee Member Jan Holmlund noted there were two houses at College of the Desert. There was the O'Dell house and a second house that was about 2,500 square feet. This house was built before the O'Dell house was built. No one knew what happened to the smaller house. Committee Member Jan Holmlund inquired about the official spelling of the name O'Dell. She has noted it spelled different ways. No one knew the official spelling, but various ways to discover it were discussed. Committee Member Jan Holmlund requested that Committee Member Kent Routh follow up with the College of the Desert. 2. 100-Year-Old Tree Uqdate - Committee Member Vera Handley provided an update. The head of the Landscaping Department was not available for about another week. She will ask him where the cottonwood tree is. V. OLD BUSINESS A. Ordinance/Mills Act Uqdate - Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safery, provided an update. A Subcommittee Meeting is going to be held today. The City Attorney asked him for the most recent version of the draft ordinance and he provided it. Chair Kim Housken inquired about the blank page for enforcement of penalty section. Committee Member Jan G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne CicchinlWord Files\Historic Preservation Committee\Minutes032707.doc. 3 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Minutes MARCH 27, 2007 Holmlund inquired about the strike out of the word "Commission" and why it was exchanged with "Committee." Committee Member Jan Holmlund disagreed that this didn't fit in with what the ordinance says. Director of Building and Safety, Amir Hamidzadeh noted that this body is providing recommendations to the City Council, and that is why the word "Commission" was replaced with "Committee." He spoke with City staff and upper management regarding this and he is comfortable with their decision. Director of Building and Safety, Amir Hamidzadeh indicated that he knew that the City Council is to be the decision making body, and this body is to be an advisory body. Discussion commenced about the advisory process. Committee Member Jan Holmlund emphasized the need to resolve her concerns about decisional authority of this Committee. Director of Building and Safety, Amir Hamidzadeh contended that it was not the City Council's intent to take authority away from the Committee at all. That is why this Committee was created. However, the City Council still wants to be the final decision makers to determine whether a building has historic significance or not. Committee Member, Kent Routh concurred that the City Council does have the final word. Chair Kim Housken suggested that Casey Tibbet weigh in on this matter. Chair Kim Housken noted that the Committee is directed by the General Plan to consider participating in the Certified Local Government Program. She noted that the City of La Quinta is a Certified Local Government and they have a Historic Preservation Commission. Chair Kim Housken would like clarification whether or not a commission is required to participate as a Certified Local Government. B. Bus Tour - Discussion commenced regarding the Bus Tour of historic properties. The dates of April 19 and April 27, 2007 were under consideration. Chair Kim Housken suggested showing the movie on April 19tn and having the tour take place on April 27, 2007. Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety suggested the Committee consider having the tour and movie take place on the same day with a lunch prior to the tour. Chair Kim Housken recommended viewing the movie, Desert Utopia prior to the bus tour. Further discussion commenced on the various locations considered for the tour. Committee Member Jan Holmlund noted the need to set up a format for the handouts to be provided on the tour. The Committee discussed the items needed to be included. Committee Member Jan Holmlund suggested the use of a folder with pockets to hold the handouts. Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety requested copies of the format. Committee Member Jan Holmlund will provide a rough draft on each property and agreed to provide it to him. Director of Building and Safety Amir Hamidzadeh estimated 40-50 copies should be made. Committee Member pon Graybill will be providing the photos. It was suggested that a vintage photo could appear with a new G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne CicchinlWord Files\Historic Preservation Committee\Minutes032707.doc. 4 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Minutes MARCH 27, 2007 one. Chair Kim Housken requested clarification from Building and Safety Director, Amir Hamidzadeh on how it is determined whether a gathering of members is considered to be a meeting. He replied that any time four Committee Members meet it has to be posted as a meeting. VI. NEW BUSINESS None VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Director of Building and Safety, Amir Hamidzadeh presented Stan Smith, owner of property at: 73526 Ironwood Street, to the Committee. He is proposing to lengthen the garage space for his property� and make a minor change to the driveway approach. It was noted by Chair Kim Housken that the house is right across the street from the Shadow Mountain Fairway Cottages. Amir Hamidzadeh recommended that Mr. Smith be allowed to proceed with his project because he is not changing anything on the existing home. The Committee concurred with the recommendation. Director of Building and Safety, Amir Hamidzadeh presented Greg Scrivens to the Committee. He is in escrow on a property on Grapevine Street. He sought the Committee Members opinions on some of the ideas he has to modify the existing house and yard. He intends to keep most of the existing architecture of the house intact. The original architect, Committee Member, Bob Pitchford has been consulted in the planning of the proposed project. Mr. Scrivens hopes to incorporate the needs of his family while maintaining as much of the original character of the residence as possible. Committee Member Bob Pitchford had some concerns, but indicated that Mr. Scrivens has needs and those needs have to be met. Mr. Scrivens presented a Plan 1 and Plan 2 of the proposed revisions. A discussion commenced regarding the various proposed changes to the residence. Jan Holmlund mentioned that she and Don Graybill had visited the property and it was very nice. Committee Member Gale Broeker commented that she liked the idea of enclosing the carport area because there are existing driveways there and it would not require paving over additional land. Director of Building and Safety, Amir Hamidzadeh recommended the changes indicated on Plan 1. He recommended that Mr. Scrivens proceed with his proposal. Chair Kim Housken asked the Committee whether or not there was a consensus that they liked the direction the project was going. Committee Member Vera Handley indicated she wanted Chair Kim Housken's verbiage requesting consensus included in the minutes. Committee Member Kent Routh reiterated the consensus about feeling positive about the project. G:\BldgSfty�Suzanne CicchinlWord Files\Historic Preservation Committee\Minutes032707.doc. 5 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Minutes MARCH 27, 2007 Hal Rover announced that Cliff Henderson's house is to be sold and suggested that this might be a good subject for historic preservation. Discussion commenced about the house; more information is needed about it. Hal Rover reminded the committee about the Art Show at College of the Desert at the Walter N. Marks Center for the Arts. IYs from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. It closes Friday, March 30, 2007. Hal Rover passed cards describing the Exhibit to the committee. The Exhibit includes many fine early Desert Painters such as John Hilton and Maynard Dixon. Hal Rover also attended a lecture and shared his insights about Marshal South and the book, Ghost Mountain Chronicles. VIII. CONFIRM NEXT MEETING DATES AND ADJOURN The Workshop Meeting is tentatively scheduled for Friday, April 5, 2007 at 1 :00 p.m. Another Workshop Meeting is scheduled for Friday, April 20, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers Conference Room. The Regular Meeting is Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 10:00 a.m., Administrative Conference Room. The Bus Tour is tentatively scheduled for April 27, 2007. Chair Kim Housken adjourned the meeting at 11:08 a.m. G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne CicchinlWord Files\Historic Preservation Committee\Minutes032707.doc. 6