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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes - Landscape Beautification Committee 07-16-2008 �..i.wmrri. �-'��---� CITY OF PALM DESERT � MINUTES � � � _ LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING . Wednesday, July 16, 2008 — 11:30 a.m. Public Works Conference Room — Palm Desert Civic Center 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, California 92260 I. Call to Order 11:33 a.m. II. Roll Call Present: Absent: Chairman H. Spencer Knight ��TY C��IL ACTIOOrtega Vice-Chairman Lauri Aylaian.4��,pR�.�� Member Martin Atvarez �,��CEx��y� .._._ DENIED Member Homer Croy OTH�SR "'"'— Member Mark Greenwood ��=a'��''�'�'t��;�;,;��,;�— _,_ � Member Richard S. Kelly ''"'�-�E�� »� Member Connor Limont �'��°�� •--. Member Bob Spiegel '"�'�:�:''�� ---��- - Member Janis Steele ��'TN' "��— '�--- VERTFIED 33y: Orig3nal on File with Also Present: C�erk's Office; Diane Hollinger, Landscape Specialist Melissa Grisa, Assistant Planner Hart Ponder, Code Compliance Manager Bertha A. Gonzalez, Recording Secretary III. Oral Communications - Member Limont supplied a copy of an article that was recently published in the Press Enterprise regarding the proposed `Green Lien' program. This program will allow lenders and owners of repossessed properties to agree to a tax lien on the homes to keep the water meter turned on in order for the lawns to remain watered. Member Limont asked if the Committee should consider researching the proposed tax and compare it to what the City has in place. Member Aylaian informed the Committee that staff will research the program, compare it to the City's policy and report back to the Committee. . � APPROVED MII�UT'E� LANDSCRPE BEAUTIF{CATlON COMMITTEE July 16, 2Q08 - Member Spiegel asked for an update on the palm trees that are pushing against the sidewalk at Presidents Plaza. Member Knight informed the Committee that the project itself goes beyond the palm trees and Ryan Stendell, along with Martin Alvarez, is working with the whole parking structure. Staff will submit a report to the City Council in August regarding the alternatives and their respective cost. - Member Kelly asked for the status on the removal of the plants and rocks under the City Hall's parking cover. Member Kelly asked to expedite the project because people are continually walking through them and it can potentially become a safety hazard. Member Knight informed the Committee that the project will be completed within the next few days. IV. Consent Calendar A. MINUTES of the Regular Landscape Beautification Committee Meeting of Wednesday, June 18, 2008. Approve as presented. Upon a motion by H. Spencer Knight, second by Member Limont, and 9-0 vote of the Committee Board, the Consent Calendar was approved as presented. V. Consent Items Held Over None VI. New Business A. Chanqes in the Weed Abatement Policv and Procedures Member Aylaian presented the Committee with two competing concerns regarding the weed abatement policy: Weed Abatement and PM10 Dust Mitigation. Currently, Code Compliance responds to complaints regarding unmaintained yards and/or lots by requiring the property owner to perform a cleanup of their property and suggest to them to keep the native plant material. The properties owners will proceed with the cleanup by doing a complete weed removal, including native plant material, which in turn creates dust. Member Aylaian presented before and after photos from the Code Compliance archives of properties that have opted for this removal and asked for direction on how staff can ensure that only trash and weeds are removed and not native plant material. 2 . y AFf'ROVEQ MINUTES LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICF�TtON COMMITTEE July 16, 2008 Suggestions included: • Adopting a policy that will dictate property owners to keep the native plant material and mow at 3-4 inches above ground. • Provide them with information regarding natural dust control, their options and the consequences. • Publish an article in the Brightside Newsletter that included all of the abovementioned information. Concerns included: - Is it possible to mow at 3-4 inches of the ground if rocks are included? Yes. According to Chairman Knight there is a mower that will allow for this. - Are there any PM10 complaints? According to Member Greenwood, staff receives residential and north end complaints equally. Upon a motion from Member Kelly, second by Member Spiegel and a 9-0 vote of the Committee Board, staff was directed to draft a policy and return the item to the Committee. VII. Continued Business A. Monterey Avenue Median Art and Landscape Prolect As directed by the Committee at a previous meeting, staff lessened the formality of the design and decreased the plant material on some of the areas on the Monterey Landscape project. In addition and with the Committee's approval, Member Knight will recommend the landscape architect to lessen the mass planting in other areas and implement more plant integration. Member Kelly commented that although the plants were lessened in some areas, the symmetrical look was still present. Member Knight informed the Committee that the plants were kept symmetrical in these particular areas in order to prevent erosion. Upon a motion by Member Spiegel, second by Member Steele and an 8-1 vote from the Committee Board with Member Kelly opposing, the redesign was approved as presented. B. Council Chambers Atrium Landscape Renovation Concept Desiqn As requested by the Committee at previous meetings, Melissa Grisa, Assistant Planner for the City of Palm Desert, presented the Committee with a basic design concept of the Council Chambers Atrium Renovation and asked for suggestions from the Committee in order to move forward with the project. 3 APPROVED MINUTES LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE July 16, 2008 Highlights of the presentation included: - Water efficient landscaping - Installation of site lighting - Display of Palm Desert Sister Cities - Meeting space for receptions - Integrated, but private bench areas - Fixture replacement: bike rack, trash/recycle cans, and signage - Natural paths of travel - Overhead glass shade structure - 8 feet high berms Concerns included: - Missing a focal point; needs more of a vertical element - The bike rack needs to be excluded, if iYs not functional - Misters will distract from the ambience; therefore, they need to also be excluded - Concerns with the glass cover; staining, durability, heat - Suggestion to present the project in two phases was discussed and dismissed; the project needs to be presented as a whole. - Include art as a component to the design - Consider who will be passing through: skaters, children, teenagers - Signage for direction on the City Hall layout - The Administrative Conference Room's patio needs to be left as is The Committee liked the overall project, but suggested for staff to consult with other departments and/or the Art Manager, Richard Twedt, develop the concept further and return item to the Committee. No motion required. VIII. Old Business None IX. Reports and Remarks Entrada del Paseo's Eric Johnson Phase II Project has been completed and staff is planning on doing a grand opening after the summer. 4 APPROVED MINUTE s LA�lDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATIUtJ GOMMlTTEE July 16, 2008 X. Rdjournment With no further business or discussion, and Landscape Beautification Committee Board concurrence, the meeting was adjourned at 12:20 p.m. �� H. pen r K ' t, Landscape Manager ATTEST: � �: ertha A. o a ez ecordi ecretary Landscape eauti ication C mmittee 5