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Home My WebLink AboutPA4 Cmte - 03/14/08 ', ,�,«� �� PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY � � MEMORANDUM TO: RACHELLE KLASSEN, CITY CLERK �� FROM: BETH LONGMAN, SENIOR OFFICE ASSISTANT �� DATE: MAY 20, 2008 SUBJECT: SUBMISSION OF MINUTES FOR THE CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT AREA NO. 4 Attached is a copy of the approved Minutes from the March 17, 2008, meeting of the Project Area No. 4 Committee. Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional information. Thank you. bl Attachment (as noted) ;:ITY COUNCIL �aCTION: APPROVED � p��D RECEIVED � �.,.� ��`°�i�,;.�,��>�,. 'M��T T N GP:T�, -1 a_� �.:��-�.� I�aYES: ` ��;��r� ��n� N�ES: ''�"�— �,:�..�v«..�,�� Ass�rrx: ; aABSTAIdN:��,,�,� �� 77E�tIr I�D E'_j° , . �.�� — , :�rit��r�l ��:.�� '�_7.�s ��7�':i� �`;..�_�r �ler.k's Offi�E. G:1rdalBeth LongmanlCommitteeslPA#41Minute Trensmittal.doc PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY �� CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR � PROJECT AREA NO. 4 MINUTES '�� . . March 17, 2008 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Campbell called a regufar meeting to order on Monday, March 17, 2008, at 3:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Members Present: Members Absent: Charles Ash Harry Church Fred Benford Sherry Trevor Russ Campbell Jane Daugherty Robert Duncan Roberta Grubb Douglas Luhring Susan McMillen Also Present: Martin Alvarez, Redevelopment Manager Lauri Aylaian, Director of Planning Mark Diercks, P.E., �ransportation Engineer Mark Greenwood, Director of Public Works Phyllis Harkins, Palm Desert Country Club Association Dick Kelly, Councilmember Beth Longman, Recording Secretary Janet Moore, Director of Housing Arla Scott, Senior Financial Analyst Bob Spiegel, Councilmember Johnny Terfehr, Code Compliance Officer Catherine Walker, Senior Management Analyst Dave Yrigoyen, Director of RedevelopmenUHousing CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT AREA NO. 4 MINUTES March 17, 2007 III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Member Benford stated that he had contacted the City because the street sign for Tennessee Avenue on Fred Waring is hidden by the new wall. He was told that in conjunction with Indian Wells, a sign would be placed in the median indicating the location of Tennessee Avenue. Mark Diercks stated that he is preparing a work order for this sign and it will take a few weeks to process. Member Daugherty commented that there is a white sign obscuring the stop sign at Florida after turning onto Tennessee Avenue from Fred Waring. Mark Diercks commented that the white sign will be removed. Beth Longman asked if any of the committee members had changed their resident addresses within the last year. No members present had changed their add�ess. She also reported that for those members who had not yet taken the Ethics Training, there are two sessions being offered at City Hall on April 11, 2008. If anyone was interested they should contact her for the particulars. Chairman Campbell noted that since this is the first meeting of 2008 election of officers needed to take place, and he opened the floor for nominations. Member Ash nominated Russ Campbell for Chairman and was seconded by Member Benford. No other nominations were made. Member Ash called for the Recording Secretary to cast a unanimous ballot for Russ Campbell as Chairman for 2008. Chairman Campbell opened the floor for nominations for Vice Chair. Member Ash nominated Fred Benford and was seconded by Chairman Campbell. No other nominations were made. Chairman Campbell called for the Recording Secretary to cast a unanimous ballot for Fred Benford as Vice Chair for 2008. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT AREA NO. 4 MEETING OF OCTOBER 15, 2007. MOTION made by Member Duncan, seconded by Member Luhring, and unanimously carried, that the Minutes of the October 15, 2007, meeting be approved. G trda\Beth Longman\Commiltees\PA/i4�Nlinutes�2008 MinulesWlinutes 031708.doc 2 CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT AREA NO. 4 MINUTES March 17, 2007 V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None VI. NEW BUSINESS None VII. CONTINUED BUSINESS None VIII. OLD BUSINESS None IX. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS A. UPDATE ON STOP SIGN AT NEW YORK AVENUE AND CALIFORNIA AVENUE Mark Diercks stated that they have been waiting for the Palm Desert Country Club to finalize their golf cart circulation plan. However, due to delays in the implementation of such a plan, a work order has been initiated for the City to install the sign. California Avenue is scheduled to be slurry coated within the next month and following that work, the stop sign will be installed and the street markings will be painted. He expects it to be completed within the next six weeks. B. UPDATE ON UTILITY UNDERGROUNDING Arla Scott reported that the City Council approved engineering deposits for Southern California Edison and Verizon. The Verizon deposit has been made, and the agreements from SCE have been received and signed and their check is in process. Member Ash asked what happens once the engineering is completed. Ms. Scott replied that the engineering costs are then allocated by an assessment engineer to each home as appropriate including a specific amount identified for the clubhouse. Member Ash asked how the allocation will work in regard to the association. Ms. Scott stated that the clubhouse would be conside�ed commercial and she is not certain how the association would be treated. She also noted that there are some apartment complexes that would probably be viewed differently by the assessment engineer. G:Uda\Beth Longman\Committees\PA#4Vvlmutes�2008 MinutesV�Ainutes 031708 doc 3 CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT AREA NO. 4 MINUTES March 17, 2007 Member Ash asked when they should go to the homeowners to get approval to establish an assessment district. Dave Yrigoyen stated that a presentation would be made to the homeowners once the preliminary numbers are received. At that point the homeowners will begin the process to petition the City Council to form an assessment district. Approval by 70 percent of the homeowners is needed in order to petition the City Council. If that threshold is met, the City Council will authorize staff to begin the process of forming an assessment district. In order for the assessment district to actually be formed, it must receive approval by 51 percent of the homeowners. Councilmember Spiegel noted that his neighborhood has recently been through the undergrounding process. The cost is based on the size of the lot and can either be paid immediately, or it can be amortized over a period of time and paid along with the real estate taxes. Member Ash asked if the cost is less if you pay immediately. Ms. Scott replied that it would be slightly less than the cost spread over time. Member Ash asked if Time Warner was also included. Ms. Scott replied that Time Warner is handled differently because of their contract with the City, but there will be no additional cost and those lines will also be undergrounded. Member Ash then inquired about any difference in cost for properties that already have underground utilities from the street to the house. Councilmember Spiegel replied that this is taken into consideration. Member Grubb asked who gathers the petitions. Member Ash stated that the association will gather signatures within the association, but he asked who is responsible for contacting the homeowners who are not part of the association. Ms. Scott stated that the City cannot solicit signatures for a petition. Councilmember Spiegel noted that although he does not live in an association there was a number of people in his neighborhood who wanted the undergrounding so they solicited the neighborhood. He recommends that a neighborhood committee be established to work with the City in developing the petition. C. UPDATE ON DEMOLITION OF COUNTRY VILLAGE APARTMENTS Martin Alvarez provided an update on the Country Village Apartments site, which includes Casey's Restaurant and the adjacent vacant land known as the Hill property. He reported that they are currently in negotiations with the owners of Casey's Restaurant to sell them the portion of the property on which the restaurant is located, and to develop a plan to provide significant upgrades to the building and the site. There are also plans to upgrade the median area to create a better gateway into the Palm Desert County Club area. G:\rda\Beth Longman\Committees\PA#4Udinutes�2008 MinutesVvlinutes 031708 doc 4 CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT AREA NO. 4 MINUTES March 17, 2007 The 66-unit Country Village Apartments are primarily vacant. Staff is working on a relocation plan to provide relocation assistance to the remaining 13 tenants when and if the City Council authorizes redevelop of the site. Recent meetings with both the City Council and the Housing Commission have resulted in the Redevelopment Agency being given direction to determine the feasibility of providing affordable senior housing on the apartment site and the adjacent Hifl property. The plan would also include setting aside approximately one acre for a future fire station/paramedic facility. If approval is received, demolition plans would be formulated and site planning would begin. The demolition would provide for recycling of building materials, which will extend the demolition process. Dave Yrigoyen stated that a report will be presented to the City Council requesting authorization to begin drawing up demolition plans. Member Ash asked if it were fairly certain that the site would be used for affordable senior housing. Mr. Alvarez replied that the direction that has been given is to investigate the feasibility of affordable senior housing for this site. The site is compatible with this type of use given the proximity of services such as health care, shopping, and public transpo�tation. Member Ash stated that he has heard concerns voiced about this type of use for the property. Councilmember Spiegel noted that the City's affordable housing is attractive and well done and something the community can be proud of. Member Grubb asked about the specific plans as they refate to Casey's Restaurant. Mr. Alvarez responded that the plans are to sell the property to the restaurant owners who would retain the building and improve the site through fa�ade enhancement, interior renovation, and landscaping upgrades. Councilmember Kelly commented that the City thinks it is a very popular and valuable asset to the community and it should be retained. Member Ash asked what became of the plan that was previously presented by the Palm Desert Country Club owners. Lauri Aylaian responded that the owners have presented a much reduced plan including only the property they own. Preliminary discussions are underway. X. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON/MEMBERS Member Daugherty noted that she has repeatedly requested a resolution to the dangerous golf cart crossings in the Palm Desert Country Club area and asked if anything was currently being done. Mr. Yrigoyen noted that the golf cart circulation plan was one of the G�rdal8eth LongmanlCommitteeslPA#4Vdinutes12008 MinutesVvlinulas 031708 tloc 5 CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT AREA NO. 4 MINUTES March 17, 2007 deficiencies noted in the last inspection of the Palm Desert Country Club. Public Works has been working with the country club owners to develop an acceptable plan, but nothing has yet been finalized. Member Ash noted that in a recent conversation he had with Arla Scott, there was to have been an accredited traffic engineer developing a plan; but the country club owners have told him that it is too expensive to use a traffic engineer and they are not doing anything with a golf cart circulation plan at this time. Mr. Yrigoyen stated that letters have been sent to the country club owners by the City's legal counsel and we should see what happens through those efforts. Councilmembers Kelly and Spiegel said that this should item be placed on the next agenda and that a representative from the country club owners who can knowledgably address the issue be in attendance. B. AGENGY BOARD LIAISONS None C. PLANNING COMMISSION LIAISON Dave Yrigoyen noted that Mari Schmidt is the new Planning Commission Liaison. She was out of town and unable to attend the meeting. D. STAFF None XI. ADJOURNMENT The next meeting is scheduled for April 21, 2008, at 3:00 p.m. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:35 p.m. ' �� Beth Longman,. ecording Secretary G�da�Beth Longman\Comm�Uees1PA it4Vv11nutes�2008 MinutesWlinutes 031708.doc 6