The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutLNDSCP BTFCTN CMTE - 02/20/08 � CITY OF PALM DESERT �� MINUTES - LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING � � Wednesday, February 20, 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 11:30 a.m. II. Roll Call � U Present: Absent: � w Chairman H. Spencer Knight Member Martin Alvarez � O Vice-Chairman Lauri Aylaian Member Homer Croy �, Member Richard S. Kelly Member Mark Greenwood � Member Connor Limont �' Member Carlos L. Ortega '� � U Member Bob Spiegel A Member Janis Steele H W � W H � Also Present: A o � �- Diane Hollinger, Landscape Specialist � ' �� - .�,�' Hart Ponder, Code Compliance Manager H , � � � Bertha A. Gonzalez, Recording Secretary � c�' � � a w � � � � � � � � c� III. Oral Communications � -�, � �- � Ca � AA �. • A � oww t� �� None � o H H�.` .. H H � � z � w �� + aaa Hcnv� wHH cs�. Hat� r� wwv� v� x •�+ IV. Consent Calendar �� t� � � �o � � � G A. MINUTES of the Regular Landscape Beautification Committee Meeting of January 30, 2008. Approve as presented. POSTED AGENDA LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE February 20, 2008 Upon a motion by H. Spencer Knight, second by Member Limont, and 6— 1-0 vote of the Committee Board with Member Spiegel abstaining, the Consent Calendar was approved as presented. V. Consent Items Held Over None VI. New Business A. Water Conservation Proqrams Chairman Knight informed the Committee of the recent water situation and gave a list of water programs that currently exist in conjunction with the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD). 1. Weather-based Controller Program — Irrigation controllers that are programmed to water turf based on historical data, and are not connected with actual weather. The new controllers being offered operate on a pager signal for real-time weather information. CVWD and the City of Palm Desert share the cost of these controllers with the homeowners. The Committee suggested advertising the program on the Brightside newsletter, emphasizing the program's success, availability and the City's contribution. 2. Curbside Retrofit Program 3. Time of use water meter program With water conservation becoming a major issue in the future, Chairman Knight asked the Committee's consideration of two additional programs: 1. Curbside Retrofit Program for Residents — The program is currently offered to HOAs, but CVWD will like to make it available to residents and asks for the City's participation. The program consists of removing a strip of turf, 2ft wide along the curb and installing cobble or DG. CVWD and the City of Palm Desert will each contribute $20,000 to the program. 2. Turf Conversion Program — The program consists of a rebate offered to residents to encourage them to convert their existing turf to desert landscape. Because of the continuing drought, a call for conversion is made; therefore, Chairman Knight asks for the Committee's consideration to implement the program. Suggestions and concerns for the Turf Conversion program included: - Will the rebate be based on income? Chairman Knight informed the rebate will be a flat fee for everyone. 2 POSTED AGENDA LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE February 20, 2008 - The Committee agreed that little information is made available to the community regarding desert landscape; therefore, they agreed that the City should provide design guidelines. Two suggestions made were hiring a landscape architect on an hourly basis to design the guidelines and/or working with local businesses that could provide residents with training classes. The Committee directed staff to develop detailed criteria for both programs, bring back to the committee for further review, and then take to the City Council. Upon a motion from Member Spiegel, second by Member Limont and a 7-0 vote of the Committee Board, further review of the two additional conservation programs will continue at a later meeting. B. Roadside Memorials An anonymous call was received by Member Croy and forwarded to Member Greenwood requesting for the City to set a policy addressing roadside memorials. Chairman Knight posted the question, "Are we OK with existing policy?" which allows for roadside memorials providing they are not of permanent nature and if they deteriorate, they are removed by the City. Questions and concerns included: - Should roadside memorials be allowedd for only a certain period of time? - If so, how much time? - When time expires, does the City notify the family? - Will the City be liable if they cause an injury or accident? - Will this lead to using the public right-a-way for other personal signs or displays other than remembering a loved one, which could lead to an enforcement problem? Following a brief discussion, the Committee decided that the roadside memorials cannot represent any more danger than a palm tree or bolder and at this time they are not a major problem. If it was to evolve into a major issue, staff can bring their concerns back to the Committee. Upon a motion from Member Spiegel, second by Member Limont and a 7-0 vote of the Committee Board, staff was directed to keep the roadside memorial policy as is. 3 POSTED AGENDA LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE February 20, 2008 VII. Continued Business None VIII. Old Business None IX. Reports and Remarks A. Update on Landscape Proiects 1. Country Club Drive Median from Portota to Monterey began its 90-day maintenance period on February 15, 2008 and has an estimated completion date of May 14, 2008. Staff has received many compliments from residents. 2. Fred Waring Drive from California to Washington — staff has reviewed the last design; it is 95% complete and it should be out to bid in 30 days. The project was detained because a long section of the median that needed to be narrowed; therefore, it had to be re-designed by the landscape architect. 3. Monterey Avenue Median Landscape and Art Project, north of Dinah Shore, is in design and construction is projected to commence on Jan of 2009. 4. A Council Chamber Atrium — staff is working on concept and scoping process. 5. Civic Center Parking Lot Planters — staff will begin the scoping process after the completion of the Atrium project 6. Wall next to bridge w/side of Magnesia Falls on Portola, has received many complaints from the mobile park residents. Members discussed but did not conclude whether the installation of a sidewalk was necessary or not. Item will continue at a later meeting. 7. Status on the trees that were removed by CVWD on Portola — Vice- Chairman Aylaian is currently working with the City Attorney to draft an agreement. When the agreement is signed, the project will go out to bid, probably late summer. 8. Planting on Portola Country Club has commenced. 9. Chairman Knight informed the Committee that they have not made a decision on whether ivy will be re-installed or replaced with other plant material in the planters in front of City Hall. One concern is the size of the planters. Another concern is the pedestrians coming of the sidewalk into oncoming vehicles. The Committee suggested installing warning strips for the safety of pedestrians. 4 POSTED AGENDA LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE February 20, 2008 10.City Hall Parking Lot Upgrade — Staff is considering upgrading the City Hall parking lot. The Committee suggested the removal of the plant material under the covered parking and installing concrete, in view of the fact that people are constantly walking through them. Staff will bring this item for discussion at a later meeting. 11. Diane Hollinger informed the Committee that Arbor Day will be held on April 8, 2008 from 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. at the Rutledge in Palm Desert Middle School. The Horticultural class will be sending an official invitation from the middle school to all the members of the different committees. X. Adjournment With no further business or discussion, and Landscape Beautification Committee Board concurrence, the meeting was adjourned at 12:33 p.m. H. Sp cer ni t, Landscape Manager ATTEST: ��v �� rtha A. zalez, cordin ecretary Landscape Beautification Committee 5