HomeMy WebLinkAboutSR - ORD 1168 - Cultural Resources Prsrvtn CmteMEETING DATE
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CITY OF PALM DES R`F' ' A'B TO `N° READING
BUILDING & SAFETY DEPARTMENT w.
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
REQUEST: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT,
CALIFORNIA, PROVIDING FOR THE IDENTIFICATION,
DESIGNATION, PROTECTION, AND ENHANCEMENT OF
THE CITY'S CULTURAL RESOURCES
SUBMITTED BY: Russell A. Grance, Director of Building and Safety
DATE: September 25, 2008
CONTENTS: Ordinance NO.1168 Title 29, Cultural Resources
Recommendation:
1. Waive further reading and pass Ordinance NO.1168, to second reading,
providing for the identification, designation, protection and enhancement of
the City's cultural resources.
Background:
In 1984, City of Palm Desert Ordinance No. 401 was originally created and
adopted as Chapter 29 of the Palm Desert Municipal Code. On September 23,
2004, the Historic Preservation Committee (Committee) was formed. This
Committee has worked together to enforce the contents of the existing
ordinance. However, there are many areas of the current ordinance that need to
be revisited due to vague language and inconsistencies. This could create
substantial hardship on property owners, which could result in legal and
enforcement issues of the ordinance. On several occasions the City Attorney
was consulted for clarification of the ordinance and its language.
On January 19, 2006, in a study session held with the Historic Preservation
Committee members and the members of the City Council, it was decided that a
G:\Bu ildingSfty\Suzan neCicchini\WordFiles\StaffReports\StaffReport092508.doc
Staff Report
Cultural Resources Ordinance
September 25, 2008
Page 2
Consultant should be hired to work together with City staff and the Committee to
make the appropriate modifications to the existing ordinance.
Staff has worked diligently with the City Attorney, LSA (the consultant), and the
Committee to develop an ordinance to promote the public health, safety, and
general welfare by providing for the identification, designation, protection,
enhancement, perpetuation and use of cultural resources that reflect themes
important in the City's history.
There still remained differences between the recommendation of staff and those
of the Committee therefore at the March 13, 2008 council meeting City Council
directed staff to appoint a subcommittee comprising two Council representatives,
two Committee members, two Real Estate agents, two city residents, City
Attorney and staff to work through the remaining issues and return to Council
with a recommendation.
The subcommittees met on two different occasions, May 12, 2008 and July 9,
2008 and have unanimously agreed on the remaining issues. At the August 28,
2008 council meeting, City Council directed staff to finalize the Cultural
Resources Ordinance based on the outcome of the subcommittee's
recommendations.
Submitted By:
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Russell A. Grance
Director of Building & Safety
Approval:
Carlos Ortega
City Manager
Revi
Homer C
AssistantManager
Develop nt Services
ncur:
David J. Erwin
City Attorney
G:\Build ingSfty\SuzanneCicchini\WordFiles\StaffReports\StaffReport092508.doc