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Home My WebLink AboutLndscpe Beautfctn Cmte - 02/18/09 CITY OF PALM DESERT ��-� � � MINUTES -- LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING . Wednesday, February 18, 2009 — 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 Present: Absent: Chairman H. Spencer Knight Member Martin Alvarez Vice-Chairman Lauri Aylaian Member Justin McCarthy Member Homer Croy Member Mark Greenwood Member Richard S. Kelly CITY�O[?NC(LACTInN Member Connor Limont API'1�OVI�:n _ nr�v��» Member Bob Spiegel F��:CEtvr.[�� % �._(�1�E��pt Member Janis Steele (alt. Jay Niemczak) ,��,�T��,c, ��ATE - - � Also Present: ��'`�:��5� F�r usc- � r .,S ` .� �'t>[:fi: _N�;/7P � Diane Hollinger, Landscape Specialist ,�Q��,NT: �,r�� Hart Ponder, Code Compliance Manager A��.�,��,�: ��,� Ryan Stendell, Senior Management Analyst ��;�31�;�rt� �3v: ('�K-( r��---- Dave Yrigoyen, Director of Redevelopment p�.;�;nx� on �'�le with City C�er c'7 s oi't;ce Richard Mogensen, Desert Willow Derek White, Desert Willow Bertha A. Gonzalez, Recording Secretary III. Oral Communications A. Member Steele informed the Committee that due to a conflict of ineetings, staff member, Jay Niemczak, will be temporarily representing the Parks and Recreation Department in future meetings. B. Staff member Dave Yrigoyen took the opportunity to introduce Richard Mogensen and Derek White of Desert Willow. APPROVED MINUTES LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE February 18, 2009 IV. Consent Calendar A. MINUTES of the Regular Landscape Beautification Committee Meeting of February 18, 2009. Approve as presented. Upon a motion by H. Spencer Knight, second by Member Kelly, and 8-0 vote of the Committee Board with Member Steele abstaining, the Consent Calendar was approved as presented. V. Consent Items Held Over None VI. New Business A. Property Owner's Request for New Landscape and Liqhtinq District Due to the absence of the interested party, staff requested Item A of New Business be continued to the meeting in March. Upon a motion from Chairman Knight, second by Member Limont and an 8-0 vote of the Committee Board, the item was continued. B. Weed Control on Underfunded Landscape and Liqhtinq Assessment Districts The Code Compliance Department brought to the attention of Landscape Department staff three Landscape and Lighting areas that are in dire need of maintenance. Member Knight presented the Committee with photos of the following areas: • Hovley Lane West • Hovley Collection • Palm Gate The budget for the aforementioned areas has little to no funds available for general landscape maintenance; therefore, staff requested the Committee's direction on how to address the issue. Staff has performed general cleanups on these areas in the past due to complaints; however, the funds have been generated from the general fund account. The cost for a one-time general cleanup is between $400 and $900, depending on the area. Currently, due to the financial situation, the Landscape 2 APPROVED MINUTES LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE February 18, 2009 Department does not have the financial resources to fund additional maintenance. Other alternatives included: • Remove most of the plant material, except for the trees, and install decomposed granite. • Can the areas be turned back to the homeowners? Yes, but staff is not sure of what the impact will be. • Member Kelly commented that the City is not in such financial distress that it cannot afford to perform minimal maintenance to these areas. Staff's concern is that if the City opts to perform this maintenance other areas will expect the same. • Would Code Compliance be able to cite the party responsible for the areas? Because the areas are not dedicated to a specific homeowner, Code Compliance would be ultimately citing the City. Staff informed the Committee that they are currently in the process of surveying the residents of the Underfunded LLD's in order to determine if they would be interested in an increase on their dues that will pay for the general maintenance. The outcome will be presented to the Committee at a later meeting. Upon a motion by Chairman Knight, second by Member Croy and an 8-0 vote of the Committee Board, staff was directed to present a cost estimate for the alternative of removing plant material and installing decomposed granite to the areas. VII. Continued Business A. Desert Willow Clubhouse Entry Renovation As directed at the previous meeting, staff requested the City's Transportation Engineer's direction in regards to the turning radius on the Desert Willow entry landscape plan. The Transportation Engineer agreed that the turning radius was very tight and suggested that the layout be modified. Richard Morgensen of Desert Willow presented the following suggestions, which he believes will add purpose and safety to the entrance: • The entry needs to include at least two lanes of traffic • The drop-off area needs to be moved away from the front door • Center landscape area needs to be more centered • Pedestrian traffic needs to be considered 3 APPROVED MINUTES LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE February 18, 2009 Upon a motion from Member Kelly, second by Member Spiegel and an 8-0 vote of the Committee Board, Desert Willow staff was directed to review the plan, make the necessary adjustments and present it at the next scheduled meeting. B. Desert Willow Perimeter Parkinq Lot Landscape Renovation Member Spiegel requested for Desert Willow staff to develop a plan that will make Desert Willow's temporary parking lot more presentable and present it to the Committee for review. Upon a motion from Member Spiegel, and an 8-0 vote of the Committee Board, the item was continued. VIII. Old Business None IX. Reports and Remarks • Due to their importance, the snow fences that are used for sand control need to be kept in good condition; therefore, Member Greenwood will ensure that all the snow fences that are in need of repair are addressed accordingly. • Member Greenwood inquired on whether the time of the meeting should be moved to an earlier or later hour in order to avoid lunch time? The Committee opted to keep the schedule of the meeting as is. X. Adjournment With no further business or discussion, and Landscape Beautification Committee Board concurrence, the meeting was adjourned at 12:25 p.m. H. Sp c Knight, Landscape Manager ATTEST: ertha A. Go alez, ordin cretary Landscape Beautification Committee 4