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Home My WebLink AboutLandscape Beautification 11/19/08 � CITY OF PALM DESERT �� MINUTES � -- LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING . Wednesday, November 19, 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 Present: Absent: Chairman H. Spencer Knight Member Carlos L. Ortega Vice-Chairman Lauri Aylaian Member Bob Spiegel Member Martin Alvarez Member Homer Croy Member Mark Greenwood Member Richard S. Kelly '�+��Ycn�'�C[�.ACTInN Member Connor Limont ��4s'��n�'t�:�� __ ��;v��E� Member Janis Steele (alt. Jay Niemczak)��d'�c.i:�vt?�� ;��,,i2 Also Present: 1`�F.(:TCNC llATE - � Mark Diercks, Transportation Engineer `��r`'� �v �r so " ` ' Diane Hollinger, Landscape Specialist �1�'�''�' ��n�. Hart Ponder, Code Compliance Manager�'��'�"�rr: ane' Dave Yrigoyen, Director of Redevelopm A ;�7,AIN: hl'n� ��ixir�ri> >;v: 0 1 Ron Gregory, RGA Landscape �)i•��nat on f ile with City Clcr 's Oftice Rob Parker, RGA Landscape Bertha A. Gonzalez, Recording Secretary II1. Oral Communications None IV. Consent Calendar A. MINUTES of the Regular Landscape Beautification Committee Meeting of September 17, 2008. Approve as presented. APPROVED MINUTES - - LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE November 19, 2008 Upon a motion by H. Spencer Knight, second by Member Kelly, and 8-0 vote of the Committee Board, the Consent Calendar was approved as presented. V. Consent Items Held Over Upon a motion by H. Spencer Knight, second by Member Croy, and an 8-0 vote of the Committee Board, Item C, under New Business, was moved to first item of discussion. VI. New Business A. Starwood Desert Willow Entry Landscape Redesian The staff of Ron Gregory and Associates determined that the original landscape plan for the Starwood Desert Willow Entry encompassed too much of a manmade design, instead of the desired natural focus. In addition, no effort was made to preserve or reuse any of the trees that are currently at the Starwood entry. Therefore, Rob Parker of Ron Gregory and Associates presented the Committee with a redesign that will address the aforementioned issues. The modifications included: • The fountain from the original plan will be moved forward • Installation of raised planters • Pilasters are to be installed at the entry • Reusing two Ironwoods and Palo Verdes with the intent of creating an instant canopy • Stone veneer will match the existing wall stone • Using accent plant material, including bougainvilleas, for color impact • The walls will continue to be as from the original plan • The pool area remains the same • The 18th tee box will be elevated; Palo Verdes will be incorporated in order to provide screening. Should it be not enough, shrubs will be added.. • The south side green will also be exposed to the road; additional plant material will be added to buffer the green. • Mounds wifl be smooth; no tiers. Concerns included: • Adequately buffering the golf course from the road; staff assured the Committee that this will be addressed accordingly 2 APPROVED MINUTES - -- LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE November 19, 2008 • Can more Desert Willow trees be incorporated? The landscape architect is using Ironwoods because they are more evergreen, but Desert Willows could be added as accents. • Are potential water issues being addressed appropriately? The fountains have a conceal basin and there are no large areas of exposed water • Tony Bagato informed the Committee that the plan might not have to go back to the Architectural Review Commission should it be approved by this Committee; the Committee opted to address this issue internally. Upon a motion from Member Limont, second by Member Kelly and an 8-0 vote of the Committee Board, the Starwood Desert Witlow Entry Landscape Redesign was approved as presented. B. Riqht-Turn Lane on Portola and Frank Sinatra Mark Diercks, Transportation Engineer, presented the Committee with the proposed layout of the addition of a right-turn lane on the southeast corner of Portola Avenue and Frank Sinatra Drive. Staff believes that although traffic is not an issue at this point, it will improve the traffic flow on this intersection. The right lane will not have much impact on the corner, except for some landscape removal, but it will bring traffic closer to the golf course. On that note, the Committee did not consider the right-turn lane to be essential at this point, since traffic was currently not an issue and the buffering of the golf course from the road was essential. Should traffic flow increase, the need of installing a right-turn lane could be reconsidered. Upon a motion by Member Kelly, recommendation by staff member Dave Yrigoyen and an 8-0 vote of the Committee Board, the installation of a right-turn lane on Portola Avenue and Frank Sinatra Drive was not approved. C. Monterev Avenue Median Landscape and Art Proiect Liqhtinq Staff requested the Committee's authorization to use the leftover glass cobble from the Country Club Median Landscape Project on the landscape improvements of northwest corner slope of Monterey Avenue and Dinah Shore Drive. In addition, staff would like to incorporate fiber optic lighting under the cobble in order create a glow to it. 3 APPROVED MINUTES - - LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE November 19, 2008 Concerns included: • Will this create a maintenance problem? Maintenance will be required, yet the extent of it has not been determined. • The Committee did not agree that this was appropriate location to integrate fiber optic lighting. After a brief discussion, the Committee did not authorize to use of the glass cobble and/or fiber optic lighting on the Monterey Avenue and Dinah Shore Drive northwest corner slope. No motion required; informational item. VII. Continued Business A. Maintenance of the Underfunded Landscape and Liqhtinq Districts Chairman Knight informed the Committee that three additional underfunded Landscape and Lighting Districts are in dire need of maintenance. Staff has received a number of complaints regarding the condition of these areas and should the Committee opt to perform a general clean up, funds will need to be taken from the general fund account. Ryan Stendell is currently in the process of surveying all the residents from these districts, in order to determine if they are willing to pay for the monthly maintenance of these areas. After a brief discussion, the Committee agreed that in order to prevent residents on relying on the City for the maintenance of these areas, staff should first survey the residents in order to determine their willingness to pay for future maintenance. After the survey is concluded, staff can perform a one-time, general cleanup until the results are established. Upon a motion by Member Kelly, second by Member Limont and an 8-0 vote from the Committee Board, staff was asked to proceed as directed. VIII. Old Business None IX. Reports and Remarks The Committee requested Code Compliance to bring an update on the usage of the green dye on residential yards to the next scheduled meeting. 4 APPROVED MINUTES � LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE November 19, 2008 X. Adjournment With no further business or discussion, and Landscape Beautification Committee Board concurrence, the meeting was adjourned at 12:25 p.m. H. Spenc r Kni Landscape Manager ATTEST: ertha A. nzalez ecord' Secretary Landscape Beautif ation ommittee 5