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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCultural Resources Prsrvtn Cmte - 05/26/09 � • � �'-''�'� CITY OF PALM DESERT � � BUILDING & SAFETY DEPARTMENT . INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM To: Rachelle Klassen, City Clerk � From: Suzanne Cicchini, Administrative Secretary Date: June 30, 2009 Subject: Submission of Approved Minutes for the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee Meeting held on May 26, 2009. Attached is a copy of the May 26, 2009 Minutes of the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee Meeting approved by the Committee on June 30, 2009. Please include on the next City Council agenda. Thank you Attachment C'1TY COII(VC[LACTI(?N A P!'R O V I�:D l��:�➢I:U--.___________ R[?CEIV�D...��,El; � ��O"��tiE:��____ NIEETI�N�"G" DATE � _ ' -- _` AYI;S:iL'�', 5 Ll�. � I�l .-/D�l�____ NOES: A13SF,NT: AI3STAIN: t VF,RIFIrD I3Y Original on File with City Clerk s Uffice G:\BldgSfty�Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation Committee\Meeting ItemsVulemo-City Clerk-Minutes 06-30-09.doc CITY OF PALM DESERT �--�---� � � CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Minutes May 26, 2009 Administrative Conference Room I. CALL TO ORDER Committee Chair Gale Broeker called the meeting of the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee to order at 10:04 a.m. I1. ROLL CALL Present: Absent: Gale Broeker pon Graybill Vera Handley Kim Housken Kent Routh Bob Pitchford Also Present: Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety Renee Schrader, Associate Planner Suzanne Cicchini, Recording Secretary Jan Holmlund, Former Cultural Resources Preservation Committee Member Ricki Brodie, Palm Desert Resident III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES — OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 28, 2009 Committee Chair Gale Broker explained that the Preliminary Minutes represented what was said at the meeting, however, Committee Member pon Graybill wanted to correct information he provided. He was not able to attend the meeting, but requested this change on May 8, 2009. Under Section VI. Old Business, Item B, Discuss Progress of Site Plaques. A site plaque vendor contact he mentioned was from Indio, rather than from Palm Springs, The Minutes were changed to reflect this. Committee Member Kent Routh moved to approve the Minutes as corrected and Committee Member Vera Handley seconded the Motion. The Motion passed unanimously. CULTURALRESOURCE PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MAY 26, 2009 V. NEW BUSINESS A. DISCUSS AND DETERMINE SUMMER MEETING SCHEDULE Discussion commenced about the meeting schedule. Committee Chair Gale Broeker inquired if they could choose not to meet in July and August. Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety indicated that they could. Committee Member Kent Routh asked about the ability to hold an emergency meeting. Mr. Grance confirmed that such a meeting could be held if needed. Committee Member Kent Routh moved that the Committee not meet in July and August. Committee Member Vera Handley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 2009. No meetings will be held in July and August. VI. CONTINUED BUSINESS A. REVIEW DRAFT MILLS ACT PROGRAM DOCUMENTS Committee Chair Gale Broeker noted that the Committee had approved the September, 2006 version of draft Mills Act documents that LSA Associates, Inc. prepared. The new version had a few changes. Discussion commenced about the draft documents and Committee Member Kent Routh inquired if someone would be conducting property inspections. Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety noted that there was no one assigned to this task because the City of Palm Desert does not have the Mills Act Program yet. The finer details will be worked out once a program is established. Due to the absence of two Committee Members, and with Committee concurrence, this matter will be continued to the next meeting on June 30, 2009. VII. OLD BUSINESS A. DISCUSS AND DETERMINE NEXT GROUP OF PROPERTY OWNER LETTERS TO SEND Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety reported that he was contacted by the owner of a former Randall Henderson home at 74-135 Larrea Street and an application packet was sent to her. The property is number 89 on the Unofficial List. Committee Chair Gale Broeker noted it was extensively restored and kept up very nicely. Former Committee Member Jan Holmlund requested a chance to speak about the home. This house was on the Historic Preservation Committee's bus tour. It has a glassed in front porch for privacy now but the rest of the house retains its integrity. She reported that this was Randall Henderson's first house and spoke about the special irrigation system he installed. G:�BIdgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation CommitteeWlinutes 2009\052609 Minutes.docx Page 2 CULTURALRESOURCE PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MAY 26, 2009 Some of it had to be removed because it had caused flooding for the current owner, but there was enough of the system left to restore some of it. Mr. Henderson's focus was on the authenticity of the desert. He wanted to save water yet still grow plants. She encouraged Committee Members to look at the system and speak with the owner about it. This property owner was interested in the Mills Act program. Former Committee Member Jan Holmlund suggested the Henderson's be viewed as a founding family. If the Committee recognizes Randall Henderson's home, Clifford Henderson's home should be recognized too. He should be recognized as the father and founder of this city. His home should be recognized for the person who lived there, rather than the architecture. Committee Chair Gale Broeker inquired if any word was received regarding memos sent about the City owned properties. Director of Building and Safety, Russell Grance had not heard anything yet. Committee Member Kent Routh inquired if any of the Council Members would attend their meetings. There was no word on that yet either. Committee Member Vera Handley will call again to follow up on her request to have a Council Member attend the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee Meetings. Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety reiterated that the group of properties that would receive letters were numbered 4,7,89, 67 and 68 on the Unofficial List. This was confirmed by Committee Chair Gale Broeker. B. DISCUSS PROGRESS OF SITE PLAQUES Committee Chair Gale Broeker inquired about the locations of the existing historical markers. Former Committee Member Jan Holmlund noted that there was one on the Firehouse, one for the City Hall, one for the Library. There should be one for the tallest palm tree, right behind that structure there but she couldn't find it. Ms. Holmlund noted the first City Hall plaque is on the southwest corner of the curved wall befinreen EI Paseo and Hwy 74. It's right in the middle of the wall. She suggested a site plaque be put up for the Gillette home site, even though there is no home to place it on. Discussion commenced about buildings and sites on the north side that might be considered for historic designation site plaques. Committee Chair Gale Broeker and Committee Member Kent Routh thought the Red Barn should be on the Unofficial List. Committee Member Bob Pitchford mentioned a church on Portola and Former Committee Member Jan Holmlund noted that the first grocery story was located where the Wacky Wicker store was and the importance of six houses on north side. She received a letter and some pictures from someone who lived in one of the homes. She turned these over to The Historical Society. She discussed a building on Painter's Path and the army wells that were later covered up. Committee Member Kent Routh inquired why the wells were covered up. She responded that they needed the metal out of the wells for the war. It must have been quite a dramatic moment G:�BIdgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation CommitteeWlinutes 2009\052609 Minutes.docx Page 3 CULTURALRESOURCE PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MAY 26, 2009 when water was discovered and she thought it would make a wonderful art piece for that corner where the City Hall plaque is. Recording Secretary Suzanne Cicchini provided information received from one plaque vendor. Another quote will be received soon and Committee Member pon Graybill may have information on yet another plaque vendor when he returns. C. DISCUSS PROGRESS OF BOOKLET Director of Building and Safety Russell Grance created a booklet Power point presentation for The City of Palm Desert website. Former Committee Member Jan Holmlund suggested the text should be changed to indicate that Randall Henderson's Desert Magazine was the reason that a post office was established. Committee Kent Routh noted that his research indicated that Mr. Henderson promised to bring the post office the business when the magazine relocated here. Former Committee Member Jan Holmlund suggested the text regarding the wells should indicate that they were built in 1870 and went out of use for a time until 1912. Circa 1870 would be the best way to approximate the date of the wells. Ms. Holmlund commented that The Cavanaugh Adobe was built in 1922. Committee Member Kent Routh noted that the description as "built in the 1920's" is still quite accurate. Ms. Holmlund agreed. Discussion commenced regarding the presentation. There were a few minor changes from the previous copy the Committee received. Ms. Holmlund noted that the presentation was polished and nice and Committee Chair Gale Broeker appreciated that there were more pros than cons. Mr. Grance is still investigating the possibility of obtaining page flipping software that can be uploaded to the website. Music will be playing in the background when it appears on the website. It is still a work in progress. The presentation was very well received. Committee Chair Gale Broeker asked Committee Member Vera Handley how her booklet meeting went. Committee Member Vera Handley responded, "it hasn't happened yet." Ms. Handley noted that it will happen sometime befinreen July and August and she will contact Suzanne Cicchini, Recording Secretary for a conference room. Ms. Handley will report back in September. Ms. Handley wanted to know if they could use any of the information Mr. Grance provided. He explained that it is formatted for the website and can be changed for a smaller document. Mr. Grance wants to look at the options to get this information out to the public with minimal financial impact. The website is one way to do this. When funds become available, a smaller, more comprehensive booklet can be considered. Committee Member Vera Handley asked what the student from College of the Desert would do? More renderings could be added if the Committee wants them. Mr. Grance emphasized that this is a living document and it can change and be updated. G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation CommitteeWlinutes 2009\052609 Minutes.docx Page 4 CULTURALRESOURCE PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MAY 26, 2009 VII. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS Committee Chair Gale Broeker announced that The California Chapter of American Planning Association is holding their 2"d Annual Historical Symposium On Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at the Aqua Caliente Casino Hotel Resort, Cahuilla Room B. It is being moderated by former Mayor, Buford Crites. The cost is $45.00, lunch is included. Ms. Broeker has the information if anyone is interested. Committee Chair Gale Broker discussed a visit to The County Records and Archive Center. She and former Committee Member Jan Holmlund were impressed with the facility and the state of the art equipment. There were many interesting maps and an extensive public archive. Former Committee Member Jan Holmlund indicated that Mary Cox is available to help locate available materials. Committee Member Vera Handley inquired if a press party could be held when the book is finished. Some of those still living down here or their children might be interested in attending. Candace Bergen, Buddy Greco and Bill Waring were some of the people who were thought to be persons of interest to invite if an event was held. The next meeting of the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee will be Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in the Administrative Conference Room at The City of Palm Desert. VIII. ADJOURNMENT With Committee Concurrence, the meeting was adjourned at 11:32 a.m. ,� �:n►ti-e� �..��`��-� �s Suzanne Cicchini, Recording Secretary G:�BIdgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation CommitteeWlinutes 2009\052609 Minutes.docx Page 5