HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRP Cmte - 01/27/09 ����� CITY OF PALM DESERT
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BUILDING & SAFETY DEPARTMENT
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
To: Rachelle Klassen, City Clerk
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From: Suzanne Cicchini, Administrative Secretary
Date: February 24, 2009
Subject: Submission of Approved Minutes for the Cultural Resources
Preservation Committee Meeting held on January 27, 2009.
Attached is a copy of the January 27, 2009 Minutes of the Cultural Resources
Preservation Committee Meeting approved by the Committee on February 24, 2009.
Please include on the next City Council agenda.
Thank you
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CITY OF PALM DESERT
� � CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
Minutes
January 27, 2009
Administrative Conference Room
I. CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Gale Broeker called the meeting of the Cultural Resources
Preservation Committee to order at 10:00 a.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Present: Absent:
Gale Broeker Kent Routh
Vera Handley
Kim Housken
Jan Holmlund
Bob Pitchford
Don Graybill
Also Present:
Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety
Lauri Aylaian, Director of Planning
Renee Schrader, Associate Planner
K Kaufmann, the Desert Sun Newspaper
Suzanne Cicchini, Recording Secretary
III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. MINUTES — OF THE MEETING OF DECEMBER 30, 2008
Committee Member Kim Housken requested clarification on a line on Page
Three of the Preliminary Minutes, under Old Business, Item B. Discuss
Progress of Cultural Resources Designation Application. "Major research will
not be required later." No change requested on that section. Committee
Chair Gale Broker noted under Old Business, Item C. Discuss Progress of
Site Plaques. On the second line "or" should be changed to "of" to read:
"Director of Building and Safety".
Motion was made by Committee Member Jan Holmlund to accept the
Minutes as modified. Committee Member Kim Housken seconded the
motion. The motion passed unanimously.
CULTURALRESOURCE
PRESERVATION COMMITTEE JANUARY 27, 2009
V. NEW BUSINESS
None
VI. OLD BUSINESS
A. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Committee Chair Gale Broeker requested nominations from the floor.
Committee Member Jan Holmlund nominated Committee Chair Gale
Broeker for Committee Chair. Don Graybill seconded the nomination.
Motion was made by Committee Member Vera Handley to close the
nominations. Committee Member Kim Housken seconded the motion
to close the nominations. All were in favor, motion passed
unanimously.
Committee Member Jan Holmlund nominated Kent Routh for Vice
Chair. Committee Chair Gale Broeker seconded the nomination.
Motion was made by Committee Member Bob Pitchford to close the
nominations. Committee Member Kim Housken seconded the motion.
The motion passed unanimously. All Committee Members were in favor
of Ms. Broeker remaining the Committee Chair and Mr. Routh remaining
the Vice-Chair of the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee.
B. DISCUSS PROGRESS OF CULTURAL RESOURCES DESIGNATION
APPLICATION
Discussion commenced about the application. It will be split into two to
make it easier for the applicant coming in for a single landmark designation
for a single property, versus an applicant coming in for a district. Director of
Building and Safety Russell Grance researched forms and applications
throughout the State and the federal forms. He modified the application
based on input from The Committee. Everything needed to complete those
forms is contained within the local form. He suggested The Committee make
a recommendation to use the forms so they can be placed on The City of
Palm Desert's website. The sample letter approved at the last meeting will
then be sent to property owners. The Historic Context of Palm Desert will be
inserted into both applications. Committee Member Vera Handley suggested
a section for community comments. Normally, this would take place during
the public hearing process. Designations wilf not progress without
homeowner approval. Mr. Grance offered to put a line on the application to
include community comments. Committee Member Kim Housken found
inaccuracies in the Historic Context. Phil Henderson died in 1946 and wasn't
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CULTURALRESOURCE
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around when The Fire Stations was planned. The year 2009 should be
noted instead of 2003. This had been taken off the General Plan information.
Cliff Henderson alone donated the land. The name of City of Palm Desert
not Palm Village is used for the webpage, even though Palm Village existed
before The City of Palm Desert. Palm Desert, rather than Palm Village will
remain on the webpage. Committee Members have noticed inaccuracies on
many different historic websites and wanted not to perpetuate them. Director
of Building and Safety Russell Grance emphasized to The Committee that
this was a living document and it's going to change. His goal is to get it out
to applicants so the process can move forward. Committee Member Jan
Holmlund noted Randall Henderson donated some land also. The
Cavanaugh Adobe is located in Indian Wells at this time. It was considered
to be in Palm Desert until Indian Wells became a city. The sentence "most of
the sites are located near the city center of Palm Desert, several are near the
community of Thousand Palms," will be rewritten as: "several are outside
the present City limits." Discussion commenced to include items outside the
main property such as wells, walls and fences. Committee Member Kim
Housken also noted that down at the bottom of the form, Number 2, The
Historical Society of Palm Desert is the correct name for this organization.
Mr. Grance agreed to make the proposed modifications. Committee Member
Kim Housken complimented Mr. Grance for tackling this project.
Motion made by Committee Member Kim Housken that both of the
applications be accepted. Committee Member Vera Handley seconded
the motion. It passed unanimously.
C. DISCUSS PROGRESS OF SITE PLAQUES
Discussion commenced regarding the Site Plaques. Committee Member Bob
Pitchford presented his impressive renderings. He envisioned a numbered
plaque with a description pamphlet that could accompany it. He liked the
blue plaque best because it stood out. Everyone liked the green one, but the
rendering for it is missing. Committee Member Bob Pitchford never received
formal pricing, but he learned that they might be available for about $125.00
each. He noted that the plaque has only two colors, green and brown. The
palm frond and the lettering could be aluminum. More discussion
commenced about the color, numbering and criteria. Director of Building and
Safety Director Russell Grance noted that in the ordinance Section
29.40.120 it stipulates that a covenant and an agreement shall be signed by
The City and the property owner to insure that the plaque will be prominently
displayed in perpetuity at the site of the landmark or returned to the
Administrator if landmark designation is repealed. The plaque should be
visible to the public whether walking or driving. Director of Building and
Safety Russell Grance noted that the document will have to be recorded with
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CULTURAL RESOURCE
PRESERVATION COMMITTEE JANUARY 27, 2009
Riverside County. Mr. Pitchford turned the renderings over to Mr. Grance
and he will take the project from here. Everyone applauded Committee
Member Bob Pitchford for the fine job his did.
D. DISCUSS UPDATE ON WEB PAGE
Director of Building and Safety Russell Grance will modify as discussed. The
forms will be live on the City web site today, January 27, 2009. The site
address is: http://www.cityofpalmdesert.orq. There will be lots of information
and links. Committee Member Jan Holmlund suggested placing a little
historical citation link up front on the first web page that directs users to the
Cultural Resources Preservation page. Users might not normally search for
Cultural Resources in Building and Safety. She recalled a book that the City
of Palm Desert previously published. There were note cards added to make
up for the fact that it wasn't published as it should have been, due to
problems with the publisher. The book is available at The Historical Society
and it might be something to add to the website. Director of Building and
Safety Russell Grance will check with The Information Systems Department
at The City of Palm Desert to see if a link could be placed in front, as
requested. Committee Chair Gale Broeker encouraged providing the
webpage address to friends, neighbors, historical societies and
archaeological societies.
E. DISCUSSION OF WORK SHOP FOR BOOKLET AND BOOK CREATION
Committee Member Jan Holmlund presented the draft information she had
put together for the booklet. Committee Member Kim Housken inquired
about the intent of this Agenda item, and whether discussion would take
place on this booklet now or would another work shop be discussed?
Director of Building and Safety Russell Grance recommended this venue be
used for now to move forward. As more Work Shop Agenda items come up,
a Work Shop could be considered. Discussion commenced about the project
and about several interesting properties in Palm Desert. Russell Grance,
Director of Building and Safety announced that he had ordered finro books for
The Committee. Western Ranch Houses and Modern Ranch Houses.
Committee Chair Gale Broeker discussed the status of a Walter White house
on Santa Rosa with a very rare roof. It is owned by The City of Palm Desert.
Ms. Broeker inquired whether an EIR was pending and whether a project
was coming up soon. Director of Community Development, Lauri Aylaian's
understanding was that no project is defined for that property yet. Committee
Member Vera Handley suggested asking Architectural Department
professors at The College of the Desert if it were possible to have their
students create drawings for the proposed booklet. Committee Chair Gale
Broeker and Committee Member Vera Handley will check into this possibility
and report their findings.
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CULTURALRESOURCE
PRESERVATION COMMITTEE JANUARY 27, 2009
VII. REPORT AND REMARKS
A. COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS
Committee Member Jan Holmlund reported on the Historic Preservation
Commission in Rancho Mirage and The Indian Wells Historic Preservation
Foundation. Her reports were submitted to The Committee. Palm Springs
Modernism Week extends from February 13-21, 2009. She shared the
obituaries of Palm Desert residents Gordon Mitchell and Jay Foster.
Discussion commenced about researching additional homes to include in the
unofficial listing, including people from many different professions and fields.
Committee Member Vera Handley thought that should be considered for a
future Agenda, after the items discussed today are done. Obituaries could be
a good source of research about people and their significance in their field.
The Committee discussed the various types of plaques some other cities use
to denoting breakdowns such as Celebrity, Historic or Illustrious
Personalities.
Committee Member Kim Housken reported on The Preservation Conference
through The California Preservation Foundation in Palm Springs.
Registration wasn't on the website yet, but begins today. The conference
will be held from April 16-19, 2009. There are many interesting tracks to
attend. They are seeking volunteers. Disappointment was expressed that
The City of Palm Desert had not provided sponsorship for the event.
Director of Building and Safety Russell Grance indicated that nothing had
been earmarked in the budget for this expense and with requests to cut the
budget it was unlikely money would be available. He might be able to send
one committee member to the conference, but he cannot guarantee it. He
will be able to provide membership to California Preservation Foundation in
time for the conference. Committee Member Jan Holmlund discussed the
possibility of grants or other funding being sought to provide funding. Mr.
Grance will check whether there is a grant writer on staff.
Ms. Housken presented the cover of The Arcadia Book that The Historical
Society is putting together about The City of Palm Desert. A book release
party will be held Friday, February 20, 2009 at The Visitors Center and
everyone is cordially invited.
Committee Member Jan Holmlund passed bookmarks that advertise a City o
Rancho Mirage Historic Preservation Commission Presentation titled "A
Young City Rich in History" at The Rancho Mirage Library on February 24,
2009 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission is free.
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CULTURALRESOURCE
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Committee Member pon Graybill expressed his concern about the public's
confusion over the name change from Historic Preservation Committee to
Cultural Resources Preservation Committee. Committee Chair Gale Broeker
suggested inserting Historic after Cultural Resources until people become
accustomed to the new name. Director of Building and Safety Russell
Grance noted that the webpage refers to the new name and there is
information that links the two together. We have a new ordinance and a new
name. He wasn't here when planning for this started, but the premise was to
include more things rather than just the historic. It was to include Cultural
Resources of The City of Palm Desert. Committee Member Jan Holmlund
inquired if new badges were coming? Director of Building and Safety
Russell Grance announced that new badges would be ordered and hopefully
be in by the next meeting.
Committee Chair Gale Broeker announced that The Carl Bray House in
Indian Wells is fenced off, but had not been torn down yet. There is a
movement to save it. A training session covering how to measure and
record historic buildings, CEQA laws and recording buildings for the State
Register will be offered at The Hidden Harvest Warehouse and Offices. It
will be held on February 21, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 85-711
Peter Rabbit Lane in Coachella. Ms. Broeker requested that any research
information on the top four homes on the unofficial list be submitted to
Director of Building and Safety Russell Grance. He requested clarification
that Committee Chair Gale Broeker wanted him to proceed with letters to 7
property owners on the list. Committee Chair Gale Broeker confirmed this.
The Committee will wait on The Shadow Mountain Clubhouse for now.
The next meeting of the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee will be
Tuesday, February 24, 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 11:42 a.m.
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Suzanne Cicchini, Recording Secretary
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