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Home My WebLink AboutLndscp Btfctn Cmte - 01/20/2010 . _ w-. -h- -_ � �'1 ^^'^^�A� ....�..� � CITY OF PALM DESERT �1�� MINUTES - LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING � � Wednesday, January 20, 2010 — 11:30 a.m. Public Works Conference Room — Palm Desert Civic Center 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, California 92260 L Call to Order 11:33 a.m. II. Roll Call � Present: Absent: Chairman H. Spencer Knight Member John Wohlmuth Vice-Chairman Lauri Aylaian Member Martin Alvarez Member Mark Greenwood Member Richard S. Kelly Member Connor Limont Member Jay Niemczak Member Bob Spiegel Also Present: George Bovis, Resident Diane Hollinger, Landscape Specialist Bertha A. Gonzalez, Senior Office Assistant Missy Grisa, Assistant Planner Jan Harnick, Resident Aaron Kulp, Associate Engineer Beth Longman, Acting Recording Secretary Hart Ponder, Code Compliance Manager III. Oral Communications C1TY COIJNCILACTIO� APl'ROVFD ' �''�'`;_:��______----____— None RI:CI:IVED F�� )��s�:=� __�..___.-.__-_- _. ------._--__ _ Mi'P:TING I)ATE - �-�C IC ,--_.-_---..___ _._ AY C:S: �'Il��n �{�i�ll u ��+'/'a�� i n�__.__.__�. _ NOFs:►.��nP ' ---. __ AI3SF,NT: _- --- ABSTAIN: ------- VERIFIFD BY: Original on File with City Clerlc's Officc MINUTES LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE January 20, 2010 IV. Consent Calendar A. MINUTES of the Regular Landscape Beautification Committee Meeting of Wednesday, November 18, 2009. Approve as presented. Upon a motion by Member Spiegel, second by Member Limont, and an 8-0 vote of the Committee Board, the Consent Calendar was approved as presented. V. Consent Items Held Over None VI. New Business A. Portola Avenue and Frank Sinatra Intersection Improvements Aaron Kulp, Associate Engineer, reported that the intersection improvements at Portola Avenue and Frank Sinatra have been approved and Portola Avenue will be widened to its ultimate width of six lanes of traffic. The work will include the installation of new signals, medians, and landscaping. Landscape and plant palette plans were provided to the Committee along with the Agenda, and were also available for review at the meeting. Mr. Kulp noted that the civil engineering plans are nearing completion and that comments, input, and approval of the landscaping concept are being sought from the committee. Vice-Chairman Aylaian commented that there are 12 Blue Palms specified in the landscape plan, and noted that they are expensive and slow growing. She asked if a less expensive palm could be considered. Ms. Hollinger stated that the Blue Palms were added as an accent. The cost of the Blue Palms is approximately $300/foot vs. approximately $150/foot for a Mexican fan palm. Discussion among members resulted in an agreement that the additional cost was minimal compared to the total project cost. No action was taken to change out the Blue Palms. Member Spiegel asked if the six lane ultimate width included turn pockets. Mr. Greenwood commented that the plans call for dedicated left turn lanes on both northbound and southbound Portola Avenue. Member Spiegel asked where the funding for the project was coming from. Mr. Greenwood stated that the funds were being obtained from traffic signal and drainage fees collected from developers, and that Measure A funds would also be used. There are also surplus funds remaining on 2 MINUTES LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE January 20, 2010 completed projects, and staff will be requesting approval from the City Council to reallocate funds to this project. Upon a motion from Member Spiegel, second by Member Limont and an 8-0 vote of the Committee Board, the Portola Avenue and Frank Sinatra Intersection Improvements design was approved as presented. B. Coachella Valley Water District Infrastructure and City Landscape Conflicts Chairman Knight stated that there are locations where Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) sewer lines run under City landscaped medians. Conflicts arise when CVWD needs to access their sewer lines for repairs or maintenance and must remove the landscaping in order to perform their work. Staff is seeking Committee input on how to handle these situations in the future, particularly relating to trees. Chairman Knight stated that we could take a hard line and require CVWD to replace the trees with new ones of the same size, or agree that 24" box replacement trees can be planted. Member Kelly commented that since we are planting for aesthetics, smaller tree species should be sufficient for medians. Chairman Knight responded that the canopy on smaller tree species can potentially interfere with traffic. He noted that in a 15-foot wide median, a Palo Verde will grow tall enough to provide a 14-foot clearance, and that it takes approximately five years for the canopy to develop. Member Spiegel asked for staff's recommendation. Chairman Knight stated that staff would recommend working with CVWD to allow them to replace removed trees with 24" box sized trees in medians if sewer work is required. Mr. Greenwood stated that staff wants to develop a pre- approved palette of trees rather than making determinations on individual projects. Member Limont agreed that it is a good idea to work with CVWD. Member Kelly stated that he recommends that the alternative of installing smaller tree species be pursued. Chairman Knight stated that staff will develop guidelines and a tree palette and provide it to the Committee for review. Upon a motion from Member Spiegel, second by Vice-Chairman Aylaian and an 8-0 vote of the Committee Board, staff was directed to work with CVWD to establish a policy to deal with conflicts arising between CVWD infrastructure and City landscaped medians. 3 MINUTES LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE January 20, 2010 C. Plantinq for Motor Homes and RVs Member Kelly stated that a one-page handout listing approved plants for use in screening motor homes and RVs should be developed. Ms. Grisa noted that the plants must be tall enough to screen the area 100 percent before parking a vehicle is allowed. There was agreement among the Committee that the specified plants should be fast growing. Vice- Chairman Aylaian recommended specifying particular sized plants for various sized planting areas. Upon a motion from Member Kelly, second by Member Spiegel, and an 8-0 vote of the Committee Board, staff was directed to develop a one-page list of appropriate plants for use to sufficiently screen motor homes and RVs and present their recommendation to the Committee at the next meeting. VII. Continued Business None VIII. Old Business A. Cooperative Landscape Water Manaqement Program Update Chairman Knight reported that CVWD did not provide sufficient funds in their budget to cover their portion of the turf buy-back programs that five cities are proposing. They are scheduled to go to their board on January 26, 2010, to request that half of the programs' costs be funded in the second half of their current fiscal year, with funding provided for the balance in the first half of their next fiscal year. Staff has continued to move forward with the paperwork in anticipation of CVWD board approval. Once approval is received, the program will be ready to launch. Applications should be ready by mid-February with an anticipated start date of March 1, 2010. Chairman Knight stated that CVWD will handle the media announcements, and we will have information available on our website. Member Spiegel commented that when applications were taken for the energy program, there were contractors who made application for numerous clients. Mr. Alvarez stated that the energy program policy has been modified, and multiple applications are no longer allowed. Chairman Knight stated that they will use similar requirements, particularly as it relates to HOAs. He also noted that based on the number of inquiries already received, it is expected that the funds will be depleted quickly. 4 MINUTES LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE January 20, 2010 IX. Reports and Remarks • Member Spiegel asked when the landscaping at the Desert Willow entrance on Country Club Drive would be installed. Chairman Knight replied that bids for the project are due on January 28, 2010, and work will commence approximately six weeks later. • Member Spiegel asked Mr. Greenwood when the utility undergrounding that is part of the sidewalk improvement project on the east side of Portola Avenue north of Fred Waring will take place. Mr. Greenwood stated that staff is working with Southern California Edison (SCE) and if they clear out their lines by May or June, we can begin work this summer. If SCE is unable to meet that timeframe, work will be delayed until the summer of 2011 because of school traffic in the area. X. Adjournment With no further business or discussion, and Landscape Beautification Committee Board concurrence, the meeting was adjourned at 12:02 p.m. H. Sp er K ' t, Landscape Manager ATTEST: , ; ;�1: ti�.�.�.. Beth Longman, A ing Recording Secretary Landscape Beautification Committee 5