The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCRP Cmte - 05/25/10 �......�.. �—�—� CITY OF PALM DESERT � � BUILDING & SAFETY DEPARTMENT , INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM To: Rachelle Klassen, City Clerk ,$�G From: Suzanne Cicchini, Administrative Secretary Date: June 29, 2010 Subject: Submission of Approved Minutes for the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee Meeting held on May 25, 2010. Attached is a copy of the May 25, 2010 Minutes of the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee Meeting approved by the Committee on June 29, 2010. Please include on the next City Council agenda. Thank you Attachment CITY COUi�CILACTION ANPROVf?D _j��;��rp Ri?CF.IVr[)_`..Fr P ()1"1LEIt MF,F,'�'Ii�'G llATF - � �C�/G AYF,�:�� r - '/�� N(�[:`�: /1�'1Ur)F ��_ A.l3SE1o''I': �e��Y A➢�S1fA[N: v�:��r�,:�� 3v: �� c� Ori�;ina1 on File with City Clerk's ftice G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation CommitleeVuleeting ItemsVvlemo-City Clerk-Minutes 05-25-10.doc �,,,,,.,,,�� CITY OF PALM DESERT / � CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATI ON COMMITTEE Minutes May 25, 2010 Administrative Conference Room I. CALL TO ORDER Committee Chair pon Graybill called the meeting of the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee to order at 10:00 a.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Ricki Brodie Gale Broeker Don Graybill Vera Handley Kim Housken Bob Pitchford Kent Routh Also Present: Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety Shadow Mountain Golf Club Representatives: Dan Pedersen, Don Puckett, Jeanne Puckett, Ed Tunison, Conrad Kauble, Terry Simmons, Dick Knapp, Nick Mesrobian, General Manager Shadow Mountain Golf Club Suzanne Cicchini, Recording Secretary III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 27, 2010 Committee Member Vera Handley motioned to approve the Minutes. Committee Member Kent Routh seconded the Motion. All were in favor and the Motion passed unanimously. V. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None CULTURALRESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MAY 25, 2010 VI. NEW BUSINESS Note: The Committee skipped to Section VI. New Business with Item C. Discuss Shadow Mountain Golf Club Potential Designation and followed with Item B. Discuss Portola Community Center Potential Designation. Item A. Discuss and Determine Summer Meeting Schedule was discussed last because information from discussion of Item C. would affect the summer meeting schedule. C. DISCUSS SHADOW MOUNTAIN GOLF CLUB POTENTIAL DESIGNATION Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety, encouraged by Councilman Richard Kelly, scheduled a meeting with representatives from Shadow Mountain Golf Club. Meetings and discussions of a potential designation with Mr. Pedersen resulted in this topic moving forward to the Committee. Mr. Grance introduced Mr. Dan Pedersen. He introduced Don and Jeanne Puckett, Ed Tunison, Conrad Kauble, Terry Simmons, Dick Knapp and Nick Mesrobian. Mr. Grance contacted the previous board about a designation, but that board declined. The club is very old and has survived many things. The current Shadow Mountain Golf Club board would like to move fast on a designation. They would like to blend a cultural resources designation with the Shadow Mountain Golf Club opening on November 10, 2010. Participation in some of Palm Desert's marketing and advertising campaigns is of interest. Mr. Pedersen mentioned that they are also very interested in the benefits of the Mills Act. Committee Member Kim Housken responded that this Committee has encouraged the Council to adopt the Mills Act, but it is Council's decision to adopt it. The group is hoping for better signage because the club can be difficult to locate. Director of Building and Safety Russell Grance discussed signage at an Executive Management Meeting and he believes this subject bears further discussion. The Committee discussed numbers for a potential plaque. Committee Chair pon Graybill noted the significance that the first landmark designation was the Fire Station. This district designation would be plaque number two. It represents what the Committee would like to emphasize. Mr. Grance suggested that since this is the first district, rather than another landmark designation, the plaque could also have the number one. It would be an administrative matter that we can propose and accommodate. Discussion commenced about Shadow Mountain Golf Club. Mr. Pederson believes a historic designation would help their goal of increasing membership. Mr. Don Puckett described the club as an oasis back in the early days of the Coachella Valley. They have 65 beautiful acres, a chip shot from EI Paseo with 650 Palm Trees. It is one of the only walk-able courses. Committee Member Vera Handley expressed her admiration about their attitudes. This has been a long time coming. She recalled swimming in the pool in 1968, and she'll be 92 next month. Esther Williams swam in the same pool. The members present e�ctolled the many benefits of the club including the beautiful wind-free surroundings, and a course that is right sized for a fun yet challenging game of golf. G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation Committee\Minutes 2010\5-25-10 Minutes.docx Page 2 CULTURALRESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MAY 25, 2010 Committee Chair pon Graybill noted that it was a figure eight pool. Committee Member Kent Routh commented that they were preaching to the choir. They are in favor of this application. He was sorry to learn the Tennis Club is not a part of this designation. Russell Grance Director of Building and Safety reported that he met with one of the managing partners of the Tennis Club and Mr. Pedersen. He sent several emails with proposed map boundaries of the entire parcels, from a point of the pool parcel and possibly the club house parcel. They were very receptive. It would be an asset for them from a marketing standpoint. The owners will discuss the matter over the summer and hopefully we will hear something shortly. Mr. Pedersen believes people can be a little frightened about a designation. It can be misunderstood until they see the advantages. One major question seems to be focused on concern about the ability to improve the clubhouse. It's functional, but they would like to rebuild it within the boundaries of historic preservation, and hopes the Committee will work with them on this. Committee Member Kim Housken requested confirmation that this was not a hearing. Director of Building and Safety Russell Grance confirmed that it was not a hearing. This is just an introduction, putting names with people's faces. Mr. Grance encouraged the Committee to ask questions. Mr. Grance explained, per ordinance, a work shop or two would be scheduled depending on the way the item flows through the process. A public hearing will be held at this level. If feedback is good, one work shop would be sufficient. Proper notification of property owners within the 300' radius around the perimeter of the proposed district would be required. This notification gives those property owners an opportunity to be, heard, whether they be for or against a potential designation. The City is not required to notify club members. If the Committee moves forward with a positive recommendation, the item will be put on Council's agenda. Council will have the opportunity to make their decision on the designation. Mr. Grance estimates that it could be anywhere between a 60 to 90 day process. Committee Member Kim Housken asked if the course was originally opened as a nine-hole golf course. She requested a little bit of history. Conrad Kauble responded that in the 1940's there was a small par three around the tennis club. In 1958 the 18-hole course was opened. In those days, memberships were for both the tennis and golf clubs. Mr. Kauble heard that the clubs separated in 1968. Legally, it is split into two entities. Committee Member Kim Housken requested clarification on the designation. Was this strictly the land or would owners that live on the interior streets be part of the designation? Director of Building and Safety Russell Grance clarified that this is strictly the golf course and the clubhouse parcels. Mr. Pedersen added that the parking lot and cart barn and all the golf related facilities are included. Mr. Pedersen's goal was to start with the golf course and he hopes to set up some criteria to stylize it for the homeowners. It is too big of an undertaking to do a historic district of the homes at this time. Committee Member Kim Housken wondered if inembership is mandatory. It is not. Mr. Kauble narrated the slide show and pictures that G:\BldgSfty�Suzanne CicchinilWord Files\Cultural Resources Preservation CommitteeVvtinutes 2010\5-25-10 Minutes.docx Page 3 CULTURALRESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MAY 25, 2010 were brought to the meeting. The course was designed by Gene Sarazen. There were many great older photographs of the site. Don Puckett asked the Committee if the lake was there for boating. Committee Member Kim Housken responded that it was supposedly the original reservoir. The army pulled out all the casings for the wells they put in. They had to get water. They drilled and that was a reservoir to hold the water. They used it for little sail boats and such. It was near the original entrance. Mr. Pedersen offered tours of Shadow Mountain. No more than three Committee Members would be present for each tour because of Brown Act restrictions. General Manager, Nick Mesrobian had a copy of a book about Shadow Mountain that had some great photos. He offered more copies to the Committee at a later date. B. DISCUSS PORTOLA COMMUNITY CENTER POTENTIAL DESIGNATION A discussion commenced about Portola Community Center. Director of Building and Safety Russell Grance noted that there was no urgency for this designation. Committee Chair pon Graybill indicated that the Shadow Mountain Golf Club district is the priority at this time. Committee Member Kim Housken mentioned that the Committee Members could work on this on their own. Mr. Grance encouraged the Committee to provide him with any information they find and he could add it to the application that he already started. A. DISCUSS AND DETERMINE SUMMER MEETING SCHEDULE A discussion commenced about the summer meeting schedule and how many work shops might be needed to bring the Shadow Mountain Golf Club designation forward. The committee deferred action on this item until the June 29, 2010 meeting when they will have a better idea of the progress of the potential designation for Shadow Mountain Golf Club. VII. CONTINUED BUSINESS A. UPDATE ON CULTURAL RESOURCE DESIGNATION LETTERS Director of Building and Safety Russell Grance suggested that no additional letters be sent at this time in order to allow the Committee time to work on the potential district designation for Shadow Mountain Golf Club. Mr. Grance offered kudos to Councilman Richard Kelly for connecting the parties involved for this potential designation. VIII. OLD BUSINESS None G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word FileslCultural Resources Preservation Committee\Minutes 2010\5-25-10 Minutes.docx Page 4 CULTURALRESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MAY 25, 2010 IX. REPORTS AND REMARKS Committee Chair pon Graybill expressed his desire to thank people who helped with the Fire Station designation. Director of Building and Safety Russell Grance reported that the plaque has been ordered. Committee Member Kim Housken suggested a plaquing ceremony. A discussion commenced about an appropriate way to celebrate designations. Mr. Grance suggested special recognition could be given during Founder's Day. Committee Member Gale Broeker noted that the designation of the Fire Station was mentioned during this year's Founder's Day celebration. Committee Chair pon Graybill remarked that the Founder's Day Celebration honoring Betty Crockett was very nice. He thought it tied in really well with the historical designation. He really appreciated all the interest shown by the City of Palm Desert. Committee Chair pon Graybill and Committee Member Kim Housken recalled a celebration at the Rancho Mirage Library with a slide show and recognition for properties and owners of historic landmarks. Mr. Grance noted that as momentum builds, that would be an excellent idea. The Committee discussed other golf courses and if there might be any historic courses in the Coachella Valley. Ms. Housken was going to check to see if there were any historic golf courses in the United States. Committee Member Ricki Brodie inquired about Sandpiper. Mr. Grance responded that the focus has been on Shadow Mountain Golf Club. Contact with Sandpiper is difficult due to the many homeowner associations. Committee Member Kim Housken offered that with the pending development on Highway 74 some of the Sandpiper people are getting more involved. Perhaps that might be a way to meet some of them. Committee Member Kim Housken reported that she attended an Open House of a Walter White Home. Committee Members Don Graybill and Bob Pitchford were present also. The house was on Buckboard Trail. It was one of the largest homes Architect Walter White designed. University of California at Santa Barbara archives information was utilized and it was nice to see it being marketed as a Walter White home. Ms. Housken suggested that Mr. Graybill share some of the photos he took with Suzanne Cicchini, Recording Secretary so that City of Palm Desert could have copies. It was beautiful. Committee Member Bob Pitchford said the home gave him a complex. It was not a typical, small Walter White home. The mitered glass was a detail which he used quite a bit. The house was beautifully restored. He would like to see the same thing done with the City owned Bates house. X. ADJOURNMENT Committee Chair pon Graybill adjourned the meeting at 11:20 a.m. �� . . Suzanne Cicchini, Recording Secretary G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation CommitteeVNinutes 2010\5-25-10 Minutes.docx Page 5