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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Cultural Resources Preservation Committee 2-22-2011CITY OF PALM DESERT BUILDING & SAFETY DEPARTMENT INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM To: Rachelle Klassen, City Clerk 1,,_�;-C, From: Suzanne Cicchini, Administrative Secretary Date: March 29, 2011 Subject: Submission of Approved Minutes for the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee Meeting held on February 22, 2011 Attached is a copy of the February 22, 2011 Minutes of the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee Meeting approved by the Committee on March 29, 2011. Please include on the next City Council agenda. Thank you Attachment CITY COI JNCI L ACTI( I" APPROVED RECEIVED v F MEETING DATE 0 AYES: L"/ ,ffa�/1�iC,�oa�7cnSJJiEG7F=/, BnSvn NOES: llr-Aeo ABSENT: d0l)6 ABSTAIN: M ��_ VERIFIED BY: ki eh -a Original on File with City Clerks Office G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation Committee\Meeting ItemsWemo-City Clerk -Minutes 03-29-11.doc CITY OF PALM DESERT BUILDING & SAFETY DEPARTMENT INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM To: Rachelle Klassen, City Clerk 1.s--C, From: Suzanne Cicchini, Administrative Secretary Date: March 29, 2011 Subject: Submission of Approved Minutes for the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee Meeting held on February 22, 2011 Attached is a copy of the February 22, 2011 Minutes of the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee Meeting approved by the Committee on March 29, 2011. Please include on the next City Council agenda. Thank you Attachment CITYCOIJNCII AC'I'1(I�r Ai'1'11OVED 1WNT RECEIVED MEETING DATE -- AYES: T, NOES: ILA N _ ABSENT: -dn ne ABSTAIN: --t �Ae- VERIFIED BY. - Original on File with City CIeWs Office GABldgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation Committee\Meeting Items\Memo-City Clerk -Minutes 03-29-11.doc CITY OF PALM DESERT BUILDING & SAFETY DEPARTMENT INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM To: Rachelle Klassen, City Clerk I'Ec" From: Suzanne Cicchini, Administrative Secretary Date: March 29, 2011 Subject: Submission of Approved Minutes for the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee Meeting held on February 22, 2011 Attached is a copy of the February 22, 2011 Minutes of the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee Meeting approved by the Committee on March 29, 2011. Please include on the next City Council agenda. Thank you Attachment G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation Committee\Meeting Items\Memo-City Clerk -Minutes 03-29-11.doc CITY OF PALM DESERT CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Minutes February 22, 2011 Administrative Conference Room I. CALL TO ORDER Committee Chair Don Graybill called the meeting of the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee to order at 10:01 a.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Absent: Ricki Brodie Kent Routh Gale Broeker Don Graybill Kim Housken Bob Pitchford Also Present: Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety Suzanne Cicchini, Recording Secretary Leslie Deane Roth, Palm Desert Resident Gary Olesen, Palm Desert Resident III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS MS. LESLIE DEANE ROTH of 74-340 Old Prospector Trail has been a resident for about a year. She moved here from Boston where she lived for 10 years in a home that was built in 1835. She has a passion for preservation and discussed her experience which included studying architecture at Harvard University. She studied preservation extensively through the Savannah College of Art and Design Masters Program. She discussed her experience which included preservation and special studies centered on African American Culture around Savannah, Georgia and South Carolina. Ms. Roth believes preservation education could be used quite a bit here and offered her assistance to the Committee. Committee Chair Don Graybill noted that her home is on the Committee's unofficial list. Committee Member Kim Housken recalled that she and Committee Member Bob Pitchford drove by her home. Ms. Housken indicated that Mr. Pitchford thought that it might have been a John Moyer home. Mr. Pitchford explained that it was just a guess. Mr. Graybill had a chance to tour Ms. Roth's house; it was interesting and quite nice. Ms. Roth wanted to know if this Committee was an off -shoot of the City with members. Russell Grance, Director or Building and Safety clarified that would be the Historical Society. Committee Member Gale Broeker expressed that they were appointed by City Council as a City Committee. Ms. Roth noted that the Mills Act is also of interest to the Historical Society. Mr. Grance explained that all property owners within the City could potentially benefit from the Mills Act. CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE PRELIMINARY MINUTES FEBRUARY 22, 2011 IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF NOVEMBER 30, 2010 Committee Member Kim Housken requested clarifications in the Minutes under Section IX. Reports and Remarks, third paragraph. The first sentence should read: "Committee Member Kim Housken shared her concerns about proposed new demolitions at College of the Desert." The third sentence should read: "She previously wrote a response to the Environmental Impact Report for the new construction at College of the Desert approximately 5 years ago." Committee Member Gale Broeker moved to accept the Minutes as amended. Motion was seconded by Committee Member Kim Housken. The Motion passed unanimously. V. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None VI. NEW BUSINESS A. ELECTION OF COMMITTEE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR FOR 2011 Committee Chair Don Graybill received word from Committee Member Kent Routh that he would not be able to attend this meeting. Mr. Routh would accept any position except Chairman. Committee Member Gale Broeker moved to nominate Committee Member Kent Routh for Vice Chair. Committee Member Ricki Brodie seconded the nomination. All were in favor and the Committee unanimously approved Committee Member Kent Routh for Vice Chair. Committee Member Ricki Brodie nominated Don Graybill for the Chair position again. Committee Member Gale Broeker seconded the nomination. Committee Member Kim Housken moved that the Committee close the nomination. Committee Member Bob Pitchford seconded the Motion. The Motion passed unanimously and Committee Chair Don Graybill was elected to a second term. Discussion commenced and Committee Chair Don Graybill thanked the Committee for their confidence. Committee Member Kim Housken wanted to thank Mr. Graybill for his year of service. It's been a great year and he's done a great job. Committee Member Ricki Brodie noted that the Committee achieved so much since last year. Mr. Graybill pointed out that all the work that has gone on before culminated during the year 2010. It's fortunate that things seem to be moving on. VII. CONTINUED BUSINESS None G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne Ciochini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation Committee\Minutes 2011\02-22-11 Minutes.docx Page 2 CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE PRELIMINARY MINUTES FEBRUARY 22, 2011 VIII. OLD BUSINESS Russell Grance reported on the progress of the Mills Act. Council approved the Mills Act Program on January 13, 2011. The Mills Act Fee Proposal will move forward to City Council on March 10, 2011. Any fees that are assessed have to be passed by City Council Resolution. A Public Hearing will be held on March 10, 2011. Suzanne Cicchini, Recording Secretary conducted a survey of the 80 cities that we know have a Mills Act Program in the State of California. There was quite a range fees charged from zero to several thousand dollars. One city had a breakdown of $8,973.00 Residential and $17,939.00 for Commercial. Mr. Grance reported that after discussion with Executive Management, we are proposing to establish an application fee of $318.00, which equates to two hours of his billable hourly rate. The contract initiation fee will be a deposit set at $1,000.00. If it's consumed, the applicant would have to pay more. If only one half or one third of the deposit was used, the balance would be refunded. The Council has the option to charge nothing. The recommendation was based upon how much time Mr. Grance would have invested in the initial contact with the applicant. The contract initiation deposit would be submitted by the applicant. The deposit covers all the Staff, Committee and City Council time and the interaction time with the Riverside County Assessor during the process. The amount of time would be tracked and evaluated. Once we have a couple, the fees could be adjusted accordingly. Discussion commenced about the process and Mr. Grance mentioned that he has had several conversations with representatives from Shadow Mountain Golf Club inquiring where we were in the process. They appear interested in taking advantage of the Mills Act Program. Mr. Grance designed a web page. He will ship it out for Committee input before it goes live. He has all the information except for fees, which will be come from City Council. Committee Chair Don Graybill inquired whether Mr. Grance found any variations in the application fees for residential versus commercial. Mr. Grance noticed a couple and the fee was almost double for commercial. One jurisdiction had an application fee that was a percentage of property valuation. There was a wide range in fees charged. Committee Member Gale Broeker inquired which city had the highest fee. San Francisco had the highest fee. Committee Chair Don Graybill inquired if San Diego was on the fee survey, and it was. Former California State Senator James R. Mills, formerly of San Diego initiated the Mills Act. Committee Member Gale Broeker inquired where funding for the Mills Act comes from? Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety responded that The Mills Act is a California State program. State legislation created the Mills Act and it's a voluntary program. Cities and counties are not obligated to participate. It's a way to provide incentive to promote cultural resources preservation within their jurisdiction. It is funded through property tax. It's a savings of property tax that is already paid by the property owner. The savings are to go toward the preservation of the property. Mr. Grance provided an example of fiscal impact for Shadow Mountain Golf Club, which is in project area 1. It would not be a fiscal impact to the City General fund. It would have a fiscal impact to the Redevelopment Agency. G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne Ciochini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation CommitteeMnutes 2011\02-22-11 Minutes.docx Page 3 CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE PRELIMINARY MINUTES FEBRUARY 22, 2011 The taxable increment the Agency received from that property is $21,619.00 for the ten parcels. The Redevelopment Agency would lose approximately $10,500.00. Mr. Grance clarified this example assumes a maximum 50% savings to the property owner. Ms. Broeker inquired if a crimp could be put on the Mills Act if redevelopment funding was cut. Mr. Grance responded that was potentially possible. It would be a matter for the Riverside County Assessor to determine what the impact of these pass through amounts would be. Ms. Broeker further noted that since it's a reduction of the property taxes, not a rebate or money paid to them, cancelling Agency funding would leave that much less funding. Mr. Grance explained the funds are shared through multiple agencies, the schools and the State of California General Fund. It's uncertain how it will play out. Ms. Broeker wanted confirmation that cancelling redevelopment funding would not cancel the Mills Act. Mr. Grance responded that it probably would not. It would impact some other agency. The amount of increment received still has to live on because it's a California State law. Someone else will be impacted rather than a local redevelopment agency. Committee Chair Don Graybill inquired when an applicant applies, would they have to come up with an initial fee. He expressed concern about the fees. Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety confirmed that if approved, the application fee would be $318.00. This fee covers Staff review of the application for completeness. It then comes before the Committee for their recommendation. His application would then be forwarded to City Council for their review. If approved by City Council, the contract will then have to be reviewed by attorneys for both sides. The contract will come before the Committee and then to City Council. If approved, it goes to the Assessor and ultimately will be a recorded document with Riverside County. Mr. Grance mentioned that within six months the applicant is responsible to notify the California state agency of their participation in the Mills Act. Committee Chair Don Graybill noted the effective date would not be until the next year. Mr. Grance acknowledged that there was a waiting period, depending upon when the application is turned in. Committee Chair Don Graybill inquired about how many cities do not charge a fee. Director of Building and Safety, Russell Grance responded that there were quite a few. Mr. Graybill pointed out that he thought it would be advantageous not to charge a fee. City Council will weigh in on this on March 10, 2010. Committee Member Gale Broker inquired if there was a limit per Mills Act Application per year. Mr. Grance explained the limit was 7. City Council will be looking at the impact on Staff. The application and contract initiation, in addition to annual inspections are needed to carry on the program. The Committee discussed the benefit of having a program with no fees. Committee Chair Don Graybill and Committee Member Kim Housken were especially concerned that City Council understands that they would like the Mills Act program to be free of any fees. G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation CommitteeUnutes 2011\02-22-11 Minutes. docx Page 4 CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE PRELIMINARY MINUTES FEBRUARY 22, 2011 IX. REPORTS AND REMARKS Committee Member Kim Housken reported on February 3, 2011 she and Committee Member Bob Pitchford met with Volker Welter, an Associate Professor from the Department of History of Art and Architecture from University of California at Santa Barbara. He assigns his students research projects and a few of them are researching Walter White homes. She and Mr. Pitchford had the pleasure of providing him a tour of Walter White homes in the area. The Walter White collection is housed at UC Santa Barbara. Mr. Welter is hoping to have a Walter White exhibit there. The Committee discussed the visit and the homes involved. Committee Chair Don Graybill mentioned the Certificates of Appreciation that were distributed today from Shadow Mountain Golf Club and the plaque unveiling there recently. Committee Chair Don Graybill announced the Indian Wells Historic Preservation Foundation Meeting and Luncheon will be held on Friday, April 1, 2011. Mr. Graybill has been invited to speak at the event. Admission is $35.00 and includes lunch. Mr. Graybill's lunch will be provided at no cost. Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety offered to cover the cost of the Committee Members lunches for the April 1, 2011 event. The Committee discussed previous events attended. The Committee discussed plaques, numbering of plaques and thematic districts. The Committee was impressed with the brochures Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety created for the three designations. There was discussion to look in to the feasibility of creating a tri-fold brochure that shows the historic sites in Palm Desert with a map similar to the one on the website. Committee Member Gale Broeker mentioned that in Ventura you can get a map of historic buildings by going to almost any restaurant. The map is printed on the placemat and that might be an idea to consider. Committee Chair Don Graybill wanted to explore the feasibility of an overlay zone. Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety suggested that subject be added to a future agenda. Mr. Grance added that Planning Department is researching the feasibility of developing an overlay zone. He cautioned that once you develop an overlay zone it comes with restrictions for those property owners within that zone. Mr. Grance reminded the Committee that when the current ordinance was developed there was a lot of interaction with Council and their concern was about property owners rights. A historic overlay zone can limit and restrict rights to develop or alter buildings. This has always been a voluntary program with the fundamental premise that we want to preserve property owner's rights. Mr. Grance reminded the Committee that we developed a good ordinance and a good program and we help quite a bit through the process. Mr. Grance pointed out that it's not to say it can't be done, it all depends on how the document is drafted. Committee Chair Don Graybill remarked that this is something we could put off for awhile. Mr. Graybill is concerned about how to best recognize cultural resources going forward. Mr. Grance suggested that the Committee work more closely with the Historical Society. The Committee discussed some of the other "firsts" and hoped to recognize those in the future. GABldgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation CommitteeNinutes 2011\02-22-11 Minutes.docx Page 5 CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE PRELIMINARY MINUTES FEBRUARY 22, 2011 Committee Member Gale Broeker discussed that when she was first placed on the Committee she was requested to prepare a one page biography of her qualifications. Ms. Broeker suggested that part of the next meeting be dedicated to that. Committee Chair Don Graybill mentioned the BrightSide article regarding Shadow Mountain Golf Course and wanted to know if the public could have access to any of the information in our library. Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety noted that these are available by Public Record request. Mr. Grance also has clippings and photos or video information. Committee Chair Don Graybill announced that the California Preservation Foundation Annual Conference will be held in Santa Monica May 15-18, 2011. The Committee discussed the last conference held and the venue. Committee Member Kim Housken thanked the City for the National Trust for Historic Preservation Membership. The Committee Members enjoy the magazine that accompanies the membership. X. ADJOURNMENT Committee Chair Don Graybill adjourned the meeting at 11:06 a.m. �Q �an �� (?� C clt,,�4j Suzanne Cicchini, Recording Secretary G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation Committee\Minutes 2011\02-22-11 Minutes.docx Page 6