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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Landscape Beautification Committee April 20, 2011CITY OF PALM DESERT PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM TO: Rachelle D. Klassen, City Clerk FROM: Bertha A. Gonzalez, Senior Office Assistant DATE: July 20, 2011 SUBJECT: Submission of Minutes for the Landscape Beautification Committee Attached for your records are the approved minutes of the Landscape Beautification Committee Meeting for July 20, 2011, Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional information. Thank you. Attachment (as noted) CITY COUNCIL ACTION APPROVED DENIED RMAVFD) CL OT,' 3 FD2 ]�1I:F;TDNG [):ATE AV P `:�-K-Yin�r� NOFS: -- ABITNT: IVC9YlP� ABSTAIN: VERIF[ED lid'- 12PfS qm Original on File with City Clerk's Office CITY OF PALM DESERT MINUTES LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, April 20, 2011 — 11:30 a.m. Administrative Conference Room — Palm Desert Civic Center 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, California 92260 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Knight convened the meeting at 11:30 a.m. 11. ROLL CALL Present: Absent: Chairman H. Spencer Knight Member Martin Alvarez Vice -Chairman Lauri Aylaian Member Cindy Finerty Member Mark Greenwood Member Connor Limont Member Bob Spiegel Member John M. Wohimuth Also Present: Diane Hollinger, Landscape Specialist Bertha A. Gonzalez, Recording Secretary III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Chairman Knight informed the Committee that City staff and the City of Rancho Mirage have not yet discussed the landscaping of the Monterey Medians, but the funds have been allocated. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Regular Landscape Beautification Committee Meeting of Wednesday, February 16, 2011. Approve as presented. Upon a motion by Chairman Knight, second by Member Spiegel, and 3-2-0 vote of the Committee Board with Member Aylaian and Member Greenwood abstaining, the Consent Calendar was approved as presented. LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE APPROVED MINUTES APRIL 20, 2011 V. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Adjustments in the Level of Service for the Citv's Landscape Maintenance Areas Chairman Knight stated that seven out of the nine Landscape Maintenance Areas have been evaluated in order to decrease the level of service. Landscape Maintenance Area 6 and 9 were not considered due to their high visibility. The frequency schedule was modified by removing the minimal requirements and some of the activities were eliminated to decrease the cost. The result of the modifications was as follows: • The frequency of facility cleaning and trash pick up has been extended; therefore, weeds and trash will be more visible, since they will remain in place for a longer period of time. • Irrigation system inspections will be less frequent. • Pest control will be hired out on as -needed basis. • Certain maintenance activities that require to be completed by a specific hour will be required to be completed by the end of the work day. The Landscape Services staff will remove large items and perform irrigation system inspections between contractual services. The estimated savings for reduction of services is $85,758 or 13% of the existing contract base costs. Chairman Knight noted that due to the significant increases in fuel costs and insurance the estimated cost savings may not be realized. The specific areas where services have been removed include Ironwood Park and Palma Village, which are not highly used. In addition, none of the dog parks will be overseeded, since the turf deteriorates within a couple of weeks because of their high usage. The savings will be reflected in the water, seed and irrigation. He stated that the palm tree pruning will be performed as scheduled. Member Spiegel stated that the City of Palm Desert is known for being beautiful and hopes that these changes won't affect its reputation. Chairman Knight assured him that he will do his best not to let that happen. 7 LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE APPROVED MINUTES APRIL 20, 2011 No motion; Informational Item. B. Presentation and Discussion on the Conditions of the Turf in the City Dog Parks Chairman Knight stated that the City closes its parks every year during the overseeding process to allow the Rye grass to grow. However, the dog parks are so heavily used, the condition of the turf deteriorates very rapidly. He presented photos of their current condition and demonstrated the bare areas along pavilions and center of the parks where the dogs play more frequently. Member Greenwood stated that regardless of the effort staff puts forward to maintain the turf green, the conditions remain the same. Because Freedom Park and Joe Mann Park are not used as much, bare areas are less noticeable. At a JPIA Seminar, Chairman Knight was informed that some cities have replaced the turf in their dog parks with decomposed granite for the same reason (i.e. Malibu). One problem with decomposed granite though is that it can get very hot during the summer. In addition, New York City has added boulders and concrete to one of their dog parks. City staff does not support the installation of artificial grass due to its maintenance requirements; therefore, it is not an option. Member Wohlmuth stated that this year City staff will not overseed the turf in the dog parks, which will reduce the watering cost. The potential to modifying the dog parks will be researched at another time. Member Greenwood asked the Committee not to see this as lowering the standards, but as adapting to the current times. No Motion; informational Item. VII. CONTINUED BUSINESS None VIII. OLD BUSINESS None IX. REPORTS AND REMARKS Due to the recurring absence of Committee members in many of the meetings, Chairman Knight questioned if the Committee was serving its purpose or should it be suspended permanently. He added that in order for the Committee to be efficient, all the members need to attend every meeting LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE APPROVED MINUTES and asked if it would be beneficial to meetings when members are absent. ad hoc meeting. APRIL 20, 2011 appoint alternates that will attend the Another option would be to make it an The Committee stated that the meeting was important because it is where City staff can bring and discuss their landscape concerns. In addition, if the budget continues to struggle and/or the Redevelopment Agency is omitted, cost saving measures will need to be looked at by the Committee. Member Aylaian added that she refers some of the issues that the Planning Department encounters to the Committee for discussion and recommendation. Following a brief discussion, the Committee members concurred that the Committee needs to continue to meet; the minutes should continue to be forwarded to the City Council in order to establish its importance; and an alternate would be beneficial. The Committee also agreed that the meetings can continue to be cancelled when there are no items of discussion and go dark during the summer months. On a separate note, the Committee was informed that City Council received a white paper to fund the Cooperative Landscape Water Management Program, but Member Wohlmuth omitted it. Although the program did very well and the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) has funded the program again, Member Wohlmuth believes it should be handled by the City's Energy Department. Staff is unsure if CVWD will be able to continue the program, since the City will not be matching the refunds. X. ADJOURNMENT With no further business or discussion, and Landscape Beautification Committee Board concurrence, the meeting was adjourned at 12:22 p.m. ATTEST: Brtha A. Go alez, Rec rding Se r ary EI H. Spkt* KlKht, Landscape Manager