Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Cultural Resources Prevention Committee 09/27/2011CITY OF PALM DESERT BUILDING & SAFETY DEPARTMENT INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM To: Rachelle Klassen, City Clerk ,AEZ_ From: Suzanne Cicchini, Administrative Secretary Date: January 31, 2012 Subject: Submission of Approved Minutes for the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee Meeting held on September 27, 2011 Attached is a copy of the September 27, 2011 Minutes of the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee Meeting approved by the Committee on January 31, 2012. Please include on the next City Council agenda. Thank you Attachment �'ITY COU N C I L ACTI ONT i�iE,TING DATE - 901.1,. AYES:6050 4) er v� am�Kj!JCrroon=, T NOES: Nbn _ ABSENT:LASE- ABSTAIN: ilaine_ VERIFIED BY: g Original on File with City Clerk's Office G1BIdgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation CommitteeWeeting Items\Memo-City Clerk -Minutes 01-31-12.doc CITY OF PALM DESERT CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Minutes September 27, 2011 Administrative Conference Room I. CALL TO ORDER Committee Chair Don Graybill called the meeting of the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee to order at 10:08 a.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Absent: Gale Broeker Ricki Brodie Art Davis Don Graybill Kim Housken Bob Pitchford Kent Routh Also Present: Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety Suzanne Cicchini, Recording Secretary III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Elizabeth Gold, Director of Operations at the Center for Spiritual Living at 45630 Portola Avenue, wanted to know if a potential future buyer would have restrictions if the Center opted for a Cultural Resource designation prior to sale. A discussion commenced. The Center for Spiritual Living is next door to Washington Charter School, located on Portola and Shadow Mountain. Committee Chair Don Graybill mentioned that the building is significant; it is the first site of the first church. Committee Member Bob Pitchford believes that the Rectory is a Walter White building because it has the characteristics. Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety responded to Ms. Gold's concerns. Any property owner, contemplating improvements whether it is enlarging a building or putting a new building on a site would be required to go through the review process through City of Palm Desert Planning, Building and possibly, Public Works Departments. If a property were deemed historic, it would add just one more layer of review with this Committee. Focus would be on whether the additional improvements mimic the original architecture. It does not preclude a property owner from enlarging the existing building. Interior alterations are not subject to Committee review; only exterior alterations. Committee Member Kim Housken noted that landscaping could be subject to review if CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 27, 2011 there was a historic tree or something of that nature on the property. Mr. Grance pointed out that the designation process is completely voluntary. It has to be approved by the property owner. If a new property owner of a designated property decides, there is a process to de -list the property. When the ordinance was developed, maintenance of property owner rights was the City Council's main objective. Committee Member Kim Housken informed that the Mills Act has benefits that could be pursued. However, since the Center is a church, no taxes are paid and no tax benefit would be derived from the Mills Act. Mr. Grance pointed out that it is a benefit for a property owner to have their property designated historical if they wanted to preserve their property in perpetuity. Discussion continued about the site. Ms. Gold mentioned that the Center has outgrown the current location. Committee Chair Don Graybill recalled that the Historical Society has quite a bit of information on the building. Committee Member Bob Pitchford remembered that the building was previously considered as a site for City Hall and was also the site of the Christina Sinatra Youth Center. Ms. Gold will confer with the Board of the Center and let Mr. Grance know whether they will move forward with a designation. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 03/29/11. Committee Chair Don Graybill Motioned that Minutes be approved as presented. Committee Vice Chair Kent Routh seconded the Motion. All present approved. Motion passed unanimously. V. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None VI. NEW BUSINESS A. DISCUSS: PALM DESERT SCHOOL TO BE PLACED ON UNOFFICIAL LIST. Discussion commenced about the school site. The unofficial list was developed over time and is dated April 24, 2006. Director of Building and Safety, Russell Grance noted that the top thirteen properties were derived from that unofficial list. Mr. Grance suggested researching the properties to determine if a property is significant. Committee Member Kim Housken explained that some of the properties on the official list were surveyed back in 1981. Committee Member Art Davis asked whether there was any contact between the Committee and property owners on the list and if there were any mailings. Mr. Grance responded that there were roughly thirteen properties that were considered a priority. These were the only property owners contacted. Committee Chair Don Graybill proposed that the list be organized into different categories to make the properties eligible. Committee Member Art Davis suggested that each Committee Member take five to ten properties G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation CommitteeMnutes 2011\09-27-11 Minutes.docx Page 2 CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 27, 2011 each, take a picture, make notations, and determine whether that property should remain on the list. Committee Member Kim Housken clarified that they previously did what Mr. Davis recommended. Mr. Grance explained the notes on the unofficial list came from that Committee research. Committee Vice Chair Kent Routh mentioned that each property was unique in design or in some other way. Some because of a celebrity who lived there, the architect, or longevity of the property. Mr. Routh suggested that perhaps at least ten percent no longer exist or are no longer of interest to the Committee. Committee Member Gale Broeker pointed out that at least three or four have been destroyed. Committee Chair Don Graybill spoke with people associated with the Washington School site and is encouraged to continue pursuing this designation. The people he spoke with wanted additional information. He inquired whether a school site is a category. Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety explained that the designation did not have to be for a building. It can be for a site, a tree, landscape. Historical significance is necessary. Discussion commenced about the application process. Mr. Grance and the Committee will provide any assistance needed. It is imperative that the person signing the letter for the school has the necessary authority. Mr. Grance is aware that the Department of the State Architect is the ultimate authority for school sites. Due diligence must be done in obtaining permission for this designation. Committee Member Kim Housken suggested that an interpretive display be considered because it is a school site. Mr. Grance concurred that a paragraph explaining that this was the site of the first school because the original facility no longer exists. This would be in addition to the plaque. The Committee concurred that the Washington School site should be added to the unofficial list. Since it is on the unofficial list, no motion was needed. Mr. Grance requested that Mr. Graybill provide the contact information so a letter could be prepared to initiate the designation process. Mr. Graybill requested that he hand carry the letter. Discussion continued about the list. It will be emailed to the Committee. B. DISCUSS: POTENTIAL BUS TOUR. Discussion commenced about the bus tour. There is liability for the City to consider if the public is invited. Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety Department suggested that pamphlets could be available that detail the route for the public to tour properties in lieu of attending the tour. These could be made available at the Historical Society. The 2007 bus tour information is available on the City of Palm Desert website at www.cityofpalmdesert.org. Mr. Grance noted that the interest generated will determine the size of bus needed. Committee Member Kim Housken suggested February, 2012 as the month for the tour. Time and specific date will be determined. If the tour will be held on a day that the Historical Society is normally closed, it may be opened for that event. GABldgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation Committee\Minutes 2011\09-27-11 Minutes. docx Page 3 CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 27, 2011 VII. CONTINUED BUSINESS None VIII. OLD BUSINESS A. UPDATE: Status of Designation Letters. Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety updated the Committee on the status of the letters sent. One property owner's letter came back and was marked "interested' but no further communication was received from that property owner since. Seven letter recipients responded that they are "not interested." Two letters are still pending and the rest have not responded at all. IX. REPORTS AND REMARKS Committee Member Gale Broeker mentioned an article in the Los Angeles times about stolen plaques. Thieves were removing brass plaques to sell as scrap metal. Our aluminum plaques are not as valuable as plaques made of other metals; the risk to our plaques was determined to be low. Committee Chair Don Graybill wanted to know what the chances might be of public funding for a Cultural Resources Center. Director of Building and Safety, Russell Grance noted that there was almost no chance of a publicly funded Cultural Resources Center. A 503C Non -Profit Corporation could be developed with private donations. In this difficult economic environment, private support might be difficult to obtain. Mr. Graybill expressed that the Historical Society is so cramped for space. They are trying to get another location for themselves. Mr. Grance pointed out that the unique items on display at the Historical Society, to commemorate the first Fire Station, might be difficult to transfer to another location. A whole new site would be needed. There is a wide open property next to the Historical Society. Mr. Graybill noted that it was a Dog Park. Mr. Grance suggested that it might be an ideal location. Mr. Graybill would like City of Palm Desert to consider the Edith Morre building on El Paseo as a potential site for a Cultural Resources Center. The building needs a lot of work. Committee Member Kim Housken mentioned the former Visitors Center and how appropriate it would have been for a Cultural Resources Center to be tied in with the Visitors Center. Committee Member Gale Broeker mentioned that there was supposed to have been a Cultural Center located at the McCallum Theater site. The Historical Society opens this weekend. The hours are 10:00 a.m. — 3:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, closed on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Committee Chair Don Graybill noticed the designation terminology is the same for a landmark as well as a district. He thought that the wording should have been changed to reflect owners or a percentage of owners. Committee Member Gale Broeker noted that she objected that property owner approval was needed G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation Committee\Minutes 2011\09-27-11 Minutes.docx Page 4 CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 27, 2011 because Federal law allows for anyone to nominate any property at any time. Russell Grance, Director of Building and Safety suggested that interest be gauged before any work is done. A mailer sent out to property owners within a 300 foot radius would help determine interest. Mr. Graybill would like the Palma Village area (that was here before the City was incorporated) to be recognized in some way. Mr. Graybill suggested that perhaps this was something for the Historical Society to consider. Committee Vice Chair Kent Routh opined that he did not think the area was of interest. Ms. Houken suggested that the area did not necessarily have to be designated, but it was under the category of educating people that this particular area was here before El Paseo. Committee Member Kim Housken wanted to know what information we had on Shadow Mountain Fairway Cottages. They were built in the late Fifties and Sixties. Someone was asking about these at the Historical Society. An address was not available. An address is needed in order to conduct more research. A Work Shop will be scheduled for Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. in the Administrative Conference Room at City of Palm Desert. This replaces the regular meeting scheduled for the same day. X. ADJOURNMENT Committee Chair Don Graybill adjourned the meeting at 11:43 a.m. 3Q�Kwu- u C ") Suzanne Cicchini, Recording Secretary G:\BldgSfty\Suzanne Cicchini\Word Files\Cultural Resources Preservation Committee\Minutes 2011\09-27-11 Minutes.docx Page 5