The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutPRELIM - RDA 01/26/06PRELIMINARY MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2006 CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBER I. CALL TO ORDER - 3:00 P.M. Vice Chairman Kelly convened the meeting at 3:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Excused Absence: Member Jean M. Benson Chairman Jim Ferguson Member Buford A. Crites (arrived at 4:14 p.m.) Member Robert A. Spiegel Vice Chairman Richard S. Kelly Also Present: Carlos L. Ortega, City Manager/RDA Executive Director David J. Erwin, City Attorney Sheila R. Gilligan, ACM for Community Services Homer Croy, ACM for Development Services Justin McCarthy, ACM for Redevelopment Stephen Y. Aryan, Assistant to the City Manager Rachelle D. Klassen, City Clerk Mark D. Greenwood, City Engineer/Acting Director of Public Works Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building & Safety Phil Drell, Director of Community Development Paul S. Gibson, Director of Finance/City Treasurer David Yrigoyen, Director of Redevelopment & Housing Frankie Riddle, Acting Director of Special Programs David Avila, Fire Marshal, Palm Desert/Riverside County Fire Dept./CDF Steve Thetford, Asst. Chief, Palm Desert Police/Riverside Co. Sheriff’s Dept. Grace L. Mendoza, Deputy City Clerk III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - A (CLOSED SESSION ITEMS) None IV. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION Request for Closed Session: Conference with Real Property Negotiator pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8: PRELIMINARY MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JANUARY 26, 2006 2 1) Property 18.67 acres, SWC Portola Avenue/Frank Sinatra Drive (APN 620-400-015) Negotiating Parties: Agency: Carlos L. Ortega/Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency Property Owner: RJT Homes-Catavina LLC/ Chris Bergh-MDS Consulting Under Negotiation: x Price x Terms of Payment With Agency Board concurrence, Vice Chairman Kelly adjourned the meeting to Closed Session at 3:01 p.m. He reconvened the meeting at 4:00 p.m. V. RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING - 4:00 P.M. A. REPORT ON ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION. None VI. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - Vice Chairman Richard S. Kelly VII. INVOCATION - Member Robert A. Spiegel VIII. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - B MS. SARA JUAREZ, Coachella Valley Recreation & Park District, addressed the Agency Board/City Council to express appreciation for the City’s continued support of the Palm Desert Senior Games, which are conducted by the District. In addition, she delivered invitations to each of the City Councilmembers for the Opening Ceremonies of the Senior Games, a Hawaiian Luau, being held on Friday, February 10, at the Palm Desert Community Center. MS. CONNOR LIMONT, Palm Desert resident and member of the City’s Parks & Recreation Commission, related that she was disappointed to see that an item their Commission had recommended for City Council consideration regarding the Dog Parks was not on today’s agenda. She urged the Agency Board/City Council to take a good look at the matter when it does come before them; the Commission had worked very hard on the issue, and it deserved recognition. MS. SUZIE O’HAIR, Palm Desert resident, expressed that she’d also come to the meeting expecting the Dog Park matter to be on today’s agenda. She frequented the facility nearly every day and was aware that the Parks & Recreation Commission had been looking into the matter to ensure that the Park remains open, safe, and accommodating to all. She, too, urged the City Council to look at the matter seriously–it was getting very crowded there--and it felt like trouble was close at PRELIMINARY MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JANUARY 26, 2006 3 hand. She hoped that the Commission’s recommendation would provide a way to avoid any future trouble. IX. AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, AND APPOINTMENTS A. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION DECLARING JANUARY 26, 2006, AS “PAMLA VALE ABRAMSON DAY” (MS. SENIOR CALIFORNIA) IN THE CITY OF PALM DESERT. On behalf of the Agency Board/City Council, Vice Chairman/Mayor Pro Tem Kelly presented a framed proclamation to Ms. Abramson in recognition of her notable achievement. X. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Regular Redevelopment Agency Meeting of January 12, 2006. Rec: Approve as presented. B. CLAIMS AND DEMANDS AGAINST THE AGENCY TREASURY - Warrant Nos. 136RDA, 141RDA, 143RDA, 145RDA, 137-Housing, 138-Housing, 142-Housing, and 146-Housing. Rec: Approve as presented. C. AUDITED FINANCIAL REPORTS for the Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency – Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2005. Rec: Receive and file. D. REPORT Pursuant to Section 33080.1 of the California Health and Safety Code. Rec: Receive and file. E. REQUEST FOR AWARD OF CONTRACT for Removal of Palm Trees at Laguna Palms Apartments (Contract No. R24750). Rec: By Minute Motion: 1) Award the subject contract to the lowest bidder, Town & Country Tree Service, Barstow, California, in the amount of $19,950 to remove 57 palm trees located at Laguna Palms Apartments; 2) authorize the Executive Director to execute same. PRELIMINARY MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JANUARY 26, 2006 4 F. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL of Amendment to Contract No. R23990C – Financial Consulting Services. Rec: By Minute Motion, approve an amendment to the subject contract with Real Estate Analysis Services Co. (REASCO), Palm Desert, California, for FY 2005/06 in an amount not to exceed $15,000. Upon a motion by Spiegel, second by Benson, and 3-0 vote of the Agency Board, with Crites and Ferguson ABSENT, the Consent Calendar was approved as presented. XI. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None XII. RESOLUTIONS None XIII. NEW BUSINESS A. REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO ISSUE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) FOR DESIGN OF A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER COOK STREET (CONTRACT NO. R24760). Mr. Ortega commented that at the Agency Board’s prior direction for a pedestrian bridge, and now that the process had been approved for Community Facilities District (CFD) No. 2005-1 (University Park), an amount of $1.5 million had been designated for this purpose. Therefore, staff wished to begin the design process for the project. He said when it was considered, it was understood that the developers would pay $1.5 million, and the Redevelopment Agency would pay the balance for the bridge. In response to Member Benson’s question about when this project would be built, Mr. McCarthy responded that use of the CFD funding was limited to a three-year period of time. Mr. Yrigoyen agreed and added that it was also identified to the developer that if the monies weren’t used for the purpose of a bridge, they would go back to redeem bond funds. Member Benson said she didn’t think it had ever really been ascertained that the bridge was needed. Member Spiegel believed the bridge was unnecessary; he felt it was $1.5 million that could be better spent elsewhere. He pointed out that PRELIMINARY MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JANUARY 26, 2006 5 SunLine tried to get bus service to Cal State, and there was no ridership; if no one was riding the bus, they weren’t going to cross the bridge either. He acknowledged that the bridge would be needed possibly 20 years from now. However, if the Agency was going to build a bridge, there were many other places in the City besides Cook Street where schoolchildren needed protection as they crossed major thoroughfares. Member Benson agreed that the bridge may be necessary in 20 years. She noted that there were very few daytime students at the campus currently; and what she knew about students told her that if they were going across the street to eat or shop after class, they’d use their car to get over there in the first place--they wouldn’t leave it in campus parking. Further, she felt a bridge across Cook Street would be unattractive. Member Spiegel moved to, by Minute Motion, DENY staff’s recommendation to issue a Request For Qualifications (RFQ) to architecture and engineering firms for the design of a pedestrian bridge overpass on Cook Street between Frank Sinatra Drive and Gerald Ford Drive. Motion was seconded by Benson and carried by 3-0 vote, with Crites and Ferguson ABSENT. B. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE CIVIL WORK AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AT ENTRADA DEL PASEO (CONTRACT NO. R24770). Member Spiegel moved to, by Minute Motion: 1) Approve the subject contract with Stantec Consulting, Inc., Palm Desert, California, in the amount of $50,800 for professional services and authorize $2,000 for reimbursables for design of civil improvements, post design services, and construction staking services for the named parcel at Entrada del Paseo; 2) authorize the Director of Finance to set aside the amount of $5,080 as 10% contingency (use of contingency requires additional action); 3) authorize the Chairman to execute said agreement – funds are available in Account No. 850-4358-433-4001. Motion was seconded by Benson and carried by 3-0 vote, with Crites and Ferguson ABSENT. C. REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO AWARD CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES AT ENTRADA DEL PASEO (CONTRACT NO. R24780). Member Spiegel moved to, by Minute Motion: 1) Authorize award of the subject contract with Douglas E. Barnhart, Inc., San Diego, California, in an amount not to exceed $196,940 and reimbursable expenses not to exceed $2,500 for construction management services at Entrada del Paseo, including those needed for the Henderson Community Building and Phase 2 of the landscaping; 2) authorize the Director of Finance to set aside an additional amount of $19,694 as 10% contingency (use of contingency requires additional action); 3) authorize the Chairman to execute said contract – funds are available in Account No. 850-4358-433-4001. Motion was seconded by Benson and carried by 3-0 vote, with Crites and Ferguson ABSENT. PRELIMINARY MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JANUARY 26, 2006 6 D. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR FREEDOM PARK (CONTRACT NO. R23210A, PROJECT NO. 713-00). Member Benson moved to, by Minute Motion: 1) Authorize entering into contract with Harris and Associates, Palm Desert, California, to provide the subject construction management services; 2) allocate $360,000 from the Freedom Park Construction Fund, Account No. 854-4670-454-4001, for this purpose. Motion was seconded by Spiegel and carried by 3-0 vote, with Crites and Ferguson ABSENT. XIV. CONTINUED BUSINESS None XV. OLD BUSINESS None XVI. PUBLIC HEARINGS None XVII. REPORTS, REMARKS, AND AGENCY BOARD ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION A. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR None B. AGENCY COUNSEL None C. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE AGENCY None PRELIMINARY MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JANUARY 26, 2006 7 XVIII. ADJOURNMENT With Agency Board concurrence, Vice Chairman Kelly adjourned the meeting to Closed Session at 4:32 p.m. He reconvened the meeting at 4:45 p.m. and immediately adjourned, with no reportable action from the Closed Session. RICHARD S. KELLY, VICE CHAIRMAN ATTEST: RACHELLE D. KLASSEN, SECRETARY PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY