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Home My WebLink AboutPRELIM - RDA - 06/12/08DRAFT PRELIMINARY MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2008 CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBER 73510 FRED WARING DRIVE, PALM DESERT, CA 92260 I. CALL TO ORDER - 3:00 P.M. Chairman Benson convened the meeting at 3:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Member Jim Ferguson Member Cindy Finerty Member Richard S. Kelly Vice Chairman Robert A. Spiegel Chairman Jean M. Benson 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 Bo Chen, City Engineer Russell Grance, Director of Building & Safety Lauri Aylaian, Director of Community Development Patrick Conlon, Director of the Office of Energy Management Paul S. Gibson, Director of Finance/City Treasurer Janet M. Moore, Director of Housing Doug Van Gelder, Director of Information Systems Steve Brooker, Battalion Chief, Palm Desert Fire/Riverside Co. Fire Dept./Cal Fire Frank Taylor, Asst. Chief, Palm Desert Police/Riverside Co. Sheriffs Dept. Grace L. Mendoza, Deputy City Clerk DRAFT PRELIMINARY MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JUNE 12, 2008 III. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION Request for Closed Session: Conference with Real Property Negotiator pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8: 1) Property: APN 625-162-049 Negotiating Parties: Agency: Justin McCarthy/Janet Moore/Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency Property Owner: Hugh B. Thorson and Ronald G. Cornwell Other Party: Urban Housing Communities 00431 Palm Desert, L.P. Under Negotiation: x Price x Terms of Payment With Agency Board concurrence, Chairman Benson adjourned the meeting to Closed Session at 3:01 p.m. She reconvened the meeting at 4:01 p.m. IV. RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING - 4:00 P.M. A. REPORT ON ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION. None V. AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, AND APPOINTMENTS None VI. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Regular Redevelopment Agency Meeting of May 22, 2008. Rec: Approve as presented. B. CLAIMS AND DEMANDS AGAINST THE AGENCY TREASURY - Warrant Nos. 256RDA, 259RDA, 261 RDA, 257-Housing, 259-Housing, 262-Housing, 258HA, and 263HA. Rec: Approve as presented. Upon motion by Ferguson, second by Spiegel, and 5-0 vote of the Agency Board, the Consent Calendar was approved as presented. F DRAFT PRELIMINARY MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JUNE 12, 2008 VII. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None VIII. RESOLUTIONS None IX. NEW BUSINESS A. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF CONTRIBUTION TO THE COACHELLA VALLEY ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP (CVEP) FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. Mr. Ortega stated this item was a White Paper, which Council requested to be placed on the agenda for formal action. Member Ferguson moved to, by Minute Motion, that the Agency: 1) Approve funding in the amount of $50,000 yearly for the next two years, as an annual contribution for the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership; 2) appropriate an additional $50,000 to Fund 850-4430-422-3090. Member Kelly asked how would the Council be assured other cities would participate. Vice Chairman Spiegel stated supposedly the City of Desert Hot Springs already agreed to contribute $50,000. MR. JOHN SOULLIERE, President of Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP), responded other cities had not voted on their budget, but the City Managerfor Desert Hot Springs and two of their councilmembers had expressed support for the first year. Further responding, he said the rest of the cities were weighing things out, but CVEP would follow up with their representatives to find out their intentions. At that time, some of the cities representatives had tentatively indicated they would increase their annual contribution. He noted Imperial Irrigation District had committed to contributing $100,000 and $50,000 by the University of Riverside. He said they liked what they heard from CVEP and its new and fresh direction, the strategies being worked on and developed, and they want to support it. Responding to question about the original vote taken by CVAG's Board of Directors on the $50,000 amount, he said it was an 8-5 vote, and explained that the $50,000 amount started at the Executive level, and it was unanimous that CVEP would go out and seek $50,000 per city because that's the kind of funding needed to move things forward and cover the deficit from the past. The Board subsequently met, and city representatives and a couple of city D DWI. A F T PRELIMINARY MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JUNE 12, 2008 councilmembers expressed their uncertainly about being able to commit to such a level, but offered to double their original investment with an additional $5,000 to move forward with a business plan. However, after that meeting, and after the finalization of the analysis of the budget, it was learned those amounts wouldn't take the organization very far. CVEP then crafted their request for the cities they hoped would contribute at the $50,000 level but no less than the $17,000 level; CVEP appreciated the Board's motion, but the real details of the budget weren't known at that time. Member Finerty asked now that the real details of the budget were known, if the Board had voted again. MR. JOHN SOULLIERE replied it had not because the next meeting was scheduled until the end of this month. However, CVEP went ahead and moved forward giving the cities the option based on its budget numbers. He believed there would be more than two cities that would be on board. Responding to question about the original vote and original investment to arrive at the $17,000 amount, he confirmed the original investment was $6,000, which would double to $12,000 plus the $5,000 to total $17,000. He said the $17,000 amount was earmarked for a business -type plan. Vice Chairman Spiegel seconded the motion with the condition that CVEP had to succeed this year because it wouldn't get his vote next year. Member Finerty pointed out staff's recommendation was $50,000 yearly for the next two years. Member Ferguson agreed to amend his motion, because he understood the contribution to be for one year and thought two years was probably too much to ask from any city at this point. Member Ferguson moved to, by Minute Motion: 1) Approve funding in the amount of $50,000 for one year, as annual contribution for the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership; 2) appropriate an additional $50,000 to Fund 850-4430-422-3090 for this purpose. Motion was seconded by Spiegel. Chairman Benson stated she would vote against the recommendation because CVEP was already in debt, and she didn't think $50,000 would save the organization. She thought each city's economic development department did a good job of promoting their city, and she hadn't seen anything CVEP had accomplished; it started to be a community event to draw businesses and it hadn't happened. Chairman Benson called for the vote, and the motion carried by a 3-2 vote, with Finerty and Benson voting NO. 0 PRELIMINARY MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING X. CONTINUED BUSINESS None XI. OLD BUSINESS None XII. PUBLIC HEARINGS None C'm •f 2 h� - V� JUNE 12, 2008 XIII. REPORTS, REMARKS, AND AGENCY BOARD ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION A. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR None B. AGENCY COUNSEL None C. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE AGENCY None XIV. ADJOURNMENT With Agency Board concurrence, Chairman Benson adjourned the meeting at 6:18 p.m. to Thursday, June 19, 2008, at 8:30 a.m. for a Joint Meeting of the City Council, Redevelopment Agency, and Housing Authority. ATTEST: JEAN M. BENSON, CHAIRMAN RACHELLE D. KLASSEN, SECRETARY PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY 5