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Home My WebLink About06C Minutes - Citizens Advisory Committee PA4 02/21/2012�r� ,��°� � .�� PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT AREA NO. 4 MINUTES FEBRUARY 21, 2012 Chairman Benford convened the meeting at 3:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL � CALL TO ORDER Absent: Russ Campbell, Member 11� Present: Fred Benford, Chairman Roberta Grubb, Vice Chair Terry Archer, Member Jane Daugherty, Member Phyllis Harkins, Member ustin c art y, ACM ,---� . �iy ��C�C'�r'ssc��j�/ Martin Alvarez, Redevelopment Manager �,.I �� i�r �: �3�� Crr Also Present: �� -M�-�--- -------�---�-�-4-- Robert Spiegel, Mayor ��;a;-,�;� �y� /�,�� Jean Benson, Councilmember �� Sherry Barkas, The Desert Sun (at 3:16 p.m.) ��'��'��'�� ;; ��'� �"�'��f ��}Y ��t;'=; �-�tfi�;� Staff Present: Tony Bagato, Principal Planner Lauri Aylaian, Director of Community Development J � M C h ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT AREA NO. 4 MEETING OF DECEMBER 19, 2011. CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT AREA NO. 4 MINUTES FEBRUARY 21, 2012 Minutes of the meeting from December 19, 2011, were unanimously approved as submitted and carried by a 5-0 vote with Member Russ Campbell ABSENT. V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None VI. NEW BUSINESS None VII. CONTINUED BUSINESS None VIII. OLD BUSINESS None IX. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS A. UPDATE ON THE DISSOLUTION OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (Justin McCarthy, ACM) Justin McCarthy communicated that as of February 1, 2012 the Redevelopment Agency was dissolved. Depending on whether bond funds may be used for the purposes intended or not, Mr. McCarthy suggested that the Project Area 4 Committee not be dissolved and to have future meetings on an ad hoc basis. If it is determined that there will not be bond funds available and no reason for meetings, then City Council would be requested to formally close out the committee. Vice Chair Grubb asked how much there is in bond funds. Mr. McCarthy estimated $14 -$15 million in funds that were intended to be used for undergrounding in Project Area 4, but they could also be used for other eligible projects like that; primarily infrastructure related, or possibly affordable housing. There was discussion about how the bill was written and the interpretation of the law. Vice Chair Grubb asked about projects in process such as Carlos Ortega Villas. Mr. McCarthy replied that the current contracts to design Carlos G:1rda\Project Area No. 4 CommitteelMinutes\2012\Minutes 02-21-12.docx 2 CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT AREA NO. 4 MINUTES FEBRUARY 21, 2012 Ortega Villas are operative and can be funded. They are called an "Enforceable Obligation" of the Agency, so the Successor Agency can fund them. The issue with actually building it will be another issue. However, there is a possibility that bond funds or other funds that we currently have may be able to be retained by housing. The may be other alternative ways of constructing Carlos Ortega Villas such as tax credits, developers, or housing revenue bonds. Member Archer asked if there was any chance that a non-profit could partner with the City in order to build the Villas. Mr. McCarthy said that is a determination yet to be made. Member Harkins asked if it was the intent of the City to take over the Casey's and Kansas St. parcels as the Successor Agency. Mr. McCarthy responded by saying any parcels that the City deems strategic or has a project on the books for, the City would certainly like to retain some level of control of the real estate. B. UPDATE ON PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB RESIDENTIAL SETBACKS (Lauri Aylaian, Director of Planning) Tony Bagato informed the Committee that it will take approximately nine months to update the Zoning Ordinance and our planning department will be taking a recommendation to Council on March 22, 2012, in a joint study session with City Council and the Planning Commission about items and issues (setbacks being one of them) in the Zoning Ordinance that could be changed. He explained if it is changed, it would affect all houses in that area, not just the older ones. C. UPDATE ON THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE (Lauri Aylaian, Director of Planning) Mr. Bagato stated that the ordinance is in draft form, but should be going to Council at the next meeting in March. A consultant has been hired (Cindy Gosselin) who has already been doing research for the last few weeks on vacation websites that do rentals. Once the new ordinance is set up it will allow people to operate short term rentals through a licensing process with a$30 licensing fee (currently the fee is $5.00 and only once the license is renewed will it be the $30 fee) with the request and then pay the Transient Occupancy Tax accordingly, on a quarterly basis. With this new process a permit number will be given and it will be tied into a more elaborate online system that will make monitoring rentals much more efficient. There will be third party contact information available in case of issues with renters. If the T.O.T. isn't paid or they violate any noise G\rdalProject Area No. 4 Committee\Minutes�2012\Minutes 02-21-12.docx 3 CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT AREA NO. 4 MINUTES FEBRUARY 21, 2012 ordinance or other term of the ordinance they will be fined. Licensing can be revoked if warranted. Member Daugherty asked about any requirements for long term rentals. Mr. Bagato said there are no requirements on rentals of 30 days or more. Tax is not allowed to be charged. Mayor Spiegel mentioned that the City could be losing thousands of dollars because some people are renting their homes on a short term basis and not collecting the Transient Occupancy Tax (T.O.T.); or they are collecting it and not paying it to the City. Lauri Aylaian interjected that these are recommendations that will be made to the Council, but this must be approved by them. X. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON/MEMBERS Chairman Benford commented that Mayor Spiegel has always been present at their meetings and thanked him for his participation. Member Harkins mentioned that it had been great to have this Committee to help steer them through the golf course issues. Also, the help from the City and Staff was appreciated. Mayor Spiegel said he had heard that the course looked great, it was busy, and the food was good. Chairman Benford said you can't even get on the course it was so busy. Member Archer said that the owners are very pleased with the progress with the golf course and the amount of play it is getting. Their next goal is to create activities to bring people into the clubhouse in the evening hours. They already have a Bunko Night. The clubhouse has been remodeled. Chairman Benford thanked Justin McCarthy for all of the work and effort that he has put in. B. AGENCY BOARD LIAISONS Mayor Spiegel reported that sales tax is up dramatically and there are a lot of people around town and they are spending money. Occupancy tax should be up with so many visitors in town. The elimination of the Redevelopment Agency is not good but the City will work through it like it has in the past with other issues. G:\rda\Project Area No. 4 Committee\Minutes�2012\Minutes 02-21-12.docx 'i CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT AREA NO. 4 MINUTES FEBRUARY 21, 2012 Member Grubb asked how many other project areas there were, and Mr. McCarthy told her 4 total. Mayor Spiegel commented that their project area was the only one that has meetings. C. PLANNING COMMISSION LIAISON None D. STAFF None XI. ADJOURNMENT Upon a unanimous motion by the Project Area No. 4 Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 3:24 p.m. ' r� � ' - „ '1� � �, �� r I�� l�� I\. RTn -1, l\ Ro in McCormick, Recording Secretary G:\rda\Project Area No. 4 Committee\Minutes�2012\Minutes 02-21-12.docx J