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PRELIMINARY MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY
TO THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016
CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBER
73510 FRED WARING DRIVE, PALM DESERT, CA 92260
I. CALL TO ORDER - 3:00 P.M.
Chair Spiegel convened the meeting at 3:00 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Present:
Vice Chair Jan C. Harnik
Director Sabby Jonathan
Director Van G. Tanner
Director Susan Marie Weber
Chair Robert A. Spiegel
Also Present:
Justin McCarthy, Interim Executive Director
Robert W. Hargreaves, City Attorney
Rudy P. Acosta, Assistant City Manager
Rachelle D. Klassen, Secretary
Russell Grance, Director of Building & Safety
Ryan Stendell, Director of Community Development
Martin Alvarez, Director of Economic Development
J. Luis Espinoza, Assistant Finance Director
Lori Carney, Director of Human Resources
Mark Greenwood, Director of Public Works
Frankie Riddle, Director of Special Programs
John Cortez, Battalion Chief, Palm Desert Fire/Riverside Co. Fire Dept./Cal Fire
Dan Talbot, Division Chief, Palm Desert Fire/Riverside Co. Fire Dept./Cal Fire
Anthony Baur, Asst. Chief, Palm Desert Police/Riverside Co. Sheriff's Department
Grace L. Mendoza, Deputy City Clerk
III. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
Request for Closed Session:
PRELIMINARY MINUTES DRAFT
SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE
PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JULY 28, 2016
A. Conference with Real Property Negotiator pursuant to Government Code
Section 54956.8:
1) Property: 128-Acre Site, Located South of Gerald Ford Drive and
East of Portola Avenue (APNs 694-300-001, -002, -005, -014,
-015 / 694-310-002, -003, -006)
Negotiating Parties:
Agency: Justin McCarthy/Rudy P. Acosta/Martin Alvarez/
Successor Agency to the Palm Desert
Redevelopment Agency
Property Owner: Successor Agency to the Palm Desert
Redevelopment Agency
Under Negotiation: x Price x Terms of Payment
With Successor Agency Board concurrence, Chair Spiegel adjourned the meeting to
Closed Session of the City Council and Successor Agency at 3:03 p.m. He reconvened
the meeting at 4:00 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 July 14, 2016, Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the
Successor Agency to the Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency.
Upon a motion by Tanner, second by Weber, and 5-0 vote of the Board of Directors of
the Successor Agency (AYES: Harnik, Jonathan, Tanner, Weber, and Spiegel: NOES: None),
the Consent Calendar was approved as presented.
VII. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER
None
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SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE
PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JULY 28, 2016
VIII. RESOLUTIONS
None
IX. NEW BUSINESS
A. REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO AN EXCLUSIVE
NEGOTIATION AGREEMENT (ENA) AND NEGOTIATE A PURCHASE AND
SALE AGREEMENT (PSA) WITH LEWIS LAND DEVELOPERS, LLC, TO SELL
THE SUCCESSORAGENCY-OWNED PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE 128-ACRE
SITE LOCATED GENERALLY SOUTH OF GERALD FORD DRIVE AND WEST
OF PORTOLA AVENUE.
Mr. Alvarez provided a brief synopsis of where staff is with the 128-acre site
owned by the Successor Agency. The property is located south of Gerald Ford
Drive and west of Portola Avenue, which consist of 128.9 acres. It has been
designated in the Long Range Property Management Plan (LRPMP) to be
disposed through a disposition process with the taxing entities receiving the
proceeds of the sale. The staff report outlines the history and steps taken to move
the disposition of this property forward. In the summer of 2015, staff started out
with a Request for Qualifications and Proposals (RFQ/P) and sought to bring in a
developer that would be able to acquire the site, entitle it, and master plans it,
which was a big component for this large piece of property. Staff went through a
process to seek the qualifications and proposals and received seven responses
through an evaluation process that was identified in the criteria that was outlined
in the RFQ/P. Staff put together a team of staff members from Public Works,
Planning, Economic Development, and the consultant who is currently working on
the City's General Plan. After the evaluation of the proposals, staff ranked them
and selected four potential developers. In the end, there were onlythree, because
one respectfully declined to move forward. The three remaining developers were
interviewed and given an opportunity to provide a presentation based on land use,
circulation, qualifications, and integration of affordable housing, which is a large
component of this property that requires 10 acres to be set aside for future
affordable housing. At the conclusion of the evaluation process, Lewis Operating
Corp was selected; the company is well qualified and they had large master plans
in other parts of California. After that process was secured, staff moved forward
into negotiating an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (ENA). During that process,
which started in the fall of 2015 and led into the spring of this year, they started
negotiations on how to best address the affordable housing requirements. The
City's General Plan has a requirement that 10 acres is designed for affordable
housing, and it's identified in the north western part of this property, which is
adjacent to the Sheriff's Station. At that point, staff wanted to include a
requirement that they actually build a portion of the units as part of the master
plan. Staff is also negotiating a Housing Mitigation Fee that will then be applicable
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PRELIMINARY MINUTES DRAFT
SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE
PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JULY 28, 2016
forfuture development of the units. After evaluating the requirements and meeting
with the developer numerous times, staff found there is a significant gap in trying
to finance that affordable housing component. Staff explored other strategies, tax
credits, etc., that could potentially offset the gap. However, this particular property
does not qualify for any high ranking tax credit due to lack of nearby amenities
such as parks, schools, transportation, and jobs. Staff evaluated the price and
market value and determined that the City's affordable housing requirement would
devalue the property from $13 million to roughly $6- or 7 million, so staff hit the
reset button. The team along with input from the City Manager, decided to remove
the housing requirement of construction on the onset, but still require the
developer to set a master plan of the entire community with the ten acres of
affordable housing, and just making it a straightforward land transaction at fair
market value of $13,085,000. This is the value that has been established and will
be included in the Purchase and Sale Agreement before the Council today. Staff
recommended approval of the proposed Exclusive Negotiation Agreement, which
is a five-month process, but the majority of the work has been done as the site has
already been appraised. Once this approval is in place, the developer will have
a due diligence period by which they can inspect the site and review any issues.
During that five-month window, staff will go to the Oversight Board and
Department of Finance (DOF) to secure their final approvals of the disposition at
fair market value.
Chair Spiegel stated that on projects this large where there are so many people
on the committee, he asked if it would be appropriate to have Council
representation as well.
Mr. Alvarez answered yes if that was the desire of the Council
Chair Spiegel said going forward he would like to see that happen with any large
projects coming up.
Mr. Alvarez replied there will be an opportunity for a Councilmember to be on the
team with potential future developments, such as with the 178-acre site, which is
also controlled by the Successor Agency.
Director Tanner asked when did staff anticipate a master plan from Lewis
Operating Corp for this property.
Mr. Alvarez explained that if the proposed ENA is approved, the next step is to go
to the Oversight Board on August 1, then submit it to the DOF, which is about a
30-day process. At that time, Lewis Operating Corp can start preparing their
master plan and prepare to do a submittal for the entitlement process.
Director Tanner asked if the master plan was conditional on the approval of the
ENA.
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PRELIMINARY MINUTES
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SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE
PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JULY 28, 2016
Mr. Alvarez responded that the developer made it conditional in order to secure
an answer, in that they would have control of the property so that they can make
a deposit and move forward with their plans.
Director Jonathan praised Mr. Alvarez for doing a great job on this big project,
stating it was a meaningful one to the community. He said the City has a vision
for this property that will move the Strategic Plan forward, but he wondered if
Council will know what the project will look like prior to Lewis Operating Corp
buying or controlling the property.
Mr. Alvarez answered yes, stating the ENA provides the City to do its disclosures,
and once iYs passed the ENA, the developer can move forward with the property
acquisition, the deposit, and finalize the purchase agreement, which then gets
entered into escrow. The developer then has a window to go through the
Planning Department and entitlement process. He said the Council will have an
opportunity to weigh in on design, circulation, etc., before the close of escrow.
Director Tanner moved to, by Minute Motion, authorize Executive Director to: 1) Execute
an ENA with Lewis Land Developers, LLC, to negotiate sale of the Successor Agency-owned
property known as the 128-acre Property (APN 694-300-001, -002, -005, -014, -015 /
694-310-002, -003, 006) located south of Gerald Ford Drive and west of Portola Avenue
(Contract No. SA35570); 2) make non-substantive changes and execute a PSA with Lewis Land
Developers, LLC, at fair market value for sale of the Successor Agency-owned property known
as the 128-acre Property (APN 694-300-001, -002, -005, -014, -015 / 694-310-002, -003, -006)
after approval has been received from the Oversight Board and State Department of Finance
(Contract No. SA35570A). Motion was seconded by Jonathan and carried by a 5-0 vote (AYES:
Harnik, Jonathan, Tanner, Weber, and Spiegel: NOES: None).
X. CONTINUED BUSINESS
None
XI. OLD BUSINESS
None
XII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
XIII. REPORTS, REMARKS, SUCCESSOR AGENCY BOARD ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION
A. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
None
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PRELIMINARY MINUTES DRAFT
SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE
PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING JULY 28, 2016
B. SUCCESSOR AGENCY COUNSEL
None
C. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY
None
XIV. ADJOURNMENT
With Successor Agency Board concurrence, Chair Spiegel adjourned the meeting at
5:37p.m.
ROBERT A. SPIEGEL, CHAIR
ATTEST:
RACHELLE D. KLASSEN, SECRETARY
SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE
PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
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