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2001 04 04 CC Minutes LA QUINTA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING HELD JOINTLY WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION APRIL 4, 2001 A special joint meeting of the La Quinta City Council and Planning Commission was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor John Pe~a, who led the pledge of allegiance. CITY COUNCIL ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Council Members Adolph, Henderson, Perkins, Sniff, Mayor Pe~a ABSENT: None PLANNING COMMISSION ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Commissioners Abels, Butler, Kirk, Tyler, Chairman Robbins ABSENT: None PUBLIC COMMENT - None CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA - The agenda was confirmed by all present. PRESENTATIONS Steve Robbins, representing the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD), introduced District Board Members Corky Larson and Peter Nelson. He then delivered a power-point visual presentation outlining the various sources of water utilized by CVWD. He discussed the declining water levels in the Coachella Valley, stating an overdraft of 32,000 acre feet exists in the upper valley and an overdraft of 104,000 acre feet exists in the lower valley. Mr. Robbins discussed the components of the CVWD Water Management Plan which were considered: 1.) No Project; 2.) Pumping restrictions; 3.) Demand management; 4.) Ground water recharge; 5.) Source substitution and finally a combination of the alternatives. He advised the elements decided upon for the plan were water conservation measures, source substitution and ground water recharge. In response to a question from Commissioner Butler, Mr. Robbins said a large scale recharge plant is being Minutes - CC/PC April 4, 2001 Page I planned for a federal site located south of Lake Cahuilla to recharge the water tables in the lower valley. Coachella Valley Water District Board Member Russ Kitahara arrived at 6:15 p.m. Council Member Sniff stated he feels the recharged water needs to be introduced in an area that roughly parallels Washington Avenue. Mr. Robbins stated an additional 800,000 acre feet of water is needed in the future. He advised the Colorado River will yield 155,OOO acre feet, a transfer from MWD will yield 100,000 acre feet, and the rest will be provided by increased re-cycled water use, additional purchases of water and desalting agricultural drain water. The Council and Commission discussed the problems which arise from over- drafting and Mr. Robbins advised that the subsidence occurring in the valley, at this point, is very minor and has only been taking place for about 4-5 years. He stressed that conservation will help take care of the current overdraft problem but in order to recharge the ground water, all of the plan needs to be implemented. Commissioner Kirk asked what action the District took in the instance of the water skiing lake project in Indio. Mr. Robbins replied the District requested a ruling from the State Water Resources Board with regard to the appropriateness of recreational use of such a large body of water in the desert. He said that a ruling was not forth-coming and in light of that, CVWD negotiated use of canal water for this recreational lake use. In conclusion he advised the implementation of the plan elements is expected to begin in 2002. Council Member Adolph asked if the golf course communities are required to tap into the canal water for landscape irrigation. Mr. Robbins responded they use canal water for the golf courses only, not for the residential landscaping. Council Member Adolph also questioned the depth of the wells. Mr. Robbins responded the wells go 600 to 900 feet in La Quinta. Commissioner Tyler asked the reasons for the unkempt condition of the CVWD well sites and stated the ones in La Quinta are "eye sores". He requested the CVWD Board take steps to improve the appearance and safety conditions of their well sites. Minutes - CC/PC April 4, 2OO1 Page 2 RECESS Mayor Pena called a brief recess at 7:02 p.m. JOINT STUDY SESSION A joint meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission was adjourned at 7:17 p.m. All members of the City Council were present and all members of the Planning Commission were present. PUBLIC COMMENTS - None 1. DISCUSSION OF DRAFT MASTER ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND DRAFT GENERAL PLAN POLICY DOCUMENT. Community Development Director Jerry Herman introduced Nicole Criste of Terra Nova Planning and Research, Inc., the City's consultant for the General Plan and members of the Community Development staff in attendance. Ms. Criste presented an overview of the General Plan process and advised that the Housing Element will immediately follow the adoption of the General Plan. Members of the Council and Commission expressed concern about the size of the planning area shown. Staff responded that the planning area is only a method of looking at future development in areas adjoining the City and the impacts they may have on La Quinta's infrastructure and environment. She said the size of the area designated, in no way indicates the City's annexation intentions. Ms. Criste stated there are relatively few major changes to the Environmental Assessment. She stressed the document has been streamlined and the Draft General Plan has enlarged the planning area significantly. Land Use Designations Ms. Criste discussed the use of the agriculture overlay and the Iow density designation. Council Member Henderson asked if there is an equestrian overlay component in the plan. Community Development Director Jerry Herman stated he will be addressing the meetings held with the equestrian community residents at a later point in the meeting. Minutes - CC/PC April 4, 2001 Page 3 Commissioner Tyler expressed the opinion that the size of the planning area and the Iow density designation may be misunderstood by the residents of the Vista Santa Rosa community. Council Member Adolph and Commissioner Butler concurred. Director Herman reported that meetings have been held with the Vista Santa Rosa Community of Interest residents and he distributed an outline of a rural equestrian (RE) land use designation for the Community of Interest area. The permitted uses they desire are: minimum five acre lots; one primary unit per 5 acres; ten horses per acre; all related equestrian uses permitted per primary residence; golf country clubs with interior multi-purpose trails; residential developments with interior multi-purpose trails; and caretaker housing. They also suggested a number of conditional uses for the area and streets be limited to two lanes except Airport Boulevard, Monroe Street, Jackson Street and Harrison Street. Mr. Herman stated he believes this area can be addressed with an RE land use designation. Chairman Robbins questioned why there can't be an agricultural land use with a Iow density overlay. Ms. Criste responded that the land use designation is used to determine traffic volumes for the transportation and circulation plan and therefore the highest traffic generator should be the land use, Commissioner Kirk asked if there is anything in the law that would preclude having a Iow density overlay with an agricultural designation. Ms. Criste said she was not aware of anything in the law that precludes this type of plan but strongly suggested that the map prepared be the one transmitted with the EIR. She said alternatives can be addressed during the Public Hearing process. Council Member Henderson requested that the maps used for the public hearings be prepared with colored acetate overlays. Commissioner Kirk suggested a "power-point" presentation could also show the underlying maps and show overlays of the other components such as the land use designations, specific overlays, boundaries, etc. Commercial Land Use Designations Nicole Criste then outlined the commercial land use designations. On the existing General Plan the land on the east side of Washington Street between 48th and 47th, is shown as Community Commercial (CC) and the suggested change will be to Neighborhood Commercial (NC). Minutes - CC/PC April 4, 2001 Page 4 Mayor Pena asked if the map indicates the recent general plan amendments such as the re-zoning for the Arnold Palmer Restaurant. Director Herman and Ms. Criste confirmed that all of the most recent amendments to the general plan need to be added to the map. Chairman Robbins asked if the federally-owned property being considered by CVWD for a recharge facility can be designated Major Community Facility (MC) in the planning area. Traffic and Circulation The consultant, Ms. Criste reviewed the roadway classifications and the multi-purpose trails. Council Member Perkins suggested that the sections of Highway 111 that narrow down to two lanes in each direction, be looked at for three lanes since Hwy. 111 carries a Major Arterial designation. Council Member Sniff stated the City was assured that those sections could be striped for three lanes (both directions) when necessary, without having to acquire additional right-of-way. Ms. Criste said the final major change to the roadway general plan is the addition of the Phase 1 golf cart routes. Commissioner Tyler commented on what he feels is a lack of adequate planned golf cart routes in the North East section of the city. Staff advised the schedule for future action is as follows: Release of the Notice of Presentation 4-1 6-01 Release of the Environmental Impact Report 5-25-01 Start of the Public Hearings 7-17-01 Ms. Criste recommended the public hearings be conducted jointly by the Council and Planning Commission. She stated this has worked out well in other communities and cuts down the amount of time the public needs to spend attending the hearings of both bodies. Council Member Henderson proposed that only the first public hearing be a joint one to allow the Council an ample opportunity to consider the comments of the Commission. C~uestions and Comments Council Member Henderson requested the language in the Administrative Element of the draft reflect La Quinta's Charter City status. Minutes - CC/PC April 4, 2001 Page 5 Mayor Pena requested that Policy 2 on Page 7 include Tribal Councils. Commissioner Kirk said he feels the use of Specific Plans should be reserved for larger properties with one ownership and not used for smaller, single uses such as a restaurant. Ms. Criste referred to Policy 4, Page 16 as the appropriate place to make such a modification. Mayor Pena questioned if Policy 4 and 4.1, Page 16 should address over- flights. Commissioner Tyler felt this is in the purview of the FAA. Mayor Pena also stated he the language, "target golf courses" contained in Program 3.3 on Page 16, should be rephrased. Commissioner Kirk, in regard to Program 4.2, Page 16, questioned if the City has ever allowed parks fee credits for golf courses. He felt this is an area that should be researched. Council Member Sniff commented he is still unconvinced that joint Council/ Commission public hearings are a good idea and that he would like to have more time to review the comments made by the Planning Commission before the Council addresses the matter. Commissioner Abels stated he feels, since this is something that has worked successfully in other communities, he would like to see the City of La Quinta try it. Commissioner Tyler read a list of his concerns regarding the age of some of the data being used in the General Plan document. He also objected to references in the Traffic and Circulation element to Avenue 44, since the name was changed to Fred Waring Drive some time ago. Ms. Criste requested any corrections noted by the Council and Commission, be provided to staff to insure the final draft incorporates them. Commissioner Kirk related a concern that whenever an image corridor approaches the Village he feels the Village design standards should be imposed. He also addressed a "regional" need to construct a roadway parallel to Highways 111 and 86 that would diagonally connect to the old Indian trail shown on the Cultural Resources Map (Exhibit 9.1) He felt this is essential to the traffic circulation element for the lower valley as a whole. ADJOURNMENT There being no further discussion, it was moved by Council Member Sniff, seconded by Council Member Henderson to adjourn the City Council meeting at 9:02 p.m. The motion was unanimously carried. Minutes - CC/PC April 4, 2001 Page 6 It was moved by Commissioner Butler, seconded by Commissioner Tyler to adjourn the Planning Commission meeting at 9:03 p.m. The motion was unanimously carried. Respectfully submitted, June S. Greek, CMC City Clerk, City of La Quinta, California Minutes - CC/PC April 4, 2001 Page 7