2001 07 05 CC Minutes LA QUINTA CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
JULY 5, 2001
A special meeting of the La Quinta City Council was called to order at the hour of 7:00
p.m. Mayor John Pe~a presiding.
PRESENT: Council Members Adolph, Henderson, Perkins, Sniff, Mayor Pe~a
ABSENT: None
PUBLIC COMMENT- None
Mayor Pe~a led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
ANNOUNCEMENTS- None
STUDY SESSION
1. DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES RAISED AT THE LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION
COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING ON THE VISTA SANTA ROSA COMMUNITY.
OF INTEREST.
Mayor Pe~a outlined the purpose of this meeting is to be a very informal
exchange of information between the individuals who participated in the LAFCO
hearings on the proposed Community of Interest in the area known as Vista
Santa Rosa, which lies generally east of the City of La Quinta. Mayor Pe~a
introduced the City staff members present and the members of the City Council
and asked the audience members to introduce themselves.
Community Development Director Jerry Herman stated he had no formal staff
report to give but was available to answer any questions the audience might
have.
Kay Wolff, 77227 Calle Ensenada expressed concerns about the lack of
information being distributed to the residents of La Quinta about annexation.
She indicated she fears the present levels of service will go down if additional
area is added to the present City boundaries.
Mayor Pe~a clarified areas that have most recently been under consideration
for possible inclusion in the City's sphere of influence and for possible
annexation. He stressed that no annexation has been filed and the
City Council Minutes 2 June 1 5, 2000
consideration has come about as a result of property owners to the east of the
City's present boundaries seeking to be annexed into the City of La Quinta.
Grady Sparks, 79420 Briarwood, asked if the City is considering restricting the
number of horses to be allowed on acreage in the Vista Santa Rosa area if it is
annexed? Jerry Herman, Director of Community Development, responded the
General Plan update, being worked on currently, is looking into creating an
equestrian, overlay designation for the areas in the sphere of influence. Mr.
Sparks also indicated concern with the "splintering" of the Vista Santa Rosa
community. He said there is currently the Vista Santa Rosa Community Council
and the Vista Santa Rosa Association as well as a Vista Santa Rosa Task Force
set up by Supervisor Wilson.
Dennis Arcuri, representing Supervisor Roy Wilson's office stated he feels the
best minds in the Vista Santa Rosa area are meeting to work out differences of
opinion through the organization of the task force. He stated he felt this
meeting may be premature.
Fred Wolff, 77227 Calle Ensenada, spoke regarding the opposition within the
existing community to any annexation proposals. He feels the community has
not been well served by the lack of information from the City Council about
annexation plans.
Lee Anderson, 59777 Calhoun Street, Thermal spoke in favor of the Community
of Interest.
Betty Mangan-Smith, 82704 Ave. 48, spoke about the first "non-binding
survey" which was sent out by the City of La Quinta dealing with annexation.
She felt this was a precursor to annexation and stated the "grass roots"
movement in Vista Santa Rosa has. taken off with both a Community Council
and an Association in opposition to annexation into La Quinta. She also
discussed the loss of the water table in the area.
John Powell Jr., of Peter Rabbit Farms, a representative of the Vista Santa Rosa
Council and the task force, stated it was his understanding that LAFCO
instructed the City to get together with the Vista Santa Rosa Groups. He said
the Vista Santa Rosa Community of Interest is something many of the
landowners are very opposed to. He urged La Quinta to continue to be a part
of the process.
John Gamlin, spoke representing a landowner of 240 acres in the area of the
proposed Community of Interest. He said they have objections to being placed
in a Community of Interest that will take up to two years of study. He said the
Community of Interest requires establishing a vision and questioned who would
do that.
City Council Minutes 3 June 15, 2000
Kyle Denning, a property owner in the Vista Santa Rosa Community stated he
appreciated the City of La Quinta providing a forum for discussion. He
commented the area (19 square miles) is so large and yet so small from the
standpoint of the number of land owners. He felt, since there are no land
owners of any significant size, development along the lines of the exclusive
equestrian communities of Hidden Hills and Rancho Santa Fe isn't possible.
Sue Sally Hale, spoke regarding the equestrian area and the financial
contributions it makes to the valley with polo and horse show events. She also
spoke to the need to preserve the community's views.
Albert Keck, stated he is a farmer and sees no problem with the City of La
Quinta annexing the area. The thanked the City for providing a forum for the
residents of that area to freely express their viewpoints.
Gayle Cady, Avenue 54, Vista Santa Rosa stated she made a telephone call to
the Ag Bank and did not get a clear answer regarding if a Community of Interest
would present any problem with getting clear title to land during the study
period. She felt this is unfair to the proponents of the Community of Interest.
She said she objects to the City's proposal under the General Plan to have the
zoning limited to the present owner. Community Development Director Herman
responded that under the proposed General Plan amendment the zoning would
run with the land.
Mrs. Chi, (no address given) said she felt the major problem with the proposals
being put forward to turn Vista Santa Rosa into a community like Rancho Santa
Fe is they do not take into consideration the valley's weather. She did not feel
the valley offers the year-round climate that those communities enjoy and would
not be conducive to encouraging that kind of development.
John Hillen, an owner of three small parcels of land in the Vista Santa Rosa area
and financial consultant, stated he would like to discuss the negative financial
effect a Community of Interest has on agricultural property. He offered his
expertise to discuss this with anyone who might be interested.
There being no further testimony, it was moved by Council Members
Sniff/Adolph to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m. The motion was unanimously
carried.
Respectfully submitted,
JUNE S. GREEK, CMC
City Clerk, City of La Quinta, California