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2001 11 06 CC Minutes LA QUINTA CITY COUNCIL . MINUTES NOVEMBER 6, 2001 A regular meeting of the La Quinta City Council was called to order at the hour of 2:00 p.m. by Mayor Pe~a. PRESENT: Council Members Adolph, Henderson, Perkins, Sniff, Mayor Pe~a ABSENT: None PUBLIC COMMENT- None CLOSED SESSION Mayor Pe~a did not participate in Item No. 1 due to a potential conflict of interest. 1. Conference with City's legal counsel regarding determination whether to initiate litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(c). 2. Conference with City's Police Chief regarding public security matters pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(E). 3. Conference with City's legal counsel regarding threatened litigation - Government Code Section 54956.9(a), City of Indio v. City of La Quinta. Council recessed to Closed Session to and until the hour of 3:00 p.m. 3:00 P.M. The City Council meeting reconvened with no decisions being made in Closed Session which require reporting pursuant to Section 54957.1 of the Government Code (Brown Act). Mayor Pe~a led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. PUBLIC COMMENT Beverly Montgomery, 78-483 Calle Huerta, spoke regarding the Soroptimist's desire to donate additional landscaping material for the La Quinta Senior Center and the need for the City's gardener to cultivate the area and plant the materials. City Council Minutes 2 November 6, 2001 Patrick Swarthout, Public Affairs Manager of The Gas Company, shared good news with the Council regarding a projected 25% reduction in natural gas utility rates this winter. He also spoke regarding energy-efficient programs and loans available through The Gas Company. CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA Council Member Adolph requested Consent Item No. 11 be pulled for discussion and Council Member Perkins asked that Consent Item No. 10 be pulled for discussion. Mayor Pe~a requested Consent Item No. 5 be pulled for separate action due to a potential conflict of interest. MOTION - It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Adolph to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS - None PRESENTATIONS Rosa Maria Gonzales, of Imperial Irrigation District, gave a brief presentation on liD's preparations for 2002 and reviewed some of the public benefit programs they provide to customers. In response to Council Member Henderson, Ms. Gonzales advised the new plant in Niland will not be competing with the Torres-Martinez plant. She also confirmed lower power usage was due to conservation and a mild summer. In response to Council Member Sniff, Ms. Gonzales advised commercial accounts use more electrical power than residential accounts. Council Member Adolph asked if liD had received pressure from cities in the western part of the Valley to move eastward, to which Ms. Gonzales responded not at this time. City Council Minutes 3 November 6, 2001 Mayor Pe~a and City Manager Genovese presented a five-year pin to Public Works Director Vogt who will be leaving the City to accept a position with the City of Pomona. Council expressed their appreciation for his service to the City. WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE 1. LETTER FROM THE DESERT CHAPTER OF THE BUILDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION. Council directed the City Clerk to use a list of possible dates to schedule a meeting with the BIA during the latter part of January 2002. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Council Member Henderson advised her comments (Page 3) about Consent Item No. 11 should be corrected to reflect that she questioned the reference in the document regarding the meaning of the name "La Quinta." She further noted 68 feet to 1 25 feet on Page 21 should be corrected to read, "6,700 feet to 8,500 feet." MOTION -It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Henderson to approve the City Council Minutes of October 16, 2001, as corrected. Motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. APPROVAL OF DEMAND REGISTER DATED NOVEMBER 6, 2001. 2. DENIAL OF CLAIM FOR DAMAGES FILED BY BRYAN INGLE - DATE OF LOSS: MARCH 6, 2001. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR OVERNIGHT TRAVEL FOR TWO ANIMAL CONTROL/CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICERS TO ATTEND THE NATIONAL ANIMAL CONTROL ASSOCIATION TRAINING ACADEMY IN SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, JANUARY 6-11, 2002. 4. AUTHORIZATION FOR OVERNIGHT TRAVEL FOR THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEND A NEW LAW AND ELECTION SEMINAR PRESENTED BY THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES IN MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA, DECEMBER 5-7, 2001. . _ 5. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A DONATION OF CATERING SERVICES FOR THE SENIOR CENTER. (See separate action below.) City Council Minutes 4 November 6, 2001 6. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A DONATION OF A CRESS ELECTRONIC KILN MODEL E27 FROM THE FRIENDS OF THE LA QUINTA SENIOR CENTER. (RESOLUTION NO. 2001-134) 7. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A DONATION FROM THE SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF LA QUINTA. (RESOLUTION NO. 2001-135) 8. APPROVAL OF A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH RIVERSIDE COUNTY FOR THE USE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STREET LIGHT IMPROVEMENTS ON DESERT CLUB DRIVE, AVENIDA BERMUDAS, AND AVENIDA LA FONDA, AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE FUNDS FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB - LA QUINTA UNIT. 9. APPROVAL OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH TRI-STATE LAND SURVEYORS TO PERFORM CONSTRUCTION STAKING FOR THE CITYWIDE STREET AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS, PROJECT NO. 2000-04. 10. APPROVAL OF A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES TO PREPARE THE PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, AND ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE (PS&E) FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2001/2002 TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. (See separate action below.) 11. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION GRANTING CONDITIONAL APPROVAL OF A FINAL AND SUBDIVISION IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENT FOR TRACT 29858-2, PALMILLA, RJT HOMES. (See separate action below.) MOTION - It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Adolph to approve the Consent Calendar as recommended and amended with the exception of Item Nos. 5, 10, and 11 and with Item Nos. 6 and 7 being approved by RESOLUTION NOS. 2001-134 and 2001-135 respectively. Motion carried unanimously. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2001-145. Item No. 5 MOTION - It was moved by Council Members Henderson/Perkins to adopt Resolution No. 2001-136 accepting a donation of catering services for Senior Center special events by Desert Cities Catering. Motion carried with Mayor Pe~a ABSTAINING due to a potential conflict of interest. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2001-146. City Council Minutes 5 November 6, 2001 Item No. 10 Council Member Perkins asked about the possible use of LED traffic signals and Public Works Director Vogt advised they have gone through some changes that seem to make them more durable in desert climates. Council Member Henderson wished to have some type of official report on the longevity of the signals. Mr. Vogt advised the project can be bid with conventional traffic signals and include an add alternate for LED signals. Staff can also talk to the manufacturer about updated reports from other areas. Council concurred. MOTION - It was moved by Council Members Perkins/Henderson to authorize staff to distribute a Request for Proposals (RFP), as amended (including an add alternate for LED traffic signals), for the preparation of plans, specifications, and engineer's estimates for the Fiscal Year 2001/2002 Traffic Signal Improvement Program and approve the Consultant Selection Committee. Motion carried unanimously. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2001-147 Item No. 11 Council Member Adolph spoke about the berm height along Jefferson Street. He stated it's approximately four feet high and he understood the right-of-way is restricted to a 1-5 foot slope and the setback area is restricted to a 1-3 foot slope. He voiced opposition to placing perimeter walls on high berms and once again asked that the berm height issue be brought before Council to consider setting standards for berm heights. Public Works Director Vogt advised the Public Works and Community Development Departments are working on the berm height issue to bring a report back to Council. As for the Palmilla project, he noted the final grading has not been completed and the plans show nothing greater than a 4-1 slope and the plans show a six-foot wall on a 5-1 slope. Council Member Henderson stated she understood the berm-height issue would be addressed in the General Plan update. Mayor Pe~a complimented the developer on the unique wall design. City Council Minutes 6 November 6, 2001 MOTION -It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Henderson to adopt Resolution No. 2001-137 granting conditional approval of a Final Map and Subdivision Improvement Agreement for Tract 29858-2, RJT Homes - Palmilla, LLC. Motion carried unanimously. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2001-148. BUSINESS SESSION 1. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF A FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES SPECIAL TAX AND CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION THEREON FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION OF MARCH 5, 2002. Building & Safety Director Hartung presented the staff report. In response to Council Member Adolph, Mr. Hartung confirmed the 3% inflationary clause is not automatic and must be approved by Council each year before being implemented. He also explained the argument and rebuttal process. Council Member Sniff voiced his preference for offering a menu of choices to give the public an opportunity to vote for increased police services as well as fire services, but advised he would support the issue as proposed. In response to Council Member Sniff, City Attorney Jenson stated she believed the argument in support of the tax measure, as well as any rebuttal, must be authored without staff assistance but said she will research the issue to be sure. Council Member Henderson spoke in support of.the proposed tax measure and stated she believes the public will also support it. In response to Council Member Sniff, Ms. Jenson confirmed the ordinance sets a maximum tax amount but the Council will have the flexibility each year of setting a lower tax amount. RESOLUTION NO. 2001 - 138 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE OF THE HOLDING OF A SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2002, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF SAID CITY, AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO LEVYING A SPECIAL TAX UPON EACH PARCEL IN THE CITY FOR FIRE PROTECTION AND PARAMEDIC SERVICES. It was moved by Council Members Adolph/Sniff to adopt Resolution No. 2001-1 38 as submitted. Motion carried unanimously. ..... City Council Minutes 7 November 6, 2001 RESOLUTION NO. 2001 - 139 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE TO RENDER SPECIFIED SERVICES TO THE CITY RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF A SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2002. It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Adolph to adopt Resolution No. 2001-139 as submitted. Motion carried unanimously. RESOLUTION NO. 2001 - 140 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF L~ QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, SETTING PRIORITIES FOR FILING A WRITTEN ARGUMENT REGARDING A CITY MEASURE AND DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS. It was moved by Council Members Henderson/Sniff to adopt Resolution No. -- 2001-140 as submitted. Motion carried unanimously. RESOLUTION NO. 2001 - 141 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, PROVIDING FOR THE FILING OF REBUTTAL ARGUMENTS FOR CITY MEASURE SUBMITTED AT MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. It was moved by Council Members Perkins/Sniff to adopt Resolution No. 2001-141 as submitted. Motion carried unanimously. Council Member Sniff suggested Council Member Henderson be appointed to author the argument and Council concurred. MOTION - It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Adolph to appoint Council Member Henderson to author the argument in support of the tax initiative as well as a rebuttal if necessary. Motion carried unanimously. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2001 - 149. 2. CONSIDERATION OF COMMUNITY SERVICES GRANT REQUESTS. Community Services Director Horvitz presented the staff report. City Council Minutes 8 November 6, 2001 La Quinta High School Junior ROTC: Major Ken Sandgren, 53-385 Avenida Vallejo, of La Quinta High School ROTC, asked Council to approve their funding request for uniforms and scholarship awards. Council Member Henderson suggested they participate in the City's twentieth birthday celebration April 28th and asked why the group uses a bank in Palm Springs. Major Sandgren explained it's a matter of convenience for the person who handles the Booster Club funds. He added current funds go into the student body fund. Friends of the La Quinta Senior Center: In response to Council Member Henderson, City Manager Genovese stated he believes the mural can be funded through Art in Public Places (APP) funds but that staff can look into it. Fred Mosher, 44-440 E. Sundown Crest, representing the Friends of the La Quinta Senior Center, stated he was available to answer questions. Veterans of Foreign Wars, La Quinta Post No. 855: Robert Tyler, 44-215 Villeta Drive, of Veterans of Foreign Wars, stated he was available to answer questions. La Quinta High School Cheerleaders: Mayor Pe~a asked how the invitation to Hawaii came about and Council Member Perkins noted it was extended due to outstanding ratings received at a summer camp. Council Member Sniff suggested the request by the Friends of the La Quinta Senior Center be dealt with separately through APP funds. Council concurred to support the requests by VFW and the ROTC group. Council Member Adolph noted the La Quinta High School Cheerleaders' participation in the Pro Football event is another way to market the City. City Council Minutes 9 November 6, 2001 After a brief discussion, Council concurred to support the La Quinta High School Cheerleaders' request when they can prove they have matching funds. Council Member Perkins questioned the requested amounts of $1,999 and $2,499 and Council concurred to round the amounts to $2,000 and $2,500. MOTION - It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Adolph to authorize a Community Services Grant request by the La Quinta High School Junior ROTC in the amount of $2,000 from the Special Projects Contingency Fund. Motion carried unanimously. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2001-150. Council Member Sniff stated he didn't know of any reason why the Council would be prohibited from dealing with an allocation of APP funds for the Senior Center at this time. Mayor Pe~a concurred. MOTION -It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Adolph to approve the request by Friends of the La Quinta Senior Center in the amount of $4,000 to be funded from the Art in Public Places Fund. Motion carried unanimously. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2001-151. MOTION - It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Henderson to authorize a Community Services Grant request by the Veterans of Foreign Wars- La Quinta Post 855 in the amount of $1,125 from the Special Projects Contingency Fund. Motion carried unanimously. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2001-152. MOTION -It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Adolph to authorize a Community Services Grant request by the La Quinta High School Cheerleaders in the amount of $2,500 from the Special Projects Contingency Fund provided the group provides matching funds. Motion carried unanimously. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2001 - 153. 3. CONSIDERATION OF AWARD OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT TO M. W. STEELE GROUP, INC. FOR DESIGN OF THE MUNICIPAL LIBRARY, PROJECT NO. 2000-06. Community Services Director Horvitz presented the staff report. In response to Council Member Adolph, Mr. Nickerson, the City's Consultant, advised the schematic design will be for 20,000 square feet but only 10,000 square feet will be built in Phase I. City Council Minutes 10 November 6, 2001 Thomas Anglewicz, of M. W. Steele Group, confirmed construction documents can be provided for a 20,000 square foot facility that is designed to be phased. They can also design a 20,000 square foot building shell wherein only a portion of the interior would be completed initially. Council Member Adolph noted it would be cheaper to include construction documents for the entire facility up-front. Council Member Perkins supported building a 20,000 square foot building shell and using 10,000 square feet of the facility until the City is ready to complete the remaining portion of the interior. In response to Mayor Pe~a, Ms. Horvitz advised the Cathedral City Library is 20,000 square feet and the public portion of the Palm Desert Library is 22,500 square feet. She did not have information on the size of other libraries in the Valley at this time. Council Member Henderson agreed there's merit in going forward with the design of a 20,000 square foot facility. Mr. Nickerson stated the entire Palm Desert Civic Center facility was built up- front and a portion was used for storage for approximately 10 years until the balance of the interior was completed. He further noted constructing the 20,000 square foot facility initially would result in a cost savings of $540,000. MOTION - It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Henderson to appropriate an amount of $100,000 in additional Library Developer Impact Fees (DIF), approve a Professional Services Agreement with M. W. Steel Group, Inc. in the amount of $414,707, and direct staff to include optional services in the amount of $107,879, which may be approved during the construction phase of the 20,000 square foot library facility for construction observation and record drawings. Motion carried unanimously. MINUTE ORDER NO, 2001-154. 4. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS FOR THE PURCHASE OF SIDEWALK PAVERS FOR INSTALLATION IN THE FUTURE AVENIDA LA FONDA ENHANCEMENT PROJECT WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PROJECT AREA NO. 1. There were no changes to the staff report as submitted and on file in the City Clerk's Office. City Council Minutes 11 November 6, 2001 RESOLUTION NO. 2001 - 142 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS PURSUANT TO HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTION 33445(a). It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Henderson to adopt Resolution No. 2001-142 as submitted. In response to Council Member Adolph, Senior Engineer Freeland confirmed the City has invoices .for the pavers. Motion carried unanimously. 5. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS FOR THE PURCHASE OF LIGHT STANDARDS FOR FUTURE USE IN THE VILLAGE COMMERCIAL AREA AND OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY WITHIN THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PROJECT AREA NO. 1. Public Works Director Vogt presented the staff report. Council Members Perkins and Sniff spoke in support of purchasing the additional light standards. In response to Council Member Adolph, Mr. Vogt confirmed there are companies available to handle retrofit repairs on the light standards. Council Member Henderson suggested considering one or two lampposts for each of the smaller parks and talking to C. V. Recreation and Park District about placing a few at the Frances Hack Community Park. She noted banners could then be placed on the lampposts to remind residents throughout the City of the Village Faire and other events. Mayor Pe~a pointed out some of the parks are outside Redevelopment Project Area No. 1 and would have to be funded separately. City Manager Genovese advised the recommended action will take care of the current need in the Village and staff can come back with a report at the next Council meeting for placement of lampposts in other locations. Council concurred. City Council Minutes 12 November 6, 2001 RESOLUTION NO. 2001 - 143 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS PURSUANT TO HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTION 33445(a). It was moved by Council Members Adolph/Sniff to adopt Resolution No. 2001-1 43 as submitted. Motion carried unanimously. MOTION -It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Henderson to approve a single source supplier and, contingent upon the appropriation of funds by the RDA, authorize the City Manager to execute a purchase order in the amount of $174,1 O0 for the purchase of 65 light standards (45 single and 20 double) for future installation in the Village Commercial area and other areas of the City. Motion carried unanimously. MINUTE ORDER NO, 2001-155. 6. CONSIDERATION OF A CHANGE ORDER WITH RAY LOPEZ ASSOCIATES FOR COVE MINI-PARK EXPANSION PROJECT. Community Services Director Horvitz presented the staff report. Council Member Perkins stated he prefers planting grass instead of decomposed granite. In response to Council Member Henderson, City Manager Genovese stated the only lot large enough to accommodate a house is the lot south of Saguaro and adjacent to the wall. Council Member Sniff preferred using the lots for park area. Council Member Henderson agreed but noted when parks are added or expanded it adds to the City's lighting and landscape district. She asked if electrical outlets would be provided in the park, to which Ms. Horvitz responded none are proposed. In response to Mayor Pe~a, Ms. Horvitz stated no lighting is proposed for the park area. Mr. Genovese advised staff can look into adding a few bollard lighting fixtures and key-operated electrical outlets. City Council Minutes 13 November 6, 2001 Mayor Pe~a stated he supports having some Iow-level lighting but wasn't sure about electrical outlets. Council Members Adolph and Sniff agreed. Council Member Adolph stated he felt the City "missed the boat" by not constructing an undulating wall along Eisenhower Drive. Council Member Sniff noted "pocket park" in the staff report should be changed to "mini-park" for consistency. MOTION - It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Henderson to approve a change order with Ray Lopez Associates for Cove Mini-Park Improvements in the amount of $29,090.59 for the expansion of the park located on the west side of Bottlebrush and Saguaro Drives. Motion carried unanimously. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2001 - 156. STUDY SESSION 1. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE LA QUINTA MUSEUM EXPANSION DESIGN. Community Services Director Horvitz presented the staff report. Paul Johnson, of Ferris Johnson Design, reviewed two proposed designs beginning with Design A. Council Member Sniff questioned the kitchen being large enough to be useful. Council Member Adolph suggested utilizing part of the dumpster area to expand the kitchen. He also noted the exhibit space is smaller than the utility space and that the layout would require two people onsite due to the separation of the museum store and entry area. He also suggested the meeting room be utilized for exhibits if used infrequently. Mr. Johnson stated they have projected that the meeting room will be well used. He also noted Design A is closer to the budget amount and Design B is more costly. Barbara Irwin, 44-065 Camino La Cresta, Chairman of Museum Expansion Committee, stated she was pleased with the design and likes the two-story design best. She commented that the meeting room could be used for temporary exhibit space for traveling exhibits and the second story would lend City Council Minutes 14 November 6, 2001 itself to growing room. She stated the archive room will be the first in the Valley and that the museum expansion will provide a spark for the Village. She urged Council to consider Design B. Edward Millis, 53-960 Avenida Herrera, suggested switching the exhibit area and museum store with the original property area. Mr. Johnson noted funds derived from the museum store is a key element and he confirmed the store could be moved to the original part of the building. He then reviewed Design B and the landscape plan. (This item is continued on Page 23.) Council recessed to and until 7:00 p.m. 7:00 P.M. PUBLIC COMMENT - None PRESENTATIONS - None PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR SPECIFIC PLAN 2000-048 AND TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 29858, A MASTER PLANNED RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY OF 178 SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES ON APPROXIMATELY 73 ACRES LOCATED AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF AVENUE 50 AND JEFFERSON STREET. APPLICANT: FORREST HAAG FOR RJT HOMES, LLC. The Mayor declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN. · Community Development Director Herman presented the staff report. In response to Council Member Adolph, Forrest Haag, the developer, advised the requested variance from the 20-foot setback requirement is due to lot configurations resulting from the curvilinear street. He requested Condition No. City Council Minutes 15 November 6, 2001 57-A be modified to exclude lots 40, 43, 77, 102, 110, 119, 120, and 140 from the 20-foot setback and not to exceed a total of 15% or 22 lots. There being no other requests to speak, the Mayor declared the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED. RESOLUTION NO. 2001-144 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING SPECIFIC PLAN TEXT AND CONDITION CHANGES FOR A PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY (SPECIFIC PLAN 2000-048, AMENDMENT NO. I - PALMILLA - FORREST K. HAAG FOR RJT HOMES, INC.) It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Adolph to adopt Resolution No. 2001-144 as submitted. Motion carried unanimously. RESOLUTION NO. 2001-145 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 29858-2 FOR A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT (FORREST K. HAAG FOR RJT HOMES, INC.) It was moved by Council Members Adolph/Sniff to adopt Resolution No. 2001-145 as amended (modifying Condition No. 57-A to allow minimum rear yard setbacks of 10 feet for up to 22 Lots (15%), including lots 40, 43, 77, 102, 1 .10, 119, 120, and 140.) Motion carried unanimously. 2. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING TO CERTIFY A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 2001-418 AND A REQUEST TO CHANGE THE ZONING DESIGNATION TO LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND THE GENERAL PLAN DESIGNATION TO LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL WITHIN THE SPHERE OF INFLUENCE OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA FOR SUBSEQUENT ANNEXATION FOR APPROXIMATELY 240 ACRES, BOUNDED ON THE NORTH BY AVENUE 52, ON THE EAST BY MONROE STREET, ON THE SOUTH BY AVENUE 53, AND EAST OF THE EXISTING CITY LIMITS. APPLICANT: NRI, LA QUINTA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP. Mayor Pe~a noted there has been a request to continue this item to November 20, 2001. City Council Minutes 1 6 November 6, 2001 MOTION - It was moved by Council Members Henderson/Sniff to continue the public hearing for the application filed by NRI, La Quinta Limited Partnership to November 20, 2001. Motion carried unanimously. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2001-157. 3. PUBLIC HEARING TO CERTIFY ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 2001-438 AND REVIEW OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN 18.07-ACRE COMMUNITY PARK SITE WITH VARIOUS SIZE LIGHTED SOCCER FIELDS, TWO LIGHTED BASEBALL FIELDS, CONCESSION STAND, RESTROOMS, TOT LOT, SKATE PARK, PICNIC AREAS WITH BARBEQUES, AND SHADE STRUCTURES. The Mayor declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN. Community Services Director Horvitz presented the staff report. Les Larson, 79-350 Westward Ho Drive, voiced concern about foul balls being hit into his rear yard due to the configuration of the baseball fields. Jon Rokke, 79-349 Paseo Del Rey, related concern about light pollution caused by the sports lighting. Kevin Weber, 79-115 Ashley Place, stated he is not opposed to the park but is very concerned about the lighting and noted the sports lighting at the high school is sometimes left on all night. He understood from one of the soccer coaches that lighting would not be necessary if the fields on Avenue 52 are also utilized for soccer games. He also voiced concern about Ashley Place being used for parking. Dave Thornton, 78-805 Wakefield Circle, also voiced concern about the sports lighting and suggested night usage of the park be limited and the lighting minimal. Bryant Wood, 79-170 Ashley Place, stated he felt the proposed community park has been turned into a sports complex. He felt the lighting would be an invasion upon the adjacent homeowners. Bob Prince, 78-770 Wakefield Circle, voiced concern about the light pollution and parking. Noel Woodward, 45-550 Sunbrook Lane, was also concerned about the sports lighting and people parking on the neighborhood streets. City Council Minutes 17 November 6, 2001 Kristine Thomas, 45-035 Desert Fox Drive, spoke regarding lighting, noise, and parking problems caused by various high school functions and voiced opposition to adding to that by placing a sports park at this site. She questioned the proposed sports park being a community park. Mike.Clayton, 79-175 Ashley Place, voiced displeasure with the current lighting at the high school and auto mall and questioned the proposed sports park belonging in a residential area. Leslie Robles, 45-740 Coldbrook Lane, expressed concern about the parking impact and how it would affect safety in her neighborhood. She was also concerned about light pollution and property values decreasing. Rami Zinnekah, 79-301 Sierra Vista, questioned a residential area being a proper place to put a sports park. He was concerned about noise, lighting, parking, and traffic. Simon Bojkovsky, 45-695 Camino Vista, spoke in support of a community park and not a high-activity park. Allison Bojkovsky, 45-695 Camino Vista, stated she understood when she purchased her home last February that the park would have 2 soccer fields and now it's proposed for 12. She was opposed to the lighting and is considering moving. She urged Council to approve the type of park that was originally proposed. Victoria Rhodes, 79-301 Sierra Vista, voiced opposition to the soccer park and asked that a community park be built as originally planned. She felt the proposed park would affect property values and the lifestyles of adjacent residents. Robert Shein, 79-300 Sierra Vista, commented on the City's growth and importance of "growing smart." He felt the combination of the high school lights and the proposed sports lighting would be devastating to the neighborhood. Elli Tourje, 78-760 Wakefield Circle, stated she moved to this neighborhood because of the dark sky and was told the park would be a community park. She understood the City received a State grant for a soccer park but that residents would have an opportunity to voice their opposition to this site being .... used for that purpose but no meetings were held, except for a meeting October 23, 2001, where many residents voiced opposition to the lighting and parking issues. She felt parking would be a major problem and voiced concern about City Council Minutes 18 November 6, 2001 traffic and safety issues. She urged Council to approve a community park with reasonable lighting. James Tourje, 78-760 Wakefield Circle, stated he has a problem with a community park suddenly becoming a sports complex. He stated the land adjacent to the park site was vacant when the park site was purchased and that homes only existed on one side of the park site during the last two public hearings. He urged Council to listen to the residents who will be closely impacted by the proposed park and consider building the sports complex in a commercial area where parking and lighting would not be an issue. He felt the proposed plan has insufficient shade structures, restrooms, and concession facilities and was concerned about insufficient funding and when the park would be completed. Angie Ciota, 45-570 Sunbrook Lane, stated the park plans she saw at the meeting held in October 2000 were great and that a lot of people voiced their opposition to lighting at that meeting. She also commented on the lack of sufficient parking both at the park and the high school. In referencing a comment made by City staff at a previous meeting about not wanting to make this mistake (putting sports fields next to a residential area) again in the future, she questioned why the City would go forward with a mistake this time. She also questioned it not being the City's problem when neighborhood streets are used for public parking and noted the City creates the parking problem when it approves projects such as this park. She stated the soccer park on Hovley in Palm Desert has 355 parking spaces and is still overcrowded. She urged Council to build the park plan she saw last year and to put the sports park on commercial property. She felt it's unfair to expect the residents to give up the dark sky until 10:00 p.m. Edie Brito, 49-040 Quimera Court, President of Youth and Sports Association, stated she lives less than ¼ mile from the Sports Complex on Avenue 50 and doesn't have a problem with the lights since light shields have been added. As for the concerns about baseballs going into rear yards, she stated the Sports Association will not be using the two fields for older children's games because of the ballfield configuration. George Gianos, 45-665 Camino Vista, spoke against the proposed park plan and stated he felt stadium-type lighting is not acceptable for a residential community. He also spoke about the parking and noise impact the park will have on the neighborhood, as well as increased crime, graffiti, and reduced property values. He encouraged the City to modify the park to include a few ballfields, aesthetically-correct lighting, walkways, tot lot, etc. City Council Minutes 19 November 6, 2001 Michele Neal, 79-110 Ashley Place, voiced concern about the lighting and parking and how it will affect the value of her property. She stated she anticipated a quiet, peaceful environment when she purchased her property. Tory Preston, 79-130 Ashley Place, stated she is very opposed to the lighting and is concerned about the noise impact to the neighborhood. She understood it was going to be a community park and is not happy that it has changed into something else. Sheila Thornton, 78-805 Wakefield Circle, stated it seems like that area of the City has the greatest concentration of lighting in all of La Quinta and wished to be able to enjoy the night sky. She also voiced concern about increased traffic and urged Council to modify the park plan to reflect a community park. Joan Rebich, 53-810 Avenida Cortez, spoke in support of the proposed park. Michele Boudreau, 43-695 Taurus Court, commented on the things she gave up reluctantly but voluntarily when she moved from the Cove to North La Quinta. She stated she supported the proposed plan and felt the City should provide community services for its youths, with over 900 playing soccer. Gary Tomak, of Desert Sands Unified School District, stated he would look into getting the lighting problem addressed at the high school. Allison Knight, 79-420 Paseo Del Rey, stated she moved from Parc La Quinta because of the lighting at the Sports Complex and didn't have a problem with the original park plan. She noted in addition to 900 soccer youths, there are 23,000 residents. She felt lighting was the problem and that a soccer complex should be further from residential areas. Rutilio Brito, 49-040 Quimera Court, commented on the number of children playing soccer and baseball at the Sports Complex and stated he felt the responsibility of dealing with the issues should be shared with another part of the City. Mark Woods, representing AYSO, noted the La Quinta Community Park is for all the residents in the City. In regard to security, he stated the games are adult supervised and not all 950 youths are scheduled to play at the same time. He urged Council to approve the proposed park plan. Michael Knight, 79-420 Paseo Del Rey, voiced concern about the impact the sports park would have on the high school parking area and vice versa. He encouraged the City to find an alternate site for the sports park. City Council Minutes 20 November 6, 2001 Coleen Markham, of Musco Lighting, reviewed the lighting plan, which has remote shutdown capabilities, and demonstrated the effects of various types of lighting. She advised they work closely with residents in the area to adjust the lighting if needed. In response to Council Member Adolph, Ms. Markham stated the total light spillage onto the homes directly north of the park will initially be 2.94 foot candles but drop to 80% of that amount after 120 hours. She noted landscaping will also reduce that amount. In response to Mayor Pe~a, Ms. Markham advised each lamp is a 1,500-watt metal halide light. Council Member Adolph asked how many fixtures would be on each light pole, to which Ms. Horvitz responded from 4 to 15. Ms. Markham advised the light pole heights for the soccer and baseball fields will range from 60 to 70 feet and added the tallest light pole at the Sports Complex is 80 feet. She estimated the high school light poles are 60 feet at the top of the bleacher surface. In response to Council Member Henderson, Ms. Markham advised it is not necessary to leave the lights on for the first 100 hours and that the average life of each. light bulb is 1,000 hours. In response to Council Member Adolph, Ms. Horvitz advised the over-ride switch in the concession stand is only for turning the lights off and cannot be used for turning the lights on. Council Member Adolph noted the lights at the Sports Complex and the tennis courts are on sometimes without anyone present. There being no other requests to speak, the Mayor declared the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED. In response to Council Member Adolph, Ms. Horvitz confirmed notices of the community meetings to gain input on the park were mailed to each resident in the City. Council Member Sniff commented on the number of changes made to the park plan over the last 10 years and noted the change to more of a sports park was influenced by the half-million dollar grant from the State and input at the community meetings, predominately by soccer enthusiasts. He felt the issues City Council Minutes 21 November 6, 2001 raised by the residents are legitimate and suggested the possibility of restricting the evening hours or not allowing evening use at all. He also felt additional parking is needed. Council Member Perkins suggested eliminating at least two of the three small soccer fields in order to rearrange the basketball court, tot lot, and picnic area for the purpose of extending the parking lot to Adams Street. He further suggested restricting use of the lights to 9:00 p.m. on Monday through Thursday only. Ms. Horvitz advised the national definition of a "community park" is a 10-acre (or more) park with amenities including a parking lot, restrooms, barbeques, shade structures, and lighted ballfields. Steve Lang, 801 N. Harbor Boulevard, Fullerton, Landscape Architecture with Purkiss-Rose, reviewed other amenities in the proposed park plan and advised the opening in the north wall has been eliminated from the plan. In response to Council Member Sniff, Mr. Lang confirmed Council Member Perkins' suggestion to extend the parking lot can be done. In response to Council Member Henderson, Ms. Horvitz advised the sound system would be monitored by City staff and noted that the sound system at the Sports Complex is used twice a year - on opening day of soccer and baseball seasons. She stated the youth sports organizations would apply annually for a facility use agreement and the City would have first priority in reserving the fields for other uses. She confirmed the difficulty in enlarging the restroom facilities is financing. Council Member Henderson expressed appreciation for Mr. Tomak attending the meeting and addressing the issue of the high school lighting. She felt Council Member Perkins' suggestion has merit but noted the School District has discussed purchasing property to enhance the parking facilities at the high school and she felt this may be a good opportunity for the City and School District to work together to provide additional parking spaces. Council Member Adolph suggested looking into paving the well site area for temporary parking until the well site is needed. Council Member Henderson noted modification to the Sports Complex lighting was financially supported by the developer across Avenue 50. She was willing to consider some restrictions on the lighting use at the park. City Council Minutes 22 November 6, 2001 Ms. Horvitz advised the soccer games cease at 9:00 p.m. but baseball games go until 10:00 p.m. Council Member Henderson questioned the value of the park if it is closed at dark, which would be 5:30 p.m. during the winter season, and stated she felt some flexibility is needed to allow lighting to 9:00 p.m. during soccer season and 10:00 p.m. during baseball season. She noted the original plans, which were developed from community input, was not built due to lack of funding and that the current plan was developed from current community input to meet current community needs. Mayor Pe~a expressed appreciation for the residents' input and commented on the difficulty of making a decision. He noted over 300 people have attended the meetings and provided input on this issue since October of last year, which has resulted in the originally-designed park evolving into the current plan. He commented on the park's compatibility with surrounding properties, such as the high school and nearby commercial district, as well as the need to reduce the lighting problem at the high school. He believes sport fields are needed and noted they could be used for other activities when not in use for soccer practice or games. He felt the City needs to move forward as quickly as possible to utilize the available funding and try to address some of the issues raised this evening. He also felt it's important for the residents to be kept informed of what is transpiring on this issue. Council Member Perkins stated he would like to have staff and the architect provide an overlay plan with the proposed change to move some of the amenities and extend the parking lot. Council Member Sniff stated he felt the primary problem with the lights is the time the lights are on and suggested the possibility of restricting them to 8:00 p.m. during the winter and 9:00 p.m. during the summer. He asked the status of the grant funds and Ms. Horvitz advised the initial paper work has been submitted to begin the process but no funds have been collected. He supported a continuance for one month to give staff an opportunity to address some of the concerns mentioned this evening and find a reasonable compromise. Mr. Lang stated they are currently in the process of doing engineering drawings and added the construction drawings have resulted in 229 parking spaces. He noted the number of parking spaces was determined by the uses and if three soccer fields are eliminated that would reduce the number of spaces needed by 50 parking spaces. He also confirmed that they can provide a sketch of the proposed revision. As for the well site, he advised it would accommodate approximately 50 parking spaces. City Council Minutes 23 November 6, 2001 Mayor Pe~a suggested a committee from the neighborhood get together with staff to provide input on the park. Council Member Henderson noted some of the issues, such as hour restrictions, can be worked out while the park is under construction. Ms. Horvitz advised the architect can come back the first meeting in December with a revised parking plan and continue to move forward with the remaining park design so the entire park is not delayed. She noted the lighting consultant will also need to review how the changes affect the lighting design. Council concurred. Council Member Adolph stated he felt there needs to be a compromise on the lighting issue so the residents do not lose their dark sky. Council Member Sniff wished to see the lighting schedule discussed at the December 4th meeting. MOTION - It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Adolph to continue the public hearing on the La Quinta Community Park to December 4, 2001. Motion carried unanimously. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2001-158. STUDY SESSION ............. continued 1. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE LA QUINTA MUSEUM EXPANSION DESIGN. (This item was continued from Page 14.) Council Member Adolph spoke regarding Design B and asked about the possibility of moving the meeting room and archives to the second floor. He also voiced concern about having a stairway/entry off the alley. Mr. Johnson advised the meeting room could be moved but the archives need to be located on the ground floor because of the weight factor involved with storage. He further advised the stairway/entry can be re-configured. In response to Mayor Pe~a, Mr. Lang stated the dumbwaiter would be used to move lighter-weight archives to the future expansion area. Council Member Adolph suggested locating the upstairs restrooms off the walkway. City Council Minutes 24 November 6, 2001 Council Member Sniff supported Design B and stated he felt the patio deck should be solid with a tile effect to use for various activities/events. In response to Council Member Sniff, Mr. Johnson advised stained glass windows are proposed for the second story on the north side between the balcony and exhibit areas. He added the exhibit area and community room will have exposed beam ceilings. Council Member Sniff expressed a desire to see stained glass windows on the east and west sides to provide a refracted-light ambiance. He also asked if people on the second floor would be able to look down into the lower part of the first-floor area, to which Mr. Johnson responded it would mean a reduction in valuable exhibit floor space on the second floor. Council Member Sniff asked that it be considered because he felt it would add · a lot in sense of feeling. He also felt it's essential to have a nice patio area for multi-functions and to have a larger kitchen. Mayor Pe~a agreed the kitchen needs to be larger to be functional for events and suggested reducing the table and chair storage area. Council Member Adolph pointed out having three doorways in the kitchen limits utility space. Council Member Henderson suggested the door opening to the patio be changed to a pass-through shelf. Council Member Perkins noted moving the door opening to the dumpster area up to the northwest corner of the kitchen would provide more usable wall space in the kitchen· In response to Council Member Sniff, Mr. Johnson advised wood frame, casement windows are proposed. Council Member Sniff suggested placing narrow, Iouvered windows on the south side to control the light and make the building look longer. Council Member Henderson noted handicapped parking was not provided under the recent street improvements and should be corrected. She asked about the existing and proposed tower feature heights. Mr. Johnson estimated the existing tower is 18 feet and the proposed tower in Design B would be 24 feet. City Council Minutes 25 November 6, 2001 Council Member Henderson questioned the difference in the walls near the kitchen and dumpster area between Designs A and B and asked the design consultant to review it. She supported Design B and stated she likes the idea of stained glass windows but felt it might need to be done at a later time because of being over budget. She felt they could easily be part of the APP involvement, along with the courtyard, fountain, and artistic furniture for the balcony. Council Member Sniff added he felt APP funds could also be used for the wrought-iron bannisters. Council concurred. Council Member Henderson supported using turf in the courtyard and Mr. Johnson noted grass may not do well under heavy usage. She questioned the concept of having the museum store separate from the entry. In response to Mayor Pe~a, Mr. Johnson advised the historic building will be the primary entrance when all of the facilities are open but the museum store entrance will be the p.rimary entrance when the offices are closed. Council Member Henderson stated she felt the historic building is the museum entrance and should be open for all events. Mayor Pe~a suggested moving the museum store door a few feet toward the exhibit room to avoid a conflict with the entryway. He also asked about the wall height in front of the building. Mr. Johnson advised the solid portion of the wall will be approximately three feet high with three feet of wrought-iron treatment on top. Council Member Sniff voiced concern about traffic noise and debris being blown into the courtyard area and suggested increasing the height of the solid portion of the wall to 42 inches. He felt there's also an advantage to a sense of privacy. Council Member Henderson concurred. Council Member Sniff supported having one entrance through the historical building and a second entrance into the main building. Council Member Perkins spoke in support of the two-story design and noted the need to reverse the dumpster and air conditioning unit for easier access by the City Council Minutes 26 November 6, 2001 waste disposal service. He commented on the difficulty of getting volunteers to man the facility and suggested using the historical building as the main entrance, which would only require one volunteer. Mr. Johnson noted a second volunteer would be needed in the museum store and exhibit area. Council Member Adolph suggested using a pocket door in the kitchen and stated he felt the fountain should have some type of water movement. Mr. Johnson stated the initial concept was to have a bubbler to provide the pleasant sound of water movement with the capability of turning it off for a reflecting pool. Council Member Henderson agreed it's difficult to get volunteers and suggested talking to the Historical Society to see how they feel about putting the museum store in the historical building. She noted the store would be a vital, fund- raising tool for the museum. Mayor Pe~a noted the wrought-iron gate can be locked when necessary to require everyone to come through the historical building. Barbara Irwin stated the docent would welcome the visitors and stay with them at the museum. She didn't see a problem with having two entrances as long as the wrought-iron gate can be locked. She also felt the area is small enough for the museum store to be noticed by visitors in the facility. Mayor Pe~a noted a few items representing what can be found in the museum store could be placed in the historical building with a note as to where they can be purchased. Council concurred to go with Design B as revised and discussed. Ms. Horvitz advised staff will bring the revised design back along with cost estimates, possibly at the second meeting in December. REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS CVAG Executive Committee - Mayor Pe~a reported a motion was approved at the last Executive Committee meeting to proceed forward with Phase 2 of the electric study, with La Quinta, Indio, and Coachella abstaining and Rancho Mirage voting no. City Council Minutes 27 November 6, 2001 Palm Springs Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) Subcommittee -- Mayor Pe~a reported CVAG Executive Director Corky Larson has requested the subcommittee meet with the Department of Fish & Game and U.S. Fish and Wildlife. City Attorney Jenson noted Palm Springs and La Quinta have expressed that they prefer holding a joint meeting prior to meeting with the State and Federal agencies. CVAG Human & Community Resources Committee -- Council Member Adolph stated Senator Batten is working on the toll call issue as requested by the committee. Council Member Sniff commented about participating in the committee but not committing to any funding at this time. CVAG Energy & Environment Committee -- Council Member Sniff reported the committee will be discussing formation of a committee to discuss possible trash locations when Edom Hill Landfill closes in 2004. Desert Sands Unified School District Ad-hoc Committee - Council Member Henderson commented on the need to schedule a meeting of the ad-hoc committee. League of California Cities-Riverside Division -- Council Member Henderson asked if anyone planned to attend the League conference in December. Mayor Pe~a advised he may go. Council Member Henderson noted she has been appointed to serve on the San Jacinto/Santa Rosa Committee and will be meeting in December. All other reports were noted and filed. DEPARTMENT REPORTS 1-B. REPORT REGARDING FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA. City Manager Genovese reported, in spite of the September 1 1th incident, the City is doing well financially and will be proceeding with all budgeted expenditures. City Council Minutes 28 November 6, 2001 3-B. SCHEDULING FOR MEETING OF JANUARY 1, 2002. City Clerk Greek advised the first regularly-scheduled City Council meeting in January 2002 falls on New Years Day and asked Council's preference on rescheduling the meeting. Council concurred to reschedule the January 1, 2002, meeting to Thursday, January 3, 2002. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS' ITEMS 1. DISCUSSION REGARDING COUNCIL DECORUM. Council Member Perkins commented on the recent joint meeting with the various City commissions, which he felt was dominated by a few Council Members. He stated three of the Commissioners also spoke to him about not getting an opportunity to speak. He requested the Council extend more courtesy to each other and not interrupt when another Council Member is speaking. Mayor Pe~a expressed appreciation for Council Member Perkins' comments and stated he will try to minimize such actions in the future. 2. DISCUSSION REGARDING COUNCIL MEMBERS' CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. Council Member Adolph requested this item be continued to the next Council meeting. 3. DISCUSSION REGARDING MONDAYS PRIOR TO SCHEDULED HOLIDAYS OF DECEMBER 25, 2001, AND JANUARY 1, 2002. Council Member Sniff suggested City Hall be closed December 24th and 31 st due to Christmas and New Years Day failing on a Tuesday. After a brief discussion, Council concurred. City Council Minutes 29 November 6, 2001 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, it was moved by Council Members Sniff/Adolph to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, JUNE S. GREEK, City Clerk City of La Quinta, California