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2002 06 05 CC Minutes LA QUINTA CITY COUNCIL - LA QUINTA PLANNING COMMISSION JOINT MEETING MINUTES JUNE 5, 2002 A special joint meeting of the La Quinta City Council and Planning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor John Pe~a. CITY COUNCIL ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Council Members Adolph, Henderson, Perkins, Sniff, Mayor Pe~a ABSENT: None PLANNING COMMISSION ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Commissioners Butler, Kirk, Chairman Abels ABSENT: Commissioners Robbins, Tyler PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Pe~a led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA - Confirmed ANNOUNCEMENTS - None PUBLIC COMMENT - None JOINT SESSION 1. DISCUSSION OF ITEMS OF JOINT INTEREST TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION. Mayor Pe~a opened the Joint Session and invited the Planning Commissioners to share their thoughts and concerns first, Commissioner Butler suggested the City embark on a public education program designed to help residents understand how their governrnent works and why the Joint City Council/Planning Commission Minutes June 5, 2002 Page 2 City Council and Planning Commissioners are "required" to act in a certain way on matters concerning funding sources, zoning decisions, and specific plans. Council Member Henderson agreed and noted there's been some discussion about utilizing the marketing program funds for "in-community" marketing on such issues. Mayor Pe~a stated he would like to focus the City's marketing program toward residents in an effort to better educate them on various issues in the City. He commented on the need to get good information out rather than misinformation. Council Member Perkins agreed many residents don't understand the need for commercial development and feel residential property tax should be sufficient revenue for the City. He noted residents also need to be informed about restrictions on funds and how some can only be used for specific needs. Council Member Adolph stated the Fire Services Ad Hoc Committee hopes to hold general meetings throughout the community in an effort to educate citizens on the different "color of money" and why a fire assessment is needed. Chairman Abels suggested using inserts/flyers in the water bill or sending flyers home with school students to get the information out. He commented on the possibility of giving a prize to whoever comes up with a worthwhile idea on how to help residents have a better understanding of City issues. Council Member Perkins questioned if people pay attention to inserts, and stated he felt a video on the pros and cons of a fire assessment may be beneficial. Chairman Abels suggested utilizing free radio time and discussing the issues with students at the high school. Council Member Perkins suggested meeting with homeowners associations to get the information out in gated communities. Council Member Adolph stated he plans to work with the PGA West Homeowners Association on the fire issue. He feels contact on controversial issues works well but not necessarily just at general meetings. Commissioner Butler spoke regarding the landscape and lighting deficiency and asked if there is an answer to the problem. He understood new subdivisions can be set up in sub-zones where the developer acts on behalf of the project and approves the monies. He noted, however, an insufficient number of Joint City Council/Planning Commission Minutes June 5, 2002 Page 3 · developments are left in North La Quinta to make up the deficiency and in the southeast part of the City, where homeowner associations will be the future, there is no lighting and landscape money available. He noted a lot of the lights are continually being replaced because of vandalism. Council Member Perkins questioned the need for lighting in landscaped medians. Mayor Pe~a suggested reducing vandalism by putting lights in the trees shining down instead of on the ground shining up. He noted it would also help the dark sky ordinance. Council Member Henderson stated she felt a lot of the vandalism is done in perimeter landscaping areas. Commissioner Butler asked if the lights can be removed or would it be a problem with developers. City Manager Genovese stated most of the perimeter areas are maintained by homeowners associations and not the City. Council Member Henderson noted landscape lighting provides some safety and security lighting as opposed to having street lights, which a number of residents would like to have. She appreciates median lighting because of the dark skies. Commissioner Butler asked what the deficit in the lighting and landscaping account is. Council Member Henderson responded it is approximately $700,000, and she noted Palm Desert is talking about putting rock in the medians unless residents in their sub-zones are willing to approve an increased assessment. Mayor Pe~a pointed out the City has changed to Iow maintenance landscaping to reduce the cost. Council Member Perkins stated he felt a reduction in median widths would reduce the costs. Council Member Henderson noted the cost increases every time a park or median is added. .... Chairman Abels stated he was pleased to see Wells Marvin's project in the Village going forward. Joint City Ccdncil/Planning Commission Minutes June 5, 2002 Page 4 Mayor Pe~a stated everyone wants the amenities of urban areas without the congestion and density and that creates a problem. Council Member Henderson stated she feels the success of Mr. Marvin's project will depend on tourism, and noted the Embassy Suites will help. Council Member Sniff commented on the number of people it takes to make a business successful and noted there has to be a major draw to bring people in from other areas. Mayor Pe~a stated he feels Palmers Restaurant will be a major draw. Council Member Sniff stated he feels the climate is more right than ever to have success in the Village and that the City needs to take advantage of the opportunity to accelerate growth wherever possible. He didn't feel growth is bad as long as it is well-managed, diverse, and accessible. Council Member Adolph stated he feels traffic congestion will be a problem if Council continues approving high density projects. In response to Mayor Pe~a, Mr. Herman confirmed less than 10% of the City is designated high density and that high density is 16 units per acre. Mayor Pe~a stated he felt density is an issue that should probably be discussed and noted the Cove is medium density. Chairman Abels referenced the assisted-living project proposed at Avenue 50 and Washington Street, and commented on traffic from the eastern end of the Valley. Council Member Sniff commented on the plan some years ago to re-route Highway 111 down Washington Street to Avenue 48 and across to Highway 86. Council Member Perkins spoke regarding the need to discuss how the City Council and Planning Commission can help each other. Mayor Pe~a asked if the Planning Commission has had to deal with requests for median breaks/cuts. Commissioner Butler referenced a few requests but noted the issue is usually brought to a halt by the requirements of the Engineering Department. Joint City Council/Planning Commission Minutes June 5, 2002 - Page 5 Council Member Sniff stated he felt "in-fill" is going to be the issue of the next five years, and encouraged the Planning Commission to stand strong on the issue. He feels the City is going to have to deal effectively with commercial in-fill and its compatibility, and the acceptance of it by neighboring properties. Mayor Pe~a commented on the need to set some criteria. Commissioner Kirk stated he felt it's important for the City Council and Planning Commission to pay close attention to details of project design and transportation and to condition new projects accordingly. He spoke in support of increasing efforts to make signal synchronization a reality in the near future and questioned inserts/flyers being an effective way to educate the public. Mayor Pe~a stated he feels developers will build projects according to whatever standards the City establishes, as long as those standards are applied fairly to everyone. In regard to inserts/flyers, Chairman Abels stated he felt they must have some benefit or so many companies would not use them. Commissioner Butler noted developments with specific plans change how a project is considered because a specific plan can deviate from the City's set standards. Mr. Herman clarified specific plans are a tool used to allow flexibility to developers. He stated under the new General Plan specific plans are no longer required in Regional Commercial zones except for 20-acre or larger parcels. He also noted the amendments requested in specific plans are subject to the approval of the Planning Commission and City Council. Council Member Henderson and Commissioner Kirk noted specific plans also open the door for the City to place more stringent conditions on developments. In regard to future meeting dates, Mayor Pe~a stated Chairman Abels has suggested holding joint meetings after the Planning Commission seminars in March. After a brief discussion there was consensus to hold the next joint.meeting after the November election. Joint City Council/Planning Commission Minutes June 5, 2002 Page 6 ADJOURNMENT There being no further discussion the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, June S. Greek, City Clerk City of La Quinta, California