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1992 01 28 PC & DRB Special Joint MtgTo be Held at the La Quinta City Hall, 78-105 Calle Estado La Quinta, California January 28, 1992 6:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER — Flag Salute ROLL CALL BUSINESS SESSION 1. Item ................ CIVIC CENTER LANDSCAPING Applicant ........... City of La Quinta Location ............ Civic Center site Request ............. Joint review of the landscaping plans submitted by Gruen Associates Action .............. Minute Motion 92- OTHER - None ADJOURNMENT PC/AGENDA 1 as GRUEN ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTURE - PLANNING - ENGINEERING January 23, 1992 Mr. Jerry Herman Planning Director City of La Quinta P.O. Box 1504 78-105 Calle Estado La Quinta, California 92253 Dear Mr. Herman: JAN 2 3 1992 D CITY OF LA r.uwA -- PLMio%; DE ifiit.+ENT Re: Design Review Board Landscape Comments KI SUM PARK, FAIA. AICP ALLEN M. RUBENSTEIN FASCE, FITE KURT FRANZEN, AIA MARIS PEIKA. AIA JAY B BOOTHE. AIA We have had the opportunity to review the minutes of the Design Review Board on landscape and irrigation plans for the Civic Center project. In response to these comments, we would like to clarify our position on the landscape design issues and rectify any misunderstanding that the Board may have. The following is a list of Design Review Board comments with subsequent Gruen Associates responses: 1. Comment: Plans submitted were typical of what someone unfamiliar with the desert environment would submit. The design style was incompatible with what the City represents and requires of developers. The desert character is sparser on the perimeter and lush green up close to the buildings." Response: Our original landscape design solution, which was part of the Design Development Phase, was presented to the City of La Quinta City Council on September 17, 1990. This design incorporated a predominant desertscape concept with a variety of cactus and succulents. (We intend to bring a copy of this plan to our meeting on January 28th.) However, at that time, Gruen Associates was directed by City Council and Staff to create a friendlier, warmer, lush environment, exemplified in the landscape of the La Quinta Hotel. Gruen Associates presented the revised landscape design on October 26, 1990 in response to the City Council and Staffs October 8th review session. During this meeting and at subsequent follow-up meetings, design discussions were based on an acceptance of the new landscape plans presented at the October 26th meeting. 2. Comment: "The plants were somewhat low water usage, although only a few could handle the extreme weather ranges." Response: The plant palette selected for the revised landscape design is all drought tolerant. Every single plant material is listed in Lush and Efficient, a Guide to Coachella Valley Landscaping, published by the Coachella Valley Water District. Other references include: Plants for Dry Climates, by Mary Rose Duffield and Warren D. Jones; Drees and Shrubs for Da California Landscapes, by Bob Perry; 6330 San Vicente Boulevard, Los Argeles, California 90048 Telephone (213) 937-4270 Fax (213) 937-6001 Mr. Jerry Herman January 23, 1992 Page 2 GRUEN ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTJRE P-ANNING • ENGINEERNIS Plants for California Landscapes, by the Department of Water Resources; and the Sunset New Western Garden Book. In addition, extensive research was conducted with various experts in the field, including local nurserymen in the Coachella Valley. Some of the experts include: David Harbison with the Coachella Valley Water District; Dan Shriner with D. S. Distributing, which represents Arid Zone Tree; Swan Hills with White Tank Palms Nurseries; Bruce Throckmorton with Arid Zone Farm; Art Oliveras with La Quinta Hotel; Gene Blythe and Cliff Comstock with Monrovia Nursery; and Scott Taylor at Hines Nursery. 3. Comment: '"The plans called for high maintenance. The perimeter landscaping needs to have the amount of lawn reduced (especially near the curbs) to only where the public traffic would be. This should be replaced with ground cover. The density of the shrub planting is extremely high. The planting needs to be relaxed to allow the plants room to spread and take form. Annual color use should be minimal and used only for accent. The elevated pots with annual color require too much maintenance." Response: As part of the original landscape design, we proposed drought tolerant fescue seedmix as the perimeter groundcover. However, we were requested by City Council to consider alternatives which would augment the predominant groundcover proposed for the art festival grounds. Lawn is currently used extensively as street frontage along Washington Street leading to the Civic Center site. In addition, this was documented in our meeting notes dated September 17, 1990. The planting design consists of generally six understory plant massings, including Xylosma hedges, massing of red Bougainvillea on the plinth, and groundcover plantings of Juniper, Verbena, Dwarf Pittosporum and Blue Fescue. The design intent is to achieve an immediate assemblage of a hedge with Xylosma and over 50% coverage on groundcovers at the time of planting to achieve the desired landscape effect within one year. The only consistent maintenance requirements will be mowing the lawn and clipping the Xylosma hedge to maintain the desired form. The groundcovers, including Bougainvillea, will only be required to be cut back perhaps once a year. Annual color is used exclusively in the main courtyard. The use of color in the most visible exterior space of the City Hall complex is in keeping with the exuberant La Quinta Hotel style. In addition, the courtyard is envisioned as a significant public space, and will have visual importance from inside and outside of the building. The annual color requires three -time rotation per year. A drip irrigation is provided for the annual color in the suspended pots. Mr. Jerry Herman GRUEN ASSOCIATES January 23, 1992 ARCHITECTURE PLANNING ENGINEER aG Page 3 4. Comment: 'The deciduous plants (i.e., vines) should be replaced, as they will go bare in the winter when the City should try to present an attractive face. If not replaced totally, they should be mixed with some evergreen plants." Response: Wisteria does xtremely well in the desert environs, and is probably the most spectacular and showy vine when in bloom from early spring to summer. Wisteria is also prized for its interesting branching structure. An attempt was made to accentuate the simple, dynamic interplay of the organic element with the man- made structure. However, we are open to discussions regarding selecting an evergreen vine that would work with Wisteria, or selecting an evergreen vine to replace it altogether. 5. Comment: It was noted that the Civic Center site is one of the coldest spots in La Quinta and that the proposed Bougainvillea would freeze. Nearby homeowners have verified this fact." Response: The proposed Bougainvillea is called Bougainvillea Oo-la-la 'monks', recently patented by Monrovia Nursery in 1990. It is an improved variety of a compact, dwarf grower that grows to approximately 2 feet in height and 4 to 5 feet in width. It is susceptible to freezing below 289, but plants rejuvenate from the older wood once the weather warms up in the spring. This low mounding, spreading form of Bougainvillea is sold as the most frost -tolerant variety, unlike the more common, larger -growing varieties, available from most commercial and all retail nurseries. We have made several provisions in the specifications, based on conversations with Monrovia Nursery's botany department, to offset consequences from freezing during winter, including the following: A. Time of planting. Do not plant Bougainvillea during the winter period of December through February; and, optimally, during March and April. B. Method of planting. Two persons shall remove rootball from the nursery container with extra care to make sure the rootball remains intact upon installation. C. Planting bed nremaration. Apply a minimum of a 2-inch layer of wood bark mulch in Bougainvillea planting areas. Usually only a 1-inch layer is necessary for new shrub or groundcover areas. In addition, we've talked to Bruce Throckmorton with Arid Zone Farm, and Art Oliveras with the La Quinta Hotel regarding Bougainvillea's freezing conditions in the immediate area. Bruce Throckmorton is the owner of a nursery only one block east of the Civic Center site, and Art Oliveras is the groundskeeper for the La Quinta Hotel. They both mentioned that Bougainvillea is susceptible to freezing and requires pruning in spring to cut back dead branches and to encourage new growth Mr. Jerry Herman GRUEN ASSOCIATES January 23, 1992 ARCHITECTURE PLANNING - ENGINEER NG Page 4 as the weather warms up again. Mr. Oliveras takes additional measures during unusually cold periods by covering up the Bougainvilleas with plastic sheets to minimize freezing. There are a couple of additional factors about the proposed City Hall planting location of Bougainvillea that will deter freezing. First, Bougainvillea is planted only on the two -foot -high plinth planters that surround the building. The cold air drains to the bottom, thus much of the cold air will drain off the plinth planter. Second, the building wall will exude heat from the inside, thus protecting Bougainvillea planted close to the building. In conclusion, our professional opinion is that this variety of Bougainvillea can withstand the ultimate effects of cold weather, and re-emerge healthy during the warmer months. However, after a hard freeze it will defoliate, even though it is actually evergreen. Due to this reason, we are open to further discussions of considering an alternate selection. 6. Comment: 'The 60-inch box Smoke Tree was felt to be larger than needed or optimum for a native type tree, and excessively expensive." Response: The proposed Smoke Tree is a specimen, requested by the City Council. It is strategically located in a highly visible location at the entry area to the Civic Center compound from the Arts Festival grounds promenade. We felt that at least a 60-inch box size tree should fill this key position. This would have to be acquired through a plant broker, since Smoke Trees are currently not readily available in nurseries. A fifteen -gallon size is the largest size available from the nursery. Sincerely, GR Mai ib r uma, rur% Partner cc: Ron Kiedrowski John Eloe Rick Abelson Samuel Kim Central Files vi sib i'17T IF "T", UP4 0.0 pl--Lf7*-vL-W-P--" wn 14W ;7 Y. A3; j r i /�-- i ; ri �. � i - .:� •'4k-a it}'1�' •;l �••IrL' �. I !. `e rc. .` �1 ' M1 • r q .r' I ✓WA�i elf _ t. tk�sti�9 f �.„ ;» ..Jill • �. r ♦� Slrt •� � fit, � � ri _'Y ���IY"L�/-/ � �I 1' � • = F �t ?�ilia f ,r lit tom• �1:Y L, L � i I 1 + � too � « ` �iti ar% 4i/t�;j i �tI 1�Aj� �� � I � I 1 • }Tdk � � � +�' "Xj° i/i'31'�'' "�� t �/• i�� t1 • t �l y. `y -�r F' > I - �. ` +A r! M t� i ,. i Y. ''."` ro ?* d,y� x_''x ` i.,w•+.e:� t y - Ir, 4f` ` /r ,/�el:r# ^'=.r 4f f�+Cf'':�y4••�.+ �r jug .c :ems vy,� �.. _ •.`- .K�-. 1'w►�b�4. ':, ^� -' �• � �y !'M ♦ _ IJ. � J s//j ..n� � t 1 _ ) �1T.�r' •�` ".. r "Jv ;/.. �'� ;-::. \ ,.::- ,.y..� *1 vS,,.Y/ .!s "'�. fir^.'..-{�*. �',.....li►L'i � � �� fir- ONCUL mad ��z_ iT"�!`� x}1 "��:�. r �� rl - _.���y,,^:y��., � >�'.+r • �r" L��� i4��r► � K�j/► -'i /fin ,.mil J� /.� - � r- ` ice-// .fy �c,� • .y —ice - � �. ,v r'. f V • sf_'�7�t: ,r_ 15 I:._ �, ..gists,=.,ri�� M ii1. GRUEN ASSOCIATE' &QCH1TtCTU11a • PUNNING • f "OMII" Conference Retort ?m)ect ..a Quinta C:•: lc Center Pm)ect No. 6697 Subject Design Development Presentation Memo No. Piece La Quinta Council Chamber Date 9 / 17190 3y John Eloe Present John Pena, Mayor City of La Quinta Dale Bohnenberger, Ylayor Pro-'fem City of La Quinta Dr. William Rushworth, Councilman City of La Quinta Stanley Sniff, Councilman City of La Quinta Ron Kiedrowski, City Manager City of La Quinta Meg Robertson. Arts Foundation City of La Quinta John Walling, Arts Foundation City of La Quinta Maris Peika Gruen Associates :urge Parao Gruen Associates •Sam Kim Gruen Associates John Eloe (Wrter) Gruen Associates The meeting was convened to present the Design Development Phase of the project to the City of La Quinta City Council. 1. i.0. ACTION ITEMS ACTION BY ITEM GA :.1.0. Investigate the subsoil quality of the site for implications on horticultural and drainage requirements. GA :.:. incorporate desert -type landscape accents to break up the continuous fescue plant treatment. Blend the green fescue with desert harshness. Consider alternative to fescue. GA i .1.31. Consider other plant -type to incorporate into desert-scape. Examples mentioned were smoke tree, mesquite, texas ranger, verbena, and cats claw vine. GA 1.1.4. Consider other palms in lieu of california fan palm. Examples mentioned were queen palm, date palm and royal palm. GA 1.1.5. Lantana may freeze. Consider verbena as an alternative. :his report is a summary of subjects discussoa and decisions reached at the aoove c.nierence. Any discreoancres should be brought to our attention within seven days. Los Angeles • Phoenix 6330 San Vicente Blvd. Los Angeles. California 90048 Tel 1313) 937 4270 • Fax t213) 937 1,d Quinta Civic Center Conference Report al ?age -2- 3/17/90 GA 1..1.6. Evaluate the extreme summer and winter temperature extremes (120P and 250) in the .w selection of plant materials. GA 1.1. 7. Review all plant materials with David Harbison of the Coachella Valley water district for conformance to their water efficiency requirements. GA 1.1.8. Consider incorporating prominent arcnitectural treatments along the length of the pedestrian t rellis 1 walkway. GA 1.1.9. Study site lines in the Council Chamber for audiences ability to see screen and display boards. GA/LQ 1.1.10. The building pad should be higher than 2'-0" above street flow line. GA 1.1.11. Consider substitutes for the black and green tile colors in the lintel, file motif. GA 1.1.12. Re -consider the full glass wall between the administration area and the courtyard at the rear of the Council Chamber. The air conditioning load and cost of the glass may be a costly solution. Consider less glass and a shade trellis. GA 1.1.13. Consider re -cycling of condensate from AC system and using it to supply the courtyard fog system. GA 1.1.14. Look at the possibility of a separate AC unit for the EOC room. GA 1.1.15. Meet with the sculpturer, John Kennedy, to discuss the mechanics and water feature requirements of his sculpture. La Quints Civic Center Cunierence Report ;1 Page -3- 3117l90 1.2.0. STATUS The Design Development drawings ( two sets) and the preliminary cost estimate summary sheet was presented to Ron 1{iedrowski. The full cost estimate and outline specifications will be sent within the next week. This will constitute the complete submittal of all required Design Development documents by Gruen Associates. 1.3.0. SCHEDULE October 8 meeting at City Nall with city staff to discuss: • Senior Center Concepts • i.ibrary Design Concepts • arts Foundation ( temporary grid layout on site) • Project probable cost estimate analysis and conclusion. • Final Design Development review comments from the City. cc: .attendees C . rile 6697 12.0 GRUEN ASSOCIATES •ACH[It CTUPI - PLANNING' E-G'-1 A%G Conference Report Project La Quinta Civic Center Project No. 6697 Subject City Hall Design Revisions Memo No. 8 Place La Quinta City Hall Date 10/26/90 By John Eloe _ Present John Pema Dale Bohnenberger Bill Rushworth Ron Kiedrowski Frank Reynolds Jerry Herman Saundra Juhola Tom Hartung Maris Peika Jose Vincent Jorge Pardo Rick Abelson John Eloe City of La Quinta City of La Quinta City of La Quinta City of La Quinta City of La Quinta City of La Quinta Citv of La Quinta City of La Quinta Gruen Associates Gruen Associates Gruen Associates Gruen Associates Gruen Associates The meeting was convened to present the revisions that Gruen Associates had made to the design in response to the city council and staff s October 8th review session. 1.0 DISCIISSION AND DECISIONS Action b Item 1.01 GA presented three renderings, which depicted design directions that will be pursued. Specifically: 1. Archways will be incorporated at the City Hall (2) and council chambers (1) entrances. 2. Courtvard will have a tiered fountain, wall - supported pots, colorful/flowering landscape, and Mexican stone paving. 3. The pedestrian trellis is re -designed with archway access points. 4. The automobile turn -around court is eliminated and replaced with a pedestrian -specific entry court. This will incorporate the sculpture and seating. This report is a summary of subjects discussed and decisions reached at the above conference. Any discrepancies should be brought to our attention within seven days. Los Angeles • Phoenix 6330 San Vicente Blvd. Los Angeles, California 90048 Tel (213) 937 4270 • Fax (213) 937 600 1.02 GA presented the site plan and landscape revisions. 1. The visitor parking and related pedestrian and parking trellis has been reduced in length. 2. The area immediate to the south of City Hall will be developed as part of Phase One as shaded employee parking. 3. The location of the Arts Foundation, Senior Center, and library was shown with their expansion areas. 4. The landscape plan was presented with the inclusion of an amphitheater, promenade adjacent to the Arts Foundation, shade trees and look -out mesa at south -center of the terrace park, connection promenade between the City Hall and the Senior Center, fountain entry court at the library and arts foundation, clipped lawn for the terrace park with the terracing incorporating 1:4 gradual slopes. 5. A soil sampling/testing is recommended to determine if amendments to the soil are required for planting suitability. 1.03 GA projected the City Hall floor plan and landscape plan. 1. Landscaping a. 'fie plinth would be planted with bougainvillea and an airy tree specimen (e.g., paloverde). b. The area between the plinth and the sidewalk would be generally a clipped lawn. C. Palms would be planted at the major entrance points. d. Chinese wisteria would be planted at the parking and pedestrian trellis. e. Annual colors would be planted in the courtyard flower beds. f. Clipped hedges would be located at the Tampico pedestrian entrance. 2. Floor Plan a. The employee toilet rooms adjacent to the receiving area were removed. b. The EOC was increased in size. This area will have its own mechanical system and the possibility of a portable emergency generator. The structure of this area will be independent of the building and include a toilet room and part of the receiving area. c. The directors' offices were increased in size. d. The open plan structure system was simplified in appearance to wood lateral struts. e. The administration area was re -worked to eliminate the garden area. Also changed was the council members lounge, council chamber caucus room, council private toilets, future council office expansion, and administration reception area. f. The council chamber changes showed a curved dais with department head seating looking out toward the audience. Flat wall display area in lieu of the "rolo-dex" display module, caucus room removed, side aisle straight seating, over- head camera in lieu of table -top presentation camera, and access doors to the administration area immediately behind department head dais seating. 1.04 The mayor, city council, and staff commented during the presentation: GA 1. Curved audience seating is preferred in the council chamber. A good example is the Oceanside council chamber. 2. The department heads, who often give presentations, should not have to go to the furthest and opposite side of the chamber to give a presentation. They would like two display board locations. 3. The assistant City attorney's office is too small. Needs to be close to 200 s.f. GA 4. The gymnasium, lunch room, city managers conference room and session room should be wired for wall mounted television. 2.0 Schedule 2.01 Next meeting will be on November 9 at 9:00/ 10:00. cc: Attendees James Jackson C.file 6697/2.0