1999 04 15 HPC Minutes
MINUTES
HISTORlC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall Session Room
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
APRlL 15, 1999
This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by Chairman Robert
Wright at 3 :30 p.m. who led the flag salute and asked for the roll call.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. Pledge of Allegiance.
B. Roll Call.
Present:
Commissioners Irwin, Mitchell, Puente, Vossler, and Chairman
Wright.
Staff Present: Planning Manager Christine di Iorio, Principal Planner Stan Sawa,
and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer.
II. PUBLIC COMMENT:
A. Commissioner Irwin introduced Louise Neeley, Chairman of Docents for the La
Quinta Historical Society who would be leading the Point Happy Ranch tour.
III.
CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA:
Confirmed.
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. It was then moved and seconded by Commissioners IrwinlPuente to approve the
Minutes of March 18, 1999, as submitted. Unanimously approved.
V. BUSINESS ITEMS
A. Environmental Assessment 98-375: Archaeological Assessment of Tentative Tract
Map 29053.
I. Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the staff report, a copy of which is on
file in the Community Development Department.
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2. Commissioner Mitchell asked if this was the same project he had commented
on previously as this report did not identifY the type of bone discovered, nor
the raw lithic material present. It was his opinion this was not a complete
archaeological report. He recommended that his comments from the previous
project be included with this report.
3. Staff stated this was an interim report and staff would include Commissioner
Mitchell's comments.
4. Commissioner Mitchell stated his concern was that the report recommended
all the sites be found not eligible for National Register, or were not
significant in terms of CEQA criteria which he did not disagree with, but any
bone found should be identified as to bird, mammal, or fish and noted in the
report.
5. Planning Manager di Iorio informed the Commission this report was in
reference to the residential site as opposed to Phase I for the commercial site
and she would inform Mr. Love, the archaeological consultant, that those
points needed to be clarified before the report was submitted to the City
Council for the certification of the Environmental Assessment on May IS'h,
if approved by the Planning Commission.
6. There being no further questions, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners PuenteN ossler to adopt Minute Motion 99-013 accepting
staffs recommendations with the inclusion of Commissioner Mitchell's
comments. Unanimously approved.
B. Certified Local Government Grant Proposal for 1999.
I. Planning Manager di Iorio presented the staff report, a copy of which is on
file in the Community Development Department.
2. Commissioner Irwin asked if there were any changes from last year's
proposal? Planning Manager di Iorio replied it was the same.
3. Staff informed the Commissioners that if any changes to their resumes was
needed they be made and returned to staff as soon as possible.
4. Planning Manager di Iorio stated the proposal would be submitted to the City
Council on May 4,1999, and if approved, sent to the State immediately.
5. There being no further comments, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners IrwinlPuente to approve Minute Motion 99-014
recommending the Grant Proposal be sent to the Council for approval of the
application. Unanimously approved.
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VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL
A. Chairman Wright informed the Commission of a newspaper article written on the
Kemper Estate which he understood had been tom down. Discussion followed
regarding the City's Historical Survey and the historic sites that would be saved from
this type of unnecessary destruction.
B. Commissioner Irwin stated she had received a call from a resident who was looking
to purchase a house in La Quinta and wanted to know if it had been declared
historical as the advertisement for sale of the house stated it was. Commissioner
Irwin had contacted staff to see if it was listed on the City's registry and was told it
was not. The property encompasses three lots with what appeared to be a stage in the
yard. Commissioner Irwin wanted to know what the official procedure was for
checking historical sites. Would someone from the City inspect them? Planning
Manager di Iorio replied they would, but if the integrity is gone, then the house would
not be included in the City's Historical Register. Commissioner Irwin asked who
was to be contacted when these calls were received? Planning Manager di Iorio
replied she would receive the calls and go out to look at the properties, checking for
age, historical integrity and so on. Chairman Wright asked if there was any way that
the Commissioners could get packets of the Historical Registry. Planning Manager
di Iorio stated staff would see that each Commissioner received a copy.
VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS:
A. Planning Manager di Iorio told the Commission she had met with Roberta Dearing,
Executive Director of the Preservation Foundation, for the Gala Event. She had been
informed that this years' event would be held at the La Quinta Hotel on Saturday
night of the Conference. Commissioner Irwin stated she had not received any
information and wanted to know if they were planning on having a book store.
Planning Manager di Iorio stated she was unsure, but would speak to Ms. Dearing.
B. Chairman Wright asked about the Conference fees. Planning Manager di Iorio
replied the City had budgeted for the Commission's registration. She also asked the
Commissioners to advise staff, as soon as possible, if they would be attending and
which events they would be participating in so the City could mail the application
forms.
C. Chairman Wright recessed the meeting, at 4:00 p.m., as the Commissioners would
be taking a tour of the Point Happy Ranch conducted by Louise Neeley. Ms. Neeley
then gave the Commissioners background information on the Ranch before departing.
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VIII. ADJOURNMENT
After, the tour, there being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Irwin
IWright to adjourn this meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to the next regularly
scheduled meeting of the Historical Preservation Commission on May 20,1999. This meeting of
the Historical Preservation Commission was adjourned at 5:35 p.m. April 15, 1999. Unanimously
approved.
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