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1996 03 21 HPC Minutes MINUTES HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall Session Room 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA March 21, 1996 3:00 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER A. This meeting of the Historical Preservation Commission was called to order at 3:05 P.M. by Chairman Millis. II. ROLL CALL A. Chairman Millis requested the roll call: Present: Commissioners DeMersman, Puente, Woodard, Wright, and Chairman Millis. B. Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand noted that Advisor Lauren Weiss-Bricker would be unable to attend. C. Staff present: Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand, and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer. Ill. PUBLIC COMMENT: A. Mr. Norris Bernard, resident and member of the La Quinta Human Services Commission (HSC), stated he was asked by the HSC to attend the Historical Preservation Commission meeting to explain the philosophy and work plan of the HSC. Their desire was to encourage an orderly plan for community services for the City. To encourage a sense of mutual appreciation among the residents regarding the diversity of the cultural ofthe community and activities that currently are in place and planned. In this effort, they are trying to determine what the needs of the City are. In order to address this issue they have scheduled a "Community Vision Workshop" to be held on April 18, 1996, from 7:00 P.M.- 9:00 P.M., at the La Quinta Senior Center. They have sent out 90 letters to local citizens and commission members. His purpose in attending this meeting was to ask that the chairman attend or delegate a member to attend this meeting. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. There being no corrections to the minutes of February 8, 1996, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Puente to approve the minutes as submitted. Unanimously approved. HPC3-21 I Historical Preservation Commission Meeting March 21,1996 V. BUSINESS ITEMS A. Annual Work Program; Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand HPC3-21 I. Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. She went on to explain why this plan was being required and discussed the contents of the plan and the target dates for each of the projects. Staff stated that comments were needed from the Commissioners as soon as possible regarding the reports. 2. Commissioner Woodard asked staff to explain Preservation Week. Staff stated this was the fourth year the City had observed "Preservation Week" and to date there had only been a Proclamation signed by the Mayor declaring "Preservation Week". Last year this was expanded to "La Quinta Heritage Month". Staff would like to progressively increase the activities with awards, presentations, and maybe co-sponsor some events with the Historical Society. 3. Chairman Millis stated that the Historical Society had an essay contest last year and will do so again this year. The City needs to have some kind of observances. 4. Commissioner DeMersman stated he would like to see the project "Box City" incorporated into the City to work with school children. The object of the program is to create a map whereby the children build a City by boxes. They are involved in building the structures, zoning, and establishing a general plan layout of the City. Commissioner Millis asked if the program pointed out any historical purposes. Commissioner DeMersman stated the students were directed toward both the past and present. 5. Commissioner Puente asked who would be in charge ofItem #7 (Designating Point Happy as a local historic, topographical and cultural landmark). Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand stated staff would be preparing the paper work and it is really a matter of filling out the form and writing a justification for the site. The Commission would approve the form and forward it on to the City Council for their approval. Commissioner Wright suggested the Commission take a tour of the Point Happy. Chairman Millis stated Saturday, April 13, 2-4:00 P.M., the Historical Society would be conducting a tour of the Point Happy Ranch. 2 Historical Preservation Commission Meeting March 21,1996 6. Commissioner Woodard asked when the grant was anticipated to be completed. Staff stated it is anticipated to take a year to reach the point of submitting the final report to SHPO. Twelve proposals had been received, which was an excellent response. It is anticipated that the survey should be completed by June, 1997. Commissioner Woodard asked if there was a map of the current historical landmarks. Staff stated there was a list of all the sites on file in the Community Development Department. In addition, they are listed in the General Plan, and several publications which have background material. Staff anticipates the consultants will find very few new sites. 7. Chairman Millis stated the historical boundaries of the City were covered generally in the Cove and southern portion of the City. There were very few sites on the north side of Highway 111. 8. There being no further discussion it was moved and seconded by Commissioners DeMersman/Puente to approve the Annual Work Program as submitted. Unanimously approved. B. Formation of the Consultant Selection Committee and review of the time table HPC3-21 I. Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. She went on to explain the process whereby the proposals would be reviewed and how a consultant would be selected. Council Members Henderson/Sniff were previously selected by Council to serve on the Consultant Selection Committee. 2. Staff reviewed the Revised Schedule of Events with the Commission regarding the .consultant selection process and pointed out the important dates. 3. Commissioner Puente asked what time of the day the meetings would be held. Staff stated they would probably be during the day, but will consider evening meetings. Commissioner Puente stated she would have a problem with any time before 3:00 P.M. 4. Chairman Millis asked if anyone was interested in serving on the committee. Following discussion, Commissioners DeMersman and Chairman Millis were selected to serve on the committee with Commissioner Puente serving as an alternate. 3 Historical Preservation Commission Meeting March 21,1996 C. Certified Local Govemment Grant proposal. I. Associate Planner Lesile Mouriquand presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. 2. Commissioner Woodard asked how the grant was funded and if the city would receive the amount requested. Staff stated cities have been awarded less than requested. Commissioner Woodard asked how this would relate to the RFP where a definite amount is stated. Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand stated the amount of $15,000 was based on what had been awarded previously to other cities. The grant was intended to cover the cost of the consultant. Commissioner Woodard asked what would happen if the grant was less than requested. Would the City contribute the difference. Staff discussed the alternatives that were available to the Commission and what could be done if the amount of the grant was less than the $15,000 requested. Commissioner Woodard stated the Commission could ask the selected consultant to submit an alternative proposal for the amount received. 3. Commissioner Wright stated the City Council had been supportive of the Commission's work and hopefully they would approve the difference. 4. Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand informed the Commissioners staff needed their updated resumes as soon as possible to send with the proposal. 5. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners PuentelWoodard to approve the Certified Local Govemment Proposal as submitted. D. Preservation Plan 1. Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand explained the Plan and what it must contain. She informed the Commission that the Plan had been transmitted to the State Historic Preservation Office in Sacramento for their comments. 2. Commissioner Woodard asked staff to clarifY the Purpose and Intent section of the Historical Preservation Ordinance. Discussion followed. 3. Chairman Millis explained that there were two structures in the City that were being targeted to be brought up to the City's Building Code for preservation purposes. Those structures were the Hacienda del Gato and the old lumber yard building. HPC3-21 4 Historical Preservation Commission Meeting March 21,1996 4. Commissioner Woodard stated his concern that the City in their approval process, be sensitive to the style of buildings to be constructed in the Village. Buildings could be built to look Spanish, old, etc., and in reality they are a poor substitute and would have a negative impact on the City. Staff stated it was the responsibility of the Planning Commission to architecturally review all new projects in the City with the City Council granting the final approval. The Historical Preservation Commission would not review them unless it related to a historical site. 5. Commissioner Woodard stated his concern that even new construction located next to a historical building could be a detriment to the building instead of maintaining a historical environment. Discussion followed as to how the Commission could actively be involved in the current planning process to give input regarding design of the structures. 6. Staff discussed with the Commission the Village Specific Plan and development of the area. Due to the amount of concern raised by the Commissioners, Commissioner Wright asked that this item be placed on the next Historical Preservation Commission agenda for discussion with the Community Development Director. 7. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners PuentelDeMersman to approve the Draft Preservation Plan as submitted. Unanimously approved. D. Context Statement I. Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand presented the information contained in the staff report, and stated that due to the lack of time to complete the statement, a partial report has been submitted to the Commissioners for review. A more complete version would be sent as it is completed. 2. Commissioner Woodard asked staff to define what "resort industry" meant. Discussion followed regarding the terminology used in the report. 3. Staff discussed the structure of the Table of Contents and the partial report as prepared. She stated they were using primary source documents rather than oral histories. The City may, in the future, have an oral history project. 4. Chairman Millis stated it would be nice to convert this information to a document that could be used as a handout for the City and Historical Preservation Commission. HPC3-21 5 Historical Preservation Commission Meeting March 21,1996 5. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Puente to continue this item, at staff discretion, to the next Commission meeting following the completion of the Context Statement. Unanimously approved. VI. OTHER: A. Ordinance 280 - Amendment to Section 7.04 of the La Ouinta Municipal Code 1. Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand presented a history of the Ordinance and the formation of the Commission and explained why staff had requested the change to the Ordinance. 2. Following discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners WoodardlDeMersman to direct staff to notify Council of their appreciation and forethought to see that the Ordinance was changed and adopted. Unanimously approved. B. Staff discussed with the Commissioners the letter sent to Senator David Kelly regarding Senate Bill 875 relating to Seismic Retrofit Tax Credits. C. Commissioner DeMersman asked why the Rancho La Quinta Archaeological Report, continued at the last meeting, was not agendized for this meeting. Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand explained that staff was reviewing the Archaeological Report submitted by the Archaeological Research Unit CARU), from the University of Redlands. Staff felt the requirements listed in this report were too cost extensive for the developer and staff was requesting justification from ARU. When this issue is resolved, it would be brought before the Commission. VIII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners WoodardlDeMersman to adjourn this meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to a regular meeting on April 18, 1996. This meeting of the Historical Commission was adjourned at 4:24 P.M. Unanimously approved. HPC3-21 6