1995 04 20 HPC Minutes
MINUTES
HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMISSION
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
APRIL 20, 1995
3:00 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. Chairman Millis opened the meeting at 3:08 P.M. and asked for the roll call.
II. ROLL CALL
A.
Present:
Commissioners Henderson, Puente, Wright, and Chairman Millis
B.
Absent:
Commissioners HendersonlWright moved and seconded a motion
to excuse Commissioner Pallette. Unanimously approved.
C. Staff Present: Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand and Department Secretary
Betty Sawyer.
III. PUBLIC COMMENT - None
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. There being no corrections to the Minutes, Commissioners Henderson/Wright
moved and seconded a motion to approve the Minutes of January 19, 1995, as
submitted. Unanimously approved.
V. BUSINESS ITEMS
A. Draft Historical Preservation Element (General Plan Amendment 94-046)
1. Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand presented the information contained
in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community
Development Department.
2. Commissioner Henderson stated her concern that maybe some of the
commissions were doing duplicate work. She strongly felt a relationship
should be established between the Historical Society and the HPC so that
each is not duplicating the others work. She stated that Section I.d.l. of
the Historical Element was regarding historical markers and the Historical
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April 20, 1995
Society was in the process of placing markers and she wondered if the
Commission should take this project over. Someone needed to define the
difference between the different groups as well as what each of the
commissions was responsible for. Staff explained what some of the other
Commissions/Committees were doing and that staff should be responsible
to see that duplication does not occur.
3. Commissioner Henderson questioned whether the Commission should
address the Economic Development portion of the Element or are they
duplicating what other departments are doing. Discussion followed as to
what each of the commissions/committees were doing.
4. Commissioner Henderson asked when a developer is informed of the
historical Commission requirements. Staff explained the process
developers go through to become aware of the requirements for
. demolition or preservation of structures.
5. Staff explained that the Commission would be reviewing the goals and
policies of the Element to be sure everything was covered.
6. Chairman Millis felt a recommendation should be made to the Council
that the HPC develop an Element for the General Plan. Staff explained
that this had been done and now they needed to review the Draft Element
portion and make recommendations as to how it should be modified or
changed.
7. Commissioner Henderson asked about the Economic Development
Section l.a.2. Tax Reform Act, whether or not this was something the
Commission would be doing. Staff stated this would be reviewed by the
City Attorney.
8. Commissioner Henderson asked about Section l.a.3 and whether the
Commission should have such an agency? Staff would inquire as to the
potential or having such an agency. Commissioner Henderson stated that
should they decide to do so, it might be best to have the Historical Society
serve as that agency.
9. Chairman Millis stated he felt it should be included in the Element to
gives the Commission the option. Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand
stated it could be placed an option to go along with the mandates to
hopefully have for future planning.
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April 20, 1995
10. Chairman Millis suggested the members reviewed the Element at home
and get their changes to staff and be ready to discussed in detail at the next
meeting.
II. Commissioner Henderson asked staff to explain what Section 3.a. meant.
Staff explained this was an option to help with the affordable housing
program. Commissioner Henderson stated she was not sure the
Commission would want to have historical houses used for renting
purposes. Chairman Millis stated he could see how this would relate to a
city that has a large number of old hotels, apartments, etc. that could be
converted for housing purposes but, La Quinta did not have such an
inventory.
12. Commissioner Henderson asked about Section 4.a., whether the Historical
Society was already doing this. Discussion followed regarding what
position the Committee should take in regards to educating the City about
the Historical Commission.
13. Chairman Millis suggested a joint meeting might be beneficial with all the
commission/committees to determine what goals each was pursuing.
Discussion followed.
14. Staff briefly explained the purpose of each of the existing
commissions/committees and the Council's reason for establishing them.
The Cultural Arts Commission and the Art in Public Places Committee in
particular because they seemed to overlap in their functions. Staff
explained the different rolls of each..
15. Chairman Millis asked if the Historical Preservation Element was
necessary for certification. Staff explained that it was not necessary, but it
was important to establish direction for the Commission.
16. Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand stated that the Commissioner or
staff, could contact the Historical Society regarding their goals to try and
prevent duplication of the two.
17. Commissioner Henderson -stated her concern that developers would be
able to do more than the Commission would want done to these historical
sites if the Element was not in place. Staff explained that the Element
would give more teeth, but the Historical Preservation Ordinance is what
requires the developers to preserve the historical sites. Discussion
followed regarding the Hacienda del Gato and the possibility of what
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April 20, 1995
could be required to preserve the buildings as well as the archaeological
sites.
18. Commissioner Henderson asked for clarification on Section 5.a.l. Staff
explained this referred to the HPC.
19. Chairman Millis stated he liked the general format of the Element and
what agency would be responsible and the funding sources defined.
20. Chairman Millis asked for a motion to continue this discussion to next
meeting. Members stated they would get their comments to staff before
the next meeting for editing. There being on further discussion, it moved
and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Henderson moved to continue
discussion of the Historical Preservation Element to the next meeting.
21. Staff explained to the Commissioners that since this was being processed
as a General Plan Amendment, it could still be amended during the public
hearing process.
B. Certified Local Government Dndate
1. Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand informed the group that the City had
received notification that La Quinta was now certified as of this date and
relayed information regarding Ms. Lauren Bricker to serve as an advisor to
the HPC to fulfill the requirements for CLG Certification.
2. Staff informed the Commission that staff would be putting together a
request for funding for a June 2nd submittal to the State for funds. The
Commission would need to determine a project for the funding.
3. Members discussed doing or having done, a City survey and putting this
on the next agenda for review. This might be a suggestion for grant
money from the State to pay for the survey.
4. Chairman Millis stated the Commission needed to obtain a copy of a
successfully completed grant form to follow. Staff informed the
Commission of the process to file a grant
5. Chairman Millis asked for a motion to confirm Miss Bricker as an advisor
to the Commission. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners
WrightJPuente and unanimously approved.
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April 20, 1995
C. INCO Artifacts - Gift to the City
I. Staff informed the Commission that INCO Homes had donated prehistoric
artifacts to the City. She explained the process whereby these were
donated to the City and that they would be on display in City Hall next
month.
2. Chairman Millis questioned how the property owner could own the
artifacts. He felt they should belong to the City or the local tribe. Staff
explained that if the artifacts are found on private property they are owned
by the property owner. If they are human remains, or burial goods, they
must be turned over to those tribes or entities that they belong to. These
artifacts were not of that origin.
3. Commissioner Wright stated this was a good precedent for future
developers to understand that artifacts could be donated to the City.
4. Chairman Millis stated he felt the developers should be made aware that
the City has an active Historical Society and hopefully have more
developers donating artifacts that are found.
D. La Ouinta Heritage Month
I. Aassociate Planner Leslie Mouriquand informed the Commission that staff
had requested the City Council to declare the whole month of Mayas La
Quinta Heritage Month and observe all the activities that are planned by
the different agencies. Staffwill display the INCO artifacts in the City
Hall display case during that time. The HPC does not have the funds to
have events planned.
2. Members stated that the Historical Society had announced a essay contest
for the month and a letter has been written to the local schools inviting
each group to participate in a different level of an essay contest. A savings
bond was being offered to the winner in each category and a plaque. It
was suggested the awards be made by the Council in the Council
Chambers to make it a more public affair. Discussion followed regarding
the different events that would be taking place and ideas for future events.
VI. OTHER
A. Commissioner Henderson requested staff to look into City badges for the
Commissioners to wear. Staff would check into a funding source to obtain the
badges.
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April 20, 1995
B. Commissioner Henderson asked if staff had heard anything about the workshop
the Commission was to attend. Staff explained that to date no information had
been received. Discussion followed regarding that workshops that would be
available for them to attend. Staff reminded the Commissioners that the CLG
certification required each member to attend and as soon as any information was
received, staff would see that the Commissioners receive it. Discussion followed
regarding last years conference.
C. Commissioner Henderson inquired whether the Commission should meet monthly
until the Historical Preservation Element was finished. Following discussion, it
was moved and seconded by Commissioners WrightlPuente to hold monthly
meetings until the Element was completed. Unanimously approved.
D. Following discussion regarding a bill that was being drafted regarding funding for
Historical Preservation issues, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
WrightlPuente to have staff draft a letter to our Representatives and Senators
regarding the importance of maintaining preservation funding.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners WrightlPuente to
adjourn this meeting of the Historical Preservation Commission to a called meeting of the
Commission on May 18, 1995. This meeting of the Historical Preservation Commission was
adjourned at 4:23 P.M., April 20, 1995. Unanimously approved.