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2003 11 20 HPC Minutes HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES The Regular Meeting to be held in the Session Room La Ouinta City Hall, 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Ouinta, California November 20, 2003 3:03 p.m. Beginning Minute Motion 2003-014 I. CALL TO ORDER A. Pledge of Allegiance B. Roll Call Present: Commissioners Puente, Sharp, Wilbur, Wright, and Chairperson Mouriquand. Staff Present: Principal Planner Stan Sawa, Associate Planner Martin Magana, and Secretary Carolyn Walker. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: A. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Wilbur to approve the Minutes of October 16, 2003 as submitted. Unanimously approved. V. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Historical/ArchaeoloQical Resources Survey Report - Watermark Villas (Tentative Tract Map 31798) Applicant: Robert Selan Archaeological Consultant: CRM TECH - Michael Hogan Location: Northwest corner of Jefferson Street and 52nd Avenue Historic Preservation Commission Meeting November 20, 2003 1 . Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. 2. Principal Planner Stan Sawa noted the Paleontological Report was included, but the Archaeological Report was not in the packet. He summarized the report .for the Commission's approval and stated whole shell and shell fragments had been found on the property.' Staff was recommending monitoring of the site during grading. 3. Chairperson Mouriquand asked if the Commissioners had any concerns about the missing report. 4. Commissioner Wright said he was comfortable with staff's verbal presentation as long as the standard conditions were being recommended. Chairperson Mouriquand agreed. 5. Commissioner Puente asked if there was a copy of the report on file. Staff replied there was. 6. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Wilbur to adopt Minute Motion 2003-014 accepting the Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey Report Watermark Villas (Tentative Tract Map 31798) as presented. Unanimously approved. 7. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Sharp to adopt Minute Motion 2003-015 accepting the Paleontological Resources Survey Report - Watermark Villas (Tentative Tract Map 31798) as submitted. Unanimously approved. P:\CAROl YN\Hist Pres Com\HPC 11-20-03.doc Historic Preservation Commission Meeting November 20, 2003 B. Phase I Cultural Resources Assessment and Interim Archaeoloqical Testinq and Mitiqation Report (Phase II) for Specific Plan 03-067). Applicant: T. D. Desert Development/Coral Option I, LLC Archaeological Consultant: CRM TECH - Michael Hogan Location: Area generally bounded by 58th Avenue,Monroe Street, 60th Avenue and Madison Street. 1 . Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. 2. Chairperson Mouriquand asked if all the ceramics found were brown ware. CRM TECH Representative, Michael Hogan, replied they were not. 3. Chairperson Mouriquand asked if there was any grey ware or red ware found at the site. Mr. Hogan replied he did not think there was any. 4. Commissioner Sharp asked about the triangular-shaped piece of land at Madison and Avenue 60. Staff replied the northeast corner of Madison and Avenue 62 would be the golf maintenance facility for the project. 5. Commissioner Wright asked if there were monitors on the site now. Staff replied they were not sure. The Commissioner said he drove by earlier today and there was a lot of activity out there. Staff asked Mr. Hogan if anyone was currently monitoring the site. Mr. Hogan replied they had noticed there was grubbing on the southern end of the site and he was going to check to see if monitors were needed on the site. 6. Chairperson Mouriquand asked if a grading permit had been issued. Staff replied a grubbing permit had been issued. 7. Commissioner Wright said they were not grubbing, they were clearing the site. P:ICAROL YNIHist Pres ComlHPC 11-20-03.doc Historic Preservation Commission Meeting November 20, 2003 8. Chairperson Mouriquand suggested the site be shut down until a monitor could be in place. 9. Commissioner Wright then showed the Commission what areas were being cleared and agreed it should be shut down until a monitor was on site. 10. Principal Planner Saw a asked Mr. Hogan if his firm had a contract to monitor this site. He stated not at that moment. 11 . Project planner for T D Desert, Forrest Haag answered there was an element of CRM TECH's contract that was for monitoring. He said he would contact Mr. Patrick Q'Dowd to place a monitor on site. The conditions stated monitoring was needed and they would try to have monitors on site the next day. 12. Commissioner Wright had concerns about earthmoving in the area and the fact that the monitoring requirements are not being addressed by all City Departments. Chairperson Mouriquand suggested staff work with the Building and Public Works Departments on the definitions and approval of grubbing/earth moving. She also asked if staff could contact the Public Works Department to send someone out to the site immediately. Staff replied they would. 13. Staff asked Mr. Haag to talk to CRM TECH about monitoring the site. 14. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Puente/Wright to adopt Minute Motion 2003-016 accepting the Phase I Cultural Resources Assessment Report (Phase II) for Specific Plan 2003-067 with the provision there be a stop work order issued until a monitor can be placed on site. Unanimously approved. P:ICAROL YNIHist Pres ComlHPC 11-20-03.doc Historic Preservation Commission Meeting November 20, 2003 15. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wilbur/Wright to adopt Minute Motion 2003-017 accepting the Interim Archaeological Testing and Mitigation Report (Phase II) for Specific Plan 2003-067. Unanimously approved. C. Phase I Cultural Resources Assessment for the La Guinta Familv Apartments (SOP 2003-788) Applicant: La Guinta Family Apartments, L.P. Archaeological Consultant: TRC Companies - Greig Parker, RPA Location: East side of Dune Palms Road, approximately 650 feet south of Highway 111. 1 . Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. 2. Chairperson Mouriquand asked the elevation of the site. Staff replied it appeared to be 60 feet. 3. Chairperson Mouriquand said she had some concerns about the report. In particular, the fact the report calls for paleontological monitoring if they go below 10 meters. That would be over 30 feet. She had some questions about that depth measurement. She asked if the project was above, below, or at shoreline on this project. Staff replied it appeared to be above. Discussion followed about the question of depth and location of depth explained in the report. 4. Chairperson Mouriquand stated the report referred to significant vertebrate fossils at that 10 meter depth. She asked about the invertebrate fossils. Staff replied the Commission could change the depth to what they felt would be appropriate. Chairperson Mouriquand asked if they would have to be within the Lakebed area before paleontological monitoring was required. Staff replied it has previously been done that way. P:ICAROL YNIHist Pres ComlHPC 11-20-03.doc Historic Preservation Commission Meeting November 20, 2003 5. Chairperson Mouriquand asked if there would be any deep holes in the project. Staff replied there would not be. She said she didn't see a problem with following the recommendation. She noted for reference the map on Page 6 will need to be on a 1: 1 ratio if they are going to file it with the Eastern Information Center. In reviewing the Cultural Setting Discussion, starting on page 7 and going through Page 9, the consultant used' the Palma complex, the Steedas tradition, the San Luis Rey complex which are cultural time periods which are not of this area, but of the coastal areas. They don't fit in the Coachella Valley. She noticed the consulting firm was from Concord, with a local representative in Orange County. She suggested there be some communication with the consultant to use the appropriate cultural discussions to fit the Coachella Valley. Staff replied they would send the consultant a letter advising them of same. 6. Chairperson Mouriquand asked the Commission if they wanted to reject the report and ask the consultant to correct the deficiencies. The Commissioners agreed. 7. Commissioner Sharp added the map needed to be fixed. It showed two trailer parks in close proximity and the report says "...on the site of a former trailer park...". Staff commented the map was not accurate. 8. Commissioner Wright commented the Commission needs to be consistent as these were the same requirements asked of other consultants. Staff replied the project was currently on hold for re-design and staff would request the cOrrections. 9. Commissioner Puente asked for clarification on the question of the 10 meter depth requirement. Chairperson Mouriquand said there was little likelihood the developer would ever dig that deep so it wasn't a problem. The project is at 60 foot elevation. The shoreline was at 42 feet above mean sea level so they got a margin of 18 feet or so. They probably were within the shoreline marsh environment. There may be some vertebrates in P:\CAROL YN\Hist Pres Com\HPC 11-20-03.doc Historic Preservation Commission Meeting November 20, 2003 there, but you're also going to have a lot of invertebrates such as snails and bi-valves, but you could also encounter those on the surface. We have been considering the little bi-valves, etc. as part of our paleontological/fossil record connected with the Ancient Lake. She then asked if there was a paleo letter included from the Museum so the Commission would also know the primary source of information. Staff said it didn't appear as though there was a letter. She stated they should have included that as well to separate the Paleo from the Archaeo. 10. Commissioner Wright asked if staff could write them a letter explaining how the Commission would like the report to be laid out, as a standard report. Staff replied they would. 11. Chairperson Mouriquand stated they did follow the ARMR format. She read a part of the report stating a search was conducted at UCR, but they did not do a paleo records search at San Bernardino County Museum which is where the local records would be located. She suggested the consultant be asked why they didn't use that Museum which would have our local paleontological archives. 12. Commissioner Puente asked if the Commission could request the 10 meter qualification be removed. Chairperson Mouriquand said it would be a simple thing to decide if the grading was at 42 feet or lower, as that would determine whether the City's normal paleontological monitoring condition would apply. 13. Commissioner Sharp asked how that affects the project if they go 30 feet into the ground. Chairperson Mouriquand said with the proposed development they are not going to go that deep. 14. Commissioner Wright commented the 30 foot figure may have been one of the standard conditions used in the consultant's local area. P:\CAROL YN\Hist Pres Com\HPC 11-20-03.doc Historic Preservation Commission Meeting November 20, 2003 15. Chairperson Mouriquand stated the qualifications of Corrina Hinkins were missing from the packet. She suggested her Statement Of Qualifications be provided. She also asked the map be fixed to a 1: 1 ratio and the appropriate local cultural setting replace the one which is a coastal discussion. 16. Staff asked if they needed to include the question about using the Los Angeles County Museum instead of the San Bernardino County Museum. Chairperson Mouriquand replied yes, since this Museum is the local repository for paleontology and is appropriate for our area. They need to expand and clarify on this choice. 17. Chairperson Mouriquand commented when she read through the report discussion it seemed rather skimpy and did not show a thorough understanding of the history of the area. The historical discussion does not give enough detail. 18. Commissioner Wright said the Commission has certain standards and all reports should be consistent. 19. Commissioner Sharp said it seemed to him, in previous projects around this area, there were Indian Villages and it is a very sensitive area. Chairperson Mouriquand agreed and stated there had been a lot of sites found in that area. She commented she was surprised nothing was found. 20. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Sharp to adopt Minute Motion 2003-018 continuing the Phase I Cultural Resources Assessment for the La Quinta Family Apartments (SDP 2003-788) with the following recommendations: a. A letter be sent to the consultant advising them of the requirements needed in the Archaeological /Paleontological report to the Commission and requesting they separate the two reports. b. Clarify recommendation of 10 meter depth. c. Correct map area and adjust the ratio to 1: 1 P:ICAROL YNIHist Pres ComlHPC "-20-03.doc Historic Preservation Commission Meeting November 20, 2003 d. Replace cultural information from Los Angeles with appropriate cultural discussion derived from local sources. e. Include qualifications of the person doing survey (Corrina Hinkins) f. Request consultant include a paleontological letter from the San Bernardino County Museum. .' g. Change cultural setting to reflect . appropriate Coachella Valley Native American occupation. Unanimously approved. VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL A. Information on the California Preservation Conference was distributed. Discussion followed as to who would be able. to attend. V. COMMISSIONER ITEMS A. Update on Point Happy Ranch. Staff explained the gate was determined to be non-historic. The applicant is: 1). designing gates similar to those currently in place; 2). working with the Historical Society on the oral history; 3). Jeanette McKenna is working on the National Register eligibility. The project recently went before the City Council and was continued due to circulation concerns. VI. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Sharp to adjourn this Regular Meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to the next Regular Meeting to be held on December 18, 2003. This meeting of the Historic P~eservation Commission was adjourned at 3:53 p.m. Unanimously I approved. Submitted by, 81lj-fJ-&/1[) b)~ /2klQ.~ Carolyn w;'alker Secretary P:\CAROL YN\Hist Pres Com\HPC "-20-03.doc