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2002 05 16 HPC Minutes MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Ouinta City Hall Session Room 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Ouinta, CA May 16, 2002 This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by Chairman Maria Puente at 3:02 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, Sharp, Wright, and Chairman Puente. Staff Present: Principal Planner Stan Sawa, Secretary Betty Sawyer and Secretary Lynda Kerney. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: A. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Sharp to approve the Minutes of April 18, 2002, as submitted. Commissioners approved. V. BUSINESS ITEMS A. Historic/Archaeological Resources Report - La Ouinta Village Project Applicant: Marvin Investments Archaeological Consultant: CRM TECH (Bruce Love, Principal) 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. Commissioner Mitchell concurred with staff's recommendations. P:\CAROL YN\HPC5-16-02. wpd -1- Historic Preservation Commission Minutes May 16. 2002 3. Commissioner Wright agreed with staff's recommendations, and noted that although the property was inundated with previous activity, it is important to find out what is underneath the sand. 4. Commissioner Irwin also agreed with staff's recommendations, adding that she would like to see what is there. 5. Commissioner Sharp concurred with the staff recommendations. 6. Chairman Puente agreed with staff's recommendations. 7. Applicant's representative, Wells Marvin, pointed out that the site has been previously developed and is located in the center of town. He indicated it would be burdensome to the developer to comply with the monitoring requirement. Mr. Marvin stated there is no reason to monitor the site, as there has been no indication of any artifacts over the past ten years. 8. Commissioner Irwin explained the archaeological monitoring would be required only during the trenching activity and would not delay the project. It is normal procedure for this Commission to require such monitoring. 9. Commissioner Mitchell noted that when a piece of property is originally developed, no one looks for artifacts. Due to the amount of sand on site, such items as small bones and tools would not be noticeable, therefore a monitor is needed. 10. Commissioner Wright indicated the Commission could not risk setting a precedent by allowing the project to proceed without monitoring. The Commission has consistently required monitoring for nine. years, and cannot exempt this development. Items of interest have been found in the area. 11. Mr. Marvin asked what has been found, and what would happen if something was found on the project site. 12. Commissioner Mitchell said trenching would stop until the objects found were recorded and removed. If burial or cremation sites have been found, it might require additional time. P:\CAROL YN\HPC5-16-02. wpd -2- Historic Preservation Commission Minutes May 16. 2002 13. Commissioner Wright pointed out that this area is very rich in artifacts and was more than likely a "village". 14. Commissioner Irwin noted that the purpose is not to make the land undevelopable, or to cause any problems for the developer, but only to reclaim history. 15. Mr. Marvin stated that America must grasp at history because it has so little. Europeans would find this laughable, and asked what purpose such measures would serve. 16. Commissioner Irwin responded that if human bones are found, they should not become part of the La Quinta Village foundation. Remains should be properly interred. She pointed out that even Coachella Valley Water District is careful in their excavation and notifies the Coroner if remains are found. 17. Mr. Marvin asked if this was an issue of trust as to whether or not they would report any findings. 18. Commissioner Mitchell explained that qualified archaeologists are trained to identify such items. 19. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright / Sharp to adopt Minute Motion 2002-010 approving staff's recommendations. Unanimously approved. B. Historical Archaeological Resources Report - Tentative Tract Map 30378. Parcels 1 and 2 Applicant: Coachella Valley Engineers for Rod Vandenbos Archaeological/Historic Consultant: CRM TECH (Bruce Love, Principal) 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. Commissioner Mitchell concurred with the staff recommendations. 3. Commissioner Wright concurred with the staff recommendations with the addition of archaeological monitoring. P:ICAROL YNIHPC5-16-02.wpd -3- Historic Preservation Commission Minutes May 16, 2002 4. Commissioner Irwin agreed that monitoring should be done, as the site is close to the All American Canal, which follows a natural runoff pattern. 5. Commissioner Sharp concurred with staff recommendations with the addition of monitoring. 6. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Irwin / Wright to adopt Minute Motion 2002-011 approving staff's recommendations requiring an archaeological monitor for Tentative Tract Map 30378. Unanimously approved. C. Archaeological Testing and Mitigation Sites CA-RIV-6765. 6766. and 61.6..Z Applicant: Charles Crookall, Clubhouse Associates, LLC Archaeological Consultant: CRM TECH (Bruce Love, Principal) 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. Commissioner Mitchell pointed out that the report indicated human remains were found on the site, and they will be interred. He concurred with the staff's recommendations. 3. Commissioner Wright concurred with the staff's recommendations. 4. Commissioner Irwin also concurred, and asked if the Augustine Band of Indians was part of the Council to which remains are delivered, as their reservation is closer to the site than the Torres- Martinez Band. 5. Commissioner Mitchell pointed out that there is only one member of the Augustine Tribe, therefore the resources to have a Council, and inter remains are not sufficient. 6. Commissioner Sharp concurred with staff recommendations. 7. Chairman Puente concurred with staff recommendations. P:\CAROL YN\HPC5-16-02.wpd -4- Historic Preservation Commission Minutes May 16, 2002 8, Applicant Chuck Crookall agreed with the recommendations. He explained that the remains found were turned over to the Torres- Martinez Tribe to be re-interred off the property. 9. Commissioner Irwin asked Mr. Crookall if he would allow re- interment on the property if asked to do so. Mr. Crookall replied that he would. He expected that an area of landscaping could be dedicated to the remains. 10. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Irwin / Wright to adopt Minute Motion 2002-012 approving the staff recommendations for sites CA-RIV-6765, 6766 and 6767, Unanimously approved. D. National Register of Historic Places Eligibility Evaluation of CA-RIV-2195 Applicant: Southern California Presbyterian Homes Archaeological/Historical Consultant: Pacific West Archaeology 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. Commissioner Mitchell concurred with the staff recommendations. He noted that the archaeological report was impressive. 3. Commissioner Wright concurred with the staff recommendations. He found the report very thorough, complete with references and backup information. 4. Commissioner Irwin agreed with the staff recommendations. She noted that she also enjoyed the report, and pointed out that the site is located close to the midden site at Avenue 48. 5. Commissioner Sharp concurred with the staff recommendations. He found the report interesting to read. 6. Chairman Puente agreed. 7. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright / Sharp to adopt Minute Motion 2002-013 approving the staff recommendations for CA-RIV-2195. Unanimously approved. -5- Historic Preservation Commission Minutes May 16, 2002 VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS A. Commissioner Wright gave staff photos from the Preservation Conference in Santa Rosa for the file. B. Commissioner Irwin broached the subject of the continuation of identification of historic buildings in La Quinta as some homes were missed on the first report. It is important to include them, along with homes built in the 1940s. This was discussed previously, but no action has yet been taken. 1. Commissioner Irwin also noted that artifacts found in Indio and Indian Wells could be stored in La Quinta if there were a place to hold them. It is time to work on this project, and make progress toward the goal of the Commission's charter. 2. Commissioner Wright pointed out that the 40's and 50's houses must be included in order to keep the record current. He expects funding for the project will be available through the same grant program previously used. He also agreed with Commissioner Irwin on curation. 3. Commissioner Wright thanked staff and the City Council for allowing the Commission to attend the California Preservation Conference. He particularly enjoyed the Historic Landscape Seminar, and found the entire program very good. C. Chairman Puente asked if the Commission is a member of the California Historic Preservation Commission. 1. Principal Planner Sawa explained that each individual has a nine- month membership, but the status of the memberships are unknown. Staff is working on resolving the problem. D. Commissioner Mitchell tendered his resignation from the Commission since he will be summering in Oregon. He felt it unfair to leave the Committee less one Commissioner for several months. He noted that the Historic Preservation Commission is a great team, and very professional. P:\CAROL YN\HPC5-16-02.wpd -6- Historic Preservation Commission Minutes May 16, 2002 E. Chairman Puente stated she will not be able to attend the June meeting. VIII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Irwin to adjourn this meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to the next regularly scheduled meeting to be held on June 20, 2002. This meeting of the Historical Preservation Commission was adjourned at 3:50 p.m. Unanimously approved. Submitted by: I ~c;~zfr~ L/r!da J. Kerney (/ Secretary P:ICAROL YNIHPC5-16-02.wpd -7.