2007 09 20 HPC Minutes
MINUTES
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING
A Regular meeting held in the East Conference Room
at the La Ouinta City Hall
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Ouinta, CA
September 20, 2007
This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by
Chairman Wilbur at 3:05 p.m. who asked for the roll call.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. Roll Call.
Prl9sent:
Commissioners Puente, Redmon, Wright, and
Chairman Wilbur
Absent:
Commissioner Sharp
Staff Present:
Principal Planner Stan Sawa, 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/Redmon to
approve the minutes of August 16, 2007, as submitted. Unanimously
approved.
V. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. Phase I Cultural Resources Investigation of 76.76 Acres - Tentative
Tract 35238
Applicant: La Ouinta Motorcoach Resort, Inc.
Consultants:Applied Earth Works, Inc. (Michael Mirro and Tracy
Formica)
Location: South Side of Avenue 58 Between Monroe Street and
Jackson Street.
1 . Commissioner Redmon recused herself from any discussion of
this project due to a potential conflict of interest.
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Historic Preservation Commission
September 20, 2007
2. Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information
contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the
Planning Department.
3. Chairman Wilbur said the monitoring should be handled as
stated in the Staff Report Recommendations despite the fact
there were no cultural resources encountered.
4. Representative Jon Berg with Dudek & Associates In Palm
Desert, asked for clarification of the request by the Aqua
Caliente Tribe for a Native American monitor. He asked if there
would need to be two monitors on site; one a consultant and
the other a Native American monitor. Staff said they were not
sure of the total number of monitors. There could be two or
three monitors total, but at least one would have to be a Native
American. Staff went on to add that has been a normal
requirement for all the recent approved projects.
5. Mr. Berg asked if the Native American monitor could be the only
one on site. Staff replied no, there would have to be at least
one certified archaeological monitor in addition to the Native
American monitor.
6. Mr. Berg asked if the consultation was done in accordance with
SB 18. Staff replied the Principal Planner in charge of the
project processed it separately in accordance with SB 18
regulations.
7. There being no further comments it was moved and seconded
by Commissioners Puente/Wright to approve Minute Motion
2007-011 accepting the Cultural Resources Report as submitted
and recommended by staff. A YES: Commissioners Puente,
Wright, and Chairman Wilbur; NOES: None; ABSENT:
Commissioners Redmon and Sharp; ABSTAIN: None.
B. Paleontological Records Review, La Guinta Property, Riverside County,
California
Applicant: La Guinta Motorcoach Resort, Inc.
Consultants: San Bernardino County Museum
Location: South Side of Avenue 58 Between Monroe Street and
Jackson Street.
1 . Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information
contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the
Planning Department.
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Historic Preservation Commission
September 20, 2007
2. Commissioner Redmon also recused herself from this item.
3. Chairman Wilbur asked for comments and received none
4. There being no comments. It was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Puente/Wright to adopt Minute Motion 2007-
012 accepting the Paleontological Records Review as submitted
and recommended by staff. A YES: Commissioners Puente,
Wright, and Chairman Wilbur; NOES: None; ABSENT:
Commissioners Redmon and Sharp; ABSTAIN: None.
5. Commissioner Redmon rejoined the meeting.
C, Discussion of Work Program for Upcoming Year
1 . Chairman Wilbur discussed the list contained in a Memorandum
from the Planning Director, a copy of which is on file in the
Planning Department.
2, Commissioner Puente asked for an update on the Museum.
Staff replied ground had been broken on the new Museum.
Staff said the Commission should be thinking about the.
archiving of resources as part of the Work Program for the
upcoming year. Staff added they did not have a completion
date for the Museum.
3. Chairman Wilbur asked if the list had been prioritized. Staff
replied it was not.
4. Commissioner Wright asked if the City was going to hire a
curator or museum consultant. Staff replied the City has been
interviewing for a Museum Director but was not aware of the
qualifications the City had requested for the position.
5, Commissioner Wright referred back to the HPC field trip to Fort
Irwin and their curation procedures. He asked if the person
hired would have curation experience. Staff was not certain.
6. Commissioner Wright said he thought the museum could be low
priority, but the preparation of a composite map of all the
cultural resources within the City of La Guinta (item #3) would
be one of his top priorities.
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Historic Preservation Commission
September 20, 2007
7. Commissioner Wright asked about the Historic Context
Statement status. Staff said it was currently in draft form and
the Commission would soon be receiving copies of the draft to
review.
8. Commissioner Wright said the Historic Context Statement
should be item number one, the composite cultural resources
map item number two, and item number three would include the
follow up of mitigation monitoring for projects such as the
Tradition.
9. Commissioner Wright said it would be good for the Commission
to have a mobile meeting to look at some of the historic sites,
which should include the La Guinta Hotel, the Cove, The
Tradition, Point Happy and some of the sites listed in the
Historic Survey. He suggested it could possibly be a Saturday
morning meeting. He also mentioned a tour to the area known
as the "Sphere of Influence" would be helpful.
10. Commissioner Wright volunteered to contact the owners of
Point Happy for authorization to conduct a tour, utilizing the
road leading up to the Dupont House
11. Commissioner Wright brought up the subject of demolition
permits and how they are now on the computer system and
must be approved by staff.
12. Commissioner Puente asked if a tentative date could be chosen.
Staff replied they would check with the Director and get back
to the Commission.
13. Commissioner Redmon commented on her concept of the work
priorities. She said she was thinking about a Historic Homes
Visit fund raiser tour, in the future, that might benefit both the
museum and all of the materials the Commission is putting
together and thinking of publishing. This could be several years
away, but worth thinking about. She said she would be happy
to volunteer her home as one of the homes in the tour. She
added she had just received a postcard from the lady who
authored the historic homes book. Commissioner Redmon may
be able to contact her to obtain further information on
homes/owners to be included in a tour.
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Historic Preservation Commission
September 20, 2007
14. Commissioner Wright said once the museum is done there will
be a great opportunity to do some joint projects. He suggested
items numbered four and five should be the Commission's
priorities.
15. Staff asked if there were any other items they might want to
pursue. Commissioner Wright said probably some others, but
the five listed were the most important
16. Staff said by next meeting they might be able to advise the
Commission who was chosen as Museum Director.
17. Chairman Wilbur asked about an anticipated completion date for
the Museum. Commissioner Wright suggested it would be Fall
2008.
18. There being no further comments, it was moved and seconded
by Commissioners Wright/Puente to adopt Minute Motion 2007-
013 accepting the Work Program as submitted. Unanimously
approved
VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None
VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS:
A. Comments on Puente:
1. Commissioner Puente displayed an article, in the La Ouinta
edition of the Desert Sun, commenting on the problems
encountered at the La Ouinta Resort due to the Signature Pool
project.
B. Comments on Conferences/Training:
1. Commissioner Puente shared information on the upcoming
National Preservation Conference in Minnesota.
2. Commissioner Puente said she received information from the
District Attorney's Office on workshops offered on the Brown
Act. Staff advised her this information was mailed out annually
to all Commissioners.
3. Commissioner Wright said the City Clerk and Planning
Department advise the Commissioners when they need to
update their training.
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Historic Preservation Commission
September 20, 2007
C. Comments on Historic Conference - 2008:
1. Commissioner Wright asked if the Conference was in Napa next
year.
2. Staff said the Conference would be in Napa and said all
Commissioners are invited to attend the Conference.
3. Commissioner Wright added some comments on the various
conferences and how important it is for the Commissioners to
attend; especially since the Commission is a CLG (Certified
Local Government) Commission.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Puente/Wright to adjourn this Regular Meeting of the Historic
Preservation Commission to the next Regular Meeting to be held on October
18, 2007. This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was
adjourned at 3:36 p.m. Unanimously approved.
Submitted by:
(ldLlU) It)~
Ca;ol~~~~ker
Secretary
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