2006 03 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
March 16, 2006
This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by
Chairperson Wilbur at 3:07 p.m. who then led the flag salute and asked for the roll
call.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. Pledge of Allegiance.
B. Roll Call.
Present:
Commissioners Mouriquand, Puente, Sharp, and
Chairman Wilbur
Absent:
Commissioner Wright
Staff Present:
Planning Manager Les Johnson, Associate
Planner Andrew Mogensen, and Secretary
Carolyn Walker
II. PUBLIC COMMENT:
III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA:
IV.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Puente and Sharp to
Unanimously approved.
It was moved and seconded by Commissioners
approve the minutes of February 16, 2006.
V. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. Phase I Cultural Resources Survey Report for Proposed Tentative Tract
Map 34495.
Applicant: John Hansen (Garland Project)
Archaeological Consultant: Larry Pierson, RPA, Brian F. Smith &
Associates, George L. Kennedy, Ph.D.,
Seth Rosenberg, Project Archaeologist
Location: Calle Conchita and Madison Street, about 1,000 feet north
of Avenue 60.
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Historic Preservation Commission
March 16, 2006
1 . Associate Planner Andrew Mogensen presented the information
contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the
Community Development Department.
2. Chairman Wilbur said the report was well done with an
adequate amount of resource information and confidential
appendix. He expressed concern the history of the Valley
wasn't more in depth, but that the overall report was nicely
done.
3. Commissioner Sharp said the report went into too much detail
making it very difficult to comprehend. He had a question
about the reference to a hotel in Palm Springs in the middle of
the Appendix. Staff replied it was a citation of the records
search. He also had a question about a reference to some
exotic pine trees which the staff identified as Tamarisk trees.
They were considered exotic because they were non-native.
He commented the report was very thorough.
4. Chairman Wilbur had a question about the inclusion of the
Spanish Inn. Mr. Seth Rosenberg, Project Archaeologist,
replied the reference to the Spanish Inn is from a records
search done at the Eastern Information Center (EIC) on
reference sites. It doesn't affect the project area.
Commissioner Mouriquand asked if it was included in the
NAHC search. Mr. Rosenberg replied the EIC sent a packet of
information and this was included.
5. Commissioner Mouriquand said the report was good as far as it
went. She did not find any discussion about the historic
period, no Government Land Office (GLO) search, no reference
to the historic structures in the General Plan, or any reference
to perusing the draft context statement. She commented the
report is incomplete because it did not address the historic
period. She used the ARMR checklist and didn't find a
research design section. This section should be included in a
Phase I report. It does not need to be exhaustive, but should
include at least one paragraph of information. She commented
the discussion/interpretation at the end, should have been more
detailed even though this was a negative survey. She added
there were no personnel qualifications included. For those
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Historic Preservation Commission
March 16, 2006
reasons, the report was incomplete and needed to be returned
to the consultant for completion as well as evidence of archival
information, land grants, etc. That information is needed to
complete CEQA questions regarding historic resources. The
report is lacking and therefore incomplete without the historic
resources.
6. Mr. Rosenberg replied they would be happy to add the
additional information. He said most of the cities they work
with do not require the ARMR Guidelines. He stated they
would be happy to adhere to La Quinta's guidelines.
Commissioner Mouriquand advised him the City of La Quinta is
a Certified Local Government (CLG) and follows the ARMR
guidelines.
7. There being no further comments. It was moved and seconded
by Commissioners Mouriquand and Sharp to adopt Minute
Motion 2006-003 denying acceptance of the Cultural
Resources Survey Report as submitted and remanding it back
to the consultant to address the Commissioners' concerns.
Unanimously approved.
B. Paleontological Evaluation Report and Mitigation Plan for a 13.75 Acre
Parcel
Applicant: John Hansen (Garland Project)
Archaeological Consultant: Larry Pierson, RPA, Brian F. Smith &
Associates, George L. Kennedy, Ph.D.
Location: Calle Conchita and Madison Street, about 1,000 feet north
of Avenue 60.
1 . Associate Planner Andrew Mogensen presented the information
contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the
Community Development Department.
2. Commissioner Mouriquand said the Commission does not
accept letter-format reports. She asked Staff if this submission
was pre-approved. Staff replied this was the format presented.
Commissioner Mouriquand then asked if a formal records search
was performed. Staff replied it was not. Commissioner
Mouriquand questioned whether the mitigation measures
recommended would still have been appropriate had the
consultant done a formal report and conducted a records
search.
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Historic Preservation Commission
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3. Commissioner Sharp said the project was uncomplicated and
the report seemed adequate.
4. Chairman Wilbur stated that if letter statements had not
previously been accepted, why would we accept them now.
5. Commissioner Mouriquand said the City has not had a client
submit a letter statement and this submission allows the
Commission an opportunity to review policy/procedures.
6. Commissioner Mouriquand asked if a previous Paleontological
report had been done. Staff said this predated the incorporation
of the City of La Quinta. Commissioner Mouriquand suggested
acceptance of the letter report with an admonishment not to
send another letter report again unless pre-arranged with staff.
7. Commission Sharp said he thought this was a very attractive
package and didn't have a problem with accepting it.
8. There being no further comments, it was moved and seconded
by Commissioners Mouriquand and Sharp to adopt Minute
Motion 2006-004 accepting the Paleontological Evaluation
Report and Mitigation Plan as submitted. Unanimously
approved.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL:
A. California Preservation Conference brochures were distributed.
VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS:
A. Newspaper articles were distributed from Commissioner Wright with
comments regarding historic preservation in the Coachella Valley.
B. Commissioner Wilbur reminded the Commissioners of the Fred Wolff
Bear Creek Channel dedication on Saturday, March 18, 2006 and
encouraged attendance.
C. Commissioner Mouriquand distributed a flyer on the Dedication of the
Ye'we'vichem Park in Coachella, Friday, March 24, 2006 from 3:00
p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
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Historic Preservation Commission
March 16, 2006
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Sharp and Mouriquand to adjourn this Regular Meeting of the
Historic Preservation Commission to a Special Meeting to be held on April
27, 2006, This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was
adjourned at 3:39 p,m, Unanimously approved,
Submitted by:
(tLlIlL/ZC tJdVL-
Carolyn '!Yalker
Secretary
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