2008 06 10 PC MinutesMINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
June 10, 2008
CALL TO ORDER
7:00 P.M.
A. This meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order at 7:05
p.m. by Chairman Ed Alderson who asked Commissioner Wilkinson to
lead the flag salute.
B. Present: Commissioners Katie Barrows, Robert Wilkinson, and Chairman
Ed Alderson. Absent: Commissioner Engle.
Chairman Alderson said Commissioner Quill would be a little late joining
the meeting.
C. Staff present: Planning Director Les Johnson, Planning Manager David
Sawyer, Assistant City Attorney Michael Houston, Assistant Planner Eric
Ceja, and Executive Secretary Carolyn Walker.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
II. PRESENTATION: None.
III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed.
V. CONSENT ITEMS:
A. Chairman Ed Alderson asked if there were any changes to the Minutes of
May 27, 2008. There being none, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Barrows/Wilkinson to approve the minutes as submitted.
Unanimously approved.
VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A. Continued Village Use Permit 2005-032 Extension No. 1; a request of
Nispero Properties, Inc. for consideration of a One-Year Time Extension
for Construction of a ± 19,433 Square Foot Two-Story Office Building,
Located in the La Quinta Village.
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Chairman Alderson opened the public hearing and asked for the staff
report. Assistant Planner Eric Ceja presented the information contained in
the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department.
Chairman Alderson asked if there were any questions of staff.
There being no questions of staff, Chairman Alderson asked if there were
any applicant representatives or comments.
There being no applicant present Chairman Alderson asked if there was
any public comment.
There being no public comment, Chairman Alderson closed the public
participation portion of the meeting and opened the matter for
Commission discussion.
Commissioner Barrows said the concerns from the last meeting were
addressed and moved for approval of the item.
Chairman Alderson said he was pleased all the concerns were addressed
and thanked Planning Director Les Johnson.
Planning Director Johnson said there was specific language on the bike
rack included on Page 3 of the cover memo and asked if the
Commissioners were including this condition in their approval.
Commissioner Barrows said she realized the square footage was smaller
than required for this condition and asked if it could be added. Staff
replied it was not a requirement, but staff recommended the condition be
added.
Chairman Alderson said, at the last meeting, Commissioner Wilkinson
expressed concern about a water feature and asked if that was addressed
in the revised conditions. Staff replied there was a provision in the time
extension language that all applicable codes which are in effect when the
extension is approved are applicable. That would mean, if the time
extension were granted, the water feature provision, unless
acknowledged and recognized by the Commission would not be a part of
the development any longer per the Municipal Code provisions. It requires
special consideration of the water features when brought before the
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Commission. If no action is taken specific to the water feature, based on
the Municipal Code, the granting of the time extension would require the
water feature be removed as it would no longer be an allowed use.
Chairman Alderson asked if that met with Commissioner Wilkinson's
approval and he replied it did.
There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Barrows/Wilkinson to approve Resolution 2008-017
recommending approval of Village Use Permit 2005-032, Extension No.
1, as recommended; which included the addition of Condition No. 53 as
follows:
53. A minimum of five bicycle parking spaces shall be
provided on-site and shall be placed in a shaded
location, out of the way of pedestrian flows, and
shall be provided with a mechanism which permits
locking a bicycle onto the rack.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Barrows, Commissioner Wilkinson,
and Chairman Alderson. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioners
Engle and Quill. ABSTAIN: None.
VII. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. Discussion regarding Work Programs
Les Johnson, Planning Director presented the information contained in a
memo submitted to the Commission, a copy of which is on file in the
Planning Department. He then presented a verbal summary of each of the
listed programs.
General Plan Update:
The City is required, by State law, to update the General Plan every eight
years. The current General Plan was adopted in 2002. The work on this
project is a large undertaking and could take 18 months, or longer, to
complete. Staff is currently developing the scope of work within the
Planning Department. Subsequently, input from other departments will
be obtained. Once that scope has been defined, and approved, staff will
solicit proposals to select a consultant team to assist with the update.
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Chairman Alderson asked if the compilation of all Department comments
came to the Planning Department for creation of the General Plan. Staff
replied the Planning Department had the responsibility for management of
the General Plan for the City but relied heavily upon comments from all
the City departments.
The update would extend the City's planning horizon from 2020 out to
2030. This would add another 10 years into the assessment of future
growth and development activity within the City. It would be all-
encompassing looking at all the elements as required by law and beyond.
Some of the items staff will focus on are greenhouse gases and
sustainability. The City currently has quite a few policies and programs
with sustainability in mind.
Chairman Alderson asked if staff was attaching dollars and cents figures
to each of these categories as they are added to the General Plan. He
wanted to know if staff was including monies in the budget to deal with
the greenhouse gas issues. Staff said if he meant within the General Plan
Update budget, the answer was yes. Chairman Alderson acknowledged
he did. Staff said they were concerned that the policy and program
language was included which reflected the direction the City wanted to
go in with regards to those matters.
Staff added they are important and timely. The process is long and they
would be soliciting for consultants to help with the undertaking of the
task.
Staff said it is quite an involved process and they expect resident input
and would conduct an outreach program for comments which may
include a citizen advisory committee. Staff would be periodically updating
the Commission on their progress.
Chairman Alderson asked if the General Plan would come before the
Planning Commission before it goes to Council. Staff replied yes and they
anticipate there would be several points, through the process, where the
Planning Commission and City Council would be participating in providing
feedback to staff and the consulting team for guidance and direction to
make sure that the final outcome of the update is in line with what the
expectations are.
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Chairman Alderson asked if staff was looking for this to happen in fall of
2009. Staff said they were expecting to be underway by this fall. It
would take 12 to 18 months to complete. They estimate it would be late
2009 or mid-2010 before the process was complete. Staff was working
on the timeline and would be reporting back to the Commission with
further information. Once the scope of work was completed and the staff
was getting it ready to go forward with a Request for Proposal (RFP) they
would be apprising the Commission of The process and the timeline.
Commissioner Wilkinson said the General Plan would address greenhouse
gas reduction and green building but in the event the City builds 10%
more homes there's still 90% that need to be retrofitted. He asked if
there would any provision in the updates, or a focus group to address the
homes already built. Staff replied it was very important to look at the
existing land use activity; commercial and residential. Looking at
programs, ways and services to help the reduce footprint we are leaving.
Staff anticipates, from a policy level, the City would be looking at that.
One of the main focuses would be on future activity, but the efforts that
have been underway over the last year were addressing sustainability.
Staff would now be able to address the issue of how to address the
retrofitting of existing stock in our community. Existing homes have
been a focus of the City and CVWD with their landscaping water
efficiency program. The City recently entered into an agreement with IID
to encourage the assessment of existing homes to retrofit them with
more energy efficient features, such as appliances and windows. So, the
City is certainly focusing in on that issue. The General Plan is supposed
to be all encompassing and comprehensive in its analysis and assessment
and staff would anticipate that would be identified in the programs and
policies that were recommended.
Commissioner Wilkinson asked if traffic, considering emissions and
speed, would be a part of the circulation plan. People driving slower
would certainly help with that. He asked if staff would be looking at that.
Staff replied that was a good point, and there are other laws in the State
that address the issue of speed limits, but staff will be comprehensive in
the assessment of what they are allowed to do with existing laws. There
are other factors that play a role with speed limits within the City's
jurisdiction. They will be reviewed at the appropriate time.
Commissioner Quill joined the meeting.
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Commissioner Barrows had a question about circulation. Since the City
is pretty close to a build out in the Highway 1 1 1 corridor, she asked if
there were any opportunities for mixed-use development along this
corridor or elsewhere that would address the concerns of Commissioner
Wilkinson in terms of greenhouse gases and pollution. She reference the
La Quinta Village Plan and the Commission's efforts to encourage
pedestrian-friendly design. She asked if staff saw that as something that
would be included in the General Plan.
Staff said yes. There had been discussion that portions of Highway 1 1 1
commercial were almost to the point where redevelopment would make
sense. For the first time in the City's history there would be
opportunities to consider the potential for a variety of land uses that
could enter into the equation with redevelopment consideration along
Highway 111. Staff commented there are a lot of opportunities for
several sites on Highway 1 1 1 and some amazing things could be done if
there was a very receptive developer or landowner wanting to consider
redevelopment of their site with amixed-use purpose. It could work as a
walkable location, as well as most of north La Quinta. There is a lot of
potential and opportunity and the Commission could anticipate it would
be an item addressed.
Commissioner Barrows said the timing is right to address greenhouse
gases. The State Air Resources Board (expected in July) will be issuing
the guidelines and recommendations for local governments and
essentially incorporating the guidelines of AB 32 which requires the
reduction of greenhouse gases and addressing that in EIRs through
CEQA. So timing-wise it's good, and significant focus will include the
issue of land use, as well as encouraging fewer vehicle miles traveled and
those kinds of things.
Commissioner Barrows commented on a conversation she heard by a
Smart Growth Planner and his comment that using traffic roundabouts
could significantly reduce gas usage because instead of coming to a stop
and starting again you slow down and continue. It appears the
roundabout at Jefferson seems successful, to the extent that it is
possible.
Staff replied they have received mixed reviews on the roundabout. Most
people view it as a positive in the ability to efficiently and effectively
move a moderate amount of traffic. Staff agreed that limiting the
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amount of time a car is idling is of benefit and the ability to get from one
point another in a reasonable amount of time without much resistance
should be one of the City's goals.
Commissioner Barrows added the other comment made in regards to
roundabouts was that incidents of traffic accidents were significantly
lower. She was just curious it roundabouts were another piece of the
Circulation Element in which those kinds of things could be incorporated.
Staff said the only negative, with regards to roundabouts, is they are not
usually pedestrian-friendly. They can be difficult for pedestrian
movement. They are great for vehicle movement, but the design has to
be carefully considered for pedestrians to safely and effectively cross
those lanes without risk.
Commissioner Barrows noted UC Davis has bicycle roundabouts and they
are very dangerous for pedestrians.
Chairman Alderson said he attended a League of California Cities meeting
several years ago where they discussed roundabouts being 35% more
efficient in terms of moving traffic and safety. He agreed with
Commissioner Barrows regarding the addition of more roundabouts in the
City.
Commissioner Quill said, on his way to the meeting, he was listening to a
local radio station where they had a planner who was discussing this
whole issue of reducing traffic by proper urban planning. The City's
current problem was created by focusing only on single family housing.
He added, in the last two weeks it has become a possibility we may be
looking at six to eight dollar gas. We might be on the cusp of a paradigm
shift unlike any seen since World War II; including mass transit, and
walkability needs.
Commissioner Quill continued stating local mixed use areas such as the
Fresh and Easy concept have become very popular. That will be part of
the shift, including commercial uses in residential areas. The City's
zoning ordinances need to keep up. Currently, these areas could only be
designated mixed use, but that is too broad. Commercial uses need to be
placed right in the midst of residential to keep people out of their cars.
Then people can afford to live and, at the same time, we can work to
clean up our environment.
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Commissioner Quill said he was in a meeting last week with the Riverside
County Planning and Transportation Departments. A representative, from
the transportation sector, commented he was pleased the project
Commissioner Quill was presenting had class I bike trails, and
accessibility and walkability within the proximity of commercial,
residential, and schools. He emphasized one other thing; the opportunity
to include alternative vehicles. It was not a wise idea to mix Segways,
small electric scooters, and electric bicycles with cars. In the future,
residents may be using them to go the mile or mile-and-a-half to the store
as they might not have a car, due to affordability. There will be a
dramatic shift in the next 10 years. The City needs to be planning at
least five years ahead in everything they do.
Commissioner Quill said the huge mega store concept is going to shift
down and the local store and hardware concept will come back. And the
big box is going to start to reduce and the sea of parking in front of the
big box is going to disappear.
Chairman Alderson said what Commissioner Quill is saying is correct.
There are some commercial parcels dedicated as neighborhood
commercial, in the south part of the City. There is an opportunity to
include local stores and people could walk to those stores. Implementing
it would be the difficult part.
Commissioner Quill said right now we cannot do that according to the
Zoning Code.
Planning Director Les Johnson said, when the City was considering the
Sphere of Influence (SOI) area, they were focusing on a strategic area in
the SOI. They were concentrating on urban, suburban and rural. It is still
on the cutting edge and more and more people like the concept. There is
a lot of benefit to it. In the next 12 to 24 months we will see a dramatic
change in thinking. Fresh and Easy has changed the way we look at
projects. In the future more time will be spent at local grocery stores and
less at the big boxes. It will carry over to other businesses.
General Plan Amendment (GPA 08-112) -Multi-Purpose Trails and
Street Classification Maps:
Chairman Alderson questioned whether the Multi-purpose Trails section,
would include the evaluation of golf cart trails, and safe lanes in addition
to the multi-purpose trails. Staff said not with this specific item. This
has to do with projects in the southwest area of our community. Staff is
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currently processing the Travertine project. It is a check of the
circulation system of that area of the community, south of 60 into
Travertine as welt as Avenue 62 and the recent settlement with Shea.
We have been noticing some gaps regarding the trail maps and this will
have to be brought before the Commission.
Commissioner Quill asked if these were the plans brought up a year or so
ago.
Staff replied about the multi-purpose trails were brought up about six
months ago. There was a lengthy gap between Avenue 62 and Madison
and Avenue 60, going west. Staff is trying to make that adjustment to
insure future entitlements address those improvements. Multi-purpose
trails tend to be all encompassing. Whatever should happen in the future
in modes of transportation this could be an important link. The City is
focused in the southeast area of the community regarding trails. With
regard to the golf cart question, it would be addressed in Phase I of the
Golf Cart Plan.
Staff said they had been contacted by a resident regarding a golf cart
lane from Trilogy to Highway 1 1 1. Currently multi-purpose trails are not
identified all the way to Highway 111. Chairman Alderson said if you
drove from the Trilogy development to Highway 111 you'd run out of
electricity before you get to town. Staff said, in the Phase 2 golf cart
plans there are lanes identified that have the potential for golf cart usage.
Right now the focus is on the Village Core.
Commissioner Quill said the City should start preparing for alternative
vehicles, including electric and golf carts that need a safe route.
Chairman Alderson asked if multi-purpose trails were delineated as horse
and golf cart paths. Staff replied multi-purpose trails could also be used
by bicyclists. They are intended to be open to a variety of non-motorized
uses. The space was reserved for those options.
Commissioner Wilkinson asked if the City could be going farther than
Highway 111 to get to the proposed paths along the channel and
connecting multi-use trails to include mopeds and electric carts to get
those people to an area where there is no vehicular traffic.
There are golf cart paths identified on our General Plan in many areas of
the community. The Coachella Valley Recreation and Park District is
currently working on a trail plan which includes the Whitewater Channel
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Trail route, Dillon Road, and the potential of using the all-American
Coachella Canal. They have hired a consultant to work on this plan. La
Quinta City staff has been discussing the potential of such a route being
implemented and are planning to talk with the City of Indio to see if they
would be interested in what can be done to implement the Whitewater
Channel route. The cities could gain many benefits by linking with their
neighbors. Staff used the example of the Seattle area, as well as
Western Riverside and Orange counties.
General Plan and Zoning Code Amendments (GPA 08-114 & ZC 08-
134) -School sites changed to Major Community Facilities (MCI:
Staff referenced the three existing, and fully developed, school sites of
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School, Horizon School, and Benjamin
Franklin Elementary School. The City would like to re-zone them to Major
Community Facilities (MC) since the Community Services Department
(Parks and Recreation) has been using the schools as part of their
recreation district and would like to get that property recognized in order
for the City to fund future improvements.
Housing Element Update:
Staff reported they are well underway on the Housing Element update
and expects to have a draft within the next two weeks. The update is
required to take the RHNA numbers and identify how the City is going to
accommodate those new units. The City began a year ago by hiring The
Planning Center as a consultant. Staff will be spending this summer doing
outreach to the community and look forward to some good general
feedback.
Commissioner Wilkinson asked what category the Vista Dunes project fell
into. Staff said it was classified as a combination project with very low
and low-income residents. There are two sets of numbers included in the
housing element. The Redevelopment Agency (RDA) numbers and the
Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) numbers. The numbers in
the report are shown as of January 2006. Any units added after January
2006 are deducted from these numbers. Vista Dune, Wolf Waters and
any above-moderate built after 2006 will come out of this. However,
these are still very ambitious numbers. Percentage-wise, the City of La
Quinta has one of the highest allocations in the Valley.
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Village Strategic Plan:
Staff said they are very close to embarking on the Village Strategic Plan.
The focus will be to assess the existing Village Zoning Code
requirements. Form based codes may be considered for the Village. Staff
will be focusing on street design that encourages a pedestrian friendly
environment. Also considered will be mass and scale, more on land use
and relationships between land use and the ability to get from point to
point. Staff will be looking to find ways to accommodate ideas, within
reason, in the future.
Chairman Alderson asked if staff was talking about pedestrian-friendly
access, design issues, traffic control and pedestrian control. Also, was
the General Plan taking into consideration any innovative ideas to help
improve business conditions; i.e., a bigger and more extensive sign
program to direct business from Highway 111. Chairman Alderson
pointed out there is a difference between the Village and Old Town.
Staff replied Old Town is an integral part of the Village.
Chairman Alderson wanted to know what the City is doing to help the
Village tenants improve business. Staff replied they did not have a
marketing component but a "way finding" program would help. The City
hired a consultant to work on the "way finding" program to direct people
to the Village. They have retained a sign company to assist with a sign
component to focus on getting people to the Village and then to public
parking and other nearby features in the City.
Commissioner Quill asked if part of the Village Strategic Plan included
the idea of traffic calming and providing on-street parking on Calle
Tampico. Calming traffic down could create good quality pedestrian
crossings from the hotel to downtown. There would not be any damage
done by leaving Calle Tampico as a two-lane city street.
Staff replied there has been a lot of discussion, in the past several
months, regarding Desert Club and a variety of options that would
slow traffic down, which would also emphasize the pedestrian scale of
that part of the community. This discussion would be included as part
of the Village Strategic Plan.
Lighting Ordinance:
Staff reported they have hired a consultant (Mr. Reya) to revamp the
City's lighting standards. Mr. Reya spent some time educating the staff
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on the right lighting and the significant difference it can make. Staff is
excited about working with him on the lighting ordinance, retention of the
dark sky ordinance, and reducing glare. The completed draft ordinance
would be brought before the Commission.
Commissioner Barrows asked energy efficiency. Staff said the City would
be more definitive about the various types of lighting. There were
certainly some mixed opinions about the more orangey type of lighting
even though it is more effective in conserving energy. Other options
have been presented, by different developers, and have received mixed
reviews. One possible suggestion is to minimize the number of light
standards used during the daytime. The example of reducing the number
of standards operating by 2/3 and retaining the same security benefits
was given. The City could begin mandating provisions such as these to
obtain more energy efficiency in the commercial sector.
Commissioner Quill commented on the importance of the Dark Sky
Ordinance to Joshua Tree National Park and Anza Borrego State Park.
Those parks bookend the Valley, but don't have much opportunity to
really express what is really important to them. He suggested this would
be a good opportunity to invite their comments on the Dark Sky
Ordinance before it gets circulated in the General Plan since light
pollution, from the Coachella Valley, was a big problem for both of them.
Staff replied they would welcome the opportunity to get feedback
from them and suggested Commissioner Quill supply them with
contact information. Staff said they would extend an invitation to
them to comment on the ordinance update.
Commissioners Barrows and Quill both offered to obtain the contact
names and get them to staff.
Commissioner Barrows said it is an issue of concern in terms of the
Multiple Species Plan, as it relates to La Quinta because of the City's
adjacency to the National Monument and the mountains in terms of
lighting, the impact it has on open spaces and the parks, and the wildlife
habitat. She agreed getting their feedback would be a good suggestion.
Chairman Alderson volunteered the Commissioners' vast experience to
the staff. He said they would be willing to help you in any way they
could.
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Planning Director Les Johnson thanked them and replied they would
anticipate asking for additional Planning Commission deliberation time.
He said other department members might be asking for the
Commissioners' assistance since this would be a hands-on document. He
said, in his past experience, he had relied heavily on the Planning
Commissions he had worked with. He added staff would be utilizing the
Commissioners to help get the word out to the community since the City
is looking for citizen participation. Citizen input is a part of the process
and the City hopes to have a lot of the community involvement in the
process.
Zoning Code Amendment -Clean Up Adjustments:
Staff said there were adjustments needed to clean up the zoning code.
As staff continues to work with the zoning code, they find situations or
circumstances that create questions regarding certain sections of the
code. One was recently found regarding Village Use Permits. This is a
document that is always evolving. There will be a handful of
amendments coming before the Commission. Staff plans to bring them
semi-annually, but if the Commission sees something that is missing or
needs to be corrected, they would welcome those comments. Staff
emphasized comments from the Commissioners were always welcome.
Commissioner Wilkinson wanted to thank staff for whoever was
responsible for clearing up the traffic problems on Fred Waring. He said
the situation has substantially improved and he appreciated it. Staff said
it was a team effort with Public Works, the City Manager, and the City
Attorney Kathy Jenson. Staff explained the temporary and permanent
solution for the traffic situation in that area. Commissioner Wilkinson said
it was a huge improvement and thanked staff for the fine job.
Chairman Alderson thanked staff for all their hard work and reiterated the
Commissioners were very willing to help.
Commissioner Barrows said she was recently involved with a group of
homeowners at PGA West and the question came up about adding solar
panels. She said the homeowners' association did not allow them. She
wanted to address the issue of roof top solar panels and the assurance
that City codes were friendly to that. She said years ago they were not,
but the PGA West folks wanted to have the Commission revisit that
issue. She wanted to know if it was a General Plan issue.
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Staff replied that issue had been addressed by State law. It is now
against the law for local municipalities and homeowners' associations to
prohibit the use of solar panels on roof tops. The Planning Department
does not have anything on an administrative level that restricts the use of
solar panels. If it is a structural matter, the Building Department would
address it through the Building Code, but from an aesthetic standpoint
there would be nothing to prevent a resident from acquiring a system.
Commissioner Barrows said she was thinking in terms of the education
process and making sure the public was aware of the State laws
regarding solar panels.
Staff replied it was certainly understood from staff's viewpoint. Staff
added there is a lot of discussion going on in the State of California
regarding alternative energy sources; such as wind power. Other states
are focusing on wind power and they are taking the same position as
solar power as far as aesthetics are concerned. Staff alerted the
Commission to the fact that there's the possibility, in the near term in the
state of California and a handful of other states, to take the same
position on solar and wind power. Their position would be that you
cannot prohibit, or restrict, it based on aesthetics. Staff reported at a
recent conference they were told that legislation could be introduced here
stating the same.
Commissioner Barrows wanted to make sure that, as the General Plan
went forward, the City was encouraging alternative energy sources. She
mentioned Imperial Irrigation District was starting to think about ways to
include renewable energy sources in their portfolio.
Commissioner Wilkinson read recently about wind turbines integrated into
chimneys. He also mentioned a State restriction which involved the
percentage of costs involved in camouflaging or disguising solar
equipment.
Commissioner Quill gave an example of some solar pool equipment
placed in Sun City.
Staff said they had heard there was a the which was competitively priced
and didn't look much different than a standard roof tile, but had the
ability to conduct and operate as a solar panel.
VIII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None
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IX. COMMISSIONER ITEMS:
Chairman Ed Alderson gave a brief overview of the City Council meetings of
May 20, 2008, and June 3, 2008.
Staff said the Council would be discussing the budget at the June 19, 2008,
meeting, and holding Commission interviews at the June 17, 2008, meeting,
commencing at 2:00 p.m. as there were a number of candidates.
Staff said the Council budget meeting is tentative scheduled for 6:00 p.m. If
Commissioners were planning to attend, would they please a-mail staff for
further details.
X. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Barrows/Wilkinson to adjourn this regular meeting of the Planning Commission to the
next regular meeting to be held on June 24, 2008. This regular meeting was
adjourned at 8:21 p.m. on June 10, 2008.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn Walker, Executive Secretary
City of La Quinta, California
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