2008 07 15 RDA MinutesLA QUINTA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
MINUTES
JULY 15, 2008
A regular meeting of the La Quinta Redevelopment Agency was called to
order by Chairman Kirk.
PRESENT: Agency Members Adolph, Henderson, Osborne, Sniff,
Chairman Kirk
ABSENT: None
PUBLIC COMMENT -None
CLOSED SESSION °
Agency Member Osborne did not participate in Item No. 1 due to a potential
conflict of interest of LDD's affiliation with an HOA which is a client of his
firm.
1. Conference with Agency's real property negotiator, Douglas R. Evans,
pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8 concerning potential
terms and conditions of acquisition and/or disposition of a portion of
525 t acres located at the southwest corner of Avenue 52 and
Jefferson Street. Property Owner/Negotiator: LDD SilverRock, LLC.,
Theodore R. Lennon, Jr.
The Redevelopment Agency recessed to Closed Session to and until the hour
of 4:00 p.m.
4:00 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT -None
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA -Confirmed
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION - It was moved by Agency Members Sniff/Henderson to approve
the Redevelopment Agency Minutes of July 1, 2008, as submitted. Motion
carried unanimously.
Redevelopment Agency Minutes 2 July 15, 2008
CONSENT CALENDAR
Agency Member Osborne requested Item No. 5 be taken up separately due
to a potential conflict of interest.
1. APPROVAL OF DEMAND REGISTER DATED JULY 15, 2008.
2. RECEIVE AND FILE TREASURER'S REPORT DATED MAY 30, 2008.
3. RECEIVE AND FILE REVENUE & EXPENDITURES REPORT DATED
MAY 31, 2008, AND INVESTMENT SUMMARY REPORT FOR THE
QUARTER ENDING JUNE 30, 2008.
4. APPROVAL OF AMENDED AGREEMENT FOR LEGAL SERVICES WITH
RUTAN & TUCKER, LLP.
5. APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE DISPOSITION AND
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT (DDA) BETWEEN THE LA QUINTA
REDEVELOMENT AGENCY AND LDD SILVERROCK, LLC, EXTENDING
THE DEADLINES IN THE AGREEMENT. (See separate action below.)
6. APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH ALTEVERS
ASSOCIATES FOR SILVERROCK RESORT PERMANENT CLUBHOUSE
DESIGN SERVICES.
7. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE AMENDED AND
RESTATED PRELIMINARY PLAN AND DIRECTING PREPARATION OF
THE AMENDMENT TO THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. (RESOLUTION
NO. RA 2008-003)
MOTION - It was moved by Agency Members Sniff/Adolph to approve
the Consent Calendar as recommended and amended with the
exception of Item No. 5, and with Item No. 7 being approved by
RESOLUTION NO. RA 2008-003. Motion carried unanimously.
Item No. 5:
MOTION - It was moved by Agency Members Sniff/Adolph to approve
Consent Calendar Item No. 5 as submitted. Motion carried by a vote
of 4-0-1, Agency Member Osborne abstaining.
Redevelopment Agency Minutes 3 July 15, 2008
BUSINESS SESSION
7. CONSIDERATION OF SILVERROCK RESORT PROGRAMMING AND
DESIGN FOR PROJECT ENTRIES, STREETSCAPES, OPEN SPACE,
AND GOLF COURSE.
Economic Development Project Manager Powell presented the staff
report.
Chuck Shepardson, HSA Design Group, reviewed the schematic
design of the various aspects for the SilverRock Resort.
Mr. Shepardson confirmed a right turn lane will be included to the
entrance of the Resort and stated a small amount of sod can be
planted as an accent to the entry area.
Agency Member Osborne stated the landscaping looks too barren;
suggested adding sod will give an oasis feel to the area; stated this is
a resort, not a ranch, and it needs to look as such; stated he likes the
structural aspect of the entrance; and stated there is no roundabout
signage at Jefferson Street and Avenue 52.
Agency Member Henderson stated the Board has already approved
signage for the area and it will be brought back to the Agency for
review.
Agency Member Osborne stated the iron work on the wall along
Avenue 52 was not consistent with the iron work on Jefferson Street
and requested this project be consistent.
Agency Member Sniff stated the contractor has not indicated the size
of the trees and plants proposed; conveyed his concern of the
multiplicity of the signs at the entrance and suggested a flow of the
signs to the entrance; agrees with the suggestion of added turf to
soften the outer entrance; stated there is no water feature at this
entrance and further stated water fits into the accent of the area;
agrees it should not look like a ranch; suggested the entrance be
softened to draw visitors to the resort area; and stated the entrance
should be large enough without being overwhelming. Mr. Shepardson
replied by explaining he has budgeted for substantial size trees to be
installed.
Agency Member Henderson stated she likes the schematics but it may
not be for the City of La Quinta; stated she understands the use of
Redevelopment Agency Minutes 4 July 15, 2008
wrought iron has been incorporated in the resort, and suggested to
use silver; stated all accents have been used throughout the Valley
and questioned what changes have been incorporated; suggested
additional ingenuity; dislikes the style of the entrance monument;
suggested to install arches with SilverRock Resort wording at the
entrance.
Chairman Kirk questioned if the signage at the roundabout has been
approved. Executive Director Genovese explained staff has reviewed
the renderings and the contractor is submitting schematics to address
a theme. Agency Chairman Kirk requested suggestions be submitted
for signage at the roundabout with this project; stated his initial
reaction to installing turf was negative, and suggested installing
artificial turf; stated his first reaction to the schematics was positive,
and color schemes reminded him of the Palmilla project and echoed
the comments made by Agency Member Henderson regarding the lack
of uniqueness of the plans; suggested columns be increased to 20 feet
to give a grand entrance; suggested to push the engineering of the
design; and stated the proposed plans are beautiful and dynamic but
not unique.
Agency Member Osborne questioned if Landmark has reviewed the
schematics. Economic Development Project Manager Powell stated
Landmark staff attended a workshop and reviewed the schematics.
Chairman Kirk addressed sidewalks and trails on Jefferson; stated the
multi-use trail is colored the same as the sidewalk on the exhibit and
questioned if what is proposed is a trail or a sidewalk. Mr. Shepardson
explained amulti-use trail is concrete to accommodate various uses.
In response to Agency Member Osborne, Economic Development
Project Manager Powell explained Landmark reviewed the schematics
a month ago.
Mr. Shepardson continued the presentation and reviewed the interior
streetscapes.
Agency Member Osborne was adamant the area looks like a resort and
not a ranch.
Agency Member Henderson questioned if the suggestion of giving the
entrance road some character is reflected in the plan presented. Mr.
Shepardson explained he has worked with the engineers to give a rural
Redevelopment Agency Minutes 5 July 15, 2008
effect to the road and stated the road varies in direction horizontally,
but not much vertically.
Agency Member Henderson stated she is looking for more character
along the entrance road and suggested changing the median as well.
Agency Member Adolph stated it is not necessary to revisit the
median as the road has been mitigated with undulation; stated visitors
will be driving into a unique area into the mountains, and drivers will
not be viewing the medians very much; stated the area will be totally
unique.
Chairman Kirk conveyed his agreement with the comments made by
Agency Member Adolph and questioned where will the 'wow' factor
be placed. Mr. Shepardson explained the views and grandeur of the
entrance.
Agency Member Sniff stated what has been proposed is good and he
likes the bridge; stated there is a need to resist the temptation to add
complexity to this project which may dilute the beauty of the natural
surroundings; suggested to ensure the trees are easily accessed to be
maintained.
Mr. Shepardson reviewed the overall trail system for the Resort area.
Agency Member Henderson questioned the feasibility issues of the
proposed mountain trail. Mr. Shepardson stated there are issues with
the Bureau of Reclamation.
Agency Member Sniff questioned the size of the nodes along the trail.
Mr. Shepardson explained the nodes can be made to accommodate
the information displayed for that particular area. Agency Member
Sniff questioned if the node would serve as a sign or a plaque. Mr.
Shepardson explained concepts for the nodes are being proposed at
this time for the Board's consideration.
Agency Member Osborne stated safety is a concern along the golf
course for the node areas.
Agency Member Sniff stated there are too many nodes along the trail.
Agency Member Adolph suggested installing comfort stations similar
to 'the Civic Center Campus. Mr. Shepardson stated the comfort
stations can be incorporated along the trails.
Redevelopment Agency Minutes 6 July 15, 2008
Agency Member Henderson agreed there are too many nodes along
the trail; disagrees information other than history is not important and
suggested some of the nodes be placed in the shaded rest areas.
In response to Chairman Kirk, Mr. Shepardson confirmed the hillside
trail ends at the clubhouse; stated asphalt concrete can be considered
to install on the surface the trail rather than concrete as it also comes
in different colors. Chairman Kirk encouraged the inclusion of the
hillside trail and stated the nodes along the trails and the trail system
are unique.
Mr. Shepardson presented the landscape design for the golf course.
Agency Member Adolph stated the design is turning the course into
target golf course and people don't like to play target golf courses;
questioned what Hardy-Jacobson say about this design. Mr.
Shepardson explained there are mandates from the Coachella Valley
Water District (CVWD) that only allow 73 acres per golf course.
Agency Member Adolph stated staff needs to work on this issue with
CVWD. Mr. Shepardson explained he has worked on the design of the
Norman course which played in the low 60's. Agency Member
Adolph stated this course is made to be an easier course to play.
Agency Member Osborne conveyed his concern about target golf in a
desert atmosphere.
Agency Member Henderson stated people expect an oasis in the
desert and the design needs to be a little friendlier to the concept.
Agency Member Sniff suggested the look be a little more natural,
making it a pleasurable experience.
Chairman Kirk invited the representatives from Lowe Enterprises to
speak on this item.
Ted Lennon, Lowe Enterprises, stated he has been invited to many of
the design meetings; stated it is a great design and it will work for the
Resort; agreed the entry is not impressive and suggested increasing
the column height; need to focus where is the updraft on the bridge to
frame the mountains; and suggested silver quartzite, symmetrical
planters, and shimmering water behind the logo which gives the silver
effect; also suggested up-lighting for the towers and some of the trees
Redevelopment Agency Minutes 7 July 15, 2008
for a dramatic effect; stated colored asphalt concrete would work for
the multi-use trail and suggested deviations of the width for the trail.
Chairman Kirk announced this item would be continued to the 7:00
p.m. session.
The Redevelopment Agency meeting was recessed to and until
7:00 p.m.
700 P.M_
BUSINESS SESSION ...........continued
1. CONSIDERATION OF SILVERROCK RESORT PROGRAMMING AND
DESIGN FOR PROJECT ENTRIES, STREETSCAPES, OPEN SPACE,
AND GOLF COURSE.
Chairman Kirk noted this item was continued from the afternoon
session.
Chairman Kirk reviewed the direction provided to staff as follows:
consider a big, bold entry, with a water feature; incorporate a silver
component; provide approach signage to the entrance and through the
roundabout; give priority to establishing the hillside trails; reduce the
number of nodes on the multi-use trial and incorporate them at shaded
resting areas; no target golf course; and install oasis style landscaping.
Agency Member Osborne reiterated his concern of the landscaping
giving a look of the Resort being barren.
2. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS TO 11 APPROVE THE FISCAL
YEAR 2008/2009 LA QUINTA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BUDGET,
AND 2) DETERMINE THE PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION
EXPENSES TO BE FUNDED IN FISCAL YEAR 2008/2009.
Finance Director Falconer presented the staff report.
RESOLUTION NO. RA 2008-004
A RESOLUTION OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF
LA O:UINTA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A BUDGET FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2008/2009.
Redevelopment Agency Minutes 8 July 15, 2008
It was moved by Agency Members Osborne/Henderson to adopt
Resolution No. RA 2008-004 as submitted. Motion carried
unanimously.
RESOLUTION NO. RA 2008-005
A RESOLUTION OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF
LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, DETERMINING THAT THE PLANNING AND
ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES TO . BE FUNDED IN FISCAL YEAR
2008/2009 BY THE LOW AND MODERATE-INCOME HOUSING FUND
ARE NECESSARY FOR THE PRODUCTION, IMPROVEMENT, AND/OR
PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW AND
MODERATE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.
It was moved by Agency Members Osborne/Henderson to adopt
Resolution No. RA 2008-005 as submitted. Motion carried
unanimously.
STUDY SESSION -None
CHAIR AND AGENCY MEMBERS' ITEMS -None
PUBLIC HEARINGS -None
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved by Agency Members
Sniff/Adolph to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.
VERONIC~'J. MONTECINO, Secretary
City of La Quinta, California