2008 06 19 HPC MinutesMINUTES
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING
A Regular meeting held in the Study Session Room
at the La Quinta City Hall
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
June 19, 2008
This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by
Chairman Wilbur at 3:02 p.m. who asked for the roll call.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. Roll Call.
Present: Commissioners Redmon, Sharp, Wright, and
Chairman Wilbur
Absent: Commissioner Puente
It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Sharp to
excuse
Commissioner Puente. Unanimously approved.
Staff
Present: Planning Manager David Sawyer, Principal Planner
Stan Sawa, and Secretary Monika Radeva.
II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None
111. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Redmon to
approve the minutes of May 15, 2008, as submitted. Unanimously
approved.
V. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. City Historic Context Statement Review
Applicant: City of La Quinta
Consultant: City Staff
Location: City-wide
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Historic Preservation Commission
June 19, 2008
Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in
the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department.
Commissioner Sharp referred to the mentioning of "Happy Hollow" on
page 41 of the report. He suggested adding in parenthesis those
words in the Cahuilla language as well.
Commissioner Wright said that based on past experience it had been
established the Cahuilla language was difficult to translate because of
its uniqueness.
Commissioner Sharp suggested consulting with a Native American to
obtain the proper translation in Cahuilla as he found it academically
appropriate to include it in the document.
Commissioner Sharp referenced the first paragraph of page 44 of the
report pointing out that it was not the "high ceiling" of the lobby that
was decorated by the renowned Mexican artist Diego Rivera and the
phrase should be removed. Further, the word "sketches" used to
describe his artwork should be substituted with "drawings." Staff
agreed and noted the changes.
Commissioner Redmon agreed the word "drawings" would better
describe the artist's work.
Commissioner Wright said the word "discovered" also in the first
paragraph of page 44 should be replaced with "'rediscovered" by an
employee during the 1989 renovation.'
Commissioner Sharp asked if the City Historic Context Statement
Review would be available to the public and staff replied it would.
Planning Manager David Sawyer asked why the document did not
mention the Desert Club as his understanding was that, in its prime,
the Desert Club was also a significant destination resort along with the
La Quinta Hotel.
Commissioner Redmon said that the Desert Club was mentioned as
part of the La Quinta Hotel in the previous part of the document "The
Resort History" presented to the Commission during the last meeting
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Historic Preservation Commission
June 19, 2008
Commissioner Wright stated there should be a section regarding Fritz
Burns as that would tie in the old real estate office, now the museum
and the Desert Club because he was involved in starting it. This
section would also talk about the La Quinta Cove and Fritz Burns'
encyclopedia lots. Every time someone bought an Encyclopedia
Britannica he/she got a free lot. Commissioner Wright mentioned the
City and the Historical Society had put something together in the past
regarding the history of Fritz Burns as he was a very well known Los
Angeles developer. If staff could not find any of those sources,
Commissioner Wright said he would provide the information to them.
Staff agreed a section about Fritz Burns should be included in the
document.
Commissioner Wright added that the Desert Club was located where
the Fritz Burns Park is now.
Planning Manager David Sawyer said his impression was that the
owner of the Desert Club was indebted to Fritz Burns and had given it
to him to clear the debt. Approximately a decade later the Club was
destroyed in a controlled burn. Commissioner Wright noted there
were stories about illegal gambling in the basement of the Desert Club,
etc.
Commissioners Wright, Redmon, and Sharp discussed mentioning the
encyclopedia lots in a section other than the La Quinta Hotel and tying
together the Desert Club with the La Quinta Cove and Old Town La
Quinta.
Commissioner Wright said the document should have a section on
Marshall Ranch, which is the Hacienda del Gato at the Traditions.
Additional sections should also be included on Point Happy, the
Morgan House, and the La Quinta Cove. Commissioner Redmon noted
the Morgan House was referenced in the document, but did not
include a lot of details.
Commissioner Wright added that staff should try to find some
information on Hidden Canyon which used to be an airport where
residents would land their planes and stay at the hotel. Up until the
development of Hidden Canyon the airport runway was still in
existence.
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Historic Preservation Commission
June 19, 2008
Commissioner Wright continued to say that the oldest white
settlement in La Quinta, an adobe structure with a well, was behind
Laguna de la Paz where Hidden Canyon is now. This was one of the
first white man settlement structures built back in 1910.
Commissioner Sharp pointed out the document referenced the past up
to the present, but it had no mention of the future. Staff replied the
purpose of the document was to encompass only the past.
Commissioner Wright added the document should only go back fifty
years.
Chairman Wilbur inquired whether or not the lists of all of the old and
current contractors, builders, plumbers should be included in the
document.
Commissioners Wright and Redmon agreed the information was
historic and it would be better if it could be included, as it was
relevant.
Commissioner Sharp asked staff if the document would be completed
prior to the Historic Preservation Conference next year. Staff replied it
would.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL:
A. Attendance Update
Chairman Wilbur inquired as to the best way a Commissioner could
request an excused absence if they were unable to attend a meeting.
Planning Manager Sawyer explained the Commissioner should write a
letter in advance, addressed to the City Council, requesting the
excused absence and listing the extenuating circumstances. The letter
should be submitted to the Planning Staff and would be included in
the City Council packet for the following meeting at which time it
would be reviewed.
Commissioner Wright verified that the Commission was going dark
during the month of July.
Commissioner Sharp stated he would not be able to attend the
October meeting and asked when he should submit his request for an
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Historic Preservation Commission
June 19, 2008
excused absence. Planning Manager Sawyer replied the request could
be submitted anytime prior to the absence.
Commissioner Redmon asked if Commissioner Sharp could submit a
retroactive request to excuse his January, 2008 absence due to the
fact that he was having knee surgery at the time and was not aware
of the ordinance passed on December 27, 2007.
Planning Manager Sawyer said the language of the ordinance did allow
for retroactive requests and suggested Commissioner Sharp combine
the two requests, the one for January and the one for October, into
one letter so that City Council could address both of them at the same
time.
VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS:
A. Memo regarding Selection of Officers
Planning Manager David Sawyer said each Commission was directed,
by ordinance, to have an election of officers the first meeting after the
month of June. The Commission would be dark in July, therefore
during the August meeting a Chairman and Vice Chairman would have
to be elected.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Redmon/Wright to adjourn this Meeting of the Historic
Preservation Commission to the next Regular Meeting to be held on August
21, 2008. This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was
adjourned at 3:27 p.m. Unanimously approved.
Submitted y:
Monika Radeva
Secretary
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