2001 04 19 HPCHISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
AGENDA
The Regular Meeting to be held in the Session Room at the
La Quinta City Hall, 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, California
APRIL 19, 2001
3:00 P.M.
Beginning Minute Motion 2001-008
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. Pledge of Allegiance
B. Roll Call
II. PUBLIC COMMENT
This is the time set aside for citizens to address the Historic Preservation
Commission on matters relating to historic resources within the City of La Quinta
which are not Agenda items. When addressing the Historic Preservation
Commission, please state your name and address and when discussing matters
pertaining to prehistoric sites, do not disclose the exact location of the site(s) for
their protection.
III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. Approval of the regular Minutes for the meeting of March 22, 2001.
V. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. Archaeological/Historical Resources Assessment for Tentative Tract 30092.
adjacent to the City f La Quinta Riverside County. California; located at the
northwest corner of Monroe Street and Avenue 58.
Applicant: Barton Properties
Archaeological Consultant: Archaeological Advisory Group (James Brock RPA)
001
HK AGENDA
B. RePoort on Archaeological Monitoring for Aliso I (Tract 27519 and Aliso II
Tract 29563) promects located northwest of the intersection of Dune Palms
Road and Westward Ho Drive.
Applicant: Century -Crowell Communities
Archaeological Consultant: Archaeological Advisory Group (James Brock
RPA)
C. Revised Historical/Archaeological Resources Report - Palm Desert National
Bank Site; located at the southeast corner of Washington Street and Avenue
47.
Applicant: McDermott Enterprises
Archaeological Consultant: CRM TECH (Bruce Love, Principal)
D. Review of a Grant Proposal to the State Office of Historic Preservation for
Historic/Archaeological Preservation Plan Historic Context Statement. and
Revised Historic Preservation Ordinance.
Applicant: City of La Quinta
VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL:
VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS
Vlll. ADJOURNMENT
002
HPC/AGENDA
MINUTES
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall Session Room
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
MARCH 22, 2001
This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by Chairman
Robert Wright at 3:03 p.m. who led the flag salute and asked for the roll call.
CALL TO ORDER
A. Pledge of Allegiance.
B. Roll Call.
Present: Commissioners Irwin, Mitchell, Puente, Sharp, and Chairman
Wright.
Staff Present: Planning Manager Christine di lorio, 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 Sharp/Puente to approve the
Minutes of January 18, 2001 as submitted. Unanimously approved.
It was then moved and seconded by Commissioners Sharp/Puente to
approve the Minutes of February 15, 2001 as submitted. Unanimously
approved.
V. BUSINESS ITEMS
A. Final _Rep_ort on an Archaeological Mitigation of Project Effects to-a-tabs-e
American Cremation Found on Parcel Ma 2p 6860 located at the southeast
corner of Washington Street and Miles Avenue. Applicant: City of La Quinta.
Archaeological Consultant: CRM TECH (Bruce Love).
1. Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the staff report, a copy of
which is on file in the Community Development Department.
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Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
March 22, 2001
Commissioner Mitchell voiced his concerns that there were no dates,
for the occupation of this site, and no radiocarbon dating. Also there
was incomplete information on artifacts which included shell beads
and projectile points. Commissioner Mitchell stated he would like to
see some discussion of the dating and random sampling of the animal
bones submitted to UC Riverside for radiocarbon dating. He had
previously stated his concerns in the Historic Preservation
Commission meeting minutes of November 9, 2000. He felt he could
not accept the report without those additional conditions.
Commissioner Irwin stated she thought the report was very well done.
She was concerned about the fact that more human remains were
found. She stated she would like to have monitoring continue during
development.
4. Commissioner Puente asked if it would be possible to obtain more
specific details on dating as mentioned by Commissioner Mitchell.
5. Planning Manager di lorio replied that would be possible, if that was
what the Commission desired. Additional conditions could be added
to insure that past conditions would be incorporated into this report.
6. Chairman Wright agreed with Commissioner Mitchell and said he
would like to see radiocarbon dating done; as well as all of
Commissioners Mitchell's previous concerns addressed before he
would be able to accept the report.
7. Planning Manager di lorio asked the Commissioners if they wanted to
have a deadline date added to their recommendations to define
whether the archaeologist would have to rush to complete the report.
8. Chairman Wright replied there wasn't an immediate need to get this
report done. Time could be taken to find out as much detail as
possible about the site.
9. Planning Manager di lorio Cdi stated the following conditions would be
added: 1). Radiocarbon dating would be required on all artifacts
found at the site to establish the occupation period of the site and age
of artifacts; and 2). Monitoring would continue during
trenching/excavating.
10. Principal Planner Sawa stated all of Commissioner Mitchell's concerns
from the November 91h meeting would be included in the conditions.
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Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
March 22, 2001
11. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Irwin/Mitchell to adopt Minute Motion 2001-006
recommending approval of the Final Report for Archaeological
Mitigation of Project Effects to a Native American Cremation Found on
Parcel Map 26860, with the following conditions:
A. Radiocarbon dating required.
B. Monitoring continue on site during trenching/excavation.
C. Concerns previously listed in November 9, 2000 report
including an expansion of the discussion regarding trade,
ceramics, and shell beads shall be included, in the Final Report
on the monitoring submitted to the City, prior to issuance of the
first building permit
B. Phase I Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey Report for a_ Eiv_e-AcLe
Addition to Rancho La Quinta located generally north of 50 Avenue and west
of Jefferson Street. Applicant: T D Desert Development. Archaeological
Consultant: CRM TECH (Bruce Love).
Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the staff report, a copy of
which is on file in the Community Development Department.
2. Commissioner Irwin expressed her concerns about not requiring
monitoring since she believed this was previously part of the Citrus
Orchard project located at Jefferson Street and Avenue 50. She
added there was a lot of citrus in that area and she would like to see
monitoring during development and trenching.
3. Commissioner Puente pointed out this is included as one of the
conditions.
4. Chairman Wright and Commissioner Puente agreed further monitoring
needed to be done.
5. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Puente/Mitchell to adopt Minute Motion 2001-007
accepting the Phase I Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey
Report for a five acre addition to Rancho La Quinta. Unanimously
approved.
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Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
March 22, 2001
C. Certified Local Government 2000 Annual Rem; review of Annual Report.
1. Principal Planner Stan Sawa asked the Commission if they had any
comments on the report; especially anything pertaining to training,
education or background.
2. Commissioner Irwin commented on the amount of work completed by
the Commission in the year 2000.
3. Planning Manager di lorio asked for any further comments, additions
or changes since the Report was scheduled to be on the Consent
Calendar for the City Council meeting of April 3, 2001.
4. There being no further discussion, the report was accepted as
presented.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL
VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS
A. Commissioner Irwin asked about the possibility of the Commissioners
attending the Millenium Conference in Barstow.
1. Planning Manager di lorio informed the Commissioners there would
be two conferences to choose from:
a. The Preservation Conference in San Diego May 17-20, 2001;
or,
b. Millennium Conference, Barstow, May 9 - 12, 2001.
2. Planning Manager di lorio asked the Commissioners for their
preference on the two meeting. Their replies were as follows:
Commissioner Irwin - Barstow - May 91h & 101h
Chairman Wright - Barstow - May 9`h & 101h
Commissioner Puente - Preservation Conference May 17 -20 and
Millennium Conference - May 91h, 10`h, 111h, &
tour of Calico Ghost Town on the 121h
Commissioner Sharp - Barstow - May 91h & 101h
Commissioner Mitchell - San Diego - May 171h - 20`h
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Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
March 22, 2001
B. Planning Manager di lorio also informed the Commission she had recently
been to the Loeb House. She gave details of her tour and said the owners
had offered to have the Commission tour the home at a later date. She also
mentioned the owners had not modified the house, but had kept it, basically,
in its original condition, including most of the furnishings which were actually
designed for the house. The Commissioners were enthusiastic about touring
the house.
C. Planning Manager di lorio stated she had also toured the two story house
across from T-bos restaurant. She had been informed there is a new owner
who's interested in restoring the house.
D. Commissioner Irwin mentioned she had received a call from Jim Cathcart, La
Quinta Realty, stating he had done some research on his building and found
out the original trim was actually blue.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Irwin/Sharp to adjourn this meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to the next
regularly scheduled meeting on April 19, 2001. This meeting of the Historical Preservation
Commission was adjourned at 3:30 p.m. March 22, 2001. Unanimously approved.
Submitted by:
Carolyn Walker
Secretary
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Twy4.fwQumrw
MEMORANDUM
TO: HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
FROM: '0-A57STAN B. SAWA, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
VIA: CHRISTI DI IORIO, PLANNING MANAGER
SUBJECT: BUSINESS ITEM "A" - BARTON PROPERTIES REQUEST AT 58T"
AVENUE AND MONROE STREET
DATE: APRIL 19, 2001
Enclosed is a staff report on the paleontological resources assessment for the
property at the northwest corner of Monroe street and 58T" Avenue. It should be
considered at the same time as the archaeological/historical resources assessment for
this property.
008
p:\stan\memo to hpc village at the palms.wpd
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
DATE: APRIL 19, 2001
ITEM: PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENT REPORT
VILLAGE AT THE PALMS NEAR THE CITY OF LA QUINTA,
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
LOCATION: NORTHWEST CORNER OF MONROE STREET AND 58T"
AVENUE
APPLICANT: COACHELLA VALLEY ENGINEERS/BARTON PROPERTIES
PALEONTOLOGICAL
CONSULTANT: CRM TECH (BRUCE LOVE, PRINCIPAL)
BACKGROUND:
The study area is a 80+ acre parcel located at the northwest corner of Monroe Street
and 58TH Avenue in the unincorporated Thermal area of Riverside County, adjacent
to the City of La Quinta. The City is currently processing a request for annexation
of the property and a tentative tract map for 97 single family lots on the south half
of the property. A Phase I (survey level) paleontological resources assessment has
been completed for the vacant property. The assessment includes an paleological
resources record search and field reconnaissance of the property. This assessment
will be part of the environmental review required by the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) for the project applications.
The north half of the property is vacant with the south half of the property is being
used for agriculture with small date palm trees growing on the western part and the
eastern part unplanted. According to the separate archeological assessment prepared
for this property, the study area is located at approximately -58 to -66 feet below sea
level and was previously covered with some 80 feet of water during the high stands
of ancient Lake Cahuilla (the remnants of which are now the Salton Sea).
DISCUSSION:
An paleological records search for the property was conducted at the San Bernardino
County Museum and Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. The records
search indicated that no Pleistocene -age sites have been recorded in the vicinity of
the study area.
009
p[\stan\hpc rpt ph 1 paleo tt 30092 sitempd
The on -foot field survey of the study area found scattered whole and broken shells
of Physa, Tryonia, and Anodonta species. These are the common forms of mollusks
found in the ancient Lake Cahuilla sediments. These are mollusks that can still be
found living today. No vertebrate remains were observed during the field inspection
which indicates that fish were able to kept pace with the declining lake level, while
the mollusks could not.
The report concludes these mollusks may be nonrenewable by context, but not by
form. Thus, they should not be considered a significant nonrenewable paleontological
resource. For the reasons noted above, CRM TECH recommends that no further
paleontological studies including monitoring is needed. Based on the findings of the
study, the report concludes that potential impact to paleontological resources is "less
than significant" for the environmental review required by CEQA.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Minute Motion 2001- , accepting the "Paleontological Resources
Assessment Report Village at the Palms near the City of La Quinta Riverside County,.
California", as prepared by CRM TECH.
Attachment:
1. Paleontological Resources Assessment Report Village at the Palms near the City
of La Quinta, Riverside County, California
Prepared by: Submitted By: n
Stan B. Sawa, Principal Planner Christine di lorio, Planning Manager
010
p[\stan\hpc rpt ph 7 paleo tt 30092 site.wpd
PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENT REPORT
VILLAGE AT THE PALMS
Near the City of La Quinta
Riverside County, California
Prepared for:
Karen Myers
Coachella Valley Engineers
77-899 Wolf Road, Suite 102
Palm Desert, CA 92211
Prepared by:
Harry M. Quinn, Geologist/Paleontologist
CRM TECH
2411 Sunset Drive
Riverside, CA 92506
Bruce Love, Principal
October 19, 2000
0
/ CRM TECH Contract #591
Approximately 80 Acres
Indio, Calif., 7.5' quadrangle
Section 22, T6S R7E, San Bernardino Base Meridian
011
MANAGEMENT SUMMARY
In October, 2000, at the request of Coachella Valley Engineers, CRM TECH
performed a paleontological resource assessment on approximately 80 acres of
former agricultural land in the Sphere of Influence of the City of La Quinta,
Riverside County, California. The subject property of the study consists of the
eastern half of the southeast quarter of Section 22, T6S R7E, San Bernardino Base
Meridian, located at the northwest corner of Monroe Street and Avenue 58, as
depicted in the USGS Indio, Calif., 7.5' quadrangle. The study is a part of the
environmental review process for a proposed residential development project
known as "Village at the Palms." It is required by the County of Riverside and the
City of La Quinta, Lead Agencies for the project, pursuant to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
The purpose of the study is to provide the Lead Agencies with the necessary
information and analysis to determine whether the proposed project would
potentially disrupt or adversely affect a paleontological site, as mandated by CEQA
and recommended by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. In order to identify
any paleontological resource locality that may exist in or near the project area and to
assess the possibility for such resources to be encountered in future excavation and
construction activities, CRM TECH initiated records searches at the San Bernardino
County Museum and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, pursued
additional literature search, and carried out a field inspection of the project area.
Based on the records and literature search as well as the field inspection, potential
impacts to paleontological resources is determined to be less than significant, and no
further paleontological studies are recommended for the project area.
012
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MANAGEMENTSUMMARY......................................................................................................
i
INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................
1
SETTING........................................................................................................................................
3
METHODSAND PROCEDURES................................................................................................
3
RecordsSearches.......................................................................................................................
3
FieldSurvey...............................................................................................................................
4
RESULTSAND FINDINGS..........................................................................................................
4
Geology
•••••• 4
Paleontology..............................................................................................................................
5
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.......................................................................
7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................
8
APPENDIX 1: PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS....................................................................10
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure1. Project vicinity.............................................................................................................. 2
Figure2. Project area....................................................................................................................
013
ii
INTRODUCTION
In October, 2000, at the request of Coachella Valley Engineers, CRM TECH performed a
paleontological resource assessment on approximately 80 acres of former agricultural land
in the Sphere of Influence of the City of La Quinta, Riverside County, California (Fig. 1).
The subject property of the study consists of the eastern half of the southeast quarter of
Section 22, T6S R7E, San Bernardino Base Meridian, located at the northwest corner of
Monroe Street and Avenue 58, as depicted in the USGS Indio, Calif., 7.5' quadrangle (Fig.
2). The study is a part of the environmental review process for a proposed residential
development project known as "Village at the Palms." It is required by the County of
Riverside and the City of La Quinta, Lead Agencies for the project, pursuant to the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA; PRC §21000, et seq.).
CRM TECH performed the present study to provide the Lead Agencies with the necessary
information and analysis to determine whether the proposed project would potentially
disrupt or adversely affect a paleontological site, as mandated by CEQA and recommended
by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. In order to identify any paleontological resource
locality that may exist in or near the project area and to assess the possibility for such
resources to be encountered in future excavation and construction activities, CRM TECH
initiated records searches at the leading paleontological information repositories in
southern California, pursued additional literature searches, and carried out a field
inspection of the project area. The following report is a complete account of the methods,
results, and final conclusion of this study.
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2 015
SETTING
The project area is located in the Coachella Valley, which occupies the northwestern
portion of the Colorado Desert Geomorphic province. The Colorado Desert province is
bounded on the southwest side by the Peninsular ranges province, on the north by the
eastern Transverse Ranges province, and on the northeast by the southern portion of the
Mojave Desert province (Jenkins 1980:40-41). The province widens to the southeast
through the Imperial Valley and into Mexico.
One of the major features to be found within the Colorado Desert province is the Salton
Trough, a 290-km (180-mile) long structural depression containing the present day Salton
Sea. This depression extends from the Banning Pass area southward into Mexico. During
Pleistocene and Holocene times, the northwestern portion of this trough was filled with
over 4,000 feet of sediments (Proctor 1968). While the term, "Salton Trough" refers to the
entire structural depression from the San Gorgonio Pass to the Gulf of California, the term
"Salton Basin" is used to describe that portion of the area that drains directly into the Salton
Sea. The Salton Sea, therefore, occupies the Salton Basin portion of the Salton Trough.
Holocene Lake Cahuilla occupied a much larger portion of the Salton Basin than that of the
present day Salton Sea. The shoreline of the last ancient lake to fill the basin can be seen
today as a line along the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains at an elevation of about 42 feet
above sea level (Waters 1983; Wilke 1978). In some areas along this shoreline, tufa was
deposited on the rocky areas. This tufa was radiometrically dated as Late Pleistocene
through Holocene (Smith and Turner 1975:24-25). However, it is very likely that the dates
published are too old and that the entire tufa sequence is of Holocene age (Quinn 2000a:5-
6).
Elevations within the Colorado Desert province tend to be low, while those of the
bounding provinces can be quite high. This configuration has made for local to regional
rapid filling of the basin, especially along its margins.
Backhoe trenches were excavated to depths of over 2.5 meters for archaeological purposes
approximately 1.5 miles south of this property. These trenches did not encounter any
mappable fluvial sediments. However, trenches dug in the same section less than a half
mile to the west found interbedded lacustrine and fluvial sediments. Based on the shape of
the old lake, the subsurface at his property should be like that found in the trenches to the
south. This absence of terrestrial sediments would greatly lessen the chances of terrestrial
fossils.
METHODS AND PROCEDURES
RECORDS SEARCHES
The records searches were provided by the Regional Paleontological Locality Inventory
located at the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands (Scott 2000) and the Natural
History Museum of Los Angeles County in Los Angeles (McLeod 2000). These institutions
maintain regional paleontological site records in their files, as well as supporting maps and
3 016
documents. The records search results are used to identify all previously performed
paleontological resource assessments and known paleontological localities within a one -
mile radius of the project area. In addition, a literature search was conducted using
materials in the CRM TECH library and the personal library of the author. The literature
survey included unpublished documents produced during surveys of other properties in
the area. Reference material not found in these collections were examined in the libraries
of various local universities and colleges when available.
FIELD SURVEY
The field assessment of the subject property was conducted by project geologist Harry M.
Quinn (see App. 1 for qualifications). On October 12, 2000, Quinn carried out an on -foot
field survey the project area, which included a reconnaissance -level series of traverses,
specifically, from the southwest edge to the center and from the center to near the southeast
corner, staying on disked sections with good ground visibility.
RESULTS AND FINDINGS
RECORDS SEARCH RESULTS
The paleontology records searches conducted by the San Bernardino County Museum and
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County found no Pleistocene -age sites in the
vicinity of the current project area. While Whistler et al. (1995) found the remains of
terrestrial vertebrates in a nearby locality, they were in interbedded sediments of lacustrine
and fluvial origin and it is not clear which interval the terrestrial fauna came from. Since
terrestrial faunas do not live in lacustrine environments, these terrestrial vertebrate remains
most likely came from the fluvial intervals. Like the fresh water mollusks, the terrestrial
vertebrate fauna found at this locality have living representatives (Whistler et al. 1995:15-
116).
The San Bernardino County Museum records search assigned the property a "high
paleontologic sensitivity" and declared the proposed project to have a "high potential to
impact significant nonrenewable fossil resources" (Scott 2000). However, as outlined in the
"Discussion" section, below, CRM TECH's opinion is that the resources potentially present
in the project area are not significant and that since there are living representatives of all
species today, they should not be classified as "nonrenewable," although the context that
they are found in could be considered nonrenewable.
The sediments present on this parcel are lacustrine deposits and consist mainly of silts,
sandy silts, and silty sands. They have been intensively farmed and show the effects of
plowing or disking. Much of the parcel was a date grove, now abandoned, with only the
southwestern 10 ± acres still in dates.
Most of the soil present on the parcel is mapped as Ir, or Indio fine sandy loam, wet
(Knecht 1980:Map Sheet12). The Ir soils are shown to be a nearly level soil with a profile
similar to the one described as representative of the series, but in most places it has a fine
017
sandy loam surface layer. In about 10% of the mapped unit, the surface layer is loamy fine
sand. The water table is 40-60 inches below the soil surface. Thus, the soil requires tile
drainage for sustained crop production. A minor amount of the soils is mapped as It (ibid.),
or Indio very fine sandy loam, wet. This soil is basically a finer grained Ir type soil.
The Indio Series soils in general are described by Knecht (1980:21) as follows: "Typically,
the surface layer is light brownish gray, very fine sandy loam about 10 inches thick. The
substratum to a depth of 60 inches or more is light brownish gray, highly micaceous very
fine sandy loam stratified with silt and silt loam. It contains a few freshwater shells. The
soil is moderately alkaline and strongly effervescent." These soils are found within the old
lake bed portion of the Coachella Valley.
PALEONTOLOGY
The on -site investigation found scattered Physa sp. as both whole and broken shells. Some
of the small depressions contain small scatters of Tryonia sp. and there are some shell
fragments of Anodonta sp. The Physa sp. and Tryonia sp. are small in size and do not appear
to have been badly broken during plowing or disking. The Anodonta sp., being of a much
larger size, have been broken by the farming activity. These are the more common forms of
mollusks to be found in the Holocene Lake Cahuilla sediments (Quinn 2000b:2-6).
No vertebrate remains were observed during the field inspection. While scattered mollusk
shells were present, no fish bone was found. As with other sites within the old lake beds,
vertebrate fossil remains are rare.
DISCUSSION
No Pleistocene -age fossil localities have been reported from the lake beds or their shoreline
equivalent strata within the Coachella Valley area. A preliminary study of soil borings
drilled for engineering purposes at various sites within the valley indicates that at least the
upper 25 feet (7.5 meters) of sediments within the lower Coachella Valley are Holocene in
age. A few borings have been drilled to 50 feet (15 meters) below grade without
encountering any Pleistocene sediments (ibid.). It is therefore doubtful that any Pleistocene
fossils, vertebrate or invertebrate, will be recovered from the lower Coachella Valley area
during normal grading operations. Thus, paleontologic monitoring of deep trenching for
utility lines should be given greater consideration than monitoring during normal grading
operations, and even these utility trenches would probably not go deep enough to reach
Pleistocene sediments.
The nearest Pleistocene and older fossil -bearing sediments are known to be present along
the up -thrown side of the San Andreas Fault System, such as in the Indio and Mecca Hills
(Dibblee 1954:21-28). Here, a low number of early Pleistocene vertebrate fossils have been
found in outcrops. However, the number of fossils found per acre of outcrop exposed is
quite low.
The most common fossils found along this uplifted terrain are marine invertebrate fossils
from the Late Miocene -Early Pliocene age Imperial formation. These sediments were
deposited when the valley was a northward extension of the Gulf of California, or about 8.0
5 .• I . 018
to 6.0 million years ago (Powell 1995:3-4). Some vertebrate fossils, including portions of a
whale skeleton, have been found in the Imperial formation near Painted Hill. A thick
section of the Imperial formation was encountered in The Texas Company Stone 1 "Edom"
well, with the top of the formation encountered over 3,000 feet below the surface. This data
further supports the idea of a rapidly filling, subsiding basin, making it very doubtful that
any pre -Holocene sediments will be encountered within the Coachella Valley proper,
especially by normal development grading.
The fresh water mollusks, when found in place, indicate that deposition was below the lake
surface, and the presence of the mussel (Anodonta sp.) indicates fresh water that is in
motion (Schneider 1989). Since this was a large lake, the movement was probably
restricted to shallow water within the surf -zone. The presence of freshwater snails
suggests the presence of organic debris, such as vegetation like reeds and bull rushes along
the shoreline.
The shell fragments of Anodonta sp. and Physa sp. are light and can be blown about by the
same winds that create the shifting sand dunes. When found in a living position, such as
paired valves for the Anodonta sp. and clusters of Physa sp. and Tryonia sp., these materials
can make good paleoenvironmental indicators. However, when they are found as
scattered fragments, their paleontological use is questionable at best. To date, no one has
found a difference in the lake faunas that inhabited the many separate Holocene lakes that
have filled the basin. Since this fauna came from the Colorado River with the water when
it filled the basin, all of the lake fillings probably had the same fauna.
The lack of fish bone, in association with the abundant molluscan fauna found within the
lake bed sediments, indicates that the fish were able to keep pace with the declining water
levels, while many of the clams, mussels, and snails could not. In many areas the fresh
water mussel Anodonta sp. cf. A. dejecta can be found as paired valves in the living position,
indicating that the drop in water level was rapid enough to prevent them from moving
down with it. Most likely, these mussels burrowed deeper into the sediments to keep pace
with declining water levels and than as the water levels continued dropping, they were
unable to surface and move down slope with the receding water. Based on studies at the
"Fish Traps," the lake was dropping at a rate of 6 to 8 feet per year. Most of the fish bone
recovered from the lake bed areas has come from archaeological sites, and not from the
lake bed sediments themselves.
There are a number of current collections of Coachella Valley Holocene invertebrate fauna
in museums (personal communication, Dr. Lindsay T. Groves, invertebrate paleontologist,
Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History). These have been collected from the
large number of shells that can still be found lying on the surface at many places in the
Coachella Valley and Imperial Valley. All of these freshwater mollusks can still be found
living today, a fact discussed by Keep (1933). These mollusks may be nonrenewable by
context, but not by form. Thus, they should not be considered a significant nonrenewable
paleontological resource. However, well-preserved specimens may be collected when
found and added to collections already in existence.
6 019
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
CEQA Appendix G provides that "a project may be deemed to have a significant effect on
the environment if it will ... disrupt or adversely affect a ... paleontological site except as
a part of a scientific study." The present study, conducted in compliance with this
provision, is designed to identify any significant, non-renewable paleontological resources
that may exist within or adjacent to the project area, and to assess the possibility for such
resources to be encountered in future excavation and construction activities.
Based on the records and literature search, as well as the field inspection, potential impact
to paleontological resources is determined to be less than significant, and no further
paleontological studies are recommended for the project area.
020
REFERENCES
Dibblee, T. W., Jr.
1954 Geology of the Imperial Valley Region, California. In Geology of Southern
California; edited by R. H. Jahns, pp. 21-28. California Division of Mines, Bulletin 170,
Part 2, Sacramento.
Jenkins, Olaf P.
1980 Geomorphic Provinces Map of California. California Geology 32 (2):40-41. (A
California Division of Mines and Geology Publication, Sacramento.)
Keep, Josiah
1935 West Coast Shells —A Description in Familiar Terms of the Principal Marine, Fresh -
Water, and Land Mollusks of the United States, British Columbia, and Alaska, Found West of
the Sierra. Stanford University Press, Stanford.
Knecht, Arnold A.
1980 Soil Survey of Riverside County, California —Coachella Valley Area. U.S. Department
of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service Report, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C.
McLeod, Samuel A.
2000 Paleontology resources for The Palms Golf Course project area. Records review
letter report, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Vertebrate Paleontology
Section, Los Angeles.
Powell, Charles L., III,
1995 Paleontology and Significance of the Imperial Formation at Garnet Hill,
Riverside County, California. U.S. Geological Survey, Open -File Report 95-489, U. S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
Proctor, Richard J.
1968 Geology of the Desert Hot Springs -Upper Coachella Valley Area, California - with a
Selected Bibliography of the Coachella Valley, Salton Sea, and Vicinity. California Division of
Mines and Geology, Special Report 94, Sacramento.
Quinn, Harry M.
2000a Petroglyphs in Tufa Along the Western Shoreline of Holocene Lake Cahuilla.
Coachella Valley Archaeological Society Newsletter 12 (4):5-6.
2000b Fresh -Water Snails, Clams and Mussels of Ancient Lake Cahuilla. Coachella
Valley Archaeological Society Newsletter 12 (7):2-6.
Quinn, Harry M., and Albert "Lee" Weismeyer
n.d. Of Rock, Sand, Wind and Water —An Explorer's Guide to the Geology of the
Coachella Valley and Santa Rosa Mountain Area, Riverside County, California.
Unpublished manuscript.
021
Rymer, Michael J.
1989 New Quaternary Age Control for Strata Within the Indio Hills, Southern
California (abstract of a paper presented at the Mojave Desert Quaternary Research
Symposium, 1989). San Bernardino County Museum Association Quarterly XXXVI (2):64-
65.
1991 Geologic Structure, Tranpression, and Neotectonics of the San Andreas Fault in
the Salton Trough, California: Part 2, The Bishop Ash Bed in the Mecca Hills. In
Geological Excursions in Southern California and Mexico, Guidebook for the 1991 Annual
Meeting, edited by Michael J. Walawender and Barry B. Hanan. Geological Society of
America, San Diego.
Schdeider, Joan S.
1989 Fresh Water Bivalves as Paleoenvironmental Indicators (abstract of a paper
presented at Mojave Desert Quaternary Research Symposium, 1989). San Bernardino
County Museum Association Quarterly XXXVI (2):65.
Scott, Eric
2000 Paleontology Records Review, The Palms Golf Course, Indio Quadrangle,
Riverside County, California. Records review letter report, San Bernardino County
Museum, Section of Geological Sciences, Redlands.
Smith Gerald A. and Wilson G. Turner
1875 Indian Rock Art of Southern California. San Bernardino County Museum
Association, Redlands.
Whistler, David P., E. Bruce Lander, and Mark A. Roeder
1995 A Diverse Record of Microfossils and Fossil Plants, Invertebrates, and Small
Vertebrates from the Late Holocene Lake Cahuilla Beds, Riverside County, California.
In Paleontology and Geology of the Western Salton Trough Detachment, Anza-Borrego Desert
State Park, California, Volume I, edited by Paul Remeika and Anne Strutz (Field Trip
Guidebook to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park), pp. 109-118. San Diego Association of
Geologists, San Diego.
022
APPENDIX 1:
PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS
023
10
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Bruce Love, Ph.D., RPA (Register of Professional Archaeologists)
Education
1986 Ph. D., Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles.
1981 M.A., Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles.
1976 B.A., Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles.
1996 "CEQA 101," presented by the Association of Environmental Professionals.
1995 "CEQA Workshop," presented by Association of Environmental
Professionals.
1994 "Assessing the Significance of Historic Archaeological Sites," presented by the
Historic Preservation Program, University of Nevada, Reno.
1994 "CEQA 1994: Issues, Trends, and Advanced Topics," presented by UCLA
Extension.
1990 "Introduction to Federal Projects and Historic Preservation Law," presented
by U.S. General Services Administration Training Center.
Professional Experience
1993- Owner and Principal, CRM TECH, Riverside.
1990-1993 Director, Archaeological Research Unit, UC Riverside; Coordinator,
Archaeological Information Center, UC Riverside.
1989-1990 Coordinator, Archaeological Information Center, UCLA.
1987-1990 Owner and Principal, Pyramid Archaeology, Palmdale, California.
1986-1987 Junior Fellow, Dumbarton Oaks Center for Pre -Columbian Research,
Washington, D.C.
1981-1986 Part-time cultural resources management consultant; doctoral student at
UCLA.
Memberships
Register of Professional Archaeologists.
Association of Environmental Professionals.
American Planning Association.
Society for American Archaeology.
Society for California Archaeology.
Coachella Valley Archaeological Society.
024
11
PALEONTOLOGIST
Harry M. Quinn
Education
1978 Certificate in Archaeology, University of California, Los Angeles, California.
1968 M.S., Geology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
Graduate work was oriented toward invertebrate paleontology. Masters Thesis was
completed as a stratigraphic paleontology project on the Precambrian and Lower
Cambrian rocks of eastern California.
1964 B. S, Geology, Long Beach State College, Long Beach.
1962 A.A., Los Angeles Harbor College, Wilmington North Palm Springs, California.
Professional Experience
1998-Present Project/Field Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside, California.
1992-Present Independent Geological/Geoarchaeological/Environmental Consultant, Pinyon
Pines, California.
1994-1996 Environmental Geologist, E.0 E.S., Inc, Redlands, California.
1988-1992 Project Geologist/Director of Environmental Services, STE, San Bernardino, California.
1987-1988 Senior Geologist, Jirsa Environmental Services, Norco, California.
1986 Consulting Petroleum Geologist, LOCO Exploration, Inc. Aurora, Colorado.
1978-1986 Senior Exploration Geologist, Tenneco Oil E & P, Englewood, Colorado.
1966-1978 Exploration and Development Geologist, Texaco, Inc., Los Angeles, California.
Memberships
American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, Rocky
Mountain Association of Geologists, Pacific Section -Society of Economic Mineralogists and
Paleontologists
Paleontology Work
1965 Summer Field Geologist for Texaco, Inc. in Nevada doing stratigraphic section
measuring and field paleontologic identification for stratigraphic controls. Later worked in the
Paleo Lab doing more detailed fossil identification to establish closer stratigraphic control;
worked mainly with Paleozoic rocks and some Mesozoic and Tertiary rocks. The Tertiary work
included identification of ostracods from the Humboldt and Sheep Pass Formations.
1966-1975 Exploration/Field Geologist for Texaco, Inc. in Alaska doing stratigraphic section
measuring and field paleontologic identification for stratigraphic control. Later Paleo Lab work
involved detailed fossil identification to establish closer stratigraphic control; worked mainly
with Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks and some Tertiary rocks. The lab work included both
megafossil and microfossil identification, as well as some fossil plant identification.
1968-70 While working for Texaco, Inc, attended in-house classes to learn Dr. Mamet's and Mr.
Armstrong's Carboniferous smaller foraminifera zonation techniques for Alaska and Nevada.
1969-73 While working for Texaco, Inc, attended company wide in-house Paleo Seminars used
to acquaint all Paleo Labs with what each was capable of doing and how each could help the
others solve correlation and paleoenvironmental reconstruction problems.
025
12
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
DATE: APRIL 19, 2001
ITEM: ARCHAEOLOGICAL/HISTORICAL RESOURCES
ASSESSMENT FOR TENTATIVE TRACT 30092, ADJACENT
TO THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, RIVERSIDE COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA
LOCATION: NORTHWEST CORNER OF MONROE STREET AND 58T"
AVENUE
APPLICANT: BARTON PROPERTIES
ARCHAEOLOGICAL
CONSULTANT: ARCHAEOLOGICAL ADVISORY GROUP (JAMES BROCK,
RPA)
BACKGROUND:
The study area is a 37+ acre parcel located at the northwest corner of Monroe Street
and 58T" Avenue in the unincorporated Thermal area of Riverside County, adjacent
to the City of La Quinta. The City is currently processing a request for annexation
of the property and a tentative tract map for 97 single family lots. A Phase I (survey
level) cultural resources assessment has been completed for the vacant property. The
assessment includes an archaeological and historical resources record search and field
reconnaissance of the property. This assessment will be part of the environmental
review required by the California Environmental Quality Act for the project
applications.
The property is being used for agriculture with small date palm trees growing on the
western half and the eastern half unplanted. The property is located at -58 to -66
feet below sea level and was previously covered with some 80 feet of water during
the high stands of ancient Lake Cahuilla (the remnants of which are now the Salton
Sea).
DISCUSSION:
An archaeological records search for the property was conducted at the Eastern
Information Center of the California Historical Resources Information System at UC
Riverside. The records search indicated that the study area had not been previously
surveyed for cultural resources and no archaeological sites have been recorded within
U26
p[\stan\hpc rpt ph 1 tt 30092.wpd
the study area. Within a one mile radius of the property approximately 40% of the
acreage has been surveyed for cultural resources. Within this one mile radius, four
prehistoric and one historic site have been identified. These sites have consisted of
pottery sherds, flakes, chipped and ground stone, thermally affected rock and clay,
a pestle, a core, one cremation site, and historic glass, metal, and ceramic fragments.
Archival research was conducted at the Science Library Map Room at UC Riverside,
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Office in Riverside, and the Indio Library.
Additional contacts were made by telephone with the BLM State Office in
Sacramento, the Coachella Valley Historical Society Museum, Patricia Laflin (historian,
former Thermal resident), and Mike Newman (grandson of John William Newman).
The research found that the property was purchased from the US General Land Office
in 1914 by John William Newman, a Thermal area farmer and businessman.
Subsequently, Mr. Newman had a farm house constructed in the northwest corner
of the property for a tenant farmer of the property to live. This house was on the
USGS 1941 Coachella Map and appeared as late as on the 1972 map. The house
was subsequently demolished at an unknown time.
The intensive -level on -foot field survey of the study area did not result in any
prehistoric sites, features, or isolates being found. One historic site was recorded,
consisting of a scatter of artifacts and two features pertaining to the farmhouse. The
artifacts included various glass fragments, porcelain and dinnerware sherds, brick
fragments, and water and sewer pipe fragments. An abandoned well head and
concrete stand pipe was also found. There was no evidence of the farmhouse
foundation or any other structural components.
The report notes that the property was utilized for agricultural purposes from the late
19"' century through most of the 20" century. Deep agricultural plowing, as well as
bulldozing have virtually eliminated the possibility of intact historic or prehistoric
deposits remaining on the property. It is likely that any prehistoric sites or features,
if they existed on the property, have been removed entirely or they would have been
obvious during the survey.
Normally monitoring in La Quinta is generally a good idea due to the sensitivity for
prehistoric resources. However, for the reasons noted above, Archaeological
Advisory Group recommends that archaeological monitoring is not needed. Based
on the findings of the study, the report concludes that approval of the project will
have no effect on any "historical resources" as defined by CEQA.
02 7
p[\stan\hpc rpt ph 1 tt 30092.wpd
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Minute Motion 2001- , accepting the "Archaeological/Historical Resources
Assessment for Tentative Tract 30092 Adjacent to the City of La Quinta, Riverside
County, California", as prepared by Archaeological Advisory Group.
Attachment:
1. Archaeological/Historical Resources Assessment for Tentative Tract 30092,
Adjacent to the City of La Quinta, Riverside County, California
Prepared by: Submitted By:
b , Gylnfl� Q 6 —
Stan B. Sawa, Principal Planner Christine di lorio, PlaAng Manager
p[\stan\hpc rpt ph 1 tt 30092.wpd
DATE:
ITEM:
LOCATION:
APPLICANT:
CONSULTANT:
BACKGROUND:
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
APRIL 19, 2001
REPORT ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING FOR ALISO
I (TRACT 27519) AND ALISO II (TRACT 29563) PROJECTS
NORTHWEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF DUNE PALMS
ROAD WESTWARD HO DRIVE
CENTURY-CROWELL COMMUNITIES
ARCHAEOLOGICAL ADVISORY GROUP (JAMES BROCK)
The properties involved are being prepared in order to construct single family
residences. Twenty-seven acres of land are involved in the two tracts which are
adjacent to each other. The future Westward Ho Park is immediately to the west of
the tracts and was used as a borrow area for filling of the two tracts. The
archaeological monitoring included the park site as well as the two tracts. Because
these properties are adjacent and development related, one report has been prepared
for the monitoring.
DISCUSSION:
Previous Phase I research found that the Aliso I and II properties were negative for
archaeological materials, and the borrow area of the park site six archaeological sites
present, none of which were unique or significant.
Monitoring for the Aliso I and II areas was negative. On the Westward Ho Park site,
two small features were found. At CA-RIV-6642/H a unburned cluster of granitic
rocks was identified. The second feature was a patch of burned soil containing
thermally affected rocks. One utilized chert flake was recovered from CA-RIV-6075.
These findings are not considered significant and do not alter the interpretation of the
sites. Therefore, no potentially significant cultural resources were identified during
the monitoring and the monitoring requirement has been completed.
029
p:\stan\hpc rpt monitoring tr 29563 tr 27519.wpd
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Minute Motion 2000-_, accepting the report titled, "Report on Archaeological
Monitoring for the Aliso I (Tract 27519) and Aliso II (Tract 29563) Projects La
Quinta. California", as prepared by Archaeological Advisory Group.
Attachment:
1. "Report on Archaeological Monitoring for the Aliso I (Tract 27519) and Aliso
II (Tract 29563) Projects, La Quinta, California" (Commissioners only)
Prepared by:
t2-;,. SauFc�-
Stan B. Sawa, Principal Planner
Submitted by:
L�U66194�t,.
Christine di lori , Planning Manager
030
p:\stan\hpc rpt monitoring tr 29563 tr 27519.wpd
DATE:
ITEM:
LOCATION:
APPLICANT:
ARCHAEOLOGICAL
CONSULTANT:
BACKGROUND:
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
APRIL 19, 2001
REVISED HISTORICAL/ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES
REPORT - PALM DESERT NATIONAL BANK SITE
SOUTHEAST CORNER OF WASHINGTON STREET AND
47T" AVENUE
MC DERMOTT ENTERPRISES
CRM TECH (BRUCE LOVE, PRINCIPAL)
The study area is a 4.8 acre parcel on the east side of Washington Street, south of
47T" Avenue, immediately west of Lake La Quinta. The Historic Preservation
Commission (HPC) at the meeting of February 15, 2001, approved a Phase I
Historical/Archaeological Resources Report for the property, subject to the report
being revised to include information on the Burkett Ranch, a homestead which
occupied a part of the property until recently (Attachment 1).
DISCUSSION:
The report has been revised to include information on the Burkett Ranch,
documenting its history based on City and County records, and discussions with the
La Quinta Historic Society and the Burkett family. Pages 6, 8, 10, and 11 include the
new information. Manning J. Burkett officially acquired the homestead from the U.S.
government in 1917 and probably settled on the land during the early or mid-1910s.
As previously noted, all buildings related to the ranch have been destroyed or
demolished. Additionally, no objects, sites, structures, features, or artifacts dating
to the prehistoric or historic periods were encountered on the property.
The report adequately documents occupation of the property by the Burketts, one of
the early non -Indian families in the La Quinta. CRM TECH concludes that historical
resources no exist within or adjacent to the project area. Therefore, approval of the
project will have no effect on any "historical resources" as defined by CEQA. The
report states that no further investigation is recommended unless the project area is
expanded or buried cultural materials are discovered during construction. Monitoring
of grading and other earth -moving activities is recommended in the report.
p[\stan\hpc rpt rev ph 1 sp 2000-049.wpd 031
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Minute Motion 2001- , accepting the revised "Historical/Archaeological
Resources Survey Report - Palm Desert National Bank", as prepared by CRM TECH,
subject to the following condition:
1. The final monitoring report shall be submitted to the HPC for approval prior to
occupancy of the first building in the project.
Attachments:
1. Minutes of the HPC meeting of February 15, 2001
2. Revised Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey Report - Palm Desert
National Bank (Commissioners only)
Prepared by: Submitted By:
Stan B. Sawa, Principal Planner Christine di lorio, Pla ing Manager
Y
032
p[\stan\hpc rpt rev ph 1 sp 2000-049.wpd
ATTACHMENT #1
MINUTES
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall Session Room
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
February 15, 2001
This meeti g of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by Vice
Chairperson aria Puente at 3:07 p.m. who led the flag salute and asked for the roll
call.
CALL TO
A. Pledge f Allegiance.
B. Roll Call.
Present: Com issioners Barbara Irwin, Mike Mitchell, Archie Sharp, and
Vice hairman Marie Puente. It was moved and seconded by
Commi ioners Irwin/Sharp to excuse Chairman Wright.
Staff Present: Prin ipal Planner Stan Sawa and Executive Secretary Betty
Saw r.
II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None.\
III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AG
A. Staff requested that the
be removed from the
Commissioners Mitchell,
2001, from the Agenda.
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: None.
J�eil>;9Ii•I��l�i�►�ib�
val of the Minutes for January 18, 2001,
da. It was moved and seconded by
i to remove the Minutes of January 18,
i\Cnously approved.
-" A. Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey Report for the Palm Desert
National Bank Site, located at the southeast corner of Washington Street
and 471h Avenue for McDermett Enterprises by CRM Tech.
1. Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained
in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community
Development Department.
033
G AW PDOCS\HPC2-15-0 1.wpd -1-
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
February 15, 2001
2. Commissioner Sharp asked if other businesses would be on the
site. Staff clarified that the site was designated for commercial
uses.
3. Commissioner Mitchell stated he concurred with staff's
recommendation.
4. Commissioner Irwin stated this property was a significant historical
site. It was used for the growing of row crops and contained the
only windmill at that time. She would like to see that monitoring
during the trenching was required. The Burkett family has a long
history in the Valley so it is important that this information on their
homestead be included in the report.
5. Commissioner Sharp stated he concurred with the monitoring and
finds it difficult to understand how nothing was found on the site.
6. Mr. Bruce Love, CRM Tech, stated his concerned that the last two
reports submitted had missed these significant sites. He would
like to find a better method of research to ensure this would not
happen again. He went on to explain the process they use to
conduct their surveys.
7. Commissioner Mitchell stated he too was concerned that this site
should be required to have further study when the site is less than
five acres. We should give him some guidelines as to the extent
of his study. Commissioner Irwin stated that if the Context
Statement was able to be used, it would serve as the source of
extent to which the reports should be taken.
8. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Mitchell/Irwin to adopt Minute Motion 2001-005
approving the Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey Report
for the Palm Desert National Bank site, as amended:
a. Monitoring during trenching.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None.
VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS: None.
1�lll�t\�11L�1�J�hLI��`
G AW PDOCS\HPC2-15-0 f .wpd -2- 034
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
DATE: APRIL 19, 2001
ITEM: GRANT PROPOSAL TO THE STATE OFFICE OF HISTORIC
PRESERVATION
BACKGROUND:
Attached is a draft grant application for State Office of Historic Preservation,
Certified Local Government Program funds to update and revise the City's
Historic/Archaeological Preservation Plan, Historic Context Statement, and Historic
Preservation Ordinance.
If the proposal is funded, the City will receive $10,000 to hire a consultant who
will work with City Staff and the HPC to revise and update these documents.
Currently, these documents are lacking an archaeological preservation element, and
they must be updated to specifically address preservation of the Cove area historic
structures.
These documents, once revised, will provide the structure and guidelines needed to
preserve La Quinta's rich historic and archaeological resources. This project will
also coincide with the City's General Plan update.
The grant application is due May 1, 2001. If the City is awarded these funds, the
project can commence on October 1, 2001 and must be completed by September
30, 2002.
RECOMMENDATION:
Review and comment.
Attachment:
1 . Draft grant application to the State Office of Historic Preservation
W
Prepared by:
Debbie Powell, Management Assistant
Submitted by:
,6 �
Christine di lorio, Planni g Manager
036
4. PROJECT SCOPE (60 points)
(Please limit to two pages. Use continuation sheet if necessary.)
The City of La Quinta is proposing to revise and finalize its 1996 draft Historic
Preservation Plan with Historic Context Statement, as well as revise and update its
1993 Historic Preservation Ordinance. According to year 2000 census figures, La
Quinta has grown by 1 1 1 % over the past ten years. This explosive growth
necessitates the finalization of the Historic Preservation Plan and Historic Context
Statement, and revision of the Historic Preservation ordinance to prevent loss of
archaeological, cultural, and historic resources. The goals of this project are to bring
these documents up-to-date, making them more relevant to the City's current needs
and to include an archaeological and cultural resource preservation component, which
is lacking in these documents. This project will coincide with the City's update of its
General Plan, providing continuity with and background information for the Cultural
Resources Element.
When the draft Historic Preservation Plan and Historic Context Statement were
developed, the City's historic preservation efforts were in their inaugural stages.
There was a greater focus on architectural preservation, given the City's history as a
resort destination beginning in the late 1920's. However, the City is also abundant in
archaeological resources. The City, once partially covered by ancient Lake Cahuilla,
has a long and significant prehistory, with one of the richest concentrations of
archaeological deposits in the State. Sites within the City have been dated to 1,600 -
2,300 years ago. Additionally, there are significant sites of the Desert Cahuilla
Indians, who inhabited the area as long as 1,000 years ago through relatively recent
times. It is imperative that the City develops a cultural resources management
component within its Historic Preservation Plan, which will be renamed the "Historic
and Archaeological Preservation Plan." In addition, the Historic Context Statement
must create a global overview of this history, so that archaeologists will have more
specific criteria for research design and a context in which to place significant items
that are unearthed. In the past year, the City has adopted curation guidelines, and a
volunteer is currently compiling a list of where collected resources are located. This
information will also be incorporated into the final Plan. Lastly, given the age of the
draft Plan, the long-term goals and future actions must be updated to preserve La
Quinta's heritage.
Significant items lacking in the Historic and Archaeological Preservation Plan include:
the systematic recordation of significant sites; the procedures to follow during
planning and project review processes; the procedures to follow when significant sites
are discovered; and public education as it relates to the City's archaeological history.
Additionally, the draft Plan doesn't specify how historic preservation programs and
projects are to be coordinated with other community programs and activities. Both
the draft Plan and Historic Context Statement need to better define the historic and
037
archaeological character of La Quinta. The Plan also needs to reference the City's
zoning codes to help guide future development. The Plan all but ignores the area's
important agricultural history, which contributed greatly to the early development of
La Quinta. This needs to be corrected in the final document. In addition, the Plan
must address issues related to the City's recently acquired historic building, which is
being used as the La Quinta Historical Society's headquarters and City museum.
Future expansion plans are underway with consideration being given to including a
curation facility for the conservation of artifacts found in the City.
Finalizing the Historic and Archaeological Preservation Plan and Historic Context
Statement naturally leads to the revision of the City's Historic Preservation
Ordinance. As it stands, the ordinance, adopted in 1991 and revised in 1993, is very
generic. Again, there is little emphasis on preservation and curation of archaeological
and cultural resources. Also lacking in the current ordinance are procedures and
standards for reviewing alterations and demolitions to historic structures; an appeals
process for citizens to challenge the Historic Preservation Commission's rulings;
discussion of local innovations; and a relationship to zoning codes. The State
Historic Building Code is not mentioned in the ordinance, and the ordinance is no
longer consistent with current CEQA requirements. Although the ordinance lists
procedures for designating historic districts, it doesn't specifically identify and
protect the City's primary historic district, the La Quinta Cove. The La Quinta Cove,
located in the southwestern portion of the City, was a popular resort destination in
the early 20`h century. The La Quinta Resort and Club, designed by prominent
Southern California architect Gordon Kaufmann, was built in 1926. Through the
1930's and 1940's, vacation homes and a small village were built in the nearby Cove
that copied the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of the hotel. Area development
over the past twenty years has resulted in a hodgepodge of home styles. Over the
years, many alterations were made to the area's historic homes that have diminished
their historic integrity. The ordinance must now address these issues, as the resale
of historic homes and the desire to restore and rehabilitate these homes becomes
more popular. 'The ordinance must include design guidelines and financial incentives,
such as the Mills Act, for preservation of the historic Cove homes.
The City will hire a certified historic preservation/archaeological consultant through
the Request for Proposals process. The consultant(s) will work with the City's
Community Development staff, various volunteers, the public, the Historic
Preservation Commission, the Planning Commission, and the City Council in
developing the final Historic and Archaeological Preservation Plan with Historic
Context Statement, and revised Historic Preservation Ordinance.
1.,038
5. PRODUCTS: What product(s) will be derived from the project? Will the product be in draft
form or final adopted form (e.g. ordinances, preservation plans, etc.)?
The documents derived from this project will include adopted 1) Historic and
Archaeological Preservation Plan with Historic Context Statement, and 2) Historic
Preservation Ordinance.
6. ADMINISTRATION (25 points)
Demonstrate that project personnel and methods are clear and appropriate to achieving project
objectives. Past performance will affect those applicants who have had previous grants.
a. List names and/or experience of individuals and organizations necessary to implement your
project.
Stan Sawa, Principal Planner, City of La Quinta. Nearly thirty years experience in
municipal planning. Will provide day-to-day project administration; provide resource
material and information to consultants; assist in developing RFP; assist with
consultant selection; assist with research; coordinate and provide support to City's
Historical Preservation Commission.
Christine di lorio, Planning Manager, City of La Quinta. Fifteen years experience in
municipal planning, specializing in historic, architectural, and cultural resource
preservation. Qualifies under the Secretary of the Interior Standards as an
Architectural Historian. Will provide project management; assist in developing RFP;
assist with consultant selection; oversee consultant's work; review and edit project
products; work with the City's Historical Preservation Commission, Planning
Commission and City Council.
Jerry Herman, Community Development Director, City of La Quinta. Twenty-five
years experience in municipal planning. Will provide project oversight; review and
approval of project products; and work with City's Planning Commission and City
Council.
City Attorney, City of La Quinta. Will approve consultant agreement; review and
approve resolutions and ordinances related to this project.
Executive Secretary and Secretary, City of La Quinta. Will provide clerical and
administrative support for project (e.g. typing, meeting coordination, phone calls,
copying, volunteer coordination, etc.).
Finance Account Technician, City of La Quinta. Will maintain financial records and
prepare related financial reports.
03,9
Finance Director, City of La Quinta. Will review and approve financial reports and
documents related to the project.
La Quinta Historic Preservation Commission. Will provide background data; make
recommendations; work with consultant; and review project products.
La Quinta Historical Society. Will provide background data; work with consultant and
Historic Preservation Commission; and review project products.
La Quinta Planning Commission. Will work with consultant; review project products;
and make recommendations.
La Quinta City Council. Will review project products; make recommendations; and
approve final products.
Contract consultant(s) certified in historic and archaeological preservation, hired
through RFP process. Will develop final Historic and Archaeological Preservation Plan
with Historic Context Statement, and revised Historic Preservation Ordinance.
b. Create a schedule/calendar for major project activities. It should be realistic and achievable.
Grant period begins
Request for Proposals
(Develop guidelines, prepare consultant list,
prepare, mail and publish RFP.)
Deadline for RFP
(Convene selection committee, review
proposals, interview consultants,
select consultant, prepare contract,
City Council awards contract.)
Preliminary meetings with consultant
and City staff, volunteers, Commissions, etc.
Work performed by consultant
October 2001
December 2001
January 2002
February 2002
February 2002 — June 2002
In house review of draft documents July 2002 — August 2002
-Review and comment by Historic Preservation
Commission
-Review and Comment by Planning Commission
-Review and Comment by City Council
040
Recommended revisions completed August 2002
Review of Final Documents and September 2002
Ordinance by Historic Preservation
Commission and Planning Commission;
Adoption by City Council
042
Draft Millennium Conference Agenda, Barstow, California
Wednesday, May 9, 2001
Russell Kaldenberg, BLM, Guest Moderator
8:00-9:00 Registration/Coffee
9:00-9:15 Welcome/Announcements
9:15-10:00 Michael Woodburn, Paleontology Keynote Welcome Address
Paleontological Studies in the California Desert
10:15-11:00 Session 1
1. "Paleocene Mammals from the Goler Formation of California"Don L. Lofgren, Raymond
M. Alf Museum of Paleontology, Claremont, CA 91711, Malcolm C. McKenna, American
Museum of Natural History, New York, NY 10021, and Steve L. Walsh, San Diego Natural
History Museum, San Diego, CA 92112
2. "What Lies Hidden in the Fossil Record. New from the Mojave Desert -Mice, Elephants,
and Camels that are Goats" David P. Whistler, Department of Vertebrate Paleontology,
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
90007
3. "Tracking Big Game in the Mojave Desert:: A Partnership in Education." Robert E.
Reynolds, LSA Associates, Inc., Riverside CA 92501
11:15-12:00 Session 2
4. "Frameworks and Constraints for Dating Sedimentary Deposits and Tectonic Events. "
Barry Albright, Department of Geology, Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
5. "Protecting Our Fossil Heritage in a National Park -Preliminary Report of
Paleontological Monitoring at Badlands National Park, South Dakota." Steven W. Conkling
and Robert E. Reynolds, LSA Associates, Inc. One Park Plaza, Suite 500, Irvine, CA 92614
6. "Managing: A Billion Year History of Life Preserved in the National Parks" V. L.
Santucci, P. O. Box 592, Kemmerer, WY 83101
NOON-1:30 LUNCH
1:30-2:30 Session 3
7. "The Late Pleistocene of the Mojave Desert, the Peopling of the Americas, and the
Terminal Pleistocene Extinctions." Eric Scott, Section of Geological Sciences, San
Bernardino County Museum, Redlands, California 92374
U43
8. "Paleontology of the Anza-Borrego State Park."
Borrego State Park, Borrego Springs, California.
9. " Early Records of Life in the Mojave Desert."
George Jefferson, Paleontologist, Anza-
Stanley M. Awramik, Department of
Geological Sciences, Preston Cloud Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa
Barbara, CA 93106.
10. "Vertebrate Paleontology in the Mojave Desert: the Continuing Importance of `Follow -
Through' in Preserving Paleontological Resources. " Eric Scott and Kathleen B. Springer,
Section of Geological Sciences, San Bernardino County Museum, Redlands, CA 92374
2:30-2:45 Break
Session 4: A Tribute to Pioneering Women Anthropologists of the California Deserts
2:45-4:00
11. "Pioneering Women Researchers of Death Valley." Blair Davenport, Museum Curator,
Death Valley National Park, Furnace Creek, CA
12. "Dee and Davy: That Pioneering Spirit." Judyth E. Reed, Ridgecrest Field Office,
Bureau of Land Management, Ridgecrest, CA 93555
13. "Isabel Kelly, Pioneer Ethnographer: Her Work in the Desert Regions of California and
Nevada. " Joan S. Schneider, University of California, Riverside and California Department
of Parks and Recreation, Colorado Desert District.
14. "Elizabeth Campbell, Pioneer Archaeologist: the Archaeopolitics of the Mojave Sink. "
Claude N. Warren, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
15. "Carobeth Laird. Her Early Ethnographic Work with J. P. Harrington and her
Chemehuevi Years with George Laird." Bonnie Bruce, Mount Palomar College and
California Department of State Parks and Recreation, Colorado Desert.
4:00-4-15 Break
Session 5: Historic Trails, Roads, and Highways of the California Desert
4:15-5.30
16. "Trails: Visible Traces of Ephemeral Pasts." Elizabeth von Till Warren, Department of
History, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
17. "The Mojave Road." Dennis Casebier, Friends of the Mojave Road, Goffs, California.
18. "The Old Plank Road Across Imperial County. " Richard Carrico, Brian Mooney and
Associates, San Diego, California.
19. "The Late Prehistory of Route 66 in California's Mojave Desert. " Roger Hatheway,
County of San Bernardino Department of Roads and Highways, San Bernardino, California.
20. "Historic and Prehistoric Indian Trails of the High Desert. " E. Henry James,
Archaeological Survey Association of Southern California, Yorba Linda, CA.
044
CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS RECEPTION AT THE RAMADA INN
May 10, 2001
7:00-8:00 Registration/Coffee
8:00-8:15 Welcome/Announcements, Roger Kelly, NPS Guest Moderator
8:15-9:45 Session 6: The Earlier Prehistory of the California Desert
21. "The Lake Manix Lithic Industry and Associated Technologies at the Calico Site, San
Bernardino County, California." Fred E. Budinger, Jr., Calico Project Director, Friends of
Calico Early Man Site, Inc. San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane,
Redlands, CA 92374
22. "Mojave Desert Prehistory at the End of the Middle Holocene: What Happened to the
`Pinto Complex'?" M.C. Hall, Archaeological Research Unit, University of California,
Riverside, CA.
23. "Re-examining the Chronological Relationships between Great Basin Stemmed and
Pinto Series Projectile Points in the Mojave Desert." Gregory M. Haynes, Department of
Anthropology, University of Nevada, Reno.
24. "Return to Rose Spring: Five Decades of Research at CA-INY-372. " Robert M. Yohe II,
Department of Anthropology, California State University, Bakersfield.
25. "Death Valley Archeology: A Retrospective at the Millennium." Tim Canaday, Death
Valley National Park, Furnace Creek, CA.
26. "The Use and Abuse of Ethnography for Developing Late Prehistoric Culture Models in
the California Deserts. " Jerry Schaefer, ASM Affiliates, Encinitas, CA.
9:45-10:00 Break
10:00-11:45Session 7: The Late Prehistoric Period of the California Desert
27. "Late Holocene Climatic Fluctuation and Implications for Settlement of the Central
Mojave Desert." Andrew L. York, EDAW, Inc., San Diego, CA
28. "A Late Prehistoric Travel Route West of Pilot Knob. " Jackson Underwood, EDAW,
Inc., San Diego, CA.
29. "Lake Cahuilla Shoreline Fish Camps on the Flanks of the Fish Creek Mountains. " G.,
Edward Collins, Imperial Irrigation District and Imperial Valley College, El Centro, CA.
30. "Limitations to Settlement and Subsistence on the Eastern Shoreline of Lake Cahuilla. "
Jay von Werlhof, Imperial Valley College Museum, Ocotillo Wells, CA.
31. "Protohistoric Recessional Shorelines at Lake Cahuilla, California. " James H. Cleland,
Andrew York, and Rebecca McCorkle Apple, EDAW, Inc. San Diego.
045
32. "The Results of an Archaeological Shoreline Survey Along the Southwestern Shores of
Lake Cahuilla." Philip Hines, State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation.
33. "Results from the Excavation of a Rock Enclosure West of the Salton Sea. " Dionne
Gruver, State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation
11:45-1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:00 Keynote Address by Dr. Brian Fagan, University of California, Santa Barbara
2:00-2:15 Break
2:15-3:00 Session 8: The Late Prehistoric Period of the California Desert (continued)
34. "Remembering Lake Cahuilla. " Don Laylander, CALTRANS, retired.
35. "Native Population and Settlement in the Western Mojave Desert in the 18' and 19`h
Centuries." David D. Earle, Lancaster City Museum, Lancaster, CA.
36. "Restoration of Tribal Homelands: A Case Study in Collaborative Leadership and
Shared Responsibilities. " Ahmed Mohsen, Bureau of Land Management, Ridgecrest Field
Office.
3:00-3:15 Break
3:15-4:15 Session 9 Rock Art of the California Desert
37. "Varnish Dating ofPetroglyphs and Geoglyphs, Where Now?" Part 1. Ronald L Dorn,
Department of Geography, Arizona State University.
38. "Archaic (Gypsum Period) Pictographs at Newberry Cave." Joseph M. Simon, David S.
Whitley, W&S Consultants and Russell L. Kaldenberg, BLM.
39. "Metaphoric Representation in Shamanistic Rock Art: A Discussion from the Mojave
Desert." David S. Whitley, W & S Consultants.
40. "Rock Art of the Western Mojave Desert. " Mark M. Campbell, Edward Air Force Base,
Cerro Coso College.
4:15-4:30 Break
4:30-5:30 Session 10 Rock Art of the California Desert
41. "Faces in the Rock: A Survey of Face Paint -Like Petroglyphs in the East Mojave
Desert. "
Courtney Smith and David Lee.
42. "An Overview of Rock Art Research in the Mojave Desert." Don D. Christensen and
Jerry Dickey.
43. "Varnish Dating of Petroglyphs and Geoglyphs, Where Now?" Part II. Ronald 1. Dorn,
I ffjllq�
Department of Geography, Arizona State University.
CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS
6:30-8:30 Evening Reception and BBQ with Huell Houser
MAY 11, 2001
7:00-8:00 Registration/Coffee
8:00-8:15 Clarence Everly, DOD, Guest Moderator
8:15-10:00 Session 11: The Historical Record of the California Desert
44. "Historical Archaeology in California Deserts: An Overview." Roger E. Kelly, National
Park Service, San Francisco.
45. "The Life of Reilly: Insights into 1810s Corporate Behavior, Worker Life, and Industrial
Technologies from a Silver Mining Landscape in the Northern Mojave Desert." James. J.
Barnes, Sonoma State University, BLM, Redding Field Office.
46. "The Adventures of a Hysterical Researcher." Dennis Casebier, Friends of the Mojave
Road, Goffs, CA.
47. "The Bonanza Trail: Saving the Mojave Desert's Depression Era History." Linn Gum,
BLM, Ridgecrest, CA
48. "Adopting Historical Cabins: A Program in Public Participation to Save the Desert's
Historical Heritage." Steve Smith, BLM, Ridgecrest, CA.
49. "Small Tracts in the California Desert. " Meg McDonald and John Goodman, San
Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino, CA
50. "Homesteading the Mojave. " Colonel John J. MacGregor, Carlsbad, CA
10.00-10:15Break
10:15-11:45 Session 12: The Historical Record of the California Desert
51. "The `Dry' Mojave Desert: The Bootlegging Years in the Mojave." Cliff Walker,
Barstow, College.
52. "A 50 Year History of Decorative Rock Mining in the Mojave Desert. " Bill Man,
Brubaker Mann Company, Barstow, CA
53. "Using Desert Magazine as an Historical Resource for California Desert History. " Tom
Budlong, Santa Monica, CA
047
54. "Desert Frontier Settlement and Land Use in the Antelope Valley Region, 1850-1950"
David D. Earle, Lancaster City Museum, Lancaster, CA
55. "Contributions to the Myth of the American West by the Iconic Imagery of Red Rock
Canyon, California." Mark R. Faull, Supervising State Park Ranger, Red Rock Canyon
State Park, California State Parks.
56. "The Lower Colorado Desert of Southeastern California and Northeastern Baja
California in the 19' Century." Blain P. Lamb, Historian, Capital District, California Sate
Parks.
11:45-12:00 Break
12:00-1:00 Keynote Speaker: Remi Nadeau, III
1:00-1:30 Lunch
1:30-2:30 Session 13: Issues in Seamless Management of the California Desert
57. "Fort Irwin's Cultural Resources Program: Priorities, Protocol, and Praxis. " Darrell S.
Goodrum, Doss Powell, Jennifer Mitchell, and Margarite Grable, Ft. Irwin, CA
58. "Cultural Resources, Border Issues, and Federal Land Management" Margaret H.
Hangan, BLM, El Centro and Jason G. Caffey, Border Patrol.
59. "Archaeology, Data Standardization, and GIS" Roscoe Loetzerich, Viking GIS, LLC.
60. "Building a Lithic Data Base for the Western Mojave: A Pilot Study at Red Rock
Canyon State Park. " James Demetrios G. Fordas, Department of Anthropology, California
State University, Long Beach.
2:30-2:45 Break
2:45-3:45 Session 14: Issues in Seamless Management (continued)
61. "GIS and Cultural Resources Management in the Next Millennium at Edward Sir Force
Base, California." Matthew Pittman, Computer Sciences Corporation, Edwards Air Force
Base.
62. "The Evolution of the Bullion Road: Prosperity for Emergent Los Angeles and
Connectivity to the Northern Mojave and Eastern Sierra Provinces. " Mark R. Faull, State
Park Ranger, Red Rock Canyon State Park and Margaret Hangan, BLM, El Centro.
63. "Military Use of the California Desert: The Desert Training Center. " Matt Bischoff,
Statistical Research, Tuscon, AZ
64. "Developing a Heritage Tourism Industry to Assist in Preserving the California Desert's
Past." Russell L. Kaldenberg, BLM, California State Office, Sacramento
3:45-4:00 Break
300111lo
4:00-5:15 Managers Panel
CLOSING COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS REGARDING FIELD TRIPS FOR
MAY 12.