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2008 12 18 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 December 18, 2008 This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by Chairwoman Puente at 3:04 p.m. who asked for the roll call. CALL TO ORDER A. Roll Call. Present: Commissioners Sharp, Wilbur, and Chairwoman Puente Absent: Commissioners Redmon and Wright Staff Present: Planning Director Les Johnson, Planning Manager David Sawyer, Principal Planner Stan Sawa, and Executive Secretary Carolyn Walker. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: A. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wilbur/Sharp to approve the minutes of November 20, 2008, as submitted. Unanimously approved. V. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Discussion on Historic Preservation Tour Brochure. Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. Commissioner Puente asked if a specific budget amount had been identified for work on the brochure. Planning Manager Sawyer said there was no specific budget. He suggested the amount would be P~\ILeports - HPC\2009\I-29-09\HPC_Approved_Min_12-] 8-08.doc Historic Preservation Commission December 18, 2008 approximately the same as the cost of the (Bike Map) brochure provided to the Commissioners; since the Historic Tour brochure would look very similar. Staff also provided the City's Art Map to the Commissioners. Chairwoman Puente suggested there be a listing of the City's main historical resources with a small narrative explaining the history of the site. Commissioner Sharp asked if she meant this was to be included on the map. She replied yes. She added there should be some historical bullets which could include the description of the site, year built, and historical highlights. Commissioner Sharp suggested each brochure be printed in a different color for easy identification. Chairwoman Puente suggested they use the same map as the other brochures, but include a walking tour map which could possibly highlight other areas, such as Old Town. This would give the brochure multiple uses. Principal Planner Sawa said if there were enough locations, within a specified area, it might be possible to include a small map in the brochure. Commissioner Sharp suggested that might make the map too complex. He felt it should be kept very simple. Commissioner Wilber commented there really isn't a significant number of sites, and the Commission should think carefully of what should be of interest for historic content. Staff suggested the La Quinta Resort might be one of the sites to be considered. Commissioner Sharp commented on some previous Native American towns. Staff suggested the Commissioners might want to discuss whether there should be the addition of sites which no longer exist. Planning Manager Sawyer noted whether the purpose of the map is for either a walking tour or a driving tour. There wouldn't be a reason for including non-existent sites. P:\Reports - HPC\2009\1-29-09\HPC_Approved_Min_12-18-08.doc 2 Historic Preservation Commission December 18, 2008 Commissioner Wilber asked if staff knew the number of possible sites. Staff said the number would be less than shown on the bike map; possibly ten to fifteen sites. Planning Manager Sawyer referenced the La Quinta Resort and asked if the Commission wished to highlight the various elements, or the Resort as a whole. Discussion followed on the pros and cons of both approaches. Commissioner Sharp commented on the Hacienda del Gato and sites which are inaccessible. Staff suggested those types of sites could be included as list with a description and photo. Commissioner Wilbur suggested adding the Museum. Staff also suggested the veterinarian building which was a former lumberyard. Staff recapped the Commissioner's requests to add the La Quinta Resort, the Museum, the lumberyard (veterinary/residence-, and the La Quinta Realty building. Chairwoman Puente suggested including Point Happy, but the comment was made that there wasn't really anything left of the original ranch. Staff suggested photos of former historical sites could be included, if there was space available. Commissioner Sharp commented about the trails that went back over the mountains, used by the Native Americans to obtain water from Indian Wells. He wanted to know if those types of features should be included as they were of great interest to him. Staff said they would research the information on the trails. Planning Manager Sawyer said if it was a feature that someone could actually go to and see, it should be considered. He gave the example of Point Happy if the trail could be identified and visualized it could be considered. Commissioner Sharp was just concerned that it be made known there was a Native American presence in the community, not just development. Chairwoman Puente added there were also Hispanic elements to the City's history. Commissioner Sharp added the Bradshaw Trail went through the Point Happy area. Staff said it would be possible to describe the portion that went through La Quinta. P:\Reports - HPC\2009\1-29-09\HPC_Approved_Min_12-18-08.doc 3 Historic Preservation Commission December 18, 2008 Commissioner Wilbur asked about the possibility of including homes in the Cove Area. Staff said that was a possibility. Commissioner Sharp asked about something called a "submarine" building. Staff explained what it was and how it was built; that it was basically a metal half-dome, canvas-lined building with water running down the sides to act as the building's air conditioning. Commissioner Wilbur asked about any references to General Patton or other famous people who have lived, or stayed, in La Quinta. Staff said possibly, in the Resort description, they could include a few people who have stayed there. Planning Manager Sawyer asked how far back the Commission wanted to go; using the example of the fish traps and geological aspects, such as the waterline. The Commissioners said that was a very interesting site and thought it should be included. Chairwoman Puente suggested there could be mention of the Native American tribes in the area. Staff said a paragraph could be added describing the tribes. There was general discussion as to whether there was anything historical left at the Fritz Burns Park; with particular reference to the Desert Club, and it was decided to leave it out. Staff commented on the restaurant building (EI Ranchito) on Calle Estado and the Commission agreed it should be added. Planning Manager Sawyer said they will take the information given to them and rough out a first draft. Chairwoman Puente asked if the draft could be prepared for the next meeting. Staff said it would probably not be available until the February meeting. Commissioner Sharp said he liked the format of the map and suggested the maps should be available at the Museum. Commissioner Wilbur asked if the mural at the Museum had been completed. Staff did not know but would find out and report back at the next meeting. P:\Reports- HPC\2009\1-29-09\HPC_Approved_Min_12-18-08.doc 4 Historic Preservation Commission December 18, 2008 Chairwoman Puente asked if the draft would be in the same format as the bike map. Staff said they would do a "rough" mock up for the Commissioners to look at. Commissioner.Wilbur said Commissioners Redmon and Wright would probably have additional comments which would change the map. There was no further comment and it was agreed staff would prepare a draft of the map for the Commission to review at a future meeting. B. City Historic Context Statement Review Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the staff report a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. Planning Manager Sawyer explained the process for preparation, finalization, and approval of the Historic Context Statement. Commissioner Wilbur asked what happens to the documents once they are approved. Staff explained it would be included in the 2009 CLG report. Commissioner Sharp said he thought the Context Statement would be a very interesting item to be available at the La Quinta Hotel. Staff responded it would be available at the local library. Commissioner Wilbur said the bibliography section did not identify the first Context Statement. Staff said the previous Historic Context Statement was never approved. The document they were currently discussing would be the first completed Context Statement to be finalized and approved. Commissioner Sharp commented on some of the texts referenced in the bibliography and the fact that he was unable to locate some of the books/references. Staff said some of the books, articles referred to are no longer available. Commissioner Sharp commented on the small amount of original casitas built because it said in the original text there were only six. There was discussion about when, and how many, original casitas were built. Staff gave some background on the hotel and its casitas. P:\Reports - HPC\2009\1-29-09\HPC_Approved_Min_12-18-08.doc 5 Historic Preservation Commission December 18, 2008 Commissioner Sharp commented on a layout he did on the Desert Club for the La Quinta Museum. He said the architecture of the Desert Club was high-art-deco, it was "steamboat modern". Staff explained the original home development concept had the museum building as the sales office; and the lumberyard building's downstairs area was administration, and upstairs contained the living quarters. Those were built along with a number of cove casitas. The Desert Club was built later partly as an amenity to the cove casitas' owners. The cove development was done separately from the La Quinta IResort- Hotel. Commissioner Wilbur suggested the following amendments: Page 61, last paragraph - yVf~+4e Many of the buildings have experienced sere modification over the decades ~addi~ierrs= °'*°•^°'~°^^`. Many of the buildings retain integrity of form, design, and materials. On Page 62, first paragraph -The original residences in the Cove are related by age and design and appeaF-pessib4y may be eligible for designation as a City of La Quinta Historic District. Commissioner Sharp commented on an item on Page 51, where it talks about Mr. Kiner being married to an actress. He said it was not beneficial to have partial information. It would be better to remove the information if it is not complete. Planning Manager Sawyer said this was not written as a book, and still needed clarification in some areas. He commented on 1) Page 52, and a paragraph discussing the subdivision process and, 2) Page 54 and a discussion of the La Quinta Hotel grounds. He said there was also a reference to a home on Avenida Obregon but the Statement doesn't list why that home was significant. He wanted to let the Commissioner's know that staff would further refine and make changes, on the Statement, then bring it back in a more finished format for the Commissioners' final comments. There being no further comments Commissioners agreed with staff's suggestions to finalize the Statement and bring it back to them for comment. P:\Reports - HPC\2009\1-29-09\HPC_Approved_Min_12-18-OS.doc 6 Historic Preservation Commission December 18, 2008 VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: There was discussion about the Mayor's letter which went to the Historic Preservation Conference organizers, welcoming them to the area during their Conference. Staff said a copy of the letter would be e-mailed to the Commissioners. VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS Chairwoman Puente asked if the Commissioners would be receiving tickets to the Bob Hope Golf Classic. Staff said they would look into it and report back. Chairwoman Puente read an article, from the La Quinta Sun which included former HPC Commissioner, Barbara Irwin, leading a tour at the La Quinta Hotel. VIII. PLANNING STAFF ITEMS: None X. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wilbur/Sharp to adjourn this Meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to the next Regular Meeting to be held on January 15, 2009. This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was adjourned at 3:49 p.m. Unanimously approved. Submitted by: ~~~ ~~~ Carolyn Walker Executive Secretary P:\Reports-HPC\2009\1-29-09\HPC_Approved_Min_t2-18-08.doc 7