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2010 12 15 ALRC MinutesMINUTES ARCHITECTURE & LANDSCAPING REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA December 15, 2010 11:01 a.m. CALL TO ORDER A. This regular meeting of the Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee was called to order at 11:00 a.m. by Planning Manager David Sawyer who led the Committee in the flag salute. B. Committee Members Present: Jason Arnold, Kevin McCune, and David Thoms Committee Members Absent: None IV V C. Staff present: Planning Director Les Johnson, Planning Manager David Sawyer, and Executive Secretary Carolyn Walker CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed PUBLIC COMMENT: None CONSENT CALENDAR: Staff asked if there were any changes to the Minutes of November 3, 2010. There being no comments or corrections it was moved and seconded by Committee Members McCune/Arnold to approve the minutes as submitted. Unanimously approved. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Highway 111 Corridor Landscape Design Guidelines a request submitted by the City of La Quinta for the review and discussion of the Highway 111 Corridor Landscape Design Guidelines. Planning Director Johnson presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. Staff stated the plan was presented to the Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee to obtain their comments and feedback. Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes December 15, 2010 After general discussion, the members said they Liked the general plan, but had the following comments: • Western median island needs to have icon, or entrance sign, stating "You are entering La Quinta." • Add citrus trees to the Home Depot entry feature, as well as some the detail on the tower, possibly in natural colors. • Focus more on (pedestrian scale) light fixtures, rather ahan bollards, due to maintenance issues. • More use of L.E.D. and solar light fixtures. • The use of stamped concrete, in a dark brown color, instead of artificial brick. • Use larger than 15-gallan Italian Cypress. • The City's maintenance contract be very definitive in its specifications ,for proper maintenance of the plants, especially the hedges and cypress, to eliminate the "hedging" of shrubs. Also, state .the contractor's accountability when the specifications are not followed. • Include the use of more succulents, where possible, in place of hedges. • State a color for decomposed granite, such as Brimstone or a Desert Gold, instead of Palm Springs Gold, for substantial cost savings. (Palm Springs Gold is only available from a single supplier.) • Minimize actual turf and replace with artificial turf, in appropriate locations. • Do not encourage the use of the Pindo Palm variety. • Mow curbing on natural turf should be 6 x 6 mow curb, with no. 3 rebar, to allow machine installation, for cost savings. • No mow curbing needed where there is synthetic turf with decomposed granite Idgl next to it. • Decomposed granite (dg) shall be wetted and tamped when installed, instead of "wet and rolled." • Use of Baja or Dos Rios rock (earth tones, instead of Salt River - Rock. • Make sure a sample of the Date Palm is submitted before it is planted. The Committee Members also suggested staff should go out to Southwest Rock to see how, differences in rocks quarried in different areas can cause significant color variation. P:~Reports - ALRC~2011 ~ALRC_1-5-11 ~.4LRC MIN_ 12- 15-10_Approved.doc 2 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes December 15, 2010 General discussion followed regarding how City projects were handled and the target dates for the phasing of this project. Committee Member Arnold asked if the parkways were on City water. Staff explained the parkways were managed by the adjacent property owners. Committee Member Arnold expressed concern about parkway maintenance if the property owner filed bankruptcy. Staff explained there would still be a property owner who was responsible for the property. Staff then explained the Code Compliance Department's part in contacting the owner and the procedures in enforcement of the maintenance of the property. The Committee Members agreed it was nice to be able to make comments on City projects and added it would also be helpful to see project irrigation plans for regular projects at the beginning of the design process. Following this procedure could avoid future problems and the City would be able to utilize the expertise of the Committee Members. Staff thanked the Committee Members for their time and comments and said a copy of the minutes would be given to the Council. VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None VII. COMMITTEE MEMBER ITEMS: None VIII. PLANNING STAFF ITEMS: None IX. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members McCune/Arnold to adjourn this meeting of the Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee to a Regular Meeting to be held on January 5, 2011. This meeting was adjourned at 12:23 a.m. on December 15, 2010. Respectfully submitted, CAROL WALKER Executive Secretary P:\Reports - ALRC\2011\ALRC_1-5-I1\ALRC MIN_12-IS-]0_Approved.doc 3