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2018 05 30 CC & PC Special Joint MinutesSPECIAL JOINT STUDY SESSION MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 2018 CALL TO ORDER - City Council and Planning Commission A special joint meeting of the La Quinta City Council and La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at 3:04 p.m. by Mayor Evans. PRESENT: Councilmembers Fitzpatrick, Pena, Radi, Sanchez, Mayor Evans ABSENT: None PRESENT: Commissioners Bettencourt, Currie, McCune, Proctor, and Wright ABSENT: Commissioner Caldwell and Chairperson Quill PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - None CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA - Confirmed PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Sanchez led the audience in the pledge of allegiance. PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - None PLANNING COMMISSIONER QUILL JOINED THE SPECIAL JOINT MEETING AT 3:06 P.M. STUDY SESSION 1. DISCUSS HIGHWAY 111 CORRIDOR DESIGN AND ENHANCEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS BY URBAN LAND INSTITUTE (ULI) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PANEL (TAP) Planning Manager Perez presented the staff report, which is on file in the Clerk's Office, and introduced Executive Director Kendra Chandler with the ULI Orange County/Inland Empire (OC/IE) who gave a brief overview of the TAP's background, mission, expertise, services offered, and scope of work which consisted of evaluating the Highway 111 commercial corridor and positioning it for long term economic viability. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - SPECIAL MEETING MAY 30, 2018 SPECIAL JOINT STUDY SESSION MEETING: Page 1 of 6 CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION Ms. Chandler said the TAP team was comprised of the following members: • • • • • Panelists Manuel Bouza, MG2 Andrew Bowden, Land Concern Sheila Cedervall, PlaceWorks Vaughan Davies, Perkins Eastman Stephen Nieto, South West Concepts Co -Chairs • Oscar Uranga, IMG • Carol Mentor McDermott, Entitlement Advisors ULI Leadership • Anthony Petros, LSA Associates • John R. Williams, Chair, ULI OC/IE • Sergio Ramirez, City of Long Beach • Denice Ashton, Vice Chair, ULI OC/IE • Robert Reicher, The Reicher Company ULI Staff & Support • Carl Rieger, Eastdil Secured Kendra Chandler, Executive Director ULI • Spencer Wampole, The Wampole OC/IE Group • Stacy Greer, District Council Manager, ULI OC/IE • Katie Holst, Senior Associate, ULI OC/IE The following members presented a power point presentation of the TAP's findings and recommendations regarding the Highway 111 corridor design and enhancement: Mr. Uranga, Ms. McDermott, Mr. Reicher, Mr. Ramirez, Mr. Nieto, Mr. Bowden, Mr. Tony Petros, LSA, Mr. Rieger, Mr. Wampole, which is on file in the Clerk's Office. The TAP's review included evaluation of parking opportunities; market reports inclusive of retail, ecommerce, hospitality, tourism, dining, shopping, and residential parks; stakeholder objectives which included electrical bike sharing, shading and seating areas, gathering spaces, economic incentives, pedestrian connectivity, dog parks, family recreational opportunities, allowance for flexible uses of commercial real estate, and landscape improvements; ability to capitalize on existing local and neighboring catalyst sites such as the Indian Wells tennis center, Coachella and Stagecoach festivals in Indio, as well as the polo grounds, the La Quinta Resort & Club, future Pendry and Montage hotels at SilverRock, and suggested enhancements such as splash parks, wave machine, indoor driving range; and the benefits of the future CV Link development. The TAP completed a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis of this project based on their findings; provided answers and recommendations on the seven questions listed in the staff report; presented an implementation strategy which included project level environmental impact report and comprehensive Highway 111 Specific Plan (SP), making allowances for flexible uses, reducing parking standards, increasing and unifying local brand recognition in CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - SPECIAL MEETING MAY 30, 2018 SPECIAL JOINT STUDY SESSION MEETING: Page 2 of 6 CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION conjunction with regional branding, experiential retail, pedestrian connectivity to CV Link; and offered some finance tools and options. The Council, Commission, and staff commended the TAP for contributing their time, efforts, and expertise in preparing the presentation and report on this project. Mayor Evans asked the members of the public present at the meeting to introduce themselves - Vice President Jim Hildenbrand with Hofmann Land Development (Travertine); Associate Planner Carlos Flores, City of La Quinta; Development Services Director Les Johnson, City of Indio; Finance Director Karla Campos, City of La Quinta; Development Associate Carter McLarand with Shopoff Realty Investments, LP representing the property located at the southwest corner of La Quinta Drive and Auto Centre Drive; Facilities Director Steve Howlett, City of La Quinta; concerned citizen of Rancho Mirage Brad Evans; CVAG Executive Director Tom Kirk; Executive Vice President/Partner Curtis Barlow, MBA, JD, with Coldwell Banker Commercial Lyle & Associates representing several commercial centers in La Quinta; CEO Steven Semingson with Civic Partners, Inc. which recently purchased the former Sam's Club building; Vice President/Director of Planning Services Paul DePalatis, AICP with MSA Consulting, Rancho Mirage; President/Owner Stephen Nieto with Southwest Concepts, La Quinta; Business Analyst Gil Villalpando, City of La Quinta; Senior Planner Cheri Flores, City of La Quinta; City Engineer Bryan McKinney, City of La Quinta; Building Official James Wiatrak, City of La Quinta; Planning Manager Gabriel Perez, City of La Quinta. General joint discussion followed regarding the importance of quality landscaping, visual appearance, and curb side appeal; implementing alternative transportation options such as electric scooters and bicycles; projected development timeline for the CV Link project; and ability to utilize street lighting to distinguish La Quinta from neighboring communities. Mr. Kirk gave a brief overview of the CV Link regional project development timeline and federal funding; delays associated with right-of-way acquisitions for certain sections of the CV Link and subsequent requests for bids; project's environmental impact report was completed about a year ago; federal approval of the project's environmental review is still pending; potential benefits and opportunities of this project to the commercial property owners; the project's focus on north -south connectivity ,and Golden Voice's support to connect the project to the polo grounds; ability to utilize the storm water channel to realize this north -south connection; shifting emphasis from "pedestrian connectivity" to value-added experience due to alternative transportation opportunities. Joint discussion continued regarding the importance to enhance, but also to maintain the quality of the Highway 111 commercial district; support of linking the Highway 111 corridor to the CV Link project; La Quinta's eclectic community and lack of uniform development guidelines; demands from big box retailers to maintain their established CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - SPECIAL MEETING MAY 30, 2018 SPECIAL JOINT STUDY SESSION MEETING: Page 3 of 6 CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION branding regardless of local development requirements and the inability of municipalities to be "strict on form"; pros and cons of establishing a unifying SP; economic development and market fluctuation driving SP changes; different elements that comprise a SP and the ability to apply flexibility to the design element in order to capture the essence of La Quinta now and into the future; importance of landscaping, public right-of-way and space; implementing "area plans" to compliment the SP and allow for design flexibility; parking requirements being dictated primarily by tenants; challenges with enforcing implementation of a unifying plan; and current local agencies that focus on regional economic development collaboration. PLANNING COMMISSIONER WRIGHT LEFT THE MEETING AT 5:57 P.M. Additional joint discussion followed regarding La Quinta's unique community demographics; taking into consideration a five-year projection of future population trends; the availability of many different forms of alternative transportation, which would accommodate large age -diverse population, and the ideal location of the Highway 111 corridor to implement it as it was positioned away from residential communities; the benefits of CV Link's regional collaboration in promoting the project and its association with the music festivals, which would be a vital attraction for future generations; and would the City have the ability, and was it equipped, to enforce standards imposed by a unifying SP or Area Plan. General joint discussion continued regarding creating a "boardwalk" atmosphere design to promote the use of alternative transportation and active living; Area Plans allowed more flexibility than a SP; need to evaluate the City's current zoning and land use and possibly implementing more non-traditional types due to commercial business model changes occurring as a result from e-commerce; enterprise zones; ways to repurpose portions of existing parking lots without eliminating the ability to park in those areas should demand require it; trend toward reduced parking demands by retail and hospitality operators; options for municipalities to encourage mixed -use developments; parklets; implementing area overlays for design guidelines; challenges associated with "private -public partnership" incentives; the City's inability to create enterprise zones; importance of communication between retailers to create a non- competitive environment, where they can complement and promote each other's businesses; ways to encourage leasing "big box" real estate into smaller modular spaces; incorporating art and activities into the retail experience; benefits of alternative transportation versus public transportation and the associated funding challenges; majority of the commercial retail vacancy rate in La Quinta stemmed from the former Sam's Club and Ralph's buildings; emphasizing the importance to evoke mutual commercial collaboration and commitment; perceived benefits of "retailtainment;" possible next steps to identify and create a demand; and possible Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD) (SB 628 Beall) funding options similar to the finding mechanism explored by the Salton Sea Authority. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - SPECIAL MEETING MAY 30, 2018 SPECIAL JOINT STUDY SESSION MEETING: Page 4 of 6 CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION The TAP reported on the participation, collaboration, and comments received from the City's commercial owners and development community. Additional general joint discussion followed regarding the Highway 111 Shopping Center continuous collaboration with the City; way -finding signs; rear -building signs and CV Link entry points; exploring opportunities to expand available Wi-Fi and marketing broadband; the undergoing upgrade of the City -owned traffic lights at the major intersections would also provide Wi-Fi; the TAP's report would include recommendations on commercial improvements; options to activate temporary "pop- up" activities and events on some of the "land bank" areas (or extra parking spaces), and collaborate and co -market with the commercial owners; perceived benefits of creating a symbiosis between the "land bank" areas and the stores by utilizing landscaping, seating areas, misters, etc., to make it a more personal experience; and the essential design flaws associated with placing trees in planters amongst a sea of asphalt making it difficult for the trees to survive and grow. Mr. Semingson shared some possible uses for the former Sam's club building and provided general comments on the TAP's findings and recommendation. Mr. Barlow noted the biggest challenges for a business to be successful in this community were critical mass and seasonality; placing focus "not on the clicks, but the bricks," because that was what would bring people to the community; and ways to repurpose the "big box" stores. Further joint discussion followed regarding the City's unsuccessful attempts to initiate an infrastructure finance district in the past following the 2013 flood with the Desert Sands Unified School District, County of Riverside, Coachella Valley Water District, and other agencies; next steps would include establishing a timeline of events and activities, and defining how the City would take the first steps forward based on the recommendations listed in the TAP's report; challenges the City has faced in getting the Highway 111 commercial owners to communicate and work together; unsuccessful attempts to launch joint marketing opportunities; the reality of still living in a car -oriented society despite the rapidly advancing trend of alternative transportation; possible new development of a Residence Inn hotel at the Highway 111 corridor; and the high-level tourism amenities that the future Pendry and Montage would offer. TAP's report would be available in four to six weeks. General joint discussion followed regarding the benefits of building a pedestrian bridge across the Highway 111 corridor to access CV Link and to avoid at -grade pedestrian Highway 111 crossings that impact traffic signal timing, and "layered complete streets" notion, which would provide alternative routes for folks to get around parallel to the Highway 111 corridor; marking the entrance to La Quinta at the iconic Point Happy commercial center corner; and past unsuccessful attempts at CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - SPECIAL MEETING MAY 30, 2018 SPECIAL JOINT STUDY SESSION MEETING: Page 5 of 6 CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION "retailtainment;" available competitive grant funding for pedestrian bridge crossings; and ways to encourage and get the most out of Uber and alternative transportation options without impairing parking availability. COUNCIL AND COMMISSION MEMBERS' ITEMS - None ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by Councilmembers Radi/Fitzpatrick to adjourn at 6:17 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, v t(to r MONIKA RADEVA, Acting City Clerk City of La Quinta, California CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - SPECIAL MEETING MAY 30, 2018 SPECIAL JOINT STUDY SESSION MEETING: Page 6 of 6 CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION