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1998 05 12 CC Minutes^"2e LA QUINTA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES MAY 12,1998 Special meeting of the La Quinta City Council was called to order at 1:30 pm by Mayor Pena, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENT: Council Members Henderson, Perkins, Sniff, Mayor Pena ABSENT: Council Member Adolph PUBLIC COMMENT None CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA Council noted the lID Board meeting on Friday, May 15, 1998. WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE 1. LETTER FROM WASTE MANAGEMENT OF THE DESERT REGARDING AN ALTERNATIVE TO A TRANSFER STATION. Council directed staff to agendize for June 2,1998. BUSINESS SESSION 1. CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO COACHELLA VALLEY REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT. Mr. Genovese, City Manager, advised that the City has received a proposed amendment to the Coachella Valley Regional Airport Authority Joint Powers Agreement, a copy of which has been transmitted to the City Council. Staff has reviewed the proposed amendments. Council Member Henderson advised that she has worked closely with Brad Hudson and Supervisor Wilson and members of the board in formulating these amendments. The Board has approved the document and is now asking the member cities to approve it. BIB] 06-09-1998-U01 03:43:26PM-U01 ADMIN-U01 CCMIN-U02 05-U02 12-U02 1998-U02 ^"2eCity Council Minutes Page 2 May 12,1998 Mayor Pena noted that Council Member Adolph submitted a letter to Council expressing his feelings on the subject. Basically, he felt that it was being fast- tracked through the process. Mayor Pena disagreed. In response to Council Member Adolph's concerns, Council Member Henderson commented that the Airport Authority has been in existence for over four years and these are just slight modifications to the agreement. The biggest modification relates to a $10,000 contribution from the member cities. In response to Mayor Pena, Mr. Genovese confirmed that the major revisions are that the member cities will be contributing $10,000 each, and that we actually will get more input into the process. Council Member Perkins stated that he is prepared to move forward to approve it. Council Member Sniff stated that one of the reasons it is important to move forward with it at this time is so that it can be included in the budgetary process. He also felt that the amendments will get the member cities more meaningfully and functionally involved in the process. He felt that the airport has the potential of making a major economical contribution and impact on the eastern end to mid-valley and this is the time to move forward to increase our influence. MOTION It was moved by Council Members Henderson/Sniff to approve proposed amendment to the Coachella Valley Regional Airport Authority Joint Powers Agreement and direct staff to budget funds in the Fiscal Year 1998/99 budget. Motion carried unanimously. MINUTE ORDER NO.98-73. Council Member Henderson asked that staff send a letter to all the member cities advising of our approval of the amended agreement and encourage them to do the same. STUDY SESSION DISCUSSION REGARDING POSSIBLE REORGANIZATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. Council Member Sniff stated that as part of the Council's ongoing efforts to maximize our efficiency, he has provided the Council with a memorandum with some suggested changes, which he wished to see take effect July 2nd BIB] 06-09-1998-U01 03:43:26PM-U01 ADMIN-U01 CCMIN-U02 05-U02 12-U02 1998-U02 ^"2eCity Council Minutes Page 3 May 12, 1998 He felt that there's some problems on the Planning Commission with regard to review of design plans. While he felt that design review is needed, he thought it has become excessive and some Commissioners who don't have the technical background feel left out of the process. Therefore, he suggested removing the design review function from the Planning Commission and creating a new review panel that would have only one meeting opportunity to review a project and to submit their recommendations to the Planning Commission. His suggestions included the following changes: 1. Establish a new five-member Planning Commission with two-year terms. Initially, the terms would be staggered, with three members appointed for three years and two members appointed for one year. 2. Establish a new three-member Design Review Board with two-year terms. Initially, the terms would be staggered, with two members appointed for two year terms and one member appointed for one year. There would also be two alternates with voting privileges who would be appointed for two years. Further, it would be preferable that members have professional backgrounds. He suggested a five-member design review board as a second option, which would give greater opportunity to have a quorum all the time without summoning alternates. Council Member Perkins expressed concern that a design review board might slow down the process. However, the one meeting opportunity could prevent that from happening. He didn't like the idea of having two alternates. He felt that a three- member board is sufficient. Even if one person is absent, two people are sufficient to review design plans. His main concern was not to get off the fast track process" we are in. Council Member Henderson believed that developers are more comfortable dealing with a design review board and then going before the Planning Commission to deal with the land use issues. She stated that we have some very active Planning Commissioners who are spending a great deal of time on the design review issues, which is causing the meetings to be quite lengthy. Further, some of the Commissioners are not as well versed in design review issues. She felt that a five- member Planning Commission could work very well and that a three-member design review board could also function well. She also felt that the alternate concept could also work, given that the board is going to be given only one meeting opportunity, because one will not have to be concerned that the alternate will not know the history of the project because there would be no history. BIB] 06-09-1998-U01 03:43:26PM-U01 ADMIN-U01 CCMIN-U02 05-U02 12-U02 1998-U02 ^"2eCity Council Minutes Page 4 May 12,1998 Mayor Pena referred to previous Council minutes when it was decided to increase the Planning Commission to seven members and eliminate the Design Review Board and felt that there were valid reasons for doing so at the time. However, he noted that those speaking against eliminating the Design Review Board were members of the development community. He continues to hear comments from the development community that they would prefer going before a design review board. The Council was trying to make things easier with that merger, and sometimes it has worked and sometimes it has not. He didn't see the necessity of having alternates, but if that is Council's decision, he preferred to see only one. Regarding the term of two years, he favored that because it is consistent with the election cycle. He also favored such a board meeting on an as-needed basis.* In response to Mayor Pena, Ms. Honeywell felt that the title committee" would connotate a more flexible approach, although they would still have follow the Brown Act. Discussion ensued regarding the name of the body, with Council concurring on Architectural and Landscape Review Committee." Robert Tyler, 44-215 Villeta Drive, Planning Commissioner, addressed the Council questioning the transition process. Council advised that the Planning Commission would be newly constituted with anyone interested in serving having to apply. Discussion concluded with staff being directed to prepare an ordinance for Council's consideration on May 19,1998. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER ITEMS Council Member Henderson presented the California Preservation Foundation's 1998 President's Award which she accepted on behalf of the City on May 8,1998 at the awards ceremony held in Berkely. BIB] 06-09-1998-U01 03:43:26PM-U01 ADMIN-U01 CCMIN-U02 05-U02 12-U02 1998-U02 ^"2eCity Council Minutes Page 5 May 12,1998 CLOSED SESSION 1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR TOM HARTUNG AND JOHN FALCONER, REGARDING NEGOTIATIONS WITh THE LA QUINTA CITY EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6 MEET AND CONFER PROCESS. 2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(a) REGARDING EXISTING LITIGATION CASE NO. INC. 008441. Council reconvened with no decisions being made which requires reporting pursuant to Section 54957.1 of the Government Code Brown Act). There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. SAUNDRA L. JUHOLA, City Clerk City of La Quinta, California BIB] 06-09-1998-U01 03:43:26PM-U01 ADMIN-U01 CCMIN-U02 05-U02 12-U02 1998-U02