HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 - MINUTES - 7/8/2004 STUDY SESSIONSTUDY SESSION
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
JULY 8, 2004
CONVENE IN OPEN SESSION
A. Call to Order-Large Conference Room
B. Flag Salute
C. City Attorney Report on Matters Discussed in Closed Session-See Page 2 of
Agenda this date.
D. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Roxanne Floss, no address given, expressed concern over location, time, date
and facility used for the meeting and added that there was only 2-day notice.
Jane Smith, no address given, stated there is a lack of education in the City
regarding water resources; that the water situation is placing the citizens in a
health and human crisis and that all need to understand the City is in trouble.
Susie Ficker, no address given recommended the meeting be cancelled; that
there is a lack of notification, the public is not allowed to participate; no record
being made of the meeting and that in the future adequate notification should be
made.
Linda Kramer, Palm Springs, stated that the Palm Springs Desert Museum is
conducing a Community Visioning Session on October 2nd and invited the
Council to attend.
Frank Tysen, Palm Springs, stated that there is confusion in the neighborhoods
regarding the meeting; that the wording vision is the problems, and
recommended the work priority be sued; that it has been stated there will be
more meetings; that many are upset due to the passion one has for their home;
and that a meeting should be held with the neighborhoods and the Council to
form a joint vision of the Community.
Mallika Albert, co-chair Chino Canyon Neighborhood and spokesperson for the
Mountain Initiative stated that the building on hillsides will be on the ballot for the
residents to vote; that the Council, excluding Member Foat, chose to not respect
the voice of the people and the neighborhoods on their decision regarding Palm
Hills; that good development is needed with balance and that the rest of the
Council should listen to what no means.
Tim Twig, Palm Springs, stated that there is concern on eco-sensitive projects in
the City; that more affordable housing is needed and that there are a lot of
business and neighborhood concerns.
City Manager stated that the meeting is to determine how staff is to proceed with
Council priorities; that once the ideas have been established by the Council, staff
with development the concept for final discussion in study session and that this is
an informational type of meeting for staff to determine direction.
COUNCIL WORKSHOP FORMAT
1. BRIEFING ON MAYOR’S VALLEY WIDE SUMMIT
Discussion by Mayor and Facilitator Duane Knapp on results of Valley
wide Summit as related to Palm Springs.
Mayor Oden stated that the meeting was to try to determine how others in the
Valley view Palm Springs and how the City fits in the Valley; that a survey was
sent out and returned; that there was overwhelming excitement in the Valley that
this type of meeting was being done; that the Cities in the Valley are closely
related with each other; that the Palm Springs brand needs to be determined;
that Palm Springs is important and monumental to all the Coachella Valley City
brands; that tourism partnerships have been developed; that people come here
for the number one reason to relax in a relaxing lifestyle; the weather is a driving
factor to tourism; that recreation of all types bring world wide appeal; that there is
positive feedback from the visitors; that the design, size and responsiveness of
the airport is a major impact; and that the quality of life is of paramount interest.
Mr. Knapp added that the mountains, downtown, casino, tram, brain power of
intelligence in Palm Springs brings a creative energy to the City; that the
weaknesses are in crime, the government in Palm Springs; that in the past it is
perceived that business and developers have a hard time working with the City;
that it has been said that the image is improving; that traffic congestion, shopping
opportunities, land availability and affordability is of issue; that there are things
that could be done better, such as the marketing of Palm Springs and more
responsiveness by the City to its residents and developers; that Palm Springs is
considered the HALO in the Valley; that this City reflects on all other cities; that
the HALO needs to stay strong and positive; that most visioning in a corporation
is held in private sessions rather than public, that this opportunity allows the
community to participate in doing all it can to enhance the HALO of the City and
allow the reflection of all that we do to be positive to the tourism; that the
negative image of the City did deal with slow growth; that most cities are growing
at a fast pace, and Palm Springs has been on a lower scale; that the discussion
centered around on what draws people to Palm Springs; that people fly in here,
but go down valley to stay; that the City is viewed as an old duchess living of the
laurels of the past and not the leader of the Valley; that the name is here, but no
product, no retail, no destination resorts or affordable housing.
Mayor stated that tourism was questioned and why the City has its own tourism
department; that it does seem to be a duplicate of services.
Knapp stated that there are other Cities that have marketing people who market
their own brands; that each city can its own ID within a brand; that there is a
family of brands in the Valley that work together to drive people here; that cities
need someone within the City structure to drive the identity; that some cities have
employees working with the CVA or its own marketing departments; but that not
all cities have a separate tourism department; that the total expense of land
development was an issue; but that is not a negative thing, rather, that it raises
the value of property within the City, but there remained a negative impression of
doing business with the City; that some comment was based on not having gated
communities; that while the City takes pride in the limited amount of gated
communities, others did see it as a negative; that there was a lack of openness
by the City to partner with other cities; and review Brand Strategy power point
demonstration, see attached copy. That the first thing the City must decide is
how it wants to be perceived and what can be done to gain what is wanted.
2. SCI-ARC (SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE)
Presentation by Mayor concerning the Mayor’s Institute on City Design at SCI-
ARC (Southern California Institute of Architecture).
Mayor reviewed schematics o display, copies attached and added that the
attendee covered a full scope of City development; that Tom Main was featured
for work in LA; that the initial discussion was on branding; that other topics
included the creative class and what is means to Palm Springs; that each City
was given a presentation on adaptive reuse of an area in the City; that the
recommendations for Palm Springs was to make Palm Canyon a promenade;
that spatial planning and dynamics were considered; that it was unanimously
recommendation that no parking in the area be on the streets, but rather an air
pedestrian plaza; that lifestyle centers are the new malls of attraction; that there
is a change in the City demographics; that there are new city challenges; that the
full consensus was to preserve the downtown corridor and that a one way street
was best; that opening up the mall to add the museum entryway as a cultural
elements is important; that the are should be more pedestrian friendly rather than
vehicle friendly; that parking should be parallel; that diagonal parking seems to
separate the people; that the Urban Planner almost duplicated the proposal
submitted by Mr. Ogburn; that drive by traffic is important to attract people to the
mall; that in suburbia people do want to live in the downtown area; that there is a
trend across the Country in building lofts in downtown areas; that the City needs
to be the master planner with incoming projects fitting in with that master plan;
that all the cities in the valley are expecting growth; that during the seminar the
focus kept coming back to the diversity of architectural elements in the City; that
we are a mixture of different architects and different time periods; that we need to
understand how broad the City is in order not to lock ourselves in.
Ogburn stated that lifestyle centers are shopping centers that are an anchorless
center; that the focus is on public space and events in a central place; that the
downtown does not have a central place; that the center would be more than
shopping and would include, restaurants, jazz clubs, higher en retail; art cinemas
and the like; that it is difficult to attract the type of businesses needed; that most
large businesses, such as Barnes & Nobles are attracted by roof tops and the
price of homes; but in this case the City may be able to succeed if a lifestyle type
mall is put in place, rather than focusing on a typical mall.
Mayor stated that the City also needs to focus on the north side if Palm Canyon;
that decorative lighting and the retail in place has helped to attract more
business; that the City also needs to thing of the future, that there is gridlock in
the Valley, that the Valley as a whole is just starting to experience large growth;
that a strong street infrastructure needs to be determined; that Pal Springs has
been the slowest to grow in the Valley, but that all is moving at a quick pace now;
that some type of people mover will need to be set in place; that the visioning will
change as an ongoing process; that the Commission as well as the Community
will need involvement.
Mills stated that when the original mall project came through it was voted down
by the Planning Commission and Architectural review committee, but that the
City Council voted the project in due to the mantra of the City is sending
everything down valley; that the Council does need to ensure the tax base and
give the downtown a shot in economic stimulation; that there is now an
opportunity to fix a $45 million dollar mistake and that as the Master Developer in
the City we should be the driving force to having the Desert Fashion Plaza being
key to the downtown.
3. VISIONING SESSION
Council discussion on City goals and objectives; future economic and
development trends; and development of Work Program for the next five
years.
Discussion led by facilitator. Attached are the bullet points of the
Councilmembers on issues of priorities within the City. See attached listing.
Consensus of Council to have priorities outlined; and schedule similar sessions
to develop a blue print for the City; that the neighborhood groups need to be
validated.
4. PUBLIC REPORTS & REQUESTS
Millika Albert thanked Council for the participation in the session; and added that
there is a level of trust that has been established between Lee Husfeldt and the
neighborhood groups and that the City Manager for organizing the session.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, Mayor declared the meeting adjourned at 4
p.m.
ADJOURN