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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 1UFrom:Yolanda Celis To:City Clerk Subject:Mesquite Country Club Date:Friday, March 24, 2023 1:04:39 PM NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Hello,  We own a condo in Phase 5 at Mesquite Country Club for over 20 years. And the past 5 years we live there full time. As you know, Oswit Land Trust bought our golf course. Our HOA filed a lawsuit because we had no choice. I understand that Oswit is doing everything it can to convince the City that it should be exempt from the Golf Course Conversion Ordinance. It already attempted to get City agreement without submitting any plans. The Ordinance has in depth requirements that protect the surrounding residential areas. Like holding community input meetings. Offering the land for purchase to nearby communities, etc. Bel Air has been very slowly going through that process. Why should Oswit be exempt? What precedent would that set for other courses? It would completely negate having an ordinance. Palm Partners who owed the golf course and sold most of it to OLT kept 10 acres plus the clubhouse and parking lot to develop apartments and/or similar. This entire mess has kept us ip at night for months. We know you are a key person pivotal to ensuring city ordinances are kept. And you have great influence with the City Planning Commission and City Council. Please represent our financial and emotional interests when addressing this matter. In regards to the lawsuit the day the injunction was dropped by the courts, because our HOA could not put up a $5,000,000 bond, Oswit brought in dump trucks full of boulders. Quote from Jane Garrison on the Prescott Preserve FB page, “Boulders and rocks…provide hiding spots for critters.” Coyotes and bobcats now have stacks of boulders to hide behind to jump out from and we won’t see them coming. Oswit has also said to be careful not to disturb the coyote dens in the wash during mating season, which is now. Remember the golf course used to humanely capture coyotes and rehome them to their natural environment. Ramin stopped doing in recent years. But that was past practice. The bobcat that was literally at our front door and then sat on the wall outside our bedroom was back today at our neighbor’s condo. Both times it was preceded by the coyote that hides behind the tree on the course going after a dog on a leash. I like critters but this is a bit much and now bobcats have been having ding around Phase 5. Our HOA is appealing to have bond amount lowered to put injunction back in place, but that could take months. A well-respected bond company sent a letter to the courts that the amount it was requiring was beyond what any HOA or non-profit would be able to afford. We were not denied a bond because we are broke. There are some curious circumstances with the golf course sale: Oswit paid $8.75 million for land appraised at $3.75 million? Oswit was able to obtain a grant for the appraised value, but Brad Prescott then donated another $5 million? According to the tax reports at Riverside County, all of the land is in Oswit’s name. 03/23/2023 Public Comment Item 1U NONE in Ramin’s. In order for Ramin to have retained any of the land, it would have to be subdivided for those 10 acres to have their own legal description. That subdivision would also have to go through Zoning with the City before it can be a legal separate parcel. There are no records of a subdivision of 10 acres for Ramin. I have talked to the County and they are not behind in updating information on the tax parcel website. Jane Garrison is continually in and out of the old clubhouse. When asked about by a nearby owner, she was adamant that she doesn’t own the clubhouse. But tax records say Oswit bought the entire course. Is it possible there is a separate side agreement with Ramin? Contingent on other deal points unknown to us? To what end? Oswit has purchased a condo in Phase 5. Oswit Treasurer, Aaron Leider, attended the FAR Open House and also the Owners Annual Meeting in February. According to his bio on the Oswit website, Aaron is a real estate broker with The Agency Beverly Hills and the Coachella Valley. Brad Prescott is a real estate developer. What if Oswit is not able to complete its plans for the golf course even if it obtains a waiver on the Golf Course Ordinance? Oswit isn’t able to get the grants it needs? ItI isn’t able to raise enough money for the ongoing maintenance of the Preserve. Then what would become of the land when Brad Prescott and Aaron Leider are both real estate developers? Oswit has touted donation of trees that are individually valued at thousands. Yet the price tags on the trees delivered were delivered for $1000. The clubhouse has trash all around it and abandoned shopping carts and debris from homeless people. Dead, dropped palm tree fronds are only picked up in the wash. The course is full of them, especially after high winds from recent storms. Oswit uses some of the fronds to line the borders of the walking paths they allow people to walk on. It doesn’t believe in picking up the rest because it is natural not to. Looks terrible. We’ve had significant rain and snow melt. Prior to that and come this summer, the dried grass, untrimmed palm trees, and all those dead fronds on the ground are an extreme fire hazard. Ms. Garrison has made comments on FB that “Gold is the new Green.” As in we will never see green grass again. Another is “Less Turf More Earth.” Yet she continues to post on media pictures of her estate with lush green grass and trimmed palms. It is disheartening. If she believes and is committed to those conditions, why doesn’t she start with her own property? No boulders there to attract wildlife either. Because it is not safe and pretty sure she isn’t looking for big holes from ground squirrels around her pool. She made recent comments about restoring the course to its natural state. That would be sand! Will City require some kind of fencing around to stop sand from blowing? Originally, she said this would be like Central Park. Sounded promising. Central Park and all the City of PS parks are green in winter. Yes we are in a desert, but those Parks, City Hall, Post Office, Museums, and Golf Courses are watered with recycled sewage water from the Desert Water Agency. Link to website at end of this email. Yes, highly unlikely it will ever be a golf course again. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be green grounds like the other Parks. Other city Parks don’t stack boulders for wildlife. Users need to be safe. Other parks don’t get excited about an increasing population of ground squirrels. Squirrels that come into the HOA and dig huge holes. We are not a development on the edge of the city! Parks make sense in the 03/23/2023 Public Comment Item 1U middle of a city. Attracting more wildlife to the middle of a city out of its natural habitat doesn’t benefit nearby residents or wildlife. I admire Ms. Garrison’s commitment to wildlife and preservation. And it makes sense in places like Oswit Canyon. But this is something very different and Oswit has never before done something like it is proposing. We need a written agreement that protects our HOA from all contingencies. Agreement that addresses safety with wildlife, aesthetics of the grounds, sand, prevention of sale to real estate developers, etc. Thus far Oswit still maintains we pay $240,000 annually for nothing in writing. Just trust of a concept. We only need to look at where we find ourselves when we have the Lease Agreement, to imagine how much can go wrong on trust. And trust is not legally enforceable in real estate. I know this is a lot of information but we feel you need to know the truth. Please consider making our concerns known to the City. The Golf Course Ordinance must be strictly enforced as written not only for Mesquite, but all the other courses out there! Thank you for your time and commitment to our wonderful city. Regards, The Sandor Family Phase 5 Sent from my iPhone 03/23/2023 Public Comment Item 1U From:Kate Castle To:City Clerk Cc:Grace Garner; Ron deHarte; Jeffrey Bernstein; Christy Holstege; Lisa Middleton Subject:1 U on March 23 Consent Calender-Support Date:Thursday, March 23, 2023 2:32:11 PM NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Dear Mayor Garner, Mayor ProTem Bernstein, Councilmembers Holstege, Middleton and deHarte I am writing in strong support of the Consent Calender item 1 U, adopting a support position for the proposed National Monument designation of Chuckwalla National Monument. Protecting our desert for future generations takes leadership and a willingness to enact policy that positively affects health and wellbeing of our citizens and environs. As a hiker, one of my favorite hikes to take friends on is in the Painted Canyon and Ladder Canyon. Please vote to establish the Chuckwalla National Monument. Respectfully submitted Kate Castle Palm Springs Homeowner, Businesswoman Sent from my iPad 03/23/2023 Public Comment Item 1U A 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation Federal Tax identification #33-0241242 51-500 Highway 74 Palm Desert, CA 92260 P.O. Box 1281 Palm Desert, CA 92261 Email: Friends@DesertMountains.org Website: www.DesertMountains.org Phone: (760)568-9918 Fax: (760)568-9908 Palm Springs City Council Palm Springs City Hall 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262 March 22, 2023 Re: Supporting Item 1.u, Chuckwalla National Monument/ Expansion of Joshua Tree National Park Dear Mayor Garner and Honorable Council Members: Friends of the Desert Mountains (Friends) urges the City of Palm Springs’ to support the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument to preserve high value public lands in Riverside and Imperial counties , as well as an expansion of Joshua Tree National Park . Studies have shown that there are many physical and psychological wellness benefits in being outdoors and in nature, however, according to a recent report from the Hispanic Access Foundation, people of color, low -income communities, and families with children often are deprived the benefits that nature provides. A National Monument adjacent to the underserved communities of the Coachella Valley would alleviate the gap people of color face in accessing wild spaces. Furthermore, safeguarding these public spaces will greatly benefit local residents and communities by attracting more visitors to our beloved federal public lands and thus boosting local economies. In fact, national monuments can provide a boost to local economies in that they provide an ideal place for visitors and locals alike to enjoy our beautiful California Desert for a wide array of outdoor activities. A recent study from Headwaters Economics, confirms that all the regional economies adjacent to the studied National Monuments experienced growth following a monuments’ designation. National Monuments help nearby communities diversify economically while increasing quality of life and recreational opportunities that make communities more attractive for new residents, businesses and investment. The boundaries of the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument were drawn to avoid conflicts with development of renewable energy as outlined in the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP). Protecting the region's wild lands will also enhance our communities' resilience to climate change, and create new, sustainable opportunities for current and future generations to enjoy these special places and have equitable access to our public lands. Friends thanks the City of Palm Springs for its continued leadership over the years in protecting California federal public lands in the California desert. We urge you to continue that leadership by supporting the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument to protect and conserve federal public lands in our region for generations to come. Sincerely, Tammy Martin Executive Director 03/23/2023 Public Comment Item 1U From:Tony Aabel To:City Clerk Subject:Public Comment on Agenda Date:Wednesday, March 22, 2023 4:40:22 PM NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Regarding the Oswit Land Trust proposed purchase of the Mesquite Canyon Golf Course, I ask the Council to support the purchase. It will be a wonderful use of the land which will be kept as open space. L. Anthony Aabel 2112 Casitas Way Sent from Mail for Windows 03/23/2023 Public Comment Item 1U From:Tatjana To:City Clerk Subject:Asking for your support for item 1U on the consent agenda - establishment of Chuckwalla National Monument Date:Wednesday, March 22, 2023 5:35:13 PM NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Honorable Mayor Garner and members of the city council: I am writing to express my support for Item 1U on the consent agenda. I strongly support protecting our local natural desert landscapes and establishment of Chuckwalla National Monument to preserve public lands in Riverside and Imperial Counties. Safeguarding these wild spaces will greatly benefit residents and communities in the entire region by attracting more visitors to our beloved federal public lands, thus boosting local economies. Protecting the district’s wild lands will also enhance our region’s resilience to climate change, and create new, sustainable opportunities for current and future generations to enjoy these lands, thus increasing equity of access to our public lands. One element of the proposal that is of particular interest to me is protecting crucial plant and wildlife habitat and migration corridors. I am a recent graduate of the UC Riverside Palm Desert Climate Steward Program and am currently participating in the UC Riverside Palm Desert Naturalist Program. I am learning how important it is for our future to preserve and protect nature habitats to lessen the impact of climate change. Designation as a national monument for this spectacular area will protect plant and wildlife habitat so that future generations can enjoy these beautiful areas. Studies have shown that there are many physical and psychological wellness benefits in being outdoors and in nature, however, according to a recent report from the Hispanic Access Foundation, people of color, low-income communities, and families with children are most likely to be deprived of the benefits that nature provides. A National Monument adjacent to the underserved communities in the Coachella Valley would alleviate the gap these communities face in accessing wild spaces. I understand that the boundaries of the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument were drawn to avoid conflicts with development of renewable energy as outlined in the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP). National monuments can provide a boost to local economies in that they provide an ideal place for visitors and locals alike to enjoy our beautiful California Desert for a wide array of outdoor activities. A recent study from Headwaters Economics, confirms that all the regional economies adjacent to the studied National Monuments experienced economic growth following a monuments designation. National Monuments help nearby communities diversify economically while increasing quality 03/23/2023 Public Comment Item 1U of life and recreational opportunities that make communities more attractive for new residents, businesses and investment. I encourage you to vote yes on the Resolution of Support for the Chuckwalla National Monument and expansion of Joshua Tree National Park. Thank you for your leadership. Sincerely, Tatjana Kudla 2243 Los Patos Dr Palm Springs, CA 92264 03/23/2023 Public Comment Item 1U From:Maria Sadowski To:City Clerk Subject:Support for Item 1U; please forward to councilmembers Date:Wednesday, March 22, 2023 8:44:17 PM NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Honorable Mayor Garner and members of the city council: As voters, certified naturalists in the state of California, avid hikers, and recent arrivals to the Coachella Valley, we want to express support for Item 1U on the consent agenda. We strongly urge you to show leadership by protecting our local natural desert landscapes and establishing Chuckwalla National Monument to preserve public lands in Riverside and Imperial Counties. Designation as a national monument and safeguarding the wildlife found in this spectacular area will also protect important Indigenous sites, historical sites, and other critical cultural resources, all of which are urgently needed to retain and honor our region's connection to the past, provide more equitable access to nature, and prepare the region for a more climate- resilient future. We encourage you to vote yes on the Resolution of Support for the Chuckwalla National Monument and expansion of Joshua Tree National Park. Thank you for your leadership. Sincerely, Maria Sadowski and Rob Tanner mariatsadowski@gmail.com and mrtanner69@gmail.com Palm Springs, CA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the face of climate change, we must act so that we can feel hopeful—not the other way around (Time Magazine 2022) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Maria Sadowski 608-358-6034 Coloma, MI and Palm Springs, CA MariaSadowski.com @MariaTSadowski LinkedIn Preferred pronouns: She, her, hers 03/23/2023 Public Comment Item 1U From:Robert McCann To:City Clerk Subject:Oswit Land Trust Letter in Support of Date:Wednesday, March 22, 2023 2:12:48 PM NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. March 22, 2022 To: Palm Springs City Council From: Oswit Land Trust Board of Directors Re: Item U on Consent Calendar for March 23, 2023 Meeting of City Council Dear City Council: It has come to our attention that a recommendation has been made to Council to adopt a resolution supporting the designation of the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument and the expansion of Joshua Tree National Park to encompass the Eagle Mountain Area. Creating the monument and expanding the park would significantly mitigate the ongoing habitat destruction and habitat fragmentation that pose such grave threats to the long-term stability and health of our unique desert blend of flora and fauna. In addition, the protection of these areas would expand opportunities to create or protect wildlife corridors that allow nomadic species to migrate between desert regions as they have done for millennia, another key ingredient to maintaining wildlife health and resiliency. These corridors function most effectively when they are flanked by “buffer zones” of unspoiled land where human activity is at a minimum. Oswit Land Trust is currently pursuing opportunities to purchase and protect large parcels of open space property north of I-10 and east of Desert Hot Springs that would add to the buffer zones around an expanded south flank of Joshua Tree. The expansion would thus have a direct positive impact, and be synergistic with, the positive impact of our own activities on our local desert ecosystems. For these reasons, the Board of Oswit Land Trust strongly supports the Resolution, and urges all councilmembers to vote for its adoption. Sincerely, Robert McCann On behalf of Oswit Land Trust Board of Directors Jane Garrison, President 03/23/2023 Public Comment Item 1U SAN GORGONIO CHAPTER Regional Groups Serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties: Big Bear, Los Serranos, Mojave, Moreno Valley, Mountains, Tahquitz, Santa Margarita March 21, 2023 Re: Support for Item 1.u, Resolution Declaring Support for the Proposed Chuckwalla National Monument Designation and Expansion of Joshua Tree National Park Mayor and Members of the City Council: I am writing on behalf of over 1000 local members of the Sierra Club in support of the resolution on your agenda to support the Protect California Deserts campaign protecting some spectacular areas of our region’s natural desert for future generations. The proposal is to establish a new Chuckwalla National Monument in the area between Joshua Tree National Park and Dos Palmas and the Mecca Hills, extending almost to the Colorado River, as well as to expand Joshua Tree National Park on lands that have been deemed desirable by the Park Service. . The proposal would also protect Indigenous homelands and cultural resources, focus on creating equitable and inclusive opportunities for access to world class natural areas for local residents and visitors, preserve the region’s historical values, and help boost local economies. The Protect California Deserts coalition includes a diverse group of local, regional and national environmental organizations as well as community organizations centered in the Coachella Valley. We urge your support for this worthwhile effort. Very truly yours, Joan Taylor, Chair Tahquitz Group of the Sierra Club 03/23/2023 Public Comment Item 1U