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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-06-11 PC Special Joint Meeting MinutesCITY OF PALM SPRINGS PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES SPECIAL JOINT MEETING ARCHITECTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE / SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION June 11, 2014 / 11:30 AM Palm Springs City Hall Large Conference Room 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way CALL TO ORDER: By Chair Donenfeld at 11:30 am ROLL CALL: Chair Donenfeld, Vice -Chair Hudson, Commissioner Calerdine, Commissioner Klatchko, Commissioner Lowe, Commissioner Roberts, Commissioner Weremiuk, Chair Klein, Vice -Chair Castle, Commissioner Armstrong, Commissioner Bettinger, Commissioner Jackson, Commissioner Wilson, Commissioner Yepello, Chair Secoy-Jensen, Vice -Chair Fauber, Board Member Cassady, Board Member Fredericks, Board Member Hirschbein, Board Member Purnel, and Board Member Song ABSENT: Commissioner McNeel and Commissioner Polischak ALSO PRESENT: Sustainability Manager Michele Mician and Director Wheeler REPORT OF POSTING OF AGENDA: Agenda available for public access at the City Hall exterior bulletin board (west side of Council Chamber) and the Planning Services counter by 4:00 pm on Wednesday, June 4, 2014. PUBLIC COMMENTS: DIRECTOR RICHARD OBERHAUS, of the Desert Water Agency, said he has been on board since fall. Next week the board will discuss a: $1 million turf buyback program and approve $3 million spending program for Prop 84 money- conserving water, fixing leaks and ditching grass. City of Palm Springs is the number one water user. During the month of March, the city of Palm Springs usage was up 25%, 50% long term. DISCUSSION ITEM: Water Conservation DIRECTOR WHEELER introduced the 3 boards that each has different responsibilities. Each will see ideas that they wish to move forward. City Council is also studying this matter and staff will send minutes to them. Planning Commission Special Joint Meeting Minutes June 11, 2014 CHAIR DONENFELD requested Sustainability Committee approaches. City Council does have a water subcommittee. Enforcement issue is important. He stated we need a higher rebate number. He suggested doing projects in regard to grey water and asked for comments. COMMISSIONER WEREMIUK stated that what is permitted in turf stays and does not have to be removed. The cost to remove it is $9/square feet and we get $1 back. She asked if we can require front yard xeriscape, smart controllers, limit turf in back and require planting from approved books. She had a question in regard to having enough grey water to require piping, but is not as concerned with residential. She explained that the Planning Commission as well as the Architectural Advisory Committee approval authority is important. COMMISSIONER CALERDINE questioned whether the Coachella Valley plant list can be adopted. He suggested not banning but limiting the use of turf, pointing out that there is big money in retrofit. We need numbers to know why Palm Springs usage is so high. He felt public landscaping should use secondary sources, suggesting all parks, medians and golf courses to be second source water. Measure J funds would help with this issue. COMMISSIONER ROBERTS believed incentives are not enough and before a cafeteria plan is built, he wanted to know more details. 1) Why are we so high in our water usage? 2) Who are the biggest users? 3) What is the State doing about this? COMMISSIONER ARMSTRONG agreed with Commissioner Roberts; he stated they were told we are so high due to part-time residents. COMMISSIONER KLATCHKO said the restaurants still serving water automatically is a problem. He felt pool covers and pipe development should be discussed. COMMISSIONER ARMSTRONG believed other California cities look like they are in a drought, while we have grass being watered during the day and water flowing in the street. BOARD MEMBER SONG suggested the best approach would be to start with'the city and city hall. She said we need data and to have the city lead. MANAGER MICIAN said we are working to start on city facilities. DIRECTOR WHEELER stated that new code enforcement staff will do weekends to cover vacation rentals and signs. The only water issue to enforce is watering only between the hours of 9am-9pm May to September. COMMISSIONER WEREMIUK talked to Craig Ewing, the Desert Water Authority Chair, about looking at tiered rates and major incentives for condos. He indicated interest in requiring turf to be set back at least 4' from pavement. 2 Planning Commission Special Joint Meeting Minutes June 11. 2014 CHAIR KLEIN has met once with City Council subcommittee who is working with the Desert Water Agency regarding restrictions and tiered rate. The Desert Water Agency does emphasize that the city is the number one user and client. He discussed the fact that the City Council wants both the city and the Desert Water Agency to take comprehensive action. He concluded that enforcement is always a question. CHAIR DONENFELD stated that some communities have a culture of water awareness. We need the public to buy in to the problem and create a solution; like recycling, people are finally taking it seriously. VICE -CHAIR HUDSON asked if the PSNIC has been involved. He told Ms. Mician there was a campaign in the past and asked if we should re-engage that. COMMSIONER ROBERTS felt that this is sad because the drought issue is nothing new. He believed that there are simple things the city can and should do. He asked who is using the most water? Commercial versus residential. We need a cafeteria list of options. There are incentives but we need restrictions. He felt raising the rates does not necessarily solve the problem. COMMISSIONER YEPELLO stated that the water agency continues to say we have plenty of water. COMMISSIONER ARMSTRONG said we are getting mixed messages. COMMISSIONER LOWE suggested that our actions need to be independent of the Water Agency, and included that he knew of a large complex who recently voted no regarding the desert landscape. COMMISSIONER WEREMIUK said the water agency always says we do not have a problem. She stated that in 2-3 years we will not have the State or Colorado River water available. The information on users is not necessarily accurate as given by the agency. BOARD MEMBER SONG felt the city needs to make citizens aware whenever grass is being eliminated from city property. A marketing campaign would be good. She said philosophically we need to commit, categorize the existing and new homes, plumbing and landscaping. She suggested the information needs to be easy enough so the public can comprehend it all. CHAIR DONENFELD stated that the campaign towards water awareness needs to be led by the city. COMMISSIONER LOWE suggested like modernism week we need a demonstration of beautiful desert landscaping that does not involve grass. MANAGER MICIAN said a desert historical tour every year provides visual examples of how beautiful our desert is in its original state. This provides an incentive to want desert 3 Planning Commission Special Joint Meeting Minutes June 11, 2014 landscaping. She concluded by saying she has put together a campaign for water conservation. COMMISSIONER CALERDINE asked if there is turf that could live here all year. BOARD MEMBER FREDRICKS said it doesn't exist, he said to just let it go dormant in the winter. Homeowner Associations pay the water bills so individuals do not care. CHAIR KLEIN felt people come here for the oasis and money doesn't matter. COMMISSIONER ARMSTRONG said the lack of individual meters in condos is a disincentive to conservation. BOARD MEMBER PURNEL said that some clients are serious. He felt Palm Springs lacks a higher level of documentation for irrigation drawings. Downvalley he felt is better; master valves and flow sensors are definitely needed. Palm Desert has landscape specifically controlled by staff as well as landscape inspectors. Landscape architects must certify it is designed and working as approved. He expressed that Demuth Park has a massive amount of unnecessary turf; he felt the size could be reduced 1/3 to 1/2 in the parks. He suggested maintenance guidelines are needed as well. COMMISSIONER KLATCHKO felt the ordinance is weak and asked if staff will be coming back. DIRECTOR WHEELER said yes. CHAIR DONENFELD expressed his desire to form a subcommittee from the three bodies. COMMISSIONER YEPELLO agreed. He also included that the City Council is looking to us for leadership. VICE -CHAIR CASTLE said it is how you move forward with the idea. Pool covers can be a way of life. COMMISSIONER WILSON asked about the feasibility of creating a municipal water district. Flowing water out of the gutter into the street and into the gutter again is absurd. COMMISSIONER ROBERTS felt the city will benefit from recommendations coming from this group. He stated this issue can be solved with a more efficient method than just raising rates. The subcommittee needs a clear list highlighting what should take priority. He said they need to know how much water will be saved by using a pool cover or for cutting water to lawns, etc. COMMISSIONER JACKSON responded by saying 70% is external. It is primarily landscaping irrigation. He suggested we need a more comprehensive approach. Even Pinehurst is only El Planning Commission Special Joint Meeting Minutes June 11, 2014 partially watered. He recommended the Sustainability Committee can partner to help change the culture. VICE -CHAIR CASTLE stated the cost for a separate meter would be around $8,000. BOARD MEMBER FREDRICKS asked how pool covers will be patrolled. He included his opinion on not being able to totally remove oasis. BOARD MEMBER PURNEL said that when he educates clients, he will point out that desert landscaping can be lush. He included that amateurish landscape design fails and if we set a high bar, landscape design makes a difference. BOARD MEMBER SONG believed the high users of water are the city, school district and golf courses, and she concluded that they must all be on board for any change to occur. COMMISSIONER KLATCHKO suggested the subcommittee should include the City Council subcommittee and then send recommendations to the Planning Commission to move forward. CHAIR DONENFELD stated at each body's next meeting we must decide two representatives. CHAIR KLEIN asked what about the city and the issue of overwatering. He suggested having a new director level person to work on this matter immediately. COMMISSIONER YEPELLO asked whether there is work being done to change right away. MANAGER MICIAN responded by saying some irrigation systems have been changed out. COMMISSIONER ARMSTRONG asked if we form a subcommittee should Parks and Recreation Commission be invited. There was consensus to do so. ADJOURNMENT: The Planning Commission Joint Meeting adjourned at 1:08 pm, Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at 1:30 pm in the Council Chamber, City Hall, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs. Director of Planning Services 5