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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-05-13- HSPB minutes CITY OF PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD MEETING Minutes of Regular Meeting -Tuesday, May 13, 2003, 8:15 a.m. Large Conference Room, City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, California 92262 ROLL CALL Present This Meeting Present Yea-to-Date FY 2002-2003 Excused Absences To-Date Jim Isermann, Chairman X 10 William Scott, Vice Chairman X 10 Lee Bledsoe X 9 1 Ron Chespak X 10 James Hayton X 9 1 Shevlin Rush X 9 1 John Williams X 9 1 STAFF PRESENT: Doug Evans Director of Planning and Zoning Loretta Moffett Senior Secretary * * * * * * Chairman, Jim Isermann called the meeting to order at 8:24 a.m. * * * * * * REPORT OF POSTING OF AGENDA: The Agenda was available and posted in accordance with state and local procedures for public access at the City Hall exterior bulletin board and the Department of Planning & Zoning counter by 4:00 p.m., Thursday, May 08, 2003. * * * * * * APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Chairman Isermann asked for approval of the Minutes from the April 08, 2003 meeting and asked for comments or corrections. M/S/C Hayton/Williams (7 yes, 0 No) to approve the April 08, Minutes. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT: Chairman Isermann reported that the survey committee had interviews with the two final candidates and are awaiting final approval. Both were very qualified, he is confident the survey will be successful. Director Evans advised that the final scope of work must be approved, approval from the City Attorney, and then it is taken to City Council for approval. The contractor is not announced until that process is completed, whichwill be about one month. Chairman Isermann advised that he attended the quarterly Cabinet/Council meeting. All Boards gave their annual activity reports and the pending update of the City’s website was presented. PUBLIC HEARING: HSPB #15 - Application by Diocese of San Bernardino for Declassification of Our Lady of Solitude Church has been continued to June 10, 2003. Chairman Isermann reported that he and Board Member Shevlin Rush will be out of town and will not be at the June 10 meeting. He asked if this Public Hearing is held on June 10 and the Board does not make a motion, will those who do not attend be excluded from future motions? Director Evans asked that all Board Members check their schedules as a quorum is required for this Hearing. If the Board does not take action at the June meeting, those not attending would need to review the audio or video tape, state that you reviewed the tape(s), followed the discussion, and then Members could re-engage and participate. AGENDA ITEM #1: DISCUSSION OF CITY’S HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE, DUTIES, ACTIVITIES. Director Evans advised that as the survey progresses, adjustments may need to be made to the Ordinance so that how the survey proceeds is addressed... what is done with it, how it fits into the Ordinance, process of notifying the property owners listed in the survey, etc. It is expected to take a couple of months to prepare this. Chairman Isermann asked about the issue originally brought up by Tracy Conrad regarding the tile being lost from Louise’s Pantry project. A bond option was discussed when renovation of an historic site takes place. Is there a report that the Board could review for better understanding? Director Evans advised that the City does have a process for “work in public right-of-way” for Completion, Performance Bonds, etc. The City has chosen not to burden property owners for the costs of Performance Bonds for development projects. If the Board wanted to move in that direction, it would need to be added to the Ordinance so there is enabling language to ensure completion. The concern would be that the Completion/Performance Bond would not act as a penalty. If a developer destroys a portion of a building, it’s lost. The bond says that they have to fix it, and bonds are a percentage of the project costs. Some property owners choose to make changes that are covered under the bonds and forfeit the bond amount. Bonds do not truly give full protection. This could be reviewed as part of the update, but when penalties are imposed (infractions/misdemeanors) some clients view the circumstances, what it means to them, and just pay the fine. The bonding issue would need to be addressed in the Ordinance first. No doubt, it is a challenge to protect Historic Site Preservation Board Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4 May 13, 2003 things in place and every member of the project must be aware of all the work involved from the beginning and through-out the work progress. That’s why the Board’s involvement with willing property owners for accurate restoration work is vitally important. It could be a matter of only minutes to destroy critical portions of an historic property when all parties are not involved and aware. AGENDA ITEM #2: BOARD UPDATES ON CONTACTS WITH POTENTIAL HISTORIC SITE PROPERTY OWNERS. Board Member Hayton asked for more clarification as to the pros and cons so that he has the right approach for property owners on Anza Trail because of the character of the entire street being a rustic, early-California ranch feel. Director Evans advised that Anza Trail is a street that over time property owners will want to remove structures and re-build rather than preserve because of land costs in Palm Springs. Many of those lots can be further sub-divided. That issue may be appropriately addressed in the General Plan, because the zoning classification on the larger lots encourages value in land as opposed to structures and land. Chairman Isermann reported that J. R. Roberts has prepared the materials to support the Edris house designation and will take to the City this week. His question was...if he submits a complete package of material, can a Public Hearing be scheduled without the Board making the motion? It is hoped to coordinate this with a Stewart Williams Exhibition which is planning for the summer at the P.S. Desert Museum. Director Evans answered in the affirmative. Once the completed application is ready, notices are in order, the staff report will be a summary of the materials. If presented this week, possibility of having it ready at the June 10 meeting. Board Member Williams commented on the newspaper article regarding our Police Chief’s outreach through Bill Feingold to the gay community. Could this Board have some type of informational gathering, meeting, or seminar where Board members could invite property owners to gather to meet with owners who have successfully designated their properties. What might be the pros and cons, could it be in conjunction with the survey, etc? Most people in Palm Springs are not aware of what properties are designated Class 1 sites. Director Evans explained that the City has been doing a series of neighborhood meetings, easy to coordinate, informal. Meetings are typically at 4 p.m. on Thursday afternoons with the promise to get people home for dinner. Two reasons are that (1) the public responds very well; and (2) it alleviates staff overtime. Perhaps the Board could think about a very informal setting in this conference room with some exhibits; photos of various historic properties people could collect; enlarge the Ordinance for a wall exhibit so people can look at, talk about, Board members can assist by pointing out certain sections, etc. Make it more information as opposed to a presentation. Some controversial issues have been worked out successfully in this manner. Maybe plan one Historic Site Preservation Board Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4 May 13, 2003 before the survey. Format has been working well, it’s a fun type of meeting, and does not put people on the spot. This would take about a three-week advance notice to set-up. The Board might want to think about taking photos, prepare a slide presentation, find a narrator with the right kind of voice, etc. to present on Channel 17. A professional presentation is cost prohibitive, but this Board could do it within the budget already established and it could be broadcast periodically. Goal could be to piece in the historic properties of Palm Springs which would appear to be a City informational piece to televise on Channel 17 on a regular basis. This is an opportunity to get the word out, even by scanning old photos into a PowerPoint type presentation. Staff members do not have time for this type of project. Perhaps the P.S. Architectural Brochure could be used, it is being set-up as a digital project, and could also be put on our web site. Board Member Williams advised that Tony Merchell has a mid-century property slide show which might be accessible through Pete Moruzzi. This Board is trying to get owners to designate their properties as historic site and many of the properties in the brochure are not designated. The public needs to be aware of the difference between the two. If the Board was to identify 30 or 40 property owners, a letter from the City of Palm Springs saying something to the effect that the...”Historic Site Preservation Board finds your building interesting and historic and we’d like for you to be more aware of the process of having your building become designated as a Class 1 site....” or something along these lines and invite them to a meeting/workshop with non-threatening displays and discussions. Then publicize this in the newspaper. It could generate a lot of interest within the community. Chairman Isermann advised that with the update of the City’s web site, every Board will have a page and this could lend itself well to presenting Class 1 historic sites. At some point someone from the HSPB will be the contact point for helping set up the web site page. It will be a great resource to get this information out to the public. The starting point would be putting the brochure on the web first, then updating the web after the survey. Director Evans explained that there are three private groups in the community, so a joint venture of some type of program that could be used in a number of formats; i.e. web site, Channel 17, etc. There is a lot of air time on Channel 17 which is not utilized to its fullest extent by Boards, Commissions, and community groups. Board Member Rush suggested that press outreach to the Desert Sun, Palm Springs Life, and other local publications about coverage of Class 1 Historic Sites. He asked if there has there been any of this type of press coverage? People think that the Bank of America building is designated and it is not. It could have some intrinsic press interest. Can the board take this on in terms of trying to contact media outlets to generate press coverages or is this something that falls to the City’s staff? Board Member Rush offered to make some press contacts if this was appropriate. Historic Site Preservation Board Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 4 May 13, 2003 Director Evans advised that the Board could all do community outreach as long as you don’t tell people how you plan to vote on the projects. Would the Board like staff to include discussion of an Outreach Program on the next Agenda? Chairman Isermann agreed and suggested that the Board members think about what they are willing to commit to these various projects. Board Member Williams stated that it’s difficult to get much accomplished at these types of meetings. Most organization have sub-committees who make these types of things happen, and he volunteered to chair the Outreach Committee. Chairman Isermann appointed a sub-committee of Board Members Williams and Rush. Director Evans advised that a sub-committee can only consist of two (2) members any more creates a majority. The media works very fast...just received a note from a photographer that would very much like to work with the Board. AGENDA ITEM #3: PALM SPRINGS PRESERVATION FOUNDATION - BOARD MEMBER SCOTT Board Member Scott reported the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation will have a Board meeting tomorrow night. Will report back at the next meeting. AGENDA ITEM #4: PALM SPRINGS HISTORICAL SOCIETY - BOARD MEMBER RUSH Member Rush reported that the Bogert book is still available at the McCallum Adobe or the Palm Springs Public Library, it is $59.76 including tax. It is a great success and there is a lot of interest in the book. AGENDA ITEM #5: PALM SPRINGS MODERN COMMITTEE - BOARD MEMBER WILLIAMS Member Williams advised that the monthly meeting was last Saturday (it’s held the second Saturday of each month) and the membership is now 238 members. The ModCom Outreach Committee has an “almost complete” display of many mid-century buildings in Palm Springs at the Palm Spring Visitor’s Center. There is a new gallery ...the IM Gallery at 400 North Palm Canyon that is dedicated to showing photos of mid-century art and will have various informational gatherings, i.e. slide shows, presentations, etc. Thanked the City for contacting the Visitor’s Center in getting more of the Architectural Brochures Guides for the tourists. AGENDA ITEMS #6: PALM SPRINGS BRIEF HISTORY & ARCHITECTURAL GUIDE UPDATE Director Evans reported that it is still in the works. Will double check to see where the print shop is, we have a Historic Site Preservation Board Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 4 May 13, 2003 good portion of the information. We’re still trying to get the draft print so that Board Members can review. Board Member Williams asked for an update on the Visitor’s Center? Chairman Isermann stated that the City Council seems to have approved something, but as a Board, HSPB has not approved anything. Director Evans advised that the Council approved the contracts for the architects to do their work. When the architects have a progress report it will be brought to the HSP Board. Their first scope of work was to outline, inventory, evaluate, then come back with their architectural services contract, which has been approved. The off-site parking to leave the primary site for future options will be a temporary parking lot. Board Member Scott stated that the everyone has been hearing about the budget, and asked if the coming budget will affect the Board or the site survey that is being done? Director Evans advised that the site survey is funded from developer contributions and is protected money. The budget has already affected us; the City Manager has frozen all new hires; and there is one vacancy in the Planning department. That person was handling signs and land use permits and coordinated a tremendous amount of permit activity which has been distributed amongst the rest of the staff, which will further affect all Planning staff’s heavy workloads. Work has not slowed down, and Staff does not see it slowing down. Since 1996 there has been an 20% (plus) increase in business in just the Planning Department. . In the past several years the HSP Board has been given a budget allocation for plaques - - approximately $10,000 per year. There will not be an allocation for next year, but the good news is that there is a carry-over of funds from the prior budget which might allow an additional program or two. Director Evans advised that there is a remodel underway at one of the Wexler Steel homes. Evidently there is a problem in the field and staff will work with the property owner and construction team to deal with materials and color issues. Will update this Board at the June meeting. Board Member Williams had delivered a letter re the ModCom map, it’s availability, and bulk cost. Director Evans reported that it will cost the City more money to set-up the accounting system than it’s worth to do. It would be easier if ModCom would give staff a number of the maps, the City would collect the $5.00 and then give the $5.00 back to ModCom, which is similar to what the City does with other non-profits. A letter agreement is needed as accounting cannot be guaranteed. This could be dis-continued at any time. Board Member Williams stated that he did not feel that was a problem. It was offered based on the Mayor’s comments about having as much information as possible available here at City Hall for visitors. How many would the City like to start with? He will bring up the issue with ModCom. How would this be handled at the Historic Site Preservation Board Meeting Minutes Page 7 of 4 May 13, 2003 front reception area in City Hall? He will check and report back. Director Evans suggested 25 to 50 copies of the map to start. Peggy Goetz at the front reception area of City Hall would probably handle this program. Chairman Isermann asked for any additional Board or staff reports. There being none, the meeting was adjourned 9:12 a.m. The next meeting will be June 10, 2003 at 8:15 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Douglas R. Evans Director of Planning and Zoning :ldm HSPB Minutes, May 13,2003 Attachments