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Home My WebLink About2004-06-08- HSPB minutes CITY OF PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD MEETING Minutes of Regular Meeting -Tuesday, June 8, 2004, 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 2003-2004 Excused Absences To-Date John Williams, Chairman X 8 1 Shevlin Rush, Vice Chair X 7 3 Lee Bledsoe X 8 2 Ron Chespak X 8 2 James Hayton X 9 1 William Scott X 9 1 Jim Isermann X 9 1 STAFF PRESENT: Jing Yeo, Principal Planner Loretta Moffett, Senior Secretary Doug Evans, Director of Planning & Zoning * * * * * Chairman Williams called the meeting to order at 8:20 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, June 3, 2004. * * * * * * PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no public comments. * * * * * * APPROVAL OF MINUTES: M/S/C (Isermann/Scott) (4 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent, 2 Abstention) to approve the May 11, 2004 meeting minutes as presented. CHAIRMAN=S REPORT: Chairman Williams and Board Member Isermann toured the Horizon Hotel formerly known as L=Horizon Garden Hotel, a William Cody structure. The new owners are renovating to return to original condition as much as possible. Pleased with the details the architect and new owner are going into to try and preserve the building. It is not a Class 1 site, but a significant building in Palm Springs. More on that as they progress. Chairman Williams met with Mayor Ron Oden and Councilman Chris Mills. There were 16 applicants for the four open positions on the HSP Board. Appointments will be made official soon. Robert Imber, the owner of P.S. Modern Tours is meeting with Doug Evans and Chairman Williams this Thursday to discuss the October APA Conference tour. PUBLIC HEARING: N O N E ARCHITECTURAL APPROVALS: N O N E AGENDA ITEM #1: TRAMWAY GAS STATION / VISITORS= CENTER - CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS Chairman Williams asked staff if there was an update on plans for work on the exterior, the sign, or any other part of the project that is not complete. The Board naturally wants to review anything submitted. Director Evans reported that no plans have not been submitted. Several groups looking at possible changes, but nothing has been submitted to the Planning Department. HSPB Minutes Page 2 of 3 Tuesday, June 08, 2004 AGENDA ITEM #2: MEDIA OUTREACH SUB-COMMITTEE UPDATE - MEMBER RUSH Nothing to report today, but hope to meet June 25, 2004 . The photographs are on Channel 17, and two meetings ago James Hayton agreed to do the voice overview for the slides. Will discuss the progress at the June 25 meeting and report back at the July HSPB meeting. AGENDA ITEM #3: HISTORIC SITE PLAQUE SURVEY UPDATE - MEMBER RUSH Staff member Jing Yeo reported that no further information to report. The Cork >N Bottle owners have not responded. Staff is still looking at several companies with respect to the new plaques and installing plaques. Director Evans reported that he met with the supervisor of the Facilities Department and he indicates they will install the plaques. Staff and meet, review locations, and the City will install the plaques. This will need to be scheduled into their heavy workload. Chairman Williams asked about the ordering of The Willows, Fire Station No. 1, O=Donnell House. Staff reported that the wording has been finalized and ordering will be done shortly, are still getting bids. AGENDA ITEM #4: HISTORIC SITE SURVEY UPDATE - STAFF Staff member Yeo reported that the survey report is in final draft stages. Will meet with consultants this Friday, June 11. There is a new staff member in Planning who has reviewed the report, had additional comments and these have been forwarded to the consultants for changes before the report is finalized. Completion target for submission to the Council is July, before they go dark in August. Director Evans reported the newest Planner has been very active in historic preservation, managed a state office, and has been a professor in historic preservation. She has been asked to review and comment. Will try to have the final draft ready by the July meeting. Chairman Williams advised that during his meeting with the Mayor and Councilman Mills, they seemed to be excited about that survey. AGENDA ITEM #5: DISCUSSION OF THE CITY=S HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE (Chapter 8.05 PSMC), Duties, Activities No report. AGENDA ITEM #6: PALM SPRINGS PRESERVATION BOARD - MEMBER SCOTT There is a board meeting this Thursday and working toward a November 6 event. More at the July meeting. AGENDA ITEM #7: PALM SPRINGS HISTORICAL SOCIETY - MEMBER BLEDSOE No report. AGENDA ITEM #8: PALM SPRINGS MODERN COMMITTEE - MEMBER WILLIAMS Chairman Williams reported the monthly meeting is this Saturday, June 12 at Modern Way at 10 a.m. They are taking a more active role in monitoring the changes in the more significant buildings here in Palm Springs. The public is invited to attend this Saturday=s meeting. AGENDA ITEM #9: ARCHITECTURAL & DESIGN COUNCIL - PALM SPRINGS DESERT MUSEUM - MEMBER ISERMANN Member Isermann reported that the last event of ADC this season is an open house and lecture, Saturday, June 12 at the Grace Miller house designed by Richard Neutra, which is a Class 1 Historic Site. There is a new book just out on this house, the author will be there for the lecture, open house, and book signing. Open to ADC members only. Everyone is welcome to join the ADC and attend their functions. Call the Museum box office for times. BOARD AND STAFF REPORTS: Chairman Williams advised that typically there is no meeting in August, and asked how the Board feels about this August? Director Evans advised that the new members of the Board will be sworn in before the next meeting in July at which time the August meeting could be cancelled if the Board wishes. There is one minor addition to a Class 1 site, one or two Board members have visited it, and it will probably be on the next agenda. It=s a pre-application in Planning at this time that is being previewed for parking, ordinance standards, and overall design. Director Evans also reported on the October 17 - 20 California Chapter of the American Planning Association brochure for the Conference. The Modern Architectural Tour will be Sunday, October 17 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. HSPB Minutes P a g e 3 o f 3 Tuesday, June 08, 2004 The Palm Springs APA Conference in 1986 was attended by 850 planners from all over the world. San Diego then had an attendance of about 1,000 and other cities generally draw between 500 and 600. This year=s Conference is expected to draw better than 1986, the entire Wyndham Hotel is booked. Special events and activities have been scheduled, the workshops are not quite established - - it looks to be a great Conference. Director Evans also advised the Board that a new Principal Planner has been hired, Andrea Ubras, she has Masters in Architecture and in Planning, and has been active in historic preservation, Section 106 reviews, current planning and development, and environmental issues. Budget-wise, the City Council is debating the budget for fiscal year starting July 1, 2004. In the past, the HSP budget recommendation has been $10,000 per year, and as with a lot of things this year, the HSPB budget is being recommended at $5,000 this year. If everything is plaqued this year, the budget may run short. Many programs are viewed as discretionary, and the HSPB budget falls into this category this year. The new appointments to the Historic Site Preservation Board are Mr. Andy Linsky, Ms. Sidney Williams; and Members James Hayton and Bill Scott were re-appointed. All appointees have been contacted and so have the two members who were not re-appointed. Each and everyone are thanked for their work and support. Reminder - the Board and Commission Dinner is Monday night, June 14. All Board members are invited, guest dinners are $25.00. It=s at the Palm Springs Convention Center, which is currently under renovation, so watch for a construction tape that should lead to an entrance door off Avenida Caballeros. Chairman Williams advised that he did speak with each and every applicant, and every City Council member was extremely pleased with the interest in all the boards and commissions this year. All Council members encouraged those people who were not appointed this time to re-apply at a later date or for another board, and to be available for other types of support or committee work. There were a lot of very good, qualified people and thanks go to them for their interest and support. Chairman Williams asked about The Palms at Palm Springs and the Spanish Inn projects. Director Evans advised that no plans have been submitted as yet from The Palms at Palm Springs. The current Spanish Inn proposal is to try to create a mixed-use development: a small lodging facility, condo conversions of a number of units for residential purposes; addition of a parking structure (half above and half below grade) on the rear of the property with condo units above it. There was a community meeting last week to let people know that the application is in and what is being proposed. Staff has concerns about the land-use, business plan, development plans, and the ability to finish the project. Chairman Williams asked for additional business. There being none, the meeting was adjourned at 8:43 a.m. Next meeting will be Tuesday, July 13, 2004, at 8:15 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Douglas R. Evans Director of Planning and Zoning :ldm/38