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Home My WebLink About2007-02-13- HSPB minutes CITY OF PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD MEETING Minutes of Meeting -Tuesday, February 13, 2007 Large Conference Room, City Hall, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, California 92262 BOARD MEMBERS Present This Meeting Present Year-to-Date FY 2006-2007 Excused Absences To-Date Sidney Williams, Chairperson X 9 0 Jade Nelson, Vice Chair X 7 2 James Hayton X 8 1 John Williams X 8 1 Harold “Bud” Riley X 9 0 Brian Strahl X 7 0 STAFF PRESENT: Craig Ewing, Director of Planning Loretta Moffett, Administrative Assistant Ken Lyon, Associate Planner * * * * * 1. The HSPB regularly scheduled meeting was called to order at 8:15 a.m. on January 9, 2007 by Chair Sidney Williams. 2. ROLL CALL: Present: S. Williams, J. Nelson, B. Riley, B. Strahl, J. Hayton, J. Williams 3. REPORT OF POSTING OF AGENDA: This 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 Services counter by 4:00 p.m. Thursday, February 8, 2007. NOTE: Audio Cassettes and DVDs of HSPB Meetings are available for review. Cassettes will be kept for six months only. DVDs of the meetings will be kept indefinitely. Minutes format is more action related than verbatim except where special interest or special meetings are involved. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 9, 2007 M/S/C (Hayton/Riley) moved that the January 9, 2007 Minutes be approved as presented. (5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent, 1 Abstentions) 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS: (3 minutes) : N O N E 6. REPORT FROM THE CHAIR: will report when items come up from the Agenda. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS: N O N E 8. CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL REQUESTS: N ON E 9. OTHER BUSINESS: A. Mills Act Agreement for the El Mirador Garage – HSPB #12 – 1090 North Palm Canyon Drive Staff received an application from MCB Properties, Matthew Bousquettte, owner. The El Mirador Garage was designated a Class 1 Historic Site January 17, 1990 by the P.S. City Council. Mr. Bousquette is asking HSPB to recommend to the City Council a Mills Act Agreement between the City and himself as owner. Historic Site Preservation Board Page 2 of 3 Minutes from the February 13, 2007 Meeting Board member John Williams asked if a Mills Act on a Historic site increases the amount of protection or limits what the owner can do to the property for that Class 1 designation. Staff responded that it does not. Chairperson Sidney Williams talked about the conversion of that building from a garage to an art gallery. M/C/A (J. Williams / B. Riley) moved to recommend to Council that 1090 North Palm Canyon Drive, Historic Class 1 Site #12 – El Mirador Garage be approved by Council for a Mills Act Contract with the City of Palm Springs. (6-Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent, 0 Abstentions) 9. B. HSPB Budget Proposal for Fiscal year 2007/2008: HSPB’s budget each for this past year was $4,800. The Board needs to prepare its budget to City Council for FY 07/08. Director Ewing explained the budget process and how it is presented to Council. The Budget items recommended by the HSPB for 2007/2008 total $20,000.00 and will be available at the March 13, 2007 HSPB meeting. 10. COMMITTEE REPORTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS: A. Media Outreach - John Williams In process of putting captions on the photos aired on Channel 17. Asked for a press release about the new brochure. Staff will work with City print shop to get the new brochure printed. B. Historic Site Plaques Update - Bud Riley Will provide report at the March meeting. C. HSPB Brochure Project - Jade Nelson This brochure was done pro-bono – details covered earlier. Chair S. Williams volunteered to write a “thank you” letter on behalf of HSPB to the designer. D. P.S. Preservation Foundation - Jade Nelson Modernism Week is February 16 thru February 24. Events and ticket costs announced. Details can be found on www.pspf.net E. P.S. Historical Society – Sidney Williams No report today. Staff suggested that staff from the Historic Society be invited to one of the HSPB meetings to discuss all their resources, services, support of preservation, etc. Chair S. Williams will call and invite one of them to attend an upcoming meeting. F. P.S. Modern Committee - John Williams P.S. Modern Committee, in conjunction with the Modernism Week, will be presenting 2007 P.S. Mod Com Disco Inferno, February 17. Details available on www.psmodcom.com G. Architecture & Design Council - Sidney Williams Four events sponsored by A & D Council shown on postcard that lists all the events of Modernism Week distributed. Further details can be obtained at www.psmuseum.org. H. Production of Palm Springs Map of Public Art & Significant Architecture – Joint Proposal between PS Art Commission and HSPB – Sidney Williams________________________ Historic Site Preservation Board Page 3 of 3 Minutes from the February 13, 2007 Meeting Already discussed during Budget review section. Chair S. Williams will discuss with Michael Stern and invite him to March meeting. 11. STAFF & OTHER REPORTS: A. Draft Ordinance Revisions – City Council Study Session Director Ewing advised that staff is preparing the two items recommended by HSPB: (1) Six designated properties for historic sites; (2) Proposed language revisions to the Historic Ordinance. The Ordinance Amendment will be given to the City Manager in a memo asking that it be included in Council packets as a read and file. Board members had concerns about things going to Council under “receive and file” and potentially not hearing back. Board members discussed talking with a Council member. 12. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS: Board member John Williams expressed concerns about The Potter Clinic at 1000 North Palm Canyon Drive being condemned and demolished. The property has a “for sale” sign on it and the building is in terrible condition and worsening daily. Asked that it be put on the Agenda for the March meeting for discussion and potential action. Staff reported that the Department of Building and Safety has made contact with the building owner and are pursuing the process and problems through the Vacant Building Ordinance. Owner has been contacted several times – he is clearly aware of everyone’s concerns. The HSPB could recommend this for designation. Director Ewing explained details of the Vacant Building Ordinance. Staff suggested Board review the list of workshops on the pamphlet provided, regarding a La Plaza tenant installing an awning that had not been reviewed by this Board. The City has sent a courtesy notice notifying the tenant and the owner that no application was completed. Board member Jade Nelson reported that in the past few years several tenants have made changes to the exteriors and the HSPB was never notified. Suggested the Board walk through and list changes that were not brought before this Board. This is a significant Historic Site and needs to be protected in its original state. Desmond’s (now empty) is a likely property that will be changed next. Board member Brian Strahl recommended that all Board members attend the Friday Modernism Walk of Fame Star Dedication to Architect E. Stewart Williams at 300 South Palm Canyon Drive to show how important it is to HSPB. Board member James Hayton and members expressed appreciation for staff’s forward motion with HSPB issues and projects. 13. ADJOURNMENT: It was moved, seconded, and unanimously passed that the meeting be adjourned at 10:03. Next meeting will be at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, March 13, 2007 in the Large Conference room at City Hall. Respectfully submitted, Ken Lyon, Associate Planner