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Home My WebLink About2008-01-08- HSPB minutes CITY OF PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD MEETING Minutes of Meeting -Tuesday, January 8, 2008 Large Conference Room, City Hall, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, California 92262 BOARD MEMBERS Present This Meeting Present Year-to-Date FY 2007-2008 Excused Absences To-Date Sidney Williams, Chair X 6 1 Jade Nelson, Vice Chair X 6 1 John Williams X 6 1 Harold “Bud” Riley X 6 1 Brian Strahl Sheila Grattan Shelly Saunders X X X 7 7 7 0 0 0 STAFF PRESENT: Craig Ewing, Director of Planning Ken Lyon, Associate Planner Diane Bullock, Associate Planner Loretta Moffett, Administrative Assistant * * * * * 1. The HSPB regularly scheduled meeting was called to order at 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 by HSPB Chair Sidney Williams. 2. ROLL CALL: Present: J. Nelson, B. Strahl, S. Grattan, S. Saunders, B. Riley, S. Williams, and 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, City Clerk’s office, and the Department of Planning Services’ counter by 4:00 p.m. Thursday, January 3, 2008. 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. 4. PUBLIC COMMENTS: N O N E 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: M/S/C (Riley/Grattan) to approve the Minutes of the December 11, 2007 Minutes as presented – Vote was 7 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent, 0 Abstention. 6. REPORT FROM THE CHAIR: Chair S. Williams reported that the nominations of Casa Cody and Invernada for historic site designation will come before City Council on February 6, 2008. Board needs to move ahead with the research for historic nominations. Ken Lyon, Staff Liaison, was acknowledged and thanked for all he has done for HSPB. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS: N O N E 8. CERTIFICATES OF APPROVAL: N O N E 9. OTHER BUSINESS: N O N E Historic Site Preservation Board Page 2 of 4 Minutes from the January 8, 2008 Meeting 10. COMMITTEE REPORTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS: A. Subcommittee Report on Public Outreach (1) Board to review draft letters provided at November meeting for discussion. Board reviewed and revised draft letter prepared by Board member Grattan that will be sent to local realtors which informs the realtors, their potential buyers, and provides a relationship for the transfer of information between the Board and the real estate community. A cost analysis will be completed before the mailings by the subcommittee. Board member Nelson suggested the P.S. Preservation Foundation’s Class 1 Booklet be used as an enclosure and will check on availability, cost, and ask about a donation. Subcommittee is to meet and plan for all the letters before next meeting. $1,000 was budgeted for education and printing, and $1000 was budgeted for community outreach. M/S/C (J. Williams/Riley) to approve the letter to be sent to local realtors on City letterhead leaving out Item 3 (Architectural Guide), and contact PSPF to see if the Class 1 booklet is available – Vote was 7 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent, 0 Abstentions. Board member Nelson’s letter was reviewed, revised, and will be prepared for mailing to those property owners who have expressed an interest in their property being designated. M/S/C (Riley/Grattan) moved to approve the letter to interested homeowners as corrected – Vote was 7 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent, 0 Abstentions. B. P.S. Preservation Foundation - Jade Nelson The Foundation is sponsoring the Modernism Show and the Preview Reception Friday, February 15, 2008 between 6 and 9 p.m., information is available at their web site www.pspf.net . They are hosting the annual Retro Martini Party at the original Don Wexler home. “Palm Springs Reimagined” will be February 23 in conjunction with Modernism Week at the P.S. Museum. Staff suggested that the Modernism Show could be a good outreach opportunity for HSPB preservation literature and to provide information about designation and historic properties. Chair S. Williams will check with the Chair of the Show. C. P.S. Modern Committee - John Williams The Sixth Annual PS ModCom Benefit will be Saturday, February 16 from 8 p.m. to midnight to the music of Victor Rodriguez, LA DJ, at the home of Brian Buchan and Jaime Rook. Information and tickets are available online at www.psmodcom.com. The Annual House Tour is Saturday April 5, 2008. All information regarding the above events can be found on www.modernismweek.com D. P.S. Historical Society – Sidney Williams PSHS is working on the Modernism Week along with those above. E. Architecture and Design Council - Sidney Williams Historic Site Preservation Board Page 3 of 4 Minutes from the January 8, 2008 Meeting (1) The next lecture will be January 31 – at 6 p.m. in the Annenberg Theatre “ Space Between the Hammer and the Mouse”, work by Ball-Nogues Studio will be presented by Gaston Nogues and Benjamin Ball, young LA architects. (2) Also as part of Modernism Week, there is a lecture by Dr. Eric Haskell titled “Power, Pleasure, Paradise: From Order to Chaos in the Art of the French Garden” February 11 at 10:30 a.m. (3) February 24, is a motor coach tour “The Desert’s First Exclusive Enclaves: From Marrakesh to Smoke Tree, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Staff is working with Jeri and Sally of the P.S. Historical Society on a training program for HSPB about the social and cultural side of Palm Springs’ history. Board member Nelson mentioned that the City of Palm Springs is a sponsor of Modernism Week this year and banners will be up along Palm Canyon Drive. P.S. Modern Committee is sponsoring the Walk of Stars dedication for Donald Wexler February 15 in front of the Santa Fe Federal Savings & Loan building, aka The Wessman Building. F. Work Program 2007/2008 – Budget Planning for 2008/2009 Staff pointed out that it’s time to start looking at the new budget for 2008/2009. Board member Nelson suggested invitations to the ceremonies when the historic markers are dedicated and installed on the newly designated properties. A Budget Subcommittee of Brian Strahl, Chair, Shelly Saunders, and Bud Riley will work on the upcoming 2008/2009 HSPB Budget. Board member Nelson commented that the properties nominated for designation need to be discussed – Horizon Hotel, Willard /Moorten House, Cary Grant House, Kocher Sampson Building, and the Elrod House were the top five. Chair S. Williams will work on the Kocher Sampson Building and the Elrod House; Board member J. Williams will work on the Horizon Hotel; and Sheila Grattan will work on the Cary Grant House (Dr. Jane Smith, owner has shown interest). Staff member Lyon summarized the HSPB work done and in progress and asked members to review their September 11, 2007 Work Plan list. Board asked that a copy be emailed to them. 11. STAFF & OTHER REPORTS: Staff member Bullock reported on the staff analysis of the CEQA determination of the El Paso building – the project is still categorically exempt from CEQA review. 12. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS: Chair S. Williams asked about the Orchid Tree property since the Premier Apartments (Frey building) have been demolished. Staff advised that the owner will prepare a new market study to determine what kind of development is appropriate given the current economic time. Historic Site Preservation Board Page 4 of 4 Minutes from the January 8, 2008 Meeting Board member Nelson asked for an update on the Baristo Lofts (300 South Palm Canyon Drive) project. Staff reported that the project may be re-submitted with revisions. Board member J. Williams asked about the status of the Town & Country and if the Board had decided to abandon the efforts of having it designated. Staff advised that the Board needs to start working on this one – finish the research, bring it forward as an Agenda item at a HSPB meeting, make a Board recommendation or decision, and (depending on the Board’s decision) forward it to the City Council. Chair S. Williams commented that Mod Com had done some work, Jade Nelson will meet with Peter Moruzzi and work on the Town & Country property. 13. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, it was moved and seconded to adjourn the HSPB meeting at 9:15 a.m. The next regular meeting of HSPB will be Monday, February 11, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. in the large conference room at City Hall, since February 12 is a City holiday. Respectfully submitted, Diane Bullock, Associate Planner HSPB Staff Liaison