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Home My WebLink About2008-02-11- HSPB minutes CITY OF PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD MEETING Minutes of Meeting – Monday, February 11, 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 7 1 Jade Nelson, Vice Chair X 7 1 John Williams X 7 1 Harold “Bud” Riley 0 6 2 Brian Strahl Sheila Grattan Shelly Saunders 0 0 X 7 7 8 1 1 0 STAFF PRESENT: Craig Ewing, Director of Planning Diane Bullock, Associate Planner Loretta Moffett, Administrative Assistant * * * * * 1. The HSPB regularly scheduled meeting was called to order at 8:15 a.m. on Monday, February 11 2008 by HSPB Chair Sidney Williams. 2. ROLL CALL: Present: J. Nelson, S. Saunders, S. Williams, and J. Williams Absent: B. Riley, S. Grattan, B. Strahl 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, February 6, 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: Chair S. Williams asked for the spelling of the Kocher Samson (Sampson) Building to be corrected. M/S/C (Saunders/J. Williams) to approve the Minutes of the January 8, 2008 Minutes as corrected – Vote 4 Yes, 0 No, 2 Absent, 0 Abstentions. 6. REPORT FROM THE CHAIR: Chair S. Williams reminded everyone that the City National Bank Historic Marker #52 will be dedicated Thursday, February 14 at the Bank of America Building, 588 South Palm Canyon Drive at 3 p.m. by the Mayor with several delegates & Board members attending. The Kaufmann House Historic Marker #29B at 470 West Vista Chino will be dedicated at 4 p.m. Staff will follow-up on an unveiling cover for the markers. ‘Invernada’ at 657 North Via Miraleste was designated Class 1 Historic Site #56 by the City Council on February 6, 2008. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS: N O N E Historic Site Preservation Board Page 2 of 4 Minutes from the February 11, 2008 Meeting 8. CERTIFICATES OF APPROVAL: N O N E 9. OTHER BUSINESS: A. Discussion of Historic Districts Chair S. Williams reported that some time ago Ken Lyon, John Williams, Bud Riley, and she met to identify potential historic districts. After identifying the districts, Ken Lyon and she met met with Tennis Club representatives. Sunmor Neighborhood Association has expressed interest in the Historic District program. Ron Marshall, Sunmor resident, prepared definitions of historic districts and provided copies to the Board. Chair Williams asked the Board to review and provide suggestions or comments that would make the document pertinent to our City and its regulations. Vice Chair Nelson commented that tax benefits could be an important future discussion at neighborhood meetings. Staff member Bullock suggested research on those property owners who did not want to be included – ‘majority rules’ does not necessarily mean it is germane in this instance. Chair Williams suggested a more detailed work plan - how to develop, etc. Board member J. Williams asked for clarification on the “non-contributing” properties. Staff will review the Code for determinations. Chair S. Williams explained that this document is based on research that included some Long Beach statutes. The research will ensure to the Board that all important local information is covered. Staff member Bullock advised that staff will review other Coachella Valley cities’ and speak with their historic preservation representatives, and suggested that the Board review the Marshall document in detail in order to answer questions that may come up from property owners (attached for convenience). 10. COMMITTEE REPORTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS: A. Subcommittee Report on Public Outreach – Sheila Grattan (absent) Board member Nelson reported that the Subcommittee revised the letters and they are now ready to send. The Palm Springs Preservation foundation donated 170 “Class 1”. booklets to include with the realtors’ letters. Board member Saunders reported that the Subcommittee has a list of about 1500 realtors. It was suggested that property owners who have expressed interest in historic designation be sent one of these “Class 1” booklets prior to mailing it to others. B. P.S. Preservation Foundation - Jade Nelson There are two changes in the Modernism schedule – the Fashion Show on February 21has been cancelled, and the Martini Party has been moved to the Horizon Hotel. The “Palm Springs Re- imagined” event starts at noon, February 23, at the Palm Springs Art Museum. C. P.S. Modern Committee - John Williams P.S. ModCom is sponsoring the “Donald Wexler Sidewalk Star” at 2 p.m., February 15, followed by a reception at the Del Marcos Hotel from 2 to 4 p.m. PS ModCom’s Annual Benefit and Fundraiser is Saturday, February 16, at the home of Brian Buchan and Jamie Rook – tickets are $125 and are available online at www.psmodcom.org. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 20, ModCom is sponsoring two French films about Jazz Greats – Duke Ellington and Oscar Peterson, tickets are $10. The Annual Home Tour is Saturday, April 5, 2008. D. P.S. Historical Society – Sidney Williams The Society’s Smoketree event honoring Frank Bogert was very successful, and the Historic Site Preservation Board Page 3 of 4 Minutes from the February 11, 2008 Meeting Society is participating in Modernism Week with two films to be shown Monday, February 18. E. Architecture and Design Council - Sidney Williams ADC is sponsoring five events for Modernism Week: Monday and Tuesday, the Double Decker Bus Tours are sold out; Tuesday at 6 p.m. is the Australian Architect Ric Butt Lecture at the Annenberg Theater “Sustainable E-Houses”; Thursday at 6 p.m. a film called “The Sand Castle - Building a City in the Desert of Ras AlKhaimah;” Saturday, the Julius Shulman Exhibition opens; and Sunday will be the Architecture Symposium –“‘The Desert’s First Exclusive Enclaves: From Marrakesh to Smoke Tree.” Modernism week is widely advertised with brochures, banners, mailings, the website is www.modernismweek.com, and HSPB will be displaying brochures and preservation information at the Friday night show. F. Work Program 2007/2008 – Budget Planning for 2008/2009 (1) California Preservation Foundation Budget (2) Budget (3) Mailings (4) Historic Markers Several items have been accomplished: Channel 17 images and rolling messages, Chair S. Williams has been working with Mr. Kilroy, owner of the Kocher Samson Building and the Elrod House, and he is in favor of historic designation. The Board will continue with Education and Outreach efforts. Budget and Work Program discussions were continued until the full Board is present. Board member training was discussed and the approval process of budget expenditures. A full budget report was given by staff member L. Moffett. The Invernada Historic Marker will be started. Chair S. Williams advised that she and William Kopelk are co-chairs of the 2009 California Preservation Foundation (CPF) Conference to be held in Palm Springs, and they are attending the 2008 CPF Conference in Napa. She asked for the Board’s consideration for the expenses. Chair S. Williams will be a speaker at the March 7 seminar at Cal Poly in Pomona that focuses on Preservation of Modernism. Board members were reminded to routinely check their emails because mailers often come out for events that are held before HSPB meetings. Staff reported that Jade Nelson paid for his own travel expenses, and the registration fee of $195 was paid from the HSPB budget. The City’s 70th Anniversary celebration is upcoming – staff will find out exact details. Board member J. Williams asked about the six properties in the process of being or that have been designated Class 1 Historic Sites and what budget they fall under. It was determined they will probably fall into FY 07/08 and FY 08/09. Budget Subcommittee member Shelly Saunders asked if un-spent budget funds could be designated before the deadline for Historic Markers so the funds are not lost at the end of the fiscal year? Staff advised that funds are not carried over from one budget year to the next. Member Saunders also asked about the deadline for designation or encumbrance of funds in this HSPB budget and what Historic Markers could come out of this current budget. Markers needed for properties that may be designated when they go to Council are: Washington Mutual Bank, Oasis Commercial Building, and Casa Cody. Markers cost about $1,000 each. Staff will check into the budget deadline dates. The $1,000 in Community Outreach of the budget will probably be spent on the upcoming mailing. Historic Site Preservation Board Page 4 of 4 Minutes from the February 11, 2008 Meeting 11. STAFF & OTHER REPORTS: Staff member Bullock reported that in the designation of Invernada at 657 North Via Miraleste as Class 1 Historic Site #56 on February 6, 2008, Council accepted Staff and Board recommendations for everything except the word “gardens,” – which was not approved and will be eliminated from the Resolution. The listed fountain and gate passed, but the gardens (landscaping) were struck from the designation. Ms. Bullock also advised that the aerial maps in the courtyard between the City Hall buildings dated 1939, 1953, 1974, and 1985 could be an important part of the Board’s Work Program of educational outreach. She suggested forming a subcommittee to take each map and find the significant historical events (construction of a historic building, a historic section of P.S., etc.) that were vital to the time and identify those areas on the map with small informational markers where viewers can read about the transitional growth of Palm Springs. No costs would come out of the HSPB budget. Board member Saunders suggested discussing this at the next meeting when all Board members are in attendance. Staff reported that the Welwood Murray Memorial Cemetery will be replacing its cracked and dilapidated walkway, which does not require a Board Certificate of Approval because it is routine maintenance. At the March 11 meeting, Jeri Vogelsang from the Historical Society will be presenting information and products that are available at and through the Historical Society. A very informative article from Preservation Magazine will be included in the March Board packets that talks about ‘preservation and sustainability’ for the Board to review. 12. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS: Board member Saunders attended the Palm Springs Peace Pole Dedication ceremony at the Village Green on January 18. The Peace Pole is a handcrafted monument that displays the message of prayer...”May peace prevail on earth.” There are over 200,000 Peace Poles in 180 countries around the world dedicated as monuments to peace. The City did a great job with this ceremony and it is placed in a very significant historical location. Board member Nelson reported that the latest issue of the Palm Springs Life magazine has an iconic Julius Shulman photo of Albert Frey’s first home showing the ceiling and dining room on the cover and contains other modernism and architectural articles. 13. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, it was moved and seconded to adjourn the HSPB meeting at 9:05 a.m. The next regular meeting of HSPB will be Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. in the large conference room at City Hall. Respectfully submitted, Diane Bullock, Associate Planner HSPB Staff Liaison Attachment: Ron Marshall’s Historic District Designation Information Sheet