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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-10-14- HSPB minutesCITY OF PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD Meeting Minutes Tuesday, October 14, 2008 Large Conference Room, City Hall, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, California 92262 BOARD MEMBERS Present at this Meeting Present FY Year-to-Date FY 2008-2009 Excused Absences To-Date Sidney Williams, Chair X 3 1 Brian Strahl, Vice Chair X 4 0 Sheila Grattan X 4 0 Tom DeLeeuw John Gilmer Barbara Marshall X X X 4 4 4 0 0 0 STAFF REPRESENTATIVES: Craig Ewing, Director of Planning Diane Bullock, Associate Planner Loretta Moffett, Administrative Assistant 1. The regularly scheduled HSPB meeting was called to order at 8:17 a.m. on Tuesday, October 14 by Chair Sidney Williams 2. ROLL CALL: Present: T. DeLeeuw, J. Gilmer, S. Grattan, B. Marshall, S. Saunders, B. Strahl, and Chair S. Williams. 3. POSTING OF AGENDA: This Agenda was available for public access at the City Hall exterior bulletin board (west side of Council Chamber), City Clerk’s office, and Planning Services’ counter on or before 4:00 p.m. Thursday, October 9, 2008. 4. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None 5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES of the September 9, 2008 Meeting. Chair Williams corrected her attendance record and that Will Butler goes by “BILL”. Board member DeLeeuw corrected page 2, line 4 of the third paragraph adding ...”it would BE temporary.” M/S/C (Grattan/Marshall) to approve the Minutes of the September 9, 2008 Meeting as corrected. Vote: 6 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent, 0 Abstentions – passed unanimously. 6. REPORT FROM THE VICE CHAIR: Chair Williams advised that Shelly Saunders resigned from HSPB and has taken a position with the City. The Board thanks Shelly for her hard work and service to the Board and community. A LA Times preservation article written by Diane Keaton, a LA Conservancy member when they were contesting the demolition of the Ambassador Hotel was distributed – she writes that it is much more ecologically sound to save buildings now than to destroy and build new ones. The Casa Cody Inn will be heard by the C.C. tomorrow, October 15, for Class 1 & 2 designation, Chair Williams is not able to attend and asked other Board members to attend so HSPB is represented – Barbara Marshall will attend. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None Historic Site Preservation Board Page 2 of 6 Minutes from the October 14, 2008 Meeting 8. CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL REQUEST(S): 8.A. Case No. 3.0635 Application by the City of Palm Springs Community and Economic Development department to add additional security lighting to the Palm Springs Visitor’s Center (Tramway Gas Station Historic Site #33/#37) at 2901 North Palm Canyon Drive, Zone C-1, Section 3. Scott Taschner, Assistant Planner described the project that will consist of six (6) bronze-colored lights – three under the roof structure and three ground fixtures supported and secured by boulders and landscaping. They will fit into existing landscaping and surroundings. This project is to provide adequate security lighting to the building to help prevent vandalism and to enhance nighttime presence of the building and its historic structural elements. Lighting and Zoning codes and ordinances allow lights to be pointed upwards only to show architectural features or on landscaping (see staff report). Main purpose is for security, but this will double as accent lighting for highlighting this Class 1 Historic Site. Diana Shay, from the Community & Economic Development department and Greg Meek from the lighting company answered Board member questions. It was pointed out that five existing lights are not working and are covered with sand, grass, rocks, etc. There was Board concern that the light fixtures would not be maintained and routinely serviced, and after brief discussion, Board member Grattan moved and Board member Gilmer seconded that the Board approve the application and grant a Certificate of Approval based on the followings conditions as outlined in the Staff Report: (1) Intensity of the fixtures being used is not excessive; (2) light fixtures are properly directed toward the architectural elements; (3) the ‘throw pattern’ of light fixtures does not create spillover onto adjacent properties or into the night sky; (4) appropriate cut-offs, shielding, or filters are required; and (5) routine maintenance and service is on-going to keep the lights functional. M/S/C (Grattan/Gilmer) to approve the motion based on the above conditions and that the Board grant a Certificate of Approval. Vote- 6 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent, 0 Abstention – motion carried unanimously. 9. OTHER BUSINESS: 9.A. Potential Designations of Selected Properties – Status Reports (1) La Serena Villas – Staff Liaison Bullock is writing the Staff Report, and asked for additional information from anyone who might know the property. (2) Palm Springs International Airport – West Façade – Staff Liaison Bullock will work on this after La Serena Villas has been heard by Council. (3) Status of Other Properties Selected for Potential Designation – the single-family home at 590 South Indian Trail is ready for referral to Council. Staff asked if the Board wishes to continue with the Oasis Commercial Building (HSPB-55) or move forward with 590 South Indian Trail (HSPB – 68)? Board members feel the Oasis Commercial is an important building, but the property owner is not in favor of it being designated. Chair Williams advised that Historic Site Preservation Board Page 3 of 6 Minutes from the October 14, 2008 Meeting the Board’s charge is to find and recommend historic properties/buildings for designation, but not to anticipate the final decision. The Board needs to determine how it wants to spend its limited time and establish its priorities. Chair Williams asked that the Oasis Commercial project go on the record. It has been on the list for consideration for some time and the Board needs to proceed. Staff Liaison Bullock has spoken with the Oasis owner, and was referred to a staff member who wrote a document that does not support designating the Oasis Commercial building. Staff is collecting additional information for further discussion and determination. After further discussion the Board’s consensus was to send the Oasis Commercial Building to Council recommending Class 1 designation. Staff will take this on to Council. Board member Tom DeLeeuw commented that this 590 South Indian Trail house should move forward – it’s a great house, immaculate property. He asked if there were any Class 1 buildings that compare to this one – of the period, condition, it is relatively large for the period, prominent position, etc. Staff Liaison Bullock advised that the procedure is to bring the properties forward as time permits and in the sequence discussed. Staff does not want to continually advise property owners that their properties will be discussed at meetings, when the update or status is all that will be reported. Staff does not want this to become annoying to them. (4) Del Marcos Hotel – Re-assign Board Member – Brian Strahl volunteered to work with the owners of the Del Marcos. 9.B. HSPB Attendance at Other City Board, Commission, or Council Meetings Director Ewing stated that when a person accepts a position authorized by the City Council, the person takes on certain responsibilities, but does not give up their basic rights to speak as a citizen. Basics to remember: (1) Be clear as to whether you’re speaking for the Board: When the Board has taken action with a majority vote to establish a position (policy or recommendation), you can then represent that decision to the community as a Board member. (2) Editorializing on the wisdom of that decision is another matter. Whether you won or lost, or how that happened, you want to then make it clear that you are speaking from your own perspective on that Board decision. When speaking, be sure that you make it clear: (3) what you’re talking about; (4) that you are representing the majority vote of the Board; and/or (5) that you are representing your own opinion. When speaking on an issue or item that the Board has not acted on: (6) identify that you are speaking as a citizen Historic Site Preservation Board Page 4 of 6 Minutes from the October 14, 2008 Meeting If it is something that the Board is yet to act on: (7) It should not be discussed at all. If you represent your position before the Board has acted, you could be perceived as having prejudiced your own decision before all the testimony has been presented. Board members are to come to meetings with open minds before making decisions. If a property is about to be reviewed for designation or change, and a board member speaks out strongly in advance – it indicates that the member has already made up their mind. The consequence is that is a Board member could be asked to step down from the Board when that decision comes forward. Summary: Respect the authority that the City Council has given to you; respect fellow Board members when you are out in the community; and ensure that your own ability to take future action is not compromised. This issue was originally discussed at the June 2008 meeting and a copy of the excerpts from those Minutes was in the Board packets. 10. COMMITTEE REPORTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS: 10.A. P.S. Preservation Foundation –Information is available at www.pspf.net Re-assignment of Board member liaison – Board member Strahl volunteered. 10.B. P.S. Modern Committee – Board member Barbara Marshall talked with Peter Moruzzi who advised that ModCom continues to monitor the Baristo Loft’s project (Santa Fe Federal Building), which may be heard by the Planning Commission in November or early December. They are following the EIR being prepared for the Museum Market Plaza as it relates to the Town & Country Center. He reminded everyone of the November 1, 2008 event honoring Julius Schulman at the newly renovated Riviera Resort and Spa. Tickets are available at the www.psmodcom.com 10.C. P.S. Historical Society – Board member Sheila Grattan – The Pioneer Picnic is the next big event, November 9, 2008 at the O’Donnell Golf Course. Tickets (323-8297) are $25 for adults, $10 for children for the traditional chicken picnic basket. Regular hours re-start Friday, October 17, 2008. The new 2009 calendar’s theme is “Now and Then” - it will have fun “old and new” photos of Palm Springs scenes and is available at PSHS 323-8297 or www.palmspringshistoricalsociety.com 10.D. Architecture and Design Council – Board member John Gilmer – ADC held first meeting of the season, has set-up the lecture series, and is looking for sponsors for the lectures. Fundraisers are being discussed. The August Tour to Culver City was very successful. There will be a Tour to San Francisco on October 24, 2008. 10.E Web Site Development – Board members John Gilmer & Tom DeLeeuw Organizational Outline from original web site itemizations – no report, will need further direction. Staff Liaison Bullock advised that Loretta and Scott will be working on the web site. She asked that the original outline be re-defined by priorities, links will be important, (refer to September Minutes). City Manager will provide new web site demo to Council October 17. Website will need photographs and related text that will be formatted by pages, sub-pages, links, etc. Board member Gilmer advised that the original Outline from August is the real basis for the HSPB web pages. Historic Site Preservation Board Page 5 of 6 Minutes from the October 14, 2008 Meeting Board member Grattan suggested that a Mission statement be written along with a page telling “why the Historic Site Preservation Board is so important in Palm Springs” ....as opposed to the clinical listing of the elements. She volunteered to write the Mission statement and the “sizzle piece” that gets people to want to open the historic preservation pages. Staff Liaison Bullock and Loretta will follow-up on additions and web-site construction – this project is a work-in-progress and will require on-going work to keep it updated. Staff member Moffett advised that the initial web site items will be: Designation application, board members names and short bios, the Historic Preservation in Palm Springs brochure, and items from the Outline. She asked for three-sentence bios and additional input from all Board members – everything is subject to edits. 10.F. Historic District & Grants – Board member Barbara Marshall commented that she had suggested submitting Palm Springs as a Preserve America Community, which would serve two purposes (1) bring attention to the architectural tourism; and (2) allow the Board to apply for grants. The Preserve America Communities Program: 2008 Community Application was distributed. The Board originally agreed to pursue this at the August meeting and a one-page point paper was submitted for use when discussing this with the City Manager and the Council to pre-brief them that HSPB was going to pursue this Preserve America designation. She is starting to put the package together, but since it is very labor intensive, it has been put on hold until it is known that everyone is on-board. 10.G Aerial Photo Historic Markers – Chair Williams & Board member Marshall – Board member Marshal has prepared a list consisting of intriguing and interesting places that may have been lost, such as the Chi Chi Club, the Huddle, and is researching dates of demolition along with other locations with “past histories.” It will be made available for others input. 11. STAFF & OTHER REPORTS: 11.A. November meeting – November 11 is a holiday for the City, HSPB will meet Monday, November 10, 2008 – same time and location as all meetings. 11.B. Update on the ARG Bid for a Historic District Study – Staff Liaison Bullock contacted the Architectural Resources Group, who prepared the 2004 Survey, and their information and bid of $6500 for the Historic District Study was included in the Board packet. The bid was briefly reviewed and the Board was asked to review and determine if another bid should be solicited from other sources. Board members stated and asked for the following: (1) Current bid is very basic, when contributors and non-contributors are identified report and costs will probably increase; (2) copies of sample reports that ARG has previously researched and prepared on cities comparable to Palm Springs. (3) additional bids from other sources, recommending Patrick McGrew as one source. Staff Liaison Bullock explained that ARG and the Office of Historic Preservation sometimes do training sessions for cities, and it may be worthwhile to look into having a session in Palm Springs. This matter was continued until the next meeting. Staff will contact Mr. McGrew and look into the training sessions. Historic Site Preservation Board Page 6 of 6 Minutes from the October 14, 2008 Meeting 11.C Casa Cody Designation Staff Liaison Bullock has completed writing the Staff Report, it is available online and was in the Board packets. It will be presented to City Council October 15 by Director Ewing, she asked that Board members be present at the Council meeting. 12. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS: Preservation Magazine is now being received at home by Board members. 13. ADJOURNMENT: Board member Gilmer moved, seconded by Board member DeLeeuw to adjourn the HSPB meeting at 9:22 a.m. to a special meeting on Monday, November 10, 2008 in the Large Conference Room at City Hall – Tuesday, November 11 is a City Holiday. Respectfully submitted, Diane Bullock, Associate Planner HSPB Staff Liaison