Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-02-15 CC MINUTES ' PALM SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2007 CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Oden called the meeting to order at 6:10 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Oden led the Pledge. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Councilmember Foat, Councilmember McCulloch, Councilmember Mills, Mayor Pro Tern Pougnet, and Mayor Oden. ABSENT: None. ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Ready, City Attorney Holland, City Clerk Thompson. PRESENTATIONS: None. Mayor Oden and the City Council presented an array of historical photos and a tribute to former Mayor Lloyd Maryanov, 1933 to 2007, in honor of his recent passing_ Mayor Oden presented a photo and a tribute to Ray Patencio in honor of his recent passing. REPORT OF CLOSED SESSION: City Attorney Holland stated that the City Council did not meet in Closed Session prior to the meeting and the Closed Session was adjourned to immediately following the Study Session. ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA: ACTION: Accept the Agenda as presented. Motion Councilmember Foat, seconded by Councilmember Mills and unanimously carried on a roll call vote. PUBLIC COMMENT: TAYLOR CUSHMORE, Palm Springs, commented on the City loan to Dick Taylor Productions for Cirque Dreams and the proposal to have a Gran Prix in the City of Palm Springs. Mayor Oden requested the City Attorney address the details of the loan to Dick Taylor Productions and the City Manager address loans to other events such as the Palm Springs Follies. COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS AND REQUESTS: None. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: None. City Council Minutes February 15, 2007 Page 2 1. STUDY SESSION: ' 1.A. CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION AND PARKING: City Manager Ready provided background information as indicated in the previous studies for the Convention Center expansion and parking. Councilmember Foat requested the City Manager address the triangle parcel in terms of future build-out. Mayor Pro Tern Pougnet requested the City Manager address a time line in response to future expansion. Councilmember Foat requested the City Manager address the fact that the City is not currently planning to expand the Convention Center. Councilmember McCulloch commented on the current development proposed and that future expansion would not be possible without some master planning. Councilmember Mills commented on the previous two expansions of the Convention Center, and the need to master plan for future change, commented on current parking as holding areas, construction costs, and , estimated TOT to fund a future expansion_ Lance Harris, Economics Research Associates, provided background information as outlined in the previous parking study for the Convention Center. Mayor Oden requested the consultant address truck loading and unloading, and how many hotel rooms we are going to need for new convention center space. Councilmember Foat stated the Study validated what we expected, but how does the City estimate how many hotel rooms are needed for future convention center expansion, and requested the consultant address parking needs. Mayor Pro Tem Pougnet commented on the hotel mix analysis for committable rooms, requested Convention Center staff address the priorities in order of committable rooms, exhibition space, and then parking, the number of conventions that need 1,200 committable rooms, and commented on the proposal for the school district property. Councilmember Mills commented on the previous ERA study used before ' the recent expansion, and requested staff address the vacancy rate and committed rooms. City Council Minutes February 15, 2007 Page 3 Councilmember McCulloch requested Convention Center staff address the need for expansion for another 700 to 1,000 committable rooms within a three block radius, and the number of committable rooms the City would need for some of the proposed ideas for expansion. Mayor Oden requested Convention Center staff whether the Riviera was included in committable hotel rooms, the impact of the type and the quality of hotels, and commented he would like the Convention Center to be used at full potential before 9/11, and the impacts of future construction. Councilmember Mills commented on the 2001 ERA report with respect to the requirements of meeting planners and the quality of hotels, commented on the physical layout in the proposed plans, the plans for flexible green space, and the fact that none of the master plans provide for a front door, and recommended expansion plans to the area to the North. Tom Wilson, Assistant City Manager, provided information with respect to future parking opportunities around the Convention Center, and potential staging area on Avenida Caballeros. ' Councilmember Mills requested staff address the net parking spaces at parking location 3, the parcel near location 2 as being part of the proposed Westin Hotel, and the parking area for location 5 at the proposed Hard Rock. Mayor Pro Tern Pougnet stated parking location 2 does not appeal to him, and is more in favor of locations 3 and 5. Councilmember Foat commented on a parking structure on Tahquitz and if an entry way is proposed from Tahquitz to the proposed Hard Rock. Councilmember Mills stated his preference of parking location 4, as where the City should be looking in the future. Mayor Oden commented on parking location 4 being good for downtown, on how the parking is going to be done and how it blends with the community. No action taken. The City Council recessed at 8:15 p.m. The City Council reconvened at 8:22 P.M. City Council Minutes February 15, 2007 Page 4 9.13 PERIODIC REVIEW OF CITY COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEES: ' Councilmember McCulloch requested clarification on the Downtown subcommittee. Councilmember Mills provided some history on the Downtown subcommittee and that it is working towards meeting the goals of Downtown. Councilmember Foat requested staff address if we have a process for changing the subcommittees. Mayor Oden stated we have no formal policy but stated it is up to the City Council to determine how to handle subcommittees. Mayor Oden stated the Council should notify the City Clerk if the subcommittee should not be on the active list, and then bring it forward for ratification. Councilmember McCulloch stated he is the liaison to the Palm Springs Economic Development Corporation and that it is not on the list. No action taken. ' COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS AND REPORTS: Mayor Pro Tern Pougnet requested a status of the Orchid Tree Inn and if the vacant building ordinance can be applied, requested staff report on the status of the three projects: Palm Hotel, Spanish Inn and Indian Manor, and the traffic calming issues; and requested staff provide an estimate on the opening of the Ramada and the Riviera. Councilmember McCulloch commented on the Tour de Palm Springs event. Councilmember Foat commented on the Historic Tennis Club Neighborhood Meeting, and requested a status report of the property adjacent to the Viceroy, requested a report of the repairs for the fire destroyed apartment building at Vista Chino and Palm Canyon, commented on the Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, and stated the City is in need of a new Animal Shelter. Mayor Oden provided information on the activities and events attended by the Mayor's office, and thanked the Public Arts Commission and local artists who participated in the art show at City Hall. City Attorney Holland stated the City Council will recess into Closed Session to discuss the items on the Closed Session Agenda, but requested the City Council add two items rn ' to the Closed Session Agenda pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8, Conference with Real Property Negotiator; Clty Negotiator, David Ready, City Manager, City Council Minutes February 15, 2007 Page 5 ' with Palm Springs Ventures, LLC, Avenida Caballeros and Amado Road, APN's 508- 070-038 and 508-580-075. Councilmember Mills stated he has a business related conflict of interest with respect to the items requested to be added to the Closed Session Agenda, would not participate in the discussion or the vote, and left Council Chamber. ACTION: 1) Make the finding that the Items came to the attention of the City subsequent to the posting of the agenda; 2) Make the determination there is a need to take action or hear the items; and 3) Add two items to the Closed Session Agenda pursuant to Government Coded Section 64956.8, Conference with Real Property Negotiator, David Ready, City Manager, City Negotiator, and Palm Springs Ventures LLC, two properties at Avenida Caballeros and Amado Road, APN's 508-070-038 and 508 580 075 discussion of price and terms. Motion Mayor Pro Tom Pougnet, seconded by Mayor Oden and unanimously carried 4-0 on a roll call vote. AYES: Councilmember Foat, Councilmember McCulloch, Mayor Pro Tem Pougnet, and Mayor Oden. NOES: None. ABSENT: Councilmember Mills. ' The City Council adjourned into Closed Session 8:44 P.M, to discuss Items contained on the Closed Session Agenda. The City Council reconvened at 9:50 P.M. REPORT OF CLOSED SESSION: City Attorney Holland stated no reportable actions were taken. ADJOURNMENT: The City Council adjourned at 9:50 P.M. to a Regular Meeting, Wednesday, February 21, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, City Hall, preceded by a Closed Session at 4:30 p.m., Small Conference Room, City Hall, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs. APPROVED BY A MOTION OF THE PALM SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL THIS 71" DAY OF MARCH, 2007. 76 MAYOR ATTEST: ' ty Clerk