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Home My WebLink About2007-04-25 CC MINUTES PALM SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2007 CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Oden called the meeting to order at 6:14 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Lt. Booth 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: Gary Jeandron, Police Chief, provided an update on the enforcement in and around school zones. REPORT OF CLOSED SESSION: City Attorney Holland stated that at 4:30 P.M. the meeting was called to order and the City Council made the finding that an Item came to the attention to the City after the posting of the Agenda, and there was an immediate need to hear the Item, then added one additional Item to the Closed Session Agenda under G.C. Section 54956.9(a) Existing Litigation, Sierra Club v. the City of Palm Springs Case No. INC 061833, by a 4-0 vote with Mayor Oden absent. The City Council then recessed into Closed Session to discuss items on the Closed Session agenda. No reportable actions were taken. ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA: ACTION: Accept the Agenda as presented. Motion Councilmember Foat, seconded by Mayor Oden and unanimously carried on a roll call vote. PUBLIC COMMENT: JOY MEREDITH, Palm Springs, provided an update on the activities of Main Street, and commented on the proposed modifications to the sign regulations. JESSE DANNER, Snip Snip Buzz, stated the City is overly restrictive on secondary signage and requested the City Council modify the sign ordinance. COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS AND REQUESTS: None. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: None. City Council Minutes April 25, 2007 Page 2 1. STUDY SESSION: I.A. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF SIGNAGE AND OUTDOOR DISPLAY WITHIN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT ZONING CODE REGULATIONS 93.20.09.4.c (MENU BOARDS), 92.09.01.38 (OUTDOOR DISPLAY), AND 93.20.07 (PERMITTED REAL ESTATE SIGNS): City Manager Ready and Craig Ewing, Director of Planning Services, provided background information as outlined in the staff report dated April 25, 2007. Mayor Pro Tem Pougnet stated the City Council unanimously voted to put this agenda item along with a discussion of the sign ordinance on the Study Session agenda. Councilmember Foat stated that one of the driving forces of the display provisions were the 40 MPH speed limit in Uptown. Councilmember McCulloch requested staff address the papering of windows, the three foot rule, the specific regulations pertaining to Snip Snip Buzz, any special distinctions or rules in specific areas such as Downtown, Uptown and other areas, the sign program, and appeal rights to the City Council. Mayor Oden stated the sign regulations used to be very restrictive and commented of specifics on the sign program. Councilmember Mills commented on the different sign requirements in the Downtown area, commented on the quality and quantity of signs in other cities prior to the enactment of sign regulations, stated the regulations need to be flexible while making fair regulations for everyone, commented on the secondary signage restrictions, and expressed enforcement concerns, requested staff address if an A-Frame would be in addition to a customer convenience sign, how to deal with right-of-way issues with A Frame and outdoor displays, stated his support for size and number of real estate signs, and that more signs are worse. Councilmember Foat stated the speed limit was a factor in the Uptown District, requested staff address rear signage, neon signage in the window, requested staff address and review advertising on umbrellas, permitted uses in each zone, open house signage, requested staff address exceptions by a sign program, and commented on supporting the businesses downtown and giving businesses a choice of their signage, , and recommended adopting some of the recommendations of Main Street. City Council Minutes April 25, 2007 Page 3 ' Mayor Pro Tem Pougnet stated that some of the businesses find the regulations overly restrictive, commented on business that is set-back further than other businesses in a building, and requested staff address the flexibility in the Downtown area, and requested staff address the specifics at Snip Snip Buzz. Councilmember McCulloch commented on the importance of the sign ordinance, and perhaps the sign ordinance is dated with respect to new technology, requested staff address if the tenants want to do a sign program without the owner of a building, and stated the City needs to be consistent with the application of the sign regulations, and stated he is not in support of A-Frame signage. Councilmember Mills stated the A-Frame signs were never permitted, stated his concern with real estate signs on multi-tenant buildings, and suggested we consider upgrading the quality of the temporary real estate signs. Councilmember McCulloch requested staff address temporary real estate signs. Mayor Oden stated that in the next 6-months 50% of the Downtown area will be under construction, stated the initial contact from the City for new small businesses is from Code Enforcement, and stated his support for businesses developing sign programs, commented on enforcement, stated there is room for growth in the sign regulations especially in the rear of buildings, and commented on menu signs and A-Frame signs. Councilmember Foat stated we have not given staff direction and suggested we give staff direction, and would like staff to look at a compromise solution with various signs. Mayor Oden expressed his appreciation to Main Street for their efforts and stated we should receive a report from Code Enforcement. City Manager Ready provided further comments on violations downtown, and the Code Enforcement survey in the Downtown area. Discussion was held on the type of direction staff was requesting, and if the City Council should provide specific direction or just comment and direct staff to return with a recommendation. Councilmember Foat stated she would like to see some modifications to the current sign regulations, and she would like to see Main Street discuss this matter further based on the City Council comments. City Council Minutes April 25, 2007 Page 4 Councilmember McCulloch stated the Council has provided some ' comments, and perhaps the City Council should appoint a subcommittee. Mayor Pro Tern Pougnet commented on additional issues, outside of the three recommendations outlined by Main Street. Councilmember Mills requested that comments and suggestions be more specific to further direct staff. Mayor Oden stated in the future staff should make the City Council aware of concerns. ACTION: Direct staff and Main Street to further study based on City Council discussion and return with a draft ordinance. By consensus of the City Council. The City Council recessed at 8:00 P.M. The City Council reconvened at 8:12 P.M. I.B. PRESENTATION OF THE PRELIMINARY FISCAL YEAR 2007-08 BUDGET: City Manager Ready and Troy Butzlaff, Assistant City Manager, provided background information as outlined in the Fiscal Year 2007-08 Preliminary Budget. Councilmember McCulloch requested staff address actual v. deficit, and that deficits have been projected, and actual numbers were positive. Councilmember Pougnet commented on the activity of property taxes and transient occupancy taxes. Councilmember Foat requested staff address Community Promotions, funding of the Bureau of Tourism, Gas Tax, reduced budget at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, the budget reduction for Animal Control, and expenditure for the Railroad Station, City Manager Ready provided information on the Fiscal Year 2007-08 City Manager Recommended Positions, Recommended Programs, and the 5- year Operating Fund Revenues. Councilmember Mills requested staff address the proposed facilities being financed with a CRA bond. Mayor Pro Tern Pougnet requested staff address the Tourism baseline ' funding. City Council Minutes April 25, 2007 Page 5 Councilmember Foat requested staff address COLA adjustments for contracts, and the City Council stipend. ACTION: 1) Receive and file the Preliminary Fiscal Year 2007-08 Budget pursuant to Charter Section 902, 2) Schedule further Budget Study Sessions for May 9, 2007, and May 23, 2007, (if needed); and 3) Direct staff to schedule the Public Hearing for June 6, 2007. By consensus of the City Council. 1.C. PRIORITIZE FUTURE AGENDAISTUDY SESSION TOPICS (DOCKET REVIEW): City Manager Ready provided background information as outlined in the staff report dated April 25, 2007. Mayor Oden stated the City Council met with the Tribe four times a year, and now we are only meeting semi-annually, and requested the scheduling of a Joint Meeting with the Tribe. Mayor Pro Tern Pougnet requested a study session on the Planned Development Process. Mayor Oden suggested a Policy to name streets/buildings/parks should be made a priority. Councilmember Foat commented on the General Plan Study Session, requested staff address the CDBG Grant Funding Process, and requested a Joint Meeting with the Parks and Recreation Commission. Councilmember Mills requested a Joint Meeting with the Resource Conservation Commission following their organizational meeting. Councilmember McCulloch requested staff address Downtown parking, and feedback on the temporary parking programs Downtown. No action taken. COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS AND REPORTS: Councilmember Mills requested staff provide a report with a comparison on resident golf cost and amenities. Mayor Oden announced the Palm Springs International Airport Free Parking Program. ' ADJOURNMENT. The City Council adjourned at 9:14 P.M. to a Regular Meeting, Wednesday, May 2, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, City Hall, preceded by City Council Minutes April 25, 2007 Page 6 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 2nd DAY OF MAY, 2007. MAYOR ATTEST: ?tylerk