HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-07-20 CC MINUTES CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
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MINUTES
THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2017
Palm Springs Convention Center
Primrose B
277 N. Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs CA 92262
DOWNTOWN PARK
JOINT MEETING WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Moon called the meeting to order at 6:12 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Moon led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: Councilmember Kors, Councilmember Mills, Councilmember Roberts,
Mayor Pro Tern Foat, and Mayor Moon
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Ready, Assistant City Manager Fuller, City Attorney
Kotkin, and Interim City Clerk Hart
ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA:
ACTION: Approve the agenda as presented.
Approved unanimously (5-0-0) on a roll call vote.
PRESENTATION FROM MARK RIOS, RIOS CLEMENTI HALE STUDIOS, ON THE
DOWNTOWN PARK:
1. Presentation on the Downtown Park and City Council questions.
Nate Cornier, Rios Clementi Hale Studios, presented the revised park design
including design, proposed designs, and feedback.
Council discussion ensued.
2. Public Comments:
Adam Teixeira, Palm Springs, indicated support for the proposed design.
Robert Stone, Palm Springs, commended Mark Rios on the design. He
discussed Yorba Buena Park in San Francisco.
City Council MINUTES July 20,2017 Page 2
Frank Tysen, Palm Springs, indicated support for the proposed plan and
suggested the other side of Museum Way should also be a park.
Elizabeth Armstrong, Executive Director of the Palm Springs Art Museum,
spoke in support of the plan.
Todd Hayes, Palm Springs, stated he was happy with the design. He urged
inclusion of the gates of the Desert Inn and naming of the park as Kaufman
Park.
Brooke Hodge, Palm Springs Art Museum, thanked the designer, Council,
and staff for public participation.
Judy Deertrack, Palm Springs, spoke positively of the Downtown Park and
expressed concern regarding financing and annual operations and
maintenance.
Dino Zonic, Palm Springs, commented on the need for music and a larger
stage.
Michael Hirschbein, Palm Springs, spoke in support of the project and
expressed caution relating to project approval surrounding the park.
Phillip Smith III, Palm Desert, indicated support for the designer but
expressed concern with the Marilyn Monroe sculpture. He urged the public
art element to be at the same level of the design itself.
Les Young, Palm Springs, Parks and Recreation Commissioner, stated
support of the design.
Sid Craig, Palm Springs, Parks and Recreation Chair, stated he was proud of
the design and community involvement.
No other speakers came forth to address the City Council; therefore, Mayor
Moon closed the public comments.
3. City Council Discussion.
Council discussion ensued and included the following:
• Parking garage configuration
• Consideration of the size of the stage
• Need for an elevator
• Distance between the amphitheater and existing parking garage
• Perimeter connections
• Public furniture
• Public art including the Art Museum
City Council MINUTES July 20,2017 Page 3
• Need to honor the City's past
By conscensus, the City Council directed the Mr. Cornier, Rios Clementi Hale
Studios, to incorporated the above mentioned modifications.
At 7:24 p.m., Mayor Moon called for a recess.
At 7.45 p.m., Mayor Moon reconvened the meeting with the Planning Commission, and all
members of the City Council were present.
JOINT MEETING WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION
ROLL CALL (Planning Commission):
The following members of the Planning Commission were present:
Commissioners Donenfeld, Hirschbein, Lowe, Middleton, Vice Chair Calerdine, and
Chair Weremiuk. Commissioner Hudson was absent.
REVIEW OF THE ACTIONS OF THE AD HOC PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
(PDD) SUBCOMMITTEE REGARDING MODIFICATIONS TO THE PDD PROCESS:
1. Staff Report.
Director of Planning Services Fagg presented the staff report.
2. Public Comments:
Robert Stone, Palm Springs, suggested implementing the Planning
Commission's actions, consider Ms. Deertrack's longitudinal study, and work
to stop lawsuits over the projects.
Frank Tysen, Palm Springs, stated opposition to PDDs, suggested adherence
to the General Plan and Zoning Code, expressed his concern with pending
PDD projects.
Judy Deertrack, Palm Springs, commended the subcommittee and People for
Proper Planning, and suggested consideration of using PDDs as an exception
versus rule.
Marvin Roos, Palm Springs, discussed his experience in processing PDDs.
3. Discuss the recommendations of the Ad Hoc PDD Committee
The City Council and Planning Commission discussion ensued including the
following:
• Reforming the Code
• Paying more attention to the General Plan and modify the plan to
obtain a better mix of projects
• The community development process and issue with public benefits
City Council MINUTES July 20,2017 Page 4
• A standardized approach to provide a percentage of affordable
housing or fee charge against the value of the construction permit that
would be used to support non-profit organizations building affordable
housing in Palm Springs
• Density versus open space
• PDDs involving small lots and the need for standards so as not to
require a PDD
• A General Plan update and coordination of Zoning Code with the
General Plan
• PDD is a good tool but it should not be overused
• Recommended staff determine items that could be instituted
immediately with a second list of standards and actions on how to
complete the standards
• The necessity to gain affordable housing when losing density
• The ideology of public benefit
• The Zoning Ordinance and General Plan needed to be consistent with
each other and meet modern needs
• Suggested Director of Planning Services Fagg list the "low hanging
fruit' then figure out a work program
• Suggested determining high value, low effort item and low value, high
effort items
By conscensus, the City Council directed Director of Planning Services Fagg
to work with the City Council Planned Development District Ad Hoc
Subcommittee prior returning this item to the City Council.
The Planning Commission adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS, REQUESTS, AND REPORTS: None
ADJOURNMENT:
At 9:16 p.m. the City Council adjourned to the adjourned regular meeting Wednesday,
July 26, 2017, at 6:00 p.m., preceded by Closed Session at the Palm Springs
Convention Center, Primrose B, 277 N. Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs.
Respectfully submitted,
KaJthhlleen�D. Hart, MMC
Interim City Clerk
City Council MINUTES July 20,2017 Page 5
CERTIFICATION
STATE OFCALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
I, KATHLEEN D. HART, Interim City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, California, hereby certify
that the July 20, 2017, MINUTES were approved by the City Council of the City of Palm Springs at a
regular meeting held on December 6, 2017, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Kors, Mills, Roberts, Mayor Pro Tern Foat, and Mayor Moon
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None 1y RECUSAL: None
Kathleen D. Hart, MMC
Interim City Clerk