HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-05-31 CC MINUTES PALM SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL
Joint Meeting with the Planning Commission and the Architectural Advisory Committee
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2006
CITY HALL, LARGE CONFERENCE ROOM
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Oden called the meeting to order at 6:03 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Oden led the Pledge.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: Councilmember McCulloch, Councilmember Mills, Councilmember
Pougnet, Mayor Pro Tern Foat and Mayor Oden.
PLANNING: Commissioner Cohen, Commissioner Hochanadel, Commissioner
Hutcheson, Commissioner Ringlein, Commissioner Roath,
Commissioner Shoenberger, Chair Marantz.
ARCHITECTURAL: Member Hudson, Member King, Member Kopelk, Member
O'Donnell, Member Sahlin, Member Wexler, Chair CiofFi.
ABSENT: Architectural Advisory Board Member Jurasky arrived at 6:21 P.M.
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Ready, Assistant City Attorney Simonian, and City
Clerk Thompson.
REPORT OF CLOSED SESSION: Assistant City Attorney Simonian reported that at
4:00 P.M. the meeting was called to order and the City Council recessed into Closed
Session to discuss matters on the Closed Session Agenda. No reportable actions were
taken.
ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA:
ACTION: Accept the Agenda as presented. Motion Councilmember Mills, seconded
by Mayor Pro Tern Foat and unanimously carried.
PRESENTATIONS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
DAVID CHRISTIAN, Palm Springs, commented on the Architectural Review process
and the changing standards between developments and legislative bodies of the City.
ALDEN GODFREY, Palm Springs, commented on the current petition circulated in the
City regarding height limits in the Downtown area.
MARCIA DELANO, Palm Springs, commented on the current petition circulated in the
City regarding height limits in the Downtown area.
VIC GAINER, Palm Springs, commented on the current petition circulated in the City
regarding height limits in the Downtown area and development in the Chino Cone.
City Council Minutes
May 31,2006
Page 2
BOB HELBING, Palm Springs, provided information on overlay segments in the
community and/or geographical area with special interest designations based on the
area.
JOY MEREDITH, Palm Springs, commented on the current petition circulated in the City
regarding height limits, and the lack of retail space in the Downtown area.
Architectural Advisory Board Member Jurasky arrived at 6:21 P.M.
JONO HILDNER, Palm Springs, commented on the current referendum petition
circulated in the City with respect to the Shadowrock Development and requested the
City Council develop a process for the City Council with respect to campaign
contributions.
FRANK TYSEN, Palm Springs, commented on the current initiative petition circulated in
the City regarding height limits in the Downtown area and commented on the
relationship between the City Council and the Planning Commission.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS AND REQUESTS: None.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: City Manager Ready reported on the success of Video
Streaming of the City Council and Planning Commission meetings.
1. STUDY SESSION:
1.A. JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, PLANNING COMMISSION
AND THE ARCHITECTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS
PROCESSES, PROCEDURES AND PROJECT REVIEW BY THE
PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE COMMISSION'S
ARCHITECTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
Mayor Oden outlined the purpose and activities of the Joint Meeting.
City Manager Ready and Craig Ewing, Director of Planning Services,
provided background information as outlined in the background materials
provided in the Zoning Ordinance regarding Planned Development
Districts and Architectural Review.
Councilmember Pougnet requested staff address the current development
process.
Mayor Pro Tern Foat requested staff address the differences between the
City of Palm Springs development processes and other cities.
Mayor Oden commented on the history of the development processes and
the community/developer perceptions and requested staff address equity
in the process.
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May 31,2006
Page 3
Architectural Advisory Committee Member Jurasky commented on the
design steps proposed by the developers from outside the area.
Architectural Advisory Committee Chair Cioffi provided information and the
process for the Design Review Committee.
Planning Commissioner Hochanadel requested staff address landscape
architecture and approval.
Planning Commission Chair Marantz commented on some specific
projects and the lack of information to the Planning Commission and
requested further direction from the City Council.
Councilmember Pougnet commented on the process and roles regarding
the relationship between Architectural Advisory Committee and the
Planning Commission.
Architectural Advisory Committee Chair Cioffi commented on the review of
the Architectural Advisory Committee and the subjectivity of their review;
and stated the concerns of the process for the open meeting laws, study
sessions with the Planning Commission, and a pre-application planning
process.
Councilmember Mills provided information with respect to projects that
come before the commission on an informal basis.
ACTION: Direct staff to develop a process that allows for the Planning
Commission and Architectural Advisory Committee to review projects on
an informal process, perhaps jointly, and provide direction and guidance
on an informal basis without a vote. By consensus of the City Council,
Planning Commission Chair Marantz requested assistance with some
legal aspects.
Planning Commissioner Shoenberger commented on the Planning
Commission's role with respect to policy decisions already communicated
by the City Council that are discernable.
Planning Commissioner Ringlein commented on long-term projects and
changes in the City Council and Community.
Councilmember Mills commented on the process when the City Council
has entered into certain types of Development Agreements or Owner
Participation Agreements; and provided his perspective on the relationship
and processes between the legislative bodies.
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May 31,2006
Page 4
Planning Commissioner Cohen stated that a member of the Planning
Commission attends the Architectural Advisory Committee and the
process of providing input.
Architectural Advisory Committee Wexler commented on the use of
Planned Development Districts.
Councilmember Mills commented on the Planned Development process.
Planning Commissioner Hutcheson commented on the potential over-use
of the Planned Development process and the exceptions to the zoning
ordinance.
Planning Commissioner Ringlein commented on Planned Development
and the public benefit.
Planning Commissioner Roath commented on the Planned Development
process.
Architectural Advisory Committee Member King commented on
institutional memory, lack of an Urban Designer on staff, and requested a
staff member sit in on the pre-application process.
Councilmember Pougnet commented on becoming process friendly, and
suggested that the City Council establish guiding principals.
Mayor Oden commented on the goals and outcomes of the Joint Meeting,
and the receipt of information by different bodies.
Architectural Advisory Committee Member Sahlin commented on
developing an incremental entitlement process; and receiving
recommendations from staff for approval and reasons why at the
beginning of the process.
Architectural Advisory Committee Member Wexler commented on the
perceptions of the development community.
The Joint Meeting was recessed at 7:56 P.M.
The Joint Meeting was reconvened at 8:07 P.M. and Architectural
Advisory Committee Member Wexler left the meeting.
Planning Commissioner Hochanadel commented on additional notations
with respect to two-story developments.
City Council Minutes
May 31,2006
Page 5
Mayor Pro Tem Foat commented on the outcomes of the Joint Meeting
and recommended future Joint Meetings, perhaps on a yearly basis, to
improve the process.
Planning Commissioner Shoenberger commented on the success of the
current process and the benefits on the Architectural Advisory Committee
to the Planning Commission; commented on the process when a pre-
existing agreement is in effect, perhaps those projects should go directly
to the City Council.
Councilmember McCulloch requested that the City Attorney provide
options and another Joint Meeting be scheduled.
Architectural Advisory Committee Member Jurasky suggested the City
Council may request a member of the Architectural Advisory Committee
be present when a project is before the City Council.
Councilmember Mills commented on the use of conditions on Planned
Development Districts for preliminary plan review and approval.
ACTION: Direct staff and the City Attorney to return with options for the
development process within the next 30-days. By consensus of the City
Council.
The Planning Commission and Architectural Advisory Committee adjourned at 8:21
P.M.
The City Council recessed at 8:21 P.M.
The City Council reconvened at 8:26 P.M.
2. CONSENT CALENDAR: None.
3. LEGISLATIVE: None.
4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
4.A. APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEES TO SCREEN
COMMISSION AND BOARD APPLICATIONS, TO DETERMINE
QUALIFIED APPLICANTS AS PART OF THE 2006 ANNUAL
RECRUITMENT OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:
ACTION: Mayor Oden appointed two-member City Council
Subcommittees to screen commission and board applications to
determine qualified applicants for the following commissions and boards:
Administrative Appeals Board Mayor Oden/Councilmember McCulloch
Airport Commission Mayor Oden/Councilmember Mills
Board of Appeals Mayor Oden/Councilmember Mills
City Council Minutes
May 31,2006
Page 6
Historic Site Preservation Board Mayor Oden/Councilmember McCulloch
Human Rights Commission Mayor Oden/Councilmember Pougnet
Library Board Mayor Oden/Mayor Pro Tern Foat
Parks &Recreation Commission Mayor Oden/Councilmember Mills
Public Arts Commission Mayor Oden/Mayor Pro Tem Foat
VillageFest Board Mayor Oden/Councilmember Pougnet
Mayor Oden suggested that the City Council modify the basic procedures
as outlined in City Council Resolution No. 18804 for the 2006 Annual
Recruitment of the Planning Commission by suggesting the City Council,
as a whole, interview candidates for the Planning Commission.
ACTION: Waive the basic procedures for the 2006 Annual Recruitment
process to allow the City Council, as a whole and in a public meeting, to
participate in the screening and interview process of the Applicants for the
Planning Commission. Motion Councilmember Pougnet, seconded by
Mayor Pro Tom Foat and unanimously carried.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS AND REPORTS:
Mayor Oden requested the City Council Subcommittee of Councilmember Pougnet and
Councilmember Mills review the materials with staff with respect to the Chino Cone and
make a presentation to the City Council.
ADJOURNMENT: The City Council adjourned at 8:31 P.M. to the Regular Meeting,
Wednesday, June 7, 2006, at 6:00 P.M., Council Chamber, City Hall, preceded by a
Closed Session at 4:30 P.M., Small Conference Room, City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz
Canyon Way.
APPROVED BY A MOTION OF THE PALM SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL THIS
7T" DAY OF JUNE, 2006.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
?ityClerk