[0:00] Vice Chair Hammond, Commissioner Heritage, here, Commissioner Johnson, here, Commissioner Marshall, here, Chair Vogel, here, Commissioner Williams. We have a quorum. The Pledge of Allegiance, John, would you mind leading us in that, please?

[0:41] Okay, acceptance of the agenda. Does anyone have any changes? Okay, would someone make a motion, please?

[0:50] second. Okay. Passes. Okay. Approval of the minutes. November 17 minutes. Does anyone

[1:00] have any comments to them November 17 minutes?

[1:02] No approval. Second.

[1:05] The second.

[1:07] Public comment.

[1:12] I don't have to read to the last time I saw this chamber, the

[1:17] public is spilling out of it. What did we do? Are we responsible for? Right. All right. So now it's my turn and I'm going to turn the

[1:29] census to a public. Hello, everyone. Yeah, I think I could be heard. Fair enough. Yeah, we're recording better with this for the recording.

[1:38] Okay. So first of all, I would like to welcome our newest member, Atlanta Blixson, to our commission. It's Atlanta Blixson.

[1:46] and everyone please take the time to get to know her it's perfectly acceptable

[1:52] to talk and to make friends and to say hello you just can't do it in more than

[1:58] three at a time and you can't do it sequentially I guess this I recall but

[2:04] socially if this conversation is not about measure J it is important for us to

[2:10] know each other and so this is not a place where that's possible so outside of it

[2:15] I absolutely suggest and recommend that you do so.

[2:20] The purpose of moving the commissioners or the chairs comments to the front is just

[2:26] to kind of remind us as to the progress of this meeting and the next meetings and since

[2:31] we for the first time have kind of set a schedule and agenda of things.

[2:36] I want to turn, for one more time, to the page that says draft, measure J, commission, policy, road map.

[2:46] I'm not going to suggest that we discuss the policies anymore.

[2:50] I think that they are clear, and I think everybody has a good understanding of them.

[2:55] Although, if Elena, if you have a question about any of them, maybe now would be the time if you have one question

[3:02] and unless you've looked at them and feel comfortable.

[3:06] Well, I just, Christina, just answered my question.

[3:09] Good.

[3:10] Okay.

[3:11] Excellent.

[3:12] It's not the death servicing.

[3:13] Okay.

[3:14] Excellent person to answer your question.

[3:16] So to reiterate, there are two subjects to tonight's meeting.

[3:22] Neither of them are, do I suggest we go into great depth?

[3:27] This is the beginning of a process on both.

[3:30] One is to take a look at the unfunded capital projects that were left over at the end of last year, and there are a number of pages that were added to this agenda.

[3:41] And when we get to it, Marcus will basically just suggest that we don't look at most. They were support documents, which are not.

[3:50] It's not the clearest thing and it would take a bunch of time to ask questions about what these pages mean. Let's just say they're all in the past.

[3:58] the page we're looking at it will be clear it's one page and we'll go down it

[4:03] quickly and then we'll kind of have a discussion here as to how we'd like to

[4:07] proceed with respect to getting more information on these projects for the

[4:11] coming months. Then the other thing is we'll have a report from the committee

[4:15] that worked very diligently on the discussion of how to come up with some

[4:20] themes and the conversation tonight is again about the themes and

[4:25] Christine and I had a discussion today and she spoke to the idea of theme very well, which

[4:32] is it is the umbrella. The projects are the spokes and we are not speaking about the

[4:38] projects that would go into themes. We are just speaking about themes and how we are going

[4:43] to review process of themes. The meeting next month is a very important meeting.

[4:51] So I just

[4:55] by the outside auditing firm, and Jeff Keele will take us through that.

[4:59] That's one of our two major financial responsibilities, okay.

[5:03] We will have a continuation of the discussion of themes.

[5:08] We will have a continuation of a discussion of how we will learn and

[5:13] ask questions about the community projects.

[5:16] And then we will have a, all right here, a presentation,

[5:23] And it won't be a presentation.

[5:24] We'll have an opportunity to talk to Amy Blaisedale

[5:27] about our concerns with respect to imaging,

[5:31] I guess we would call that our branding and our communication.

[5:35] So there's a lot.

[5:37] And at that meeting, we'll also assemble a new committee

[5:41] that will be the committee for communication.

[5:43] So you should think about that and see whether you want

[5:48] to volunteer for that when we get there.

[5:51] So the next meeting, I think, will probably be a little bit longer than usual and actually coming up as you see we're now starting to stack the subjects.

[6:02] The meetings will be heading toward that very important final meeting of our commission by ourselves, which will be April, where we bring our decision making to conclusion because our main meeting is the joint meeting with council where we make recommendations.

[6:20] So although this seems very, well, it's going to go fast.

[6:26] There's a chance for every March and April.

[6:28] Every single morning meeting has an important aspect to it.

[6:31] So this meeting is to start the ball rolling

[6:34] and the four meetings at the beginning of this year will be quite robust.

[6:39] So saying that, Marcus, do you want to present the page

[6:42] that we should be looking at for?

[6:44] No, I missed it.

[6:46] I think I go back to Def Keele.

[6:49] Jeff, you have something to say on the financial report.

[6:54] Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[6:55] I have very little to see.

[6:58] We are presenting the new format of our monthly report.

[7:06] Instead of being a report, as of the end of the previous month,

[7:12] We're doing it as current as when I do the report.

[7:18] So if you look at the date at the bottom left corner, November 28th, when I did this report.

[7:25] And the only numbers of significance that change are right there.

[7:31] The last lines on the revenue year-to-date revenue comparison.

[7:35] That's how much we had received as of that date.

[7:39] And the numbers for the benefit of our new commissioner, I explained previously that just because this is up from the prior year, the same time, doesn't mean anything.

[7:58] It is just board of equalization payments are not predictable and we are keeping a close

[8:08] eye on whether or not our original estimate of 13.1 million is still on target but we

[8:17] only have one of four quarters worth of revenue and so it's way too early to make a prediction.

[8:23] With that I'll entertain any questions from the commissioners.

[8:32] So we will move on to the project, but in keeping with looking at this page here which is the single most important page that we have.

[8:41] Let's look at it together for 2017 and 2018 because we're about to look at what we and we won't be making decisions, but we're about to look at what our pocketbook potentially could be

[8:58] for being able to select a group of new projects to recommend and it would appear at first glance under the line of net new funding available that we would have very little money for next year for this upcoming year.

[9:13] It would look like there's $392,000. However, that's actually most likely not the case.

[9:19] First off, there's probably the carryover from the year before and there'll be some true

[9:24] up, but we will probably get closer to a million dollars just from leftover capital.

[9:30] And then there is this big question which I cannot officially say we're able to grab,

[9:38] but it would look as if the two million dollars that's allocated to the uptown parking lot

[9:43] will move down the road and will not be necessary.

[9:47] And so, it's very likely that we'll be working with approximately $3 million to make our proposals for unfunded capital projects.

[9:57] That does not, that is excludes, of course, the million dollars that has to do with the community projects.

[10:05] So, although it looks lean at the moment, it most likely will grow.

[10:09] So, okay, this time.

[10:11] Could I just ask a question and maybe you know the answer.

[10:14] The $2 million for the parking lot for the hotel and does.

[10:18] Is that slated to be paid upon completion of the hotel?

[10:21] Once they have received their certificate of occupancy, I believe,

[10:27] Marcus, that's when they are entitled under their agreement with the city to receive that $2 million.

[10:33] Which is a contribution towards their parking structure.

[10:37] Well, that makes it highly likely we'll use that.

[10:39] Highly unlikely, yes.

[10:41] Okay, thanks.

[10:41] Since it looks like sticks and bones at the moment, yes ma'am.

[10:47] I would also add that once we identify a theme and projects that it will take a while for

[10:56] those projects to be designed, planned, designed bed before we'll require funds, a major amount

[11:06] funds will, or funds will need to be available for the planning design portion of it.

[11:11] But, so I think there's wiggle room from the project.

[11:16] Okay, Marcus, so let's point to the page that is the relevant page.

[11:21] And, have a discussion.

[11:25] Just, now remember, we're not deciding on projects.

[11:28] We're actually, I think at this moment, looking for the projects that you'd like to have the most information about in the coming months.

[11:35] so that markets can know what to bring forth in discussion here.

[11:41] Thank you, Chair and commissioners, yes, we want to focus on page one.

[11:44] This is the remaining list, page one of six, the page after the financial summary.

[11:55] This is the list of remaining unfunded projects, but it continues to grow in this list.

[12:03] is an all-inclusive, so as an example, last night, the City Council approved a concept

[12:09] to convert Indian way, Indian drive to a traffic circulation, which has a budget

[12:18] of maybe around almost $3 million. So there was discussion last night about having

[12:24] that project identified for potential measure J funding. We're going to reach out to the

[12:31] drive and see what other funding sources we have. So this by all means is not all

[12:37] inclusive, but this was the list that we worked to identify all of the range of

[12:45] different types of projects that our wish list from staff.

[12:54] And they are they

[12:58] They touch every part of the city in one form or another and then the one the one through

[13:05] nine at the bottom, we really have no idea of what some of those projects will cost.

[13:15] So that's why we hesitated to identify it with a specific cost.

[13:19] So you know, the library, the plaza theater, a new soccer park, those types of projects

[13:27] are big ticket items and are there for just our awareness that there are some big projects

[13:37] that have been conceived, but funding hasn't yet been identified for those projects.

[13:44] So I don't know, Chair, if you want to, I'm open to questions, I guess, if there's questions

[13:50] on specific projects that are listed before funding, but that's what this list represents, a starting point.

[13:59] It's a bit of a confusing thing to create a process, so I'm going to make a couple of suggestions primarily for the sake of time,

[14:09] because I certainly don't think we should ask questions about all these projects at this moment,

[14:16] And particularly in the light of the fact that you did bring up this issue, which I should

[14:22] have mentioned before, which is that this is the leftover capital improvement projects

[14:27] and we will be getting as the year goes on additions, the new ones and some of them

[14:32] could be very substantial.

[14:34] So I think what we might want to do here is do something which is kind of the 80-20 rule.

[14:42] I'd suggest rather than ask questions about $10,000 projects, let's look at the big numbers

[14:50] and anyone who would like to have, whether it's information today or information brought

[14:56] forth on things that I would say are

[15:00] There are over half million dollars and most of them look like they're closer to a million

[15:05] dollars. Maybe those are the ones that we should be more informed on as opposed to the

[15:12] littleity bitty ones. With that said, I'm going to go down the road and do the same things

[15:18] we did last time. I thought it worked, which was each person gets one question and then

[15:23] and we'll come back and do it a second time

[15:26] and that way no one ends up taking too much time

[15:30] before the next person's allowed to go.

[15:32] And we'll try to keep it all to two minutes apiece

[15:34] if the questions get involved.

[15:36] Okay, go.

[15:38] Okay, so are you gonna push a button?

[15:41] Yeah.

[15:42] I have a question about item number 24,

[15:46] the City Hall Landscape Renovation.

[15:50] You've got a DWA turf rebate of $50,000 there.

[15:55] Does that amount $1 million included design for that and has that design been completed?

[16:02] So what kind of turnaround do you have for a project like this once it's approved and funded?

[16:10] We have a concept.

[16:11] So we had engaged RGA Landscape Architects to develop a concept and that concept has not yet reached the city council level because we couldn't identify funding.

[16:26] So we don't have an actual finished construction documents to go forward with construction.

[16:32] So, could you remind us of how long it took to do the mediums?

[16:40] Didn't RGA do that as well?

[16:41] They did.

[16:42] So, from start to finish, or once the design concept was created,

[16:48] what was the timeframe of doing the medium?

[16:53] It was many years.

[16:55] A lot of that delay was specifically on the funding.

[16:58] I remember starting on that project before measure J existed and I was one of the talk with me, yes, but

[17:11] What I think you're asking because those designs were lost and when measure J was first organized

[17:18] We kind of resurrected the idea and it had been tabled and we were very proud that we brought it to city council

[17:25] So I think, and they redesigned the design.

[17:30] So, and I'm just talking about it.

[17:32] My remember collection is within 24 months

[17:35] from the time that we went, said go, it was finally done.

[17:41] But you're right, there were years of discussion of it,

[17:44] but I think you were talking about something different.

[17:45] And I am the tribe, I think there's took it,

[17:49] that they're always, well, it's a project.

[17:53] Okay, so if two years would be a guesstimate.

[17:58] Okay, my question.

[18:00] Alana.

[18:01] And this may be because I'm new, but where we have hot and cold water lines for City Hall

[18:08] and the airport, is that a new water main?

[18:13] It's not. It's related to our co-generation plant.

[18:17] And I'd be happy to have a one-off discussion with you

[18:20] about all of that large project, but it relates to the heating and cooling system from the

[18:27] cogeneration plant to all the buildings, the police department, city hall, fire station,

[18:32] airport, and so it's not new water lines for DWA, it's actually city owned water lines

[18:41] that provide heating and cooling of our facilities.

[18:44] Thank you.

[18:46] Before you go, I think that's a very important project for us to understand a little better.

[18:52] And so if you'd mark it down, it doesn't, it won't take a long presentation, I don't think

[18:56] but I think we should, we should be more informed about that is it sounds, it sounds like something

[19:03] really to be informed about.

[19:05] Chris, I can, I can do it in 30 seconds right now if you want.

[19:09] Yeah. Sure. The city built the

[19:12] co-generation plant behind us in the 80s, so the co-generation plant heats and cools

[19:20] by sending colder or hot water through water lines that were installed from the co-generation

[19:26] plant behind us to the various facilities. The airport police station, the fire station

[19:31] and city hall. Those water lines are aging. They're almost 40 years old and prone to breaking.

[19:42] So whenever they break, we have to shut the co-generation plant down. We have to switch to local

[19:47] air conditioning and heating. So replacing these water lines is basically just simply due to the

[19:55] age of the system and it needs to be replaced at some point. So it's like two and a half miles

[20:03] of water lines that run all up between the cogeneration plant behind us and the different facilities.

[20:10] To have a condition report and a risk sort of ratio of some kind with respect to at what point

[20:18] not replacing them would be could consider being not only far more expensive, but potentially dangerous.

[20:28] There's not really a danger. It's just we don't realize the benefit of

[20:33] operating our co-generation plant and being off Edison grid if we're having to

[20:38] shut the water line down and go to our local air conditioning units that are

[20:45] operated on the at the buildings so it's a big ticket item and it's just one

[20:51] that we need to anticipate budgeting for in the future.

[20:55] Chris, very quick question dropping down on the additional unfunded capital

[21:03] discussion items on the downtown part number six.

[21:06] There's a question mark whether are we talking about it's $8 or $10 million

[21:13] dollar request, or what are we talking about here because it's unclear to me.

[21:22] I think for now, we're going to be having a study session on January 11th to have Council

[21:28] review the concept for the park. The Council has established a budget of 5.4 million.

[21:34] I think we're going to work within that budget to the extent that Council chooses to add more to that park.

[21:46] That's why we haven't listed because there might be an event for more funding to do future phases if they want to do.

[21:55] Back a house buildings for the event stage or a police substation or some of the things that are going to increase the cost of that.

[22:03] For the $5.4 million for the park, we believe we can accomplish getting the hard

[22:08] escape and landscaping done on that site for that $5.4 million budget.

[22:16] That study session is open to the public, correct?

[22:18] That's right.

[22:19] I would encourage measure to your members to attend, because of that $5.4 million,

[22:25] we've pledged $3, and there's always the possibility of our making a decision to,

[22:32] or having a conversation about pledging more,

[22:36] depending on how we feel about the park

[22:38] and its role in the city.

[22:39] So I think it's an important,

[22:41] I mean, as I said, we've pledged three of the 5.4.

[22:45] We should try to take a seat at the table.

[22:48] Okay, Michael.

[22:49] You actually mind the follow up question on that,

[22:51] on that 5.4 million, is that include the 2.4 million

[22:56] from the Quimbee fund?

[22:57] Yes, it does include it.

[22:58] Okay, all right, that was.

[23:01] Mark?

[23:03] Well, I know we're going to talk more about hot and water, so I'll say that question.

[23:08] I want to know more about where the library is and with the new bonding just passed for

[23:14] college of the desert and our possibilities there.

[23:19] You know, I'll be honest, we haven't had any meetings with colleges of the desert staff since

[23:24] the election and the bond measure passing.

[23:28] There's been preliminary discussions about the potential for a library at their campus,

[23:34] but frankly, I don't know where they're at with the whole process on acquiring that site

[23:41] from the property owner, and so we haven't honestly assumed that there would be a library

[23:51] at that site. We've essentially been assuming we would need to focus our attention on the existing

[23:58] library in renovating it for the continued operation for the next, you know, at least five

[24:05] years or 10 years or more. So there's a half million dollars that was budgeted for initiating the

[24:14] design of the phase one rehab of the library, which was the community room and some restrooms

[24:21] in the building systems to accommodate the ultimate reconfiguration of the library and

[24:28] that's one of the projects we're working on this fiscal year is to get proposals out to

[24:33] hire an architect to do that work. And it's just, again, just the design phase, no construction.

[24:40] John.

[24:42] Can you tell me you're focusing on page one of six? What's the difference in page one of six

[24:49] six and page four of six.

[24:50] Page four of six is a lot more right.

[24:56] I don't look at anything else because I'll take it.

[25:01] Our chair didn't want to go there.

[25:03] I'll just briefly say so these as the chair said, these are basically historical documents.

[25:12] So where we started with in last year's budget cycle.

[25:18] this was the original unfunded list and as council approved went through the

[25:26] process, we first came up with a list of staff recommended priorities and

[25:34] Measure J came up with their priorities. That's the weird looking page two is the

[25:40] remnant of what was left after they funded projects.

[25:46] So the page one is basically the new version of page four.

[25:52] And as.

[25:53] So the things that are on page four that are on page one have been funded or have been abandoned or a combination of been funded.

[26:01] So again, it's probably just more confusing if you look at that.

[26:06] And as the chair said, as we move into the new process, we'll have an even better updated

[26:17] version of the page one, as we have knowledge of new projects that emerge as possibilities.

[26:27] I'll use one example item number 10 on page 4, which is evaluation of city hall facilities, maintenance, plumbing, electrical.

[26:39] That's been funded.

[26:40] That's been funded.

[26:41] Yes, that was.

[26:42] And it's not through measure J.

[26:45] Okay.

[26:48] Okay.

[26:49] So round two.

[26:51] Does anyone have any other questions?

[26:54] Okay, I'm going to let John go first and then we'll come backward up the line.

[26:59] Well, this is just a comment.

[27:02] I think you all know I swim at the swim center, and the swim center pool cover is there's a request for $80,000.

[27:10] Now it's at the swim center Tuesday, and I said to Vicki Oltein, who is a doctor or ex-manager.

[27:18] I understand that you're hopefully getting a new pool cover.

[27:22] And she said, well, I don't know who's going to put that pool cover on and who's going

[27:26] to take it off.

[27:27] Stacey, whoever Stacey is, call me and said, I'm getting you a pool cover, and I said,

[27:30] wait a minute, before we get a pool cover, we need to...

[27:33] So it doesn't sound like from that comment that Vicki Oldeene is really looking to get

[27:39] a pool cover.

[27:40] It sounds like she's being told that she's getting it.

[27:44] So I just have to question, and I'm only using this as an example, to make sure that it's

[27:51] something that is viable and needed and maybe the department

[27:55] heads like Vicki should be more involved in the decision or

[27:59] the request process. I don't know how that worked out. So

[28:02] that would be my question.

[28:04] Swim Center cover was one that was recommended by Stacey

[28:08] Schae for the maintenance and facilities director because it

[28:12] will realize significant savings for the operation of the

[28:16] pool by avoiding the evaporation of water, the loss of

[28:19] water and regulating the temperature.

[28:22] Vicki has an issue with the logistics of how you, you know, the manpower needed to

[28:30] open or unroll and roll up, which is a different issue altogether.

[28:34] So that is something I will resolve with Vicki to the extent that project was ever funded

[28:42] because it will realize energy savings for the city if we were to get a pool cover for

[28:46] the pool.

[28:47] Is it an automatic cover or a blanket cover?

[28:51] I believe that was an automatic cover, but I'm...

[28:55] You seem like there's some disconnect.

[29:01] Mark?

[29:03] I'm looking at the Cornelia House.

[29:06] I know we approved some money there that was really necessary and I see this comment that

[29:14] at the 600,000 in addition and then what are they needing to do?

[29:20] We had retained a special architectural firm that dealt with historic restoration

[29:27] and their estimate was a half million dollars on all of the specialized restoration of that building,

[29:37] plus another half million almost instructional repairs to the foundation and the building.

[29:42] and we presented that to Council and Council has redirected us to prioritize and phase the

[29:52] restoration of that project and also to work with local contractors who might be willing to

[30:00] We donate their time and materials to restoring that project and actually looking for outside funding. So at this point in time, Councils isn't receptive to incurring the full cost of that project through the Measure J Fund. And that that's estimated to be 600,000 in addition to the 200, is that right? Correct. Michael? Yeah, the line item 22. It shows the budget of 644.

[30:29] or 100, we've spent $500,000, is that money mean that it's necessary that we spend the $6,440,100 going forward, or is that?

[30:42] So phase two is an additional cost.

[30:46] That was the estimate to do all of the architectural modifications to the restrooms, the snack checks, the buildings, essentially, to comply with current ADA.

[30:58] the $500,000 that's been budgeted and funded is for all of the surface improvements,

[31:04] all the ADA access pathways and getting access from the street and the parking lots to the recreation fields.

[31:12] We actually did have the bid opening I think last week and the bid came in right around $500,000,

[31:19] so this would be in addition to that. It's expensive.

[31:22] of?

[31:22] All right.

[31:23] Chris?

[31:28] The vehicle.

[31:30] Where did I see this line?

[31:33] Vehicle replacement.

[31:36] Which categories come under that heading?

[31:40] Well, I'm glad you asked.

[31:42] We have, the city has a policy that had adopted years ago on vehicle replacement which is based

[31:49] on age or mileage and we've had to defer that policy every year just as we worked through

[31:58] the recession and it's similar to most public agencies. The current cost or place are

[32:06] fleet because we have over 350 vehicles. Police, Enfire and General Purpose Vehicles for

[32:13] all of this is a different city department so it's like an $8 million cost if we were

[32:19] to replace all of the vehicles in accordance with our policy.

[32:22] So one and a half million was just a bite at the Apple to get us there.

[32:27] I'm actually going to start pursuing and looking at options for lease programs.

[32:32] There's more public agencies are starting to do those types of programs

[32:35] because it's just not feasible to do outright purchases when you have the fleet,

[32:42] the size that we have.

[32:44] Thank you.

[32:48] Okay. I'm going to wrap this up for now and then just make a comment.

[32:58] There's information

[32:59] about all of these projects that can be gotten or received either by asking markets individually.

[33:08] Some of them, if you'll continue to read things in the desert sun, there's that source of

[33:15] information, and frankly anything that any one of us is interested in, having a conversation

[33:21] with the City Council member is a legitimate thing to do in order to get some sense of

[33:27] where that person does or doesn't stand.

[33:30] Over four years it's been obvious that we can't sit in this room and gather enough information

[33:37] in any one time to make a set of recommendations, and then suddenly present them to the City

[33:42] Council who has their own sense of perspective and feel that there was a good conversation.

[33:49] So there's a lot of other opportunities and ways to sink through all of these things.

[33:56] And frankly, one of them is watching some of the City Council meetings because the subjects

[34:00] come up and then you get a sense of where they're headed on them.

[34:04] So I think this is a good beginning.

[34:07] What I'd like to ask is that as the Council meetings proceed, if there's anything that

[34:12] should be added to this that each week we kind of build on this list so that by the time

[34:19] we get to March and April and start making hard decisions, we're not sitting here with

[34:25] no information between that time and now.

[34:29] Is that okay?

[34:31] I got to get everybody other devices, is that okay?

[34:36] Thank you.

[34:38] Okay.

[34:38] Okay, that was a good discussion at the beginning, but it's only a beginning discussion.

[34:43] Okay, and now I'd like to move and offer the role of the rest of the conversation to

[34:49] Christine Hammond, who had a group of people.

[34:53] There's a meeting that you've had regarding themes, and we're going to talk about the topic

[34:57] of themes for community projects.

[35:00] Yes.

[35:01] So last month, David asked that John, Chris, and I meet together and begin the conversation

[35:13] about a new theme for community projects, which is something that we have been, or we

[35:21] took to City Council two years ago, year and a half ago, probably, to ask for

[35:31] their approval for spending a million dollars a year for community projects and so last

[35:39] week we began the conversation for the second group of projects which would begin in 2018

[35:44] and we did some brainstorming, developed some short list of possible themes and we also in

[35:55] conjunction with that after the meeting reviewed the current list of unfunded capital projects

[36:00] to get some additional ideas.

[36:02] One of the things that we had talked about during this meeting was making sure the themes,

[36:08] the projects that we identified, the themes that go under the projects, or the projects

[36:12] that go under the themes, that we identified were visible projects.

[36:18] So just as an example of some of the things that we were just looking at, we probably wouldn't

[36:23] jump on the bandwagon to fund hot and cold water pipes from the code generation plant

[36:30] because it's infrastructure and it's not visible.

[36:37] So I wanted to just, given that two of us are new, I wanted to give, and then the other

[36:43] of us are old enough that our memories fail us at times.

[36:47] I just wanted to refresh our memories and get a little bit of background on the last community

[36:51] project.

[36:52] And, as I said, this was about 18 months ago, we adopted the theme of pedestrian bicycle

[36:58] and vehicle safety hotspots.

[37:02] And we did this in conjunction with the neighborhoods, one Palm Springs, and in particular with

[37:10] a committee that they had been working on this identifying what the hotspots were in the

[37:16] community.

[37:17] So, we participated with them, with tourism, with hospitality, with local business, neighborhoods to identify projects and select what ended up being about 50 projects to do.

[37:34] That 288 were submitted, we identified 58 to do. And part of that was that engineering had a number of those already on their project list.

[37:45] So, we went to council with this suggestion for community projects, and we asked given

[37:52] the projects that we had identified for three years of funding for the projects.

[37:59] And council agreed to that, and that's what we're working on right now.

[38:06] After council approved it, then engineering in the city went to work planning, designing,

[38:14] housing, warranting, writing RFPs, writing grants, reviewing bids, taking bids to City Council

[38:21] for their approval before anything got started.

[38:26] So there's a long lead time into many projects.

[38:31] And we're now fully in process with these and have really made a lot of progress.

[38:38] So over the next few months, April will make a decision for presentation in May to City

[38:43] Council. We're going to talk about themes and come up with a theme idea that we're all

[38:53] happy with and hopefully City Council will approve. We'll also be receiving themes from

[39:00] individuals who choose to come in for public comment. Yeah. And we did. I mean, we had three

[39:07] last month, three projects. But they were projects, not themes. Although we could

[39:13] You can see of the themes that they were looking at.

[39:16] We could work with that.

[39:18] So based on our road map, our goal is to have something to take to counsel when we have

[39:26] our joint meeting in May.

[39:29] So today we're sharing our preliminary list and we're interested in your comments and we're

[39:37] also hoping that based on the themes that we came up with, that you will also think of

[39:47] some other things that we can consider and add to the list of themes.

[39:52] I'm just going to

[40:21] add some of the projects that we've just been talking about.

[40:27] But all our very visible projects, legacy project is something we've been talking about since

[40:37] This is our very first meeting of Measure J and we have an identified what that is but

[40:42] we're always thinking about that.

[40:44] So this is on the list as there may be a legacy project that comes out of this discussion

[40:52] that could go on this list.

[40:54] So one of the things that we see in the funding list is that there are a lot of parks related

[41:03] projects that are on the list and this doesn't mean that we have to do projects that are on the list but this is something that we know would get approval.

[41:14] So we're looking at new parks and I think on the list, Chino Cone is a relatively new park, the downtown park is a new park.

[41:26] So, new parks, soccer parks, tennis club, I can't remember the whole list, and the second

[41:36] would be upgrades to existing parks, so that would be an example would be ADA retrofitting

[41:44] at, which has already been funded, so that would be an example.

[41:49] but shade covers for play equipment at parks, upgrading restrooms, security issues,

[41:57] new sidewalks, a desert landscape, being those kinds of things to make our existing parks

[42:04] more up-to-date and usable. Downtown beautification was something we were thinking about as we're

[42:11] spending a lot of money on recreating our downtown.

[42:16] We were thinking that this might be a very nice thing to plan for and, again, a very

[42:23] visible project.

[42:24] So downtown beautification, we also were talking about wayfinding and signature signage.

[42:32] This could also go with downtown beautification as that area is completed.

[42:42] This signage would direct people to different places in the city, the museum, the convention center, parks,

[42:52] bike routes, so a lot of different things, and I have a website for taking a look at more information on that.

[43:01] Streets, decorative medians, similar to what we've got out here on talkwits.

[43:07] Bike lanes is appropriate on newly renovated streets and legacy project.

[43:14] I've been at meetings the last couple of days with engineering.

[43:19] Spring, Palm Springs Police, Cal Trans, talking about safety issues for, we've had two pedestrian

[43:30] fatalities in the last month and so there's a lot of conversation about streets.

[43:36] And one of the parts of the hotspots project that hasn't happened is an education campaign

[43:45] component of that. So a suggestion came up yesterday in one of these meetings, maybe hot spots

[43:52] needs to continue for another period of time as a theme with education as a component. So those

[44:01] are the kinds of the ways that the examples of themes and projects might come up for us.

[44:11] So if I go

[44:13] Back to just as an idea of the theme project concept, if hotspots is the theme, current

[44:22] project, stop signs, signage generally, signals, crosswalks, bike lanes, sidewalks, traffic

[44:31] calming, and day lighting or expanding the red curbs that we have at intersections would

[44:39] be projects under the theme of hotspots. If we were just as an example, if we were to pick

[44:47] parks as a theme and again going back to the list that we have in our packet, some examples

[44:54] of projects, if parks were our theme, might be basketball courts at Buristo Park.

[45:00] The park, the ADA design, DeMuth Park, the landscape renovation at City Hall could be a stretch, but it could be considered a park. Shade structures at parks and playgrounds, the Chino Cone Trail, tennis club downtown park. There were other park related things in that, the soccer park. Did I say that as a new park? That they've got on the list. But just that first group that would not be considered

[45:29] considered a brand new park, the amount of money for that based on the estimates in our list is 2.4 million.

[45:38] So it's a sizable amount of money to do upgrades to these parks.

[45:46] So any,

[45:53] I'll take it back for you.

[46:00] I'm trying to think of a way to make this conversation meaningful, but at the same time

[46:08] focused.

[46:10] And so I'd like to say a couple of things here.

[46:16] My read on this commission's responsibilities has been over the last few years that I would

[46:24] We'd like to do things that are really visible in

[46:29] a way of returning the sense of both pleasure

[46:34] and retention for the measure J emission, for its existence and for the fact that the

[46:40] tax was passed and that it was given the citizen something to be proud of.

[46:46] A lot of the money is spent in things even though we say that they can be seen, we don't see them.

[46:53] And then, of course, the other big thing is roads.

[46:57] And I think roads is really important.

[46:59] But it's not particularly joyous, sexy.

[47:04] So what I would say here,

[47:09] suggestion of point of view

[47:11] for all of us, is that we come to the decision whenever

[47:16] that is, hope that we come to something

[47:19] that not only are proud of, but that if we think of three years

[47:24] from now. We could say citizens could look at the community and feel a sense of pride,

[47:34] gratitude, this section of the Measure J mission.

[47:38] Again, I think that doing the roads was very important, and we're going to continue to do it.

[47:45] I think that people say thank you, but it's not in the same way that I hope

[47:50] Thank you from whatever it is we decide to do.

[47:55] And in that respect while legacy project is something we've talked about, I think it's

[48:01] very hard at the early stages of measure J and for those of you who will be here when

[48:07] most of the rest of us will no longer be here, I'd like to tell you that we've always talked

[48:12] about a legacy project.

[48:13] This tax goes on for 20 years, 25, 26.

[48:17] I think it's hard to pick in the early years a single project and say that's the legacy

[48:23] project.

[48:24] That's a very politically difficult as well as singling something out.

[48:29] But if this turned out in this next discussion to be all the parks were beautified or this group

[48:36] of parks were just now decided on and here are the new parks or all the medians in the

[48:43] city somehow came alive and where something where you could really identify it, I think

[48:49] we'd be very proud of ourselves. So I don't have a personal choice, but I would like

[48:54] it to be a choice that makes the city more gracious and more beautiful and the citizens

[49:02] happier. So that's sort of my little speech.

[49:07] We'll go down the road and everybody get a comment.

[49:09] I think that's the best thing, is everybody get a comment?

[49:13] I too like the idea of something that's really visible.

[49:18] We talked about the visibility of projects in our meeting last week.

[49:22] And I mean, we sort of have joking suggested last month that, you know,

[49:30] why don't we just buy a golf course and make it into a park?

[49:34] And I think that that's something that great financial lines need to really think about.

[49:44] I'd really appreciate that.

[49:45] I don't have a great financial line myself.

[49:47] But securing property open space now is going to be easier than it will be 10 years from now.

[49:59] And cheaper than it will be 10 years from now.

[50:02] It's not like we have to do something with it today, but it could be the beginning of a legacy project in the future.

[50:10] And I'd like to add, I'd like a botanical garden in it.

[50:14] So I think Christine's comment is an example of what I would hope is the process for this afternoon,

[50:22] which is everybody take a crack at giving your points of view and feelings, not necessarily on specific

[50:37] I attended last month's 1PS and they talked about having each neighborhood come up with an idea for a theme.

[50:49] I wasn't able to go this morning but they don't archive their video, they don't archive.

[50:57] I have minutes.

[50:58] They have minutes, which I haven't seen yet.

[51:01] So I think it's important to, at some point, to coordinate with the neighborhoods.

[51:07] And they are specifically thinking about a theme.

[51:11] I'd like the idea of making something that is uplifting in a way, not just roads.

[51:20] And we hope they're not uplifting, really.

[51:32] And even though there may be things that are completely impractical at the time, one of

[51:39] the speakers last meeting talked about solar in the sidewalks.

[51:45] And I thought it's wonderful that people are thinking about this kind of thing.

[51:49] And I would also like to think about more shade in general in Palm Springs, because the

[52:00] hobby in the summer is looking for a parking space in the shade, so those are some.

[52:07] And also public art is something I'm very excited about.

[52:12] I love the way they've done the mediums in Palm Desert.

[52:16] That is happy.

[52:18] It's not, I don't want to interrupt and come in on each one, but it's important because

[52:22] my recollection went, I notice and I continue to, and I joke about it, people know by our

[52:34] announcing it and by our existence that we are discussing a theme.

[52:39] If other groups of people would like to come in public comment and offer theme topics

[52:46] tonight, next month, and the following month are the three times to do it.

[52:52] And if you do go to PS1 meetings, or have the opportunity to contact Lisa if she's still the head.

[53:00] Please.

[53:01] No, not.

[53:02] She's not the head.

[53:03] Someone else is that it works by process, not by someone saying, oh, I didn't know, or well,

[53:11] we didn't get an opportunity to present our themes.

[53:13] We are the group of people who will decide on the theme.

[53:16] We're open to hearing everyone else's ideas, but in terms of the theme, that comes from Measure J.

[53:24] So public comments is the right place to do it, or requesting to be on the agenda to present a theme.

[53:31] There's another appropriate method, but we all have to reach out and let people know, or it'll just end up being what it is.

[53:38] Chris?

[53:40] Yeah, I brought this up with John and Christine last week.

[53:43] We started with a focus on the $1 million in community projects.

[53:49] And I kept saying why are we limited to $1 million in community projects?

[53:53] Shouldn't the theme go broader into the $3 million, $4 million, $5 million looking down the road?

[54:00] Do we need to break it apart as themes for community projects and

[54:05] then capital projects where they just all lumped together?

[54:07] No. We have negotiated after four years with City Council, a $1 million annual fund that is our discretionary fund, even though they have to approve it.

[54:18] That's the community project.

[54:20] That's community projects.

[54:21] Everything else comes from the city-recommended list.

[54:25] Right.

[54:27] So the themes would be the same for both or not?

[54:31] I'm not sure I understand your question.

[54:33] So if you're talking about that million dollars, are we talking about that differently?

[54:44] And what we're going to do with that million dollars, then in the overall themes that we're talking about, are they one and the same?

[54:50] Well, first of all, the million dollars is an annual expenditure, but as we did with traffic hotspots, it was a three million dollar project.

[54:59] We just expensed it across three years, but some of the capital projects from the city could fit into our theme and therefore you would ask yourself, well, that's a way to protect them if the city council themselves are not prepared to vote on those and to recommend those.

[55:21] We are dealing with the following thing, which is the City Council and Measure J are both looking at this big list that City staff is presenting and we're trying to come to sort of the Venn diagram of where we all agree is Bush and Pull.

[55:39] Let me try to command it from a different angle.

[55:41] Okay, so if you're telling me that I only have a million dollars to look at and I have

[55:48] to choose my themes and priorities around that, that's going to be a different analysis

[55:55] than I'll do if I have this million and then there is this other two or three million

[56:00] that I have input on.

[56:03] You answer this question, I'm confused.

[56:05] I was just going to say now that's the sign of a great financial mind.

[56:09] And I don't think about budget when I think about this stuff.

[56:14] I just think about the project and how much project, well, I'll go back to the hotspots

[56:20] project.

[56:23] When we ended up with 50 projects, I look at picking this up because it's project list,

[56:31] they were all really doable.

[56:33] And so, then we talked about it and said, well, this could work into a three-year project

[56:40] and marked it all the numbers and we took it to council as a three, well, commission approved it

[56:46] and we took it to council as a three-year project.

[56:48] I would really not try to put parameters around it and maybe if it's purchasing land for a park,

[56:55] or a golf course for a park, maybe it's, well, what can we do with a million dollars?

[57:01] or maybe it's worth it to us to have a multi-year project to do something like

[57:09] purchase land for a park. I think we just need to let go of boundaries around

[57:16] this and and then get creative. Oh here's the money guy. Yes. So if I could try to

[57:24] clarify, I think it's an excellent question that you raised, especially when we

[57:28] I have three fairly new commissioners here.

[57:31] Could I refer you back to this page for just a minute?

[57:34] And I'd like you to just look out its page, item two, page one.

[57:44] If you just go look out at the final column on the right there,

[57:48] that kind of, actually the last couple of columns, really.

[57:53] So where we are at right now is we have a fairly finite revenue stream that we know about and we also have these five, these actually six categories that have been committed to by the Council for long term funding.

[58:15] And all of these, at this point, are by all accounts seem to be ongoing into the future.

[58:26] The most ambiguous of these is the buzz and the Council approved another year of the buzz last night.

[58:37] That's the only one that I think is maybe a little shaky for the long term.

[58:42] But the rest of these are committed to, therefore you look at the very bottom line there is we're looking at about five to six million dollars being projected to be available out in 2021.

[58:57] So that's even after the commitment of the million dollars for community projects.

[59:02] So I believe that way the way we'll be going in the future is that we will still have staff

[59:12] presenting needs as we identify it and looking for measure J input as we go through our normal

[59:21] budget process. So measure J will still have an opportunity to say these are what we think the

[59:30] priority should be. I think that's going to continue on in the future. And part of your

[59:37] discussions may be surrounding community projects. You may advocate for that to be a higher

[59:44] amount some day. But right now is the chair indicated that the current council indicated

[59:52] a commitment at this point to put in a million dollars a year for community projects,

[59:58] just as they've committed.

[1:00:00] We're committed to paying the bond on the downtown project of 3.2 million a year, just same as they've indicated a funding $3 million a year. But current councils can't commit future dollars. So that's only earmarking as a future council will improvise. In fact, that's an important thing to reiterate.

[1:00:24] The agreement is in concept but must be renewed every year.

[1:00:32] Current Council cannot commit future dollars in terms of measure J. So unless there's a

[1:00:39] contract as there is with streets, everything is agreed upon with them as to, that's the

[1:00:47] spending that we're looking for, but that's why we have to go back each year, even on

[1:00:52] and community projects to verify that they're spending that million dollars again, although we are working on the assumption that the agreement is the agreement, but they have the voting is what is on record, and that takes place in June every year for the next year's fiscal budget.

[1:01:10] Did any of this answer your questions or we still didn't?

[1:01:15] And could I add to that this is a new council that the community projects were approved

[1:01:22] under this?

[1:01:22] Let's try one more time, Chris.

[1:01:23] And then maybe we'll spend the time alone.

[1:01:25] I'm fine if that's the issue.

[1:01:28] So if we're talking about $1 million in community projects for next year, 2017-18, we have

[1:01:37] two million dollars that moves on the, on days, so that's three million potentially.

[1:01:45] Total.

[1:01:46] Yes.

[1:01:47] Plus whatever would we do a true up, maybe something comes up.

[1:01:51] It would be another million.

[1:01:52] So we're four million.

[1:01:53] Four million.

[1:01:54] Are you asking me to think about one million or four million?

[1:01:56] I'm asking you to think about one million under the theme of community projects, except that

[1:02:03] that theme actually is the following.

[1:02:06] So, I'm not asking you to think about one million.

[1:02:08] I'm asking you to think about a theme that could be as big as 3 million, 4 million, or even 5 million, but can only be allocated at a million a year.

[1:02:23] It has to be paced out the way that community projects this year for traffic.

[1:02:28] We came up with $3 million worth of projects, but we actualized them over three years.

[1:02:33] The $1 million is for community projects and the other three out of the money you talked about here comes from this list of unfunded capital projects, but our community project could be larger than $1 million.

[1:02:48] It would just have to be spread across a period of years.

[1:02:55] and we are already looking at next year's budget being year three of the current.

[1:03:03] So that's why you're getting ahead of the game and talking about 1819 and beyond.

[1:03:11] And as has been already stated, that can be a one year theme or a three year theme that you suggest.

[1:03:16] Well

[1:03:21] mine's just kind of a point of clarification that parts, new parts, upgrades to existing but really there could be a thing that's just called parts, right?

[1:03:31] And both those could fit under that and then maybe public art could slide in there and just Christine mentioned landscaping for the.

[1:03:40] When do we get to where it gets dangerous that we have too many things floating into that thing?

[1:03:46] Is there a limit that we have to put on it or?

[1:03:52] My intuition is all that can guide me and that is not something that I would say is

[1:03:58] mandatable but something that I would offer to us, which is I don't think we want to get

[1:04:04] a community project idea so big and so diverse that when we present it to council at the end

[1:04:11] of the year when they're dealing with so many other things, that they get confused or frightened

[1:04:16] at the scale of it.

[1:04:19] So I don't know that 3 million is the right number or 4 million or 5 million,

[1:04:24] but I think simplicity and directness to get into that meeting and say,

[1:04:29] we want this is, I mean, it's a, as in everything, it's a negotiation.

[1:04:38] And so being clear and trying to test the waters and get the lay of the land

[1:04:43] is part of our job and then however we're allowed to, what would be the right word, lobby.

[1:04:53] Whatever the rules of lobbying are under the Brown Act is what we do.

[1:04:58] So that's part of what our conversation is going to be here in the next few months is what do we want to go for?

[1:05:03] And what is our fallback position if we go for too much and that's not something that I, that's what we all will agree on.

[1:05:11] Okay. All right.

[1:05:13] Mark.

[1:05:14] I'm just going to make a comment on that.

[1:05:17] For instance, the hotspots.

[1:05:18] We started, I think it was a 180 projects.

[1:05:21] And that's one of the things that our committee narrowed down.

[1:05:25] And I think that's part of our job to figure out.

[1:05:28] And working with city staff,

[1:05:30] figuring out how we could schedule,

[1:05:32] because cash flow is part of this whole process.

[1:05:34] Sure.

[1:05:35] Which projects work better than the best and the whole thing.

[1:05:39] So that's it, just as far as themes, I just want to say I think we need to continue

[1:05:47] to think.

[1:05:48] It's easy to think about PS1 and they're in neighborhoods and everything, but businesses

[1:05:54] in Palm Springs also are the source of where these taxes are generated and I mean, I realize

[1:06:01] we do buzz, but there are other things I think that we can do for businesses that benefit

[1:06:08] that the community is a whole aneurysmable and it's just like back to hotspots, we

[1:06:16] involved the downtown Main Street merchants, we involved the Chamber of Commerce, we involved

[1:06:24] the Police Department, the priority department is so I think a lot of it and the theme is also

[1:06:29] figure out how we reach the most people including business, just my thought.

[1:06:35] But we didn't have them all inputting into the theme.

[1:06:41] Once the theme was chosen, we went out to everybody.

[1:06:46] And again, there's a bit of a logic to that, which is it's hard enough job to figure

[1:06:56] out the theme amongst the nine of us.

[1:07:01] After that, it just becomes a giant, giant project, and figuring out what that process is going to be comes after.

[1:07:10] So in a certain respect, husbanding the idea of the theme to the Measure J Commission is not only for the sake of,

[1:07:20] what would be the word, lack of chaos, because as we recall, when we started four years ago, five years ago at this point,

[1:07:27] And we opened up the idea to theme to the world and we got all these applications.

[1:07:32] We nearly killed the city staff as well as ourselves by having every idea in the world presented.

[1:07:41] And many of those ideas came as three lines with no idea of budget and

[1:07:47] no idea of the reality of what they could do.

[1:07:50] So some of this is just practical.

[1:07:52] and I think that keeping the theme inside here is precious for us.

[1:07:58] It gives us at least the opportunity to make a decision to the direction

[1:08:03] that Measure J wants to affect the community.

[1:08:06] After that, it becomes a bit of a brawl, which is appropriate, I think.

[1:08:12] But at the moment, and again, schedule wise, we only have a couple months

[1:08:17] and we've had this on the table since October, and it's hard to get people to respond.

[1:08:27] John.

[1:08:35] Could you use your microphone a little more?

[1:08:40] The downtown, the park is coming on board sometime, is really a measure J funded park.

[1:08:48] It's not entirely a measure J, but with no measure J there would be no downtown park.

[1:08:53] The Wellwood Library renovation, again, that is due to Measure J fronts, some other funds as well.

[1:09:00] So I hope when we have this...

[1:09:01] Without Measure J there would be no downtown project.

[1:09:05] There'd be no downtown project, so there'd be no...

[1:09:07] Anything associated with that project is Measure J.

[1:09:10] So when we get into the communications phase, particularly with the downtown park,

[1:09:14] because that is going to be a big splash when that opens with Maryland and hopefully and all those other things.

[1:09:20] I want to make sure that Measure J is recognized as the source of funding for that, I think it's critical.

[1:09:25] So that is a legacy project, by the way.

[1:09:28] I'm very proud of the fact that we were involved in that.

[1:09:33] One of the things that it was of interest to me in particular was parks, but what I don't know,

[1:09:39] and maybe staff could tell us, is are we actually under park in Palm Springs?

[1:09:44] For other cities compared in size, do we have fewer parks or more parks?

[1:09:52] And I think that could be part of the decision making process of whether we devote funds to

[1:09:57] trying to buy a golf course or get a new park as opposed to improving the parks that we

[1:10:02] have.

[1:10:02] So, I don't know the answer to that.

[1:10:04] Actually, my understanding in speaking to the chair of the parks is a chair is a thick

[1:10:11] not there, who was, when we went to the drug park.

[1:10:14] Sid.

[1:10:15] Is that we're missing three part by regulations, we're missing three parks.

[1:10:19] Okay, well I've heard that from Sid anecdotally, too, but I just wondered if there's some source, some concrete source that would tell us that we could actually hang out had on and say this is assuming we go with that theme.

[1:10:32] This is why, because the research indicates that, so.

[1:10:36] We also have parks and rec master plan that talks about parks in the future as well, and I would presume that that master plan would be somewhat scientifically generated and not just a wish list of a group of people.

[1:10:57] Again, all of that is discussion, but we need to sort of pull that together and see if that is an issue.

[1:11:05] I like the idea that we reach out to one P.S. for input on what the theme should be, but I do think that, and I agree with you, Mr. Chair, that the decision on the theme should be made by this group.

[1:11:19] I also feel like that a lot of the decisions on projects should be somehow made or influenced

[1:11:26] by this group.

[1:11:27] And I think that's important and I think that brings the whole commitment, that's what

[1:11:31] we were elected, not elected, but we were appointed to do.

[1:11:35] And that really is a focus, the lion's share of our duty now is to handle this $1 million.

[1:11:41] And I think somehow what the process is, but we all should be involved in deciding which

[1:11:46] These themes are recommended, and I don't know how we do that, but I think it's important.

[1:11:52] And the last thing is I think there may be an opportunity that we partner with the community.

[1:11:58] We get grants, we do fundraising.

[1:12:00] If we're talking about buying a golf course, that's $20 million, we don't have that kind of money.

[1:12:05] But there might be, the developer might sell it at a lower cost because it's tax deductible.

[1:12:11] Well, if he gives it to the city, there may be ways that we can leverage the $3 million or $2 million that we commit to the theme.

[1:12:19] Again, I don't know what that is.

[1:12:20] I just think it would be nice to keep that in the mix.

[1:12:23] So those are my comments.

[1:12:25] There's two things that you brought up that I'd like to address.

[1:12:32] We will discuss a new process after we come up with the theme.

[1:12:38] I think we last time created a process that was, however it happened, appropriate for that time.

[1:12:49] The one thing that is necessary to understand is the amount of time that it takes for all these projects to be discussed.

[1:12:59] And so, it's never going to be the entire Measure J commission to be able to deal with the projects but a subcommittee that's larger than the one that we had last time, which was actually a subcommittee of our vice chair almost entirely alone.

[1:13:17] Having more and then having that subcommittee run the agenda a little bit more than what happened last time.

[1:13:26] is probably the right thing to do in order to establish

[1:13:30] the position of measure J because I think there is this feeling

[1:13:35] that everyone takes the measure J money and then calls it their own

[1:13:39] and I think that has diluted a bit of appreciation for the work that we do

[1:13:44] and for what our role should be

[1:13:46] and I believe is, so I agree with you.

[1:13:50] The one little wrinkle I want to throw in here

[1:13:56] and it is a wrinkle and it has to do with this January 11th meeting and it has to do

[1:14:01] with legacy and it has to do with that downtown park. So it's true at this moment that

[1:14:07] that downtown park would not exist without two sources of funding. Measure J for 3, which

[1:14:14] we just antied up at the end of last year and the Quinn B for 2 and a half, right?

[1:14:24] Is it

[1:14:25] going to be called the measure J Park? I'm not suggesting it should be, but are we going

[1:14:30] to be recognized as the commission that made the park happen? I don't know. However,

[1:14:39] is the park a $5.5 million park that should be seven or eight? And is it our role to walk

[1:14:46] in right now and say, you know what, measure J wants more? And measure J has the opportunity

[1:14:54] to consider long-term funding, but we have an opportunity to influence

[1:15:02] I don't want to miss the moment to say that if we go to the January 11th meeting, I don't think they're making a decision. We can come back on January 17th and discuss what our position is in terms of presenting to council something that we may have to say about where they're going. I'm not advocating it. I'm just bringing it up.

[1:15:25] that the downtown park is not a done deal as far as where the spending goes, but it is true that the money is coming from our decision to having given the council the opportunity to use the money and I think we should if we're

[1:15:43] You know, kind of committed to this idea that Measure J should be recognized that we think about that, so it's just an opportunity.

[1:15:54] Okay. Is any, I'm going to open the floor for like random question. Yes, Chris.

[1:16:00] Okay. Two random points. One on the recognition.

[1:16:06] I don't think it's just, you know, that the opening ceremony, they say thanks to the Measure J commission.

[1:16:12] I think there has to be signage or something that says, this park is brought to you by your measure, J funds.

[1:16:19] Not necessarily the commission, but so they see that the taxes and it's ongoing and it's visible.

[1:16:26] It seems like we're pretty much fixating on parks as a theme and discussion so far.

[1:16:34] What I would find helpful would be maybe talking with Parks and Recreation Manager and say okay, here's this long list. Tell me of these on this list, what is most visible and what is most utilized because we want both.

[1:16:56] So as a way of trying to prioritize what goes into those themes.

[1:17:02] Let's just a thought.

[1:17:03] Christine, would you?

[1:17:05] You bring up something interesting.

[1:17:08] So, again, I'm just...

[1:17:10] This is a little bit of a dialogue here.

[1:17:12] So, what you're suggesting, which I think is not in communication,

[1:17:17] but is in...

[1:17:20] I don't know what the right word would be here.

[1:17:22] We have had signs up to now, paper signs.

[1:17:26] And I think you're suggesting that from now on,

[1:17:29] and where visible we have a permanent plaque of some kind.

[1:17:34] You know, I thought about this the other day when I went by the new architectural museum.

[1:17:40] And everybody else is recognized up there for having given their contribution to that

[1:17:46] architectural museum and Measure J funds are allocated to a million dollars.

[1:17:51] And there is no permanent sign thanking the Measure J funding.

[1:17:56] I don't want to say commission.

[1:17:57] It's not right to thank the commission.

[1:18:00] It's right, as you said, to thank the source of funding.

[1:18:03] And I plaque of some kind is not inappropriate to discuss.

[1:18:08] And I think maybe we add this because I hope David Reddy will be here on the January meeting.

[1:18:14] The meeting on communications, let's broaden it to some other topic beside communication.

[1:18:20] And I hate to use the word recognition but if someone could offer a better word for it,

[1:18:31] Yes,

[1:18:35] John.

[1:18:36] I also think we might somehow come up with wording in a communications discussion using

[1:18:42] the word thank you, thanking the public for voting for Measure J, thanking the public for

[1:18:47] helping fund without your help.

[1:18:50] This wouldn't be here.

[1:18:51] And that could somehow be in a plaque that said funded by Measure J.

[1:18:55] So a lot of people don't know whether, all they know is it's pays in the streets, that

[1:18:59] they do know.

[1:19:00] And that's made most everybody happy, that one penny sale tax, but they don't know all

[1:19:04] the other things that we've done.

[1:19:06] They've seen the signs, but the signs blow away.

[1:19:08] And they ask.

[1:19:09] And they ask where?

[1:19:10] They're curious.

[1:19:10] What is it that you do or what is it that Measure J has done?

[1:19:14] And they haven't got really a good answer in some of those.

[1:19:17] I've been at board meetings for a movie called an East, and that's something that comes

[1:19:23] up. There is okay what's going on not with me personally because I'm new kid so I was just part of

[1:19:29] the general discussion before I came on here. But they they want to know what is Measure J doing

[1:19:33] out there other than roads. Well it could be something those most people that come to visit Palm

[1:19:38] Springs don't know but it's something thank you to the citizens of Palm Springs. In whatever year

[1:19:44] the citizens of Palm Springs voted for Measure J tax of 1% and that tax has funded many items including

[1:19:52] including this park and other, and that could be in the park, so I mean.

[1:19:56] Right, and frankly, that could be in the downtown park in appropriate play.

[1:20:02] Everybody else is sticking something in there that they want and

[1:20:07] using it as the central key ask of both information.

[1:20:10] And so, yeah, I think that this kind of conversation is not only necessary, but

[1:20:17] But I think it's the lingering thing about Measure J that I'm hoping to accomplish this year for all of us is to get this focus on what it is about the money that we have control of and not and then how do we deal with communication and recognition and try to get this strengthened for the benefit of the four years that we've been here.

[1:20:41] there's our fifth year, and also to establish it as precedent because, as I've said before,

[1:20:50] because some of us are starting to transition to not being on the commission.

[1:20:55] And those of you who are new to the commission will be taking over these things.

[1:21:00] And I think it's not only important for you to understand them, but I'd like to clarify them

[1:21:04] and get them done.

[1:21:05] And so you don't have to inherit the burden of just going on and struggling for the same thing.

[1:21:12] It's also a community pride thing.

[1:21:14] I mean, I think when people see that plaque, they said, I voted for that, and I feel good about that.

[1:21:19] This is, we're proud about this park, we're proud about this particular thing or another, isn't it?

[1:21:24] John's going to be the last commenter here because we're getting to our end time, so.

[1:21:28] So I just want to talk a little bit about what Christopher said about having maybe the

[1:21:34] parks director who would be Vicki, I suppose, come talk about parks, but would it be worthwhile

[1:21:41] for us during the decision of a theme process to have people affiliated with downtown, affiliated

[1:21:48] with parks, affiliated with wave finding sign, affiliated with meetings come talk to us

[1:21:55] about what they see how that is important to them.

[1:22:00] I'm thinking of Dory Meredith for downtown.

[1:22:01] We say downtown, beautification, I'm sure.

[1:22:04] If you said to Joy, if we gave you a million dollars

[1:22:07] to beautify downtown, how would you do it?

[1:22:09] And I'll bet you should come up with some pretty good ideas.

[1:22:12] So it might be worth bringing some experts in to talk to us

[1:22:18] as we go through the decision process.

[1:22:19] Well, I would ask the three of you to consider that as part

[1:22:29] I'd like to give them either an opportunity and public comment, but if they want longer, as long as we define the amount of time, I think it's fair for any group of people to come in and say this is our input into where you're going.

[1:22:45] We do have two more meetings that are open for that conversation.

[1:22:51] So if the three of you could make a list and choose who you reach out to and encourage people to come to our meetings, that would be great.

[1:22:59] I said it was last, but you can have the last.

[1:23:03] I have a board meeting too.

[1:23:08] This list is a suggestion and if somebody else doesn't think something should be on this

[1:23:20] list, now would be a good time to talk about that.

[1:23:25] And I would just throw out that if we asked you to pick three items on the list that

[1:23:35] or your top three priorities and everything else falls off, what would those three priorities

[1:23:41] be? Or do we try to work with all of these, get more information on these, and then identify

[1:23:49] priorities?

[1:23:52] Oh, you just threw a monkey wrench into the works. I should have said that you were the last

[1:23:57] commentant.

[1:23:58] Oh.

[1:23:58] was less than you could do. So you're asking whether we should have input into this now to

[1:24:07] yes. But I think that in a way either we could do the following. Yes, it's suggestions.

[1:24:16] And if anyone would like to add to these suggestions, I would suggest we do that at the next meeting.

[1:24:21] Okay. On the other hand, and I think it's premature to take a vote and to start knocking

[1:24:31] anything off. I think there is a feeling that parts have come up, but let's take the next

[1:24:36] meeting to stew on this and anyone who has a new idea can present it. You can't present

[1:24:43] it to you guys in the interim. I'm afraid because that's a violation of the brand act.

[1:24:46] So we have to do it in a meeting, right?

[1:24:49] I think somebody has an idea to add to that committee.

[1:24:53] Can they email through?

[1:24:56] No.

[1:24:57] Tariana, they could.

[1:24:59] Good name, Tariana.

[1:25:00] You can email Tariana.

[1:25:02] And Ariana can send it to everybody.

[1:25:04] So if any of us has an idea to add to this list,

[1:25:06] we email Tariana and say, please email

[1:25:09] to the Measure J Commissioners this idea.

[1:25:14] OK.

[1:25:15] And I would just say too that I think that this says to me that the three of us in our

[1:25:23] conversation that didn't even include alcohol were on the right track in terms of what we

[1:25:30] might consider for another project and I would just going to say we didn't in any way mean

[1:25:38] this to be inexhaustible so I would encourage everyone on this here to really think about

[1:25:44] about what you think would be another area.

[1:25:46] This is just all we came up with and we only had lunch for two hours.

[1:25:49] I'm going to move it to the end, but I would like to compliment you.

[1:25:55] We've seen a lot of committees working over the last few years and we've had a lot of meetings that have had important subjects like this.

[1:26:03] We've gone through two important subjects and we've done it in a very reasonable amount of time and I want to thank you.

[1:26:08] On the other hand, I would say that it does feel that you've focused on meaningful things

[1:26:16] and yes, it's possible that there are others.

[1:26:18] But themes are large umbrellas, and so, but I do want to recognize Ariana York, no, it's

[1:26:27] not Ariana, it's Elena, commenting on shade could be included conceptually.

[1:26:36] When we get to the idea of theme, and if it were in park, you know, there is, I mean, it's

[1:26:45] not a complete thing because certainly shade is shade everywhere, but that's an interesting

[1:26:50] theme as well for Palm Springs, and I don't want to bypass the fact that perhaps there is

[1:26:58] an additional theme that could be added here because shade could be in parks, but it also

[1:27:04] could be in the downtown area in the new streets, and it could be a long-pom canyon, and

[1:27:10] in keeping with the conversation we had years ago about electricity and sidewalks.

[1:27:15] There was also examples of places in the other parts of the world where they live in a

[1:27:22] similar zone that we do, and they do much better job protecting citizens from things.

[1:27:27] So I would actually like to say that I believe shade might be something we should throw

[1:27:31] on the theme list right now.

[1:27:35] Okay, so now it is time for...

[1:27:39] If I could just add very quickly, it was interesting that you bring that up because

[1:27:43] sustainability is working on a walkability project right now and shade is one of the things

[1:27:49] that is key to this project, so it is a very desert related thing.

[1:27:56] Can I just, the other thing that you said, I mean, it was art, and we do have an arts commission, and I don't know if you want to think about adding that as a possible project.

[1:28:07] But we could make work in conjunction with them.

[1:28:11] I'm like you, I love the art, and it helps say it, I think it's fantastic, and you all are probably familiar with jungle red over in warm sands, and I can't tell you how many people have commented on that because I used to have a business over there.

[1:28:21] But that's another thought that might go on.

[1:28:27] This is time for public comment.

[1:28:29] And since I see the gallery is well packed, I'm assuming that we'll be here for another four hours.

[1:28:35] If I'm wrong, say I'm wrong.

[1:28:38] Okay, good.

[1:28:40] Staff member comments.

[1:28:42] Do either of the two of you have any comments?

[1:28:44] Oh, tell us how much you enjoyed the meeting.

[1:28:48] I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[1:28:50] Thank you very much for the group.

[1:28:52] I hope you're welcome.

[1:28:54] Commission member comments.

[1:28:57] Hopefully we've exhausted everything we have to say.

[1:29:00] Okay, and with that I will adjourn this meeting at six,

[1:29:03] about 38 or so, five, 30.

[1:29:06] And I look forward to seeing you all in January 17th, I believe.

Measure J Commission

Agenda

Transcript