[1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL]
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AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO SEE AND IT'S SMALL, BUT I TRIED TO CAPTURE A SCREEN SHOT HERE.
ON THE LEFT YOU'LL SEE A SCREEN SHOT OF THE EXISTING ZONING CODE, SO BASICALLY EACH DISTRICT HAS A LENGTHY SECTION WITH SUBSECTIONS AND DETAILED STANDARDS THAT ARE
[4. STATEMENT FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY]
WRITTEN IN KIND OF A PROSE OR A NARRATIVE AND ON THE RIGHT YOU SEE A MORE MODERNIZED CODE WHERE ALL OF THE DISTRICTS ARE ORGANIZED UNDER THIS BROADER HIERARCHY[6. MINUTES:]
OF LAND USE CATEGORIES AND THEN GENERAL SITE REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS[9.1 Indio Zoning Code Update Workshop: ]
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ARE ALSO CONSOLIDATED INTO A SEPARATE SECTION FOR CITYWIDE REGULATION.AND WITHIN THOSE KIND OF BROADER LAND USE CATEGORIES, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THIS IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL LATER IN THE PRESENTATION, YOU WOULD HAVE THESE TABLES WHERE YOU CAN VERY CLEARLY SEE ALL THE STANDARDS AND COMPARE THEM BETWEEN
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DIFFERENT RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS OR COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS, INDUSTRIAL AND[00:15:04]
WHAT HAVE YOU.SO THE NEXT WOULD BE USABILITY, AND ALONG THE SAME LINES, THE CURRENT CODE LACKS LEGIBILITY, IT'S NOT VERY USER FRIENDLY, AND ONE WAY TO IMPROVE THIS WOULD BE TO PROVIDE ILLUSTRATIVE GRAPHICS THAT REALLY CLEARLY COMMUNICATE THE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS AS WELL AS DUPLICATION AND UNNECESSARY REDUNDANCIES THROUGHOUT THE CODE.
SO ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES AS CIMARRON MENTIONED EARLIER IS LEGAL ISSUES.
T HOUSING, IN PARTICULAR, THAT HAVE COME OUT IN THE LAST NEW YEAR'S.
ON THE RIGHT YOU'LL SEE JUST -- NEW YEAR'S.
ON THE RIGHT YOU'LL SEE A BRIEF LIST OF SOME OF THEM HAVING TO DO WITH CLEAR AND OBJECTIVE STANDARDS WHICH IS SB 330, AMENDMENTS TO THE HOUSING ACCOUNTABILITY ACT, NEW REGULATIONS AROUND ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS FOR ABU DOLLARS, CHANGES DENSITY BONUS LAW AND OTHERS.
AND ON THE FOLLOWING SLIDES I'M JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH A FEW OF THE BIG ONES.
SO SB 35 BY RIGHT APPROVAL PROCESSING.
SO THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS ONE ARE THAT JURISDICTIONS WHICH HAVE FAILED TO MEET THE REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS NEED TO GRANT STREAMLINE MINISTERIAL APPROVAL FOR MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING PROJECTS.
THAT MEET A JURISDICTION'S OBJECTIVE STANDARDS.
AND SO THEY DEFINE OBJECTIVE STANDARDS AS THOSE THAT CANNOT INVOLVE ANY PERSONAL OR SUBJECTIVE JUDGMENT AND THAT CAN BE VERIFIED AGAINST A KNOWN BENCHMARK.
AND THEN THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN A NUMBER OF CHANGES TO OR REGULATIONS REGARDING STREAMLINING OF PROCEDURES.
SO NOW IF A PROJECT IS OVER 150 UNITS, A CITY MUST NOTIFY THE DEVELOPMENT PROPONENT IN WRITING WITHIN 90 DAYS OF SUBMITTAL IF IT CONFLICTS WITH OBJECTIVE STANDARDS.
DESIGN REVIEW HAS TO BE COMPLETED IN 180 DAYS.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO LIMITS ON IMPOSING KIND OF STRINGENT PARKING STANDARDS ON AN IMPROVED STREAMLINED DEVELOPMENT.
SO THE HOUSING ACCOUNTABILITY ACT, ALE JUST GO THROUGH KIND OF THE KEY HIGHLIGHT AND THEN SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED.
UNDER THE HAA, IF A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT COMPLIES WITH ALL OBJECTIVE GENERAL PLAN, ZONING, AND SUBDIVISION STANDARD APPLICATION IS DEEMED COMPLETED, THE CITY CAN ONLY DENY THE PROJECT OR REDUCE THE DENSITY IF IT WILL -- THEY CAN PROVE THAT THERE WILL BE A SPECIFIC ADVERSE IMPACT ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.
AND SOME OF THE RECENT AMENDMENTS HAVE BROADENED TO INCLUDE FAMILY BUT MIXED USE PROJECTS THAT ARE AT LEAST 2/3 RESIDENTIAL.
IT ALSO STATES IF A ZONING PROJECT IS INCONSISTENT WHY THE GENERAL PLAN A PROPOSED
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HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CANNOT BE CONSIDERED INCONSISTENT AND REQUIRED TO SEEK A REZONING AS LONG AS IT COMPLIES WITH THE OBJECTIVE GENERAL PLAN STANDARDS, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR INDIO BECAUSE THE GENERAL PLAN WAS UPDATED AND THE ZONING IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN.AND THEN LASTLY, THERE ARE NOW SOME -- OR CITIES MUST INFORM APPLICANT OF THE BASIS FOR THEIR NONCOMPLIANCE ON A SPECIFIC SHORTENED TIMELINE.
OTHERWISE, THEY WILL BE DEEMED CONSISTENT.
AND THEN LASTLY, SB 330 IS THE HOUSING CRISIS ACT, AND IT DOES KIND OF TWO MAIN THINGS.
ONE, IT RESTRICTS LOCAL REGULATIONS ON HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS AND LAND WHERE HOUSING IS PERMITTED, SO IT REALLY -- IT PREVENTS CITIES FROM DOWN ZONING LANDS WHERE HOUSING IS PERMITTED OR IMPOSING OTHER RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR, SUCH AS HOUSING MORATORIUMS, CONTROL ORDINANCES AND RESTRICTIONS.
IT ALSO ENFORCES NON--- OR ELSE A CITY CANNOT ENFORCE NON-OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS ADOPTED AFTER JANUARY 1 OF 2020.
AND A AN APPROVED HOUSING PROJECT CAN'T DEMOLISH RESIDENTIAL UNITS UNLESS IT ACTUALLY CREATES MORE UNITS THAN THOSE DEMOLISHED.
AND THEN IT ALSO SHORTENS THE PROJECT REVIEW TIMELINE.
SO A CITY CANNOT CHANGE STANDARD ZONING OR FEES AFTER A PRELIMINARY APPLICATION IS RECEIVED.
I KIND OF LOCKS IN THE STANDARD ZONING AND FEES AT THAT TIME.
A CITY ALSO ONLY HAS ONE CHANCE TO IDENTIFY INCOMPLETE ITEMS IN AN INITIAL APPLICATION.
AND THEN IT PUTS A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF HEARINGS, WHICH INCLUDES PUBLIC MEETINGS ON A PROPOSED PROJECT IF IT COMPLIES WITH OBJECTIVE STANDARDS.
SO THESE WILL ALL HAVE IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ZONING CODE UPDATE.
NEXT, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ISSUES WITH THE ALLOWED USES IN THE CURRENT CODE, SO THE CURRENT USE LISTS ARE PRETTY LIMITED AND OUTDATED.
MANY OF THE USES REQUIRE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVAL BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST -- THEY'RE SIMPLY NOT LISTED, SO THERE'S AMBIGUITY THERE.
AND THEN A LOT OF USES ALSO REQUIRE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
IN ADDITION, YOU BASICALLY AGAIN, BECAUSE THE CODE IS WRITTEN IN THIS KIND OF NARRATIVE OR PROSE FORMAT AND THERE AREN'T CONSOLIDATED TABLES OF THE ALLOWED USES, YOU HAVE TO READ THROUGH EACH PERMITTED USES IN EACH ZONE, AND THE PROCEDURE SECTION TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR BUSINESS OR YOUR PROPERTY.
AND SO WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS KIND OF DO A CONSOLIDATED REVISION AND UPDATE OF ALL THE USE LISTS, CONSOLIDATE THE USE TYPES INTO CLEARLY DEFINED CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS AND GROUP THEM BY FUNCTION OR CHARACTERISTIC, ENSURE THAT THEY'RE BROAD ENOUGH TO ALLOW CLASSIFICATION OF NEW AND UNANTICIPATED USES, AND THEN REALLY ALIGN THE ALLOWED USES WITH THE INTENT OF EACH DISTRICT.
AND THAT IN AND OF ITSELF WILL HELP REDUCE THE USES THAT REQUIRE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
AND ON THIS NEXT SLIDE I TRIED TO SHOW JUST A BRIEF SCREEN SHOT OF THIS.
SO ON THE LEFT YOU'LL SEE THE EXISTING ZONING CODE, ALL THE PERMITTED USES ARE KIND OF WRITTEN OUT IN THIS LENGTHY PROSE.
T SERVANT QUARTERS, TERMS THAT WE DON'T REALLY USE ANYMORE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, PROHIBITED USES, NOT MUCH IS REALLY LISTED OUT SPECIFICALLY SO A LOT IS LEFT UP TO INTERPRETATION.
AND THEN ON THE RIGHT YOU'LL SEE A SCREEN FROM A MORE RECENT OR MODERN CODE WHERE YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE IN ONE TABLE ALL OF THE ALLOWED -- OR ALL OF THE USES, AND THEN WHETHER THEY ARE PERMITTED, CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED OR NOT ALLOWED BY DISTRICT.
AND YOU CAN ALSO COMPARE THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THIS CONSOLIDATED FORMAT.
NEXT, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BRIEFLY BEFORE.
SO THE CURRENTLY ZONING DISTRICTS ARE NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE NEW UPDATED GENERAL PLAN DESIGNATIONS, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS IN THE CITY.
AND MANY OF THEM ARE PRETTY SIMILAR.
SO WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS FIRST AND FOREMOST REVISE THE DISTRICTS AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN LAND USE DESIGNATION AND THEN REDUCE AND CONSOLIDATE THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE DISTINCT.
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IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS OF, AS WE WERE LOOKING THROUGH THE CODE, WE IDENTIFIED A FEW TOP ISSUES.SO HEIGHT AND INTENSITY STANDARDS SUCH AS DENSITY, SETBACKS AND THE LIKE ARE PRETTY LOW IN A LOT OF THE DISTRICTS.
PARKING AND GARAGE REQUIREMENTS ARE QUITE BURDENSOME.
THERE'S ALSO A LIMITED NUMBER OF REGULATIONS ON SITE AND BUILDING DESIGN.
AND THEN A LOT OF THE DESIGN STANDARDS ARE VERY DISCRETIONARY AND REQUIRE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVAL.
SO WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS REVISE THE HEIGHT, INTENSITY AND PARKING STANDARDS, DEVELOP A MORE ROBUST SET OF GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, INCLUDING REGULATIONS ON LIGHTING, TREES, STORMWATER, SITE DESIGN, EQUIPMENT AND SCREENING, AND NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSITIONS.
AND THEN ALSO ENSURE THAT STANDARDS ARE CLEAR AND OBJECTIVE AS PER SOME OF THE NEW STATE LAWS BUT ALSO PROVIDES FLEXIBILITY FOR PROPERTY OWNERS AND BUSINESSES.
AND HERE YOU'LL JUST SEE A SCREEN SHOT OF KIND OF AN UPDATED CODE WHERE YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR, SAY, A RESIDENTIAL, ALL RESIDENTIAL ZONES.
YOU CAN SEE THEM IN ONE PLACE AND COMPARE THEM.
THEY'RE EASY TO READ, CONSOLIDATED, AND THEN, OF COURSE, JUST A COUPLE OF GRAPHICS, THE TYPES OF ILLUSTRATIONS WE WOULD USE TO BETTER EXPLAIN SOME OF THESE COMPLEX STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS.
IN TERMS OF OF SPECIAL USES IN THE CODE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SPECIFIC USES, BUT THEY'RE NOT GROUPED UNDER A BROADER SECTION OR ORGANIZE IN A CLEAR WAY IN THE CODE.
AND THEN SOME OF THOSE STANDARDS ARE FOR CERTAIN USES, ARE OUTDATED, UNNECESSARY OR DON'T COMPLY WITH RECENT LEGISLATION.
SO THE RECOMMENDATION HERE WOULD BE TO CONSOLIDATE REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO SPECIFIC USES AND ACTIVITIES AND PUT THEM IN A NEW SPECIFIC TO USES SECTION, MAKE SURE ALL OF THE SPECIAL LAND USES ARE GROUPED TOGETHER AND THEN SEPARATE THEM FROM TEMPORARY USES.
AND THEN UPDATE STANDARDS FOR USES SUCH AS MOBILE AND MANUFACTURED HOMES, AUTO REPAIR, SERVICE STATIONS, AND THE LIKE.
MAKE SURE THEY'RE KIND OF UP TO DATE, THEY INCLUDE BEST PRACTICES, AND COMPLY WITH RECENT LEGISLATION.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF PERMITS AND PROCEDURES, I THINK SUMMER MIGHT HAVE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE.
STAFF WILL BE UPDATING THIS SECTION OF THE ZONING CODE AT A LATER DATE, BUT SOME OF THE ISSUES ARE THAT THERE AREN'T -- IT'S NOT REALLY CLEAR RIGHT NOW.
THE REVIEW AUTHORITY FOR EACH TYPE OF APPLICATION.
AND DESIGN REVIEW IS REQUIRED FOR MOST IN THE CITY.
SO THE RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE TO CREATE A CONSOLIDATED TABLE LISTING THE REVIEW AUTHORITY FOR EACH APPLICATION TYPE, TO REALLY STREAMLINE THE PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES, AND LIMIT THE DISCRETIONARY REVIEW OF PROJECTS THAT CONFORM TO THE CODE AND ALSO THIS IS TO COMPLY WITH RECENT LEGISLATION, AS WE MENTIONED, AND THEN ADD A PROCESS THAT WOULD REQUIRE COMMUNITY BENEFITS IN EXCHANGE FOR A VARIANCE OR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
SO AS SUMMER HAD MENTIONED EARLIER WE HAVE CONDUCTED A NUMBER OF STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS OVER THE LAST MONTH OR SO.
AND WE JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE INPUT WE'VE RECEIVED TO DATE.
SO SOME OF THE KEY FEEDBACK WE'VE GOTTEN IS THAT -- AND THIS IS FROM BUILDERS IN THE AREA, PROPERTY OWNERS, BUSINESS OWNERS.
THEY MENTION RIGHT SIZING THE APPROVAL PROCESS TO THE PROJECT, SO IF A PROJECT MEETS OBJECTIVE STANDARDS, IT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO GO TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, ENSURING CONSISTENCY IN THE SUBMITTAL AND REVIEW PROCESS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE IN FAVOR OF ALLOWING ELECTRONIC SUBMITTALS AND MODERNIZING THE CODE WITH, YOU KNOW, REFLECTING CURRENT USES AND TERMINOLOGIES.
THERE WAS INTEREST IN REVISING HEIGHT LIMITS AND PARKING RATIOS AND MAKING THEM FIT A LITTLE BIT BETTER WITH THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT.
AND THEN GENERALLY IMPROVING THE USABILITY OF THE CODE.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO ROGER, ROGER AND ADAM OR MAYBE JUST ROGER, TO TALK ABOUT THE SIGN CODE.
>> WELL, HI AND GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.
JUST WANT TO CONFIRM YOU CAN HEAR ME PROPERLY.
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YES, NO, NODDING OF HEADS? THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIR PERSON.ALWAYS GOOD TO CHECK THE SOUND.
I'M ROGER EASTMAN WITH LISA WEISS CONSULTANT WITH ME IS ADAM, ALSO FROM THE FIRM, ONE OF OUR ASSOCIATES, AND A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU.
I KNOW WE HAVE SHARED SO FAR A LOT OF INFORMATION.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AFTERWARDS.
I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU THROUGH THE SIGN CODE, WHICH IS THE MAJORITY OF OUR WORK WITH YOU.
SO WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WORKING ON SIGN CODES AND LOOKING AT YOUR CODE, HONESTLY, NOT ONE OF THE WORST IN THE COUNTRY, BUT YOU DO HAVE A FEW ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE RESOLVED.
THE SIGN CODE IS POORLY ORGANIZED.
I'LL TALK ABOUT THIS IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL LATER ON, AND IT'S CERTAINLY COMPLEX, I THINK UNNECESSARILY.
SIGN CODES ARE TYPICALLY VERY VISUAL AND THERE'S NOT A SINGLE GRAPHIC IN YOUR CODE.
MANY OF THE STANDARDS ARE OUTDATED, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO LEM NATION STANDARDS AS THE TECHNOLOGIES HAVE EVOLVED.
AND WE'VE LEARNED FROM TALKING TO YOUR STAFF THE SIGN CODE DOESN'T PRODUCE THE RESULTS THAT YOU DESIRE.
AND THEN WE HAD THIS MYSTERIOUS THING CALLED THE REED V.
TOWN OF GILBERT SIGN CODE CASE, TUESDAY SUPREME COURT DECISION IN JUNE OF 2015.
THAT MEANS YOU DO HAVE SOME ISSUES THAT YOU NEED TO RESOLVE IN YOUR CODE, AND I'M GOING SPEND A FEW MINUTES, IF YOU DON'T MIND, JUST GOING THROUGH REED.
BOTTOM LINE YOU NEED A COMPREHENSIVE OVERALL UPDATE TO YOUR CODE.
YOU CAN SKIP IS ON THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, CIMARRON.
WE DON'T PRETEND TO BE ATTORNEYS.
I'M REALLY PLEADS TO SEE ONE OF THE CITY ATTORNEYS IS ON THE CALL WITH US THIS EVENING.
W AN UNDERSTANDING OF PLANNERS OF WHAT YOU AS CITY STAFF NEED TO DO TO ENSURE THAT YOUR CODE IS COMPLIANT WITH REED.
AND WE WILL RELY ON YOUR CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE DETAILED NUANCES OF THE CODE.
SO WHAT HAPPENED? WELL, PRIOR TO 2015, A SMALL PASTOR, PASTOR REED OF THE GOOD NEWS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, HAD A SMALL CHURCH IN THE TOWN OF GILBERT, A COMMUNITY IN SOUTHEAST PHOENIX.
AND BECAUSE HE WAS A SMALL CHURCH AND DIDN'T HAVE A FIXED LOCATION, WE HAD PUT UP SIGNS LIKE YOU SEE IN THIS IMAGE INVITING PEOPLE TO COME TO HIS CHURCH SERVICES ON A SUNDAY MORNING.
AND HE RAN INTO A PROBLEM WITH THE CITY OR THE TOWN'S REGULATIONS BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF SIGN WAS CLASSIFIED AS, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE LOWER LEFT-HAND SIDE, A TEMPORARY DIRECTIONAL SIGN RELATING TO A QUALIFYING EVENT.
AND THIS REQUIRED HIM TO PUT HIS SIGN UP ONLY A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE CHURCH SERVICE.
WELL, THAT WAS IMPRACTICAL, GIVEN THAT HE WAS GETTING HIS CONGREGATION TOGETHER EARLY ON A SUNDAY MORNING.
SO HE WAS PUTTING HIS SIGNS UP ON A SATURDAY OR PRIOR.
AND THIS IS WHERE THE TOWN CODE ENFORCEMENT STAFF SAID, NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
IT WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE COURTS, FROM LOCAL COURTS, ULTIMATELY UP TO THE U.S.
AND THIS IS WHY THE SUPREME COURT RULED AGAINST THE TOWN OF GILBERT, BECAUSE GILBERT HAD DIFFERENT TYPES OF TEMPORARY SIGNS, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SLIDE HERE, THAT HAD DIFFERENT STANDARDS FOR EACH TYPE OF TEMPORARY SIGN.
SO AN IDEOLOGICAL SIGN WAS ALLOWED TO BE 20 SQUARE FEET IN AREA, COULD BE PUT ANYWHERE FOR AS LONG AS YOU WANTED, BUT A POLITICAL SIGN COULD ONLY BE 16 SQUARE FEET.
CERTAIN RESIDENTIAL AREAS, AND IT COULD ONLY BE OUT FOR 60 DAYS BEFORE THE PRIMARY ELECTION AND 15 DAYS AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTION.
AND THE SUPREME COURT SAID YOU'RE REGULATING SIGNS BASED ON THE MESSAGE IT CONVEYS AND YOU'VE GOT DIFFERENT STANDARDS FOR EACH TYPE OF SIGN.
AND FOR THAT REASON AND A NUMBER OF OTHERS THAT WE DON'T NEED TO GET INTO, THE COURT RULED AGAINST THE TOWN OF GILBERT.
AND REEMPHASIZED WHAT OTHER COURTS AND THE SUPREME COURT HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN PREVIOUS DECISIONS, THAT CITIES AND TOWNS MAY NOT REGULATE SIGNS BASED ON THE MESSAGE THAT IS CONVEYED.
THAT IS TO SAY, A CONTENT-BASED REGULATION.
SO IF YOU HAVE TO READ THE SIGN TO DECIDE WHAT TYPE OF SIGN IT IS, THEN IT'S GOING TO BE A CONTENT-BASED REGULATION LIKE THE POLITICAL SIGN, CONSTRUCTION
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SIGN WITH REAL ESTATE SIGN OR WHATEVER.A CONSENT NEUTRAL REGULATION SETS UP STANDARDS BASED ON TIME, PLACE AND MANNER.
THAT IS TO SAY, FOR HOW LONG MAY THE SIGN BE PUT UP, WHERE MAY IT BE PLACED, AND WHAT SHOULD THE SIGN LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF ITS MATERIALS, HEIGHT, AREA, AND SO ON.
AND SO A CONTENT NEUTRAL SIGN REGULATION WOULD SAY THIS IS A FREESTANDING SIGN OR A BUILDING-MOUNTED SIGN RATHER THAN POLITICAL, CONSTRUCTION OR LOTTERY SIGN OR WHATEVER.
SO -- NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE -- SO THIS BECOMES REALLY TRICKY BECAUSE ANY COMMUNITY NEEDS TO FIND THIS BALANCE BETWEEN, IN OUR COUNTRY, THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS AN EXISTENTIAL RIGHT UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, AND THE COMMUNITY'S DESIRE TO MANAGE AND REGULATE ITS CHARACTER.
AND SO WE'VE GOT TO FIND THIS BALANCE BETWEEN THE PROLIFERATION OF SIGNS THAT COME THROUGH ELECTION CYCLES.
AND THE RIGHT TO PUT UP A MESSAGE THAT SAYS YOU BELIEVE X, Y AND Z.
YOU'VE GOT TO FIND THIS BALANCE BETWEEN THE RIGHT TO SIGNAGE AND THE RIGHT TO BALANCE THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY FOR ITS AESTHETIC VALUES.
SO LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SUMMARIZING, SOME OF THE ISSUES IN THE CURRENT CODE FOR INDIO, YOU HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, A RESTAURANT MENU BOARD SIGN OR A LOTTERY SIGN OR SIGNS SPECIFIC TO SHOPPING MALLS OR SHOPPING CENTERS.
NOW, ARGUABLY, BECAUSE THAT IS A COMMERCIAL MESSAGES, MAYBE THE SHOPPING MALL OR CENTER SIGN IS OKAY, BUT IDEALLY, TO BE TRULY CONTENT NEUTRAL, YOU WOULD DESCRIBE THOSE AS BUILDING MOUNTED OR FREESTANDING SIGN.
LOTTERY SIGNS COULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS CATEGORY CALLED INCIDENTAL SIGN WHERE YOU MIGHT ALSO INCLUDE SIGNAGE ON A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS THAT ALLOWS CREDIT CARDS TO BE USED, FOR EXAMPLE, OR A SECURITY COMPANY HAS THEIR SIGN UP SAYING THAT ACME SECURITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT BUILDING.
RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON REAL ESTATE OR GARAGE SALE SIGNS, NOW WE CAN THINK ABOUT YARD SIGNS, BANNER SIGNS, VERTICAL BANNERS AND SO ON.
AND TEMPORARY SIGNS GETS REALLY TRICKY, AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO STAFF AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE WORK SESSION WITH THEM TO REALLY GET DOWN TO HOW DO YOU REGULATE TEMPORARY SIGNS IN A WAY THAT'S EASY FOR YOUR CODE ENFORCEMENT STAFF BUT STILL ALLOWS POLITICIANS, REAL ESTATE AGENTS, CONTRACTORS AND OTHERS TO PUT UP SOME KIND TEMPORARY SIGN.
SO THIS IS YOUR CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS.
A LONG LIST OF REGULATIONS, NUMBERS SOMEWHAT CONSECUTIVELY, WITH LOTS OF DETAILS BUT NO REAL CLEAR ORGANIZATION.
SO IF WE LOOK AT THE NEXT SLIDE, WHAT BE DOING IS A FIRST RECOMMENDATION THEN IS UPDATING THE TABLE OF CONTENTS, ORGANIZING IT INTO CLEAR, SIMPLE CATEGORIES, AND WE'VE TALK TO STAFF ABOUT PROVIDING TO THEM A LITTLE EARLIER THAN PERHAPS YOU WOULD NORMALLY AN ANNOTATED TABLE OF CONTENTS THAT STARTS TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE MAJOR CATEGORIES WOULD BE, WHAT WOULD BE IN THOSE CATEGORIES, AND WHY, AND HOW THE WHOLE CODE IS ORGANIZED.
WE LIKE TO ORGANIZE STANDARDS INTO TABLES RATHER THAN PAGES OF PARAGRAPHS THAT REALLY ENHANCES USABILITY.
AND WE INSERT GRAPHICS AND PHOTOGRAPHS TO ILLUSTRATE THE SIGN TYPES AND POTENTIALLY ILLUSTRATE THE STANDARDS THAT YOU WOULD SEE IN THE TABLE ON THE SIGN TYPE AS WELL.
AND THEN AS FAR AS THE STANDARDS GO, A LOT OF THE SIGN TYPES NEED A LITTLE BIT OF A REFRESH.
THERE'S NEW TERMINOLOGY NOW FOR SOME OF THE SIGN TYPES IN YOUR CURRENT CODE.
THE SIGN STANDARDS FOR AREA, HEIGHT, THE NUMBER OF SIGNS, WE WILL WORK WITH YOUR STAFF TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OF THE CURRENT REGULATIONS MAY WORK AND CAN BE CARRIED FORWARD AND WHERE WE MAY NEED NEW STANDARDS.
IN TERMS OF ILLUMINATION, AS I MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF THE PRESENTATION, HAD A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED SINCE YOUR CODE WAS WRITTEN AND ADOPTED.
WE NEED TO BE RAFFLE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT ELECTRONIC IMAGE SIGNS AND ONE AND TWO COLOR LED SIGNS AND SO ON AND THE DIFFERENT WAYS OF ILLUMINATING SIGNS TODAY.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT CREATING SIGN DESIGN STANDARDS, ESTABLISHING A
[00:40:04]
FRAMEWORK OF DESIGN STANDARDS THAT COULD BE A BENCHMARK FOR INDIO SO THAT YOUR SIGN COMPANIES WILL KNOW WHAT THE BASIC VISUAL CHARACTERS ARE FOR SIGNS.YOU HAVE GOOD CONTRAST BETWEEN THE LETTERS FROM THE BACKGROUND OR YOU HAVE GOOD MATERIALS OR INTERESTING MATERIALS THAT REALLY MAKE THE SIGNS POP OUT.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, VERY IMPORTANT, BALANCING PREDICTABILITY WITH FLEXIBILITY.
YOU WANT A CODE THAT'S CLEAR, IT'S EASILY APPLIED, IT'S EASILY ENFORCED, IF YOU NEED TO, BUT YOU CAN NEVER WRITE A CODE THAT ANTICIPATES EVERY SITUATION.
SO THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME ABILITY FOR THE DIRECTOR TO APPLY SOME LOGIC AND SOME FLEXIBILITY WHEN IT'S NECESSARY.
AND THEN FINALLY HERE, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A CONTENT-NEUTRAL SIGN CODE SO WE'LL WORK WITH THE ATTORNEY AND STAFF TO ENSURE WE DO THAT WITH BOTH PERMANENT SIGNS AND TEMPORARY SIGNS.
AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE'LL BE ASKING IS YOU, WELL, WHAT IS OKAY? I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS YOU'VE GOT TO ALLOW FOR POLITICAL SIGNS AS YARD SIGNS OR BANNER SIGNS OR SOME TYPE OF SIGNS LIKE THAT.
AND THEN YOU'VE GOT TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU REGULATE, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE LOWER RIGHT IMAGE, WHEN A BUSINESS WANTS TO ADVERTISE ALCOHOL, I THINK IT IS IN THIS SITUATION OR WHATEVER THE PRODUCT IS.
SO TEMPORARY SIGNAGE FOR SPECIAL SALES.
WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND HOW LONG THOSE TYPES OF SIGNS MAY NEED TO BE UP AND WHAT ENFORCEMENT, WHAT PERMIT GOES INTO EFFECT.
BUT THEN WE GET IF SOMETIMES CALLED VERTICAL BANNERS ON THE LOWER LEFT.
ARE THEY ACCEPTABLE IN INDIO OR NOT? IF THEY WE HAVE TO WRITE REGULATIONS.
IF NOT WE CALL THEM PROHIBITED SIGNS.
LIKEWISE, THE TROOP SIGN OR WHAT WE KNOW AS HAPPY WE'VE GUYS THAT TEND TO BLOW AND MOVE IN THE WIND CAN BE VERY DISTRACTING.
SOME COMMUNITIES SAY ABSOLUTELY NOT.
WE JUST NEED DECISIONS FROM THE CITY ON WHAT'S MOST APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
A QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ON THE SIGN CODE OR ON EVERYTHING, BUT I'LL CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION AT THIS POINT AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM YOU ALL.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR YOU WHICH WE CAN USE AS A WAY TO GUIDE THE DISCUSSION IF YOU'D LIKE, CHAIRPERSON FRANZ.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEEDED TO DO, AND IT'S DEFINITELY LONG OVERDUE FOR OUR CITY.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR THAT AND FOR REVIEWING THINGS WITH US.
AT THIS POINT I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO THE COMMISSIONERS TO SEE IF ANYBODY HAS ANY PARTICULAR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON WHAT'S BEEN PRESENTED SO FAR AT THIS TIME.
DO I HAVE ANYONE? I'M TRYING TO SEE EVERYBODY AND I'M NOT GETTING LUCKY WITH THAT.
>> CHAIRPERSON, I JUST APPRECIATE STAFF WORKING WITH THE CONSULTANT TEAM.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF EFFICIENCIES THAT COULD BE RILED IN OUR ZONING CODE, SO I'M GLAD THERE'S A CONSULTANT THAT'S ABLE TO HELP WITH US THAT, AND PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE SIGN CODE.
I KNOW WE JUST FINISHED ON THAT DISCUSSION, BUT I THINK THERE'S MAYBE A MORE ROBUST DISCUSSION TO HAPPEN AT A LATER TIME, PARTICULARLY REGARDING THOSE TEMPORARY SIGNS.
MAYBE SOME REVISIONS TO STANDARDS FOR MONUMENTS OR PYLON SIGNS.
I REALLY LIKE THE PRESENTATION THAT WE GOT TODAY KIND LAYING OUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT ALREAD WE CAN BE THINKING ABOUT THAT IN THE FUTURE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THE SIMPLIFICATION AND CONSOLIDATION OF A LOT OF THESE TEXT-HEAVY CODES AND TABLES IS GOING TO BE HELPFUL AND MUCH MORE USER FRIENDLY NOT JUST FOR STAFF BUT FOR PROPERTY OWNERS SO THAT THEY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN THEY'RE PURCHASING PROPERTIES OR TRYING TO IMPROVE THEIR PROPERTIES TOO.
I WAS CURIOUS, I KNOW THE GRAPHICS ARE GOING TO GO A LONG WAY TO HELP EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CODE IS INTENDED TO DO.
I'M CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT MAY BE COULD BE BROKEN OUT BETWEEN
[00:45:04]
RESIDENTIAL AND NON-RESIDENTIAL USES.I'M THINKING SCREENING PERIMETERS SCREENING REQUIREMENTS MAY BE DIFFERENT FOR RESIDENTIAL USES VERSUS NON-RESIDENTIAL.
I'VE SEEN CODES WHERE THOSE ARE CONSOLIDATED, BUT IT'S ALSO TOUGH TO ENFORCE ON IT A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OR TO APPLY TO A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY.
AND ONE THING THAT WASN'T TALKED ABOUT, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW INDIO'S CODE IS ON IT TODAY, BUT WHAT IS HELPFUL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE REMAINS ON THE SAME PAGE IS A PRETTY ROBUST DEFINITION SECTION OF THE ZONING CODE.
SO I KNOW WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT SO THAT WE'RE ALL USING THE SAME TERMINOLOGY AND THE DEFINITIONS ARE CLEAR ON WHAT IT MEANS.
NO, I THINK THIS IS GREAT, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
ANY COMMENTS FROM ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS AT THIS TIME? NO.
MAYBE A QUESTION I'LL POSE TO THE COMMISSION.
SO ONE OF THE IDEAS THAT WAS THROWN OUT BY THE CONSULTANT IN TERMS OF RECOMMENDATIONS WAS REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT ITEMS, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OTHER JURISDICTIONS I'VE WORKED IN, WE'VE ALSO DONE TO REALLY, AS THEY SAID EARLIER, ALIGN THE WITH THE ZONING REGULATIONS, THE UPDATED ZONING REGULATIONS AND HAVE A NARROW SCOPE OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT ITEMS, AND I WAS JUST WONDERING HOW THE COMMISSION FEELS ABOUT THAT AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY FEEDBACK THE COMMISSION MIGHT HAVE.
>> ANY COMINGS, COMMISSIONERS?
>> I DON'T KNOW A TABLE OF WHAT USES WE MIGHT LOOK AT CHANGING AT THIS POINT, BUT GENERALLY PRETTY OPEN TO THAT.
AND I THINK I SAW AT LEAST IN THE EXAMPLE, RATHER THAN A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, THERE'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE USE PERMIT.
IT'S JUST A MORE THOROUGH REVIEW DONE AT A STAFF LEVEL, AND IF NECESSARY YOU WOULD ELEVATE THAT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I'VE SEEN THE MIDDLE GROUND KIND OF WORK.
WITHOUT HAVING A TABLE, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SAY, YEAH, THESE COULD BE A PERMITTED USE VERSUS A CONDITIONAL USE.
>> AND I AGREE WITH THE COMMISSIONER.
AND ALSO IN THE DESIGN REVIEW SCENARIO WHERE YOU HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE, DESIGN ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW FOR THAT.
IT WOULD BE PUBLIC NOTICE SO THE PUBLIC IS AWARE THERE'S A CLEAR DELINEATION BETWEEN WHAT STAFF CAN REVEAL AND WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION SHOULD REVEAL.
>> FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, IF I CAN JUST ADD SOMETHING HERE TO FOLLOW ON TO WHAT MR. SNYDER JUST SAID, ONCE YOU HAVE -- ONCE YOU ESTABLISH NEW ZONING DISTRICTS THAT MEET THE INTENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN LAND USE DESIGNATION, THEN YOU CAN BEGIN TO STREAMLINE WHAT USES ARE PERMITTED OUTRIGHT AND WHAT USES NEED TO BE CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED.
SO JUST BY LINING UP THE ZONING DISTRICT WITH THE GENERAL LAND USE PERMISSIONS, YOU NEED TO GO THROUGH A DISCRETIONARY REVIEW.
T AT ADMINISTRATIVE USE IS ALSO A GOOD ONE AND WE CAN CONSIDER THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NO? I AGREE.
I'M OPEN TO LOOKING AT SOME ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW AND SOME ITEMS THAT DO NOT HAVE TO COME TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
DESIGN REVIEW IS ONE OF MY THINGS I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THINGS COME BEFORE US, THAT WE HAVE VERY SPECIFIC, YOU KNOW, RULES AND REGULATIONS ON WHAT SOMETHING COULD LOOK LIKE, THE SIZE, THE OPEN SPACES THAT ARE REQUIRED, THE WALKABILITY OF THE PROJECT.
I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S ROOM TO SHARE SOME OF THESE RESPONSIBILITIES SO THAT WE CAN MOVE THINGS A LITTLE BIT FASTER, BUT AT THE SAME TIME ENSURE THE QUALITY OF THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE COMING INTO OUR CITY.
SO I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER CEJA, ONCE WE GET CLOSER TO DESIGNING EVER COMBINING THESE AND SEEING WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR OUTRIGHT APPROVAL VERSUS ADMINISTRATIVE VERSUS CUP VERSUS WHATEVER AND WHAT ALL THE RULES ARE, THEN WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK AT THAT, BUT I MEAN WE'RE OPEN TO IT.
IT'S JUST YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE HOW SPECIFIC CAN WE GET IN ORDER TO GET THOSE AUTHORIZATIONS WITHOUT HAVING TO COME BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
>> MADAME CHAIRPERSON, MAY I ADD A NOTE? THANK YOU.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, CURRENTLY OUR CODE ALLOWS FOR REGIONAL COMMERCIAL.
IT ALLOWS ALSO AS A -- [INDECIPHERABLE] BUT AUTO BODY AND PAINT JOB A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IN INDUSTRIAL PARK, ANY PROPERTY UNDER 15 ACRES
[00:50:01]
NEEDS TO APPLY FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR ANY TYPE OF USES.S BECOMES PERMITTED USES AND THE DESIGN COMES BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR IT WILL BE PERMITTED IN CERTAIN ZONES AND IT WILL BE PROHIBITED IN OTHER ZONES SO THAT IT WON'T BE THIS GRAY AREA, WHY WE ARE TAKING THIS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHEN THE OTHER ONE DOESN'T GO TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR USE.
SO THOSE ARE THE AREAS THAT WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND WHOEVER COMES TO APPLY.
OR, FOR EXAMPLE, IN REGIONAL COMMERCIAL WE ALLOW AUTO SALES, NEW AND USED, BUT THEN WE PROHIBIT OUTDOOR STORAGE, THEREFORE, IF A RENTAL EQUIPMENT COMPANY COMES, THEY CAN'T GO THERE, ALTHOUGH WE BENEFIT FROM THE TAX AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO THOSE ARE THE AREAS THAT WE REALLY WANT TO WORK ON AND MAKE IT CLEAR AND MAKE IT EASY.
IT'S NOT LIKE -- AND WE WANT TO GO THROUGH THE PLANNING DESIGN AND ALSO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE WEIGHT FROM THE DIRECTOR THAT IT COULD REDUCE THE TIME AND ALSO THE WORKLOAD OF THE STAFF AS WELL.
NO OTHER COMMENTS? VICE CHAIR JACQUELINE.
>> WOULD IT BE BEST, LEILA, IF YOU -- I'M TRYING TO GET MY HEAD AROUND ALL THIS -- YOU GIVE US SOME OF YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
IS THAT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND?
>> I GUESS I NEED TO TALK WITH KEVIN AND THE TEAM, CONSULTANT TEAM TO SEE HOW WE'RE GOING TO TACKLE THAT AND BRING IT BACK TO YOU, BUT I'M ASSUMING WHEN WE COME BACK AGAIN, IT WILL BE MORE CLEAR AS THIS IS THE STAFF AND CONSULTANT RECOMMENDATION AND WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD LIKE.
>> JUST TO ADD TO THAT, EVENTUALLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS WE'LL PROBABLY JUST FOR MEGA BUILT, WE'LL BRING DRAFTS OF UPDATED SECTIONS OF THE CODE, WHETHER THEY BE THE DIRECT ZONING DESIGNATIONS OR THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, WE'LL PROBE BRING NEM IN PHASES.
WE PROBABLY WON'T BRING IT TO YOU ALL AT ONCE, AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT AND SPEND SOME TIME WITH THOSE AND MARINATE ON THEM, SO TO SPEAK, IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD APPROACH.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKHORSES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL IN TERMS OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS AND DESIGN REVIEW, AND WE WANTED THE CONSULTANT TEAM WHO HAS GONE THROUGH THIS INITIAL REVIEW OF OUR ZONING CODE AND POINTED OUT ALL THE PROBLEMS AND OPPORTUNITIES WE WANTED YOU TO HAVE A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN EARLY SO AS THEY BEGIN TO GEAR UP TO START PUTTING TOGETHER THE POTENTIAL CHANGES WE COULD CONSIDER, THEY'VE HEARD YOUR VOICES.
SO THAT'S REALLY WHY TONIGHT IS REALLY JUST FOR YOU GUYS TO TAKE YOUR EXPERIENCES AND SHARE THEM WITH THE TEAM.
BRINGING THE THIS TO US IN BITE-SIZED PIECES WILL MAKE EVERYTHING MUCH SMOOTHER.
IF WE TRY TO DO EVERYTHING AT ONE TIME, I DON'T THINK WE WOULD DO AS GOOD OF A JOB AS WE COULD OTHERWISE.
I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE AN ENDLESS AMOUNT OF TIME SO I'M SURE THERE WILL BE SOME TYPE OF SCHEDULE THAT WILL BE PUT TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN DO THIS IN PIECES.
YEAH, THE MORE WE GET TO SEE, THE MORE COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS WE'LL HAVE.
BUT WITH THE NEW GENERAL PLAN THAT WE JUST PUT IN THE DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN, THERE'S A LOT OF GUIDANCE THERE ON THE KIND OF CITY WE WANT TO SEE, SO I KNOW YOU WILL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ZONING CHANGES, YOU KNOW, SO WE WON'T HAVE TO REHASH TH JUST DID IN THE LAST YEAR.
WE CAN JUST MOVE FORWARD AND TIGHTEN UP, I GUESS, THE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR OUR CITY AND KIND OF GET A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT WE WANT OUR CITY TO LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD.
>> AND JUST FROM A PRIVATE MANAGEMENT SIDE CHAIR, SO WHEN WE GO FORWARD ON THIS, IT MAY NOT THAT BE CIMARRON AND -- ARE AT EVERY MEETING LIKE THIS AND MAYBE STAFF DOES, AND THAT'S HONESTLY FROM THE FINANCING PROJECT BUDGET AND FOCUS, BUT I THINK WHAT LEILA AND I WOULD DO IS TRY TO BRING IT TO YOU AND THE REST OF THE COMMISSION AND GET YOUR FEEDBACK WAS WE'RE GOING THROUGH REVIEW EFFORTS SO THAT WE'RE DOING IT COLLABORATIVELY AND ITERATIVELY.
WE DON'T WANT TO BRING IT TO YOU THE AT ONE TIME.
THERE MAY BE A COST OF THE PROJECT IN CONTROLLING THAT.
THE OTHER THING I ON WOULD SAY IS THERE'S SOMETHING THAT ALEXANDRA SAID EARLY ON THAT I THINK IS KEY FOR THE COMMISSION TO KEEP IN MIND, WE HAVE LEGAL OBLIGATIONS BY PASSAGES IN STATE LAW AS WELL AS LEGAL LIABILITY EXPOSURE TO REALLY FOCUS ON
[00:55:06]
CLEAR AND OBJECTIVE STANDARDS.I WILL TELL YOU, AND LEILA AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS, WE BOTH HAVE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME, AND WE STRUGGLE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND OUR CODE.
>> THAT'S NOT WHAT SHE SAID TO ME BEFORE BUT I'LL GO WITH IT.
BUT IN ALL HONESTY, SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE GO THROUGH THIS THAT THE COMMISSION KEEP IN MIND, AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HELP YOU BALANCE WHEN THE COMMISSION THINKS IT SHOULD BE INVOLVED AND NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED VERSUS WHEN IT CAN BE VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD IN TERMS OF ALLOWING THE STAFF TO PROVIDE THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE, SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING JUST TO KEEP IN MIND AS WELL.
KEVIN, WHEN WE ARE -- WHEN WE HAVE A SIGN ORDINANCE PROPOSAL OR IN PLACE, ARE WE ALSO GOING TO DO SOME OUTREACH WITH OUR LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO KIND OF WORK WITH THEM ON THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY HAVE, KIND OF BEST PRACTICES AS WELL BEFORE WE IMPLEMENT OUR NEW SIGN ORDINANCE?
>> YEAH, WE ARE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THIS PROJECT, SO RIGHT NOW THE INITIAL OUTREACH WITH STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS THAT CIMARRON AND OUR TEAM CONDUCTED WITH US AND LEILA PARTICIPATE IN THOSE AS WELL, STAFF WILL BE HANDLING THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OBVIOUSLY WE'LL BE DOING IT TOPICALLY.
SIGNAGE IS A BIG, SOMETIMES CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC, AND WE WILL WANT TO BE TALKING TO FOLKS ABOUT THAT.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME I THINK ONE THING WITH SIGNAGE, AND ROGER TOUCHED ON IT EARLIER, IS PART OF I THINK WHY OUR SIGNAGE IN THE CITY OF INDIO IS SOMEWHAT CHALLENGING IS BECAUSE OUR REGULATIONS REALLY DON'T MAKE IT EASY FOR THE BUSINESSES.
THEY'RE NOT CLEAR AND OBJECTIVE AND WE'RE NOT CLEAR ABOUT OUR EXPECTATIONS.
SO I THINK ONCE BUSINESSES HAVE THE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY EXPECTS DRAWING FROM THE GENERAL PLAN AND OTHER POLICIES, I THINK THAT'S ALSO GOING TO MAYBE CLARIFY FOR THEM IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO.
BUT YEAH, WE'LL DEFINITELY BE TALKING WITH THEM.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS AT THIS TIME? NO? OKAY.
WELL, I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND PRESENTING TO US, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR EXPERTISE IN HELPING GUIDE US TO MAKE OUR CITY A LITTLE MORE BUSINESS FRIENDLY BUT YET KEEPING TH WE WANT WITHIN OUR CITY.
AND I KNOW STAFF'S BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD AND THIS IS NOT AN EASY TOPIC SO WE DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S TIME AND EXPERTISE AND LOCK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS CONVERSATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
>> I MIGHT ADD IF INDIVIDUAL COMMISSION MEMBERS HAVE THOUGHTS AND IDEAS FOLLOWING THIS MEETING OF THINGS HA THEY REMEMBERED THAT THEY WISHED THEY HAD SAID OR IDEAS THAT POP INTO THEIR HEAD ABOUT CHANGES OR WHATEVER, FEEL TREE TO REACH OUT TO LEILA AND/OR MYSELF TO GIVE US THOSE COMMENTS AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THEY GET TO THE CONSULTANT TEAM.
I'M ASSUMING THAT INDIO HAS LOOKED AT LIKE OTHER SURROUNDING CITIES TO SEE WHAT THEIR POLICY IS SO HOPEFULLY WE'RE NOT BEING CONFERENCE OUR NEIGHBORS.
>> YEAH, WE DEFINITELY ARE GOING TO DO THIS AS PART OF THIS BUT AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER WE HAVE TO BE REFLECTIVE OF THE GOALS.
I THINK THERE ARE THOROUGHLY VALLEY CITIES THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS EFFORT MORE RECENTLY.
WE CAN DRAW SOME INSPIRATION FROM.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT THE CITIES THAT HAVE DONE THIS SCHEMATICALLY, THE THINGS THAT CIMARRON AND HER TEAM TALKED ABOUT, MORE USE OF GRAPHICS, CLEAR AND OBJECTIVE STANDARDS, I THINK THOSE ARE THE THEMES THAT ANY CITY HAS GONE THROUGH IN THE VALLEY, YOU'LL SEE THE CONSISTENCY THERE IF NOTHING ELSE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? NO? OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND AGAIN WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS DIALOGUE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> HAVE A GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE.
[10. STAFF ITEMS]
>> I DO HAVE TWO, BUT, SIR, GO AHEAD.
>> I JUST WANTED TO REPORT BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON MAY 27TH YOU CONDUCTED PUBLIC HEARING, CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING AND MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL ON THE CITRUS PLAZA II SPECIFIC PLAN AND AT THE RECENT COUNCIL MEETING LAST WEEK THEY, ON JULY 15TH, THEY CONDUCTED THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MADE A DECISION APPROVING THE SPECIFIC PLAN 421, SO I JUST WANTED TO REPORT BACK TO THE COMMISSION ON THAT, THE COUNCIL'S ACTION AND THEY DID EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR THE HARD WORK OF THE COMMISSION AND YOUR THOUGHTFUL ATTENTION, SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT AS WELL.
WAS THERE ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAD CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS ON? I THINK THERE WAS A -- SOME MINOR CHANGES BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE.
[01:00:01]
ONE WAS, ONE COUNCILMEMBER WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS ONGOING APPROPRIATE LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE, SO THERE WAS A RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF TO ADDRESS THAT CONCERN THAT WAS SUPPORTED BY THE COUNCIL, THE MAJORITY COUNCIL TO ADD A REQUIREMENT FOR LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE PLAN TO BE SUBMITTED FOR THE ENTIRETY OF SPECIFIC PLAN BEFORE THE FIRST CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, AND THAT WOULD JUST BE A TOOL THAT STAFF COULD RELY UPON TO MAKE SURE THAT LANDSCAPING IS BEING CONDUCTED IN THE MANNER THAT WAS AGREED UPON.
THERE WAS ALSO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCIL AND YOU, THE COMMISSION, HAD TALKED ABOUT AS WELL IS THE CONNECTABILITY BETWEEN THE TWO PROJECTS, THE EXISTING CITRUS PLAZA SOUTH AND THE PROPOSED, AND SO THE COUNCIL DID WANT TO BE ASSURED THAT THERE WOULD BE A MINIMUM OF ONE CONNECTION POINT, AND SO THAT AMENDMENT WAS ADDED TO THE SPECIFIC PLAN.
AND I THINK THAT WAS IT, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.
SO YEAH, BY AND LARGE THEY APPRECIATED THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU HAD IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY I THINK 60, AND THOSE WILL BE INCORPORATED.
SO THE NEXT STEP IS THE FINAL SPECIFIC PLAN WILL REFLECT YOUR RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS PLUS THE FEW THAT COUNCIL ADDED.
ONCE THAT'S SUBMITTED TO STAFF AND IS CONFIRMED THAT ALL THE AMENDMENTS ARE IN THERE, THEN AT THAT POINT THE ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS WILL BE SIGNED.
LEILA, I THINK YOU HAD A COUPLE OF THINGS.
LAST SATURDAY FROM 8:30 TO 12:00, STAFF WITH CENSUS REPRESENTATIVES AND THE CITY OF INDIO MAYOR AND TWO OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS, WE DID A CENSUS CAR -- THROUGH THE CITY OF INDIO AND ALSO THROUGH COACHELLA.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE MORE ESTABLISHED OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS ARE THE ONES THAT HEAVY LOW PARTICIPATION IN THE UNDERLYING COMPLETION OF THE CENSUS, SO WE WENT THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND MILES PARK AND ALSO THE NORTH INDIO SOUTH OF I-10.
IT WAS WELL RECEIVED BY THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SO THEY REALLY ENJOYED SEEING THIS CAR CARAVAN WITH DECORATIONS.
DURING COVID NOTHING IS GOING ON SO THAT WAS EXCITING FOR THEM.
BUT WOULD I LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO, IF YOU HAVE, PLEASE USE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM TO SPREAD THE WORD.
IF YOU NEED ANY MATERIAL, WE HAVE MATERIAL THAT WE ARE GOING -- WE CAN PROVIDE IT TO YOU, SO JUST EMAIL ME.
ALSO, NIKKI GOMEZ, SHE IS OUR IN-HOUSE GRAPHIC DESIGNER.
SHE CREATED POSTCARDS WHICH WE MAILED TO -- EMAILED LAST WEEK.
I'M ASSUMING SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE RECEIVED IT.
IT HAS MY TELEPHONE NUMBER AND ALSO GUSTAVO GOMEZ A NUMBER SO THAT THEY CAN REACH OUT TO US.
WE ALSO ARE DEPLOYING TEMPORARY SIGNAGE IN TEN STRATEGIC LOCATIONS WITHIN THE CITY THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE.
IT IS DOUBLE SIDED AND HAS SPANISH AND ENGLISH AND WRITING ON IT WITH THE WEBSITE THAT THEY CAN GO.
SO HOPEFULLY THIS BRINGS OUR SELF-RESPOND PARTICIPATION HIGHER.
TODAY OR YESTERDAY I RECEIVED AN EMAIL AND A CHECK.
STILL OUR PARTICIPATING FROM THE CITY IS 48.8%.
THE HIGHEST IN THE VALLEY IS 53%, WHICH IS CATHEDRAL CITY.
I'M ASSUMING PART OF IT IS BECAUSE THE TECHNOLOGY ACCESS FOR THOSE AREAS, THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY ACCESS, SO WE ADDED OUR TELEPHONE NUMBERS SO IF NEEDED, WE CAN WORK WITH THEM WITH THEIR LACK OF TECHNOLOGY ACCESS OR INTERNET ACCESS.
SO THAT'S BASICALLY ALL I HAD TO REPORT TO THE COMMISSION.
LEILA, I WOULD THINK THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD BE OKAY IF YOU SENT US ALL LIKE JPEGS OR THINGS WE COULD PUT OUT ON OUR OWN CONTACTS, ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, WHATEVER WE HAVE BECAUSE WE DO WANT THE COURAGE EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CENSUS.
[01:05:01]
I'D BY MORE THAN HAPPY TO PUT IT OUT ON MINE.IF YOU SEND ME BOTH LANGUAGES, I'LL BE SURE TO PUT IT UP IN BOTH LANGUAGES.
>> ERIC, TWO MORE THINGS REAL FAST.
ONE IS I WANT TO POINT OUT, SO LEILA HAS BEEN THE CITY'S LEAD FOR THE CENSUS.
SHE'S DONE AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WORK, AND I THINK DESPITE ALL HER GOOD EFFORTS, BEING STUCK AT 48%, WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS IS THAT FOR EVERY RESPONSE IT'S $20,000 MORE THAT COULD BE AVAILABLE TO THE CITY OF INDIO THROUGH FEDERAL FUNDING SO IT'S NOT INSIGNIFICANT THE A MONEY AVAILABLE, AND HAVING THE LOWEST RESPONSE RATE BEING THE LARGEST CITY IN THE VALLEY IS NOT GOOD FOR US BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET ACCESS TO THAT FEDERAL FUNDING SO WE GET THE SERVICES, WHETHER IT BE IMPROVING ROADS OR OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE OR DOING MORE IN THE AREA OF HOMELESS PREVENTION AND THINGS LOOK THAT WHERE WE RELY UPON THE STATE FUNDING AND FEDERAL FUNDING.
THAT TIES DIRECTLY BACK TO THE CENSUS.
REALLY DO ENCOURAGE THE COMMISSION TO GET THE WORD OUT THROUGH ALL AVENUES WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO HELP US BECAUSE WE WANT WE GET LEAST OVER 50% FOR OCTOBER WHEN THE COUNT EXTENSION ENDS.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT -- SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, AND I'M SURE THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONERS, WE'LL ALL GET IT OUT ON ANY PLATFORM THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING I WAS GOING TO MENTION, AND I'M GOING TO ASK MAYBE LEILA TO TAKE THE LEAD FOR A FEW SECOND, BUT DON'T MAKE ANY PLANS FOR AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE SUPER BUSY.
LEILA JUST LAID OUT THE SCHEDULE FOR KNIVES MYSELF AND THE CITY MANAGER AND A COUPLE OTHER FOLKS OF WHAT'S COMING TO YOU AND MAYBE LEILA CAN TAKE JUST A MINUTE OR TWO TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT'S COMING YOUR WAY.
SO THE TWO MEETINGS IN AUGUST AND THE TWO MEETINGS IN SEPTEMBER ARE FULL.
WE HAVE BETWEEN FOUR TO FIVE ITEMS, INCLUDING NEW PROJECTS, PROJECT CONSULTATIONS AND NEW ZONE TEXTED AMENDMENT.
THE ZONE TEXTED AMENDMENT WILL BE BASICALLY THE NEW HOUSING, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO ALSO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF FOR THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED IN A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE, SO MAYBE WE DO SOME TYPE OF AUTOMATIC EXTENSION.
SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE COMING BEFORE YOU.
BUT I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE IF YOU HAVE FULL AGENDAS.
I TRIED TO MAKE IT TWO PROJECTS IN EACH AGENDA, BUT THE PRESSURE FROM THE APPLICANT AND TO GET THINGS MOVE ON, AND MAYBE MAKE IT EXCITING FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION SO YOU GUYS HAVE DIFFERENT PROJECTS IN ONE NIGHT, SO WE HAD TO MAKE IT ANY WAY THAT THERE ARE FOUR PROJECTS EACH NIGHT.
AND IT IS AMAZING THAT WE STILL HAVE THAT MUCH WORK AND THAT MANY INTERESTS IN INDIO.
SO BEING BUSINESS FRIENDLY, LET'S GET THEM TO GO THROUGH FASTER.
AND THEN AFTER SEPTEMBER STILL WE WILL HAVE MORE PROJECTS COMING BEFORE YOU, WHICH WILL INCLUDE MORE COMMERCIAL.
BUT IT IS EXCITING FOR ME AND MY TEAM AND ALSO I'M GOING TO TALK ON BEHALF KEVIN, TOO, THAT HE IS EXCITED TOO.
HE SENT TO IT CITY MANAGER AND EVERYTHING.
AND I'M LIKE, OH, MY GOD, NOW THE PRESSURE IS TRULY ON ME.
>> AND THE TEAM TO MAKE SURE WE STAND BY OUR WORD.
BUT KIDDING ASIDE, IT IS EXCITING.
MY TEAM'S HELP AND ALSO KEVIN'S LEADERSHIP AND ALSO THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S GUIDANCE FOR THESE COUPLE MONTHS.
I'M SURE I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE PLANNING COMMISSION.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE CONTINUING TO COME FORWARD, THAT WE HAVE NEW AND EXCITING THINGS FOR OUR CITY, AND YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE DOING THIS BY ZOOM SO EVEN IF YOU HAVE A ACCELERATION, YOU CAN STILL GET ON FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES OR A COUPLE OF HOURS AND DO THIS BUT EVERYBODY'S OPINION IS IMPORTANT, AND THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR CITY FOR YEARS AND DECADES TO COME, SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE DOING THIS AT THIS TIME, ESPECIALLY WITH THE COVID-19 AND THE WAY THE ECONOMY IS.
[01:10:01]
ARE THERE ANY MORE COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS AT THIS TIME? NO? ALL RIGHT.IF THERE ARE NO MORE COMMENTS, THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:10 P.M., AND OUR NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, VIRTUAL MEETING SET FOR AUGUST 12, THE 2020 AT 6:00 P.M.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO STAFF AND ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND EVERYBODY WHO WAS ON TODAY.
STAY SAFE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.