DATE OF MEETING: May 16, 2002

TIME OF MEETING: 4:30 p.m.

PLACE OF MEETING: Cotati City Hall, Council Chambers

201 W. Sierra Avenue

Chairman Leys called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.

Committee Members Present: Draper, Kagan, LeDoux, Rock, Leys

Committee Members Absent: Davis

Staff Present: Woltering, Brisbine

A. For the Regular meeting on May 2, 2002

p. 3, paragraph 6: Vice Chairman Rock amended his comments to include the following:

He stressed the importance of securing structural engineering data to demonstrate the building's ability to support the weight of photovoltaic panels on the roof. His concern was primarily due to the age of the building.

It was moved by Committee Member Draper to approve the minutes of May 2, 2002, as amended. Second by Committee Member Kagan.

Yes: 4 Noes: 0 Absent: 1 (Davis) Abstain: 1 (LeDoux)

There were no changes to the agenda.

AP# 144-250-017

Planning Director Woltering presented a brief staff report.

Michael Leighton, LPA Architects, identified himself as the project manager and represented the application and reviewed the outstanding issues.

The carport design was presented in the packets as Exhibit C. Mr. Leighton said that of the designs represented in the exhibit, they are looking towards utilizing Model SP with the single post feature. He anticipated one grouping to accommodate nine vehicles, and maybe some additional spaces for patrol cars.

In response to an inquiry from the Committee about retrofitting the carports with solar panels (laminates) in the future, City Manager Shaddox explained that the structures are designed to accommodate various snow loads. The proposed solar panels weigh approximately two pounds per square foot. Consequently, the project team would select a snow load carrying capacity comparable to the weight of the solar panels.

He noted that it is not planned to install solar panels on the carports as a part of the initial construction, but that they are attempting to assure that the carports could be retrofitted with solar panels in the future.

In response to an inquiry from Vice Chairman Rock about the different weight distribution of solar panels vs. snow, City Manager Shaddox said that the weight of solar panels would be evenly distributed much like snow. However, the plan check process would include an evaluation of the structural stability.

City Manager Shaddox requested the Design Review Committee's input on the color of the carports.

Chairman Leys said that the color and detailing of the carports should tie into the police facility building. He said that was the type of detail that was requested at the last meeting.

Michael Leighton continued his presentation. He said that the perimeter fence around the facility would be chain link, but that no color has been selected for the vinyl coating. He referred to a site plan to demonstrate that the carports will be screened from view by the police facility building.

Committee Member LeDoux agreed that the carports wouldn't be seen because they're behind the building and against the fence.

Committee Member Draper also agreed and said that the carports are utilitarian. She did suggest, however, that the carports include a dark trim.

In response to an inquiry from Committee Member LeDoux, City Manager Shaddox said that a complete photovoltaic system would be installed on the community building as a part of the initial construction and that the solar panels on the carports will be deferred.

Mr. Leighton distributed a revised drawing for the storage area addition (identified as exhibit G). He said that the addition had been redesigned to better blend with the primary police building as recommended at the last meeting.

Committee Member Kagan requested and received information from Mr. Leighton about the actual use and size of the storage space. Committee Member Kagan stated that because there are no dimensions provided on the plan (exhibit G) and a very limited view of the addition as it relates to the main building, he found it very difficult to evaluate.

Vice Chairman Rock requested and received information on the proposed window detailing as illustrated in exhibit E. Basically, Mr. Leighton said that the plan calls for 2 x 4.5-inch aluminum framing with a concrete sill added.

Committee Member LeDoux added that according to what is shown on exhibit E, it looked to him that the plan achieves a window depth similar to City Hall.

Committee Member Draper commented that the proposed lighting for the wall-mounted signage depicted in Exhibit B appears more high-tech than craftsman. There was no resulting recommendation for change.

Comments:

Committee Member Kagan said that the architect has answered the Committee's questions to his satisfaction. Both Committee Member Draper and Committee Member LeDoux agreed.

Planning Director Woltering reviewed his understanding of the Design Review Committee's comments on the outstanding issues as follows:

The Committee accepted the proposed signage for the west wall of the Police facility and the exterior lighting fixture (exhibits A and B).

The Committee accepted Model SP (exhibit C), the single post design, with the addition of dark trim.

In addition, it was the desire of the Committee that the carport structure be designed to accept a snow load weight that is comparable to the weight of a uni-solar roofing system (exhibit D).

The Committee accepted the revised storage facility plan that was submitted at the meeting, and identified as exhibit G. Also, the storage facility addition is required to include perimeter landscaping.

The Committee accepted the window detail illustrated in Exhibit E.

The Committee found the proposed photovoltaic module (exhibit F) acceptable with the understanding that engineering calcs demonstrate the building's ability to support the equipment. This concern was primarily because of the building's age.

Regarding the visual impact, the Committee viewed a videotape taken from each vantagepoint surrounding the site. Most were satisfied that the equipment would not be a negative visual impact to the area.

Vice Chairman Rock stated his opinion that the actual plans for the photovoltaic system to be mounted on the multi-purpose room should be reviewed as a part of this project. He said that he is still concerned about the visual impact. Concerning the carports, he wanted to know how they will be tied together and how will the electricity be distributed.

It was moved by Committee Member Draper to grant Final Design Review approval for a revised plan for a 11,000 +/-square foot police facility on West Sierra Avenue behind City Hall (formerly Cotati Middle School site) with the comments and conditions as outlined by Planning Director Woltering. Second by Committee Member Kagan.

Yes: 3 Noes: 2 (LeDoux, Rock) Absent: 0 Abstain: 0

Committee Member LeDoux said that he did not agree with the conclusions on the issue of the carports, specifically the addition of trim. Further, he stated his opinion that the motion came from the Planning Director and not the Design Review Committee. The motions, he said, should always come from the Committee. He said that he is in favor of the Police Facility project, but voted against it based on a procedural issue.

Committee Member Draper said that she included Planning Director Woltering's summary of the Committee's comments only to avoid repeating them. She had agreed with his summary.

Planning Director Woltering said that he had summarized the Committee's comments only to be helpful. The points were always open to further discussion among the Committee members if they disagreed with anything.

Vice Chairman Rock agreed with Committee Member LeDoux's comments and said that he also does not care for the carports. He was not satisfied with the information or the level of detail provided and believed that the Committee was being requested to grant final approval to a conceptual plan that the architect presented.

Committee Member Kagan expressed his opinion that the presentation did not include all of the information that would have been required of an outside developer. He had experienced a consistent problem with the lack of dimensions, and the representative's inability to answer specific questions such as those about building height and tower details.

In an effort to address some of the concerns about procedural matters, it was the consensus of the Design Review Committee to have a discussion item included on their next agenda.

Planning Director Woltering directed attention to the information on an upcoming Green Materials Conference provided in the Design Review Committee's packets.

In response to an inquiry from Chairman Leys, Planning Director Woltering confirmed that an annexation priority study is included in the upcoming budget.

Committee Member Draper had a question about access to the new subdivision on top of the hill overlooking Thomas Page School. Planning Director Woltering said that the County has approved the Final Map, but that he would find out about the access.

Also in response to an inquiry from the Committee, Planning Director Woltering said that the self-storage facility under construction at the corner of Madrone Avenue and Gravenstein Highway has not been accepted or finalled. He said that staff is not satisfied with the actual units and is working with the property owner. Updates to the situation will be provided.

Chairman Leys adjourned the meeting at 5:55 p.m.

Submitted by:

Kathleen Brisbine, Administrative Secretary