Historic Preservation Commission

City of Fresno City Hall 2600 Fresno Street Fresno, CA 93721 Meeting Minutes - Final Monday, May 23, 2022 6:00 PM Regular Meeting In Person/Electronic Room 2165N (Conference Room A) Historic Preservation Commission Chair - Jason Hatwig, LEED, AP, BD C Vice Chair - Robin Goldbeck Commissioners: Christopher Rocha, Paul Halajian, AIA; Don Simmons, PhD; M.A.; James Sponsler; Staff: Jennifer Clark, Director; Mary Raterman-Doidge, Senior Deputy City Attorney; Alicia C. Gonzales, Historic Preservation Specialist; Janice Monroe, M.A. II Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final May 23, 2022 Commission PUBLIC ADVISORY THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND CITY HALL WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT A LIMITED CAPACITY. THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION WELCOMES YOU TO ROOM 2165A, LOCATED IN CITY HALL, 2ND FLOOR, 2600 FRESNO STREET, FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93721. The meeting can also be viewed live at 6:00 P.M. on Comcast Channel 96 and AT&T channel 99. Chambers, located in City Hall Room 2165A, are open for public participation. Members of the public are encouraged to participate electronically because of reduced capacity of seating in the Chambers to allow for social distancing. Masks will be required for the vaccinated and unvaccinated. Pursuant to the Executive Order, and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in the Commission meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office, 559-621-7650 within 48 hours of the meeting. PUBLIC COMMENT The following options are available for members of the public who want to attend and /or address the Historic Preservation Commission: 1. eComment at https://fresno.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. a) eComments is a tool for citizens to use to make comments on agenda items. It will be closed at the start of the meeting and will be a part of the official record. The User Agreement and Procedures document for eComment can be accessed by the URL https://www.fresno.gov/cityclerk/ b) eComments will be a maximum of 450 words. OR 2. You are invited to a Zoom webinar. a) If you would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the meeting remotely from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android device. City of Fresno Page 2 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final May 23, 2022 Commission Please use URL: https://zoom.us/j/95457849931 b) Those addressing the Commission must state their name and address for the record. OR 3. Join by Phone a) Dial: US: 1 669 900 9128 Enter Webinar ID: 954 5784 9931 b) Those addressing the Commission must state their name and address for the record. OR 4. Email a) Attendees may also email comments to Alicia.Gonzales@fresno.gov to be read during the meeting. Please include the agenda date and item number you wish to speak on in the subject line of your email (e.g., January 25, 2021 - Item A). And, please include your name and address for the record at the top of the body of your email. b) Emails are not to exceed 150 words. c) All comments received will be distributed to the Commission prior and during the meeting and will be a part of the official record. Any interested person may appear at the public hearing and present written testimony, or speak in favor or against the matters scheduled on the agenda. If you challenge these matters in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised in oral or written testimony at or before the close of the hearing. The City of Fresno thanks you in advance for taking all precautions to prevent spreading COVID-19 virus. City of Fresno Page 3 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final May 23, 2022 Commission I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL 6:01pm Commissioner Simmons joined meeting at 6:07pm Also present were Director of Planning and Development, Jennifer Clark, Senior Deputy City Attorney Mary Raterman-Doidge, Historic Preservation Specialist, Alicia Gonzales, and Management Analyst II, Janice Monroe. Present 5 - Vice Chair Robin Goldbeck, Commissioner Christopher Rocha, Commissioner Paul Halajian, Commissioner Don Simmons, and Commissioner James W Sponsler Absent 1 - Chair Jason Hatwig II. PROCEDURES - PROCEDIMIENTOS - KEV SAB LAJ For each matter considered by the Commission, there will first be a staff presentation, followed by a presentation from the project applicant. The Commissioners will then have the opportunity to ask questions of Staff and Applicant before opening to Public. Testimony from supporters of the project will then be taken, followed by testimony from those in opposition. Staff may provide a summation, if necessary. The applicant will have the right to a final rebuttal presentation prior to closing the public hearing, followed by consideration of the item and action, if any, by the Commission. In accordance with section 13 of Article 2 of the Historic Preservation Commission Bylaws governing length of public debate, all public testimony from those in support and in opposition of the project will be limited to three minutes per person. All public testimony must be presented to the Commission at the podium (in person / electronically). Any testimony that references race, religion, ethnicity, economic status, national origin, or any other classification protected under state or federal law in a derogatory manner shall be deemed irrelevant and will not be considered by the Commission in making its determinations. If you challenge these matters in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised in oral or written testimony or before the close of the hearing. III. APPROVE MEETING MINUTES III-A ID 22-717 April 25, 2022, Historic Preservation Commission Regular Meeting City of Fresno Page 4 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final May 23, 2022 Commission Minutes. 6:04pm On motion of Commissioner Rocha, seconded by Commissioner Sponsler, that the above MINUTES were APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 4 - Vice Chair Goldbeck, Commissioner Rocha, Commissioner Halajian and Commissioner Sponsler Absent: 2 - Chair Hatwig and Commissioner Simmons IV. APPROVE AGENDA 6:05pm Director Clark informed the Commission that item VII-A (22-816) was continued and would be re-noticed to include all applicable addresses, noting that it would be heard at the next regular meeting (6/27/22) unless the Commission decided to hold a special meeting. On motion of Commissioner Sponsler, seconded by Commissioner Rocha,the AGENDA was APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 4 - Vice Chair Goldbeck, Commissioner Rocha, Commissioner Halajian and Commissioner Sponsler Absent: 2 - Chair Hatwig and Commissioner Simmons V. CONSENT CALENDAR N/A VI. CONTINUED MATTERS 6:07pm VI-A ID 22-817 HEARING TO CONSIDER AND MAKE FINDINGS on application B22-03490 for the reroof to the Ed & Chrissie Riggins Home, a Contributing Resource to the Wilson Island Historic District located at 655 E. Pine Avenue (APN 45111107). STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) take City of Fresno Page 5 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final May 23, 2022 Commission the following actions: 1. ADOPT finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15331/Class 31 of the California Environmental Quality Act guidelines 2. APPROVE: Application B22-03490 for the removal and reroof the Ed & Chrissie Riggins Home a Contributing Resource to the Wilson Island Historic District located at 655 E. Pine Avenue (APN 45111107) subject to conditions. 6:07pm Elliot Balch (property owner) was present for questions. Balch described the damage to the home and the logic in his color choice, expressing urgency due to the high cost of alternative insurance. He reported that his scope of work also includes adding solar to the home. Commissioner Goldbeck asked about the original material but Balch & Staff were unable to identify records to confirm. No public comment was offered. On motion of Commissioner Simmons, seconded by Commissioner Halajian, that the above Action Item be APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 5 - Vice Chair Goldbeck, Commissioner Rocha, Commissioner Halajian, Commissioner Simmons and Commissioner Sponsler Absent: 1 - Chair Hatwig VII. COMMISSION ITEMS VII-A ID 22-816 CONTINUED TO June 27, 2022 HEARING TO CONSIDER AND MAKE FINDINGS on application P22-01337 for the installation of a sign to HP# 160 Sun Stereo located at 736 Fulton St. (APN46825608). STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) take the following actions: City of Fresno Page 6 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final May 23, 2022 Commission 1. ADOPT a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Sections 15331/Class 31 of the California Environmental Quality Act guidelines 2. APPROVE: Application P22-01337 for the installation of a sign to HP# 160 Sun Stereo located at 736 Fulton St. (APN46825608) with conditions. 6:18pm VII-B ID 22-818 STAFF UPDATE on Regular Monthly Topics: 1. Current & Proposed Historic District Updates 2. Demolition/Repair Updates 3. Economic Incentives 6:18pm 1. Gonzales reported the history, current status, and criteria met for the Arts & Culture, Germantown, Kearney Boulevard, and L Street proposed historic districts. Director Clark explained Staff's process of addressing a few proposed districts each month. Commissioners asked about expanding boundaries of the proposed L Street and Germantown districts while doing the updated surveys and application process. Staff acknowledged broadening to included additional contributing resources is possible when a district comes back to the Commission for update. 2. No updates on new or regularly monitored sites 3. Mills Act applications closed 5/1/22. Mitigation Act applications are currently open. VII-C ID 22-761 WORKSHOP on the deferred maintenance paint and roof repairs to NRHP HP#1 Fresno Old Water Tower addressed at 2444 Fresno St (46609301T). 6:28pm City of Fresno Page 7 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final May 23, 2022 Commission Nathan Sanchez (Facilities representative) & Edward Chinevere (PARCS representative) were present for questions. Commissioner Goldbeck asked about the anticipated timeline for the project. Sanchez anticipates mid-June for the maintenance and additional time for the roof repair that they recently noticed. VIII. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT N/A IX. UNSCHEDULED ITEMS 6:31pm IX. - A. Members of the Commission Commissioner Sponsler reported recently attending the National Alliance of Preservation Commission (NACP) webinar titled Preservation Justice: Making Your Local Government Preservation Program More Equitable and what he learned. Commissioner Goldbeck voiced interest in watching the recording. Goldbeck reported recently attending the recent Bike Through History event in the Hitching Post Proposed District, where she gave presentations and noticed interest shown from the public. IX. - B. Staff Gonzales spoke about the upcoming Pub Quiz event at the Modernist Craft Cocktail Bar (5/25/22 at 6pm). Director Clark added that in addition the to the HPC, Zach Urban Solutions would be co-sponsoring the event. Commissioners reported interest in competing against each other. Director Clark also noted the increased plan intake facing the Planning Department, occupying a large amount of Staff's time and that there is hope the upcoming budget will assist with HPC needs. IX. - C. General Public N/A City of Fresno Page 8 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final May 23, 2022 Commission X. NEXT MEETING 6/27/22 XI. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Goldbeck adjourned the meeting at 6:37pm City of Fresno Page 9