Historic Preservation Commission

City of Fresno City Hall 2600 Fresno Street Fresno, CA 93721 Meeting Minutes - Final Monday, September 25, 2023 6:00 PM Regular Meeting In Person and/or Electronic City Hall, Room 2165 Historic Preservation Commission Chair - Jason Hatwig, LEED, AP, BD Vice Chair - James Sponsler Commissioner - Christopher Rocha Commissioner - Paul Halajian, AIA Commissioner - Don Simmons, PhD. M.A. Commissioner - Julie Federico M.A. Commissioners - Elizabeth Laval Staff: Jennifer Clark, Director; Janice Monroe, M.A. II Myrna Rivas, Administrative Clerk Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final September 25, 2023 Commission THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION WELCOMES YOU TO ROOM 2165A, LOCATED IN CITY HALL, 2ND FLOOR, 2600 FRESNO STREET, FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93721. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – 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. Public participation during Fresno City Historic Preservation Commission meetings is always encouraged and can occur in one of the two following ways: 1. Participate In Person: Room 2165, City Hall, 2nd Floor, 2600 Fresno Street, Fresno, CA 93721 a. To speak during a Commission meeting in person: You may approach the speaker podium upon the Chair’s call for public comment. 2. Participate Remotely via Zoom using the following link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cAUGlBe2SYygn3isiCuy4w a. The above link will allow you to register in advance for remote participation in the meeting via the Zoom platform. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing additional details about joining the meeting. b. To speak during a Commission meeting while attending remotely in the Zoom application, click on the icon labeled “Participants” at the bottom of the screen. Then select “Raise Hand” at the bottom of the Participants window. Your digital hand will now be raised. You will be asked to “unmute” when your name is called to speak. You will not be visible via video and there will be no opportunity to share your screen. All public speakers will have up to 3 minutes to address the Commission pursuant to Rule No. 13 of the Historic Preservation Commission Bylaws of the City of Fresno (available in the City Clerk’s Office). VIEWING PLANNING MEETINGS (non-participatory) – For your convenience, there are ways to view Historic Preservation Commission meetings live: 1. Community Media Access Collaborative website: https://cmac.tv/ 2. Cable Television: Comcast Channel 96 and AT&T Channel 99 Should any of these viewing methods listed above experience technical difficulties, the Commission meeting will continue uninterrupted. Commission meetings will only be paused to address verifiable technical difficulties for all users participating via Zoom or in the Chambers. The City of Fresno’s goal is to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act City of Fresno Page 2 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final September 25, 2023 Commission (ADA). Anyone requiring reasonable ADA accommodations, including sign language interpreters, or other reasonable accommodations such as language translation, should contact the office of the City Clerk at (559) 621-7650 or clerk@fresno.gov. To help ensure availability of these services, you are advised to make your request a minimum of 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting. City of Fresno Page 3 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final September 25, 2023 Commission I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Hatwig called meeting to order at 6:00pm. Also present were Jennifer Clark, Lisha Chen, Janice Monroe, and Myrna Rivas. Present 7 - Chair Jason Hatwig, Vice Chair James W Sponsler, Commissioner Christopher Rocha, Commissioner Paul Halajian, Commissioner Don Simmons, Commissioner Julie Federico, and Commissioner Elizabeth Laval II. PROCEDURES - PROCEDIMIENTOS - KEV SAB LAJ Procedures were read aloud by Chair Hatwig at 6:00 P.M. III. APPROVE MEETING MINUTES III-A ID 23-1419 AUGUST 28, 2023 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 6:02 P.M. On motion of Commissioner Rocha, seconded by Commissioner Laval,the above MINUTES were APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 7 - Chair Hatwig, Vice Chair Sponsler, Commissioner Rocha, Commissioner Halajian, Commissioner Simmons, Commissioner Federico and Commissioner Laval IV. APPROVE AGENDA 6:03 P.M. On motion of Commissioner Simmons, seconded by Commissioner Halajian,the above Agenda was APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 7 - Chair Hatwig, Vice Chair Sponsler, Commissioner Rocha, Commissioner Halajian, Commissioner Simmons, Commissioner Federico and Commissioner Laval V. CONSENT CALENDAR 6:04 P.M. On motion of Vice Chair Sponsler, seconded by Commissioner Rocha, City of Fresno Page 4 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final September 25, 2023 Commission that the above CONSENT CALENDAR be APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 7 - Chair Hatwig, Vice Chair Sponsler, Commissioner Rocha, Commissioner Halajian, Commissioner Simmons, Commissioner Federico and Commissioner Laval V-A ID 23-1237 REVIEW AND ADOPT CITY’S CLG 2019-2020 ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO FMC 12-1606(b)(16). V-B ID 23-664 REVIEW AND ADOPT CITY’S REVISED CLG 2020-2021 ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO FMC 12-1606(b)(16). V-C ID 23-665 REVIEW AND ADOPT CITY’S REVISED CLG 2021-2022 ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO FMC 12-1606(b)(16). VI. CONTINUED MATTERS N/A VII. COMMISSION ITEMS VII-A ID 23-1421 CONSULTATION REGARDING THE TEMPORARY REMOVAL OF HISTORIC “G” SIGN LOCATED ATOP OLD GUARANTEE BUILDING (HP#167), LOCATED AT 1177 FULTON MALL, AND THE OPTIONS FOR REPAIR / RESTORATION. 6:04 P.M. Clark introduced Christine Miktarian (applicant) to discuss plans to temporarily remove, re-engineer and restore the "G" sign located at 1177 Fulton Mall. Miktarian reported scaffolding was recently installed to inspect the sign, which originally lit up and rotated. In recent years, cables were installed to hold it in place. Bad weather and strong winds caused the sign to move and put tension and stress on the cables. This is a safety concern, according to Miktarian, especially now with winter approaching. She reported they will be contracting with the company the originally created the sign and our plans are to reverse engineer, refresh and reinstall the sign. They will report to the Commission as more information becomes available. The Commissioners discussed their concerns regarding the sign, like timeline, expectations and public relations. Miktarian expected to have full functionality with new lighting and be complete in a year. Hatwig requested monthly updates be reported to the Commission. City of Fresno Page 5 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final September 25, 2023 Commission No public comments were made. VII-B ID 23-1422 CONSULTATION REGARDING CONDITION AND POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR DALE BROTHERS COFFEE CAN SIGN (HP #247) LOCATED AT 1420 H STREET. 6:15 P.M. Halajian recused himself from this discussion item. Clark shared a letter she received from attorney Todd Wynkoop, representing J.P. Maroot regarding the Dale Bros Coffee Can sign. The property owner has advised the Commission that the sign cannot be repaired, and he would like to begin discussions on removing it and storing it away. The letter expressed safety concerns that the sign was falling apart and he would like to take it down before winter. The applicant was not in attendance. Hatwig agreed the sign is dilapidated with a rotting wooden frame and that the sign is in close proximity to the public right of way. He suggested a City led inspection to see what is salvageable. Commissioners discussed having the sign inspected and repaired. They would like to begin discussions on possible solutions, such as economic incentives or Measure "P" funding (as a culture item) adding it is culturally "Fresno" and a part of the landscape added Clark. Rocha agreed that the property owner should take time and investigate other options. The Commission would like a report back in 30 days at October's meeting. There was no public comment. VII-C ID 23-236 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS UPDATE ON DOWNTOWN LIGHT FIXTURES 6:28 P.M. Clark introduced Scott Mozier (Public Works Director) who updated the Commission on Downtown light fixtures (also known as Post Top decorative light fixtures) and the challenges they pose. Mozier reported that the locations vary, but vandalism activity increased when the pandemic started City of Fresno Page 6 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final September 25, 2023 Commission in 2020. The lights have been knocked down, punched into and ran over so that copper wiring is exposed, removed and sold. Options to prevent vandalism were presented by Mozier and running electrical wires on the top of lights was shown to be most effective. Funding has been provided by the City Council for this purpose and is a high priority for the department. Commissioners discussed options for these lights, exploring topics such as solar for walking trails and the San Joaquin River parkway, battery storage for winter conditions, locking aesthetically pleasing pole boxes, and changes in height of the posts. No public comments were made. VII-D ID 23-402 WORKSHOP ON VETERAN’S MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 6:53 P.M. Clark spoke on concerns that have been raised regarding the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, and asked Joseph Portale (PARCS Dept.) to update the Commission on current repairs and maintenance. Portale outlined current repairs on the Auditorium, reporting that the first floor bathrooms and dressing rooms are being outfitted with new fixtures and paint. He added that new flooring in the foyer and lobby (sample carpets shown) as well as new paint. He reported on future projects which include a structural integrity study, hazardous materials/asbestos study, accessibility study, maintenance on mechanical systems and fire alarms to make sure they are running correctly. Commissioners commented on flooring selections and colors. Clark advised to refer to archived or historic photographs for help in selecting colors and flooring. Sponsler recommended Portale not overlook the landscape while making the improvements. No public comments were made. VII-E ID 23-1319 UPDATE ON REGULAR MONTHLY TOPICS: 1. STAFF UPDATES 2. ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATE 3. NAMING SUBCOMMITTEE 4. PLAQUE SUBCOMMITTEE City of Fresno Page 7 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final September 25, 2023 Commission 7:05 P.M. Clark introduced Dr. Lisha Chen, Historic Preservation Specialist. Chen has a wealth of experience and education in architecture, historic preservation, and community engagement. She will be heading this meeting for the Commission in January 2024. Clark reported permit applications continued to come in steadily for the for the month of September. She and Dr. Chen went to the Fresno Water Tower, during recent activity. Dr. Chen described a building foundation that was found during construction at the Water Tower job site. Comparing aerial photographs, Chen reported being able to show that this building was demolished sometime in the 1950's. Staff was able to document and pull some artifacts from the site. Laval has photographic evidence of the building that was once standing. Hatwig asked for updates from the subcommittees, and commented on a historic residence, the Hopkins Home, that has installed new vinyl windows throughout the home. He went on to saw that unfortunately the historic windows were removed and destroyed. The Commissioners commented on the need to look into placing a window ordinance. Clark agreed that advising local larger window retailers of the requirements for historic window replacement would be beneficial. Naming subcommittee reported that the item for Fresno - Klette Medical Center was approved by the City Council and the National Farmworkers Item will be presented to City Council on the 28th. Sponsler also reported that several properties that are being converted to housing were researched that the new names are not controversial. The Plaque Subcommittee also met to discuss ways to bring the costs down, the standard size 7"x10" in bronze will be $309, half the cost previously quoted. VIII. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT N/A IX. UNSCHEDULED ITEMS 7:24 P.M. City of Fresno Page 8 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final September 25, 2023 Commission IX. - A. Members of the Commission 7:24 P.M. Sponser reported he will be taking local students on a walking tour to discuss our history on Saturday. Simmons asked for an update on the Garcia Adobe building, Osage Apartments, and the Abacus project. IX. - B. Staff 7:25 P.M. N/A IX. - C. General Public 7:26 P.M. A member of the public asked the Commission for advice on an advertisement mural her complany would like to place on an exterior wall of a local historic building. She asked to be on next month's agenda to request approval for project. She provided the Commission a handout for future discussion. No other public comments were made. X. NEXT MEETING 7:30 P.M. Chair Hatwig announced the next meeting will be held on October 23, 2023 XI. ADJOURNMENT Hatwig adjourned the meeting at 7:31 P.M. City of Fresno Page 9