Historic Preservation Commission

City of Fresno City Hall 2600 Fresno Street Fresno, CA 93721 Meeting Minutes - Final Monday, June 24, 2024 6:00 PM Regular Meeting In Person and/or Electronic City Hall, Council Chambers Historic Preservation Commission Chair - James Sponsler Vice Chair - Jason Hatwig Commissioner - Paul Halajian Commissioner - Don Simmons Commissioner - Julie Federico Commissioner - Elizabeth Laval Commissioner - Sarah E. Johnston Staff: Jennifer Clark, Director; Lisha Chen, Historic Preservation Specialist; Janice Monroe, M.A. II; Myrna Rivas, Administrative Clerk Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final June 24, 2024 Commission THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION WELCOMES YOU TO COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 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: Council Chambers, 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 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION 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 (ADA). Anyone requiring reasonable ADA accommodations, including sign language City of Fresno Page 2 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final June 24, 2024 Commission 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 June 24, 2024 Commission I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Vice Chair Hatwig called meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Also present were Jennifer Clark, Lisha Chen, Janice Monroe, and Ashley Atkinson. Present 6 - Vice Chair Jason Hatwig, Commissioner Paul Halajian, Commissioner Don Simmons, Commissioner Julie Federico, Commissioner Elizabeth Laval, and Commissioner Sarah Johnston Absent 1 - Chair James W Sponsler II. PROCEDURES - PROCEDIMIENTOS - KEV SAB LAJ 6:01pm Vice Chair Hatwig read the procedures aloud. III. APPROVE MEETING MINUTES III-A ID 24-874 April 22, 2024 Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes 6:02pm On motion of Commissioner Laval, seconded by Commissioner Halajian, that the above Action Item be APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 6 - Vice Chair Hatwig, Commissioner Halajian, Commissioner Simmons, Commissioner Federico, Commissioner Laval and Commissioner Johnston Absent: 1 - Chair Sponsler IV. APPROVE AGENDA 6:03pm On motion of Commissioner Laval, seconded by Commissioner Simmons,the above MINUTES were APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote: City of Fresno Page 4 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final June 24, 2024 Commission Aye: 6 - Vice Chair Hatwig, Commissioner Halajian, Commissioner Simmons, Commissioner Federico, Commissioner Laval and Commissioner Johnston Absent: 1 - Chair Sponsler V. CONSENT CALENDAR N/A VI. CONTINUED MATTERS N/A VII. COMMISSION ITEMS VII-A ID 24-838 Staff Update on 5-year Mills Act inspections 1. Next steps regarding compliance of contracts 2. Explanation of tax reduction 6:03pm Chen made a presentation on the background of the Mills Act, the current status of contracts after 5-year inspections, and the 4 compliance levels (including the proposed alteration of contracts after inspections). She went on to explain the complaints some property owners have had understanding the amount of benefits received. Chen talked about the County's property valuation system and the equation needed to compute benefits. She reported to Commissioners that education is the only thing they could offer at the local level for property owners in contract because program terms were out of their hands. VII-B ID 24-835 Monthly update on the Jose Garcia Brewer Adobe Building (HP #227 located at 5901 W. Shaw (APN 51004038). 6:11pm Chen reported on the current status of the property and site visits since last Commission meeting. Property owner, Mazen Alhindi, was present online, but due to technical difficulties was unable to communicate. City of Fresno Page 5 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final June 24, 2024 Commission Hatwig explained the importance of the Architectural Review Subcommittee meeting to discuss with the owner the expectations of the Commission and requested that he attend the meeting in person next month. VII-C ID 24-827 Update from the Historical Preservation Month Planning Subcommittee on May’s events 6:18pm Commissioner Laval talked about the Kickoff Event at the Historic Archive on Kern that started Historic Preservation Month and the positive turnout. Vice Chair Hatwig reported on his positive experience with the two Historic Pub Quiz events and the special historic beer he and local breweries produced. Commissioner Hatwig talked about the tour he guided of the adaptive reuse at Sun Stereo. VII-D ID 24-841 Update from the Commissioners & Staff on the 2024 California Preservation Conference 6:23pm Chen stated the most important topics she witnessed from the recent conference were focusing on adaptive reuse, integrating new housing in historic contexts, and preserving naturally occurring affordable housing. She presented 3 strategies for success: financial incentives, regulatory flexibility, and fostering collaboration. Chen discussed the importance of recording/reporting the interior features of buildings, potential updates to the information in the GIS mapping system, and community engagement. Johnston recounted learning the differences between Chinese, Japanese, and Taiwanese features in communities. She voiced appreciation for programs like video walking tours and oral histories in these communities and noticed that all 3 were often centered around food and churches. She also stated these districts were tourist draws. She ended her summarization with pointing out there were different ways of finding importance than the City of Fresno Page 6 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final June 24, 2024 Commission architectural characteristics, such as researching what happened at a location. VII-E ID 24-836 UPDATE on Regular Monthly Topics: 1. Staff Updates 2. Architectural Subcommittee Updates 3. Plaque Design Subcommittee Update 6:32pm Chen reported there were fifty six entitlements and nine 106 reviews in the last month. She reported on updates from recent projects that came to the Commission and Architectural Review Subcommittee. She also noted the progress from Subcommittee meetings on the monument/plaques at Storyland (pirate ship) and recent National Farm Workers site (HP# 316). Commissioner Federico reported a property owner who was interested in a plaque at their historic home. Hatwig suggested they meet with the Plaque Subcommittee. Vice Chair Hatwig reported on recent opening of the Armenian homes. Commissioner Simmons noted his gratitude for the resolution of the project, noting the persistence on accuracy with windows. He cited conversations over the last 17 years on the project and the way this project was an example of affordable housing in historic properties. He concluded with thanking Council Member Arias and District 3 for seeing the project through to the end. VIII. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT 6:39pm Vice Chair Hatwig noted this would be Commissioner Simmon's final meeting after 18 years of valuable service to the Commission and wanted to show his gratitude. Commissioner Halajian reported a story from a symposium and compared Simmons to a tribal leader. City of Fresno Page 7 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final June 24, 2024 Commission Simmons recounted how and when he became involved in the Commission in 2006. He described obstacles over the years and how he saw them as a badge of honor. He talked about the people he worked with, the information he has learned, and his passion for adding more Historic Districts. IX. UNSCHEDULED ITEMS IX. - A. Members of the Commission 6:48pm Commissioner Halajian announced his upcoming seat on the board for the California Preservation Foundation. IX. - B. Staff 6:49pm Director Clark thanked Commissioner Simmons for his professionalism, care, and time while on the Commission. Clark introduced Ashley Atkinson as the new Assistant Director of Development, offering a brief background and a summary of her new role. Atkinson then introduced herself, recounted her interest in old buildings and her interest in working together in the future. IX. - C. General Public N/A X. NEXT MEETING July 22, 2024 XI. ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Hatwig adjourned the meeting at 6:52pm. City of Fresno Page 8