Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Thursday, November 12, 2015 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm 580 PACIFIC STREET, COUNCIL CHAMBERS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Barlow, Hawley, O'Brien, O'Neil, Petty, Denley, Smith-Crivello Commissioners Absent: None Staff Members Present: Principal Planner Caraker, Recording Secretary Salameh CALL TO ORDER Chair Barlow called the meeting to order at 4:02 pm. CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 1. October 8, 2015 ACTION: Approved as amended. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Petty said that he would abstain from approving the minutes because he was not present at the October 8, 2015 meeting, but noted the incorrect name in place of Commissioner Denley’s in the upper right corner of the Meeting Agenda. Ms. Caraker said Commissioner Denley’s name was not on the Meeting Agenda due to technical difficulties with SIRE. Commissioner Petty said that Item 2 from the October 8, 2015 meeting was not a valid vote because a quorum was not present for voting. He noted that if Commissioner Denley had stayed in the room and abstained from voting, the vote would have carried. Commissioner Petty noted that Bonnie Gawf, City Clerk, said that unless it was an urgent matter, as stated in the Brown Act, the item would need to be re-agendized and voted on with a quorum present. Ms. Caraker said that she would consult with the City Attorney regarding the matter. Commissioner Petty asked if anyone was present to represent or speak about the Cooper-Molera Adobe at the October 8, 2015 meeting. Ms. Caraker said that representatives from the Alliance of Monterey Area Preservationists were present at the previous meeting in October. Chair Barlow suggested that the item be re-agendized for the December 10, 2015 meeting. Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, November 12, 2015 1  Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, November 12, 2015 Commissioner Smith-Crivello asked if the letter from AMAP mentioned in the minutes from October 8, 2015 was included in the packet. Ms. Caraker said yes, that the letter was included as an attachment and that it was in support of the project. On a motion by Chair Barlow, seconded by Commissioner O’Neil, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission approved the Consent Items. AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Barlow, O’Neil, Hawley, O'Brien, Denley, Smith- Crivello NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Petty RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 2. Receive Report on Colton Hall ADA Study Staff Principal Planner Caraker presented the Agenda Report and took Commissioners’ Questions. Public Comments None. Commissioner Comments Vice Chair O’Neil asked if the two doors leading into the Planning office are historic. She asked about the automatically-opening door proposed in the study and said that she remembers the door under the stairs being possibly historic. Dennis Copeland, Museum Arts and Archives Manager, said that the idea is to preserve the doors and hardware, with an installed push-button to open to the doors for accessibility. Vice Chair O’Neil asked if the floors are historic. Ms. Caraker said that the floors are historic and as few boards as possible would be removed or replaced. Mr. Copeland said that the historic floor may be covered, but not removed. He said the idea is to preserve the building. Vice Chair O’Neil asked if the doorways are ADA-accessible. Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, November 12, 2015 2 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, November 12, 2015 Ms. Caraker said that the doorways are ADA-accessible. Commissioner Smith-Crivello asked if funding needs to be secured in order for the project to proceed or if funding that was collected for the study could also apply to the project itself. Ms. Caraker said that money was awarded for the study and additional funds are needed for the project itself. Mr. Copeland said that it would be ideal to procure resources for all projects outlined in the study, but the first priority is increased access to the second story of Colton Hall. Commissioner Hawley asked if the doorknobs would be removed. Ms. Caraker said that she believed so, that this was part of the recommendation. She said that knobs would need to be operable, however. Commissioner Hawley asked if the doorknobs would be stored in the case that they were removed. Ms. Caraker said that a Condition of Approval could require storage of the knobs. Commissioner Petty suggested the addition of a functioning knob to the doors while leaving the historic hardware so that visitors could view the old hardware in contrast to the new, accessible hardware. Commissioner Smith-Crivello said for the last two years, the reenactment of the signing of the Constitution has not been able to take place because of limited accessibility. She asked if this project would rectify the problem. Mr. Copeland said that with the addition of a limited use limited application (LULA) elevator, individuals would be able to access the second floor, therefore increasing the audience for the reenactment of the signing of the Constitution. Commissioner Denley asked if there was a timeline for the project. Kim Bui-Burton, City of Monterey Community Services Director, said that there is no set timeline, however the Museum and Cultural Arts Commission said that securing funding is the next step and they hope to see it happen soon. Commissioner Smith-Crivello said that she noticed that converting the bathroom to ADA- compliance is a priority and asked if that portion of the project could move forward. Ms. Caraker said yes, that work on the bathroom could move forward. Ms. Bui-Burton said the Cultural Arts Commission would like to achieve full funding for the project. Commissioner Petty asked if the City of Monterey is planning a broad ADA-compliant transition. Ms. Caraker said that the study is extensive and that it is on the City website, including everything from street crossings park facilities, public spaces, and public buildings. Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, November 12, 2015 3  Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, November 12, 2015 Commissioner Petty asked when the study began. Ms. Caraker said the study began in 2013. Chair Barlow asked about the placement of the elevator and why it was placed at the rear of the building in the diagram. Mr. Copeland said that the elevator would be placed at the rear entrance to the museum and the recommendation is to place it in the corner of the main hall at the back wing and rebuild the landing and the stairs. He said that would place it closest to accessible parking. Ms. Caraker said the elevator would be placed in the corner to lessen its visual impact. Mr. Copeland said that the idea is to incorporate the elevator into the look of the building. Commissioner Hawley said that she appreciates the study from the point of view of a mother with a stroller. 3. Receive Report for Annual Certified Local Government 2014-15 Report The HPC discussed the 2014-2015 Report for Annual Certified Local Government. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS None. STUDY SESSION 4. Educational Webinar Series Postponed until a later date due to technical difficulties. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS None. 5. Discuss Historic Ordinance Revisions/Update Postponed until a later date. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS None. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS Chair Barlow thanked Commissioner Petty for his insight and service on the Commission. The rest of the Commissioners said they would miss Commissioner Petty as well. Commissioner Petty said that he was honored to have served on the Commission and to Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, November 12, 2015 4 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, November 12, 2015 have served the City for 12 years. Commissioner Smith-Crivello said that Christmas in the Adobes would be taking place on December 11 and 12. Commissioner Denley said that he is distressed about the destruction of the Junipero Serra statue at the Lower Presidio. Commissioner O’Brien said she hopes the new construction of the buildings will revitalize downtown area. Chair Barlow said that he would like the Commission and staff to consider the cost of the review process and the fee schedule for individuals to apply and come before the HPC and other boards and commissions. He said the he would like to consider lowering the fee schedule in order to encourage more Mills Act applicants. Commissioner O’Brien agreed with Chair Barlow, and said that lowering the fee schedule in order to attract more Mills Act applicants would be a good idea in order to preserve more of the City’s historic properties. Ms. Caraker suggested that staff develop an extensive checklist in order to keep the process more administrative. Commissioner Petty said that the purpose is to identify those that can benefit from the Mills Act and to not pain homeowners, therefore creating a more positive response. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:05 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Elizabeth Caraker, AICP Chair Principal Planner Historic Preservation Commission Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, November 12, 2015 5