Heritage Preservation Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes Heritage Preservation Commission Wednesday, September 2, 2015 7:00 PM West Conference Room, City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 CALL TO ORDER SALUTE TO THE FLAG ROLL CALL Selection of Chair and Vice Chair. Comm. Michitaka made a moition to nominate Vice Chair Squellati to serve as Chair. Comm. Dietrich seconded. Motion carried 6-0-1 with Comm. Larsen absent. Chair Squellati asked for a motion for a nomination for Vice Chair. Comm. Michitaka made a motion to nominate Comm. Mouritsen to serve as Vice Chair. Comm. Hopkins seconded. Comm. Dietrich nominated Comm. Michitaka as Vice Chair. Comm. Michitaka's motion carried 6-0-1 with Comm. Larsen absent. Present: 6 - Commissioner Hannalore Dietrich Commissioner Dawn Hopkins Commissioner Mike Michitaka Vice Chair Dale Mouritsen Chair David Squellati Commissioner Kenneth Valenzuela Absent: 1 - Commissioner Dixie Larsen PRESENTATION City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes September 2, 2015 15-0839 PRESENTATION - Summary of the State Historic Preservation Training Workshop Amber El Hajj noted that she and Comm. Hopkins attended the training. She provided an update to the Commissioners what took place at the training. She discussed cultural resources studies and four presentations from the State Preservation Officers. Comm. Hopkins briefly discussed the fact that there are grants available to Certified Local Government cities to use for historic preservation projects. CONSENT CALENDAR 15-0840 Draft Minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting of June 3, 2015 Comm. Michitaka made a motion to approve the Draft Minutes of June 3, 2015. Comm. Dietrich seconded. MOTION CARRIED: Yes: 4 - Commissioner Dietrich Commissioner Hopkins Commissioner Michitaka Vice Chair Mouritsen No: 0 Absent: 1 - Commissioner Larsen Abstain: 2 - Chair Squellati Commissioner Valenzuela PUBLIC COMMENTS PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS 15-0841 Selection of Chair and Vice Chair Selection of Chair and Vice Chair ocurred during the Roll Call. STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES Ms. El Hajj noted that this is the chance to nominate any potential study issues for City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes September 2, 2015 2016. She noted the previous 2013 Study Issue to updating the Murphy Avenue Design Guidelines will remain an open Study Issue for 2015. Chair Squellati mentioned previous study issues that had been sponsored, such as the Cultural Diversity Context Statement in Sunnyvale. Ms. El Hajj noted that this has been completed and that the context study from that Study Issue is available on the Sunnyvale Library web page as well as the Heritage Preservation Commission's web page. Comm. Valenzuela noted the Digital Game Museum in Santa Clara and would like to see a video game museum in Sunnyvale, as the City has a historic significance in the video game industry. Comm. Mouritsen mentioned that there is a technology room in the Sunnyvale Historic Museum that is worth visiting. Comm. Dietrich asked the Commission if the idea is to create a new museum or to find an existing location that could be used to display some kind of video game history. Comm. Michitaka mentioned that the new program is starting for Leadership Sunnyvale and the organization has four open positions for the Board of Directors. Comm. Hopkins asked staff and the Commission what the recent study issue ideas were, so that she could think about new ideas and not old ideas that did not pass. Ms. El Hajj noted that staff supports the Murphy Avenue Design Guideline update as they are in agreement that an update to the guidelines would be beneficial. Ms. El Hajj suggested that the Commission may want to look at other cities historic preservation websites to get ideas of what other cities are doing in preservation. Comm. Hopkins asked if the previous lists of study issues are available on the City website. Ms. El Hajj stated, yes. Comm. Mouritsen noted that he would talk to Jeanine Stanek about any ideas or thoughts she may have. City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes September 2, 2015 Chair Squellati noted that the Il Postale Restaurant has moved into the Del Monte Building. He was wondering who would be moving into the previous building. Chair Squellati noted that there are and were many suggestions regarding Murphy Avenue, and through the years, the Historic District has been improving. He asked staff regarding the shed in the rear of the Thai Restaurant. Ms. El Hajj stated that she believes that has been corrected. NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS -Commissioner Comments Chair Squellati noted Comm. Michitaka's previous comments regarding Sunnyvale Leadership. Comm. Dietrich noted that she attended the Civic Center Workshop and discussed what occurred during the workshop, including trees and landscaping, location of the Civic Center, and other proposals and ideas. Comm. Dietrich noted that the workshop was great, as it involved citizens and many commissioners from all the Boards and Commissions. INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS Ms. El Hajj noted that there will be a meeting on October 7, 2015, noting two possible items on Murphy Avenue and Taaffe Street. The project on Murphy Avenue is a restaurant called Hoolala Chicken for approval of colors. The other is an addition in the Taaffe Frances District. Chair Squellati noted the Vino Vino restaurant on the corner of Murphy and Washington Avenue turned out nice. Chair Squellati noted the importance of performing site visits prior to the public hearings. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 4