Cultural Heritage Committee Action Update

January 26, 2009                                    Monday                                        5:30 p.m.

ROLL CALL:      Committee Members Barbara Breska, Chuck Crotser, Katy Davis, Lynne Landwehr, Dean Miller, and Vice-Chair John Fowler 

STAFF:                Senior Planner Jeff Hook, Deputy Community Development Director Kim Murry, and Recording Secretary Janet Miller 

                        Council members Andrew Carter and John Ashbaugh, Liaisons to the Cultural Heritage Committee 

PUBLIC COMMENT: 

Paula Carr provided historic information on the people and history associated with three houses in the Railroad Historic District proposed for demolition in conjunction with a mixed-use development project.  She provided recommendations for checklists and sources for evaluating potential historic resources as well as information regarding an upcoming seminar. 

COMMITTEE ELECTIONS: 

John Fowler, acting as Vice-Chair, noted that former Chairperson Elise Wheeler had resigned from the Committee and requested a motion to endorse an approach for conducting meetings until April when two new committee members will be appointed and regular officer elections held.   

On a motion by Committee Member Crotser, seconded by Committee Member Breska, the Committee voted 6:0 to appoint John Fowler as interim Chair to fulfill the remaining term of Elise Wheeler.   

On a motion by Committee Member Davis, seconded by Committee Member Miller, the Committee voted 6:0 to appoint Chuck Crotser as interim Vice Chair. 

PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS: 

1.   1204 Nipomo Street and 464 Buchon Street.  ARC 1-07; Review relocation of the historic Parsons house and proposed demolition of accessory structure; C-D zone; Jules Rogoff, applicant.  (Continued to a date uncertain)  (Brian Leveille) 

The CHC continued this item to a date uncertain. 

COMMUNICATIONS: 

a.      Agenda Forecast – Staff

Staff provided a forecast of the two agenda items currently scheduled for the February meeting. 

b.      Revisions to Cultural Heritage Committee Bylaws – Staff

On a motion by Committee Member Landwehr, seconded by Committee Member Breska, the Committee voted 6:0 to approve the proposed amendments to the Advisory Body Bylaws requiring Committee members to be registered voters and residents of the City of San Luis Obispo. 

c.      Committee: 

Meeting with Council Liaisons to the CHC:

The Committee and Council members Ashbaugh and Carter, Council Liaisons to the CHC, discussed expectations of the Council and the Committee.  The Committee expressed the need for a Historic Preservation Ordinance to provide guidance and certainty in the review process.  The Council liaisons expressed appreciation for the work the CHC performs and provided feedback as to how the CHC’s recommendations are considered as part of the Council’s decision-making process.  Committee members requested Council support when the CHC requests additional historic documentation from applicants.  The Council liaisons and CHC discussed the upcoming Goal-setting priorities in light of the financial shortfall the City must address.  Specific examples of recent projects were discussed and feedback from both Committee and Council members was provided. 

Comments from the Public:

Paula Carr – suggested that the City invite the Main Street program and State Office of Historic Preservation staff to visit and comment on downtown historic preservation efforts.  She also suggested the City do an in-depth study of contextual historic themes prior to updating the historic resources inventory to help understand significance of any potential resource.  

Bob Vessely – indicated that grants may be available to help fund an update of the City’s historic resources inventory and provided an example of the Getty Foundation’s involvement with the City of Los Angeles.  He indicated that historic preservation should be treated in the same manner as other development standards as part of a predictable development review process.  

Other business:

Committee Member Crotser indicated that the Advisory Body handbook references review of all advisory body functioning by a citizen’s committee every five years.  He questioned whether this has occurred and the Committee asked staff to provide information. 

Committee Member Landwehr displayed three books – two by Guy Crabbe regarding historic businesses along Monterey and Higuera and a book by Ken Haggard regarding San Luis Architecture.  The Committee requested that staff acquire these books for the historic library.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 7 p.m.