CHC Minutes-2010-06-22MEMORANDUM June 28, 2010
TO: Joe Tait, City Manager
Grant Taylor, Development Services Director
FROM: Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Managerr° `
Cultural Heritage Commission Secretary
SUBJECT: Cultural Heritage Commission Actions of June 22, 2010
This memorandum summarizes the actions taken by the Cultural Heritage Commission
at their Tuesday, June 22 meeting. No action is required unless the City Council wishes
to hold special review of an item.
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Siegel called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Janet Siegel, Chair
Lorie Porter, Vice -Chair
Nathan Banda
Ed Nunez
Don Tryon
Absent: None
Staff: Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager/Cultural Heritage
Commission Secretary
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Ilse Byrnes reported that there was a large group of 133 students from Valencia
Elementary School that toured the Blas Aguilar Adobe and it was a very good
experience for everyone. The tour emphasizes the importance of the Blas Aguilar
Adobe. They will also be re -scheduling the silent auction to a future date.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Consideration of Final Historic Structure Resort for the Parra Adobe (CIP Nos.
07402/07405/07407); a report on the history, existing conditions, character -
defining features and recommendations for rehabilitation and seismic upgrade of
the Parra Adobe located at 27762 Ortega Highway (APN: 666-191-18). Project
Manager Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager, made the staff
presentation and recommendation that the CHC approve the Parra Adobe
Historic Structure Report, noting the revisions that had been made to the report
Joe Tait, City Manager 2 June 28, 2010
by the City's preservation consultant following input from the CHC, staff and the
Capistrano Indian Council.
Ms. Delcamp also reported on the status of the City Council's Capital
Improvement Program (CIP) budget considerations. She noted that the existing
Parra Adobe CIP project is currently proposed to be canceled and will not be
included in the CIP budget for next fiscal year unless the Council takes action to
put it back in the CIP. The Council continued consideration of the CIP budget
until July 6, 2010. The Council has also directed staff to place an item on a future
Council agenda to consider selling the property which contains the Parra Adobe
and the Harrison House.
Public Input:
Jerry Nieblas, Juaneno Band of Mission Indians and San Juan Capistrano
resident, stated the City has allowed the Parra Adobe to continue to decay
through deferred maintenance. Oral histories have said the Parra Adobe may
have originally been an outbuilding from the Mission's early period. It used to be
open to the community as a museum and for the annual mass until its condition
deteriorated so much. The City now has a federal grant to help pay for the
repairs and they should fix the Adobe.
David Belardes, Juaneno Band of Mission Indians and San Juan Capistrano
resident, stated the City has a responsibility to maintain the Parra Adobe. It has
been in a state of disrepair since the City acquired it. It is a home associated with
the family of town Matriarch Helen McMullen. No one is going to purchase the
property with the Parra Adobe in its current condition. The City has lost other
historic adobes like the Canedo and the Burruel. The City owns three of the 9 or
10 adobes that are left. The Council is considering CIP priorities such as a dog
park, skate park and playground upgrades, etc., but the Parra Adobe is important
too and should be repaired.
Commissioners asked several questions of staff. In response, staff indicated that
there is not enough money left in the existing CIP to undertake the proposed
scope of repair for the Parra Adobe; the federal grant is specifically for the
existing Parra Adobe project scope; the grant has a specific time frame and just
received a one year time extension for construction completion by June 30, 2011;
staff anticipates the City would lose the grant if the project scope changes
significantly; the federal grant program has been canceled by the current
administration so will not be available again for the foreseeable future; if the CIP
project is canceled, staff will try to develop a temporary mothball plan with
remaining monies to protect the Parra Adobe from collapse; to do minimal repairs
to the roof and south wall to stabilize the Adobe would still require some
additional CIP funding.
Joe Tait, City Manager 3 June 28, 2010
Commissioners commented that both the Parra Adobe and the Blas Aguilar
Adobe are important historic buildings and need to be repaired.
Vice -Chair Porter stated she agrees with the public comments. She does not
want the Parra Adobe to melt away. The historic adobes have more protection
under the City's public ownership than they would under private ownership. The
Parra Adobe won't last if we don't do something to repair it now, especially the
most critical repairs to the roof and the south wall.
Commissioner Tryon commented that the Council appears not be in favor of
doing anything and will likely defer the project again as we have in the past.
Commissioner Nunez also agrees with the public comments. Part of the City's
mission is to preserve historic buildings. The site is difficult in terms of access
and parking so perhaps a shuttle could be utilized when necessary. The Parra
Adobe is an important historic building and it needs to be preserved.
Commissioner Banda concurred with the public comments and that the Parra
Adobe is a significant site.
After due consideration, Vice -Chair Porter moved, and Commissioner Banda
seconded, a motion to strongly encourage the City Council to fund the minimum
repairs necessary to preserve and stabilize the Parra Adobe, especially to the
roof and the south wall.. The motion was approved unanimously.
Commissioner Banda moved, and Commissioner Nunez seconded, a motion
approving the Parra Adobe Historic Structure Report. The motion was approved
unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Consideration of Concept Plan for the Blas Aguilar Adobe Nature Education
Facilities (Prop 84 NEF) Grant Application; a report on the proposed concept site
plan for submittal with the City's grant application for the project located at 31806
EI Camino Real (APN: 124-160-08, -19). Project Manager Teri Delcamp made
the staff presentation and recommendation that the Commission provide input on
the proposed grant concept site plan, which was developed by staff with input
from key stakeholders and displayed at the meeting. The project includes re-
creating the historic well and horno; a native plant garden; improving the front
entry and access; and possibly locating and outlining the Casa Tejada
foundation, all to enhance natural and historic resource education opportunities
at the Blas Aguilar Adobe Museum..
Ms. Delcamp also reported on the status of the City Council's Capital
Improvement Program (CIP) budget as summarized in the above agenda item.
Unlike the federal grant for the Parra Adobe which is a 50% matching grant, the
Prop 84 NEF grant is a 100% grant. Staff's original plan to commence
Joe Tait, City Manager 4 June 28, 2010
construction on the repairs with CIP funds this summer, followed by construction
of the educational enhancements after a decision is made on the grant, would
change depending on the Council's decision on the CIP budget.
In response to questions, staff noted that if the Blas Aguilar Adobe CIP project is
canceled, then repair of the Blas Aguilar Adobe would not occur unless the City
is successful with the NEF grant so it would be at least a year before the project
could commence. The Blas Aguilar Adobe is in need of repair, but its condition is
not as critical as the Parra Adobe.
Public Input:
Jerry Nieblas, Blas Aguilar Foundation, supports the concept plan. It represents a
way to expand the experiences for the public beyond the Mission San Juan
Capistrano. The Bias Aguilar Adobe has been somewhat isolated but this project
will open it up and make it more inviting to visitors and enhance the hands-on
educational value of the Museum.
Vice -Chair Porter commented that she loves the concept. She questioned staff
about the material proposed for the front plaza, saying a more natural material
would be better, and asked if the native plant garden could be located there or on
the north side instead of at the rear. David .Belardes, Blas Aguilar Foundation,
responded that there are photos of the Adobe when it was the last alcalde's
residence showing a tiled patio so there is historic precedent for the proposed
plaza material. Staff responded that detailed design work will need to occur if the
City is successful getting the grant, and the timing will allow for further details to
be known about the Camino Playhouse project to the north which may have a
bearing on relocating the native plant garden.
Commissioners Banda, Nunez, Tryon and Siegel all, concurred with the proposed
concept plan.
Commissioners reiterated the importance of the CIP projects and especially
repairing the Blas Aguilar Adobe because of its historic importance, prominent
downtown location and public accessibility.
After due consideration, Commissioner Tryon moved, and Commissioner Nunez
seconded, a motion to support the proposed Blas Aguilar Adobe concept site
plan for submittal with the City's Proposition 84 Nature Education Facilities grant
application. The motion was approved unanimously.
INFORMATION ITEM
None.
Joe Tait, City Manager 5 June 28, 2010
COMMISSION/STAFF COMMENTS
Commissioner Tryon asked staff to respond regarding a rumor about use of the
Williams/Swanner House. Staff indicated that there is a current one-year residential
lease in effect being handled by a residential property management firm. Staff will be
taking back to Council a business case for the long term use of the property as a City
rental facility as part of the development of the Northwest Open Space Phase I Park.
Staff has no knowledge about any other plan for the property.
Vice -Chair Porter and staff updated the CHC regarding the re -opening of the Montanez
Adobe which is planned for late July. Interpretive furnishings and artifact displays are
being set up in the Adobe and volunteers are being sought as docents so the Adobe
can be open on a more regular basis. Several historic tours are scheduled in town this
summer and staff and the City Guides will ensure the Montanez Adobe will be opened
for the tours.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Siegel adjourned the meeting at 6:09 p.m.
cc: Steven Apple, AICP, Deputy City Manager
Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager
Christina Gomez, Administrative Specialist,
CHC Members
CHC Minutes File