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CHC Minutes-2010-10-26MEMORANDUM October 28, 2010 TO: Joe Tait, City Manager Grant Taylor, Development Services Director FROM: Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager Cultural Heritage Commission Secretary SUBJECT: Cultural Heritage Commission Actions of October 26, 2010 This memorandum summarizes the actions taken by the Cultural Heritage Commission at their Tuesday, October 26, 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 Absent: Ed Nunez, excused Don Tryon, excused Staff: Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager/Cultural Heritage Commission Secretary ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. OLD BUSINESS None. NEW BUSINESS Consideration of Mission San Juan Capistrano Phase 3 Decomposed Granite Preservation and Safety Project (Applicant: Mission San Juan Capistrano). Project Manager Teri Delcamp made the staff presentation and recommendation that the Commission receive and file the report regarding the proposed staff level approval of a preservation and maintenance project in the Mission's front courtyard located at 26801 Ortega Highway. The project involves replacement of non -historic granite pavers with stabilized decomposed granite. Joe Tait, City Manager 2 October 28, 2010 Mechelle Lawrence -Adams, Mission San Juan Capistrano Executive Director, spoke regarding the intent of the project. The existing pavers create trip and fall hazards on a regular basis. This project addresses these hazards in a way that meets the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. The decomposed granite is compatible with the Mission's character which had more rustic walkways when the gardens were added in the 1930s; it is more historically appropriate than the existing pavers; and it is reversible. Another phase will be pursued in the future with the planned front gate project for the rest of the front courtyard walkways. After due consideration, the CHC concurred that the project will enhance the Mission grounds and visitors' enjoyment. 2. Consideration of Mills Act Contract (MAC) 10-001, Harrison House & Miguel Parra Adobe. Project Manager Teri Delcamp made the staff presentation and recommendation that the Commission recommend approval of a Mills Act contract to be executed with a prospective purchaser in the event the City sells the historic property. The property contains two historic buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Harrison House and Miguel Parra Adobe, located at 27762 Ortega Highway. The Commission asked several questions of staff about: the potential sale of the property and mechanisms to ensure that a future owner protects, maintains, preserves and repairs the buildings; the level of interest by the current license, Capistrano Indian Council, in purchasing the site; and whether or not there is enough time to repair the Adobe with the federal Save America's Treasures grant. Staff responded that, in addition to the Mills Act for an appropriate type of purchaser, staff is developing covenants that will run with the land and require preservation and City approval for any future work. In addition, if the federal grant is used for the repair, it requires a minimum 50 -year preservation easement to be held by a historical non-profit and requires review of changes by the National Park Service and State Historic Preservation Office in addition to the City and easement holder. The CHC voiced strong support for the Mills Act and protection mechanisms, prioritizing the Adobe's repair above other projects, and the importance of repairing the Adobe before it is sold, as indicated in the motion language below. After due consideration, Vice Chair Porter moved, Commissioner Banda seconded, and the CHC voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council: 1. Approve a Mills Act Contract for future execution with a private property owner upon transfer of ownership for the maintenance and preservation of the Harrison House and Parra Adobe located at 27762 Ortega Highway, APN 666-191-18; and Joe Tait, City Manager 3 October 28, 2010 2. Place a priority on preserving the adobes we have left since they are rare and we will never have more of them. The repair of the Parra Adobe is more important than any of the other current Capital Improvement Program and downtown revitalization projects. The Parra Adobe should be repaired before it is sold. The National Park Service has indicated their desire to see the Adobe repaired since they are providing grant monies and are willing to approve time extensions to ensure the project can be completed. The historic aspects of the City are our main asset and need to be preserved. INFORMATION ITEM 1. Consideration of Montanez Adobe Porch Status. Project Manager Teri Delcamp made the staff presentation and recommendation that the Commission receive and file the report and concur with the concept to replace the vandalized tule reeds with arundo reeds under the porch roof of the Montanez Adobe located at 31745 Los Rios Street. If the CHC concurs, staff will further explore the costs and a means to fund and implement the project. Commissioners made other suggestions for consideration, including placing Plexiglas or other material over the tule reeds to protect them; a synthetic type of tule reed that looks real and may be sturdier; or displaying a tule mat inside the Adobe for educational purposes. The CHC prefers some type of reed material as a solution instead of false skip sheathing or planks. They liked the appearance of the arundo reed and generally preferred it to tule or synthetic tule options. Staff will follow up on the suggestions and the information provided and will report back in the future with details, preliminary cost estimates, and options for how the project could be funded and pursued by the City or other organization. 2. Discussion and Selection of November and/or December Cultural Heritage Commission Meeting Dates. Teri Delcamp indicated that staff and holiday schedules mean the November and December meeting dates need to be re- scheduled. There are limited opportunities for alternate meeting dates. After due consideration, the CHC agreed that if both meetings need to occur in November and December, the meeting dates will be November 30 at 5 pm and December 15 at 5 pm. Commissioners present indicated there will be a quorum for November 30, and staff will verify presence of a quorum for the December meeting as the date gets closer. COMMISSION/STAFF COMMENTS Commissioner Banda announced that the final decision on recognition of the Tribe by the Office of Federal Acknowledgment was postponed one last time to no later than December 15, 2010. Joe Tait, City Manager 4 October 28, 2010 Vice -Chair Porter announced they have 200 people registered for the annual Historical Society's Ghost Tours which will be held on Saturday, October 30, at 6:30, 7 and 7:30 pm. Actors with the Camino Playhouse will perform as ghost characters. Chair Siegel said she would not be in town for the upcoming Joint Workshop on the public draft Historic Town Center Master Plan and read a letter that she is submitting to the City Council voicing her concerns about the overly intense Master Plan and a desire to instead create a Bower's Museum satellite as the second anchor to the Mission. She also noted that members of the Ocean Institute were in San Juan Capistrano for training. Staff made several announcements: • The Parra Adobe will have a brown tarp installed over the entire structure to protect it this winter while the City pursues marketing it for sale. • The City Council approved a new five-year License Agreement with the Ecology Center which, like several of the more recent license agreements for City -owned facilities, has a higher license fee than agreements executed many years ago. • The City has won a state American Planning Association (APA) Award for the construction of the Los Rios Park. The Park has won various other Planning, Public Works and Recreation Association awards in the past. The award will be presented next week at the State APA Conference. • The Joint Workshop for the Historic Town Center Master Plan will start at 3 p.m. on November 2 in the City Council Chambers. ADJOURNMENT Chair Siegel adjourned the meeting at 6:15 p.m. to the Adjourned Regular CHC Meeting to be held in the City Council Chambers at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 30, 2010. cc: Steven Apple, AICP, Deputy City Manager Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager Christina Gomez, Administrative Specialist CHC Members CHC Minutes File