CHC Minutes-2011-03-22MEMORANDUM April 21, 2011
TO: Dave Adams, Interim City Manager
Grant Taylor, Development Services Director
FROM: Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager`
Cultural Heritage Commission Secretary
SUBJECT: Cultural Heritage Commission Actions of March 22, 2011
This memorandum summarizes the actions taken by the Cultural Heritage Commission
at their Tuesday, March 22 meeting. No action is required unless the City Council
wishes to hold special review of an item.
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Porter called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Lorie Porter, Chair Rhonda deHaan
Don Tryon, Vice -Chair Janet Siegel
Absent: Nathan Banda (excused)
Staff: Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager/Cultural Heritage
Commission Secretary
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
►elm
OLD BUSINESS
Consideration of Status Uodate on the Citv's 2011-2018 Capital Improvement
Program (CIP). Project Manager Teri Delcamp made the staff presentation
updating the Commission regarding the CIP Committee's proposed
recommendations on the various CIP projects that were previously suggested by
the CHC. The suggestion for gateway monument signs at entrances to the City
was forwarded to the City Manager's Economic Development staff and would be
considered in the future as part of a comprehensive marketing/branding effort.
Development Services Department staff did submit CIP project request forms, as
recommended by the CHC, in order to regain construction monies that were
gleaned from the remaining historic preservation repair CIP projects a year ago.
These projects are the Blas Aguilar Adobe and the Parra Adobe repair projects.
The City is still waiting to learn if it has obtained a 100% grant from the state for
the Blas Aguilar Adobe repair and enhancement project but the CIP committee is
recommending funding for this project in any event. The CIP Committee is not
recommending funding for the Parra Adobe project given the City Council's
Dave Adams, Interim City Manager
CHC Minutes, March 22, 2011 2 April 21, 2011
direction for staff to sell the property and the Council's desire not to spend repair
monies on this Adobe. Staff will report back at the next meeting when the City
should know whether or not the grant application for the Blas Aguilar Adobe has
been awarded.
The Development Services Department's request for Capital Improvement
Program (CIP) construction funds for the repair of the Parra Adobe are not going
to be recommended for approval in next year's budget. Because the NEF grant
monies will reimburse the City for expenditures on the Blas Aguilar Adobe
project, the existing CIP funds currently allocated to the Blas Aguilar Adobe
cannot be reallocated to the Parra Adobe project any time soon. City staff is
moving forward with the Council's direction to find a purchaser for the Parra
Adobe/Harrison House property but we are still in the midst of that process. A
short question and answer discussion ensued followed by a clarification that if
the CHC wants to recommend repair of the Parra Adobe now, the
recommendation should be that the Council allocate new budget from the Parks
and Recreation Fund, and that expenditures will eventually be off -set through
reimbursement on the Blas Aguilar Adobe project and the sale of the property.
Public testimony:
Jerry Nieblas, San Juan Capistrano Resident, spoke in support of
repairing the Parra Adobe now. Compared to 10 or 15 years ago when the
Parra Adobe was in better shape, it is in very bad condition now. He
voiced concern about the City's role in allowing the Adobe to deteriorate
over the years with a litany of excuses and delays even when economic
times were good. He is deeply concerned about the Adobe's future.
Letting the Adobe deteriorate sets a bad precedent and excuses for other
buildings in the future. He expressed sadness that the Capistrano Indian
Council has been displaced through the notice to vacate the property.
David Belardes, Blas Aguilar Adobe Foundation, spoke in support of
repairing the Parra Adobe now. He urged the Commission to encourage
the City to keep the Save America's Treasures (SAT) federal grant. As a
member of the California Missions Foundation Board, he understands how
difficult the SAT grants are to obtain. They are not something to be scoffed
at; they are typically given to major projects like Mission San Miguel, and it
is very atypical for a small adobe to receive one. The City should not let it
go but should act on the grant and budget the necessary funds in the CIP
to complete the project.
In response to comments, discussions and questions, staff clarified:
• The Blas Aguilar Adobe project would likely not be under construction until
2012.
• The Parra Adobe project was more complex than the other historic
preservation CIPs and a chronology of items staff has completed for it during
the past few years.
Dave Adams, Interim City Manager
CHC Minutes, March 22, 2011 3 April 21, 2011
• The funding for the historic preservation repair projects typically comes from
the Parks and Recreation fund not the General Fund.
• Staff has prepared a preservation deed restriction and a Mills Act contract for
the Parra Adobe/Harrison House property that will be recorded with the sale
so the historical importance and requirements will run with the land.
• Any letter from the CHC to the City Council should be sent for consideration
during CIP budget deliberations and action in May or June.
Commissioner Siegel said now is probably not the time to be asking for funding.
She feels very strongly that the City should provide the potential purchaser of the
Parra Adobe/Harrison House with a clear understanding that they will be
expected to repair and maintain the historic integrity of the buildings so there are
no surprises.
Vice -Chair Tryon expressed regret for the poor condition of the Parra Adobe.
Commissioner deHaan said it wouldn't hurt to write a letter to the City Council
asking for budget allocations for the Parra Adobe repair.
Chair Porter agreed with Commissioner deHaan and said the letter could
address both the funding allocation recommendation and encouraging the City to
clearly communicate restrictions and requirements requiring repair and
maintenance of the buildings so the purchaser is aware.
After due consideration, Vice -Chair Tryon moved, and Commissioner Siegel
seconded, that a letter be prepared by Commissioner deHaan and Chair Porter
encouraging the City Council to clearly communicate to any new owner the
significance and responsibility to repair and maintain the historic integrity of the
Parra Adobe and Harrison House, and requesting the City Council to allocate
funds for the repair of the Parra Adobe in the FY 2011-2012 CIP budget. The
motion was approved unanimously by a vote of 4-0.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Discussion on Potential Nomination to the Wall of Recognition.
The Commission discussed possible names of individuals to nominate to the
Wall of Recognition. Vice -Chair Tryon moved, and Commissioner Siegel
seconded, a motion to nominate Gwen Vermeulen. The motion passed 4-0. Vice -
Chair Tryon will complete the nomination application and submit it to the City.
2. Discussion on Potential Preparation of Letter Opposing the Out -Sourcing of the
City's Historic Preservation Manager Position
The Commission discussed whether to prepare and submit a letter to the City
Council opposing the out -sourcing of the Historic Preservation Manager staff
Dave Adams, Interim City Manager
CHC Minutes, March 22, 2011 4 April 21, 2011
position within the Development Services Department. Commissioner Siegel
moved, and Vice -Chair Tryon seconded, a motion to submit a letter signed by
Chair Porter when the out -sourcing is scheduled again on a City Council agenda
and to have a CHC member present at that meeting to address the issue. The
motion passed 4-0.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
COMMISSION/STAFF COMMENTS
Chair Porter announced that docents are opening the Montanez Adobe most days of
the week and many visitors are walking through. They are averaging about 80 visitors
on Saturdays. She recently received the Orange Old Town Preservation Association
newsletter, and noted San Juan Capistrano does not have an Association but perhaps
we should.
Vice -Chair Tryon asked if there are any known plans for the Manuel Garcia Adobe, and
staff responded that no project has been submitted.
Commissioner Siegel announced the April 9, 2011, 50th Birthday Celebration event at
HTC Park from 10 am to 4 pm and encouraged everyone to attend. She said the
Community Services staff has been of phenomenal support.
Commissioner DeHann reminded the CHC about the upcoming Los Rios Circulation
study community workshop on March 29, 2011, at 6 pm at the Community Center.
Teri Delcamp reported on the City Council's decision not to extend the lease of the
Harrison House/Parra Adobe property, which expired in January, with the Capistrano
Indian Council (CIC). As a result, staff has issued a letter to the CIC with a notice to
vacate the property by May 6, 2011.
Also, the annual California Preservation Foundation (CPF) conference will be held May
15 — 18, 2011, in Santa Monica. Another CPF training workshop, "Identifying &
Assessing Historical Integrity," is planned in Laguna Beach on June 2, 2011.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Porter adjourned the meeting at 6:04 p.m.
M. Teri Delcamp; Historic Preservation Manager
Christina Gomez, Administrative Specialist
CHC Members
CHC Minutes File