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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