CHC Minutes-2011-04-26MEMORANDUM May 5, 2011
TO: Dave Adams, Interim City Manager
Grant Taylor, Development Services Director
FROM: Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager fl a
Cultural Heritage Commission Secretary
SUBJECT: Cultural Heritage Commission Actions of April 26, 2011
This memorandum summarizes the actions taken by the Cultural Heritage Commission
at their Tuesday, April 26 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
None.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Consideration of Status Update on Nature Education Facilities Grant Applications
and the City's 2011-2018 Capital Improvement Program. Project Manager Teri.
Delcamp made the staff presentation updating the Commission regarding the
City's success in obtaining a $498,434 Nature Education Facilities (NEF) grant
for the Blas Aguilar Adobe repair and enhancement project. 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 Bias 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
Dave Adams, Interim City Manager
CHC Minutes, April 26, 2011 2 May 5, 2011
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 with a chronology of items staff has completed for it during
the past few years;
• 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
Dave Adams, Interim City Manager
CHC Minutes, April 26, 2011 3 May 5, 2011
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
None.
INFORMATION ITEM
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. There are typically up to 100 visitors
each day, especially on the weekends.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Porter adjourned the meeting at 5:45 p.m.
cc: Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager
Christina Gomez, Administrative Specialist
CHC Members
CHC Minutes File