Streetscape History and Art Advisory Committee Regular Meeting - October 28, 2022

The Streetscape History and Art Advisory Committee (SHAAC) of Auburn, California, met at City Hall Room 10 to adopt routine reports, approve tile wording, and discuss tile engraving, an unveiling ceremony recap, and follow-up items. Members present: Randall Fee, Carol Cramer, Chris Packard, Cynthia Haynes, Bridget Powers, Kim Haswell, April McDonald-Loomis. Councilman Mike Holmes was absent. Guest Manouch Shirvanioun represented the Leadership Auburn nomination. The meeting was called to order at 4:05 pm by Bridget Powers for Chris Packard; Chairman Packard arrived at 4:10 pm, and the meeting adjourned at 5:20 pm. Date note: The agenda and adopted minutes are dated May 22, 2025, which conflicts with the meeting timestamp provided to the summarizer (October 28, 2022); the provided timestamp is used in the title.

Consent Calendar

• Adopted the April 22, 2025 SHAAC regular meeting minutes by vote. (The adopted minutes text references "April 22, 2015," which appears to be a typo; the agenda identifies these as the April 22, 2025 minutes.)
• Adopted the Treasurer's Report. The agenda reported a Fund 56 balance of $13,021 as of May 16, 2025, an FY 24-25 budget of $2,500, a pending Ruhkala invoice of $5,572, unveiling ceremony expenses of $350, and a projected balance of $7,099. The adopted minutes instead report an account balance of $7,449.00, a discrepancy. Chris Packard announced the budget request cycle and will submit the FY 25-26 request for $5,000.00 (the agenda listed a $2,500 request) for laying approved-but-unlaid tiles, kiosk work, and another unveiling event. Bridget Powers volunteered to represent the Committee at the Council meeting, and it was noted that the City councilman should also advocate for SHAAC funds.
• Approved by consent a $300.00 gift certificate for the caterer who donated food for the unveiling event. Randall Fee will check with Gretchen at City Hall on the correct process.

Tile Review and Approvals

• Leadership Auburn tile: Guest Manouch Shirvanioun represented the nomination. The Committee discussed and approved, by a motion that passed, the following wording: "SINCE 2000 THIS COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, THROUGH THE AUBURN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HAS INFORMED, ENLIGHTENED AND ENCOURAGED GRADUATES TO BROADEN THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF COMMUNITY WHILE GIVING BACK THROUGH IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN THE AREA." The previously submitted symbol will be used. Chris Packard will ask Cynci for a mock-up before City Council presentation; after formal Council approval (expected August or September), payment will be expected, and engraving will likely take place next year. Randall Fee and Mr. Shirvanioun will coordinate placement. Bridget Powers, who is the liaison per the agenda, raised the need to talk to the City Manager about clarifying new tile areas since the old criteria are no longer in place. Mr. Shirvanioun thanked the Committee for its work.
• Dave Albright tile: Grandfathered at the $1,500 level (approved by the City Council on October 24, 2016). Bridget Powers, the liaison per the agenda, spoke with the family, who are fine with the delay and happy about the low fee. The tile mock-up is in progress; payment was made April 23, 2025.
• New tile submissions: None were received. The Committee verbally approved the use of the denial letter; the receipt and approval letters will be presented at the next meeting after Chris edits April's draft.
• Historic tiles: Wording was finalized for three historic tiles. Charlie Yue: "Long-time owner of the legendary Shanghai restaurant and bar in the early 1900s. Known as 'the kingpin' of Old Town. A leader in the Chinese community. One of the only known Chinese gold assayers in California." Kee Chinn: "Known as the 'Auburn Chinatown Boss.' Came to Old Town in 1850. Long-time merchant, labor contractor, miner and community leader. His family had the responsibility for sending the bones of deceased Chinese back to China." Harriett J. Crandall: "Came to California in 1851 via the Isthmus of Panama with a pipe organ. Collected money from miners and gamblers in Auburn's saloons to build a church to house the organ." Only minor changes were made to the Yue and Chinn wording; the Committee made changes to the Crandall wording. Chris will ask Cynci for new mock-ups.

Discussion Items

• Unveiling ceremony and public awareness: Everyone agreed the unveiling was a great success, with much credit to Kim and Cynthia for organizing; the re-enactors were a great bonus. Randall noted that very few people made it out to the tiles. Carol suggested holding the next event outside in Central Square, which would require a permit. Carol gave a brief rundown on how the re-enactors prepare.
• Tile engraving: Still on track for summer 2025, at least by September, but no firm date from Ruhkala. Status: Dan Olmstead - PAID March 25, 2025; Tom Johnson - Hillmen Foundation to pay (Randall is the liaison) - PAID April 1, 2025; Samuel Wirt Holladay; Auburn Hook and Ladder Company; Jacob Hart Neff. Lee Buckingham - Auburn Arts Commission to pay (Cynthia is the liaison) - NOT PAID, as the tile did not make the payment cut-off for the last cycle. Bridget called April Maynard, head of the Arts Commission, who is pleased to have extra time to fundraise. Randall spoke with Jason Buckingham, who was okay with the postponement. Historic tiles do not need to be paired with another tile because they will have been previously engraved.
• Tile nomination criteria: The Committee confirmed the idea of being more critical of new tile submissions because of the lack of spaces, instead of adopting a specific time limit for recently passed tiles.
• Salmon statue: Cynthia raised the damage done to the Salmon statue in Central Square and SHAAC's responsibility for artwork there. The Committee noted it only has jurisdiction over the kiosks, not the art, and generally would not oppose the Salmon statue coming down. Bridget volunteered to talk with the City Manager.
• Follow-up items: The Committee would like the City Manager to attend the next meeting, set for June 18th. Chris will check with Amy about Room 10 availability; Bridget will add that to her list of items to discuss with Sean. Cynthia noted that a large map showing zones and tiles would be helpful for the next meeting; Chris has the maps and will send them to Cynthia, who will contact Amy for help. Randall offered to mount the maps on foam board; if the City cannot do it, Advantage Printing can.
• Future agenda ideas and website updates: Ideas included reviewing Streetscape zone realignment for future tile placement, kiosk signage and QR codes, reviewing the tile inventory with bios and photos, a SHAAC calendar and timeline review, and cleaning up lists. April noted that all bios and photos except the latest ones are on the City website; a post-meeting update confirmed that all laid tiles have bios and photos on the website except Bud Richardson, which April will complete and submit.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the April 22, 2025 meeting minutes by vote.
• Approved the Treasurer's Report (with the noted balance discrepancy between the agenda and minutes).
• Approved by consent a $300.00 gift certificate for the unveiling caterer.
• Approved new wording for the Leadership Auburn tile (motion passed); a mock-up will be prepared for City Council presentation, with formal approval expected in August or September.
• Approved final wording for the Charlie Yue, Kee Chinn, and Harriett J. Crandall historic tiles.
• Verbally approved the use of the tile nomination denial letter.
• Confirmed a more critical review approach for new tile submissions rather than a time limit for recently passed tiles.
• Will request $5,000.00 for FY 25-26 (per the minutes; the agenda listed $2,500), to be advocated at the City Council by Bridget Powers.
• Next meeting: June 18th, with the City Manager invited.