Benicia Historic Preservation Review Commission Meeting - February 26, 2026

On February 26, 2026 (2026-02-26), at 6:30 PM, the Benicia Historic Preservation Review Commission met in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Roll call showed four commissioners present and Chair Van Lenship absent. The commission adopted the agenda, approved the consent calendar, reviewed the 2024-2025 Certified Local Government (CLG) Annual Report, elected officers, and received staff updates on the Mills Act program, commission vacancies, and upcoming development review work.

Consent Calendar

• The commission approved the draft minutes from February 27, 2025, and the 2026 meeting schedule by unanimous roll-call vote (Commissioners Chwala, Houston, Reynolds, and von Students voting yes). No items were pulled for separate discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the public comment period, and staff reported no public comments had been received for the meeting.
• Staff noted that an old written public comment from a previous meeting had been accidentally included in the agenda packet. It raised a question about allowing Hardy board in lieu of wood due to climate change and fire risk. The commission acknowledged the mix-up and did not take action because the item was not agendized.

Discussion Items: Certified Local Government Annual Report 2024-2025

• Associate Planner Hugo McMillan presented the annual report, which covers October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025. The report must be submitted to the California Office of Historic Preservation as part of the city's CLG participation, which qualifies Benicia for federal historic preservation grants awarded through the state.
• The report stated there were no updates to the city's design review ordinance during the reporting period; streamlining amendments adopted in late 2023/early 2024 established a higher threshold for projects requiring commission-level design review.
• No properties or districts were designated or de-designated, and review responsibilities did not change.
• Commission membership changes included former Commissioners Hoey and Delgado leaving and Commissioners Chwala and Houston being officially appointed in August 2025.
• No commissioner trainings were reported, and the commission met only twice during the reporting period, below the four meetings required by CLG guidelines. Staff said quarterly meetings will be scheduled going forward to maintain compliance.
• No new historic contexts or surveys were completed, and there were no changes to the Mills Act program or roster during the reporting period.
• In response to commissioner questions, staff said they would keep the commission apprised of any impacts from falling below the required meeting count. Staff also said a Mills Act program revamp is underway to make the program more user-friendly for staff and property owners, with initial stakeholder outreach likely in late spring or summer and commission involvement to come.

Election of Officers

• Acting Chair Tim Reynolds suggested the commission consider Commissioner von Students for Chair, citing his tenure, attendance, and experience; Commissioner von Students instead nominated Reynolds for Chair, citing Reynolds' prior service as Chair and current role as Vice Chair. The motion was seconded and passed 3-1, with von Students voting no.
• Reynolds then moved to elect von Students as Vice Chair; the motion was seconded and passed 3-1, with von Students again voting no.
• At the end of the meeting, von Students explained he was confused and had thought he was voting for himself for Chair; he asked to change both votes from no to yes. Staff said they would attempt to reflect this change in the minutes. As recorded, Tim Reynolds and Gilbert von Students were elected Chair and Vice Chair unanimously, effective at the commission's next regular meeting on March 26, 2026.

Communications from Staff and Members

• Staff announced there are two current commission openings; the application period closes March 20, 2026.
• The commission will move to at least quarterly meetings. There has been a lack of design review applications in the downtown and Arsenal historic districts, but at least one project requiring commission design review is expected within about two months.
• Citywide development activity is steady, particularly ADUs. A recent ADU workshop at the library drew nearly 100 attendees; a follow-up workshop is planned for June, and pre-approved ADU plan sets (up to three or four options, probably three) are being developed with rollout as early as June or July.
• Staff noted limited capacity to take on new projects outside the department work program. The Mills Act revamp will be a priority and will involve the commission.
• On training, staff and commissioners discussed California Preservation Foundation free online webinars, AIA and California Preservation Foundation conferences in San Diego, and sharing training announcements with the commission.
• New commissioners introduced themselves: Kelly Houston described her master's degree in modern English and Irish history and her love of architecture; another commissioner shared a family history in Benicia and a 40-year local business. Staff member Hugo McMillan also briefly introduced himself.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda and consent calendar approved unanimously.
• 2024-2025 CLG Annual Report reviewed and approved unanimously for submittal to the California Office of Historic Preservation.
• Tim Reynolds elected Chair and Gilbert von Students elected Vice Chair, effective March 26, 2026; the minutes were to reflect von Students' later vote change making both elections unanimous.
• Staff will schedule quarterly meetings, support commissioner training, and involve the commission in the Mills Act program revamp.
• Commission vacancy applications close March 20, 2026; a design review project is anticipated in roughly two months.