Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – August 27, 2025
Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – August 27, 2025
The Historic Preservation Commission met on August 27, 2025, to hear updates on the Huntridge Theater project, a presentation from the new State Historic Preservation Officer, approve routine items, and receive reports on the commission's budget, project status, and director's updates.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The commission unanimously approved the final minutes of the regular meeting of July 23, 2025 (Agenda Item 5).
- Membership Renewal – National Alliance of Preservation Commissions: Approved funding of $200 to renew the commission's membership (Agenda Item 8).
- Membership Renewal – National Trust for Historic Preservation Leadership Forum: Approved funding of $250 to renew membership (Agenda Item 9).
Discussion Items
- Huntridge Theater Update (Item 6): Jay Dapper of Dapper Companies reported that a city storm drain project is using the theater's parking lot for staging under a month-to-month agreement. Litigation with AT&T/Crown Castle over cell tower relocation has been resolved; negotiations are underway to move the tower to the back corner. The Soho Playhouse tenant has added new board members, including Dr. Keith Bowman, and a theater coalition of local groups (e.g., Jazz Outreach Initiative) is exploring co-location. Consulting firm Fisher Dax has recommended design changes to add rehearsal space; these are being reviewed to avoid reopening the approval process. The back-space tenant Bar Central (in the former post office) has fully developed plans and is ready for permitting. Security measures are in place with patrols across Dapper's properties. A phased approach (Bar Central first) is possible, but no firm timeline was given pending design decisions.
- State Historic Preservation Officer Report (Item 7): New SHPO Arthur Krupich gave an overview of his background and priorities. Federal Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) funding is stable through September 2027, though long-term reauthorization remains uncertain. The Nevada SHPO is working on staffing, efficiency (including digital submission of reports, moving from paper), and improving turn-around times. The NevChris cultural resource database is being enhanced. Krupich emphasized a service-oriented approach and plans to visit Las Vegas quarterly. He also noted that the Certified Local Government (CLG) program and historic context reports remain priorities.
- Budget Report (Item 10): Teresa Smith presented the commission's budget for FY2024-FY2026. For FY2024, five grants totaling $56,600 were paid out, with $3,000 unspent returned. For FY2025, four projects (two still open) were awarded about $48,000; $19,000 paid out with $28,600 remaining. Two open grants: Floyd Lamb Park Historical Report ($25,775 balance) and National Trust conference travel ($2,621 remaining). Operational expenses (outreach, plaques, membership renewals) totaled $1,000 spent from an $8,659 allocation. The commission starts FY2026 with $244,584, including $150,000 from the Centennial Commission.
- Director's Updates (Item 11): Seth Floyd announced the meeting was held in the new public meeting room at the newly opened Civic Plaza. Technology upgrades to the city council chambers are ongoing, so future meetings may continue here.
- Project Update List (Item 12): Diane Siebrandt reported on several projects: the Old Mormon Fort National Register update at the September 11 state board meeting; the second draft of the Cliff May homes context for September; the Floyd Lamb Park historical report first draft for October; and an update on Las Vegas High School from Clark County Schools in October. She also highlighted that the unauthorized addition at 1819 Beverly Way (in the Beverly Green Historic District) has been removed, a multi-department effort praised by commissioners.
- Future Agenda Items (Item 14): Commissioner Cheryl Purdue requested an agenda item on city historical signs (selection, payment, approval process, tie-in with HPC). Chair Stodal echoed the request, noting past discussions.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous approval of July 23, 2025, meeting minutes.
- Unanimous approval of $200 for National Alliance of Preservation Commissions membership renewal.
- Unanimous approval of $250 for National Trust for Historic Preservation Leadership Forum membership renewal.
- No formal votes were taken on reports; all were informational.
- The commission directed staff to prepare an agenda item on city historical signs for a future meeting.
Meeting Transcript
All right, thanks for your patience. We're ready to call this meeting of the historic preservation commission to order. And we'll start with an announcement regarding our compliance with the open meeting law. Are we in compliance? Yes, we are. Great. Next is public comment, comment during. Excuse me. I'm sorry, could I please do the roll call? Oh, sorry, I skipped that. Yeah, let's do roll call. Thank you. Vice Chair Laramie? Here. Chairs Commissioner Stodal. Here. Commissioner Levine. Commissioner Hodgkiss. Commissioner Sterif? Here. Commissioner Cosgrove. Here. Commissioner Palacios. Here. Commissioner Moody. Commissioner Purdue. Here. Commissioner Grimmer. Here. Commissioner Harper. Here. Commissioner Steve Brett. Here. Commissioner Gillespie? Here. Thank you. We do have a quorum. Okay, great. So now we'll go to agenda item three, public comment. Comment during this portion of the agenda must be limited to matters on the agenda for action. If you wish to be heard, please come forward and give your name for the record. The amount of discussion as well as the amount of any time a single speaker is allowed may be limited. Would anybody like to uh wish to speak at this time? Okay, seeing no one, um, we'll move on to the chair's announcement relative to the historic preservation commission. Um Commissioner Stoldal, do you have any announcements for us? Uh I do not, thank you. Okay, great. Um, agenda item five for possible action to approve the final minutes by reference of the regular meeting of July 23rd, 2025. Are there any comments or do we have a motion for approval? Motion to approve.
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