Napa Cultural Heritage Commission Regular Meeting - March 13, 2025
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Napa Cultural Heritage Commission Regular Meeting - March 13, 2025
The Cultural Heritage Commission met on March 13, 2025, at 5:30 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers. The primary action was forwarding a recommendation to the City Council to remove 1514 Clay Street from the Historic Resources Inventory (HRI) based on updated analysis. The Commission also heard public testimony on historic preservation education and discussed enforcement and future outreach efforts.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of November 14, 2024, Minutes: The Commission approved the minutes with a correction requested by Commissioner Wesson, who was absent at the November meeting; her name was removed from the approval section. Motion passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Susan LePage (resident, 2117 First Street): Expressed concern about the loss of original doors and windows in historic neighborhoods, noting that vinyl windows and generic replacements diminish integrity. She asked the Commission to consider education for homeowners and realtors, earlier intervention, and options for salvaging historic materials. The Chair and staff acknowledged the issue, noting existing design guidelines and past workshops, and encouraged her to contact the Planning Department.
Discussion Items
- 1514 Clay Street HRI Removal (Item 7A): Staff (Ryder Dilley) presented the application for removal of 1514 Clay Street from the Historic Resources Inventory (HRI). The property was among many recommended for removal in the 2011 Page & Turnbull survey but was inadvertently left on the HRI after a 2012 commission decision. The applicant, Dan Skippington, provided an updated historic analysis by consultant Christina Dikas concluding that the property does not meet HRI criteria. Skippington, who has owned the family home since 1982, stated he was unaware of the HRI listing until 2024 due to a clerical error. He explained that he wishes to raise the house, add an ADU, and improve the staircase—changes currently limited by HRI restrictions. He emphasized that the property cannot be demolished or sold due to a family trust. Commissioners discussed the property's integrity, changed setting (neighboring gymnasium and planned condos), and the fact that the property had already undergone unauthorized vinyl window replacement. The staff recommendation was to forward a resolution of removal to the City Council with a CEQA exemption determination.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Recommend Removal of 1514 Clay Street from HRI: Commissioner McKinne made a motion to forward a recommendation to the City Council to adopt a resolution removing the property from the Historic Resources Inventory and determining the action is exempt from CEQA. The motion was seconded. Vote: 4 in favor, 1 opposed (Commissioner Tuikka). The motion passed, and the recommendation will go to the City Council.
Commissioner Comments & Discussion
- Enforcement of Historic Preservation Ordinance: Commissioners discussed the challenge of unauthorized window/door replacements in historic districts. Staff noted that code enforcement issues stop-work orders when caught, but after-the-fact compliance is difficult. Commissioner Wesson and others urged more proactive education, including workshops and online resources, and consideration of reduced fees for certificates of appropriateness to encourage compliance. The possibility of forming a subcommittee to revive historic district signage programs was raised. Chair Van Giesen emphasized the need for a comprehensive HRI update, though that requires significant funding and state coordination. Staff also updated the Commission on the status of the Thomas Earle house (historic villa on Seminary Street), noting it is for sale with entitlements that require its reconstruction, but the permit may expire.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:15 PM.
Meeting Transcript
I printed myself. Here we are. All right. Always start a meeting on time. So we're on time tonight. Thank you. Thank you for everyone being on time. So good evening and welcome to the March 13th, 2025, City of Napa regular meeting for the Cultural Heritage Commission. And I would like to call this meeting to order and ask staff to conduct roll call, please. Commissioner McKinney. Here. Commissioner Rasmussen? Commissioner Wesson here. Vice Chair Tueka. And Chair Van Giesen. Here. Very good. I think it's the green. Yeah. No, the one there you go. There we are. All right, everyone, please rise now for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Thank you very much. So now we have agenda review and supplementary ports. The Cultural Heritage Commission conducts all meetings in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act. And pursuant to the city's rules of order for the Cultural Heritage Commission meetings, which is policy resolution number 10. Are there any changes to this agenda this evening staff? Yes, I just want to go ahead and point out that Commissioner Wesson did notice an error on the November 14th, 2024 CHC meeting minutes. So just once you may go ahead and make that motion, just make sure. I was going to bring that up when we did minute review. I was in the modernism week at Palm Springs. Yes, I was going to bring it up too, but uh shall we just continue towards the minutes then? Okay. Very good. Um so moving on to our next item. We'll get to the public comment. Um item number four, which is the public comment is where you provides an opportunity for members of the public to directly address us, the Cultural Heritage Commission on items of interest that are not uh otherwise noted on the agenda this evening. Each speaker's comments will be limited to three minutes, and we'll comply with the rules of order for the Cultural Heritage Commission meeting minutes. Excuse me. Do we have any members of the public who wish to provide public comments on a non-agenda item? Excellent. So please um go ahead and step to the uh podium. I think I think this one's fine and state your name and address, please. Hi. Hi, my name is Susan Orsue LePage, and I live on uh 2117 First Street, right down the streets.
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