Sacramento Preservation Commission Meeting – January 17, 2018
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Sacramento Preservation Commission Meeting – January 17, 2018
The Preservation Commission met on Wednesday, January 17, 2018, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber to discuss the Mills Act program relaunch, a federal building eligibility determination, design guideline updates, and other preservation matters. The meeting included staff reports, public testimony, and commissioner comments but no formal votes on substantive items.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (December 20, 2017): The minutes were approved by a 4–0–2 vote (Commissioner Abrahams absent, Commissioner Moffett abstained).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public Comments on Matters Not on the Agenda: None.
Discussion Items
-
Mills Act Relaunch Final Draft Administrative Framework (Item 3): Director Carson Anderson presented the proposed framework, including two application categories (residential and commercial), fee structure ($900 for Category 1, up to $4,500 for Category 2), eligibility criteria (properties in historic districts or "retrievable" properties), and a scoring system prioritizing financial need and building condition. Commissioners raised questions about fee levels, the definition of "retrievable" properties, the 10-year contract and tax benefit details, and the scoring criteria's objectivity. Public comment was not offered. The Commission provided comments for staff to incorporate before the framework goes to City Council. Chair Marshak suggested adding examples of tax benefits to the fact sheet.
-
State Preservation Strategic Plan Update (Item 4): Director Anderson informed the Commission that the California Office of Historic Preservation is developing a new five-year strategic plan (2018–2022). Commissioners noted opportunities to emphasize adaptive reuse, press releases highlighting preservation successes, and events at historic properties. Commissioner Whitelam signed up for OHP updates and suggested exploring adaptive reuse of aging government buildings for affordable housing.
-
U.S. General Services Administration: Section 110 Comment on Determination of Eligibility for 650 Capitol Mall (John E. Moss Federal Building) (Item 5): Commissioner Velania recused herself. Director Anderson explained that ARG consultants found the building eligible for the National Register under Criteria A and C, but the GSA Historic Preservation Officer deemed it ineligible due to integrity loss from alterations (e.g., post-9/11 security changes). Staff and many commissioners disagreed, arguing the building retains sufficient integrity. Public comment from Gretchen Steinberg supported eligibility. Commissioner Moffett noted the ARG report did not explicitly list character-defining features. The Commission directed staff to send a comment letter to GSA opposing the ineligibility finding, copying the State Historic Preservation Officer and Congresswoman Matsui, and to explore local listing on the Sacramento Register.
-
Status of Responses to Comments on Draft Updates to Central City Urban Design Guidelines and Central City Neighborhood Design Guidelines (Item 6): Director Anderson reported that staff is consolidating comments into a matrix and that the timeline for final approval has shifted from February to March (Planning & Design Commission on March 8, City Council on March 27). Public commenters William Burg and Margaret Buss urged more time for review and questioned the need for new neighborhood guidelines when historic district guidelines are more pressing. Commissioner Whitelam requested that the matrix be presented at the February Preservation Commission meeting for formal discussion. Chair Marshak asked to agendize the item.
-
Director’s Report (Item 7): Anderson announced the retirement of Principal Planner Joy Patterson (farewell reception Jan. 26), the anticipated appointment of Ryan Miller to the Commission (filling Eric Fuller’s structural engineer seat), and updates to the Certified Local Government annual report. He also noted staff is working on a nomination to expand the Wenz Park Historic District to include three properties on 21st Street.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes were taken on substantive items; all were for review and comment.
- The Commission directed staff to prepare a letter opposing the GSA’s ineligibility finding for the John E. Moss Federal Building, to be sent by the end of the week.
- The Commission requested that the response matrix for the design guideline comments be presented at the February meeting for discussion.
- Commissioner Eric Fuller was recognized for his years of service with a certificate of appreciation.
Meeting Transcript
Meeting of the city's preservation commission is called to order before we start. I'll re review our procedures. Copies of the agenda for tonight's meeting are in the kiosk just outside the main door. Commission will refer to each item accord in the order provided in the agenda, and there are no changes to the agenda at this time. Each item in the public hearing portion of the agenda will begin with a brief presentation by staff, followed by questions of staff by the commission. Presentation by the applicant if they choose, followed by questions of the applicant by the commission. We don't believe we have any hearing items tonight. So we can be a little less formal than that. And then there's opportunity for public comments after questions from the commission. Speaker forms for members of the public are on the back table at the back right there. And if you wish to speak, please fill out a form. Note the agenda item number for which you would like to speak and bring it up to the clerk to the left of the dais. You'll be called to speak at the appropriate time. And we normally have a three-minute limit on public comments. Members of the audience may also address the commission on items that are not on the agenda, which is item number two on our agenda, a little different than what we had in the past. We'd move that up. Oh, excuse me. Item number no item two after approval of the minutes. Okay. The one that was published says public comments not on the agenda for item two. Um so at this time we ask that you please turn off your cell phones and any other noise-making devices. And we'll now proceed with the agenda. Roll call, please. Commissioner Abrahams. Commissioner Bounds. Here. Commissioner Fuller. Here. Commissioner Moffat. Commissioner Velania. Here. Commissioner Whitlam. And Chair Marshak. Here. Very good. Our first item on the agenda is our consent calendar, which includes the approval of minutes for the December 20th meeting. And are there any questions or corrections on those minutes from any of the commissioners? Seeing none, may I have a motion to approve? Commissioner Moffat. I move to approve. Very good. That's odd. You came up in number two here. The screens are not behaving tonight. Booklets. Commissioner Fuller, did you wish to second? I will second that. Very fabulous motion. All right. All right.
openpublica.com