Sacramento Preservation Commission Meeting – January 17, 2024
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Sacramento Preservation Commission Meeting – January 17, 2024
The Sacramento Preservation Commission held its regular meeting on January 17, 2024, at 5:31 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber. Commissioners present: Max McSlavkin (Chair), Margo Nayyar, Joshua Montemayor, and Ian Lee Merker. Commissioners Brian Burns and Garret Root were absent. The meeting included approval of prior minutes, a continued public hearing, a discussion on a National Register nomination, election of officers, and a director’s report.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of November 15, 2023, Meeting Minutes (File ID: 2024-00071): The commission passed a motion (4‑0, with two absent) to approve the minutes. Commissioner Montemayor made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Merker.
Public Hearings
- Item 2 – Ordinance listing 1950 Arden Way (Home Savings and Loan Building) as a Landmark (M23-011): No public testimony was received. Chair McSlavkin announced the item would be continued to the commission’s February 21, 2024, regular meeting. No further discussion or action was taken.
Discussion Calendar
- Item 3 – Review and Comment: Sacramento Shops Historic District National Register Nomination (M22-006): Preservation Planner Henry Fuse presented the nomination, explaining that it was prepared by Downtown Railyard Venture to qualify for historic preservation tax credits and would be reviewed by the State Historical Resources Commission on February 2, 2024. The commission discussed its prior comments on the district (including the name change from “Central Shops” to “Sacramento Shops”) and expressed strong support for the nomination. Commissioners shared personal anecdotes and emphasized the historical importance of the site, particularly regarding potential future private development. Preservation Director Sean deCourcy confirmed that staff would draft a letter conveying the commission’s endorsement to the State Historic Preservation Officer. No formal motion was made, as the agenda item was for review and comment only.
- Item 4 – Selection of Chair and Vice Chair for Calendar Year 2024 (File ID: 2024-00327): After a procedural exchange involving an amendment, a friendly amendment, and a separate nomination, the commission voted unanimously (4‑0) to re‑elect Max McSlavkin as Chair and to elect Margo Nayyar as Vice Chair for 2024. Commissioner Joshua Montemayor originally nominated McSlavkin; Commissioner Ian Lee Merker offered an amendment to create a single slate that included Nayyar as Vice Chair, which Commissioner Montemayor accepted as friendly. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Montemayor.
Director’s Report
Preservation Director Sean deCourcy provided updates on several initiatives:
- Planning Academy: Applications are open for the 2024 class; Commissioner Montemayor is a graduate.
- Plaque Grant Program: The commission received new plaques (different shape, color, and with a photograph) from a state Office of Historic Preservation grant. The plaques are being distributed to property owners.
- LGBTQ+ CLG Grant: The city has executed a contract with Paige & Turnbull for a historic contexts and survey project. A kickoff meeting was held, and community outreach has begun with the Lavender Library and the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce.
- Intern Program Updates: Intern Ella Cross graduated and joined the board of Preservation Sacramento; intern Derek Roberts transitioned to a volunteer role to focus on his thesis on ADU design standards in historic districts. The department hired two new paid interns (public history graduate students) and added two volunteer interns from Sacramento State, bringing the total to five student interns.
No commissioner comments or public comments on matters not on the agenda were received. The meeting was adjourned at 5:59 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
30 seconds has begun to Chair Staff is ready when you are thank you. Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the January 17th, 2024 Commission meeting, the first of the year, preservation commission meeting. The meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the roll to establish a quorum? Thank you, Chair. Umer, please unmute your mic. Commissioner Merker. Here. Commissioner Burns. Absent. Commissioner Monte Mayer. Here. Commissioner Nayar. Here. Vice Chair Root. Absent. Chair Mixlovin. Ms. Lofkins? Here? Thank you. We have quorum. Great. I would like to remind members of the public and chambers that if you would like to speak on an agenda item, please turn in a speaker slip when the item begins. You will have two minutes to speak once you are called on. After the first speaker, we will no longer accept speaker slips. We will now proceed with today's agenda, beginning with the land acknowledgement. Please rise for the opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's indigenous people and tribal lands. To the original people of this land, the Nissanon people, the Southern Maidu, Valley and Plains Miwok, Patwin Wintu peoples, and the people of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe. May we acknowledge and honor the Native people who came before us and still walk beside us today on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather today together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous peoples' history, contributions, and lives. Thank you. Please remain standing 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. All right, our first item of business today is the consent calendar. The approval of the preservation commission meeting minutes. Um clerk, do we have any comments from members of the public on this item? Thank you, Chair. I have no speaker slips on this item. Great. Do we have any commissioners who would like to comment or make a motion on this item? Make a motion to approve the minutes. Great. We have a motion to approve the minutes. Is there a second? Second. Do we second from Commissioner Merker? Um will the clerk please call the roll. Thank you, Chair. Um Commissioners, please unmute your mic.
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