Sacramento Preservation Commission Meeting - March 20, 2024
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Sacramento Preservation Commission Meeting - March 20, 2024
The Sacramento Preservation Commission met on March 20, 2024 at 5:30 PM at City Hall Complex. The meeting included approval of prior minutes, review of the Certified Local Government Annual Report, discussion of objective design standards for ADUs in historic districts, and presentation of the Draft Parks Plan 2040. No public comments were received. The meeting adjourned at 6:11 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1 – Approval of Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes (February 21, 2024): Passed unanimously (5 yes, 1 abstention by Chair McSlavkin who was absent at the prior meeting, 1 absent).
Discussion Items
- Item 2 – 2022-2023 Certified Local Government Program Annual Report Draft: Preservation Director Sean deCourcy presented the annual report, summarizing city preservation activities and eligibility for CLG grants. Commissioners reviewed the document and noted that a resume for Commissioner Merker was missing; it will be added before submission. No public comments. No action taken (review and comment item).
- Item 3 – Objective Standards for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Involving Historic Properties: Intern Derek presented draft objective design standards to regulate ADUs in historic districts, including requirements for materials, windows, roofing, and setbacks. The standards aim to prevent adverse impacts while complying with state ministerial approval laws. Commissioners discussed the balance between prescriptive rules and flexibility, cost implications for homeowners, and the importance of community outreach. Commissioner Merker expressed concern about over-prescription but appreciated the vetting process. Commissioner Montemayor supported the community engagement approach. Chair McSlavkin questioned cost and purpose; staff noted cost differences are marginal and that homeowners typically build higher quality ADUs. The commission will receive a final draft in October 2024 for recommendation to City Council.
- Item 4 – Draft Parks Plan 2040 Public Release: Molivann Phlong, Associate Planner, presented the 20-year plan for parks, recreation, and community enrichment. The plan was developed with extensive public engagement (including during the pandemic) and identifies nine key directions. A statistically valid survey found 60% of respondents prefer allocating more funding to neighborhoods with fewer resources. The public comment period runs March 8–April 8, 2024. Commissioners praised the plan's readability and graphics. One commissioner recommended incorporating Native American history earlier in the timeline and integrating Native American gardens with climate resiliency goals. No action taken.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved minutes of February 21, 2024 (5-0-1, 1 absent).
- Items 2, 3, 4: Reviewed and commented; no formal votes taken. Staff will incorporate feedback and report back to the commission.
- Next Steps: For Item 3, staff will conduct community outreach and return with final ADU standards by October 2024. For Item 4, public comments are accepted through April 8, 2024.
Director’s Report
- Preservation Director Sean deCourcy introduced new interns: Derek Robert (public history graduate student and former Navy paramedic), Samuel Ruttenberg (public history graduate student), Alison Isham (undergraduate history student), and two others (Jake Cargis and Deirdre Brennan) who were absent.
Public Comments – Matters Not on the Agenda
- None.
Meeting Transcript
Chair Staff is ready when you are. Great, thank you, and good evening, everyone. Welcome to the March 20th, 2024 Preservation Commission meeting. The meeting is now called to order. And before we get started tonight, I wanted to take a quick moment and welcome our new commissioners or commissioner this evening. Um Tisa Ombuscher. Uh filling the architectural historian seat. Commissioner Ombacher is a senior architectural historian with 21 years professional experience specializing in historic preservation, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, NEPA, CEQA, and Cultural Resources Management. She's prepared a range of technical documents, including historic resources evaluation reports, finding of effects, built environment treatment plants, and historic property management plans, as well as HABS, HAER, and HALS documentation. Her clients include public and private entities. She's managed and worked on projects in California, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. But I assume she loves Sacramento the best. Welcome so much to the Commission. Great to have you. Well, now that we know who we all are, move on, and will the clerk please establish or call the role to establish a quorum. Thank you, Chair. Commissioners, please unmute. Commissioner Marker? Here. Commissioner Almbacher? Here. Commissioner Burns? Here. Commissioner Ricca. Absent. Vice Chair Nayer? Here. Commissioner Montemeyer? Here. And Chair Mixlavkin. Here. Thank you. We have quorum. Great. Thank you. 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 the today's agenda, beginning with the land acknowledgement and pledge of allegiance. Please rise. To the original people of this land, the Nissanan people, the Southern Maidu, Valley and Plains Miwok, Patlan 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 together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous peoples' history, contributions, and lives. Thank you. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. Our first business today is the consent calendar and item number one, the approval of preservation commission meeting minutes. Thank you, Chair. I have no speaker slips on this item. Thank you. Are there any commissioners who wish to speak on this item? Great.
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