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Record of Proceedings

Preservation Commission Meeting - April 17, 2024

Preservation Commission — Wednesday, April 17, 2024
BodySacramento, California
SessionPreservation Commission
DateWednesday, April 17, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:21

Great, thank you.

0:23

And thank you for unmuting my mic.

0:25

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the April 17th 2024 Historic Preservation Commission meeting.

0:32

The meeting is now called to order.

0:34

And before we get started, we have two introductions to make of two new faces in the room.

0:39

Um, first, it's my pleasure to introduce our newest member of the commission, uh Salvatore Rika, who fills the licensed contractor seat, who goes by Sal.

0:48

Chair, if we could first take one.

0:50

Yep, sure.

0:50

Let's do that.

0:52

Okay.

0:53

The meeting is now called to order.

0:54

Will the clerk please call the roll to establish a quorum?

0:56

Thank you.

0:57

Uh Member Merker.

1:01

Here.

1:02

Member Ombacher.

1:04

Here.

1:04

Member Burns.

1:05

Here.

1:06

Member Rika?

1:07

Here.

1:08

Member Naar?

1:09

Here.

1:10

Member Montemayor?

1:11

Here.

1:11

And Chair McSlavkin.

1:13

Here.

1:13

Thank you.

1:14

We have quorum.

1:15

Great.

1:15

Thank you.

1:17

So I'd now really like to introduce our new Commission member Salvatore Rika, who goes by Sal.

1:22

Originally from San Francisco, Sal has called Sacramento home since 1993.

1:27

His passion for historic preservation stems from a lifelong interest in history, particularly maritime history, which influenced his early remodeling projects.

1:35

Drawing inspiration from transatlantic ocean liner interiors, Sal's interior designs blend the elegance of the past with modern design.

1:42

Growing up in a Victorian home in San Francisco's Castro District helped Sal develop his appreciation for architectural heritage.

1:49

As a licensed contractor, he's dedicated to preserving the character and charm of historic buildings like the building he owns at 2124 P Street, which is a contributing resource to the Wind Park Historic District that he has meticulously restored.

2:02

Please join me in welcoming Sal Rika to the commission.

2:06

Welcome aboard.

2:14

Yes, thank you.

2:15

Happy to.

2:16

Yeah, we have Mike Sparks joining us right over there with the bow tie.

2:20

Mike's been with the city attorney's office for 24 years.

2:23

He's advised a number of city departments, actually, all of them except utilities and public works.

2:32

Um, but everyone else and has been the lead attorney on the rail yards project for the last 13 years.

2:38

And Mike will um soon be next meeting advising the commission.

2:44

I have a few other things I need to start working on, so he's gonna be taking over and he is very excited.

2:50

It is bittersweet for me.

2:52

I've advised the commission for the last nine years, and uh it's been a pleasure.

2:58

And thank you.

3:01

Uh thank you, Courtney, for everything, and welcome Mike to the team.

3:06

Um welcome to the members of the public, and I would like to remind you that if you would like to speak on an agenda item, please turn in a speaker slip when the item begins.

3:14

You will have two minutes to speak once you are called on.

3:17

After the first speaker, we will no longer accept speaker slips.

3:20

We will now proceed with today's agenda.

3:23

Please rise for the opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's indigenous people and tribal lands.

3:29

To the original people of this land, the Nissanan people, the Southern Maidu, Valley and Plains Miwok, Patwin Wintu, and the people of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe.

3:41

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 people's history, contributions, and lives.

3:58

Thank you.

3:59

Please remain standing and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Historic Preservation█████████████████████████████████████████████85%
Procedural████████15%
Summary of Proceedings

Preservation Commission Meeting - April 17, 2024

The Sacramento Preservation Commission met on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at 5:30 PM, in City Hall (915 I Street) and via video conference. The meeting lasted approximately 34 minutes, adjourning at 6:04 PM. The commission considered three public hearing items: the listing of the South Land Park Hills (Eichler) Historic District, and two individual landmark designations (2025 P Street and 1049 44th Street). All items were recommended to the City Council for approval.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of March 20, 2024 Meeting Minutes (File ID: 2024-00075) – Passed unanimously (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Item 2 (Eichler Historic District): Five speakers provided public comment in support of the district:
    • Gretchen Steinberg (speaking for SAC MOD) expressed full support, noting the district's fair housing history and the collaborative effort behind the nomination.
    • Susan Hainas (resident within the proposed district) thanked staff and neighbors for their persistence over several years and requested the commission forward the item to City Council.
    • Karen French (former resident) voiced support without elaboration.
    • John Marshak (former commission member) supported the effort, referencing his involvement during the mid-century modern survey.
    • William Berg (President of Preservation Sacramento) enthusiastically supported the district, highlighting the inclusive housing policy of Joseph Eichler and noting that this would be the first residential historic district outside the central city listed on the Sacramento Register.
  • No public comments were submitted for Item 3 (2025 P Street) or Item 4 (1049 44th Street).

Discussion Items

  • Item 2 – Ordinance Listing South Land Park Hills (Eichler) Historic District (M19-002): Staff presented the nomination, which originated from the 2016-2017 Mid-Century Modern Survey funded by over $66,000 in grants. The district includes 60 properties (49 contributing, 11 non-contributing) built by Joseph Eichler in 1955-1956, designed by A. Quincy Jones and Frederick Emmons. Staff noted over 80% of responding property owners supported listing, and letters of support came from the Southland Park Neighborhood Association, Preservation Sacramento, and SAC MOD. One letter of opposition was received, and staff met with that property owner. Commissioner Ambacher recused herself due to prior work on the project. Commissioner Merker disclosed his volunteer role in the citywide survey but not in this district. The motion to recommend approval passed 6-0 (Ambacher recused).
  • Item 3 – Ordinance Listing 2025 P Street as a Landmark (M24-003): Staff presented a nomination prepared by the property owner’s consultant, concluding the property is eligible under Criterion 3 as a good example of Sacramento vernacular Colonial Revival architecture. No public comments or objections were received. The motion to recommend approval passed unanimously (7-0).
  • Item 4 – Ordinance Listing 1049 44th Street as a Landmark (M24-004): Staff presented a nomination prepared by the property owner’s consultant, concluding the property is eligible under Criterion 3 as a good example of Sacramento vernacular English Tudor Revival architecture. No public comments or objections were received. The motion to recommend approval passed unanimously (7-0).

Director’s Report

  • Preservation Director Sean deCourcy reported:
    • The third landmark in the Wright & Kimbrough tract (FAB 40s) was recommended, signaling strong neighborhood support for preservation.
    • First public outreach meeting for the LGBTQ+ Historic Context and Survey project will be held on April 18, 2024, at 6 PM at 2100 J Street.
    • Preservation Sacramento received a $5,000 matching grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation for the LGBTQ+ project, matched for a total of $10,000, to fund community stipends.
    • May is Preservation Month; a bike tour of historic districts led by Henry Fuse will take place on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
    • The Sacramento Shops Historic District (rail yards) was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 25, 2024, enabling federal rehabilitation tax credits.

Key Outcomes

  • Item 2: Motion passed 6-0 (Commissioner Ambacher recused). Recommends City Council: (1) determine CEQA exemption (Section 15308), (2) adopt ordinance listing the South Land Park Hills (Eichler) Historic District on the Sacramento Register, and (3) adopt the Historic District Plan.
  • Item 3: Motion passed 7-0. Recommends City Council: (1) determine CEQA exemption, and (2) adopt ordinance listing 2025 P Street as a landmark.
  • Item 4: Motion passed 7-0. Recommends City Council: (1) determine CEQA exemption, and (2) adopt ordinance listing 1049 44th Street as a landmark.
  • The commission also approved the consent calendar (minutes) and received the director’s report. No other business was discussed.

Meeting Transcript

Great, thank you. And thank you for unmuting my mic. Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the April 17th 2024 Historic Preservation Commission meeting. The meeting is now called to order. And before we get started, we have two introductions to make of two new faces in the room. Um, first, it's my pleasure to introduce our newest member of the commission, uh Salvatore Rika, who fills the licensed contractor seat, who goes by Sal. Chair, if we could first take one. Yep, sure. Let's do that. Okay. The meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the roll to establish a quorum? Thank you. Uh Member Merker. Here. Member Ombacher. Here. Member Burns. Here. Member Rika? Here. Member Naar? Here. Member Montemayor? Here. And Chair McSlavkin. Here. Thank you. We have quorum. Great. Thank you. So I'd now really like to introduce our new Commission member Salvatore Rika, who goes by Sal. Originally from San Francisco, Sal has called Sacramento home since 1993. His passion for historic preservation stems from a lifelong interest in history, particularly maritime history, which influenced his early remodeling projects. Drawing inspiration from transatlantic ocean liner interiors, Sal's interior designs blend the elegance of the past with modern design. Growing up in a Victorian home in San Francisco's Castro District helped Sal develop his appreciation for architectural heritage. As a licensed contractor, he's dedicated to preserving the character and charm of historic buildings like the building he owns at 2124 P Street, which is a contributing resource to the Wind Park Historic District that he has meticulously restored. Please join me in welcoming Sal Rika to the commission. Welcome aboard. Yes, thank you. Happy to. Yeah, we have Mike Sparks joining us right over there with the bow tie. Mike's been with the city attorney's office for 24 years. He's advised a number of city departments, actually, all of them except utilities and public works. Um, but everyone else and has been the lead attorney on the rail yards project for the last 13 years. And Mike will um soon be next meeting advising the commission. I have a few other things I need to start working on, so he's gonna be taking over and he is very excited. It is bittersweet for me. I've advised the commission for the last nine years, and uh it's been a pleasure. And thank you.

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