OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Preservation Commission Meeting April 15, 2026: Hackett House Nomination

Preservation Commission — Wednesday, April 15, 2026
BodySacramento, California
SessionPreservation Commission
DateWednesday, April 15, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 18:50

Transcript — Verbatim
0:27

Thank you.

0:27

Thank you, Chair.

0:28

We're ready to start when you are.

0:32

Good evening and welcome to the Wednesday, April 15th, 2026 meeting of the Preservation Commission.

0:38

The meeting is now called to order.

0:39

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

0:43

Thank you, Chair.

0:44

Commissioners, please unmute your microphones by hitting the button and making sure the green light is on.

0:50

Thank you.

0:53

Here.

0:54

Commissioner Rika.

0:55

Here.

0:56

Commissioner Cross.

0:57

Here.

0:58

Commissioner Nicholas.

0:59

Here.

1:00

Commissioner McSlavkin.

1:02

Here.

1:03

And Chair Ombacher.

1:04

Here.

1:05

Thank you.

1:05

You have a quorum.

1:07

Thank you.

1:09

Excuse me.

1:10

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

1:17

After the item is called, we will no longer accept speaker slips, and you will have two minutes to speak once you are called upon.

1:24

We'll now proceed to today's agenda.

1:27

For those that are able, please rise for the opening acknowledgments and the pledge of allegiance.

1:58

By choosing to gather together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous peoples' histories, contributions, and lives.

2:08

Thank you.

2:09

To the Pledge of Allegiance.

2:13

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

2:20

One nation under God, indivisible liberty and justice for all.

2:29

So before we um move to the first item on the agenda, I wanted to introduce our newest commissioner, um, John Nicholas, and would you like to say a few words?

2:39

Tell us about yourself.

2:41

Sure, thank you.

2:42

Uh it's nice to be here.

2:43

Uh John Nicholas Landscape Architect.

2:45

I've I'm uh I was just saying, we have another fifth generation Sacramentan.

2:50

Um it's uh I've uh had the pleasure of working uh uh practicing landscape architecture throughout California and the West and also in China.

2:58

Uh done a lot of different projects around town, uh in the county and the city.

3:03

Um I've been a city resident, but I happen to move to the county like about a block from Sacramento, but I'm still got a Sacramento address.

3:10

And I'm very pleased to be here and help to contribute to the efforts of the Commission.

3:16

Thank you.

3:17

So now we'll start with the um agenda.

3:20

So that um the net the first item is the approval of the consent calendar.

3:24

Clerk, are there any members of the public who wish to speak on the consent calendar?

3:28

Thank you, Chair.

3:29

I have no speaker slips on this item.

3:31

Okay.

3:32

Thank you.

3:32

Are there any commissioners who would like to speak on this item?

3:37

Is there a motion and a second for the consent calendar?

3:45

A motion to approve the consent calendar.

3:49

Is there a second?

3:51

I'll second.

3:56

Okay.

3:58

Thank you, Chair.

3:59

Commissioners, please unmute your microphones.

4:02

Vice Chair Merker?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Arts And Culture█████████████████████████████████████████████59%
Procedural███████████████████25%
Community Engagement███████9%
Land Use Planning█████7%
Summary of Proceedings

Preservation Commission Meeting April 15, 2026

The Sacramento Preservation Commission met on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 5:31 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber, 915 I Street. The meeting included a consent calendar item, a discussion of the Hackett House Network to Freedom nomination, and the welcome of new Commissioner John Nicolaus. The meeting was adjourned at 5:49 p.m.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (File ID 2026-00040): Approved unanimously (6-0) the Preservation Commission meeting minutes of March 18, 2026.

Discussion Items

  • Hackett House Network to Freedom Nomination (M26-008, File ID 2026-00808): The Commission heard a staff presentation from Sean de Courcy, Preservation Director, on a draft nomination to the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program for the Hackett House (Archy Lee Escape Site). The proposed location is a pedestrian tunnel on K Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets, District 4. The nomination builds on the city’s African American Experience Project and a $14,000 National Park Service grant. Staff noted that the original building no longer stands, but the site is recognized for Archy Lee’s 1858 escape and landmark legal case. Commissioner Max McSlavkin expressed concerns about the location, citing the nearby mural (depicting individuals like Peter Burnett and John Sutter) that he called incongruent with the story of Black resistance. Staff explained that the location was chosen for accessibility and public ownership, as other sites (including near the Pony Express statue) faced bureaucratic obstacles with Caltrans right-of-way consent. Commissioner Cross noted that a mural redesign is already in progress, funded by economic development and the Center for Sacramento History, and suggested the Hackett House story could be incorporated. The Commission supported the nomination.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to Support the Hackett House Nomination: Passed unanimously (6-0) on a motion by Commissioner McSlavkin, seconded by Vice Chair Merker.
  • Withdrawal of Item 3: The proposal to rename the Plaza Park (Cesar Chavez Plaza) Historic District (M26-007) was withdrawn from the agenda (as of 04/13/2026).
  • Director’s Report Deferred: Sean de Courcy indicated a director’s report was not on the agenda and would be deferred to the next meeting; no time-sensitive items were noted.
  • No Public Comments: There were no public comments on either the consent calendar or matters not on the agenda.

Meeting Transcript

Thank you. Thank you, Chair. We're ready to start when you are. Good evening and welcome to the Wednesday, April 15th, 2026 meeting of the Preservation Commission. The meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the role to establish a quorum? Thank you, Chair. Commissioners, please unmute your microphones by hitting the button and making sure the green light is on. Thank you. Here. Commissioner Rika. Here. Commissioner Cross. Here. Commissioner Nicholas. Here. Commissioner McSlavkin. Here. And Chair Ombacher. Here. Thank you. You have a quorum. Thank you. Excuse me. I would like to remind members of the public in chambers that if you would like to speak on an agenda item, please turn in a speaker slip before the item begins. After the item is called, we will no longer accept speaker slips, and you will have two minutes to speak once you are called upon. We'll now proceed to today's agenda. For those that are able, please rise for the opening acknowledgments and the pledge of allegiance. By choosing to gather together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous peoples' histories, contributions, and lives. Thank you. To 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 liberty and justice for all. So before we um move to the first item on the agenda, I wanted to introduce our newest commissioner, um, John Nicholas, and would you like to say a few words? Tell us about yourself. Sure, thank you. Uh it's nice to be here. Uh John Nicholas Landscape Architect. I've I'm uh I was just saying, we have another fifth generation Sacramentan. Um it's uh I've uh had the pleasure of working uh uh practicing landscape architecture throughout California and the West and also in China. Uh done a lot of different projects around town, uh in the county and the city. Um I've been a city resident, but I happen to move to the county like about a block from Sacramento, but I'm still got a Sacramento address. And I'm very pleased to be here and help to contribute to the efforts of the Commission. Thank you. So now we'll start with the um agenda. So that um the net the first item is the approval of the consent calendar. Clerk, are there any members of the public who wish to speak on the consent calendar? Thank you, Chair. I have no speaker slips on this item. Okay.

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