Preservation Commission Meeting Summary – May 20, 2026
Preservation Commission Meeting Summary – May 20, 2026
The Sacramento Preservation Commission held a regular meeting on May 20, 2026, commencing at 5:39 PM and adjourning at 6:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chamber. Chair Patricia Ambacher presided. Commissioners present: Ella Cross, John Nicolaus, Salvatore Ricca, and Chair Ambacher. Commissioners Max McSlavkin and Ian Lee Merker were absent. A quorum was established.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the Preservation Commission meeting minutes of April 15, 2026, by a unanimous vote (4-0).
Public Hearings
- Item 2 – Ordinance Listing 1957 13th Avenue as a Landmark (M26-010): Preservation intern Hazel Bess presented the nomination. The property owner supported the listing. Staff recommended eligibility under Criterion 3 (architecture) only, not Criterion 1. Commissioner Cross questioned the criteria and noted that the DPR form still referenced Criterion 1 and should be updated. A motion to recommend City Council adoption of the ordinance passed unanimously (4-0).
- Item 3 – Ordinance Listing 3137 33rd Street as a Historic Landmark (M26-011): This item was continued.
- Item 4 – Ordinance Listing 1445 45th Street (Weaver House) as a Landmark (M26-009): Preservation intern Hannah Tobby presented the nomination. The property owner supported the designation. Staff recommended listing under Criterion 3 (Colonial Revival architecture). Commissioner Cross confirmed the criteria. A motion to recommend City Council adoption passed unanimously (4-0).
Discussion Items
- Item 5 – Old Sacramento National Register Update (M26-012): Preservation Planner Henry Fuse presented the first administrative draft of an updated National Register nomination, funded by a National Park Service grant and ARPA. The update aims to include a more inclusive history, recognizing Native American communities, Asian immigrants, African Americans, Hispanic heritage, and women, as well as clearly defining contributing resources and boundaries. Commissioner Cross commented on the historical importance of the cottonwood trees along the river and the monument to SP workers built in a nearby foundry. Commissioner Nicolaus praised the quality of the nomination and noted the challenges of moved and reconstructed buildings. No formal action was taken; the Commission reviewed and commented on the draft.
Director's Report
- Preservation Planner Henry Fuse provided updates:
- The city’s Certified Local Government annual report has been submitted to the California Office of Historic Preservation.
- The City Council approved the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) objective design standards for historic properties in March.
- The proposed landmark designation for the Orbit gas station (2240 Northgate Boulevard) was continued by the City Council to allow further discussions.
- The Hackett House was accepted and listed as an official Network to Freedom site.
- Director de Courcy attended the California Preservation Foundation conference; Fuse will speak at a CPF webinar on May 28.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar approved (4-0).
- Recommendation to City Council to adopt ordinance listing 1957 13th Avenue as a landmark (4-0).
- Recommendation to City Council to adopt ordinance listing 1445 45th Street as a landmark (4-0).
- Item 3 continued.
- Reviewed and commented on Old Sacramento National Register update; no vote taken.
- No public comments were made on matters not on the agenda.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the Wednesday, May 20th, 2026 meeting of the Preservation Commission. The meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the role to establish a quorum? Yes, thank you, Chair. Commissioners, if you can please unmute your microphones. Vice Chair Merker is absent. Commissioner Rika? Here. Commissioner Nicholas? Here. Commissioner Cross? Here. Commissioner McSlovkin is absent, and Chair Ombacher. Here. Thank you. We have a quorum. 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 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 on. And before proceeding with today's agenda, we have one change that we need to make. I'm sorry, that was it. Oh excuse me, item two. Item three is being continued, not item two. Oh, sorry. Item two is being, item three is being continued, which is 3137 33rd Street. So we'll now proceed to the agenda, beginning with the land acknowledgement of the pledge of allegiance. Please, if you're able, please rise. To the original people of this land, the Nissanane people, the Southern Maidu Valley, and Plains Mewak, Patwin Winton 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. Please stay stand 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. Um the next 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. We do not have any speakers for the consent. Thank you. Are there any members of the commission who wish to speak on this item? Okay. Is there a motion and a second for the consent calendar? So moved. Do I have a second? Yes, a second. Um clerk, will you please call the vote? So we have a motion by Commissioner Nicholas and a second by Commissioner Cross. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed or abstain?
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