OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Sacramento Preservation Commission Regular Meeting – June 17, 2026

Preservation Commission — Wednesday, June 17, 2026
BodySacramento, California
SessionPreservation Commission
DateWednesday, June 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 43:13
Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Seconds on the timer to start our live stream, and the 2020, sir.

1:11

Good evening, and welcome to the Wednesday, June 17th, 2026 meeting of the Preservation Commission.

1:16

The meeting is now called to order.

1:18

Will the Kirk clerk please call the roll and establish a quorum?

1:23

Thank you, Chair.

1:24

Commissioners, please unmute your microphones.

1:29

Commissioner Rika?

1:31

Here.

1:32

Commissioner Nicholas?

1:33

Here.

1:34

Commissioner Cross.

1:35

Here.

1:36

Commissioner Luxlavkin.

1:37

Here.

1:38

And Chair Ombacher.

1:39

Here.

1:40

Thank you, Chair.

1:41

We have a quorum.

1:43

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.

1:50

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.

1:57

We will now proceed with today's agenda beginning with the land acknowledgement and the pledge of allegiance.

2:01

Please rise if you are able for the opening acknowledgments in honor of the Sacramento's Indigenous People and Tribal Lands.

2:09

To the original people of this land, the Nissanon people of the Southern Maidu Valley and Plains Miwok, Hatwin Winton peoples, and the peoples of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe.

2:22

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.

2:37

Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

2:42

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

3:00

So next is the approval of the consent item.

3:03

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

3:07

Thank you, Chair.

3:07

I have no speaker slips on this item.

3:10

Thank you.

3:10

Are there any commissioners who wish to speak on this item?

3:17

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

3:22

Do I have a second?

3:25

Thank you.

3:34

Commissioners, please unmute your microphones.

3:37

All in favor, say aye.

3:39

Aye.

3:42

Abstain.

3:43

Motion passes.

3:46

Thank you.

3:46

We will now proceed to the items under public hearings.

3:50

Are there any commissioners who have any disclosures or recusals they wish to make?

3:56

I would like to recuse myself from the first item.

4:00

From item two.

4:02

From item two.

4:03

Yes.

4:05

Thank you.

4:07

Item two is the ordinance listing thirty-one thirty-seven thirty-third street as a historic landmark on the Sacramento Register.

4:13

Is there a staff presentation?

4:40

Yes.

4:43

Good evening, Commissioners.

4:44

Uh hello, my name is Hazel Bess, Preservation Intern for the City of Sacramento, and I'll be presenting the landmark nomination for three one three seven thirty-third street under file M25-11.

4:56

In 2025, the property owner of 3137 33rd Street retained the services of Ella Cross, a qualified architectural historian to prepare the historic evaluation for this property.

5:07

The historic evaluation attached to your staff report concludes that the property at 3137 33rd Street appears eligible for listing on the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources under Criteria 1 and 3, pursuant to Sacramento City Code Section 17.604.210 for its association with patterns of settlement and development in Oak Park and its working class Queen Anne architecture.

5:31

The property appears eligible under Criterion 1 for its association with early Oak Park development patterns, including streetcar suburb growth, immigrant and working class settlement, and impacts of urban renewal.

5:43

Constructed in 1901 as part of the Oak Terrace Tract, the property reflects an early phase of residential development in Oak Park, Sacramento's first streetcar suburb.

5:52

The property's long-term association with working-class immigrant families, including the Carroll and Williams families, illustrates broader patterns of neighborhood formation, city civic engagement, and labor activity that shaped the Oak Park community.

6:05

The property is also associated with the impacts of urban renewal and freeway construction in the mid-20th century, which significantly altered the surrounding neighborhood and represents an important pattern in the area's historical development.

6:17

The property also appears eligible for listing under criterion three as a representative example of a working class Queen Anne residence.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use Planning█████████████████████████████████████████████75%
Procedural████████13%
Community Engagement███████12%
Summary of Proceedings

Sacramento Preservation Commission Regular Meeting – June 17, 2026

The Sacramento Preservation Commission met on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 5:31 PM in City Hall Council Chamber (915 I Street) and adjourned at 6:13 PM. All six commissioners were present: Chair Patricia Ambacher, Vice Chair Ian Lee Merker, and Commissioners Ella Cross, Max McSlavkin, John Nicolaus, and Salvatore Ricca. The meeting included a consent calendar, two public hearings on proposed historic landmark ordinances, a discussion item on the LGBTQ+ Historic Experience Project, and a director's report.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (May 20, 2026): Approved unanimously (6–0).

Public Hearings

  • Item 2 – Ordinance Listing 3137 33rd Street as a Historic Landmark: Staff presented the nomination for a 1901 Queen Anne working-class residence in Oak Park. The property is eligible under Criteria 1 (settlement patterns) and 3 (architecture). No public speakers or objections were recorded. Commissioner Cross recused herself. The commission voted 5–0 to recommend City Council approval with a CEQA exemption (Section 15308).
  • Item 3 – Ordinance Listing 5241 J Street (El Dorado School) as a Historic Landmark: Staff presented the nomination for the former El Dorado Elementary School, built 1921–1930, a Spanish Revival structure designed by Dean & Dean. The staff recommended an amendment to remove “expansive property” as a character-defining feature. Three public speakers spoke in support: William Berg (Preservation Sacramento), Bruce Marwick (Sacramento Art Deco Society), and Will Green (East Sacramento Preservation). The commission noted 41 letters of support. The motion to recommend City Council approval with the amendment passed unanimously (6–0).

Discussion Items

  • Item 4 – LGBTQ+ Historic Experience Project Potentially Eligible Landmarks and Historic District: Staff presented proposed landmarks (e.g., Alternative Coffee Shop, Bojangles, Mirage) and the Lavender Heights Historic District (12 contributing resources, 29 non-contributing). William Berg (Preservation Sacramento) spoke in support. Commissioners discussed the origin of the name “Lavender Heights” and requested adding details about Bojangles’ dual history as a gay bar and punk club. No vote was taken; the commission provided review and direction for next steps.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar: Approved (6–0).
  • 3137 33rd Street: Recommended City Council approval of landmark designation (5–0, Commissioner Cross recused).
  • 5241 J Street (El Dorado School): Recommended City Council approval of landmark designation, with amendment to remove “expansive property” as a character-defining feature (6–0).
  • LGBTQ+ Historic Experience Project: Reviewed, commented, and provided direction; staff to refine nominations based on feedback before beginning the formal nomination process.
  • Director's Report: Sean deCourcy announced four properties scheduled for State Historical Resources Commission review (August 7, 2026): Grant Union High School, Thompson Diggs Company building, El Dorado School (National Register), and a delisting request for 1111 F Street in Alkali Flat Central Historic District. Staff requested a postponement on the delisting item to allow local review.

Public Comments – Matters Not on the Agenda

  • None.

Meeting Transcript

Seconds on the timer to start our live stream, and the 2020, sir. Good evening, and welcome to the Wednesday, June 17th, 2026 meeting of the Preservation Commission. The meeting is now called to order. Will the Kirk clerk please call the roll and establish a quorum? Thank you, Chair. Commissioners, please unmute your microphones. Commissioner Rika? Here. Commissioner Nicholas? Here. Commissioner Cross. Here. Commissioner Luxlavkin. Here. And Chair Ombacher. Here. Thank you, Chair. We have a quorum. 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. We will now proceed with today's agenda beginning with the land acknowledgement and the pledge of allegiance. Please rise if you are able for the opening acknowledgments in honor of the Sacramento's Indigenous People and Tribal Lands. To the original people of this land, the Nissanon people of the Southern Maidu Valley and Plains Miwok, Hatwin Winton peoples, and the peoples 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. Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. So next is the approval of the consent item. 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. Thank you. Are there any commissioners who wish to speak on this item? Is there a motion and a second for the consent calendar? Do I have a second? Thank you. Commissioners, please unmute your microphones. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Abstain. Motion passes. Thank you. We will now proceed to the items under public hearings. Are there any commissioners who have any disclosures or recusals they wish to make? I would like to recuse myself from the first item. From item two. From item two. Yes. Thank you. Item two is the ordinance listing thirty-one thirty-seven thirty-third street as a historic landmark on the Sacramento Register. Is there a staff presentation?

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