Cultural Heritage Board Regular Meeting - September 1, 2021
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Cultural Heritage Board Regular Meeting – September 1, 2021
The Cultural Heritage Board of Santa Rosa held a virtual regular meeting on September 1, 2021, at 4:30 PM via Zoom due to COVID-19 precautions. All board members were present except for Board Member Garrett, who joined late, and one vacancy. The meeting included a training session on Rosenberg's Rules and conflict of interest, a report on proposed new board procedures/rules/regulations, and a study session on the Fremont Park Master Plan. No public comments were made on any agenda item.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke during any of the public comment periods.
Discussion Items
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Rosenberg's Rules and Conflict Training (Item 7.2)
- Assistant City Attorney Ashley Crocker presented an overview of Rosenberg's Rules of Order (used by city boards) and conflict-of-interest laws under the Political Reform Act, Government Code Section 1090, and common law bias. Key rules: quorum requirements, motion procedures (including friendly amendments), and disclosure/recusal for financial conflicts (e.g., property within 500 feet creates a presumption of conflict). Board members asked about the 500-foot map for property disclosures; staff committed to follow up.
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Proposed Cultural Heritage Board Procedures, Rules, and Regulations (Item 7.3)
- Senior Planner Susie Murray presented the proposed document that would supersede the existing rules. Discussion centered on whether to include a “statement of purpose” that had been part of the prior rules. Board Member Pratt Sellis noted the omission; staff initially recommended removing it to avoid redundancy with the zoning code, but after debate, the board agreed to retain the statement of purpose from the previous version (May 2021) as an amendment. The board also requested future documents include “redline” versions to track changes.
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Fremont Park Master Plan Study Session (Item 7.1)
- Parks Deputy Director Jen Santos presented the park’s history (designed by landscape architect Howard Gilkey in 1929) and current conditions. The park features an elliptical lily pool, a tiered fountain, Irish yew trees, and a reflecting pool site now occupied by a cancer survivor sculpture. The city plans a community engagement process to reimagine the park, with a master plan expected over three years. Board members provided feedback emphasizing preservation of the historic design (including the yew trees and fountain), restoration of original features (reflecting pool), and addition of low-impact amenities (bocce ball, seating) while improving sight lines to deter homeless encampments. No action was taken; the session was for input only.
Key Outcomes
- Adoption of Procedures, Rules, and Regulations (Item 7.3): The board unanimously approved a motion (Board Member Pratt Sellis, seconded by Board Member Garrett) to adopt Resolution 2021-01, which introduces the Cultural Heritage Board procedures, rules, and regulations as superseding the existing rules, with a friendly amendment to include the statement of purpose as it appeared in the rules dated May 2021. The motion passed with all six voting members in favor (Board Members Boren, Garrett, Huang, Pratt Sellis, Vice Chair Fennell, Chair Muser). Staff will add the statement of purpose and continue researching its origin.
- Follow-up: Staff will provide board members with the 500-foot property conflict map and future documents in redline format.
- Next Steps for Fremont Park: Staff will incorporate board input into the community engagement process for the master plan, which will also involve the Board of Community Services and City Council.
Meeting Transcript
Vice Chair Fennel, if you'd like to do an audio and video check for me, please. Hi. Great, thank you so much. Yes, we do. At this time, Miss Montoya, could we um call the meeting to order and have a roll call? Yes, thank you. Let the record reflect that all board members are present with the exception of board member Garrett, and we have one vacancy. Okay, thank you very much. And I know board member Garrett will be joining us shortly. Um we had a little change in plans, as many of you know, the not meeting in the chamber today, so um she didn't get the message, and so she's heading back home and um she'll be um signing in with us as soon as uh she gets there. So um with that, um I'd like to read a statement regarding um our activities uh with due to COVID. Do the provisions of the governor's executive orders in 2520 and in 2920, which suspends certain requirements of the Brown Act and the order of the health officer of the County of Sonoma to shelter in place to minimize the spread of COVID 19. The Cultural Heritage Board is conducting today's meeting in a virtual setting using Zoom webinar. Board members and their staff are participating from remote locations and or practicing appropriate social distancing. Members of the public may view and listen to the meeting as noted on the city's website and as noted on the agenda. Members of the public wishing to speak during item three, public comment or during our public hearing items will be able to do so by raising their hand and will be given the ability to address the board. Okay, moving on to item two, approval of the minutes. Um I don't believe we have any published minutes to um approve at this time. Uh am I correct with that, Ms. Murray. I am so sorry. I was doing some logistics here. Can you re ask the question there? Chair Music? Well, I yeah, I would I I don't believe we have the minutes from our last meeting to approve. I just wanted to confirm that. That's correct. Okay, so moving on to public three, public comments. Item three, public comments. We're now open public comment for any item not included in the meeting's agenda. If you wish to make a comment via Zoom, please select the raise hand button. If you are dialing in via telephone, please dial star nine to raise your hand. Each speaker has three minutes. The countdown timer will appear for the convenience of the speaker and viewers. Please make sure to unmute yourself when you are invited to do so. Your microphone will be muted at the end of the countdown. Uh Ms. Montoya, do we have any uh members of the public signed in and wishing to speak during public comment? We do not have any members of the public at this time. Okay, so with that, I'm going to close the public comment item. Item four, board business. Uh let me first read our statement of purpose. The Cultural Heritage Board shall consider the following matters, standards, guidelines, and criteria to the extent applicable in determining whether to grant or deny a permit. Whether the proposed change is consistent or incompatible with the architectural period of the building, whether post-change is compatible with any adjacent or nearby landmark structures or preservation district structures, whether the color, textures, materials, filtrations, decorative features, and details proposed are consistent with the period and or are compatible with the adjacent structures. Whether the proposed change destroys or adversely affects an important architectural feature or features. The Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rebilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings. Such other matters, criteria and standards may be adopted by resolution of the Cultural Heritage Board. Okay, with that being said, I'd like to uh um ask if any um of our board members have any uh board member reports that they'd like to make at this time. And if so, if you could raise your hand. Uh board member Pratt Sellis.
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