Cultural Heritage Board Meeting: June 21, 2023 - House Santa Rosa Report & Unpermitted Work Discussion
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Cultural Heritage Board Regular Meeting - June 21, 2023
The Cultural Heritage Board met on June 21, 2023, from 4:36 PM to 6:16 PM. Five members were present (Chair Meuser, Vice Chair Garrett, Board Members Carney, Fennell, Klyn); one member (Boren) was absent. The meeting included a presentation on the grant-funded House Santa Rosa project and a brainstorming session on unpermitted work in preservation districts, which was continued to July 19, 2023. No public comments were made.
Consent Calendar
- None.
Public Comments & Testimony
- None.
Discussion Items
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8.1 Report - House Santa Rosa: Project Planner Conor McKay presented a grant-funded initiative to accelerate housing production. The project includes two deliverables: a citywide development feasibility tool (allowing users to search parcels for development regulations and incentives) and a real-time development map/dashboard (tracking housing projects, parking, height, etc.). Board members asked about public access, integration with existing GIS maps, and the potential to include historic district requirements. Board members expressed strong support for the tool, noting its value for transparency and education, especially in historic districts. No vote was taken; the board provided feedback.
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8.2 Brainstorm Ideas to Address Unpermitted Work in Preservation Districts: Staff Liaison Murray introduced the item, the third step to discuss work done without permits in preservation districts. Board members shared concerns about homeowners not knowing rules, fees, and the difficulty of navigating the city website. Chair Meuser presented a hypothetical fence-replacement scenario showing potential costs of $1,941 and a 4-month process for a major landmark alteration permit. Board members discussed the need for better outreach, simplified processes for minor alterations (e.g., fences, windows), and potential fee reductions. A motion was made by Chair Meuser, seconded by Vice Chair Garrett, to continue the discussion to the next meeting on July 19, 2023. The motion carried unanimously (5-0, with Boren absent).
Key Outcomes
- Item 8.2: Motion to continue the brainstorming discussion to the July 19, 2023 meeting passed 5-0. Staff will provide links to relevant codes, fee schedules, and other resources to board members for review before the next meeting.
- Department Reports: Staff Liaison Murray reported that the Cultural Heritage Board's activity is increasing, and reminded members to respond to quorum checks promptly. She also provided an update on Fremont Park: the historic evaluation draft was expected at the end of May, with a staff review meeting in early June, after which the report will be brought to the board. The board requested that the report be posted as early as possible before the meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Yeah, compliance issue of basically work on there the house. Pretty cooperative all the way through the process. I guess now they'll put a temporal. It's like I should know that somebody turned in on this, and if we put it in book that somebody's probably gonna turn the in the phone for that. So that's part of our good discussion today. No, I don't think we're talking about anything specific for I got candy bars. Michael Jackson hurts. Um, Chair Muser. Uh we'll need a minute before we get started. When you are ready. Okay, we're going to uh call to order the um June twenty first uh meeting of the City of Santa Rosa Cultural Heritage Board. I'd like to welcome all the board members and uh city staff. Umbers of the public can participate in the meeting by attending in person from the council chambers located at 100 Santa Rosa Avenue. It is recommended that social distancing be observed or via Zoom webinar by visiting HTTPS double slash srcity-org.us slash J slash 843904 6242 or by dialing 877 853 5257 and entering webinar ID 843 9046 2242. Public comment may be made live during the meeting via Zoom, phone, or in person from the council chambers. Additional information related to meeting participation is available at https double slash www.srcity dot org slash 585 slash cultural dash heritage dash board. The meeting will be live streamed at HTTPS, double slash Santa Santa Rosa dot legislar.com slash calendar, click on the in progress link to view. The meeting can also be viewed Comcast Channel 28 and at HTTPS, double slash www.youtube dot com slash city of Santa Rosa. At this time, I would uh like to ask our recording secretary Kramer if we could have roll call. Board Member Bourne is absent. Board Member Carney. Here. Board Member Fennel. Board Member Klein? Here. Vice Chair Garrett. Here. Chair Muser. Here. Let the record reflect that all board members are present with the exception of board member Borin. Thank you. Moving on to item two, approval of the minutes. We have our May 3rd 2023 draft minutes to approve. Does anybody have any additions or changes to those minutes? Any board members? Good. Seeing no changes, we'll move that those minutes be approved. Okay, item three, public comment. This a time when any person may address the matters not listed on this agenda, but which are within the subject matter of the jurisdiction. The public may comment on agenda items when the item is called. Each speaker is allowed three minutes. So Secretary Kramer, do we have any members of the public wishing to comment at this time? We have no members of the public in person nor on Zoom. Okay. With that, I'll close uh item three public comment. Moving on to item four, uh, board business. Um I'll start out by reading uh the Cultural Heritage Board's statement of purpose. Principal duties of the board include undertaking and updating historic inventories or surveys, recommending designation of landmarks and preservation districts, reviewing proposed alterations to historic buildings, and promoting public awareness of preservation issues. If you are in a historic district or would like more information regarding historic districts, please see the processing review procedures for owners of historic properties. With that, do any of our board members have anything they'd like to report at this time?
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