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Record of Proceedings

Santa Rosa Cultural Heritage Board Regular Meeting - January 17, 2024

Planning Commission — Wednesday, January 17, 2024
BodySanta Rosa, California
SessionPlanning Commission
DateWednesday, January 17, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:23

Okay, good evening, everybody.

0:25

Welcome to the January 17th Cultural Heritage Board.

0:31

Ms.

0:32

Kemp, if we could have uh, I'm gonna call the board to order, and Ms.

0:38

Kemp, if we could have a roll call.

0:41

Thank you, Chair Muser.

0:43

Uh do I have board member Borin?

0:46

Board Member Carney?

0:48

Here.

0:49

Board Member Fennell.

0:51

Here.

0:52

Board Member Klein.

0:55

Board Member Marslin.

0:57

Vice Chair Garrett is absent.

1:01

And Chair Muser.

1:04

Here.

1:05

The record reflect that we have all board members with the exception of Vice Chair Garrett present at our meeting.

1:24

Okay, moving on to uh item two, approval of minutes.

1:28

Um does anybody have any changes to the minutes from December 6th or December 13th of 2023?

1:41

Okay, I do have a um for December 13, 2023.

1:48

I'm wondering if we could add that Vice Chair Garrett made a friendly amendment, and I believe it was um board member fennel who seconded that friendly amendment that uh modified the the resolution.

2:09

If we could just just add those two things.

2:16

And seeing no other changes, um so the minutes for December 6th and the 13th, uh then will stand approved as amended.

2:49

Okay.

2:56

Okay, recording uh uh Ms.

3:00

Camp, do we have any public comment on item two approval of minutes?

3:07

No, Chair Muser, we do not.

3:14

Okay, moving on to item three, uh, public comments.

3:17

We are now taking public comments, uh non-agenda matters.

3:22

This is the time when any person may address the board on matters not listed on this agenda, but which are within the subject matter jurisdiction of this committee.

3:32

Uh Ms.

3:33

Camp, can you please provide instructions to the public?

3:38

If you are in chambers and wish to make a comment, please make your way to the podium.

3:44

Chair Muser, we have no one in chambers for comments.

3:49

Okay, public comment is closed.

3:58

Uh I'll read our statement of purpose.

4:01

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 public of uh preservation issues.

4:22

Uh so item 4.2 is board member reports.

4:27

Do any of our board members have any reports they'd like to make tonight?

4:35

Okay, seeing none.

4:38

And item 4.3, we don't have any other business.

4:44

Ums camp, do we need to have public comment?

4:56

No, Chair Muser.

4:57

There's no public comments today.

5:00

Okay.

5:02

Item five department reports.

5:06

So our staff liaison, Ms.

5:09

Murray.

5:10

Do you have a department report for us?

5:12

I do.

5:13

At a recent meeting, um, one of the uh board members um asked me about an item that came before the board on a concept basis for 135 Mill Street.

5:27

Uh several of them, I think a couple months ago now.

5:30

Um, and I ran into part of the design team and they gave me an update that they're getting ready to re or to submit their project, so that should be coming before many of you, although some of you will have to recuse yourselves in the relatively near future.

5:45

I also want to announce really good news.

5:48

Our Jandon Briscoe city planner, who several months ago was hit by a car while he was walking his dog, and he's been in recovery ever since he came back to work last week.

6:00

So we're super happy, and yay, we're getting closer to having a full staff.

6:06

So yeah, I think that sums it up.

6:10

There's something else, and I can't remember what it was.

6:12

Note self, make notes.

6:15

Um, if I think about it, I'll get it for you next time.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Historic Preservation█████████████████████████████████████████████59%
Wayfinding Signage██████████████████24%
Procedural██████████13%
Code Enforcement██2%
Public Engagement█1%
Public Safety█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Santa Rosa Cultural Heritage Board Regular Meeting - January 17, 2024

The Santa Rosa Cultural Heritage Board held a regular meeting on January 17, 2024, beginning at 4:30 p.m. (called to order at 4:32 p.m.). All board members were present except Vice Chair Garrett. The board approved minutes from previous meetings, received a department report, and considered two scheduled items: acceptance of the Downtown Station Area Historic Resources Survey Report and a proposed Wayfinding Sign Ordinance amendment.

Approval of Minutes

  • The board approved the December 6, 2023 draft minutes as submitted.
  • The board approved the December 13, 2023 draft minutes as amended to reflect that Vice Chair Garrett made a friendly amendment, seconded by Board Member Fennell.

Public Comments

  • No public comments were made on any agenda items.

Department Reports

  • Staff Liaison Murray reported that the 135 Mill Street project is expected to be submitted soon and that City Planner Jandon Briscoe returned to work after an accident. Board Member Klyn requested an update on Fremont Park; Murray agreed to coordinate with the Parks Department.

Downtown Station Area Historic Resources Evaluation

  • Project Planner Sheila Wolski and consultant Mary Ringhoff of Architectural Resources Group presented the Historic Resources Survey Report. The survey covered 779 properties within the Downtown Station Area not in existing preservation districts or designated landmarks.
  • Key findings: 354 properties were determined to not contain potential for historic resources (streamlining housing approvals), 149 properties appeared potentially eligible as individuals (most at local level), and 4 could not be evaluated. Seven potential historic districts were identified: Wilson Ripley (208 properties), Third Street (28), Sonoma Avenue (22), Fourth Street (17), Civic Center (15), Imwalle Gardens (13 contributing elements), and Juilliard Park (11 contributing elements). No properties were designated as historic; acceptance completes the SB2 grant requirement.
  • Board members praised the thorough work. Board Member Fennell questioned why Imwalle Gardens and Juilliard Park were identified as districts rather than individual resources; the consultant explained the cohesive elements that convey significance. Late correspondence from property owners in existing districts was determined to be outside the survey scope.
  • A motion by Board Member Fennell, seconded by Board Member Carney, to waive reading and adopt Resolution CHB-2024-001 accepting the survey report carried 6-0 (Vice Chair Garrett absent).

Wayfinding Sign Ordinance Discussion

  • City Planner Christian Candelaria presented the proposed zoning text amendment (REZ23-009) to create a new section for wayfinding signs, covering business wayfinding and public/civic amenity wayfinding. Permitted areas are the Downtown Station Area and North Station Area. Existing temporary signs in Railroad Square and civic signs downtown informed the proposal.
  • Board members provided comments and recommendations, including:
    • Chair Meuser: Signs in historic districts should complement the historic character; consider ornamentation or design that fits the district.
    • Board Member Carney: Concerned about unlimited signposts; recommended limiting signpost density per block.
    • Board Member Klyn: Favored hiding signposts behind existing poles for a minimalist look.
    • Board Member Marzlin and others: Suggested the Cultural Heritage Board conduct concept review for wayfinding signs in preservation districts.
    • Board Member Boren: Emphasized integrating public/civic signs with business wayfinding; noted the proposal already requires at least one public/civic sign per signpost, which she supported.
    • The board agreed that business logos do not need to adhere to historic standards but the signpost and overall design should.
  • Staff acknowledged the feedback and listed key points: follow historic character, limit signpost distances, hide signposts, require concept review for preservation districts, require public/civic sign in business wayfinding, and exempt logos from historic uniformity.
  • No formal action was taken; the board’s input will inform the ordinance.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved the December 6 and December 13, 2023 meeting minutes (December 13 as amended).
  • Adopted Resolution CHB-2024-001 accepting the Downtown Station Area Historic Resources Survey Report (6-0).
  • Provided recommendations on the Wayfinding Sign Ordinance; no vote occurred.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, good evening, everybody. Welcome to the January 17th Cultural Heritage Board. Ms. Kemp, if we could have uh, I'm gonna call the board to order, and Ms. Kemp, if we could have a roll call. Thank you, Chair Muser. Uh do I have board member Borin? Board Member Carney? Here. Board Member Fennell. Here. Board Member Klein. Board Member Marslin. Vice Chair Garrett is absent. And Chair Muser. Here. The record reflect that we have all board members with the exception of Vice Chair Garrett present at our meeting. Okay, moving on to uh item two, approval of minutes. Um does anybody have any changes to the minutes from December 6th or December 13th of 2023? Okay, I do have a um for December 13, 2023. I'm wondering if we could add that Vice Chair Garrett made a friendly amendment, and I believe it was um board member fennel who seconded that friendly amendment that uh modified the the resolution. If we could just just add those two things. And seeing no other changes, um so the minutes for December 6th and the 13th, uh then will stand approved as amended. Okay. Okay, recording uh uh Ms. Camp, do we have any public comment on item two approval of minutes? No, Chair Muser, we do not. Okay, moving on to item three, uh, public comments. We are now taking public comments, uh non-agenda matters. This is the time when any person may address the board on matters not listed on this agenda, but which are within the subject matter jurisdiction of this committee. Uh Ms. Camp, can you please provide instructions to the public? If you are in chambers and wish to make a comment, please make your way to the podium. Chair Muser, we have no one in chambers for comments. Okay, public comment is closed. Uh I'll read our 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 public of uh preservation issues. Uh so item 4.2 is board member reports. Do any of our board members have any reports they'd like to make tonight? Okay, seeing none. And item 4.3, we don't have any other business. Ums camp, do we need to have public comment? No, Chair Muser. There's no public comments today. Okay. Item five department reports. So our staff liaison, Ms. Murray. Do you have a department report for us? I do.

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