CA Review CKM
Meeting Date: May 20, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Geoff Patnoe, City Manager
Staff Contact: Mike Strong, Assistant Director of Community Development [email protected], 442-339-2721
Subject: Historic Plaque Program
Districts: All
Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution creating a city historic plaque program (Exhibit 1).
Executive Summary
One of the items listed in the Historic Preservation Commission’s FY 2024-25 Work Plan is the development of a city historic plaque program. A plaque program provides one of the most effective and least expensive ways of promoting historic awareness and public appreciation for historic properties through the installation of informative plaques.
Over the past several months, the Historic Preservation Commission researched plaque programs in other cities, obtained information from plaque manufacturers and developed a draft program that could be applied in the city. The Historic Preservation Commission is recommending that the City Council review and consider the draft city historic plaque program.
Explanation & Analysis
Background
Plaque programs provide an affordable way to recognize and commemorate places, people or events of historical significance by placing plaques or markers on or near the sites. These programs are intended to increase public awareness of history and highlight the importance of local landmarks and historical resources. The Historic Preservation Commission recognized the value of creating a local plaque program and included it in their FY 2024-2025 Historic Preservation Commission Work Plan, which was approved by the City Council on May 21, 2024. (Exhibit 2)
Following adoption of the work plan, the Historic Preservation Commission met on several occasions and developed the eligibility criterion, selection process and plaque design for historic resources or heritage tree sites.
The proposed program is provided in Attachment A to Exhibit 1, with some of the program highlights provided below.
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Eligibility
The city’s historic resource or heritage tree must meet one of the following eligibility criteria to be eligible for a plaque.
• Listed in the local, state, or national register
• Designated by resolution as a heritage tree in the city’s Heritage Tree Inventory • Identified as having a unique historical significance o Qualifying as the “first” of its kind (i.e., first post office, first school); and o Be of a significant age relative to the founding of the city; and o Represent the cultural history of the region or the city Plaque selection process
• The property owner must consent to the nomination.
• Community members may also nominate sites by submitting recommendations in writing to the Historic Preservation Commission.
• Consideration of nominated sites will be grouped together to be considered by the commission at the end of each calendar year.
• The commission may identify up to two sites to be presented to the City Council for approval each year.
Under the proposed plaque program, the city would be responsible for paying the full cost of the fabrication and shipping of the plaque and the property owner would be responsible for paying for the cost of installing and maintaining the plaque.
Plaques to be interpretive
Generally, there are two overall types of plaque programs: interpretive and recognition. Both types of programs involve the acknowledgement and landmarking of local historic properties.
However, the language on a recognition plaque is very limited, such as the name of the historic resource and the year of significance, while an interpretive plaque is designed to give the reader more in-depth information or content to inform the public of the site’s significance or to capture the memory of people and events.
Because these plaques would be unique to each historic site, they are made individually, one at a time, and tend to cost more money to produce. The reason why the “interpretive” type of plaque program is being proposed is that it helps facilitate self-guided walking tours. Since the signs are customized, there is an opportunity to describe sites and location of events or people that are significant in architecture, archeology, Carlsbad history and traditional culture.
Existing city historic plaques
There are some plaques that have already been installed at city locations to assist historians in educating the public about significant properties in the city (Exhibit 3). Exhibit 4 provides an inventory of the specific properties that have already been designated as historic by the City Council (i.e., in the local register), marked with a plaque, and/or appear in the city’s Historic Carlsbad: A Self-Guided Tour brochure. These properties include individual resources identified through surveys or other studies. Some but not all of the surveyed resources may be eligible historic resources, meaning they are potentially eligible for historic designation under local, state and/or national historic preservation programs.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 6F34B698-0447-41BA-B0B0-378666602512 Exhibit 4 lists 21 Carlsbad sites that currently have a historic plaque or marker. There are 13 properties in the city with a local register designation. Out of the 13 sites, nine have some sort of plaque or marking indicating its historic status. Refer to Exhibit 5 for more background information about historic sites and locations with a plaque or marker.
Fiscal Analysis
Staff estimate that each custom plaque would cost about $1,000 to manufacture, assuming each would be a 17-inch by 12-inch bronze plaque with 408 characters, which is about eight to nine lines of text. That estimate includes about $40 for shipping.
Under the proposed plaque program, the city would be responsible for paying the full cost of the fabrication and shipping of the plaque while the property owner would be responsible for paying for the cost of installing and maintaining the plaque.
When the historic plaque program was reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission, the commission requested funding for the program. As noted above, each plaque requires City Council approval before it can be created and installed. For this first year, funding will be requested as part of the City Council’s consideration of each proposed plaque. Staff will propose to set aside funding for the program in the city budget starting in fiscal year 2026-27.
Next Steps
Following City Council action, the Historic Preservation Commission will form a subcommittee to help steer implementation and outreach to resources listed in the local register or eligible for inclusion to solicit interest in the program.
Environmental Evaluation
The proposed action to adopt a historic plaque program is exempt from environmental review under California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378 as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the proposed action may have a significant effect on the environment.
Exhibits
1. City Council resolution
2. Resolution No. 2024-109 Historic Preservation Commission Work Plan FY 2024-2025 (on file in the Office of the City Clerk)
3. Local pl aque examples
4. Inventory of historic properties
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RESOLUTION NO. 2025-110
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, CREATING A CITY HISTORIC PLAQUE PROGRAM
WH
EREAS, the Historic Preservation Commission recognizes the need to establish a uniform and consistent approach for nominating and selecting candidate sites to receive a plaque to commemorate or honor historic resources in the city; and WHEREAS, the City Council received a recommendation from the Historic Preservation Commission to adopt a city historic plaque program; and WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that it is necessary to adopt an interpretive plaque program to recognize and landmark local historic resources, sites and location of events or persons that are significant in the area of architecture, archaeology, Carlsbad history and traditional culture.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as follows:
1. That the above recitations are true and correct.
2. Th at th e proposed action to adopt a historic plaque program is exempt from environmental review under California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378 as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the proposed action may have a significant effect on the environment.
3. That the City Council adopts the City Historic Plaque Program in Attachment A.
4. That the City Manager or designee is authorize d to develop and issue forms and guidelines and to take other necessary and appropriate steps to implement the City Historic Plaque Program.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 6F34B698-0447-41BA-B0B0-378666602512 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of t he City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 20th day of May, 2025, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Shin.
NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
______________
________________________
KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor
______________
________________________
SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk
(SEAL)
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Historic Plaque Program
Guidelines and Criteria
Pr
ogram Goals & Objectives
• Recognize and landmark local historic resources, sites, and location of events or persons that are significant in the area of architecture, archaeology, Carlsbad history and traditional culture.
• Promote preservation and rehabilitation of historical properties, sites, heritage trees, and structures.
Program Form
Customized Plaque:
• Specially made cast metal plaque ‐ Bronze metal, dark green finish w/rear & front rosettes for mounting.
• Size and layout: Plaque must be rectangular in shape, 17” x 12” minimum size. • Design: Plaque must contain City Seal, Local Register site number (if applicable), name of resource. Includes at the bottom of each plaque:
“COURTESY OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION” • Text: Up to nine lines of customized wording describing the historic resource. Content includes a brief description of the significance of the resource and a metal photo when available (text in sentence case structure). Text must be appropriate reading level. Use short sentences and keep text blocks short.
• Font: Use type styles and sizes and are easy to read.
Program Criteria
A. Eligibility:
• Option 1. Meet all the following criteria:
o Be of a significant age relative to the founding of the city.
Attachment A
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Docusign Envelope ID: 6F34B698-0447-41BA-B0B0-378666602512 o Have importance/significance in the “collective memory” of the community by qualifying as the “first” of its kind in the city (i.e., first post office, first school, etc.). o Represent the cultural history of the region or the city. • Option 2. Be listed in the Local, State, or National Register; or be designated by resolution as a heritage tree in the city’s Heritage Tree Inventory
o Property owner consent required.
B. Process of identifying plaque locations:
• The Historic Preservation Commission may identify up to 2 sites each year to be presented to the City Council for approval.
• Private citizens may also nominate sites by submitting recommendations in writing to the Historic Preservation Commission. The property owner must consent to the nomination.
Consideration of nominated sites will be batched and grouped together and be considered by the Commission at the end of each calendar year.
• The Historic Preservation Commission will retain responsibility on which sites to recommend to the City Council.
C. Potential conditions, agreements and responsibilities:
• The property owner must sign a letter of agreement with the city in which the owner agrees to maintain the structure’s historic integrity.
• The agreement may also state that the program is voluntary and no requirements of the owner now or in the future other than to return the plaque to the City of Carlsbad in the event they remove it from the current location.
• The Historic Preservation Commission may revoke the privilege of displaying the plaque should the building or structure fail to comply with the conditions. • The city is responsible for paying the full cost for the fabrication and shipping of the plaque.
The cost of installing and maintaining the plaque is borne by the property owner. The city is May 20, 2025
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• City staff to collaborate with the property owner on content, provided it meets established criteria.
• Installation method and location on a building or grounds are to be site specific and, if on private property, coordinated and approved by the property owner. The plaque may only be displayed on or near the building or structure for which it is issued; or adjacent to a heritage tree; or conspicuously located on the premises of a historical site. • When determining installation location, consider the relationship between the sign and the subject it is interpreting, the potential for vandalism, and how accessible the sign is to persons with mobility challenges.
• If it is lost or stolen, the property owner must notify the Historic Preservation Commission of its loss. A new plaque may be issued upon approval of a new application. • Other potential conditions, agreements and responsibilities may be considered as part of the historic designation process (if applicable).
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Re
solution No. 2024-109 Historic Preservation
Commission Work Plan FY 2024-2025
(on file in the Office of the City Clerk)
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Property Name Address CC Action CC Resolution #/Year Plaque Tour Alt Karlsbad/Frazier's Well 2802 Carlsbad Blvd. X #88-101 / 1988 X X Army Navy Academy/Red Apple Inn 2605 Carlsbad Blvd. X X Barrio "Heart of the Barrio" Walnut Ave. & Roosevelt St. X Barrio Museum 3304 Roosevelt St. X
Beller House/Deckleman House 1448 Forest Ave. X
Calavera Lake & Dam Lake Calavera X #88-313 / 1988
Carlsbad Springs Mineral Springs Hotel 2855 Carlsbad Blvd. X Carlsbad Theater 2822 State St. X X
Carrillo Ranch 6200 Flying Leo Carrillo Ln. X #8922 / 1986 X Cohn House 3003 Carlsbad Blvd. X
Culver-Myers-Capp House 3140 Highland Dr. X #8924 / 1986 X X El Camino Real Bell State St. & Grand Ave. X
Gage House 3080 Lincoln St. X #90-294 / 1990 X X
Gaus House 3442 Roosevelt St. X #89-247 / 1989 X X
Highway 101 Highway 101 X
Hosp Grove 2240 Jefferson St. X
Killian Building 2900 block of State St. X
Kreutzkamp House 624 Laguna Dr. X
Ledgerwood House 3862 Carlsbad Blvd. X
Los Diego Hotel 2907 State St. X
Magee House 258 Beech St. X #8923 / 1986 X X
Mission Santiago 3329 Roosevelt St. X
Ramirez Bungalow 3309 Roosevelt St. X X
Ramsay House 1330 Chuparosa Way X #88-314 / 1988 X
Rancho Agua Hedionda Adobe/Marron Adobe 2770 Sunny Creek Rd. X #88-97 / 1988 Santa Fe Depot 400 Carlsbad Village Dr. X #8921 / 1986 X X Shaw House 3081 Highland Dr. X
Shirley House (Rancho de la Motte-Kirmse-Shirley) 1542 Oak St. X South Coast Land Company 2958 State St. X #90-295 / 1990 X X Stagecoach Stop Jackspar Dr. X #88-100 / 1988 X
St. Michael's Episcopal Church 2775 Carlsbad Blvd. X #88-98 / 1988 X X St. Patrick's Church/Heritage Hall 2650 Garfield St. X
Twin Inns/Schutte House 2978 Carlsbad Blvd. X X
Twin Inns Gazebo Magee Park X
Twin Inns Granary Magee Park X
"Historic" Properties in Carlsbad
Properties designated historic by City Council, marked with a plaque and/or appear in Historic Carlsbad: A Self-Guided Tour Exhibit 4
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