DATE: 10/16/2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Planning and Development Department
2024-83
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBJECT:
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING HISTORIC MARKERS PLACED ON PROPERTIES
WITHIN THE CITY BY THE CITY, THE CORONA HISTORIC PRESERVATION
SOCIETY, THE CORONA HISTORY ASSOCIATION, THE STATE OFFICE OF
HISTORIC PRESERVATION OR THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO BE LISTED ON THE CORONA REGISTER OF HISTORIC RESOURCES (APPLICANT: CITY OF
CORONA)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the City Council to approve Resolution 2024-099 authorizing historic markers according to Section 17.63.020(M) of the Corona Municipal Code (CMC) to be listed on the Corona Register of Historic Resources. Section 17.63.070 of the CMC gives the City Council the authority to list a historic marker on the Corona Register of Historic Resources by adoption of a resolution, which is the reason for Resolution 2024-099.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2024-099, authorizing Historic Markers placed on properties within the City by the City, the Corona Historic Preservation Society, the Corona History Association, the State Office of Historic Preservation of the National Park Service to be listed on the Corona Register of Historic Resources.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
The City Council at its meeting on August 21, 2024, discussed the adoption of a resolution that would place qualified historic markers located in the city on the Corona Register of Historic Resources. The City Council supported the preparation of a resolution.
ANALYSIS:
According to CMC Section 17.63.040, the Corona Register of Historic Resources was established as the official list of landmarks and historic districts and all contributing historic resources within historic districts, as adopted by the City Council pursuant to CMC Chapter 17.63. Additionally, properties not listed by the City Council but listed on the California or National Register of Historic Resources are automatically deemed listed on the Corona Register.
CMC Section 17.63.020(M) defines the term “historic marker” as a sign, plaque, monument or other symbol, placed by either the City of Corona, the Corona Historic Preservation Society, Corona History Association, State Office of Historic Preservation or National Park Service, for the purpose of recognizing one or more of the following:
(1) Events that have made a significant contribution to the history of Corona, the region, the state or the nation;
(2) Persons significant in Corona’s past;
(3) Examples of distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period or method of construction or a valuable example of the use of materials or craftsmanship; (4) Special elements of the City’s cultural, social, economic, political, aesthetic, engineering, architectural or natural history;
(5) The work of a notable builder, designer or architect; (6) Outstanding elements of architectural design, detail, materials or craftsmanship of a particular historic period;
(7) A unique location or physical characteristic representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood;
(8) An archeological or paleontological site; or
(9) A natural setting or feature that strongly contributes to the well-being of the people of the city.
The actual site, improvement or natural feature that is designated by the historic marker may or may not be listed, or may or may not be eligible for listing, on the Corona Register or the Corona Heritage Inventory.
CMC Section 17.63.070 gives the City Council the authority to consider placing a historic marker on the Corona Register by adoption of a resolution. However, placing the historic marker on the Corona Register does not automatically place the property it represents on the Corona Register as a local landmark. As defined, a historic marker is a sign, plaque, monument, or other symbol, not a property. For a property to be placed on the Corona Register it must follow the process outlined in CMC Section 17.63.100. Therefore, the proposed resolution will not bypass the City’s process for the listing of local landmarks on the Corona Register.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact is associated with this resolution.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This Resolution is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the common sense rule that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This Resolution simply authorizes historic markers to be listed on the Corona Register of Historic Resources and there is no possibility that adopting this Resolution will have a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: JOANNE COLETTA, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR ATTACHMENTS:
1. Exhibit 1 – Resolution No. 2024-099