CULTURAL HERITAGE BOARD
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2023, 3:30 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON/TELEPHONE
ART PICK COUNCIL CHAMBER
3900 MAIN STREET
APPROVED Cultural Heritage Board Minutes – July 19, 2023 1
COMMISSIONERS
PRESENT: M. Carter, K. Castellanos, J. Gamble, A. Hudson, C. McDoniel, J. Sisson, C.
Tobin
ABSENT: J. Brown (V), N. Ferguson (I),
STAFF: S. Watson, D. Murray, M. Taylor, A. Beaumon, F. Andrade, I. De Honor
Chair Gamble called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE
There were no public comments.
Chair Gamble asked new Board Member Castellanos to introduce himself.
Board Member Castellanos introduced himself. He stated he was happy to be part of this Board.
CONSENT CALENDAR
The Consent Calendar was unanimously approved as presented below affirm ing the actions appropriate to each item.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meetings of June 21, 2023, were approved as presented.
2023 Second Quarter Report on Historic Preservation Activity
Motion by Board Member Sisson and Seconded by Board Member Carter, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
Motion Carried: 7 Ayes, 0 Noes, 0 Absent, 0 Abstention
AYES: Carter, Gamble, Hudson, McDoniel, Sisson, Tobin
NOES: None
ABSENT: Brown, Ferguson
ABSTENTION: None
CULTURAL HERITAGE BOARD
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2023, 3:30 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON/TELEPHONE
ART PICK COUNCIL CHAMBER
3900 MAIN STREET
APPROVED Cultural Heritage Board Minutes – July 19, 2023 2
DISCUSSION CALENDAR
CULTURAL HERITAGE BOARD ATTENDANCE –
The Board determined that the absence of Board Member Hudson from the June 21, 2023, regular meeting be recorded as excused.
Board Member Sisson noted a correction to the Resolution.
Ms. Tinio went over the attendanc e policy and stated that a copy of the policy will be sent to the members again.
Board Member Hudson apologize d for not attending last month. H e stated h is son received an opportunity for a tryout and he was not able to return in time to attend the meeting.
A motion was made by Board Member S isson, Seconded by Board Member Carter to excuse the absence of Board Member Hudson.
NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATION – EVERGREEN CEMETERY
Scott Watson, Historic Preservation Officer, presented the State Historic Pre servation Officer’s request that the City of Riverside Comment on the nomination of the Evergreen Cemetery, situated at 4414 Fourteenth Street, for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Mr. Watson stated that any comments made by the Cult ural Heritage Board today will be forwarded to the State. He stated that Jennifer Mermilliod was also present if the Board had any questions regarding the findings and the nomination.
Jennifer Mermilliod, JMRC, explained the motivation behind the request to prepare national designation. One of to promote awareness and understanding of amazing resource in evergreen cemetery.
Chair Gamble opened for public comment. There were no public comments from the audience.
CULTURAL HERITAGE BOARD
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2023, 3:30 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON/TELEPHONE
ART PICK COUNCIL CHAMBER
3900 MAIN STREET
APPROVED Cultural Heritage Board Minutes – July 19, 2023 3 Following discussion, a motion was made by Board Member Sisson, Seconded by Board Member Hudson to receive, file and recommend support of the National Register nomination of the Evergreen Cemetery.
Motion Carried: 7 Ayes, 0 Noes, 0 Absent, 0 Abstention
AYES: Carter, Gamble, Hudson, McDoniel, Sisson, Tobin
NOES: None
ABSENT: Brown, Ferguson
ABSTENTION: None
MILLS ACT FEE
Mr. Watson presented the request from City Council to provide comment on Mills Act fees. He asked that the Board provide input regarding City Council’s consideration of Mills Act fees adjustment.
Chair Gamble called for public comment.
Nancy Larsen spoke in support of removing the Mills Act fee.
Chair Gamble noted there were no additional callers and closed the comment period.
Chair Gamble noted tha t the Board has no jurisdiction on fees but can make recommendations to Council regarding how much the City could subsidize these fees.
She reminded the Board of the restrictions and requirements placed on all landmark properties. Although the property owners receive a discount on their taxes, they have to use and demonstrate how they used the funds for the upkeep of the properties. The City benefits from landmarks and historic districts more than an individual owner, because it creates a community. She stated that it is worth subsidizing the Mills Act fee.
Board McDoniel stated she disagreed with the General Plan surcharge and the Technology fee, it should not be added to the Mills Act fee. She stated that having a fee this high, nullifies the benefit of the program.
Board Member Sisson requested that the information he provided be distributed to the Board.
CULTURAL HERITAGE BOARD
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2023, 3:30 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON/TELEPHONE
ART PICK COUNCIL CHAMBER
3900 MAIN STREET
APPROVED Cultural Heritage Board Minutes – July 19, 2023 4 Mr. Beaumon cautioned that the public has not had an opportunity to review the information and that it should not be distributed.
Motion by Board Member Sisson to present his non-agenda material relevant to the local body’s recommendation to the agendized matter, seconded by Board Member McDoniel.
Board Member Tobin stated he did not feel comfortable in participating in a discussion against staff’s counsel and would not participate in the discussion should the motion pass.
Board Member Sisson w ithdrew his motion under protest, Board Member McDoniel agreed.
Chair gamble addressed the surcharges. The resolution says that if the prop erty owner benefits more so than the other owners but she did not believe they benefit. Surcharges should not be charged and asked the Board to consider taking the surcharges off of this program. She also suggested that no new fees be added to this program. She believed that a way to subsidizing this program should be found. She agreed with the process in other cities, like Corona, we should see the community take responsibility rather than the owner’s requirement.
Motion by Board Member Tobin to continue this item for further discussion. Motion failed due to lack of second.
Chair Gamble stated that as much as she would like to move forward on this item today, she also wants the board members to feel comfortable.
Board Member McDoniel made the following suggestions:
• Increase the subsidy
• Follow a graduated tier such as the City of Glendale, as an option • Remove the surcharges
A motion was made by Chair Gamble to: Remove the surcharge completely, No new fees be added to the cost, a suggested fee cost recovery of 30% to owner and 70% to the City.
CULTURAL HERITAGE BOARD
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2023, 3:30 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON/TELEPHONE
ART PICK COUNCIL CHAMBER
3900 MAIN STREET
APPROVED Cultural Heritage Board Minutes – July 19, 2023 5 Board Member Sisson suggested an amendment that the Board also finds the public benefits more than the property owner to justify the waiver of the surcharges and that the 30/70 subsidy will be subject to the entirety of the fee (application and initiation fees).
Chair Gamble agreed to the amendment to the motion. The motion was seconded by Board Member Tobin.
Motion Carried: 7 Ayes, 0 Noes, 0 Absent, 0 Abstention
AYES: Carter, Gamble, Hudson, McDoniel, Sisson, Tobin
NOES: None
ABSENT: Brown, Ferguson
ABSTENTION: None
COMMUNICATIONS
Items for future Cultural Heritage Board consideration as requested by members of the Board. Only items that fall within the powers and duties of the Cultural Heritage Board as set forth in the City Charter and/ or the Riverside Municipal Code will be agendized for future discussion.
Ms. Tinio briefed the Board on upcoming agenda items.
Mr. Watson announced that the City has received a CLG grant. Two applications were submitted: ADU design guidelines and resurveying of historic district. He stated that the grant was awarded to the ADU guidelines. The City has received many compliments and scored highest for the ADU design guidelines. As outlined in the grant application, we will need to establish a subcommittee form the Cultural Heritage Board to participate on the advisory committee. This will be scheduled on a future agenda.
Board Member Tobin mentioned that at the last meeting he requested that the court decision for the hotel be agendized on a future meeting. Also, he asked if any progress has been made with regard to the FMC building and whether a national register nomination was appropriate. Staff was going to contact the property owner.
Mr. Watson stated he was still working on contacting owner.
CULTURAL HERITAGE BOARD
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2023, 3:30 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON/TELEPHONE
ART PICK COUNCIL CHAMBER
3900 MAIN STREET
APPROVED Cultural Heritage Board Minutes – July 19, 2023 6 Board Member Tobin asked if there was any report from UCR regarding the Mount Rubidoux Citrus Experiment Station. He asked if this item could be agendized at a future meeting.
Ms. Tinio stated this would be added to the list.
She welcome Board Member Castellanos to the board.
Mr. Watson announced that staff has received Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) application for Harada house. They are breaking that project into two phases. The phase for the COA is just the structural foundation rehab. As they are not doing any modifications to the exterior of the project staff will be reviewing this administratively. The rehab of the exterior and the remainder of the house will come to the board at a future date.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:19 p.m. to the meeting of August 16, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.
Minutes approved as presented at the August 16, 2023 meeting.