City of Sacramento
City Council - 5PM Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2024-00706 3/19/2024 Consent Item 14.
Preservation Commission Annual Report
File ID: 2024-00706
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: Receive and file.
Contact: Sean de Courcy, Preservation Director, (916) 808-2796, [email protected], Community Development Department
Presenter: Sean de Courcy, Preservation Director, (916) 808-2796, [email protected], Community Development Department Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Annual Report
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: Advisory bodies of the City are required to provide an annual report for review by the Personnel and Public Employees (P&PE) Committee as outlined in the City Council Rules of Procedure, Chapter 17. The P&PE Committee shall review advisory body annual reports and give staff direction on those reports’ stated projects, priorities, and recommendations. Before forwarding the report to the City Council, the Committee may request supplemental information from staff or the advisory body.
The P&PE Committee has reviewed the attached Preservation Commission Annual Report and passed a motion forwarding it to the City Council.
Policy Considerations: Chapter 17 of the Council Rules of Procedure outlines the Advisory Body reporting process.
Economic Impacts: Not Applicable.
Environmental Considerations:
File ID: 2024-00706 3/19/2024 Consent Item 14.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): This action is not a project that is subject to CEQA because it is an organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. (CEQA Guidelines §15378(b)(5)).
Sustainability: Not Applicable.
Commission/Committee Action: On November 15, 2023 the Preservation Commission passed a motion forwarding their Annual Report and Recommendations to the P&PE Committee for consideration. On January 9, 2024 the P&PE Committee reviewed the Annual Report and passed a motion forwarding it to the City Council.
Rationale for Recommendation: So that advisory bodies may effectively incorporate their important role, voice, and work to provide thoughtful community recommendations to the City Council on a consistent basis the P&PE Committee shall facilitate the process for advisory bodies to communicate their accomplishments, projects, priorities, and recommendations to the City Council.
Financial Considerations: Not Applicable.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not Applicable.
Preservation Commission Annual Report 2023
City of Sacramento Page 1 of 7
City of Sacramento Preservation Commission
20 23 Annual Report
Preservation Commission Annual Report 2023
City of Sacramento Page 2 of 7
Sacramento Preservation Commission
The Sacramento Preservation Commission was established in 2006 by ordinance 2006-063 and is codified in Sacramento City Code Section 17.604.100
Sacramento Preservation Commissioners
Max McSlavkin (Chair)
Garret Root (Vice Chair)
Brian Burns
Ian Lee Merker
Joshua Montemayor
Margo Nayyar
Sacramento Preservation Commission Staff
Gregory Sandlund, Planning Director
Sean de Courcy, Preservation Director
Bruce Monighan, AIA, Urban Design Manager
Kourtney Burdick, Senior Deputy City Attorney
City of Sacramento – Community Development Department
300 Richards Blvd. – Sacramento, CA 95811
[email protected]
(916) 808-2796
Preservation Commission Annual Report 2023
City of Sacramento Page 3 of 7
Purpose of the Sacramento Preservation Commission
The purpose of the Preservation Commission is to develop and recommend to the City Council preservation policies appropriate for inclusion in the general plan and other regulatory plans and programs of the city and to provide oversight relative to the maintenance and integrity of the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources. The Preservation Commission also reviews development projects of major significance and appeals of the Preservation Director’s decisions.
Powers and Duties of the Sacramento Preservation Commission
Pursuant to Sacramento City Code Section 2.58.100
the powers and duties of the preservation
commission are as follows:
A. Exercise the authority set forth in this chapter and as otherwise provided in this code.
B. Recommend to the city council policies and programs in support of historic preservation, including goals and policies for the general plan preservation element and other regulatory plans; periodic updates of the preservation program, including the standards, criteria, and procedures set forth in this chapter; and programs for historic preservation incentives.
C. Evaluate and submit comments and recommendations on proposed plans, public and private development projects, and environmental reviews that are not subject to review under this chapter but that may potentially affect the physical development and historic preservation of the city involving landmarks, contributing resources, historic districts, nominated resources, or the historical value of any other building, structure, or neighborhood, in coordination with review and action by the city council, planning and design commission, or other public agencies on the plan, project, or environmental review.
D. Review and make recommendation to the State Office of Historic Preservation regarding nominations of property located within the city to the National Register of Historic Places.
E. Assume duties assigned to the preservation commission by the city council pursuant to the certified local government provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, or duties that may be assigned to the preservation commission through any agreement(s) approved by the city council. This shall include undertaking review and comment upon those projects on which the city, as a certified local government, has an obligation or opportunity to provide review and comment under the National Historic Preservation Act, including private and public projects undertaken within the Old Sacramento national historic landmark district.
Preservation Commission Annual Report 2023
City of Sacramento Page 4 of 7
F. Consult with, advise, and report to the city council on an annual basis about the exercise of the preservation commission’s duties and functions.
G. Any other powers and duties conferred upon the preservation commission by the city council. (Ord. 2013-0008 § 1)
2023 Highlights and Accomplishments
In 2023 the Sacramento Preservation Commission held seven (7) meetings.
Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources Updates
The Commission recommended the City Council list two (2) new historic landmarks on the Sacramento Register in 2023.
Development Project Review
The Commission reviewed one (1) development project in 2023, the Grace Rezone Project (Recommendation to City Council)
Policy Review and Recommendations
The Commission reviewed five (5) historic preservation or planning policy items in 2023:
• Sacramento Shops National Register Nomination (Review and Comment) • Sacramento Shops Historic District Plan and Ordinance Amendment (Recommendation to City Council)
• Historic and Cultural Resources Element of the 2040 General Plan (Review and Comment)
• Draft South Land Park Hills Historic District Plan and Historic Evaluation (Review and Comment)
• African American Experience Project Final Draft and Historic Survey Findings (Recommendation to City Council)
Special Presentations
• During the month of May 2023, several members of the Preservation Commission attended a historic preservation symposium where local historic preservation professionals presented concepts and projects that exemplify best historic preservation practices in Sacramento. This event was free and open to the public and attended by roughly 90 people, including many commissioners.
• The Commission heard a special presentation by Zoning Administrator, Kevin Colin. The special presentation focused on the City’s planning process.
Preservation Commission Annual Report 2023
City of Sacramento Page 5 of 7
• The Commission heard a special presentation by Certified Local Government (CLG) Coordinator from the State Office of Historic Preservation, Shannon Preis. The special presentation focused on historic preservation incentives and the City’s obligations pursuant to state and federal CLG regulations.
2023 Resulting Conclusions or Recommendations for Consideration
• The Commission deliberated and forwarded to the City council recommendations to approve one development project and list two (2) new landmarks on the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources.
• The Commission reviewed and forwarded a recommendation to the City Council to approve the Sacramento Shops Historic District Plan and amended the historic district boundaries, period of significance, and changed the name of the district. • The Commission acted as the public review body for three (3) historic preservation planning projects, eventually forwarding a recommendation to the City Council to accept the findings of the African American Experience historic context and survey project.
2023 Commission Resources
In 2023 the Sacramento Preservation Commission held seven (8) meetings with an additional meeting anticipated for a total of nine (9) meetings. The meeting durations are typically 1-½ hours and in 2023 added up to approximately 10-½ hours of meeting time.
Commissioners receive a stipend of $50 per meeting for a total cost of $2,700 in 2023 for seven (9) meetings.
The estimated costs to staff meetings:
Department Staff $168/hour
City Clerk $179/hour
City Clerk Support Staff $76/hour
City Attorney $216/hour
IT Support Staff $50/hour
Total $1,033.5 x 9 meetings in 2023 = $9,301.50
Commissioner and staff time for meetings in 2023 cost a total of $12,001.50
In addition to meeting time, it takes approximately eight (8) hours to prepare and publish agendas for an estimated cost of $1,388 per meeting.
Preservation Commission Annual Report 2023
City of Sacramento Page 6 of 7
2024 Projects, Priorities, and Objectives for Consideration
Preservation Commission Workplan
• Preservation Staff applied for and received a $66,000 grant to prepare a historic context and survey of Sacramento’s LGBTQ+ historic places. The Preservation Commission will serve as one of the public meeting venues for this project, and eventually make a recommendation to City Council on whether to accept the findings of the report. The target date for completing this project is the end of 2024. • The Preservation Commission will continue its role in reviewing landmarks and historic district for listing in the Sacramento Register in 2024. Of note, the African American Experience Project resulted in the identification of 14 potential historic landmarks/districts associated with the Black community. Many of these resources will come before the Commission as formal nominations in 2024. • The Commission will be asked to review several significant development projects and appeals in 2024.
• The Commission will provide feedback to Long Range planning staff and make policy recommendations to the Planning and Design Commission and City Council. • In 2024, the Commission will play a role as a public meeting venue for review of the proposed South Land Park Hills Eichler Historic District and ultimately make a recommendation on the nomination to the City Council.
• The Preservation Commission will be a venue for training presentations by both City Staff and outside historic preservation experts, particularly around May when Preservation Month occurs.
Preservation Office Workplan 2024-2025
Policy Initiatives:
• Revise Objective Standards for Infill Project & Develop Objective Standards for ADUs • Native American Policy/Resolution for adoption
• Historic Sign Preservation Ordinance: Enact Historic Sign Preservation Ordinance and establish review procedures for reviewing historic signs • Establish impact fee to fund historic resources context and survey work
District and Landmark Nominations:
• Old Sacramento Historic District: Update 2015 draft Sacramento Register historic district nomination and draft Historic District Plan (HDP). Create stakeholder engagement strategy with Office of Innovation and Economic Development staff. Create nomination adoption schedule with key milestones
• South Land Park Hills Historic District: finalize draft HDP • New Helvetia Historic District
Preservation Commission Annual Report 2023
City of Sacramento Page 7 of 7
• Stockton Boulevard Specific Plan: Coordinate with Long Range planning to ensure landmarks and districts identified as significant within the Stockton Boulevard Specific Plan area are included as implementation actions in the plan’s final draft. Initiate nomination process for resources identified (i.e. San Francisco Boulevard, Colonial Theater, etc.)
• North Sacramento School. Initiate nomination process for listing on the Sacramento Register
• 2501 Capitol Avenue Office Building (attributed to architect Sooky Lee) • 2716 N Street (De Pina Apartments) (rare work by SF architect Mogens Mogensen). Met with property owners who expressed interest in landmark nomination and Mills Act contract
• 1900 N Street (SMUD Substation Offices/Shops) Evaluation needed • 411 V Street. 1947 Mosque in South Side. Not yet evaluated.
Internal Process Improvements:
• Internal Preservation Manual: Develop an internal historic preservation policy manual that includes common issues, standard conditions, etc. for use by other planning staff and new staff
• Organizing Historic Preservation internal folder “S Drive” • Clean out Historic Preservation file room
• Coordinate with Accela team to streamline Mills Act file processing background system. • Create plaque application website and online form
Special Projects:
• LGBTQ+ Grant. Continue executing grant agreement with OHP. Stand up project infrastructure
• Interactive Website to make landmarks and contributing resources more searchable and identify “surveyed” properties
Potential Grants:
• Native American Historic Context, including coordination with Tribes • Applicant Restoration Guide: CLG Grant to Develop Guidance for Common Preservation Conflicts and Issues confronted during SPDR process
• AAE follow-up grant for Educational Teaching Aids
Resources Required for 2024 Projects, Priorities, and Objectives
• The Preservation Commission is likely to continue meeting roughly the same number of times in 2024 year as it did in 2023, so demands on preservation staff and meeting support staff will be roughly the same in 2024.