City of Sunnyvale
Meeting Minutes - Draft
Heritage Preservation Commission
7:00 PM Online and Redwood Conference Room,
City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale,
CA 94086
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Public Participation
7 P.M. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Johnson called the meeting to order.
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Chair Johnson led the salute to the flag.
ROLL CALL
Chair Jonson noted Comm. Rajkumar's excused absence.
Chair Sue-Ellen Johnson
Vice Chair Aaron Sofaer
Commissioner William Garrett
Commissioner Charles McManis
Commissioner Parthiv Rawal
Commissioner Pamela Sharma
Present: 6 -
Commissioner Ashmita RajkumarAbsent: 1 -
PRESENTATION
1. 25-0645 PRESENTATION - Recognition of Service
Council Liaison to the Heritage Preservation Commission Vice Mayor Sell thanked Commissioner Sharma for her service and presented a Certificate of Recognition.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT CALENDAR
2. 25-0644 Approve the Draft Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes
Attachment 1
June 4, 2025Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft of January 23, 2025
Commissioner Garrett noted a correction the Draft Minutes of December 4, 2024 to reflect the vote tally from the meeting instead of 0 yes and 0 no. The vote from the approval of the December 4, 2024 meeting minutes should read as Yes: 5 - Chair Johnson Commissioner Garrett Commissioner McManis Commissioner Rawal Commissioner Sharma, No: 0, and Absent: 2 - Vice Chair Sofaer Commissioner Rajkumar
MOTION:
Vice Chair Sofaer motioned and Commissioner Garrett seconded to approve the Draft Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes of January 23, 2025, as corrected.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: Chair Johnson
Vice Chair Sofaer
Commissioner Garrett
Commissioner McManis
Commissioner Rawal
Commissioner Sharma
6 -
No: 0
Absent: Commissioner Rajkumar1 -
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
25-05973. Review Planning Program Budget and Fees for FY 2025/26 Principal Planner George Schroeder provided a brief overview of the planning program budget.
Commissioner McManis asked staff for clarification in providing comment and Mr.
Schroeder noted that further comment from individual commissioners could be provided at the City Council meeting.
Commissioner McManis asked staff whether the commission has access to the actuals from previous years’ budgets. The commissioner was interested in how the City spent funds in the previous year and whether any state or federal grants were awarded for heritage related studies. The commissioner would like to see how the
Attachment 1
June 4, 2025Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft money was spent for each project.
Commissioner Sharma was pleased there was funding for study issue OCM 25-01 (Explore Establishing a Japanese American Incarceration Memorial). She was interested in the Heritage Preservation Commission partnering with the Arts Commission to come up with a memorial that reflects collaborative efforts. Vice Mayor Sell suggested talking to the staff liaisons. Commissioner Sharma asked whether there could be a joint study session with the Arts Commission on the study issue. She also confirmed with staff there would be separate costs for the purchase and maintenance of the memorial.
Commissioner Sofaer asked staff whether any of the study issue funding came from federal sources.
Commissioner Garrett confirmed whether any funding in the budget was provided for CDD 18 02 Update to the Heritage Resource Inventory. He noted his advocacy for funding this study issue at next year’s Study Issues and Budget Workshop.
Commissioner Sharma suggested the Heritage Preservation Commission should make an impact in the two funded heritage related study issues. She also confirmed the schedule for CDD 19 04. She requested regular updates on the study issues at each Heritage Preservation Commission meeting.
Chair Johnson opened and closed the public hearing.
There were no public speakers.
MOTION:
Vice Chair Sofaer motioned and Commissioner Garrett seconded to make a formal recommendation to the City Council on the FY 2025/26 Recommended Budget.
The motion carried as follows:
Yes: Chair Johnson
Vice Chair Sofaer
Commissioner Garrett
Commissioner McManis
Commissioner Rawal
Commissioner Sharma
6 -
Attachment 1
June 4, 2025Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft No: 0
Absent: Commissioner Rajkumar1 -
STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES
Mr. Schroeder clarified that the last month to propose a Study Issue would be in October.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS
-Commissioner Comments
Commissioner Sharma asked staff for an update regarding the Technological Resources and Mr. Schroeder responded with a summary of the discussions and an update will be provided in a future meeting regarding this study. He noted that there is a list of properties created by the consultant and they are determining how to move forward with this study issue.
Chair Johnson discussed the building on 380 S. Mathilda Avenue (currently occupied by BMO Bank N.A Branches) and asked staff about the process of including the building on the Heritage Resource Inventory as she has learned that the building may be replaced by housing. Comm. Sharma asked Chair Johnson if this has been brought up at a Council Meeting and she responded no, that she is speaking on her behalf.
Chair Johnson noted the Crescent Avenue housing development known as "Easter Gables", and that she was happy to see that one of the homes was saved and restored.
Commissioner Sofaer noted the need for housing and has difficulty supporting heritage structures over high density housing.
Vice Mayor Sell discussed the process of adding an item on the agenda for discussion.
Mr. Schroeder noted that there are no formal development proposals for the building located at 380 S. Mathilda Avenue.
Chair Johnson noted her concern of losing heritage sites over new developments, noting an example in Menlo Park.
Attachment 1
June 4, 2025Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft Comm. Garrett asked staff if it would be appropriate to conduct some research before placing a possible proposal to nominate a structure to be listed as a Heritage Resource on a future agenda.
Comm. McManis asked staff for clarification on the procedure to place items on the Agenda.
MOTION:
Comm. McManis made a motion to discuss 380 S. Mathilda Avenue at a future meeting and possibly nominate it to list it as a Heritage Resource.
The motion failed for a lack of a second.
Chair Johnson discussed the process with staff and Mr. Schroeder noted the City Code states the criteria for nomination and the property owner would have to consent to an application.
Comm. Sharma commented that the Commissioner's resources should be to focus on the two study issues that were approved. She also noted that the Commission should conduct their own research before presenting it to the Commission.
Vice Mayor Sell noted that if a Commissioner submitted a study issue, then it would be placed on a future agenda for discussion and Mr. Schroeder noted the process for proposing study issues.
Vice Mayor Sell noted that an item for discussion can be placed on a future agenda.
Comm. McManis clarified study issue discussions to be formally placed on the agenda.
Vice Mayor Sell noted that the Commission may mean to place an item on the agenda for proposing a study issue.
Comm. Sofaer asked staff about the process of removing an item on the Heritage Resource Inventory and Mr. Schroeder responded yes, there is a process to remove a property on the Heritage Resource Inventory and noted a past example of homes that were removed.
-Staff Comments
Attachment 1
June 4, 2025Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft Mr. Schroeder noted the survey on the Study Issue process was sent out by the City and if they had time to participate on the survey (if they had not already) it would be appreciated.
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Johnson adjourned the meeting at 8:14 PM.
Public Participation Options
In person public comment:
Online participation:
Online public comment:
Written public comment:
Public review of items:
Planning a presentation for a Heritage Preservation Commission meeting? Planning to provide materials to the Commission?
Language Access and Translation
Translation Link: https://bit.ly/HCQX-0562
Accessibility/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Notice
Attachment 1