HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-13-15 HPC Final Minutes
City of Saratoga
H ERITAGE P RESERVATION C OMMISSION
MINUTES
Page 1 of 4
Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 / 8:30 A.M.
Type: Regular Meeting
Place: City Hall /Administrative Conference Room - 13777 Fruitvale Avenue
1. Site Visit - None
2. Routine Organization
a. Roll Call
Present: Cappello, Conrado, Nugent, Marchetti (arrived at 8:36 a.m.) Schuck, Stransky,
Shah
Absent: None
Staff: Christopher Riordan, Senior Planner
Guest: Peter Marra
b. Review of minutes from December 9, 2014 meeting – Cappello/Stransky moved to
approve the December 9, 2014 minutes.
Motion Passed. Ayes: Cappello, Conrado, Nugent, Schuck, Stransky, Shah. Noes: None.
Absent: Marchetti. Abstain: None
c. Posting of Agenda – Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda was
properly posted on January 8, 2015
Senior Planner Riordan reported the posting of the agenda.
d. Non-Agendized Communications - Any member of the public may address the
Commission about any matter not on the agenda for this meeting for up to three minutes.
Chair Nugent announced that Jill Hunter would like to resurrect the Heritage Tree
Society and requested that a discussion of the topic be placed on the next regular
meeting.
Peter Marra discussed the effort he was taking to update and correct inaccurate
historical information on the Hakone Estate and Gardens website to celebrate their
centennial celebration which is scheduled for 2015-2017. Commissioner Marchetti stated
that the website should have a link to the Hakone Estate and Gardens historic
background. Commissioner Cappello stated that the website should also have a link to
the National Register.
Commissioner Stransky discussed the Quarry and stated that there should be produced a
before and after video of the Quarry, what will be done with potential artifacts that our
Page 2 of 4
discovered during construction of the park, and requested that a discussion of the Quarry
be placed on the agenda of the next regular meeting. Commissioner’s Cappello and
Marchetti questioned the correct role of the HPC if historic artifacts are located during
construction of the Quarry Park. Senior Planner Riordan stated that he would invite a
reprehensive from the Public Works Department to attend the next regular meeting to
discuss the Quarry Park Master Plan.
Commissioner Cappello discussed America in Bloom and stated that the judging would
be in May and July. The group behind America in Bloom has a list of potential sites and
asked the HPC if there were additional sites that could be added as the list is not yet
finalized. Commissioner Cappello stated that she would report back to the HPC at the
March meeting. Senior Planner Riordan stated that the topic would be placed on the
agenda for the next regular meeting.
e. HPC direction to staff regarding non-agendized communications - Commissioners
may not comment on the matter but may choose to place the topic on a future agenda.
None
3. New Business –
a. HPC website FAQs/Links. HPC members to bring and discuss suggestions for the city’s
HPC website.
Chair Nugent stated that she would discuss the website at the HPC’s joint meeting with
the City Council. Commissioner Stransky stated that the website needed FAQ’s on
separate sections; the current links are difficult to navigate and are not very informative.
Commissioner Shah reviewed the FAQ’s that she had created. Chair Nugent stated that
information is already listed on the website of the State Office of Historic Preservation.
Commissioner Conrado stated that the website should have FAQ’s on four topics - Mills
Act, Heritage Resource Inventory, city landmark properties, and heritage trees.
Individual Commissioners agreed to work on a topic: Commissioner Conrado – Heritage
Resource Inventory, Commissioner Shah – Mills Act, Commissioner Schuck – heritage
trees, Commissioner Stransky - city landmark properties. Commissioner Stransky stated
that the Heritage Preservation Commission webpage should have a separate link to
access a list of city landmark properties, national register properties, and a the heritage
resources inventory. Commissioner Shah requested that a computer and projector be
available at the next regular meeting to display the current HPC webste.
4. Old Business
a. 2015/2016 HPC Goals / Joint Meeting with City Council (February 4th at 5:30 pm).
Finalize HPC short term (now through June 30, 2015) and long term goals (July 2015 –
June 2016) to be presented to the City Council.
Chair Nugent discussed the February 4th Joint Meeting with the City Council.
Commissioner Cappello stated that she would help prepare the presentation. Senior
Planner Riordan stated that during the meeting the HPC would discuss their pending
Page 3 of 4
work plan and review what they have done with the City Council.
The Commission discussed the 2015-2016 HPC Work Plan which would be discussed
with the City Council at their January 23, 2015 retreat. The Commission agreed to the
following:
Short Term - Jan. to June 30, 2015
Short Term - Jan. to June 30, 2015
(1) Add properties to the Heritage Resources Inventory including Landmark and Mills Act
properties
(2) Add new trees to Heritage Tree Inventory
(3) Evaluate heritage resources along Big Basin Way
(4) Update website design, resource links, and add FAQ’s
(4) Community outreach efforts:
Participate at Blossom Festival, Arbor Day, and America in Bloom
Continue to liaise with the Saratoga Historical Foundation and their events
Articles for the Saratogan and Saratoga News on the importance of being listed on the
City’s Heritage Resources Inventory and Heritage Tree Inventory
Long Term - July 2015 to June 2016
(1) Evaluate heritage resources in the City
(2) Develop a HPC Handbook that includes mission, goals, procedures, training resources and
reference links
(3) Evaluate creation of a Cultural Landscape Inventory (i.e. Katheryn Kennedy Winery
Vineyard and the cactus garden on Bountiful Acres Way)
(4) Community outreach efforts:
Develop standard information articles to appear 3 or 4 time a year in the Saratoga News
Continue participation in appropriate community events
Create flyers on the Heritage Preservation Commission, Heritage Trees, and a Heritage
Resources Inventory & Historic Landmark Q&A
Create photo album on Heritage Trees and Big Basin Properties
5. Action Items for Discussion / Update (No memo):
a. Reminder: February 10th Big Basin Tour with Archives and Architecture.
Commissioner Conrado stated that a good place to meet and start the tour would be
the Starbucks parking lot at 8:30. Commissioner Marchetti agreed to record the tour.
Commissioner Conrado requested that staff notify the consultant of the place to meet.
b. Announcement: 4/29/2015 Architecture 101 Meeting with City Council and
Planning Commission – Staff/Chair to provide information, as applicable.
Page 4 of 4
Senior Planner Riordan provided a brief summary of the meeting and stated that he
would confirm the meeting location with the City Clerk and provide an update to the
HPC.
c. Update: John Henry House – Staff to provide an update, as applicable.
Staff announced that there was no news to report.
d. Update: Heritage Tree Inventory - Commissioners to update, as applicable.
No update
e. Update: Heritage Resource Inventory - Commissioners to update, as applicable.
Old Grandview Ranch
Commissioner Stransky said that she had written letter to the property owner
of Old Grandview Ranch and received a reply that the property owner does
not want to be listed on the City’s Heritage Resource Inventory. Senior
Planner Riordan said that he could contact the property owner to arrange a
tour of the property if the Commission was interested – the Commission
expressed interest in a tour and requested that Senior Planner Riordan
contact the property owner with a request.
Others
Commissioner Stransky informed the Commission that the Woodleigh House
at 20375 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road was for sale and asked if the property
would remain on the Heritage Resource Inventory after the sale. The
Commission discussed and stated that it would remain on the list.
Commissioner Marchetti stated that Montpere Way should be a historic street
because of the homes on the street that were designed by Charles Eichler and
urged her fellow commissioner’s to visit the street.
6. Commissioner Comments
None
7. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 10:04 a.m.