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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-25-1983 HPC Minutes CITY OF SARATOGA HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES DATE: Tuesday, January 25, 1983 - 3:30 P.M. PLACE: Community Center Meeting Room, 19655 Allendale Ave., Saratoga TYPE: Regular Meeting ROUTINE ORGANIZATION Roll Call Present: Commissioners Landshess, McArthur, Chairman Voester Absent: Commissioner Heid (Staff informed the Con~nission that Commissioner Bolger has resigned from the Heritage Preservation Commission.) Minutes The reading of the minutes of December 7, 1982, was waived and the minutes approved unanimously. I. ELECTION OF NEW CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN Chairman Voester turned the meeting over to the Secretary who then requested nominations for Chairman of the Heritage Preservation Commission. Commissioner Voester nominated Commissioner McArthur for Chairman. This motion was seconde~ by Commissioner Landsness. There being no further nominations, the nominations were closed. Commissioner McArthur was elected to the office of Chairman un- animously. Chairman McArthur then opened the nominations for the office of Vice- Chairman by nominating Commissioner Landshess. Commissioner Voester seconded the nomination. There being no further nominations, the nominations were closed. Commissioner Landsness was elected to the office of Vice-Chairman unanimously. Chairman McArthur thanked Commissioner Voester for her work in getting the Commission started and her past efforts as Chairman. II. DISCUSSION ON USE OF VOLUNTEER AS HERITAGE COMMISSION SECRETARY Staff explained the proposal to have a volunteer act as secretary to the Heritage Preservation Commission primarily to save staff time and to give the Commission greater support. The advantages and disadvantages of this proposal were then discussed. Chairman McArthur suggested that there should be more people on the Commission to provide greater support. With more commissioners, one of them could act as secretary. Discussion then followed on adding two new members to the Commission. Rob Robinson, Director of Planning and Policy Analysis, then suggested that the Commission forward to the City Council its request to add new Commissioners. The Commission also discussed suggesting theelimination of the Planning Commission Representative on the Heritage Preservation Commission since they found it difficult to attend Commission meetings. This representative could be replaced by another commissioner at- large. Commissioner Voester asked whether there was money available to hire an historic preservation consultant to help the Commission identify what needs to be done so that the Commission is headed in the right direction. Mr. Robinson said he would look into the possibility of providing some funds for the Commission. The Commission then discussed preparing a book of some sort on Saratoga's Historic structures, somewhat like the cookbook brought in by Commissioner Landsness prepared for Sonoma. Commissioner Landsness indicated the need for something to inform the residents of Saratoga about what the Commission is doing. Mr. Robinson sug- gested that other local clubs or organizations, such as Rotary or Kiwanis, could be involved with Commission activities. He also sug- gested that the Commission could prepare a presentation for the City Council to let them know what the Commission is doing and what needs it has. The February 16th Council meeting was suggested for the presentation. III. REPORT ON ORDINANCE CERTIFICATION PROCESS Staff reported that the Mayor had sent a letter formally requesting certification of Saratoga's Heritage Preservation Ordinance from the State's Office of Historic Preservation. The State had indicated after an informal review of the ordinance that there was a good chance that the ordinance would be certified. The Commission asked staff to follow up on the certification request and to make copies for the Commission of the tax incentive information provided by the State. The Commission also discussed writing an article for the newspaper on tax incentives. IV. ADDITIONS TO SANTA CLARA COUNTY HERITAGE RESOURCE INVENTORY Staff informed the Commission of the County's proposal to add two more structures in Saratoga to their historic inventory list and of the July 1983 deadline for requests to add to the list. Commissioner Voester suggested that the Commission go over Saratoga's inventory to determine if other structures in Saratoga should be suggested for the County inventory. Chairman McArthur assigned this task to Commissioner Voester. Chairman McArthur and Commissioner Landsness decided to work on the presentation to the City Council. The Commission decided to meet on February 8 at 4:00 P.M. and on March 1 at 3:30 P.M. The presentation to the City Council is to be reviewed at the meeting of February 8, and the suggested list of historic structures to be added to the County inventory is to be completed by March 1. The Commission then discussed contacting those people who had applied to be members of the Commission to act as "ex officio" members of the Commission until the Heritage Preservation Ordinance can be modified to add more official members to the Commission. Chairman McArthur indicated she would write a letter requesting the attendance of the former applicants at the next Commission meetings to generate some support and involvement in Commission activities. V. DIRECTION OF COMMISSION ACTIVITIES Commissioner Voester went over the following items she discussed with staff at a recent meeting in an effort to give the Commission a positive direction: 1. Completion of the Inventory of Historic Resources. 2. Prioritize tke significance of particular structures. 3. Process Heritage Resource applications for the historic structures owned by the City in the Historic Park. 4. Process Mr. Z~mbetti's application for a structure to be moved to the Village. 5. Complete the list of structures proposed to be added to the County's inventory. The Commission then further discussed these items. Chairman McArthur suggested that the Village inventory be done first. Staff suggested deadlines for completion of the tasks listed. Chairman McArthur suggested that the deadlines be discussed further at the meeting of February 8. Commissioner Landsness suggested that the Heritage Preservation Or- dinance be modified to contain a 180 day delay in the issuance of demolition permits for designated heritage resource structures. Commissioner Voester reported on the letter she received from the Los Gatos Historical Society offering their assistance to the Commission. VI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 5:20 P.M. Michaelv Flores, Secretary