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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-16-1987 HPC Minutes CITY OF SARATOGA HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES DATE: Wednesday, December 16, 1987 3:00 p.m. PLACE: Saratoga Community Library, 13560 Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga TYPE: Regular Meeting I. Routine Orqanization A. Roll Call Present: Commissioners Cameron, Voester, Ansnes, Koepernik, Landsness, Tyrrell, Heid Absent: None Staff: V. Young B. Approval of minutes of 12/2/87 B. Voester suggested minor rewording of the sentence regarding the firebell plaque. M/S Ansnes/Koepernik to approve minutes as corrected. Passed, 7-0. C. Posting of Agenda Staff noted the agenda was posted at City Hall on Wednesday, December 11, 1987. D.Oral and Written Communications None. II. New Business A. Discussion of State Historic Building Code V. Young briefed the Commission on this item, stating that the Code was now mandatory rather than permissive, and must be used by the Chief Building Official for designated heritage resources and structures on local inventories. She further added that the City Attorney had advised that the Code is not required to be officially adopted by ordinance of the City Council since it is mandatory. She noted that in 1981, before the Code was made mandatory, the City Council at that time had adopted resolution supporting the Code and encouraging its use. She distributed information on the Code to the Commission. Commissioner Koepernik noted that using the Code was still difficult, particularly with public or commercial 1 Heritage Preservation Commission Minutes - 12/16/87 buildings; he said it was much easier with residential structures. He said the difficulty was in interpretation by individuals and building officials. He did not want to give the public the wrong idea that using the Code was automatic and easy. Commissioner Heid gave an example of how he used the Code on one of the projects he was involved in. He then briefly discussed key features of the Code. Commissioner Tyrrell felt it was important to make sure the Chief Building Official acknowledged and used the Code. Other Commissioners concurred. The Commission directed the Secretary to prepare a memo to the City Manager from the Commission regarding the Code, stating the Commission's concerns and encouraging the Chief Building Official to establish procedures to use the Code. The memo is to include an invitation to the Chief Building Official to attend a Commission meeting in the near future to discuss the Code. III. Old Business A. Heritage Resource Plaques - Status report The Commission agreed that the Nardie House plaque presentation on December 7 was very successful. Commissioners Ansnes and Voester will continue with the final articles for the Saratoga News. B. Heritage Resource Inventory V. Young distributed packets of completed inventory forms, #1-50. It was decided that the forms would be reviewed at the next meeting for final corrections, with each Commissioner responsible for reviewing them before the meeting, so the task would go quickly. IV. Items Initiated by th9 Commission A. Nelson Gardens V. Young reported that the Williamson Act contract cancellation request for this property had been heard by the City Council at its December 2, 1987 meeting, and was continued to the January 20, 1988 meeting. B. Voester stated that she asked that this item be put on the Commission's agenda for discussion because the gardens are an historic and open space resource in Saratoga. She felt the Commission should send letters to the Council, owners 2 Heritage Preservation Commission Minutes - 12/16/87 and neighbors to express the Heritage Commission's concerns. There was general discussion on the issues involved and what approach the Commission should take. Commissioner Cameron felt that the City Council should be made aware of the Commission's preservation concerns. The Secretary was directed to prepare a written communication to the City Council for its January 6, 1988 agenda packet. The letter is to express the Commission's support for preserving the gardens for their historic/open space benefits to Saratoga, and to ask the Council if they can be of assistance by serving as a resource and contacting the parties involved. B. Miscellaneous V. Young distributed materials on preservation law and noted the Commission was now on the mailing list for future updates. This was done at a suggestion by Commissioner Koepernik. V. Young polled the Commission to determine who wanted to attend the "Nuts and Bolts Preservation Workshop" to be held at DeAnza College on Friday, January 29, 1988. All seven Commissioners expressed a desire to attend. V. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m. The next regular meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 6, 1988 at 3:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Valerie Secretary to Commission 3