Historic Preservation Commission - Regular Meeting

Commissioner vice chair Hatwick? Here. Chair Sponsor? Here.

Alright. I'll go ahead and read in our procedures. For each matter considered by the commission, there will first be a staff presentation followed by a presentation from the project applicant. The commissioners will then have the opportunity to ask questions of staff and applicant before opening to public. Testimony from supporters of the project will be then taken, followed by a testimony of those in opposition.

Staff may provide a summation if necessary. The applicant will have the right to a final rebuttal presentation prior to closing public hearing, followed by consideration of the item and action if any by the commission. In accordance with section 13 of article two of the historic preservation commission bylaws governing length of public debate, all public testimony from those in support and in opposition to project will be limited to three minutes per person. All public testimony will be presented to the commission at the podium. Any testimony that references race, religion, ethnicity, economic status, national origin, or any other classification protected under state or federal law in a derogatory manner shall be deemed to be irrelevant and will not be considered by the commission in making its determinations.

If you challenge these matters in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised in oral or written testimony or before the close of the hearing. With that, I'll move on to item three, which is our approval of our January. And for the record, let's note that commissioner Galadian arrives at 06:01. Close. 06:02. Pretty close. I

motion to approve the meeting minutes.

Okay. We have a motion to approve January's meeting minutes.

I'll second that.

Alright.

All in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed? Okay. Minutes pass. We'll move on to approving this agenda. Is there any changes to the agenda?

None at this time.

Okay. I'll entertain a motion.

I so move the agenda. Alright.

We have a motion and a second. All in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? Agenda passes. We will move past consent calendar due to the fact and continued items. We expect no items there. And we'll go on to section seven, commission items. Seven a, file ID 25Dash289, the update update regarding the historic g sign located at the Guaranty Building at 1177 Fulton Street.

I would like to recognize Doctor. Carol Goldsmith, who is here with us tonight, and Christine Bakhtarian, and Craig Spies. Greg Spies, who's here to give us an update on the g sign. So you'll sit here, we can actually see you on Zoom. Sure.

Alright. Well, first of all, thank you so much for having me. And this is gonna sound a little weird, I think Elizabeth or excuse me, Commissioner Leval will appreciate this. So commissioner members, thank you so much for having us tonight. Chair sponsor, Vice Chair Hatwig. As a history major, I love this committee. And I have to tell you a brief little story. Can you just indulge me just for a minute? When I was at Fresno State and I was a history major, I had a work study project for a few hours to help go through original articles because at the time, my professor was very involved with the old Administration Building. And at the time, I thought I was gonna be an attorney, and I was just looking for an extra job. So I

got to look through papers and look through papers.

I was trying to find things. Nowhere in my life had I ever thought that my journey would take me into education and become a, you know, college president. Then I was president at Fresno City College at the very college that where, as a kid, at Fresno State, I was helping to find paperwork to help preserve that gorgeous building. And so I'm incredibly indebted to Efren Smith, who was the dean there, who was very involved in that, movement and, set my love forever for historic buildings. Now, I'm not an architect, and I'm an educator, state in education.

And since that time, Fresno City College, and while I've been here and I've reached out to Elizabeth on a few matters, where we wanted to make sure that the the history of an issue, regardless of what it may have been, is accurately portrayed for our constituents, our community, and our students. And that's kinda been that my approach to our work. Because I think it's important that we always look at history, even though we keep moving forward. A prime example of that approach and philosophy was the development of the West Fresno campus. If you ever get a chance to go to West Fresno campus, what does that have to do with the brick?

The brick that we used is the closest brick that we could get both in terms of color and density to the brick at the old Administration Building. We wanted to pay homage to the history of that, you know, California's first community college. Similarly, when you go down Blackstone, you'll see the new Science Building, is it's massive. You'll see a a replica of a mosaic, tile mosaic. And if you're if you're a student of architecture, when you go to the Fresno City College library, a beautiful library, it's absolutely gorgeous, you walk up and you look up and you see the mosaic, that mosaic is portrayed on our Science Building.

And that came out of discussion that we had with our faculty, making sure we always pay homage to our history and our past as we move forward as a community. Similarly, when we first started talking about the measure of the Qs Qs. Alright. Thank you, voters, for measure Q. The measure the the sign on our building, the g sign, I said was talking to our vice chancellor.

He said, we must reach out to the historic community to make sure we preserve this because we needed to take it down because of structural issues and potential safety hazards, but we always wanted it to reflect a replica of what it was. And I've had the pleasure of talking to the architect of the sinus now, unfortunately, has passed, but we've talked to members of his family. We've talked to Joe Eaton and, you know, family works. So tonight, I wanna also share, last time you all met, you met I don't were you here, please? Okay.

So the architects and engineers talked about all the functionality, which is great, but this isn't about functionality of what it can do cause this is what it will be. And I think he shared with you last time the in California, you can't purchase neon anymore. And so we have to go LED. So what you see before you today is a better, truer reflection of what that sign will look like and always look like. It will always reflect our history.

Again, while continuing to be our our future. It'll be and they they can talk more about the specifics of it. It'll be lighter, but it in terms of the material used, more energy efficient, more environmentally efficient, in line with all the other future things that we have to advise to in terms of lighting and that sort of thing. But it will always portray that g and have the functionality to maybe change colors of the g like it used to many, many, many years ago. So tonight, we bring to you a rendering that I think more accurately reflects what it will look like and what I believe all of our community on a good clear night will be able to see.

In fact, as a kid, I remember visiting relatives up in Oakhurst, of course, we'll come up in the in the Hills. You could see the sign. Now I don't know what the air quality, if you still can see the sign, but you'll definitely be able to see it from the valley floor. And we're really proud of the sign. I brought Christine McTierin well, actually, they brought me Christine McTierin, our vice chancellor of operations, and Craig Spies is, part of the engineering, team.

So we're here to answer any questions. I know you had some concerns before, so I wanted to be here to address any of those concerns that you may have, so we can be able to move forward and show the voters and show our community that we are lock in step and moving forward together. So with that, I'll pause and see if you have any questions. Alright. We'll start with

questions from the commission. Question.

You mentioned something about l LEDs. Yeah. You know, that's pretty common between towards the ropes style these days, and we can adopt it on some side and stuff. I know the the art is becoming a little bit harder to to find. There a few artisans out here, Fresno, hopefully, who do it. But I know the durability of LED has been something except upon the Hardy sign and a couple other signs ongoing right now.

Okay. Is

that sign gonna rotate?

That's a good question. I don't think so. It is not.

Thank you. It's stationary.

Did it ever rotate? Once

a while

at a time.

Yeah. Yeah. So That twenty years maybe not so bad.

Yeah. Not so much. Yeah. No.

So I think so I think the the last time that we met, there were a couple of rend renderings. There was this one where it was the original g Mhmm. And there was one with a a digital display that was just kind of

an LED where Yeah. Exactly.

Can do something like that. Sorry. And and I think yeah. And I know that that looks like that that option has gone away. I think that was our biggest concern. Mhmm. Was not only because that was kind of taken away from the essence of the sign Mhmm. But also because, you know, from the how high the sign is, if you're trying to come from 99 and you've got a picture of a face on it, it's really hard to see.

Absolutely. At least it was a

goal. Yeah. And just just again to reiterate that the intention has always been we wanna be able to replicate. And I think because when I saw this, I we're not gonna do that. And I think they got no offense, to anybody who drew the draft. Right? That might be behind me. They get excited about the functionality of what it can do, but this is what it will do. So and that's what we're that's what we've said since the get go, and that's kinda why I wanted to be here so you could hear it from me. And, yeah, answer any other questions that you might have.

I think it's good timing too because I've seen buzz on social media. Like, you know, raising Where did they do with it?

Did Where do bring that, you know, do something with it there because they they have that whole sign area that'd lovely.

Yeah. The reality of structural integrity and windows we have to deal with these days, just the the whole thing, how we've how we've arrived here. I think it's I think the public should be more than, like, you know, understanding about the replacement. And Mhmm. They still get something that looks the same.

So Absolute. And I know

the fair is having a lot of complicated things happen at one time this year, but they have already consulted with their traditional sign rebuilder Oh, good. About the Jeep. Good. Yeah. Yeah.

Well, I hope we have this up before they get theirs done

because that's the goal. You will. Okay. Good. I hope you will. Yep. I think you will. So I think

that kind of addresses most of our questions. Since this is an update out to the public.

No. It's not

an item. It's

none of the items

are double check. Yeah. Okay. So I think we're we're pleased with what

we see. Well, good. So questions to I'm looking at you or anybody. What would be the next step for us?

So, chair, the next step is to, if you haven't already, submit your permit in a SELA. And so it would require a master sign permit application from planning and then, obviously, the building application. The commission is is giving a nod of approval to this particular sign, so we will look to verify that it matches what's been submitted here. Sure. And then building would be reviewing the structural and electrical components related to the sign installation. Wonderful. Well,

thank you so much. And I will tell you when we we'll have a a viewing party, a watch party. We got a watch party going. Have two. But this one's only one party. And we'll make sure that you're all invited, and we would love to have you. And we're also gonna be inviting other people who have been in who've worked at the building at various places. I know Joan Eaton is very excited about, so is her husband, and the family of the architect we've we've been in contact with. So for us, this is a a big moment where we can just kinda love on the community and acknowledge it. So thank you so much for your positive consideration. And, Doctor. Goldsmith, I just want

to add that the way that this was handled should be a textbook case so that if something does need to be repaired, which is obviously this sign was a hazard Right. That we work together ahead of time to get ahead of possible native press. Absolutely. The people didn't just think that it was going away. They were I just wanna I just wanna express my gratitude to you and the team. Your team's been amazing, and we've tried to be responsive. But this is the way historic preservation should work. And thank you for taking the time and letting your staff take the time to make it so.

Well, absolutely. And again, we're excited about this partnership. And who knows? We might have another one down the road. You never know. You never know. It's awesome.

So who's the architect? Who?

Darn. It's gonna be the

Oh, yeah. Oh, the original.

Oh, okay.

Who was I can't remember his name. I

that's why

I left the classroom. Architect?

It could

be from the the original architect of the building?

Of the sign.

Oh, the sign. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. You

know who

it was?

I can't remember off the top right now.

I'll look it up and see.

Sorry. I'll get it to you. I can text you.

I think the building I'm sure she would

wanna say, think the building architect is Matthewson.

Yeah. Right. Yeah. That's right. Not his family. I'm But just

curious. We'll make sure, mister I I could see their faces. I'm absolutely horrible at names. That's why I left the classroom because it was a.

Was it Stevens?

I don't know what

He did all the guarantee

It might have been.

Work back in the day.

Don't understand. Oh gosh.

I know that might be the most

piece of information to have us remember the plaque. We says the original was

because he did the

constructed by So to in this time. Oh, yeah. Did. And used to tell the temperature and all that. And rather than take it down, you've replaced it and states that are just got

it down.

Yeah. But I think we need some kind of

Yeah. Some sort of notice, you know, platform

Historical notification because sooner or later, none of us will be here to play it.

I like that idea. We'll make sure we do exactly that. Thank you, Elizabeth. I appreciate that. Alright. Well, thank you all. I hope you have a good rest of your evening.

Very nice meeting you all. Take care.

Bye bye. Thank you.

Bye. Alright.

We're gonna move on to item seven b, which is our update for the plans for historic preservation month in May. So Yeah. Yeah. So we can what we have done in is we've actually had two meetings in the last, essentially, two weeks that we've discussed what our plans with regards to how we want historic preservation month to go along. We have already noted some of the events that are happenings that are gonna be happening during that month.

Do you have the an Oh, okay. I'll take that then. So, fortunately, it does kick off on the May 1 as Thursday. So we are working to have our present our presentation our launch presentation on the May 1. It'll be held at the with regard it will be held at the a o k.

Thank you. Thank you. Which is the archive on Kern, the the former president republican in Downtown Club Building. We'll also have our, proclamation, before the city on the first because that's also their, first meeting date. We do have the time travelers exhibit available this month, and we are working on some walking tours.

We do have the the pub quiz like we've done in the past and our Mother's Day tea. And then we are working on trying to get an archive on Kern to do an archiving workshop so people can actually learn how to archive not just local stuff here Right. But also how to archive your own family history and things like that as to, you know, how that works.

Can I explain that

partnership? Yeah. Go for it.

The historical society has been partnered with California Revealed, an organization that is California based, thus still functioning. And they have select they have never had a partner to work with in Central Valley to conduct archived workshops. We have been granted that. And we are all working really hard to make them come down and do it in May. It would probably be for the end of the month because we will kick off at our place on May 1.

We're hoping to get some historical ethnicities to come and tell their stories, bring some stuff and enjoyable, make it really fun. And then on the third, we're hoping to kick off our historical society walking tours in the Mural District. It's kind of so that we there are other walking tours that month. So I've asked our tour guide to work on the Mural District. But shop for the families and and for other groups, it will be really exciting. So we're trying to do that in May also.

So and and when I do say we have walking tours, we have walking tours. We do have our bike through history. They I talked with the the Fresno County Cycling Coalition, and they're on board to to do that. For them, it's a it's a great partnership because not only is it historic preservation month, it's also bike month for them. So it kind of it pairs well for them.

I do have a meeting on Thursday with the Lowell Community Development Corporation about doing a walking tour of the North Park Lowell historic area, exhibiting a lot of the build of homes that are there. You know, it's kind of one of the higher concentration of of homes that are that are actually listed in the area. Just in that small area, there's 58 homes. And then we're still working on the open house portion of that. That's gonna be set aside with a kind of a QR code system where it's self guided.

So they'll be able to go up and and there'll be a QR code that we'll have somewhere on that, you know, located prominently on the either on or near that building so that they can read the understand the history of the building and information with with regards to it. So that's what we have. And then some of you this is now gonna be the quiz. I've sent there was an email sent by Janice with regards to getting your input. And so this is our time where, because of of Brown Act requirements, things like that, we can discuss it. And so I've I've kind of wanted to have an open conversation about what we may be able to do or or us as individuals may be able to add to this to enhance it. Mister Hajj?

I spoke to Nicole Owens. She's the new executive director of the Warner's Theater. Okay. So she would love the opportunity to have a tour of the Warner's Theater. And it just so happens that the local AIA chapter was talking to her about doing a tour. So the thought was maybe we combine these Mhmm. And leverage AIA's, you know, access to promotions, etcetera, with with ours. And it might become a, you know I think they have, like, 30 people have already signed up. Great. So the problem I don't if it's a problem. They're they were targeting a date in April. Okay. So would we want them to perhaps move the date if that if that's the key. They're open to moving the date. Okay.

So if it seems like it's in both, you know, it's it's everyone's advantage to do that together. And if if we have to have it in May, I'll see if they can move it to May.

Absolutely. It'll be preferable. K. You know? Absolutely.

Also, leverage point is that if it's in the May calendar, the city of Fresno will also be Okay. Voting

Yeah. That's good. So is there do you want me make a date?

So what day I mean, were they

thinking about They were thinking April 10, which I think was a Thursday evening.

Okay.

Yeah. I'm using on the second Thursday.

We could do May 8.

May 8 is the third Thursday. Yeah.

So you said it was April 10.

Right? That's what they were thinking.

So it'd be approximately one month. Yeah.

May 8. May 8.

Okay. Yeah. Alright.

I will follow-up and report back here or in the email. Just

to report back to Janice with regards to it because we're gonna have another meeting next week, the the the committee is, because our goal is to have this finalized before the March meeting so that the the city can come up with it. Okay. Okay?

Yes. I was given a new not a new one, but a cultural resource packet or whatever that was done a few years ago for the archaeology in Fresno. Okay. And it lists all the different sites so far in these areas. Would it I think it might be cool if we had one archaeology site for the May. Absolutely. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Great. Well, we can talk about in the committee, I guess, me and Sarah, Commissioner Johnston. Yes. Because we're on the archaeology thing together. Yeah. That would

be great. Hoping that that could evolve. Mhmm. Yeah.

That would be great because, you know, the I don't think a lot of people, when they think Fresno and history, they don't think archaeology. Yep. You know? Mhmm. So that would be great to even maybe even tie that into not only having that as part of the the, you know, stop site, but also maybe even having a a conversation or a lecture at some point during the month where we where it's this discussion about, you know, what are the archaeological sites that we have here and things like that. Because that's something I believe be interested in. That's really helpful.

Like, what are the collection of sites that could be presented?

Gosh. There

were a lot of different streets. The historic districts, well, I haven't looked at it a whole lot yet. I just kinda went through it real quick, and I was like, wow. There's so much in Alright.

Let's let's go

through the actual numbers of everything.

That would be good. Okay.

Sorry. I don't know that's okay. Mhmm.

That would be fun. The other thing we talked about was bringing up some of the archaeological stuff that the city digs up when they're doing projects like high speed rail. There are just different bottles or shards or different things that that might be fun for the archaeology people to be able to express. They'll show. Like, Zaps Park, people always want to know what's under Zaps Park, where

do you go, or something like that. Yeah.

We have some boxes of

remnants. Doubt. So that would probably be good to tie into if we we have a conversational lecture about that is to bring that Yes. And tie that together as a as a, you know, here here's the different here's some of the things to think about, you know, because, I mean, I don't think think we've had any, you know, too many sites here locally besides, you know, the big one that we know of of North than with regards to, you know, dinosaurs and things

like that.

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Do we wanna aim for prehistoric or historic, or does it matter?

I would say let's start with historic archaeology first. You know? Prehistoric might be something later on. Okay. You know?

Are there muckies in Fresno? Are there Fresno muckies?

There are no muckies.

No muckies in the house.

Start the lore. They're in the tongues.

Paul Paul, if you want, you can be the first. When it's your time, we'll make sure that you're in the hall.

They saved me at the archives then.

Ronnie, did you have something? I do not. Oh, okay. Sorry. It it looked like you're probably. I was. Okay. Good.

I've got the fun hobby job of making job making beers, so I will replicate another historic beer like we did the Bohemian pills last year. We'll work on another one with this vanilla or lager get to be determined. And I'm gonna try to get stuff at Shaw involved, you know, just the pub quiz, but actually potentially brewing it in their facility. Okay. So it's brewed in a historic building. Oh, that'd be very good. So I kinda try to ramp it up. Yeah. I can I do it on a fancy new building, but it'd be something more fun and meaningful if it was also in a historical? So Yeah.

Absolutely. I will be shooting for May 15 for that to be the only the release, but the day of the public. Gonna be really exciting. And I'll get that shipped.

Excellent. If anybody needs me to search through the archives for photos that they need to blow up, usually, the if I can prep them, the city will print them, just let me know. The sooner the better with everything going on. If you think you need photos, give me some sizes and options, like, specifically what you're looking for. And if we need to do one on one, we can go through it, or you can send me a list. Send Janice a list, and Janice can send

it to me. And and I'll I'll I'll extend that. That goes for the items that you brought that both you brought up as well. So if AIA needs, you know, whatever construction photos they may have Oh, yeah. Yes. Of the fantasias, you know, at

Warner's stuff. The whole thing in the in the February newsletter for the society has the absolute whole thing of the NTHS. Oh, goodness. Story for opening day.

Okay. Alright. Yeah. Right.

Never been told. Straight out of the paper. Cool. Yeah.

K. Anybody else?

If you guys can send me something in writing about what your event is going to be a little bit more, that way we could talk about it at the meeting. I just a little a little summary, that would be great. Sure. Okay. So

since this was an update, we'll we'll we can we'll move on. So item seven c, this is an update on the Jose Garcia Brewer Adobe, located 5901 West Shaw.

Yes. I will be providing an update tonight. So code enforcement has been working to try to obtain a contractor to preserve the two, walls that are required to be preserved through the entitlement. We have not received a response from the contractor who we received the name of before. I don't know if, commissioner Hatwick, you've been able to reach out and get them to respond.

However, we did learn that the property owner did provide a demolition plan and a shoring plan to code and to Leisha before Leisha left. It is, pretty thin, but it does show the two main, the Eastern Gable end and the Southern Gable end to be, preserved, in their plans. Could you go ahead and pull those up? I think it might be easier if we walk through them, the demo plan first. And then this will be on a, subcommittee meeting later this week to ensure that the committee is comfortable, and then we'll be working directly with the, applicant to try and get these in the form that would be acceptable to our building department.

There's a a number of issues with the plans currently. But if at a conceptual level, the commission and the architectural subcommittee are confident. If you'll zoom in just on the plan itself. So the dark lines indicate the two walls that are to be preserved per the entitlement. And the intent is for them to be enclosed in the new building.

So they would be components and features inside the new clubhouse when it is constructed. But in the meantime, they do need to be preserved. I had hoped that the plan would be to actually encase the walls, essentially shore them, box them, move them off-site. We have not received that as part of the application. So really, what they're wanting to do is shore these two walls.

And I can show you the shoring plan in a minute here. But those are the two walls that are to be preserved. And then signage, appropriate signage, and history that would be shown in the new building. Alright. We can move on

to the drawing.

Jen, can you

scroll to the the right side and top corner of the drawing and zoom in? I was I was curious who did this.

I can tell you.

Oh.

It was sustainable infrastructure and structural projects in Selma. Okay. I don't I'm not familiar with them.

Is that a structural engineer?

Yes.

They have a structural stamp?

Yes. K. Alright. And then, the next is the shoring detail. And if you'll just zoom in to each of the boxes, we can start with the top left corner.

Essentially, what they're wanting to do, I I'm very concerned that we're not gonna be able to preserve any of the roof given the current conditions and probably only the wall. The intent was to have a short amount of roof as well, but I just based on what I'm seeing of the current condition, I don't know that we'll be able to preserve that. Couple of the walls do still seem to be in in, decent condition, not structurally sound. And then if you'll, scroll to the right a little bit, and we can see it's showing where existing reframing would be would remain and temporarily braced. And then the bottom left will show you really their bracing plan.

So here are my primary concerns. Obviously, the architectural subcommittee is gonna meet later this week and talk about it in detail. But if we preserve on-site, we will continue to have weather issues. And I would prefer to take the two walls that are still in decent condition, package them, move them off-site, and have them stored because the as we can go back to the photos, Janice. As you can see from the photos, we're we're seeing, especially after the last rainstorm, significant slumping of the ground, which is causing the walls to start to to slump and collapse.

And so it would make more sense to me that we can the one end, gable end, we're almost gone. The I believe it's the East is still intact. So I think, you know, in my opinion, we need to get them off-site before more damage occurs. But I'd really like some feedback. Really I mean, I know this is an update to the commission, but I'd like some feedback before the subcommittee so that they have some guidance as well.

Yes,

sir. I maybe I'm wrong, but I I thought that the last meeting, the approach was gonna be to completely dismantle it, salvage the salvage the Adobe and some extra, store it in a warehouse, and then reconstruct it. That was my understanding. That was my understanding.

Did I mess a meeting?

I'm still gonna be sandwiched the It might have been

Was it a subcommittee? I know.

I think that was when

the city was going to

be taking it on themselves.

It was gonna be dismantled. The code has. Yeah.

The parts that were gonna be demoed were gonna be salvaged as much as possible, and the wall is gonna be sandwiched and and left intact. But we were saving the old bricks just in case.

Yeah. Flusher bricks to to fill in as needed? Yes. Okay. But but keep the walls as much intact, the two able ends as much intact

as If the ground is subsiding, then it's gonna continue to subside. Exactly. So even encasing it, it's it's

that's not gonna No. He's and and and I I hate to say this. He's gonna get what he wants if it if we keep it on-site. He's gonna get what he wants, and that's that's gone. Yeah. And and and this is we've been playing this little cat and mouse game with him too long. You know? I'm I'm done with it.

Is the has the lean option been?

So, the intent was to, remove the two walls, sandwich them, remove them, preserve what we could, and then lien the property for that cost. K. Correct. But we have not been able to get a contractor to propose on that work.

Who? Can I ask who the contractor is

that Do you remember Phil Cleaver? Oh, Next gentleman. Yeah. The what is it? The Moses McQueen's bar,

the old The Leo Home. The Leo Home. Okay.

He's a general contractor with Exagli Partners, and they've been taking such good care of that. It just makes sense to to think of them first. Yeah.

And if you have other recommendations, Code is happy to reach out to them. Mhmm. But we need someone who has the willingness and the ability to do the work Yep. To use the lean option. And, yes, commissioner Code is willing to go down that path. We're prepared to move in that direction. We just need someone who is willing to do to do the work. So,

I mean, at at this point, Jennifer, that that's where I is is this is the path we need to be on. Because if we go with his method, which we already noted by the plans, does not encase the wall, does not protect it. So rain comes sideways, it's gonna continue to melt. We are seeing subsistence of the ground, which means that we're gonna continue to see those walls cave. When we knew that in '23, when we had the heavy rains too, it did that.

So at this point, my my thought process is we're we're done with with what his plan is because his plan has been wholly insufficient since day one. And and if we're going to try to preserve this even in a fraction that it is, you know, this is the route we're gonna have to go. Or else he's gonna he's gonna get what he wants. That's gonna be it's gonna be completely gone, and it's gonna be, you know, plowed down, and we'll lose the last unfired Adobe in this city. You know?

We've already lost one that was about a mile north of this one. So this is the last one that there is. And so I'm I'm in reserve at the moment, but I by seeing those plans, they just made me furious because of how inadequate they are.

So we're working on a project in Fowler right now.

Okay.

We are restoring the, what's called, the Fowler Improvement Association. Yes. The oldest women's club in California.

Yeah. I'm aware of that.

Okay. So the contractor is very sensitive to historic properties. It's Impact Construction. K. If you want that. Yes. 44 or 494-4244 Impact Construction. Nick Chandler.

Got it. We will get that name to code enforcement right away.

So I I would ask the architectural review committee. If if you have that contact, let's reach out and make and have it and have somebody from the committee and and code enforcement get together and and get somebody. And and I'd like to see I I don't know how long the procurement process is with the city. I can only tell you from from my you know? But I I'd like to see us have this done in the next ninety to a hundred and twenty days. No leg long no longer than that.

Like, I think we can certainly use the urgent necessity Close. Option and move forward that way. So K. Thank you. I appreciate the feedback. You know, I wish I had better news for you, but I wanted to get an update and wanted to let you know that that we are attempting to move forward.

Yeah. And I I I hope that, you know, now that we essentially have decisive, you know, this is this is what we need. This is what we're gonna do kind of thing. Yeah. Okay. Moving on to seven d. Unless there's anything else I need information about that. Update on regular monthly topics. So staff updates. Sure.

Wanted to let you know that since Lisha has left, we've seen a little bit of a slowing down of, projects necessary to, have the historic preservationist review, but we have processed, two planning entitlements, and this is up on your screen. Six building permits have been received, and three have been reviewed, and eight one zero six reviews have been received. These are we are outsourcing the one zero six reviews because it does require, certain, specialization. So those are reviewed off-site through one of our consultants or referred back to us, and then, we can process those applications. So just as an update there.

So you can see it's a January was significantly slower than December, but you can see in December that Leisha was processing in the same month that she was receiving. So, nine entitlements in and out, three building permits in and out, seven one zero six reviews in and out, etcetera. So she she was very efficient at getting those those done. As a related, effort, we are working toward rereleasing that position. And as soon as we do, we will let you know so you can help us advertise for that position.

We do anticipate it will take a little bit of time, but we do have several consultants on contract that we can utilize as necessary.

And that's all I have.

Jennifer, last time with Lisha, did we have one of the commissioners on the review panel on the selection panel?

Had two, actually. Commissioner and Commissioner Simmons both served on the interview panel. So once we determined the fault, making sure that we met minimum qualifications for the city of Fresno, we had two interview panels, I thought went really well because we were able to collaborate and to talk about what it is that the commission's looking for as well as what we're looking for in house. And so that that process, I think, went well. And I'd like to once we identify a couple of qualified candidates to invite the commission to appoint a couple people again.

I would agree.

Yeah. All

right. Any updates on our proposed historic districts?

I do not have an update specifically on proposed historic districts except to say this, that we are have just an insy bit of budget left in our current fiscal year, and we're going to be seeking a consultant to at least get us moving forward on the Chinatown completing updating the Chinatown survey so that we can get it back in front of you so that you can start making some decisions later this year. We had hoped to do that in house, but we're unable to do that right now. So, hopefully, I'll be able to report back. It it'll prob it takes sixty to ninety days to get a consultant on onboard, but I hope to be able to

provide you with that update. Architectural review? We had a couple

meetings over the past month. One of the meetings at HP number twenty nine, the Rossford Winery Building. There was structural improvements on the interior to kind of give it some additional life. Facial board added around and the other system, that's what we were going for approvals. They're not installed yet, of course.

I was just looking at the plans, getting through all that. But it'll help help that look like a gym for a very long time in the future when those improvements are applied. The next one was Number 216 On 12535 East Mackenzie. There was a house that had fire damage on the backside of it, not the facade. And the owner just wanted to make sure they're going through the process to understand what they needed to do with, you know, windows and things like that.

And everything they proposed was gonna be in kind. It didn't seem to be anything that was needed to be reviewed at the commission level other than just some advice and see what they're doing. They're wanting to take great care of their building and get new tenants in it and everything. So that went through pretty pretty quick and easy. Anything else,

wanted to convince the fire department to not make them sprinkle the house. But other than that, it

was Yeah. Yeah. They got to go through the code. Yeah. Code on that

one. That's the other guys.

I think those are the only two that I recall, and we have more coming this week.

Alright. Plaque is on. There was a meeting, And economic incentives. There was no meeting. Alright? So chairperson's report. So I received an email regarding a upcoming event that'll be occurring in on March 6 in Chinatown. Just wanna kinda give you guys that idea. It's about small scale development, meetup. And so it's on March 6 from five to 07:30 at 846 F Street.

It would be probably good for us to at least be there and or to have somebody there that we can discuss what that would look like to from a per preservation aspect with some of the development that's occurring in China. That is all I have for my report. So we'll move on to unscheduled communications. So any members of the commission that have anything to to add? Yes. Commissioner, if I recall. Okay.

Thank you. Well, I I wanted to update everybody on the archaeology subcommittee. We did meet sir commissioner Johnston and I. We met about what we can do to help streamline what the city may have to do when they decide to build on an archaeological site. If and so we wanna make something that's really clear and easy for them to to see.

So we're working on that. And and the thing I talked about earlier that had the descriptions of the archaeology site, It's for a big part of Fresno, but there's still a bit that's not on there. And we would love to have somebody go out and do the rest of them because I think it would do our city a lot of the.

Does that kind of include the the areas that are within our city and reaching out or having a list or something to

do with that?

Okay. I'm sorry. Should have brought

it. Yeah. Okay. About the cultural resource, I they they both sort of blend really well together. You know, we see them in, yeah, hours all the time. But, yeah, I I don't see them on this side very often. Yeah.

I think and and I know we just established the committee. Yes. But it would be nice maybe towards the end of the year if we could have some sort of workshop with regarding archaeological sites. Because I would I would say that probably that's something that's not necessarily it's not been touched on a regular basis with this commission. So it would be good for us to have some information with regards to that.

I completely agree. Yeah. So with the the society, we'd love to have an article with some images that we could put in our monthly

newsletter to you as a guest sooner

or whenever that's ready to take that just to introduce the community to the concept of archaeology. For us, I don't think it's something that comes to the top of the Okay.

Sounds good. Thank you. And you go to the commissioner.

From staff,

Yeah. I I would ask if any of the subcommittees meet, if you could please let us know when you're meeting so that we can keep minutes so we will meet the staff would need to attend so that we can keep track of those, when you're meeting, what the discussion was, etcetera. So we can

keep that at our for our records.

So if you and and commissioner Johnson, when you meet, we can set up a Zoom, and either Janice or somebody from staff would would sit in on the meeting. And that way, we can track it for the record. Okay.

Great. Thank you. Alright.

At this point, we open it up to the public. Here I am. I know.

I know. I knew I was waiting. So just for maybe publicizing, Heritage President sponsoring a cleanup again of the veteran cemetery, which is a preservation issue for sure, and it's been very much discussed by the public that it was in such disarray. And that date is May 24, a Saturday before Memorial Day. And what we do is we arrive about 09:00.

We have coffee and snacks for anyone who shows up, and they clean off the grays because the bermaid grass goes across. And there's also some wonderful curves that have information on the family names of the veterans that are buried there. And the guy that goes out there, Gene Sibley, is an expert on the cemetery and kind of talks people through where this burial is and that burial and so forth, very informative lesson. And then after we clean, we plant the flags the same day. We were trying to clean one day and plant another day.

And planting of the flags only takes about an hour because they just go, you know, push them into the ground. It's easy. So, if you would put that into your May events maybe, that would help us. Okay. And then, for the May month, I have some ideas. You know that Pat Hunter's gallery too has a wonderful selection of paintings of historic president buildings, many of which are no longer around. And that last year, we tried getting that on the the tour. But you have to have sandwich boards outside of some of these places. And it would be really a great place for that committee to go and see what she has there. It's very, very informative and helpful.

And then I have gotten on the mailing list somehow at the Volga German Museum. And they're doing a lot of archival preservation. They have the original altar out of the old church. They have altar cloths and other things, and they've had a specialist come to them from the Volga German headquarters and show them how to save stuff. And they offer a wonderful thing.

I mean, it's kind of a a weird thing. If you're a Volga German or German Russian or Russian German, they will look up your family members and help you make a whole family tree, put it on a thumb drive. And if some family member in the future gets interested, which happens many years down the road usually, they will have that available to them to look at. So they help you do family research, basically. Okay? And then, I can read my writing here. On the walking tours, what about including the guaranteed sign unveiling of the plaque if it's up by that date?

Yeah. So the the the open house, actually, it I'll I I know that typically it's not a back and forth just to kinda give you. We do have a pack on there for this month for this year, for sure. Okay. Good. But at the same time, like, if it's available, then, yeah, we'll absolutely do that.

And if you ever wanna meet there, for for you guys to see it yourselves, it's she has a history room with all these paintings. It's really very and she's really up on a lot of stuff, what happened and when. She just painted the silos. So she'll have that painting too, which should be cool. And someday, it'd be great if you put them in the kern.

The the walk walking tours, there are lots of plaques around. There should be plaques around. It's really a terrific thing. I know for a person that doesn't know the history and they're going through the city, that would be something to show them. And it would be, like, the the guarantee sign. What happened? How'd that happen? That's really a a victory for this group. I'll make you laugh. You know that Notre Dame got burned and then restored. And in the process, they found tombs in the bottom. So you never know what you're gonna find. And now Macron wants to make a same glass window with his replica there Uh-huh. Which I think is also hilarious. If you guys wanna get your your faces in the Yeah. Next to the same glass window They're all fresh. Yeah. They're fresh. Yeah. None of that.

I know. Good. Okay. And then the Warner's Theater has now a little gelato shop on the side. Include that in any walking tour. That's good for the shop, and it's good for the people that are walking. We're

including that. It's a

party shop. Yeah. You know that. Good. Yep. And the Renzi culture sculpture got moved to Roading Park. Right? It's now in Rooting Park. The Renzi sculpture that was on the bank that burned down on Shields.

I believe that's still in storage at the moment. Correct?

Oh, it's in the storage. It's not so I was thinking that would be a good one to look at. And then welcome signs will help the marketing a great deal. And we talked about somebody had sandwich signs last time that they didn't get put out. So if you have the Volga Museum or Patenters Gallery, it would be great on the front sidewalk if you had that. The parking is always an issue with that that kind of stuff. So I think that's all

of my little scratch Has the decision has been made to move the Renzi to Roadie Park that has been made?

I don't. I believe that was part of the council agenda item,

if I remember correct. Believe it's been moved because I know the guy that helped move it.

So I don't I I know they they removed it. I don't know if it was

installed yet. Okay. And the other thing is the welcome sign has been moved. Right? Now if you could get that on a walking tour, people would know where it went. The Re revived that sign?

So, yeah, the the the welcome to Fresno sign has not been moved yet. It's still in the case.

Still in the same place? It's still in the same Just down around here.

Down around the corner. And I believe that the intent is for that to be at, H. Mariposa. And, yes, it was a council agenda item in February.

And an event you could squeeze in is that the organ and the Warner Cedar, of course, is classic famous reservation. And there is a new guy that plays it. The person that played it before passed away, but now they have a guy who does play it. So you could maybe schedule that into the visit to that walking tour. I mean, I don't know how long he'd have to play, but it wouldn't be very long probably. So that would be another possibility for that place. And that's it. Alright.

Cool. Thank you. Thank you. With that, our next meeting will be held in Council Chambers on March 24 at 06:00. And I'll look for a motion to adjourn.

Sound good?

I'll send you that.

Alright. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Alright. Motion to adjourn. Thank you. Thank you.