Title
Historical Advisory Board Draft Meeting Minutes - July 6, 2023
Body
DRAFT MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY OF ALAMEDA HISTORICAL ADVISORY BOARD
THURSDAY, JULY 6, 2023
Members of the public can participate in person or remotely via Zoom For information to assist with Zoom participation, please click: <https://www.alamedaca.gov/zoom>.
1. ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Sanchez, Vice Chair Jones and Board Members Hernandez, Saxby, and Borthwick.
Absent: None
2. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT
Shelby Sheehan, via Zoom, requested (*1:12) that her public comments and concerns be added an upcoming HAB agenda. Her written comments can be found with the link below.
2-A 2023-3248 - Public Comment
Attachments can be found at <https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6277349&GUID=8D7D150E-2469-43D9-879D-F5D9E4579236>.
3. MINUTES
3-A 2023-3197 - Historical Advisory Board Draft Meeting Minutes - April 6, 2023
Board Member Saxby made a motion to approve the minutes from April 6th 2023 and Board Member Hernandez seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed 5-0, Chair Sanchez abstained due to his absence at the meeting.
3-B 2023-3198 - Historical Advisory Board Draft Meeting Minutes - June 1, 2023
Board Member Hernandez made a motion to approve the minutes from June 1st 2023 and Board Member Borthwick seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-0.
4. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
4-A 2023-3214
PLN23-0239 - 1420 Lafayette Street - Nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. Public Hearing to consider a recommendation to the State Historical Resources Commission to nominate the Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church of Alameda for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. A recommendation on the nomination is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3), the common sense exception that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
Henry Dong, Planner III, introduced this item (*5:57) and gave a presentation. The staff report and attachments can be found at: <https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6267341&GUID=18397C02-FD63-4512-BC40-BF0D7784B556&FullText=1>.
Board clarifying questions and comments start at *11:58. Elizabeth Greene, the historian for this nomination, was available for questions.
Action for item 4A
The board reworded the nomination (*32:28) - “Whereas the property has been considered eligible for the National Register since the 1970s.”
Also this sentence was added (*33:43) - “Neither the Education Building or Parish Hall diminishes the sanctuary’s architectural significance because they are located behind the sanctuary and do not contribute to the significance of the historic property.”
Board Member Borthwick made a motion to adopt the resolution as amended and Board Member Hernandez seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed 5-0.
Public Comments for 4A
Elizabeth Greene, the historical architect for the project, thanked (*37:01) the board for their support and discussed how long she had been working on this project.
Carmen Reid, via zoom, spoke (*38:22) spoke in support of this nomination but was against and had concerns about removing any reference to the Historical Study List. She believed the Study List was important and that there was a reason for it.
Mike Van Dine, via zoom, had the same concerns (*40:26) about the references to the Historical Study List being removed. He felt strongly that the list would protect the Alameda’s neighborhoods. He wanted the Study List to be expanded.
Chair Sanchez spoke on (*43:28) why references to the Historical Study List had been removed.
Board Member Borthwick also expanded (*44:43) the thought behind removing the references to the Historical Study List.
Action for Item 4A - a reconfirming of the nomination and vote since it took place before Public Comment.
No new motion was given. A roll call vote (*47:01) was taken to confirm the original motion. The motion was confirmed 5-0.
4-B Board Elections
Vice Chair Jones re-nominated Chair Sanchez for Chair and Board Member Borthwick seconded the nomination. A roll call vote was taken and the nomination passed 5-0.
Chair Sanchez re-nominated Vice Chair Jones for Vice Chair and Board Member Borthwick seconded the nomination. A roll call vote was taken and the nomination passed 5-0.
5. BOARD COMMUNICATIONS
Board Member Saxby asked (*50:04) how they could get money allocated to review and expand the Historic Study List.
There was discussion on the importance of updating the list.
Elizabeth Mackenzie, City Attorney’s Office, noted that this item had not been agendized and the board should limit their comments to individual comments only.
Vice Chair Jones thanked Chair Sanchez for continuing as chair and she wanted to know if members could suggest agenda items.
Counsel Mackenzie (*53:14) said that staff could always take suggestions and points raised.
6. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
Staff Member Dong discussed that there were no meetings in August.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Sanchez adjourned the meeting at 7:57 pm.
*the minute mark in the video to hear the comments in full.