Sunnyvale

The Heritage Preservation Commission met in regular session on September 29, 2004, in the Lobby Conference Room, 456 West Olive Avenue at 5:30 pm with Chair McQueen presiding.

Members Present: Comm. Rose Kausek; Comm. Neil Love; Chair Brian McQueen; Comm. Jane Shoemaker; and Comm. Elizabeth Steward

Staff Members: Steve Lynch, Associate Planner; Joey Mariano, Staff Office Assistant

Comm. Love noted to delete page three, fourth paragraph from the bottom. Comm. Shoemaker noted a change on page two. Comm. Kausek noted another change on page two. Chair McQueen noted a change on page four.

Comm. Shoemaker motioned to approve the Minutes of September 1, 2004 with modifications. Comm. Steward seconded. Motion carried unanimously with Vice Chair Davis and Hopkins absent.

Comm. Love made a motion to approve the Minutes of September 15, 2004 with modifications. Comm. Steward seconded. Motion carried 4-0 with Comm. Shoemaker abstaining, Vice Chair Davis and Comm. Hopkins absent.

Mr. Lynch noted that he has drafted five study issues, three of which were from the previous year. He asked the Commission to go through each issue and decide which ones to revise and/or keep. He then noted to rank each one they keep in the order of importance. He further explained the five study issues to the Commission. Commissioners agreed to number the five study issues from #1 to #5.

Study issue #1: Work Plan to develop Heritage Preservation Commission outreach program

Comm. Shoemaker asked if they should amend the study issue per the comments made by Mr. John Pilger, Communications Officer, into the Study Issue since he presented the guideline to them regarding this. Staff noted the amendment. Chair McQueen noted the correct spelling of Geocaching.

Comm. Kausek asked about the Commissioner’s role in participation towards the issues. Comm. Steward noted that she would vote against this issue. Chair McQueen noted that he would like to go through each one before voting on each issue.

Comm. Lynch explained the study issue regarding Design Guidelines. Comm. Shoemaker asked staff if the guidelines are voluntary for the owner. Staff agreed. Chair asked to add a sales plug in section one. Commissioners agreed to go through each issue before making any amendments.

Study Issue#3: Clarify the Heritage Preservation Commission’s Role in Relation to the Sunnyvale Municipal Code

Mr. Lynch noted that this issue regarding Heritage Preservation Commission’s role with the City Code was derived from Comm. Stewards idea from the September 15 meeting. He noted that this issue would enable all heritage resource structures to be reviewed by the Commission.

Comm. Shoemaker asked for clarification as far as the streetscape. She asked staff about the Forum Development. Staff clarified and updated the Commission with regards to the Forum Development. Comm. Steward asked staff if the Heritage Commission is being reasonable by pushing these types of study issues. Staff further clarified the study issue process. Chair McQueen noted a change.

Mr. Lynch noted that this issue is about marketing Sunnyvale a tourist destination/partnership with the surrounding cities. Comm. Love noted some changes and suggestions. Comm. Shoemaker asked if collaborative efforts from neighboring cities could be added to the issue.

Chair McQueen opposes the issue. Comm. Shoemaker noted that this issue was derived a year ago and that no work has been completed. She stated that their timelines for work should be more concrete and prioritized. Chair McQueen agreed that the issue would be more appropriate on the 2005 work plan and not as a proposed study issue. Comm. Love asked for clarification as far as staff time. Staff clarified. Comm. Shoemaker asked about the estimated hours from the City Attorney.

Comm. Shoemaker motioned to cancel this study issue. Chair McQueen seconded. Motion carried unanimously 5-0 with Vice Chair Davis and Comm. Hopkins absent.

Comm. Shoemaker commented on the idea. Comm. Kausek noted that they need to pull the information together in one central area where it is readily available. Chair suggested that this item could also be in the workplan as part of the outreach program. Chair asked staff if the Murphy Ave Design Guidelines are suggestions. Staff noted that they are descriptions of design and that they are specific standards. Comm. Love asked what this would accomplish for the Commission. Chair McQueen asked Comm. Shoemaker for clarification. Comm. Shoemaker asked staff for clarification of this issue. Staff clarified and gave an example. Comm. Love asked what the final outcome would be with this issue. Chair clarified. Comm. Steward corrected herself from her prior comment, and that she noted that she knows resources that would help owners to restore and preserve their home.

Chair motioned to remove this item. Comm. Steward seconded. Voted unanimously 5-0 with Vice Chair Davis and Comm. Hopkins absent.

Comm. Steward elaborated on the study issue for the benefit of the Commission. Chair McQueen noted that this is a great issue but does not think that it will appeal to the City Council. Comm. Steward dissented and noted that this is the only issue that might be passed by Council. Comm. Kausek noted a concern about the new downtown development. She noted that the Commission should be involved with the streetscape downtown. Chair McQueen noted that Comm. Kausek’s concern with study issue #4.

Chair McQueen motioned to keep this item. Comm. Shoemaker seconded. Voted 5-0 with Vice Chair Davis and Comm. Hopkins absent.

Comm. Shoemaker noted that this issue does not have an action word. Commissioners agreed to add the word update to the issue. Mr. Lynch noted that the Forum development will evolve their own design guidelines and that this Commission should be a part of it. Chair further asked staff for clarification about the issue. Comm. Steward asked the Commission about splitting this issue into two separate study issues. Commissioners further discussed this issue and other ways of rewording it. Chair McQueen clarified and commented on what this issue is ultimately about in relation to the good of the City. Chair noted that the scope of the study should only be regarding Murphy Avenue. Comm. Steward suggested adding the streetscape of the Forum Group as well.

Comm. Shoemaker asked if Washington could be included with visual streetscape standards. Comm. Shoemaker wanted to add additional text to the last sentence. Staff noted the changes to state “In relation to the new areas of the new mall visible from the existing historic district”. Chair McQueen asked to change the title to state “Update Visual Streetscape Standards for the Heritage District”

Chair McQueen motioned to keep this item with the prior amendments. Comm. Kausek seconded. Voted unanimously 5-0 with Vice Chair Davis and Comm. Hopkins absent.

Commissioners asked staff about this issue, which regards the promotion of heritage tourism. Staff clarified the issue as far as staff’s involvement with the study issue. Chair noted that it would be simpler described, and that it could be simply the exchanging of heritage brochures with other cities. Comm. Shoemaker suggested her idea of this issue. Commissioners further discussed the issue.

Chair McQueen noted that this issue could be passed if they simplify the study and make it more specific. He noted what the point of the study issue is. He noted that the Commission should agree on what scope would be involved. Comm. Shoemaker noted that the Commission should think big in order to push something through. Chair McQueen asked staff about the feasibility of this issue. Comm. Love noted that Comm. Davis suggested creating a heritage flyer to pass on to neighboring cities.

Chair McQueen motioned to include this study issue. Comm. Shoemaker seconded. Voted unanimously 5-0 with Vice Chair Davis and Comm. Hopkins absent.

Commissioners decided to vote to propose only two of the three ranked study issues to the City Council.

Chair McQueen motioned to keep study issues #4 and #5 and to use study issue #5 in a case where it is needed during the selection process

Comm. Steward thanked staff for doing a great job and effort in supporting this Commission.

Comm. Shoemaker noted that the study issues should be divided for presentation to the Joint Study Session. Chair McQueen agreed to present the Visual Streetscape Standards. Comm. Shoemaker agreed to present Study Issue #3.

ADJOURNMENT