City planning staff demonstrated how historic-resource flags are now appearing in the city’s permit-review system and outlined how those flagged permits are routed to the Historic Resources Board review process. Yesenia Segovia, assistant planner, explained she has flagged properties from the 1989 and 2017 surveys in TrackIt so they are routed to staff review; she said her comments note survey status and eligibility and that she alerts applicants about Mills Act eligibility.

Board members pressed staff on whether property owners were contacted as part of listing and whether owners are restricted by merely being on a survey. Yesenia said she leaves review comments in the permit record and does not personally contact owners; she stressed that being on the survey marks a property as eligible but does not equate to formal designation. Planning manager Grant Leonard summarized the distinction: properties that have gone through formal designation are subject to regulatory review and limits, while properties only on the survey generate advisory comments intended to guide applicants and applicants may proceed with normal permitting if they do not pursue designation.

The board asked for clearer public guidance for property owners and for training so members and applicants can understand when a project requires HRB review versus routine staff permitting. Grant Leonard said the city will request Page & Turnbull provide updated guidance materials and training; the consultant’s reconnaissance survey will be followed by intensive surveys and write-ups scheduled for winter and spring. The subcommittee reported Page & Turnbull identified roughly 106 additional potentially eligible resources and that the board’s subcommittee supplied about 220 additional candidate properties for follow-up.

On recognition programs, staff reviewed the Certificate of Appreciation program and the May awards timeline that accompanies National Historic Preservation Month. Board members discussed expanding recognition categories to include newer community-significant features such as the reconstructed Salinas Arch, and considered plaques or commemorative signage as recognition options when the 50-year age threshold for designation is not met.

The board requested staff circulate links to survey materials and webinar resources and to return with a staff memorandum clarifying the designation process, tentative timeline, and the city’s authority over non-designated versus designated properties. The meeting closed with plans for staff and Page & Turnbull to present guidance and training at a future meeting.