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SAN FRANCISCO
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
Hearing Room 400
City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
12:30 P.M.
Regular Meeting
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COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY PRESIDENT CHASE AT 12: 38 PM
STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Jeff Joslin – Director of Current Planning, Moses Corrette, Pilar LaValley, Tim Frye – Preservation Coordinator, and Linda Avery – Commission Secretary
A. PUBLIC COMMENT
SPEAKERS: None
B. STAFF REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Review of Past Week’s Events at the Planning Commission (PC) – Preservation Coordinator Frye did not have a report from the PC. Instead, he introduced Jeff Joslin, Current Planning Director, and briefly described his credentials.
2. Landmark Designation Work Program FY 2012-2013
Preservation Coordinator Frye gave the First Quarterly Report for FY 2012-13 on hours spent and what was learned. On the three individual landmark designations, the 113 hours for San Jordan’s Bar were provided by a pro-bono consultant; the Doelger’s Building was funded through the CLG grant from the Sunset Developer Track Survey; and Twin Peaks Tavern exceeded the 125 hours estimated. To date 186 hours were expanded. He noted that landmarking local designation with cultural resources takes more time to prepare for background information and its justifications. The budget for landmarking a district is 275 hours per district. To date, Duboce Park has spent 562 hours on designation, and is going on its 9th community meeting that has far exceeded the two originally anticipated. Market Street Masonry Discontiguous District spent 330 hours on designation but is moving to the Board of Supervisors. He noted that developing templates for community outreach, staff has learned that some communities have more questions and could take more than two meetings, while others would be more effective on a one-on-one meeting with individuals. In going forward, staff anticipates some learning curve with the new Articles 10 & 11 and the Mill Acts Program amendments, but believe from what’s learned, the designation part of the process could move fairly quickly. Commissioner Damkroger asked for the status of the Golden Gate Park District. Mr. Frye responded that it is on hold because more time is required to work with the Recreation and Park Department on character defining features and the time sensitivity of the expiration of the Preserve America Grant at the end of the year. Staff wanted to move as many designations as possible forward before the grant expires.
SPEAKERS: None
C. MATTERS OF THE COMMISSION
3. President’s Report and Announcements - None
4. Consideration of Adoption:
a. Draft minutes of the October 3, 2012 regular Hearing
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
5. Disclosures - None
6. HPC Review of Future Agenda Items & Requests
Commissioner Martinez suggested having a conversation on how best to approach and better preserve cultural resources with an institution that is not connected to an important building. He gave examples of the Eagle Tavern, the Gold Dust Lounge, the cultural issues that Japan Town has been struggling with for years, as well as the Western South of Market cultural resources. He wanted the [Draft Western SoMa] document to be part of the discussion and he would prepare a brief dossier of his thoughts about what can be done in regards to cultural resources. President Chase added that Commissioner Martinez’ interest was not specifically directed to the surveys for Japan Town and Western SoMa, but to the whole issues around how HPC deals with cultural resources throughout the city, and what HPC could do with the need and desire of the public to reference cultural resources as opposed to historical and architectural valued buildings and structures. The Commission decided to schedule a public discussion at its December 5th HPC hearing.
7. Update and Discussion of the Commission Secretary Search Process
Commissioner Matsuda reported on the Subcommittees’ October 10th meeting - The members of the Subcommittees discussed the September 21st findings provided by the Department of Human Resources (DHR) and unanimously believed that the findings didn’t capture the real duty of what the Commission Secretary, Ms. Avery, does for the Planning Commission and the Historic Preservation Commission. They believe there was a true disconnect in the analysis. The Joint Subcommittees proposed to have an informal conversation with DHR to revisit their findings, and if that was not satisfactory, the Subcommittees would take the item to the Civil Service Commission and at the same time provide an informational letter to the Board of Supervisors and to the Mayor.
8. Commissioner Comments/ Questions – None
MATTERS OF THE COMMISSION this category was reopened after item 10 at the request of Commissioner Wolfram to express that it was a real pleasure working with Ms. Avery the past three years. The commissioners thanked her for her service and the care she has taken of the HPC. The meeting was adjourned in her honor.
D. CONSENT CALENDAR
9. 2011.1123L (MOSES CORRETTE: 415/558-6295)
TWIN PEAKS TAVERN (401 CASTRO STREET) – SOUTHEAST CORNER OF 17TH AND CASTRO STREETS – Assessor’s Block 3582; Lot 071. Consideration to adopt a Resolution to recommend to the Board of Supervisors landmark designation of 401 Castro Street, historically known as the Twin Peaks Tavern, as an individual Article 10 Landmark pursuant to Section 1004.2 of the Planning Code. Landmark designation was initiated by the HPC its September 19, 2012 hearing.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval.
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
RESOLUTION: R693
E. REGULAR CALENDAR
10. 2012.0882E (HOLLY PEARSON: 415/575-5603)
1 TELEGRAPH HILL BOULAVARD (COIT TOWER), in Assessor’s Block 0086, Lot 012. Informational Presentation by Recreation and Park Department on proposed repair and rehabilitation work at Coit Tower, Article 10 Landmark No. 165, including cleaning and repair of exterior walls, door and window rehabilitation, upgrades to mechanical, plumbing, and building systems, upgrades to exterior lighting, modification of guardrails and handrails, new accessibility and directional signage, new mural barrier in elevator lobby, and new stair striping. Alterations of the gift shop and observation levels, associated with the new concessionaire, are not part of the current project.
PRESENTERS: Holly Pearson, Planner from Recreation and Park Department; Alison Cummins, San Francisco Arts Commissioner
SPEAKERS: Richard Rothman, Tour Guide for Coit Tower, but speaking for himself, requested the murals be inspected periodically and to protect them with rails, electronic beams, or covering to prevent damages by visitors; John Gollenger, Chair of Protect Coit Tower, would appreciate listing the correct number of fresco murals and art work in the staff memo, and asked Recreation and Park staff to lay out everything that the report said should be done, including stationing a guard at Coit Tower.
NOTE: In responding to Commissioner Martinez’s questions, Matt Jasmine from Recreation and Park Capital Division said the door way entrance to the gift shop is for ADA compliance and the replacement of the hinge ware would provide the clearance. ARG contracted Lawson Roofing who provides technical information and specifications for water proofing the roof, and he would check with ARG for water proofing the windows. Commissioner Damdroger wanted to make sure the level of mural protection afforded by rails and all the recommended items in the ARG report are addressed in this work.
Information only, no action required.
ADJOURNMENT: 1:34 PM in honor of Commission Secretary, Linda Avery-Herbert
The minutes was proposed for adoption at the Regular Meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission on Wednesday, November 21, 2012.
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger
ABSENT: Chase
