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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 2025 HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ADVISOR ANNUAL REPORT AND 2026 HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ADVISOR WORK PROGRAM Agenda Item_______ Reviewed: AGENDA REPORT City Manager_______ Finance Director_______ MEETING DATE:APRIL 7, 2026 TO:ALDO E. SCHINDLER, CITY MANAGER FROM:ALEXA SMITTLE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SUBJECT:2025 HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ADVISOR ANNUAL REPORT AND 2026 HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ADVISOR WORK PROGRAM SUMMARY: This annualreportsummarizesthe accomplishments and actions taken by the Planning Commission, acting as the Historic and Cultural Resources Advisor, during the 2025 calendar year and establishesthe 2026 Historic and Cultural Resources Advisor Work Program. On March 10, 2026, the Planning Commission, acting as the Historic and Cultural ResourcesAdvisor to the City Council, adopted Resolution No. 4540(Attachment 2), approving the 2026 Historic and Cultural Resources Advisor Work Program. RECOMMENDATION: Recommendthe City Councilreceive and file the 2025 Historic and Cultural Resources Advisor Annual Report and the 2026 Historic and Cultural Resources Advisor Work Program, as described in the attached Planning Commission Staff Report. FISCAL IMPACT: Allactivities completed during the 2025 calendaryearhad sufficient appropriation in the adopted 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 budgets. CORRELATION TO THESTRATEGIC PLAN: Cultural and historic resource activities supportStrategic Plan Goal A:Economic and Neighborhood Development, asthey aim to enhance the vibrancy and quality of life in all areas of the communitythrough community engagement and recognition of unique local resources.Additionally, theHistoric and Cultural Resources AdvisorWork Programraisesawareness of local history and preservation of the City’s historic and cultural assets in support of Strategic Plan Goal B: Public Safety and Protection of Assets. City Council AgendaReport 2025 HCRA Annual Report & 2026 HCRA Work Program April7, 2026 Page 2 BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION: n November 6, 2018, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 18-78 (Attachment 1) O designating the Planning Commission as the Historic and Cultural Resources Advisor (HCRA) to the City Council. The HCRA advises the City Council on all matters related to the Cultural Resources District (Old Town) and serves as a liaison between residents, property owners, and the City Council per Tustin City Code Section 9252(c). A summary of the HCRA’s activities in 2025 as well as the 2026 annual Work Program may be found in the attached Planning Commission staff report (Attachment 3), in compliance with Resolution No. 18-78. ________________________ ____________________________ Alexa Smittle Jay Eastman, AICP Community Development Director Assistant Director - Planning ____________________________ Erica H. Demkowicz, AICP Senior Planner Attachments: 1.CC Resolution No. 18-78 2.PC Resolution No. 4540 3.Planning Commission Staff Report - March 10, 2026 with attachments RESOLUTION NO.4540 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, ACTING AS THE HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ADVISOR, ADOPTING A WORK PROGRAM FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2026 I. The Planning Commission, acting as the Historic and Cultural Resources Advisor (HCRA) of the City of Tustin, California finds and determines as follows: A. That on November 6, 2018, the City Council adopted Resolution 18-78 affirming the Planning Commission as the HCRA to the City Council pursuant to Tustin City Code 9252c and establishing a program defining the Commission’s roles, responsibilities and requiring an annual Work Program. B. That on March 26, 2019, the Planning Commission established an annual Work Program under the HCRA Program to set forth the goals and objectives for the program on an annual basis. C. That the Planning Commission desires to establish the goals and objectives for the 2026 Work Program. D. That the Planning Commission held a public meeting on March 10, 2026, to consider the 2026 Work Program. II. That the Tustin Planning Commission hereby adopts the 2026 Work Program attached hereto as Exhibit A. III. That the Planning Commission authorizes the Community Development Director to update the 2026 Work Program with minor amendments and/or expand or modify it from time to time, as deemed necessary. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Planning Commission held on the 10th day of March, 2026. ________________________ TANNER DOUTHIT Chairperson __________________________ ALEXA SMITTLE Planning Commission Secretary Resolution No. 4540 2026 Work Program Page 2 APPROVED AS TO FORM: ___________________________ MICHAEL DAUDT Assistant City Attorney STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE) CITY OF TUSTIN) I, ALEXA SMITTLE, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am the Planning Commission Secretary of the City of Tustin, California; that Resolution No. 4540 was duly passed and th adopted at a regular meeting of the Planning Commission, held on the 10 day of March, 2026. PLANNING COMMISSIONER AYES:DOUTHIT, GULLO, HIGUCHI, MASON (4) PLANNING COMMISSIONER NOES:___________________________________ PLANNING COMMISSIONER ABSTAINED: ___________________________________ PLANNING COMMISSIONER ABSENT: KOZAK (1) _______________________________ ALEXA SMITTLE Planning CommissionSecretary EXHIBIT ATO RESOLUTION NO. 4540 PLANNING COMMISSION ACTING AS THE HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ADVISOR (HCRA) 2026WORK PROGRAM Actively participate in City events within the City’s Cultural ResourcesDistrict to encourage community participation and expand the public’sknowledge base relative to Citywide historic preservation. Each Planning Commissioner will receive a minimum of the equivalent of one, six-hour day of training, one mandatory introductory training course for new Commissioners and one refresher course for more seasoned Commissioners. Prepare and Organize Tustin’s 2026 Annual Historic Preservation Week o Continue to highlight historic preservation accomplishments and successes on social media platforms. o Continue to build partnerships/relations with active historic preservation groups (TAHS and TPC). o Incorporate walking tour for Commissioners to meet and obtain annual required training. o Continue to facilitate public benefit increasing awareness about historic preservation. Update the Commendation Program for clarity and significance. Successfully complete two HistoricRegisterPlaque Program nominations. Provide ongoing maintenance and updates to the City’s Historic Preservation focused webpage and Virtual Walking Tour with updated historic resource information for the public to utilize. Other mattersmay be referred to the HCRA by City Council or the Community Development Director. ITEM #3 AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE:MARCH 10, 2026 TO: PLANNINGCOMMISSION ACTING AS THE HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ADVISOR FROM:COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: 2026 HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ADVISOR WORK PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION That the Planning Commission, acting asthe Historic and Cultural Resources Advisor to the City Council, adopt the 2026 Work Program per Resolution No. 4540 (Attachment A). BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION: Pursuant to Tustin City Code Section 9252(c), the Planning Commission serves as a formal advisory body for the City Council on all matters related to local history and items of cultural significance within the Cultural Resource District (CRD). The Planning Commission’s main responsibilities include: Advising the City Council on the creation of CRDs; Recommending specific landmarks or sites for Cultural Resource designation; and Acting as a liaisonbetween the City Council and the residents or property owners living within the CRD. On November 6, 2018, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 18-78 (Attachment B) affirming the Planning Commission as the Historic and Cultural Resources Advisor (HCRA) to the City Council, defining the HCRA’srolesandresponsibilities, and requiring an annual Work Program. The following report summarizes the prior year’s HCRA Work Program accomplishments, andprovides the 2026 HCRA Work Program for Planning Commission consideration. Upon approval, a summarywill be forwarded to the City Council. Planning Commission as HCRA 2026 Work Program Page 2 2025 Work Program - Accomplishments The following is a summary of the 2025 HCRA Work Programgoals and accomplishments (Attachment C): o GOAL 1: Actively participate in City events to encourage community participation and expand knowledge base relative to Citywide historic preservation. Staff actively participated in community events to increase awareness of the City’s historic preservation efforts, including the following: Historic Preservation Week activities including a walking tour and a Tustin Library educational event; Tustin Street Fair & Sunset Market; and Tustin Area Historical Society Living History/Home and Garden Tour. At these public events, staff set up informational booths with information about the City’s historic preservation programs, including the plaque program and benefits of participating in the Mills Act. In addition, staff collaborated with local and regional historic preservation groups to further the City’s historic preservation efforts. o GOAL 2: Update Commendation program for clarity and significance The Historic Register Plaque program is a voluntary initiative that recognizes and honors historically significant residential and commercial properties with a round bronze plaque. The City also offers a Commendation program that recognizes residential or commercial projects of merit in Old Town Tustin with a square bronze plaque, but the projects do not have to be historic. The programs are similar enough to cause confusion; and an update could better clarify and differentiate the two programs. Due to competing priorities, this goal was not achieved and is within the proposed Work Program for 2026. o GOAL 3:Two Historic Register Plaque Program nominations Historic register plaques are intended to recognize Tustin’s historic properties, educate the public, increase public interest in historic properties, and promote community pride. To date, a total of 75 properties havebeen included inthe Historic Register Plaque Program (HRPP). During the 2025 Work Program Period, the HCRA approved the following two nominations to the City’s HRPP: Planning Commission as HCRA 2026 Work Program Page 3 153 N. C Street (Focht-Piampiano) - Approved by the HCRA on July 22, 2025. The Focht and Piampiano families each hadlong, but separate associations with the property beginning in 1949. 535 W. Third Street (Advent Parsonage 1908-1948) - Approved by the HCRA on December 9, 2025. Between 1908-1948, the house served continuously as the original parsonage for the First Advent Church – Tustin’s oldest church, and in 1948, it was relocated to its current location on Third Street. o GOAL 4: Co-host the Tustin Historic Preservation Week with local historic preservation groups and expand on the success of the 2024 inaugural year. City staff kicked off the City’s second Historic Preservation Week (HPW), whichtook place during May 12-19, 2025 and focused on the city’s military past. A summary of the HPW events is provided below: Historical fun facts about the city’s military history were shared on the City’s website; Staff engaged with the public during HPW at the Tustin Library, the City’s Street Fair, and the Sunset Market; Staff, in collaboration with the Tustin Area Historical Society (TAHS) and the Tustin Preservation Conservancy (TPC), facilitated two guided walking tours: Fairhaven Memorial Park Cemetery Tour and an architectural walking tour. The walking tours focused on notable Tustin residents from year’s past and significant historic buildings within the CRD; and Staff expanded the HPW program by including a movie viewingin the City’s Community Center titled, “The Lost Battalion”. The movie was open to the public with refreshments being served. The movie highlighted Nelson Holderman, who was a WWI hero and Tustin resident. o GOAL 5: Each Commissioner shall have a minimum of the equivalent of one, six-hour day of training, one mandatory introductory training course for new Commissioners, and one refresher course for more seasoned Commissioners. At the October 28, 2025 regular Planning Commission meeting, City staff and the City’s historic preservation consultant, Architectural Resources Group Inc. (ARG), facilitated a workshop that satisfied a portion of the required annual trainingfor both seasoned and new Commissioners. The workshop covered Planning Commission as HCRA 2026 Work Program Page 4 the origins of historic preservation, Tustin's specific programs and ordinances, and the criteria and implications for designating historical resources. Other training opportunities were also available during Historic Preservation Week. o GOAL 6: Other matters may be referred to the HCRA by City Council or the Community Development Director. In 2025, City staff updated the City’s Historic Preservation StoryMap (City’s latest historic preservation online tool), by adding information relative to properties that display a Historic Register plaque. This information was shared online to help incentivize future preservation of existing residential and commercial properties, educate the public and to recognize and celebrate historically significant properties within the city. Proposed 2026 Work Program Staff proposes the following goals and objectives for the calendar year 2026 HCRA Work Program: Actively participate in City events within the City’s CRD to encourage community participation and expand the public’s knowledge base relative to Citywide historic preservation. Each Planning Commissioner will receive a minimum of the equivalent of one, six-hour day of training, one mandatory introductory training course for new Commissioners, and one refresher course for more seasoned Commissioners. Prepare and Organize Tustin’s 2026 Annual Historic Preservation Week o Continue to highlight historic preservation accomplishments and successes on social media platforms. o Continue to partnerwith active historic preservation groups (TAHS and TPC). o Incorporate walking tour(s)for Commissioners to meet and obtain annual required training. o Continue to facilitate public benefit in increasing awareness about historic preservation. Update the Commendation Programto differentiate it from the Historic Register Plaque Programfor clarity and significance. Successfully complete two Historic Register Plaque Program nominations. Planning Commission as HCRA 2026 Work Program Page 5 Provide ongoing maintenance and updates to the City’s Historic Preservation focused webpage and Virtual Walking Tour with updated historic resource information. Other mattersthat may be referred to the HCRA by City Council or the Community DevelopmentDirector. Staff recommends that the Planning Commission, in its capacity as the HCRA, approve Resolution No.4540, adopting the 2026Work Program anddirect staff to forward the report to the City Council as a receive and file item. Erica H. Demkowicz, AICP Senior Planner Raymond Barragan Principal Planner Jay Eastman, AICP Assistant Community Development Director Alexa Smittle Community Development Director Attachments: A. Draft Planning Commission Resolution No. 4540 (2026 Work Program) B.City Council Resolution 18-78 C. Planning Commission Resolution No. 4521 (2025 Work Program) RESOLUTION NO.4540 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, ACTING AS THE HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ADVISOR, ADOPTING A WORK PROGRAM FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2026 I. The Planning Commission, acting as the Historic and Cultural Resources Advisor (HCRA) of the City of Tustin, California finds and determines as follows: A. That on November 6, 2018, the City Council adopted Resolution 18-78 affirming the Planning Commission as the HCRA to the City Council pursuant to Tustin City Code 9252c and establishing a program defining the Commission’s roles, responsibilities and requiring an annual Work Program. B. That on March 26, 2019, the Planning Commission established an annual Work Program under the HCRA Program to set forth the goals and objectives for the program on an annual basis. C. That the Planning Commission desires to establish the goals and objectives for the 2026 Work Program. D. That the Planning Commission held a public meeting on March 10, 2026, to consider the 2026 Work Program. II. That the Tustin Planning Commission hereby adopts the 2026 Work Program attached hereto as Exhibit A. III. That the Planning Commission authorizes the Community Development Director to update the 2026 Work Program with minor amendments and/or expand or modify it from time to time, as deemed necessary. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Planning Commission held on the 10th day of March, 2026. ________________________ TANNER DOUTHIT Chairperson __________________________ ALEXA SMITTLE Planning Commission Secretary Resolution No. 4540 2026 Work Program Page 2 APPROVED AS TO FORM: ___________________________ MICHAEL DAUDT Assistant City Attorney STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE) CITY OF TUSTIN) I, ALEXA SMITTLE, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am the Planning Commission Secretary of the City of Tustin, California; that Resolution No. 4540 was duly passed and th adopted at a regular meeting of the Planning Commission, held on the 10 day of March, 2026. PLANNING COMMISSIONER AYES:DOUTHIT, GULLO, HIGUCHI, MASON (4) PLANNING COMMISSIONER NOES:___________________________________ PLANNING COMMISSIONER ABSTAINED: ___________________________________ PLANNING COMMISSIONER ABSENT: KOZAK (1) _______________________________ ALEXA SMITTLE Planning CommissionSecretary EXHIBIT ATO RESOLUTION NO. 4540 PLANNING COMMISSION ACTING AS THE HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ADVISOR (HCRA) 2026WORK PROGRAM Actively participate in City events within the City’s Cultural ResourcesDistrict to encourage community participation and expand the public’sknowledge base relative to Citywide historic preservation. Each Planning Commissioner will receive a minimum of the equivalent of one, six-hour day of training, one mandatory introductory training course for new Commissioners and one refresher course for more seasoned Commissioners. Prepare and Organize Tustin’s 2026 Annual Historic Preservation Week o Continue to highlight historic preservation accomplishments and successes on social media platforms. o Continue to build partnerships/relations with active historic preservation groups (TAHS and TPC). o Incorporate walking tour for Commissioners to meet and obtain annual required training. o Continue to facilitate public benefit increasing awareness about historic preservation. Update the Commendation Program for clarity and significance. Successfully complete two HistoricRegisterPlaque Program nominations. Provide ongoing maintenance and updates to the City’s Historic Preservation focused webpage and Virtual Walking Tour with updated historic resource information for the public to utilize. Other mattersmay be referred to the HCRA by City Council or the Community Development Director.