City of Fresno

City Hall

2600 Fresno Street

Fresno, CA 93721

Meeting Minutes - Final

Monday, August 25, 2025

6:00 PM

Regular Meeting

City Hall, Council Chambers

Historic Preservation Commission

Chair - James Sponsler

Vice Chair - Jason Hatwig

Commissioner - Paul Halajian

Commissioner - Julie Federico

Commissioner - Elizabeth Laval

Commissioner - Sarah E. Johnston

Commissioner - Ryan Eddings

Staff:

Jennifer Clark, Director; Ashley Atkinson, Assistant Director;

Janice Monroe, M.A. II

THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION WELCOMES YOU TO COUNCIL

CHAMBERS, LOCATED IN CITY HALL, 2600 FRESNO STREET, FRESNO,

CALIFORNIA 93721.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – Any interested person may appear at the public hearing

and present written testimony or speak in favor or against the matters scheduled on

the agenda. Public participation during Fresno City Historic Preservation

Commission meetings is always encouraged and can occur by attending a meeting in

the Council Chambers, City Hall, 2nd Floor, 2600 Fresno Street, Fresno, CA 93721.

When called to speak during a meeting, you may approach the speaker podium upon

the Chair's call for additional public comment.

All public speakers will have up to 3 minutes to address the Commission pursuant to

Rule No. 13 of the Historic Preservation Commission Bylaws of the City of Fresno

(available in the City Clerk’s Office).

VIEWING HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETINGS (non-participatory) –

For your convenience, there are ways to view Historic Preservation Commission

meetings live:

1. Community Media Access Collaborative website: https://cmac.tv/

2. Cable Television: Comcast Channel 96 and AT&T Channel 99

3. Participate Remotely via Zoom using the following link:

https://fresno.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_tqMujg_eQtKcM0qDC4Qbvg

a. The above link will allow you to register in advance for remote participation

in the meeting via the

Zoom platform. After registering, you will

receive a confirmation email containing additional details

the meeting.

about joining

Should any of these viewing methods listed above experience technical difficulties,

the Commission meeting will continue uninterrupted. Commission meetings will only

be paused to address verifiable technical difficulties for all users participating via

Zoom or in the Chambers.

The City of Fresno’s goal is to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Anyone requiring reasonable ADA accommodations, including sign language

interpreters, or other reasonable accommodations such as language translation,

should contact the office of the City Clerk at (559) 621-7650 or clerk@fresno.gov. To

help ensure availability of these services, you are advised to make your request a

minimum of 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting.

I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

Chair Sponsler called meeting to order at 6:00pm.

Commissioner Eddings arrived at 6:07pm.

Also present were Jennifer Clark, Ashley Atkinson, & Janice Monroe

Present 7 -

Chair James W Sponsler, Vice Chair Jason Hatwig,

Commissioner Paul Halajian, Commissioner Julie Federico,

Commissioner Elizabeth Laval, Commissioner Sarah

Johnston, and Commissioner Ryan Eddings

II. PROCEDURES

6:01pm

Chair Sponsler read the procedures aloud.

III. APPROVE MEETING MINUTES

July 28, 2025 Historic Preservation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes

III-A

ID 25-1075

6:02pm

On motion of Vice Chair Hatwig, seconded by Commissioner Laval,

that the above Action Item be APPROVED. The motion carried by the

following vote:

Aye: 6 -

Chair Sponsler, Vice Chair Hatwig, Commissioner Halajian,

Commissioner Federico, Commissioner Laval and

Commissioner Johnston

Absent: 1 - Commissioner Eddings

IV. APPROVE AGENDA

6:02pm

Monroe announced no changes to the Agenda.

On motion of Commissioner Laval, seconded by Commissioner

Federico, the AGENDA was APPROVED. The motion carried by the

following vote:

Aye: 6 -

Chair Sponsler, Vice Chair Hatwig, Commissioner Halajian,

Commissioner Federico, Commissioner Laval and

Commissioner Johnston

Absent: 1 - Commissioner Eddings

V. CONSENT CALENDAR

n/a

VI. CONTINUED MATTERS

n/a

VII. COMMISSION ITEMS

Update on High Speed Rail project relating to the 1889 Southern Pacific

Railroad Depot

VII-A

ID 25-868

6:03pm

Commissioner Eddings arrived at 6:07pm.

Ben Lichty, Melisa Gaudreau, and Amy MacKinnon presented on the High

Speed Rail project's renovation of the 1889 Southern Pacific Railroad

Depot. They talked about the grant scope, timeline, location, scope of

renovation, materials & finishes, ADA improvements, environmental review

update, and the overall goals of the space.

Commissioners asked questions on the square footage and planned uses of

space, funding timeline, public access details, proposed parking,

communication with Union Pacific, and coordination with the Chinatown

community. They discussed economic development in the area and Staff

emphasized the benefits of private investment. The conversation ended with

discussion of a possible interpretive exhibit in the future Chinatown Mobility

Hub.

Workshop on Chinatown Fresno Foundation

VII-B

ID 25-557

7:00pm

Jan Minami, on behalf of the Chinatown Fresno Foundation, presented on

Chinatown's original cultures and the history of the community broken down

by time periods. Some topics included the unique diversity, legal history,

Registered Historic Properties, and obstacles faced, citing case stories with

various photos. She went on to talk about the Foundation's history,

initiatives, and goals for the future.

After the presentation, the Commissioners asked about more information on

the Japanese businesses after the war in the 1940s and ideal locations for

adaptive reuse. They voiced the importance of working together on future

projects that come before the Commission to gain additional perspectives

and finding a balance between new development with preservation.

Cami Cipolla, also with the Foundation, asked for the Commission's help in

reaching their goals for the community.

Monthly update on the Jose Garcia Brewer Adobe Building, HP #227

ID 25-1088

VII-C

located at 5901 W. Shaw (APN 51004038).

7:45pm

Atkinson reported on the next steps with the property owner, including a

letter documenting the expectations of the City and Commission.

Sponsler stated he hopes to have progress reported at next meeting and

offered to help if possible to prevent the situation from happening again in

the future.

VII-D

ID 25-1053

Update on Regular Monthly Topics:

1. Staff Updates

2. Proposed Historic Districts

3. Architectural Review Subcommittee Update

4. Plaque Subcommittee Update

7:48pm

Atkinson talked about the monthly department statistics, upcoming Mills Act

site visits, and the latest progress on the newly found lanterns .

Sponsler reported on the recent review of the Roeding Park Interpretive

Exhibit.

VIII. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT

7:54pm

Sponsler notified the Commission that Staff will be revising the agenda

format in the near future.

IX. UNSCHEDULED ITEMS

7:55pm

IX. - A. Members of the Commission

The Commissioners talked about recent NAPC trainings they participated

in. They highlighted tax incentives/funding opportunities, different ways of

tracking HPC decisions, Preservation Districts versus Historic Districts,

Conservation Easements, and the importance of outreach and relationships

with historic societies.

IX. - B. Staff

Clark commented on the recent NAPC training. She also confirmed that

Staff will be revamping the agenda and that a subcommittee will need to be

formed to aid with updating the historic ordinance. She concluded with

reminding the Commission that the CLG year is ending 9/30 and the

necessary training paperwork and resumes will be expected.

IX. - C. General Public

A member of the public spoke as a representative of the Meux Home

providing updates, such as a recent partnership with Fresno Reel Pride, and

upcoming events such as Fresno 9/11 Paranormal events and the Bygone

Bazaar Market. She recommended visiting the Meux Home Museum

website for details.

Another member of the public spoke as a representative of Heritage Fresno

on upcoming events such as on 9/6 at the 509 Club and 9/11 at Sky Park.

She also encouraged more research on the Belmont lanterns.

X. NEXT MEETING

9/22/2025

XI. ADJOURNMENT

Chair Sponsler adjourned the meeting at 8:14pm