City of Fresno  
City Hall  
2600 Fresno Street  
Fresno, CA 93721  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Monday, December 27, 2021  
6:00 PM  
Regular Meeting  
In Person and/or Electronic  
Room 2165N (Conference Room A)  
Historic Preservation Commission  
Chair - Jason Hatwig, LEED, AP, BD C  
Vice Chair - Robin Goldbeck  
Commissioners:  
Christopher Rocha, Paul Halajian, AIA; Don Simmons, PhD; C. Kristina  
Roper, M.A.; James Sponsler;  
Staff:  
Mike Sanchez, AICP, MCRP, Assistant Director; Mary  
Raterman-Doidge, Senior Deputy City Attorney; Alicia C. Gonzales,  
Historic Preservation Specialist; Janice Monroe, M.A. II  
PUBLIC ADVISORY  
THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND CITY HALL WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT  
A LIMITED CAPACITY.  
THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION WELCOMES YOU TO ROOM 2165A,  
LOCATED IN CITY HALL, 2ND FLOOR, 2600 FRESNO STREET, FRESNO,  
CALIFORNIA 93721.  
The meeting can also be viewed live at 6:00 P.M. on Comcast Channel 96 and AT&T  
channel 99.  
Chambers, located in City Hall Room 2165A, are open for public participation.  
You can also participate in the meeting on our City’s website click on the URL  
https://fresno.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.  
Members of the public are encouraged to participate electronically because of  
reduced capacity of seating in the Chambers to allow for social distancing. Masks will  
be required for the vaccinated and unvaccinated.  
Pursuant to the Executive Order, and in compliance with the Americans with  
Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in the Commission  
meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office, 559-621-7650 within 48 hours of the  
meeting.  
PUBLIC COMMENT  
The following options are available for members of the public who want to attend and  
/or address the Historic Preservation Commission:  
1. eComment at https://fresno.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.  
a) eComments is a tool for citizens to use to make comments on agenda items. It will  
be open during the Council meeting and closed at the end of the meeting and will be  
a part of the official record. The User Agreement and Procedures document for  
eComment can be accessed by the URL https://www.fresno.gov/cityclerk/  
b) eComments will be a maximum of 450 words.  
OR  
2. You are invited to a Zoom webinar.  
a) If you would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the meeting remotely  
from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android device. Please use URL:  
https://zoom.us/j/95457849931  
b) Those addressing the Commission must state their name and address for the  
record.  
OR  
3. Join by Phone  
a) Dial:  
US: 1 669 900 9128  
Enter Webinar ID: 954 5784 9931  
b) Those addressing the Commission must state their name and address for the  
record.  
OR  
4. Email  
a) Attendees may also email comments to mike.sanchez@fresno.gov to be read  
during the meeting. Please include the agenda date and item number you wish to  
speak on in the subject line of your email (e.g., January 25, 2021 - Item A). And,  
please include your name and address for the record at the top of the body of your  
email.  
b) Emails are not to exceed 150 words.  
c) All comments received will be distributed to the Commission prior and during the  
meeting and will be a part of the official record.  
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.  
If you challenge these matters in court, you may be limited to raising only those  
issues you or someone else raised in oral or written testimony at or before the close  
of the hearing.  
The City of Fresno thanks you in advance for taking all precautions to prevent  
spreading COVID-19 virus.  
I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL  
At 6:03 PM the meeting was called to Order by Chair Jason Hatwig.  
Present on behalf of the Commission were: Chair Jason Hatwig, Vice Chair  
Robin Goldbeck, Don Simmons and James Sponsler.  
Also present were Assistant Director of Planning and Development, Mike  
Sanchez, Senior Deputy City Attorney Mary Raterman-Doidge, Historic  
Preservation Specialist, Alicia Gonzales, and Management Analyst II,  
Janice Monroe.  
Present 4 -  
Chair Jason Hatwig, Vice Chair Robin Goldbeck,  
Commissioner Don Simmons, and Commissioner James W  
Sponsler  
Absent 2 -  
Commissioner Christopher Rocha, and Commissioner Paul  
Halajian  
II. APPROVE MEETING MINUTES  
6:04 PM  
November 22, 2021, Historic Preservation Commission Regular Meeting  
Minutes  
II-A  
ID 21-901  
On motion of Vice Chair Goldbeck, seconded by Commissioner  
Sponsler, that the above Action Item be approved. The motion carried  
by the following vote:  
Aye: 4 -  
Chair Hatwig, Vice Chair Goldbeck, Commissioner Simmons  
and Commissioner Sponsler  
Absent: 3 - Commissioner Rocha, Commissioner Halajian and Roper  
III. APPROVE AGENDA  
6:05 PM  
Management Analyst, Janice Monroe, amended the title of item VI-C to  
state:  
HEARING TO CONSIDER AND MAKE FINDINGS ON DEMOLITION  
PERMIT APPLICATION #B21-15650 for the Kutner Home (HP# 115) located  
at 1651 L Street (APN46614101), which has sustained substantial fire  
damage, pursuant to  
1. ADOPT a finding of Statutory Exemption pursuant to Section 15269(c)  
(Emergency Projects) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)  
guidelines.  
2. APPROVE the demolition of HP #115 the Kutner Home located at 1651 L  
Street pursuant to FMC 12-1617(e ) and 12-1616.  
3. APPROVE the deletion of HP #115 the Kutner Home located at 1651 L  
Street off the local register pursuant to FMC 12-1616.  
On motion of Commissioner Sponsler, seconded by Commissioner  
Simmons, that the above item be approved as amended. The motion  
carried by the following vote:  
Aye: 4 -  
Chair Hatwig, Vice Chair Goldbeck, Commissioner Simmons  
and Commissioner Sponsler  
Absent: 3 - Commissioner Rocha, Commissioner Halajian and Roper  
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR  
N/A  
V. CONTINUED MATTERS  
N/A  
VI. COMMISSION ITEMS  
6:07 PM  
HEARING TO CONSIDER AND MAKE FINDINGS ON APPLICATION  
VI-A  
ID 21-670  
B21-15503 for an addition of a prefabricated auxiliary building/garage to  
The Wolfe Residence (contributing resource to the Porter Tract Historic  
District) located at 1035 East Yale Avenue, pursuant to FMC12-1606(a)(2)  
and 12-1618(h)(1).  
6:08 PM  
Present for comment was Applicant Scott Kramer & Planner Aubrie  
Richardson  
On motion of Commissioner Simmons, seconded by Vice Chair  
Goldbeck, that the above Action Item be approved. The motion carried  
by the following vote:  
Aye: 4 -  
Chair Hatwig, Vice Chair Goldbeck, Commissioner Simmons  
and Commissioner Sponsler  
Absent: 3 - Commissioner Rocha, Commissioner Halajian and Roper  
HEARING TO CONSIDER AND MAKE FINDINGS ON DEVELOPMENT  
VI-B  
ID 21-826  
PERMIT P21-04497 for the exterior façade improvements and  
rehabilitation to the Liberty Theatre (HP #171) located at 944 Van Ness  
Avenue, pursuant to Fresno Municipal Code (FMC) Section 12-1606(a)(2)  
and 12-1617.  
6:25 PM  
Present for comment were applicants Danillo Borges, Terrance Pearson, &  
David Johnson  
Item was APPROVED with the condition that the applicant would supply  
Staff with a physical sample of the LED neon being used in signage.  
On motion of Commissioner Sponsler, seconded by Vice Chair  
Goldbeck, that the above Action Item be APPROVED. The motion  
carried by the following vote:  
Aye: 3 -  
Chair Hatwig, Vice Chair Goldbeck and Commissioner  
Sponsler  
Absent: 3 - Commissioner Rocha, Commissioner Halajian and Roper  
Abstain: 1 - Commissioner Simmons  
HEARING TO CONSIDER AND MAKE FINDINGS ON DEMOLITION  
VI-C  
ID 21-1026  
PERMIT APPLICATION #B21-15650 for the Kutner Home (HP# 115)  
located at 1651 L Street (APN46614101), which has sustained substantial  
fire damage, pursuant to  
1. ADOPT a finding that of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section  
15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities) of the California  
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines.  
2. APPROVE the demolition of HP #115 the Kutner Home located at  
1651 L Street pursuant to FMC 12-1617(e) and 12-1616.  
3. APPROVE the deletion of HP #115 the Kutner Home located at  
1651 L Street off the local register pursuant to FMC 12-1616.  
6:55 PM  
Present for comment were Applicant/Resident Vicki Luna, Developer Brad  
Hardie, Insurance representative Jim Kruger, Planner Drew Maurin, & Code  
Enforcement representative Timothy Schulz  
Part 1 of this item was APPROVED as previously amended.  
On motion of Commissioner Sponsler, seconded by Vice Chair  
Goldbeck, that the above Action Item be approved as amended. The  
motion carried by the following vote:  
Aye: 4 -  
Chair Hatwig, Vice Chair Goldbeck, Commissioner Simmons  
and Commissioner Sponsler  
Absent: 3 - Commissioner Rocha, Commissioner Halajian and Roper  
Part 2 of this item was APPROVED with stipulation that Code Enforcement  
and Staff have a final consultation on any possible salvageable parts to the  
home.  
On motion of Commissioner Sponsler, seconded by Vice Chair  
Goldbeck, that the above Action Item be APPROVED AS AMENDED.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
Aye: 3 -  
Chair Hatwig, Vice Chair Goldbeck and Commissioner  
Sponsler  
Absent: 3 - Commissioner Rocha, Commissioner Halajian and Roper  
Abstain: 1 - Commissioner Simmons  
Part 3 of item was APPROVED with stipulation that the applicant will return  
to HPC for Review and Comment when reconstruction plans are available  
and submitted for New Construction  
On motion of Commissioner Sponsler, seconded by Vice Chair  
Goldbeck, that the above Action Item be APPROVED AS AMENDED.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
Aye: 4 -  
Chair Hatwig, Vice Chair Goldbeck, Commissioner Simmons  
and Commissioner Sponsler  
Absent: 3 - Commissioner Rocha, Commissioner Halajian and Roper  
HEARING CANCELLED - Permit Issued by Director for DEMOLITION  
VI-D  
VI-E  
ID 21-1025  
PERMIT APPLICATION #B21-16224 for the Hewitt House (HP# 39)  
located at 175 N Diana Street (APN 45933302), which has sustained  
substantial fire damage  
8:00 PM  
REVIEW AND COMMENT ON PRE-APPLICATION AD21-03515  
consisting of exterior alterations for the Bixler Vapor Building (HP #313)  
located at 2049 Broadway Street, pursuant to FMC 12-1606(a)(2) and (b)  
(23).  
ID 21-842  
8:01 PM  
Present for comment was Applicant Andrew Young  
WORKSHOP on the reconstruction of the Abacus previously located at  
Guarantee Savings & Loans (Citi Bank) 4191 N Blackstone Avenue (APN  
43409202).  
VI-F  
VI-G  
ID 22-23  
8:26 PM  
Present for comment was Regional Manager, Jon Checkie.  
WORKSHOP regarding the relocation of the Calwa Park Rocket (Heritage  
ID 22-24  
Property) located at 4545 W. Church Avenue (APN 480011036T)  
8:32 PM  
Present for comment were representatives from WRT (the Applicant for this  
project) John Tatro & Andrew Dawson  
VII. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT  
N/A  
VIII. UNSCHEDULED ITEMS  
8:47 PM  
VIII. - A. Members of the Commission  
N/A  
VIII. - B. Staff  
Assistant Director, Mike Sanchez, updated the Commission that a Stop  
Work Permit was issued at the Garcia Brewer Adobe property and that the  
building was currently tarped and fenced as requested. There is an  
upcoming scheduled meeting on January 4, 2022, between the Architectural  
Review Subcommittee, Staff, & Applicant.  
VIII. - C. General Public  
N/A  
IX. NEXT MEETING  
1/24/2022  
X. ADJOURNMENT  
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:50 PM  
2021 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING SCHEDULE