Board asks staff to place Soldiers Monument status on agenda and to seek city‑attorney opinion

A board member asked the Historic Districts Review Board on Aug. 26 to discuss the status of the Soldiers Monument on the plaza and whether the H‑board has authority to act on it. Board members agreed the item should be placed on a future agenda, and they asked staff to obtain a formal opinion from the city attorney about the board's jurisdiction over monuments and other "objects" excluded in the code.

Member Degnan requested the discussion, saying the monument is "pretty significant" and that the board should consider designation or other status review. Other board members noted that a governing‑body resolution introduced by councilors had stated the city's historic‑district code does not apply to objects such as sculpture and monuments (citing site and code language). Several members said the city attorney's position that the H‑board lacks jurisdiction should be clarified before the board holds a substantive discussion.

Attorney Rubalik noted language in the governing body's resolution and the code that treats objects — including monuments and statuary — as distinct and potentially excluded from the board's authority. Board members asked staff to request an opinion from the city attorney and to place the soldiers monument status review on a forthcoming agenda so the board and public can discuss options if the attorney determines the board has jurisdiction.

Chair Jerry Rios asked staff to submit the request to the preservation division director and to secure a formal city‑attorney opinion prior to or during that agenda item. Staff confirmed it would raise the matter with the director for scheduling and the city attorney's office for an opinion. The board did not take a final action on the monument at the meeting; members described the request as a procedural direction to staff.