Preservation staff schedules special meeting July 22 after council asks for expedited Hotel Saint Michael review; SHPO funding described as temporary

City preservation staff told the City of Prescott Preservation Commission on July 11 that the City Council asked the commission to review a revised design for the Hotel Saint Michael ahead of a council special session on Aug. 5, and the commission scheduled a special meeting for July 22 at 11 a.m.

The matter matters because council directed an expedited review timeline, which requires the commission and staff to prepare a focused preservation analysis and file materials on a short timetable.

Kaylee Nunez, the staff presenter, told commissioners Council "would like to have commission and myself look at the new design" and is asking that the commission provide input in time for Council’s August 5 special session. Nunez said staff is working with the city clerk "outside the parameters of the usual process" to move material through and that the commission will receive the full submittal package at least a week before the special meeting. Commissioners agreed to meet on July 22 at 11 a.m. at the same meeting location; staff confirmed there will be no Zoom option for the special meeting.

Commissioners raised practical questions about packet availability and timing. Nunez said the agenda packet from the recent council meeting contains materials and that staff will re-provide the full submittal package and a new analysis to commissioners before the special meeting. Commissioner Rick (surname in record varies) asked that staff email the link to the council materials; staff said they would do so.

Nunez reminded commissioners that their review must be limited to standards in the Preservation Master Plan and relevant codes: "don't use any outside influences. You can't consider parking. You can't consider construction. It's strictly what's in our manual is what we're gonna have to be paying attention to," she said. Commissioners discussed availability and settled on the July 22 date; staff noted some commissioners would be absent but that the meeting should proceed with a quorum.

During the staff update, Nunez also reported on the status of State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) funding for a related preservation program: she said SHPO had received emergency funding that will temporarily keep staff employed but that the longer-term funding picture remains uncertain and that the authorization is a short-term measure. Nunez said she had received automated replies to outreach to members of Congress and the U.S. Senate about the funding status.

Next steps: staff will email the council packet link and deliver the full application materials and an updated analysis to commissioners at least one week before the July 22 special meeting. The commission will review the Hotel Saint Michael design at that special meeting so staff can forward the commission’s recommendation to Council for the Aug. 5 special session.