Salinas Historic Resources Board approves Certificate of Appreciation recipients and adds developer Bruce Taylor

The Salinas Historic Resources Board on May 5 approved staff recommendations for 16 Certificate of Appreciation nominations and voted to add developer Bruce Taylor as an additional individual recipient, board members said at a meeting in Salinas City Hall.

The board’s action follows a staff presentation that said the program received 19 nominations, of which 16 met the program guidelines for recognition. Assistant Planner Yesenia Ahtye told the board, “In total, we received 19 nominations and 16 fit the program guidelines for staff recommendations.” The staff’s recommendations included individuals, organizations, programs and projects tied to preservation, restoration and public interpretation of Salinas history.

Board members discussed several nominations at length, focusing in particular on a recently built downtown structure known as the Taylor Building and whether it qualified under the board’s reconstruction/rehabilitation criteria. Board Member Masgay said the building is “not historic yet in that sense,” but argued that Bruce Taylor’s broader body of work in downtown Salinas could justify recognition of Taylor as an individual. After discussion the board approved the staff slate and separately approved a motion to include Bruce Taylor as an individual recipient with projects listed alongside the recognition.

Details of staff recommendations presented to the board include nominees such as Kathy Kolper (Steinbeck House), Lisa Josephs (archivist/curator), the Salinas City Heritage Center (postcard exhibit), the First Mayor’s House and its volunteers, the Asian Cultural Experience of Salinas, Tom and Gail Spencer (Monterey County Historical Society library work), and project nominations such as the adaptive reuse of the Salinas National Bank building and a restoration proposal for 300 Main Street. The staff also identified nominations they considered non‑qualifying under the program guidelines, including a nomination focused on the Agricultural Labor Relations Board and a Salinas Rotary Club arch that staff said honored history but did not fit the program’s preservation criteria.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes (corrections noted): Outcome — approved; roll call recorded one abstention (Board Member Wadsworth), other members approved. (See provenance.) - Approval of staff recommendations for Certificate of Appreciation recipients: Outcome — approved (board accepted staff slate as presented). (See provenance.) - Motion to include Bruce Taylor as an additional individual recipient and list associated projects: Outcome — approved by roll call. (See provenance.)

Board staff said award recipients will be notified and that certificates would be presented to the City Council as part of a historic preservation proclamation on May 13; staff said recipients could request to have certificates mailed or to attend in person. Assistant Planner Ahtye said staff will contact recipients after the board identifies awardees.

The board also discussed how to word certificates and whether to use project photos or other imagery on the certificates. Grant Leonard, the city’s planning manager, facilitated the staff presentation and outlined next steps for notifying recipients and presenting the awards to council.

Ending: The board concluded its Certificate of Appreciation item before moving to other business, including a reminder that the city’s permanent Mills Act program application period is open and upcoming survey and outreach events. Recipients will be notified by staff and presentation plans will be coordinated with City Council activity on May 13.