Commission discusses paint-and-repair grants, draft owner letter, enforcement and community cleanups

City planner Charlie briefed the Landmarks Commission on the paint-and-repair grant program and related outreach at the March 25 meeting. Charlie said the program generally provides roughly 15% of a project’s cost up to a maximum grant of $3,000, and that the 2025 paint-and-repair allocation is $25,000. He also told the commission the city was holding $2,850 from projects that were not completed in 2024.

Commissioners agreed that no paint-and-repair grants will be awarded until a signed grant contract is in place. Charlie said staff will contact the two grantees from 2024 to confirm the status of their projects; if they opt out, the remaining funds could be allocated to new applicants on a first‑come, first‑serve basis once contracts and funding are finalized.

The commission reviewed a draft letter to property owners in historic districts that is sent every other year. One commissioner recommended moving a sentence that reads “you must obtain approval of the certificate appropriateness from the landmarks” from the first paragraph to later in the message to make the letter more welcoming. Commissioners also asked staff to make it “crystal clear” in the letter that the 2025 grants have not yet been awarded and that the city cannot disburse funds until federal/state funding confirmations and executed contracts are in place. Charlie said he will reword that language.

Commissioners raised enforcement questions about properties that proceed without approvals. Charlie and other members reminded the commission that the city has an appeals process, has required property owners to reverse inappropriate alterations in past cases (including removing paint from historic stone and addressing inappropriate windows and doors on other properties), and can coordinate with the city attorney about possible ordinance clarifications. Staff said ordinance updates can take time but committed to discuss enforcement options with the city attorney.

Separately, staff reported preliminary coordination to recruit high‑school students for a Springs cleanup (service‑learning day at North High School on May 23 and potential Saturday cleanups). The commission will work with the Parks Department to identify appropriate tasks.

Finally, a commissioner stated for the record that she has vacated 403 Arcadian Avenue, a locally designated landmark, and expressed concern that the building’s owner might seek demolition. Charlie said he called the organization that owns the property and emailed Sherry Campbell, CEO of La Casa, and that La Casa responded they were aware of the requirement to obtain Landmarks Commission approval for exterior alterations. Staff said they would continue outreach and notify the owner of due process for any changes to the building.