Salinas moves forward with citywide historic resources survey; Page & Turnbull to lead an 18-month study

The Salinas Historic Resources Board on a December meeting reviewed details of a citywide historic resources survey that the City Council authorized the city manager to negotiate and execute with Page & Turnbull.

Planning manager Grant Leonard told the board that the council approved the more extensive proposal (referred to in the packet as "option B") and that the draft project timeline is approximately 18 months. "The goal is to have that more robust historic context statement, as well as the full citywide, survey update," Leonard said.

Why it matters: the survey will update the city'9s inventory and provide a historic context statement intended to inform future planning, designation and preservation work. Board members noted the city has roughly 15,500 parcels constructed before 1980; the survey is intended to identify eligible properties among that large stock and help preserve significant resources.

Key details - Contractor and approval: City Council authorized the city manager to negotiate and enter into an agreement with Page & Turnbull to conduct the survey; the board reviewed the consultant'9s proposal included in its agenda packet. - Scope choice: Option B was chosen by staff and approved by council; it includes a more detailed historic context statement that staff recommended for future analysis. - Timeline and deliverables: Leonard described a draft timeline of about 18 months for the survey and context statement and said the final deliverables will include property-level documentation (DPR 523-style forms), a searchable online database and supporting materials. - Budget and optional items: The proposal'9s base cost for the selected scope is shown in the packet at about $363,954. Optional outreach line items listed included $21,840 for outreach and $10,440 for public hearings; the proposal also lists a contingency of roughly $46,364. Staff noted some outreach tasks could be handled in-house to reduce costs. - Public access and format: Leonard said the final product will be available online and searchable; board members discussed whether a printed book might also be possible, but agreed online access will be the default. "They'9ll probably be easier to search also because it'9ll be a database," a board member said during the discussion. - Forms and samples: Staff agreed to provide the board with an example of the DPR 523-style property form used for individual parcels so members can see the expected level of documentation.

Board engagement and follow-up Board members asked for early coordination: staff committed to providing the Historic Resources Board (HRB) with preliminary lists of properties and districts so the board can flag omissions before finalization. Leonard said staff will coordinate with Page & Turnbull to ensure early review and outreach to local organizations. The HRB also asked staff to confirm the identity of a referenced group in the consultant'9s outreach list, the "Salinas Historical Association," and staff said they will follow up.

Designation, owner consent and incentives Board members clarified that the survey will identify eligible resources and produce an inventory, but formal designation as a historic resource is decided by City Council upon recommendation from the HRB. Staff confirmed the process: survey listing does not automatically designate a property and that owner consent or further council action would be required for formal landmark or district designation. The board discussed producing informational packets for property owners explaining permit steps, benefits (including tax incentives where applicable) and any distinct review processes.

Language access and outreach Board members asked whether the outreach materials would be translated into Spanish; staff said translation was not currently in the contract scope but agreed it was "an excellent point that we should pursue" and that the team would explore adding translation or other outreach measures.

Context concerns raised Board members stressed that the more robust context in option B is important for neighborhoods such as Chinatown and the Steinbeck-era districts. One board member urged that the Chinatown context be documented and that historical context be provided to the HRB and council prior to design or redevelopment projects in that area so cultural and community history inform proposals.

Next steps Staff will finalize the contract with Page & Turnbull, provide sample DPR 523 forms to the HRB, coordinate an early list of identified properties for HRB review and return with updates as the project proceeds. The board also asked staff to circulate sample surveys from other cities for comparison.

Votes at a glance - Minutes approval: The board approved minutes from the November 4, 2024 meeting by roll call (see action record below). No other board votes were taken on the survey; the City Council'9s authorization of the consultant contract occurred earlier (Dec. 3) and was reported to the HRB.

Ending Board members generally welcomed the selection of the more comprehensive option and urged staff to ensure early coordination, public outreach (including translation) and clarity on how the survey results will feed into designation and permitting processes.