Historic Preservation Commission approves 2026 calendar, advances plans for Preservation Day and water-treatment plant review

At its Dec. 3, 2025 meeting, the Boulder City Historic Preservation Commission approved its 2026 meeting calendar and advanced planning for the city’s Historic Preservation Day and related preservation work.

Staff member told commissioners that “the nomination flyer has been completed and will be distributed in the January utility mailer to encourage the community to vote on the award for next year.” Staff said nominations will not be solicited until Jan. 15 and that the commission should identify who will lead individual event tasks and report back monthly on progress.

Commissioners discussed opening the historic water treatment plant as part of Preservation Day or during Historic Preservation Month, and asked whether the city should solicit public input on reuse options. Staff noted that when the plant has been opened previously, attendees signed waivers and volunteers (including police volunteers in the past) staffed the site. Commissioners asked staff to prepare an assignments list showing who will handle each task and deadlines ahead of the next meeting.

Participants also discussed venues and walking-tour options. One commissioner noted that “CCO Financial has offered their place,” and the group considered whether venues would host presentations, tours or both. Commissioners discussed combining the Preservation Day awards presentation with the city’s Banner program awards and using a walking tour of historic hotels and neighborhoods as an event element.

Chair provided an update on outreach to former sculptors and the Sculpture Park about an Alan Stromberg tribute and possible work on a worn obelisk and plaque near the Sculpture Garden entrance. Staff and commissioners discussed involving Boulder City Main Street and students in historic-arts programming and reiterated the need to time award announcements so students can attend.

On the water treatment plant, staff reported an unofficial visit by an architectural historian from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to view progress. Staff said that, per the grant or program conditions discussed in the staff report, all work must be reviewed and approved by SHPO before the city receives reimbursement. Staff described plans to submit before-and-after photos for SHPO’s final review and noted that the property is already encumbered by a recorded 40-year deed restriction requiring the city to consult SHPO on any changes.

Votes at a glance - Approval of prior meeting minutes (transcript records the minutes as “November oh, 10/22/2025 meeting” — date unclear in the record): motion recorded and approved unanimously. (Mover/second not clearly specified in the transcript.) - Approval of the 2026 meeting calendar: motion recorded and approved unanimously. (Mover/second not clearly specified in the transcript.)

What’s next Staff said it will distribute the nomination flyer in the January utility mailer, prepare an assignments list with deadlines and report progress at future meetings. Staff will submit documentation and before-and-after photos to SHPO and report SHPO’s final review and any reimbursement actions back to the commission. The commission asked staff to place updates on the hangar and a proposed flagpole on a future agenda and to circulate information about the 2026 National Alliance for Preservation Commissions training once it is available.