Historic Resources Board - March 12, 2026

Staff will recirculate CLG report with readable text

City staff will circulate a final, readable version of Palo Alto’s Certified Local Government annual report before its April 24 state submission deadline after Historic Resources Board members said substantial portions of the draft’s fillable-PDF fields could not be read. The board received and reviewed the draft but took no formal action, as none was required.

Staff said the state’s shift from a Word document to a fillable PDF created print-readability problems. The report covers October 2024 through September 2025, including nine meetings and five serving board members. Palo Alto has been a Certified Local Government since 1992. Staff said it would provide accessible text or language from the prior report for obscured sections and compile additional board-member training information.

During the review, a board member also raised concern that the board had not been notified about a major remodel of a Julia Morgan-designed residence. Staff said the project was handled at the staff level through a nondiscretionary building-permit process and historic-resource evaluation rather than through board review. No formal action was taken on the matter.

Members identify historic inventory as a retreat priority

Board members identified improvements to Palo Alto’s historic inventory as a priority for a future retreat and work plan, expressing concern that the inventory has not progressed and remains difficult to use. Staff said it was recruiting an intern to help make the document more user-friendly, while members sought a later discussion of the inventory index.

The board did not select a retreat date. Staff recommended waiting until new members are appointed because the board’s future composition and members’ availability are not yet known. Staff will ask the City Clerk’s Office about the appointment schedule and report back to the board.

Recruitment was extended through April 8. Staff said three board seats were in recruitment and noted that the board had been reduced from seven to five members. Board member Christian Pease said this would be his final meeting and declined a request to remain until a replacement is appointed for personal reasons.

Staff says Palo Alto has no Mills Act program

In response to a public comment question about Mills Act historic-preservation incentives, staff said Palo Alto does not have a Mills Act program, although Squire House remains under a Mills Act contract. Staff said an interested party could pursue the matter with the City Council; the board took no action.

Primary sources

Watch the meeting on YouTube · Read the official meeting packet