CITY OF BAKERSFIELD HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING OF AUGUST 21, 2018 AGENDA SPECIAL MEETING 4:00pm City Hall North, 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield California First Floor, Conference Room A A. ROLL CALL B. PUBLIC STATEMENTS C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Minutes of the June 19, 2018, meeting for approval. D. CLOSED SESSION None E. CORRESPONDENCE None F. PUBLIC HEARINGS None G. REPORTS None H. OLD BUSINESS None I. NEW BUSINESS 1. The Dome (2201 V Street) Recommendation: For Commission discussion. CITY OF BAKERSFIELD HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING OF June 19, 2018 MINUTES Vice Chair Montgomery called the regular meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to order on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at 4:00 p.m. at Conference Room B, 1600 Truxtun Avenue. Roll call was as follows: MEMBERS PRESENT: Stephen Montgomery Susan Stussy Cathy Butler Ellie Hight MEMBERS ABSENT: Scott Fieber STAFF PRESENT: Cecelia Griego Christine Gutierrez Joshua Rudnick Viri King Nicholas Vu PUBLIC STATEMENTS: Introduction of new staff member, Nicholas Vu, Associate Planner, by Cecelia Griego A round table introduction of each Commissioner to Nicholas Vu. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion to approve minutes from the May 15, 2018 meeting as corrected. Correction to Goal 5 mentioned by Commissioner Stussy. Commissioner Stussy stated that Goal 5 has not been completed. One plaque still needs to be installed on the Moronet Building. (MCS Butler/ Hight) CLOSED SESSION: None CORRESPONDENCE: None PUBLIC HEARINGS: None REPORTS: None OLD BUSINESS: 1. Review of final goals by Commissioners and staff. Approval of final goals, with one correction to Goal 5. (MCS Stussy as presented/Butler) 2. Mills Act Program Update: Cecelia presented a to-do list for the progress of the Mills Act Program: Programming needed internally Appointment with County Assessor’s office to work out details of a timing schedule for their office Review by City management Presentation to the Legislative and Litigation committee Once all is completed, a possible approval by late August. 3. Commissioner Montgomery stated that he will be contacting the City of Pasadena for information on their adopted Mills Act. NEW BUSINESS None COMMISSION STATEMENTS: Commissioner Stussy: mentioned the progress of the survey on East Bakersfield. 161 properties currently working. Ken Hooper is currently working on putting together a student team to assist with the survey. Perhaps there could be protocol in place for City staff to follow for future new Commissioners. Inquired about the status of the Tegeler Hotel. Staff informed commission that it is in the process of being refurbished with HOME funds provided by the City and low income tax credits. It will be presented at the June 20, 2018 Council meeting. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 4:48 p.m. by Commissioner Montgomery. A D M I N I S T R A T I V E R E P O R T Meeting Date: August 21, 2018 Agenda Section: New Business Agenda Item: H. 1. TO: Historic Preservation Commission FROM: Development Services Department DATE: July 27, 2018 SUBJECT: The Dome (2201 V Street) Background: This item was placed on today’s Agenda at the request of your Commission, and concerns “The Dome” entertainment facility located at 2201 V Street. Kern County Assessor records indicate that the Dome is an existing structure that was built in 1940. The Dome appears to have been constructed of reinforced concrete, with a circular shell domed roof. According to Gilbert Gia, a local researcher and historian and past president of the Kern County Historical Society, the Dome has served as the home for many wrestling, boxing and entertainment events. Originally known as Strelich Stadium, it was constructed by Henry Eissler and operated by Steve Strelich, a professional wrestler and promoter who also ran a health club on K Street after relocating to Bakersfield in 1939. Steve Strelich was also known for his fundraising and philanthropic efforts. In September 1962 Steve and Loretta Strelich sold the stadium to William J. Griffiths, Jerry Hill, and Jules Strongbow, who had a 38-year association with Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium as wrestler, announcer, and matchmaker. The buyers renamed the building Strongbow Stadium. Historical/Cultural Designation Process. Structures and places can be designated as a resource in the following ways: 1. Local Cultural Resource Designation. The process for designation as a cultural resource on the Bakersfield Register of Historic Places requires an application process at the request of the property owner or by City Council with the requirement of the City to purchase the property. All designated cultural resources must first seek approval from the Historic Preservation Commission before any permits for alteration, demolition, or relocation can be issued by the City. Per Bakersfield Municipal Code Section 15.72.050, one of following criteria must be met for a site to be considered a cultural resource: Exemplifies or reflects special elements of the City’s or a community or neighborhood’s historical, archaeological, cultural, social, economic, political, aesthetic, engineering, or architectural development; or Identified with persons or events significant in local, state, or national history; Embodies distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period, or method of construction, or a valuable example of the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship; or Representative of the notable work of a builder, designer, architect, engineer, landscape architect, interior designer, artist or craftsman; or Unique location or a singular physical characteristics(s) represents an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood community or the City; or Considered an archeological or paleontological site which has the potential of yielding information of scientific value. 2. Local Area of Historic Interest. Under the same criteria as cultural resources, the Historic Preservation Commission, City Council or the owners of the property may initiate a request for the designation of an area of historic interest. All applications for designation of an area of historic interest require a petition setting forth the request for an area of historic interest designation signed by the owners of no fewer than two-thirds of the parcels within the proposed area of historic interest. This designation does not require approval from the Commission before any alteration, construction, or relocation of a structure within an area of historic interest but are encouraged to do so with respect to the overall look and feel of the area of historic interest. The proposed work should not adversely affect the architectural features of the structure, where specified in the designation; nor should the proposed work adversely affect the special character or special historical, architectural or aesthetic interest or the relationship and congruity between the subject structure or feature and its neighboring structures and surroundings. 3. State or National Register of Historic Places. The City Council may nominate a site for inclusion on the State or National Register of Historic Places in the same manner as and following the procedure for the designation of cultural resources. The California State Office of Historic Preservation administers the National Register of Historic Places, the California Register of Historical Resources, the California Historical Landmarks, and the California Points of Historical Interest programs. Each program has different eligibility criteria and procedural requirements; all register nominations must be submitted to the State Historical Resources Commission for review and approval. RECOMMENDATION: For Commission Discussion. Wednesday, November 23, 2005, Gilbert P. Gia interview with Chencho at The Dome. John Strelich told Chencho that the Dome was first built in 1939 and that the first match was held January 5, 1940. The Dome is one of five such buildings erected by the same architect/contractor. One was in San Bernardino. The current Dome as constructed originally had a 12 x 12 ring that was constructed at floor level, resulting in a hole so to speak in the floor. “After Strelich, the Strongbow family, a group of wrestlers, bought from Strelich. They sold it to a church called Victory Outreach. Victory Outreach had the building for seven or eight years, and then leased it to Youth Impact. James Garner was associated with Youth Impact.” Chencho bought the building about seven or eight years ago, which would place the date he bought it at about 1998. “Steve Strelich started his gym in a tin building which has now been torn down on the corner of 20th and the street to the southeast of the Dome.” “I saved this place. When I got it needed a lot of tender loving care." “Chuck Wiggins was a man who came with the building. Chuck had been at the building for 14 or 15 years and he came with it. I knew Chuck 10 years earlier, and we became friends. We had to remodel the building [Dome], and I told Chuck you don't have to go but I have to shut the building down for a while to do the fixing up. Come back and you can do the same thing you're doing before. Chuck had been working with kids in the gym that we have in the back of the building.” [From interview with Ron Jones, Jan 2004]: "Many of the trainers interviewed spoke of Chuck Wiggins—now 72 and a former owner [?] of The Dome and long-time fight trainer here in Bako. Wiggins was critically ill with lymphoma cancer at a hospital in Los Angeles at the time of the November 1st Toughmen Fight. It was dedicated to him and his 35 years promoting boxing in Bakersfield."] [email from Larry Press: “I knew Chuck Wiggins. He was a good guy.” “The thing is Chuck had been practically living at the gym off and on and helping kids in managing the gym, so to speak. He was not somebody I paid. One day is sister called me and said Chuck had died.