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El Cerrito Historical Society Meeting Summary
Sunday, October 21, 2007

The President reported on the status of the Miraflores (Oishi/Sakai nursery) area redevelopment. In September the Richmond Redevelopment Agency held two CEQA Environmental Impact Report scoping sessions to gather input for the draft environmental impact report. The President attended both sessions. During one session there was a discussion of the Area of Potential Effect of the project and whether or not a Federal Section 106 review would be required for the project. Given the apparent level of confusion about the rules governing Section 106 reports, the President consulted with the Board of Directors of the Society and it was decided that the Society should send a letter to the Agency on the subject. As such, the Society did send a letter to the Agency pointing out that federal guidelines require that a Section 106 review be performed for any project that uses federal funds. In addition, the letter offered the Agency all the information the Society has on the Japanese nurseries and pointed out that the Section 106 review would require a re-analysis of the list of structures proposed for preservation.

Society director Rich Bartke commented on the Zoning Ordinance that had come before the City Council for review and consideration at the most recent City Council meeting. The Zoning Ordinance has been under development for about five years. Included in the Zoning Ordinance is a section covering historic resources and preservation. As written, this section applies only to non-residential structures. Rich reported that the President spoke at the council meeting regarding this subject. The President told the council that residential structures in El Cerrito are deserving of coverage under this ordinance and that doing so would greatly enrich our community.

But beyond that, the President urged the City Council to start a separate process under which historic preservation would be explained to and discussed with the various concerned individuals and groups in El Cerrito. The results of these meetings could then be distilled into a proposed standalone historic resources ordinance that would return to the City Council for consideration. After a discussion of the subject, the membership agreed that the President should send a letter to the City Council that not only emphasized these ideas but also offered the Historical Society's help in organizing the effort and participating in the drafting of an ordinance.

The President also reported that he had met with city staff regarding the list of historic sites they had requested earlier in the year for the San Pablo Avenue and the Ohlone Greenway beautification and signage projects. The staff was very happy with the preliminary list we presented and commented that the initial design phase of the San Pablo Avenue signage project was expected to commence early in 2008.

Once this “business” was complete Richard Schwartz, the pre-eminent Berkeley author, was introduced. Richard gave an illustrated lecture on two stories from his new book “Eccentrics, Heroes, and Cutthroats of Old Berkeley”. This book tells the story of a number of interesting characters from early times in our area. Before the early 1900s “Berkeley” encompassed a larger area than it does today, including most of Albany and El Cerrito. So some characters and incidents that today are described as being located in El Cerrito were before the turn of the century described as taking place in Berkeley. Richard highlighted the unfortunate story of the grudge that Lyle Sullivan had for early El Cerrito residents the Hagens; he also told the group about the old Boswell Ranch. Richard's talk was accompanied by some terrific old slides, making for a show that was thoroughly enjoyed by the packed house.