HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-26-2013 pc carotenutiRECEIVE D
JAN 2 5 201 3
SLO CITY CLER K
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January 25, 201 3
To : Mayor and City Counci l
Re : Historic Preservatio n
While I would prefer to address you personally, I am woefully behind in m y
writing schedule and must attend to yet another bit of local history .
While "historic preservation" has evolved into the preservation of structures, fe w
— other than the Mission — can claim origins from at least 150 years ago . However,
in the City vault are official minutes, ordinances, resolutions, correspondence ,
maps, etc . that date from the earliest origins of the City and help tell the story o f
our community .
We are indeed fortunate to have these documents but they must be preserve d
for research and for the future . While we appreciate J . P . Andrews building hi s
bank (1894), we are even more grateful that subsequent owners (and Cit y
leaders) did not cause its removal as "progress" has swept away so much of ou r
heritage . Both his building and these documents are part of our heritage .
As a legacy to those here and yet to come, I urge you to provide a budget for th e
preservation of these irreplaceable documents . A yearly amount would allow fo r
the intelligent planning for preservation . While there is an expectation that th e
City Clerk will schedule document retention, such documents are thos e
contemporary with the City's business .
Given the rich historical nature of these documents, a modest amount would be a
gift to ourselves and future generations . In cooperation with public donations ,
this cost would not be a recurring budget item .
Thank you ,
Joseph A . Carotenuti
COUNCIL MEETING
: ITEM NO.: ~7V(.l..0Sf ;