La Plata preservation commission creates implementation committee for Centennial Plaque Program; launch depends on council funding

The La Plata Historic Preservation Commission voted to form a small implementation committee to help launch a town Centennial Plaque Program and to begin outreach while staff completes application materials.

Chair Gilpin moved to establish the plaque implementation committee and to appoint "Patty, Commissioner Chandler and Commissioner Hobbs" as members; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Commission members agreed committee members and staff will report on progress at future meetings.

The action follows the Town Council's adoption of the commission's five-year work plan (Town Council Resolution 26-11). Town staff told the commission the council adopted the plan on March 10, 2026 and transmitted both the resolution and the work-plan items for the commission's records.

Don (staff) told the commission it is already "in the implementation phase" for several first-year work-plan items and that staff will bring additional detail as the fiscal year 2027 budget process proceeds. "We're actually in the implementation phase of it ... we've we've already started implementation of the first year's work plan 2526," staff said. The staff presentation explained the Centennial Plaque Program is in the agenda packet and will move forward only if the council budgets funds for it.

Staff described the proposed program rules: plaques would recognize buildings, structures, objects or sites at least 100 years old; staff will manage an application process and present individual applications to the commission for approval. "The program would be limited to a maximum of 5 plaques per year," staff said.

Commissioners discussed whether the commission should prepare detailed implementation steps before budget action. Staff recommended forming a small subcommittee of one or two members to advocate for the program, conduct outreach to property owners and help prepare application materials. Commissioners agreed a subcommittee could begin outreach and planning even if formal program funding is not yet in place.

Next steps: staff will assemble application and outreach materials and the new subcommittee will begin initial advocacy and community engagement. The commission will review subcommittee reports and any individual plaque applications at upcoming meetings; the program's earliest possible start is July 1, 2026, subject to council appropriation.