Commission agrees to consider City Hall heritage tree plaque nomination

The Carlsbad Historic Preservation Committee on July 13 voted to consider a nomination to place a historic plaque for a heritage melaleuca tree at 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive and sent the item back to staff for implementation and a future resolution to the City Council.

Staff described the item as a non-hearing request to consider a historic-plaque nomination under the City Hall heritage tree program and said the committee's authorization would be a recommendation for the city council to approve a plaque. The tree is listed in the city's heritage-tree inventory, and staff said city staff — in consultation with community development and parks staff including the city arborists — will determine plaque wording and content.

"Ultimately, it would be the city staff that determines exactly the language," staff said. Commissioners discussed consistency of wording across plaque nominations and whether previous nominators would contribute proposed text. One commissioner noted the nomination had been recommended by Diane Nygaard, identified in the record as a former city council member.

Commissioner Shirey moved that the committee consider the heritage-tree nomination at 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive and send it back to staff for implementation; a commissioner seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Staff noted the plaque program limits two plaques per year and that one plaque was already potentially pending, meaning approval of this nomination could use the year's two available slots.

Staff said they will return with a resolution recommending city council authorization of the plaque and with proposed language for committee review. The committee set no further conditions at the meeting; final plaque installation and text will be decided through the staff and council processes.