April 7, 2026, Historic Preservation Advisory Board

Historic Preservation Board
Minutes 
Mesa City Council Chambers – Lower level, 57 E 1st Street 
Date: April 7, 2026 Time: 5:00 pm 
MEMBERS PRESENT: 
James Babos, Chair 
Bruce Nelson 
BJ Parsons 
Jessica Sarkissian 
Jason Ludwig 
MEMBERS EXCUSED:  
Jocelyn Skogebo, Vice Chair 
STAFF PRESENT: 
Matthew Kriegl 
Charlotte McDermott 
Meg Eaton 
Kellie Rorex 
Dawn Dallman 
CITIZEN SPEAKERS: 
Vic Linoff 
(*Board members and staff participated in the meeting through the use of telephonic and 
audio conference equipment.) 
1. Call Meeting to Order.
Chair Babos declared a quorum present. The meeting was called to order at 5:00 pm.
2. Approval of the minutes from the February 03, 2026, Historic Preservation Board meeting
It was motioned by Boardmember Nelson, seconded by Boardmember Sarkissian, that the
minutes from February 3, 2026 Historic Preservation meeting be approved.
Upon tabulation of votes, it showed:
AYES – Babos-Nelson-Parsons- Sarkissian-Ludwig
NAYS - None
EXCUSED – Skogebo
ABSENT – None

MINUTES OF THE APRIL 7, 2026 HISTORIC PRESERVATION MEETING 
 
 
 
  
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3. Approval of the minutes from the January 10, 2026, Historic Preservation Board Retreat 
meeting 
 
It was motioned by Boardmember Parsons, seconded by Boardmember Nelson, that the 
minutes from January 10, 2026 Historic Preservation Board Retreat meeting be approved.  
 
Upon tabulation of votes, it showed:  
 
AYES – Babos-Nelson-Parsons- Sarkissian-Ludwig 
 
NAYS - None  
 
EXCUSED – Skogebo 
 
ABSENT – None 
 
4. Action Items:  
4-a.    Discuss and select the 2026 Mesa Historic Preservation Essay and Visual Arts 
Contest submissions winners in each category (see attachment 1) 
After directions for the voting process were given, the following actions were taken: 
It was motioned by Boardmember Sarkissian, seconded by Boardmember Nelson, to 
approve the 4th-6th grade essay contest results as shown below. 
 
1st Place – Ava Beilfuss 
 
2nd Place – Anna Wallis 
 
3rd Place – Elsie Sorensen 
  Upon tabulation of votes, it showed: 
  AYES – Babos-Nelson-Parsons- Sarkissian-Ludwig 
 NAYS - None  
 EXCUSED – Skogebo 
 ABSENT – None 
 
It was motioned by Boardmember Nelson, seconded by Boardmember Sarkissian, to 
approve the 7th-12th grade essay contest results as shown below. 
 
1st Place – Audrey Davis 
 
2nd Place – Aidan Dame 
 
3rd Place – Kevin Lungren 
Upon tabulation of votes, it showed: 
AYES – Babos-Nelson-Parsons- Sarkissian-Ludwig 
 NAYS - None  
 EXCUSED – Skogebo 
 ABSENT – None 
 
It was motioned by Boardmember Sarkissian, seconded by Boardmember Nelson, to 
approve the K-3rd grade art contest results as shown below.

MINUTES OF THE APRIL 7, 2026 HISTORIC PRESERVATION MEETING 
 
 
 
  
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 
1st Place – James Lundgren 
 
2nd Place – Jane Bachrach 
 
3rd Place – Charlotte Bachrach 
Upon tabulation of votes, it showed:  
 
  AYES – Babos-Nelson-Parsons- Sarkissian-Ludwig 
 NAYS - None  
 EXCUSED – Skogebo 
 ABSENT – None 
 
It was motioned by Boardmember Ludwig, seconded by Boardmember Nelson, to 
approve the 4th-6th grade art contest results as shown below.  
 
1st Place – Ruby Sorensen 
 
2nd Place – Bela Kirking 
 
3rd Place – Katyelle Cyr-Gillan 
 
Upon tabulation of votes, it showed:  
 
 AYES – Babos-Nelson-Parsons- Sarkissian-Ludwig 
 NAYS - None  
 EXCUSED – Skogebo 
 ABSENT – None 
 
It was motioned by Boardmember Nelson, seconded by Boardmember Sarkissian, to 
approve the 7th-12th grade art contest results as shown below. 
 
1st Place – Kjernan Dockery 
 
2nd Place – Levi Gutierrez 
 
3rd Place – Liam Maes 
Upon tabulation of votes, it showed: 
 
 AYES – Babos-Nelson-Parsons- Sarkissian-Ludwig 
 NAYS - None  
 EXCUSED – Skogebo 
 ABSENT – None 
 
It was motioned by Boardmember Nelson, seconded by Boardmember Sarkissian, to 
approve the Group Project contest results as shown below. 
 
1st Place – Devynn Watson, Anna Margalis, Kendalyn Martin 
Upon tabulation of votes, it showed: 
AYES – Babos-Nelson-Parsons- Sarkissian-Ludwig 
 NAYS - None

MINUTES OF THE APRIL 7, 2026 HISTORIC PRESERVATION MEETING 
 
 
 
  
- 4 - 
 EXCUSED – Skogebo 
 ABSENT – None 
 
Chair Babos congratulated the winners and thanked all participants for their entries in    
this year’s contest.  
 
5. Hear reports from Board Members of current events and educational topics related to 
historic preservation.* 
Boardmember Nelson shared his exhibit, Matriarchs of Washington Park will be at the Mesa 
Historical Museum through April 30, 2026.   
 
6. Items from citizens present.** 
 
Vic Linoff, Mesa Preservation Foundation, 628 N Center St, stated he was appreciative to the 
Board for their participation in the 2026 Art & Essay Contest as he hoped it may inspire our 
youth to be involved in historic preservation someday. Mr. Linoff also provided an update on the 
restoration of neon signs and the potential placement of these signs in the city. 
 
 
7.   Historic Preservation Officer’s Updates.* 
 
The following items were shared with the Board: 
• 
Mr. Kriegl shared details for both the Arizona Historical Society's Al Mérito Award (deadline 
April 30, 2026) and the Arizona Preservation Foundation's Governor's Heritage Preservation 
Honor Award (deadline April 15, 2026).  
• 
Mr. Kriegl anticipates the draft of the Historic Preservation Design Guidelines will be posted 
online within the next week or so. Staff continues to work on the Historic Preservation and 
Archaeology Code text amendments. 
• 
Mr. Kriegl expressed the importance of board member attendance at upcoming meetings as 
they will help determine the course of historic preservation in Mesa. 
 
       8.  Adjournment. 
It was motioned by Boardmember Nelson, seconded by Boardmember Ludwig, to adjourn. The 
meeting was adjourned at 6:35 pm.   
 
Upon tabulation of votes, it showed: 
  
 
AYES – Babos-Nelson-Parsons- Sarkissian-Ludwig 
 
NAYS - None  
 
EXCUSED – Skogebo 
 
ABSENT – None

Historic Preservation Board Meeting 
April 7, 2026
Attachment 1
Page 1 of 4

2026 HP Student Art & Essay 
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Historic Preservation Board Meeting 
April 7, 2026
Attachment 1
Page 2 of 4

Historic Preservation Board Meeting 
April 7, 2026
Attachment 1
Page 3 of 4

Historic Preservation Board Meeting 
April 7, 2026
Attachment 1
Page 4 of 4