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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 09/20/2021APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 7:00 P.M. 8080 MITCHELL RD HPC COMMISSION MEMBERS: Pamela Spera; Valerie Ross; Paul Thorp; Rod Fisher; George Maxwell; Steve Schumacher; Robert Bowes COMMISSION STAFF: Beth Novak-Krebs, Staff Liaison Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES Andrea Porter; Joseph Canham; Devyn Stanton; Luc Willett I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Acting Spera called the meeting to order at 7:43 p.m. Absent was Commissioner Thorp. II. READING OF LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT Stanton read the land acknowledgement statement. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Fisher moved, seconded by Maxwell to approve the agenda. Motion carried 6-0. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Ross moved, seconded by Fisher to approve the minutes of the August 16, 2021 meeting. Motion carried 6-0. V. NEW BUSINESS A. WELCOME STUDENT MEMBERS AND INTRODUCTION (NOVAK- KREBS) Novak-Krebs announced the names of the new student representatives and had each introduce themselves. The commission members also introduced themselves. B. DISCUSS HARVEST TO HALLOWEEN EVENT (ROSS) EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION September 20, 2021 Page 2 Ross summarized the history of this event, formerly known as Sunbonnet Days, then as Harvest Celebration, usually held at Riley Lake and the Dorenkemper farm. The City combined several events into this event held on Saturday, October 16 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Ross wished the HPC to have a presence and asked for ideas. There could be tours of the Dorenkemper House in the early afternoon, perhaps in costume, with lanterns on the grounds, pumpkin carving at the barn, crafts, food trucks, hayrides, et cetera. Fisher added there might be a scavenger hunt and a glow-in-the-dark dance party. Schumacher suggested following what the City suggested as uses for the house. Ross suggested pulling out the various dated maps she and Thorp had used before and giving information to residents about pioneers formerly on their land. Discussion followed on the name change of the event. Ross stated this new, combined event did not have the same name recognition as Sunbonnet Days. Fisher stated the new time would work for the commission. Maxwell suggested something like a “pumpkin weigh-off” contest. Fisher suggested having a jack-o- lantern contest. Porter suggested having tours begin at 3:00 p.m., before the City’s official event. The commission members expressed approval for this idea. Willett suggested a caramel apple decoration contest. Schumacher stated this might be difficult during a pandemic. Bowes suggested talking about typical crops for Eden Prairie in October. Willett suggested tours in traditional costume. Ross stated the Historical Society had given “ghost walks” before, but these took time for preparation and research. Porter, Stanton, Canham, and Willett volunteered to give tours. Ross requested anyone who had more ideas to email Novak-Krebs. C. DISCUSS FUTURE USES FOR THE DORENKEMPER HOUSE (ROSS) Ross stated each new set of commission members took on new projects and made decisions about in which direction the commission was to go. For example, new sites had been locally designated. She requested this new commission with new student representatives could take on the challenge of finding uses for the Dorenkemper House and advise the City. It did not have electricity or running water. The Dorenkemper House could become a coffee shop/restaurant, like the Smith Coffee House, or become a tour destination with ice cream for residents using the lake and/or camping nearby. Bowes suggested having it open only on Saturdays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Porter added there was nowhere around Riley Lake to get food. There would have to be signs to encourage residents to walk up the trail. Ross stated the commission had some funds to create signage. Maxwell stated there could be picnic tables with umbrellas on the large grounds. Willett stated he EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION September 20, 2021 Page 3 knew of a lot of people who would be willing to put in volunteer hours, such as the Adventure Crew. Maxwell stated if the outbuilding currently used for storage could be temporarily cleared out, one could sell ice cream from there. Ross stated there was electricity, but she was not sure where. Maxwell stated the commission could use coolers or freezers utilizing solar cells. Schumacher stated the house could sell food like the Red Barn Pizza Farm. The commission members could solicit businesses to have a “picnic in the park.” This would not require a lot of volunteers or electricity. Fisher stated there could also be a food truck. Ross suggested an ice cream or pizza truck (or both). Schumacher added people would come for lunch. He offered to find companies that would be interested in working with the commission. Ross stated if the ice cream did not work for any reason, another captive audience was the young campers who were in the area throughout the summer. Novak- Krebs read aloud City language stating the house would be restored and used for Eden Prairie events. Porter suggested coming back the following month with new ideas. Ross suggested making this a focus of the commission for the next few months, or having a subgroup investigate the idea and come back to the commission. Schumacher asked if this was the sole candidate site to focus on. He suggested revolving such a focus among, say, four sites throughout the year. Maxwell suggested focusing on what the historic families harvested throughout the year. There could also be plantings of raspberries, cherries, apple trees, or whatever perennials were traditionally grown, and organize the showing of the house around the harvesting and use of these products. Schumacher asked if there was a Farmer’s Market, and Maxwell replied one was on Eden Prairie Road and Pioneer Trail. Schumacher suggested a monthly Farmer’s Market. Fisher stated he preferred to focus on the Dorenkemper House for a few months, and then another property, et cetera. Ross suggested demonstrating to the City a small accomplishment, something larger could grow out of it. Schumacher suggested the commission members think up ideas and have a brainstorming session during the next meeting. Ross agreed and added the ideas would need to be narrowed down to an achievable few. Spera stated the purpose of holding these events was key. VI. OLD BUSINESS A. DISCUSS CITY-WIDE OPEN HOUSE ON OCTOBER 9, 2021 (NOVAK- KREBS) EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION September 20, 2021 Page 4 Novak-Krebs explained the City-Wide Open House for the student representatives. The tables would be in tents outside. She requested volunteers from the commission. The street signs would be sold. B. DISCUSS ORAL HISTORIES (NOVAK-KREBS) Novak-Krebs stated the IT Department was setting up a new webpage to host all the oral histories with photographs. She would display it for the commission when it was completed for commissioner comments. Unfortunately, the Department was not able to meet with the commission. Ross explained for the student representatives the Historical Society has solicited stories from longtime residents. C. DISCUSS JOINT MEETING WITH HISTORICAL SOCIETY (NOVAK- KREBS) Novak-Krebs stated this would occur in the spring. The floors were being painted in the Cummins Phipps Grill House, and then the Vintage Sale and Santa Claus events would take up the calendar. [Stanton left at 8:51 p.m.] VII. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF Fisher recommended the Richard T Anderson display on the bike trail along the river. Porter asked if the City was tearing down the Miller Spring. Fisher replied it was merely being cleaned. VIII. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY Ross announced the Vintage Sale would take place on November 4, 5, and 6, noon – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 10:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. There were no dates for a visit from Santa yet. IX. FYI ITEMS X NEXT MEETING The next HPC meeting will be held on Monday, October 18, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Heritage Room. XI. ADJOURNMENT EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION September 20, 2021 Page 5 MOTION: Fisher moved, seconded by Schumacher to adjourn. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:59 p.m.