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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 11/15/2021APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 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 Chair Spera called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Absent was student representative Canham. II. READING OF LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT Fisher read the land acknowledgement statement. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Bowes moved, seconded by Fisher to approve the agenda. Motion carried 6- 0. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Ross moved, seconded by Fisher to approve the minutes of the October 18, 2021 meeting amended to correct the name of Ginny Dorenkemper, the clarification that a person gave tours at Murphy’s Landing, and the clarification that campers from the existing summer camps would be an audience for Dorenkemper tours, all in Item VI A. Motion carried 6-0. V. NEW BUSINESS A. DISCUSS DRAFT 2021 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2022 WORK PLAN (NOVAK-KREBS) Novak-Krebs stated she sent out a copy of the draft work plan with the agenda. She explained the format for the new commission members and the student EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION November 15, 2021 Page 2 representatives. She displayed a PowerPoint and went through the 2021 accomplishments and asked for feedback. She reminded the commission members and student representatives of the decision to delay the Heritage Preservation Commission Awards until 2022 (not holding them at all in 2021) and took the commission members and students through the 2022 Goals and Work Plan. She asked for feedback. [Maxwell arrived at 7:09 p.m.] Discussion followed on the 2022 Goals and Work Plan. Maxwell suggested to utilize interactive clickable map layers on the website. This could potentially fall under other bullet points but he wished this to be specifically clarified. Novak- Krebs stated there was no way for the IT Department to turn layers on and off on the Heritage Preservation Sites Map on the website but snapshots of the aerial photos could be hosted. She offered to mock-up this idea. Spera reminded Novak- Krebs that having IT staff attend a commission meeting was a previous suggestion and Novak-Krebs agreed this had been discussed, but said it was not workable for IT staff. Schumacher asked for more information on the Flying Red Horse restoration project. Discussion followed bringing Schumacher up to date on this project. Stanton stated there was a gas station that was being transformed back into a Mobile Gas station and suggested the Horse be placed there. Novak-Krebs reminded the commission that the City Center was also a suggestion. Maxwell stated even placing the Horse beneath an outdoor roof would help protect the Horse. Bowes asked how much it would cost to restore the Horse, and Thorp replied it would cost $50,000.00. Spera reminded the commission this had been a topic for the joint meeting with the Park, Recreation, and Forestry Commission. Novak-Krebs replied Jay Lotthammer did not receive any responses from his Request for Proposals. Thorp added the decision to display the Horse inside or outside had to be decided first. Novak-Krebs displayed a photograph of the old sign in its original location and state. Discussion followed on the history of gas stations and convenience stores in Eden Prairie. Thorp stated the HPC commission did not have ultimate authority over the fate of the sign. The Flying Red Horse was under the control of the City. Thorp explained the Horse was donated to the City from the former owner. Novak-Krebs offered to approach Lotthammer for an update. Fisher moved to drop all discussion of the Flying Red Horse. MOTION FAILED for lack of a second. Fisher suggested Flying Red Horse be removed from the 2022 Goals and Work Plan, and Maxwell agreed. Discussion followed. Novak-Krebs added she would put this item on the agenda for next month for more feedback. EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION November 15, 2021 Page 3 VI. OLD BUSINESS A. DISCUSS FUTURE USES FOR THE DORENKEMPER HOUSE (ROSS) Ross suggested the commission read Novak-Krebs’s document Potential Uses for the Dorenkemper House and provide feedback. She asked if the commission would propose a program it would implement or make a programming recommendation to the City Council. Maxwell suggested holding a Farmer’s Market on site and also provide tours and ice cream as staffing allowed. Schumacher agree with this idea but added he was not aware of the labor and requirements (possibly licensing) involved. Maxwell suggested Golden Valley as a model for the farmers market. Schumacher noted the handling of garbage could possibly bring the Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department into this. Movies and music in the parks were also ideas. Spera stressed the need to make the decision Ross mentioned first. Maxwell suggested teaming up with the Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department. Discussion followed on possibly reaching out to Golden Valley as a model for a Farmer’s Market. Fisher suggested choosing one or two of the easier goals from Novak-Krebs ’s document for implementation in 2021, and present those to the Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Commission. Schumacher suggested going to the City Council directly. Maxwell suggested other organizations in the City could have resources to help. Fisher asked what events were held in proximity that could provide an audience. Novak-Krebs stated there are City-sponsored events such as Harvest to Halloween in the park; the others were private events such as weddings, etc. Spera asked for prioritized first steps: would the commission implement this alone or in partnership? Ross suggested the commission could not do this alone. Discussion followed on the difficulty of getting an audience to the Dorenkemper House. Ross stated this was analogous to publicizing the Cummins Phipps Grill House. Discussion followed on approaching the City Council first, before deciding on next steps. Thorp suggested it could be a workshop item. Ross agreed, as did Novak-Krebs. Thorp stated the commission did not have the authority to decide what events would be held at City parks. Ross stated the Historical Society would be happy to partner with the commission. Spera noted it seemed the commission was saying it could implement this with help, not alone. Porter suggested presenting the ideas in Novak-Krebs’s document without first narrowing them down; the commission could choose what the City might not. Fisher agreed; if the City Council could not provide assistance the commission would know not to include any of the Dorenkemper suggestions on the Work Plan. Spera asked Ross and Novak-Krebs specifically what they thought the commission should do. Ross replied she hoped Novak-Krebs could ask around to find out what approach would be best. Novak-Krebs offered to also speak to the City Manager. She stated she did know there was support for utilizing the EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION November 15, 2021 Page 4 Dorenkemper House more and completing the mission of the HPC commission. She found all ideas in the document to be valuable and did not want to narrow down the suggestions. She thought it best to ask the City Manager, with whom she had a meeting the next day, how best to move forward with these ideas. Thorp stated Kathie Case stated the Dorenkemper was not protected against fire (no sprinkling system or insulation). This was a point to keep in mind as the commission planned events. Ross stated this was a separate conversation, perhaps in considering grants, and Thorp agreed. Novak-Krebs offered to approach Lotthammer for an initial reaction. VII. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF Novak-Krebs stated a grant application to repair the roof at the Cummins Phipps Grill House was submitted State Historical Society. It was recommended for approval to the Executive Council. Novak-Krebs did not know when the Executive Council would meet to hopefully approve the grant. Novak-Krebs is hopeful that the City will be awarded the grant. VIII. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY Ross stated she had no new news; Santa was definitely not going to be at the Cummins Phipps Grill House. Thorp stated The Optimists would be selling trees outside the house. Fisher asked if the film being made at the house touched upon the commission’s mandate, and Thorp replied it would not. Kathie Case and Society members would supervise. Thorp added the film was still just in discussion; airport noise could be a negative factor in the decision to film there. A commercial had been filmed at the house; the location was not recognizable in the commercial. IX. FYI ITEMS X NEXT MEETING The next HPC meeting will be held on Monday, December 20, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Heritage Room. XI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Bowes moved, seconded by Maxwell to adjourn. Motion carried 7-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:09 p.m.