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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 07/15/2024APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, JULY 15, 2024 7:00 P.M. Meeting Heritage Rooms, City Hall HPC COMMISSION MEMBERS: Steve Schumacher (Chair); Paul Thorp (Vice-Chair); Rod Fisher; George Maxwell; Robert Bowes; Andy Ludowese; Catherine Lau COMMISSION STAFF: Beth Novak-Krebs, Staff Liaison Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Vice Chair Thorp called the meeting to order at 6:59 p.m. Commission members Schumacher and Bowes were absent. Mary Margaret Mellen and Devyn Stanton joined the meeting. II. READING OF LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT Mellen read the land acknowledgement statement. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Fisher moved, seconded by Lau to approve the agenda. Motion carried 4-0. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Lau moved, seconded by Fisher to approve the minutes of the June 17, 2024 meeting amended to correct facts about the Bluestone and Otherday families in Section V, No. 3. Motion carried 4-0. V. NEW BUSINESS A. REVIEW THE DRAFT HERITAGE PRESERVATION SITE NOMINATION FOR THE RAILROAD DEPOT, DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL Novak-Krebs explained the process: the first step was the HPC make a determination that the property was eligible for local designation, and make a recommendation to the City Council. The application then went to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and then the Eden Prairie Planning Commission. The final step was consideration by the City Council. SHPO did not EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION July 15, 2024 Page 2 necessarily approve or disapprove the application, but it had to be shared with that organization. Thorp stated he had a meeting with the Historical Society on Thursday to recruit some volunteers to help clear the site of invasive plants. [Maxwell arrived at 7:04 p.m.] Novak-Krebs read aloud Eden Prairie’s criteria in the Ordinance for determining eligibility for local designation. Discussion followed on the applicability of the criteria. Maxwell stated Eden Prairie would not have a town without the Depot and Novak-Krebs agreed. Fisher stated he found criterion Two to be applicable, and Thorp and Novak-Krebs agreed. Thorp stated he found One, Two and Four to be applicable (association with events that contributed to the broad patterns of local history, association with the lives of persons significant with the City’s past, and has yielded or may be likely to yield information important to history or pre- history). Fisher asked Novak-Krebs to walk the commission members through the submittal. Novak-Krebs went through the summary, the planning information (location, classification, boundaries, and present use) and the various historical maps along with a map showing current Eden Prairie. Discussion followed on the various stations along this rail line. Thorp suggested including the photograph of the railroad trestle, and Novak-Krebs agreed to do this. Thorp stated he had hoped to find the foundation of the water tank near the Depot. Novak-Krebs also displayed a 1937 aerial photograph showing the water tank, and a 1945 photograph showing the tank and pump house had been removed. She displayed a railroad inventory map from 1917 showing the Depot and the water tank, and the platform. Discussion followed on a pixelated sign on the Depot which Stanton read as “Adam’s Express Company.” A 1930s photographs showed the Miller’s store and the creamery in the vicinity of the Depot. She displayed present-day photographs and explained the locations of the removed historic landmarks. Fisher asked if a narrative regarding significance would be included. Novak- Krebs stated she would get those to the commission members. It was included in the ap nomination report. Discussion followed on the significance of the site regarding the milling of wheat and the production of vegetables and milk. Novak-Krebs displayed the section explaining the function of the water tower and pump house, and the existence of a section crew who lived nearby. Thorp stated their housing had been on the north side of the tracks, near Eden Prairie Road. She summarized the section that explained the community that grew up around the Depot; Miller’s store was used as a community meeting space and for dances. The Depot also provided the telegraph. Amie Smith Douglas was a trained telegrapher who also trained other telegraphers, many of whom became depot EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION July 15, 2024 Page 3 agents. The Smith-Douglas House was a hotel at the time. David Frank Douglas took boarders by stagecoach to Chanhassen and Excelsior. Passenger service ended in 1945. In the 1980s and early 1990s the rail became the bike and walking trail. Novak-Krebs summarized the preservation management section, which emphasized education of the public and the installation of a small sign to direct visitors to the interpretive panel located near the new pump house. Discussion followed on the possible interpretation of the site for the public. Thorp stated any work on the property had to have the permission of Hennepin County. Novak-Krebs stated once designated this property would be on “everyone’s radar” regarding any disturbance of the site. Thorp stated this application for local designation might help finally get the Smith-Douglas-Moore House on the national register as well. Novak-Krebs agreed. MOTION: Maxwell moved, seconded by Fisher, to affirm this site was eligible for local designation under City Ordinance One, Two and Four and recommend that the City Council approve the designation. Motion carried 5-0. B. REVIEW THE DRAFT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR THE BOOK ON THE HISTORY OF THE NATIVE AMERICANS IN EDEN PRAIRIE Novak-Krebs stated this was a request for proposals, with a deadline of November 1, and she advised two months’ notice. Thorp noted there was no funding; a ballpark number was needed. Maxwell proposed changing the language “a wealth of information” to “some information.” Novak-Krebs replied the proposal included statements that there is “preliminary” research and “further” research is needed. Mellon suggested the necessary work was compiling what information was already collected. Fisher suggested “Local residents had a wealth of information, but further information needs to be developed and assembled.” Discussion followed on the aim and scope of this work. Novak-Krebs stressed the difference was between a book and the report DeCarlo’s contributed to Bloomington. Fisher suggested a book for general readers with facts and stories, and Novak-Krebs agreed. Mellon asked for comparable books and stressed that references were important in consulting projects. Fisher suggested Peter DeCarlo’s book on Fort Snelling as a comparable work, and Novak-Krebs agreed. Maxwell urged there be a comprehensive bibliography in the back. Discussion followed on length of the proposed work. Thorp stated he feared there was not much information. Maxwell suggested a work of 100-150 pages. Fisher EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION July 15, 2024 Page 4 agreed, saying DeCarlo’s book was 120 pages. Maxwell agreed, saying his own book was that length. Fisher asked if the proposal would “go out blind,” and Novak-Krebs replied that it did not have to. She suggested approaching Maravelas, DeCarlo, and Jane Carroll who was a recommendation from . Fisher stated Javier Avalos might agree to review the book, and also Kate Bean. Thorp suggested sending an RFP to John Gertz. Maxwell recommended against limiting the commission’s options, and Novak-Krebs would try to compile other names as well. Thorp cautioned that in the past a public bid might yield proposals out of scope, and Maxwell replied that was true; however, he added the process must allow for possibilities. Novak-Krebs offered to find out the whether the RFP needs to be published anywhere. There was no minimum number of consultants that she knew of. Fisher stated four or five names would be enough and Novak- Krebs agreed. Novak-Krebs stated it would take consultants two months to respond to the RFP. Maxwell added it would take one to two months to meet and discuss the consultant candidates, 3-12 months for them to meet with staff, six months to meet with the HPC to discuss the progress and target, 12 months to end the project, with a proposal due by November 1, 2025. He found this reasonable if the application was submitted by August 2024. Novak-Krebs offered to make the recommended changes and send the completed draft to the commission members.. Maxwell suggested also posting it publicly. Fisher asked for and received confirmation the commission was not presuming where the funding came from. Novak-Krebs clarified the scope of the application. Discussion followed on a possible review board. Maxwell suggested once the book was completed the commission could offer author-signed copies for preorder. He offered Green Card Voices as a model. Thorp stated he, Fisher, and Kathie Case went on a cruise of Lake Minnetonka narrated by Paul Maravelas. Discussion followed on the historic significances of Big Island. VI. OLD BUSINESS VII. REPORTS OF SUBCOMMITTEES A. NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY OUTREACH B. NEW HERITAGE PRESERVATION SITE DESIGNATIONS EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION July 15, 2024 Page 5 C. RENOVATION/MAINTENANCE DEVELOPMENT D. DOCUMENTATION/HISTORICAL RECORDINGS/OUTREACH VIII. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF Novak-Krebs announced the annual Preserve Minnesota conference would be held September 18-20 in Red Wing. There was a scholarship offered this year that would cover registration and hotel; the City would be able to pay and get reimbursement. Attendees would be responsible for meals, but it might be possible to get reimbursement for that as well. The City could send two commission members, and those interested should email her. IX. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY Thorp stated there would be a meeting on Thursday. There would be tables set up at the Dorenkemper House with old farm tools for kids to touch, and old fashioned games to play as well. X. FYI ITEMS XI NEXT MEETING The next HPC meeting will be held on Monday, August 19, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at the Moran House, 17155 Terrey Pine Drive, Eden Prairie. (Marcia and Brittney) XII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Fisher moved, seconded by Ludowese to adjourn. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:59 p.m.