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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 12/16/2024APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 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 STUDENT MEMBERS: Nico Allen, Kadie Crider, Jacob Holje, Hardhik Kommalapati, Amuktha Pothamsetti, Annika Rice I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Schumacher called the meeting to order at 7:00. Absent were student representatives Allen, Kommalapati, Pothamsetti, and Rice. II. READING OF LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT Maxwell read the land acknowledgement statement. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Maxwell moved, seconded by Bowes to approve the agenda. Motion carried 6-0. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Maxwell moved, seconded by Bowes to approve the minutes of the November 18, 2024 meeting. Motion carried 6-0. V. NEW BUSINESS A. DISCUSS PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENTS AT SMITH DOUGLAS MORE PROPERTY (NOVAK-KREBS) Novak-Krebs displayed and aerial view and explained the coffee shop’s need for parking. She showed the locations of the new stalls, which would require the removal of one tree. Smith was required to have parking islands, so a variance EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION December 16, 2024 Page 2 would be needed to increase the impervious area. This property did not drain to Mitchell Lake, but conformed to the Mitchell Lake watershed requirements. The design would yield four more parking spots. The interpretive panel would have to be moved. The neighbor to the north (Ellie) did not wish to share parking. Discussion followed on the design. Novak-Krebs stated the employees parked across the street to reserve the parking lot for guests. The owners had tried to work out agreements with the funeral home and other neighboring businesses. There was no needed action on the part of the commission. DISCUSS COMMENTS FROM SHOP ON OLD DEPOT NOMINATION (NOVAK-KREBS) Novak-Krebs stated SHPO agreed with the nomination but recommended an archeological study. The Hennepin-Town Road site had been studied in 2017, and she would get estimates for one done at the Depot. SHPO was not required to approve the nomination for it to proceed. Discussion followed on the scope of an archeological study. Novak-Krebs added the nomination was also sent to the Hennepin County Railroad Authority, who queried as to what regulations on them would result, and Novak-Krebs replied a Certificate of Appropriateness would be required. She would contact them again as she had not heard a reaction to this. Maxwell stated the Railroad Authority wanted to reserve the right to expand the bike path. Thorp added 16 feet would be taken for a bike path (8 feet on either side of the center line right-of-way) from the 100-foot wide right-of-way. Discussion followed on the possibility of the light rail corridor here. Novak-Krebs offered to get more information on this. UPDATE ON INTERPRETIVE PANELS FOR FLYING RED HORSE Novak-Krebs stated one of the conditions of the grant was for SHPO to view the draft, and it was approved. Kathie Quale was working with staff on this. Novak- Krebs had also shared this with the Schwartz family, original owners of the gas station who donated the horse when sold to Holiday Inn, and they approved it at well. The Flying Red Horse was still being refurbished, and Kathie would contact the original manufacturer for guidance. Two interpretive panels would be installed in spring. Novak-Krebs displayed the mock-ups, which included photographs and even a menu from the Wye-View Court Motel in Rowland, Minnesota. Discussion followed on Rowland. Schumacher suggested reaching out to the media, perhaps “Land of 10,000 Stories.” Novak-Krebs concurred this would be a good idea once it was installed. Maxwell asked for and received confirmation there would be a ribbon cutting. EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION December 16, 2024 Page 3 Bowes suggested Kirk Brown at the Star Tribune. Novak-Krebs stated there would be an Eden Prairie Magazine story that could be a tie-in; Kathie Case had suggested an article on the Schwartzs. Discussion followed on this. Schumacher reach out to Kathie Case. DISCUSS PROGRAM TO RECOGNIZE HISTORICAL EVENTS, PEOPLE, OR PLACES Novak-Krebs displayed PowerPoint and Schumacher asked for a Hometown History brainstorming session. He had reached out to Novak-Krebs about rules and parameters. Schumacher suggested one highlight a week or two a month. He added that City Manager Rick Walleen had required no banners. Novak-Krebs stated she would reach out to Joyce in Communications regarding leveraging social media. The Human Rights and Diversity Commission had held a temporary display in Purgatory Creek Park, and there was an opportunity to do a temporary display in May (History Month). Fisher suggested regular stories in Eden Prairie Local News, and Thorp noted it would require volunteers to write. Schumacher suggested a write-up of four people to start. Discussion followed on several sources for writers, including Mark Weber. Schumacher suggested starting the program the end of January. Novak-Krebs displayed three examples of history candidates: Elizabeth Fries Ellet, David Mitchell, and Jonas Staring (Staring Lake). She suggested Kathie Case review them. Bowes suggested the Barn/the Purple Barn. Fisher urged the commission balance histories of settlers with indigenous stories, such as Thorp’s research on the Otherday Family. Thorp agreed. Bowes suggested the Cedar Hills Ski Resort and the Chippewa-Sioux Battle. Schumacher suggested a teaser, such as, “Did you know…?” He asked that between now and the next meeting commission members come back with one researched suggestion for the social media group to view. Novak-Krebs stated the teaser could direct the public to the Historical Society for more information. She added Eden Prairie Remembers had been suggested by Kathie Case. VI. OLD BUSINESS A. DISCUSS 2025 WORK PLAN Schumacher commended the work plan. Novak-Krebs stated it would be presented the first Tuesday of February (February 4, 2025) at 5:30 p.m. at the City Council Workshop. Novak-Krebs stated she would prepare a PowerPoint for Schumacher’s presentation to the City Council. Discussion followed on last-minute minor changes. EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION December 16, 2024 Page 4 MOTION: Maxwell moved, seconded by Lau to accept the 2025 Work Plan. Motion carried 7-0 VII. OLD BUSINESS Novak-Krebs stated most of the oral histories were uploaded to the City’s website. One interview remained to be completed (transcribed) and uploaded. Fisher recommended Mark Weber’s recent article on Eden Prairie’s redevelopment plan preserving hundreds of acres of land as a result of the 1968 Comprehensive Plan. VIII. REPORTS OF SUBCOMMITTEES A. NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY OUTREACH Fisher stated he was waiting to close the art piece. He recommended The Nine Mile Creek Watershed District by Deborah Morse-Khan as a model for the book project, as well as Fort Snelling at Bdote by DeCarlo. He offered to contact SHPO regarding other cities that have completed a similar history project/book. He also stated he attended a presentation by Lori Haak, City Water Manager, regarding Siever Peterson’s efforts to convert his bottomlands into prairie, approximately 100 acres. He urged this also be publicized. Thorp stated he met with Paul Maravelas who had detailed questions on the deliverable, such as the level of reading, footnotes, etc. Thorp had suggested Maravelas write up a proposal. Discussion followed on hiring a designer for the final result. Fisher suggested the commission have an example of what the commission had in mind by early 2025. Maxwell noted taller books worked better with photographs. Fisher urged the commission to bring book examples. B. NEW HERITAGE PRESERVATION SITE DESIGNATIONS C. RENOVATION/MAINTENANCE DEVELOPMENT D. DOCUMENTATION/HISTORICAL RECORDINGS/OUTREACH VIII. REPORTS OF STUDENTS Holje stated the students took photos that were placed in a shared document. The group would then lay out the video. They were also waiting for a response from people who run the Smith Coffee shop. Novak-Krebs stated she had sent the owner an email as a heads- up. Schumacher offered to reach out if the students received no replies. EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION December 16, 2024 Page 5 REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF X. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY Bowes stated the Christmas trees sales were completed, and this was the last year for the current Santa (who had been with Eden Prairie for over 10 years). Thorp stated Eden Prairie News did an article on him. The Prop Shop was a success. XI. FYI ITEMS XII. NEXT MEETING The next HPC meeting will be held on Monday, January 27, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Rooms, City Hall. XIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Maxwell moved, seconded by Fisher to adjourn. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:04 p.m.