HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 02/24/2025Agenda
Eden Prairie Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting
7 p.m. Monday, February 24, 2025
Heritage Rooms
8080 Mitchell Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
ATTENDEES
Heritage Preservation Commission Members: Steven Schumacher-Chair; Paul Thorp-Vice Chair,
George Maxwell, Robert Bowes, Rod Fisher, Andy Ludowese, Catherine Lau
City Staff: Beth Novak-Krebs, Staff Liaison; Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary
Student Members: Nico Allen, Kadie Crider, Jacob Jolje, Hardhik Kommalapati, Amuktha
Pothamsetti, Annika Rice
MEETING AGENDA
I. Call the Meeting to Order / Roll Call
II. Reading of Land Acknowledgement Statement
III. Approval of Agenda
IV. Minutes
A. Heritage Preservation Commission meeting held Monday, January 27, 2024
V. New Business
A. Update on Presentation at Council Workshop
B. Joint Meeting with the Historical Society – April 17, 2025
C. Discuss Heritage Preservation Award Nomination Window
D. Update on Proposal to Write Manuscript/Book
VI. Old Business
VII. Reports from Subcommittees
A. Native American History / Outreach
B. New Heritage Preservation Site Designations
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February 24, 2025
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C. Renovation / Maintenance / Development
D. Documentation / Historical Records / Outreach
VIII. Reports from Students
IX. Reports of Commission and Staff
X. Reports on Historical Society
A. General Update (Paul/Bob)
XI. FYI Items
XII. Next Meeting
A. March 17, 2025
XIII. Adjournment
UNAPPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2025 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 7:02. Absent was commissioner
Ludowese as were student representatives Kommalapati and Hilje. Steve Clifton joined
the meeting.
II. READING OF LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT
Maxwell read the land acknowledgement statement.
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Fisher moved, seconded by Thorp to approve the agenda. Motion carried 6-
0.
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION: Maxwell moved, seconded by Fisher to approve the minutes of the December
16, 2024 meeting. Motion carried 6-0.
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. DISCUSS RESPONSE TO RFP FOR BOOK (NOVAK-KREBS)
Novak-Krebs displayed the proposal from Paul Maravelas and Zack Mohlis, dated
December 31, 2024. She explained there would be two writers according to this
proposal, and they would write a manuscript. Designing, editing, and indexing a
EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
January 27, 2025
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book from the manuscript would be done by separate contract administered by
HPC. Maravelas did not have these capabilities but had contacts for these. He also
had the capability of indexing the manuscript himself.
Discussion followed on the proposal and potential editing costs. The proposal
would be discussed at the City Council workshop when the HPC presents their
2025 work plan next Tuesday February 4.
MOTION: Maxwell moved, seconded by Schumacher to approve the proposal
and request the funding from the City Council. MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
A. REVIEW WORK PLAN PRESENTATION FOR CITY COUNCIL
(SCHUMACHER)
Schumacher requested to go first at the workshop, due to time constraints. He
stated the presentation was seven slides long and the book was the first item,
which would take up most of the presentation. It would be held Tuesday,
February 4, 2025 in the Heritage Rooms at 5:30 p.m.
B. DISCUSS COMMENTS FROM HENNEPIN COUNTY RAILROAD
AUTHORITY ON OLD DEPOT NOMINATION (NOVAK-KREBS)
Novak-Krebs stated she had sent the Hennepin County Railroad Authority the
nomination and received comments. She detailed their concerns: possible limiting
future use of the corridor, and preserving the Rail Authority’s rights for future
transportation uses. Novak-Krebs added she and the City Planner would meet
with the Rail Authority to discuss their concerns.
Discussion followed on the limits of the commission’s and the Rail Authority’s
scope. Thorp noted this was public property, and he believes the commission did
not need permission to designated it. The Rail Authority could object, as could
any other resident or organization. Maxwell stated it was not the commission’s
intent to stop a train, and Thorp agreed, stating the designation would raise
awareness, not forbid a railroad. Novak-Krebs added the Rail Authority had no
objection to a sign or interpretive panel, but would need a COA to make certain
changes to the site once it was designated. Discussion followed on the possible
consequences of designation on the Railroad Authority’s potential future use of
the rail line.
Thorp suggested the commission move forward with the designation, and turn it
over to City Attorney to deal with any objections or unintended consequences.
Maxwell noted the commission was not protecting the line from the Railroad
Authority but ensuring the designation was acknowledged by the City, which
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would restrict the City’s future use of the site. There could be a clause in the final
designation allowing future transportation on the line.
C. DISCUSS HOMETOWN HISTOR PROJECT (SCHUMACHER)
Schumacher asked for ideas. He stated he could push this item to the February
meeting. Bowes stated the commission could have a conversation with Kathie
Case at the joint meeting on April 21, 2025 with the Historical Society to avoid
duplicating efforts. All agreed.
VII. REPORTS OF SUBCOMMITTEES
A. NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY OUTREACH
Fisher asked if there were overlap areas in the book project with the Historical
Society. Thorp replied he had met with Maravelas and gone through the records
the commission had, which was what the HPC could offer. Fisher recommended
the commissioners read Maravelas’s book The History of Big Island, Lake
Minnetonka.
B. NEW HERITAGE PRESERVATION SITE DESIGNATIONS
C. RENOVATION/MAINTENANCE DEVELOPMENT
D. DOCUMENTATION/HISTORICAL RECORDINGS/OUTREACH
VIII. REPORTS OF STUDENTS
The students stated that they each have a role to play in the video and they are interested
in filing in the house when Smith Coffee is closed. Novak-Krebs offered to help the
student connect with the owner of Smith Coffee.
IX. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF
X. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Thorp announced the annual meeting would be held May 15, 2025, and the joint meeting
with the commission on April17, 2025. Siever Peterson would speak at the annual
meeting in May.
XI. FYI ITEMS
Fisher suggested touring properties that were under consideration for designation and/or
being documented before demolition. The joint meeting will be held in the Cummins-
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Grill House, which is an opportunity for those who have not been in the house to see the
house and the property.
XII. NEXT MEETING
The next HPC meeting will be held on Monday, February 24, 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 8:00 p.m.