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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 02/24/2025APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 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 7:03. Absent was commissioner Ludowese as were student representatives Kommalapati, Allen, and Pothamsetti. II. READING OF LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT Lau read the land acknowledgement statement. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Fisher moved, seconded by Bowes to approve the agenda. Motion carried 6- 0. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Lau moved, seconded by Fisher to approve the minutes of the January 27, 2025 meeting with the correction that Ludowese was present and Lau was absent. Motion carried 6-0. V. NEW BUSINESS A. UPDATE ON PRESENTATION AT COUNCIL WORKSHOP (NOVAK- KREBS) Schumacher stated the mayor and the City Council were very receptive to Schumacher’s presentation, including an enthusiastic response to the book EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION Februarys 24, 2025 Page 2 proposal. The City Manager had questions about funding, but the City Council gave its approval to the concept of research and a published book. Discussion followed on the proposed length of the book. Schumacher stated that overall the meeting went well and the City Council was receptive to the HPC’s presentation. JOINT MEETING WITH THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, APRIL 17, 2025 Novak-Krebs stated this would be at the Cummins Phipps Grill House at 6:00 p.m. DISCUSS HERITAGE PRESERVATION AWARD NOMINATION WINDOW Novak-Krebs there would be a communication going out on March 3 and the nomination window will close April 7. The commission would present the award at one of the May City Council meetings, necessitating the selection in April, but preferably not at the joint meeting. Thorp stated he had hoped the joint meeting would be more informal. The commission decided to meet quickly on April 21 to discuss the nominations. UPDATE ON PROPOSAL TO WRITE MANUSCRIPT/BOOK Bowes stated that Mark Weber wrote a very positive article about the meeting in the Eden Prairie News. Lau stated an indigenous resident had responded to it, encouraging the inclusions of indigenous voices, which Fisher and Novak-Krebs stressed had always been part of this proposal. Fisher stated Havier Avalos might be involved in the discussion. There needs to be outreach to the indigenous community. Schumacher added that unfortunately the letter writer had the impression the book proposal was a for-profit venture. Fisher suggested having indigenous review of the manuscript. Discussion followed on how to respond to the letter. Thorp stated the commission should stress it was planning to use indigenous voices in and review of the manuscript. Discussion followed on the involvement of indigenous voices in the Bloomington research and presentation. Maxwell urged a response to the letter. Discussion followed on writing a letter as a commission. Maxwell suggested the commission write a letter and all sign it. He suggested language along these lines: the project to write the pre-history of Eden Prairie was just beginning. The commission was not doing this for profit. Currently, Eden Prairie had a history of white settlement and the commission believed it was past time that the history of this area be told in its fullness including, obviously, the history of what came before and how the white settlers interacted with the people who were here already. The commission also wished to EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION Februarys 24, 2025 Page 3 solicit stories from native Americans that relate to our city and area and include them in the book. Maxwell added the history of the Otherday family would be included, but more history needed to be included. Thorp replied the Historical Society did include the history of the indigenous populations. Schumacher suggested stating this was an equal billing with the Historical Society. Thorp stated Paul Maravelas had been attempting to involve Charlie Otherday. Fisher stated Kathie Case would also be involved. Novak-Krebs stated there would be various funding sources, rather than one. Schumacher lamented that it could take months to secure funding whereas several consultants were enthusiastic about the project, therefore the commission did not want to wait to have this discussion. He added Maravedis had suggested dividing the project into phases, the first of which would be the research. Novak-Krebs added SHPO required, in a phased project, the manuscript had to be complete before applying for the grant. Schumacher suggested a natural break in the project was between the research and the writing. Novak-Krebs stated SHPO required a report and an annotated bibliography for the research phase. Fisher suggested publishing the research on the website, though Maxwell warned someone else could write a book based on that. Novak-Krebs stated she would apply for a small Legacy grant (limit $10,000.00) for the April deadline. Discussion followed on applying for grants. Schumacher stated he would inform Kathie Case this evening about the concerns raised in the letter from the Eden Prairie resident, and perhaps she could co-author the letter. Novak-Krebs offered to help with this process. In a previous conversation between several commissioner and Novak-Krebs, the group stressed the importance of including the Historical Society in the project. Maxwell suggested “This is our open invitation to you to be part of the process…” Discussion followed on the drafting of the letter. VI. OLD BUSINESS VII. REPORTS OF SUBCOMMITTEES A. NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY OUTREACH B. NEW HERITAGE PRESERVATION SITE DESIGNATIONS C. RENOVATION/MAINTENANCE DEVELOPMENT EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION Februarys 24, 2025 Page 4 D. DOCUMENTATION/HISTORICAL RECORDINGS/OUTREACH VIII. REPORTS OF STUDENTS Holje stated there was a basic draft and a timeline completed. The students hoped to have interviews set up by the next meeting. Novak-Krebs stated she would reach out again, since Smith had never responded. Fisher offered to visit and speak to them. Holje and Rice described the script’s sections. Discussion followed on filming logistics. Maxwell suggested having it ready for the Awards Banquet in May. IX. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF X. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY Thorp reminded the group about photo documenting the Marshall Farm before demolition. Novak-Krebs stated the project the project received initial approvals but the development agreement had not yet been approved, but probably would be this spring. The Annual Meeting would be held May 15 at the Cummins Phipps Grill House. Lau noted this could be the night of the Banquet. The Vintage Sale would be held May 9 and 10. The Historical Society will have a table for PeopleFest on August 24. On September 9, 2025 Camp Edenwood would celebrate its 100th anniversary. XI. FYI ITEMS Bowes recommended the book A Czech Farm in Minnesota by Janet Holasek Worrall. XII. NEXT MEETING The next HPC meeting will be held on Monday, March 17, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Rooms, City Hall. XIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Thorp moved, seconded by Bowes to adjourn. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:53 p.m.