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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 08/18/2025Agenda Eden Prairie Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting 7 p.m. Monday, August 18, 2025 City Center, Heritage Rooms 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, Lisa Rude, Prima Sisinni City Staff: Beth Novak-Krebs, Staff Liaison; Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary 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, July 21, 2025. V.New Business A.Update by Zack Mohlis on the book project VI.Old Business A.Cultural Resource Inventory B.National Nomination for Smith Douglas More House VII.Reports from Subcommittees A.Native American History / Outreach B.New Heritage Preservation Site Designations C.Renovation / Maintenance / Development D.Documentation / Historical Records / Outreach VIII.Reports of Commission and Staff HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA August 18, 2025 Page 2 IX.Reports on Historical Society A.General Update (Paul/Bob) X.FYI Items XI.Next Meeting A.Monday, September 15, 2025 XII.Adjournment UNAPPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2025 7:00 P.M. Meeting Outdoor Center, 13765 Staring Lake Parkway HPC COMMISSION MEMBERS: Steve Schumacher (Chair); Paul Thorp (Vice-Chair); Rod Fisher; George Maxwell; Robert Bowes; Andy Ludowese; Catherine Lau, Prima Sisinni, Lisa Rude COMMISSION STAFF: Beth Novak-Krebs, Staff Liaison Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Schumacher called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commission members Maxwell and Rude were absent. Max Melby, naturalist at the Outdoor Center, joined the meeting. Fisher and Melby introduced the Outdoor Center and gave some history. II. READING OF LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT Fisher read the land acknowledgement statement. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Lau moved, seconded by Bowes to approve the agenda. Motion carried 7-0. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Fisher moved, seconded by Lau to approve the minutes of the June 16, 2025 meeting amended to correct that Lau was not absent. Motion carried 7-0. V. NEW BUSINESS A. DISCUSS PRESERVE MINNESOTA CONFERENCE IN SEPTEMBER Novak-Krebs explained the conference was on Thursday and Friday, September 11 and 12, 2025, in New Ulm. SHPO needed to know how many were applying for the scholarship. The City of Eden Prairie would pay for registration and lodging up front and the City will be reimbursed through the scholarship. More information was available via the Preserve Minnesota Conference website. Fisher, who had previously attended, recommended the commission members consider EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION July 21, 2025 Page 2 attending. Schumacher stated anyone interested in attending reach out to Novak- Krebs. B. UPDATE ON THE BOOK ABOUT NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY IN EDEN PRAIRIE Novak- Krebs stated the preapplication for the grant for the writing of the manuscript (phase two) was submitted last Thursday. The final application was due September 12, 2025. This was for $32,000.00. There were also smaller Legacy Grants offered four times a year, which used to be less than $10,000.00 but were now as much as $20,000.00. Schumacher asked for and received confirmation this grant was for the writing and editing (the second phase, after research) of the book. The research phase was in progress, and the City of Eden Prairie was funding that. The publication would be the third phase, triggering another grant application. Novak-Krebs would give updates and information on next steps at the August commission meeting. She added the results of the final grant application would come in December, and the authors would complete the majority of the research by the submittal of the final application. VI. OLD BUSINESS CULTURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY Schumacher stated there was work done on the inventory in the 1990s, culminating in a document in 1992 with a list of sites, many of which no longer existed, and the geology of the area and the organization’s methodology. Novak- Krebs added the authors acknowledged they could not inventory every site in Eden Prairie. Thorp stated they did not have Hennepin County as a resource then. Fisher asked if one could use the Hennepin County website to search houses by date, and Thorp stated he thought one could. Schumacher asked for suggestions to add to the inventory. Thorp stated the inventory had been gone through by HPC commission members in the past to note what had been lost. Novak-Krebs and Fisher explained it was available at MnSHIP.gis.data showing locations and including the paperwork. Discussion followed on adding to and updating the inventory. Schumacher asked for further input and offered to go through the list himself as well and return to the August meeting with ideas. NATIONAL NOMINATION FOR SMITH DOUGLAS MORE HOUSE EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION July 21, 2025 Page 3 Thorp stated there was a response from SHPO, but it was not encouraging. Novak-Krebs stated SHPO did not find the house to be a “significant structure.” Thorp suggested to change the document to check “district” on page two. Discussion followed on renominating the site under “district.” Novak-Krebs stated SHPO did acknowledge the Smith House as part of the development of the Depot. She and Fisher offered to speak to the staff at SHPO, although the person who had responded was not available. Thorp stated he was surprised at the quick response. Novak-Krebs explained a draft had been sent in 2017, for which the City received comments; then SHPO staff visited the site and another application was sent in 2018. Novak-Krebs stated she wished to talk through the best chances with SHPO staff. VII. REPORTS OF SUBCOMMITTEES A. NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY OUTREACH B. NEW HERITAGE PRESERVATION SITE DESIGNATIONS C. RENOVATION/MAINTENANCE DEVELOPMENT D. DOCUMENTATION/HISTORICAL RECORDINGS/OUTREACH IX. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF Novak-Krebs announced a Council workshop to discuss the Historic Properties would be held by the City Council on August 12 at 5:30 p.m.. She would give an update on the HPC’s progress as well, and Kathie Case would give an update on the Historical Society. X. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY Thorp stated the Picnic in the Park was canceled and rescheduled for August 20 5:00- 9:00 p.m. The Dorenkemper addition would begin by January, 2026. The bookstore owner would open the bookstore in the spring. The Camp Eden Wood 100th Anniversary celebration would be held September 9, 5:30 – 9:00 p.m., and there would be a band. XI. FYI ITEMS EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION July 21, 2025 Page 4 Schumacher asked if all the commission members had viewed the student-produced video on the Smith Coffee House. Lau stated she had trouble getting the video to play, but she would view it. Schumacher asked Novak-Krebs if it could be posted on the City’s Facebook page. Sisinni asked if it could also be posted at Eden Prairie News. Novak- Krebs offered to email the video to all the commission members. Thorp asked Novak-Krebs if the furniture at the Dorenkemper House would be moved to City Hall and the museum once the addition commenced. Novak-Krebs stated she would talk to the City Manager. Lau asked if there were ideas for a student project in 2025. Schumacher stated having them work with each other during meetings seemed to work well. Lau suggested another video. Bowes suggested offering them a choice of projects. Lau commended the Historical Society for allowing her PEO Chapter to tour the Cummins Phipps Grill House. Her group thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Sisinni stated the International School of Minnesota would be celebrating its 40th anniversary on November 1, 2025 at Royalston Square and was looking for sponsors. IV. NEXT MEETING The next HPC meeting will be held on Monday, August 18, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Rooms, City Hall. V. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Bowes moved, seconded by Fisher to adjourn. Motion carried 7-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:01 p.m.