Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 09/15/2025APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 7:00 P.M. Meeting City Center, 8080 Mitchell Road 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 STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES Annika Rice, Fiona Rohde, Jaya Agrawal, Kadie Crider, Nico Allen, Saloni Siddavatam, Tatum Hesby I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Thorp called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commission members Fisher, Bowes and Lau and student representative Siddavatam were absent. II. READING OF LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT Allen read the land acknowledgement statement. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Thorp moved, seconded by Sisinni to approve the agenda. Motion carried 6- 0. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Thorp moved, seconded by Sisinni to approve the minutes of the August 18, 2025 meeting. Motion carried 6-0. V. NEW BUSINESS A. WELCOME NEW STUDENTS AND INTRODUCTIONS Schumacher welcomed the new student representatives and had the commission members introduce themselves. EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION September 15, 2025 Page 2 DISCUSS STUDENT PROJECT Schumacher described the student project for the new student representatives and suggested Camp Edenwood as a possible project. He also suggested the students continue the process of meeting onsite before the formal meeting to plan the project. Novak-Krebs displayed the Smith Coffee House video and discussion followed on 2025 events and HPC projects/concerns. Discussion followed on the student project. Schumacher also summarized the next steps for the Dorenkemper House for the students. Thorp suggested filming Ginny Dorenkemper in the house. Discussion followed on this idea. Thorp stated there was a lot of information on both Camp Edenwood and on the Dorenkemper House. Novak-Krebs offered to send out the write-up for the national nomination for Camp Edenwood to the student representatives. Schumacher added that Commission member Lau was a resource for the students on planning and implementing their project. VI. OLD BUSINESS CULTURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY Novak-Krebs displayed part of the inventory on a PowerPoint slide, and Schumacher explained his vision of using the updated version as the master document/list of existing historic structures in Eden Prairie. Novak-Krebs explained all the buildings were identified with a cultural resources inventory number. Discussion followed on next steps. Thorp stated Kathie Case would work on plaques and signs, and he would take over the list after the properties were identified. UPDATE ON BOOK PROJECT Novak-Krebs summarized the book project for the student representatives. She explained it was being conducted in three phases: research phase, manuscript writing, and book design. Thorp stated Peter DeCarlo’s book on Fort Snelling would be the model. Schumacher explained the necessity of three phases in the grant application process. Novak-Krebs added the authors’ writing plan was to submit one chapter a month, to be reviewed by the HPC. Schumacher asked when the HPC would hear about the grant, and Novak-Krebs replied it would be before December, 2025. She added the Eden Prairie City Council enthusiastically supported the project. EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION September 15, 2025 Page 3 Maxwell asked for and received confirmation that Picka Farms was on the inventory. It was not locally designated. 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 X. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY Thorp announced the Harvest to Halloween event would be held October 11 at the Dorenkemper Barn from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. XI. FYI ITEMS Novak-Krebs announced the Citywide Open House would be held October 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. She added the improvements to Birch Hall involved, as a first step, assessment of the structure, and as a second step to make construction drawings from the recommendations. John LeBlanc has the funding to do the drawings and Novak-Krebs was submitting an application for a $20,000.00 grant. IV. NEXT MEETING The next HPC meeting will be held on Monday, October 20, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Rooms, City Hall. V. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Thorp moved, seconded by Schumacher to adjourn. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:51 p.m.