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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 09/21/2026Meeting Agenda Eden Prairie Heritage Preservation Commission 7 p.m. Monday, September 21, 2026 Heritage Room 1 (Upstairs), City Hall 8080 Mitchell Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344 ATTENDEES Commission Members: Bob Bowes (Chair); Paul Thorp (Vice-Chair); Rod Fisher; George Maxwell; Andy Ludowese; Prima Sisinni, Lisa Rude, Nancy Cass, Betsey Woods Student Members: Kensley McQuillan, Evan Ebert, Medha Ganjam, Oindri Bagchi, Aishah Alam City Staff: Beth Novak-Krebs, Staff Liaison, Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary AGENDA I. Call the Meeting to Order II. Reading of Land Acknowledgement Statement III. Approval of Agenda IV. Minutes Heritage Preservation Commission meeting held August 17, 2026 V. New Business A. Welcome Student Members and Do Introductions B. Presentation - Diocletian's Palace as an example of Historic Preservation and Reuse (George) C. Discuss Student Project D. Citywide Open House – October 3, 2026 VI. Old Business A. Update on Phase 1.5 of the Book Project VII. Reports of Subcommittees A. Native American Outreach B. New Heritage Preservation Site Designation C. Renovation/Maintenance/Development D. Documentation/Historical Recordings/Outreach Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Agenda September 21, 2026 VIII. Reports of Commission and Staff IX. Reports of Students X. Reports of Historical Society XI. FYI Items XII. Next Meeting – October 5, 2026, Joint Meeting with Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission at 7:00 pm. XIII. Adjourn Unapproved Meeting Minutes Eden Prairie Heritage Preservation Commission 7 p.m. Monday, August 17, 2026 City Center Heritage Rooms 8080 Mitchell Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344 ATTENDEES Commission Members: Robert Bowes (Chair); Paul Thorp (Vice-Chair); Rod Fisher; George Maxwell; Andy Ludowese; Prima Sisinni, Lisa Rude, Nancy Cass, Betsy Woods City Staff: Beth Novak-Krebs, Staff Liaison; Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary MEETING AGENDA I. Call the Meeting to Order Chair Bowes called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Commission members, Cass and Sisinni were absent. Eden Prairie historic bridge expert and former HPC Chair Steve Olson, Jim Archer, principal at Bolton & Menk, assistant City Engineer Adam Gadbois, Eden Prairie resident and arts consultant Lydia Four Horns, and Historical Society member Devyn Stanton joined the meeting. II. Reading of the Land Acknowledgement Statement Rude read the Land Acknowledgement Statement. III. Approval of Agenda MOTION: Fisher moved, seconded by Maxwell, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 7-0. IV. Approval of Minutes A. Heritage Preservation Commission meeting held Monday, July 20, 2026 MOTION: Maxwell moved, seconded by Fisher, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission Tuesday, July 20, 2025. Motion carried 7-0. V. New Business HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES August 17, 2026 A. Creek Knoll Road Reconstruction Archer displayed a PowerPoint and introduced Olsen and Gadbois. The original proposal for the bridge was to add a bike/pedestrian facility to the roadway of Bridge L8073, Creek Knoll Road over Purgatory Creek, a historic roadway, the original path of Highway 169, in partnership with the City of Eden Prairie. Gadbois explained this project was in the City’s capital improvement project list since 2019. City staff serially inspected all bridges, including this one, which was in poor condition, which needed to be addressed. Originally slated for construction in 2028, the timeline was moved up to 2027. This project would come back to the commission with a final design in spring 2027. Olson was brought in due to his expertise to avoid significantly changing the character of the bridge. Archer gave background for his firm’s work, including the Franklin Avenue Bridge Reconstruction, 10th Avenue Southeast over the Mississippi River, the Bridge 9 Piers Rehabilitation, and the Split Rock Bridge Rehabilitation (Pipestone County) which was a WPA-era stone arch bridge rehabilitation, the longest masonry bridge in Minnesota. He added Bridge L8073’s poor condition was documented for the deck, superstructure, substructure, and channel, and required replacement. The bridge is designated as a Heritage Preservation Site. Olson stated he went back to the inventory form at SHPO with Thorp, and found the documentation was a landscape inventory form; thus, Old Flying Cloud Road was the historic property, with the Purgatory Creek Bridge Segment (HE-EPC-05). John Gertz had prepared the 1995 local designation nomination form for this old road. This project needed a COA to move forward. Fisher asked if the road (except for the bridge) had been regraded, and Olson replied it had been upgraded from gravel to asphalt. Gadbois explained curb and gutter had been added south of the bridge, and it had been previously rehabilitated but not greatly altered. Olson added for this bridge, all the structures rated a four out of nine (on a scale of one to nine), with nine being critical. The concrete slab ranged between fair and poor condition. Fisher asked for and received confirmation much of the concrete slab was original. Olson explained it had been widened but the 1920 and 1931 slabs were still there. The concrete slab and inner barrel showed transverse cracking, spalling in the roof slab, and efflorescence coming through cracks. The original masonry had been widened, and this bridge would be widened further. There was a 30-foot concrete railing in varying degrees of poor condition. Fisher asked for and received confirmation this railing had been redone rather than shifted during the 1931 widening of the bridge. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES August 17, 2026 Olson pointed out the vegetation growing in the curb line, reinforced concrete abutment and masonry abutment in poor condition. The concrete wing wall was loaded with debris which had caused some damage. He displayed the concrete picket railing, guardrail transitions, material finish, and end details. The improvement would need the state bridge engineer’s signature. The future railing must meet the crash-worthiness standard. He displayed the proposed vertical concrete parapet, a Texas TL-2 type railing, as close to the original as possible. The trail would be constructed along the west side of the roadway (the Flying Cloud Drive side). There would be a small concrete curb along the roadway to delineate the eight-foot multi-use trail, but it was not a sidewalk. The new railings would sit approximately where the current ones sit, as the lanes would be narrowed slightly. This speed limit was 30 MPH. The goal of the project was to touch nothing outside of the roadway, so the drainage channel would not be improved. Geotextile fabric would be used instead of a guardrail to prevent erosion and guard the natural embankment. Archer pointed out the highwater mark underneath the bridge. Another goal was not to raise the road profile, but to mitigate the erosion and cracking between the original masonry and newer concrete. Olson explained the proposal: the proposed simple concrete picket railing would replace the existing, deteriorated railing. A new, simple concrete bridge span would replace the deteriorated bridge span. A Design Exception or Variance would be employed to retain as much historic characters as possible, resulting in less guardrail and/or “big highway” details. A walk/cycling path would be accommodated on the west side, and a COA would be submitted later this year. Fisher asked if this was the first concrete bridge in Eden Prairie, and Olson replied it could be; he had documentation of three bridges that were candidates. Thorp noted it was originally a wooden bridge. Discussion followed on this history. The commission members commended the proposal. Fisher suggested a placard for the bridge, and Stanton agreed, as it was on the inventory. Archer agreed it would be a wonderful acknowledgement, seen by pedestrians. Fisher asked if any archeology needed to be done, since the area around Purgatory Creek was indigenous land. Archer replied this road was intentionally built through a wetland, so artifacts were unlikely. Gadbois suggested staff could cross reference with the Dell Road report. Rude asked for a timeline and how residential areas would be affected. Archer replied the construction window would be less than one construction season and gave a May-August estimate. The intention was to be completed by the time school buses needed to drive routes. Gadbois added there would be full closure, and staff would notify residents regarding rerouting through Sunnybrook. Archer added they hoped to come back this HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES August 17, 2026 winter with a design for HPC approval, then go out to bid in late February or early March, then finalize contracts. Novak-Krebs offered to keep the commission members informed. Bowes thanked the presenters. B. Summary from Attendants of the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions FORUM Bowes stated five members of the commission had attended the Forum, and one presenter was present (Lydia Four Horns). He asked for some takeaways. Fisher commended both the national conference and the state conferences. He had enjoyed the Preservation Superpower Storytelling especially. He suggested the North Star Story Map, a statewide resource for story, video, text, and pictures that could be used by anyone, as a resource to highlight the commission’s work. The workshops he attended focused on the native reclamation of land. Bowes also commended the Preservation Superpower Storytelling, which featured a producer with PBS, who had worked on the “Lost Twin Cities” programs. He also enjoyed the “Beyond Land Acknowledgments” workshop for which Lydia Four Horns was one of the speakers, and “Preserving Dakota Connections to Land and Culture” with Sam Olvekson. He also commended “Native American Sacred Sites: Why Ownership Matters” by Shelly Buck, of the Prairie Island Dakota Tribe. He added Lake City was an example of a residential development built around (not over) a three-acre burial mound, for which the farmers had no use and which the current house owners respected, not allowing their children to ride dirt bikes on it, and letting native grasses grow on it. Pilot Knob and St. Anthony Falls were possible reclamation sites. Fisher noted there was reclamation work being done along the shoreline for St. Anthony. Maxwell stated he had attended many of the same sessions and enjoyed a workshop on preserving structures and their reuse to address housing shortages, such as old hospitals or school buildings, or even a parking ramp being turned into housing. He added Fredericksburg, Virginia has an archeology ordinance, which employed a broad-brush color map to prevent disturbance and/or artifact hunting. Novak-Krebs stated an Eden Prairie cultural resources study mapped a buffer area down by the bluff a mile out, as this area had a high potential for archeological resources, in order to mindful about development. Staff looked at all new developments and have required archeological studies. Staff was aware of some of the sites along the bluff. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES August 17, 2026 Woods stated she enjoyed listening to Shelly Buck’s opening regarding the dam. Engineers were wringing their hands about taking out the dams, but they caused harm, and one indigenous speaker suggested letting the water flow naturally. What struck here was the story of a Colorado project which involved the indigenous community but was ultimately scrapped and was started over from scratch in order to lessen harm. She suggested this was a good approach to the book project at this point. The commission members thanked Lydia Four Horns for her assistance. VI. Old Business A. Discuss Heritage Plaque Inventory Stanton stated he cleaned up the old list and removed all buildings or sites that no longer existed. He also visited the properties that listed only a “house,” or “house and garage,” or “building,” et cetera, to find the owner. He made a spreadsheet with their addresses, new inventory numbers, property names, year built if possible, if nationally registered, report numbers, CEFs, sections, and sign statuses. He added most of the signs needed replacement, and many had never been put for (for example, at Miller’s Spring). He planned to include a photograph of each site and had included the old inventory numbers. Stanton added the old properties would go on a separate list, with the reason torn down and/or reason removed form list. He included candidates at bottom that he was trying to get on the inventory, a few modern candidates such as the Moran House, the Mall, the water tower, the Flying Red Horse sign, the Eaton water tower which would be torn down, et cetera. There were less than 100, when there had originally been 113. Bridges were included. Fisher suggested a full scan of buildings to be torn down, to produce 3-D model for a virtual walk-through, as he had seen in a project along the Red River Valley. Stanton suggested having former sites on the historic map along with current places. Rude agreed, suggesting an overlay. Discussion followed on including indigenous sacred sites or not. Rude suggested using such information only by the commission and City staff. Fisher suggested having at least one indigenous commission member in the future. Wood suggested signage to acknowledge indigenous names for important sites. VI. Reports of Subcommittees A. Native American History HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES August 17, 2026 Fisher explained the book project for Four Horns. He had attended an event by Amy Ojibwe and agreed with Rude’s suggestion to slow down the book project and expand who is involved. There was no real timeline anyway, and at this point the consultants were looking for up to 10 people as content experts and consultants. Fisher advocated for even more slowing down and revising the project, though he was not exactly sure what this entailed. Bowes agreed the commission members and the consultants could retool the project a bit. Woods offered to bring in an indigenous friend. Novak-Krebs requested that Woods email her friend’s name to her to forward to the consultants. She added the consultants had a proposal to interview 10 people and talk to as many others as possible, and she just drafted a Professional Services Agreement with them, but they have not signed it yet. She added one of them, Zack Mohlis, had a lot of connections with the indigenous community. Discussion followed on the proposed Dakota Advisory Group and the subject matter experts. Four Horns brought up the issue of erasure, there “being nothing there,” even at the Old Flying Cloud, which she primarily knew from working with Leonard Wabasha. She offered to help with the book project and involve youth. She suggested the commission consider including poems in the book project. She and Fisher discussed placekeeping and indigenous people making trails, leaving their marks, building relationships. Discussion followed on settler attitudes toward indigenous people and the area’s history. She suggested Eileen Ross, Andy Baker, Charlie Otherday as resources. Novak-Krebs stated she would set something up with the consultants to talk with indigenous elders and youth. Fisher asked the commission members to temper their expectations. Four Horns suggested the Eden Prairie Indian Ed Group at Eden Prairie High School would be a good place to start. Fisher suggested Dirk Tedman. He added he had gone through the liaisons to the high schools. Four Horns suggested Sam Olbeckson and Shelly Buck as resources. Bowes suggested Four Horns and the consultant attend the next subcommittee meeting. Maxwell suggested the commission mirror the process in Eden Prairie that Four Horns followed in her work at Minneapolis. [Thorp left at 8:44 p.m.] B. New Heritage Preservation Site Designation and Documentation and Research C. Student Project Engagement D. Documentation/Historical Recordings/Outreach VII. Reports of Commission and Staff IX. Reports of Students HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES August 17, 2026 X. Reports of Historical Society A. Report of Historical Society Members 1. Bowes announced the Marshall Farmhouse had been demolished. Hopefully, the commission would receive a brick. Novak-Krebs stated Kathie Case received the door from the icehouse. Bowes stated it was in the shed at Cummins Phipps Grill House. XI. Other Business XII. Next Meeting The next Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting will be held on September 21, 2026. Novak-Krebs announced the students would attend their first meeting, and it would be held upstairs in the new Heritage Rooms. A joint meeting with the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department would be held October 5, 2026 at the Cummins Phipps Grill House. XIII. Adjournment MOTION: Fisher moved, seconded by Maxwell, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6- 0. Chair Bowes adjourned the meeting at 8:46 p.m.