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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 11/20/2000 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION Monday, November 20, 2000 7:00 p.m. City Center Prairie Rooms A and B Commission Members: Jan Mosman, Chairperson, Deborah Barkley, Jennie Brown, Lori Peterson-Benike, Kati Simons, Art Weeks, Mike Wroblewski Student Representatives: Elise Johnson, Chris Peshek, Kathleen Luther Commission Staff: John Gertz, Historic Preservation Specialist, Peggy Rasmussen, Recording Secretary I. ROLL CALL Chair Mosman called the meeting to order at 7:05. Commissioner Simons arrived later in the meeting. Commissioner Weeks was absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mosman added information about the Citizens' Survey being conducted by the City, under VI. Reports of Commission and Staff. MOTION: Peterson-Benike moved, seconded by Barkley, to approve the agenda as published and amended. Motion carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —OCTOBER 16, 2000 MOTION: Wroblewski moved, seconded by Brown, to approve the minutes of the HPC meeting held on October 16, 2000, as published. Motion carried 5-0. IV. INTRODUCTION OF NEW STUDENT MEMBERS Chris Peshek and Elise Johnson, Juniors at Eden Prairie High School, were introduced and welcomed as student members of the HPC. A third student member, Kathleen Luther, was absent. In addition, beginning in December there will be three at-large students in attendance at the meetings. Wroblewski asked the students what they hoped to get out of being student members. Johnson said this is a basic introduction to government, as well as a chance to participate and have a vote in what is going on. Peshek said he had the same reasons. V. REPORTS AND REQUESTS Mosman said, because she has been elected to the City Council and will begin her term on January 1, a new Chair and Vice Chair will probably be appointed by the City Council at its January 7 meeting. Peterson-Benike, who is currently the Vice Chair, is the logical HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 20, 2000 Page 2 one to be appointed Chair. The HPC can discuss at its December meeting who might be interested in serving as Vice Chair. VI. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. FYI—Gym Restoration Mosman said the committee's last meeting was canceled, but it is scheduled to meet on Thursday, November 30, at noon in the City Center. Gertz indicated he would like to attend. Mosman said they have been discussing what items to put on their list of projects. One of the teen center events may be held in the gym. They need to do more fundraising through area businesses. Their main event will be in March or April, at which there will be a recognition ceremony. B. FYI—Birch Island Woods Mosman said the Friends of Birch Island Woods have a meeting scheduled with County representatives to make a presentation on November 28. Mosman has been invited by Jeff Strate and plans to attend. The City Council decided not to send representatives to this presentation because Mayor Harris and Chris Enger are involved in negotiations with the County. The Friends group is trying to demonstrate an "overriding public purpose" to the County, hoping it will grant a no-cost conveyance of the land to the City. The Birch Island Woods are significant for recreational, historical, ecological and environmental reasons. C. Citizens' Survey Mosman said three citizen forums were held at the end of October when the participants were asked numerous questions. A follow-up survey will soon be mailed to every City resident, probably in December. The results of that survey will be presented in February to the City Council. Until then, the HPC won't know what residents think about restoring, leasing or selling the Smith Douglas More House. No action will be taken on the house before that. Wroblewski wondered if people interested in leasing the house could be shown through it in the meantime. Peterson-Benike expressed concern that if too much time passes before some action is taken, the public may lose the interest they showed earlier in the fall when a number of letters were written to the newspaper. A petition was sent to the City urging the Council to retain ownership of the house and to develop it as an attraction open to the public. The Council agreed to consider the petition, along with the results of the forum and survey, when considering disposition of the house. Gertz said he will talk to Chris Enger or Bob Lambert about how the survey will affect the leasing of the More house. Gertz said Earl More's granddaughter, who was living in the house, has recently moved out. The City is installing lights that go on and off intermittently, as well as a fire and intrusion alarm system. Gertz has talked to Stuart Fox about installing the security system so as not to damage the house's historic attributes. Gertz said the Eden Prairie Foundation is interested in supporting a long-range HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 20, 2000 Page 3 project and had asked him about the More house and Lookout Park. The Foundation won't be making a decision for several months. Peshek asked if the City would keep the house if most people answering the survey were in favor of it. Mosman replied it has to have a number of repairs, and be made ADA accessible, etc. The City said it doesn't have enough money to do all the things needed, so the house may be leased by someone who would take responsibility for fixing it up. The HPC would rather not lease it to a private firm. If the HPC can show enough uses, perhaps the City would keep it. The Eden Prairie Historical Society prefers to have the City retain the house and find a way to use it, such as forming a partnership with the school district or a private organization. The Society is opposed to leasing the house. Peterson-Benike said the HPC would also prefer to have the City keep the house and use it. The commissioners would like to have a more active role in the decision-making process. Wroblewski wondered if the City Council will decide to keep all three houses and spend the necessary money to keep them in shape. Johnson wondered if the school district could purchase or lease the house. It is very difficult to find places to hold meetings at the school; especially big groups that sometimes want to view a movie. Mosman pointed out the Staring Lake Center is used a great deal and rented out for meetings. Gertz said the restored gym at the Central Middle School would be a good place for a large meeting; students could sit on the bleachers and put up a screen for movies. Wroblewski agreed it is difficult to find places for meetings. He wondered about a joint project with the school district or community education. Johnson said perhaps people involved with Habitat for Humanity would help with the work on the More house. She has worked on those projects and she believed school kids would be willing to volunteer to work on this house. Mosman said students at the Hennepin Technical College might be able to replicate some of the "gingerbread" features on the front of the house. Gertz said it is a reconstruction project so would have to be done carefully. Barkley thought it would be feasible if someone was in charge and had guidelines for them to follow. Gertz said the HPC could pursue a use of the house with the school district. Before restoration could begin, some guidance would be needed regarding volunteers. Building inspections would be needed. He cautioned commissioners that they should know what the building's use is going to be before talking about volunteers. Nothing can be done until then. Gertz said he had a perception the Council will take information from the surveys and make a decision based on that. He planned to talk to the City Manager about that. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 20, 2000 Page 4 Mosman said they could wait until December to discuss this further, and that would give Gertz the opportunity to talk to the City Manager. The commissioners are discussing working on the house because they believe the City has not maintained the house well enough, and they are afraid it will be lost because of lack of maintenance. Mosman asked if another tour of the three historic houses could be scheduled. The previous tour date had to be canceled. Gertz said that could be arranged. Johnson asked if there are any pictures showing how the house used to look. Mosman said there is one showing the house with snow on the ground that is very attractive. Johnson said we could put that picture next to one showing how it looks now. Gertz said the house needs a lot of work. VII. OLD BUSINESS A. CLG Grants Gertz said completion of the ten interpretive signs is considerably behind schedule. He talked to Steve Lastavich; he has finished seven of the ten and the other three are about 50 percent done. Gertz will be meeting with him next week, and by the end of the week hoped to have all ten signs completed, including edits. Gertz plans to bring some full-color examples of the signs to the December HPC meeting. Regarding the Lookout Park Wayside, he will advertise for a consultant to put together a National Register nomination for the site. The consultant would start work in December and have until July 31 to complete it. A letter was received from the Minnesota Historical Society. This letter is sent out to invite cities with Heritage Preservation Commissions to apply for certification by the state. Eden Prairie has been certified and this also allows the City to apply for federal grants. This year the Historic Preservation Fund National Park Service Award is higher than usual. Minnesota received $948,000 to use, of which ten percent is going to Certified Local Governments (CLG) in the state. The deadline for submitting the pre-application draft is January 26, with the final deadline for applying for CLG grants being March 30. Gertz said he would put together some suggestions for CLG grants for the HPC meeting in December. Peshek asked if these funds could be used to restore the historic houses owned by the City. Gertz said they cannot be used to restore properties. They are primarily for historic preservation planning purposes, to hire consultants to do survey work and historic context development for a community project. Wroblewski suggested having an interpretive sign made for the More House and apply for a CLG Grant to pay for it. Gertz said he would put it on the list for next year's grants. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 20, 2000 Page 5 Mosman asked about the Lions Club's interest in funding some projects. Gertz said Lookout Park should be the focus, as its integrity is very fragile. If it loses more masonry it won't have any further historic value. The project will require a joint effort of the City, MAC, BFI, MnDOT and National Fish & Wildlife Service. Peterson-Benike asked how to get a meeting with them scheduled. Gertz said permission would be needed from the City Council. Mosman asked if she should ask for that at the December 5 Council meeting. Gertz said he could put a memo together to send the City Council about that site saying the HPC would like to pursue working with those groups to see if a partnership can be worked out over the next year. MOTION: Peterson-Benike moved, seconded by Brown, to ask the City Council to grant permission for the Heritage Preservation Commission to develop planning for restoration of Lookout Park, and permission to contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Metropolitan Airports Commission, Browning-Ferris Industries, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation for help to begin the process. Motion carried 6-0. Gertz said he would prepare a memo for the City Council. Gertz said there is no money to do architectural drawings to restore Lookout Park. Funds are needed to hire an architect to do a site plan and restoration plans. Gertz said he has the original plans for the site, and an architect is needed to bring it back to that point. Once the site is listed on the National Register, he can apply for grants from the state. Brown wondered if MnDOT "byways" money might be available. Gertz said that is a possibility. Regarding the requested list of projects for the Lions Club, it was suggested they be asked to make the interpretive sign for the More House. Gertz said he would send out the list of projects to the Lions Club prior to the HPC December meeting. Brown wondered if the City would approach the General Mills Foundation for funds to restore the More House. She knows the President of the Foundation and offered to ask for information about the types of projects it focuses on. Simons said, with regard to the letter she is preparing to schools about the vandalism at Lookout Park, she plans to contact the editor at the Eden Prairie News. Mosman has talked to the editor about the letter. If Lookout Park is in the presentation Mosman gives at the December 5 Council meeting, the paper might print the HPC letter in the December 7 edition. Gertz said Chris Enger needs another copy of the letter, as he misplaced it. Enger said he just wants to read it and didn't think it would require City Council approval. Simons said she would e-mail a copy to Gertz. She asked if she should send it to the school newspaper. Johnson said she is the editor of the high school newspaper and would be willing to print the letter about vandalism at the park. Mosman said a picture of the way it used to look years ago and then how it looks after the damage could be printed also. Johnson said the school paper could publish the letter in the next issue. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 20, 2000 Page 6 B. Eden Wood Roofing Project Gertz said two bids for the Eden Wood roofing project were received, and the City accepted a bid in the amount of $41,227 from Rayco Construction, a company the City has worked with before. They will start by the end of November and thought it would take two or three weeks. C. Programs at the Cummins-Grill House Commissioners had received a page from the "Winter 2001 City Programs" brochure, showing four programs and events to be presented at the Cummins-Grill House: in December - "Cummins House Christmas", in January - "Preserving Your Precious Photos", in February - "Cummins House Valentine's Dinner", and in March - "Climb Your Family Tree." Gertz asked if anyone was willing to volunteer to assist with these programs. Johnson said she would help with the Valentine's Dinner. Gertz said the Historical Society is being asked to help decorate the house for the Christmas and Valentine's events. The Parks Department is in charge of making the arrangements. D. Heritage Preservation Commission Annual Report Mosman said Gertz prepared the HPC annual report, and she wants to make a presentation about it to the City Council on December 5. The presentation would be a summary of the work the Commission did this year. The Council has indicated they appreciate having direct communication from the various commissions. The report would be sent to the councilmembers in their packet of information received prior to the Council meeting on December 5. Mosman will also make the report available to the commissioners. Gertz said he would be sending the report to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) although he's no longer required to send one to them. SHPO now mails out a form with blanks to fill in. MOTION: Peterson-Benike moved, seconded by Wroblewski, to present the Heritage Preservation Commission Annual Report, prepared for the State Historic Preservation Office, to the City Council at their December 5, 2000 meeting. Motion carried 6-0. VIII. NEW BUSINESS A. HPC Work Priority for FY 2001 Gertz distributed an outline of his work plan for fiscal year 2001. He will submit it to the City after approval by the HPC. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 20, 2000 Page 7 The commissioners asked that Gertz add one additional task. Number 15 would be "Complete Reuse Planning for Smith Douglas More House", with a completion date of March 1. MOTION: Simons moved, seconded by Peterson-Benike, to accept the Historic Preservation Specialist's Plan for next year. Motion carried 6-0. B. Recommendations Rmardins! Archaeology and Historic Sites on Charlson Property Gertz referenced a memo from him to Mike Franzen on the above subject. These recommendations are being sent to the City's Community Development Department and the Engineering Department for review and comments. There will be a case-by-case evaluation made of the archaeological and historic sites affected. There is no flexibility with regard to the burial mound, as burial mounds are protected under Minnesota Statutes and have to be preserved. Gertz said there is the possibility of development going in above the Frederick- Miller Spring, and a developer is working on the plans now. The development cannot be visible from the spring, according to the approved preservation plan for the spring. The purity of the spring may be affected by the development. Gertz said he would bring the plans as they exist now to the next HPC meeting and will also bring a map to show where all the archaeological and historic sites are located on the Charlson Property. There will be further discussion about this at the December meeting. C. Restoration Planning for Cummins-Grill House Gertz said he would like to have this planning in place by January 2001. The HPC needs to discuss electric wiring and restoring the chandeliers, among other things. This means changing the focus on restoration of the house. Further discussion was postponed to the December meeting due to time constraints. IX. ADJOURNMENT At the next meeting, Gertz said it will be necessary to talk about the meeting schedule for 2001, including meeting at the Cummins Grill House. City Staff was to make certain it meets ADA standards. The schedule must be approved by the City Council at its first meeting in January. MOTION: Barkley moved, seconded by Brown, to adjourn the meeting. Chair Mosman adjourned the meeting at 8:50 p.m.