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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 03/16/2015 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2015 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER Prairie Rooms A & B 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Ed Muehlberg (Chair), Cindy Cofer Evert (Vice Chair), Steve Olson, JoAnn McGuire, Pamela Spera, Mark Freiberg, Deb Paulson STAFF: Robert Vogel, Pathfinder CRM, LLC Lori Creamer, Staff Liaison Heidi Wojahn, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Zeinab Hussen, Alexander Modeas, Courtney Sweeney GUESTS: Tom Church—Bluestem Heritage Group (BHG) Karla Wennerstrom—Eden Prairie News I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Muehlberg called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Vogel and Student Representative Modeas were absent. Commissioners Cofer Evert and Paulson arrived at 7:02 p.m. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Freiberg moved, seconded by Olson, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Olson moved, seconded by Freiberg, to approve the February 23, 2015 minutes. Cofer Evert and Paulson arrived at 7:02 p.m. Motion carried 6-0-1 with Cofer Evert abstaining. IV. GUEST SPEAKER—BLUESTEM HERITAGE GROUP A. UPDATE ON RILEY-JACOUES (RJ) KIOSK PROJECT HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES March 16, 2015 Page 2 Tom Church of BHG reported the first draft of text and approved design for the four kiosk signs has been completed. The next phase involves editing the text so each sign is distinctive and communicates the desired message in approximately 200 words as well as searching for and selecting photos that best reflect the message. Once complete, it will be sent to the graphic designer whom Nancy O'Brien Wagner is in the process of selecting. The subsequent update the HPC receives will include something possibly closer in graphic design with finalized text and sample images. Cofer Evert explained the subcommittee did not meet as scheduled on Sunday due to lack of member availability. They will review the text and provide feedback prior to it going before the full commission. Church stated everything else is on track in terms of production and budget. Creamer said O'Brien Wagner is working on getting the final materials cost for the kiosk. Church and Cofer Evert shared an artist's rendering of the kiosk. Church explained the plan is to have the signs situated so visitors face the water as they read about the lake and face the open field while reading about the land. Cofer Evert noted the subcommittee is pleased with the work BHG has done so far. Creamer asked to see a draft of the text at the next HPC meeting. Cofer Evert said the subcommittee will work on meeting that timeline. V. REPORTS OF STUDENT COMMISSION MEMBERS Sweeney reported on her and Modeas' participation in the DECA state marketing competition. She made finals in both of her categories. She also announced her decision where to enroll for college. Hussen reported she qualified for nationals in speech. She also recently participated in a high school page program for the U.S. House of Representatives. VI. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. CUMMINS GRILL (CG) HOUSE LANDSCAPE PLAN UPDATE - Creamer Native grasses have been planted and are in their fourth growing season. They take time to get established but should start to look decent this year. Commissioners are encouraged to take a look at them this summer/fall and provide feedback. Park staff maintains the existing peony gardens. Some have been moved to fill in bare areas. Cofer Evert said she has heard some of the prized plants dating back to Maddie Cummins' era have been dug up. They are an important part of the site's history. She recommended talking to the Eden Prairie Historical Society (EPHS) about installing a sign to deter this from happening. Olson suggested this be a topic for our joint meeting with EPHS. Freiberg said he will mention it at the CG committee meeting tomorrow. Paulson and Muehlberg said they were under the impression more peonies would be planted to fill in the gaps. Muehlberg asked if we know the quantity of plants there now. It would be good to keep an inventory. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES March 16, 2015 Page 3 Freiberg said he will ask Kathie Case and report back. Spera said she likes the sign idea but suggested actual surveillance. Discussion about the pros and cons of publicizing the pilfering of the peonies followed. VII. OLD BUSINESS A. HERITAGE PRESERVATION MONTH AWARD - Creamer Due to the short timetable, the Communications Department has suggested announcing and promoting the beginning of this awards process during Heritage Preservation Month (May) and then presenting the award later this summer. Next year we can disseminate the information early enough to present the award in May. Paulson and Cofer Evert agreed this plan makes sense. This will be the direction the HPC will take. B. CONSULTANT WORK PLAN PROGRESS Creamer reported she received draft site nomination documents from Vogel for five properties: Consolidated School, Eden Prairie Cemetery, Pleasant Hill Cemetery, The Narrows, and Indian Road Corridor. Vogel's response stated CRM also had printed copies of the following draft management plans if needed: Glen Lake Children's Camp (GLCQ, Smith Douglas More, Staring Lake Outdoor Center, and RJ, but they were probably modified right before designation. Updated management plans had previously been delivered to each site. Freiberg asked if enough information exists to move to the next step. Creamer replied it is a place to start. We may only be able to designate one to two sites per year. She provided Vogel with additional information he requested for the Dorenkemper House (DK) and he has given her a list of more items he wants. Cofer Evert suggested prioritizing by first working on the higher-visibility properties for which the designation process has already been started such as DK and Consolidated School. Creamer said Vogel is working on the DK designation. The school district was given a copy of the preliminary draft last year but it needs updating. Cofer Evert asked if Vogel indicated when he would provide information for the remaining four of nine properties he mentioned at last month's meeting. We still do not know what they are. Freiberg confirmed we asked for and need to know the status of these other sites. They need to be accounted for. Creamer reiterated Vogel said we need to prioritize before revising can begin. Not having complete information on all the properties makes that difficult. She will ask Vogel to provide whatever information he has before the next meeting. C. WORK PLAN REVIEW - Creamer Creamer said we had a productive first quarter. The HPC had its presentation to Council, pursued an additional grant, initiated nomination for DK, and developed the preservation month award idea. In addition, McGuire found an additional HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES March 16, 2015 Page 4 funding source with the Eden Prairie Community Foundation. Vogel continues to work on reviewing and organizing the inventory files. Creamer is checking with the State Historic Preservation Office to make sure monitoring at GLCC is getting done properly. She also let GLCC know we need to see the playground plan once created. This is being worked on in conjunction with Park and Rec. Creamer reviewed upcoming items for second quarter. She solicited topics for our joint meeting with the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission on May 4 at Staring Lake Outdoor Center which replaces our regular May meeting. The following topics were suggested: peony gardens at CG, GLCC playground, RJ kiosk, additional path around the RJ/DK area, and location of the community gardens for 2016. Creamer said Flying Cloud Airport will allow Parks to use the existing garden this year. Parks has another partner lined up for an additional garden this year. A garden at RJ is off the table for this year. Muehlberg said it cannot hurt to mention our concerns. Paulson suggested also getting a report on how buffing of the interpretive panels went and finding out which locations are still questionable or in need of replacement. We should keep BHG in the loop given our good working relationship and for continuity purposes. Muehlberg asked if it would be feasible to move the April meeting to allow for more time between it and the joint meeting in May. Creamer will check on this. Creamer said the GIS Coordinator has produced a map with ages of the properties but we have not had a chance to address this at our meetings. We will discuss expansion of the website next month. Cofer Evert said we should put the preservation award information on the website. Creamer said Council requested the two signs at RJ also be put on the website. Cofer Evert suggested adding other existing signs to the site as well. VIII. NEW BUSINESS None. IX. FYI ITEMS A. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS BANQUET The Boards and Commissions Banquet will be held Wednesday, May 13. All are encouraged to attend. Outgoing commissioners and students will be recognized. Creamer said two new commissioners will begin their terms in April. She thanked McGuire and Paulson for their service. Olson has decided to renew and will serve as chair. Muehlberg will serve as Vice Chair. Karla Wennerstrom indicated she plans to conduct interviews with commissioners for a story she will be working on about history and historic sites. A May publication is planned. Paulson asked Wennerstrom to notify commissioners via email when the story will be released. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES March 16, 2015 Page 5 Cofer Evert Announced Green Acres was named in the theknot.com's "2015 Minnesota Best of Weddings". Paulson mentioned Cofer Evert's proposal for a photo display at City Center. Creamer said this is a topic we can discuss at our upcoming joint meeting with Council. X. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS The next HPC meeting will be Monday, April 20, 2015, 7 p.m. at City Center, Prairie Rooms A & B. XI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: McGuire moved, seconded by Paulson, to adjourn. Motion carried 7-0. Chair Muehlberg adjourned the meeting at 8:17 p.m.