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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 03/20/2017 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2017 7:00 P.M. MEETING CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD HPC COMMISSION MEMBERS: Steve Olson-Chair; Tara Kalar- Vice Chair; Cindy Cofer-Evert; Pamela Spera; Valerie Ross; Paul Thorp; Ed Muhlberg COMMISSION STAFF: Lori Creamer, Staff Liaison Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Sienna Gambino, Alyssa Meiners, Carolyn Mason, Taylor Wolf I. ROLL CALL Chair Olson called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. Commission Members Ross and Muhlberg along with student representative Gambino, Mason and Wolf were absent. Bob Mack of MacDonald and Mack Architects joined the meeting. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Cofer Evert moved, seconded by Thorp to approve the agenda with Creamer's additions to May event dates under the FYI items. Motion carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. COMMISSION MEETING HELD FEBRUARY 27, 2017 MOTION: Spera moved, seconded by Cofer Evert to approve the minutes with the corrections to remove the redundant phrase "the site" on page 5 and to correct "fly-though" to fly-through on page 7. Motion carried 5-0. IV. HPC CONSULTANT INTRODUCTIONS Bob Mack of MacDonald and Mack Architects displayed slides and presented his firm's background: The firm works on National Register nominations and surveys mostly in the upper Midwest, especially in Minnesota and South Dakota,but also projects across the United States. Examples include the James Garfield house in Mentor, Ohio, and St. Augustin Roman Catholic Church in Washington, DC. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION March 20, 2017 Page 2 Other services provided include providing reviews and expert testimony for lawsuits. Another service is teaching; Mr. Mack has taught at the University of Minnesota for 20 years, including the yearlong preservation series. Mr. Mack is also a founding member of the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, has served on the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission, and founded the non- profit development group Seward Redesign. He sits on the Minnesota Historical Society's review panel for grants. He has also worked on various projects with Chair Olson for eight or nine years. Kalar asked if it would be a conflict of interest for Mack to review grant applications submitted to the Minnesota Historical Society's grant review panel, and Mack replied in these cases he would recuse himself. Olson credited Mack's work with the State Historic Preservation Office. Kalar asked what projects interested him, and Mack replied MacDonald and Mack had just completed the conditions evaluations and thermal imaging of the buildings at Camp Edenwood, some work at Cummins Phipps Grill House, a survey of the overlook at Flying Cloud Airport, and the architectural work of the Smith Douglas Moore addition which allowed the inclusion of the coffee house. V. STUDENT UPDATES VI. OLD BUSINESS A. HERITAGE PRESERVATION AWARD NOMINATIONS Creamer had emailed the nomination of Mr. Jim Clark to the commission to facilitate the discussion of it at this meeting. Spera commended the tours provided by Clark for police officers. Discussion followed on the merits of this nomination. MOTION: Thorp moved, seconded by Cofer Evert, to bestow the 2017 Heritage Preservation Award on Mr. Jim Clark. Motion carried 5-0. Creamer will contact Mr. Clark to arrange the meeting and reception on either May 2 or May 16, 2017, and will email the date and time to the commission. B. HUELER PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL UPDATE LOCATION: 12300 RIVERVIEW RD Creamer briefly reiterated this was a development of one residential lot being split into three lots. She had no updates at this time,but was waiting for comments from Engineering regarding storm water drainage, and will email the commission as she gets the comments. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION March 20, 2017 Page 3 VII. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. HENNEPIN TOWN SITE GRANT UPDATE Creamer received two proposals, and will discuss these in more depth with commission members. The deadline for the grant is April 14, 2017. Kalar asked if the commission was obligated to take the lower bid, and Creamer replied it was not,but would want to look at both proposals in a way to compare "apples to apples." Creamer reminded the commission grants over$10,000 requires a pre-application, and therefore could not be done until next year(2018). Thorp suggested Creamer ask the higher bidder to reduce its scope of work to bring down the proposal total. Cofer Evert concurred the commission could request services appropriate for a$10,000 cap. Olson suggested this could merely be a phone call. B. COMMISSION MEMBERS UPDATE Creamer announced commission interviews were held last month. The new commission members were Shanti Shah, who has experience with conducting historical research, and Meredith Anderson, archeologist. Olson would remain as chair, and Kalar remains vice-chair. The new commissioners will start three-year terms next month (April). Thorp announced the City Council made some revisions to the HPC guidelines, which had just been passed. It solidified the requirement the commission retain an architect, archeologist, or an engineer for CLG status. C. STREET SIGN FUNDRAISER UPDATE Creamer solicited ideas for potential projects the commission could possibly use the street sign funds for. Kalar suggested the commission initiate a discussion with the school district for the sign sale proceeds to fund field trips for the students to Eden Prairie historic sites. The commission could offer bus service and staff a one hour program. Kalar noted students visit the Lowry Nature Center outside of Eden Prairie and would like to encourage trips to facilities within the city. Thorp asked if there was resistance from school for field trips because of cost, and Kalar replied she did not know if there was resistance, or if so if it was due to costsit could also be time, or due to other restrictions,but offering to fund such HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION March 20, 2017 Page 4 a program would make the prospect more attractive. Olson noted this idea aligned with the commission's education objective. Spera said in her opinion a school would initiate contact for a program like this. Kalar replied the Lowry Nature Center advertises, unlike Staring Outdoor Center, other than advertising in the Parks and Recreation Activity mailer. Staring Outdoor Center offered services such as birthday parties and preschool playtime, but no field trip information, so if the commission reached out on this idea, it would gain traction. Funding would cover bus transportation and staff. Thorp noted this would probably cost under$500. Creamer asked if this would be offered to multiple grades, and Kalar replied she was thinking of first graders. Cofer Evert suggested Kalar expand her idea and turn it into a" passport to Eden Prairie history" idea, like a history hunt: the bus could visit three or four sites, with a tour guide giving a talk at each, and offering a take-home informational flyer about each site (as with the history hunt) for parents to read. This would get children to places parents don't think of and inform parents about the sites as well. Discussion followed on possible sites such as the Dorenkemper house or the Riley Jacques Barn. Cofer Evert told the commission the Star Tribune offered a Sunday flyer in the form of the"Explore Minnesota" map, with callout boxes pointing to sites, and suggested this as a model for the take-home flyer. The students could put stickers on the sites they visit, and it would have details on the back for parents to read. Spera suggested if schools did not wish to do this, the commission could approach senior groups, and Cofer Evert replied the commission could offer tours to seniors as well. Kalar noted it could be made into a community education program. Spera said the funding could cover many diverse group tours. Olson asked if this would require a student worker or intern for the summer. Kalar offered to reach out to the school district with a general pitch and come back with specifics, and then the commission could prioritize and develop one product. Creamer replied she would find out whom to contact, schedule a meeting for both her and Kalar, and accompany Kalar to the meeting. Discussion followed on other possible uses of the funds. Cofer Evert asked if the historical society could use it, and Olson suggested City Center Photo project would be a possible use of the funds. Cofer Evert concurred this would be a sound use of the funds, as there were thousands of photos and reliance upon volunteers may not be sufficient to get the job done. Kalar suggested a historical tie-in with the comprehensive plan, such as an event or activity, and asked when the new plan would be completed. Creamer replied it was in process, and would take at least a year of work with the consultant. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION March 20, 2017 Page 5 Cofer Evert asked for the next anniversary in Eden Prairie which could tie-in. Creamer replied it was the 50th anniversary of the fire department in 2017, and she could follow up with Ward Parker, who was planning a celebration. Cofer Evert suggested giving a plaque with historic pictures to the fire department, like the plaque at the Cummins Phipps Grill House, or a time capsule project during another milestone year. VIII. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY IX. NEW BUSINESS A. DESIGN & FABRICATION OF FINAL INTERPRETIVE SIGNS AT LAKE RILEY Creamer announced Bluestem Heritage had completed this project at the end of 2016 for research and writing on six signs. Creamer would investigate options for graphic design and fabrication for display by late summer. Design and fabrication would be Phase Two and require another grant. This raised a dilemma: the commission would have submitted two grant applications at the same time, competing with ourselves for funds. Olson asked if small grants were awarded monthly or quarterly, and Creamer replied they were awarded in January, April, July, and October. Kalar noted one is not in an archeology category, which might prevent self-competition. Olson replied if both grants were submitted now, the one not chosen could be resubmitted in July. Thorp added there was no huge rush for the archeology grant, but Olson replied it would be wise to get it started as development would soon be moving forward on the Heuler property. Creamer said she had received one bid so far for all six signs including graphic design,revisions, and an electronic file (but not fabrication).Creamer was waiting for bids from two other contractors. Cofer Evert asked for and received clarification the total grant amount of a small grant was $10,000. Kalar suggested prioritizing the archeology grant application above the grant application for the signs, as the research and writing for the signs work is mostly completing, and development coming in on the Heuler property. Discussion followed on the approval process so far and on possible contractors for the fabrication. Creamer agreed to submit this grant application in July, and the archeology grant would be submitted as planned by the April 14 deadline. X. ONGOING TRAINING XI. FYI ITEMS HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION March 20, 2017 Page 6 Creamer announced the consultant working on the comprehensive plan is Houseal Levin. They have requested to meet with the commission to talk more about what could be included as far as historic preservation goes into 2040 and beyond. A 30- to 45-minute meeting was set for 6:30 p.m. on May 1, 2017 in Prairie Rooms A & B. Creamer would include the new commission members. The new comprehensive plan is entitled"Aspire Eden Prairie 2040." Creamer invited commission members and students to a series of informal small group conversations, perhaps an hour long, on housing or on transportation. Meiners expressed interest in the housing group, and Spera in the transportation conversations. Creamer will forward their contact information to the appropriate people who will be reaching out to confirm specific dates and times of focus group meetings. The Boards and Commission Banquet is set for Thursday, May 18, 2017. 6:00 p.m. is the meet and greet, 6:30 p.m. the dinner, and 7:00 p.m. the award ceremony. The commission would meet either on May 2 or 16, 2017 depending on Jim Clark's schedule and cancel its regular meeting. Creamer would contact the commission members regarding any updates on the Heuler property development. Olson thanked Commission Member Cofer Evert for her service since she will be ending her two term(6 years) of service on the Heritage Preservation Commission. XII. NEXT MEETING The next HPC Commission meeting will be held on Monday, April 17, 2017 in Prairie Rooms A & B. XIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Cofer Evert moved, seconded by Kalar to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:36 p.m.