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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 12/19/2016 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2016 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 Robert Vogel, Pathfinder CRM, LLC Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Sienna Gambino, Alyssa Meiners, Carolyn Mason, Taylor Wolf I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Olson called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Commissioner Muhlberg, staff member Vogel and student representative Meiners were absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Ross moved, and Cofer-Evert seconded to approve the agenda with Kalar's additions of New Business: Item A. Cummins-Phipps-Grill House Santa Visit and Item B. Rustica. Motion carried. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. COMMISSION MEETING HELD NOVEMBER 21, 2016 Thorp moved, and Kalar seconded, to approve the minutes with Ross's changes. Motion carried. IV. STUDENT UPDATES A. ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH THE GROUP Wolf announced that she had started new school. V. OLD BUSINESS A. 2017 WORKPLAN - FINALIZE HERITAGE PRESERVATION MINUTES December 19. 2016 Page 2 Creamer announced that the Eden Prairie Fire Department would be celebrating its 50th year in 2017. Various activities will be going on throughout the year, and she will reach out to the Fire Chief to discuss how the commission can help with an event during the year. Spera asked if there was a historical component that would be a tie-in with the commission's work. Cofer-Evert replied the Fire Department buildings, if original, or any notorious fires or controlled burns along Pioneer Trail, etc., could be possibilities. Discussion followed on a highlighted event from the plan, the history hunt. Cofer- Evert suggested that the commission hold its history hunt during May, which is Preservation Month. Kalar replied and Cofer-Evert concurred that the hunt could continue all summer, but be kicked off in May. Discussion followed on the possibility of including a geocaching component to the event and the legal concerns related to it. Creamer stated there are some rules on geocaching in the parks and she would clarify at the next meeting which locations would be acceptable to use. Kalar noted that there was non-city sanctioned geocaching in the parks going on at present, and that it likely made a difference when a commission actually sponsored one. Cofer-Evert mentioned that geo-caching had been discouraged previously by the HPC outside consultant, based on his understanding of the City's rules on geo-caching. The commission approved the 2017 HPC Work Plan with these changes and comments: 1st Quarter: Architect's review of the Glen Lake Children's Camp (evaluation of the dining hall) was moved to the 2nd quarter. The grant for an archeology study on Murphy's Ferry was deleted. However, the commission would consider this grant project later. The action for the National Register Nomination of Smith Douglas More house was changed from "complete" to"submit." Creamer announced that the Cummins-Phipps-Grill House grant was awarded. 2nd Quarter: Ross asked for a clarification of the local designation project with the School District, and Olson explained that the goal was to protect the original consolidated school building with the historic gym from an Eden Prairie planning change. HERITAGE PRESERVATION MINUTES December 19. 2016 Page 3 3rd Quarter: The review for potential repeating history hunt in October was moved to the 1st quarter for a possible event in May. Discussion followed on the success of the previous hunt. Creamer announced that 150 people participated. Creamer explained that the request for design and production of Lake Riley interpretive signs was listed in the third quarter due to the necessity of writing a grant. If the grant was awarded, the RFP for the signs would be developed in July, 2017. The commission agreed to have an outline for the inventory in the 2nd quarter, then provide the summary document in the 0 quarter, with input from the commission members and planning staff, including GIS staff. 4th Quarter: The joint meeting with Eden Prairie Historical Society was moved to the 3rd quarter, with the date to be specified later, once the date for the annual meeting was set. OnsoinWadministrative items: Creamer offered to find out a sunset date for the old street sign fundraiser project. Olson noted that there was a Minnesota statute to have them updated by 2018. Discussion followed on the timeline of the project. Creamer announced the successful results of the promotion in Southwest Metro Magazine and post to the City's Facebook page between Thanksgiving and the date of this meeting. Continue Murphy's Ferry research (commission /staff) was tentatively moved to the next step (local designation) and set for the 2nd quarter. Discussion followed on the necessity of a consultant for the designation process. Olson proposed that the commission ask David Mather, from the MN Historical Society, if Murphy's Ferry rose to the level of designation. New Ideas for 2017 (from November meeting): Partner with the Human Rights and Diversity Commission on an Oral History Project for immigrant populations in our community to be transcribed or captured in video. Ross described her involvement with the oral history project with the Historical Society, a major undertaking requiring time, equipment, and training, and which is focused on the generation that lived through World War IL She agreed that this HERITAGE PRESERVATION MINUTES December 19. 2016 Page 4 was a significantly different project from what the HRDC commission envisioned. Creamer noted that the HRDC was focusing on capturing the oral history of people on the streets in Eden Prairie, similar to the "Humans of Minneapolis" project conducted previously. Discussion followed on funding sources. Ross was also concerned that this project would end up being underutilized without adequate promotion and access. Creamer suggested it may be in the best interest to have any HPC members who are interested in partnering on a project such as this patriciate on a subcommittee with the HRDC instead of a separate HPC work plan item for 2017. Kalar and Spera offered to participate on a subcommittee with the HRDC on an oral history project. This item was deleted from the HPC work plan. The Eden Prairie Time Capsule idea was deleted. The school education opportunities for the historic sites were moved to the 2nd quarter. Laser scan one of a city owned historic property was moved to the 2nd quarter. Olson volunteered to give a presentation on how this use of survey equipment and put together a three-dimensional model of a historic property for future projects. Creamer suggested Commission training be added to the ongoing/administrative section. Training will occur periodically throughout the year. VI. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. GRANT PROJECT (RESEARCH & WRITING FOR 7 ADDITIONAL SIGNS AT LAKE RILEY) COMMISSION COMMENTS Creamer and Olson noted that research and writing had been done for seven signs, however, only 6 of the signs will be produced. Creamer stated that she would be writing a grant for the graphic design and fabrication in 2017. She asked for the commission's feedback, and offered to print out the designs for those who still wanted to see the drafts. Spera replied that she would get her comments and edits to Creamer. No other commission members provided comments. B. SMITH DOUGLAS MORE HOUSE PROJECT UPDATE—Creamer Creamer stated the roof project was completed prior to the snow and it looks beautiful. She had submitted the final report for the grant in the last week. C. HISTORY HUNT UPDATE —Creamer Creamer stated there had been 150 redemptions at the Rustica Bakery and Cafe. The Schusters, owners of the coffee shop, were delighted at the outcome. HERITAGE PRESERVATION MINUTES December 19. 2016 Page 5 D. STREET SIGN FUNDRAISER UPDATE - Creamer Creamer mentioned the fundraiser was publicized in Southwest Metro Magazine and was posted on the City of Eden Prairie's Facebook page. Additional signs will be coming available in the near future. Creamer added the Communications Department provided data on the website data. As of December 6 there had been 885 visits to the site, 1,142 unique visitors to the site, 739 clicks on sign lists, and 742 clicks on the portal. E. OTHER GRANT UPDATES - Creamer Creamer announced that the grant was awarded for the Cummins-Phipps-Grill House totaling just under $10,000. Olson added that the commission would pursue two other grants in the future to complete the work in the upstairs of the house. VII. NEW BUSINESS A. CUMMINS-PHIPPS-GRILL HOUSE SANTA VISIT Kalar stated that as a result of an attempted visit to Santa with her children she objected to the required reservation system and the mandatory admission fee ($20.00), and the paid photo packages (beginning at$24, toward which the reservation fee was applied) at the Cummins-Phipps-Grill House, which Kalar felt was inappropriate for any of their historic sites. It was not an option to pay, as at the Eden Prairie Mall. Ross replied to the comments as she was most familiar with this program. She would speak to the person portraying Santa and also bring this matter up with the Historical Society. At first"Santa" didn't have any intention to have a set fee. No pictures were allowed at first. Ross stated that it was acceptable to charge for photos,but a visit to Santa should not require an admission fee. Kalar asked if the commission should pass a resolution against having a profit motive in admissions, though she could understand his recouping costs and charging for photography. She also wanted to know how the money earned was being used. Ross replied that"Santa" paid the Eden Prairie Historical Society rent and had a right to make money on pictures. "Santa"had the best motives and truly loved children and portraying Santa, having been the Eden Prairie Mall Santa for many years. Ross added that it was "Santa" and David Lindahl who had thought of moving this event to the Cummins-Phipps-Grill House, instead of the mall, to create a more personalized experience for the children. There was no charge then. The HERITAGE PRESERVATION MINUTES December 19. 2016 Page 6 proceeds of the rent that"Santa"pays go back to the Cummins-Phipps-Grill House; however, the fees for the photography did not. The program is popular and gives the house exposure, and the public will get to see the new timeline in the dining room. Ross stated she would definitely press for a change in 2017. She added that she could understand how a reservation system controlled crowds versus "down times," and it was also undesirable to have people wait for a long time. Olson noted that the city's agreement with the Historical Society was through a Conditional Use Permit. Ross replied Historical Society also leases the house for a nominal fee. Discussion followed on reviewing the covenants and restrictions on this. Kalar asked if charging admission violated the Conditional Use Permit, and if not, could the Conditional Use Permit be amended to prohibit such a charge. Ross suggested proposing to "Santa" that the public be allowed to visit"Santa" without having to pay, and without reservations—for example, from Thanksgiving weekend to December 15—but that after December 15 some sort of crowd control/reservation system was desirable, and she would think about how to accomplish this during what is for"Santa" his busiest and most lucrative time of year. She promised to take this up immediately with the Historical Society and with "Santa". Cofer-Evert also proposed that from 9:00-10:00 a.m. on Saturday mornings could be a free hour with visitors to "Santa" on a first come first serve basis, then at 10:00 reservations could begin. Without some kind of profit motive, "Santa" would not have an incentive to work at the Cummins-Phipps-Grill House instead of at a mall. Ross added that this was a good program for the community; "Santa"has insurance, is involved with Toys for Tots, works with the Optimists, allows free pictures for veterans, fire fighters, and police, offers special nights for children with autism and those with pets, etc., with the best of intentions. Olson, Ross, and Creamer agreed that the commission should deal with this by starting a conversation,rather than passing resolutions or amending the Conditional Use Permit. B. RUSTICA Kalar stated that her mother is a health inspector at Hennepin County and had observed that the staff at Rustica was cooking meals on a Panini grill without an appropriate hood, and that both she and Kalar were concerned about possible damage to the property. Kalar stated that her intention was to raise this issue proactively with the commission. Discussion followed on the proper procedure for the commission to follow up on this, considering this was not a"formal" notification. HERITAGE PRESERVATION MINUTES December 19. 2016 Page 7 Spera asked if Rustica staff have been ordered to stop cooking, and Kalar replied that they were prohibited from some cooking due to the lack of a hood, to prevent further damage from oils. Cofer-Evert added that a member of the public had notified her that the interior historical photos had been taken down. Kalar replied that the interior had been remodeled, with a false ceiling and modern lights. Cofer-Evert asked if Rustica staff were allowed to do this on their own. Ross stated that it had probably been cleared through the Historical Society. Kalar asked if the commission could require Rustica to install the hood in the new kitchen. Discussion followed on the previous restaurant's process. Olson stated that he was less concerned about the photographs being removed, and more concerned about keeping Rustica in business. Ross replied that she was concerned about what had actually happened to pictures; the removal of them was acceptable if it was to protect them. Olson suggested that considering the restaurant had just opened; the commission could wait a few weeks until the end of the holidays, and then reach out to Rustica to bring up the issue of the hood and the photographs. VIII. FYI ITEMS A. ACTION ITEM: DECIDE ON NEW JANUARY AND FEBRUARY HPC MEETING DATES The Consensus of the Commission was to meet on Monday, January 23, 2017 and Monday, February 27, 2017. Creamer invited the Commission members to the City Council Workshop on Tuesday, January 17, 2017, at 5:30 p.m., Heritage Rooms, lower level of City Center. Please RSVP to Creamer if you will be attending the meal starting at 5:00 pm. IX. NEXT MEETING The next HPC Commission meeting will be held on Monday, January 23, 2017 at 7:00 p.m., in Prairie Rooms A & B. X. ADJOURNMENT Ross moved, and Cofer-Evert seconded to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 9:01 p.m.