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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 12/17/2018 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2018 7:00 P.M. CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL RD HPC COMMISSION MEMBERS: Steve Olson-Chair; Tara Kalar-Vice Chair; Pamela Spera; Valerie Ross; Paul Thorp; Richard Smith; Shanti Shah STUDENT COMMISSION MEMBERS: Joe Pesheck; Neha Bhupatiraju; Sydney Lewis COMMISSION STAFF: Lori Creamer, Staff Liaison Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Olson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Absent was commission member Shah and student representative Bhupatiraju. Guest Ann Higgins joined the meeting. Student representative Lewis arrived at 7:19 p.m. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Ross moved, seconded by Spera to approve the agenda. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Ross moved, seconded by Spera to approve the minutes of the meeting held November 19, 2018. Motion carried 3-0 with 3 abstentions (Kalar, Smith, Thorp). IV. NEW BUSINESS V. OLD BUSINESS A. FINALIZE 2019 WORK PLAN Creamer announced Shah attended a subcommittee meeting of the Human Rights and Diversity Commission to explore a potential partnership on People Fest, and Creamer asked if this should be clarified on the Work Plan, in the first quarter, and perhaps focus on the history of Indigenous people in Eden Prairie, either at People Fest in August or in November as previously discussed. Kalar suggested EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION December 17, 2018 Page 2 holding an event on Native American history in November separate from People Fest. Smith asked what the participation had been in reaching out to the Native American community. Creamer replied the commission had not had an outreach event to this community during her tenure,but this was driven by the discovery of artifacts along Highway 62. Kalar replied her understanding was the intent was to reach out to the Native American community in order to get context for a possible event centered on general interest among Eden Prairie residents of Native American history, to assess the commission's inventory list and to establish a relationship. Discussion followed on providing a stronger historical focus on the indigenous peoples in the area. Creamer asked if other commission members were interested in working on People Fest with Shah, Ross stated the Historical Society was also considering getting involved with People Fest. No other commissioners expressed an interest. Creamer added the money raised from selling signs would be used to restore the Flying Red Horse. The full commission would not be responsible to raise funds for this event; a committee would be formed and would make decisions moving forward and report back to the commission. Thorp stated he had ideas for pursuing local designation for the Ox Cart Road. MOTION: Ross moved, seconded by Thorp to approve the amended Work Plan. Motion carried 6-0. B. COA —LION'S DEN AT CAMP EDENWOOD Creamer stated she received an email from Connor McGrath and she sent him a checklist of what the commission needed, including a sample in hand. Creamer was waiting for the application to be completed. VI. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. PRESENTATION ON RESEARCH FROM THE OTHERDAY FAMILY Thorp presented a PowerPoint with photographs and a map which detailed his research on the ownership of the Otherday family property. It was an 18-acre parcel of land above the Minnesota River divided into two focus areas: The Narrows and Indian Road. In 1871 the Otherday, a Native American family, purchased the property. Minnie Otherday was born in 1877 on that site in a teepee and lived there until at least 1932, then moved to Hopkins with her daughter. She died in 1959. Thorp's focus was on the land. Siever Peterson now owns the property. Olson asked if Ox Cart Road/Indian Road was on the site in 1877 and Thorp replied it was. Thorp stated the reason why it was called Indian Road was unknown. The site was in danger of being washed away due to erosion from the EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION December 17, 2018 Page 3 changing riverbed. Thorp proposed updating the commission's inventory forms to reflect this endangered resource. Olson agreed the commission should work up a form for Thorp to fill in with his information, which would then be submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Creamer and the other commissioners agreed. B. STAFF UPDATES Creamer stated she reached out to Adam Keating of the 106 Group for an update on the cataloging of the artifacts, and some tribes requested an extended review from the Army Corps of Engineers but it should be completed at the end of the this month. Creamer would reconnect with him in January on the possibility of exhibiting them in November, 2019. Following up on Olson's question from the last meeting, Creamer stated Winter Park was built in 1980;however, the age of a site was would not be the sole consideration in telling its story. Smith asked if there was a private agreement between the Wilfs and the new owners to maintain the Viking Ship and keep it in Eden Prairie. Olson replied Lifetime had leased it and would turn it into a sports facility, but the ship would remain. Creamer stated she wanted suggestions for new meeting places in 2019. The Hocokata Ti Cultural Center in Shakopee was a possibility but it had still not opened. Creamer had signed up online for updates. Creamer was charged with seeking new estimates for the restoration of the Flying Red Horse. Kalar asked what had changed between the conversation at the City Council workshop and now. Creamer replied where the sign would be displayed was still a question, and there was a perceived sensitivity to not showing favoritism or spending public monies on this. Creamer was to pursue a grant, if applicable, and to solicit fundraising ideas from the commission members. Olson replied he was not opposed to the project,but the profits from the sign sales being directed toward this without much discussion seemed abrupt. Kalar noted the restoration estimate exceeded the amount of money raised by the street sign fundraiser,requiring the commission to raise that as well, and Creamer agreed. Kalar stated her message to the City Manager was receiving a mandate like this was disheartening and she questioned if this was the best use of the funds. Spera agreed and added it was odd to restore the sign without a final display location. She also asked if the question of trademark infringement/ownership of property had been resolved. Discussion followed on how the City of Eden Prairie acquired the sign. Kalar stated the question might not be resolved until the sign is restored and displayed. Thorp passed around images and stated he would prefer not to restore the sign,but to leave it in its EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION December 17, 2018 Page 4 present condition as a historical artifact. The sign was 90 year old and could be displayed. Kalar suggested having a historic preservation specialist prepare a study to resolve these issues before funds are used. Smith concurred. Discussion followed on existing historic signs (Gold Medal Flour and Grain Belt Beer in Minneapolis) that had been restored,but were on their existing sites. Spera asked if the City had documentation on the transfer. Thorp stated the Schwartz family that owned the Davannis passed it to the City, and there was documentation in approved minutes but no deed or other paperwork. Ross stated she did not want to see the Flying Red Horse project die but instead of fundraising, the commission could put forth recommendations to 1) find an optimal location, and 2)restore or not restore. Thorp replied this was the City's sign but the commission could make recommendations. Creamer noted there was a certain age group that was passionate about the sign, whereas other residents might not understand its significance. Olson stated it would be preferable to have a conversation instead of being handed a direction, and he preferred to work to find the best methods to treat the artifact. Kalar replied this went to the heart of the role of this commission. Thorp asked for more solid suggestions from the City as to next steps. Ross suggested involving the consultant Bob Mack. Creamer replied Mack's expertise may not be in the restoration,but could give input on location perhaps. Thorp suggested consulting staff at SHPO to help with the restoration piece. Olson stated Mack would be able to help locate display sites. Thorp described the condition of the sign. Smith suggested an indoor display. Higgins asked when the plastic was overlaid on the surface, and Thorp replied it was in 1978. Holes were punched to affix it; this was merely to brighten the sign, as it was cheaper than painting it. Ross urged the commissioners to keep the project moving forward. MOTION: Ross moved, seconded by Thorp to further amend the Work Plan to advance concepts to restore the Flying Red Horse in the second, third, and fourth quarter as appropriate in place of"fundraising"recommendation. Motion carried 6-0. Ross announced the Sharing Tree lighting went very well with a small town feel, and she expected the event to grow. Santa was in the Cummins Phipps House. The Valentine event was coming up at the end of January and would involve creating watercolor valentines. VIII. FYI ITEMS IX NEXT MEETING EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION December 17, 2018 Page 5 The next meeting will be held Tuesday, January 22, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. in Prairie Rooms A & B. The City Council Workshop will be held at 5:00 p.m. X. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Thorp moved, seconded by Ross to adjourn. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:23 p.m.