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Heritage Preservation - 11/21/2005 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2005 7:00 P.M., Prairie Rooms A & B 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS Betsy Adams, Chairperson; Molly Gilbertson, Vice Chairperson; Bob Amell, Deborah Barkley, Nina Mackay, Ed Muehlberg, Jane Plaza STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES Danny Dunleavy, Anna Hewitt, Jennifer Nicklay COMMISSION STAFF John Gertz, Historic Preservation Specialist; Peggy Rasmussen, Recorder I. ROLL CALL Adams called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commissioners Amell and Muehlberg were excused. City manager Scott Neal and historic consultant Robert Vogel were present. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Gilbertson moved, seconded by Mackay, to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – OCTOBER 17 and 31, 2005 MOTION: Mackay moved, seconded by Gilbertson, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission held on October 17, 2005, as published. Motion carried 5-0. MOTION: Plaza moved, seconded by Gilbertson, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission subcommittee meeting held on October 31, 2005, as published. Motion carried 2-0. IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. Interpretive Panel for Prairie Bluff Conservation Area Gertz showed a draft of the interpretive panel for the Prairie Bluff Conservation Area. This is a small overlook built in Hennepin Village at the access to the conservation area. Gertz explained the changes that are going to be made to it. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 21, 2005 Page 2 B. Eden Prairie: The First 100 Years Adams reported that the Historical Society has contacted Helen Anderson, and she has agreed to update the forward she wrote for the book. The Society members are working on updating information in the book. Adams asked the Commissioners to let her know if they find any typographical errors. V. OLD BUSINESS A. CLG Grants 1. 2005-06 CLG Grant Adams introduced Robert Vogel, Managing Partner and Senior Historian with Pathfinder CRM, LLP, whose proposal to prepare the local registration forms for the CLG grant project was accepted. Vogel said he began the project today when Gertz took him to see the three sites: the Consolidated School, Glen Lake Children’s Camp and Staring Lake Outdoor Center. Vogel said this is the fifth project he has done with Eden Prairie, the first with his new firm. The company does work throughout the United States, and about half of the business deals with historic preservation. Vogel stated he would be putting together documentation to show why each property should be registered as a historic site. A Heritage Preservation Site is the local government equivalent of the federal National Register of Historic Places. If a site meets certain criteria it can be protected under local designation. Vogel said the first thing he would do is to collect everything that has been written about these three properties and do some research. He would describe the property with written information, maps and drawings, using the same terminology used by the National Register. He will prepare reports that will enable the City leaders to look at the information and find out why it is a site that is worth preserving through local designation. A plan for best management practices would be added to the end of the report. Vogel said he would have a draft to show the HPC in April or May. He recommended waiting until that meeting to set a date for taking the Commissioners to look at the sites, which would be prior to a Commission meeting. 2. 2006-07 CLG Grant Adams said that at the last meeting the Commissioners discussed using this grant to do more advocacy, communication and education of the public. The timing would be good for this type of project. The newspaper often carries news about the budget being scrutinized by the public, and HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 21, 2005 Page 3 historic preservation could be included. She believes the more residents of the community become advocates for preservation, the better. The City has had good press with regard to Dunn Bros. Coffee at the Smith House. The Riley-Jacques barn has received good publicity, especially with the award from Preservation Alliance. The Cummins House is greatly improved now, with the expenditure of time and money. Adams stated that the HPC should let the public know how important these historic places are. Adams said she believed the CLG grant should be used for a combination of both digital and hard copy information about the historic sites. She said it would be good to have a connection to the City’s and the school district’s Web sites. Gilbertson said she agreed with Adams. In addition, at the last meeting Gertz had talked about preserving the Kurtz barn, which a developer wants to raze. She asked if registering the barn for local designation should be included in the grant application. Gertz said he would be willing to complete the designation documentation for the barn himself. He didn’t believe they could split the grant between an education project and registration of a site for local designation. The SHPO does fund educational projects, but the request has to be specific about what the funds would be used for. Gertz showed the Commissioners two samples of what other cities have done to promote their historic sites. One was a handout Minneapolis has produced about the history of St. Anthony Falls and the other was a flyer Excelsior has produced for a walking tour of their city. Eden Prairie could print a brochure covering all of Eden Prairie’s historic sites. Some cities add that same information to their Web site, and school districts will often link to that Web site. Adams said it is a good idea to reach people both ways. If the HPC can decide what its message is and what is most important for the community to know right now, it could get that information put on the Eden Prairie Web site. The Historical Society is working with someone to establish its own Web site. Plaza pointed out that Eden Prairie is too large for a walking tour of historic sites. Having a brochure that shows where the specific sites are, including a map, would be useful. She would like to have the information both on the Web and written up in a brochure. Gertz stated a Web-based program would be more useful in the long run because it could be easily updated. School children could go on line and research the site. Adams agreed that more information could be entered on the Web site than could be put in a brochure. Gilbertson pointed out that the information could be downloaded from the Web site, rather than HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 21, 2005 Page 4 publishing a brochure. Mackay said there could be a hard copy available in the City Center for people to look at. Gilbertson said hard copies could also be displayed in the kiosk for people to pick up. Vogel said many other cities have information about their historic places on their Web sites. Some have a self-guided virtual tour. He is on the Board of the National Alliance of Historic Commissions, and everybody has discovered the Web is the best way to reach people. Anything put on the Web could be printed out and made available to the public. MOTION: Gilbertson moved, seconded by Barkley, to approve the Fiscal Year 2006 CLG Grant application to request funding for an educational project which would include a folding brochure and City Web site. Motion carried 5-0. B. Cummins and Riley House Repairs Gertz reported that the work on both houses is 99 percent done. He completed a walk-through on both properties. He was not satisfied with the masonry re- pointing work on the Riley house and the work was stopped. It is being carried over to April 2006. Minnesota Construction Company did a good job, but the subcontractor for re-pointing the brick was not very good, and the company will get it done correctly. The work on the Cummins house is complete. A cracked pane of glass was replaced. C. Dorenkemper House Gertz reported that the work on the Dorenkemper house has been on hold over the last month because the workers who were sanding the sheet-rock haven’t been back to finish it. He will be meeting with Lori Benike on December 6. She is part of a Historical Society task force working on the interior decoration of the house. They will set dates for starting the work in February, assuming the sheet- rock work is done by then. D. Dunn Brothers Store Wheel Stops Gertz said the wheel stops have been delivered to the City, but have not been installed at Dunn Brothers. City employees will determine where they should be placed and then install them in the next couple of weeks. E. Anderson School Update Adams reported that there are several new sponsors that will receive engraved bells. The Campbell Soup Company donated $10,000; Kemps donated $5,000; Jill and Eric Schultz donated $2,500. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 21, 2005 Page 5 Scott Neal reported that the transfer of land from the City to the School District was approved by the City Council on October 18. The land swap includes the transfer to the City of a piece of property that the School District owns on the north side of the existing community center. When this deed is received, the land would be used to build a third rink for the community center. Adams thanked Neal for all of his assistance in this process. Adams said the old material from the deconstructed school building would be saved and stored at the Riley-Jacques barn for the winter. Then Hennepin Technical College students will use some of the old material to rebuild the new school on a new foundation. However, most of the material will be new because there is not much original school house material left. Adams said the task force is making great progress in terms of getting the community involved. Information about the school house is on the School District Web site. There are flyers available for people to pick up. Students are taking this on as a project at the high school level. There are discussions with regard to developing a show on Channel 16 about the school house. The spring of 2007 is projected for completion. Gertz asked if there is a requirement about having bathrooms connected to the building. Adams replied there is; they would be in the extension off the back of the school house. Neal said he believed this location is close to City services for sewer and water. Gertz said the children would be able to take the tunnel under the road from Oak Point Elementary and come out in the area of the school on the other side. Adams said the school house is planned for fifth and sixth graders to use, although they would also like to include third graders. VI. NEW BUSINESS VII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Mackay moved, seconded by Plaza, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Adams adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m. APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2005 7:00 P.M., Prairie Rooms A & B 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS Betsy Adams, Chairperson; Molly Gilbertson, Vice Chairperson; Bob Amell, Deborah Barkley, Nina Mackay, Ed Muehlberg, Jane Plaza STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES Danny Dunleavy, Anna Hewitt, Jennifer Nicklay COMMISSION STAFF John Gertz, Historic Preservation Specialist; Peggy Rasmussen, Recorder ROLL CALL Adams called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commissioners Amell and Muehlberg were excused. City manager Scott Neal and historic consultant Robert Vogel were present. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Gilbertson moved, seconded by Mackay, to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried 5-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – OCTOBER 17 and 31, 2005 MOTION: Mackay moved, seconded by Gilbertson, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission held on October 17, 2005, as published. Motion carried 5-0. MOTION: Plaza moved, seconded by Gilbertson, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission subcommittee meeting held on October 31, 2005, as published. Motion carried 2-0. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF Interpretive Panel for Prairie Bluff Conservation Area Gertz showed a draft of the interpretive panel for the Prairie Bluff Conservation Area. This is a small overlook built in Hennepin Village at the access to the conservation area. Gertz explained the changes that are going to be made to it. Eden Prairie: The First 100 Years Adams reported that the Historical Society has contacted Helen Anderson, and she has agreed to update the forward she wrote for the book. The Society members are working on updating information in the book. Adams asked the Commissioners to let her know if they find any typographical errors. OLD BUSINESS CLG Grants 1. 2005-06 CLG Grant Adams introduced Robert Vogel, Managing Partner and Senior Historian with Pathfinder CRM, LLP, whose proposal to prepare the local registration forms for the CLG grant project was accepted. Vogel said he began the project today when Gertz took him to see the three sites: the Consolidated School, Glen Lake Children’s Camp and Staring Lake Outdoor Center. Vogel said this is the fifth project he has done with Eden Prairie, the first with his new firm. The company does work throughout the United States, and about half of the business deals with historic preservation. Vogel stated he would be putting together documentation to show why each property should be registered as a historic site. A Heritage Preservation Site is the local government equivalent of the federal National Register of Historic Places. If a site meets certain criteria it can be protected under local designation. Vogel said the first thing he would do is to collect everything that has been written about these three properties and do some research. He would describe the property with written information, maps and drawings, using the same terminology used by the National Register. He will prepare reports that will enable the City leaders to look at the information and find out why it is a site that is worth preserving through local designation. A plan for best management practices would be added to the end of the report. Vogel said he would have a draft to show the HPC in April or May. He recommended waiting until that meeting to set a date for taking the Commissioners to look at the sites, which would be prior to a Commission meeting. 2006-07 CLG Grant Adams said that at the last meeting the Commissioners discussed using this grant to do more advocacy, communication and education of the public. The timing would be good for this type of project. The newspaper often carries news about the budget being scrutinized by the public, and historic preservation could be included. She believes the more residents of the community become advocates for preservation, the better. The City has had good press with regard to Dunn Bros. Coffee at the Smith House. The Riley-Jacques barn has received good publicity, especially with the award from Preservation Alliance. The Cummins House is greatly improved now, with the expenditure of time and money. Adams stated that the HPC should let the public know how important these historic places are. Adams said she believed the CLG grant should be used for a combination of both digital and hard copy information about the historic sites. She said it would be good to have a connection to the City’s and the school district’s Web sites. Gilbertson said she agreed with Adams. In addition, at the last meeting Gertz had talked about preserving the Kurtz barn, which a developer wants to raze. She asked if registering the barn for local designation should be included in the grant application. Gertz said he would be willing to complete the designation documentation for the barn himself. He didn’t believe they could split the grant between an education project and registration of a site for local designation. The SHPO does fund educational projects, but the request has to be specific about what the funds would be used for. Gertz showed the Commissioners two samples of what other cities have done to promote their historic sites. One was a handout Minneapolis has produced about the history of St. Anthony Falls and the other was a flyer Excelsior has produced for a walking tour of their city. Eden Prairie could print a brochure covering all of Eden Prairie’s historic sites. Some cities add that same information to their Web site, and school districts will often link to that Web site. Adams said it is a good idea to reach people both ways. If the HPC can decide what its message is and what is most important for the community to know right now, it could get that information put on the Eden Prairie Web site. The Historical Society is working with someone to establish its own Web site. Plaza pointed out that Eden Prairie is too large for a walking tour of historic sites. Having a brochure that shows where the specific sites are, including a map, would be useful. She would like to have the information both on the Web and written up in a brochure. Gertz stated a Web-based program would be more useful in the long run because it could be easily updated. School children could go on line and research the site. Adams agreed that more information could be entered on the Web site than could be put in a brochure. Gilbertson pointed out that the information could be downloaded from the Web site, rather than publishing a brochure. Mackay said there could be a hard copy available in the City Center for people to look at. Gilbertson said hard copies could also be displayed in the kiosk for people to pick up. Vogel said many other cities have information about their historic places on their Web sites. Some have a self-guided virtual tour. He is on the Board of the National Alliance of Historic Commissions, and everybody has discovered the Web is the best way to reach people. Anything put on the Web could be printed out and made available to the public. MOTION: Gilbertson moved, seconded by Barkley, to approve the Fiscal Year 2006 CLG Grant application to request funding for an educational project which would include a folding brochure and City Web site. Motion carried 5-0. Cummins and Riley House Repairs Gertz reported that the work on both houses is 99 percent done. He completed a walk-through on both properties. He was not satisfied with the masonry re-pointing work on the Riley house and the work was stopped. It is being carried over to April 2006. Minnesota Construction Company did a good job, but the subcontractor for re-pointing the brick was not very good, and the company will get it done correctly. The work on the Cummins house is complete. A cracked pane of glass was replaced. Dorenkemper House Gertz reported that the work on the Dorenkemper house has been on hold over the last month because the workers who were sanding the sheet-rock haven’t been back to finish it. He will be meeting with Lori Benike on December 6. She is part of a Historical Society task force working on the interior decoration of the house. They will set dates for starting the work in February, assuming the sheet-rock work is done by then. Dunn Brothers Store Wheel Stops Gertz said the wheel stops have been delivered to the City, but have not been installed at Dunn Brothers. City employees will determine where they should be placed and then install them in the next couple of weeks. Anderson School Update Adams reported that there are several new sponsors that will receive engraved bells. The Campbell Soup Company donated $10,000; Kemps donated $5,000; Jill and Eric Schultz donated $2,500. Scott Neal reported that the transfer of land from the City to the School District was approved by the City Council on October 18. The land swap includes the transfer to the City of a piece of property that the School District owns on the north side of the existing community center. When this deed is received, the land would be used to build a third rink for the community center. Adams thanked Neal for all of his assistance in this process. Adams said the old material from the deconstructed school building would be saved and stored at the Riley-Jacques barn for the winter. Then Hennepin Technical College students will use some of the old material to rebuild the new school on a new foundation. However, most of the material will be new because there is not much original school house material left. Adams said the task force is making great progress in terms of getting the community involved. Information about the school house is on the School District Web site. There are flyers available for people to pick up. Students are taking this on as a project at the high school level. There are discussions with regard to developing a show on Channel 16 about the school house. The spring of 2007 is projected for completion. Gertz asked if there is a requirement about having bathrooms connected to the building. Adams replied there is; they would be in the extension off the back of the school house. Neal said he believed this location is close to City services for sewer and water. Gertz said the children would be able to take the tunnel under the road from Oak Point Elementary and come out in the area of the school on the other side. Adams said the school house is planned for fifth and sixth graders to use, although they would also like to include third graders. NEW BUSINESS ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Mackay moved, seconded by Plaza, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Adams adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 21, 2005 Page 5