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Heritage Preservation - 02/22/2010 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2010 7:00 P.M. Heritage Room 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS Ann Higgins, Chairperson; Kathy Veurink, Vice Chairperson; Betsy Adams, Richard Akerlund, Nina Mackay, Mark McPherson, Ed Muehlberg STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE Alexis Smith COMMISSION STAFF John Gertz, Pathfinder CRM, LLC; Sandy Eastling, Recorder CITY STAFF Jay Lotthammer, Parks & Recreation Director PRESENTERS Candace Amberg, Brauer & Associates George Watson, Brauer & Associates I. ROLL CALL Higgins called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Student Representative Alexis Smith absent, Commission Member Kathy Veurink excused. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Adams moved, seconded by Muehlberg to approve agenda. Motion Carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON JANUARY 11, 2010 MOTION: Mckay moved, seconded by Adams to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission meeting held on January 11, 2010 as published. Motion carried 6-0. IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. CUMMINS-GRILL HOMESTEAD Gertz reported he will be meeting with Paul Sticha and Kevin Schmieg at 9 am on February 23, 2010 to look at the outbuildings at the Cummins-Grill House. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES February 22, 2010 Page 2 Schmieg will be able to address the concern of structural integrity, Sticha will be concerned with maintenance and Gertz will address the issue from a historical preservation perspective. B. SOUTHWEST TRANSITWAY Gertz indicated he will be meeting at 3 pm on February 23, 2010 with representatives from HDR Engineering and Christina Harrison from Archaeological Research Services (ARS) to discuss Culture Resource Survey work for the research phase of the Southwest Transitway project. They will discuss project methodology for archaeology and culture resource survey work for the research phase of the transitway. In the future, the HPC will be included and involved in the process. C. HERITAGE PRESERVATION MONTH—MAY 2010 Gertz stated May is Heritage Preservation month in Minnesota. This year's theme is a "green" focus. As a service to the City, CRM is developing a poster for the City's use, incorporating photos of preservation areas in Eden Prairie. The posters can be displayed throughout the City. D. MINNESOTA RIVER EROSION Higgins read an article in the StarTribune regarding erosion along the north bank of the Minnesota River just west of Highway 169. Higgins emailed Senior Planner Scott Kipp to check with Gertz whether the HPC would have to issue a site alteration permit or take other official action with regard to dealing with the erosion problem along the river. Gertz reported the Watershed District is looking at stabilizing the river bank, which is part of the City's archaeological survey. The Town of Hennepin site is also impacted. These historical sites involve the HPC. Any alteration of the Minnesota River would involve the Army Corps of Engineers issuing a permit, with the DNR possibly having to issue a permit as well. Since this involves a federal permit, a Section 106 process is triggered. The Watershed District and an Engineering Firm would need to conduct a Cultural Resources Survey. At this point, Gertz recommended beginning to establish a paper trail regarding this situation, and will follow up with Scott Kipp. V. OLD BUSINESS A. CUMMINS GRILL CULTURAL LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT PLAN - DRAFT Candace Amberg and George Watson of Brauer& Associates along with Jay Lotthammer were on hand to present a draft management plan. Lotthammer HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES February 22, 2010 Page 3 explained events leading up to the development of the management plan; the City will be presenting their restoration plan to the HPC, Hennepin County, SHPO and the Eden Prairie Historical Society to obtain feedback. After the first round of feedback, the City will request a site alteration permit from the HPC. The goal is to bid the project with work commencing Fall 2010. Amberg walked the Commission through proposed landscape plan and the thought process for the restoration plan. General Feedback: • Adams suggested developing interpretative signage may be a good use of legacy grant funding. • Types of appropriate fencing around the perimeter were discussed. Gertz will submit a fencing option to George Watson. • Accessibility and the driveway area were discussed. Gertz indicated the driveway can be graded and maintained with aggregate that would maintain character. • Lotthammer talked about site maintenance by the Park& Recreation Department. They are considering a more "natural" look, mowing grass at a higher cut. • Lotthammer recommended the City proceed with the planting plan at full force in order to get all the plantings established. • Lotthammer mentioned the EPHS entering into a long-term agreement with the City regarding the use of the Cummins Grill House. • Lotthammer suggested the bricks EPHS had sold as a fundraiser for Anderson School could be used in the group gathering area and an interpretive panel developed addressing pioneer schools in the area. • Adams mentioned the timber from Anderson school is currently stored at Hennepin Tech and needs to be utilized. Perhaps it could be integrated into the plan. Watson requested an inventory of the wood, stating there are many potential uses for the wood in the plan. Lotthammer stated the goal is to bring comments back to the March HPC meeting, April meeting at the latest. He indicated this plan is a broad perspective; further in the process there will be greater detail. B. PRESERVATION CODE REVIEW Gertz gave a short power point presentation to the Planning Commission; they approved the code uneventfully. The Code will go before the City Council on March 23, 2010. C. LEGACY GRANTS Gertz stated he received the OK to pursue Legacy Grants as long as no City funds are required. SHPO is basically out of funds for its first cycle. The second cycle begins May 2010. Proposals need to be submitted by the fourth week in May. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES February 22, 2010 Page 4 Decisions regarding grants are made within two weeks. Grants can be used for archaeology projects, website design, signage for the Cummins Grill area. D. CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS APPLICATION PACKET No action; waiting for passage of Preservation Code to work further on application packets. E. BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES MANUALS UPDATE Gertz met with Jay Lotthammer, Paul Sticha, Stu Fox and Scott Kipp to go over the manual. It's still a work in progress. Gertz will continue to solicit feedback from Sticha, as he is directly involved in implementing the practices. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. MARCH 9TH HPC PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL Higgins will make the five-minute presentation; Gertz will assist Higgins in putting together a power point presentation. B. ANNUAL CLG REPORTING Gertz stated these mandatory administrative reports have been filed. VII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Adams moved, seconded by Ackerlund, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Higgins adjourned the meeting at 8:50p.m.