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Heritage Preservation - 07/16/2012 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY,JULY 16, 2012 6:30 P.M. DORNKEMPER HOUSE COMMISSION MEMBERS Ed Muehlberg, Chair; Cindy Cofer Evert, Vice Chair; Jeffrey Lawler, Mark McPherson, Kay Desmarais, JoAnn McGuire, Steve Olson COMMISSION STAFF John Gertz, Pathfinder CRM, LLC Lori Creamer, Recorder I. ROLL CALL Muehlberg called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Lawler moved, seconded by Cofer-Evert, to approve the agenda. Motion Carried 7-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. COMMISSION MEETING HELD JUNE 18, 2012 MOTION: Desmarais moved, seconded by Lawler, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission meeting held on June 18, 2012. Motion carried 5-0. Cofer-Evert and Desmarais abstained. IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. UPDATE ON HISTORIC PROPERTIES FIELD INSPECTIONS Gertz completed the field inspections on the following properties the week of July 9, 2012: • Purgatory Creek Bridge • Cummins-Grill House • Staring Lake Outdoor Center • Riley-Jacques Farmstead buildings (4) • Dorenkemper House • Smith-Douglas More House Photos were taken during the inspection to illustrate some of the repair and maintenance needs on the buildings and structures which Gertz shared with the commission. Gertz stated that generally all the properties were in good condition HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES July 16 2012 Page 2 with mostly minor maintenance needs cited such as caulking of windows and doors and rodent control. The only major repairs noted were to install a new roof on the Smith Douglas More house along with gutters and address roof ventilation and insulation issues. McPherson suggested if the gutters were cleaned out and coated with an epoxy that would help to preserve them from rusting out; The Riley Jacques house has bats occupying the attic space above the kitchen which needs to be addressed along with vine growth on the house; the Dorenkemper house is in need of storm windows and doors and finishing work on the door thresholds and a drainage issue at the Riley Jacques barn is causing some deep erosion problems. Gertz mentioned the Gazebo and shed have been constructed and the landscaping is completed, which was a nice addition to the Smith Douglas More house. The commission previously approved those projects. Gertz will compile the information and photos he gathered into a report and forward it to Paul Sticha, Facilities Manager at the City. B. UPDATE ON THE CUMMINS HOUSE PROJECTS Gertz updated the Commission on the projects which are underway at the Cummins-Grill house. The interior sprinkler system is complete and the passageway on the upper level will begin shortly as well as the parging inside the icebox. Gertz talked with Christian Hendrie, architect for Pathfinder CRM, about the concerns the commission had at the June 18, 2012 meeting regarding removing the cistern. Pathfinder CRM is not comfortable leaving the old cistern in place. They will stand with the original recommendation. Gertz mentioned he had received an e-mail from Paul Sticha, Facilities Manager at the City regarding a meeting that was held including Kevin Schmieg, Building Official, Jay Lotthammer, Parks &Recreation Director, Josh Herzog from Pathfinder and himself to discuss the potential of protecting the kitchen foundation wall from frost at a lower cost than the suggested $30,000 removal of the cistern and building a full frost footing and foundation wall. In Sticha's opinion Herzog agreed the alternate method of frost protection with insulation down the exterior of the foundation wall and then horizontally away from the building is an acceptable alternative. Herzog will prepare a new report and submit it to the city. Christian Hendrie didn't feel comfortable with this alternative. He would stand with his original recommendation. There are many unanswered questions with the new proposal. McPherson stated he didn't feel the insulation would be a good long term solution. Muehlberg concurred. Olsen asked if there was a starting bench mark in place to track the movement of the foundation. Gertz stated there HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES July 16 2012 Page 3 isn't currently but that is a good idea to get a bench mark now to monitor it in the future. Gertz felt it is better to make the fix the right way for the long term instead of entertaining a temporary fix at a lower cost and then having to revisit it again. Gertz stated the COA for the opening between the two upstairs areas has been submitted to the facilities division so they will begin work on that in the near future. Gertz talked more about the other improvements that have been made at the Cummins Grill House including the pavers. The trees in the landscape plan have not been planted yet. McPherson asked if we could bring that to the city's attention and get those planted in the Fall. Gertz also suggested the city trim back the lilac bushes near the outhouse. The suggestion was made to have the August 20th meeting at the Cummins Grill House so the commission can see the completed and in-process projects. MOTION: Lawler moved, seconded by Desmarais to hold the August 20, 2012 HPC meeting at the Cummins Grill House starting at 6:30pm. Motion carried 7-0. City staff will check on the availability with the Historical Society and confirm the date and time. V. OLD BUSINESS A. CITY COUNCIL HPC PRESENTATION Muehlberg presented the PowerPoint presentation for the City Council on June 19, 2012. The update included a portion of 2011, current 2012 accomplishments as well as projects to complete by the end of 2012. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. DORENKEMPER HOUSE TOUR & INTERPRETIVE PLANNING Gertz passed around a hand out and talked about the Best Management Plan (BMP) which was put together for the Riley Jacques farmstead and includes the Dornkemper house property. The Dorenkemper house is the city's only restoration project. It is an ideal place for school groups and others to see how people lived in the mid-1800s. Gertz stated this would be a great site for an interpretative panel. There are different types of grants available which could be used towards this project. Lawler stated he felt it is time to focus on a new property. The commission has spent a lot of time on the Cummins Grill House and the Smith Douglas More House, which are both being used on a regular basis. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES July 16 2012 Page 4 Cofer-Evert asked what the next steps are in securing a grant for this project. Gertz stated the next steps are to come up with an interpretive plan, encourage the Historical Society to get involved in the grant writing process, form a"friends of the Dorenkemper House" task force or some other group to help promote and create community awareness. Gertz recommended starting with the interpretive panels and a landscaping plan. This should be added to the 2013 work plan. VII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Muehlberg adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m.