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Heritage Preservation - 03/21/2016 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2016 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER Prairie Rooms A & B 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Steve Olson (Chair), Ed Muehlberg (Vice Chair), Cindy Cofer Evert, Pamela Spera, Mark Freiberg, Tara Kalar, Paul Thorp STAFF: Robert Vogel, Pathfinder CRM, LLC Lori Creamer, Staff Liaison Heidi Wojahn, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Zeinab Hussen, Alexander Modeas, Natalie Higgins GUESTS: Loris Sofia Gregory, Beautiful Necessity Gary Phelps I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Olson called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Vogel and Muehlberg were absent. Introductions took place. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Freiberg added Item IX. B. to the agenda. MOTION: Cofer Evert moved, seconded by Freiberg, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Cofer Evert made the following corrections to the minutes: added her name under Item VI. B. as having helped in the process of selecting historic photos for the display at City Center; and changed the number of signs listed in Item VIL A. from eleven to ten. MOTION: Thorp moved, seconded by Kalar, to approve the February 22, 2016 minutes as amended. Motion carried 5-0-1 with Cofer Evert abstaining. IV. REVIEW PROPOSALS FOR LEGACY RESEARCH AND WRITING GRANT PROJECT (10 SIGNS AT RILEY-JACOUES FARMSTEAD AND PARK) Creamer said one of the criteria for the research and writing grant for additional signage at Lake Riley was to send a Request for Proposal (RFP) to a minimum of three HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES March 21, 2016 Page 2 companies. She referenced the Minnesota Historical Society's (MHS) website for resources, sent out the RFP, and received proposals back from two of three consultants. A. BEAUTIFUL NECESSITY Ms. Gregory from Beautiful Necessity introduced herself and expressed her interest in the project. She told about her passion for outdoor trail signs and shared her approach to interpretive signage. Thorp asked her to talk about the specific projects on which she has worked. She listed them, noting each was unique in its history and landscape. Freiberg asked for more information about her work on the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota. Gregory touched on the specifics. Spera asked about seeing photographs of her work. Gregory said photos had been submitted via Dropbox. Kalar inquired about her qualifications. Gregory stated she felt she met the standards. She added she has been an active historian for over 25 years. Creamer asked if Gregory had resources for design and production. Gregory said she does not in-house,but can find someone to work with. Cofer Evert noted signs currently at Lake Riley are similar to others within the park and throughout Eden Prairie. They consistently tend to be on the heavier side copy and photo wise, and there is a desire for consistency and continuity stylistically. Gregory explained her past projects have involved working with a team, doing mock-ups, observing audience behavior, and conducting interviews to determine what works best. The goal is to spark interest but not overwhelm visitors and to get them to continue to ask questions and pursue additional information on their own. She does not,however,philosophically have a problem following"the look" of Eden Prairie's other interpretive signs. Olson asked if the Minnesota Historic Preservation Office (MHPO) would review content. Creamer confirmed they do want scholarly review, a new step, as part of the process. Olson mentioned MHPO's standards and asked Gregory about her specific thoughts on the appropriate amount of content. Gregory said there are additional places, such as museums and other organizations, to look for recommendations. She suggests setting guidelines up front as it is easier to shoot for a target word count from the beginning than to have too much information and try to whittle it down. Letting go of pieces of information can be hard sometimes. Gregory commented on font type and size needed to meet regulations for the Americans with Disabilities Act but said it is also important to consider how quickly visitors' interest and attention is captured before they are off doing something else. Cofer Evert said pictures grab attention, too. Spera asked if there was a limit on the number of photos. Olson said MHPO guidelines suggest a breakdown of one-third blank space, one-third photos, and one-third text. Creamer mentioned graphic headers. Gregory said it is easiest to work with a template. Creamer noted there is a fee to use images from the MHS's collections and this was a line item in Gregory's budget. Cofer Evert stated there would not be a monetary cost to use photos from the Eden Prairie Historical Society (EPHS). HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES March 21, 2016 Page 3 Kalar asked how this would impact Gregory's budget. Discussion ensued about the amount of time spent on each sign, scanning, and what format the text and images needed to be in for the graphic designer. Mr. Phelps inquired if Gregory would need to select a graphic designer or if the HPC would choose. Creamer said typically the Commission relies on the consultant to coordinate with a graphic designer and fabricator which they have worked with in the past. Cofer Evert said she would want to see examples of the graphic designer's work. The quality of work can vary greatly. Gregory thanked the Commission for the opportunity to submit a proposal and then departed. B. BLUESTEM HERITAGE GROUP Commissioners talked about the specific aspects of the two proposals and Creamer asked for any comments from the evaluations to be submitted to her. Spera stated there were questions she didn't feel she could answer since she didn't have a copy of the RFP. After much discussion, the Commissioners determined there was further information they would like to review prior to making a decision. Creamer said she would follow up with the consultants about the status and request the additional information. Spera asked Creamer to forward any submitted photos to the Commissioners. V. REPORTS OF STUDENTS Modeas reported on the recent DECA state competition. Twenty-three Eden Prairie students advanced to the international competition. Hussen stated Eden Prairie had one individual who qualified in speech for nationals. Higgins announced she had recently been cleared from speech therapy following a concussion and participated in a choir concert last week. All three students gave updates on their college plans for next year. VI. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. OLD CITY STREET SIGN FUNDRAISER UPDATE —Kalar/Thorp/Creamer Creamer noted Kalar put a great deal of work into getting the street sign fundraiser initiative going. She requested feedback from Commissioners on the website prototype for the sale of old city street signs which includes an order form. The banner will change slightly and Communications has requested information on the program's purpose. Creamers reviewed shipping costs and proposed a flat rate of$30 per sign to include shipping. She will make cosmetic changes to the list prior to posting to the website. Kalar suggested adding a"coming soon" section for signs about to be retired as well as a separate "ship to" address for gifts. Kalar said most people are unlikely to order more than one sign so the ability to order multiples should be removed. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES March 21, 2016 Page 4 Cofer Evert provided Creamer with introductory text explaining the program and asked about the status of sharing the proceeds. Creamer said for now, the program is proposed to run with all the work being done by the HPC, so funds will stay with the Commission; although, the potential for shared funds in the future may exist. Creamer will print labels weekly and give them to Kalar to package and ship the signs. The City will receive a monthly bill for shipping costs which will then be paid from the income received from sign sales. Cofer Evert expressed interest in marketing the initiative by requesting Karla Wennerstrom write an article for the paper. Kalar asked if it could be put on the City website's homepage as well. C. CAMP EDENWOOD—RESPITE CENTER—Creamer Plans for the proposed respite center at Camp Edenwood went before the Planning Commission and were approved. The Certificate of Appropriateness and the development project are scheduled for a City Council Public Hearing on April 5. Olson asked if the location of the building had shifted as recommended by the HPC. Creamer said it had. She reviewed comments from MHPO. The building will be six feet further from the historic dining hall, and the pathway will remain bituminous. MHPO's main concern was the size and shape of the infiltration basin. They are deferring to the City on proposed plantings. The Phase One Archaeological Study determined no further survey was warranted. Any new changes will require additional review. D. SMITH DOUGLAS MORE HOUSE (SDM) NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATION UPDATE - Creamer Creamer recently met with the consultant at which time they gathered information pertinent for inclusion in a National Register nomination. The building official has plans of SDM including additions and updates which will be mentioned in the nomination. They are meeting next month with a representative from Economic Development, as well as the leasee to address any questions about the nomination process. D. COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS - Creamer Spera has been reappointed to the HPC. Olson will continue as Chair with Kalar serving as Vice Chair. EPHS member Valerie Ross is a newly-appointed Commissioner. Freiberg was appointed to the Planning Commission. VII. OLD BUSINESS A. BLUESTEM/COMMITTEE UPDATE ON INTERPRETIVE SIGN Cofer Evert reported the sign is in production. Creamer stated it should be completed by the first week of April. Parks will install it as their schedule permits. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES March 21, 2016 Page 5 B. CITY CENTER PHOTO PROJECT UPDATE Creamer received the final updates and will proof before production begins. The photo display is expected to be installed in April. Cofer Evert expressed her excitement in seeing this project come to fruition. It was difficult to narrow down the photos to the final selection,but the ones chosen show a good representation of farming, early families, education, youth sports, faith community, and businesses, etc. Olson thanked Cofer Evert for her work on this. C. HERITAGE PRESERVATION AWARD - 2016 Nominations will be accepted until Friday, April 1. Commissioners are encouraged to spread the word and submit nominations. D. UPDATE - TOWN OF HENNEPIN AND MURPHY'S FERRY RESEARCH Thorp said retrieving the remaining inventory write-ups from MHPO is still in process and he will report back next month. VIII. NEW BUSINESS - Creamer IX. FYI ITEMS A. LEGACY GRANT PARTNERSHIP WITH HISTORICAL SOCIETY Creamer reported Case had asked her if she would write a grant for the work needed upstairs at CG. Case is in the process of gathering estimates for windows and for fixing the floors and plaster. The funding will likely be requested in three smaller grants. She will coordinate with EPHS on pursuing the grants. B. CUMMINS GRILL HOUSE EVENT - Freiberg A Farmhouse Market and Vintage Sale will be held April 22-24 at CG House. Les Kouba Prints of the homestead will be available for sale. X. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS The next HPC meeting will be Monday, April 18, 2016, starting with a 6:00 p.m. hangar tour at Flying Cloud Airport followed by a 7:00 p.m.joint meeting with Parks and Recreation at Cummins Grill House, 13700 Pioneer Trail. The annual Boards and Commissions Banquet will take place Wednesday, May 11 at 6:00 p.m. in the Garden Room at City Center. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES March 21, 2016 Page 6 A. TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION AT JOINT MEETING Creamer announced the draft agenda for the upcoming joint meeting and asked for input on items to add. Thorp suggested Parks and Recreation be invited to tour the Hennepin Town Site in May. Kalar asked for a progress report on the Overlook Site and discussion on selling street signs at community events such as Clean-up Day, the open house, and 4 h of July. Creamer said additional ideas can be forwarded to her. XI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Cofer Evert moved, seconded by Thorp, to adjourn. Motion carried 6-0. Chair Olson adjourned the meeting at 9:39 p.m.