HomeMy WebLinkAbout11192014 Historic Preservation Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
November 19, 2014 Volume 2, Page 256
Call to Order
The November 19,2014 regular meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called
to order at 6:34 p.m. by Chair Linda Lasota.
Opening Ceremony
Commissioner Kurtz led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
Roll Call
There were present:
Linda Lasota presiding, and
John French Catherine Hedman(telephonic)
Wadeen Hepworth Laura Erickson(telephonic)
Wolfgang Kurtz
comprising a quorum of the Commission; and
Valarie Kingsland, Library Museum Director
Heather McClain, Library Museum Staff
Absent-None
Special Reports -None
City Administration Report,Library Museum Director Valarie Kingsland wanted to point
out that the proclamation for Carol Griswold as the 2013 recipient of the Historic Preservation
Award needs to be addressed.Kingsland also received a membership invitation for the Commission
to join the Preservation Leadership Forum. Kingsland is waiting to hear from the City about the
budget.
In the future, need to discuss how records are kept for documenting time spent for grants. Chair
Lasota asked if we received enough for matching.Kingsland said that it was the City that keeps track
of that and she was not sure.Lasota said that it is usually built in as part of the agenda.French said
that the way Chair Lasota recommended would be an acceptable way to do this.
Kingsland also wanted to clarify communication between Administration and the Commission, and
forwarded the contact list so they have each other's information.Also stated that Brenda and Johanna
will not be directly involved in the future,but they are going to be included in email correspondence
so they know what is happening with the Commission and can provide input and guidance to
Administration. Kingsland asked what preferences Commissioners have for being contacted to
establish a quorum prior to the meetings.Lasota requested that at least one full work day be provided
for Commissioners to respond. Kingsland said that Administration tries to have packets ready by
Friday,but that due to circumstances packets might not always be available by then.Agreed to send
email out Monday and respond by end of business day Tuesday with who has replied.
City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
November 19, 2014 Volume 2, Page 257
Kingsland mentioned Judith Bittner's special work session on November 6,2014.If Commissioners
were unable to attend the meeting,Kingsland suggested that they contact Bittner directly to receive
the materials and to thank her for coming.Library Museum staff Heather McClain agreed to compile
materials Bittner presented from the meeting and to send them to Commissioners.
Kingsland will try to get in touch with him Kerry Martin to retrieve a copy of the list that he
presented during the October 15, 2014 wok session.
Kingsland would like to respond to the Seward Journal article written about the new HP plan and the
negative perception of NUKA. She doesn't think that it's fair to NUKA and asked that the
Commission be involved. French offered to write the letter if he is able to read the article. Kurtz
asked if Kingsland wanted Fern to send a link to the article to distribute to the Commission.
Kingsland said that would be helpful but the article is online if anyone wanted to access it
themselves.
New Commissioner Welcome-None
Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations -None
Citizens' comments on agenda items not scheduled for public hearing and other items not
included on the agenda.
Name Nellie Metcalfe,Americorp Volunteer with Friends of the Jesse Lee Home—Asked of
Administration had received Itrack information from Judith Bittner?Kingsland informed Metcalfe
and the Commission that the information had not been received. Metcalfe also informed the
Commission that grants for 150th anniversary of the Alaska purchase will be due in February, and
just wanted the Commission to be aware. The grants are being administered by the Alaska
Department of Natural Resources and grant applications due February 23, 2015.
Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Motion (Roach,French) Approve the Agenda and Consent Agenda
Item 9A4 moved to Item 9A2 of New Business, Item 9A2 becomes 9A3, and Item 9A3 becomes
9A4.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Public Hearings -None
Unfinished Business
8A1 Establish a calendar within the scope of administrative abilities that meet the goals
of the HP Commission — Chair Lasota asked if Administration would like to make a comment.
City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
November 19, 2014 Volume 2, Page 258
Kingsland stated that she worked with Brenda Balou and City Manager Jim Hunt to come up with
this calendar. It's not firm,but is designed to work for the Commission to complete the grant.
Chair Lasota wanted to clarify that the proposed calendar was not approved because it was missing
meeting times and priorities. Kingsland stated that the calendar was only intended to address the
requirements for creating a deliverable for the CLG grant.This calendar has also been signed off by
the City Manager.
Kurtz asked if administrative reports get sent to the Commission,and who creates and submits them?
Kingsland informed the Commission that report submissions are set for March and September,
therefore the reports need to be worked on in the previous meeting. Roach' said that what the
Council is looking for in these reports is that the Chair go before Council on an appointed date and
give an update on what they Commission is doing, what their accomplishments are,how they are
meeting their goals. French noted that the Council appreciates the appearance of more than one
Commissioner when presenting these reports.
Chair Lasota would like Administration to use the Commission's 2014/2015 HP Commission
priorities list from February 19,2014 Agenda Packet.Administration was not aware of the list,Chair
Lasota gave copies to Commissioners present.Kingsland reiterated that the schedule presented was
solely for providing a deliverable for the CLG grant.
Chair Lasota asked if the Commissioners attending telephonically would like to give any input on the
agenda item.Erickson said that the focus of the Commission should be on developing the HP plan.
Hedman asked what volunteer resources were available for the Commission through the Library
Museum,the City,or Resurrection Bay Historical Society.Kingsland stated that all of those entities
are understaffed and concerned about making volunteers responsible and due to the realities of
limited resources,but appreciated the suggestion.
Hepworth asked for clarification on what the Commission was voting on. Kingsland said the
Commission was voting on approval of the schedule for working on the HP plan along with the
incorporation of the Commissions listed priorities.It also occurred to her that there might need to be
two work sessions, one for talking about the needed changes and another for incorporating them
through editing the draft.
French stated that he was concerned about sticking to a quarterly meeting schedule because of
unforeseen events and suggested that the Commission schedule meetings as needed or to schedule
monthly meetings with the understanding that some of those meetings would not take place. Chair
Lasota added that important months for the Commission, such as May, should have a meeting.
Motion (Kurtz,Hepworth) Approve calendar for continuing to work
on the technical edit of the Seward Historic
Preservation Plan with adjustments as
needed that meets the scope of
administrative abilities and the goals of the
HP Commission.
City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
November 19, 2014 Volume 2, Page 259
Motion Passed Yes — Chair Lasota, Kurtz, Hepworth,
Roach'
No-French
New Business
9A1 Approve October 15,2014 minutes.
Motion passed as part of the Consent Agenda
9A2 Selection of the 2014 Historic Preservation Award recipient.
French motioned that the Commission approve the nomination of Patricia Ray Williams as the 2014
Historic Preservation Award recipient as she was well deserving of the award.
Motion (French,Roach') Approve selection of Patricia Ray Williams
as the 2014 Historic Preservation Award
recipient
Motion Passed Unanimous
9A3 Discuss responsibilities and priorities to establish goals and focus effort for the
next year.
Chair Lasota asked if the calendar from Unfinished Business was part of this.Kingsland asked if the
2014/2015 priorities list was formatted as a resolution. Chair Lasota stated that it was not.Roach'
said that it does not have to,the Commission just has to develop and present this list to the Council
to demonstrate what has been done and what the Commission is working on.
Hepworth asked if the list of priorities is available. Chair Lasota,the list is in place and available
through past agenda packets.
Motion (French, Kurtz) Motion to postpone discussion of
responsibilities and priorities to establish goals and focus effort for the next year until the
April 2015 meeting agenda.
Motion Passed Yes—French,Hepworth,Kurtz,Roach'
No—Lasota
9A4 Discuss the 1996 HP plan and the new draft HP plan to confirm future direction of
Historic Preservation Plan work
Kurtz asked for clarification if the Commission is going back to the 1996 HP plan or incorporating
aspects of it to the new plan that NUKA produced.French stated that he asked administration to put
this item on the agenda based on discussion in the last work session.He said that he would prefer not
to go back to the old plan and to continue working on the new plan as either one will need a
significant amount of editing.Kingsland also wanted to clarify that going back to the 1996 plan was
based off of Kerry Martin's presentation during the October 15, 2014 work session and that was
when it was requested to have Kerry's list sent to the Commission.
City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
November 19, 2014 Volume 2, Page 260
Roach' stated that due to the amount of time there is to work on the HP plan the Commission should
continue to work on the new plan.
Erickson said let's move forward with something.
Hepworth said the Commission should work with the new plan and incorporate what the
Commission likes from the old plan. There's a lot of work that needs to be done.
Chair Lasota stated that Commission decided to do the new plan was chosen after going through and
trying to redo the old plan. Recommended that the Commission continue to work on the new plan
while incorporating aspects of the old plan to provide an updated version of the plan and make it
relevant to Seward today.
Motion No action taken on discussion of the 1996
HP plan and the new technical edit of the
Seward Historic Preservation Plan.
Informational Items and Reports (No action required)
Commission Comments
Hepworth,thank you to Valarie and Heather for all their work
Citizens' Comments -None
Commission & Administration Response to Citizens' Comments
Kingsland,thank you for approving the schedule and listening to what Administration has to
say.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned by Chair Lasota at 8:50 p.m.
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