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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03182015 Historic Preservation Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes March 18, 2015 Volume 3, Page 5 Call to Order The March 18, 2015 Special Meeting of the Seward Historic Preservation Commission was called to order at 6:44 p.m. by Chair Linda Lasota. Opening Ceremony Commissioner French 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 Wolfgang Kurtz - late 6:46 comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Valarie Kingsland, Library Museum Director Heather McClain, Library Museum Staff Absent—Sandie Roach' Special Reports -None City Administration Report, Library Museum Director Valarie Kingsland said that SCLM had been short staffed, which had caused real strain to get everything done and thanked the Commission for their understanding and patience. She had received communication from City Clerk Johanna Kinney concerning establishing quorum via email and recommended that email should only be used if commissioners cannot make a meeting. Hepworth asked whether emails would still be sent before a meeting. Kingsland said she will send reminders for meetings and to get feedback, but that it will not be to establish a quorum. Erickson asked how many Commissioners there are that could physically attend the meeting. Chair Lasota responded that all the Commissioners that were at the meeting (Chair Lasota, French, Erickson, Hepworth, and Kurtz), Roach', and Hedman telephonically. Kingsland said that this was mentioned as an issue that there is a Commissioner who essentially lives out of state. Chair Lasota asked for clarification as to what Kingsland was asking from the Commission regarding the emails. Kingsland said that there is no standard for responding to emails and that Commissioners do not have to respond. City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes March 18, 2015 Volume 3, Page 6 French asked if Administration can let the Commissioners know if there will not be a quorum. Kingsland said yes, especially in consideration for the Commissioners that have to travel to Seward to attend the meetings. Kurtz asked for clarification if a quorum is required for work sessions. Kingsland said a quorum is required. Regarding the packets, Kingsland asked that if Commissioners would like anything included in the meeting packets, to please let Administration know by Friday before the meeting as that is when the packets are put together. She also added that there is no access to a color printer for printing the packets for the Commission. Kingsland sent link to the Commission for PastPerfect online database for cemetery records. Library Museum Staff Heather McClain recommended that the Commission consider finding another searchable database for the cemetery records as PastPerfect is meant for museum purposes and does not fit the needs of the project. Kingsland also clarified that the only reason Administration was able to find the site was because a bill was sent for online hosting, and her concern is that the Library/Museum is paying $440 per year for a website that is not being used. French said the recommendation to use PastPerfect came from previous Library Museum staff and the Commission agreed, but that if there was a different recommendation, it would be considered. Chair Lasota said one concern that was voiced regarding putting the cemetery information on an open source was that potentially sensitive information would be made public, and that PastPerfet was chosen specifically so the Museum would have control of the records. She recommended looking into the history of the decision before coming up with another alternative. Other Reports,Announcements and Presentations Hedman has not heard from Friends of the Jessie Lee Home but is aware of things that are happening via social media. French has been attending RBHS programs throughout the winter. Hepworth joined Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance. Chair Lasota asked Commissioners to let Administration know the Tuesday before the meeting to get special reports included on agenda. Citizens' comments on agenda items not scheduled for public hearing and other items not included on the agenda. -None City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes March 18, 2015 Volume 3, Page 7 Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion(French/Kurtz) Approve the Agenda There were no consent agenda items. Motion Passed Unanimous Public Hearings -None Unfinished Business-None New Business Update on work session with the City Council regarding 2015 Priorities Commissioners Chair Lasota, Hepworth, Roach', and Kurtz were present at joint work session with City Council on January 26, 2015 and presented the 2014-2015 Historic Preservation priorities list. Kingsland approved Revised Priorities as it is written in the packet. Part of the discussion is to establish a web-presence for the HP Commission on the City website (Civic Plus). Because the Commission is trying to update content and presence, Kingsland did not want to limit options by being too specific and was not sure if the website was still viable. Kingsland pointed out that priorities list is long and that she thought it was supposed to be focused on what the Commission's goals and priorities are for the year. Chair Lasota said that the Historic Preservation Commission is different from other commissions and must meet different requirements for the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The priorities list also reflects ongoing projects the Commission is involved with. The next time the priorities list will be reviewed and updated is for the 2016-2017 priorities list. Motion (Kurtz, French) Approve 2014-2015 Priorities based on work session with City Council with revisions. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2015-001, A Resolution Of The Historic Preservation Commission Of The City Of Seward, Alaska, Requesting Council Revise The 2014-15 Commission Priorities. Chair Lasota asked that the dates be updated to reflect the most current revisions. Discussion on whether or not to change the dates from 2014-2015 to 2015-2016, but it was decided that it was too problematic to change the dates on all the necessary documents to submit to City Council. French asked that additional section to address changes made to 2014-2015 Historic Preservation Priorities List at Special Meeting on March 18, 2015. City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes March 18, 2015 Volume 3, Page 8 Motion (Erickson,/French) Approved Resolution 2015-001, A Resolution Of The Seward Historic Preservation Commission Of The City Of Seward, Alaska, Requesting Council Revise The 2014-2015 Commission Priorities with revisions. Motion Passed Unanimous Discuss grant opportunities Kingsland said that she had been in contact with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) about left over 2014 grant funds for Certified Local Governments (CLG) to hire a contract position to help the Commission with the draft Seward Historic Preservation Plan. Jean Ayers from SHPO told Kingsland that it is not a grant, but that money has to be spent by September 30, 2015. Before approaching the City Finance department,the Commission needs to come up with a budget and scope, up to $10,000. Kingsland wanted confirmation from Commission to approach City Finance and email Jean Ayers. Chair Lasota said that the Commission has had temporary contract workers before and agreed that the Commission needs to come up with scope and budget before responding to Jean. French recommended that the Commission look for someone with historic plan experience and/or research skills. Motion(Erickson,Hepworth) Approved plan to pursue grant funding opportunities. Motion Passed Unanimous Discuss Seward Register of Historic Places French requested that this item be added to the agenda so the Commission was aware that it exists and to consider updating the application. He suggested that the Commissioners review the form and documentation. No action taken. Postponed discussion on Seward Register of Historic Places until April regular meeting where it will appear on the agenda as New Business. Informational Items and Reports (No action required) None Commission Comments Chair Lasota made changes to HP Plan after work from the last work session. She will take home and add in Commissioner's edited sections. City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes March 18, 2015 Volume 3, Page 9 French asked how far out geographically should the Commission focus on for the plan and in what context it is written under. Kingsland said should would contact Judith Bittner and Johanna Kinney to get clarification. Citizens' Comments Jim Herbert said he resides at 420 3`d Avenue. He has been doing research on the house and has prepared a report with historic photographs of the property to submit to the Commission to have home added to the Seward Register of Historic Places. From his research, he has found that his house was the first built on west side of 3`d Avenue, built by Anton Eide in 1915. March 28, 2015 will be the 100th anniversary of the lot purchase. He wanted to come to the Commission before he submitted his report so they were aware his intent to request that his house be added to the register, and to ask for advice for how to proceed is much appreciated. French thanked Herbert for his diligence and expressed his interest in expediting the process. Chair Lasota agreed with French and is excited about the historic value of the property. Commission & Administration Response to Citizens' Comments Kingsland asked what the Commission would like Administration to do with mail received. Currently, magazines are on display at SCLM, which makes them accessible to the Commission and public. She also asked that the Commission check the links that she sent for other HP Plans. Chair Lasota said to let her know and she can pick it up from SCLM. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:48 p.m. Nv,/c Heather McClain, Library Museum Staff Linda Lasota,Chair (City Seal) ..••"22i2••., •*4 .�........... .q • e o 0 V• •• ,r • ti•lOF •'+-!' r•' 'Qto.2trrrrr�