HomeMy WebLinkAbout03222017 Historic Preservation Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
March 22, 2017 Volume 3,Page 94
CALL TO ORDER
The March 22, 2017 regular meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order
at 6:35 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
Wolfgang Kurtz Fred Woelkers
Wadeen Hepworth Laura Erickson
comprising a quorum of the Commission; and
Valarie Kingsland, Library Museum Director
Madeline McGraw, Library Museum Curator
SPECIAL REPORTS
City Administration Report: Director Kingsland pointed to an email from City Clerk Kinney,
given to the Commission as a laydown, advising that resolutions should not be added to the meeting
agendas without being noticed to the public. Kingsland also stated that visitor numbers were beginning to
rise at the Seward Community Library and Museum, and that there would be a Seward's Day celebration
held at the Library and Museum by the Resurrection Bay Historical Society on March 30, 2017, with a
reading by author Mike Dunham beginning at 7:00 p.m., and followed by cake.
Chair Lasota, Chair Report:No report.
Friends of the Jesse Lee Home Report:No report.
Resurrection Bay Historical Society Report: Commissioner French stated that the Resurrection
Bay Historical Society would be holding a business meeting at 7:00 p.m. on March 23,2017.
Iditarod Trail Blazers Report: Commissioner Hepworth stated that the Mayor's Cup would be
held on April 1, 2017, and that the Seward Community Library and Museum would be sponsoring a sled.
She also stated that on June 4, 2017 the Trail Blazers would be using the Seward Pavilion, and would be
building signs with the Iditarod logo and arrows for the trail in town. She also stated that the 2017 Trail
Conference would be held in Anchorage on April 20 to the 22. Director Kingsland also stated that the
Library and Museum would be showing the film "Iditarod National Historic Trail: a History" as the
"Movie@2" over the summer.
Alaska Nellie Materials Report: No report.
Mapping Project-Historical Properties Report:No report.
CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS NOT SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC
HEARING AND OTHER ITEMS NOT INCLUDED ON AG ENDA—None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
March 22, 2017 Volume 3,Page 95
Motion (French/Kurtz) Approval of Agenda and Consent
Agenda
Chair Lasota requested that an item, titled "Discuss Request from SHPC to Mayor Jean Bardarson for
Funds to Edit and Format 2017 Seward Historic Preservation Commission Plan" be added to the agenda
under New Business.
Motion Passed Unanimous
PUBLIC HEARINGS—None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Discuss the Commission's Role in the Possible Preservation of Parks and Recreation Warehouse
Building Located at 702 Aspen Lane, KPB Parcel 145029.
Chair Lasota requested that this item be left on Unfinished Business for the May 17, 2017 regular
meeting.
Discuss How the Commission Should Coordinate and Facilitate its Input to the City and Other
Entities Regarding AHPA Section 106 Compliance for Projects within the Commission's
Geographic Area of Responsibility.
Chair Lasota requested that this item be left on Unfinished Business for the May 17, 2017 regular
meeting.
Statement on Alaska Department of Transportation (DOT)Building on Sixth Avenue.
Chair Lasota requested that this item be left on Unfinished Business for the May 17, 2017 regular
meeting.
Review and Discuss Letter from SHPC to Seward Association for the Advancement of Marine
Science (SAAMS, aka ASLC) Board of Directors, "Importance of Maintaining the Historical
Integrity of the Seward Historic Downtown Business District; Especially the Vacant Properties at
the Base of Fourth Avenue".
Commissioner French stated that he had redrafted his original letter based upon discussion from the
February 15, 2017 regular meeting, including the comments made by Dr. Tara Riemer, President and
CEO of the Alaska SeaLife Center and the Seward Association for the Advancement of Marine Science
(SAAMS), who was present at that meeting. Commissioner Erickson stated that she was concerned that
SAAMS was being singled out by this letter. Commissioner French clarified that this letter was targeted
specifically to SAAMS, in response to the letter that was forwarded to the Commission by Virginia
Darling. Commissioners French, Erickson, and Kurtz stated that they would revise the letter together, and
requested that this item be left on Unfinished Business for the May 17,2017 regular meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Discuss Request from SHPC to Mayor Jean Bardarson for Funds to Edit and Format 2017 Seward
Historic Preservation Commission Plan.
Motion (Hepworth/Erickson) Approve request
City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
March 22, 2017 Volume 3,Page 96
This item was added to the agenda at the meeting. Chair Lasota stated that the funds would be used for
contracting outside individuals to edit and format the plan. She also restated that the funds requested were
$1,700, not to exceed $2,000. Director Kingsland asked Chair Lasota if she had received a written quote
from the contractors, and Chair Lasota answered that she had not. Chair Lasota also emphasized that the
Commission was under an extreme deadline with this project, as they would like to have it completed
before the end of the terms of those Commissioners' whose terms were expiring in May 2017.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Review and Discuss HP Award Nominations and Select Recipient.
Motion (Kurtz/Hepworth) Accept nomination submitted as valid
Commissioner French requested that the vote for the 2017 HP Award be left on the agenda for the April
12, 2017 regular meeting so that it could be noticed to the public.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Review and Discuss Annual Priority List and Resolution.
Discussion of this item was moved to New Business for the April 12, 2017 regular meeting.
Discuss and Plan for Historic Preservation Month in May.
Chair Lasota stated that the theme for the 2017 Historic Preservation Month would be "Saving Place
Matters". Chair Lasota requested that this item be left on New Business for the April 12, 2017 regular
meeting.
Review, Discuss, and Approve Historic Preservation Month Proclamation
Motion (French/Kurtz) Approve Historic Preservation Month
Proclamation
Chair Lasota requested that the date on the Proclamation be changed from May 29 to May 8, 2017.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Discuss 2016 Annual Certified Local Government(CLG) Report due in April.
Motion (Hepworth/Erickson) Approve 2016 CLG Report
Motion Passed Unanimous
Plan for Hoben Park Beautification
Commissioner Hepworth asked if the Commission had the funds to cover this. Chair Lasota replied that
the beautification usually would cost between $50 and $75, which had usually come from Commission
funds. Commissioner Hepworth also asked if the Commission could make this part of the May regular
meeting; Chair Lasota replied that that had been done in the past. Chair Lasota requested that this item be
left on New Business for the April 12, 2017 regular meeting.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (no action required)
Seward's Day 2017 Proclamation.
City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
March 22, 2017 Volume 3,Page 97
Excerpt from Mary Barry, "Seward, Alaska: a History of the Gateway City", chapter 24,pages 237-
243.
COMMISSION COMMENTS
Commissioner Kurtz stated that the Snow River hydroelectric project had potential timeline
issues.
Commissioner Erickson thanked the Commissioners,Administration, and Staff for their work.
Commissioner French stated that he would like to know more about the potential historical
importance of the Snow River hydroelectric project. He also thanked the Commission for their input on
the letter he had drafted, and emphasized that it needed to move forward in a timely fashion.
Chair Lasota thanked the Administration for their work and for the nomination for the HP
Award. She also stated that Director Kingsland needed to email the signed request for funds to
Councilwoman Casagranda and City Clerk Kinney.
ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS
Director Kingsland asked that the Commission send their work session topic to her so that they
could be noticed to the public properly, and that public notice for the work session on April 12, 2017
needed to be done. She also stated that if Commissioners wanted to add items to meeting agendas, work
session, or as laydowns, they should contact either herself or Staff.
CITIZENS' COMMENTS—None
COMMISSION & ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS None
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:28 p.m.
Madeline McGraw, Curator Linda Lasota, Chair
ATTEST:
Johanna Kinney, CMC
City Clerk
(City Seal)
These minutes were recorded in November 2019.