HomeMy WebLinkAbout03162016 Historic Preservation Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
March 16, 2016 Volume 3,Page 53
CALL TO ORDER
The March 16, 2016 regular meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to
order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair Linda Lasota.
OPENING CEREMONY
John French led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Linda Lasota presiding Wolfgang Kurtz
John French Fred Woelkers
Wadeen Hepworth Laura Erickson (telephonically)
Sandie Roach
comprising a quorum of the Commission; and
Valarie Kingsland, Library Museum Director
Excused—None
Absent—None
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR
PUBLIC HEARING
Willard Dunham said it was Resurrection Bay Historical Society(RBHS)'s turn to host the
Kenai Museum Association. RBHS was working on putting together a centennial event for 2017.He
said the state had not established what the goal was going to be for 2017. The RBHS meeting was
scheduled for May 7, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. with the topic as commercial fishing. Dunham said RBHS
was approved to receive $1,000 from the State Historical Commission to go towards the 2017
centennial event.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (French/Roach) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Motion Passed Unanimous
There were no consent agenda items.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS,AND REPORTS
City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
March 16, 2016 Volume 3,Page 54
City Administration Report.Valarie Kingsland said a written report was included in the
packet.
Friends of the Jesse Lee Home Update. Sandie Roach said she met with the Chairman of
the Board for the Jesse Lee Home,Dorene Lorenz. Lorenz had spoken to Doug Capra and asked him
to assist with collecting photos of historical documents that were located in the Anchorage Jesse Lee
Home Methodist Church. Roach said she would like for HP to assist in collecting photos of these
documents for the Jesse Lee Home.
In response to French, Roach said there would be no cost associated with this project. HP
would assist in gathering the information and putting it on a digital library.
In response to Kurtz, Kingsland said the library purchased a graphic art scanner for the
museum collection at the Seward Library& Museum.
In response to French, Roach said the Friends of the Jesse Lee Home were trying to secure
the stability of the Jesse Lee Home's structure.
In response to Lasota, Roach said Doug Capra was in charge of collecting the photos of
historical documents for the Friends of the Jesse Lee Home but they would like HP's help putting
these documents on the digital library. Dorene Lorenz and Kirsten Vessel were in charge of the Jesse
Lee Home.
Resurrection Bay Historical Society.Linda Lasota said she attended the Resurrection Bay
Historical Society (RBHS) meeting. RBHS's next meeting was scheduled for May 7, 2016.
Iditarod Trail Blazers Update. Wadeen Hepworth said the next Iditarod Trail Blazer's
meeting would be March 31, 2016. She asked that they name a locomotive as part of their goals for
2016. She wanted the name of the Alaska Railroad tour to be changed from Anchorage to Seward
and Coastal Trail to Historic Iditarod Trail.
In response to Kurtz, Hepworth said she was going to talk to Dan Seavey and see if he had
other ideas for names for the Historic Iditarod Trail.
Alaska Nellie Materials Update.Fred Woelkers said he would be putting the Alaska Nellie
Materials in the filing cabinet in the research room at the library.
In response to French, Lasota said documents from Jackie Wilde's office were being copied
for HP.
In response to Roach,Lasota said Hepworth and Lasota were going to set up the filing system
to where there would be a log in every drawer tracking what documents go into and come out of the
drawer.
In response to Hepworth,French said he would like to have her interview with her daughter's
neighbor regarding the Alaska Nellie home recorded.
City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
March 16, 2016 Volume 3,Page SS
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Plan how to address request from SPRD regarding evaluating historic value of parts of Two
Lakes, and Forest Acres.
Lasota said she failed to get feedback from the Seward Parks & Recreation department
(SPRD) before this meeting.
The commission postponed this discussion to the April 20, 2016 meeting.
Coordinate with State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) regarding obtaining assistance
surveying historic value of properties.
Kurtz and French volunteered to write a draft letter to the State Historic Preservation Office
regarding assistance surveying historic value of properties and bring it forward for commission
approval at the next HP 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.
Lasota said the Historic Preservation Commission (HP) would present their findings to the
city professionally and tell the city what HP was doing for projects. She said their area of geographic
responsibility was from the end of Resurrection Bay to Lawning.
In response to Roach, Lasota said this had not been discussed with council.
French suggested changing the area of geographic responsibility to Cape Aialik to Barwell
Island, because Harding Ice Trail was sometimes referred to as Cape Aialik and sometimes as
Resurrection Bay. He wanted the Harding Ice Trail to be included in HP's area of geographic
responsibility, as well as Barwell Island instead of Cape Resurrection.
In response to French, Lasota said past HP commissioners had the area of geographic
responsibility as the end of Resurrection Bay to Lawning for the purpose of including Alaska Nellie.
In response to Woelkers,Kurtz said Cooper Landing and Hope were covering up to the Kenai
Lake area.
French and Kurtz volunteered to draft a letter regarding this discussion for the commissioners
to approve at the next HP meeting.
Discussion on implementing survey of historic sites on outer coast of Kenai Peninsula.
Lasota said the State Historic Preservation Office told her that HP should not go outside of
Resurrection Bay. She said HP was restricted by what the city would like to see them do.
City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
March 16, 2016 Volume 3,Page 56
Discussion of U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Alaska District report regarding repairs to the
Lowell Creek Division Tunnel.
French and Kurtz volunteered to write a draft letter to the State Historic Preservation Office
regarding repairs to the Lowell Creek Division Tunnel and bring it forward for commission approval
at the next HP meeting.
In response to French, Lasota said she received a notification from the Department of
Transportation that the federal government gave money to the Kenai Peninsula Borough(KPB) for
the City of Seward's roads to be paved. She said Community Development and Public Works had this
notification and were working on this project.
NEW BUSINESS
Other New Business
Discussion and scheduling of March, 2016-March, 2017 regular meeting and work session
dates.
Hepworth said her and Erickson would like to have work sessions on Saturdays. Lasota said
many citizens cannot attend Wednesday night meetings because Wednesdays are church nights.Kurtz
said Tuesdays and Thursday evenings were difficult for him to attend. Erickson and Hepworth said
that despite the travel, they could both be flexible on meeting dates. Woelkers suggested HP taking
summers off. Erickson and Hepworth wanted more work sessions than meetings.
In response to Hepworth, Lasota said Kingsland was their administration staff assigned by
council. She believed it would have to go before council if they needed someone else to run one of
their meetings. Kingsland said she would not have a museum curator until at least the end of May.
Motion (Kurtz/Hepworth) Set regular meetings for 2016 calendar on
April 20,May 18,August 17,October 19,and
November 16 and for 2017,January 18 and
March 15.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Motion (Woelkers/Roach) Set 2016 work sessions for April 16 at 10:00
a.m.,May 21 at 10:00 a.m.,June 11 at 10:00
a.m.,June 15 at 6:30 pm,and August 20 at
10:00 a.m., and a work session following
every regular meeting.Work sessions will be
re-evaluated in August, 2016.
Motion Passed Unanimous
City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
March 16, 2016 Volume 3,Page 57
The commission recessed at 8:45 p.m.
The commission resumed at 8:50 p.m.
Discussion and facilitate goals for application development on Seward Historical Places and
walking tours.
In response to Lasota, Kurtz said he had progressed past the app stage of this project. He
wanted to get a Quick Response code(QR code)put on a plaque in front of each historic building in
Seward. Individuals would be able to scan these codes and receive historic information about the
building associated with each plaque. Kurtz said this would be a demonstration project with a map of
historical places in Seward and then, he wanted to apply for a grant application to assist with this
project.
In response to Lasota, Kurtz said it would be possible to put QR codes for historic buildings
in a brochure instead of on buildings.
Hepworth suggested that Kurtz use the Iditarod Trail Blazers as his trial basis.
Motion (Woelkers/Hepworth) Verbally support Kurtz's historic site QR
project.
Motion Passed Unanimous
May expiration of Commissioners Roach & Kurtz.
French requested that if a commissioner chose not to re-apply for HP,then they let the rest of
the body know as soon as possible.
In response to Kurtz, Lasota said commissioners with expiring terms did have to fill out new
applications for HP. In response to Lasota, both Kurtz and Roach said they would be re-applying.
Discussion of Priorities List.
The commission scheduled a work session immediately following the regular meeting on April 20,
2016 to discuss HP's priorities list and work on HP's plan. They agreed to bring the priorities list as
an action item in May, 2016.
COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS
Erickson said she appreciated Kurtz and Roach re-applying for HP.
Kurtz asked if HP could get a representative from the Kenai Mountains Turnagain Arm
(KMTA) to come speak at a meeting. He said council member David Squires had mentioned HP
putting up a display at city hall of mayors and other dignitaries who had served in Seward.
City of Seward,Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
March 16, 2016 Volume 3,Page 58
Roach thanked Kingsland and all of the HP commissioners.
French said he supported Squires' idea of putting up a display at city hall of mayors and other
dignitaries in Seward.
Lasota thanked everyone for their patience.
CITIZENS COMMENTS—None
COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS —
None
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
Jessica Stallard Linda Lasota
Deputy City Clerk Chair
(City Seal)
The city clerk was not present for this meeting; the minutes were drafted from the audio recording.