HomeMy WebLinkAbout07172013 Historic Preservation Minutes City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
July 17, 2013 Volume 2, Page 227
Call to Order
The July 17, 2013 regular meeting of the Seward Historic Preservation Commission was
called to order at 6:33 p.m. by Chair Linda Lasota.
Opening Ceremony
Commissioner Fink led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call
There were present: Chair Linda Lasota presiding, and
John French Sarah Fink
Frank DeMarco
Commissioner Richardson was excused to be on her honeymoon.
Comprising a quorum of the Commission, and
Patricia Linville and Tim Morrow, Library/Museum staff
Special Reports
A presentation on the progress of Exit Glacier multi-modal trail was given by Sharon
Kim of the Kenai Fjords National Park and John Eavis of the Seward Ranger District
of the Chugach National Forest.
Eavis started with a history of the proposed trail. In the late 1990s, advocacy started for a
non-road communication between Seward Highway and Exit Glacier. The most likely trail
corridor is private land for 1 mile (up to the first bridge), 3miles of AK DNR land, 3 1/2
miles of Forest Service land,cross the Resurrection River and you're onto NPS land.There
was an informal winter trail created on AK DNR land mostly by local dog mushers, and a
winter trail brushed out at one time across Forest Service land by the Forest Service. Several
years ago FS applied for feasibility study. Grim Architects out of Anchorage was hired to
consult. A multi-agency and public input feasibility study was conducted.
Kim reported on the Conceptual Design Feasibility Study. She said that the Environmental
Assessment document is only binding for NPS but expresses concordance between all
involved government entities. There is no funding yet so the project is not shovel ready. A
Kenai Peninsula Borough resolution was passed in May 2013 and a City of Seward
resolution was passed in June 2013, both expressing support for the project. As currently
foreseen there will be paved and unpaved sections,and some bridges over streams probably
attached to existing roadway bridges.
City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
July 17, 2013 Volume 2, Page 228
Kim said the next step is to start finding money.The preferred plan needs 6.7 million dollars
to build,with a projected annual maintenance cost and depreciation of 1.18 million combined
Richardson asked where AK DNR land begins. Eavis said the boundaries begin at the first
bridge and end near the forest service sign.
French asked if CIRI declined to grant right of way across their land.Eavis said that was not
an issue. French asked if this trail was considered to be from the"bay to the glacier."Eavis
and Kim answered yes. French asked if it would cross AK RR property to Dale Lindsay
cruise ship terminal. The answer was no.
Eavis summed it up as needing real strong community advocacy for the project to move
forward. Kim said she could email pertinent documentation in PDF form.
City Administration Report
City news:
Public Works,Community Development and the AVTEC dorm contractors are working.on
plans to divert traffic to allow the pre-constructed modules for the AVTEC dorms to be
delivered. This should happen between the dates of July 28 and August 10. They are
striving for a three day closure within that timeframe and have proposed to be working
around the clock in order to be finished on time. Definite details will be released when they
are available.
Received a request to poll the Commission as to your interest in a possible guest speaker
from NPS—Shannon Kovac. I asked her to send me an email which I will read:
"Hi Patty,
As we discussed on the phone yesterday, Kenai Fjords National Park has been
doing research on the different types of activities that have taken place in the Resurrection
River Valley/Exit Glacier area since 1950. An analysis of the research has been done by
Doug Deur, a senior research scientist with the University of Washington's Cooperative
Ecosystem Studies Unit. There may be an opportunity for Doug to come to Seward and talk
about his findings in the near future. Jeff Mow was wondering if the Historic Preservation
Commission may be interested in having Doug speak at one of their monthly meetings.Once
we hear back from the Commission,we can firm up plans on our end.Please let me know if
you have any questions. The Commission members are welcome to contact me as well.
Thanks, Shannon"
So,is the Commission interested in having Doug Deur present at a meeting? If so I will let
Shannon know and they can include us in their planning.
•
City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
July 17, 2013 Volume 2, Page 229
As you know we have received the Grant for review and revision of the Historic Preservation
Plan. I am working on the Council paperwork to accept the grant. It will go before Council
on August 12.
I called Nuka Research on June 19, and emailed and called their Seldovia office today. I
have not heard from them yet. I opted not to contact Foraker until I heard from NUKA and
could get a comparison of services etc. If I don't hear from NUKA before the end of the
month and there are no other recommendations of similar companies,I will contact Foraker
for another quote. We should have something to present at our August meeting.
General assent given for Kovac's poll
Lasota asked about what day it's going to the council.Linville responded August 12,2013.
Linville also alerted the commission to the fact that if there was sufficient interest, John
Eavis could be invited back to talk on the Iditarod Trail at a future date. The commission
expressed sufficient interest provided the invitation took place in a cooler month of the year.
Other Reports,Announcements & Presentations
None
Friends of the Jesse Lee Home Update
None
Website Updates & Historical Site Inventory
None
Citizens' Comments on Any Subject,Except Those Items Scheduled For Public Hearing
None
Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda and moving Annual HP Award Nomination to
unfinished business.
Motion(French/Fink) Approve the Agenda and Consent Agenda
Motion Passed Unanimous Consent
* The following items were approved under the Consent Agenda:Meeting Minutes for the June 19,
2013 Meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission.
Public Hearing
None
Unfinished Business
A. 2013 Annual Historic Preservation Award Nomination
Carol Griswald was nominated for the 2013 Annual Historic Preservation Award.Due to the
late submission of the sole award nomination, it was impossible to put it into the agenda
before this month's meeting. After discussion in which it was discovered that there were
some questions about the information in the nomination, it was decided to move the
nomination's review to the August 21, 2013 regular meeting to give staff time to obtain
clarification from the nominee, and publish the nomination as an actionable item for the
•
City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
July 17, 2013 Volume 2, Page 230
public.
New Business
A. Discuss August 28,2013 Founders' Day activities.
Due to the special presence of our Sister City's delegation from Obihiro, Japan a range of
celebratory activities were discussed. At the end of it all, Chair Lasota had volunteered to
ceremonially cut the cake at the Museum Open House,and most of the other commissioners
present committed to attend the celebration
B. Approve draft of August 28,2013 Seward Founders' Day Proclamation
Motion(French/Fink) Approve the draft of 2013 Founders' Day Proclamation
Motion Passed Unanimous Consent
*C. June 19, 2013 Regular Meeting Minutes
Informational Items
Commission Comments
Lasota brought up the fact that August 21 is supposed to be a work session;but due to the fact that
there is one actionable item on the agenda it was agreed to have a short meeting that would be
adjourned into a work session.
Citizens' Comments
None
Commissions and Administration Response to Citizens' Comments
None
The meeting was adjourned at 7:28 p.m.
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Jac t. C. Wilde- Executive Liaison Linda Lasota, Chair
(Minutes preredby Tim Morrow
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