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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06212006 Historic Preservation Minutes City of Seward, Alaska June 21,2006 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Volume 2, Page 22 Call to Order -- The June 21, 2006 regular meeting of the Seward Historic Preservation Commission was called to order at 6:35 p.m. by Chair Shannon Kovac. Opening Ceremony Commissioner Park led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Roll Call There were present: Chair Shannon Kovac presiding, and Tom Swann Shannon Huber Valerie Park comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Malcolm Brown, Planner Donna Glenz, Planning Assistant Absent were: ..... Greg Carpenter - excused James Rowell- excused City Administration Report Brown reported on the following business items: · Personnel notification included; Maggie Wilkins was hired as the Assistant Planner, Brown would be deployed for the next 18 months and Christy Terry would start on Monday as the Executive Liaison for Boards and Commissions. · Comprehensive Plan was now available in hard copy and also CD form. Brown was working with the MIS employees to post the Comprehensive Plan on the City of Seward Web site. Other Reports, Announcements & Presentations Valerie Park update/presentation on the ongoing archeological oversight of the Third Avenue road reconstruction project. ...... Park noted that Mark Luttrell was hired as the monitoring archeologist for the Mile 0-8 highway project. Luttrell realized that between Railway Avenue and Washington Street in the City of Seward, Alaska June 21, 2006 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Volume 2, Page 23 vicinity of Lowell Homestead, the Red Light District and the Alaska Transfer Company, previously undisturbed soil was now being disturbed by the construction. A meeting was conducted including SHPO, QAP, Commissioners from Seward's Historic Preservation Commission, and Luttrell. SHPO realized that the original approved plans had been revised by QAP without approval. SHPO concluded that 24 hour archeological monitoring was necessary. Park provided two weeks of monitoring during the 'graveyard shift' with Luttrell continuing during the day. Park noted that in the road bed between the Senior Center and Resurrect Art Coffee House archeological items were discovered including window glass fragments, brick fragments, cut animal bones, 24 whole glass bottles, 2 porcelain doll legs, linoleum fragments, a women's black leather shoe, small porcelain figurine, cast metal truck, toothbrush, glass soap dish, a coffee maker piece, a metal hinge, and numerous glass fragments. Park concluded by the number and randomness of the artifacts that this location was a garbage dump. Park noted that another interesting feature uncovered was evidence of the old wooden boardwalks along the construction area. Luttrell and Park would be providing a written report. Seward Historic Preservation would need to discuss where to preserve the artifacts discovered on City Property. Tom Swann - update on any Jesse Lee Home activities. f ...J Swann reported that the Friends of Jesse Lee Home met last month and would meet tomorrow. He stated that the group received a 'non-profit' status using the Alaska Foundation as a conduit for grant money. Swann noted that the group would be applying for a Rasmussen Grant in November and they had begun fund raising for the anticipated matching grant money. Swann j reported that the group was continuing to grow and they had divided into working committees. He was excited about the progress and future of the Friends of the Jesse Lee Home. In response to a question, Swann stated the group was meeting in Anchorage to make this a State of Alaska issue, not just a Seward issue, but recognized the need to disseminate information within the local civic organizations and newspaper. Valeria Park update on the Jesse Lee Home presentation during Historic Preservation Month. Park expressed her enjoyment in this project. Park spoke to four middle school classes on May 11 th about "Seward's Jesse Lee Home - A precious historical resource or a worthless decrepit dump?" She also gave her one hour presentation to Forest Service employees during a brown bag lunch. Park provided a broad overview of the history of the home including the positive and the negative aspects. She discussed the Friends of the Jesse Lee home and asked the audiences to begin to form an opinion on what they thought the preservation outcome of the home should be. Many individuals felt there should be a museum or a living history component and many felt the Jesse Lee home should be torn down because of its history of suppressing Native Culture. Park felt that the public should be kept informed about the future of the Jesse Lee Home. Swann asked Park if she would work with him on a presentation to the Rotary, and received an affirmative answer. Swann asked Park to be part of the Friends of the Jesse Lee Public Relations Committee. In response to questions, Swann reported that AFN passed a resolution in support of ~ ..... City of Seward, Alaska June 21, 2006 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Volume 2, Page 24 using the Jesse Lee Home as an educational facility and the nine CEOs of the different native ...... corporations came out in support of boarding schools. James Rowell- progress report on the update of the Historic Preservation Website. Kovac again asked Commissioners to submit any changes to her and she would pass them on. Shannon Kovac, Greg Carpenter - update on DNR grant for the Hoben Park historic wrought iron fence. Kovac reported that no information had been received from the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places. Citizens' Comments on Any Subject Except Those Items Scheduled For Public Hearlng- None Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion (SwannlHuber) Approve the Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous Consent Special Items - ..... Election of Chair and Vice Chair Kovac opened the nominations for Chair. Motion (SwannlPark) Nominate Shannon Kovac as Historic Preservation Chair Motion Passed Unanimous Consent Kovac opened the nominations for Vice-Chair. Motion(ParklHube~ Nominate Tom Swann as Historic Preservation Vice-Chair Motion Passed Unanimous Consent Public Hearing - None Unfinished Business - None __ New Business City of Seward, Alaska June 21,2006 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Volume 2, Page 25 Discussion of the Request for Assistance with Research of the World War II bunkers and Quonset Huts in preparation for nomination to the Seward Register of Historic Places. ;1 i ..J Kovac stated that Carol Griswold was looking for assistance from the Historic Preservation Commission. Commission discussed location of the historic bunkers and Quonset huts. Huber stated she would contact Carol Griswold and use GPS to document the bunkers' and Quonset huts' exact locations. Kovac asked Huber to update Commission at their next meeting. Other Commissioners stated they would like to join Park and Griswold when they went on their excursion. Discussion of planning a celebration for Alaska Flag Day, July 2007 Kovac asked the Commission if they would like to plan something for next year. Swann stated that the City Council had discussed this and was supportive of activities. Swann noted that someone needed to spearhead the planning of the event. He proposed that the Historic Preservation Commission would be the appropriate group to organize a celebration, but that this should be their main event for next year. J Commission discussed taking on the celebration for next year because it was the 80th anniversary, but not committing to having the responsibility each year. Commission recessed for 5 minutes. Kovac stated she would inform Parks & Recreation Director Karin Sturdy that the Historic Preservation Commission would be willing to plan and execute (with assistance from Parks and Recreation) a celebration for the 80th anniversary of Alaska Flag Day in July 2007. Swann stated he would speak to Kirsten Vesel and ask her to organize a work session with all the parties involved. Swann noted he would bring a report back to Historic Preservation at their next meeting. Discussion and set a work session date for the development of the Local Register of Historic Trees and Plants. Kovac noted Council's approval of the Local Register of Historic Trees and Plants. She stated a brochure should be developed to share information on the process of nominating a historic tree or plant. ..J City of Seward, Alaska June 21,2006 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Volume 2, Page 26 After Commission discussion, a work session was scheduled for noon on the 26th of July to ..... develop the process. Swann noted it would be appropriate for Carol Griswold to review any plans prior to finalization. Informational Items - (No action required) - None. Commission Comments Commission wished Brown well. Citizens Comments - None. Commission & Administration Response to Citizens Comments - Glenz noted that the City Clerk was advertising for Commission vacancies. Brown thanked the Commission for their effort to maintain the history of the community. The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m. .... g ~/ ~ / Donna Glenz Planning Assistant [Minutes typed by Christy Terry, Executive Liaison] .. ~ ~" ~\ '....."'vo" l "- Shannon Kovac Chair \ C c 1,--...9-- (City Seal) ",tU II II,,,, ~4>~~ Of 8[:11/"" ~ ~'" ............ ~~ " :> c} ."c?poR..q~..:1() ~ ~.~ 'L-.' ~ ~. ,~ . .- ~ :~ - ~.. .. :: .AL:: : .: BE : · : . , : : ~ '. - .. .. ~ .. ~ tt- .. ~ '\ c.S'~."~1'E 1 ~~~..,~~.$ '''~)'j .... .1.. p..<::) .... ~'" l! OF p..\ ..'t,..... "'''nn'\~ .....