HomeMy WebLinkAbout08092006 Historic Preservation Minutes
City of Seward, Alaska
August 9, 2006
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
Volume 2, Page 31
Call to Order
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The August 9, 2006 regular meeting of the Seward Historic Preservation Commission was
called to order at 6:37 p.m. by Chair Shannon Kovac.
Opening Ceremony
Commissioner Carpenter led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
Roll Call
There were present: Chair Shannon Kovac presiding, and
Greg Carpenter
Tom Swann
Shannon Huber
comprising a quorum of the Commission; and
Kirsten Vesel, Assistant City Manager
Donna Glenz, Acting Planner
Christy Terry, Executive Liaison
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Absent were. None
City Administration Report
Acting Planner Donna Glenz reported on the following business items:
. Temporary Planner, Scott Williams will start on Monday.
. One application was received for the Historic Preservation Commission.
. Valerie Park was thanked for her service on the Commission.
Assistant City Manager Kirsten Vesel reported the SeaLife Center Board dedicated funds to
Hoben Park restoration. She clarified the Commission would be involved with the restoration of the
park, future grant opportunities and SHPO requirements to insure the park remained on the National
Register of Historic Places.
Kovac wanted to insure the Commission remained involved with all aspects of the project.
She noted the Historic Preservation Commission specialized in history and had the resources to
correctly rehabilitate the park.
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City of Seward, Alaska
August 9, 2006
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
Volume 2, Page 32
.....
Carpenter advocated Commission approval of the design.
Swann concurred and also noted SHPO approval was needed.
Kovac was afraid a fountain would be chosen without Commission approval on the final
design.
Vesel stated the Commission would have control on design recommendations and obtaining
SHPO approval. Vesel clarified the City's desire for Hoben Park to remain on the National Registry
and stressed communication as the important factor for all the parties working together.
Kovac and Vesel both stated they were looking forward to a Work Session on Hoben Park
and wanted to invite the SeaLife Center. Vesel stated that Parks and Recreation Director Karin
Sturdy would be available for the work session.
Other Reports, Announcements & Presentations
Tom Swann - update on Friends of the Jesse Lee Home activities
Swann gave an overview of the visit by Friends of the Jesse Lee Home to Seward. Swann
reported Outward Bound was showing some interest in partnering. The project took a major step
.... forward when various Native Corporations volunteered to contribute matching funds to hire a grant
coordinator prior to obtaining the grant.
Vesel stated the City of Seward had also agreed to donate, as part of the grant matching funds,
for the contract position.
Tom Swann - update on Alaska Flag Day, July 2007-
Swann did not have a current update.
Citizens' Comments on Any Subject Except Those Items Scheduled For Public Hearing- None
Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Motion (Swann/Carpenter)
Approve the Agenda and Consent Agenda
Kovac added, without objection, Agenda item 9D: Discuss Metco Inc.'s application to
the Department of the Interior for material extraction from Lowell Creek.
Motion Passed As Amended
Unanimous
......
Items approved on the Consent Agenda:
City of Seward, Alaska
August 9, 2006
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
Volume 2, Page 33
July 19, 2006 Historic Preservation Minutes
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Public Hearing - None
Unfinished Business-
Discussion of the World War II bunkers and Quonset Huts site visit in preparation for
nomination to the Seward Register of Historic Places.
Kovac stated a group of Commissioner's had attended Saturday's great tour with Carol
Griswold.
Huber directed the Commission to her lay down of maps showing the GPS locations of the
bunkers and Quonset Huts.
Kovac noted the Commission also visited the water intake building on Lowell Creek.
Carpenter stated the tour was very interesting and Griswold provided valuable information.
Carpenter wanted to explore adding the sites to the registry for their significant historical value.
Huber was excited about the water intake building and had done some research with the State
Registry. She noted the site was in the process of obtaining a State Registry site number this was a
definite possibility because the Lowell Creek Tunnel further down stream was already part of the
Registry.
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Carpenter and Huber volunteered to complete applications on these sites for the Seward
Register of Historic Places.
Swann suggested historic information could be solicited by using the Seward Phoenix LOG or
the scanner channel.
Huber shared that Lee Poleske had photos of the water intake building.
Discuss and set Work Session for the Development of the Local Register of Historic Trees and
Plants updates.
Kovac noted the Commission was holding a Work Session on September 6, 2006 for the 2007
CLG Grant application.
Carpenter favored scheduling a Work Session some date after the September 13, 2006
Regular Meeting.
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City of Seward, Alaska
August 9, 2006
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
Volume 2, Page 34
.....
Kovac suggested tackling both topics at the September 6, 2006 Work Session.
Glenz noted if there was time after the grant discussion the Commission could work on this
item.
Motion (SwannIKovac)
Add 'Discussion of the Local Register of
Historic Trees and Plants updates' to the
Work Session scheduled for September 6,
2006, if time allows
Motion Passed
Unanimous
New Business
Review and approve Founders' Day Proclamation
In response to Kovac, Executive Liaison Christy Terry confirmed that this was the standard
proclamation used for previous years.
Motion (Kovac/Swann)
Approve Founder's Day Proclamation
.....
Motion (Kovac/Swann)
Amend proclamation to read as follows:
WHEREAS, on August 28, 1903, eighty-three men, women, and children, arrived at
Resurrection Bay on the steamer, the Santa Ana; and
WHEREAS, aboard this steamer were two brothers, John and Frank Ballaine, who arrived on
the Lowell Homestead; and
WHEREAS, the Ballaine brothers envisioned a railroad to the interior of Alaska with a
coastal headquarters; and
WHEREAS, the settlers cleared the town-site, erected buildings, and began the construction
of the Alaska Central Railroad, later to become the Alaska Railroad; and
WHEREAS, in March, 1903, John Ballaine bestowed upon the new town to be, the name
Seward, in honor of William H. Seward, President Lincoln's Secretary of State; and
and
WHEREAS, the landing date of August 28, 1903 is remembered as Seward's Founders' Day;
WHEREAS, the Historic Preservation Commission provides this proclamation to Council in
..... preparation for Founder's Day and in keeping with the Commissions on-going effort to work toward
City of Seward, Alaska
August 9, 2006
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
Volume 2, Page 35
the continuing education of citizens regarding local historic preservation and community history.
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NOW THEREFORE, I Vanta Shafer, Mayor of the City of Seward, Alaska, do hereby notify
the Citizens of Seward to prepare an observance of: Founders' Day August 28, 2006.
Huber spoke in support of the amended proclamation.
Motion Passed
Unanimous
Motion Passed as Amended
Unanimous
Discussion of Historic Preservation Items on the August 14,2006 Council Meeting.
Kovac asked someone to attend this meeting to present Hoben Park Panel, accept the
Founder's Day Proclamation and to speak in support of the Hoben Park Grant Agreement.
Swann stated he was willing to attend and asked other Commissioners to provide him with
their comments.
Kovac asked Swann to talk about Hoben Park's placement on the National Register.
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Swann and Kovac discussed thanking the parties involved including; Community
Development, Historic Preservation, Parks and Recreation, Donna Glenz and SHPO.
Discuss Metco Inc.'s application to the Department of the Interior for material extraction from
Lowell Creek.
Kovac expressed concerns that the site map wasn't specific in their application. She felt the
water intake building was off the excavation site, but associated materials were not. Kovac
advocated documentation of the pipes prior to them being disturbed.
Commission discussed possible dates for a Special Meeting to comment on Metco' s
application.
Motion (KovaclHuber)
Schedule a Special Meeting for August 11,
2006 at noon to provide testimony to the
Department of the Interior regarding Metco
Inc.'s application for material extraction on
Lowell Creek
Motion Passed
Unanimous
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City of Seward, Alaska
August 9, 2006
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
Volume 2, Page 36
....
Informational Items - (No action required)-
Letter from Judith Bittner confirming Hoben Park's listing on the National Register of
Historic Places as of June 21, 2006.
Reminder: Project Selection for possible Department of Natural Resources FY2007 Certified
Local Government Grant Work Session scheduled for September 6th at noon.
Commission Comments
Huber noted the State Historic Preservation Office's Website had Hoben Park prominently
displayed.
Citizens Comments - None.
. sio & Administration Response to Citizens Comments - None.
....
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on Kovac
Chair
Christy Terry
Executive Liaison
(City Seal)
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