HomeMy WebLinkAbout10152021 Historic Preservation MinutesCity of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes
October 15, 2021 Volume 3, Page 303
CALL TO ORDER
The October 15, 2021 regular meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to
order at 7:33 p.m. by Chair Cheryl Seese.
OPENING CEREMONY
Chair Cheryl Seese led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Cheryl Seese presiding and
Sue Ward Tanguy Libbrecht
Mary Ann Benoit AM PaM, eFtE ffi
Dona Walker
comprising a quorum of the Commission; and
Bailey Sayler, Library Museum Director
Brenda Ballou, City Clerk
Excused — None
Absent — Pemberton
Vacant — One
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR
PUBLIC HEARING —None
APPROVAI, OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Ward/Benoit)
Motion Passed
Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent items:
Approval of the September 9, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations & Awards — None
City Administration Report — Library Museum Director Bailey Sayler said she had
City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes
October 15, 2021 Volume 3, Pa e 304
nothing to report.
Chair Report. Seese welcomed new Commissioner Dona Walker and thanked her for
serving; she said Walker was a third generation Sewardite. Seese stated all the plaques for the
walking tour had been installed and they looked fantastic. The walking tour would be included in
Wellness Week this weekend, thanks to Commissioner Benoit creating a customized tour route. At
the October 11, 2021 city council meeting, Scese had requested a return to using Zoom for virtual
meetings. Seese announced that Deputy City Clerk Jessica Stallard had resigned.
Historic Preservation Facebook Page Report. Benoit reported that from July to October,
the reach of the commission's Facebook post varied from 70 to 2,400 people, and viewers were from
all over the state of Alaska; there were also 30 new followers who joined the page. Benoit has a list
of postings she had prepared that would go through January, 2022; she had removed the posting
dates. She would begin a new series of posts in February, 2022.
Ward said she heard from the owner of Rez Art Coffee House that visitors were reading the
sign before they entered the building, and appeared excited to see the inside of the building as a
result.
Other Reports, Announcements, and Presentations
Certified Local Government (CLG) Grant 20005 Report. Libbrecht said that today signs
were installed in several locations, and the only signs remaining to be installed were for the Orlander
Building, Sea Bean building, and Van Gilder Hotel building. He stated that some of the wall -
mounted signs were not fitting into their frames properly, and he would be having those frames
repaired. All signs that were installed on posts in the ground had been installed. The remaining
buildings that needed wall signs were constructed with stucco exteriors, which required particular
screws and drill bits, and Libbrecht wanted the owners to be present when those signs were installed.
He stated that all state requirements for the grant had been met.
Benoit stated that 2,500 maps of the walking tour had been printed and received, and many
had already been distributed around town. Another 2,500 would be printed for the summer of 2022,
and had already been paid for in advance. Benoit had attended a meeting for Resurrection Bay
Historical Society (RBHS) and provided a presentation about the walking tour, and would also
present to Rotary.
NEW BUSINESS
Other New Business Items
Discuss potential sites and locations for the Seward Register of Historic Places.
Benoit stated she had reviewed the list of historic sites from the 2017 Historic Preservation
Plan and compared it to the list of sites included on the walking tour, and found several locations that
the commission might want to consider bestowing a plaque upon.
City of Seward, Alaska
October 15, 2021
Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes
Volume 3, Page 305
Libbrecht wondered where the plaques came from originally, and how many might be
available today. City Clerk Brenda Ballou said there were a few plaques in the clerk's office that
could be used; according to legislative history, an order of 25 plaques had been made by the city
some two decades ago, and there were a few let. It was unknown who the vendor was or what the
cost would be to make a new order.
As well, Ballou said she had researched legislative history and discovered that the list of
historic places contained in the 2017 Historic Preservation Plan was incomplete; there was an
engraved plaque on the wall in City Hall that listed most locations, and she had discovered several
additional locations in the city's records that should be included on the list.
In response to Seese, Ward pointed out that the Historic Inventory Site List should be updated
to include the locations on the historic register, as well.
Alaska Municipal League (AML) Annual Local Government Conference in November, 2021.
Seese stated there was an opportunity for commissioners to attend the AML Conference if
they wished. She said the commission had the budget to support training and travel. In response to
Seese, Ballou said besides the conference in Anchorage, AML was offering a free, virtual training for
Newly Elected Officials that the commissioners could attend if they wished. Seese thought perhaps
the Anchorage conference was not the best fit for the commission, but the virtual training might be
good. Ward concurred.
Seese requested to include two reports on the next meeting agenda: update on Jesse Lee
Home Memorial and USS Alaska project. She wanted to make sure the commission was involved
with both endeavors.
Develop a plan to update the 2017 Seward Historic Preservation Plan.
Seese thought the historic overlay guidelines were part of this project. Ward said Chapter 8 of
the plan addressed future planning, and she believed the overlay was one item included in Chapter 8.
Monitor the Development of the Historic Overlay District.
The commission did not discuss this item.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS
Historic Preservation Commission 2021 Priorities (as amended & approved by City Council).
Seese wished to extend the deadline for applications for the next Historic Preservation Award
to April, 2022.
City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes
October 15, 2021 Volume 3, Page 306
Seese reminded everyone that the November work session and meeting date would be
November 5, 2 02 1.
CITIZEN COMMENTS — None
COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN
COMMENTS
Benoit was looking forward to the walking tour tomorrow. She thought Seward's history was
fascinating.
Ward encouraged everyone to take part in the walking tour.
Libbrecht was also looking forward to the walking tour tomorrow.
Seese thanked Walker for volunteering, and welcomed her again to the commission.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
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renda Ballow, MC
City Clerk
(City Seal)
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Cheryl Seese
Chair