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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04142022 Historic Preservation Meeting PacketHistoric Preservation Commission Agenda Packet Regular Meeting Thursday, April 14, 2022 City Council Chambers Immediately following the work session The City of Seward, Alaska HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING AGENDA Anril 14. 2022 Cheryl Seese Chair Term Expires May, 2022 Sue Ward Vice Chair Term Expires May, 2023 Tanguy Libbrecht Commissioner Term Expires May, 2023 Mary Ann Benoit Commissioner Term Expires May, 2024 Dona Walker Commissioner Term Expires May, 2024 Art LeMaster Commissioner Term Expires May, 2023 Vacant Commissioner Term Expires May, 2022 Stephen Sowell Assistant City Manager Bailey Sayler Library Museum Director Brenda Ballou City Clerk Following Work Session Council Chambers 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. PLEDGE OFALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL 4. CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING [Those who have signed in will be given the first opportunity to speak. Time is limited to 3 minutes per speaker and 36 minutes total time for this agenda item.] 5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA [Approval of Consent Agenda passes all routine items indicated by asterisk (*). Consent Agenda items are not considered separately unless a commission member so requests. In the event of such a request, the item is returned to the Regular Agenda] 6. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS A. Proclamations and Awards — None B. City Administration Report C. Chair Report D. Other Reports and Announcements [Reports must be submitted to the city clerk no later than noon on the Tuesday preceding the Monday meeting for inclusion in the packet. Five (5) minutes speaking time will be allowed for each report.] 1. Report on Historic Preservation Facebook Page............ Pg. 3 2. Update on USS Alaska project. 3. Update on the Jesse Lee Home Memorial Park project. E. Presentations — None City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Agenda April 14, 2022 Page I 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Approve the February 10, 2022 Special Meeting Minutes ............................... Pg. 24 8. NEW BUSINESS A. Other New Business Items * 1. Approve the March 10, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes ................................ Pg. 34 2. Discuss Parks & Recreation's offer to take over Hoben Park flower urns. 3.Determine budget for Hoben Park flowers and supplies ................................ Pg. 41 4.Review Parks & Recreation's process for donating a park bench ...................... Pg. 42 5. Review current HP budget and discuss training, editor for standards & guidelines, and Hoben Park supplies. 6. Discuss the State of Alaska's correction of Benny Benson's age when he won the State Flag contest. 9. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS [No Action Required] 1. 2022 Historic Preservation Meeting & Work Session Schedule .................. Pg. 43 10. CITIZEN COMMENTS It. COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSES TO CITIZEN COMMENTS 12. ADJOURNMENT City of Seward, Alaska April 14, 2022 Historic Preservation Commission Agenda Page 2 `a Facebook Page Report April 2022 HPC Meeting Mary Ann Benoit Overview In March we put out 2 posts, reached 1124 people, which was up 581% from last month. This is likely because we had more than one post. We have 509 followers, up 16 since last month 493. Most of these are from Seward, but several are from other areas of Alaska , one from Arizona and apparently someone in Costa Rica. I guess our interesting history inspires people across the world. Results Facebook Page !teach 0 1,124 °:'a 9 Mar 13 Mar 17 Mar 21 Mar 25 Mar 29 Apr 2 3 AL01incr Curren[ audience PCtq"a' a'dience Faeehnok Pagu fo lluwars a 509 Age $ Gendar e 0 Vk IM No ■_ No tZ-2-0 25-31 35-44 s6-54 55-6d 65• ■ LV— M, Tap Cil— c— — .:.. e6.2% Arh—ge. Ai bear Creek AN 5.35 8oltlonla. AK 1d, Wmd18. Ali � Ids Nss3e sets. AN Palmer. AK ■ d.8^ ZO p., Unding AK ■ �.5% Lpkq H—ti' Cat}'. AZ ■ D s% 5'erhnq AK ■ ObS Tap Counories unrad Staten uuuuur- A :asta Fica New Posts An important part of encouraging historic preservation is educating the public about its importance. If a majority or even large minority of a community's citizens are committed to preservation, the chances that it will become an integral part of the community's planning are much more likely. If Seward wants to maintain the historic character that attracts visitors, provides an economic benefit, and gives our town the character that we love, it is important for people to have accurate information about what historic preservation is, how they benefit from it, and have knowledge to take action to protect our history. 4 "A community that respects its history respects itself. The preservation of that history through the preservation of sites important to it can help a community realize its strengths and use them to improve the lives of all its residents." Phil Rabinowitz To provide people with information so they can make informed decisions about their properties and to have an educated voice to help protect and shape our community, I have created many new posts in addition to those already scheduled, during this period around Historic Preservation Month and through the summer. The following posts show what has been posted in the last month or so, and what is planned through September. March Beach Front Property- The Standard Oil Managers House- 611 Adams Street In the 1920s, women got the vote, Harding won the Presidency, and Standard Oil Company of California came to town! At the time, Seward wanted to be the center of commerce in Southcentral Alaska and actively competed to attract businesses. Seeing the value of Seward's strategic location for shipping oil, Standard Oil invested in the community and built a boiler house, five oil tanks, buildings, and a dock along the existing shoreline and railroad. It brought publicity, jobs, cheap fuel, and financial flexibility to businesses in Seward. In 1928 Standard Oil bought this property for $200 and built this house for their manager, William C. Erwin, who was hired to oversee the Standard Oil operation. Local author John Paulsteiner said, "Of all the people I know, the Bill Erwin family is the most outstanding family Seward ever had. I had many an opportunity to speak to him whenever he had some longshore work loading and unloading the tankers. He was a good man to work for and got along with everybody." Standard Oil was a significant advantage for Seward and expanded its presence in Seward over time. However, in 1964 the Good Friday Earthquake destroyed the entire Standard Oil facility when it caused the land on which it sat to subside into the ocean. Floating while on fire, the exploding tanks made it appear as if "Seward was burning." Amazingly, this house survived, becoming beachfront property. The Standard Oil Manager's House is now the Adams Street Bed and Breakfast. It arguably has a much prettier view of the ocean without the tanks, buildings, and other industrial development. March 25 April rIra .�.. Seward's Day is a state holiday in Alaska celebrated on the last Monday in March. That commemorates the signing of the Alaska Purchase treaty on March 30th 1867. It is named after Secretary of State William H. Seward who negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7 million. Since Alaska is about one - fifth of the size of the rest of the it seems a pretty good deal, but he was criticized for wasting money and it was known as "Seward's Folly" The treaty was ratified on April 9th 1867 and the formal transfer of control took place on 18 October of that year. This formal transfer is which is now celebrated as another holiday, Alaska Day. Mobile Home Living- The Dryden House- 308 Sixth Ave Alaska images from the 19th and early 20th centuries sometimes show horses moving whole houses to new locations. People frequently moved their entire homes when the "grass was greener" somewhere else or after a local catastrophe such as a fire. Homes were uprooted from the foundations, loaded onto wooden platforms with wheels, and dragged with horses to new locations. Later, trucks replaced the horses. In Seward, buildings were frequently moved and re - purposed. In 1905 the Coleman House was moved from a block south on the lower end of Fourth Avenue, where it had initially been the Alaska Central Commercial Company. This house was built around 1920 in the small homesteading community of Woodrow (located at Mile 7 of the Seward Highway) and was moved here around 1930. Calvin M. Brosius sold the property to William H. Dryden in 1929. Dryden was a potato farmer at Woodrow, and the house may have once been a barn. Do you think that moving a house that distance with horses sounds far-fetched? In 1928, the Malloy House, located just across the street at 313 Sixth Avenue, was moved from above Second Avenue, and shortly after World War II, the house at 317 Sixth Avenue was moved from Fort Raymond, along with many Seward homes. Houses have moved around Seward like a game of moveable chairs. What can we say, we are a resourceful bunch! 1. Historic preservation is safeguarding the existence What is Historic Preservation? and appearance of historic elements of the community. t. Historic 1 and appearanceing the existence 2. What are historic L'IL'IliCnls? Historic elements may include structures, neighborhoods, landscapes, and building or landscape features. re�erl/ 1 al t:9� May 3. IOW Can YOU Pl'e5E'CVC ffi51O1';jr'? Historic preservation includes four possible activities: Preservation is preserving a place as it is in the present Rehabilitation fixes up a deteriorated historic property, often for a use other than its original one Restoration means putting a building or landscape back the way it was originally, or at a historically significant time in its past Reconstruction is the creation of a historically accurate copy of either a specific historic property that no longer exists or an example of one from a chosen historical period. 4. It preserves the historic, architectural, and aesthetic character and heritage of a community or area, and helps to provide a sense of place and continuity. As suburban sprawl and roadside development make more and more places look the same, it becomes important for communities to keep their identities intact. If Walls Could Talk- The Malloy House- 313 Sixth Ave Named for its original owner, Bessie M. Malloy, this house had a previous life on a hill above Second Avenue. After avalanches buried some of the neighboring houses, Malloy purchased this lot for $250 and moved the house here. This house has seen a lot, including an influx of more than 3,200 soldiers in Seward during World War II, it$] Alaska statehood in 1959, and the most exciting of all: the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake. During the earthquake, the Anderson family (who lived in the house at the time) had to run for their lives, leaving the front door wide open as the Standard Oil tanks a block away exploded and the earth shook. In 1970, the National Research Council described the devastation of that day by saying, "probably nowhere in south central Alaska on March 27, 1964, were there more hairbreadth escapes than among the 2,300 inhabitants of the seaport town of Seward...". Owner Susie Anderson White was 9 years old when she wrote, "All of a sudden everything broke loose, and we were shaking real bad. I started to scream, and my sister Sharon told me I didn't stop screaming. We saw a huge explosion. It was the Standard Oil tanks going up in flames. When we went past the boat harbor, we could see boats being lifted up by the tidal wave." Her father, Val Anderson, wrote, "We spent the night listening to the Standard Oil tanks exploding, the tidal waves coming in and watching the great red glare of the fire lighting the skies and mountainsides. We didn't think there was a chance in the world our house could survive." But the house did survive and kept adapting to changing times. Today Seward depends more on tourism, and this house offers nightly lodging to these travelers. It hears their stories, and now they hear its sto ry. is 5. WHY ENCQ It is an efficient use of resources. Historic preservation conserves resources, reduces waste, and saves money by repairing and reusing existing buildings instead of tearing them down and building new ones. Reusing a historic structure reduce the �? 1 carbon footprint of a building. IT IS AN EFFICIENT USE OF RESOURCES. IT IS THE ULTIMATE RECYCLING! 6. W11Y ENCOU111 .E 111STORIC PRESERVATION' It preserves old methods of workmanship. Because many modern buildings are built on the assumption that they will only be needed for a relatively short ki time — 25 to 30 years — before they are replaced, workmanship and building methods of all but the most significant buildings are not as careful or durable as methods used in the past, when buildings were expected to last indefinitely. By working on historic buildings, new generations of craftsmen learn the techniques to improve modern buildings as well. Sewa°d Cvmmunlry LlhraryA ocladon IT PRESERVES OLD METHODS OF WORKMANSHIP In 2005, the National Trust for Historic AL 1.0 MAY IS Preservation declared the entire month of May each year as Preservation Month, which celebrates historic places and Heritage Tourism, and promotes the social and economic benefits of Historic Preservation. 'a Sewa$I lurninii lily LiLi any Aa;u.i aiiuii e i. i I PWE Ano PWom DTE SWTME s© c aEWEPiTs oP w.sTOWic isM. �(�f PWES EWVATION ' �IWUO(. &}Ifi LfibfhNPA,cBYL WI-^tc5b�tt IFS WHY ENCOURAGE HISTORIC PRESERVATION? 7. It can add character and/or charm to a community, r� and emphasize its uniqueness. The preservation of °i old buildings, neighborhoods, and landscapes can determine the look of a community, and may be an attraction for tourists as well. If these elements are `= historically significant or unusual, they can also be a source of community pride, and lead to other x - improvements. Snnanl Cvmmnnily Library Pssnria5vn IT CAN ADD CHARACTER AND/OR CHARM TO A COMMUNITY, AND EMPHASIZE ITS UNIQUENESS. 11.0 g. WHY ENCOURAGE HISTORIC PRESERVATION.. It can attract investment and change the nature of a �< deteriorating neighborhood or area. A rehabilitated historic building or neighborhood might be the focus of a new residential or commercial development. An area restored to its original appearance could serve as All a magnet for tourists, and provide jobs for local residents. Local residents could also be employed in rehabilitation or restoration as artisans or workers, if they have the skills, or as trainees. In the latter case, by the end of the project, many may have developed SnmCnmmnniy Library Psncia„n� enough competencies as carpenters, masons, or the IT CAN ATTRACT INVESTMENT AND CHANGE THE NATURE like to start new careers. OF A DETERIORATING NEIGHBORHOOD OR AREA 9 WHY ENCOURAGE HISTORIC; PRESERVATION? It can provide an opportunity for the imaginative or creative use of a building that has stood empty because it outlived its previous use, and at the same time solve a community problem. An empty historic industrial building turned into an affordable or mixed - income residential development both rescues the building and provides much -needed housing for the area. An old hotel rehabilitated as a public school might address both overcrowded classrooms and the question of what to do with a large, unused building. Snmanl Cvmmnnily Library Pssnria5vn IT CAN PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A CREATIVE USE OF EMPTY BUILDING AND SOLVE A COMMUNITY PROBLEM 13 V 11Y ENCOURiCE HPRESERVATION? 10ISTORIC Historic buildings can be affordable for businesses to rehabilitate because of the possibility of tax incentives, grants, and other support for that activity. In addition, they may attract business in and of themselves, simply because people are often fascinated by them. Just as many tourists like to stay 4 " t A in old houses that have been restored as bed -and- breakfasts, others might be excited to stay in a - restored once -famous hotel, or to eat in a restaurant that was a railroad station or a church 100 years ago. W r An interesting office or commercial building, by the Seward Cvmmunlry LlLmryA :////./!"!r"' same token, especially one that clearly started out as oclaHon IT CAN BE A GOOD INVESTMENT something else (a railroad roundhouse or a high school), might attract clients to an architect or designer, or customers to a complex of stores and restaurants. 11 Whether for economic or social reasons, those who 1 1 1 \\ make policy have an interest in preserving community history and seeing historic resources as a community asset. PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND PLANNERS 12 1 1 1 • • Owners of historic properties, including developers, businesses and industries, and individual homeowners. The opportunity to preserve, restore, or rehabilitate their properties with funding help, as well as the reasons they own, or chose to buy, those properties in the first place, often motivate owners toward historic preservation. 14 13 Historic properties can bring economic benefits, and can serve to start a turnaround in the fortunes of a community. i June . What's A Quonset? 400 and 408 Sixth Ave - Quonset huts were innovative, lightweight instant " buildings first manufactured in 1941. They were �- popular with the military because they were easy to transport and could be put together quickly by people - i without any construction knowledge. As such, they were used extensively by the military as barracks during World War II. In 1941, the Army stationed 171 officers and 3,278 enlisted men at Fort Raymond just " outside of town, mainly in tents. Later, these tents were replaced with Quonset huts and wooden barracks. The 420th Coast Artillery Corps was stationed in this area during World War II. Originally named Battery E, the 205th Coast Artillery (anti- aircraft) Battalion, was re -designated the 420th Coast Artillery (anti-aircraft) Battalion in April of 1942. The 420th Coastal Artillery Battalion was an anti-aircraft unit charged to protect the area. You can imagine the impact a large army had on Seward and that all those men needed things to do beyond the time they spent protecting us. The military brought in entertainers, such as Ingrid Bergman, who performed at the Dreamland Theater. The two Quonset huts you see here may have housed visiting entertainers. It's rumored that Lauren Bacall may have stayed in one of these two huts. About 1944-1945, when Fort Raymond and nearby Fort McGilvery were closed, military buildings were re -purposed for homes, iN r offices, storage, churches, and other uses. Jack Sadusky of Seward remembers buying a Quonset near here as his first home in 1949. These huts are still in their original location and now serve as unique vacation rentals, owned by Alaska's Point of View. 14 Historic preservation attracts tourists, and those who serve them — hotels, B&Bs, restaurants, museums, shops, gas stations, etc. — stand to benefit. 15 Anything that draws people to the community, increases community pride and satisfaction, creates jobs, or increases investment is good for business. ill July 16. Many historic buildings have social as well as other significance that symbolize not only the history but the hopes and ideals of the community, and its ongoing efforts to live up to them. 17. These are folks who are fascinated by history, and who find historic properties important in and of themselves for the window they open into the past. Perfect Timing- 320 Third Ave In the summer of 1941, as preparations for World War II were beginning, the military arrived and established Fort Raymond. In October 1940, the lot it front of you was sold by Leon Urbach to construction contractor Ray James for $500. The James Construction Company signed a contract to construct an apartment building by December 1941. It was perfect timing, as the November 23, 1941 fire destroyed at least 16 buildings on the east side of Fourth Avenue, including 56 apartments and 100 rooms. These new apartments came at a good time, 17 when many had lost their home. After the fire, people joked that "when the Japanese fly over they won't bomb us because they will think we have already been bombed." Then, on December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked, drawing our country into war. A January 6, 1942 letter by the National Resources Planning Board stated, "Seward is a pathetic spectacle. The town is staggering under the blows of the 1). The prospective change of the Alaska Railroad Terminus to Whittier, 2). The fire, 3). Quartering here of 3000 soldiers and 4). The war with its blackouts, evacuation orders and virtual taking over of the town by the military, etc." With war at hand, there was a shortage of building materials, with long lines for cigarettes, nylon stockings, liquor, and more. Even worse was the lamented shortage of women! "The Line" (Seward's infamous Red Light District) was just a short walk down the alley from this building. Although it got its start during hard times for Seward, this building still stands today and serves as a home for a wide range of locals and visitors %V11li UNCOU'lUkGE 111STOli1G 18 PRh,SE11VITION" "A community that respects its history respects itself. "A community that respects its'". The preservation of that history through the history respects itself. The preservation preservation of sites important to it can help a realize its strengths and use them to preservation of that history through improve the lives of all its residents." the preservation of sites important to it can help a community realize its Phil Rabinowitz- https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of- strengths and use them to improve contents/implement/physical-social- the lives of all its residents.." environment/historic-preservation PHIL RABINOWITZ 18 WHY ENCOURAGE HISTORIC PRESERVATION? 4 •,„, "Historic preservation can add to a community's understanding or and pride in its history, and bring economic and other bencrls. It makes sense for conununitics to encourage the preservation, rehabilitation, or restoration of historic properties." PHIL RABINOWITZ " A 19 "Historic preservation can add to a community's understanding of and pride in its history, and bring economic and other benefits. It makes sense for communities to encourage the preservation, rehabilitation, or restoration of historic properties." Phil Rabinowitz- https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of- contents/implement/physical-social- environment/historic-preservation WHY ENCOURAGE HISTORIC 20 PRESERVATION? i "Historic preservation can add to a community's understanding of and pride in its history, and bring "Historic preservation can add to'a economic and other benefits. It makes sense for eormnunity's understanding of and communities to encourage the preservation, pride in its history. and bring `` rehabilitation, or restoration of historic properties." cconomie and other benelils. It makes sense for connnunitics to Phil Rabinowitz- https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of- encourage the preservation, contents/implement/physical-social- rehabilitation, or restoration of environment/historic-preservation historic properties." PHIL RABINOWITZ WILL HISTORIC PRESERVATION RESTRICT 21 :DIY PROPERTY RIGHTS:' � The National Register does not restrict a property .. y owner's private property rights. Owners of National The National ltegislcrdocsnot reslriclaproperijowncr's Register properties can remodel, renovate, sell, or private properly rights. Owners of National Regislcr properties can remodel. renovate.scli.orcvendelnolishtheir even demolish their property with no restrictions. property with nnreslr;etinn,.Significant nindirealinnn,a, F' Significant modifications may result in removal from resull in removal from the National Register. the National Register. The federal government regulates alterations to historic properties where federal funds have been invcs(cd.'rhe same applies at the state and local level. The federal government regulates alterations to City governments may regnlalcNational Rcgislerprnperlics historic properties where federal funds have been tbrnnghaloealhs,nrirpreservaUonmd;nanecarconiog• invested. The same applies at the state and local I lac Oily or seward has no such regulations. level. City governments may regulate National Register properties through a local historic preservation ordinance or zoning. iK The City of Seward has no such regulations. August Dreaming and Connecting 320 Third Ave .. ri As soon as you enter, you can feel how the Resurrect Art Coffee House building encourages connection. Ai Since it's construction, this has been a place where a'-0 community comes together. This building was „e.. constructed in 1917 to serve as the new Methodist Church. Before the building's construction, the Methodist Church in tent then, met a wall (1905) and shortly after that, a small -framed building (1906- 1917). At the time, Saint Peter's Episcopal Church and the Catholic church also offered places to worship. The Methodist Church, also known as the Seward Community Church, was the most inclusive and active church in Seward. Back then, there were fewer people, and each individual was valued for their contributions. The churches all cooperated with each other. The Methodists eventually outgrew the building, and in January 1949, they sold it to the Lutherans for $10,500. In 1992, the Lutherans sold it to Mike and Deborah Olson, who turned it into the Resurrect Art Coffee House Gallery. The Olsons passed the beloved property to Mike and Raylene O'Connor, who loved and cared for it, and then sold it to Micheley Kowalski and Michael Steward in October of 2015. Today, this building draws residents and visitors alike. Whether it is the building's unique design by famous architect Williams Kingsley, the local art, or simply the coffee and conversation, people have always gathered here. From its congregational beginnings to today's community attractions, the Resurrect Art Coffee House is a valued place that brings people together. This old church shows us that historic buildings are often best preserved when occupied by a thriving business with owners who love it. Poi] 22. t v>: Each year, millions of travelers visit America's historic places. The National Trust for Historic Preservation defines heritage tourism as "traveling to experience the places, artifacts, and activities that authentically f, represent the stories and people of the past and present." A high percentage of domestic and t international travelers participate in cultural and/or heritage activities while traveling, and those that do stay longer, spend more, and travel more often. Heritage tourism creates jobs and business opportunities, helps protect resources, and often improves the quality of life for local residents. From https://www.achp.gov/heritage_tourism Hcritagc Tour", 23 Cultural tourists spend 60% more, stay longer and take more trips. How might that benefit your business? Heritage tourism is a branch of tourism focused on the cultural heritage of the location where — tourism is occurring. https://www.buses.org/news/article/insider- TOURISTS SPEND MORE, STAY LONGER AND TAME MORE TRIPS. HOW MIGHT THAT BENEFIT YOUR BUSINESS? exclusive-heritage-toursim-facts-figures TourismCULTURAL Hcritagic 24 Most people don't leave their home saying, "I'm going to be a cultural tourist today," but their motivations, actions, and activities are impacted by the availability vnNci[p66 of cultural assets, like our historic walking tour. A : specific historic or cultural event is the main reason for travel. Historical places and museums rank top on HOTEL the list of activities at a destination (66%). https://www.buses.org/news/article/insider- exc I u s i ve - h e r i ta ge -to u rs i m -f a cts -f i g u re s MOST PEOPLE DON'T LEAVE THEIR HOME SAYING. "I'M GOING TO BE A CULTURAL TOURIST TODAY." BUT THEY ARE IMPACTED BY THE AVAILABILITY OF CULTURAL ASSETS, LIKE OUR HISTORIC WALKING TOUR. `& 25 � .,�'M�za Heritage tourists travel to unique destinations, like Seward. They are in search of authentic experiences ti and want to learn something new during their travels. September Peace to Those Far Away- Saint Peter's Episcopal Church Saint Peter's Episcopal Church is Seward's oldest - - church and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is known for its unique painting of the Ascension of Christ, painted by well-known Dutch artist Jan van Empel. Construction of the Church began in 1904-1905 and was completed in the fall of ,,.p _ .,: 1906. This was achieved despite building material delays and constructing the building during the cold winter, let alone the influence of local issues of meningitis and fires! The adjacent rectory was completed in 1917, and a new altar was built by E.A Rucker in 1922. In 1925, Jan van Empel was commissioned to paint the Ascension of Christ for $650 raised by the community. The painting of the Ascension of Christ is unique in that it includes the Ascension and the empty tomb. Instead of Apostles, Van Empel shows the people of Alaska. In the right foreground is an Alaska Native family, and to the left of the empty tomb are a prospector, trapper, and homesteader. The prospector is a self-portrait of Van Empel himself, and the two angels in the sky depict his sisters. The background includes Resurrection Bay and the surrounding mountains. The picture reflects Christ's teaching to "Preach peace to them who are far away and to them that are nigh." This is a unique painting for a unique church in a unique town. Even Presidents have had their picture taken here! 26 Heritage tourism is considered one of the fastest - � 1 growing segments in the tourist industry. Eighty-one percent of U.S. tourists are considered "cultural tourists," and 56 percent of the U.S. population indicated it included at least one cultural, arts, l historic or heritage activity or event while on a trip in j the past year. IlIr Mr https://www.buses.org/news/article/insider- �; !-"* HERITAGE TOURISM IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE FASTEST - GROWING SEGMENTS IN THE TOURIST INDUSTRY exclusive-heritage-toursim-facts-figures Additions from Commissioners? 23 City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes February 10, 2022 Volume 3, Page CALL TO ORDER The February 10, 2022 special meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Cheryl Seese. OPENING CEREMONY Commissioner Art LeMaster led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Cheryl Seese presiding and Sue Ward T.,,,gtty T ibb -eeh Mary Ann Benoit Dona Walker Art LeMaster comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Bailey Sayler, Library Museum Director Brenda Ballou, City Clerk Excused — Libbrecht Absent — None Vacant — One CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING — None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Ward/LeMaster) Motion Passed There were no consent agenda items. Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Unanimous SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations & Awards — None Other Reports and Announcements — None Presentations — None 24 City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes February 10, 2022 Volume 3, Page NEW BUSINESS Other New Business Items Historic Preservation Commission, CLG Grant #200005 - Walking Tour Project, unauthorized solicitation of public funds. City Clerk Brenda Ballou stated that she believed 100% that there was no ill intent from the commission when they solicited these funds, but it was simply against city code for the commission to solicit donations without the authorization of city council. Ward said that was not true; that was inaccurate. Ballou said she had consulted with the city attorney and it was his opinion that this was not in keeping with city code. The commission was provided with a budget which was approved by city council; the grant funds were specified in the resolution that was approved by city council. If the commission felt that they would be short on funds to complete the project, the appropriate thing to do would be for the commission to either request authorization from council to solicit donations, or else request an appropriation of additional funds from council. Seese stated it boggled her mind that only now this concern was being brought forward; this meeting blindsided the commission unfairly and inaccurately. As avolunteer, Seese did not believe it was her responsibility to know city code, with the exception of the commission's mission and how to observe Robert's Rules. Seese stated that city council accepted the CLG grant funds via Resolution 2020-079; she believed that In Kind Donations included monetary donations. At their May 17, 2021 work session, the commission discussed fundraising and no correction was provided to the commission at that time. Seese said the commission operated under the belief that their fundraising efforts were acceptable, particularly because they subsequently changed the name of the committee to include the word "fundraising" and because the commission retroactively reviewed and approved the letter soliciting donations, after it had been mailed to citizens. The commission completed the CLG grant project on time and under budget. Ward believed that once a grant had been approved by city council, it was down to city staff and the commission to administer the details of the grant. She said that in the grant application, under the Work Plan, it stated, "We will be looking for private funding to support activities beyond the funding of the grant." She said that statement was approved by city council when they voted to accept the grant document and the accompanying funds. The commission could not be faulted for actually reading and implementing the grant as written. In the absence of advice otherwise, she believed that indicated approval by city council. Labeling this solicitation of public funds as unauthorized was not accurate and was misleading. Benoit said she was fully aware that donations were being solicited; she was not surprised by that action, and recalled the commission talking about that at meetings. Benoit believed those discussions constituted deliberations by the commission. Another thing Benoit thought was mi City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes February 10, 2022 Volume 3, Page inaccurate was that some of the donors on the list contacted the commission themselves to offer donations; she didn't think those donors were "solicited" by anyone, but instead donated freely without being asked. She noted that the donations were being held in a separate account, unspent and sequestered from the grant funds; she wondered why the funds hadn't been returned by now if this was such a problem. Benoit said she was never told she needed to understand city code in order to be a commissioner, and wondered how any of the commissioners would know what code said. She said if the commission was expected to take ownership of the situation, then the city should take ownership as well. Seese stated that Seward City Code 2.30.425(b) stated, "The commission shall have no authority to expend or commit city funds without first obtaining approval by and any necessary approbations from the city council." She said, when council signed receipt of the grant funds and the grant, the city gave us permission. In the grant, future fundraising, monetary fundraising, was included. Ward said they didn't usurp; they thought it was written out and they needed to do it. It was something they were charged to do. Seese said the donated funds were earmarked to be used for printing more maps of the Walking Tour for this year's tourist season, as well as additional signage. The people who donated did so because they believed in this project. Motion (Ward/Benoit) Return the donated funds, including a letter drafted by the commission explaining why the funds are being returned. LeMaster asked if these funds were needed. Seese said they were, for printing additional brochures/maps. Benoit said there had been 2,500 brochures printed previously, and an additional 2,500 had already been paid for with Corvis Designs. Benoit believed the second 2,500 would last through this coming tourist season. Benoit said, with this extra donation money, they could get 40,000 brochures/maps printed and that would last for about eight years. She said, after all the work they did, she didn't want to keep going back every year to ask for money to print more maps. Seese thought 2,500 maps for last year was nothing, and that this year there would be cruise ships and the tourist season would be much busier; 5,000 maps for this year might not even be enough. Seese supported what Benoit had suggested about getting a lot more maps printed. Ward withdrew her motion with no objection from the commission. Benoit said last year's brochures/maps were not printed and distributed until the fall; right now, people had little stockpiles. She didn't think they had experienced a summer season yet to see how fast those brochures would actually go; they could go a lot faster than she anticipated. 41 City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes February 10, 2022 Volume 3, Page Motion (Seese/LeMaster) Draft a resolution for city council requesting that council allow the commission to keep and use the donated funds. Seese hoped that council would approve the commission's use of the funds. LeMaster said it hadn't occurred to him that they would need maps in the future. In response, Ward said that was the only thing left that would be a recurring cost. Benoit said one of the reasons they didn't print more maps initially was in case a mistake was found. Walker asked if the installation for the remaining three signs still needed to be paid for. In response, Seese and Ward confirmed that the installation was already paid for. Seese added that everything was paid for, except additional brochures. Motion Passed Unanimous By unanimous consent, the commission authorized Seese and Benoit to draft the resolution for city council. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS — None CITIZEN COMMENTS — None COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Benoit said she belonged to Rotary, and their motto was "Service above self" In Rotary, they followed a four-way test to make sure that something was the right thing to do: "Is it true? Is it fair? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships?" Benoit didn't believe tonight's special meeting met a single one of those criterion. She thought the city had not provided adequate or timely advice through staff regarding city code, and in an effort to avoid taking ownership for that, everyone else was being blamed for the problem. She didn't think it was fair to treat volunteers who had spent thousands of hours making the city a better place through a great project that educated, brought business to town, and brought citizens together in partnership as if they were rule -breaking children that needed to be chastised in public. This meeting was not beneficial to the commission because now she had lost some of her desire to continue volunteering her precious time because of how she had been treated in this process. She thought people may think twice about getting involved in city projects. She thought the city was trying to save face by trying to put the blame on everybody else for a lack of oversight and advice. She thought it was unlikely that, in the future, people would want to work alongside the city. A more positive approach may have been if the city clerk had gone to the chair of the commission and offered to draft a resolution on behalf of the commission. Benoit said, in her opinion, it would have taken the clerk about two minutes to do that, and it would have met the criteria of Rotary's four-way test. 27 City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes February 10, 2022 Volume 3, Page Seese said she appreciated having alternatives to choose from, and that the city clerk had made the effort to consult with the city attorney. She echoed Benoit's suggestion that, in the future, something like this should be handled in a different way. She hoped the commissioners would continue to serve; everyone worked well together and had accomplished a lot. She thanked the commissioners for being a part of this very difficult meeting. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m. Brenda Ballou, MMC City Clerk (City Seal) Cheryl Seese Chair 28 SUBSTITUTE MINUTES City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes February 10, 2022 Volume 3, Page CALL TO ORDER The February 10, 2022 special meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Cheryl Seese. OPENING CEREMONY Commissioner Art LeMaster led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Cheryl Seese presiding and Sue Ward T.,,,gtty T ibb -eeh Mary Ann Benoit Dona Walker Art LeMaster comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Bailey Sayler, Library Museum Director Brenda Ballou, City Clerk Excused — Libbrecht Absent — None Vacant — One CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING — None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Ward/LeMaster) Motion Passed There were no consent agenda items. Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Unanimous SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations & Awards — None Other Reports and Announcements — None Presentations — None 29 City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes February 10, 2022 Volume 3, Page NEW BUSINESS Other New Business Items Historic Preservation Commission, CLG Grant #200005 - Walking Tour Project, unauthorized solicitation of public funds. City Clerk Brenda Ballou stated that she believed 100% that there was no ill intent from the commission when they solicited these funds, but it was simply against city code for the commission to solicit donations without the authorization of city council. Ward said that was not true; that was inaccurate. Ballou said she had consulted with the city attorney and it was his opinion that this was not in keeping with city code. The commission was provided with a budget which was approved by city council; the grant funds were specified in the resolution that was approved by city council. If the commission felt that they would be short on funds to complete the project, the appropriate thing to do would be for the commission to either request authorization from council to solicit donations, or else request an appropriation of additional funds from council. Seese stated it boggled her mind that only now this concern was being brought forward; this meeting blindsided the commission unfairly and inaccurately. As avolunteer, Seese did not believe it was her responsibility to know city code, with the exception of the commission's mission and how to observe Robert's Rules. Seese stated that city council accepted the CLG grant funds via Resolution 2020-079; she believed that In Kind Donations included monetary donations. At their May 17, 2021 work session, the commission discussed fundraising and no correction was provided to the commission at that time. Seese said the commission operated under the belief that their fundraising efforts were acceptable, particularly because they subsequently changed the name of the committee to include the word "fundraising" and because the commission retroactively reviewed and approved the letter soliciting donations, after it had been mailed to citizens. The commission completed the CLG grant project on time and under budget. Ward believed that once a grant had been approved by city council, it was down to city staff and the commission to administer the details of the grant. She said that in the grant application, under the Work Plan, it stated, "We will be looking for private funding to support activities beyond the funding of the grant." She said that statement was approved by city council when they voted to accept the grant document and the accompanying funds. The commission could not be faulted for actually reading and implementing the grant as written. In the absence of advice otherwise, she believed that indicated approval by city council. Labeling this solicitation of public funds as unauthorized was not accurate and was misleading. Benoit said she was fully aware that donations were being solicited; she was not surprised by that action, and recalled the commission talking about that at meetings. Benoit believed those discussions constituted deliberations by the commission. Another thing Benoit thought was 30 City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes February 10, 2022 Volume 3, Page inaccurate was that some of the donors on the list contacted the commission themselves to offer donations; she didn't think those donors were "solicited" by anyone, but instead donated freely without being asked. She noted that the donations were being held in a separate account, unspent and sequestered from the grant funds; she wondered why the funds hadn't been returned by now if this was such a problem. Benoit said she was never told she needed to understand city code in order to be a commissioner, and wondered how any of the commissioners would know what code said. She said if the commission was expected to take ownership of the situation, then the city should take ownership as well. Seese stated that Seward City Code 2.30.425(b) stated, "The commission shall have no authority to expend or commit city funds without first obtaining approval by and any necessary approbations from the city council." She said, when council signed receipt of the grant funds and the grant, the city gave us permission. In the grant, future fundraising, monetary fundraising, was included. Ward said they didn't usurp; they thought it was written out and they needed to do it. It was something they were charged to do. Seese said the donated funds were earmarked to be used for printing more maps of the Walking Tour for this year's tourist season, as well as additional signage. The people who donated did so because they believed in this project. Motion (Ward/Benoit) Return the donated funds, including a letter drafted by the commission explaining why the funds are being returned. LeMaster asked if these funds were needed. Seese said they were, for printing additional brochures/maps. Benoit said there had been 2,500 brochures printed previously, and an additional 2,500 had already been paid for with Corvis Designs. Benoit believed the second 2,500 would last through this coming tourist season. Benoit said, with this extra donation money, they could get 40,000 brochures/maps printed and that would last for about eight years. She said, after all the work they did, she didn't want to keep going back every year to ask for money to print more maps. Seese thought 2,500 maps for last year was nothing, and that this year there would be cruise ships and the tourist season would be much busier; 5,000 maps for this year might not even be enough. Seese supported what Benoit had suggested about getting a lot more maps printed. Ward withdrew her motion with no objection from the commission. Benoit said last year's brochures/maps were not printed and distributed until the fall; right now, people had little stockpiles. She didn't think they had experienced a summer season yet to see how fast those brochures would actually go; they could go a lot faster than she anticipated. 0i City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes February 10, 2022 Volume 3, Page Motion (Seese/LeMaster) Draft a resolution for city council requesting that council allow the commission to keep and use the donated funds. Seese hoped that council would approve the commission's use of the funds. LeMaster said it hadn't occurred to him that they would need maps in the future. In response, Ward said that was the only thing left that would be a recurring cost. Benoit said one of the reasons they didn't print more maps initially was in case a mistake was found. Walker asked if the installation for the remaining three signs still needed to be paid for. In response, Seese and Ward confirmed that the installation was already paid for. Seese added that everything was paid for, except additional brochures. Motion Passed Unanimous By unanimous consent, the commission authorized Seese and Benoit to draft the resolution for city council. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS — None CITIZEN COMMENTS — None COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Benoit said, (verbatim) "Going through this process, I am a member of Rotary, and it's a service organization. Our motto is "Service above self" And so we follow this four-way testthatwe always use to make sure that we think that something is the right thing to do. And so, I try to follow the same test myself, even if I'm not doing something for it; so, the test is: Is it true? Is it fair? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? And, will it build goodwill and better friendships? So, the way this whole special meeting thing was presented I don't think met a single one of those criteria. Unfortunately. First of all, is it true? No, I don't think so. I feel like the truth has been portrayed or slanted in a way, a way to kind of draw attention away from the fact that the city may not have provided adequate or timely advice through staff regarding the city code, and in an effort to avoid taking ownership of that, that everybody else kind of got blamed for this problem. Is it fair? No. It's not fair, I don't think, to treat volunteers that have spent thousands of hours making the city a better place through a great proj ect that educates, brings business to town, and brought citizens together in partnership as if we're like rule breaking children that need to be chastised in public. Was it beneficial to all concerned? No. It was definitely not beneficial to this commission who, if any of you guys feel like I do, I've lost some of my desire to continue volunteering my precious time because of how we've been treated in this process. I think about was it beneficial to the community? I don't think so. People that are proud to be part of this and contributed their time and their effort or money Kea City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes February 10, 2022 Volume 3, Page don't want to feel bad about this project. And now they may wonder whether getting involved in future city projects is a good idea. Was it beneficial to the city? I seriously doubt it because, I think in an effort to save face about this by trying to put the blame on everybody else for a lack of oversight and advice, it's unlikely in the future that people are going to want, want to walk work alongside our city partners. And finally, did it build goodwill and better friendships? I don't think so. A more positive approach might have been if the clerk's office had just come to our chair and said, `We have to address the remaining funds from the project; let's add it to the agenda and vote on if we want to return it or keep it. If you want to keep it for the project, I can help you draft a resolution to the city council for approval. I should have mentioned this requirement of the city code to you previously, but it was an oversight, so let's take care of it now'. In my opinion, that would have taken about two minutes and it would have met the criteria of all four things. So, that's all I have to say." Seese said she appreciated having alternatives to choose from, and that the city clerk had made the effort to consult with the city attorney. She echoed Benoit's suggestion that, in the future, something like this should be handled in a different way. She hoped the commissioners would continue to serve; everyone worked well together and had accomplished a lot. She thanked the commissioners for being a part of this very difficult meeting. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m. Brenda Ballou, MMC City Clerk (City Seal) Cheryl Seese Chair 33 City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes March 10, 2022 Volume 3, Page CALL TO ORDER The March 10, 2022 regular meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chair Cheryl Seese. OPENING CEREMONY Char Seese led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Cheryl Seese presiding and Sue Ward T.,,,gtFy r ibb -eeh Mary Ann Benoit Dona Walker Art LeMaster comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Elena Yanusz, Library Museum Coordinator Brenda Ballou, City Clerk Excused — Libbrecht, Walker Absent — None Vacant — One CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Seese read a letter that had been submitted to her from Bob Reisner. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Ward/Benoit) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Benoit removed the February 10, 2022 special meeting minutes from the consent agenda. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approve the February 10, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS 34 City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes March 10, 2022 Volume 3, Page Proclamations & Awards — None City Administration Report. — None Chair Report. Chair Seese provided a laydown of her chair report, and stated, (verbatim) "At the February 10, 2021 special meeting, there was no audio. It was explained to us at the time that IT would dub in the sound following the meeting. There were eight people watching the meeting via YouTube. Because they could not hear the meeting, they were not, if they wanted to, able to make any citizen comments. I went to the Seward Journal so that the public would have our side of the story since they were not able to hear the bulk of the meeting. In the future, if the audio is not working during the meeting, the meeting should end until or unless the audio can be corrected for that meeting. Otherwise, it should be rescheduled to another date. I believe Robert's Rules require an open forum before the public whenever a board or commission has apublic meeting. Ah, bullet point two. During commissioner comments, I will be re -reading my statement into the public record regarding the unauthorized solicitation of funds since there was no audio at the special meeting on 2/10/22. Bullet three. The annual CLG report for 2021 has been submitted 3/3/22 to SHPO and there is a copy on file at the library or online. I also have a copy with me should anyone want to quickly review it. We also received an email reply from Maria Lewis from SHPO acknowledging its receipt and a suggestion that we attend a CLG training meeting on June 30th, 2022 at 1:30 to three o'clock. Each of you received this email and my reply as a laydown. I would like to thank Commissioner Benoit for her invaluable help in writing the resolution we will be voting on tonight to keep the donors' monies for the purchase of historic walking tour maps. This resolution is the result of the 2/10/2022 special meeting regarding the solicitation of unauthorized funds. Bullet four. I received an email from Doreen Lorenz regarding the state's correction of Benny Benson's age when he won the Alaska flag contest. It was thought and reported that he was 13 when in fact he was 14 years old. A little piece of knowledge before we go about putting our history together for our signage for the, for the Jesse Lee memorial. I hope. Special meeting notice. On Monday, March 14, 2022, this coming Monday. At 6:15 there is going to be a meeting of the committee of the whole Jesse Lee Home site. I plan on being there and I invite any of my other commissioners to join me if they're able. We know that Commissioner LeMaster will be in Italy, so he'll not be able. My guess is that where we're at is still dealing with the ground in removal of asbestos before we can do anything regarding any park or memorial. But that's a guess. I plan on being there so that I'm abreast or we're abreast of where we're at in the process. Uh, next bullet. I would like to save staff time and printing costs of providing our commission with printed packets for each meeting. If you do not wish to receive apaper copy of our packet, please let Kris Peck know so that there are, we are not wasting valuable resources. Examples of this include the Land Use table, standards and guidelines of the historic preservation if staff has made no edits between meetings, and the 2/17 Seward Historic Preservation Plan. Thanks. Final bullet. My term on this commission is up in May. At the Monday 2/28/22 council meeting, Planning & Zoning commissioners were named for the open spots. They voted out Tom Swann and Gary Seese who are two seasoned and experienced commissioners, and appointed two new commissioners, leaving one seat open. I don't even know how they could leave one seat open when they had two applications, regardless of why they voted Tom and Gary off the commission. In light of this, I am wondering if the same fate awaits me. If so, be thinking of who you want to be your chair. Vice Chair Ward has too much personal life happening to take on the role of chair. It is my W City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes March 10, 2022 Volume 3, Page hope that this does not happen, but depending on how the council votes on our three resolutions, I may conclude that I am a lightning rod for this commission, meaning that decisions made by the council regarding this commission may go against it because of me. I am sure that my article of our defense of the solicitation of unauthorized funds in the Seward Journal ruffled some feathers. As I don't understand the reasoning for removing Tom and Gary from the Planning & Zoning Commission, I am leery of what is in store for me. in all honesty, my position has become very draining due to the politics of serving the city and the public, combined with the amount of work that I do behind the scenes. That completes the chair report." Other Reports and Announcements Report on Historic Preservation Facebook Page. Benoit reviewed the page activity. Update on Certified Local Government (CLG) Grant 20005. Benoit reported there were still three signs that needed to be installed. Update on USSAlaska project. LeMaster said the organizers of the project were working with R&M Consulting, and Waino Salo would be in Seward in late June. Ward wondered if they could be invited to the June meeting. LeMaster said he would invite them. Presentations — None NEW BUSINESS Resolutions Resolution 2022-003, A Resolution Of The Seward Historic Preservation Commission Of The City Of Seward, Alaska, Requesting City Council Authorization To Retain And Appropriate Private Donations To CLG Grant #20005 "Seward Historical Tour: Public Education Signage" For The Purpose Of Purchasing Additional Walking Tour Maps. Motion (Benoit/LeMaster) Motion Passed Other New Business Items Approve Resolution 2022-003 Unanimous Approve the February 10, 2022 Special Meeting Minutes. Motion (Benoit/LeMaster) Approve the February 10, 2022 Special Meeting Minutes. 0-11 City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes March 10, 2022 Volume 3, Page Benoit did not agree with the clerk's recording of her comments, and requested to have them recorded verbatim. The city clerk agreed to edit the minutes and bring them back at the next meeting for approval. By unanimous consent, the commission postponed the February 10, 2022 special meeting minutes to April 14, 2022. Discuss annual Certified Local Government (CLG) report to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Seese said she addressed this in her chair report. Ward stated the commission had been very successful with their grant project. Discuss the Historic Preservation Commission's web page. Seese asked that her phone number on the page be updated because she no longer had a land line. Seese stated the website currently read: "The Historic Preservation Commission is required to meet at least twice each year. Currently, the Commission meets on the second Thursday all year with additional meetings and work sessions scheduled as needed." She asked if it could be updated to read: "The Historic Preservation Commission is required to meet at least twice each year. The current meeting schedule is, on the second Thursday of each month, except for July when they are on hiatus, the commission meets at 6:00 p.m. with a work session followed by aregular meeting." Seese said she wanted to make sure that people understood how much time they were committing to if they joined the commission. Discuss updating the Historic Inventory list and consider creating a committee. Seese stated she was the sole person responsible for this and it was too much work for one person. She said the commission needed to create an inventory list from 1942 forward because the current one only ran through 1941. City Clerk Brenda Ballou said, before the commission moved forward with creating a committee, she wanted to inform them that at the city council retreat last Saturday, they learned that any committee created by council or a board or commission would be required to follow the Open Meetings Act and would have to publicly notice all of their meetings. Ballou stated this was a learning moment for her, because she had previously understood that committees could meet privately if they were comprised of less than a quorum of the body. Benoit said she had a spreadsheet and could start working on updating it with information she already had on hand; some places didn't even exist anymore. Seese said those locations still needed to stay on the list; the list had to be submitted annually to the Office of Archeology. Seese recalled there were between 165 and 185 properties listed on the current inventory, and she thought if the list 37 City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes March 10, 2022 Volume 3, Page was updated with the information that Benoit said she had on hand, that would suffice for this year's report. Benoit said she would look at the information she had on hand. Discuss creating a committee for the Standards and Guidelines. This item was not discussed by the commission. Remind the commission of the joint work session with city council on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. Seese said all commissioners needed to attend this work session. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS 2022 Historic Preservation Priorities 2022 Historic Preservation Meeting & Work Session Schedule CITIZEN COMMENTS — None COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Benoit thanked Bob Reisner for informing the commission about Japanese/Jape Creek. Seese re -read her statement from the February I Oth special meeting. (verbatim) "Chair Seese's comments regarding the Seward Historic Preservation Commission CLG Grant 20005 Walking Tour Proj ect, unauthorized solicitation of public funds. To begin with, it boggles my mind that only now is the city attorney and the city condemning any part of our work and progress on this grant. He or they could have directed us at any point throughout the process. In fact, both had a responsibility to do so. Therefore, this special meeting blindsided our commission unfairly and inaccurately. As volunteers, I do not believe it is our responsibility to know city code, with the exception of the code that states what our mission is as the city's Historic Preservation Commission. In addition, how to maintain Robert's Rules in our meetings and outside of our meetings. We began our committee in August of 2020; the deputy city clerk advised us at that time that no more than three commissioners could be on a committee. However, each committee could have as many volunteers as we wanted or needed. On the in kind commission, committee, Commissioner Libbrecht and Commissioner Seese were the commissioners on that committee. At the December 28, 2020 meeting, Commissioner Ward came onto this committee, too. This was updated, okay, so, updated 12/23/2020 by clerk Corrigan the CLG grant 200005 public education signage timeline was included in this work session packet, page two. While no fundraising was mentioned, page three and four was Resolution 2020-079, the city accepting the grant funds. Again, direction from the clerk's office, our administrator, or the city or the city attorney could have been given to our commission regarding fundraising from the public for this project. Also in this packet, State of Alaska grant agreement historic preservation fund program — CFDA No.15.904. our commission operated within the confines of SHPO's grant requirements and 38 City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes March 10, 2022 Volume 3, Page directions. On page six of this packet was included Seward Historic Preservation Commission agenda statement, including a breakdown of all budget items signed by the Seward finance department on page eight. Again, the administration's directions for fundraising could have been offered to the commission at this time. Throughout the entire process of the commission's work on the grant, each committee reported and brought before the entire commission what and how the committees were progressing on their work toward achieving the grant's intent, especially including the in kind committee's efforts and results. Throughout the years of meetings, each step of the grant's progress was open before the commission and the public. As we received direction from Valarie Kingsland, director at the time, and the clerks, we operated compliantly from their input. This commission was never given direction on the proper process of fundraising. In February, in the February 11, 2021 regular meeting packet, each committee, page 28, and their members were finalized. Again, no direction was given on the correct process of collecting in kind donations which our commission believed included monetary donations. A correction to this understanding was never forthcoming at any meeting until after the fact. At the May 17, 2021 work session, on page three, was an update on the budget. On page six, under committees, was time to start working on some fundraising. Again, no direction on the correct process for this was given. Prior to the direction from deputy clerk Stallard, Commissioner Ward and Iris Darling, as commissioner and volunteer on the in kind fundraising committee, solicited donations from the public in keeping with the grant's original foreshadowing of the need to raise monetary donations. These efforts were in keeping with the rules of the committees. At the August 12, 2021 special meeting, in our packets were the June 21, 2021 minutes; page 27, discuss fundraising efforts. We discussed the grant's progress to include the commission's fundraising results, as well as a complete breakdown of where we were at to include an overall review of the goals of the grant. Commissioner Libbrecht filled everyone in on the production of the signs, posts, and their placements, as well as costs. He explained, using actual costs written into the grant's budget on the original application, the expenses expended, in kind donations, to include over 3,000 commissioner volunteer hours and the target amount of fundraising needed to be somewhere between $3,000 and $5,000. He happily reported that we received $7,200 in monetary donations. He also took the opportunity to thank the donors for their generous contributions to the Seward historical sign project. He stated that each check was made out to the City of Seward, as advised by Naneth Ambrosiani, forgive me for mispronouncing your name. Thank you letters and acknowledgements of the monetary contributions were then sent out to the donors. At this point, our commun- commission moved on believing that we had accomplished what the city wanted regarding fundraised donations. This, too, would have and should have been the time that the city attorney weighed in to advise the commission of any missteps. Following Commissioner Libbrecht's reporting, deputy clerk Stallard advised that any future fundraising be publicly noticed beforehand. A motion was then made at this meeting by Ward/Pemberton to clarify and rename Grants and In Kind Committee to Grants, In Kind, and Fundraising Committee. We were never advised fundraising should have been added to the name of this committee. This motion passed unanimously. Another motion was made by Seese/Ward was made following the one above. Approve the fundraising letter that went out on June 4, 2021. Discussion, led by Seese, followed that any future letters would be signed by a commissioner. The rest of the fundraising committee had requested funds for the historic walking tour. Ward then commented that she would clarify the intention of the donations received. This motion also passed unanimously. We completed our CLG grant progress on time and under budget. SHPO was so happy with our work and our professional process that, upon completion, immediately encouraged us to apply for our next grant. We declined because we had put off the need 39 City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes March 10, 2022 Volume 3, Page to work on the historic overlay project. Now, five months later, to be called for a special meeting stating that we collected unauthorized solicitation of public funds is disappointing and untrue. Whether or not we accept the city's recommendations beyond this is still to be determined at Friday's February 10, 2022 special meeting. Respectfully, Cheryl Seese." Seese added that in her research, she found in HP's meeting packet dated June 21, clerk Stallard did include the proper process of fundraising, but June 21 was well after the fact. Fundraising happened mid -May to early June. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m. Brenda Ballou, MMC City Clerk (City Seal) Cheryl Seese Chair 40 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION 2022 Operating Budget As of March 25, 2022 Operating Supplies 01000-1111-7215 $1,000 Travel & Subsistence 01000-1111-7302 $2,500 Education & Training 01000-1111-7303 $1,500 to MEMORIAL BENCH DONATION FORM The Seward Parks & Recreation (SPR) Memorial Bench Donation Program allows the public to honor loved ones while supporting ongoing improvements to Seward's park system. Donation guidelines have been established in order to protect park resources, planning processes, and the visitor experience. DONORNAME PHONE EMAIL ADDRESS Donation Procedure 1. Prospective Donors must submit a completed Memorial Bench Donation form to the Parks & Recreation office at 238 Fifth Ave, Seward, AK 99664. 2. Our office will contact the Donor to confirm the desired install location. 3. After approval has been granted, the Donor may commence with bench installation. Donor Responsibilities The Donor is responsible for, at the Donor's sole expense, procuring all equipment, interim storage, and arranging for bench installation by a qualified third -party installer. Bench Location Benches may only be placed at preapproved sites identified by SPR. Please note that there are many factors that must be taken into account when evaluating the suitability of a site for a park bench, e.g., underground infrastructure, proximity to other park amenities, park development plans, etc. Site availability is not guaranteed. Requests are processed on a first come first served basis. A waitlist may be established if the need arises. Exact placement is at SPR's discretion. SPR reserves the right to relocate the bench if unforeseen circumstances arise, e.g., major park renovations. Equipment/Installation Requirements • Equipment must be commercial -grade, durable and designed for outdoor installation. • Bench must be installed level and anchored, ideally on a concrete pad. Ownership All improvements made to city -owned public spaces, including benches, always remain the property of the City of Seward. Term The donation term for a bench and/or plaque is 10 years or the useful life of the equipment, whichever comes first. At the end of the donation term, the bench and plaque may be removed or replaced. If bench removal is required, e.g., due to deterioration or severe vandalism, the City shall not be responsible for replacement. Tax -Deductible A donation to the City of Seward may qualify as a tax-deductible charitable contribution (consult your tax advisor). i nave reaa, unaerstana ana agree to ine terms anove. SIGNATURE: Elm ~ w O ai cz O u lup N U O .� g u n O N ,9 'C O , E ON 'C r--� bA N � a, bA . v �..i cci a U U cn b°�A O. 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Council ham b_e.rs)..................I (7:00pm HPC egular eeting Council hamb_er)....................... 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 6:00pm P&Z 12:00pm PACAB Work Session Work Session (Council amb_e.rs)..... 22 24 25 26 27 28 (7:00pmCC Mtg .h. 29 30 31 Jun 1 2 3 4 HOLIDAY (Memorial Day) Council Calendar 2 4/12/2022 5:47 PM 47 22 SuMo TuWFr Sa SuMo TuWTh Fr Sa June 2022 June e Th July e Th 1 2 3 4 1 2 5 6 7 8 91011 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY May 29 30 31 Jun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 7:OOpm P&Z Mt 6:OOpm HPC (Regular Work Session .e..tulga ........................... 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