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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11052021 Historic Preservation MinutesCity of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes November 5, 2021 Volume 3, Page 307 CALL TO ORDER The November 5, 2021 regular meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chair Cheryl Seese. OPENING CEREMONY Commissioner Mary Ann Benoit led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Cheryl Seese presiding and Sue Ward TanguyLilbc Mary Ann Benoit AM Pemberton Dona Walker Art LeMaster comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Bailey Sayler, Library Museum Director Brenda Ballou, City Clerk Excused — Libbrecht Absent — Pemberton CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING — None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Ward/Walker) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Seese removed the Approval of the October 15, 2021 regular meeting minutes from the agenda. Motion Passed Unanimous There were no consent agenda items. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations & Awards — None City Administration Report — Library Museum Director Bailey Sayler said she had nothing to report. City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes November 5, 2021 Volume 3, Page 308 Chair Report. Seese reported that the walking tour conducted for Wellness Week was a great success. All signs for the walking tour, except for three, had been installed. Seese mentioned an application for a building height variance that went before the Planning & Zoning Commission, and said she had received complaints about the Historic Preservation Commission not being involved in the process of review. She stated she wished that the commission would be notified about all projects that may have an impact on the historic value of buildings, or of any other historic significance, in advance. Seesc said that the Community Development Department had invited the commission to be a part of the memorial planning for the Jesse Lee Home Memorial Park. She was very proud of the work done by the commission this fall. Other Reports, Announcements, and Presentations Report on Historic Preservation Facebook Page. Benoit stated there were 39 new followers; this appeared to be a trend month over month. She had created a series ofposts that would take the page through January, 2022, which she had included in the last meeting packet. Benoit said she was the creator of the Facebook content and photos, and she submitted everything to the clerk's office for posting; she went through the process of obtaining permission for every single photo. She furnished her planned content to the commission is advance of posting anything so that the commission had the opportunity to weigh in. Benoit said for the last two months there had been issues, including posts not going out on schedule or in order. Recently, a sign graphic that was posted was not readable. Benoit was concerned that if a citizen made a comment, she was not aware of it, and she worried that citizens might feel ignored. To assist the city clerk in posting content correctly, she had been asked to provide content and photo files that were named by the date she wanted them posted; Benoit said she didn't have time to do that. Seese said it was her understanding that the city had to administer the Facebook page. She wondered if Sayler would be able to help administer the Facebook page instead of the city clerk. In response, Sayler said if posts were provided to her in advance, Sayler could schedule them in Facebook to automatically post on certain dates. Sayler added that it was important that the graphic files were .jpg or .png files. Benoit preferred to have the ability to administer the Facebook page herself. City Clerk Brenda Ballou said she would check with the city attorney to see if this was permissible. Seese said that may not be a possibility, and if the attorney advised against it, Seese requested that Sayler work with Benoit on the posts. Benoit said the workload of creating the content and obtaining photos was getting to be too much for her because she had other commitments and felt she didn't have time to continue. Ward suggested waiting to see what the city attorney's advice was and go from there. In response to Ballou, Benoit said the three posts contained in tonight's packet could be all be posted to the page over the course of the next week. Benoit said it was important to her to do a good job with the Facebook page. Update on the Jesse Lee Home Memorial Park. City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes November 5, 2021 Volume 3, Page 309 Seese reported that the commission had been invited by the Community Development Department to participate in the planning of the Jesse Lee Home Memorial Park. The drawings in the packet were design concepts that had been proposed previously; Seese thought it would be nice instead to have storyboards, perhaps housed inside a gazebo, so people could learn more about the history of the home. Ward said it appeared there was time left to get involved because the grounds still had to be environmentally remediated. Seese concurred. Update on USS Alaska Project. Seese stated that Pemberton would be furnishing an update on this project in the future. Update on Certified Local Government (CLG) Grant 20005. Seese stated that all the signs had been installed except for three. Benoit reported that four walking tours had been scheduled over two days for Wellness Week; there had been approximately 25 people who attended the tours. During the tour, one of the participants had suggested creating and audio tour to be used in conjunction with the walking tour; the idea was that people could pick a sign location on the website and an audio file would play which told a story about the location. Benoit presented the walking tour to Rotary last week and it had been well received. NEW BUSINESS Other New Business Items Minutes.Approve the Oeteber 14, 2021 14ister-ie Preservation Commission Meeting This item was removed from the agenda. Review the 2022 Reporting Schedule to City Council. Seese stated that council was requesting quarterly reports throughout 2022. Seese requested to include a review of the HP Award nomination form on the December, 2021 meeting agenda; she planned to open the award nominations in January, 2022 and leave it open until April. Ward stated that the 2021 priorities list would serve as the basis for creating the annual report to council. Seese concurred. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS City of Seward, Alaska November 5, 2021 Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Volume 3. Page 310 Historic Preservation Commission 2021 Priorities (as amended & approved by City Council). CITIZEN COMMENTS — None COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS LeMaster wondered if a map was available to review the Downtown Historical District. He suggested it might be helpful to get outside and walk the boundaries. Ward thanked everyone for their hard work. Seese thanked staff, commissioners, and the citizens. She welcomed LeMaster to the commission. Benoit was excited that the commission was full, and welcomed the two new commissioners. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Brenda BalloujQMC City Clerk (City Seal) e++ P IZ sac, 44 pasrymma+�:smaa �hV P4, +� � SEAL : n tl e AL b •��`,� OF Cheryl Seese Chair