Loading...
03-18-2010 HPC MINMINUTES OF THE ELK RIVER . HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL Thursday, March 18, 2010 Members present: Chair Lance Lindberg, Kristin Harris, Debra Mortensen, and Mark Konietzko Members absent: Stephen Rohlf Staff Present: Environmental Administrator, Rebecca Haug Environmental Technician, Nicki Blake-Bradley Others Present: Councilmember Westgaard 1) Meeting called to Order: Elk River Heritage Preservation Commission was called to order at 6:09 p.m, by Chair Lance Lindberg. 21 Consider March 18, 2010 HPC Agenda Environmental Administrator Haug added the Book under Other. • MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES BY COMMISSIONER KONIETZKO. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HARRIS. ALL IN FAVOR MOTION CARRIED. 3) Consider January 21, 2010 HPC Minutes MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES WITHOUT C~-iANGE S BY COMMISSIONER MORTENSEN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HARRIS. ALL IN FAVOR MOTION CARRIED. 41 Election of Officers MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HARRIS AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER KONIETZKO TO NOMINATE CHAIR LINDBERG FOR ANOTHER TERM, ALL IN FAVOR MOTION CARRIED. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER KONIETZKO AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HARRIS TO NOMINATE VICE-CI-IAIR MORTENSEN FOR ANOTHER TERM. ALL TN FAVOR MOTION CARRIED. Historic Neighborhood Update The residents that attended the city tours were invited to attend this meeting. One could not attend because her husband had surgery (today) and the other two did not respond. They will be invited to the next meeting in April. • Environmental Adnnistrator Haug stated that most of the advice from the other cities points to having a survey done regardless of homeowner's buy in, just to know what is there and worthy of preservation. With this in mind, she contacted Dr. Richard Rothaus (who will be working on the Water Tower nomination) to see if he'd be interested or able to conduct • this work if the City gets a grant. He is interested in conducting the project, however $e has no experience with doing historic surveys. A recommendation was. made that he work with the person who has done the majority of surveys f or the various cities to learn about the process. Environmental Administrator Haug stated she will report back to the commission on whether the grant is received or not. Commissioner Konietzko questioned what the process will be going forward. The timeline approach was discussed. Environmental Administrator Haug stated that she would like to have the residents attend an HPC meeting before setting up a neighborhood meeting. Chair Lindberg stated that this does not need to be rushed at this point. Environmental Administrator Haug stressed that the City does not wish to push a historic district upon the residents of the horseshoe district. The survey has been recommended as a good resource for the City regardless of whether the I-historic District is sought or not. Environmental Technician Blake-Bradley briefly discussed a situation in St. Cloud where the City's HPC moved forward with a historic district designation that looked promising until it was sabotaged by a couple of negative residents. A confidential ballot was suggested. Discussion followed regarding how realtors have been able to assist with educating the public and fitting historic homes to buyers. A meeting with realtors might be beneficial if the District goes through. 61 Planning Commission items • Environmental Administrator Haug discussed the Planning Commission items. All items on the agenda have low to moderate potential for an archaeological site and no SHPO (State Historic Preservation Office) sites. Special attention was brought to item number 2, Request by Fast Cash to relocate to the northeast corner of Jackson Avenue and Railroad Drive. There are significant issues with the site. Environmental Administrator Haug recommended adding a condition on top of the standard condition that if any modifications to the building are proposed, the HPC be given the opportunity to review and comment. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER KONIETZKO AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HARRIS TO ADD THE STANDARD AND EXPANDED CONDITIONS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA ITEMS. ALL IN FAVOR MOTION CARRIED. 71 Fast Track Grant Update for Jackson Street Water Tower Environmental Administrator Haug stated that the grant application was submitted and is waiting for a response back. The decision has been postponed. She will inform the commission once she has heard the determination. 8~ Other Images ofAmerica. Elk River: Commissioner Mortensen brought a preview book to show which will be made available on • April 26, 2010 through area book stores. Locations for distribution were discussed. She will be doing book signings at the Senior Center (May 4~') and through other stores such as Barnes and Noble. She is interested in promoting the book at City events such as the riverfront concert series, fireman's ball, etc. Commissioner Harris stated that she would like to promote it through the salon. The commission in general was excited to see the book and complimented Commissioner Mortensen on a job well done. Councilman Westgaard asked when the next book will be published. Currently, Commissioner Mortensen is working on another book concerning her family, but is planning to gather information for a second book about Elk River for the time period of the 1920's to the 1960's. She will be looking for pictures and/or documents and hopes to be able to put some of the proceeds from selling the current book toward the costs for prints, etc. for the next one. As the author, Commissioner Mortensen is able to purchase the book at reduced rates from the publisher. Environmental Administrator Haug stated that this would be a nice gift for the commissioners at the annual volunteer's dinner. Stra teen Session: Commissioner Konietzko questioned when the last time a strategy session was held for the HPC. Environmental Administrator Haug stated that it has been a few years, and thought it was from 2008. She added that it maybe time to revisit the strategies laid down at that time. It will be added to a future meeting. • Councilman Westgaard suggested that Environmental Administrator Haug think about this during the budgetaryprocess and lay out the plans before that starts. Budget talks begin for departments in July so she would like to have changes in place by June. 91 Schedule Next HPC Meeting and Identify Agenda Items The next meeting will be held on April 15, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. in the Uppertown Conference Room. Agenda items will include all with the addition of strategic planning replacing the election of officers. 10) Adjournment The meeting was adjourned by Chair Lindberg at 6:55 p.m. Minutes prepared byNickiBlake-Bradley Tina Allard City Clerk Lance Lindberg • Heritage Preservation Commission Chair