4. HPM 08-15-2013 DRAFT MINUTES OF THE ELK RIVER
HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Thursday,August 15,2013
HPC Members present: Chair Lance Lindberg,Vice Chair Debra Mortensen,and Joshua
Fox
HPC Members Absent: Marilyn VanPatten,Stephen Rohlf
Staff Present: Environmental Administrator Rebecca Haug
City Administrator Cal Portner
Community Operations Development Director Suzanne Fischer
Others Present: Michael Brubaker,Sherburne History Center
Stewart Wilson,City Council Liaison
1)Meeting called to Order
Elk River Heritage Preservation Commission was called to order at 6:23 p.m. by Chair Lindberg.
2) Consider August 15,2013 HPC Agenda
MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA WITH THE ADDITION OF THE GOALS AND
PRIORITIES,WALKING TOUR,AND BAILEY POINT OPPORTUNITIES BY
COMMISSIONER FOX AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MORTENSEN.ALL IN
FAVOR.MOTION CARRIED.
3) Consider June 6,2013 HPC Minutes
MOTION TO APPROVE THE JUNE 6 MINUTES BY COMMISSIONER FOX AND
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MORTENSEN. ALL IN FAVOR.MOTION CARRIED.
4) GENERAL BUSINESS
4.1) Council Liaison Policy
City Administrator Cal Portner explained the differences between the various boards and
commissions in regard to the role of the City Council Liaisons. The City Council has tasked Mr.
Portner to seek the opinion of city Boards and Commissions regarding the Council's role as a liaison.
He said the Council discussed whether or not Councilmembers should participate in the
board/commission discussions.Also,whether Councilmembers could advocate for items of
discussion or could be allowed to voice their opinion as a resident. Chair Lindberg welcomes the
new policy as it will lead to better communication and insight to the Council's perspective.
Commissioner Fox asked why some commissions have voting Councilmembers and others do not.
Mr.Portner explained the differences between the Boards and Commissions. Commissioner Fox
indicated that he would not have an issue with the Council liaison being a voting member.
Councilmember Wilson explained to Commissioner Fox that some commissions have the power to
take action on their own because they have their own budgets like the HRA and EDA and don't
need council approvals. Other commissions are advisory boards to the City Council and have the
freedom to come up with ideas and suggestions to be considered by the Council.
4.2)Water Tower Plan
Commissioner Fox informed the HPC that he is going to set-up a 501c3 similar to the Friends of the
Kelly Farm. His process will be to determine who will be on the Board,write by-laws and submit
Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting
Elk River City Hall
August 16,2013
paperwork to the Secretary of the State. Commissioner Rohlf has offered to help Commissioner
Fox. Councilmember Wilson believes this is the right step but too make sure a good plan is put into
place and fundraising efforts for this amount of money in this community take a lot of work.
Commissioner Fox thinks the Hockey Day MN 2014 event would be a good opportunity to start
creating awareness.
4.3) Pledge of Allegiance Discussion
The City Council directed staff to seek input on whether or not the Boards and Commissions wanted
to add the Pledge of Allegiance to their meeting agendas. The City Council,Ice Arena and Energy
City Commission have added it. Commissioners did not have a problem with adding it.
MOTION TO ADD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO FUTURE HPC AGENDAS BY
COMMISSIONER FOX AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MORTENSEN. ALL IN
FAVOR.MOTION CARRIED.
4.4)History Day Recap
Ms.Haug gave an update on the History Day activities and suggested continuing to partner with
ArtSoup to have a booth at future events and possibly help with activities like the Fashion Show and
Old Town Ball game. Commissioner Mortensen informed the HPC that there was a lot on interest
in the replica Water Tower display and people were happy that the HPC is trying to save it.
4.5)Archaeological Dig—Bailey Point
Ms.Haug gave an update on the Archaeological Dig. Ms. Haug informed the HPC that Dr.Rothaus
would like to go back to Bailey Point soon as he found artifacts at the Open House for Bailey Point
that had been covered with water during the dig.
4.6)The 33rd Annual Statewide Preservation Conference
Commissioner Fox and Ms.Haug will be attending the conference in Lanesboro September 12-13,
2013. The city has been awarded a scholarship to cover the hotel,registration and mileage.
4.7) Comprehensive Plan Update
Commissioner Fox gave an update on the Comprehensive Plan. So far,there have only been two
meetings,June and July. The June meeting was more of an overview of what to expect. The July
meeting covered traffics issues. There hasn't been an opportunity to discuss historic preservation.
Commissioner Mortensen suggested that the downtown area needs additional signage. Ms. Fischer
agreed.
5.) Other
Goals and Priorities
Ms.Haug suggested that the September HPC meeting be devoted to updating the goals and priorities
for the next three years.
Walking Tour
Ms.Haug discussed the need to update the walking tour brochure for the City of Elk River as some
of the structures no longer exist. She informed the HPC that there are grant dollars available to help
fund creating walking tours. The information could include podcasts and/or QR codes.
Commissioner Mortensen suggested creating a cemetery walking tour event in conjunction with
Halloween.
Ms. Haug will contact St. Cloud State University to see if they are interested in working on a walking
tour brochure.
Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting
Elk River City Hall
August 16,2013
Bailey Point Opportunity
Ms.Haug suggested a joint meeting be held with the Parks and Recreation Commission to discuss
using the signs the students from SCSU created for the Bailey Point Nature Preserve Park.
6.)Next Meeting Agenda Items
A next meeting was scheduled for September 19,2013 at the Elk River City Hall in the Upper Town
Conference Room at 6:00 p.m.The items to be discussed at the meeting include:
• Goals and Priorities
The Pledge of Allegiance will be added to all future agendas.
7.)Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned by Chair Lindberg at 7:21 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Rebecca Haug
Tina Allard
City Clerk
Chair Lindberg
Heritage Preservation Commission Chair