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Home My WebLink About1995-02-28 Historic District Board Summarya ;~ , . ~ HISTQRIC DISTRICT BDARD ~ Februar 28 1995 - 6:00 .m. Y ~ p **~AGENDA*** Kenai Councii Chambers Chair porothy Gray 1. CALL TQ ORDER 2. APPRnVAL ~F AGENDA 3. APPRUVAL ~F MINUTES January 24, 1995 4. PERS~NS PRESENT SCHEDULED T4 BE HEARD a. Ken Jardan - Original Village of Shk'ituk't 5. HISTQRIC BQARD REVIEW 6. NEIN BUSINESS ~ a. Historic Preservation Threatened Properties Inventory 7. 4LD BUSINESS a. Goals & Objectives b. CLG Status 8. REP~RTS 9. INFORMATIaN a. Clarion Article -"Sign would honor Dena'ina Village" b. Resignation - Jim Arness c. History of Mining on Upper Fish Creek (hand carried} 10. B~ARD QUESTI~NS AND COMMENTS 11. ADJOURNMENT PLEASE G~NTACT L~RETTA AT 283-7933 IF Y~U ARE UNABLE T~ ATTEND S~ ~ 1NE CAN ESTABLISH A QU~RUM DnD r {~ HIST~RIC DISTRICT BDARD February 28, 1995 - 6:00 p.m. ***MINUTES*** Kenai Councii Chambers Chair porothy Gray 1. CALL TD aRDER Members present: Dorothy Gray, Kim Booth, Alan Boraas, Wanda Carlson, Rose Ann Murphy, Roger Meeks, Ethel Clausen, James Malanaphy Members absent: Diane Rathman Also present: Councilpersons Jim Bookey and Chris Monfor; P&Z Commissioner Karen Mahurin; City Engineer Jack La Shot; Administrative Assistant Loretta Harvey Loretta Harvey administered the oath of office to Kim Booth and James Malanaphy and welcomed them to the Board. 2. APPROVAL 4F AGENDA Dorothy Gray asked to add under Old Business: Update of Fish & Wildlife Property. Agenda approved as amended. 3. APPR~VAL ~F MINUTES January 24, 1995 Rose Ann Murphy had several changes to the assignm ents on Goals and Objectives, page 4. Roger Meeks noted that page 2, paragraph 3, should say Jordan instead of Johnson. So noted. Minutes approved as amended. 4. PERSt~NS PRESENT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD a. Ken Jordan - Original Village of Shk'ituk't Roger Meeks introduced Ken Jordan and his wife. Historic District Board February 28,1995 Page 1 ~~~ Ken Jordan said he had come to Kenai in 1946. In 1942 the Civil Aeronautics sent a crew in to clean up the area. They removed everything and burned an area af the bluff. They put up three pre-cut buildings, the small tower, the generator and utility buildings. In 1942 they put up three more houses. In the process of this development, the survey was incorrect and the houses were put on the cannery property, which they then had to lease. The riverbank has receded about 50 feet since that time. In 1949 they cleared additional property and put up antennas for telecommunication, from Anchorage. Jordan said he had a garden on the property and there was an iron stake which designated the Russian Church property. VUhen he broke up the garden he found a lot of artifacts ~which he displayed for the Board~. There were signs that a village had existed on this land. The Church had moved the natives down by the church and then burned down the village. When he worked the garden, the soil was full of beads, when it rained the ground was covered with beads, all shapes and sizes. When the Jordan's moved to Daniel's Lake, the garden plot was bulldozed. There used to be cottonwaod trees and spruce in this area. Jordan felt they built here because it was the most suitable place for a plane to land. During the winter, the old ski planes could land, in the summertime they landed on the beach. Roger Meeks noted until the Federal Land Auction of 1955, most people in Kenai were squatters. You either bought the land for accessed value or they auctioned off the land. Chairperson Gray thanked Jordan for the presentation and asked him to return for the March 28th meeting to show slides of early Kenai. Alan Baraas said he also had some slides to present. Staff noted that Jordan and Boraas slide presentations should be placed on the agenda for that meeting. 5. HISTpRIC B~ARD REVIEIN None. 6. NEIN BUSIN ESS a. Historic Preservation Threatened Properties Inventory Chairperson Gray noted that each year the Alaska Historic Preservation puts out a list of the top ten endangered properties in Alaska. The praperties don't receive money, but they do receive attention for grants, etc. Gray asked if there were any properties in Kenai that should be included in the list. Historic District Board February 28,1995 Page 2 Councilperson Monfor asked if it had to be a building? James Malanaphy noted that sites and landmarks do qualify even though the form isn't stated that way. He said he was working with Soldotna and Kasilof to submit properties for the Federal Program. The properties will be added to a compilation :~ ~ of historic preservation needs for Congress to review when allacating preservation f unds. Roger Meeks said that is one reason the H istorical Society is trying to hold on to the old public library building. It housed many of the firsts for Kenai, such as the first, school, church, caurtroom, chambers, public health nurse station, and fire department. b. Plan for Presenting Village Size to Planning and Zoning Alan Boraas said it appeared that the area, which was indicated on the plat of Tract C of the Daubenspeck property as Russian Mission property, appeared to be consistent with reports on where the original village was located. Chairperson Gray said when she learned that the property belonged to the church she believed it was where the original village was. Right now the property is vacant and is surrounded by the Daubenspeck property which was deeded ta the city for recreational purposes. She felt it would be an excellent location for an interpretive site, which would include informatian signs and trails. Alan Boraas asked if the Church might have any objections to using this property for such a purpose? Chairperson Gray said she did not feel the church would have a problem with this. This property is just a small piece of property which is tax exempt because it may be a burial site. The church would probably have no use for it, except for a small shrine. Councilman Bookey asked for clarification of what was wanted. Does the Board want to make this area Townsite Historic, and then identify sites and walkways to be developed? Alan Boraas felt the site is a very important part of the whole scheme of Kenai. !n order to present that history to residents and tourists it would be important ta present a walking trail with signs and a few picnic tables or benches, so people could hear more about Kenai's history. He felt it was important to get something going in this area. It could be a modest development at this time. He felt it was remarkable that the City owned the property on the oldest site in Kenai and it appeared it would be compatible with the owner's wishes that it be used for public purposes, This would Historic District Board February 28,1995 Page 3 ~~ ~ ~ benefit everyone in the community, especially the seniors, that live in this area. Alan Boraas suggested that a representative af the Board attend the next Planning and Zoning Commission meeting and present the idea and ask for help and suggestions an how to proceed with the development of this site. James Malanaphy said he felt that a short, and long term strategy should be established which would include how to develop the site to its best potential. Kim Booth felt it would be a great asset to the community because so many residents are not aware of the local heritage before the oil industry arrived. Chairman Gray said she would be willing to present this idea to P&Z and asked other Board members to attend, if possible. 7. 4LD BUSINESS a. Goals & Objectives Chairperson Gray noted a new person needed to be assigned to number 12 of the G&0's: Statement of public sector's responsibilities toward city-owned historic resaurces ~such as parks, streets, public buildings, etc.~. James Malanaphy volunteered to put together a draft of these items. Chairperson Gray reminded other Board members that the time-line to have rough drafts into the Board for the G&0's was April. b. CLG Status Chairperson Gray noted that the City had received CLG status. There were some recommendations the SHP~ had in regards to the certification. ~ne af which was to update the plan more frequently then every 10 years. MOTIDN AND V~TE: JAMES MALANAPHY MOVED TQ RECOMMEND TO THE PLANNING AND ZtJNING C~MMISSI4N AND THE CITY C~UNCIL THAT THE TSH ~RDINANCE BE AMENDED Tt~ REFLECT THE SURVEY BE UPDATED ANNUALLY, INSTEAD aF TEN YEARS PER KMC SECTIQN 14.20.105 tC) ~4}. ALAN BQRAAS SECQNDED. PASSED UNANIM4USLY. Historic District Board February 28,1995 Page 4 ~ ~ ~ , James Malanaphy said the other recommendation was to chan e the Code to reflect ~ . . . . , , g that the H~stor~c D~stnct Board ~s carry~ng out the purposes of section 101 b, and not . . . . ~~ the ent~re Nat~onal H~stor~c Preservation Act, MQTInN AND VUTE: JAMES MALANAPHY MQVED T~ RECOMMEND TQ THE PLANNING AND ZONING GaMMISSI~N AND THE CITY CQUNCIL THAT THE TSH QRDINANCE BE AMENDED TO REFLECT THAT THE HISTQRIC DISTRICT B4ARD HAS BEEN CERTIFIED TO CARRY ~UT THE PURPOSES aF SECTI~N 101 B OF THE ~} NATI~NAL HIST4RIC PRESERVATIUN ACT. R~SE ANN MURPHY SEC~NDED. PASSED UNANIM~USLY. b. Update on Fish and Wildlife Property Chairperson Gray noted that a bill had been introduced b Don Youn endorsin a .. . . . .. y g g negot~at~on package w~th Kena~ Nat~ve Assoc~at~on. The bill has been reintraduced this year, but there has been no action on this item. 8. REP~RTS 9. INFURMATI~N a. Clarion Article - "Sign woulc b. Resignation - Jim Arness c. Histary of Mining on Upper honor Dena'ina Village" Fish Creek ~hand carried) 14. BQARD QUESTIQNS AND C~MMENTS 11. ADJ~URNMENT There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at a roximatel 8:05 pp Y p.m. Respectfully subm itted, ,r ~ - G~ ~ ~ ~~~. L retta arve , ~strative Assistant Y Historic District Board February 28,1995 Page 5 ana