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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-01-23 Historic District Board SummaryHISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD JANUARY 23, 1996- 7:00 p.m. ~~AGENDA~ Kenai Council Chambers Chair Dorothy Gray 1. ROLL CALL: a. Election of Officers 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: November 20, 1995 4. PERSONS PRESENT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD: 5. HISTORIC BOARD REVIEW: 6. NEW BUSINESS: 1 OLD BUSINESS: a. Historic Preservation Grant--Resolution 95-74 b. Historic Survey Status Report c. Preservation Plan, Goals & Mission Statement d. Review of Sign Code 8. REPORTS: 9. INFORMATION: Vozar Site Plan Memo & Response Letter to Ms. Elliott dated November 22, 1 995 Town Hall Meeting Memo (January 25, 1996) Miscellaneous Correspondence from November & December Letter & Info from OHA dated November 27, 1 995 "The Alliance Review" The Alaska Association for Historic Preservation 10. BOARD QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS: 1 1. ADJOURNMENT: TOWNSITE HISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD WORK SESSION MINUTES JANUARY 23, 1996 Parties Present: Townsite Board members Ethel Clausen, Dorothy Gray, Mike Huhndorf, and Kim Booth; Planning & Zoning Commission members Teresa Werner-Quade, Karen Mahurin, and Carl Glick; Council persons Linda Swarner and Joe Moore; Parks & Recreation representative Bob Frates; Kenaitze Indian Tribe representatives Bunny Swan, Rita Smagge, and Sasha Lindgren; City Engineer Jack La Shot; and, Administrative Assistant Marilyn Kebschull. Dorothy Gray brought the group up-to-date on the Shkituk' project. Gray stated that last May the City Council voted for the Historic District Board and Planning and Zoning to proceed with the designation of the Shkituk' Village Site. Gray stated that at that time the Board had met with representatives from KIT and came up with three goals wanted to accomplish last summer. Those goals were' 1. To create a sign. Gray advised that the Board had submitted a grant for state funding to make the sign for the village and for signs in Old Town in cooperation with the Rotary Club. Gray stated that if the grant is approved, the signs will hopefully be put in this summer. 2. The second goal was to make the parking lot more secure because people were driving right up and digging up the turf. The city maintenance crew did a fantastic job cleaning the area and hauled off junk. Gray commented that Mark Johansen had helped a great deal and did a fantastic job. Gray noted that he prevented people from driving up on the bluff. Gray stated that HEA had donated power poles but people were just pushing them away and driving up to the bluff. So, the next week Johansen drilled holes and spiked the poles into the ground to prevent them being moved. 3. The third goal was to clean up the site. Gray stated that goal two and three were completed last year and the sign is in the process of being funded. Gray stated that the meeting tonight was to brainstorm ideas as to what the next step should be, what do people want to see, where do we go from here? What would be appropriate goals to accomplish. Lindgren asked if Gray was talking about right at the Shkituk' site. Gray responded from the parking lot area towards the bluff. Lindgren asked if Gray had a copy of the letter from the tribe. Mahurin stated that she thought that from the beginning of the discussions on the site that it was going to be a reflective, quiet place. There would be interpretive signs and then there would be benches for visiting or looking out. Mahurin stated she didn't visualize much more there. Gray noted that one of the ideas discussed last time was simple and that was to re-vegetate the area because it had been bulldozed. Gray stated that someone had mentioned planting wild flowers and putting in a cedar path with benches. Gray noted that these were just some of the things she remembered people talking about. Gray said that someone had commented that there used to be cottonwood trees through there and maybe the group could plant some trees which might help. Werner-Quade stated that possibly a group such as the Boys & Girls Club could help plant the trees. Swarner noted that the KIT greenhouse has perennials and questioned if they had trees. Smagge stated that they did. Gray commented that Swan had stated that the Cooper Landing trail was completed with cedar chips. Swan stated it was done with chips and peeled logs that were beetle-killed, fallen logs. Swan stated the youth did a great deal in building the trail. Lindgren stated the Cooper Landing project was constructed three years ago. Lindgren explained the chips are beetle-kill spruce that the forest service provided and the youths did all the labor on the site. It took three weeks, four hours a day to build the trail. Lindgren noted it is an interpretive trail and has rocks with numbers painted on them and the interpretive brochure. Lindgren added that based on the letter from the tribe that the elders said they did not want an interpretive trail. Lindgren said the tribe takes their direction from their elders. Lindgren said that if you wanted a trail going up to the sign that may be okay but the elders did not want an interpretive tail. They wanted a reflective area and had hoped that the impact of the sign would be enough. Swan added that it is a place of peace and to think about the past, present, and future. Swarner added that the site would go along with the Leif Hansen Memorial Park theme. Glick asked if they were against flowers and trees, etc. Lindgren stated she thought the letter said wild flowers and the group confirmed that was what the letter said. Swarner asked if wild flowers would include trees. Discussion that the elders wanted the site natural, not formal gardens. Gray stated that the area is mostly Iow, scrub bushes off to the side now and down to dirt in a lot of areas. Lindgren commented that just getting people off the ground works as well as re-vegetation. Gray stated that she thought a little top soil may be helpful because it looks like the top soil has been scraped off. Mahurin commented that on the side where the logs are up to the bluff she would hope there would be benches and added that possibly some sort of a trail or path that is marked would keep people off the rest of the grass. Mahurin stated that when she goes there it is to the bluff and the area is diminishing. Lindgren asked if it was safe to have people there. Comments from the group that it is really steep. Gray stated there may be a need to put up a fence to keep people from getting too Townsite Historic District Board Work Session Minutes January 23, 1996 Page 2 close to the bluff. Frates stated that he felt to alleviate any liability issues a sign would have to be posted and have a buffer zone with a certain distance between the bluff and any benches. Huhndorf commented that it would be similar to the church in Old Town. Frates stated he didn't mean a metal barricade or anything like that. Frates added that a path leading to it as a persuasion to keep people on the path. Gray asked how people felt about a path coming from the parking area to the sign and benches around the area. Glick stated if you don't do something like that, people will walk all over anything that is planted. Mahurin asked where the sign would be placed? Gray commented that it hadn't been decided. Huhndorf stated it had been discussed at a previous meeting and he had suggested that it be in the middle. This would help keep it from being destroyed by passing traffic and people would have to make a deliberate effort to use the site in reflection. Huhndorf noted that was his contribution and he didn't know how anyone else would feel. Mahurin clarified where Huhndorf was referring to for the sign placement. Huhndorf stated he felt that the designated place would be up to discussion but it should be at least set back from the parking area. Smagge stated she felt they should have brought some of their elders to the meeting to allow them to speak to the issue. Swan stated she had made the suggestion for the foot path to be wood chips simply because other than any kind of paved or black top if for any reason that the site was left, it would pretty much be back to it's natural state. Swan added that it is quite comfortable and that handicapped people using wheel chairs, canes, etc. are comfortable with using a trail constructed of the chips. Swan noted this information was based on their experience at the Cooper Landing trail. Lindgren commented that it doesn't pass the ADA code and that was brought up at one of the Forest Service meetings. However, she added that handicap people can use the path with no problem. Lindgren stated that wood chips are not one of the materials listed for ADA code. Swarner stated that all trails don't have to be ADA approved unless if under the grant the trail was included there might be a requirement to meet ADA requirements. Swarner asked if there was anything about ADA requirements in the grant application. Kebschull stated she had not read anything about ADA requirements but noted that the trail was not a part of the grant. Frates stated that wood chips may not have been included in the list of recommended materials but felt the chips may meet codes. It would depend on how thick the layer was and noted that as long as it is still accessible by wheel chair, it is considered accessible. Lindgren commented that they had not received any complaints from handicapped people who had visited their site. In addition, they had one group of handicapped people who said it should be listed in the national register because it was accessible even though it wasn't constructed of recommended materials. Swan stated it had been a concern so they had made a point to inquire of their visitors how they were Townsite Historic District Board Work Session Minutes January 23, 1996 Page 3 doing and noted they have not received any complaints. Frates commented that they should make every effort to make the trail wheel chair accessible. Huhndorf noting the elders did not want a trail, wondered what would be an adequate substitute. Huhndorf questioned if there would be a boardwalk, or what else. Lindgren stated she was at the meeting with the elders and the thing that they didn't want was a guided tour and people talking about what happened. Lindgren added that she didn't feel the objection was to a trail to a bench or to the sign, the objection was to other people interpreting the history of the area. Lindgren added that they do need to bring the elders to another meeting and get their opinion. Frates asked if the sign would be laminated and painted. Swan stated it will be a computerized etching which is quite durable for all-weather signs. Swan added that she had designed the sign and it will be reproduced by the same people who did the sign for the Cooper Landing site. Frates asked if there was any vandalism, would it be possible just to replace the front piece? Lindgren commented that it could be removed during the winter and noted that the sign they have they just put the sign inside the fiberglass and it is bolted. It is a special bolt that requires a special wrench to remove the bolt. During the winter, they pull the sign out and put a tarp over the sign. Lindgren added that they have a design for the base because they used rocks noting that their campers built the base. Lindgren stated that it was very easy construction and it is a beautiful sign. Gray asked if it would be easier if the KIT representatives met with the elders and prepared a sketch of a path and the layout and let the Board know what they would like. Then, Gray stated the Board could determine how it could be accomplished. Smagge stated they could do that but also bring them to a meeting. Gray stated it sounds like it will be fairly simple to accomplish the task once it is determined what they want to do. Werner-Quade mentioned that she liked Mr. Huhndorf's idea of a central location for the sign as it gives two accesses to egress the location. Huhndorf commented that it is important to locate the sign where it will give the best view. Swan mentioned that the style of benches might be a consideration also adding that they built their benches for the Cooper Landing trail. Gray stated she had thought they would be natural wood benches. Lindgren stated that when they constructed the trail, the hardest job was peeling the logs because the logs were beetle-kill spruce. The logs were placed and the Forest Service notched them because the youth could not use a chain saw. They also drilled a hole and then rebar was pounded in to hold the logs together. A piece of doweling was put in the hole to hide the rebar. Lindgren stated you must peel the logs or else they will deteriorate more rapidly. Lindgren added that they built the base for the sign last year. The base comes up 2 feet. They dug down about three feet for the uprights with a post hole digger. The base is made with rock that they had collected. Townsite Historic District Board Work Session Minutes January 23, 1996 Page 4 Lindgren reiterated that they were able to do all of this work with youth. Lindgren noted that the trail is 1100 feet long and it took 10 youth working 4 hours a day less than three weeks to built the trail. Gray stated that she had talked to Frates about another problem they have had there because of the cannery and the adjacent property. It has been a popular place for cannery workers to camp out. Gray commented she felt this was because at the up river side of the property there are some trees and shrubs and it looks like they have bulldozed dirt up they created lots of little hills and gullies. These are perfect places to pitch tents. Gray stated that the city officer has been great about kicking the campers out. Gray stated that Frates suggested a permanent fence on the cannery side of the property to deter the cannery workers. Werner-Quade stated that you can't expect people to know what is wanted, they have to be directed. Swan shared a quick sketch with the group of the sign at Cooper Landing noting that she had drawn in the angles that the proposed sign would have. The sketch showed the stone base. Lindgren commented that the sign can be removed for winter storage, the panels basically slide in and out. Lindgren noted that once you do the first fiberglass sign it is half the cost should you need to have another sign made since the blue print is don. Lindgren noted that is important in case there is any vandalism and the signs has to be replaced. They noted that they had had no vandalism. Werner-Quade stated it might benefit the city to have an official visit the canneries to let them know that this is an important site for the city and to let the workers know it is not a place for partying, camping, etc. Werner-Quade commented that the city could even request that they post a sign to let the workers know what the city's expectations are for the site. Gray stated that the Historic Board had talked about submitting this area to be included on the National Historic Register. Gray commented that the KIT representatives may want to discuss this with their elders and see how they feel about designating the site. Lindgren commented that if it was designated the site would always stay as it is. Gray suggested setting the date for the next meeting. Lindgren asked the group if what they would like the tribe to do is have elders at the meeting and to come up with a suggested sketch for the site. Gray asked Frates if he had an opportunity to get pricing for the fence for the property edge. Huhndorf'asked if he should look into nominating the site for the National Historic Register. Next meeting for Townsite Board is February 27t~ at 7 p.m. with a work session before at 6 p.m. Kebschull noted that the Board should write a memo to council for permission to hold the work session. Townsite Historic District Board Work Session Minutes January 23, 1996 Page 5 Meeting tentatively set for February 27th at 6 p.m. No quorum for the regular meeting. Meeting adjourned at approximately 7'1 5 p.m. Respectfully submitted: Marilyr~ Kebsch~ll Administrative Assistant Townsite Historic District Board Work Session Minutes January 23, 1996 Page 6