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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-09-24 Historic District Board SummaryHISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD September 24, 1996- 7:00 p.m. ***AGENDA*** Kenai Council Chambers Chair Dorothy Gray 1. ROLL CALL: 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 25, 1996 4. PERSONS PRESENT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD: 5. HISTORIC BOARD REVIEW: 6. NEW BUSINESS: a. Sign Grant b. Attendance/Possible Change of Meeting Days or Times c. New Members 7. OLD BUSINESS: a. Ft. Kenay/Mission Street b. Preservation Plan, Part 2 c. Shkituk' Village Archeological Study 8. REPORTS: 9. INFORMATION: a. Letter from State DOT regarding Ft. Kenai/Mission Street Improvements b. The Alliance Review--Fall 1996 c. "Heritage" Newsletter (April- June 1996) 10. BOARD QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS: 1 1. ADJOURNMENT: HISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD September 24, 1996- 7:00 p.m. ~~MINUTES~ Kenai Council Chambers Chair Dorothy Gray 1. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Members Absent: Others Present: Dorothy Gray, Ethel Clausen, Kim Booth, Michael Huhndorf, Rebecca Godek Alan Boraas, Bill Kluge Jack La Shot- City Engineer, Kathy Woodford - Admin. Assistant, Joe Moore - Councilman 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: MOTION Kim Booth Moved for approval of the Agenda as written. Michael Huhndorf Seconded. There being no objections - MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 25, 1996 MOTION Chairperson Dorothy Gray asked for any changes to the June 25, 1996 Minutes. There being none she asked for Unanimous Consent. No Objections. Approval of the June 25, 1996 Minutes PASSED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. 4. PERSONS PRESENT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD: None 5. HISTORIC BOARD REVIEW: None Page 2 Historic District Board Minutes 9/24/96 6. NEW BUSINESS: a. Sign Grant Gray noted the grant was approved. She stated it's pretty commendable since she heard the state normally tries to spread the money around the state to where the same city doesn't receive the grant two years in a row. Gray also noted Kebschull's presentation to the state was done very professionally and made a good visual impact. Gray said the grant is for 30 signs. In the survey report there were 34 properties surveyed. Gray said the Board needs to decide two things: (1) which 30 properties should be signed; and (2) what criteria to follow in choosing the 30. Booth asked if we are specifically tied to 30 signs or to a dollar amount. Gray answered that in the grant, it is written "30 signs." Booth asked if that is based on a rough cost estimate, and if we pay for the material and Rotary donates their time to make the signs. Gray said it is a rough estimate and the grant covers materials and Rotary donates labor for the signs. Booth asked if we could get 34 signs out of the 30 sign cost. La Shot suggested waiting until we receive responses from the property owners before we decide which ones to sign. He pointed out that some property owners may not want signage on their property and that could eliminate having to choose the 30 properties. Gray suggested a Motion be made concerning the letter being sent to property owners. Huhndorf asked if the letter to property owners could include an incentive to property owners - whether it be of tax or monetary value. Booth asked if the signs would be mounted on the building or on posts in the yard. Gray said there is money for posts so the sign location could be up to the property owner, she added some properties don't have buildings. Gray suggested requesting the property owners respond whether they do or do not want signage on their property, and set a deadline, if we get no response by then, follow up with a phone call. Page 3 Historic District Board Minutes 9/24/96 Godek concurred with Gray, stating it would be wise to follow up with the phone call. Moore asked if the property owners haven't already been contacted (a long time ago) concerning the signage. Gray said they were contacted about admittance to their property for the survey. Gray said that several buildings already have signs. She counted four properties that already have signs so that leaves 30 properties with no signage which would fit right in with the grant. Moore said he is surprised the state would grant any money with no guarantee from the property owners regarding the signs. La Shot stated that an agreement with property owners is required before the signage can be put up, according to the grant. MOTION Michael Huhndorf Moved to have a letter drafted to property owners,' with copies of their property description from the Historic Survey and a sample agreement, and put it on the next Historic District Board Agenda for approval. Kim Booth Seconded. PASSED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. La Shot said he will talk to the City Attorney and ask him to draft the agreement to attach to the letter. Huhndorf stated that the Board should look at some of the objections property owners could bring up, i.e. walking across lawns, etc. Moore commented that (although it may not occur) we may hear "What will you pay me for it?" Gray asked Booth if the Visitors Center is planning to coordinate a walking tour. Booth said that with the development of the Old Town Shopping Village and the restaurant, there seems to be a movement to make our history better well known and documented for visitors. Booth said she and Veronica Kessler (curator) have been discussing a walking tour with a map so that they don't have to tell each visitor where every building or point of interest is. She suggested talking with the Kenaitze Tribe to get some copies of their photos and maybe do a cassette tape of a walking tour. Booth added she knows a tape exists somewhere. Page 4 Historic District Board Minutes 9/24/96 Woodford stated a tape was given to her to transcribe a year or more ago. She said she would look for the transcribed walking tour, but that she thinks it was given to someone else. Woodford said she believes the tape was received from Roger Meeks. Gray said she was in Unalaska and for their walking tour they just told you that this building is at this address. Gray suggested that if a tape is made for a walking tour, at least one be done in German. Huhndorf said he thinks the Tribe would like to participate with the Visitors Center regarding a walking tour. Booth suggested having Walking Tour under New Business on the next Agenda. Gray concurred. La Shot said the letter sent to property owners should ask for their opinion of where they would like the signage placed. b. Attendance/Possible Change of Meeting Days or Times Gray said this item was put on the Agenda because of the letter Board members received from the Mayor. She said the letter came as a result of the last meeting having no quorum. Gray explained that she canceled the meeting because she knew there would not be a quorum. She added that no matter whether there is a quorum or not, the meeting secretary has to show up.because it is a public meeting. Gray also apologized to Joe Moore for not contacting him when she knew there would not be a quorum at the last meeting. Gray said she asked the Mayor to look at the list of Board members, stating they are all very busy people, teachers and professionals some taking college classes in the evening. There was general discussion among the Board members regarding nights they are or are not available. After this discussion, Godek suggested looking at a Monday night. Huhndorf said the earlier in the evening, the better. Woodford told the Board what nights are not available according to other scheduled meetings. Gray said the Board's request has to go to City Council for approval. Page 5 Historic District Board Minutes 9/24/96 MOTION Godek Moved to ask City Council for approval to move the Townsite Historic Board's regularly scheduled meeting to the third Monday of the month, at 5:30 p.m. Booth Seconded. There being no objection, MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. c. New Members Godek said she has a list of some people she thought of to ask if they would be interested in joining the Board. She asked the Board to come up with some others she can contact, suggesting people that have been in the area a long time and have an interest in Kenai's history. Moore reminded the Board that the membership is restricted. Godek noted two positions are open. She said she called Bill Thompson and is waiting for his reply. Booth suggested asking Bob Peters. It was noted Peters is on the LibrarY Commission. Huhndorf suggested Emily DeForest. Booth said she could not be on a commission since she isa city employee. Moore was asked if you can be on two commissions. He stated yes. Gray suggested Karen Mahurin, but added she is very busy. Godek said she will contact some of these people to see if anyone is interested. 7. OLD BUSINESS: a. Ft. Kenay/Mission Street Gray referenced Steve Horn's letter. She said the paving has been redesigned to come out further from the fence to concur with the request from SHPO's office. Gray said when the archeologists came through, they did find, on the water side of the church, some artifacts. She added the church has approved the buffer zone around the church and it looks like the project will be done next summer. Gray told the Board they may want to look at lighting in the project, and also colored sidewalks, etc. She said that Alan Boraas stated it would be inaccurate to put Victorian style lights in the area. It was also noted that street lights are not necessary in the summer. Gray suggested putting this subject on a future Agenda for discussion. Page 6 Historic District Board Minutes 9/24/96 b. Preservation Plan, Part 2 Huhndorf said the Preservation Plan is in the process. He asked the Board what kind of format they are looking for. Should the format be done strictly according to law, or something that is agreed upon by the Board. Gray suggested Huhndorf prepare a summary for the steps to follow according to what is required and let the Board examine it and maybe add some extra criteria. Gray added that a major portion of the plan is done with the Survey being finished. She said she is pleased with the outcome of the Survey. c. Shkituk' Village Archeological Study Huhndorf said he hasn't been able to contact anybody but he does have a meeting later in the week where he may be able to contact his sources. La Shot said Rachel Clark is doing a plan for the area showing the present status of it. Moore added the FAA has asked if the City would like any of the buildings that are there. Gray stated when she spoke with the Mayor, they discussed temporarily placing the Shkituk' sign until everything is settled and a final spot is chosen for the sign. 8. REPORTS: None 9. INFORMATION: j. Letter from State DOT regarding Ft. Kenai/Mission Street Improvements k. The Alliance Review--Fall 1996 I. "Heritage" Newsletter (April- June 1 996) 10. BOARD QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS: Huhndorf announced the Museum's Alaska Conference will be held October 11 - 15, 1996, in Anchorage. He said the theme is "Interpreting Our Past." He added it will be at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art. Booth said that Veronica Kessler will be attending. Page 7 Historic District Board Minutes 9/24/96 Booth said the summer was good, the Center was open until after 8:00 every night. She said she had a conversation with the Mayor concerning attendance and conflicts and he was understanding, but the big picture is ... if you want to be on the Board - you have to attend the meetings. Gray said her trip to Unalaska was great. She stated that you must visit there, if only to land in a plane there! Gray said for such a tiny town they have a very nice walking tour: Gray asked La Shot if Mrs. Vozar owns the corner property that is directly across from Fort Kenay where the sign is that says "Old Town Shopping Village" (with an arrow). La Shot said she does own a piece of property in the area. Gray stated that she is wondering if this is an off-premises sign, and she added that the sign kind of points people away from Old Town. La Shot said he will look into it. Gray mentioned the Dunes project, asking if the area is in the TSH zone. La Shot said it is not. There was some discussion concerning the project, where the walkway will be, etc. La Shot said he has also applied for a corps permit to expand the parking area down there. Gray said that rehabilitation in this area had been one of the first things this Board suggested to Council. At the time nothing was done. Booth reported the ribbon cutting ceremony of the Spur Highway was held today. Gray said the Orthodox Church is having their 100 and 150~' Anniversary dinner at 1:00 on Sunday. 100 yrs. ago the present church was consecrated, and 150 yrs. ago the first priest came here. Gray said all Board members are invited as guests to attend. 1 1. ADJOURNMENT: At 8'00 p.m. Dorothy Gray adjourned the meeting. Respectfully Submitted, K'at hy Wo~'dfo~d,-Ad mi~. Assistant