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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-12-15 Historic District Board SummaryHISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD December 15, 1997 - 6:00 WORK SESSION *** AGENDA*** Kenai Council Chambers Chair porothy Gray 1. Preservation Plan a. Preservation Plan Outline with Status with attachments b. Work Session Minutes of November 17, 1997 NOTE: PLEASE BRING YOUR SURVEY DOCUMENT TO THE MEETING. REMEMBER: WORK SESSION SCHEDULED FOR 6 P.M. IN LIEU OF REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING. HISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD December 15, 1997- 7:00 p.m. Kenai City Hall Counc~l Chambers Chair porothy Gray *** WORK SESSION*** Work Session begin at approximately b:10 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Bill Kluge, Mike Huhndorf, Gloria Wik MEMBERS ABSENT: Dorothy Gray, Ethel Clausen, Alan Boraas ALSO PRESENT: Councilman Joe Moore, Administrative Assistant Marilyn Kebschull, Contract Secretary Barb Roper 1. Preservation Plan a. Preservation P1an Outline with Status with attachments b. Work Session Minutes of November 17, 199? When recording of the work session begin a conversation between Councilman Moore, Kluge and Huhndorf was taking place regarding two new members to the Board, the number of Board members and the meeting schedule. Number of Board Members Moore suggested the Board consider reducing the number of Board members to eliminate the quorum problems. It was recommended the number be reduced from nine members to seven. Moore had to leave the work session but asked Huhndorf to call him if the Board wanted him to bring this item up at the next Council meeting. Huhndorf indicated that he will call Moore. When asked what the procedure would be, Kebschull reported the process would be a motion at Council to change the number. Meetin~ Schedule Kebschull read from the Code which said, "The Board will consist of a minimum of seven members and the Board will meet twice each year or as necessary." Kebschull noted it would be easy to become a seven member board and reduce the meeting times. Huhndorf expressed his desire to continue with the monthly meetings. Kebschull indicated that when she spoke to Juneau they told her they only meet appro~mately two times per year, or as necessary. She stated they do a lot of their work through committees who don't have to meet under the public meeting law. Kebschull indicated this Board can get together to work on a project. When the finished product is ready the Board can schedule a public meeting to vote on the project. Kebschull continued, the group is still working and the expense to the City is reduced as it is costly to run ads and have the contract secretary show up for HISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD WORK SESSION DECEMBER 15, 1997 PAGE 2 reduced as it is costly to run ads and have the contract secretary show up for meetings when there is no quorum. Moore pointed out the contract secretary gets paid whether there is a quorum or not. Kebschull advised the Board it takes seven days to schedule a public hearing. After much discussion it was decided the meetings would remain monthly but consideration will be given to taking a break during the summer months as that seems to be when the most problems arise with quorums. Discussion took place on the two new members Huhndorf is recommending. Huhndorf asked if it would be necessary to make a presentation before Council. Kebschull answered the applications should be given to the City Clerk and she will put them in the packet and Council will review them. Kebschull continued, it is not up to this Board to decide who sits on the Board.. Kebschull asked the Board how they wanted to handle the January meeting as there will not be a quorum. Moore suggested the meeting be canceled. After much discussion it was decided the two new applications will go before Council at the January 7 meeting and if they are appointed there will be a quorum for the January meeting so canceling it would not be necessary. If they are not appointed, there will still be enough time to request canceling the meeting. Kluge suggested this Board meet the applicants before going to Council to assure they are interested and would be dedicated. The applicants names are Celia Richards and Rebecca Lambourne, phone 283-3268. It was also noted that both applicants are residents of the City of Kenai. Kebschull reminded the Board that with a seven member board, five members would have to be city residents. Discussion took place on changing the day of the meeting as there may be a conflict with Gray. Kebschull pointed out the first two weeks of the month are really filled with meetings so the Board will have to look beyond that. Discussion again took place on breaking for the summer months. Members agreed that it would be nice to have that break and it was noted the Beautification Committee does that for a couple of months in the winter. Kebschull pointed out, however, that if someone applied for a permit then a special meeting would have to be called. Kluge suggested that perhaps a member of the Board attend the planning and zoning meeting to handle the application since they have the ultimate decision anyway. He suggested that staff call the members to advise them of the Planning and Zoning agenda. Kebschull pointed out that could not be done as it violates the public meeting law. Kebschull continued, if that was done then the Board is right back to one of the options that Council has which is if they are going to do that through Planning and Zoning then why should there be a Historic District Board. Kluge thought the reason for having the Historic District Board was to have a certified local government. Kebschull noted the only benefit to that is the grants and the last grant HISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD WORK SESSION DECEMBER 15, 1997 PAGE 3 cost the City much more than the grant was worth due to staff costs. Kluge stated the benefit is really to the property owners in the Old Town area as they are eligible for the tax incentives to improve the area. Huhndorf suggested the Board also interact with other groups as well. Kebschull stated that she disagreed with Kluge's comment regarding the Planning and Zoning Commission making the final decision. She continued, when she brings to them the applications they basically just rubber stamp them because they are not controversial and it does not go against the Planning and Zoning code. When the HDR Board has reviewed the application, Planning and Zoning will normally take their recommendations. The members expressed satisfaction with that. Kebschull also pointed out these issues are not in the Planning and Zoning area of expertise so they rely on comments from this Board but it has to go through them as Code requires it. Huhndorf confirmed the Board does serve a valid function. Huhndorf discussed the Board's role with regard to the tourists that visit and thought the Board had a lot of potential to work with the tourism industry. Wik reported that when she was asked to serve on the Board she was asked to just show up so that quorums could be made. She added, she was told she didn't have to do anything but show up. Wik questioned Kluge's suggestion that the two new applicants be interviewed by the Board as it appeared to be conflicting with when she was asked to serve. Huhndorf noted that he appreciated the input from both Wik and Clausen at the meetings as they both commented and voted on issues. Discussion took place on Boraas' role with the Board. Huhndorf stated that Boraas mentioned perhaps resigning and writing a formal resignation. Wik stated that as long as he would be available to the Board with his expertise. Huhndorf indicated that Boraas probably wouldn't mind being asked for help or for his opinion. Discussion took place on Board terms and Kebschull noted that when a term is up a member call the Clerk to say they want to stay on. ~1Vik's term expires in 1999. Kebschull also pointed out that the list goes to Council who reappoints the members. Goals and Ob'ectives: . Kebschull reported when she does the annual report for the certified local government, there is a check list on the back of the form to see if the group is fulf'illing all their goals. She offered to provide the Board with a copy. Kebschull pointed out there was a lot of things this Board is not doing and could be doing. These could be included as goals for next year. , HISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD WORK SESSION i DECEN~BER 15, 1997 PAGE 4 Discussion took place on the annual inventory dictated by Code. Huhndorf asked if this was to verify if a property still qualified. Kebschull replied it was the properties identified in the survey. This item could also be a good goal for 1998. Other goals include the completion of the walking tour, the survey, and the preservation plan. These included with items on the checklist should provide this Board with plenty to do. . Preservation Plan Huhndorf directed members attention to item number seven on the preservation plan outline and indicated after the last meeting it was decided to leave it as it was. fihis is the procedure for nomination for future historic sites. Kebschull handed out copies of the Federal and State guidelines and thought these could be used instead as it provided step-by-step procedures. Huhndorf stated there could be a paragraph of what it is this Board does to help people. Kebschull noted that all the public needs to know is how to get to this Board then use the guidelines handed out tonight. Kebschull reported she ordered a copy of the books to have on hand. When asked where she got this information, Kebschull reported the Section 106 information came from the Alaska Historic Preservation Act from OHA. The other guideline is out of the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 36. This is the federal guideline that regulates the State guidelines for CLG's. Kebschull thought these may have been revised and she would check on that to assure a new copy is provided. Kebschull stated she could also contact OHA to see if there is a step-by-step process for nominating historic properties. Huhndorf expressed concern of Kebschull taking the responsibility and asked if a member of the Board should do that. Kebschull replied she talks to them all the time anyway, and would be no problem. Huhndorf stated that Gray recommended that tax advantages for applicants also be explained in deta.il. Item 9- Historic Preservation Education for the Communitv The walking tour was discussed in detail. Kebschull reminded the Board that it was voted on to remove all businesses from the walking tour. Huhndorf indicated the walking tour was provided to various individuals for editing, etc. It was suggested that he contact other individuals in the community to enhance the stories. Kluge recommended Peggy Arness be notified as she can provide a lot of information with regard to history. It was also suggested that information be taken from the "Once Upon A Kenai" book. Kebschull suggested the Visitor Center be included. . HISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD W~RK SESSION ' DECEMBER 15, 1997 PAGE 5 Item 10 - Development Recommendations Huhndorf stated the Board had been developing recommendations and asked other members if they had any. Kluge stated it would be nice for the City of Kenai to develop a master plan for the Qld Town District to give the area some unity. Discussion took place on the various properties and methods of getting them cleaned up, landscaped, etc. It was suggested that groups be looked at to go out and help in the clean-up effort. Suggestions included church groups, boy scouts, Kenaitze Youth Group, etc. Huhndorf asked Kluge if he would take the responsibility of writing down the suggestions and provide them to the Board. Kluge indicated that he would. Kebschull asked if anything is done on the computer that it be put on diskettes so she wouldn't have to retype it. The members agreed. Huhndorf expressed his desire to see Once Upon A Kenai republished since it is out of print. It was suggested this be placed under item nine as it is an educational issue. Huhndorf also recommended more focus on the community calendars which catalogs the history of Kenai. Huhndorf also suggested the Board work with other cultural boards. He also recommended more training-type activities and stated he discussed the possibility with a gentleman on the west coast regional office in San Francisco. This tra.ining would involve how the Board could have a better relationship with the people within the City. One of the gentlemen in this office volunteered to come up here in the spring to give a training session. Huhndorf indicated the gentleman may be coming to Alaska to do something with the Russian Orthodox churches in the State. Wik suggested combining the work. Kebschull indicated that training would be quite expensive and the Board needs to get a full Board before thinking about bringing someone up for training, She suggested bringing in other Boards or groups from the area for training sessions. Kebschull reported Soldotna has a Historic District Board. Huhndorf stated the gentleman suggested applying for grants through their office as well. Kebschull suggested the Board get the Visitor's Center to sponsor some grants rather than to go through the City, especially if they are matching grants because the City will not apply for anything that was not budgeted. Huhndorf thought the Visitor's Center has been somewhat lacking in their funding. Before the work session closed the following items were noted as needing to be accomplished: HISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD WORK SESSION DECEMBER 15, 1997 PAGE 6 1. Moore will discuss reducing the number of Board members with Council, Huhndorf will contact Moore to con~rm that would be done at the December 17 meeting. 2. Huhndorf will contact Moore and Kebschull with regard to the membership and the two new members. 3. Kebschull will clarify the items mentioned under item seven by making some phone calls and will bring the information back. 4. Kluge will handle the development recommendations. 5. Huhndorf will assure the businesses are removed from the walking tour and will contact Arness for input into the stories. Work session concluded at 7:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Roper, Contract Secretary