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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-03-16 Historic District Board SummaryHISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD March 16, 1998 - 7:00 p.m. *** AGENDA*** Kenai City Hall Chair Dorothy Gray ROLL CALL: 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: February 17, 1998 4. PERSONS PRESENT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD: a. Kathleen Tarr, Executive Director, Kenai Visitors & Convention Bureau, Inc. §. HISTORIC BOARD REVIEW: 6. NEW BUSINESS: a. Preservation Week - May 10 to 16, 1998 7. OLD BUSINESS: a. Preservation Plan b. 1998 Goals & Objectives c. Walking Tour Brochure d. Gold Rush Commemoration e. Hansen Park Historic Signs f. Visitor Center Old Town Exhibit g. Research Battle of Kenai h. Historic Library 8. REPORTS: a. City Council b. Administration 9. PERSONS PRESENT NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD: ~ 0. BOARD QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS: INFORMATION: a. National Trust for Historic Preservation Information dated 2/27/98 b. Heritage Preservation Services website information c. Letter dated 2/2498 to Kathleen Tarr d. Letter dated 2/24/98 to Judith Bitter e. National Trust for Historic Preservation Tax Credit Information 12. ADJOURNMENT: ® ® ® Approved HISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD March 16, 1998-7:00 p.m. Kenai City Hall Council Chambers Chair Dorothy Gray *** MINUTES *** CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chairperson Gray called the meeting to order at approximately 7:00 p.m. Members Present' Dorothy Gray, Cecelia Richard, Ethel Clausen, Michael Huhndorf, Members Absent: Bill Kluge, Gloria Wik Also Present: Councilman Joe Moore, Administrative Assistant Marilyn Kebschull, Contract Secretary Barb Roper APPROVAL OF AGENDA Gray requested that item 3 be postponed until Item 4 is complete. AGENDA WAS APPROVED WITH THE ABOVE NOTED CHANGE. PERSONS PRESENT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD Kathleen Tarr, Executive Director, Kenai Visitors & Convention Bureau~ Inc. Gray explained when the Townsite Historic Board was establishing the goals and objectives for 1998 one item of importance was community education and possibly suggesting some ideas to the Visitor's Center to include different types of exhibits. Gray continued, one main item identified is the centennial of the gold rush and the Board would like an exhibit showing Kenai as being the first place where gold was discovered in Alaska. The purpose of inviting Tarr to the meeting was to develop some type of collaboration between the two groups in setting up some type of commemorative project. Discussion took place on the gold rush and Tarr indicated the Center would be interested in having some type of exhibit. Suggestions included the following: Historic District Board March 16, 1998 Page 1 Approved Keep the exhibit small as the Center has a lot of activities planned through the summer. Place an advertisement in the paper requesting photographs, maps, clothing, diaries, journals, lanterns, gold pans, pokes, etc., be loaned to the Visitor's Center for the display. Gray will write the advertisement. Kebschull indicated that funds were available for advertising. Rather than have individuals take their items to the Visitor's Center they will contact Richard or Huhndorf and they will make arrangements to get the material. Have videos, films, or slides available for viewing at the Visitor's Center. Invite author Claire Murphy to the Visitor's Center. She wrote the book Gold Rush Women. Gray pointed out she has a $500.00 per day fee for visits. Tarr will contact the Alaska Mining Association in Anchorage to get some assistance and information in establishing a display. Gray noted the State also has materials available for the gold rush centennial. It was decided the Board would see what type of response there is from the ad before making any further plans for an exhibit. This will be discussed again at the April meeting. Discussion took place on other types of exhibits at the Visitor's Center as well as the walking tour. Tarr reported that the walking tour was mentioned in two places in the Visitor's Center newsletter and the new Milepost. As a result of the advertisements, it was decided that the walking tour needed to be completed as soon as possible or no later than May 1. A limited version of the walking tour and map will be developed for this season and it will be more refined for next year. Tarr provided a copy of Anchorage's walking tour to give some ideas on layout. Huhndorf will contact the designers to get a quote on doing Kenai's walking tour. Tarr indicated the Visitor's Center could assist with the cost of developing the walking tour brochure. Tarr indicated that her staff will be doing local tours and requested that a Historic Board member provide a guided tour of Old Town. Huhndorf will contact Tarr to schedule the tour. Historic District Board March 16, 1998 Page 2 ® ® Approved It was noted the official name for the walking tour is "Walking Tour Old Town Kenai': Moore thanked Tarr for their efforts in promoting tourism on the Kenai Peninsula. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - February 17, 1998 MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 17, 1998 WERE APPROVED AS WRITTEN. HISTORIC BOARD REVIEW- None NEW BUSINESS Preservation Week- May 10 to 16, 1998 Plans for the Preservation Week were made and the following action was taken: May 9, 1998 will be the kick off of Preservation Week with special functions held at the Visitor's Center. Kebschull will assure the signs for Old Town are in place before then. Elders will be invited to the Visitor's Center to answer questions about the history of Kenai. Carol Ford will be asked to tell stories and show videos. contact Ford. Clausen will Huhndorf will assure the walking tour and map is available. A press release will be prepared and submitted to the Clarion. Kebschull suggested something be included on the City's home page. Gray will prepare a special invitation to the Rotary Club and will deliver it to their next meeting. Special invitations will also be prepared for the elders, City Council, local representatives, and the Bishop from Anchorage. Historic District Board March 16, 1998 Parle 3 Approved Huhndorf will attend the April 15, 1998 City Council meeting to request a Preservation Week Proclamation and ask for financial assistance for the event. Moore will bring this up at the next Council meeting to see how the Proclamation is handled and how soon Huhndorf would have to contact the City Clerk to get on the agenda. ® OLD BUSINESS a. Preservation Plan Discussion will continue at the close of the meeting to finalize the preservation plan. be 1998 Goals and Objectives Huhndorf suggested that Item 1 E in goals and objectives list be changed to Battle of Kenai Research. Richard stated she is receiving a copy of the Planning and Zoning packets and will report on anything she determines is pertinent to the Historic District Board. Richard asked about the discussion on the dip net fishery and the request to close a portion of the river. Moore explained that the City requested to close the portion of the river from the unnamed creek to the dock but the Board of Fish tabled the issue until their 1999 meetings. It was determined the portion of the river in question is not part of the historic district zone. HUHNDORF MOVED TO APPROVE THE 1998 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE HISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD. MOTION SECONDED BY RICHARD. Voice Vote: All in favor, motion passed unanimously. Ce Walking Tour Brochure Kebschull provided members with a copy of the quotes Kluge received from the Printer's Ink and Copy Cats Printing. Kluge also provide notes from Peggy Arness with suggested changes to the walking tour brochure. Huhndorf will incorporate Arness' information and will meet with her to Historic District Board March 16, 1998 Page 4 do ee ho Approved review the changes. Discussion took place on the cost of developing the walking tour and map. Huhndorf reported that it was suggested a charge be made for the tour materials so that it can pay for itself. It was noted that if that happens then the Visitor's Center would have the responsibility of collecting the money. It was suggested that businesses be contacted for support. The walking tour brochure can have a bi-line at the bottom stating it was made possible by the business. The need to expeditiously complete the map and walking tour was reiterated and it was decided a basic brochure would be developed for this year. Huhndorf will attempt to have the final available at the April meeting. Gold Rush Commemoration Gray will write an article for the newspaper requesting items for the exhibit. Richard again reiterated she would be willing to be the contact person. Her phone number is 283-5733. Hansen Park Historic Signs It was reported that Kluge did not attend the last Parks and Rec meeting. A brief report on the signage was made. Moore reported there is a sense of frustration with the Parks and Rec Commission and they don't want any more proposals coming in at every meeting. They want to get the project done. It was noted the project must be complete within two years. Visitor Center Old Town Exhibit Discussed with Tarr. Research Battle of Kenai Historic Library Gray suggested items G and H be postponed and put on the fall agenda. It was noted the Historic Library will also be a part of the Appendix of the Preservation Plan. Historic District Board March 16, 1998 Page 5 ® REPORTS Approved a. City Council b. Administration Gray indicated that reports from Council and Administration were included in the meeting packets. 9. PERSONS PRESENT NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD: - None 10. BOARD QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS Gray referred to the document in the packet that regarding Historic Homeowner Tax Credits. Board members can send a letter to the representatives requesting them to assist is getting tax credits for historic homeowners. 11. INFORMATION National Trust for Historic Preservation Information dated 2/27/98 Heritage Preservation Services website information Letter dated 2/24/98 to Kathleen Tarr Letter dated 2/24/98 to Judith Bittner National Trust for Historic Preservation Tax Credit Information 12. ADJOURNMENT MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:35 P.M. Respectfully submitted, 'Barb ar~- 75b e r'7 ~on~ra~c//~ Sec;etary Historic District Board March 16, 1998 Page 6 HISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD MARCH 16, 1998 ~ 6 P.M. WORK SESSION ***Agenda*** Kenai Council Chambers o Preservation Plan a. Preservation Plan Outline with Status b. Preservation Plan Outline c. Walking Tour d. Agenda for Future Action and Projects Remembe~: B~ing you~ P~ese~votion Plan Packet and you~ Survey to the work session. ® HISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD March 16, 1998- 6:00 p.m. Kenai City Hall Council Chambers *** WORK SESSION *** CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chairperson Gray called the work session to order at approximately 6'10 p.m. Members Present: Dorothy Gray, Cecelia Richard, Ethel Clausen, Michael Huhndorf, Members Absent: Bill Kluge, Gloria Wik Also Present: Administrative Assistant Marilyn Kebschull, Contract Secretary Barb Roper Gray stated the purpose of the work session is to attempt to finalize the rough draft of the Preservation Plan. There were five items highlighted in the outline that required attention. Item 7: Procedure for nomination for future historic sites: The nomination process was discussed and it was decided the procedures provided at the last meeting would be utilized with the following paragraph included at the beginning: An individual property owner may choose to nominate his or her own property (property and/or buildings) to the National Register of Historic Places. The Historic District Board is willing to assist property owners in this process prior to the required local review (see pages 183 through 185 of the Survey for details) of the State Office of History and Archaeology as outline below. Richard asked where an individual may obtain an application form to nominate his/her property. Kebschull replied, the Preservation Plan will be on file at the City offices and the Library. One of the purposes of being a Certified Local Government is to provide information to the public. It was also pointed out the nomination form with instructions is included in the Survey. Historic District Board Work Session March 16, 1998 Page 1 Item 9: Item 10' Kebschull indicated that she will begin to compile all the information from the Preservation Plan and have it located in one file. Gray suggested that the name "Judith Bittner" be removed from the attached page of the nomination procedure so that it wouldn't have to be updated should she resign or retire as the State Historic Preservation Officer. It was decided that just the position title will be used. Historic Preservation Education for the Community: Discussion took place on the walking tour and it was determined that too much emphasis was put into detail when the walking tour did not have to be included as part of the Preservation Plan but could be included as an Appendix. It was noted that having an Appendix section of the Preservation Plan would allow additions and deletions if required. Gray also pointed out that the State Preservation Plan was very general. The walking tour would be included as an Appendix. After discussion it was decided the following paragraph will be included to Item 9: The Historic District Board is charged with educating the community about its cultural resources. The following historic themes represent current and future education projects. Dena'ina Building Tradition' A.D. 1000-1890 Russian Exploration and Fur Trade: 1741-1866- The Russian Orthodox Church: 1841-1906 (Extant properties, 1881-1906) United States Purchase of Alaska, 1867' Fort Kenay, 1869- 1870 Early Community Building Era: 1889-1925 Kenaitze Subsistence, 1900 - 1941 Federal Programs for Agriculture and Sustainable Resource Management: 1898-1958 (extant properties, 1935-1958) Post War Community Growth: 1948-1958 Post Statehood Development: 1959 - 1996 The appendix of this document will contain educational materials as they are developed. Development recommendations The Board reviewed the document provided by Kluge at the last meeting and several changes were made. The document will now read as follows' Historic District Board Work Session March 16, 1998 Page 2 The historic district must be an alive, inviting, and active place to assure historic preservation. Development of the Townsite Historic District (TSH) should be promoted to assist in this historic preservation. Well- planned development can spur the economics and interest that promote action. The City and its citizens are in the best position to kindle that development by encouraging and supporting the following concepts: Implementing a master plan for TSH that has among its goals and objectives historic exhibits. This may require land swaps of City property to obtain parcels of land to accommodate the master plan. Providing more greenbelt common areas with developed connecting pathways, preferably along view areas. Consider providing tax incentives to develop economic enterprises in THS. Continuing the upgrade of streets with street signs and lighting of uniform design to provide more visual unity in the district. Continuing participation with the Visitor's Center in developing and publicizing the walking tour and specific exhibits in the Center. Enforcing the Townsite Historic Zoning District ordinance to assure buildings, signage and other improvements are in keeping with a historic setting. Continuing to landscape the City properties by keeping the area litter free and well groomed. Item 12' Statement of public sector's responsibilities toward city-owned historic resources (such as parks, streets, public buildings, etc.) The Malanaphy information was discussed. Item C of his report referenced a certificate of appropriateness and it was unclear what that meant. The work session adjourned at 7:00 p.m. and will resume after the regular Board meeting. Work Session resumed at 8'40 p.m. Discussion continued on Item 12. Gray thought that Section 12 was intended to be more of a partnership with the community. After a lengthy discussion it was decided Historic District Board Work Session March 16, 1998 Page 3 Item 12 will include the following: In order to foster strong community relationships and strengthen historic preservation, the Historic District Board adopts Goals 2 and 4 of the Alaska State Preservation Plan which specifies the following: Support and strengthen local historic preservation efforts. Encourage Alaska Natives to identify concerns and develop strategies to protect their cultural resources. Encourage nonprofit statewide organizations, including the Alaska anthropological Association, Alaska Association of Historic Preservation, Alaska Historical Society, Keepers of the Treasures ~ Alaska, and Museums Alaska to promote historic preservation. Foster stewardship of cultural resources by public agencies and private individuals and groups. Use emerging technologies to improve communication among organizations and individuals interested in historic preservation. Review development projects to protect cultural resources. Review emergency response laws and plans so that cultural resources receive maximum protection in the event of a disaster. Promote the role of local preservation programs in efforts to maintain and enhance a community's character. Promote incorporation of preservation issues in plans. Item 13' Agenda for future action/projects (5 Year Plan/10 Year Plan) It was decided the title of item 13 will be changed to "The Procedure for Annual Review and Future Planning. The list for the Preservation Plan appendix was discussed and it was decided items would include the brochure which lists the Alaskan Cultural Resources Organizations and other State programs that are available; local support groups, i.e., EDD, Kenaitze Indian Tribe, etc; reference materials, books and authors. Kebschull noted the majority of the Preservation Plan is the Survey and rather than take the sections out of the Survey she recommended they just be referenced. If the Historic District Board Work Session March 16, 1998 Page 4 sections are copied the Survey would lose its integrity as a working document. A copy of the Survey and the Preservation Plan is available at the Library, City offices, and the Visitor's Center. It was noted the Preservation Plan, in its final form, will be provided to the State. Work session adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted: l~l~rl~ara Ro~)er, ~on~r~tct Secretary Historic District Board Work Session March 16, 1998 Page 5