Committee Minutes
Meeting Minutes
June 9, 2009
7:00 p.m.
City Hall A101
Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Sharon Bures, Gordon Iseminger, Ted Jelliff, Melinda Leach, Cory Lien, Dale Sickels, Sandy Slater
Others: Kevin Severson, Red River Valley Community Action; Peg O’Leary
Motion:
to approve the minutes of the May 26, 2009, meeting as presented. (Bures, Leach)
Motion carries
unanimously.
Red River Valley Community Action
– Kevin Severson
1606 7
th
Ave. N., built 1961 – The owner proposes to use a federally funded loan to install vinyl siding, vinyl windows, a new picture window, two exterior steel doors, and a basement egress window. Gunderson noted that the house is not individually eligible for the National Register nor is it in a neighborhood that is likely to become a Historic District.
Motion:
to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected by the proposed work at 1606 7
th
Avenue North. (Leach, Slater)
Discussion: It was suggested that the angled siding detail in the front gable be retained, as it is an original distinguishing feature of the house.
Motion carries.
Chair Report
– Marsha Gunderson
Walnut-Chestnut Place Street Lighting – Gunderson distributed pictures of a type of lighting the neighborhood would like to use in the infill area. The Commission has no official jurisdiction but is being asked for an opinion as to appropriateness. (See attached.) The lights are similar to those in place elsewhere in town and have a “period” look. Commissioners variously noted that the lights seemed disproportionately tall and that they have a tendency to lean, but they agreed that a shorter and better anchored light of this type would look nice in the area.
Downtown Design and Review Board – There’s a meeting later this week. Iseminger asked if DDRB would review the Civic Auditorium project and Gunderson said she thought it would come before them.
Infill Housing – There’s a meeting later this week to review another proposal for the Walnut/Chestnut Place neighborhood.
Coordinator Report
– Peg O’Leary
FY09 Nomination Projects – O’Leary distributed a spreadsheet outlining the proposals received for the two nominations and copies of the proposals. One proposal was received for the WPA structures and two were received for the Synagogue; both proposers meet the criteria established by the State Historical Society for the project. General discussion ensued regarding time lines, project completion dates, and payment procedures. O’Leary described the standard nomination contract, which sets deadlines for completion of portions of the project and ties a schedule of payments to the deadlines. Typically 10% is paid out upon signing of the contract, to enable the contractor to pay upfront costs such as copying and mileage; 35% is paid out upon completion of the first draft of the nomination; 35% is paid out upon completion of the final draft and presentations to the HPC and the State Review Board; and the final 20% is paid out when all edits required by the State Review Board are completed.
Motion:
to authorize a contract with Steve C. Martens in the amount of $3,496 to write the nomination of the Calvary and Memorial Park Cemeteries WPA Structures to the National Register of Historic Places. (Slater, Jelliff)
Motion carries.
Motion:
to authorize a contract with Kimberly K. Porter in the amount of $3,500 to write the nomination of the B’nai Israel Synagogue and Montefiore Cemetery to the National Register of Historic Places. (Leach, Slater)
Discussion: It was noted that Porter has completed extensive research on these properties. It was also noted that Martens’ proposal specifically stated that while he would make time to finish the Synagogue nomination within the time frame prescribed, he would welcome our use of another qualified contractor should one be available. Iseminger requests and is granted permission to recuse himself from voting on the question.
Motion carries.
Historic District Street Signs – HPC will be shown a proof before the replacements are ordered.
HPC Appointments – Of the six Commissioners whose terms are up, Gunderson, Jelliff, Lien, and Sickels are requesting that the Mayor reappoint them to the Commission. Paul and Benoit wish to resign at the end of their terms this summer. The Mayor’s office will advertise openings on the Commission and will interview new applicants. Suggestions are welcome.
Donor Reports – Commissioners completed and signed donated time reports for March – May, 2009.
Grand Forks Fire Hydrants – Benoit recently brought to our attention that hydrants are being replaced, some in Historic Districts. O’Leary visited with Dave Kresel of the Water Department and he said the pipe size is inadequate in the older neighborhoods and they are bringing the hydrants up to code. He saves one hydrant from each type in town and has a display at the Water Dept. which he intends to expand when they move into a new building in the Industrial Park. He and his workers work with Mike Fugazzi of the Park District to protect the trees as much as they can when digging. He said that old hydrants can not be used as lawn/yard ornaments because they may be mistaken for working hydrants in a fire emergency.
Meeting adjourned. 8:15 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 14, 2009, room A101, City Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Peg O’Leary
Coordinator