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1405 First Avenue North
Grand Forks, ND 58203
701-772-8756

Meeting Minutes
July 11, 2006
7:00 p.m.
City Hall

Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger, Ted Jelliff, Cory Lien, Gerad Paul, Sandy Slater
Others: Lonnie Laffen (JLG Architects), Meredith Richards (Office of Urban Development), Kevin Severson (RRVCA), Curt Siewert (Office of Urban Development), Lynn Stauss (Mayor, East Grand Forks, MN), Peg O’Leary

Motion: to approve the minutes of the June 27, 2006 meeting as presented. (Flemmer, Paul)
Motion carries.

Gunderson suspended the agenda and welcomed Mayor Stauss to the meeting. The Mayor requested and was granted permission to speak about his proposal to add a fountain to the NPRR bridge pier that remains downtown in the center of the Red River. The Mayor described his proposal as a way to say thank you to Joan Kroc and all the other angels who came to our aid during and after the flood and to convey the flood story to tourists and future generations. He said he has commitments for $150,000 from the private sector and $200,000 from East Grand Forks City Council. He hopes to raise another $150,000 in private monies and he will be requesting $300K from the Grand Forks City Council. Mayor Stauss stressed that none of the public funds would require raising local taxes. The projected cost is $800,000; maintenance costs are unknown at this time. Several unresolved issues were discussed including the cost of operation, the effect on boaters using the Red for recreation, and the length of time the fountain could run each year. In partial response to the timeframe question, the Mayor said he’d like to see lighting on the pier during the winter months. Members expressed concern for both the physical and aesthetic aspects of the project: would the pier be damaged in any way from the initial work or from the ongoing operations, would the pier be so changed that it would no longer convey the sense of a railroad bridge, would the fountain and particularly the lights cheapen the look of the pier? Laffen offered his thought that only a qualified landscape architect with extensive background in large fountains could properly develop the idea into a project that would meet the preservation and engineering needs while creating an attractive focal point downtown. Jelliff said this pier was unique on the Northern Pacific line, having special attributes because of the clay mud bottom of the river.
Motion: to support the concept of a fountain that would maintain the historic integrity of the pier, and contingent upon final design approval by the Historic Preservation Commission. (Jelliff, Lien)
Amendment: that the fountain would respect the physical nature of the pier and be aesthetically pleasing and compatible with the pier. (Slater)
Amendment accepted by Jelliff and Lien.
Discussion: Flemmer noted that, in its present state, it just reminds him of the loss of the bridge and he thinks that festers with other people, too. Iseminger said he wanted to keep the pier on the National Register. Mayor Stauss agreed that the final design would be subject to review by the Commission.
Motion, as amended, carries.
O’Leary will draft a letter and convey it to the Mayor within the week.

Red River Valley Community Action – Kevin Severson
1314 7th Ave. N., built in 1905 – RRVCA proposes a grant project to replace existing siding with vinyl siding, install new aluminum fascia and soffit, install metal downspouts and gutters, replace four windows with vinyl replacements, replace two existing basement windows with vinyl units, add a metal exterior handrail, and complete various interior projects. Flemmer noted that the neighborhood is mixed with little residential unity and the house has virtually no original features remaining.
Motion: to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected by the proposed project at 1314 7th Avenue North. (Flemmer, Paul)
Motion carries.
2110 12th Ave. N., built in 1958 – RRVCA proposes a grant project to replace siding with vinyl siding, install aluminum fascia and soffit, install seven vinyl window units, install four basement window units, replace front door with steel prehung door, replace damaged front steps with new concrete steps, and complete various interior projects. The house is in an intact mid-century residential area and appears to be original in appearance and materials. The design is identical to the two houses to the east. Severson noted that the picture window will not be changed out.
Motion: to concur with a determination of no adverse effect if the existing siding is painted, not removed, if the main floor windows are replaced with wood double- or single-hung two-over- two windows of the same size and in the same places as existing windows, if the basement windows are replaced with wood windows of the same size and in the same places as existing windows, if the front door is replaced with a steel panel door with a small light sympathetic to the existing door, and if the steps are concrete, poured in place, and similar to the originals. (Slater, Jelliff)
Motion carries.

28 N. 3rd Street – Lonnie Laffen, Curt Siewert, Meredith Richards
Laffen presented the plans for a four-story apartment building to be constructed on the corner lot riverward of the Ryan Hotel. The building footprint will be on the lot line and eight units will be direct walk-ups from the street. A lobby entrance for the upper floors will open off 1st Avenue N. Surface parking will increase due to diagonal parking along 1st Avenue and rearrangement of existing spaces. Exterior materials will include masonry base, with brick, stucco and metal on the upper façade. This is a Metro Plains project, partially funded with HOME funds. Apartment rentals will range in price.
Motion: to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected, contingent upon receipt of paperwork supporting the presentation and final approval, by HPC, of plans and materials prior to construction. (Jelliff, Paul)
Motion carries.

Lustron House (formerly 602 Lincoln Drive) – Meredith Richards
Richards filled in background on the retrieval of the Lustron house and explained that, with the completion of the flood wall behind the County Historical Society property, the house can now be reconstructed. The city will pour the slab and complete other prep work this summer. North Dakota State University students will put the house back together in September and October. The Historical Society is hoping to have it furnished and open it to viewing next spring.

Chair Report – Marsha Gunderson
No report.

Coordinator Report – Peg O’Leary
Riverside Nomination Payments – The first and second payments are due for the contractor work on the Riverside nomination. The direct expenses have been invoiced and the first draft of the nomination has been received by the Commission. It is a strong draft.
Motion: to authorize the first ($2,775.00) and second ($2,025.00) contracted payments for the Riverside Nomination. (Flemmer, Slater)
Motion carries.
St. Michael’s Hospital Entry – The stonework at the base of the pilasters on either side of the hospital entry is incomplete due to demolition of the side wall of the former entry. The Army Corps of Engineers wants to know how the Commission would like the area finished off. Members discussed the various merits of trying to match the stone, using brick, or pouring cement stained to match the existing stone.
Motion: the area should be finished using formed cement, of a grade to closely match the texture and shape of the existing sandstone, and tinting the cement to match the stone. (Flemmer, Slater)
Motion carries.
Flood Anniversary – The City is appointing a committee to plan activities around the 10th anniversary of the 1997 flood. A solemn memorial is planned for April 19, and a more festive “thank you to the nation” is tentatively planned for July 20-22. It is hoped that HPC will be represented on the planning committee.
419 Princeton – Gunderson read a letter to be sent to Rick Tonder confirming that documentation and salvage operations will take place prior to the demolition of the Cable house. The letter also requests that the UND Historic Space subcommittee meet regularly so that plans of this nature can be shared with HPC and the State Historic Preservation Office.
 Great Plains Chautauqua – O’Leary and Gunderson have served on the committee responsible for bringing the regional Chautauqua to Grand Forks. The dates are August 4 – 8, 2006, with free performances every evening in Lincoln Park. Posters and handouts are available for posting in workplaces.

Motion: to adjourn. (Jelliff, Slater)
Motion carries. Meeting adjourned. 8:45 p.m.

The next regular meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 8, 2006 in Rm. A101, City Hall.

Respectfully submitted,



Peg O’Leary
Coordinator