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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHPCMinutes_2012_01_12Brookings Historic Preservation Commission January 12, 2012 A meeting of the Brookings Historic Preservation Commission was held on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 5:05 p.m. in City Hall. Members present: Dennis Willert, Les Rowland, Mary Bibby, Pam Merchant, Tom Agostini and Janet Gritzner. Father Ryan Hall was absent. Shari Thornes, City Clerk, was also present. Chairperson Willert called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. Agenda: A motion was made by Merchant, seconded by Agostini, to approve the agenda. All present voted yes, motion carried. Minutes: A motion was made by Gritzner, seconded by Merchant, to approve the December minutes. All present voted yes; motion carried. Next Meeting: Thursday, February 9th @ 5:05 p.m. NEW BUSINESS: Nominating Committee Report / Election of Officers. A motion was made by Agostini, seconded by Merchant, to table action until February. All present voted yes; motion carried. Review of Training Workshop “Outcomes” Report. Willert reviewed the following outcomes report and proposed schedule prepared by staff and the consultant as a result of the January 5th Local Register training. Brookings Historic Preservation Commission Public Education & Regulation Efforts Proposed Schedule Local Register: #1 Local Register – Review of how we got here… o History/Flowchart (include Preservation Plan references) o Invite former chair to present history/summary of process o February/March 2012 #2 Ordinance Review Allocate 30 minutes per in each regular meeting Jan through April to review and answer questions on selected sections of the BHPC’s enabling ordinance: February: Review #1 – 10-90 – 10-100 (enabling powers) March: Review #2 – 10-101 to 10-115 (Local Register, individual) April: Review #3 – 10-116-122 (Local Register, districts nomination & form commission) May: Review #4 - 10-123-130 (Certificates of Appropriateness) #3 Understanding Local Register Implications and Outcomes After the BHPC has completed the Ordinance review process, these documents are next in the queue for review, one at a time. e.g., In May they come to their meeting prepared to discuss "Maintaining Community Character" after they have read it. Consider having an individual commissioner lead the discussion on each of these -- a different commissioner each month. Then everyone has plenty of lead time to read, digest, and understand at least their assigned document o Trust info series on “Maintaining Community Character: How to Establish a Local Historic District” http://www.preservationnation.org/resources/faq/historic-districts/what-are-the-advantages- of.html http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/historic/localhd.htm http://www.heritagesocietyaustin.org/BenefitsofLHDs.pdf http://www.preservationnj.org/site/ExpEng/images/images/pdfs/Historic%20District%20benefit s_Mabry_%206-7-07.pdf http://www.hpo.ncdcr.gov/localdes.htm o July 2012 #4 Design Guidelines Pursuant to itemized “next steps” in Brookings Local Register of Historic Places “Manual,” pursue grant funds to develop Design Guidelines for Brookings historic structures. Residential  Develop RFP for a Brookings Residential District Design Guidelines  Request 2012/2013 National Park Service Grant Funds • March 2012 – Grant Application • June 2012 – Funding award • July 2012 – Hire consultant • 2013 – Completed guidelines Commercial  Review existing volunteer Brookings Commercial District Design Guidelines for revisions  Utilize HP consultant for review?  Consider adoption as formal guidelines for commercial structures  Timeline: Spring 2012 #5 Ordinance - Questions o Informal assessment by consultant of ordinance concerns, inconsistencies, questions and recommendations. o Completed by March 2012 o Specific concerns to date:  10-124 – other things to add – scale, • Adoption of design guidelines • Design guidelines referenced (10-96, 14)  District – how many object or approve • SIS – 51% • One property = one vote?  District – notification process  Appeal process  Staff assessment  Trees as resource  Neglect - When start date is determined (Part of local district commission rules) #6 Certificates of Appropriateness - In tandem with process and form review, consultant to provide recommendations on property project application processes – Certificate of Appropriateness (staff approvals, executive committee approvals, consent agenda, exempt activities, tiered review). o May need city attorney response if executive committee can act on behalf of commission as a whole. o This process may be address in the bylaws revisions. o If tiered review is adopted, staff would need to be empowered to review applications and review or deny. City attorney might have clarifying opinions on this. #7 Process & Form Review Formal consultant review of all draft forms and processes for Brookings Local Register processes. o Review Completed March 2012 o Update Forms April 2012 #8 Commission Member & Meeting Protocols Review In tandem with process & form review, modify and expand on commission member/meeting protocols. o Maybe consider format list Charlotte HDC or other examples to provide more clarity (see link… http://ww.charmeck.org/Planning/HDC/RulesProcedures.pdf o Current List of changes/updates/questions:  Review City’s current Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Ordinances and revise protocols as needed to provide consistency.  Question - What happens when BHPC member is nominating a property? Do they remain at the dias? Do they recuse themselves and present?  Expand “ex parte” explanation/narrative  Objections on jurisdictional grounds? – is that needed to be listed  Be consistent with city/state open meeting requirements (i.e. book of handouts provided in room)  Minutes content requirements  Summary of public testimony; written or electronic testimony - Brookings uses summaries for their public record. Double check with City Attorney about how to manage written or electronic testimony and summaries of oral testimony. Check on whether a human recorder is needed, because these are now quasi-judicial decisions. Especially if you are providing the staff reports may you also function as the recorder?  "Question" - As a paid -- or not -- consultant, may a BHPC Commissioner represent an applicant other than themselves? Believe that constitutionally they have a right to represent themselves, but for a district e.g., how does this play out legally? #9 Deadwood Schedule meeting with Deadwood Landmarks commission members and Deadwood HP staff to learn about COA process. NOTE: The entire city of Deadwood is a National Historic Landmark making it already automatically designated, so this commission could only give advice on COAs and not the nomination process. o Clarify with Jason Haug if Deadwood uses COAs in their review process. o Meeting options:  Coordinate meeting in Pierre at April State Historical Society’s annual meeting. Unfortunately, the meeting is April 13 and 14th. SHPO proposed a meeting on the 12th; however, that date conflicts with the municipal election canvass. Another option would be during the April 27-28 Augustana History Conference in Sioux Falls.  Invite DW chair/staff to Brookings and pay expenses  Phone conference with BHPC & DW representatives #10 Bylaws Review Periodic review of the BHPC is required. A number of procedural questions were raised during the 1/5/12 training. o Recommend formation of subcommittee to review and recommend changes to the bylaws consistent with local register process. o Can occur after consultant review of processes/forms/ordinance occurs. Recommended changes may need to be incorporated into bylaw revisions. o Suggested Subcommittee Members – Bibby & Agostini o Summer 2012 #11 City Attorney Review Following consultant review, request city attorney review and clarification on remaining questions, concerns and inconsistencies in city ordinance and also review revised proposed bylaws. o Critical final review needed to prevent legal challenges #12 Incentives Review existing incentives for local register property owners and research for additional (i.e. tax rebate, loan funds). #13 Develop Local Register Public Education Strategy “Good Ideas Not to Lose List” 1. Mentorship - new member are assigned senior commission member as mentor. 2. Public Education – Sponsor at least one “helpful” activity every year. o Energy savings o Window tune-up workshop  Sponsor Bob Yapp window workshop – Proposed 2013 Public Workshop  http://www.bobyapp.com/  Hold contest to select workshop house. o Local register designation workshop o How to research my house o Realtors Workshop o Creative ways to finance projects 3. Partner with local sustainability efforts o Brookings City Sustainability Council o SDSU Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability Committee o Co-sponsor Film – “The Greenest Building” http://thegreenestbuildingmovie.com/The_Greenest_Building/Home.html - BHPC to view first. Follow-up with a public presentation in the Library. Good for a speaker bureau for local civic organizations, BUT it is an hour long and most groups need a 20-minute lunch speaker, for example. 4. Review & Update Brookings Preservation Plan 5. Update “Victories” List 6. Update “Threats” List - Consider Brookings Endangered List proposal developed by past members - Assumption that historic resources are protected o Convention or wishful thinking 7. Review Public Education Strategy & Re-prioritize 8. P.E. Ideas…… o consider reviving Porch Tour o BHPC Anniversary events (1985) o Hillcrest Tree claim (1865 Homestead Act, Transportation, Morrill Act) o Early garages / urban barns o Tree heritage – 6th Street & 12th Avenue, Nels Hansen ties, related policies Review and update Goals & Objectives. A reference to the Local Register was added to the Public Education Program statement and to the State of Objectives and Goals for 2012. Deadwood Grant Inquiries: The Brookings Arts Council programs are located in the city- owned Community Cultural Center (former Carnegie Library). The Council is interested in applying for a Deadwood Grant to fund interior renovations. A local business has also expressed interest in submitting an application. The Deadwood Fund program is funded by a portion of the gambling revenue generated in Deadwood, SD. By sharing the Deadwood historic preservation monies, the Deadwood Fund program enables applicants from throughout the state to extend their financial resources to preserve important pieces of South Dakota history. All projects must meet The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. The Standards promote responsible preservation practices that help protect our nation’s irreplaceable cultural resources. There are two opportunities to apply for funding annually. The first deadline is February 1 and the second is October 1. Projects may not start until after an award is granted. Under this historic preservation program, the grants ranging from $1,000 to $25,000 will be awarded for projects that retain, restore, or rehabilitate historic buildings, structures, and archaeological sites in South Dakota for residential, commercial, or public purposes. Initial Discussion regarding 2012-13 Funding Application: A. Discussion and prioritization of possible projects. Staff will prepare a grant application to include funding for Residential Design Guidelines, a Real Estate Workshop and board development opportunities (funds permitting). B. Preservation Leadership Training. The 2012 PLT (Preservation Leadership Training), will be held in Beaufort, SC from June 2-9. “PLT is an intensive one-week experience tailored to respond to the needs of state and local preservation organizations and agencies. It emphasizes providing a participatory experience in leadership and organizational development techniques and the most up-to-date and effective information and training in current preservation practices, issues and action strategies.” Pursuant to the Commission’s goal to send one member per year to PLT, funds and interest permitting, staff will include a funding request for one individual if an eligible commission member wishes to attend and is selected. It is a competitive application process. Members who have previously attended PLT are not eligible. C. National Conferences. Fundable national conferences in 2012 include the following. Note, the NAPC conference is only held in even years and is more tailored to in-depth commission member training. July 18-22 National Alliance of Preservation Commissions, Norfolk, VA Oct. 30-Nov 3 National Trust Conference, Spokane, WA Discussion regarding 2012 History & Garden Festival Workshop Co-Sponsorship. The BHPC agreed to co-sponsor a workshop on May 4-5. Ideas discussed: porch restoration, windows, gardens, concrete accents, new architecture in old surroundings (infill), and researching property. Paul Porter, SHPO, was suggested for a session on how to research historic property. Staff will contact him. Discussion of 2012 Mayor’s Awards schedule. Selection of the annual Mayor’s Awards winners has traditionally been done in April with May presentation. However, last year the Commission combined the award ceremony with the ABLE awards on September 22nd. The Commission agreed to combine again in 2012 and advised staff to coordinate with the Disability Committee on dates and modify the schedule accordingly. UPDATES/REPORTS Realtor Workshop Proposal. The SHPO is proposing a two day format in western South Dakota and a one day format in Brookings for eastern South Dakota. Staff has been unable to contact the East Central Board of Realtors president for input. SHPO contacted realtors in Pierre and Rapid City and both were willing to travel and one verses two days didn’t seem to matter. SD realtors need to acquire 12 credits during a 3 year period. Staff will pursue a fall workshop and modified one day agenda. Commercial District Plaque Update. Staff hired Dave Miller, local contractor, to coordinate the installation of National Register Plaques on 59 properties in the Brookings Commercial Historic District. Scope of work to include securing owner permission, determining plaque location depending on building design/material and owner’s desires and documenting for installation, and directing city personnel on final plaque installation. As of the date of the meeting, Miller had secured permission from all property owners. City park and recreation personnel will install the plaques at no cost. National and City Annual Reports. Both reports are due in February. Staff will prepare and submit pursuant to city and state requirements. Preservation Partners • DBI – Willert announced he had resigned from the DBI Board and organization. Rowland will be the BHPC’s liaison to DBI organization. • SHPO - • Preservation Advocacy Day is Thursday, January 19th. SHPO is not sponsoring this event and cannot participate in the advocacy day. CLG grants cannot be used to reimburse travel or other lobbying expenses nor can they be used as match. • Deadwood Fund Grant Applications – Due February 1st. • CLG Applications – Congress has passed a 2012 budget so the CLG grant application deadline will be March 31. That should give us all of April and May to review them and get them in place by the end of May. • The NAPC conference – only happens every other year and this year it is in Norfolk, Virginia, July 18-22nd. They have a few tips for budgeting out on their website now. http://napc.uga.edu/forum2012/ This is a great CLG grant idea. • Does SHPO have plans for a CLG conference this year or some opportunity for CLGs to meet? - Jason doesn’t have a problem with doing a half-day or shorter session, depending on when and where we’d do it. He recommends doing it in conjunction with the SDSHS Annual History Conference or the Deadwood Symposium again (if there is one). • SDSHS Annual History Conference – is April 13-14 in Pierre. • NPS: New Tax Credit website – NPS has redesigned their tax credit website. Check it out: http://www.nps.gov/tps/ • Preserve South Dakota – is getting up and going on Facebook. Calendar Feb. 15th Annual Report Deadline April 1-4 National Main Street Conference, Baltimore, MD April 13-14 SD State History Conference, Pierre June 2-9 Preservation Leadership Training, Beaufort, SC July 18-22 National Alliance of Preservation Commissions, Norfolk, VA Oct. 30-Nov 3 National Trust Conference, Spokane, WA Meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m. Submitted by Shari Thornes