HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Historic Preservation Commission - 3/10/2008 MINUTES
ORO VALLEY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
March 10, 2008
ORO VALLEY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
11000 N. LA CANADA DRIVE
I. Call to Order: at of after 5:02 p.m.
II. Roll Call.
PRESENT: Chair Bob Baughman
Vice Chair Salette Laths
Commissioner Daniel Zwiener
Commissioner Pat Spoerl
Commissioner Marilyn Cook
Commissioner Lois Nagy
Also Present:
Al Kunisch. Town of Oro Valley Vice Mayor and HPC Liaison
Pamela Pelletier, Planner
Bill Adler, Planning and Zoning Commissioner
Dick Eggerding, Oro Valley Historical Society
III. Call to the Audience.
Dick Eggerding, President of the Oro Valley Historical Society (OVHS), stated that the
OVHS would like to see a closer relationship between OVHS and the Historic
Preservation Commission (HPC). OVHS is a separate organization, not repeat
organization. A joint study session to look at opportunities to support each other
would be beneficial. The organizations should work together.
Mr. Eggerding also announced the OVHS annual meeting is on March, 20, 2008, at
6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Jay Van Orden, Tucson, will give a presentation on
Geronimo's surrender.
Mr. Eggerding invited the HPC to attend a book signing program April 10, 2008, at the
El Conquistador Golf Club, for a book Commissioner Spoerl was involved in the
development of, by Barbara Marriott and OVHS called "Images of America, Oro
Valley". It is a pictorial history of the Oro Valley area.
IV. Approval of February 11, 2008 minutes.
MOTION: Commissioner Zwiener MOVED to approve the February 11, 2008,
HPC minutes with the following correction: the spelling of his name from
Zweiner to Zwiener. Vice Chair Latas seconded the motion. Motion carried
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with the correction, 6:0.
V. Discussion and possible action regarding Steam Pump Ranch: the Master
Planning process and the future of the property.
Bill Adler, Oro Valley resident and member of the Steam Pump Ranch Task Force,
asked to speak on this item. Mr. Adler pointed out that the Task Force may not be able
to resolve at what point the park is to be opened. HPC may have to make a
recommendation on this issue. The Task Force seems to be divided on when to open
regarding which educational and cultural items may be available. This item should be
scheduled for a future HPC agenda to discuss the differences of when to open, so HPC
can make a recommendation. A concensus point of view of when SPR should be open
to the public should be forwarded to the Town Council.
a. Update on Task Force progress
Commissioner Spoerl gave an update on where the Task Force is at this time. Mr.
Adler's statement was accurate on concensus being reached on the first phase of
development, the physical features of the property and a general idea of phasing of
development. When and where funding will come from is still in question. There will be
one more Task Force meeting and the primary topic will be the issue of when SPR will
be open.
Mrs. Pelletier stated that a date has not yet been set for the next Task Force meeting.
The HPC will be notified as soon as a date is known.
.
Mrs. Pelletier said that May 7, 2008, is a tentative date for the Task Force report to go to
Council. It is dependent upon the consultant completing his report, which may
take about 6 weeks, and upon when HPC makes a recommendation after receipt of the
report. The Task Force has decided to make recommendation on the physical plans,
the Phase 1 and the buildout, as well as looking at the draft report from the consultant.
Chair Baughman said that if the consultant's report is available within a week in
advance of the April 14 HPC meeting, that it should be an agenda item. If not a special
meeting will be scheduled to review the report.
Commissioner Zwiener accompanied staff to the Pima County bond advisory meeting
last Friday and was able to give his own opinion on process by which the Task Force
and the consultant are arriving at their results.
b. Process for Historic Designation for Steam Pump Ranch
Chair Baughman has not been able to format the form so staff will have to type it.
Mrs. Pelletier gave an update on the Historic Designation process.
1. The Master Plan for SPR needs to be finished, approved by Town Council,
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hopefully in May, and approved by the Board of Supervisors, possibly this summer. We
cannot officially proceed until after the Master Plan is approved. Meanwhile we are
working on other things, i.e., creating an historic district for SPR. SPR will be the first
site to be designate and will set the process to use for all future sites.
2. Rezoning of the site to an historic district and the historic designation process
through the Historic Designation Commission can be done concurrently.
3. We also can put together a working group: Planning and Zoning, Legal Department,
and an HPC Commissioner to work on creating the historic district.
Work can begin on the Historic Designation process now.
Application has already been sent for the Town to join the National Association of
Preservation Alliance. We are waiting for email confirmation.
There was extensive discussion on extending the lease to the Liebers. Several buildings
have deteriorated significantly over the last year.
The Liebers have ask for the extension and Town is in negotiations with them. All
personal property is the Liebers. Council makes the final decision for extending the
lease or not. The Town owns the property and is responsible for repairs.
Mrs. Pelletier stated that since this is not an agenda item, the HPC should not be
discussing.
Commissioner Spoerl said it does fall under the National Historic Preservation Act.
Town should initiate formal consultation with State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO)
on potential effects.
Mrs. Pelletier interrupted to say she has been directed that this item isn't on the agenda
and it should not be discussed. Council will be going into Executive Session next
Wednesday, March 19, on this item.
Chair Baughman felt this issue is important and needs to be discussed, possibly in a
study session.
Staff would have to check for room availability Monday of next week for a special
meeting to discuss the Lieber lease..
Commissioner Zwiener would like clarification as to what role the contents of buildings
have in negotiation with the Liebers. Are any provisions being made for removal of the
contents?
Chair Baughman called for a special meeting for study of the Lieber lease.
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VI. Discussion and possible action regarding HPC Work Plan:
a. CLG Application
The CLG application is on the consent agenda for Council for March 19, 2008.
b. Cultural Resource Inventory Plan
Commissioner Spoerl showed examples of maps for Cultural Resource Inventory
planning. These may help in determining what level of mapping HPC wants to do and
to get information from Town staff as to what maps are available or may be obtained.
Legal needs to be checked with to see what the policy for confidentiality is regarding
archaeological sites. This should be put on the next agenda and Commissioner Spoerl
was asked to bring the maps back for further review.
Mrs. Pelletier reminded the Commissioners that the personal property belongs to the
Liebers. The only way it would become Town property is if the Liebers decided to
donate it.
HPC may start with a preliminary inventory, and then specifically SPR as either the first
item on the inventory or the last.
c. Budget
A budget handout was distributed. Chair Baughman said if there were any
questions they should contact Mrs. Pelletier.
Mrs. Pelletier stated that a registration fee for AZSITE is not on the handout. Staff
is working on contacting Pima County Cultural Resources to see if the Town could
"piggy-back" with them. Pima County pays around $13,000 per year.
d. Community Outreach - No report.
e. Process Plan for Historic Designation - Forms are to be typed.
f. Role of the HPC
Vice Chair Latas handed out a purpose statement rewritten as a role statement. This is
from the HPC code.
Chair Baughman said the Commission is a collective body, which exists and can act
only when in a formal meeting. This should cover the role of commission and
commissioners.
Vice Chair Latas commented that she found a copy of Riggins Rules.
Staff was asked to scan Riggins Rules and send to HPC members.
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g. Training
Mrs. Pelletier said Debby Abele, City of Scottsdale Historic Preservation Officer, was
asked to do a training session for HPC. April 29, 2008, has been reserved for Ms. Able
to come to Oro Valley. We will be working through lunch. Ms. Chapman will send out
an email with details.
Chair Baughman asked that others be invited: Town Council, Planning and Zoning
Commission and Parks and Recreation Board.
Mrs. Pelletier said this is specific for HPC and she would like to discuss inviting others
with Planning and Zoning Director More.
HPC forwarded their Rules on to Council some time ago. Council indicated they wanted
to have a study session for the Rules. We are still waiting to get on a study
session agenda. We are working with the Mayor to get scheduled soon, so we can get
the Rule's approved.
VII. Discussion and possible action regarding HPC special projects:
a. National Alliance of Historic Commission - item covered previously in meetting
b. HPC Rules - item covered previously in meeting.
c. Santa Cruz Heritage Alliance - there was no meeting this month.
VIII. Discussion and possible action of status regarding current vacancy on HPC.
Vice Mayor Kunisch said the he and the Mayor would be talking to Commissioner
Spoerl regarding being the Town Historian on a temporary basis. Town Clerk, Kathi
Cuvelier has indicated she would be willing to be the Town Historian after she
retires. Council want to take care of historian position first and then take care of other
seat vacancy.
Chair Baughman said HPC recommended that the vacant seat not be ex officio.
Vice Mayor Kunisch said the Mayor and he would like to have all seven members as
voting members. The Town Historian would be a member and have all rights.
It was pointed out that ex officio members cannot be reprimanded if misbehaved.
Another concern was if a member not longer resides in Oro Valley, they should resign
their seat. Mrs. Cuvelier does not reside in the Town.
Vice-Mayor Kunisch referred back to the Lieber's lease and said it is under the Council's
pervue. Discussion on this issue would be inappropriate. This will go to executive
session on March 19. A study session is inappropriate and not necessary. Council will
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be looking at the lease with Legal.
Chair Baughman said SPR is historic property and therefore HPC should have some
say in this.
IX. Discussion and possible action regarding site tour to Honey Bee
Archaeological Preserve.
A Honey Bee site tour is planned for Thursday, 3/13, meeting at 9:45 a.m. at the
Town. All members with the possible exception of Commissioner Cook plan to
attend. The tour has been noticed.
X. Announcements.
- April 29: Training
- Next week: SPR next meetings.
-At the Pima County Bond committee meeting a member commented on the number of
people from Oro Valley. Corkey Poster also attended the meeting and spoke about
SPR.
XI. Items for future agendas.
- Meeting on lease: Vice Chair Latas thinks it is an important part of our purpose to
discuss the preservation on a historic property.
Mrs. Pelletier will send an email out and call Commissioner Cook. Vice Mayor Kunisch
and Legal should be invited. Legal needs to attend this meeting.
- Discussion regarding liaison with OVHS.
XII. Adjourn.
MOTION: Vice Chair Laths MOVED to adjourn the HPC meeting.
Commissioner Cook seconded the motion. Motion carried 6:0. Meeting
adjourned at 6:20 p.m.
Prepared by:
/IAA L _r a/frL.-
Diane Chapman
Senior Office Specialist
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