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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Historic Preservation Commission - 12/10/2007 MINUTES Oro Valley Historic Preservation Commission Monday,December 10, 2007 Town of Oro Valley Council Chambers 11000 N. La Canada Drive I. Call to Order: at 5:00 p.m. II. Roll Call. PRESENT: Chair Bob Baughman Vice Chair Salette Latas Commissioner Daniel Zwiener Commissioner Pat Spoerl Commissioner Marilyn Cook Commissioner Lois Nagy Also Present: Al Kunisch, Council Member III. Call to the Audience opened and closed with no speakers IV. Approval of October 29,2007 minutes. Hearing no corrections, Chair Baughman declared the October 29, 2007, Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) minutes approved as written. V. Progress Report on Steam Pump Ranch: Corky Poster, Poster Front Associates, reported on the status of the Steam Pump Ranch. A series of stabilization projects were done prior to the monsoon season. Facts and an inventory of the site were gathered regarding the history. From those facts, input from the Task Force and a public meeting, three alternative plans were developed. Those plans were presented at a second public meeting on November 1. From those presented plans, a site visit, and working closely with the Task Force, a preferred plan began to be developed. The consultant will present an update to Town Council on December 19, 2007. The next public meeting for public input on preferred design will be January 10, 2008. Critical outstanding issues for feedback: • Commercialism • Authenticity of site • Politically correct site • Making site appeal to most of the population • Interest driven, not economically driven. Other issues: • Animals on site, i.e. horses and farm animals • Water well on site proposed by Oro Valley Water Utility • Phasing of project • Caretaker • Other case studies • Budget and operating cost Questions: - Should the Task Force be looking at the proposed National Register boundaries? Response: Mr. Frost stated that you can have a boundary that includes uses that are compatible, but aren't necessarily part of the historic district. Yes, in terms of how to get a balance of old and new buildings, but the physical boundaries are not the most critical aspect. - Will there be an interpretative program component to the Master Planning process? Response: The Master Plan scope of work doesn't require specific interpretative elements. Docents and various programs that could be used will be considered. Mr. Frost pointed out the buildings that are still being discussed: the event center, the gateway and gift shop, the equestrian center, and the chicken coops as a booth type market. - Regarding commercial, are there specific buildings that are more of an issue? How accurate is the cost on projects like this? Response: The new buildings are pushed to the edges of the site. The core is the preservation site and is pedestrian-oriented. Cost estimate is fairly reliable, but you never know what you will get into as you develop the plan. - Is the proposed well for the Town to pump more water? Response: It would be part of the water utility infrastructure. The footprint would be 75'x75' and suggested location is in the far southwest end behind the corrals. - Why is Poster Frost reporting to HPC. Response: Poster Frost made a commitment to keep the Commission updated as part of the contract and because they care about history and can offer good input. The Task Force will forward their recommendation to HPC, then Commission's recommendation goes to Town Council. VI. Discussion and possible action regarding Steam Pump Ranch Master Planning Process. Bill Adler, Oro Valley citizen, stated that the contentiousness that has developed is largely because the Task Force was formed without any direction. The main question is does the Town want authenticity or a hybrid? Differences of opinion are inevitable. Authenticity is a guiding principal. This Commission has the opportunity to set the record straight. Al Kunisch, Council Member, said the Council is waiting for HPC's recommendation. Regarding direction, he will have to get back to the other Council members. Mrs. Pelletier, Planner, reiterated the purpose of the Task Force, that the Master Plan effort requires use of a citizen advisory task force to evaluate studies, public meeting input, develop use and site design alternatives, and formulate recommendations. The Task Force works closely with the consultant and will make a recommendation to the HPC. 2 Mrs. Mack, Town Attorney, said HPC has no explicit authority to deal with this. Part of Poster Frost's contract is to make presentations to HPC and present the final plan for recommendation to Council. In HPC's ordinance, they are authorized to consider and discuss matters and forward recommendations on to Council regarding historic preservation, which would encompass Steam Pump Ranch master plan process. The Task Force can consider recommendations from HPC, but do not have to abide by them. Mrs. Pelletier said the consultant can take information back and forth between the Task Force and HPC. Commission Spoerl noted a council communication in setting up the original Task Force. "The Historic Preservation Commission will be the lead commission overseeing the master plan process and making a recommendation to Town Council for final acceptance." Another question is when the consultant is done, who is the recommending body? Council Member Kunisch said he will check with the Council. Mrs. Pelletier said Oro Valley agencies for Operation and Maintenance, once Steam Pump Ranch is completed, are Parks and Recreation and Public Works. Attorney Mack said the Commission oversees the master plan process and HPC is the only board the Task Force makes a recommendation to before going to Council. What happens after the Master Plan process is something the Council will have to determine. VII. Presentation and discussion regarding Open Meeting Law. Attorney Mack pointed out information that was distributed"Excepts from Arizona Attorney General Opinion I05-004"regarding open meeting law and e-mail. Two members discussing Commission business outside a meeting is not an open meeting violation; however, it can lead to one if one of those members relays information on to another Commissioner. Best practice is not to discuss Commission business in private with other Commissioners. Comments for the Task Force should go to Mrs. Pelletier or be brought to a meeting. E-mail messages that are single and one way are okay as long as they are not sent to other Commissioners. VIII. Discussion and possible action regarding HPC Work plan. Chair Baughman recently met with Mayor Loomis, Councilman Kunisch, Town Manager, Town Clerk, Planning and Zoning Director, and staff to review the HPC work plan. There was concern about the committee structure causing undue pressure on staff. The Mayor said the legitimate work of committees should be done by the whole Commission, so there should be no committees. MOTION: Vice Chair Latas MOVED that the Historic Preservation Commission eliminate the use of committees from the work plan. Commissioner Zwiener seconded the motion. Motion carried 6:0. Chair Baughman pointed out that HPC is doing some things that are properly staffs role, which are indicated below. Staff will still accept input from the HPC. 3 - Budget work - Training programs - Application forms and process plan for designations. - Certified Local Government (CLG). Commissioner Spoerl volunteered to work on CLG with staff. Chair Baughman asked that the work plan be placed on the agenda for the next meeting. Mrs. Pelletier reported on CLG. A copy of the Request for CLG Certification Check list, draft letter and map were distributed and reviewed. A draft of the CLG package will possibly be presented to HPC to review at their next meeting. Commissioner Spoerl said once we have the certification, the Town is eligible to apply for grant money. Commissioner Spoerl reported that the Cultural Resource Inventory Committee met and basically shared and gathered information at this point. They determined potential sources of information for surveys such as County property records, old aerial photographs, Town records and ancillary information, i.e. photographs and oral histories. AZSITE for historic properties is another source which SHPO authorizes staff access. The intent is to acquire information and use that as a basis for developing survey strategies. Mrs. Pelletier asked that the Bulletin 24 document be emailed to herself, Mrs. Mack and Ms. Chapman. Vice Chair Latas report on the Strategic Work Plan committee. She had researched online other community's work plans. Carbondale, IL had a clear outline of goals, tasks and objectives. The goals would be good to work up for this Commission. This should be placed on a future agenda. Mrs. Pelletier suggested the web address be email to Ms. Chapman. IX. Discussion and possible action on joining the National Association of Commissions. Vice Chair Latas thought it would be advantageous to join the National Association of Commission to receive their materials. The fee is $35.00. MOTION: Vice Chair Latas MOVED that the Historic Preservation Commission join the National Alliance of Historic Preservation Commissions, if the cost of joining is less than $100, and subject to Town procedures. Commission Spoerl seconded the motion. Discussion: Commissioner Cook asked what the Association of Commission covers. Chair Baughman said this is the organization that puts on annual training meetings in the State of Arizona for historic preservation. Attorney Mack said it is the National Alliance of Historic Preservation and thinks this might be something the Town needs to apply for as an entity and designate HPC as the recipient/contact. The Mayor may need to fill out the application and send in. Motion carried 6:0. X. Discussion and possible action regarding Honey Bee Archaeological Preserve. 4 Scott Nelson gave a brief update on the Honey Bee Archaeological Preserve. The Town did apply for a grant and received notification in August that we were not chosen this year. We can apply again next year. The Intergovernmental Agreement(IGA) language is still being worked on with the County. As of today the wall and fence is 98% complete. A ribbon cutting ceremony may be scheduled for the wall after the first of the year. XI. Discussion and possible action regarding HPC vacancy. Council member Kunisch said nothing has come to the Town Council regarding the Town historian. The Mayor would like to have a Town Historian, but has not said whether that person will be a member of the HPC or not. Chair Baughman said the position will not be filled until Town Council makes a decision. Commission Spoerl said it is mentioned in the CLG check list that vacancies shall be filled within 60 days. XII. Discussion and possible action regarding Arizona Centennial 2012 Legacy Project Designation. MOTION: Vice Chair Latas MOVED that the Arizona Centennial 2013 Legacy Project Designation be continued to the next meeting. Commission Cook seconded the motion. Motion carried 6:0. XIII. Announcements. Vice Chair Latas gave a brief report on the Boards and Commission Conference that she attended on Friday, 12/7/07, in Phoenix. Prop 207 was discussed and the only case so far has dealt with historic preservation in Flagstaff, specifically dealing with historic district designation. Also, one of the presenters travels as a consultant on economic development, trying to get Towns to have a festival for what is unique to them. Steam Pump Ranch could play that role. XIV. Items for future agendas. • Cultural Resource Inventory report • Strategic Work Plan XV. Adjourn. MOTION: Commissioner Spoerl MOVED to adjourn the HPC meeting. Commissioner Zwiener seconded motion. Motion carried 6:0. Meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. Prepared by: iane Chapman, Senior O ice Specialist 5