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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Landmark Commission - 09/23/2010 MINUTES �R��EIVG LANDMARK COMMISSION MEETING RECEIVED G CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS SEPTEMBER 23, 2010 NOV 1 2 2010 MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr.Craig Thompson, Chairman CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE Ms. Mary Lou Berven Ms. Kim Charba Ms.Anita Eisenhauer Ms. Marie Guajardo Dr. James Klein Mr. Herb Morrison Mr. Leo Rios Dr. Mark Robbins Ms. Susan Rucker MEMBERS ABSENT: Mr. David Brown (Excused) Ms. Kris Cardona (Excused) Ms. Laura Commons (Excused) Ms. Susan Kesler (Excused) STAFF PRESENT: Mr.Andrew Dimas, City Planner Ms. Linda Williams, Recording Secretary The meeting was called to order at 4:35 p.m. by Mr. Craig Thompson, Chairman. The roll was called and a quorum was declared. ACTION ITEM: Approve August 26, 2010 Minutes: The August 26, 2010 minutes were approved as distributed. DISCUSSION ITEMS: Recommendation to Fill the Vacancy of Alan Wahlstrom, Regular Member: Mr. Craig Thompson, Chairman addressed the commission. Mr. Thompson stated that with Mr. Wahlstrom's resignation, a vacancy was created to fill the competency for a regular member. Mr. Wahlstrom relocated to Oregon for his job. Mr. Thompson continued staff was requested to include any new applications that were received since we reviewed the last batch. Included in today's packet were four applications for our review. Mr. Thompson asked if everyone had reviewed the applications so the commission could forward its recommendation to the City Secretary's office. Mr. Thompson continued there was a young engineer in his office that had shown interest in serving on the commission and he submitted his application. Mr.Thompson added several commissioners were coming off the commission in 2011 and it would be great to have a good selection of applicants to select from to fill those vacancies. Mr. Thompson continued that several commissioners' terms expire in November and one commissioner was ineligible for reappointment because of term limits. Ms. Eisenhauer stated she invited Ms. Karen Howden to today's meeting since she was interested in serving on the commission and she previously submitted an application to City Secretary's office. Ms. Eisenhauer continued that Ms. Howden would be an excellent choice SCANNED Landmark Commission Meeting September 23,2010 Page 2 to fill the current vacancy. Mr. Thompson requested Ms. Howden to introduce herself. Ms. Howden stated she was a retired eighth grade teacher of world history teacher with the Flour Bluff School District. Ms. Howden continued she enjoyed history so much that she was excited that she was able to share it with her students. Ms. Howden went on to say that she had worked with the Nueces County Historical Commission in putting together activities for the tours of the Old Bayview Cemetery that was held in March of this year. Ms. Howden continued she has also helped with another event planned for the Bayview Cemetery on November 6, 2010. Ms. Howden extended an invitation for commission members to attend. • Ms. Howden continued that this event was something that related to the Landmark Commission. Dr. Klein stated he attended the event in Old Bayview Cemetery and he was very impressed. Mr. Thompson expressed thanks to Ms. Howden for her attendance at today's meeting and also for her interest and willingness to serve on the commission. Mr. Thompson urged commission members to begin looking for potential applicants who are interested in being appointed to the commission. After all comments had been received, it was a consensus of members present that the Landmark Commission forward the recommendation to the City Secretary's office that Ms.Karen Howden be appointed to fill the vacancy of a regular member. Workshop Update Report: Mr. Thompson provided several handouts for commission members to review. The first handout was information regarding the Landmark Commission that was posted on the City's website. The second handout was an overview of the 2010 Landmark Commission Workshop Goals. Mr. Thompson did a brief overview of the goals discussed at the workshop as was outlined in the handout: > Landmark Commission Website-current website information is outdated and needs to be updated. Several structures need to be added, i.e. Sherman Building, several structures that were restored by Glen Peterson. • Historical Mapping of City of Corpus Christi which would include the following: - Apply for a THC grant to place the survey on GIS; - Work with the City's GIS Section and staff; - Attach GIS mapping to the website; - Create an "Endangered Buildings List"-list will include top ten structures at risk before they are slated for demolition; and - Identify Historical Districts and Neighborhoods through a "Historical Neighborhood Map Project by developing a milestone marker identifying the city limits at various times in the city. Markers would include the size and shape of the city. > Establish an educational program partnering with the Corpus Christi Independent School District; • Historical Plaque Program - providing more education on the program promoting more community involvement; > Submit articles to the Corpus Christi Sunday Home Section - highlighting various historical homes and structures on a quarterly basis. The compiled list would be for at least six months of articles complete with contact names and information; and > Continued Efforts in Heritage Park - The Landmark Commission would continue to • follow up on the City's progress in finding an organization to renovate the Steamboat House. Landmark Commission Meeting September 23,2010 Page 3 After Mr. Thompson's overview, a brief discussion ensued regarding what would be the next step for the commission to take in order to accomplish some of the goals. Mr. Thompson stated that each goal would take at least two or three people to review and come up with a viable plan for them to be accomplished. Mr. Thompson continued that when he previously spoke with a staff writer at the Caller Times regarding writing articles on historic homes in the Sunday Home Section, they were willing to participate at that time. Mr. Rios commented that because of the economic climate, the Caller Times might be more interested in placing the Landmark Commission's information in the Home Section since the real estate market has greatly declined. Ms. Eisenhauer suggested that Murphy Givens be contacted to see if any of his articles on various homes highlighted in his column could be possibly used in the Home Section. Mr. Morrison stated placing information into the Home Section would be a good opportunity to target those homes and buildings that are getting into disrepair. This might be a venue to bring attention to them so that someone could do something to possibly salvage them. Mr. Rios asked where would the list be generated and Mr. Thompson answered that the City Neighborhood Services Department generates the listing of houses that are in disrepair through their neighborhood initiative program. Mr. Thompson went on to say that Neighborhood Services normally come before the Landmark Commission when the structures are endangered for demolition. Mr. Thompson continued that in the past, the Landmark Commission requested Neighborhood Services to provide the commission a listing of houses/buildings before they were placed on the demolition list, but that has not happened. When they approach the commission, most of the structures are already beyond repairs. Ms. Berven stated she did not think the Caller Times would want to run articles on houses that were in disrepair, but they would be interested in highlighting those houses that were pretty. Mr. Morrison stated the Sunday Home Section could be used to focus on those homes that were at risk as well as those homes that were in good condition. Mr. Thompson stated that an article on the Sherman Building might be a good introduction to the Home Section. The segment could feature "before" restoration and "after" restoration. Mr. Thompson stated he felt that ultimately the Caller Times would appeal to its readers as to what would/would not be placed in the section. Dr. Robbins asked what was needed to get the information in the newspaper and Mr. Thompson stated that when he was in communication with Stephanie Hermann, the staff writer with the Home Section at that time, she requested enough articles enough for at least six- months - featuring six homes once a month. The information was to include background information on the homes,pictures and contact information. • Ms. Berven gave an update on the Friends of Heritage Park. Ms. Berven stated the group met and decided to go before City Council to present the vision plan for Heritage Park. Ms. Berven continued that an email was also sent to Mayor Joe Adame requesting a scheduled date to the group to address the council. Ms. Berven requested staff to be in attendance at the meeting. Mr. Morrison reminded commissioners of the upcoming Bayfest Festival and encouraged everyone to attend to support it. Mr. Morrison added that the attendance for last year's festival was much lower than in previous years. Landmark Commission Meeting, Sepfember23,2010 Poge 4 There being no further business,the meeting adjourned at 5 p.m. k �J Linda Williams Andrew Dimas, City Planner Reco ding Secretary Staff Liaison to Landmark Commission (N:PLN-DI R\LINDA\WORD\LANDMARK\MINUTES\S EP2310.MINS)