HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Landmark Commission - 04/27/2000 02122 232425
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MEMBERS PRESENT: Ms. Deborah Douglas, Chairman
Mr. Michael Cleary
Mr. Alan Lessoff
Mr. Mark Luddeke
Mr. Kevin Maraist
Mr. Terry Orf
Mr. Elmon Phillips
Ms. Elizabeth Rentz
Mr. Tom Stewart
MEMBERS ABSENT: Mr. Alan Belcher (Excused)
Ms. Sharon Brower (Excused)
Ms. Betsy Chapman (Excused)
Ms. Lisa Garza (Excused)
Ms. Grandis Lenken (Excused)
Mr. Jerry Wagoner (Excused)
STAFF PRESENT: Ms. Faryce Goode-Macon, City Planner
Ms. Linda Williams, Recording Secretary
Ms. Deborah Douglas, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 4:35 p.m.
The roll was called and a quorum was declared.
Mr. Alan Lessoff, a new commissioner, was welcomed to the Landmark
Commission. Commissioners and staff were asked to introduce themselves. Mr.
Lessoff is a professor at Texas A & M University - Corpus Christi and fills the
competency of a historian.
ACTION ITEMS:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR FEBRUARY 24, 2000 MEETING: Minutes for the
February 24, 2000 meeting were approved with the following correction:
Page 2, "Review of Historical Plaques," third sentence from the end
of the paragraph should read: "Mr. Maraist continued that the
correct name for the document is a "Hold Harmless and License to
Enter Agreement" . . .the City would not hold the property owner
responsible if an injury occurred on private property." The minutes
read "whereby the City would not be held responsible."
PRESENTATION OF HISTORICAL BROCHURE: Ms. Faryce Goode-Macon, Staff
Liaison, addressed the commission. Ms. Macon gave an update on the
SCANNED
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April 27, 2000
Page 2
status of the historical brochure. Ms. Macon continued she distributed a
draft copy of the brochure to members of the Historical Brochure
Subcommittee for them to review and make recommendations. Ms. Macon
stated the committee's task is to review the document for content and to
make any changes before the final copy is submitted to the printer. Ms.
Macon continued that a meeting was scheduled with the Subcommittee,
but due to work schedules, only she and Ms. Douglas met. Ms. Macon
continued that Ms. Douglas would continue the discussion. At this point,
the floor was turned over to Ms. Douglas.
Ms. Douglas stated she had three (3) items she wanted to add on to the list
of "Local, State, and Federal Resources," which is the last page of the
brochure. The three groups added were Mainstreet U.S.A, Texas Downtown
Association, and the International Downtown Association. Ms. Douglas
continued in her presentation that the committee would be reviewing the
Doc McGregor photo collection at the Museum for historical pictures and
they would make recommendations as to what pictures would be included
in the brochure. Once that is completed, the project would be sent out for
bids to determine which printing company will get the project. The
potential paper color for the brochure is a two-tone sage green with black
print. After Ms. Douglas' presentation, the floor was opened for discussion
and comments. Mr. Orf asked what size would the completed brochure be
and Ms. Macon stated the size of the brochure would be 5-1/2" x 7." Ms.
Macon continued that she visited with three printing companies regarding
the brochure and each one reviewed the original brochure that was used
as a model. Ms. Macon stated that each company told her all they would
need was the wording for each page of the brochure and they would
typeset it and leave adequate space for pictures to be inserted. Ms. Macon
continued that for the exterior of the brochure, a sepia type picture
illustrating the city's old waterfront before it was built up with the piers
coming out of the water, would be used. The picture would extend from
the front cover to the backside of the brochure. On the inside, pictures of
Heritage Park, Bluff Balustrade, and other historical points of interests are
being considered for the brochure. Ms. Macon continued that the
committee is trying to put things in the brochure that can be easily
identified and are viewed worthy of preservation. Ms. Macon added that
after a conversation with THC staff, she was told that pictures of more
current structures, built in the 60s and 70s, might also be considered for
inclusion in the brochure. In the larger cities like Dallas and Houston, the
new trend in preservation is designating large glass office buildings that
were constructed in the 60s and 70s. These office buildings are identified
and designated as "glass boxes."
After all comments and discussion concluded, the following action was
taken:
Landmark commission Mee* J
April 27, 2000
Page 3
IT WAS MOVED BY MR. STEWART AND SECONDED BY MS. RENTZ
THAT THE HISTORICAL BROCHURE BE ACCEPTED AS SUBMITTED WITH
NOTED ADDITIONS TO THE RESOURCE PAGE.
MOTION PASSED.
APPOINTMENT OF HISTORICAL WEB SITE SUBCOMMITTEE: Ms. Macon provided
brief background information on the web site project for benefit of the
new commissioner. Ms. Macon stated that the Landmark Commission
applied for and received grant monies, through the Texas Historical
Commission, to develop a historical web site. Ms. Macon continued that
after the grant was awarded, City Council had to approve accepting it. Ms.
Macon continued that City Council approved accepting the grant and it was
their recommendation that the project be aligned with the Tourist Bureau
and have the web site also placed with the Bureau's site. The next step is
to complete and finalize the specifications for the site and to obtain
services of a consultant to help develop the web site. Ms. Macon continued
that volunteers are needed to serve on the committee that are
knowledgeable and familiar with web site development to work with staff.
After Ms. Macon's presentation, Ms. Elizabeth Rentz and Mr. Elmon Phillips
agreed to serve on the committee. Ms. Macon asked what would be a
good day for the three of them to meet, and after a brief discussion, it was
decided that Wednesdays at 10 a.m. was good. Ms. Macon stated she would
look at some dates and they will be contacted.
Ms. Douglas asked if the names of committee members had to be
approved and Ms. Macon stated yes. After all discussion and comments
concluded, the following action was taken:
IT WAS MOVED BY MS. LENKEN AND SECONDED BY MR. MARAIST
THAT MS. ELIZABETH RENTZ AND MR. ELMON PHILLIPS BE APPROVED
TO SERVE ON THE HISTORICAL WEB SITE SUBCOMMITTEE.
MOTION PASSED.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
"HOLD HARMLESS & LICENSE TO ENTER AGREEMENT" FOR INSTALLATION OF
HISTORICAL PLAQUES: Ms. Macon stated that at the February 24, 2000
meeting, Mr. Maraist was requested to create a "Hold Harmless and License
to Enter Agreement" for the Landmark Commission to use in the
installation of the "Historical Cultural" and "Potential Landmark" plaques.
Ms. Macon continued that Mr. Maraist submitted the agreement to the
Planning Department and legal staff is currently reviewing it. Ms. Macon
stated that there was one point of concern they limited on the agreement
that dealt with maintenance agreement of the plaques. Ms. Macon
continued that maintenance will not be ongoing, but will be concluded
once the plaques were installed. Ms. Macon stated legal staff informed her
Landmark Commission Meet
April27, 2000
Page 4
that the document would not be finalized until the middle of June. Ms.
Macon continued she has already met with Mr. Tony Cisneros, Director of
Park and Recreation, and he agreed to assist the Landmark Commission in
installing the plaques by providing manpower. Park maintenance crews
will install the plaques as their work schedules allow. Ms. Macon stated the
first installation is targeted for around the middle of July. Before any
installations can be done, the document has to be received from legal and
signed by the property owners. After Ms. Macon's comments, the floor
was opened for questions. Mr. Gunning asked how many plaques would be
installed and Ms. Macon stated there is a total of thirty-six (36).
GOLD STAR COURT : Ms. Macon stated that the only reason this was placed as
an agenda item for today's meeting was because Mr. Phillips called her
regarding placement of the Gold Star in Spohn Park as part of the war
memorial. Ms. Macon continued that there was an article in the Caller-
Times regarding the improvements made to the park and the following
week Mr. Phillips wrote an article in response stating how displeasing the
placement of the star was since it wasn't in its original location. Ms. Macon
stated that because of the various articles written, she felt Mr. Phillips
should be given the opportunity to voice his comments and concerns to
the commission. At this point, the floor was turned over to Mr. Phillips.
Mr. Philips referenced the April 25, 2000 article in the Caller-Times on the
Viewpoints page. Mr. Phillips stated that back on May 24, 1998, he and
Geraldine McGloin wrote a report outlining what the Gold Star Court once
looked like. Also included in the report was who was honored there and a
scheme, thought to be proposed by the Downtown Management
Association, but was actually provided by the Gold Star Court of Trees, a
separate organization headed by Betty Black and Leland Johnson. Mr.
Phillips continued that he had been encouraged that they were gradually
getting back to where their layout of the Gold Star Court was much like it
was in 1931. The markers and Crepe Myrtle trees had been placed back on
the bluff. Mr. Phillips stated that at a later date, he passed by the park he
saw this "lollipop" thing that had been placed in the valley portion of the
park. The original gold star was mounted at the Upper Broadway level. It
was a star in shape and it had light bulbs instead of neon tubes. Mr. Phillips
continued that the improvements were so close to the original layout that
he could not understand why that extra effort could not be made to
ensure that the layout was as close to its original layout as possible. Mr.
Phillips stated that the star looks very much out of place. Mr. Phillips
continued that he spoke with Ms. Macon and was told that, before his
membership on the Landmark Commission, the first plan for the Gold Star
Court restoration had already been approved by the Landmark
Commission, and he personally felt approving the plan was a mistake.
Mr. Phillips stated he received a call from Norma Urban and she told him
that their group, which gave money toward the improvements, had
concerns with the placement of the gold star. Mr. Phillips stated that Ms.
Landmark commission Meeh
April 27, 2000
Page 5
Urban also told him that she wrote a letter to Mr. David Garcia, City
Manager and Mr. Tony Cisneros, Director of Park and Recreation, stating
this concern. Mr. Phillips continued that if the commission did approve the
plan, may be the action taken should be reviewed again and not let it
continue like it is, since this has been going on for two years. Mr. Phillips
stated that a copy of the report was sent to Jim Steely at the Texas
Historical Commission and he sent one of his staff members down to
Corpus Christi to look at the area. The Texas Historical Commission was
concerned whether the improvements would jeopardize the bluff's
National Register designation, since the Gold Star Court memorial located
at the upper level of the bluff was part of the designation. Mr. Phillips
stated he researched City Council records dating back to the 305 and, at the
time it was proposed, Council wanted the memorial down in the Spohn
Park area. The Kennedy Family donated the land to the city to be used as a
park in honor of Dr. Spohn. They were very much opposed to placing the
memorial in the park area. In three different council meetings, they sent
their lawyer to the meeting to let it be known that the family was not
happy and they should not put the memorial to the World War I veterans
at that location. During one of the meetings, City Council agreed to let
them place the memorial in the 10-foot easement at Upper Broadway
behind the balustrade and goes for about two blocks. Mr. Phillips stated he
would like for the Landmark Commission to take action to place the gold
star more like it was in 1931. Mr. Phillips continued that when renovations
were done to the bluff balustrade in 1986, the star was removed to install
reinforcement anchors to provide a stable base to the bluff balustrade.
Mr. Phillips stated that on Tuesday, he attended the board meeting of the
Corpus Christi Heritage Society. The memorial is located in front of the
1849 Centennial House and the board is sending a letter to David Garcia,
City Manager, Tony Cisneros, Director of Park and Recreation, and to the
Caller-Times regarding the improvements. Mr. Phillips added that in his
article, he did not claim membership on the Landmark Commission
because he was not speaking for the commission, but he was speaking for
the Nueces County Historical Commission.
Ms. Macon responded that, on behalf of the commissioners, who are not
here, and who voted on the plans in 1998, at the time, the commission's
reasoning for moving the star from its old location to the interior of the
park was because it was not seen visually and it blended with the skyscape.
People did not really know the star was located up on the bluff. It was
decided that if a replica were allowed in the park, then one would be
placed back in the old location if funding were available. Ms. Macon
continued that the replica placed in the old location would not be
functional - it would not be wired for lighting. There would be a plaque
placed underneath the star in the park with a disclaimer stating that this
was not the original location and stating where to look for its original
location. Ms. Macon continued that these were some of the agreements
made during this whole review process. Ms. Macon went on to say she
received comments on how unattractive the star was, but regardless of its
Landmark commission Meet'. Q
April 27, 2000
Page 6
location, the appearance of the star, with the exception on its neon versus
bulb lighting, is the same as it was originally. It is bright blue and canary
yellow in coloring and it is designed into a lollipop shape. The commission
cannot visually do anything about how it looks, but they were looking at
visibility to the public; which is why they voted like they did. Ms. Macon
continued that at this point in time as to whether or not the commission
can take any further action, she needs to consult with legal staff. Ms.
Macon asked if Mr. Gunning had any comments.
Mr. Gunning stated he felt the Landmark Commission was very diligently in
its review of the proposed plans and there was much discussion on
placement of the gold star. Mr. Gunning stated that as Ms. Macon
recapped, the decision was made to place the star in the lower part of the
Gold Star Court for visibility purposes. After all discussion and comments
concluded on the gold star court, no action was taken.
RECEPTION FOR CITY BOARDS. COMMISSIONS, & VOLUNTEERS HOSTED BY MAYOR
AND CITY COUNCIL: Ms. Macon reminded commissioners to call in their
RSVP for the reception scheduled for Monday, May 8, 2000. A copy of the
invitation was forwarded to you as a reminder.
OTHER MATTERS:
Mr. Phillips stated that he would be attending the annual historical
conference from May 4 through May 6, 2000. The workshop will be in San
Antonio, Texas. The registration fee is $60 and the workshop is a good place to
meet other people who are interested in historical preservation.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:25 p.m.
el., a. 07iG A.Cti-
Lin sa Williams Faryce Go de-Macon, city Plahner
Recording Secretor Staff Liaison to Landmark Commission
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