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Home My WebLink About11/05/2013M Heritage Commission City of Elgin Elgin Heritage Commission November 5, 2013 A. The meeting of the Elgin Heritage Commission was called to order at 7:01 p.m. in the City Council Chambers by Chairman Bill Briska. 1. Members Present: William Briska, Elizabeth Femal,James Halik (requested leave from meeting at 8:10), Rebecca Hunter,Judith Rivera, Scott Savel, Judy Van Dusen, and John Wiedmeyer 2. Members Absent: Tom Krebsbach. 3. Others Present: Melissa Lane, Dan Miller 4. City Staff Present: Amy Munro, Historic Preservation and Grants Planner B. Approval of Minutes: Minutes were not submitted for approval. C. Recognize Persons Present: Melissa Lane, Gail Borden Library Ms. Lane presented a request to the Commission to include the Death Records of Elgin Illinois. . . as Recorded in the Cemetery Sextons'Leger microfilmed records, coordinated by the Commission in 1995, into the Gail Borden Library's microfilm grant funded digitization project.The digital records would be available on the library's website, www.gailborden.info/elginareamemories . Motion made by Commissioner Savel to grant permission to the library to include the death records into its historic resource digitization project. Motion seconded by Commissioner Halik.The motion passed unanimously. D. Plaque Applications: Commissioners discussed the plaque nominations and all nominations were scored on the criteria of architectural significance, historical significance and current maintenance. Plaques must meet a minimum of 6 points in each category to be eligible for a plaque award. 1. 370 N. Congdon (Tabled 10-1-13) Motion made by Commissioner Hunter to untable the item. Motion seconded by Commissioner Wiemeyer.The motion passed 8-0. The plaque nomination received the following average scores: Historic Significance: 7.3 Architectural Significance: 7.1; Current Maintenance: 7.1. A motion was made by Commissioner Wiedmeyer to award a plaque with the following inscription: 1929, A. & F. Kimball. Motion seconded by Commissioner Halik. The motion passed 8-0. Elgin Heritage Commission:Minutes Page 2 November 5,2013 2. 634 Columbia Commissioners discussed the application which was denied at the October 1, 2013 meeting. Following the meeting, the applicant expanded the historical narrative and architectural description and re-submitted the application for the Commission's review. The plaque nomination received the following average scores: Historic Significance: 6.6; Architectural Significance: 7.3; Current Maintenance: 7.0. A motion was made by Commissioner Wiedmeyer to award a plaque with the following inscription: 1927 W. &G. Nohl. Motion seconded by Commissioner Halik. The motion passed 8-0. 3. 440 South St. A motion was made by Commissioner Femal to untable the nomination. Motion seconded by Commissioner Rivera.The motion passed 8-0. The plaque nomination received the following average scores: Historic Significance: 7.3 Architectural Significance: 7.0; Current Maintenance: 7.1. A motion was made by Commissioner Savel to award a plaque with the following inscription: 1922, R. & M. Fields. Motion seconded by Commissioner Rivera. The motion passed 8-0. 4. 902 Bellevue The plaque nomination received the following average scores: Historic Significance: 7.5; Architectural Significance: 6.8; Current Maintenance: 7.4. A motion was made by Commissioner Savel to award a plaque with the following inscription: 1925, G. & B. Chapman. Motion seconded by Commissioner Rivera. The motion passed 8-0. E. Old Business 1. Cell Phone Tour Website Status Update Ms. Munro advised the Commission that the webpage update is still underway. 2. NHS and the Elgin Bungalow Initiative Update Chairman Briska reported that a kick-off public informational meeting which will focus on bungalow type classification will be conducted at the Elgin Area Historical Society Museum will be conducted on November 13, 2013. Chairman Briska also provided an update on the project's proposed three phases. Currently,the Bungalow Initiative committee has been working with the consultant on classifications for Elgin's three most common bungalow types and their architectural character defining features. The next steps will include developing criteria for identifying bungalows with a high level of integrity and eligible for plaque and historic district inclusion.The final phase will include thematic district Municipal Code language Elgin Heritage Commission:Minutes Page 3 November 5,2013 suggestions for the Commission's review and potential recommendation to the City Council for approval. 3. DRSC Appointment Resolutions: Ms. Munro said that the proposed resolution is still under review. 4. Heritage Commission Historic Rehabilitation Guidelines for the 75/25 Grant Program The discussion discussed the Grant Review Subcommittee's recommendations for modifications to the Program's Guidelines as well as the city's Property Improvement Exterior Paint Grant Program. The Historic Rehabilitation Grant does not typically provide funding for maintenance oriented projects; however, several Commissioners noted the financial difficulty for applicants to afford historic restoration projects.After much discussion, it was determined that the historic rehabilitation program should still focus on historic restoration projects, but recommended that staff explore the inclusion of roofing projects in the city's Property Improvement Grant Program. With regard to other maintenance oriented projects, discussion took place regarding the creation of a subprogram within the city's historic rehabilitation grant program which would have a separate point system and be used only in the event that the 75/25 program had excess funds available; however, more information is needed, and the Commission directed staff to pursue the development of such a program and provide language for their review at a different date. Additionally, the Historic Rehabilitation 75/25 and property improvement grant exterior paint amounts have not changed within the past several years. Given the expense of exterior paint projects, it was suggested that that programming grant amount be modified so that grant recipients receive either a grant in the amount of$2,500 or 75% of an amount not to exceed $10,000. Ms. Munro will discuss this funding increase with city staff. 5. Reports from Neighborhood Groups on Heritage Related Activities Dan Miller reported on the Gifford Park Association's(GPA) architectural salvage effort (60). Mr. Miller also reported on District U-46's intended demolitions and the GPA's request to conduct architectural salvage on the proposed demolition properties. The Board of Education has granted permission to the GPA to do so. The GPA has also obtained architectural salvage permission from the Housing Authority for a house on South Street. F. New Business 1. Budget Update Ms. Munro provided the Commission with its current budget status. She reviewed upcoming anticipated expenses with regard to the December plaque ceremony. The ceremony expenses as well as potential signage expenses are the only expected and remaining expenses for the year. In keeping with this, Chairman Briska requested the Commission's consideration for donating the remainder of the funding to the Elgin Area Historical Society for the purchase of computer equipment. A motion was made by Commissioner Savel to support Chairman Briska's request to ngin Heritage Commission:Minutes Page 4 November 5,2013 donate the Commission's remaining funds to the Elgin Area Historical Society for the purchase of equipment. Motion seconded by Commissioner Rivera. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Heritage Commission Budget Increase Request for Historic Interpretive Signage Installation Chairman Briska requested the Commission's consideration for donating$500.00 towards the Newsome Park Signage installation. A motion was made by Commissioner Savel to support Chairman Briska's request to the Summit Park Neighbors with payment made to Elgin Community Network for funding to be contributed towards the Newsome Park signage installation. Motion seconded by Commissioner Rivera. The motion passed unanimously. Chairman Briska spoke with City Manager Sean Stegall about increasing the EHC's budget to fund signage throughout the historic district that would be of high quality and complement each other in design. G. Staff Announcements,Other Business: None. H. Adjournment A motion made by Commissioner Savel to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Rivera and passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:26 p.m. Respectfully submitted, 11, PitWfvvr- Amy Munro Historic Preservation and Grants Planner Approved:January 7, 2014