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Home My WebLink AboutEHC Reg 02-02-16 apprvd 03-01-16City of Elgin Elgin Heritage Commission February 2, 2016 Proposed Minutes A. The meeting of the Elgin Heritage Commission was called to order at 7:01 p.m. in the City Council Chambers by Chairman John Wiedmeyer. 1. Members Present: Elizabeth Femal, George Rowe, Judith Van Dusen, Scott Savel, Steve Thoren, Tom Krebsbach, Rebecca Hunter, and John Wiedmeyer 2. Members Absent: Judith Rivera 3. Others Present: None 4. City Staff Present: Christen Sundquist, Historic Preservation Planner B. Approval of Minutes: 1. A motion was made by Commissioner Van Dusen to approve the January 5, 2016 minutes as submitted. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Savel. The motion passed 8‐0. C. Recognize Persons Present: None D. Plaque applications: 1. 1262 W. Highland Avenue ‐ The plaque nomination received the following average scores: Historic Significance 8.13; Architectural Significance: 7.50; Current Maintenance: 7.63. A motion was made by Commissioner Savel to approve awarding the plaque for the property with the inscription that would read Betsy Ross (Model of home), 1929. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Thoren. The motion passed 8‐0. E. Old Business 1. Reports from Neighborhood Groups on Heritage Related Activities a. Gifford Park Association – Staff indicated that she will be speaking to the Gifford Park Association at their regular scheduled meeting on February 18, 2016 held at the Elgin History Museum at 7:00PM about the Commission’s new website, www.historicelgin.com. b. Elgin Literary Festival‐ Commissioner Femal stated that the Elgin Literary Festival was this past weekend and that Kim Bauer, who is the Community Development Department’s volunteer historic preservation intern, and Art Teacher, Madeline Elgin Heritage Commission: Minutes Page 2 February 2, 2016 Richmond spoke at the festival about their blog, “Pedaling Preservation.” Commissioner Femal stated that the blog is very informative and entices viewers to read more about the history of structures throughout Elgin in a very unique way. 2. Mayor’s Initiative Ideas a. Directional Signage Update No update b. Web Based App Ms. Sundquist noted that Commission is getting great feedback so far on the www.historicelgin.com website. She stated that she anticipates that once more people know about the site, that gaps will be filled about buildings that do not have a lot of information by some of the viewers. Commissioner Femal stated that it would be great to have book marks or postcards to be passed out at particular functions and to have at local areas that would direct tourists and Elginites to the website. The Commissioners all agreed that this would be a great way to advertise the website. It was also noted that the website should be advertised on the City’s Facebook page and on the City’s website. Commissioner Rowe indicated that for the next Elgin History Museum Crackerbarrel Newsletter, that the Commission should advertise the www.historicelgin.com website. The Commission agreed that this would be great advertisement. Commissioner Rowe indicated that he will contact staff for more information about what to place in the article. a) Tour Booklets: Ms. Sundquist stated that the Downtown Neighborhood Association’s tour brochures, of which the Heritage Commission gave $500 as kick start funds, are anticipated at being completed by the end of February. The Downtown Neighborhood Association may, at that time, ask for additional funds for printing and are currently collecting cost estimates. She stated that the Downtown Neighborhood Association thought it was a great idea to use the template that they created for other neighborhood tours to keep Elgin’s historic tours consistent. The tour brochures would also be placed on the www.historicelgin.com website for easy access to tourists and Elginites to print off if they would prefer a hard copy of the particular tour versus using the website. b) Photographs: Ms. Sundquist indicated that there are a lot of buildings on the website that do not have sufficient photographs that show the existing buildings/structures as they are today. Ms. Sundquist asked the Commission if any of them would be interested, once the weather is nicer, if they’d like to help take a few Elgin Heritage Commission: Minutes Page 3 February 2, 2016 photographs of each building/site to be used on the website. Commissioners Krebsbach, Femal, Savel, and Hunter volunteered their time to help gather photographs. c. Vinyl Sticker Purchase – Guide‐By‐Cell signs Ms. Sundquist received two quotes for adhesive vinyl graphics to be placed over the phone number that directed users to the Guide‐By‐Cell information. The vinyl graphic would be 2”x16.5” and would be a close color match to the existing metal signs. The Commission stated that a more specific URL code on the sign that directs the user directly to that plaques information is more helpful than only having the url that directs to the websites main page. Staff indicated that she will also try to get a QR Code added to this graphic as well in case tourists/Elginites would rather use the QR Code versus typing in the url. A motion was made by Commissioner Savel to pay for the more specific adhesive graphics. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hunter. The motion passed 8‐0. 3. Ideas for More Advertisement for the Historic Rehabilitation Grant Program a. Ms. Sundquist stated that the Historic Rehabilitation Grant funds were reinstated for 2016. Commissioner Femal indicated that the Commission should advertise at the Gail Borden Public Library and in the lobby space at City Hall. Chairman Wiedmeyer stated that the Commission should create posters that could be placed at those locations but also throughout the City. Commissioner Hunter indicated that the posters could be place in ACE Hardware as there is a lot of traffic from contractors and homeowners in that store. Chairman Wiedmeyer also stated that the Commission should organize a panel in early March to be held at the Gail Borden Public Library, if possible, where homeowners could seek help and gather information on how to apply for the grants. It was suggested that a Code Official, and a few of the Commissioners should be present as well as previous applicants who went through the grant program. This is to ensure that any questions could be answered by those homeowners that are interested in the program. Commissioner Femal stated that it would be great to have a slideshow of before and afters of those projects that went through the grant program as well as place those before and after images on the poster. Staff indicated that they will contact the Gail Borden Public Library to see if there are any spaces open for a panel discussion in early March as well contact the Code Official to see if they are available as well. F. New Business 1. Mayor’s Awards Ceremony Staff indicated that the Mayor’s Awards will be held on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 6:00PM Elgin Heritage Commission: Minutes Page 4 February 2, 2016 at the Haight, 166 Symphony Way. It was noted by Staff that the Haight is a very unique space and perfect setting for our Mayor’s Awards. It was also noted that the Commission will have to supply chairs as the Haight does not have a great amount of seating at this time. Commissioner Rowe mentioned that he has access to around 110 chairs but would need help transporting them. Chairman Wiedmeyer and Commissioner Savel stated that they would help transport the chairs to the ceremony and back. 2. Preservation Month Discussion a. Ms. Sundquist stated that she has received a couple programs so far for Preservation Month. She stated that a unique idea that could be down this year is a Historic Windows Treasure Hunt. She stated that a Commission in Oregon did something very similar to this in Preservation Month 2015 to bring more awareness and education to the community about historic windows. The premise is that there would be around 25 buildings in a specific area and a photograph of a historic window associated with those buildings. The contestant would have to find the building associated with the historic window photograph and write down the address of that building. For bonus points, the contestant could write down the style of architecture of that particular building. This Historic Window Treasure Hunt would be announced at the beginning of Preservation Month and would conclude at the end of the month. There would be three prizes given for first, second and third place. Commissioner Thoren offered the winning prize be a private tour of the Wing Mansion, a ride in his Model T or A to Wing Park for the first place winner, up to 6 people. Commissioner Hunter also indicated that she would offer free services for research for a plaque application or possibly a docent tour of a particular area for one of the prizes as well. Chairman Wiedmeyer asked the Commission if there could be a sub‐committee to spear head this treasure hunt. Commissioners Van Dusen, Rowe and Krebsbach indicated that they were interested in putting this treasure hunt together. Staff noted that she will send the Commissioners more information about the project and that she would help with putting the graphics together. G. Other Business 1. Staff indicated to the Commission that there will be a Public Hearing at the next Heritage Commission meeting on March 1, 2016 for the inclusion of 408 Orange Street into the Elgin Bungalow Thematic Historic District. H. Adjournment A motion was made by Commissioner Savel to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Rowe and passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:16 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Elgin Heritage Commission: Minutes Page 5 February 2, 2016 Christen Sundquist, Historic Preservation Planner Community Development Department Approved: