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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Historic Preservation Commission - Meeting Date: 4/23/2009 CITY OF GLENDALE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION CITY HALL COMPLEX CONFERENCE ROOM 2A 5850 WEST GLENDALE AVENUE GLENDALE,ARIZONA THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2009 7:00PM COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Ruth Byrne Jim Grose Dan Leimeter Becky Shady Charles "Bud" Zomok, Chairperson CITY STAFF: Ron Short, FAICP, Deputy Director for Long Range Planning Karen Flores, AICP, Planner, Staff Liaison Diana Figueroa, Recording Secretary GUESTS: Roberta Miller Rosie Miller Carlie Miller Chairperson Zomok called the regular meeting to order at approximately 7:12pm. Chairperson Zomok called for Approval of the March 26, 2009, meeting minutes. Commissioner Grose MADE a MOTION to APPROVE the minutes of the March 26, 2009, meeting. Commissioner Leimeter SECONDED the MOTION. The motion passed unanimously. Chairperson Zomok called for Business From The Floor. There was none. Chairperson Zomok called for Withdrawals or Continuances. There were none. Chairperson Zomok called for Public Hearing Items. There were none. Chairperson Zomok called for Other Business. WEED AND SEED PROGRAM: Natalie Stahl and Michele Morris will provide a presentation regarding the Orchard Glen Weed and Seed Program. Ms. Stahl is a resident of Orchard Glen, Chair of the Orchard Glen Weed and Seed Program, and former Chair of the Glendale Planning Commission. April 23,2009 Agenda Historic Preservation Commission Page 2 Ms. Morris is a Glendale Police Crime Prevention Specialist and Site Coordinator for the Weed and Seed Program. Staff Contact: Karen Flores, AICP, Staff Liaison. Chairperson Zomok introduced Ms. Natalie Stahl and Ms. Michele Morris as they would be making the presentation. Ms. Natalie Stahl, a resident of Orchard Glen and Chair of the community's Weed & Seed Program, and Ms. Michelle Morris, a Crime Prevention Specialist with the Glendale Police Department and Site Coordinator for the program, provided the presentation. Orchard Glen comprises approximately '/4 square mile, and contains approximately 8,000 residents and 474 lots. The community is home to five or six gangs and 600 documented gang members. When the Weed & Seed Program was initiated in 2002, the community had a median household income of $15,000; an average time of residency of 2.11 years; a 60% rental rate with a high level of absentee landlords; a high mobility rate in school with a 70% turnover rate per annum; and 94% of elementary school students on the free lunch program. The community was also highly ethnic with many non-English speaking persons. Iu 1999, residents organized and began working with City government to learn how government works to be able to improve their community. By 2002, residents collaborating with the City and other local partners initiated the Weed & Seed program (technically a strategy rather than a program, due to its ongoing nature) which is a federal Department of Justice program that weeds out blight and seeds in resources for a community. The program consists of a coordinated effort of local, state, and federal law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies to weed out criminal elements, and develop of partnerships to "seed" in needed resources for prevention, intervention, and treatment. Weed & Seed is governed by a Steering Committee that has developed strong relationships with a broad base of community groups, including law enforcement, Harold W. Smith Elementary School (which provides a Safe Haven), Glendale Light & Life Church (also a Safe Haven), Phoenix Children's Hospital (which provides parenting classes and counseling), Kids at Hope, Boys & Girls Clubs, Glendale High School, Swift Charities for Children, Glendale Parks and Recreation Department, Arizona Liquor Enforcement, Glendale Housing Authority, and the residents. The program has thus far obtained $850 million in federal funds. Achievements include demolishing 13 abandoned buildings, building or rehabilitating 15 homes, painting 33 homes, providing $350,000 in streetscape improvements (lighting, landscaping, etc.); providing parenting programs, counseling, and English as a second language classes; removing Day Labor business; and facilitating the opening of a Boys and Girls Club on the premises of the elementary school. Orchard Glen Weed & Seed works with Project Safe Neighborhoods, a state program for drug and gang members whereby persons designated as "prohibited possessors" can be charged with federal crimes. Being convicted of a federal crime means going to a federal rather than "local" prison and being removed from the sphere of influence of local gangs (which continue to operate from the confines of state prisons). The program includes a "Crime Free Multi-Housing" component wherein tenants sign a crime free housing lease and can be evicted if involved in any crime. Traffic enforcement, police patrol, and code enforcement are enhanced. Police patrol on April 23, 2009 Agenda Historic Preservation Commission Page 3 bikes and conduct a "Read with a Cop"program where the police read to children in school —al] this to create positive and constructive relationships with law enforcement personnel. Orchard Glen Weed & Seed has been in operation for seven years and has met goals outlined in the programs strategic plan, as determined by a third party evaluator. Among all, the evaluation entailed examining one million calls for service, which indicated that violent crime has decreased by 26.5%; property crime by 14.9%; and disorderly conduct by 32%. During the same time frame, Glendale crime had risen. The evaluation report states: "Evaluators found a preponderance of support that the site has established a sound system of implementation and record keeping and generally followed appropriate processes." The program is now moving into a sustainability phase meaning that Orchard Glen will be designated a "Graduated Site." The program will continue building its collaborative partnerships, seeking other funding opportunities, and enhancing the program with components to address needs of the elderly, especially those who are raising grandchildren. The Commission thanked Ms. Stahl and Ms. Morris for their presentation and their time. HERITAGE GRANT PROJECTS UPDATE: The Historic Preservation Commission will hear an update by the staff liaison on the Catlin Court, Floralcroft, and National Register projects. Staff Contact: Karen Flores, AICP, Staff Liaison. Ms. Flores report the Heritage Grants have been suspended by the State. CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT GRANT PROJECT: The Historic Preservation Commission will hear an update by the staff liaison on the Certified Local Government Grant Project. Staff Contact: Karen Flores, AICP, Staff Liaison. Ms. Flores stated that a Certified Local Government (CLG) grant is being used to develop nominations to the National Historic Register for the Thunderbird / McDonald Addition and Northfield Ranch House subdivisions. The next step will be to conduct neighborhood meetings with residents; and, with their support, nomination applications can be forwarded to SHPO. PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH OF MAY 2009: The Historic Preservation Staff Liaison will read Glendale's Proclamation for National Historic Preservation Month of May 2009. Staff Contact: Karen Flores, AICP, Staff Liaison. The Ruth Byrne Historic Preservation Award be presented to the recipient, Nelda Crowell, Archivist for the Thunderbird School of Global Management, at the May 26, 2009, City Council meeting. Chairperson Zomok called for the Staff Report. April 23,2009 Agenda Historic Preservation Commission Page 4 Ms. Flores reported that scholarships are being obtained so that all Commission members and staff(Historic Preservation Officer and Staff Liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission) will be able to attend the State Historic Preservation Conference in June in downtown Phoenix. She said the annual Historic Preservation Bus Tour will be held on May 16, 2009, and twenty one persons have thus far signed up. Ms. Flores said, regarding the Historic Preservation Overlay District for Catlin Court, that staff is developing an electronic copy of the document. Staff is reviewing the document in a comprehensive manner, and will also consider possible amendments to the document in relationship to design standards being developed for the Centerline initiative and the comprehensive update that is in process for the Glendale Zoning Ordinance. A mapping project is underway to incorporate the historic districts, contributing and potentially contributing properties, and properties on the National Historic Register into the city's GIS system. Staff is examining alternative grants and sources of funding for historic preservation projects, given the lack of funds from Heritage and CLG grants. • The city's Grants Administrator, Paula Moloff, who has been a tremendous asset to the Historic Preservation Program, will be retiring in July and will not be replaced. Departments will now have to research and write their own grants. The Staff Liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission attended a grant writing workshop this past Tuesday. Ms. Moloff will be giving a presentation regarding grants at the next meeting of the Commission on May 28, 2009. Chairperson Zomok called for Commission Comments and Suggestions Since there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:39pm. The next meeting is scheduled for April 23, 2009. Respectfully submitted, Diana Figueroa, Recordi` ecretary