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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Historic Preservation Commission - Meeting Date: 5/27/2010 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes THURSDAY,MAY 27,2010 7:00 P.M. GLENDALE CITY HALL 5850 WEST GLENDALE AVENUE, ROOM 2A I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at approximately 7:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Chairperson Shady, Vice Chair Grose, Commissioner Lenox, Commissioner Hirsch, Commissioner Worsdell Absent: Commissioner McNeill City Staff Present: Ron Short, FAICP, Deputy Director for Long Range Planning, Karen Flores, AICP, Historic Preservation Liaison, Diane Nevill, Library Manager, Main Library, Karen Hesser, Parks and Recreation Deputy Director, Christine Frederickson, Management Assistant, Parks and Recreation, and Marilyn Clark, Recording Secretary III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Chairperson Shady called for approval of the April 22, 2010 Historic Preservation minutes and asked for a motion. Commissioner Lenox made a motion to approve the minutes as written; Commissioner Hirsch seconded the motion. The minutes from the April 22, 2010 Historic Preservation meeting were approved as written. IV. BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR V. WITHDRAWALS AND CONTINUANCES VI. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS VII. OTHER BUSINESS PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN Karen Hesser, Parks and Recreation Deputy Director spoke to the Commission regarding the updating of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Ms. Hesser asked for feedback based on a series of survey questions related to the various facets of park operations, maintenance, programs, and accessibility of services and programs. May 27,2010 Minutes Historic Preservation Commission Page 2 HISTORY OF GLENDALE'S LIBRARY Diane Nevill, Library Manager at the Main Library, gave a presentation on the history of Glendale's library. The founder of the Glendale library was V.E. Messinger. Mr. Messinger was a member of the first graduating class of Stanford University and came to Glendale in 1895 to become the manager of the Ryder Lumber and Hardware Company (located south of the railroad tracks near the former Crystal Ice Company). He brought with him a collection of 400 books, and made them available to anyone who wanted to read them. In 1897, he built a small building at the north end of the Ryder Company to house the books. The library grew as community members began donating books. The Ryder Company moved to the corner of what is now Glendale Avenue and 58th Drive. Mr. Messinger moved the library to the second floor of the building and served as a volunteer librarian. About the same time, the Glendale Livestock Association liquidated its holdings with about $1,000 surplus left in the treasury. Through the efforts of H.W. Adams, the president of this association, the money was donated to the library to purchase books. On January 1, 1898, the Glendale Public Library Association was organized with Adams as president and Messinger as treasurer. Local citizens bought shares for $5.00 to help the association grow. The library was moved several times before 1917, when Mary Catlin Hansen donated funds for a small building to be built in Murphy Park. A small library with a pagoda-like roof was built around the flagpole and which became known as the flagpole library. The building housed the library from 1917-1938. It was not until 1922 that the library became a department of the City of Glendale. At that time, $500 was appropriated for its support. A $12,000 library building was constructed in 1938, thanks to a $6,000 bond issue (that carried by only nine votes), and a PWA grant from the government. The 2,200 square foot building was constructed to serve a population of 3,500, and was located in the center of Murphy Park surrounded by beautiful shrubbery. The Spanish-style mission structure was built in the form of a T. There was an arched entrance in the center, which led to the reading rooms. At the time, it was considered to be one of the most attractive buildings in the city. On June 1, 1935, Mrs. Velma Teague was hired as head librarian and served in this position until her death in 1969. She recognized the need for excellent books to stimulate young and old minds. It was always Mrs. Teague's dream that the small library would someday be replaced by a larger building that would adequately serve the growing population of Glendale. In 1967, preliminary plans for this new building were approved by the City Council. Even though Mrs. Teague's death prevented her from seeing her dreams come true, her last weeks were cheered by the knowledge that the new library would bear her name. This honor was bestowed upon her by the City Council for her dedication and devotion to the library and the community. May 27,2010 Minutes Historic Preservation Commission Page 3 The Rodeane Widom era began in October 1980, when she became director of the library in Murphy Park. The staff consisted of seventeen people, including full and part-time employees. A $9.4 million bond issue passed to build a new main library exactly one year after Rodeane began working as director. Rather than tearing down the existing Velma Teague Library, land was secured from Sahuaro Ranch Park for the new main library. In July of 1987, the new 64,000 square-foot library opened to a packed house of people from all over the West Valley. The Foothills Branch Library, on 57th Avenue north of Union Hills Road, followed in July 1999. At 33, 500 square feet, it was about half the size of the main library. A west branch, near Bethany Home Road and 83`d Avenue, is planned for 2014 or later. Sue Komernicky, formerly the branch manager at the Foothills Branch, became Library Director in 2007, upon Rodeane's retirement. Ms. Komernicky has worked for the Glendale Public Library System since 1984. CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT GRANT PROJECTS Staff Liaison, Karen Flores gave an update on the Certified Local Government Grant projects currently in process. Ms. Flores indicated that the Northfield Historic District was placed on the National Register on May 10, 2010. As yet, no notification has been received regarding the nomination for the Thunderbird Estates/McDonald Addition Historic District. The nomination for the Sands Estates Historic District will be considered by the Site Selection Committee in October. VACATING MEETINGS FOR JUNE,JULY, AND AUGUST The Commission voted to vacate the June 24, 2010, July 22, 2010, and August 26, 2010, Historic Preservation Commission meetings. Chairperson Shady asked to entertain a motion to vacate the June 24, 2010, July 22, 2010, and the August 26, 2010 Historic Preservation meetings. The motion was made by Commissioner Worsdell and seconded by Commissioner Hirsch. The motion passed unanimously. VIII. STAFF REPORT SAVE AMERICA'S TREASURES GRANT The Historic Preservation Officer informed the Commission that in early 2010, the city was notified that it had been selected as a recipient for the Save America's Treasure Grant for restoration of the Morcomb Adobe House and Gas Station. The application for the grant had been filed in 2007. The total project cost will be $265, 152, with $132,576 federal funds and $132,576 city funds from historic preservation bond funds. CENTENNIAL BUS TOURS The staff liaison reported that the three Centennial Bus Tours were highly successful, with much positive feedback from the participants. The Historic Gems Tour, with ten participants, visited the First United Methodist Church, Glendale High School Auditorium, First National Bank, and Thunderbird Control Tower. The Historic Homes and Districts Tour, with twelve participants, consisted of a walking tour of the Hickman House in Catlin Court, the Cook-Chisum House in Floralcroft, and the Keist Building in May 27,2010 Minutes Historic Preservation Commission Page 4 the 59th Avenue Historic District, along with armchair tours aboard the bus of Northfield, Thunderbird/McDonald Addition, and Glendale Tract Historic Districts. The Historic Landmarks Tour, with twenty-seven participants, visited Sahuaro and Manistee Ranches. Information regarding the tours will be posted on the city's website early next week. STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION CONFERENCE The Historic Preservation Officer and Commissioner Hirsch reported on the 2010 State Historic Preservation Conference. Presentations addressed historic preservation as an economic asset, innovative re-use of old strip centers, and creativity in the conversion of Circle-Ks to a diverse range of uses. Speakers included Donovan Rypkema, a renowned economist with a special interest in historic preservation, who holds a M.S. in Historic Preservation from Columbia University, and Renee Bahl, who was appointed as the Executive Director of the Arizona State Parks Board in June 2009. RETIREMENTS Staff reported that Ron Short, FAICP, Historic Preservation Officer, would be retiring as of June 30, 2010, and Karen Flores, AICP, Staff Liaison to the Commission, would be retiring as of September 30, 2010. The Planning Director would be making appointments for staff support for the Commission in the coming months. IX. COMMISSION COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS X. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:00 p.m. NEXT MEETING: September 23, 2010. Respectfully Submitted, Marilyn Cla , Recording Secretary