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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Historic Preservation Commission - Meeting Date: 10/3/2013 rt7511 Historic Preservation GLENDf,E Commission Minutes THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 4:00 P.M.—CONFERENCE ROOM 2A GLENDALE CITY HALL 5850 WEST GLENDALE AVENUE I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at approximately 3:58 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Chairperson Worsdell, Commissioners Myers, Lenox, Wixon and Versluis were in attendance. Absent: Commissioners Lund and Pimentel were absent. City Staff Present: Martin Martell, Planning Intern, Suzie Ricard, Recording Secretary; Thomas Ritz, AICP, Senior Planner; Jon M. Froke, AICP, Planning Director and Historic Preservation Officer. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairperson Worsdell called for a motion for the approval of the January 24, 2013 meeting minutes. Commissioner Lenox made a motion to approve the minutes as written. Commissioner Versluis seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. IV. BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR Jon Froke,,Planning Director and Historic Preservation Officer thanked the commission for allowing him to reschedule the meeting from the normally scheduled meeting to today. Jon and Thomas attended the annual American Planning Association Conference in Scottsdale where the City of Glendale received an award which he would explain later. V. WITHDRAWALS AND CONTINUANCES None. VI. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS None. VII. OTHER BUSINESS Jon Froke, Planning Director and Historic Preservation Officer introduced Ms. Opal Evans and her associates from the Glendale Citizens Corps who has given a presentation to all the boards and commissions. Ms. Evans began her presentation by handing out a sticker with the link to the video for the commission to view since it is 8 minutes long. She explained the video is important and impactful. She showed images of different disasters that have October 3,2013 Minutes Historic Preservation Commission Page 2 happened around the world and the tragic events of 9/11/01. For that reason, America has recognized September as National Preparedness Month to remind Americans of the importance to take steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, schools, and communities. This year, Glendale Citizen Corps proposes that the best stage for our "Whole Community Approach to Emergency Preparedness" mission must begin with existing leaders who represent all six City Districts. Ms. Evans distributed information and volunteer sheets. Commissioner Versluis asked if there is an emergency and how does the community know where to go for a safe place? Ms. Evans explained this is the reason that the community needs to have a plan and they would find local churches or schools in the community and notify the leaders in your community to get the word out. Ms. Evans also explained that the Citizen Corp would have place in the emergency operations that are here with the city and they would know in what community where to go and they would contact the team leaders to let the community know that they're being evacuated and give them information on where they're being sent to. Commissioner Versluis thanked Ms. Evans for clarifying the process. Ms. Evans completed the rest of the presentation and passed out further information to share with their community. Commissioner Myers asked if she could find out who her local contact person is. Ms. Evans suggested she be the person for her community then asked what district she lives in. Commissioner Myers advised her it was Cactus District which Ms. Evans explained they had no one for that District yet. Commission Myers asked when their training session and both representatives gave their contact information and the information on the next meeting date which took place at GRPSTC. Commissioner Versluis was also interested in being the contact person in her own neighborhood which is in Barrel District. Ms. Evans gave Commissioners their contact information. Ms. Evans further explained the Glendale Citizen Corp strategy in getting the community involved. Commissioner Worsdell asked Ms. Evans for information on becoming a contact person in Cactus District as well. They exchanged contact information. Ms. Evans thanked the Commission for allowing them to give their presentation. The Commission in turn thanked them for coming in and giving them this information. October 3,2013 Minutes Historic Preservation Commission Page 3 1. ARIZONA PLANNING ASSOCIATION AWARD I MYRTLE AVENUE CULTURAL GATEWAY I 6040 WEST MYRTLE AVENUE: Staff provided an update regarding the City of Glendale receiving a prestigious award in the Historic Preservation category from the Arizona Planning Association Luncheon for the Myrtle Avenue Cultural Gateway project. There were over 400 guests who attended this event in Scottsdale which it was nice for the city to be recognized. Mr. Froke mentioned this would be the last time the Myrtle Cultural Gateway is placed on the Historic Preservation Commission Agenda. If we do the Historic Preservation Tour next year in May 2014, we would include the Myrtle Cultural Gateway as one of our stops. The tour would take place on the first Saturday in May. Chairperson Worsdell agreed with Mr. Froke about the City of Glendale being recognized. 2. NORTH AMERICAN IRISES: Mr. Froke asked Commissioner Myers to speak about the North American Irises suggestion. Commission Myers and her family traveled to Prescott during the summer and stopped at the Charlotte Hall Museum that had their famous rose garden which they also are in the process of creating a historic Iris Garden. There was a Historical Iris Society that she wasn't aware of. The plan was to have Iris planters from all over Arizona meet there so that they could all plant Iris's from around the world in chronological order along the path starting with the 1500's going all the way to 1920 when Charlotte Hall died. It will also be on the Historic Registry with the National Park Service as a historical garden to draw visitors to the museum and garden. One of the members of the Historical Iris Society lives locally in Glendale off of 47th Avenue &Northern. Commissioner Myers thought this would be a lovely to be able to explore the idea of bringing this to Glendale. She inquired what plants are native to the area. What are the possibilities of planting Iris's in public spaces or are there compact areas in the downtown area so that visitors can see while they shop? What would it take to make it a reality? Mr. Froke explained that the City of Glendale's Environmental Department Program Manager Joetta Miller is very knowledgeable about plant material and landscaping. She reviewed the staff report and stated that it would not be a good candidate for the Glendale Phoenix area but there might be other options like Sahuaro Ranch Park or Native Seeds in Tucson which is a partnership that deals with plants that are more native to the Arid Region or Sonoran dessert whether its Phoenix, Glendale, or the Tucson area so there are options that we can look at. The Iris's wouldn't be an option for Glendale unless it was in a controlled environment. October 3,2013 Minutes Historic Preservation Commission Page 4 Commissioner Myer hopes if they find a location that it wouldn't require a lot of maintenance and up keep. Mr. Thomas Ritz explained the programs through the Parks and Sahuaro Ranch Park for volunteers combined with Joetta Miller's knowledge of water conservation and landscaping through low water use, are good. Various cities cooperating as the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association have put together publications on landscaping available at the libraries. Mr. Ritz had one of their brochures for the Commission. Chairperson Worsdell inquired about the Elsie McCarthy Sensory Garden for the Blind and wondered what was in the garden. Mr. Froke explained that the park was an endowment given from Elsie McCarthy who bequeathed a substantial amount of funds for a park for the blind that would have plants that are tactile or to the touch that if you have sight impairment you can feel and experience the garden with your hands. The City of Glendale maintains it. There are no Barrel Cactus type plants in this park. Commissioner Lennox mentioned there are Prickly Pear plants that smell wonderful in the Sensory Garden. The only thing is that it's not an ideal location for Iris's and suggested they find a location where there is more foot traffic. She has noticed that with the park gated the homeless tend to gather there. Mr. Froke suggested making the Sensory Garden one of their stops at their next Historic Preservation Tour. Commissioner Lennox thought it was a good idea especially since it will be in during the spring season. Mr. Froke mentioned they have a homeless situation at the Myrtle Avenue Cultural Gateway so Planning has been working with Parks and Recreation and the Police Department, since there is more movement of people. Now that there is a sign there that doesn't allow urban camping. Mr. Ritz and Mr. Martell, mentioned all the Libraries and the Community Center on Brown Street has the same signs as well. Mr. Martell asked Commissioner Myers if she thought about contacting the Botanical Gardens to see what native plants would be good for the environment. Commissioner Myers thought it was a great idea but isn't sure if it should start from a location or from an organization. In Prescott, the museum itself invited the society to come in and plant. She suggested the Phoenix Permaculture Guild and mentioned there are quite a few other resources. The Xeriscape Garden behind the Main Library was also mentioned. Commissioner Versluis asked about the Main Library that has some space for a few plants in their area. October 3,2013 Minutes Historic Preservation Commission Page 5 Commissioner Myers agreed but was concerned about the number of festivals that take place in that area. Commissioner Versluis commented there is a lot of traffic but that also mean there would be a lot of people viewing the plants since they do have room. She also suggested Foothills Park. Commissioner Myers said she did notice the planter in the center of Murphy Park and asked who she would contact about her suggestion? Mr. Froke provided Commissioner Myers the contact information for Erik Strunk. Commissioner Versluis gave an update about her son who she visits in Henderson, Nevada. He loves antiques and there is a museum in the Las Vegas area that wanted to share what she saw at this museum. She showed pictures of houses from the early days of Las Vegas's inception. The small homes were 1 or 2 bedrooms and they were completely furnished. There was even dishes in the sink as well ask other antique decor through the houses. Mannequins were place in the homes as well that were dressed in that time period. Plexiglas was placed on the doors, so as you walk by you're able to view each room without actually entering the home. Her suggestion was when the City of Glendale restores the old buildings we should put up Plexiglas room dividers so people can see the historical rooms and decor but can't enter into the building. It reminded her of the old Morcomb service station and wondered if we could obtain old farm equipment to place in this area and possibly charge $2 per person to view the Service Station. She wanted the commission to hear about her suggestion. VIII. STAFF REPORT None. IX. COMMISSION COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS None. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:48 p.m. NEXT MEETING Mr. Froke asked if the Commission could meet in December for one item for the commissions input before January. Chairperson Worsdell agreed to the suggestion. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held at 4:00 p.m. on December 12, 2013.