2010-06-10 Historic Preservation Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
SUMMARY MINUTES
June 10, 2010
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Eccleshall called the meeting of the Edmonds Historic Preservation Commission to order at 4:35 p.m. in the 3rd Floor
Conference Room of City Hall, 121 — 5th Avenue North.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Andy Eccleshall, Chair
Larry Vogel, Vice Chair
Jennifer Anttila
Sue Bauer
Alan Macfarlane
Steve Waite
John Dewhirst
Eric Norenberg
Christine Deiner-Karr (arrived at 4:40)
READING/APPROVAL OF MINUTES
STAFF PRESENT
Rob Chave, Planning Division Manager
Jim Stevens, Facility Maintenance Manager
Frances Chapin, Cultural Services Manager
Diane Cunningham, Planning and Dev. Services
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Michael Plunkett
The minutes of May 13, 2010 were approved as submitted.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF AGENDA
The agenda was modified to place Item 7a (4th Avenue Cultural Corridor Sign) and Item 6a (Discussion on Certificate of
Appropriateness for Carnegie Library) before Item 5 (Committee Reports). The remainder of the agenda was accepted as
presented.
REQUESTS FROM THE AUDIENCE
There was no one in the audience who expressed a desire to address the Commission during this portion of the meeting.
4TH AVENUE CULTURAL CORRIDOR SIGN
Ms. Chapin reported that staff has worked in conjunction with Preserve America and the National Park Service to design a
sign for the 41h Avenue Cultural Corridor. The sign would provide a map identifying the historic properties located along 4"'
Avenue, as well as the date the structures were built and the style of the buildings. She provided an illustration of the sign
design and a list of historic properties on 4th Avenue. She noted that staff is also proposing to identify the historic properties
with small markers on the sidewalk, but there is currently no funding for this additional work. She invited the
Commissioners to provide direction regarding the project, and they provided the following comments:
• The Commission should notify the property owners before markers are painted onto the sidewalks in front of their
historic structures.
• The sign should provide the name of the original occupant of each historic structure. For example, the specific doctor's
name should be provided.
• The Beeson House should also be identified as a historic property on the sign, even though it is not in the BOLA Report.
Chair Eccleshall agreed to provide additional information regarding this historic property.
• The sign would be placed at the corner of 4th Avenue and Main Street.
VICE CHAIR VOGEL MOVED THAT THE COMMISSION ACCEPT THE PROPOSED SIGN CONTENT AS
PRESENTED BY STAFF, WITH THE ADDITIONS OF THE BEESON HOUSE, THE SPECIFIC DOCTOR'S
NAME, AND NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS BEFORE SIGNS ARE PLACED ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT
OF THEIR PROPERTIES. COMMISSIONER NORENBERG SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
DISCUSSION ON CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR CARNEGIE LIBRARY
Mr. Stevens explained that the City received a grant from the Washington State Historical Society to fund rehabilitation of
the Carnegie Library. He reviewed the proposed project, which is intended to clean and restore the building exterior to be as
close as possible to its original appearance and condition and to repair the two columns at the bottom of the stairs. He said
he is presenting the project to the Commission in anticipation that a Certificate of Appropriateness may be required.
The Commission discussed the guidelines for determining whether or not a Certificate of Appropriateness is necessary for
the proposed project. Because there was some uncertainty as to whether a permit would be required for the project, the
Commission agreed to issue a Certificate of Appropriateness so the project could move forward without delay.
Chair Eccleshall asked how careful the applicant would be when matching the new and existing mortars. Mr. Stevens said
the goal is to keep the color as close as possible to the existing material. Commissioner Waite noted that correct matching
can only be done via a mortar testing analysis. Mr. Stevens said he is working on a contract with a company to complete the
mortar testing analysis. He explained that the mortar testing analysis would be included as part of project information, but it
may not be available in time to incorporate into the specification documents. The analysis would become an addendum to
the project specifications, and any findings would be acted upon as change orders.
Commissioner Deiner-Karr recommended that staff provide once -a -month updates to the Commission regarding the status of
the project. The remainder of the Commission and staff concurred.
CHAIR ECCLESHALL MOVED THAT THE COMMISSION ISSUE A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
FOR THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY REHABILITATION PROJECT SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING
CONDITIONS:
• LABORATORY MORTAR ANALYSIS OF THE BUILDINGS' EXISTING MORTAR SHALL BE
PERFORMED AND INCORPORATED INTO THE ADDNEDUM SPECIFICATIONS.
• PRIOR TO BUILDING CLEANING, ON -SITE SAMPLE METHODS SHALL BE PERFORMED AND THEN
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY'S PROJECT MANAGER.
COMMISSIONER DEWHIRST SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
None of the committees met during the past month.
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Edmonds South Snohomish County Historical Society
Commissioner Mcfarlane advised that the Seattle Historical Society and the Edmonds South Snohomish County Historical
Society have decided not work together on the playing card fundraiser. He reported that 60 people attended the first day of
the Museum's current display, Wood Carvings of Richard Brown. He encouraged the Commissioners to visit.
NEW BUSINESS
Discussion of Bylaws Remdin2 Attendance
Chair Eccleshall explained that the Commission Bylaws allow absences of no more than three consecutive meetings or six
regular meetings in a twelve month period. However, excused absences do not affect a Commissioner's status. He observed
that the Commission consists of extremely knowledgeable people, and they are most valuable when they are all together. He
suggested that if Commissioners are unable to attend at least half of the meetings in a year, perhaps they should consider
resigning so the position can be filled by someone else who has the ability to attend on a regular basis.
Commissioner Bauer suggested that if the City Council Representative is unable to attend a meeting, perhaps another
Council Member could attend in his/her place. It is important to have a representative from the City Council at all their
meetings. The Commission agreed it would be helpful to have an alternative representative.
The Commission discussed the option of starting meetings later in the evening so they do not conflict with work schedules.
Each of the Commissioners shared whether or not a later start time would impact their ability to attend the meetings.
CHAIR ECCLESHALL MOVED THE COMMISSION CHANGE THEIR MEETING START TIME TO 5:30 P.M.
COMMISSIONER WAITE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Discussion of Black and White Sketches as Fundraiser Items
Chair Eccleshall reported that he was unable to prepare the black and white sketches this past month, but he will have them
ready for the next meeting.
Grant Update
Mr. Chave reported that he went to Olympia to present the Commission's grant application, and he anticipates the
Commission will be awarded some grant funding. He said he told the grant committee that the survey would include about
80 sites and would contain almost all the information that a detailed survey would have except for the historical narrative.
He also informed the Committee that the Commission was in the process of doing some neighborhood recognizance to figure
out what was out there so the consultant does not have to complete all the exploration work.
Chair Eccleshall recalled that the Commissioners were previously given maps of specific areas for them to survey. Those
who have not completed their assignments were asked to give the maps back to Chair Eccleshall, who would complete the
work over the next few weeks.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Continued Discussion on Possible Invitation of Stephen Day, Seattle Attorney and Architect. ReEardine Historic
Preservation Incentives
Commissioner Dewhirst said he recently contacted the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic
Preservation office and learned that one of their representatives would be willing to meet with the Commission and answer
their questions. The Commission agreed to pursue this option further. At their next meeting, they agreed to identify specific
questions they would like the representative to answer related to historic preservation processes and concepts.
Discussion of ImaEes for Inclusion on Calendar
Chair Eccleshall advised that members of the Commission are still working to accumulate images for the calendar. The
Commission agreed to meet outside of their regular meeting to select specific images. At the next meeting, Commissioners
would be given specific assignments associated with the project. The Commissioners were also given the assignment of
putting together their favorite historical events in Edmonds History.
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Discussion on Summer Market Presence
Chair Eccleshall reported that he contacted the summer market organizers and learned that they are completely full, with the
exception of September 4th, which he booked for the Commission. The Commission agreed it would be appropriate to ask
for contributions from the public, and staff agreed to contact the Finance Department to come up with a program for issuing
receipts to those who donate. They would report back at the next meeting. Chair Eccleshall said he would have the black
and white pictures of historic sites in Edmonds ready for the Commission to sell at their table on September 4th. He
summarized that if the Commission wants to have more of a presence at next year's summer market and arts festival, they
must reserve their spot much earlier.
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Potential Property Nominations
Commissioner Anttila reminded the Commission that she sent out letters to property owners of the Palmer House, Pinkham
House, Brewer House, 228 Sunset, and Frances Anderson Building.
Updates to Historic Inventory
Chair Eccleshall said there are currently two separate dates for the construction of the Schumacher Building: 1900 and 1890.
He and Vice Chair Vogel will investigate further in preparation for the next edition of THE PRESERVATIONIST. He noted
that the BOLA Report may need to be updated. Commissioner Deiner-Karr agreed to research the issue, as well.
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The Preservationist
Chair Eccleshall reported that the next edition of THE PRESERVATIONIST would feature the Schumacher Building. It
would also include a small vignette showing cars lined up for the ferry on July 4, 1927. The document is currently in draft
form. He questioned if it would be a conflict of interest for his business to sponsor the next printing by purchasing the paper
in exchange for an advertisement. The Commission agreed that would be appropriate.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Commissioner Dewhirst announced the following two interesting educational opportunities:
• Cultural Resources Training at the Eastern Washington University in the latter part of September
• Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council in Wenatchee on October 22 d and 23`d
Chair Eccleshall and Vice Chair Vogel discussed the process to attend the International Association of Historic Preservation
Conference next year. Commissioner Dewhirst advised that there are grant opportunities to fund Commission training.
Vice Chair Vogel suggested that since they changed the meeting start time to 5:30 pm, they should make an effort to keep the
meetings within the allotted time frame.
Ms. Cunningham recalled that at their last meeting, the Commission asked her to photocopy their brochure. She noted that
because of its unusual size, it had to be shrunk. She announced that copies are now available.
ADJOURNMENT
The Commission meeting was adjourned at 6:20 p.m.
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