2023-01-12 Historic Preservation Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Summary Minutes of Regular Meeting
January 12, 2023
CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, AND LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Chair Vogel called the meeting of the Edmonds Historic Preservation Commission to order at 5:35 p.m.
and read the Land Acknowledgement.
Commissioners Present
Larry Vogel (Chair)
Jeremy Mitchell (Vice Chair) (online)
Chris Deiner-Karr
Katie Kelly
David Preston
Tim Raetzloff
Sam Spencer'
Commissioners Absent
None
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Staff Present
Michele Szafran, Planner
Mike Clugston, Senior Planner
Others Present
Dave Teitzel, Edmonds City Council Representative
Approval of December 8, 2023 HPC Minutes
The December 8, 2023 HPC minutes were approved as presented.
AGENDA ADDITIONS/CHANGES
• Chair Vogel added a discussion about accessing emails under New Business.
REQUESTS FROM THE AUDIENCE
There were no audience comments.
NEW BUSINESS
' Commissioner Spencer arrived at 5:45 p.m.
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Discussion on support for an addition to the Register:
o Commissioner Deiner-Karr gave an update on her weir research. She is at a standstill because
she has been unable to locate the folder on documentation about the weir from the
Commission's work ten years ago. She will try to get in touch with Diane Cunningham and
Steve to see if they have any information.
o Commissioner Raetzloff recalled that there was some reason Steve was opposed to putting it on
the Register.
o Councilmember Teitzel wondered if the weir could still be on the Register if part of it is
destroyed.
o Commissioner Raetzloff thought they should just worry about getting it on the Register first and
get signage put up.
o Commissioner Spencer suggested they put in a recommendation identifying the part they would
like to save — the part with the hole that would have had the wooden pipe going through it. He
noted he has pictures of the two sections as a reference of what it looks like now.
o Vice Chair Mitchell noted that there is a section in ECDC 20.45.02 for processes of designating
a property or structure. Part D indicates that HPC shall consider the merits of the nomination
according to established rules at a public meeting.
o Councilmember Teitzel noted that Shell Creek is a salmon -bearing stream, and they get up as
far as Glen Street. The City is trying to get the man-made waterfall there resolved so fish can
come up and make their way back to Yost Park. He summarized that there is an effort to get
salmon up there and restore the stream to its natural streambed.
o There was a recommendation to bring this to a public hearing along with a presentation at the
next meeting or as soon as possible. Commissioner Deiner-Karr suggested that whoever is the
project planner should try to be at the meeting. Councilmember Teitzel thought Director Feser
would be the appropriate staff person to attend. Ms. Szafran noted they need to have time to do
a staff report, public noticing, and make sure the application is complete. They need to find out
what the UTM is. There was a suggestion to get in touch with Diane Cunningham about this.
o Chair Vogel commented that there has been some vandalism in the Shell Creek drainage area.
Someone has cut down a number of trees which has had an impact on erosion, silting into the
stream, and salmon incubation boxes there.
o Vice Chair Mitchell stated that all or a portion of a structure can be on the Register. He wondered
about the timeline for repair and if they should do the work before putting it on the Register.
Putting it on the Register first could hold up the getting the work done. Councilmember Teitzel
wasn't sure about the timing because they haven't hired a consultant yet but the hope is to get it
done this year.
o Commissioner Spencer suggested that they make a recommendation to try to save part of it
subject to the engineer's recommendation. He did not think the part they want to save is
impeding the stream in any way. The critical aspect is to the get the work done and get the
stream where it needs to be. Vice Chair Mitchell commented that even if they have to remove
all of it, they can still save a part and put it somewhere else on the site.
o There was consensus to have another discussion about this at the next meeting under Unfinished
Business with the package that Commissioner Spencer has put together and to invite Director
Feser and Joe Scordino. There was discussion about recognizing the site, not the structure. Then,
it can still be recognized even if the City is unable to preserve a portion. Councilmember Teitzel
commented that the City has every intention of preserving what is preservable. It was
emphasized that the HPC was in support of the City's work on this stream.
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2. Discussion about email communications — Chair Vogel said he had sent a note about accessing city
email and how to forward it to personal email. There was discussion about when and how to do this.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Newsletter — Preservationist Resurrection:
o Chair Vogel agreed to be the desktop publisher on this. He thought an article about the water
system would be a great. Commissioner Spencer agreed to write it.
o Commissioner Raetzloff suggested that a historic event next month could be about the 50t1i
anniversary of the last train to Duvall.
2. Walking Tours:
o There was consensus to do walking tours closer to spring. Commissioner Raetzloff expressed a
desire to get trained so he can help with this.
ACTION ITEMS
• Commissioner Deiner-Karr stated that the calendar portion of the 2024 Calendar is done. As a theme
for 2024 she liked Commissioner Spencer's idea of doing Edmonds' oddities. Some ideas were the
alligator bus with the kids running to the back and flipping the bus up, the theater with the kids throwing
popcorn over the edge, the oldest fire hydrant in the city, Haines Wharf, the troll tunnel, the monorail,
the dome, Frank Peabody, the driftwood orca, and Otto's meat market.
COMMISSION CHAIR COMMENTS
Chair Vogel commented he would not be at the February meeting. Commissioner Raetzloff stated he also would
be gone. Vice Chair Mitchell will be chairing the February 9 meeting.
He received a nice email from Councilmember Chen thanking the HPC for the calendar. There was discussion
about where the calendars went, who might need more, costs, and possibly printing more next year.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
• Commissioner Preston suggested adding a call to action on the back of the calendar to encourage owners
of historic properties to list their properties. Chair Vogel agreed and asked him to also write a blurb for
the newsletter about that.
• Commissioner Deiner-Karr asked about updating the walking map. She also noted she was working
with Betty Lou on some research and hoping they can look at some other historical sites.
• Commissioner Preston said he enjoyed the calendar and is excited to get the next one out.
• Commissioner Kelly wished everyone happy new year.
• Commissioner Spencer spoke in support of saving part of the weir and getting a sign put up.
• Vice Chair Mitchell wished everyone a happy new year.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:41 p.m.
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