HomeMy WebLinkAboutHPC Packet 01-18-2022HASTINGS HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Agenda for the January 18, 2022
Regular business at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall in the Community Room (second floor)
I. Call to Order and Quorum
II. Swearing in of HPC Commissioners
A. Krista Peterson
B. Emily Chouman
C. Connie Blasing
III. Elections
A. Elect HPC Chair and Vice Chair
IV. Minutes:
A. September 21, 2021
V. Certificate of Approval Review
A. 103 2nd Street East – New Sign and Awning- Committee Approved (11-16-
2021)
VI. Business and Information
A. Year End Report Review
B. Newspaper Digitization Project Update
C. Discuss Recent Public Outreach and 2022 Communication Goals
VII. Adjourn
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on February 15, 2022 at Hastings City Hall
HASTINGS HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Minutes of the Meeting of September 21, 2021
Held at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall
I. Quorum: Toppin, Smith, Youngren, Simacek and Sovik-Siemens
Absent: Borchardt
Staff Present: Justin Fortney, City Planner
Chair Toppin called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm.
II. Minutes: July 27, 2021
Motion by Youngren for approval, seconded by Smith - motion approved 5-0.
III. Certificate of Approval Review
A. 208 Sibley Street – New sign
Fortney presented the staff report. Lynn Hoeschen, applicant, said the sign is made out of spruce
and was crafted with a chainsaw. She added that it will hang from the wall of the building.
Motion by Sovik-Siemens for approval of the sign as presented, seconded by Simacek-
motion approved 5-0.
B. 209 Sibley Street – maintenance/ repair issue
Fortney presented the staff report and explained that staff had concerns the contractor may not
perform the work as they indicated on the building permit application and in discussions. The
building owner said she wishes she had known that city staff had concerns with the contractor.
Commissioner Simacek asked if the city can tell people that a contractor is not trustworthy or rate
their work. Fortney said the city could not outright make those claims.
Fortney explained the work was inspected just hours after their expected start time and a stop
work order was issued as it was not in line with the permitted work, Design Guidelines, or
industry standards. He said the Building Official has concerns that the completed work would
have required a professional engineer’s approval.
Commissioner Toppin asked what recourse the owner and city have to correct the damage. The
owner said she has already paid for most of the work. Fortney said staff may be able to compel
the contractor to correct the work by threat of having their contractor license revoked. Fortney
added that the contractor likely is not qualified to repair the damage they caused. Fortney said
another option may be to have their contractors bond or insurance policy pay for the repairs. He
added that city staff will review all options after the HPC determines if the work approved by
staff and work completed, were in line with the Design Guidelines.
Fortney said he will keep the building owner informed of the discussions to resolved the issue.
Motion by Commissioner Smith to affirm that staff’s approval was in line with the Design
Guidelines, but the repairs performed were not, seconded by Youngren - motion approved
5-0.
C. 119 8th Street E – New fence
Fortney presented the staff report. He added that the landscaping plan includes a couple walkways
and patio. Fortney said those proposed improvements are not visible from the rights-of-way and at
grade.
Commissioner Simacek commented that the western portion of the fence is not as labeled in the
staff report. He said it looks as though it runs along the western property line. Fortney agreed with
that observation. Chair Toppin said that the fence is appropriately placed and is of a style
recommended in the Design Guidelines.
Motion by Simacek for approval of the fence, landscaping, patio, and walkways as
presented, seconded by Sovik-Siemens - motion approved 5-0.
IV. Business
A. Discuss Preservation Awards
Chair Toppin reviewed the nominations of the preservation awards committee. The Commission
discussed the three categories that include general upkeep and rehabilitation, mid-century modern,
and Stewardship.
Chair Toppin suggested that rather than giving away century plaques to homes turning 100, the
HPC gives a wood plaque and century home plaque to three of the five award recipients.
The Commissioners further discussed the properties to be awarded.
Motion by Simacek for approval of the following award recipients, seconded by Smith -
motion approved 5-0.
General upkeep and rehabilitation: 623 Tyler Street, 320 7th Street West, 705 3rd Street West
Mid-century modern: 1120 Tyler Street
Stewardship: 307 Sibley Street
V. Adjourn
Motion by Sovik-Siemens to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 pm, seconded by Youngren;
motion approved 5-0.
Respectfully Submitted - Justin Fortney
RECAP
HASTINGS HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Agenda for the November 16, 2021
Regular business at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall in the Volunteer Room
I. Call to Order and Quorum Commissioners: Toppin, Simacek, Chouman, and Smith.
Staff: Hinzman. Quorum was not established. Commission met as a Committee.
II. Minutes:
A. September 21, 2021 - Action delayed due to lack of quorum.
III. Certificate of Approval Review
A. 103 2nd Street East – New sign - Request revised to include awning as well as
sign. Commissioners discussed the materials of the awning and concluded they
were canvas-like consistent with the Design Guidelines. Limited discussion on
the sign. Approved 4-0
IV. Business and Information - Recap of Heritage Preservation Awards at November
15th City Council Meeting and ways to promote heritage preservation efforts in
Hastings.
V. Adjourn - Meeting adjourned at 7:23pm
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on December 21, 2021 at Hastings City Hall
To: Heritage Preservation Commission
From: Justin Fortney, City Planner
Date: January 18, 2022
Item: Year End Report
HPC Action Requested: Review the attached year end report.
As a community that has been authorized as a CLG (Certified Local Government) to practice
heritage preservation as outlined in Minnesota State Statutes, the HPC has several
responsibilities and benefits.
The HPC must submit a SHPO (State Historic Preservation Office) fiscal year end review to the
state for review. This report is to assure them that CLG’s are operating within the
requirements.
The report covers the 2021 Fiscal Year (October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021) It is fairly
similar to past reports other than the number of design reviews is clos to half the average
number. All the information in the report is required.
HPC Memorandum
HASTINGS HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Annual CLG Report 2021 Fiscal Year (October 1, 20 to September 30, 2021)
1. Local Designation of Preservation Sites (new in 2021).
None.
2. Review of Building Permits for Designated Preservation Sites (all approved due to meeting the
local design guidelines unless underlined)
1. 625 3rd Street East – Replace sidewalk
2. 321 6th St E – SUP Historic apartment and parking lot variance
3. 200 7th St W – Portable carport
4. 119 6th St E – New Siding
5. 215 7th St W – New Windows
6. 321 6th Street E – Replacement Windows
7. 315 Pine Street – Partial Demolition and Rehabilitation from fire damage
8. 106 & 108 2nd Street East – New Sign
9. 215 Sibley Street – New Storm Windows (Staff Approved)
3. Review of Building Permits for OHDS Sites (all approved due to meeting the local OHDS
guidelines unless underlined)
A. None
4. HPC Membership New members this year Resigned members this year
Name Contact Info. Originally Appointed Term Exp.
Emily Chouman 651-208-2298 10/18/2021(1st) 12/31/22
308 State Street
Connie Blasing 651-437-9110 10/18/2021 (1st) 12/31/23
220 7th St. E
Dave Youngren 651-431-0697 1/1/2020 12/31/23
216 1/2 E. 2nd Street david.youngren54@gmail.com
Mark Borchardt (651) 246-7102 (C) 1/6/2020 12/31/20
706 Vermillion Street Magbor6655@gmail.com
Jill M Ragan Scully 437-5512 (H) 02/04/14 12/31/21
3588 Greten Lane
Mark Simacek 437-1073 (H) 06/19/95 (1st) 12/31/21
1031 Southview Drive
Katherine Sovik-Siemens 437-6765 (H) 09/16/96 12/31/22
615 W. 3rd Street
Rick Smith (Vice Chair) 651-307-0542 (eve.) 06/06/16 (1st) 12/31/22
718 Vermillion Street 651-437-5772 (day)
Cindy Toppin (Chair) 651-353-7143 (day) 09/17/18 (1st) 12/31/23
409 7th Street W 651-437-7753 (eve.)
4. National Register Nominations
There are sixty-four properties within National Register Districts or individually listed. The former
Hudson Manufacturing Building at 200 2nd Street West was added this year.
5. Inventory Information
All national and local inventories and designation records are kept in City Hall, 101 E 4th St.,
Hastings. The Pioneer Room is a city-owned collection of local newspapers, books, maps,
photographs, illustrations and a few artifacts pertaining to Hastings and its residents over the
years. Cindy Smith, curator has maintained the role as volunteer on a reduced schedule along with
the assistance of other volunteers. CLG grant survey, identification, and designation materials are
available through Justin Fortney on the city staff.
The historic sites inventory includes National Register and Local Preservation designations for the
East Second Commercial Historic District (NR), West Second Residential Historic District (NR),
thirteen individual NR sites, the Old Hastings Historic District (local), and the 1994 CLG survey of
historic sites and places.
6. Assurances - See attached.
7. Locally designated properties - See attached.
8. Training.
Staff led the HPC in one more chapter of the Minnesota Statewide HPC Training Manual – in
addition to the related assigned readings. Additional chapters will be reviewed as time allows.
Staff member Justin Fortney attended the Statewide Historic Preservation Conference online.
The two new HPC Commissioners came to city hall for a one our Commissioner training by city staff
member Justin Fortney, City Planner. He provided training on many topics including open meeting
laws, procedure, local Design Guidelines, and the importance of design review in preservation.
8. Other activities.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, the HPC did not hold any preservation awards or present any
Century Home Plaques in the spring.
To: Heritage Preservation Commission
From: Justin Fortney, City Planner
Date: January 18, 2022
Item: Newspaper digitization project update
HPC Action Requested:
No action required for update.
Background Information:
Staff has been investigating having our microfilmed newspaper archives digitized for the
purposes of making them searchable and available to the public. The MNHS (Minnesota
Historical Society) does this at their facility, but charges an incredibly large sum, as their
cost is set to cover the entire archiving department costs and digital hosting in perpetuity.
They receive grant funds to keep their program active, but have millions of pages to digitize.
they believe they will one day get to our archives, but it could be several decades. MNHS
grants that are available to Hastings and other organizations cannot be used for digitization
because a portion of the original grant funds are already directed to archiving.
The Hastings City Council included funds in the 2022 city budget to have our microfilmed
newspaper archives digitized and processed by an independent commercial firm. The MNHS
has provided scanning specifications to meet their archiving requirements. This will allow
them to accept the digital files for archiving and perpetual hosting on their Newspaper Hub
site. The project must be requoted with those standards in mind, but may be between
$6,000 and $7,000, which has been budgeted.
While it still may be a long time before MNHS processes the digital files for the Newspaper
Hub, the city of Hastings will have searchable pdf files on its network for use with the
possibility of limited hosting on the city’s website or the scanning companies archive site for
the interim. There are some copywrite limitations to be considered (>1925).
Below are listings of the microfilm we have acquired:
Hastings Independent 1857-1866
Hastings Conserver 1863-1866 (already digitized and in the Newspaper Hub)
Hastings Weekly Gazette 1866-1981
Hastings Daily Gazette 1885-1917
Hastings Herald 1930-1937
Mississippi Valley Star 1969-1976
Hastings Star 1977-1980
Hastings Star Gazette 1981-2016
HPC Memorandum
To: Heritage Preservation Commission
From: Justin Fortney, City Planner
Date: January 18, 2022
Item: Public Outreach and Communication Goals - 2022
HPC Action Requested:
Discuss possible 2022 goals for communication or outreach.
Background Information:
Last year Commissioner Toppin and the City Communications Coordinator thought it would
be a good idea to meet early this year to discuss ideas for some HPC related communication
and outreach to the community related to preservation. In anticipation of such a meeting, a
discussion of ideas between Commissioners would be helpful.
Below are some past discussion items related to HPC outreach:
Toppin reported on the past activities of the St. Cloud HPC, which were discussed during the
Statewide Preservation Conference in there. These activities included an HPC newsletter
(2010-2013), realtor seminar/ tour, century home plaques, preservation awards, scavenger
hunt, workshops, YouTube Preserve History Tour, and a Mayor’s trolley tour. (click links for
examples)
Some ideas utilizing existing city social media include a contest for century plaques of
homes turning 100 that year. Posting of articles and history regarding historic resources
with pictures and or video narration.
Recent Media
KDWA Radio covered the recent award presentation and interviewed Commissioner Toppin,
which is still available on their website and has been replayed over the air. The Presentation
at the City Council meeting may be found here.
HPC Memorandum