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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHPC minutes 022311Historic Preservation Commission Minutes February 23, 2011 Page 1 MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION February 23, 2011 MEMBERS PRESENT: Todd Dickinson, Tom Allison, Steve Rankin, Alice Remini, Statler Gilfillen and Rob Golan MEMBERS ABSENT or EXCUSED: GUESTS PRESENT: STAFF: Rich Shaw, Tina Moon, Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation ITEM #1: CALL TO ORDER Chair Dickinson called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. ITEM #2: ROLL CALL Dickinson requested that staff call the roll; all six HPC members were in attendance. ITEM #3: INTRODUCTIONS OF GUESTS/VISITORS None. ITEM #4: CONSIDERATION OF ADDITIONS TO AGENDA Staff requested the addition on one item under 8. b., to consider funding requests from outside agencies. ITEM #5: APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. January 26, 2011 Golan requested minor corrections. Dickinson, reading through the minutes, asked Rankin for an update on his efforts to download and frame WPA photos for display during National Preservation Month in May. Rankin shared that it may be easier to ask if UNC-Chapel Hill’s Wilson Library has some of the photos already framed that we could borrow for the display. Rankin agreed to inquire at the library about using photos. Rankin also agreed to follow up with a potential new member. Gilfillen motioned to approve the January 26, 2011 minutes. Rankin seconded the motion. The HPC unanimously approved the minutes from the January 11, 2011 meeting. ITEM #6: REPORTS a. Blackwood Farm Park Master Plan Shaw provided a summary of the Blackwood Farm Park Master Plan, including a brief overview of the work of the planning committee and a discussion of the master plan map. b. Unified Development Ordinance Staff provided updates on the Unified Development Ordinance, and referred members to the Planning Department’s website for additional information. ITEM #7: PUBLIC HEARINGS None. a. Officer Elections ITEM #8: ITEMS FOR DECISION Dickinson offered a brief description of the duties associated with chair and vice chair and asked for nominations. Allison nominated Dickinson to serve as Chair for another term. Golan seconded the nomination. The HPC voted unanimously to elect Dickinson as Chair. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes February 23, 2011 2 Golan nominated Rankin as Vice Chair; Allison seconded the motion. The HPC voted unanimously to elect Rankin as Vice Chair. b. Funding Request from Outside Agencies (addition to agenda) Staff distributed a cover memo and excerpts from an application, from the Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County, to the County to receive funding for FY 2011-2012. About a year or so ago, the County modified the way that it handles funding requests from outside agencies during the budget process. The new process was designed to provide a more systematic way to review applications based on several criteria, including the following four core questions: 1) Would funding the Agency benefit Orange County residents? 2) Is it desirable that the location of service delivery be in Orange County? 3) Would funding the Agency leverage County dollars because the Agency can provide services less expensively by the use of volunteers or other means? 4) Would funding the Agency help further one orf more of the adopted county goals and priorities? Advisory boards were also asked to comment on applications from agencies with missions that were similar to their own, in this case the Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County, the formerly known as the Orange County Museum. Dickinson suggested that members spend about ten minutes reading through the application materials. Golan noted that with the close of Chapel Hill Historical Museum, the Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County is the only facility in the county that offers a history museum and offers educational programs with a history theme. Members also noted how the Foundation operated on a very small budget, using a lot of volunteers and that the bulk of their revenue (60.4%) came from donations, generated revenue and fundraising. The request to the County for $4500 would account for approximately 6.6% of their budget. Members noted with interest the number of programs that the Museum offers, the number of patrons that visit the Museum, and the number of travel programs that the Museum presents and lends out to schools and similar groups. Moreover, the HPC noted the ability of the Museum to use volunteers to make history engaging to the public in a way that the HPC is unable to do. Members also noted the approach of the fifth or sixth year that the HPC will hold a photo contest in partnership with the Museum for National Historic Preservation Month. Dickinson summarized the HPC’s discussion by saying that the HPC endorses the work of the Museum 100 % and recommends that the County fund the Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County’s request for $4500 in full. ITEM #9: DISCUSSION ITEMS a. Preparation for Murphey School Joint Public Hearing Staff offered an overview of the agenda materials for the public hearing and the likely seating scenario. HPC members reviewed the draft designation ordinance, offered feedback and suggested one minor correction for the final version. b. Photo Contest Theme & Preservation Month Activities Staff provided a brief summary of past preservation month activities including the partnership with the Historical Foundation of Hillsborough Orange County (Museum) to organize a photo contest. Moon reported her latest conversation with Darcie Martin regarding the HPC’s proposed theme of “historic architectural details.” The group is waiting to hear about sponsorship for the prize money and then the application materials can go out. HPC members talked a little more about the potential photo display. Moon reported her positive confirmation with the Library Director regarding a potential display area in the Hillsborough Library. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes February 23, 2011 3 c. Work Plan for 2011 Members continued to schedule tasks from their work plan into a table of the upcoming meetings for the year. Dickinson suggested continuing to update the table at each meeting to help stay on track. Members reviewed some of the key items they had discussed at the last meeting, such as offering more input on the maintenance of County properties of historic significance such as the Historic Orange County Courthouse, and following up with some of the items from the 2009 Preservation Summit. Dickinson offered to draft a memorandum regarding the HPC’s interest in becoming more involved with county- owned properties of historic significance. d. Membership During the review of the meeting minutes, Dickinson asked if Rankin was able to speak to the potential HPC candidate in the White Cross area. Rankin agreed to try again to contact this person and see if she would be interested in joining the HPC. ITEM #10: INFORMATIONAL ITEMS (handouts at meeting) ITEM #11: ADJOURNMENT Remini motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 p.m. Rankin seconded the motion. Next meeting scheduled for March 23, 2011.