Landmark Commission

DeKalb Landmark Commission Minutes Ellwood House Visitor Center May 28, 2015 Meeting was called to order at 7:25 pm by chair Sally DeFauw. Commission members present: Pam Collins, Sally DeFauw, Donna Gable. Staff present: Jamie Smirz. Don Whitmore was absent. Agenda: Collins moved and Gable seconded to approve agenda as presented. Minutes: DeFauw moved, Collins seconded to approve minutes as presented. New Business: Mission statement DeFauw suggested the Commission look at the Duties and Powers of the Landmark Commission from Chapter 44.06 of the municipal code in order to form a two or three sentence mission statement. The first paragraph can be used as a guideline for the mission. The Commission reviewed all items under 44.06 and made the following recommendations: d) If Landmarks Illinois has a list the Commission will use as a resource e) Is there a similar provision for the Plan Commission? Jamie will have Jared, the intern check. Commission agreed that meeting with the Plan Commission once a year would be beneficial. g) Register needs to be updated (as seen in Appendix A) and dates should be added. Commission will check files at City Hall, and see what DeKalb Landmark Supplementary File is. Discussion about Huntley Park Historic District being updated or a new survey done. In paragraph 3, the language needs to be changed as the order is incorrect. Sites recommended for the Illinois or National Register have to come before the Commission first to be declared a local landmark. i) Seems like this should be the purview of City. Language should be changed to clarify what is meant or remove it. Smirz suggested looking at other preservation commissions or CLG mission statements for ideas. Other issue in Chapter 44 was the need to have the change in number of Commissioners to five noted as an amendment. Old Business: Membership DeFauw asked Commission members to have proposed candidates by August or September. Reports: Commission members Collins, DeFauw and Gable attended the May 9 meeting of the Chicago Suburban Preservation Alliance in Wheaton. Among items discussed was the proposal to put LPCI under the Dept. of Commerce and pros and cons of this move. A presentation of mid-century homes designed by Edward Dart was given. Announcements: There will be no June meeting. July 23 will be the next meeting at the Ellwood Visitor Center at 7pm. The Commission will meet July 2 at 7:30 am to examine Commission files at City Hall. Meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm. Respectfully submitted, Sally DeFauw Secretary pro tem