Everett Historical Commission

APPROVED Everett Historical Commission Minutes March 22, 2016 Members Present Members Absent Visitors City Staff Allan White Mark Soine Dave Ramstad David Stahlheim Arnold Morrison Neil Anderson Judy Touhy Niels Tygesen Bill Vincent Steve Fox Lori Cummings Paul Popelka Bobby Olsen Ross Johnson Dale Good Glenn Hunter Jack O’Donnell Laura Cameron- Behee CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Everett Historical Commission was scheduled for Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at 6:30 p.m., in the Hearing Room in Everett City Hall at 2930 Wetmore Avenue, Everett, WA 98201. Chair O’Donnell called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. CITIZEN COMMENTS Dave Ramstad 1301 Pinkerton Ave, Everett WA Mr. Ramstad shared news of a March 3 local history stakeholders meeting at Everett Library to discuss the Everett Massacre commemoration. The meeting included representatives from City Hall, Everett Library, Historic Everett, Everett Museum, and local business. Library staff will help plan and coordinate each group’s work for the community event to be held from October 15 to November 5. He also discussed Mill Town Trail signage and suggested that it be the highest priority on the Commission’s 2016 Work Plan. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair O’Donnell noted two corrections and called for action on the February 22, 2016 meeting minutes. Commissioner Olsen moved to approve the February 22, 2016 minutes as amended. Motion seconded by Commissioner White. Motion passed unanimously. Page 1 of 3 COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Morrison expressed concerns about seeing rooftop mechanical equipment and questioned how screening is handled. Planner Tygesen noted that typically the Building Department coordinates with Planning, but different zones have differing requirements for screening. Chair O’Donnell noted several communities with historic signage along I-5 and the need for signs in Everett. He recently joined Commissioner Fox and City staff for a walking tour of the Hewitt District looking at non-contributing buildings. This may be a future agenda item for the Commission. He also noted that potentially endangered buildings within the Metro Everett area, such as the Darigold Building on Broadway, should be identified and considered for register listing. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA There were no additions to the agenda. Item 8, naming of Riverside Park, was moved to be considered next on the agenda. NAMING OF RIVERSIDE PARK Planner Popelka displayed images of the Riverfront development project and the concept plan for the park. Lori Cummings, Everett Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director, gave an overview of the naming process and proposed park improvements. The naming process has four steps: • Historical Commission sends recommendation to Board of Park Commissioners • Board returns their recommendation to Commission • Commission forwards final recommendation to City Council • Council approves park name The Commission reviewed suggested names submitted by Commissioner Fox and discussed referencing the mill site or Native American names. The Lowell and Port Gardner neighborhoods will be sent a request for suggestions; Commissioners are asked to submit names prior to the next meeting. That meeting will include a recommendation to the Board of Park Commissioners as noted above. 2016 COMMISSION WORK PROGRAM Planner Popelka continued discussion from last month’s meeting on projects for 2016. He reviewed the list of work to be considered for priority projects and for the 2017 grant (to be awarded in October 2016) from the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP). The project list included: • Metro Everett (ongoing work for 2016-2017) • Claremont Heights Inventory (ongoing work in 2016) Page 2 of 3  • Hewitt District signage (I-5 and district monument signage) • Mill Town Trail signage • Potential building nominations to register(s) • Interpretive projects and walking tours • Additional survey/inventory work (area to be determined) • Naming projects (e.g., Grand Avenue pedestrian bridge) Commission discussion resulted in the following list of priority projects: • Metro Everett (ongoing work for 2016-2017) • Claremont Heights Inventory (ongoing work in 2016) • - Further inventory of the Claremont Neighborhood is not a priority for 2016 as there are no endangered or threatened homes • 2017 grant application to DAHP • Hewitt District - Survey/inventory of Metro Everett peripheral areas beyond the Hewitt District for endangered/threatened and contributing/non-contributing buildings; potential register nominations - Signage for Hewitt District on I-5 and district entries • Everett Massacre • Minor projects including Mill Town Trail signs, education programs, naming projects and historic neighborhood signage The Commission held further discussion of the potential roles of the Historical Commission in the Everett Massacre commemoration. Discussion included: • Preservation Fair • Commission table at events with display boards of register buildings • Display theme of 1916 highlights (houses built in the era, walking tours, support of library programming) • Plaque is planned for installation by the Herald Building • Improvements to Hewitt Park with commemoration of the Massacre; also recognition of past port of entry and BNSF bridge with public art and images OTHER BUSINESS Planner Popelka updated the Commission on several items: • Reviewed several potential meeting sites for the Commission; next meeting will be planned for the Van Valey House at 2130 Colby • City did not submit a grant application to Snohomish County this year; County has not yet announced the 2016 awards • The Historic Everett Theatre is for sale, and may be endangered; owner is looking for investors to take ownership and preserve the theatre, but the building’s future is threatened FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Planner Popelka noted that the April meeting will include Riverside Park and the 2017 DAHP grant submittal. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:16 p.m. Page 3 of 3