Everett Historical Commission

APPROVED Everett Historical Commission Minutes May 24, 2016 Members Present Members Absent Visitors City Staff Alan White Mark Soine Judy Touhy, City Council Paul Popelka Arnold Morrison Sherry Steele Ross Johnson Bill Vincent Bobby Olsen Dale Good Glenn Hunter Jack O’Donnell Laura Cameron- Behee Neil Anderson Steve Fox CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Everett Historical Commission was scheduled for Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. at the Van Valey House at 2130 Colby Avenue, Everett, WA 98201. Chair O’Donnell called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair O’Donnell noted one correction and called for action on the April 26 meeting minutes. Commissioner Cameron-Behee moved to approve the April 26, 2016 minutes as amended. Motion seconded by Commissioner Olson. Motion passed unanimously. CITIZEN COMMENTS There were no citizen comments. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Cameron-Behee noted that the long vacant historic house at 1801 Hoyt has been purchased and the new owners are rebuilding the house. Commissioner White reported on a well-attended community event – the Fisherman’s Wharf Music Festival. ADDITIONS TO AGENDA There were no additions to the agenda. Page 1 of 4 NAMING OF RIVERSIDE PARK Chair O’Donnell initiated discussion for naming the park. Planner Popelka reviewed the remaining names under consideration: Eclipse Park Eclipse Mill Park Enid Nordlund Park Nordlund Park Milwaukee Road Park Native American Name Commissioner Fox moved to remove the Native American Name from the list. Motion seconded by Commissioner Anderson. Motion passed unanimously. Commission discussion included the following: • Nordlund family history and relation to the park • Eclipse Mill property borders the park, was in business for three generations, and the north south road is named Eclipse Mill Road • Eclipse Mill has a better tie to local history • Review of the Milwaukee Road history for the area; that railroad may be better related to Snohomish rather than Everett • Everett has Boxcar Park and James J. Hill Park for railroad themes • Recognize Nordlund by dedicating a garden area within the park Commissioner Fox moved to remove Eclipse Park and Nordlund Park from the list. Motion seconded by Commissioner Anderson. Motion passed unanimously. Commissioner White moved to forward a recommendation to the Board of Parks Commissioners with Eclipse Mill Park as the first choice and Enid Nordlund Park as the second choice. Motion seconded by Commissioner Hunter. Motion passed unanimously. SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS Planner Popelka reviewed the sidewalk standards in the Everett Design and Construction Standards and Specifications. These sidewalk standards apply to all public and private construction throughout the city, not just historic overlay areas. The standards include lamp black coloring and concrete finishing (joint patterns and broom finishes) to help match existing sidewalks. Handicap access ramps are not colored to preserve their bright concrete finish. He reviewed several photos of sidewalk conditions showing new and old sidewalks. Commission discussion is summarized below: • No specific language about sidewalks in historic overlay area; consider revising overlay standards to include sidewalk construction • New sidewalks are often inconsistent with adjacent, existing sidewalks A representative from Public Works will be invited to the next meeting to continue discussion of sidewalks. Page 2 of 4 MILL TOWN TRAIL Planner Popelka reported on meetings with Public Works staff and noted the 2014 Council action to name the Mill Town Trail. The Council resolution included language to “promote and market” the trail as an Everett attraction. He displayed maps and photos of the trail, noting that there is minimal bike route signage. Staff is proposing the addition of identification signs, directional signs at key locations, and future interpretive signage at key sites along the trail. Commission discussion is summarized below: • Possible competition for trail sign logo • Include mile marker signs and directional signs to key areas (e.g., Legion Park and former mill sites) • Coordinate with Port of Everett for consistency in signage • Provide an inventory of existing and proposed sign locations • Add website mapping and information about the trail (similar to Snohomish County’s Interurban Trail content) Additional information will be provided at the June meeting. METRO EVERETT HISTORIC BUILDING SURVEY Planner Popelka updated the Commission on Metro Everett planning, noting the first public workshop held on May 9. Two focus areas for redevelopment may include the Lowe’s site/future light station and the West Hewitt district that includes the Everett Massacre site. Commissioner O’Donnell led a discussion of five non-contributing buildings that could potentially be classified as contributing buildings to the Hewitt historic district. The buildings are located at 1705, 1712, and 1714 Hewitt; 2820 Oakes; and 2821 Wetmore. Staff will check the survey work completed for these buildings as part of the Hewitt historic district nomination in 2010, and check the process and criteria for contributing buildings. OTHER BUSINESS Planner Popelka reviewed photos and plans of the triplex at 2022 Grand. The vacant, dilapidated building has new owners and is now undergoing construction to rehabilitate the three units. Building permit plans have been issued. He discussed submittal of a WA Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) grant for $15,000. The grant will fund a survey of existing downtown building conditions to identify common issues of maintenance and preservation, and conduct workshops with building owners. Other updates included work on the Federal Building (Colby), the Monte Cristo and the Marriott Courtyard hotel. Page 3 of 4 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Items for June and July meetings include: • Park naming, sidewalk standards and Mill Town Trail • Metro Everett Historic Building Survey (contributing buildings) • CLG Grant for Building Assessment • Presentations on the Police Station, Everett Library and the Claremont Heights Inventory ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Page 4 of 4