Heritage Preservation Commission Meetings and Work Sessions

City of Excelsior Hennepin County, Minnesota Minutes Heritage Preservation Commission Tuesday, February 26, 2019 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Macpherson called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Commissioners Present: Bolles, Chair Macpherson, Finch, Caron, Reece Commissioners Absent: Brabec, Salita Also Present: City Planner Becker 2. AGENDA APPROVAL Chair Macpherson asked that Standard Plaque Designs for Adopt-A-Tree and Adopt-A- Seat be added to the agenda as Item 5(b). Commissioner Caron moved, Commissioner Bolles seconded, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried 5/0. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) January 15, 2019 Commissioner Bolles moved, Commissioner Caron seconded, to approve the minutes for the January 15, 2019 meeting as amended. Motion carried 5/0. b) January 22, 2019 Commissioner Caron moved, Commissioner Bolles seconded, to approve the minutes for the January 22, 2019 meeting. Motion carried 5/0. 4. DISCUSSION ITEMS a) Water Street Streetlight Speakers Request (HPC No. 19-03) Becker presented the report. The applicant, Joseph Lamere, spoke, further explaining the proposed speaker installations on the streetlights on Water Street. Macpherson felt that the proposed speakers clearly violate the noise ordinance of the City Code, leaving too much up to who controls the speakers, what can be played, provides additional noise during events. Further, emergency notifications should be presented by the City. Caron felt that the speakers could be useful for emergency events, but a different location should be found. Finch felt that the proposal was a solution set out to create a problem and that there are other avenues to provide sufficient communication in the case of emergencies. Lamere clarified that he had communicated with public safety regarding the proposal, and they felt that the proposal would result in more efficient communication. Minutes Heritage Preservation Commission 2/26/2019 Page 2 of 2 Caron felt that there were too many disparate elements. Bolles felt that perhaps the speakers could be hidden within structures. Caron thanked the applicant for the work put in to the project and moved to deny the request for a site alteration permit for the proposed speaker systems on the historic streetlights on the findings that the proposed use is in violation of the regulation within the Design Manual that major streetscape improvements considered in the future should be consistent with the historic character of the downtown area and follow traditional designs as well as the noise ordinance. Another issue that was discussed was that the use would utilize centralized audio, which is uncharacteristic of the downtown historic district. Motion seconded by Finch. Motion carried 5/0. c) Standard Plaque Designs – Adopt-A-Tree and Adopt-A-Seat Becker explained the request from Community for the Commons that the HPC review the various plaque options for the Adopt-A-Tree and Adopt-A-Seat program. The Parks and Recreation Commission and Community for the Commons preferred the Precision Machined option. Motion by Caron that the HPC is in agreement with the Precision Machined style, but in accordance with its normal process, the HPC would like to review a mockup of the plaque showing, size, font size and style, design elements and manner of attachment including the post for the tree plaque consistent with the timeline presented. The HPC offered to hold a special meeting to aid in helping to meet the timeline. Motion seconded by Finch. Motion carried 5/0. b) Paint Review Policy Statement The Commission discussed the sign policy. Caron brought up that there already exists a Sign Policy, adopted in 2011. Macpherson stated that there were additional items for continuing discussion and that the policy would be brought back to a future meeting for discussion. 5. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Caron, seconded by Bolles to adjourn at 8:59 p.m. Motion carried 5/0. Respectfully submitted, Emily Becker City Planner