Heritage Commission

City Hall Meeting Minutes 601 4th Avenue E Olympia, WA 98501 Heritage Commission Contact: Michelle Sadlier 360.753.8031 Wednesday, December 2, 2015 6:30 PM Room 207 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Davies called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. 1.A ROLL CALL Present: 7 - Chair Holly Davies, Vice Chair Dwayne Harkness, Commissioner Benjamin Helle, Commissioner Patricia McLain, Commissioner Garner Miller, Commissioner Rachel Newmann, and Commissioner Nicholas Vann Excused: 2 - Commissioner Stephen Austin, and Commissioner Heather Youckton 1.B OTHERS PRESENT Greg Griffith, Washington State Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Michelle Sadlier, City of Olympia Historic Preservation Officer 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved by consensus. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3.A 15-1175 Approval of October 28, 2015 Olympia Heritage Commission Meeting Minutes The minutes were approved as amended. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT Janine Gates introduced herself as the author of the Little Hollywood blog and referred the Commission to her article on the historic Chambers Prairie Grange on Yelm Highway. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS Ms. Sadlier distributed a new Heritage Commission roster with City of Olympia email addresses included and details on the Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum's holiday tour of homes. She also announced that archive boxes containing Heritage Commission and heritage program files dating back to the 1980s have been located and are now in City Hall. City of Olympia Page 1 Heritage Commission Meeting Minutes December 2, 2015 6. BUSINESS ITEMS 6.A 15-1029 Introduction to the Washington State Historic Preservation Plan for 2014-2019: Getting the Future Right Mr. Griffith provided an overview of the Washington State Preservation Plan for 2014-2019, which he described as a state-wide document similar to the reach of a Comprehensive Plan. The plan is required to provide an update on all inventory resources along with threats and opportunities for the preservation of heritage resources. The public also asked that the plan include: - Preservation tools and information for local governments, - A focus on sustainability, and - A message to decision-makers and other non-preservationists on the importance of heritage preservation. As a Thurston County Preservation Commissioner, Mr. Griffith also expressed interest in regional CLG boards working together on projects of mutual interest. Discussion: - Importance of tribal heritage in historic preservation - Growing allegiance between environmental, tribal and preservation interests - DAHP's legal responsibility for upholding State and Federal law - DAHP's role as advisor but not regulator on Capitol Campus - Concerns over the State budget, especially for the Main Street program (B&O tax credit) - Washington legislators sponsoring bills which support the protection of heritage: Cantwell, Murray, Heck & Kilmer The discussion was completed. 6.B 15-1176 Election of Heritage Commission Officers The Commission voted unanimously to re-elect Commissioner Holly Davies as Chair and Commissioner Dwayne Harkness as Vice Chair for 2016. The decision was approved. 6.C 15-1177 Downtown Strategy Update: Downtown Committee Workshop Members of the Downtown Committee led the Commission in a revised activity from the first Downtown Strategy public workshop. The discussion was completed. 7. REPORTS 7.A Downtown Committee - None City of Olympia Page 2 Heritage Commission Meeting Minutes December 2, 2015 7.B Heritage Review Committee Ms. Sadlier provided an update on the enforecement action at American Legion Hall (219 Legion Way SW). She noted that a Register application for a Trena Worthington house at 408 27th Ave SE was likely to be reviewed by the Heritage Review Committee in the new year. 7.C Outreach Committee - None 7.D Policy & Ordinance Committee Ms. Sadlier to help organize a meeting in January. 7.E Survey & Inventory Committee - None 7.F Staff Ms. Sadlier reported on the following issues: - A member of the public asked about getting the text of a Register plaque updated based on new research. The Commission suggested that such requests follow the same process as a new Register nomination. - She had started working with the Governor Stevens neighborhood about the possibility of their putting forward an application to list their neighborhood as a local historic district. - Possible retreat dates for Commission's annual retreat. Commissioners suggested it be held February 6. 8. OTHER TOPICS - None 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. City of Olympia Page 3