Russellville Historic District Commission

RUSSELLVILLE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting – Thursday, May 24, 2018 City Hall – Council Chamber Commissioners Present: Greg Barborek – Chair Suzanne Alford-Hodges – Vice Chair Judy Galloway – Secretary Linda Carnahan Steve Newby Beverly Hooten Polly Hardin Commissioners Absent: Kathy Price City Council Liaison Present: Phyllis Carruth Staff Present: Kurt Jones – Historic Preservation Officer Advisors Present: Jami Mullen, MSR Director Advisors Absent: Brian Holstein - Director City Development, Kirk Sloan – Fire Chief, Trey Smith – City Attorney Call to Order & Welcome @ 5:00PM: Mr. Barborek called the May 24, 2018 meeting of the Russellville Historic District Commission to order at 5:02PM and a quorum was established. Ms. Mullen, the new Main Street Russellville Director, was welcomed to the meeting. Approval of Minutes: Mr. Barborek asked if everyone had read the minutes of the April 24, 2018 regular meeting. Ms. Alford made a correction regarding the commissioner to be in charge of contact with local realtors. Motion was made by Mr. Newby to accept the minutes as written. Ms. Alford made the second and the minutes were approved unanimously by voice vote. Staff Report: None Agenda: The first item on the agenda was review of a COA for a lighted barber pole at 105 S. Boulder Avenue, submitted by Renae Reves for her barber shop. Ms. Hardin made the motion to approve the proposed barber pole since it complies with all requirements under Section 10.27 E, F and G.2 for signage in the Russellville Historic District RUSSELLVILLE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Meeting May 24, 2018 Page 2 Design Guidelines, is an historical symbol of barbering and will contribute to the character of the district. Ms. Hardin made the second and the motion was approved unanimously by a voice vote. Item two on the agenda was discussion of the use of the $2277.92 remaining in the CLG Grant received in 2013. Commissioners received an information sheet before the meeting from our CLG Director, Catherine Barrier, which outlined possible uses for the CLG Grant funds. The following suggestions were discussed: 1. NAPC FORUM in DeMoines Iowa July 18-22 – No takers 2. Payment to Burris for printing of Brochures and letters to realtors regarding the Downtown Historic and the advantages provided to property owners. 3. An informational training program for local realtors regarding the advantages of owning property in an historic district or a property on the National Register of Historic Places or eligible for designation as such. 4. NAPC dues payable by Aug. 1, 2018. 5. Survey for possible additional residential historic districts. 6. Build a website for Russellville Historic District Commission. The city’s website is too hard to navigate. Ms. Galloway will contact Catherine Barrier regarding possible speakers for the realtor program. The third item on the agenda was discussion of a revision/redo of the Design Guidelines. Ms. Galloway thinks the present Guidelines are not specific enough or as helpful to property owners as they could be. There need to be more helpful illustrations of acceptable and unacceptable rehabilitation and/or new construction. Ms. Alford suggested that the commission add paint colors to our review process and require the use of historic paint colors on painted buildings. Mr. Jones and Mr. Barborek are under the impression that the guidelines must be approved by the city council and will consult with the city attorney. Ms. Galloway disagrees. Our present guidelines were not in place when the ordinance creating the Historic District Commission was initially approved and when created did not have to have council approval. Old Business Discussed: Ms. Galloway contacted the NAPC office to confirm the commission had paid its membership and to see why only one member was receiving The Alliance Review. Marie Snyder with the NAPC confirmed that our membership is paid through July 31, 2018. She said the Ms. Alford was the only e-mail that she had on file. I sent her the addresses and emails of all commission members. The distribution list will be updated and all members should receive a digital copy. Expanding the current guidelines for murals was brought up by Ms. Galloway. There are community members who are inquiring about painting murals in the downtown. The current guidelines contain only one sentence regarding murals that says they may be appropriate on the side or rear of a building. After reviewing mural guidelines from other cities, Ms. Galloway wrote a more specific expanded guideline for review by the commission. Mr. Jones will clarify whether or not the city council must approve and we will vote at the next meeting. The need for more specific sign guidelines for the historic district was briefly discussed. The last item of business presented by Ms. Alford was an update on the Latimore Tourist Home. She had spoken with Rachel Patton of Preserve Arkansas who said she would reach out to her contacts at the Black History RUSSELLVILLE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Meeting May 24, 2018 Page 3 Commission, Mosaic Templars and Dr. Jeff Woods at Arkansas Tech and ask if they would be willing to speak with the Rev. Tyus. Letters sent to the church with the Most Endangered Places Announcement were returned and emails to Rev. Tyus were unanswered. Rachel Patton’s note to Ms. Galloway stated; In my experience, if a group is not interested in preserving a building, it will be difficult to change their minds—and maybe counterproductive. The only options here may be selling the property or allowing someone to move it to another site. In the case of a move, we will need another piece of property and we would need to negotiate with the church to get at least the amount of money required for them to demolish it. This would go toward the cost of moving it. New Business Discussed: None Adjournment: Mr. Newby made the motion to adjourn at 5:43PM. Ms. Galloway made the second. Motion approved by a voice vote. Greg Barborek-Chair Date