WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=2rrFIe8Vums

Part: 1

1
00:02:07.119 --> 00:02:23.680
Good afternoon everybody. Thanks for being here. This is the Heritage Preservation Commission meeting on Monday, April 20th, 2026. Has everybody had a chance to review the February 9th meeting minutes?

2
00:02:23.680 --> 00:02:43.200
Any corrections, additions? Uh, looking for a motion to accept. >> So moved. >> And I need a second. >> I'll second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? All right. We'll move on to uh design

3
00:02:43.200 --> 00:02:58.480
review. >> All right. Our design review for tonight is for Golden Home Care 6 North Minnesota. Owners are Ken and Mary Golden. And they're looking at repainting the exterior to a Westchester

4
00:02:58.480 --> 00:03:15.040
gray, replacing the existing green. And in your packet, there is a color swatch of the Westchester gray. And in the picture of the front of the building where the green is located across the top above the doors and then on the

5
00:03:15.040 --> 00:03:32.080
bottom around the uh foundation there about below the windows is what he's proposing to paint that wet wet gray. >> So they're not doing anything with the window above it. >> That's my understanding. No, it's just uh >> cuz I drove by there today and I'm

6
00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:50.560
thinking, well, they can't really paint that one different cuz the other three windows, there's three windows there. >> Yeah, it's my understanding it's just where the green paint is. >> Is that >> Yeah, it looks like it's been a little weathered.

7
00:03:50.560 --> 00:04:07.720
chair and members uh and staff. It appears that that protruding window above the main entrance door um is kind of gray anyway. So, it's probably a similar gray, I would guess. >> Right.

8
00:04:08.959 --> 00:04:27.199
>> Well, I know HPC did have some paint things issued, but back then gray was not a color. >> Yeah. But now I don't know if that's ever been updated. >> It's >> I did it a long time ago. >> I was going to say that's been probably pushing up on 15 20 years is when those

9
00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:44.000
color swatches came out. >> Yeah, that was my question if this was one of the colors that we allow. That's the only question. Well, I'm just saying that maybe it should be some I should look into updating those swatches since I I was the one that made up the the first swatch, you know, but I based it

10
00:04:44.000 --> 00:05:00.720
on basically what our color themes were going on down here at that time, but gray wasn't one of them. >> Yeah, it was pretty much earthtone colors is what >> right >> the swatches were. Correct. >> Historical colors. >> I agree with Tom though. It looks like it would match that window.

11
00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:16.960
>> Yeah, it does. I'm sure they they had that checked out. Yeah, I think it would look good. >> Mhm. I need a motion to approve. >> I so move. I need a second.

12
00:05:16.960 --> 00:05:31.280
>> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. All right. Then we'll move on to city report. And one of them is the um

13
00:05:31.280 --> 00:05:47.919
budget for the HPC. Um again be asking for $10,000 in the 2027 um city budget. And that's been the same same amount for a number of years. And whatever we have left over in the year,

14
00:05:47.919 --> 00:06:04.160
we usually carry that over in our budget with the notion of that's going to be spent for for Herman stuff that we can move on with that and that'll be some of that money is being spent. >> Have we ever used the full $10,000?

15
00:06:04.160 --> 00:06:21.120
We've never uh back when we first probably got the 10,000 there was a couple years it was pretty close with signage and canopies and stuff down on >> right >> for the grant program and then because it's used for that and for HBC commissioners to go to conferences and

16
00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:38.720
stuff. >> So you're looking for a motion for that. >> Okay. I'm looking for a motion to accept. So moved. >> Second. >> I second. All in favor? >> I

17
00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:53.360
>> opposed. All right. Anything else? Elden. >> And I'm sure you're all aware of the Herman. We had the last city council meeting came from uh McDonald Mack and gave a presentation on the cost estimate

18
00:06:53.360 --> 00:07:10.639
for um deconstruction and reconstruction of the monument of the tune of 11.6 6 million is what they're estimating. Um so now it's going out and making contact with the funding sources at the state

19
00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:26.160
level to see where we're at with that. Um I don't think that's doesn't sound like it's real promising this year. Um >> well I just think the longer we wait the dollars are going to go up.

20
00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:43.120
>> Well they are. They've got a 10% increase every year is where they're at right now. Um but we're kind of at the whim of the legislature and the and the state level to get it all at once. Um because going through with shipo grants

21
00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:59.680
and stuff again it'll be probably a 15 year 20 year process because you're never going to hit every grant cycle and you're not going to get every grant >> right >> and their grants are going to be limited to biggest one I've seen around here is $500,000.

22
00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:15.919
So that's not going to move very far at all when I think the deconstruction is right around 3.3 or 3.2. >> So nobody has started a fundraiser for that yet. >> Um I don't know the hermit society. They

23
00:08:15.919 --> 00:08:31.680
have been talked about it. Um park and rec director Schooles um goes to their meetings. He mentioned something here a week or so ago that um they're looking at doing something. They've got some money already from their fundraisers that they've done over the years. What

24
00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:47.279
that amount is, I don't I don't know. But >> how long ago was it that Herman was taken down and repaired? >> 2004 when he was on the ground. >> Too bad that base wasn't lousy then. Or was it? >> Was it? It was >> because that would have been a perfect

25
00:08:47.279 --> 00:09:04.640
time to fix something. Well, in 98 and 99 was a lot of paint and coaul and just kind of >> securing things up. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um and that was and again I think that was the tune of around

26
00:09:04.640 --> 00:09:22.320
$400 $450,000 just for that stuff back then. Um, so we'll have to see what's what how the how the city council wants to move forward and stuff with it also.

27
00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:37.920
>> Well, I would think the citizens of New M would hate to see Herman go period >> or we'd mount him on someplace else. He's got to stay put. >> I agree. >> Right. I agree. >> Yeah. Madam Chair and members, um I

28
00:09:37.920 --> 00:09:53.920
might have a question or two for building official Zabel. My first question would be is uh who or who's on the team that is seeking the grant funding? Um has that begun yet with the state or the feds? Um who who's leading

29
00:09:53.920 --> 00:10:09.360
our charge for grant funding from the city? >> Well, it's between um park and rec director Schug, myself, city manager, and John Nicely planner. that are >> sounds like a great team. Um, is there

30
00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:27.120
any uh update or any movement or >> um park director Schugle has reached out to our contact with Flannerin Hood who's um had brought this back last year um about looking at the legacy grant. um hasn't

31
00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:44.079
hasn't received any information back from um our contact with Flrain Hood on this after we got it got those initial numbers for the >> project. So, we're still waiting on that. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. As far as the legacy uh funds go,

32
00:10:44.079 --> 00:11:00.640
uh there may be two different funds that this uh monument might be eligible for, including the arts arts and cultural fund >> uh which gets 19% of the 38 of 1% state sales tax in the legacy amendment. And

33
00:11:00.640 --> 00:11:18.800
then um parks and trails fund gets only 14% um with both clean water and habitat each getting a third 33 and a3% of the legacy funds. So there may be two potential pots of legacy funding available. And

34
00:11:18.800 --> 00:11:33.839
then of course this is normally a bonding cycle, a bonding year for the state legislature. Um, you know, it may be too late to get into that cycle, but I would hope that we're uh um checking with um

35
00:11:33.839 --> 00:11:50.720
>> and the city manager has checked and it doesn't sound good for any fluff projects right now. >> Bonding. Yeah, >> it's all infrastructure stuff. That's >> that's what I've been seeing in the media. >> True. Yeah. >> Mhm. >> Correct. >> Yep. >> Okay. So, we keep keep the

36
00:11:50.720 --> 00:12:06.240
communications open and trying to see what we can >> Mhm. >> can secure. Um, and with Dames and Torqulson not going up for reelection, it's going to be starting >> kind of back at ground zero on >> on that end. >> I think this is an important year to try.

37
00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:23.279
>> Yeah. So, >> I agree. >> Um, >> thank you, Elwood. >> Yeah. And then in another item in the news in this topic of course is the closure of the monument beginning this

38
00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:39.839
year of 2026. Um that went to the park and recck commission where our engineering consultant recommend not opening the monument um for potentially quite a number of years because we don't have haven't even

39
00:12:39.839 --> 00:12:56.480
really begun the fundraising. So, I think it's a huge step and a huge decision. Um, this will be the first year it's closed in as as long as I can remember. >> What kind of money does the does, you know, that people spend to go up there?

40
00:12:56.480 --> 00:13:12.720
Does in a season, you know, do you have any idea? Do you remember? >> Um, I think it's about $3 ahead and um does it bring in $10,000 or maybe $30,000? Um it's certainly not a lot of funding

41
00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:28.079
when we're talking about, you know, over $10 million for the project. Um but it is uh >> But has that money accumulated over the years or does it get spent on just the maintenance >> on maintenance and it stays in the park

42
00:13:28.079 --> 00:13:46.000
and recreation department fund? Um but uh I just think that's a huge situation where the the residents, the visitors, the tourists are not going to be able to climb the monument for the first time, you know, in almost our lifetime. It

43
00:13:46.000 --> 00:14:02.320
seems like um >> is that completely I mean you can't even get into the grounds around it now. I mean or is it only the step that goes all the way up to the top? >> Only going all the way up to the top dome. You can still climb the steps up, too. >> So, you can still get up where the pillars and the lions are, right?

44
00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:18.079
>> Pollinate. Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. >> So, there's still some income hopefully coming. >> Yeah. >> I have no idea what's going to be happening with the admission and so on. >> Oh, yeah. Once we got to the dome is where it's there was a lot of deterioration up there and

45
00:14:18.079 --> 00:14:36.160
>> those metal bars that go across um they're they're into the brick work in the dome and there's a couple spots in there. It looks like you could pull the bricks out right around the the ties. >> Yep. >> Um so under his recommendation it's time

46
00:14:36.160 --> 00:14:53.839
to not let them go up to the right >> up to the dome. >> Yeah. So, that topic will come to the city council tomorrow >> um for probably a uh final decision. I'm guessing >> um it has to be that way. It has to be

47
00:14:53.839 --> 00:15:08.720
closed if it's not safe. There's no choice. >> I don't think >> Yeah, I would agree that safety is paramount. Safety is first. Yes, absolutely. Um I'm just thinking it's a a huge change from the past,

48
00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:25.199
>> a monumental change. Um but um and then it's a matter of years. You know, I don't know how many years it's going to take for fundraising. And then we know that once construction begins, it's about a two-year construction process. So the

49
00:15:25.199 --> 00:15:40.480
monument may be closed to the public for quite a number of years. Um, >> is there any poss something to be concerned about with Herman up there? Is he could he wind up falling off of there? >> He wasn't concerned about that right

50
00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:56.800
now. It was more the the public safety of getting up there and not not having staff up there and not knowing what's going on. I mean, right, >> you get >> teenagers up there and they start

51
00:15:56.800 --> 00:16:13.440
grabbing onto those bars or swinging from them or >> um it's just and there's some more cracking and this is the first year I've seen some pretty decent size goonite has come off

52
00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:28.800
the sides of the >> the monument on the base. Not that that's real structural, but um it was pretty significant chunks that were >> well >> laying on the ground and there was glazed brick from the dome that was laying on the ground.

53
00:16:28.800 --> 00:16:45.680
>> So that's starting to spalled off on the on the dome itself. >> Safety is a me important thing. >> Is it safe for them to go partway up, do you think? Yeah, he wasn't he was fine with with that going up to the colony

54
00:16:45.680 --> 00:17:00.880
and stuff and but you can still at that level you can oversee the river valley and stuff. >> Yeah. >> Well, I was wondering is there a way to kind of interpret what's there even if people couldn't go up to if visitors come to have some kind of an

55
00:17:00.880 --> 00:17:16.640
interpretive thing and explain what we're doing and how long it's been there and why it's there. And I mean that would take some money to to produce that interpretive information. >> Yeah, that's been talked about is going up there spring, summer, winter, and

56
00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:32.320
fall and taking pictures and maybe some videos of going around the that at the base of Herman up there >> with the views. >> Yeah, I was thinking just even some signs or post, you know, that would be at the base when visitors come cuz they

57
00:17:32.320 --> 00:17:49.760
always say where should we go and we want to stop up and see Herman. Mhm. There is quite a bit of uh self-guided interpretation in Herman Heights Park. There's the historical marker. >> Okay. >> Um and then there's the kiosk which has >> 3 * 4 12 faces of interpretation in the

58
00:17:49.760 --> 00:18:06.799
kiosk. Um so there's a lot of >> You think that's enough sufficient? >> You know, I I think probably yes at this moment in time. At at some point, I'm sure when the deconstruction begins, I think uh our plan is to bring the statue down, the statuary first and place that

59
00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:22.720
in Herman Heights Park in a location that can be interpreted um a little bit more up close and personal to the public. >> Yeah. >> Um I don't know if we're going to let the public touch the statuary, you know, or if the statuary may be fenced. Mhm.

60
00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:38.000
>> Um but >> well that would be a good idea cuz I was wondering where you were going to store him, >> right? And there'll be a lot of there will be interpretation about the process, the deconstruction process >> and the timeline and and you know what they're finding as far as materials that

61
00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:54.640
may be um repurposed or restored and reused um in the construction reconstruction pro process. >> Well, I guess we all have to hope and pray that it comes through

62
00:18:54.640 --> 00:19:09.679
>> soon. >> Yes. >> All right. Thank you for your information and thank you. >> Um I was going to also um I'm going to actually do a chair report. Are you can you fall over? >> I would like

63
00:19:09.679 --> 00:19:26.000
council Schmidt to talk about the national convention. >> Yes. Yes. >> And encourage some other people to maybe go from our our commission here. >> Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, and members, I think we've all gotten the

64
00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:44.080
recent email um that the National um Alliance of Preservation Commissions, their annual convention is held in Minnesota this year, which is quite rare. Um, it's in late July, Wednesday through Sunday. It's quite a lengthy

65
00:19:44.080 --> 00:19:59.679
convention with a lot of workshops, a lot of tours and a lot of seminars. Um I've gone through the agenda and it's extensive uh multi-day like I say Wednesday through Sunday

66
00:19:59.679 --> 00:20:16.799
um of that July 22nd to 26. Um I personally have registered through uh through city hall. Um, I'm I'm I'm actually going to begin sessions on Thursday. I can't get to the Wednesday sessions, but I plan to do the whole

67
00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:32.720
convention um Thursday through Sunday. Noon Sunday is when it um closes. So, I highly recommend you look at the website, you look at the email, look at um there's so many different tracks and different sessions that it would be

68
00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:49.600
impossible to kind of pick exactly what session you want to attend. now. Um but if you're available during that time period or even a portion of that time period, um we have convention funds, uh budget, city budget available for uh

69
00:20:49.600 --> 00:21:04.320
commissioners to attend certain conventions. And so >> I didn't give it a second thought about coming just for a few days instead of the whole time. I'll have to reook that. Yes, you know, work through uh building official Zabel's office um and his

70
00:21:04.320 --> 00:21:22.159
administrative staff and um you know, the sooner you get registered um the sooner you can kind of finalize plans. I know where there's also some grants involved. I think it's the state um office of historic preservation.

71
00:21:22.159 --> 00:21:37.760
Shipo has grant funds for cities and municipalities that have historic preservation commissions so that the city doesn't have to fund the entire uh convention from for our delegates from

72
00:21:37.760 --> 00:21:56.000
new. Um, and so that's great um that you have to go through the process uh with official Zabel's office to get registered and and uh get signed up for one of those state grants. Um I think the state association state organization

73
00:21:56.000 --> 00:22:14.799
then funds about 2thirds of our expenses related to the the convention. So, I highly recommend looking at that sooner than later if you're available any of those dates in late July. >> Thank you very much. I appreciate that.

74
00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:25.720
Anybody have anything else they want to bring up? >> This meeting is adjourned. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.