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Minutes_Historic Preservation Education Task Force 4 4 13THE CITY 0 DUB Masterpiece on the Mississipp Dubuque hital 11111! 2012 MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION EDUCATION TASK FORCE Thursday, April 4, 2013 Conference Room B, City Hall PV Committee Members Present: Chairperson David Klavitter, Committee Members Bob McDonell, Julie Schlarman and Benjamin Beard. Committee Members Excused: None. Staff Members Present: Laura Carstens and David Johnson. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 1:04 p.m. AFFIDAVIT OF COMPLIANCE: Staff presented an- Affidavit of Compliance verifying the meeting was being held in compliance with the Iowa Open Meetings Law. MINUTES: Motion by McDonell, seconded by Beard, to approve the March 7, 2013 minutes as submitted. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Klavitter, Beard and McDonell; Nay — None. ACTION ITEMS: Challenges and Opportunities for Advancing the Historic Preservation Commission Program: Staff Member Johnson noted the Planning Services Department is still waiting for the final schedule of events to be completed and provided by Dubuque Main Street. He noted the Ken Kringle Historic Preservation Award Ceremony will be held in conjunction with the Dubuque County Historical Society Award Ceremony on April 23, at 6:00 p.m. Chairperson Klavitter noted he is available to participate. Staff Member Johnson welcomed participation from other Committee members and noted once the schedule is provided to the Planning Services Department it will be forwarded by email to Commissioners and provided in the April 18, 2013 agenda packet. Committee Member Schlarman entered the meeting at 1:10 p.m. Committee Member Beard reviewed issues he had been working on since the last Task Force meeting. He stated he has compiled a list of questions a homeowner might ask before or in the process of considering a contractor for a historic preservation project. He reviewed the benefits of using a design professional to help understand and apply architectural guidelines and appropriate treatments. He noted it is important for homeowners to familiarize themselves with the historic district guidelines before beginning rehabilitation projects. He suggested a direct link be provided to the Architectural Guidelines. He stated homeowners should also be advised on the Minutes — Historic Preservation Commission Education Task Force April 4, 2013 Page 2 difference between recommendations and an ordinance as it pertains to historic preservation. He explained the importance of making homeowners aware of financial incentives such as historic tax credits to assist with preservation projects. He reviewed important considerations for homeowners when selecting a contractor, noting requesting documentation as to a contractor's qualifications and workmanship. He elaborated it is important for homeowners to request any certifications, awards, and references relative to historic preservation projects. He noted pictures of past projects would be helpful; however, the contractor's specific role in that project must be clarified. He noted the importance of also obtaining the qualifications of subcontractors that worked on the project. Committee Member Beard discussed suggestions for improvements to the City of Dubuque Architectural Guidelines. He explained many of the suggested edits are minor. He suggested removing the Durrant watermark from the guideline documents. Staff Member Carstens explained the timing is good because the City of Dubuque is in the process of updating and consolidating the Downtown Design Guidelines and Architectural Guidelines into one document. Staff Member Johnson invited Committee Member Beard to serve on the Design Guidelines Technical Committee to help respond to and craft specific content in terms of the document. Committee Member Beard welcomed the opportunity. Staff Member Johnson stated Committee Member Beard is also going to be asked to serve on the Steering Committee as a design professional with Straka Johnson. The Task Force and staff reviewed the historic preservation content on the City of Dubuque website. The Task Force and staff agreed to review the Historic Preservation web page on the City of Dubuque website at the next Education Task Force meeting. The Education Task Force discussed hosting Historic Preservation workshops and seminars that would qualify for continuing education credits. The Task Force noted the benefits of educating real estate agents on the benefits of preservation and historic properties in the city of Dubuque. Chairperson Klavitter stated he will send a list of continuing education classes provided by Board of Realtors Executive Director Joe Leiser to staff. Committee Member McDonell recommended keeping the class to three hours or less. Staff and the Task Force discussed past continuing education programming for Dubuque Realtors. Staff Member Carstens noted the City offered a program on federal, state and local financial incentives to assist historic rehabilitation which qualified for continuing education credits a few years ago. The Task Force agreed that program would be beneficial to Dubuque Realtors and preservation in the city of Dubuque. Committee Members Klavitter and McDonell stated they will look further into sponsorship opportunities for such a program. ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC: None. Minutes — Historic Preservation Commission Education Task Force April 4, 2013 Page 3 ITEMS FROM THE TASK FORCE: Renovation Boot Camp: Staff Member Johnson explained this is an informational item in response to a request from the last Task Force meeting. He noted the 2011 Renovation Boot Camp was hosted by the Des Moines Rehabbers Club, which was established in 2007. He explained he cannot find any evidence this Club or the Renovation Boot Camp still exists. He stated the boot camp was a series of classroom seminars designed to give participants a basic understanding the renovation process from the time a property is purchased to project completion. He referenced the schedule of seminars. He explained the experts who presented were mostly local people from the private sector as well as homeowners. He explained these seminars were designed to have experts with first -hand experience. He noted the only public officials who participated were building and health inspectors, who spoke about building permit requirements and lead paint abatement. He stated the program was promoted as demystifying the renovation process by providing practical advice, support and encouragement and resources for a successful renovation project. The Committee discussed the boot camp, noting a similar approach to education and outreach should be considered for future programming in the city of Dubuque. Contractor Recognition: Staff Member Johnson stated in response to the Commission's and Task Force's efforts to recognize contractors, research has begun on historic tax credit projects and projects that have received Ken Kringle Awards in the city of Dubuque. He referenced a spreadsheet of every project in the city of Dubuque that has received tax credits or had credits reserved. He noted the contact name for those projects has also been provided. Staff Member Johnson stated he will continue to research contractors involved in those projects. Staff Member Carstens noted she prepared a comparison of Preservation Iowa and City of Dubuque Historic Preservation website content and links for Preservation Iowa. She stated she has provided the information for the Task Force's consideration, and noted that Preservation Iowa is a resource for contractor recognition. The Task Force reviewed the information and noted it would be important to form common links. ITEMS FROM STAFF: Preservation Month Activity: Staff Member Johnson noted time ran out at the March Task Force meeting to confirm the Task Force's Preservation Month activities. He stated the Task Force has recommended the Historic Preservation Commission ask City Council to proclaim May as Historic Preservation Month and host a Washington Neighborhood Green Alley Ribbon Cutting in May in recognition of Historic Preservation Month. Staff Member Johnson noted he and Staff Member Wernimont will present a program on researching historic properties in May as part of Preservation Month. Staff Member Carstens noted she and Civil Engineer Jon Dienst, who is in charge of green alleys and complete streets, will be presenting on the Millwork District in May in recognition of Historic Preservation Month as well. Minutes — Historic Preservation Commission Education Task Force April 4, 2013 Page 4 By consensus, the Task Force agreed to the Historic Preservation Month activities. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 1:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, David Johnson, Assistant Planner Adopted