Updates
- Consideration of Main Street Preservation Grant for 420 Curtis Avenue
Brian James led the discussion about the Main Street Preservation Grant for 420 Curtis Avenue, qualifying the property for a historic preservation grant of up to $20,000 for roof replacement, approved by City Council. The grant functions as a 50/50 matching fund, with payment processed after work completion, including permits and final inspections. The total roof cost is over $40,000, with the grant covering half.
Additional Annotations
- Roof replacement is typically done in one phase, but owners can complete segments for cost management.
- The city does not verify contractor payments before reimbursement, aiming to expedite payment within a week if requested.
- The proposed standing-seam metal roof meets Secretary of the Interior standards, allowing modern materials while preserving the historic character.
- Roofing costs rise from removing original wooden shingles due to fire hazards, with estimates based on building inspections.
- Homeowners can choose any contractor, with the city offering a list of compliant local options.
Maggie Titterington made motion to approve the grant, Roz Wise seconded.
Motion passed unanimously.
It will be presented to the City Council on June 17th, likely in the consent agenda.
- Office 365 Usage Inquiry:
Brian James raised a question about the familiarity of Microsoft Office 365 among participants. Most of the committee are versed in using the application. A brief overview will be provided on accessing and using Office 365. If any participant remains uncertain after the overview, individual sessions can be arranged.
- Preservation Grants for Multifamily Projects and Cemeteries
The discussion on preservation grants for multifamily projects and cemeteries focused on proposed amendments and grant eligibility. The two grant types being:
- Historic Grant: Recommended for approval and applicable to commercial and residential structures/properties, initially only aimed at single-family homes. Eligible for limited residential repairs (roof, foundation, walls) and a broader range of eligible improvements for commercial properties.
- Main Street Local Flavor Grants: Primarily targeted to businesses.
Key points included:
- Raul Sorria's old hospital (now an apartment complex) raised classification questions, as zoning views it as residential while building codes treat it as commercial.
- Consideration to classify buildings with three or more units as commercial for grant eligibility.
- Definition of multifamily housing as having three or more units, distinct from duplexes.
- Debate on treating apartment complexes as businesses for grants and concerns about defining multifamily housing for those leasing rooms
Recommendations were made to address whether to expand the historic grant to include site improvements, particularly for landmark properties without structures. The committee decided to limit site improvement grants to properties lacking structures to maintain clarity and avoid potential misuse of grants.
A suggestion was made to classify multifamily/apartment buildings as commercial for grant purposes was proposed, followed by a vote. The meeting concluded with the need to clarify guidelines on grant eligibility.
- SHPC Policies and Procedures
With the committee in possession of both Chris Hormel's revision and the updates from Brian James and Maggie Titterington (included in the agenda), the committee reviewed and discussed the revised version by Brian James and Maggie Titterington Policies & Procedures. Previously, Chris emphasized merging the bylaws into policies and procedures for clarity. However, concerns arose regarding potential confusion since bylaws require city council approval, while policies do not.
Content Clarification: Maggie Titterington and Brian James removed the following elements inappropriate for policies, such as:
- Purpose and Responsibilities, which should be in the bylaws.
- Unnecessary Terms and Definitions were also eliminated.
The committee aims to prioritize policies that remain relevant, to avoid conflicts and to maintain and operate from stable, essential policies.
A streamlined version of the policies and procedures was proposed to include the following:
- Mailing address for correspondence
- Meeting scheduling guidelines
- Committee processes for running & resignations
- Publication and forms
- Property & Artifacts
- Designation & Heritage
- Member expenses & vouchering
- Appendices A and B should be combined into a single page for purchases to enhance clarity and efficiency.
The vote on the document will be tabled until next month for further review by the committee.
The discussion on the calendar was initiated but a decision was made to table the calendar discussion for next month's meeting.
Angie Fain is currently drafting a letter to request gifts. Maggie Titterington requested a copy to review, noting that a draft generated with ChatGPT seemed effective and welcomed others to review and modify it as needed. Appreciation was expressed for the efforts made. A follow-up was requested on any remaining items that require voting.
- Event Support and Planning
- Good Shepherd’s Catholic Church Event - May 24,2025
The recent event held at Good Shepherd’s Catholic Church took place on Saturday, May 24th. Kathleen Samsey led the event, setting up and organized using a checklist created as a result from prior events, which proved to be useful and a learning opportunity. Roz Wise joined in to support the event while Kathleen Samsey subsequently drafted and completed an after-action report.
The committee agreed to set up a display/promotional table at Trivia Night. Kathleen Samsey volunteered but was aware of others' commitments. Maggie Titterington underlined the necessity for supporting additional events would require shared responsibilities and ample support from committee members. Discussion included whether to offer books and T-shirts at the table, which might limit support for the Trivia Night Event activities. It was noted additional help is required for the table management if so.
The committee considered supporting an additional farmer's market event in the fall, with a potential timeframe for October or November. The goal was to have the calendars ready and printed by October, aligning with the event. Maggie Titterington expressed support of the fall farmers market, contingent on volunteer availability. While no specific date has been set, it is typically held on the first Saturday. Kathleen is to confirm the date by September 30, moving forward with the decision to support the fall farmer's market.
Kathleen Samsey made motion to support the fall farmer's market, Roz Wise seconded, followed by voting.
Motion passed unanimously.
- Planning for Upcoming Events
- Event Support Materials/Budget
Kathleen Samsey proposed a vote in reference to last month's discussion about allocation of funds for table support, as recorded in the minutes. A proposal has been made for the committee to approve approximately $300 for purchasing event support items. Of this amount, $100 is intended to be kept to initiate the cash box for change. A draft shopping list has been prepared for the committee members to review.
The proposed purchases include a lantern and flashlight for the storage unit, due to low visibility, along with holders, a protective box for brochures, and a donation box. The expected total is below $200, but an approval for this budget is requested. Kathleen will manage the $100 cash. It is anticipated that the shopping will be done collaboratively, ensuring the $200 limit is not exceeded.
Maggie Titterington made a motion to approve up to $300 for these expenses, seconded by Lauren Dalton.
Motion passed unanimously.
- Upcoming Cemetery Event in Mid-October
The cemetery is set to host an event in mid-October. Miguel has extended an invitation to the committee for support, and he will reach out as the date approaches. Though Kathleen Samsey is serving as champion for event support, as Chair, Maggie Titterington will assess whether the committee can proceed with additional events. Although Miguel merely suggested the idea, awareness of the October event is beneficial for planning purposes.
Kathleen Samsey has indicated that the final draft of the form, checklist, and other related materials is expected to be completed by next month. Upon approval, these documents may be included as an appendix to the policies and procedures. The process for cash submission is still under development, with details yet to be finalized.
- Historic Street Signs
- Design Elements
The signs presented featured the street name "Aviation Heights" in script on a metal plate. Questions arose regarding the orange color and the inclusion of the city seal. While the design is favored, The public affairs team suggested that a black and white seal version might appear cleaner and more straightforward. A decision on preferences is still pending though the blue/yellow seal option was agrred by the committee to be more eye-catching.
The blue/yellow seal option is more favored, but a vote indicated support for the blue/yellow: seal: 12 in favor, 3 opposed, and 4 abstaining.The recommendation is to start with Aviation Heights to assess the design's impact before expanding to other neighborhoods.
Clarification was provided regarding the three heritage neighborhoods:
- The old Shaffer family neighborhood (a residential area south of 78 at First Street).
- Aviation Heights, as discussed.
- The Comal Settlement area, which lacks city streets and is therefore unable to support street signs.
Proposal to City Council
A workshop presentation to the city council was proposed to pitch the idea.
Anticipated Feedback
Potential opposition may arise from residents, if alternative neighborhood names are used. Plans may need to be reassessed if there is significant push-back.
Timeline and Budget
The committee aims to add this on the agenda for June or July City Council meeting, with a potential roll-out in the fall. Estimated costs range from $6,000 to $8,000, covering materials and labor.
- Request for Information and Future Agenda Items
Roz Wise inquired about the process for submitting agenda item suggestions, noting that her ideas often develop just before finalization, about a week in advance. She expressed the need for a system that accommodates late-arriving agenda item suggestions. Brian James proposed a structured approach, suggesting that at the conclusion of meetings, members should have the opportunity to propose agenda items. The committee could then review and vote on these suggestions.
Brian James emphasized the importance of a dedicated agenda item submission protocol, to ensure consensus on what should be included. For time-sensitive matters arising between meetings, he advised emailing Chairperson Maggie Titterington to assess urgency. If deemed non-urgent, it could be raised at the next meeting for group discussion or vote. Roz Wise queried the cutoff date for agenda submissions, suggesting ten days before the meeting, and asked about the typical agenda distribution timeline. Brian James clarified that the agenda is generally distributed to the board the Wednesday before the meeting, necessitating suggestions by the preceding two Mondays. This timeline helps manage last-minute submissions to Chairperson Maggie Titterington.
- Event Support Budget and Material Requests
Roz Wise revisited a discussion from the previous month regarding the purchase of a screen for professional displays of photos and the committee’s mission, to furnish at our events. She asked if there were any objections to the screen purchase, noting that unless the cost exceeds the initial budget significantly, it aligns with previously discussed event-related purchases.
Kathleen Samsey proposed increasing the initial budget by a few hundred dollars, setting a total of $500 for the necessary items, including the screen.
Chairperson Maggie Titterington stressed the need to specify the desired screen type and suggested revisiting the topic in June. She noted that while it could be included in the current budget, other expenses would need approval, and the motion was amended to raise the initial cap from $300 to $500. Kathleen Samsey and Roz Wise will finalize the details. Chairperson Maggie Titterington requested Roz Wise to provide a screen sample and price within two weeks. The topic will be reviewed and voted at the June Meeting.
