MINUTES
ORO VALLEY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
September 14, 2009
ORO VALLEY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
11000 N. LA CANADA DRIVE
 
CALL TO ORDER AT OR AFTER 5:00 P.M.

Chairman Zwiener called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m.

ROLL CALL

PRESENT:
Daniel Zwiener, Chair
Lois Nagy, Vice-Chair
Bob Baughman, Commissioner
Ed Hannon, Commissioner
Sam McClung, Commissioner
Valerie, Pullara, Commissioner
Pat Spoerl, Commissioner

CALL TO THE AUDIENCE

Opened and closed without comment.

1.

Review and/or approval of the August 10, 2009, HPC minutes.


MOTION: A motion was made by Commissioner McClung and seconded by Commissioner Spoerl to approve the August 10, 2009, HPC minutes.
 
MOTION carried, 6-0 with Bob Baughman, Commissioner abstained.
 
2.

Presentation from Dr. William Collins, State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), on Historic Resources in Cultural Resource Inventories.


Dr. William Collins of SHPO, updated the HPC on th status of Steam Pump Ranch and the National Registry nomination.  Dr. Collins spoke about cultural resources inventory and asked what type of information the HPC was looking for.

Paul Popelka, OV Acting Planning and Zoning Director, explained the Town has a contract with William Self and Associates (WSA).  WSA is in the process of a complete compilation of historic resources. 

Dr. Collins explained that grants from the government will not be available until at least 2010.  There is still Federal money available.

Commissioner McClung asked how other cities have taken the data compiled and how they communicate to owners of historic properties

Dr. Collins responded the Town needs to look for the neighborhoods that support historic preservation, identify sensitive areas and lay out priorities.  The most important incentive is the state tax program.

3.

Discussion and possible action regarding Steam Pump Ranch.


A.

Site tour with Dr. William Collins


Commissioner Spoerl asked for Dr. Collins’ opinion on the pump house. Dr. Collins commented
- Try to preserve what is authentic
- Steam Pump should be preserved as a ruin
- Preserve the adobe melt on the ground
- Reconstruction would be a waste of money
- Reconstruction would be a fake you cant recreate what was
- The interpretation is important; what are you going to use this for

Chairman Zwiener asked if Dr. Collins opinion would differ for restoration.  Dr. Collins said restoration is valuable and useful but differs from rehabilitation.  Rehabilitation is when you adapt a building to make is usable for today, not trying to take it back to what it was.  Restoration is the most expensive thing you can do and the most expensive to maintain, short of reconstruction. 
Dr. Collins continued and commented on the following:
- No reason not to move forward with exploratory removal of non historic elements
- Don’t go to far without knowing what your goal is; Rehab or restoration
- Use Jim or Bob from our (SHPO) office for guidance in the details of rehabilitation or restoration; we want to be kept informed 
- Not necessarily true that you must save the last bit of wall at the Pump House
- Pump House is past restoration; it will be a reconstruction

Chairman Zwiener asked for possible alternatives and possible action for Carlos’ house.  Scott Nelson explained the Town Manager has given the Building Safety Division authorization to work at the site.

MOTION: A motion was made by and seconded by to
 
Discussion followed:
- Poster Frost will be before the HPC in October and November to give updates
- Areas have been pointed out by Dr. Collins that can be removed
- The intent of the motion is to not short circuit any of the protective process and necessary monitoring 

MOTION carried, 7-0
 
B.

Farm truck restoration


Scott Nelson, Special Projects Coordinator (SPC), gave an update on the truck.
- Truck is running
- CDO HS auto shop will work on the vehicle 
- The metal bed on the truck was added

C.

Site Access Protocol


Chairman Zwiener recommended the HPC review the site protocol with the idea additional information will be at our next meeting to include site access including staff.

Commissioner Baughman requested that any activity involving pick axes and metal detectors must have approval from the Commission. 

MOTION: A motion was made by Commissioner McClung and seconded by Commissioner Valerie to approve the Site Tour Protocol.
 
MOTION carried, 7-0
 
Council Member Latas suggested the protocol be a Town Council Consent Agenda item when the entire protocol is complete.

4.

Discussion and possible action regarding Staff Report.


A.

Cultural Resources Inventory


Paul Popelka explained the intent of the consultant is as follows:
- Submit a draft of phase one
- Finish windshield survey
- Some neighborhoods may qualify as Historic Districts
- Working on mapping/tabling
- Possible Cultural Resources Inventory Open House

B.

Steam Pump Ranch well site


Scott Nelson, SPC, said the Water Utility Commission met with Linda Mayro and there are still issues to work out including the monetary but, this will move forward in June or July of 2010.

C.

Honey Bee Village grant


Scott Nelson, SPC, reported the Town will know something in the next two weeks on the 50K grant that was submitted for interpretive signage or something along those lines.

D.

Future SHPO training


Scott Nelson, SPC, had nothing new to report.

E.

Holiday tree lighting at Steam Pump Ranch


Scott Nelson, SPC, had nothing new to report.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Paul Popelka said HPC will have a Special Session scheduled for Tuesday, September 29, 2009. 

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION: A motion was made by Commissioner Baughman and seconded by Commissioner McClung to adjourn the HPC meeting at 6:25 p.m.
 
MOTION carried, 7-0