HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutesCITY OF OSHKOSH LANDMARKS COMMISSION
Minutes
January 13, 2016
PRESENT: Steve Cummings, Paul Arnold, Shirley Brabender Mattox, Elizabeth Hintz, Sharon
Kipetz, Alexa Naudziunas, Elizabeth Williams and David Buck
EXCUSED: Harold Buchholz, Vicky Redlin, Angela Allen
ABSENT: None
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 3:07 p.m. and a quorum was declared present. Ms. Hintz
was introduced as Landmarks Commissioner.
2. Approval of December 9, 2015 Meeting Minutes
Mr:A rnoldAmentionedAthatAtheA“SchriberAHouse”AwasAmisspelledAasA“ScriberAHouse”AtwoAtimesA
andAthatAthereAwasAanA“if”AthatAshouldAbeAremovedAfromAtheAfirstAparagraphAonApageA3AbutA
otherwise the minutes were good. Ms. Brabender Mattox made a motion to approve the
December 9, 2015 meeting minutes as amended and Mr. Cummings seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously.
3. Building Permit Review
The commission reviewed the 12 building permits on historic properties issued in December,
eight of which were related to plumbing, HVAC, electrical or accessory buildings. The
commission discussed the appropriateness of vinyl siding replacement on 622 Franklin, which is
an outbuilding and the very low quote of $1,100 for full siding work at 660 Franklin. Ms.
BrabenderAMattoxAaskedAifAtheAoriginalAtransomAwindowAatAHouseAofAHero’sA(407ANorthAMainA
Street) was replaced after the repair or if a new replacement was installed. Mr. Buck
responded that he believed the original was repaired and replaced but that he would have to
check further into it. Ms. Brabender Mattox suggested looking into who did the work on this as
well as the transom at Atomic Katz/Kohlmann Block (21 Waugoo) as they may be able and
willing to provide a quote on the rebuild the windows at the New Moon Café/Beckwith House
(401 N Main).
4. Steven’s Park Neighborhood Historic Research Request
Ms. Williams, Associate Planner with the Planning Services Division introduced herself. She
explained that when neighborhood plans are put together by neighborhood associations that
thereAisAaAsectionAonAhistoryAthatAisAessentiallyAaA“snapshot”AonAtheAhistoric elements of the
defined neighborhood area that range from a single to three pages in length. She briefly went
overAtheAsectionsAinAtheAtwoAadoptedAneighborhoodAplans.AMiller’sABayAandAMiddleAVillage:AAMs:A
WilliamsAstatedAthatASteven’sAParkANeighborhood (bounded by Washington Ave. on the north,
Bowen St. on the west, Fox River on the south and Lake Winnebago on the east) is currently
creating their plan and have asked if anyone from Landmarks would be willing to volunteer to
help with the history section as Julie Johnson, WCHAS helped with the Middle Village Plan and
ngelaA llen,ALandmarksAhelpedAwithAtheAMiller’sABayAPlan:AATheAcommissionAbrieflyAdiscussedA
the area and that it goes back farther than the incorporation of Oshkosh and that a lot of
information will be available on the area. Mr. Buck said he would e-mail the commission to see
if anyone had the time to help out with research and include the type of information the
association will be looking to gather. Ms. Williams indicated that the info will need to be pulled
together ideally by the end of March or beginning of April and that it can be rough because the
association will rewrite to incorporate into their plan. Ms. Brabender Mattox also
recommended that Facebook be utilized as many stories and photos can be gotten this way.
5. Schriber House (1428 Algoma Blvd) Update
Mr. Buck updated the commission on the potential Schriber House move. He stated that key
staff members and Mr. Cummings met with Tammy DeVought Blaney, the party interested in
moving the home to the southwest corner of Algoma Blvd and Arboretum Dr. approximately
oneAblockAfromAitsAexistingAlocation:AAMr:ACummingsAaddedAthatAitAisAstillAnotAaA“deal”AcladAinA
stone and that the biggest obstacle appeared to be the DOT road closure and tree limb
trimming necessary for the move. Mr. Buck said that Ms. DeVought Blaney is the Executive
Director of the International Association of Structural Movers and is very well qualified to take
on the project but that the cost is estimated at around $300 thousand, which is daunting. Mr.
Buck and Mr. Cummings stated they will be monitoring progress and keep the commission
informed.
6. Website Redevelopment Update
Mr. Buck stated that there has not been any work done on the website update since he met
withAtheACity’sAITAdepartment:AAHe stated that there is a need to get a summaryAofAOshkosh’sA
last 100 years of history, roughly post World War I, to be included on the cover page. The
commission discussed items such as Oshkosh men participation in WWII, the highway
development, EAA creation and the shift of the lumber industry to finished products like doors
and sashes. Mr. Arnold said he would attempt to go to the library to see what he can gather
and Ms. Brabender Mattox suggested that all commissioners attempt to put something
together to be meshed together.
7. Chief Oshkosh Monument Upgrade Discussion
Mr. Buck explained that the Chief Oshkosh Monument upgrade was approved for Great
Neighborhood funding and implementation should be underway late summer or fall of this
year. Mr. Cummings stated that he had received a private donation of $5000 from the Heaney
Family to go towards a marker with explanation and history about the Chief himself. Ms.
Williams inquired on whom from Landmarks Commission would be willing to serve on the
planning and implementation committee. Ms. Kipetz and Ms. HintzAsaidAthatAtheyAwouldA“tagA
team”AonAtheAcommitteeAandAMr:ACummingsAaskedAtoAbeAinvolvedAasArepresentativeAofAtheA
donor. Ms. Williams stated that meetings would start in February and continue through May or
June.
8. Assembly Bill 568 Update
Mr. Buck updated the commission on the progression of AB568/SB445 that is proposed to limit
the ability to establish historic property designation or historic districts because it would
require the property owner to agree to national, state or local designation or it could not
happen. He stated that an amendment bill has been submitted that require that 75% of
property owners within a proposed district agree to the designation rather than all.
Additionally, it removed the ability for an owner of a property who has received tax credits to
object. Mr. Buck stated that the WI Trust for Historic Preservation was okay with the amended
bill and though they still had concerns is not objecting. Mr. Cummings explained that he had
gone to Madison to testify and discussed the process, which he said was onerous.
9. Historic District Mailing
Mr. Buck explained that the letter had been approved and edited by the commission and that
all of the flyers, including the historic district brochure edited by Ms. Allen, were completed. He
stated that he would have approximately 350 copied and mailed out to all of the property
owners in the historic districts at the end of January so property owners would have them
when preparing for their spring improvements. He distributed an example copy of the mailing
including the letter, historic property ownership brochure, historic district brochure, historic tax
credit information, and the historic plaque program brochure. The commission asked that
additional copies be made to hand out.
10. Work Plan/Commission Goals for 2016
Mr. Buck stated that last month’sAandAthisAmonth’s packetsAincludedAtheAcommission’sApreviousA
goals from 2010 through present but the commission had chosen to lay the item over in
December in order to have more commissioner attendance. The commission looked over
previous years goal lists and discussed ongoing items that should be included such as the
Acanthus Awards, Annual Report, plaque program, marker program and website update. Ms.
Kipetz stated that the Chief Oshkosh Monument Upgrade should also be included in 2016. Mr.
Buck mentioned that although Ms. Allen could not be in attendance at this meeting she wanted
toAstressAthatAsheAwouldAlikeAtoAaddA“aAformalAcommunityAeducationAprogram”AforAwhich she will
be developing an outline including timelines, events and measures of success. It was decided
that that each of the commissioners would come up with their three most desirable items to
work on in 2016, which will be compiled in February to formalize the 2016 goal list.
8. Agenda Items for Next Meeting/Statements
Ms. Brabender Mattox mentioned that she had a new book on window maintenance and repair
that could be a valuable resource for educational material as well as helping owners and
contractors to repair rather than replace historic windows. Mr. Buck mentioned that the
regular items of minutes and building permit review would be included and that there might be
about a dozen plaque requests to review. He asked that the agenda stay light so they could
focus on determining the 2016 work program and the commission agreed.
9. Adjournment
Ms. Kipetz made a motion to adjourn and the motion was seconded by Mr. Cummings. Motion
approved unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 5:22 p.m.
Recorded by:
Alexa Naudziunas, Assistant Planner and David Buck, Principal Planner