HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-07-12; Historic Preservation Commission; Minutes~~ ITEM ## 2 Approved
MINUTES
MEETING OF:
DATE OF MEETING:
TIME OF MEETING: 5:30 PM
PLACE OF MEETING:
H I STO R I C PRES E RVATlO N COMMISSION
July 12, 2004
City Council Conference Room
1250 Carlsbad Village Drive
CALL TO ORDER:
Chair Ladouceur called the meeting to order at 534 PM.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Commissioners Christiansen, Gutierrez, Ladouceur, Smith
and Trejo
Absent: None
Also Present Were: Assistant Library Director, Geoff Armour
Mayor Pro Tern Finnila
Assistant Library Director Armour introduced newly appointed Commissioner Joyce
Smith to the Commission.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The minutes of the meeting held May IO, 2004 were approved with one typographical
correction.
HERITAGE TREE SURVEY & TOUR GUIDES:
Assistant Library Director Armour announced that Arborist Wisniewski was unable to
attend the meeting but was in the process of finishing the tour part of this project. The
concept is for a large map poster where you would pick up the brochures, and then
individual tour brochures with color maps and text. The brochures will not be available
at Rotary Park or Holiday Park, to avoid any waste, but will be available at the Library,
Magee House and ConVis to start with. He hopes the brochures will be available within
the month.
The actual Heritage Tree document, phases I and II, includes close to 160 trees and will
be finalized into a notebook and presented to the City Council at a later date.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Minutes of Julv 12. 2004
Page 2
Chair Ladouceur commented on what a wonderful event the guided tours turned out to
be and the tour guides were extremely knowledgeable.
Assistant Library Director Armour responded that several individuals had suggested that
we sponsor the guided tours maybe twice a year.
NEIMAN’S HISTORICAL MARKER PLAQUE:
Assistant Library Director Armour reported that he spoke to the current owner who
agreed to allow a plaque installed on the right side column as you enter the building.
He did ask for approval of the wording for the plaque. Assistant Library Director Armour
is suggesting repeating the information in the walking tour brochure and will provide that
text to the owner for approval.
Mayor Pro Tem Finnila asked if there was a limitation on the number of words and
Assistant Library Director Armour responded that we pay by the word but the foundry
that manufactures the plaques for the Commission can adjust the font size to
accommodate the text.
Assistant Library Director Armour asked Commissioner Trejo about the status of the two
plaques scheduled for installation at the Gaus and Ramirez houses. She responded
that they have been talking with the City staff to finalize the plans.
MAGEE BARN UPDATE:
Assistant Library Director Armour commented that the barn is an example of a joint
project involving the City and Historical Society. The City has done the renovations to
the structure including a new fence and landscaping. The latest improvement is the
flowers in the old cistern. Meanwhile, the Carlsbad Historical Society has produced
some interpretive posters that are mounted on the exterior of the barn which explain
some of the history.
He said the Historical Society decided to open the Magee House during the intermission
at the Jazz in the Park on Friday and there were hundreds of people who came into the
house and were looking in the windows of the barn and studying the posters. They plan
to open the house again at the next Jazz in the Park at Magee Park and are looking for
additional volunteers to handle the crowd. He also commented that the 50th
Anniversary video was running on the television and there were several inquiries about
purchasing copies.
Some of the items for display in the barn are still being restored, such as the buggy and
the old town safe and should be ready by mid-August. The City has agreed to install an
alarm of some sort and there is still the issue of the flooring to meet ADA requirements.
The target date for a Citywide event to open the barn as part of the museum is early fall.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Page 3
Minutes of July 12, 2004
Chair Ladouceur commented that a local artist is working on paintings that capture
some of the old tools in the barn and the Society has had twelve of the Ted Wade
lithographs framed for display. Currently there are five of these on display in the Magee
House dining room. The Display Committee has plans to develop a brochure containing
information on many of the artists who have their work displayed in the Magee House.
WIEGAND ADOBE:
Assistant Library Director Armour shared with the Commission photos of the Wiegand
adobe that is located within the City of Carlsbad on the Olivenhain Municipal Water
District property. Apparently the Water District commissioned a study of the property to
provide an analysis for the restoration and preservation of the adobe. The estimated
cost is hundreds of thousands of dollars and they are asking for financial assistance
with the project.
The Commission discussed the request, admitting that this was outside the scope of the
budget but they would be willing to meet with historical societies in the area to
brainstorm ideas for funding the project. It was also suggested that the Wiegand family
and descendants are still in the area and might be interested in getting involved
financially.
Mayor Pro Tem Finnila mentioned that within the last six months the Olivenhain
Municipal Water District presented its master plan to the City Council and there was no
mention of this historical building or the proposed project to restore and preserve it.
RED APPLE INN:
Assistant Library Director Armour explained that Frank Whitton, an Academy Board
Member, and Steve Bliss, President of the Army/Navy Academy had approached him to
discuss the building. The structure was built in 1927 and is currently being used by the
Academy as the dining hall. It is in bad'condition and does not meet ADA requirements
and the Academy wants to update the facility. The tree, the most massive tree in the
City according to arborist Mark Wisniewski, is right next to the building and the roots
have caused significant damage to the floor. Plans to renovate the building do not at
this time include destroying the tree and are off in the future since they do not have the
funds for the project now. The staff was seeking input from the Historic Preservation
Commission as they are looking at possibly keeping the structure and making it a
museum or tearing it down and rebuilding but keeping the1 927 look of the current
structure.
The commission wanted to write a letter to the Army/Navy Academy to thank them for
the opportunity to express an opinion, and encourage them to create a museum out of
the Red Apple Inn and certainly protect the tree.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Page 4 Minutes of July 12, 2004
Mayor Pro Tem Finnila suggested that the Commission arrange for a site visit and then
write the letter referencing “upon site visitation”. They should pay attention to the safety
issues as well and possibly recommend that they fence the tree.
The Commission discussed several options that could be considered by the Academy
and the possibility of partnering with the Carlsbad Historical Society to support exhibits
in a future museum.
Assistant Library Director Armour will contact President Bliss to arrange for a tour of the
property .
CARLSBAD HISTORICAL SOCIETY UPDATES:
0 Signage - Assistant Library Director Armour has been talking with the City Parks
sign shop to change the wording on the large wooden monument sign on the corner of
Beech and Carlsbad Boulevard. The sign is in need of repair and the Carlsbad
Historical Society would like to make the sign visible from both directions, and change
the wording to “historical museums” to encourage the public to visit.
Gastelum family reunion - This family is one of original pioneer families in the
barrio and expect as many as 400 members will attend the Sunday, July Zth event at
Magee Park. The Magee House will be open and CHS members will be collecting
photos and oral histories from the attendees.
0 Oceanside Historical Society - The President of the Oceanside Historical
Society attended the last CHS Board meeting to discuss ways to hold joint programs
and tours since there is a lot of overlap, especially involving the high school.
0 Council lnterpretinq North County Historv (CINCH) - This organization
recently published a brochure identifying all the historical organization in the county and
the brochure is available at the Libraries.
time in October, and plan to invite the members of COAL (Carlsbad Oceanside Art
League) to participate.
0 Arts ldisplav - The CHS is planning a display to honor Carlsbad artists some
Mayor Pro Tem Finnila suggested that the CHS committee working on the artist display
contact Arts Office Manager, Peter Gordon, to possibly coordinate their display with the
arts office plans to recognize City public art and its artists.
0 King Karl Crown - The crown that had belonged to Kay Christiansen was lost or
stolen years ago and Mr. Grigoras had a replica made, which was given to the City. It
has been stored in the vault at City Hall and Mr. Grigoras has contacted the City
suggesting that it should be on display. The CHS has decided to purchase a secure
locked glass case for permanent display at Magee House or City Hall.
Commissioner Trejo announced that the fundraiser planned in conjunction with the
Barrio Festival, which was to showcase the Cantabrana home followed by dessert at the
Magee House, might have to be postponed due to family illness.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Page 5
Minutes of July 12, 2004
Commissioner Gutierrez mentioned that it would be nice if the piano in the Magee
House “worked”. The current one is a historic piece, a beautiful piece of furniture, but
the piano tuner would not even attempt to tune it.
ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR FOR FY 2004-05:
Current Vice Chair Commissioner Trejo agreed to serve another term and
Commissioner Gutierrez was elected as Chair by proper motion and vote.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Next meeting is scheduled for September1 3th.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
NONE
ADJOURNMENT:
By proper motion, the meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
Cissie Skxton
Administrative Secretary