MINUTES

                                                                 CITY OF AMES

                                         HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION

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CALL TO ORDER:  Gloria Betcher, Commission Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

MOTION:  (DUNN/DEGEEST) to approve the Agenda for the meeting of August 8, 2005.

MOTION PASSED: 4-0.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF July 11, 2005 as ammended:

MOTION:  (DEGEEST/FRAHM) to approve the Minutes of the meeting of July 11, 2005 as ammended.

MOTION PASSED: 4-0.

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PUBLIC COMMENTS:  There were no public comments.

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Discuss Commission Involvement as Volunteers in the West Ames Historic Study

Ms. Gloria Betcher, Commission Chairperson, stated that she invited residents from the South Campus Area Neighborhood (SCAN) area to attend the meeting.

Mr. Ray Anderson, City of Ames Planner, went over the hand out that was from Will Page. Mr. Anderson stated that it would be great to receive the Commission’s help to get the word out about the West Ames study that is coming up this fall.

Ms. Elaine Dunn, Commission member, suggested making a video with a uniform presentation to have available for various groups.

Leslie Kawaler, 2121 Hughes Avenue, Ames, Iowa, from SCAN and a Historic Designation Committee member stated that they are planning on distributing a newsletter in the SCAN area about what the committee has been doing and the future of historic designation.

Jean Thomas, 2220 Knapp Street, Ames, Iowa, from SCAN, stated that SCAN was thinking about doing a walking tour of several homes in the area even before the neighborhood is designated as a historic district. Ms. Thomas thought this would help raise awareness for the project.

Ms. Betcher said that having other neighborhoods participate and having Will Page, Historian, speak about the West Ames survey and general history of Ames to encourage additional neighborhoods to participate and raise awareness.

Mr. Daniel DeGeest, Commission Member, stated that he thought the Historic Preservation Commission web page on the City of Ames website is highly under utilized. He suggested putting photographs, of before and after pictures of property from the past and present time as well as current historic issues.

Mr. DeGeest spoke about the display cases in the Kingland Theater. Ms Dunn also suggested display cases at the Public Library.

Ms. Betcher asked if there was any money to access funds for this project. Mr. Anderson said that there are not any funds budgeted but the Commission could ask the City Council for funds.

Ms. Dunn suggested that maybe there are service clubs or organization that would be interested in giving money to this cause. Ms. Betcher does not know if there is a lot of extra money in the Campus Town Action Association. Mr. DeGeest thought that there may not need to be a large budget. He suggested going to The Tribune and Ames Life and Times for an article to raise awareness. Mr. DeGeest suggested Mr. Anderson call the newspaper and have them talk to Mr. Page for an article.

Ms. Betcher said that maybe some of the Commission members would be interested in doing further research on the selected list of topics that Mr. Page had provided to the Commission.

Mr. DeGeest wants to know what kind of research needs to be done from the items on the list. Ms. Betcher said that her impression is to focus on one item and take notes and document the source and pass in onto Mr. Page to edit and check the resource.

Ms. Kawaler suggested having Mr. Page get together with the volunteers and go over what kind of research and data he would need. Ms. Betcher said that Mr. Page wants to be able to get more details from previous research that was done.

Ms. Dunn suggested additional meetings or work groups with the Commission and volunteers.

Ms. Betcher wants Mr. Page to be present at a Commission meeting before the larger meeting to let the Commission know what research information he would like.

Ms. Betcher wanted to know if any Certified Local Government (CLG) grants were being written. Mr. Anderson said not at this time but now is the time to be applying for grants. Ms. Betcher thought that the City Council had already started on the CLG grant application.

Mr. DeGeest wanted to know if the Historic Preservation Commission’s website page could have the current historic events on the page. Ms. Betcher wants staff to find out what is acceptable to have on the City’s web page.

Ms. Dunn wanted to know if a work session would need a quorum. Mr. Anderson stated that there does not need to be a quorum as long as decisions were not being made but a meeting or work session would still need to be posted.

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COMMISSION COMMENTS: 

Ms. Betcher stated that Bill Woodward resigned from the Commission because of work conflicts.

Ms. Dunn wanted to know the status of the legality of the Roosevelt School project. Mr. Anderson said he is still waiting to hear back from the City’s Attorney’s office.

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STAFF COMMENTS: There were no staff comments.

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MOTION TO ADJOURN:

MOTION:  (DUNN/FRAHM) to adjourn the meeting.

MOTION PASSED: 4-0.

The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

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Jill Hahn, Principal Clerk                                                   Gloria Betcher, Chairperson

Department of Planning & Housing                                  Historic Preservation Commission