OFFICIAL MINUTES
MUSCATINE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
JULY 20, 2011
The Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission (MHPC) met in regular session on
Wednesday, July 20, 2011, at 5:15 p.m. in the lower level conference room at Muscatine City
Hall. Members present included Jo Ann Carlson, Devin Pettit, Jane Reischauer, Jim Schmidt,
Anna Mack and Gina Chesling. Others present included city planner Andrew Fangman, Michael
Maharry and Jim Rudisill.
The commission reviewed the consent agenda, including the distributed agenda and the
minutes of the regular June 15, 2011 meeting. Carlson moved to approve the consent agenda as
presented; Pettit seconded; motion passed, all ayes.
Reischauer next welcomed Chesling to the commission as a newly-appointed member.
Fangman then presented an overview of the blight designation that was recently
presented to the city council and described some of the potential impacts of the designation on
historic properties and districts.
He explained an initial step in the process was to consolidate the city’s Urban Renewal
Districts and identify basically designate the city as one urban renewal area. In addition, areas
that would qualify as “blighted” would be identified. Fangman said there was basically no
difference between an Urban Renewal Area and a Blighted Area, except for length of
designation. An Urban Renewal Area designation sunsets after five years while a Blighted Area
designation remains until the city changes it.
To be considered blighted, an area needed to include (1) deteriorating buildings that are
not safe for human occupation (2) a property the city is either mowing or shoveling snow (3) a
property with at least $1000 in delinquent taxes or (4) a property with more than one of the
earlier issues.
Reischauer asked what the proposal would mean for Muscatine’s historic districts.
Fangman said there was nothing definite at this time, but he envisioned there would be
additional tools available in those districts to help restore houses and other buildings. Those tools
could mean a potentially greater role for the MHPC. One such combination could be the city
offering tax abatements for renovation work within a blighted area, with the MHPC signing off
on any activity involving an historic property.
He said there were several other directions the city could also go, but whatever role the
commission takes should come from the commission. Input from the commission will also be
needed as he updates the city’s comprehensive plan. That process is currently moving forward,
although the work to date has been primarily technical updating. Fangman distributed pages from
the 2002 master plan detailing historic preservation information. He said he will be developing
new maps for the comp plan and requested background information on the city’s current and
potential historic districts. Pettit reported most of the information would be contained the reports
developed by Rebecca McCarley as part of the surveys and nominations of the Downtown
Commercial and West Hill National Historic Districts.
As the comp plan update enters into the second phase of policy and guideline review,
Fangman said he will return to the commission for more input. He suggested between two or
three pages of historic information that would describe historic preservation efforts in the
community.
MHPC Minutes
July 20, 2011
Page 2
Fangman said there was no firm time schedule on either completing the blight
designation or the master plan, although he expected the master plan update to be completed by
the end of the year.
Pettit said the commission could attend the charettes that will be held as part of the
master plan update and also the Muscatine Planning and Zoning Commission meetings where the
plan will be discussed.
Commission members also discussed earlier historic planning work and directed Rudisill
to provide copies of the Molly Naumann, Susan Appel and the 1977 Architecture of Muscatine
reports to each member.
Reischauer also pointed out the commission needed to begin setting priorities for historic
preservation in the community and determine what changes it would like to see in the city’s
master plan. She said she would being reviewing the current comp plan and present any proposed
changes to the members.
Rudisill was directed to begin adding a comp plan update item to future agendas.
The commission next held officer elections.
Carlson moved to nominate Reischauer for chair; Pettit seconded the nomination.
Carlson then moved that nominations cease and Reischauer be approved as chair; Pettit
seconded; motion passed, all ayes.
Carlson next moved to nominate Anna Mack as the vice-chair; Pettit seconded the
nomination.
Carlson moved that nominations cease and Mack be approved as vice-chair; Pettit
seconded; motion passed, all ayes.
The next discussion items were part of the commission’s CLG activities and included a
review of grant applications for windshield surveys of four potential historic districts.
Reischauer reported the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine had approved a
grant of $2100 for the work; and she would attend the check distribution ceremony on July 28.
Pettit pointed out the CF check would likely be enough to complete a survey of either
Mulberry Avenue, which would cost $2900; or the Fair Oaks area, which McCarley had given a
$2700 quote to complete. Commission members agreed those two were the most significant of
the four originally proposed in the grant application and earlier commission discussions.
Rudisill was directed to ask McCarley for any example of a windshield survey she has
completed.
After further discussion, Pettit moved to accept the Community Foundation grant; Mack
seconded; motion passed, all ayes.
The commission next discussed membership.
Carlson said she would contact Christine Conley to determine her interest in serving.
The commission then moved into discussions on historic properties or districts in the
community.
MHPC Minutes
July 20, 2011
Page 3
The first issue discussed was an update by Rudisill on the effort to nominate the
Alexander G. Clark House as a National Historic Landmark (NHL). Rudisill reported Kent Sissel
was continuing to discuss with state and federal officials the need to update the original National
Register of Historic Places (NRHP) for the Clark House before an NHL application can be made.
Sissel is also talking to the National Park Service about developing a Network to Freedom
(Underground Railroad) application for the house.
Both the NRHP and the Network to Freedom nomination/application could be done
simultaneously by Paul Finkelman, the same consultant who was going to do the NHL
nomination. Rudisill said Sissel had advised him the city’s Historic Resource Development
Program (HRDP) grant that had been awarded for the NHL nomination could be amended to
cover the cost of the other nominations. Rudisill said he had talked with Ralph Christian and
Kristen Vander Molen, State Historical Society of Iowa staff members who would need to
approve any amendments, and they had confirmed Sissel’s report.
Rudisill will continue to give updates on the potential amendment.
The commission then reviewed the continuing issue over the status of the old county
jails. Maharry reported county officials were apparently arranging to meet with consultants on
jail renovation.
The next discussion item was planning for the upcoming Preservation Iowa conference in
August.
Maharry said 40-50 people are expected to attend. He presented a short review of the
schedule, especially for Saturday’s tours of homes. No final decision on the homes has been
reached.
He also reported sponsorships and advertising were still being received; and he
encouraged MHPC members to consider attending next year’s Preservation Iowa conference.
In other reports, Pettit said the Mississippi Drive Corridor project had been referenced in
numerous Iowa Department of Transportation reports.
The meeting then adjourned at approximately 6:50 p.m.
The next regular meeting of the commission is scheduled for Wednesday, August 17,
2011 at 5:15 p.m. in the Muscatine City Hall lower level conference room.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________________________
Chair