OFFICIAL MINUTES
MUSCATINE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
JUNE 20, 2012
The Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission (MHPC) met in regular session on
Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at 5:45 p.m. in the city council chambers at Muscatine City Hall.
Members present included Devin Pettit, Jane Reischauer, Julie Wolf and Anna Mack. Others
present included Michael Maharry and Jim Rudisill. Following the roll, the commission
reviewed the consent agenda, including the distributed agenda and the minutes of the regular
May 16, 2012 meeting. Mack moved to approve the minutes as submitted; Pettit seconded;
motion passed, all ayes.
The commission’s first issue was a discussion of the proposed tax abatement program for
historic buildings under the Certified Local Government category. Rudisill updated the council
on a recent meeting he held with Muscatine County Assessor Dale McCrea, Muscatine Auditor
Leslie Soule and deputy auditor Betty Wamback on the proposed abatement program.
McCrea reported he had reviewed the proposed program and pointed out the county did
not have any capabilities of separating just the city taxes from any abatement. Both he and Soule
said the computer program used by the county would abate all the taxes on any approved
property under the program.
An alternative to abating all the taxes would be to initiate a rebate program that would
require the city to pay back to the approved property owners the portion of city taxes they would
be eligible to receive under the abatement program.
Rudisill said he had talked to Muscatine Community Development Director Steve Boka
about that option, but Boka did not favor it. Commissioners said they also favored keeping the
tax abatement policy intact, pointing out there likely would not be a large number of applicants.
The commission also discussed the May 15 deadline to submit pre-applications to the
city. The applications do not need to be forwarded to the assessor until February 1. Collecting
applications in May would mean a nearly 18-month gap between the application submittals and
actual tax payment. Commission members agreed an initial December 31 date was more feasible.
There was also discussion on the abatement program language concerning adherence to
the Secretary of Interior standards. Maharry had earlier provided the language used by counties
currently participating in the mandatory state historic property tax abatement program. Maharry
said after reading the language in the city’s abatement program, he felt it contained the same
requirement. There was also agreement among the commission members that guidelines would
need to be developed to assist future commissions with determining eligibility and other parts of
the program.
After additional discussion, Rudisill was directed to update the latest version of the
document and provide it to commission members for final review. A vote on the program and
recommendation to the city council will then be added to the commission’s July meeting agenda.
The commission next discussed the proposed comprehensive plan status.
Muscatine City Planner Andrew Fangman has started holding town meetings in the
various planning districts to explain the comprehensive planning process, answer questions and
recruit volunteers wishing to participate in committees and other groups.
Meetings that could directly impact the Downtown Commercial Historic District and
MHPC Minutes
June 20, 2012
Page 2
West Hill Historic Districts will be held soon; and commissioners agreed those meetings would
offer opportunities to support historic preservation efforts in the comp plan.
The final CLG-related agenda item concerned commission membership.
Rudisill reported Dan Mack had submitted his application, which would be part of the
city council’s June 21 agenda. He also reminded the commission of Ramiro Vazquez’s intent to
resign from the commission, but said he had not received any official resignation letter. Rudisill
had attempted to call Vazquez prior to the meeting, but had to leave a message.
Historic district or property issues were then discussed.
Rudisill said he and Kent Sissel had not communicated on the Alexander Clark-HRDP
grant for some time. He will wait until either Sissel contacts him with information on the report’s
status; or the State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI) requests an update.
The commission next discussed the status of the historic district signs.
Rudisill reported he did not know if the city’s public works department had started to
install the signs, but all the signs had been delivered. He also reported supervisor Randy Howell
had reported getting the posts ready and utilities located.
Rudisill also was unsure on the status of the HNI reimbursement. He said he would talk
with Muscatine Finance Director Nancy Lueck and ask if the bill has been paid and reimbursed.
The final historic district/property discussion was the status of the city’s 2013 Historic
Resources and Development Program (HRDP) application. Rudisill said there had not been any
release of awards by the SHSI as of the meeting. Pettit said a review of the 2012 award
notification showed they had been announced shortly after the June MHPC meeting, so he
expected this year’s awards to be announced within a day or two. Rudisill said he would
continue to monitor the SHSI website and report any notification to the commission.
Commission members agreed to delay any discussion on possible survey options, until
they learn if the city’s application has received any funding.
The commission next received reports from commission members and visitors.
Maharry reported the Friends of Muscatine Historic Preservation, Inc. will have its five
year anniversary this fall. He said some type of celebration will be held to help the group reset,
re-advertise and re-promote itself.
Wolf also announced the Colver Street Broom Factory had recently been sold.
The meeting then adjourned at approximately 6:25 p.m.
The next regular meeting of the commission is scheduled for Wednesday, July 18, 2012
at 5:15 p.m. in the Muscatine City Hall lower level conference room.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________________________
Chair