OFFICIAL MINUTES
MUSCATINE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
JULY 18, 2012
The Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission (MHPC) met in regular session on
Wednesday, July 18, 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 Jim Schmidt. Others
present included Jim Rudisill. Following the roll, the commission reviewed the consent agenda,
including the distributed agenda and the minutes of the regular June 20, 2012 meeting. Pettit
moved to approve the minutes as submitted; Wolf seconded; motion passed, all ayes.
The first discussion issue under the Certified Local Government category was on the
proposed property tax abatement program for historic buildings. Rudisill reported on a new idea
presented by Muscatine City Administrator Gregg Mandsager that would replace the 10-year,
80-20%, graduated tax abatement table for historic buildings with one that would offer a
three-year, 100% abatement schedule. Rudisill said Mandsager felt more people might apply if
they could see a quicker turnaround on their renovation costs.
Mandsager had also suggested the three-year, 100% schedule could apply to new homes
in both historic districts and other development areas as a way to increase construction on in-fill
lots throughout the community.
Commission members indicated some uncertainty over Mandsager’s new construction
proposal within historic districts and requested Rudisill to ask Mandsager to attend the next
meeting to provide more background on his suggestion.
Generally the consensus of the commission was to support the three-year, 100%
abatement schedule, although Schmidt did suggest allowing residents to pick which schedule
they wished to follow. However, several questions were raised over the possibility of providing
an abatement for new construction within a historic district.
Both Reischauer and Schmidt wondered what stake the commission would have in
non-historic new construction in a historic district. Several commissioners said they opposed
providing any support for incentives that might be offered to demolish any building in a historic
district in order to build something new. Wolf also suggested any new building should be
sympathetic to the historic district’s existing architecture to receive any property tax abatement.
She also questioned whether any abatement should even be offered for new construction within a
historic district.
Reischauer said the new construction proposal might offer an opportunity for the city to
implement a two-tier abatement policy. One tier would provide a schedule for new construction,
while the second tier would offer an abatement policy that would offer incentives that favored
the preservation of the existing architecture.
Reischauer asked the commission members to continue reviewing the proposed
abatement programs and provide Rudisill with any comments.
The commission then discussed the next comprehensive planning meeting to be held
August 14 at the Zion Lutheran Church. The meeting will focus on development proposals for
the River Center Planning District. Reischauer and Pettit both indicated they planned to attend.
The next discussion issue was the commission membership.
Rudisill reported that Ramiro Vazquez had submitted his formal resignation. Rudisill said
there were no applications to fill the current two vacancies on the commission.
MHPC Minutes
July 18, 2012
Page 2
Reischauer directed Rudisill to contact Iowa State CLG Coordinator Paula Mohr to
determine if the commission membership could be reduced.
The commission next discussed issues related to historic districts and property.
Rudisill said Kent Sissel had contacted him earlier to report on the project’s status. Sissel
had reported some reservations about continuing with the project because of family issues, but
was continuing to talk to state, federal and local supporters. Sissel had not reported any new
completed work.
The signage of historic districts was then discussed.
Reischauer said she would send a thank-you to HNI for its contribution towards the signs.
Rudisill said he would provide Reischauer with an MHPC letterhead.
The commission then discussed its failed Historic Resources Development Program grant
application to fund four reconnaissance surveys in the community. Reischauer said the
commission needed to discuss its options and request the continued support from its funders:
Carver Charitable Trust, Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine and Friends of Muscatine
Historic Preservation.
Reischauer said she favored asking the funders to support formal reconnaissance surveys
of Fair Oaks and Colver Street, since they both were restricted developments that were
completed about the same time. If all the funding support is not reauthorized, the commission
will need to determine the next direction, most likely to completing a reconnaissance survey of
just Fair Oaks.
Reischauer then moved to seek approval from the funders to support a reconnaissance
survey of Fair Oaks and Colver Street; and if the funders decline, to seek support for just a Fair
Oaks reconnaissance survey; Schmidt seconded; motion passed, all ayes.
Reports were then presented.
Reischauer said Muscatine County might be looking again to rid itself of the old sheriff’s
office. She said Jim Nepple had been working on a contract for tax credits on the building. She
said the Friends were seeking to have any tax credit funds go to the Community Foundation of
Greater Muscatine for future historic preservation of county buildings.
Pettit also reported control of the church at Sixth and Walnut had apparently been
transferred to Tom Meeker.
The meeting then adjourned at approximately 6:30 p.m.
The next regular meeting of the commission is scheduled for Wednesday, August 15,
2012 at 5:15 p.m. in the Muscatine City Hall lower level conference room.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________________________
Chair