OFFICIAL MINUTES
    MUSCATINE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
    JULY 23, 2013
    The Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission (MHPC) met in regular session on
    Tuesday, July 23, 2013, at 5:15 p.m. in the lower level conference room at Muscatine City Hall.
    Members present included Devin Pettit, Jim Schmidt, Julie Wolf and Rochelle Conway. Others
    present included Jim Rudisill. With the absence of Chair Jane Reischauer, Vice Chair Pettit
    opened the meeting. Following the roll, the commission reviewed the consent agenda, including
    the distributed agenda and the minutes of the regular June 25, 2013 meeting. Pettit pointed out
    the minutes incorrectly indicated the mezzanine level of the re-opened Button Factory restaurant
    will be operated as a speakeasy. It will be the mezzanine level of the former Hotel Muscatine that
    will contain the speakeasy. He also reported the correct address for the property for which a
    Historic Resources Development Program (HRDP) grant application has been completed should
    be 315 West Second, not 315 E. Second. After Pettit presented the corrections, Conway moved
    to approve the minutes as corrected; Wolf seconded; motion passed, all ayes.
    The first agenda item under Certified Local Government (CLG) activity was the city’s
    approved historic property tax abatement plan. Rudisill reported there was nothing new on the
    program. He said Muscatine Community Development Director Steve Boka was still planning to
    develop forms for the commission to incorporate into its approval process for applications
    submitted for qualifying historic properties.
    The next issue discussed was staff assistance for the commission after Rudisill retires in
    September. Rudisill reported Boka would like perform that assistance on an interim basis until a
    more permanent liaison is established.
    The next general agenda item was a discussion on historic districts and properties.
    Rudisill reported there had been no new developments regarding the HRDP grant status
    on the Network to Freedom/National Register of Historic Places applications/update for the
    Alexander Clark House.
    Kent Sissel had called earlier and said he planned to attend the meeting, but had not
    returned a later call from Rudisill to confirm.
    The commission next discussed submitting a potential Certified Local Government
    application for funding a National Register of Historic Places nomination for the proposed Fair
    Oaks and/or Colver Street National Historic Districts. Both areas have been approved as
    potential districts by the State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI), but SHSI CLG Coordinator
    Paula Mohr believes the proposed consultant costs that Rebecca McCarley submitted for a joint
    project may be too high.
    Pettit suggested it may be better to wait on any decision to move forward until McCarley
    can provide revised individual district costs. The rest of the commission agreed and directed
    Rudisll to get the revised costs from McCarley and hold a special meeting if necessary to finalize
    a decision.
    Miscellaneous reports were then presented to the commission.
    MHPC Minutes
    July 23, 2013
    Page 2
    Pettit reported Friends of Muscatine Historic Preservation had agreed to work with the
    owners of 315 W. Second on restoration of the house, using tax credits to conduct interior repairs
    on the building.
    Rudisill reported the Green Thumbers building on Grandview was being demolished and
    work was continuing on the former VFW Building (425 Mulberry) to convert the upper stories to
    loft apartments.
    Rudisill also reminded the commissioners of the upcoming historic preservation summit
    in Burlington in August; and that anyone who wished to attend should contact Boka for possible
    registration assistance.
    The meeting then adjourned at approximately 5:55 p.m.
    The next regular meeting of the commission is scheduled for Tuesday, August 27, 2013
    at 5:15 p.m. in the Muscatine City Hall lower level conference room.
    Respectfully submitted,
    ___________________________________
    Chair
    OFFICIAL MINUTES
    MUSCATINE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
    SPECIAL MEETING - JULY 29, 2013
    The Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission (MHPC) met in special session on
    Monday, July 29, 2013, at 7:30 a.m. in the lower level conference room at Muscatine City Hall.
    Members present included Devin Pettit, Julie Wolf and Rochelle Conway. Others present
    included Michael Maharry and Jim Rudisill. With the absence of Chair Jane Reischauer, Vice
    Chair Pettit opened the meeting.
    Following the roll, Pettit said the purpose of the meeting was whether or not to proceed to
    apply for a Certified Local Government grant to develop a National Register of Historic Places
    (NRHP) for one or two of the proposed historic districts in the Fair Oaks and Colver Street
    neighborhoods.
    Rudisill reported on the revised costs provided by McCarley and the State Historical
    Society of Iowa’s concerns over the anticipated higher costs to complete a joint application. The
    consensus of the commission favored going with a Fair Oaks nomination.
    Maharry suggested a direct mailing to the residents of the proposed Fair Oaks Historic
    District be completed, along with an appeal to local businesses. He stressed the Fair Oaks area
    should include Weed Park, pointing out that area had better name recognition and additional
    facilities, such as the aquatic park and zoo garden.
    Rudisill said he would talk with McCarley concerning changing the name on the NRHP
    nomination to the Weed Park Historic District to reflect the area’s strong association to that site.
    Wolf then moved to proceed with a CLG grant application for the (Fair Oaks) Weed Park
    Historic District; Conway seconded; motion passed, all ayes.
    The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:50 a.m.
    Respectfully submitted,
    ___________________________________
    Chair

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