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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 12 Historic Commission Appointment AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 2/3/2014 Meeting Type: Regular Meeting Staff Contact/Dept.: Molly Markarian/DPW Staff Phone No: 541-726-4611 Estimated Time: 5 Minutes S P R I N G F I E L D C I T Y C O U N C I L Council Goals: Encourage Economic Development and Revitalization through Community Partnerships ITEM TITLE: HISTORIC COMMISSION APPOINTMENT ACTION REQUESTED: Appoint Vincent Martorello to the Historic Commission to serve his first, four-year term, which will expire February 2, 2018. ISSUE STATEMENT: The Springfield Historic Commission has one vacancy as a result of Commissioner Judy Williams’ first term expiring. Ms. Williams elected not to seek a second term. It is necessary to fill the vacancy at this time. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 1 – Candidate Applications Attachment 2 – Current Historic Commissioner Profiles DISCUSSION/ FINANCIAL IMPACT: The City received one application for the one vacancy. The Council interviewed Vincent Martorello at the January 27, 2014 Work Session. At the Work Session, the Council decided to appoint Mr. Martorello to fill the vacancy. Appointments to the Historic Commission must be confirmed during a Regular Session. Attachment 3, Page 1 of 5 Attachment 3, Page 2 of 5 September 12, 2013 Vincent Martorello 3033 Gateway Street, #100 Springfield, Oregon 97477 Re: Application for Historic Commission, answers to questions 1-4 1. What type of experience/ training/qualifications do you have for this particular board/ commission/ committee? I have years of experience in site analysis, planning, and design review. This experience provides me with an understanding of how to balance specific code requirements with owner interests, and community goals. In addition, while working at Oregon State University, I was a lead on having a portion of campus registered on the National Registry of Historic Places. I also have experience writing code and policies for historic districts and helped to develop a design guideline manual for the historic district at OSU. In addition, the skills that I would bring to the commission include: critical thinking, objectivity, creativity, and facilitiation. 2. What specific contribution do you wish to make? I hope I can provide a balanced approach to the review, assessment, and decision-making when it comes to determinations of applications. I believe my experience affords me the ability to understand many design and development issues from several perspectives. I think this makes me very conscientious and purposeful in during my reviews. 3. Briefly describe your involvement in relevant community groups or activities. (Lack of previous involvement will not necessarily disqualify you from consideration). My experience includes: previously serving on Lane County Planning Commission, organizing a neighborhood effort to plant street trees, organize a volunteer group that worked with the City of Eugene to upgrade Milton Park, and I have years of experience working with neighborhood organizations as a planner when completing master plan efforts. Currently, I am a member of the Springfield Kiwanis Club as well. 4. What community topics concern you that are relevant to this board/commission/committee? Why do you want to become a member? I believe a city and community should maintain a link to its historic past. This for a lot of communities manifests itself in terms of architecture, downtown patterns, and the spatial alignment between open space and development. I think that communities also need to become and maintain economic vitality in attracting and retaining residents and businesses. I am interested in is how compatibility between existing development and new development occurs to maintain the character of areas and still allow for differentiation for contemporary building designs. I want to become a member because I believe in being involved in the community where I live, and the topic of historic preservation/rehabilitation is important to me. Attachment 3, Page 3 of 5 Supplement Commission Application Questions HISTORIC COMMISSION 1. What is your email address? vincent.martorello@gmail.com 2. If you do not live within the Springfield city limits, do you live within the Eugene/Springfield Metropolitan Area Plan Boundaries? I live within the Springfield city limits. 3. Please refer to the attached list of professional qualifications. Which category best describes you, if applicable (not having qualifications associated with a field related to historic preservation will not necessarily disqualify you from consideration). Landscape Architect, Historic – Masters level education rather than a license to practice. 4. Why do you think historic preservation is important to a city like Springfield? Springfield has distinct and compact downtown adjacent residential homes with architecture that reflects certain eras and found to be historic. This architecture and downtown setting provides the City with an identifiable character. The City also has a vision to grow and attract businesses and to continue to revitalize the downtown. Historic preservation through a clear and objective code and review process can provide a framework for how the distinct character in this area of Springfield is maintained during growth and development. It will also allow new or redevelopment to occur within Washburne Historic District that is compatible with the existing character. This will create a family resemblance of architectural styles that accounts for the contemporary building design. In addition, historic preservation and the promotion of it can also create a platform for Springfield to celebrate its history and perhaps remove some of the common place stigma about historic preservation as it relates to preventing development or preservation means preventing structures from being altered or changed. 5. What do you think is the purpose of the Historic Commission is in Springfield? I think the commission has several purposes; the first is to be an objective and professional representative of the values and vision of the City. Another purpose of the commission is to be a steward of the historic preservation overlay district and meet the purpose of the district. This means creating and maintaining an environment that encourages preservation and rehabilitation and allows for alterations to structures. It also means to create policies and recommendations to ensure interests of the community are balanced with the purpose of the code and intent of preservation. 6. How would you address a situation in which a citizen development or restoration plans are in conflict with the city’s preservation policies or regulations? As a member of the commission my framework for evaluation is directed first by the requirements of the historic overlay district. I would review an application and listen to the goal of the one proposing the development or restoration plan. I have appeared before historic commissions myself with development proposals that were thought incompatible with regulations or the character of surrounding buildings. I am verse is searching for and recommending solutions. I would address this type of conflict by working within the terms of the code and balance the owner’s goals and intent with what can be deemed as compatible. Attachment 3, Page 4 of 5 7. How can the Historic Commission foster citizen awareness of historic preservation? The commission can organize events, tours, and celebrations during national historic preservation month. Also, form key partnerships with the Springfield Museum and the Library to organize local events. Another option is to present awards and acknowledgments to citizens that have completed historic renovation projects that exemplify certain standards or objectives. The commission could also work in cooperation with the State Historic Preservation Office on programs or events, if applicable. I think if the Commission is dedicated to creating such awareness then there are ways to promote such a campaign and effort. 8. The historic commission meets the fourth Tuesday of every month from 5:30-7:30, with an occasional special meetings and subcommittee meetings. Commission members are also asked to provide input and feedback from time to time via email in between meetings. Will you be able to commit to the time requirements of the historic commission? Yes, I will. 9. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend a Springfield Historic Commission Meeting. Did you attend a meeting and if so, what were your impressions of the meeting? I have not attended a meeting yet, I have plans to attend the meeting on 9/24/2013. Attachment 3, Page 5 of 5 Attachment 2-1 Profiles of Current Historic Commissioners Kip Amend Kip is a Eugene resident and has a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture. Kip has a history working on historic preservation issues in Springfield, having assisted with the historic resources survey for the Washburne Historic District in the 1980s. Kip is currently serving his first term on the Commission, which expires on October 17, 2014. Kerry Barbero – Secretary Kerry is a Springfield resident. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design and a Master’s degree in Historic Preservation. Kerry formerly provided staff support to the Evanston, WY Historic Commission. Kerry is currently completing her second term, which expires on November 18, 2016. Kuri Gill Kuri is a Springfield resident and works as the Historic Cemeteries Program Coordinator and the Certified Local Governments Coordinator for the State Historic Preservation Office. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Art History and a Master’s degree in Museum Studies. Kuri has worked as a curator for several museums and is an active volunteer for the Mission Mill Museum and the Lane County Cultural Coalition. Kuri is currently serving her second term on the Historic Commission, which expires in October 2, 2015. Paula Guthrie Paula is a Eugene resident and a Computer System Administrator for the City of Springfield. She has volunteered for the Springfield Museum where she started their accession database. She has also volunteered for the Oregon Genealogy Society. Projects Paula has recently worked on for the Commission include establishing an online Historic Preservation Resource Center for Springfield. Paula is currently completing her second term, which expires in May 1, 2015. Dannie Helm Dannie is a Springfield resident who lives in the Washburne Historic District. She has a Bachelor’s degree in History. She currently manages the Law Library at the University of Oregon. Past experience includes being the Executive Director of the St. Augustine, Florida Historical Society, Senior Archivist with the University of Central Florida Libraries, and Curator of the Maitland, Florida Historical Society and Museums. Dannie is currently serving her first term on the Commission, which expires on October 2, 2015. Tim Hilton – Chair Tim is a Springfield resident who lives just outside the Washburne Historic District. He has a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Architecture. Tim has worked as a professional architect since the 1980s and served as an adjunct professor at the University of Oregon in 2005. Tim is currently serving his first term on the Commission, which expires on May 1, 2015.